Watch City Council meetings live or view recordings at campbellriver.ca/webcasts.

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.

Economic Development Updates

Approval of 2025 Advocacy Action Plan: Innovating Prosperity for Resource Communities 

Staff presented the 2025 Advocacy Action Plan: Innovating Prosperity for Resource Communities. The report was received, and Council approved implementation of the Plan.

The Plan, created and endorsed by the City’s Business Advisory Team in June 2025, outlines strategic actions in advocacy, coalition building, and public awareness to promote the value of resource-based communities. Council approved funding to support these initiatives in May 2025. This funding enables targeted efforts to inform other levels of government and increase public understanding of the sector’s challenges and economic importance. Council also received correspondence from the City of Dawson Creek, the City of Fort St. John, and the City of Terrace, in response to and in support of this advocacy initiative, and met with various resource-based communities.

Staff will report back in Q1 2026 with measured outcomes based on key performance indicators, including government engagement, participation by interested parties, and communications metrics.

Airport Fuel Systems Expansion Budget Amendment  

Council heard a presentation on the Airport Fuel Systems Expansion project and approved a budget increase of $170,000, with funding from the Airport and Financial Stabilization Reserves. This increased funding is required as the successful proposal from WS Nicholls Construction Group exceeds the current budget.

Operations Updates

Nunns Creek Park Redevelopment

Council received an update on the Nunns Creek Park Redevelopment and approved a $385,000 budget increase, funded through the Community Works Reserve. These funds will support strategic capital investments at Nunns Creek Park as envisioned in the draft Parks, Recreation, and Culture Master Plan (PRCMP).

The City is advancing a phased redevelopment of Nunns Creek Park to meet growing recreational demand and align with the draft PRCMP. Guided by public engagement and input from user groups, enhancements include:

• Creating a four-diamond slo-pitch hub to support league play and attract tournaments
• Incorporating multi-use spaces, such as soccer fields
• Maintaining flexibility for long-standing events like the Campbell River Salmon Festival

• This approach also allows minor baseball to remain at Willow Point Park, which better suits its family-friendly amenities. Both slo-pitch and baseball user groups have been consulted.

Site preparation and detailed design work for the four new natural grass slo-pitch fields and supporting amenities will begin in fall 2025, with construction following in early 2026. Additional upgrades will include infrastructure improvements, park beautification, and enhancements for multiple user groups. The existing playground will also be replaced; this work will be referred to fall financial planning deliberations.

Input from existing park users, including slo-pitch, Campbell River Youth Soccer Association, logger sports, dog fanciers, and local event organizers, will be incorporated during the detailed design phase of this process.

Long Range Planning Updates

Master Transportation Plan Update

The City is finalizing its updated Master Transportation Plan (MTP), a long-term strategy to improve mobility, safety, and accessibility across the city’s transportation network. Council received an update on the plan, and a workshop will be held in the coming months for Council to further explore, review, and finalize the plan with staff.

The MTP outlines infrastructure priorities over the next 10 years, organized into short (1 to 3 years), medium (4 to 7 years), and long-term (8 to 10 years) actions. Priorities were based on feasibility, community needs, safety, and development potential.

Key short-term priorities outlined in the current draft include:

• Pedestrian: New sidewalks on 2nd and 7th Avenues; connections on 9th Avenue and Pinecrest Road
• Cycling: Neighbourhood bikeways on Birch Street, Thulin/Murphy/Galerno corridor, and Cheviot Road
• Multi-use Pathways: Links from McPhedran to 4th Avenue and the Strathcona Gardens connector
• Transit: Improvements along the Dogwood corridor
• Roads: Projects from the Petersen Corridor Study and a review of a potential new Highway 19 connection at Evergreen or Merecroft Road
• Policy: Updates to bicycle parking requirements, the Traffic Management Policy, downtown parking study, and EV charging network analysis

To learn more or view the full plan, visit getinvolved.campbellriver.ca.

Partnering Agreements approved for Community Beautification Grants

Council approved three 2025 partnering agreements for community beautification. The program will provide $10,000 in matching funds to the Campbellton Neighbourhood Association, $10,000 in matching funds to the Willow Point Business Improvement Association (Willow Point BIA) and $17,566.06 to the Campbell River Downtown Business Improvement Association. Improvements will include planters and flowers, art, events, an updated downtown map, maintenance of cigarette butt receptacles downtown, utility box wraps and more.

