August 6, 2025: Islands Trust launches public engagement on draft Policy Statement

Extracted text (beginning)

Bowen, Denman, Gabriola, Galiano, Gambier, Hornby, Lasqueti, Mayne, N. Pender, Salt Spring, Saturna, S. Pender, Thetis 
 
 
August 6, 2025 – for immediate release 2025-10-IT 
 
Islands Trust launches public engagement on draft Policy Statement 
Lək̓ ʷəŋən, METULIYE/Victoria, B.C. – Today, Islands Trust launched a six-month public engagement 
period to gather community feedback on the Islands Trust draft Policy Statement. This phase of public 
engagement follows Islands Trust Council’s decision to give the draft Policy Statement first reading at its 
July 29, 2025 meeting.  
Feedback on the draft Policy Statement is being collected through an online survey, with postage-paid 
paper copies soon to be available at select locations around the Islands Trust Area. The public can also 
submit comments by email or phone, directly to Islands Trust Council in writing, or by speaking at public 
input sessions during the September or December 2025 Trust Council meetings. Local trust committees 
will host local engagement opportunities to help inform their recommendations to Trust Council and 
members of the public are encouraged to attend a virtual Town Hall on September 10, 2025, to learn more 
and ask questions.  
“The draft Policy Statement reflects input from island communities, Indigenous Governing Bodies, and 
referral agencies gathered in earlier rounds of engagement,” said Laura Patrick, Chair of Islands Trust 
Council. “Now we’re asking, have we got this right? Trust Council looks forward to hearing from the 
community in this next phase.”  
The Islands 2050 process — a multi-year initiative to update the Policy Statement — marks the first 
comprehensive review in over 30 years. The Policy Statement sets out the overarching vision, principles, 
and policies governing land use within the Islands Trust Area and guides how Islands Trust fulfils its 
preserve and protect mandate. It guides the content of official community plans and regulatory bylaws, 
and plays a pivotal role in Trust Council's strategic planning.  
At the same time as public engagement, Islands Trust will continue to engage with Indigenous Governing 
Bodies and conduct inter-agency referrals on a government-to-government basis. These discussions will 
help inform Islands Trust Council’s ongoing consideration of the draft Policy Statement. 
 
Find the online survey and other project information on the Islands 2050 webpage: 
https://islandstrust.bc.ca/programs/islands-2050/. Stay informed on the process and future public 
engagement opportunities by signing up for Islands 2050 updates: (https://islandstrust.bc.ca/subscribe/). 
 
 
 - 30 -  
 
 
News Release 
200 - 1627 Fort Street Victoria B.C. | V8R 1H8 
Telephone 250.405.5151 | FAX: 250.405.5155 
Toll Free via Service BC in Vancouver 604.660.2421 | in B.C. 1.800.663.7867 
information@islandstrust.bc.ca | www.islandstrust.bc.ca 

 
 
Islands Trust is a special-purpose government representing over 30,000 people living within the Islands

First 3,000 characters. Open the original for the whole document.