July 28, 2022 - Islands Trust Announces New Director of Planning Services

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Bowen, Denman, Gabriola, Galiano, Gambier, Hornby, Lasqueti, Mayne, N. Pender, Salt Spring, Saturna, S. Pender, Thetis 
 
 
July 28, 2022 – for immediate release 2022-16-IT 
 
Islands Trust Announces New Director of Planning Services 
 
Lək
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 ʷəŋən, METULIYE/Victoria, B.C. – Islands Trust is pleased to announce the appointment of Stefan Cermak as the new 
Director of Planning Services.   
 
“After a comprehensive, competitive process, I’m delighted to announce that Stefan Cermak will be joining our 
management team in this key role”, said Russ Hotsenpiller, Chief Administrative Officer of the Islands Trust. “Stefan 
knows the Islands Trust Area well and is respected for his leadership, energy, and a strong personal commitment to 
sustainable community planning principles. New leadership for our planning unit will be a significant part of the 
transformation of planning services we are undertaking to uphold our mandate to preserve and protect this special area.”  
 
During his seven years as the Islands Trust’s Regional Planning Manager for Salt Spring Island, Stefan led progress on a 
number of strategic initiatives including housing, climate change, and sensitive ecosystem protection.  
 
“I am very excited to take on the role of Director of Planning Services. I am passionate about the Islands Trust mandate 
and I look forward to working with elected officials, First Nations, the public and staff from across the Islands Trust Area 
to preserve and protect this region,” said Cermak.  “Living and working on Salt Spring Island, and travel throughout the 
Islands Trust Area, has given me insight into the unique needs of the region.”  
 
Stefan will finish up his current position as Manager of Development Services at the Cowichan Valley Regional District and 
will begin as Director of Planning Services on August 15, 2022.  
 
The Director of Planning Services role became vacant in March 2022 when David Marlor, the former Director of Planning 
Services moved into the role of Director of Legislative Services.  
 
The Islands Trust is in the process of transforming how it delivers planning services. In 2018, Islands Trust undertook an 
internal review of application processing and planning service delivery. The results of the review led Islands Trust to 
reorganize the planning department into teams focused upon proactive long-range planning and applications.  In June, 
Trust Council adopted an amended policy on Best Management Practices for Delivery of Local Planning Services to Local 
Trust Committees to support better sequencing and budgeting for projects and updates to official community plans and 
land use bylaws. The Trust is also undertaking a two-year program to review its development application processing 
approach and replace the in-house property information system with a new system that provides more reporting options 
and includes an online application portal for the public to make and track their applications.  
 
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About Islands 

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