Save Simms Creek

08/30/2026

Volunteers needed tomorrow afternoon: ‘Sign Up’ for Simms Creek – Back by Popular Demand
Many commented that they would have come to the last event if they had known about it- this is your chance!
Monday, August 31
2:00 pm to 3:00 pm: Alder Hill (east side) between Rockland and Cottonwood, and
4:00 pm to 5:00 pm: Highway 19A (Old Island Highway, east or west side) at Simms Creek Estuary
We welcome you to ‘Sign Up’ for Simms Creek, a peaceful, quiet gathering of folks holding signs to support protection of the biodiverse lands adjacent to this valued salmon-bearing creek. We
hope people will come to help spread the message across our community that WestUrban’s proposed development is the wrong development in the wrong place. The more people we have, the greater the impact!
Feel free to bring your friends, family (older children only due to road safety issues for little ones) and your lawn sign if you have one (we will have lots available).
Plan to dress for the weather and come with a supply of snacks and water as needed. Parking on Highway 19A is limited and we ask you not to park on the Alder hill (parking on the west side of Alder in front of the Sportsplex is recommended). Please ensure you use a designated
crosswalk to cross the streets!

08/28/2026

Petitions: Volunteers will be taking signatures at The Island Grind, Hilchey location 11 am - 1 pm tomorrow, Saturday, August 29. Because of recent developments (see the post below "Bad News, Bears") it is even more important to get signatures on our petition. See you there!

08/25/2026

Bad News, Bears

This morning we were advised the Riparian Areas Protection Regulation (RAPR) report has been approved by the Province.

A number of our Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to the Province have, without our approval, been extended by the Province to September 29.

Therefore we do not have copies of documents or know what has gone on behind the scenes. However, with the dismissal of our Environmental Appeal Board (EAB) appeal last week, and notice of the approval of the RAPR today, it appears the RAPR was given a quick go-ahead once the EAB made its ruling.

We do not know if there were changes made to the RAPR to address the concerns of the Province’s own biologists and to meet the Province’s own regulations. You will recall four previous RAPR reports submitted by WestUrban’s contracted biologists were rejected by the Province.

Under the Section 11 approval, WestUrban has permission to move/destroy the natural wetlands and build man-made wetlands elsewhere. The approval stipulates work must be done by September 15, 2026.

We do not know WestUrban’s intentions in moving forward.

This does feel like a double blow. We are down, but not out, and will keep you posted on our next steps.

What we do know is the next level of oversight on this proposed development is at City Hall – the Development Services Department and City Council.

If you want to do your part to Save Simms Creek, we encourage you to participate and vote in the municipal elections October 17. There are candidates who have made clear their support.

08/22/2026

An update on our appeal to the BC Environmental Appeal Board:

We learned this week that the EAB has denied our standing to appeal, which means we were not granted permission to present our evidence against the Ministry of Land, Water and Resource Stewardship's Section 11 decision allowing WestUrban to build on/destroy natural wetlands.

We currently await further consultation with our legal counsel.

08/22/2026

We don't actually have monkeys and kangaroos here, but a wealth of animals and birds live in the Simms Creek forest and could lose their homes....
(visual from Environmental Awareness)

08/22/2026

Yet another Deer Crossing sign has been placed on S. Alder (near the pushed-out No Trespassing sign and fence). Thank to the person or group that added one more reminder for motorists.

08/20/2026

08/18/2026

WOW! Over the last three days we have had 27 pages of signed petitions turned in!! Sincere thanks to our dedicated volunteers who manned our table at the Simms estuary on the weekend, and to all the supporters who came out to sign the petition. We have over 1200 signatures now...shooting for 3-4,00. Watch this space for your next opportunity to sign.

08/16/2026

YAY!! A big shout-out to Wild Wise Campbell River for putting up wildlife crossing signs along Alder between Rockland and the Sportsplex to remind drivers to slow down and be mindful of the critters.

08/16/2026

BIG Thanks to all who turned out to sign our petition today. It was so wonderful to have someone say they had come by specifically to sign the petition! Volunteers will be at the Simms estuary (on the Seawalk at the bridge between Rockland and Hilchey again tomorrow (Sunday Aug 16) from 1- 4 pm.