Penelakut’s Community Dock Deserves Urgent Attention
Perhaps the most important piece of infrastructure in our region has no budget, no
project plan, and no clear path forward.
The Penelakut community dock, historically known as the Government Wharf, is the
lifeline for more than 600 residents. It is far more than a collection of pilings and planks.
It provides a vital connection for emergency services, medical appointments, supplies,
commerce, and daily life.
Simply put, for Penelakut residents, the dock is their road.
Having grown up on neighbouring Thetis Island, I understand just how important these
marine connections are. Both the Thetis and Penelakut docks trace their origins to the
1950s. While the Thetis dock has benefited from significant upgrades over the years,
Penelakut’s dock faces growing challenges and deserves the same level of attention
and long-term planning.
A few months ago, I visited Penelakut alongside MLA Debra Toporowski to meet with
Chief Jack and Council. We discussed a number of shared priorities, from voting access
to recreation and opportunities for collaboration. But one issue stood above all others:
the long-term future of the dock.
The challenge is that responsibility touches many organizations and governments. The
dock sits within the traditional territory of the Penelakut people, and any long-term
solution will require cooperation among the Penelakut Tribe, federal and provincial
governments, and numerous regulatory agencies.
Although the CVRD has no jurisdiction over reserve lands, strong relationships still matter.
Local government can play an important role in bringing people together and ensuring critical issues reach the
right decision-makers.
Following recent discussions with Chief Jack and our CAO, I have been given
permission by Chief and Council to help raise awareness of this issue and support
efforts to find practical solutions.
Throughout my time on the Board, I have learned that complex problems require
persistence, patience, and partnership. Whether it was protecting the Stocking Lake
Dam, advancing the Saltair-Ladysmith water supply project, replacing the Davis Lagoon
Bridge deck, upgrading community facilities, or working with the RCMP to improve traffic
safety, progress has always come through collaboration.
The most important projects are often the ones that cross jurisdictions and require people to come together around a
common goal.
I believe the future of the Penelakut dock will be no different.
Addressing the long-term future of the dock will require specialized marine engineering,
significant investment, and cooperation among multiple governments and agencies.
There are no easy answers, but some infrastructure is simply too important to overlook.
We often talk about earthquakes, wildfires, and emergency preparedness, yet some of
our most critical infrastructure was built generations ago. Communities become resilient
not because disasters never happen, but because they invest in the connections that
allow people to get help when they need it most.
No community should be disadvantaged simply because it is smaller, more remote, or
falls between jurisdictions. Residents of Penelakut deserve the same level of reliability
and safety that many of us take for granted.
Too often, important projects fall into the cracks between agencies and governments.
Everyone has a piece of responsibility, but no one owns the whole problem. The public
does not care whose logo is on the letterhead. They care whether the dock works.
Growing up on Thetis Island, I learned that marine infrastructure is not a luxury. It is how
island communities live.
Roads connect most communities. Docks connect our islands. And no community
should fall through the cracks simply because the solution requires more than one
government.
Some challenges are the responsibility of a single government.
Others require all of us.
