FAQs

The acquisition of the existing campground and the adjacent waterfront parcel helps accommodate the growing public pressure for provincial recreation and camping opportunities while considering and managing impacts on park values. You can find out more about BC Parks’ mission and mandate here.

The benefits of the project include:  

• Preventing potential private development on the parcels purchased by BC Parks;
• Improving management of recreation activities to minimize environmental impacts; 
• Protecting the remaining beachfront on Tribune Bay; and,  
• Improving public camping and recreation opportunities at the park by enhancing sustainability, accessibility, and safety.  

BC Parks has developed a plan for the Tribune Bay Improvements that includes the following features:

• A similar number of campsites overall by reducing the density of campsites at the existing campground and providing new low-impact, walk-in campsites;
• An improved variety of opportunities within the existing campground area (bunkies, park-beside camping, walk-in camping); and
• Accessible trails, camping options, and park features (e.g. playground) for British Columbians of all ages and abilities.

Campsites:

The current number of campsites is approximately 135. The total overall number of proposed camping opportunities is 129; including approximately 60 vehicle access campsites, 40 walk-in campsites and 9 bunkies. The updated camping options address public feedback to create a quieter camping experience in a more natural setting. These changes are also expected to reduce the number of RVs.

Parking:

A parking area adjacent to the proposed walk-in campsites will ensure visitors with mobility challenges can easily access the walk-in camping opportunities. The new parking area is intended to mitigate other problems that would arise if no additional parking were available, such as overflow parking on the road.   

The concept plan is available here: April 2024 Tribune Bay Improvements Concept Plan

BC Parks staff are exploring options to determine the best use of this section of the park, including the potential for walk-in campsites.

We are working with experts in a variety of fields to ensure that ecological values, including wetlands and wildlife, are protected. Environmental monitors will be onsite as required during construction.

Ecology: 

• BC Parks has completed an ecological assessment which can be found here: Ecological Overview Assessment.

Tree Assessments:

• BC Parks has completed a tree survey to evaluate the health and potential hazards posed by trees, as well as to identify important wildlife features of trees within the vicinity of the proposed walk-in campsites. The tree survey can be found here: Wildlife/Danger Tree Assessment Report. 
• Most trees at the site will be protected, but BC Parks will be undertaking tree works to mitigate hazards and ensure the safety of park users. Most trees to be removed are standing dead trees and most are red alder.   
• BC Parks is continuing to refine the layout of the walk-in sites. They will be carefully located to preserve existing healthy, mature trees to the greatest extent possible. 

Wetland Complex Protection:

• Environmental assessments of the newly acquired forested property on Shields Road revealed a sedge meadow-wetland complex that holds significant moisture, as well as a large number of dead and decaying trees. This ecological community has high wildlife values. The wetland complex will be protected by identifying the limits of the wetland complex, designating a minimum 15 meter buffer, and locating new walk-in campsites and any other park features outside of the buffer.

Wildlife Protection:

• Existing large standing dead trees will be retained wherever possible to provide valuable nesting and roosting habitat for wildlife such as birds and bats.
• To minimize wildlife disturbance, construction will be scheduled outside of sensitive seasonal windows wherever possible. Environmental monitors will also be onsite as required during construction to ensure active nesting sites are not disturbed (e.g. bald eagles, and migratory birds).

Marine Foreshore:

• The foreshore (approximately the area between the high tide line and low tide line) in Tribune Bay is within the park. BC Parks continues to work to minimize the impact of recreational activities on the marine foreshore, and to educate park visitors about the important natural values of this area.

• BC Parks purchased the privately held land in 2021 and has been engaging with First Nations, Hornby Island residents, and local businesses for the past 3 years.  
• In total, 145 community members have attended our in-person information sessions, and we have received more than 200 survey responses.   
• More than 2,800 people have visited this website to learn more about the project.  
• Feedback collected through our online and in-person engagements has been incorporated into our plans to enhance the recreational opportunities for park visitors while protecting key park values, including modifying the design to address local concerns.  
• The feedback BC Parks gathered, as well as the modifications that have been made as a result, can be viewed in the following reports: Engagement Results and Outcomes and What We Heard. 
• BC Parks continues to keep the community informed of the project status through the HelpShapeBC webpage, informing local government officials, and providing opportunities for public feedback.