The following are just some of the highlights of the District of Sechelt’s second quarter (Q2) report, which covers April 1 to June 3.
The 33-page report is the result of a request that all departments identify which projects and operational activities support council’s strategic priorities for the entire organization. The report was presented at the district’s July 23 committee of the whole meeting.
Note: for the sake of space not all projects, numbers and special mentions for all departments are included below. That information can be found in its entirety within the report.
Bylaw enforcement
The “Mason Road Emu” was saved after a quick-thinking bylaw officer spotted a coyote ready to attack and intervened.
Bylaw officers not only dealt with two vicious dog attacks against other dogs, they also mediated between the owners of victim dogs/offending dogs, successfully encouraging payment of vet bills due to injuries.
Bylaw officers fielded a total of 75 complaints and issued 56 related fines: six regarding dogs; 10 regarding parking; five regarding property maintenance; nine regarding zoning/land use; six regarding solid waste and three regarding short-term rentals.
Arts, culture and heritage
Arts, culture and heritage is responsible for the support of local arts and culture, district-sponsored festivals and events, the promotion of Sechelt as an arts and culture destination, the management of the district’s public art collection, and Community Investment Program grants.
Highlights for Q2 include syíyaya reconciliation projects and initiatives — the fourth annual syíyaya Days saw 17 Indigenous-led programs, events and activities held between June 21 and 30.
Community and public art initiatives included a meeting with xwash Steven Feschuk (Protector of Culture, shíshálh Nation) to discuss previous and upcoming public art collaborations with shíshálh Nation and artists.
Festivals and events kept district staff busy coordinating the production of new banners along Cowrie Street for syíyaya Days, which feature photographs of five woven reconciliation blankets and sashes made by shíshálh Nation artists, and the planning, coordination and implementation of Canada Day festivities in Hackett Park. As well, 18 Community Investment Program grants were awarded and two multi-year agreements were confirmed.
Parks infrastructure and maintenance
Parks staff were kept busy this Q2, reinstalling stair railings in Davis Bay (these are removed during storm season and replaced in spring); making and installing a newly designed collapsible barrier at Mission House; expanding the mobile vendor concrete pad area at Davis Bay; clearing large driftwood logs and a significant amount of sand from the accessible ramp at the beach in Davis Bay.
Cleaning and repairs were started on benches along the Davis Bay and Trail Bay waterfronts; updates were made to a section of the walking path around the Sechelt Marsh and an accessible pathway was added to the entry of Kirkland House. (There are currently 275 benches and picnic tables in Sechelt.)
Sports fields, diamonds and courts
A baseball diamond at Hackett Park has now been converted to natural turf to allow sufficient space for adult soccer games at the park; irrigation fixes and startups were completed; parks staff assisted shíshálh Nation by aerating, seeding and fertilizing the two sports fields at Ted Dixon Park; and an accessible basketball hoop was installed in Hackett Park.
Engineering and operations
Completed projects include the Wakefield Lift Station, Friendship Park washroom renovation and addition of a dog fountain; district hall and library building envelope remediation; public engagement for the feasibility study for the municipal hall and library; Rockwood chimney repair; and Wakefield Culvert road works and line painting completed.
Public Works
Public Works received 542 service requests in Q2, including ongoing street sweeping maintenance; Farmers Market signs reinstalled; weekly homeless encampment cleanup every Thursday morning accompanied by police and bylaw officers; facilitating a movie crew in the lower yard at the Operations Centre; flail mowing in Tuwanek, Sandy Hook, Field Road, Davis Bay and West Sechelt; facilitating large driftwood removal at Davis Bay walkway with the crane-truck; and installing the float at Friendship Park pier. Public Works staff also inspected and repaired the Friendship Park float after an incident with a tugboat. (These are just a small number of the projects Public Works was involved with this Q2.)
Wastewater
One of two vacant wastewater treatment operator positions was filled and a student from the Water Engineering Technology program at Okanagan College joined the team for the summer, effective microbiological turnover has been maintained by close monitoring and adjusting operational strategies, including ensuring sufficient oxygen levels, a pressure transmitter was installed at the WRC enabling better monitoring of discharge pressure and early detection of potential outfall issues, bench testing on several polymers was completed to determine the best choice for a septage solids dewatering trial scheduled for Q3 2025, and annual cleanout and inspections were performed on three lift stations: Onni, Watermark and Mackenzie.
Wastewater operators also responded to several urgent after-hours incidents within the plant and collection system, including three related to power disruptions, 10 involving collection system issues and two operational upsets at the Water Resource Centre.
