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The City of Campbell River acknowledges that we are on the territory of the Laich-Kwil-Tach people of the Wei Wai Kum and We Wai Kai First Nations.

Mayor and Council formally presented the Freeman of the City Award to Carol Chapman. Freemen Mary Ashley, Jim Lornie and Bill Matthews were also in attendance.

Carol’s many community contributions, including organizing the Canada Day celebrations, were recognized in 2008 with a Community Builder award. Since then, Carol’s community-mindedness and commitment to helping others continued and her dedication to Campbell River’s Canada Day celebration remained unwavering.

While Chapman was ceremoniously awarded the Freeman of the City Award during Canada Day in 2024, this official recognition will see Chapman’s name added to the top of the voters’ list and included in the City’s social events. The title is an honour, reflecting the eminence of the person on whom it is conferred, or as recognition of significant and valuable services rendered to Campbell River by that person.

Community Safety Updates
Campbell River RCMP Detachment 2025-2026 Annual Performance Plan — Community Policing Priorities
Council heard a presentation from staff and received a report on the Campbell River RCMP Detachment 2025-2026 Annual Performance Plan — Community Policing Priorities (APP). 

Each year, the local RCMP Detachment Commander must solicit input from local residents, interested parties, community leaders and organizations to capture the needs, concerns and issues of the community. As priorities can change rapidly, this information is used to ensure that policing services are meeting the demands of citizens. The APP must be signed by a senior official from the municipality and serves to identify the policing priorities for the RCMP for that community.

In response to the RCMP's request for input, Council endorsed the Community Policing priorities and will submit a letter to the Officer in Charge of the Campbell River RCMP Detachment, signed by Mayor Dahl. These priorities look to capture Campbell River’s unique community policing needs, and include: 

Council further directed staff to report back to Council with advocacy recommendations to address prolific offender issues with other levels of government.

Council adopted Public Nuisance Amendment Bylaw No. 3964, 2024 and Ticketing for Bylaw Offences Amendment Bylaw No. 3979, 2024, which prohibits nuisance illumination. 

The regulations are intended to prevent floodlighting, spotlighting and directional lighting from shining beyond the properties they protect onto residential areas; they also limit the allowable intensity of lantern style lights to reasonable levels. The bylaws are informed by research into suitable levels for incandescent bulbs and LED lighting and are not intended to inhibit the effectiveness of security lighting.

Correspondence was received from Greg Watts regarding streetlamp glare, 78 Ridgeview Place.  

The City is required to report on all remuneration paid to elected officials, all employees paid in excess of $75,000 annually and all contractors paid in excess of $25,000 per year. Individuals or organizations not meeting the thresholds identified within regulation are combined and presented in aggregate on their applicable schedules. 

The total amount paid to employees and Council as remuneration and expenditures in 2024 was $27.1 million (2023 – $24.6 million). The total amount paid to external suppliers in 2024 was $67.1 million (2023 – $57.5 million). Excluded from the Schedule of Suppliers of Goods and Services are the contributions in community grants. In 2024, there were seven local organizations that received grants over $25,000, which totalled $710,000. There were 12 local organizations that received $25,000 or less, which totalled $70,847. Total contributions in community grants in 2024 was $780,847. 

Long Range Planning Updates
BC Transit Annual Operating Agreement 
Council endorsed the 2025/2026 BC Transit Annual Operating Agreement (AOA). This agreement formalizes the operation of transit services for Campbell River as well as Area D and is used to inform the City’s Operations Budget. 

The City and BC Transit both contribute to the cost of providing the service with the City paying 53.31 per cent for the conventional service and 33.31 per cent for the custom service. The City retains all fare revenue generated. The City’s net share of costs is anticipated to be $1,858,202 for conventional service and $287,181 for custom service for the period of April 1, 2025 – March 31, 2026. The costs incurred by the City are shared with other levels of government in the region through various agreements. The City recoups approximately $290,000 of transit costs annually from regional partners. Service improvement options will be provided to Council as part of the upcoming deliberation of the Transit Future Action Plan, developed in partnership with BC Transit. No service expansions are planned for 2025/2026 as part of the AOA. 

BC Transit, the City, and the local operating company Pacific Western Transit/Keolis Canada continue to look for ways to improve local transit services and amenities for the community.

Council received an update on Reimagine the Row: a project that looks to develop downtown properties into middle-income rental housing that helps address the city’s low rental vacancy rate, and provide a variety of commercial and civic spaces. The project aims to invigorate and animate both Shoppers Row and 13th Avenue. As part of this project: 

• The City has been able to rehome 40 of the original 45 residents of Harbourside Inn and anticipates the remaining tenants will be offered other housing options by the end of June.
• Staff have met and continue to work with Hem'?aelas Community Kitchen and Kwesa Place to confirm zoning compliance for proposed relocation properties, and to respond to and expedite any requests as needed.

The next phase of Reimagine the Row will begin in the coming weeks as existing tenancies end and the City prepares the building for demolition. The City is also in the process of selecting a development partner.

For the latest information on the Reimagine the Row project, visit www.getinvolved.campbellriver.ca/reimagine-the-row. 

Quinsam Heights Transportation and Growth Infrastructure Study
Council approved the Quinsam Heights Transportation and Growth Infrastructure Study as a 2025 project and directed staff to prepare and issue a Request for Proposals to retain a consultant to undertake the study. The 2025-2034 Financial Plan will be amended to include the project with a budget of $185,000, funded through the Housing Accelerator Fund.

The study will allow the City to explore options for responding to current and future transportation needs in the Quinsam Heights area. The first phase of the study will be a technical review to assess if Petersen Road could accommodate the continued growth that’s projected for Quinsam Heights. The City anticipates that this phase of the study will be complete by the end of 2025 and will then be presented to Council for consideration. 

Pending the results of phase one and approval by Council, a second phase of the study would look at options to increase the capacity of the road network to address transportation needs. As part of this, the feasibility of upgrading the Elk River Timber (ERT) corridor as a multimodal road that would accommodate vehicle traffic and a separate multi-use pathway for pedestrians and cyclists between 14th Avenue and Evergreen Road would be explored. 

Council is committed to improving transportation for all road users, including those who regularly walk, roll, bike, take transit or drive in Campbell River. Phase two of this study would involve extensive public engagement and outreach, as well as incorporate feedback gathered from the community as part of previous engagements, such as the Master Transportation Plan and the Parks, Recreation and Culture Master Plan. 

For more information about the study's scope and timing, visit www.getinvolved.campbellriver.ca/campbell-river-master-transportation-plan.