March Newsletter
- Mike
- Mar 10
- 2 min read
Spring is coming! The sun is brighter and the days are getting longer. Boating season will be here before you know it.
New Society to Defend Property Rights
The Columbia and Windermere Valley Property Owner’s Society ("the Society") has been formed specifically to respond to the ʔakisq̓nuk First Nation request that the BC Government "immediately suspend all new and currently proposed development in and on the shorelines of Lake Windermere and Columbia Lake (collectively, the “Lakes”) until a comprehensive lake stewardship plan is developed and implemented.” Additionally ʔakisq̓nuk has indicated that the "stewardship plan that must prioritize Indigenous-led decision making."
The Society has been formed to pursue a legal path forward for property owners to maintain their current uses of the Lakes and foreshore without impairment. The formal Society mandate is registered as follows:
“The Society is a collective of property owners who are seeking involvement in, and clarity pertaining to, the BC government's decision-making processes pertaining to claims by First Nations or environmental groups, which encompass any and all proposed restrictions including and not limited to, lake and foreshore development moratoriums whether enacted or otherwise, and any change of the current use of Lake waters in the Columbia Valley including Lakes Windermere and Columbia Lake.”
CVBA first reported on this in July 2025. Government has not responded publicly to theʔakisq̓nuk letter and there has been a lack of transparency. This new Society is seeking to get involved before control of the Lakes are handed over. A letter has been sent to the BC Government seeking inclusion in discussions and access to information.
The Society has been registered in BC, a board of Directors established, and initial funding has been secured for a retainer to law firm Osler, Harkin, & Harcourt LLP. The Society is actively seeking members and funding. The first step is to have all community associations around the lakes join the Society. CVBA will become a member and communicate with our supporters. The tabs below include full details from the March 8, 2026 update from the Society, its letter to the BC Government, and the June 2025 AFN letter. Please start a discussion within your community association to get involved and support the Society. A website and email addresses are being developed. Until that is complete, use vcalvert@mtroyal.ca for enquiries. If you have trouble opening the documents below, please CVBA for a direct copy.
Seeking Volunteer to Join Ambassadors
The Lake Windermere Ambassadors AGM is Thursday, March 19. The LWA are supposed to have representation from many stakeholder groups. However, the board seat allocated to a representative from the boating community has been mostly vacant for the past 10 years. The best way to ensure a balanced approach to lake management is from within the Ambassadors. We are seeking a member of the boating community who is willing to join the LWA board for the next year. The meetings are every fourth Thursday of the month at 6 pm and can be attended electronically. Click the link below for the LWA webpage. Please email CVBA for more information if this is something you are considering.
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