Author: Chloe Adams

A 4.7 magnitude earthquake struck northeast of Sechelt on Friday afternoon, shaking homes and buildings across southwestern British Columbia. Originally reported as a 5.1 magnitude quake, Natural Resources Canada later revised it to 4.7. John Cassidy, a senior research scientist at Natural Resources Canada, said the earthquake lasted about 10 seconds. Because it was shallow, there is a possibility of aftershocks in the region. The quake occurred shortly after 1:30 p.m. at a depth of one kilometre. Residents described the tremor as light, and no immediate damage or injuries were reported. The National Tsunami Warning Centre confirmed there was no…

The District of Sechelt has successfully aligned its residential policies within the Official Community Plan (OCP) with provincial requirements, months ahead of the 2025 deadline. A staff report presented on April 9 to the District of Sechelt committee of the whole confirmed that the district’s current OCP policies meet updated standards under the Local Government Act. This means no further amendments are required before the overall OCP review. Kevin Pearson, senior policy planner for Sechelt, called the development a “good news story.” He explained that the district has now met requirements for both small-scale multi-unit housing and the housing needs…

The District of Sechelt is urging the provincial government to allow municipalities to take part in the current review of supportive housing programs and policies across British Columbia. At the July 16 council meeting, Councillor Alton Toth introduced a motion that called for local governments to be included in the expert panel now guiding the review. The provincial panel includes police services, health authorities, Indigenous partners, and non-profit housing providers, but no municipalities. Toth said this lack of representation overlooks the governments that live with the daily consequences of supportive housing. According to him, local councils face both the financial…

Sechelt council has approved the next steps for a public surveillance camera pilot program, aiming to explore how video monitoring could enhance community safety. The decision was made during a regular council meeting on May 21, where staff presented recommendations for the Community Safety Surveillance Camera System Pilot Project. The approved plan includes three key steps. First, a privacy impact assessment will be submitted to the BC Information and Privacy Commissioner for pre-approval of the pilot program. Second, staff will engage with the public to gather feedback on the proposed surveillance system. Finally, a report summarizing the public input will…

A 5.1 magnitude earthquake struck near Sechelt on Friday afternoon, sending a jolt across British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast. Despite fears of destruction, officials reported no major damage. The quake, which hit at around 1:30 p.m., was felt across the region, including Vancouver and Squamish. Emergency managers described the earthquake as one of the largest to hit the Coast in decades. Local staff quickly began safety procedures. The first step was confirming that everyone was safe and all buildings were secure. Fire departments, first responders, and other emergency crews reported they were on standby but did not need to respond to…

Sechelt has successfully aligned its residential policies with provincial housing requirements, meeting all obligations under the Local Government Act almost nine months ahead of the 2025 deadline. At the April 9 committee of the whole meeting, a staff report confirmed that updates to the Official Community Plan (OCP) now fully comply with provincial regulations, eliminating the need for further revisions before the overall OCP review. Kevin Pearson, senior policy planner for the district, described the outcome as a “good news story.” He noted that Sechelt has met not only the small-scale multi-unit housing requirements but also the housing needs report…

A 4.7 magnitude earthquake struck northeast of Sechelt on Friday afternoon, shaking communities across southwestern British Columbia. Residents reported feeling the tremors in Vancouver, North Vancouver, and Vancouver Island. Natural Resources Canada (NRC) initially reported the quake as a magnitude 5.1 but later revised it to 4.7. The earthquake occurred shortly after 1:30 p.m. at a shallow depth of one kilometre. John Cassidy, senior research scientist at NRC, said the shaking lasted about 10 seconds and warned that aftershocks could follow due to the quake’s shallow depth. The epicentre was located in a remote mountainous area within Tetrahedron Provincial Park…

The District of Sechelt council is reaching out to the province for help in addressing ongoing internal problems. This decision follows a recent meeting where councillors discussed the findings of a detailed governance audit. During its regular meeting on July 30, the council voted to ask the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs for support. The goal is to find ways to resolve conflicts and improve working relationships. However, council agreed not to mention the audit report directly in its formal request to the province. The audit was carried out between February 26 and June 25, 2024, by George B.…