May 28, 2021 - Strengthening our ability to preserve and protect

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Bowen, Denman, Gabriola, Galiano, Gambier, Hornby, Lasqueti, Mayne, N. Pender, Salt Spring, Saturna, S. Pender, Thetis 
 
 
May 28, 2021 – for immediate release 2021-08-IT 
 
Strengthening our ability to preserve and protect 
 
Lək
̓
 ʷəŋən, METULIYE/Victoria, B.C. – With the intent of strengthening Islands Trust’s ability to fulfil its preserve and 
protect mandate, Great Northern Management has been contracted to conduct a governance, management, and 
operations review.  
 
Great Northern Management will be assessing Islands Trust’s current performance, practices, work processes, and 
decision-making systems. They will review the organization’s structure, policies and procedures; and will evaluate how 
effective and efficient the organization is at carrying out its mandate. The review excludes consideration of the Islands 
Trust Conservancy and Bowen Island Municipality, and legislation that guides and limits the Islands Trust's authorities.  
Islands Trust selected the Great Northern Management team through a request for proposals process. 
 
Islands Trust operates in a complicated context to preserve and protect the Islands Trust Area. It is facing intense 
development pressures, increasing climate change impacts, one of the highest densities of species at risk in Canada, 
changing demographics, and high levels of community concern about freshwater sustainability and availability of 
affordable housing. The Islands Trust Council has also passed a Reconciliation Declaration and is committed to the 
implementation of reconciliation and alignment of policies with the BC Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples 
Act (DRIPA).   
 
“We are very much looking forward to conducting this review,” shared Charles Kelly, Project Lead, Great Northern 
Management. “Islands Trust is unique as a special-purpose government and faces unique challenges and demands as it 
strives to preserve and protect the beautiful Trust Area. We will focus on the effectiveness of Islands Trust’s governance 
in determining the strategic direction of the organization as well as reviewing the land use planning services and advocacy 
activities.”   
 
“Trust Council’s goal for this review is to assess current performance and seek input on options for strengthening Islands 
Trust, so it can better fulfil its preserve and protect mandate into the future," shared Peter Luckham, Islands Trust Council 
Chair. "Great Northern Management has considerable experience in governance, strategic planning and organizational 
assessment, and is well-positioned to provide insight into how Islands Trust can better serve the Trust Area.”  
 
The Trust Council Select Committee on Governance and Management Review, which holds meetings open to the public, 
will oversee the review process. Trust Council has budgeted $75,000 from Islands Trust’s surplus fund for the review. The 
final report is scheduled for delivery in March 2022.  
 
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News Release 
200 - 1627 Fort Street Victoria B

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