qathet Regional District’s (qRD) committee of the whole has recommended that staff write a report on potential options that enable the Shelter Point Regional Park concession stand on Texada Island to remain operational.
At the December 20 committee of the whole meeting, Electoral Area D director and committee chair introduced a motion that the committee recommend to the regional board that the board refer the December 2023 Shelter Point park concession stand survey to staff and direct staff to write a report on potential options that enable the concession stand to remain operational.
McCormick said the motion makes a lot of sense in light of the findings of the survey initiated by qRD to further investigate public opinion regarding the concession. She said there were 662 responses, and 91 per cent said they want to keep the concession open. She added that 89 per cent of respondents indicated that the concession stand is part of the camping experience at the park.
“Also, 76 per cent of respondents agreed that a subsidy was necessary to keep the concession open,” said McCormick. “We have assurance that the survey is accurate, and the findings are overwhelming, so that speaks in support of this recommendation.”
In an interview, McCormick said she was not the least bit surprised by the results of the survey.
“People are enthusiastic, passionate even, about the concession stand,” said McCormick. “It was not just the people on Texada Island. This was a region-wide survey. Although the majority of respondents were from Texada, several hundred were from the mainland. To come up with 91 per cent support in favour of keeping the concession open, the public has spoken loud and clear. They expect a concession at the park and love a concession at the park.”
McCormick said in the comments section of the survey, there were so many comments from the mainland indicating that people choose to go to Shelter Point because of the concession.
She said the other interesting statistic was that people believe the concession is an integral part of the camping experience at Shelter Point. She said one other statistic indicating that 76 per cent of respondents felt subsidy was appropriate to keep the concession open.
“This whole thing [survey] came about because staff presented a proposal some months ago to convert the concession building into a sleeping cabin because there were no bidders for the concession to operate it last summer,” said McCormick. “After discussion at committee of the whole, directors agreed we would wait until this budget process to make a decision about the concession building. Staff decided to do a survey and doing it region-wide because it is a regional park funded by all taxpayers.
“The results are very loud and clear about what people expect and that people are willing to pay for this. It’s important we listen to the public. It would be a big disservice to the public to make the decision to close the concession because people are keen on keeping it.”
McCormick said there has been mention from a proponent who is a former operator of the concession who took a couple of years out, but is fully prepared to operate the concession this summer. McCormick said there may be other bidders, also.
“There is at least one qualified, experienced individual proposing to be an operator,” said McCormick.
She added that in addition to campers, residents of Gillies Bay also make use of the concession.
“It’s very well used by the community as well as by the campers,” said McCormick. “It’s used by the locals as a meeting place to enjoy each other’s company.”
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