Gambier LTC support for marine water quality testing for SCRD islands

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Bowen  Denman  Hornby  Gabriola  Galiano  Gambier  Lasqueti  Mayne  North Pender  Salt Spring  Saturna  South Pender  Thetis 
 
 
700 North Road, Gabriola Island, BC  V0R 1X3 
Telephone  250-247-2063    Fax  250-247-7514 
Toll Free via Enquiry BC in Vancouver 604.660.2421  Elsewhere in BC 1.800.663.7867 
Email  northinfo@islandstrust.bc.ca  
Web  www.islandstrust.bc.ca  
 
October 06, 2021 File No.: GM/6410-03; 0110-20-LTC Chairs 
 
Via email: darren.molder@vch.ca 
 
Darren Molder 
Senior Environmental Health Officer & Drinking Water Officer 
Vancouver Coastal Health – Coastal Rural 
 
Dear Mr. Molder and staff at the Environmental Health Office, 
 
Re: Marine water testing in the Sunshine Coast Regional District islands 
 
I am writing to you on behalf of the Gambier Island Local Trust Committee to request that islands in the 
Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) be included in on-going marine water quality testing. 
 
In early July, just after the heat dome event on BC’s southern coast, it came to our attention that a couple 
of  children  became  ill  after  swimming  at  a  beach  on  Gambier  Island.    At  the  same  time,  the  local 
newspaper reported that Vancouver Coastal Health had closed several local beaches after tests indicated 
high E.coli counts.   The local community was surprised to see that there was no information about testing 
on the SCRD islands.   
 
Residents  in the New  Brighton/Gambier Harbour area paid privately for water samples to be  done  and 
the readings were far above safe levels for the New Brighton area.  Although Vancouver Coastal Health 
subsequently responded with second tests to confirm that the levels had returned to “normal”, there was 
no consideration of further or regular testing of that area. After a brief query to other islands in the area, 
it was noted that swimming areas on Bowen Island are tested. 
 
Please consider adding vulnerable island swimming areas (including New Brighton and possibly Plumper 
Cove on Keats Island) to the Vancouver Coastal Health marine water-testing regime especially when there 
are concerns about rising E.coli counts.   
 
We look forward to your response. 
 
Thank you 
 
 
 
Sue-Ellen Fast 
Chair, Gambier Island Local Trust Committee 
 
cc: Sḵwx
̱
wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) 
 Sunshine Coast Regional District Board 
 Gambier Island Local Trust Committee 
 Executive Committee 
 Islands Trust website

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