Gambier LTC New Brighton Dock Letter to SCRDB

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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 
 
August 12, 2020 
 
Via email:  Board@scrd.ca 
 
Sunshine Coast Regional District Board 
1975 Field Road 
Sechelt, BC  V0N 3A1 
 
To the Sunshine Coast Regional District Board, 
 
I am writing to you on behalf of the Gambier Island Local Trust Committee in regards to the New 
Brighton Dock on Gambier Island. 
  
The Squamish Nation, who are the current owners of the New Brighton Dock on Gambier, have 
completed the terms of their management contract with the Federal Government and are now selling 
the facility.   The Squamish Nation staff representatives have indicated that there are several buyers 
interested in the dock and that they are also looking for alternative options that involve public 
ownership to present to Council.  The primary interest of the community is that the dock remains open 
for public use for passenger ferry access, local moorage, and as the critical remote access point for basic 
services including emergencies. 
 
The New Brighton Dock has been the main access point to this part of Gambier for more than a century 
and the settlement pattern around the peninsula reflects that.  This is a sheltered, all-weather port with 
reliable passenger ferry access to Langdale Terminal multiple times through the day.  Because of this, 
basic services such as stores, schools and emergency infrastructure have never developed to any degree 
on the island.  Without access to the New Brighton dock, the only all-season facility on the peninsula, 
the community will cease to function in its current form. 
 
The Gambier Island Local Trust Committee is requesting that the Sunshine Coast Regional District, as the 
service delivery local government for the island, take active steps to support the community in resolving 
this serious situation.  Support such as advice in dock management expertise, development of a service 
function that includes the New Brighton dock, and engagement with the Squamish Nation in support of 
maintaining a public dock would be helpful.  Although there is a meeting scheduled between the Islands 
Trust and the SCRD on September 14
th
, the Committee requests that active support be provided to the 
community as soon as possible. 
 
The Committee recognizes that this is a very complex scenario that will involve all levels of government 
to work together.  The Islands Trust continues to support Trustee Stamford, as a local representative, as 
she advocates with the community for continued public access to the New Brighton Dock. 
 
Respectfully, 
 
 
Sue Ellen Fast 
Chair, Gambier Island Local Trust Committee

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