Endangered Species
The Peregrine Falcon
The Peregrine Falcon is a cosmopolitan bird of prey. It can reach speeds … [Read More...]
The Great Blue Heron
The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada has listed the … [Read More...]
Red-legged Frogs
Red-legged Frogs have declined in some parts of their range due to habitat … [Read More...]
In the late 1960’s ALL THREE provincial parties sitting in the B.C legislature AGREED that the Gulf Islands were so distinctly beautiful, environmentally sensitive and subject to development pressure, that special governmental protection was required. They created a new form of government for this rare provincial asset.
The Islands Trust Act of 1974 was enacted to “preserve and protect the Trust Area and its unique amenities for the benefit of residents of the Trust Area and of the Province of B.C.” All parties were unanimous in their conclusion that the usual form of governance (municipal incorporation under the Local Governments Act) would NOT afford sufficient protection to the rarest ecosystem in the province.
Our elected representatives are called “Trustees” to reflect their duty to fulfill the mandate of The Trust. As anticipated by the legislature of the seventies, developmental pressure on the Gulf Islands has increased significantly.
Today’s challenges require a continued commitment to Trust principles so that future generations may appreciate all that makes these islands and our island way of life so special.
