In collaboration with BC Transit, service enhancements are set for the Sunshine Coast in 2026.

The region’s busiest bus route will see increased frequency, and handyDART users will also benefit from expanded service options.

Service Improvements for 2026 include:

• Route 90: Weekday service frequency will increase to every 30 minutes between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.
• HandyDART: Service hours will be extended on both weekdays and weekends to better serve the community. Additionally, Sunday-level service will be provided on all statutory holidays, adding a total of 2,900 extra hours of handyDART service.

Updated schedules will be available on the BC Transit website when the changes take effect on January 5, 2026.

Due to ongoing staffing challenges, a continued shortage of available lifeguards and low attendance during certain hours, the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) is making changes to hours at the Pender Pool and gym.

As of Saturday, December 6, 2025, the following hours will be in effect.

• Sunday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Monday: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Tuesday: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Wednesday: 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. / 8: 30 a.m. to 1p.m. (gym only) / 3:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Thursday: 7 a.m. to 1p.m.
• Friday: Closed
• Saturday: Closed

The SCRD thanks residents for their patience and understanding as efforts continue to recruit qualified aquatics staff for our swimming pools.

Recruitment for lifeguards is ongoing and current jobs postings can be found at  www.scrd.ca/careers.

If you are a qualified lifeguard or know someone who is, please apply. Learn more at www.scrd.ca/lifeguard.

The SCRD also offers courses to certify lifeguards, if you are interested, please email recreation@scrd.ca for more information.

The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) has received approval from electors, through an Alternative Approval Process (AAP), to authorize borrowing of up to $13.18 million over a 20-year term to fund the Langdale Wellfield Project. 

“Elector approval is obtained if less than 10% (2,197) of the total eligible electors state their opposition to the borrowing by submitting a response form to the SCRD,” says Sherry Reid, SCRD Corporate Officer. “The AAP returned 75 response forms certified as valid in opposition to the borrowing by the deadline, therefore elector approval has been obtained.”  

Provincial legislation requires that a local government must receive approval of the electors to use long-term (more than five years) borrowing.  

Elector response forms were made available online, and for pick up at the Regional District Administration building and the Sechelt Library. Residents were also given the opportunity to learn about the project via the SCRD Website and the SCRD’s engagement website, Let’s Talk SCRD. 

The AAP results were officially reported to the SCRD Board at today’s Board meeting. You can find the associated staff report linked here.  

The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) invites residents to provide input following the introduction of a new paid-on-call compensation model for volunteer firefighters across its four fire departments. 

The SCRD’s dedicated volunteer firefighters, which include Egmont and District Volunteer Fire Department, Halfmoon Bay Volunteer Fire Department, Roberts Creek Volunteer Fire Department and Gibsons and District Volunteer Fire Department provide 24/7 emergency response to our communities.  

These firefighters must also meet the same provincial training standards as career firefighters. The updated compensation model, implemented in August 2025, provides hourly pay for emergency response, training, and department activities while maintaining the volunteer status of all members. You can read more about that here.  

As the SCRD integrates this model into long-term financial planning, community input will play a key role. The SCRD Board has directed staff to conduct public engagement to ensure residents understand the changes and have an opportunity to share feedback. 

You can share your feedback by completing this short questionnaire. The questionnaire will remain open for feedback until Friday, December 12,  

SCRD staff and volunteer firefighters will also be available to answer any questions you may have this coming Wednesday, at our Coffee, Cookies and Conversations event which takes place from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Seaside Centre in Sechelt. 

Another mock water bill is in the mail for residents in the North and South Pender Water Service Areas. 

These mock bills are part of the Sunshine Coast Regional District’s (SCRD) effort to help residents understand water usage and what future charges will look like under the new volumetric billing system. This will be the final mock bill before the first real quarterly bill is distributed in April 2026.  

We know residents will have questions, and SCRD staff are here to help. Here are a few ways to learn more and connect with SCRD staff: 

• Online information space – You can learn more about the volumetric billing project and ask questions at any time at letstalk.scrd.ca/water-billing.   
• Dedicated webpage – Check out www.scrd.ca/water-billing for resources to help you understand your mock bill Stay tuned on this webpage to learn more about 2026 rates.  

New Utility Account Numbers
With volumetric billing starting in 2026, properties in the North and South Pender water service areas have been assigned a new utility account number. Previous utility account numbers will become inactive. More information on steps you need to take if you pay your utilities via your bank can be found here.  

Access to MySCRD
At the top of your mock bill, North and South Pender water service residents will find their new utility account number and access code. Once you register this new account via MySCRD (an explainer video can be found here), you will have access to your utility account data. This includes graphs that help you understand your water use.  

Get Ready for Regional
Starting in 2026, the SCRD will begin mock billing the Regional Water Service (which includes Egmont, Cove Cay, Chapman, Langdale and Eastbourne Water Systems). Stay tuned to letstalk.scrd.ca/water-billing for more information on this, including when residents in this water service can access their data through MySCRD. 

Repairs to the Hopkins Landing Dock are set to begin next week, restoring this much-loved community landmark.  

Closed since June 2023 due to safety concerns, the dock is now moving forward with necessary upgrades. Extensive community engagement was conducted in 2024 to ensure the design aligns with input received from the community.  

At an open house and through the SCRD’s Let’s Talk project page, community members expressed a strong desire to preserve the dock’s original appearance. In response, the renovation will follow a “like-for-like” design (pictured below), maintaining the dock’s familiar look, however the float will not be a part of this stage of the construction project.  

When the Hopkins Landing Dock was closed, the float was removed and placed into storage. Repairs were identified as part of the renovation project. In April, upon closer inspection, it was discovered that the float was in significant disrepair and could not be reused. This replacement will require a separate design and construction contract and will not be completed alongside the main dock upgrades.

Materials will begin arriving on-site next week. No road closures are expected, though some areas around the dock will be fenced off for public safety. SCRD staff will also be speaking directly with nearby homeowners who could be affected by the work next week.  

The work is anticipated to be completed by the end of January.