Hello to all of you.
As part of the federal budget 2012 cuts, Parks Canada is eliminating the
Park and Community Planning Coordinator position for Coastal BC (my
position). I want to provide you with an update on the management
plan/planning process before I move on to other endeavours in the next
short while. I ask that you please not respond to this email.
To-date, Phase 2 of the park management planning process has included four
stakeholder sessions (held in January & February), a Coast Salish session
(in March), and public open houses held on Saturna, Pender and Mayne
Islands (in May). We are holding the last open house in downtown
Vancouver this Thursday (Noon-3pm at the Morris J Wosk Centre for
Dialogue). Although we had originally planned to have information booths
at three locations in June and July, we will now only be at the Town of
Sidney Market on June 21 (Beacon Ave. between First and Second Streets).
I ask for your assistance to spread the word that Management Plan
Newsletter #5, which contains all that is currently being proposed in Phase
2 and was sent to you in late April, is available on the park website (
www.parkscanada.gc.ca/gulf - use the Management Planning feature button on
the right hand side of the home page). I've also attached a copy of it
again for convenience. At this time, the planned on-line comment form is
not operational. Again, given the cuts I cannot say if it will be made
operational or not, hence I have also attached a copy of it for your use
and for others.
It is clear to me that Parks Canada will need to significantly reduce the
number of proposed objectives and actions and/or extend the timeline for
implementing the management plan. In addition to the questions in the
comment form, it will be important for interested individuals and groups to
identify which of the current proposed actions people feel are most
critical. This information may help inform discussions that the Park
Superintendent and the Management Team will have as they determine
realistic priorities for the future.
Comments on the Phase 2 information are being received until July 20.
Comments can be submitted by email to gulf.islands@pc.gc.ca, by fax to
250-654-4014 or by mail to Parks Canada, Gulf Islands NPR, 2220 Harbour
Rd, Sidney BC V8L 2P6. In each case, please note "Park Management Plan
Comments" in the subject line.
Lastly, I want to say that I have immensely enjoyed my 8.5 years in the
capacity of Planner for Coastal BC, and particularly my work relating to
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve. I have worked directly with many of
you over the years and I truly honour your keen interest in ensuring that
this national treasure be managed in the best possible way. I appreciate
everyone's involvement. It has been a pleasure to work with and for you.
Thanks, Carolyn! Your work has been a great contribution to the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve. We enjoy kayaking in the GINPR and hope to do so for many years. People can read the newsletter #5 at http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/bc/gulf/plan/b.aspx
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