October 26, 2022 - Thetis Local Trust Committee approves legal action to respond to unsafe property conditions

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Bowen, Denman, Gabriola, Galiano, Gambier, Hornby, Lasqueti, Mayne, N. Pender, Salt Spring, Saturna, S. Pender, Thetis 
 
 
October 26, 2022 – for immediate release 2022-19-IT 
 
Thetis Local Trust Committee approves legal action to respond to unsafe property conditions 
 
Lək
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 ʷəŋən, METULIYE/Victoria, B.C. – The Thetis Island Local Trust Committee has pursued legal action to respond to 
serious concerns about health and safety, including fire hazards on a residentially-zoned lot that is used for auto wrecking 
and salvage on Thetis Island. Despite prolonged efforts by Islands Trust bylaw compliance and enforcement staff to 
encourage the owner to seek compliance regarding several bylaw violations, the owner has not complied. As a result, the 
Islands Trust has obtained a court order for compliance and the property owner has until November 12, 2022 to comply. 
 
“The Thetis Island Local Trust Committee is mindful and considerate of the financial impact and personal difficulties that 
could be preventing the owner from complying with current bylaws”, said Laura Patrick, Chair of the Thetis Island Local 
Trust Committee. “However, the health and safety of those living on the property, visiting the property, and neighbouring 
property owners is a priority for the Local Trust Committee.” 
 
Should the property owner fail to comply with the court order, the Thetis Island Local Trust Committee will consider 
potential further actions to be taken to clean up the property. 
 
Islands Trust Council and local trust committees may adopt general bylaw compliance and enforcement policies to set 
priorities for investigations. Local trust committees create the bylaws that the bylaw compliance and enforcement team 
enforces. Like local governments, Islands Trust uses a ‘complaint-based’ bylaw enforcement process. This means that 
almost all investigations result from community complaints. Through this system, Islands Trust gives priority to bylaw 
infractions of greatest concern to island communities.  
 
Local trust committees and local trustees are not involved in specific investigations except when the bylaw compliance 
and enforcement officer recommends the local trust committee approve legal action. Bylaw compliance and enforcement 
officers do not proceed with legal action unless the local trust committee approves of the action and the Islands Trust 
Executive Committee approves of the expenditure from the Islands Trust legal budget. 
 
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For more information on Thetis Island Local Trust Area regulatory bylaws, visit www.islandstrust.bc.ca/island-
planning/thetis/bylaws/    
 
About Islands Trust 
Islands Trust is a federation of special-purpose local government bodies representing over 30,000 people living within the 
Islands Trust Area and another 10,000 non-resident property owners. The Islands Trust Area is located within Coast Salish 
territory and is the homeland to over 28,000 Coast Salish Peoples who have called this place home since ti

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