Draft Official Community Plan Update: Vision and Guiding Principles 

Council endorsed the draft Official Community Plan (OCP) Vision, Guiding Principles, and future land use map and designations.

The City is conducting a comprehensive review and update of its OCP to guide growth and development in the community over the next 20 years. The OCP is the strategic vision for the future of Campbell River — it guides how neighbourhoods are designed, how people move around the community, how land is used and the amenities the City provides. Since the last OCP review, Campbell River has experienced rapid growth and other significant changes, making this OCP review timely for addressing the community’s current priorities. The Province requires municipalities to review and update their OCPs by December 31, 2025. The City is also conducting a Complete Communities Growth Assessment to inform the OCP review, which is funded entirely by the Union of BC Municipalities.

For more information about the OCP review and update, visit getinvolved.campbellriver.ca/official-community-plan.

Development Services Updates

Development Variance Permit Approved for 1022 Cedar Street

Council approved Development Variance Permit P2500036 to allow a retaining wall at 1022 Cedar Street (formerly 540, 560, 580, and 590 10th Avenue). This variance permits the retaining wall to reach a maximum height of 5.47 metres—3.97 metres above the 1.5-metre limit set by Zoning Bylaw 3250, 2006 (Section 4.17(g)). The wall is required to support slope stability for a proposed apartment development and minimize excavation into the slope.

Two portions of the wall extend onto City property: one into the road right-of-way and one onto undeveloped City land at 600 10th Avenue. Staff will enter into easement and encroachment agreements with the property owner, 1244418 BC Ltd., to formalize the wall’s presence on City lands. These agreements ensure the property owner is responsible for maintaining the wall until the City develops or sells the affected parcels.

Community Safety Updates

Community Safety and Wellbeing Action Plan

Council endorsed the Community Safety and Well-Being Action Plan (the Plan). The Plan incorporates insights and feedback from community partners, social service providers, law enforcement and the public that were collected throughout 2024. This feedback helped to focus the recommendations, actions and initiatives included in the Plan, which look to enhance safety, sense of safety and overall well-being within Campbell River for all residents and visitors.

The Plan identifies 39 of the most critical actions to be implemented over the next one to two years and identifies the City’s role, including leading, partnering, advocating and/or supporting. The City will lead 17 different projects and initiatives, some of which are already underway. These projects cover housing, homelessness, revitalization of public spaces and collaboration, among other priority areas. Council directed staff to establish a Community Safety Working Group to support the implementation of the actions outlined in the plan, coordinate next steps, monitor progress and measure results.

Visit getinvolved.campbellriver.ca/cswb for more information about the Community Safety and Well-Being Action Plan.

Amendment to Animal Control Bylaw

Council adopted Animal Control Amendment Bylaw No. 3992, 2025, which formally designates Evergreen Dog Park and Robron Dog Park as official off-leash areas.

The City, in partnership with School District 72 (SD72), established these two new, temporary designated off-leash dog parks within the community. The agreement, which allows for this use for up to five years, outlines that the City will operate and maintain the dog parks, located on SD72 land at:

• the field adjacent to the Robron Rotary Field House, accessible via Birch Street South, and
• the corner of Petersen Road and Evergreen Road.

The new dog parks are now open and operate daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Remedial Notice for 2160 15th Avenue

Council directed staff to require the property owners of 2160 15th Avenue to bring the property into compliance with Public Nuisance Bylaw No. 3543, 2014 in relation to unsightliness. City staff and contractors were authorized to enter onto the property to perform the work required to achieve compliance if the property owners do not comply.

Financial Services Updates

RCMP Parking Lot Expansion and Upgrade

Council approved the award of Tender 25-52 RCMP Parking Lot Expansion and Upgrade to IWC Excavation for $1,289,989. Work will include the expansion of the parking lot to the rear of the Police and Public Safety Building, installation of automatic entry gates and replacement of the current perimeter fence.

Delegations/Presentations

Campbell River Arts Alliance: Community Impact and Future Vision

Craig Gillis presented to Council on the Campbell River Arts Alliance: Community Impact and Future Vision. Council directed staff to explore options for strategic partnerships with the Campbell River Arts Council and bring back recommendations to Council.

Correspondence

Jim Abram regarding staffing of Chatham Point Lightstation

Council received correspondence from Jim Abram regarding the staffing of Chatham Point Lightstation. Council directed staff to provide written support for keeping all lighthouses staffed until webcams or weather stations are in place.