[Cynthia Kennedy]

I am sure glad I went last year to Cabbage with Skabc. This will make circumnavigating Saturna very difficult.
🚧IMPORTANT VISITOR NOTICE – PROHIBITED ACTIVITY ORDER, Cabbage Island: Camping and Day Use 🚧

Starting April 15, 2025, day use and camping on Cabbage Island will be prohibited due to cultural sensitivities. Mooring buoys remain open, but marine users may only access the island to use the payment kiosk and/or pit toilet. We ask that you respect this closure by not extending your stay on the island. Recreational use of the beach is prohibited. For more information:
https://ow.ly/e80S50VzbP1

Cabbage Island is low-lying and highly vulnerable to sea level rise and erosion. Activities like camping and hiking contribute to ongoing erosion of the island. Parks Canada is working collaboratively with First Nations to study the ecological and cultural significance of the island and to document it for future generations.

We encourage you to explore other beautiful destinations within Gulf Islands National Park Reserve at https://ow.ly/Gbcv50VzbOZ. Visit our website to keep up to date on information. Thank you for your understanding and support. Pender Island Chamber of Commerce The Southern Gulf IslandsDestination Greater Victoria Saturna Island Tourism Association Sidney by the Sea Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce Pender Island Tourism Mayne Island Community Chamber of Commerce

Topic

[Nick Heath]

BCMT met with the Parks Canada Superintendent but did not get very far except we heard their commitment to attempt to find alternative sites in the next year or two. This was judged to be an unsatisfactory outcome.

Further requests will be made for more definitive background information (e.g. consultant’s report) and an approach will be made through political channels (Green Party MP Elizabeth May represents this federal riding).

As far as is known, no individual First Nation had raised any issues of cultural or heritage preservation related to the use of Cabbage Island for paddle-in camping.

Its continued day use by fee-paying boaters using the mooring buoys and toilet suggests an unequal regard by Parks Canada to paddlers as opposed to those using larger vessels, even though the latter user group has more options for dispersal to other sites.

Thanks for supporting BCMT!

[Cynthia Kennedy]

I encourage members to write directly to of closure of Cabbage island

Christina Sharun

Park Reserve Superintendent

Gulf Islands National Park Reserve

Parks Canada / Government of Canada

2220 Harbour Road, Sidney, BC V8L 2P6

christina.sharun@pc.gc.ca |

 

[Nick Heath]

This is a sad blow. BC Marine Trails will be requesting to meet with the Park Superintendent, but without any real prospect of a change in their decision. Rather the hope will be for a replacement site in an equally critical location. However, when Beaumont was closed, no replacement was ever offered.

[Andrew Mylly]

Thanks for the heads up!  I’ll. have to change my October trip, had planned to camp here……darn

[Author]

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