Public Comments on the One With Nature Proposal in East Sooke
2 comments submitted to the BC Government
I — Gibsons
To the Crown Land Tenure Decision‑Maker, Province of British Columbia
cc: Chair, CRD Regional Parks Committee; Director for the Juan de Fuca Electoral Area; CRD Parks
I am writing regarding Crown land files 1415403, 1415404, and 1415322, three linked applications by One With Nature Corp for a commercial outdoor education, wilderness survival, bushcraft, and moorage development within the East Sooke Regional Park landscape, and to express my strong opposition to these Crown land tenure applications.
East Sooke is one of the Capital Region’s most important wild coastlines, with over 50 km of trails and a long history of free public access. Handing exclusive commercial use of Crown land inside this park to a private business is the wrong direction. It risks setting a precedent that parks and adjacent Crown land can be carved up for private profit instead of being protected for ecological values and public enjoyment.
I am deeply concerned about the cumulative impacts of this proposal: new buildings and overnight accommodation on the waterfront, increased vehicle and visitor traffic, “bushcraft” activities and a bow range in sensitive habitat, and the gradual expansion that often follows once roads, utilities, and cleared land exist. These changes are not easily reversed. The Sooke Point development shows how a seemingly modest project can grow over time into a dense resort complex that fundamentally alters a landscape.
Public access is also at risk. The application area overlaps with spaces that the community understands as part of East Sooke Park, including portions of the Coast Trail and surrounding shoreline. No private tenure should be allowed to fence off, gate, or effectively privatize areas that have historically been enjoyed by the public.
For these reasons, I urge you to reject this tenure outright and work with the Capital Regional District to bring this parcel under permanent park protection.
Prohibit new permanent roads, power upgrades, docks, or moorage that would make the site attractive as a future resort location.
East Sooke Regional Park is a public treasure, not a commercial development opportunity. Please reject this tenure, or at the very least impose conditions so strict that the land cannot be transformed over time into a private resort at the expense of ecology, public access, and future generations.
This is a beautiful natural space that must be a fully protected public park.
[Your name]
[Your community / city]
Eoghan — Sooke
To the Crown Land Tenure Decision‑Maker, Province of British Columbia
cc: Chair, CRD Regional Parks Committee; Director for the Juan de Fuca Electoral Area; CRD Parks
I am writing regarding Crown land files 1415403, 1415404, and 1415322, three linked applications by One With Nature Corp for a commercial outdoor education, wilderness survival, bushcraft, and moorage development within the East Sooke Regional Park landscape, and to express my strong opposition to these Crown land tenure applications.
East Sooke is one of the Capital Region’s most important wild coastlines, with over 50 km of trails and a long history of free public access. Handing exclusive commercial use of Crown land inside this park to a private business is the wrong direction. It risks setting a precedent that parks and adjacent Crown land can be carved up for private profit instead of being protected for ecological values and public enjoyment.
I am deeply concerned about the cumulative impacts of this proposal: new buildings and overnight accommodation on the waterfront, increased vehicle and visitor traffic, “bushcraft” activities and a bow range in sensitive habitat, and the gradual expansion that often follows once roads, utilities, and cleared land exist. These changes are not easily reversed. The Sooke Point development shows how a seemingly modest project can grow over time into a dense resort complex that fundamentally alters a landscape.
Public access is also at risk. The application area overlaps with spaces that the community understands as part of East Sooke Park, including portions of the Coast Trail and surrounding shoreline. No private tenure should be allowed to fence off, gate, or effectively privatize areas that have historically been enjoyed by the public.
For these reasons, I urge you to reject this tenure outright and work with the Capital Regional District to bring this parcel under permanent park protection.
If the Province nevertheless considers approval, then it must come with strict, enforceable conditions:
Limit the tenure purpose narrowly to low-impact educational programming, with explicit prohibitions on resort, hotel, glamping, marina, event venue, and general tourism accommodation.
Cap the number and size of structures, the total built footprint, occupancy, and vehicle access, with any increase requiring a new public process and full review.
Issue only a short-term tenure (no more than 3–5 years) with stringent renewal criteria focused on ecological performance and preventing any commercial “pivot” or intensification.
Require ministerial approval for any transfer or assignment of the tenure, and refuse transfer to resort or large tourism operators whose plans differ from the original educational intent.
Prohibit new permanent roads, power upgrades, docks, or moorage that would make the site attractive as a future resort location.
Protect public access to existing trails and shoreline, with no exclusive-use zones, fencing, or “private” signage in areas that have historically been open to the public.
Require robust environmental assessment, shoreline setbacks, and ongoing monitoring to ensure sensitive ecosystems and wildlife are not degraded.
East Sooke Regional Park is a public treasure, not a commercial development opportunity. Please reject this tenure, or at the very least impose conditions so strict that the land cannot be transformed over time into a private resort at the expense of ecology, public access, and future generations.
2 comments submitted to the BC Government
cc: Chair, CRD Regional Parks Committee; Director for the Juan de Fuca Electoral Area; CRD Parks
I am writing regarding Crown land files 1415403, 1415404, and 1415322, three linked applications by One With Nature Corp for a commercial outdoor education, wilderness survival, bushcraft, and moorage development within the East Sooke Regional Park landscape, and to express my strong opposition to these Crown land tenure applications.
East Sooke is one of the Capital Region’s most important wild coastlines, with over 50 km of trails and a long history of free public access. Handing exclusive commercial use of Crown land inside this park to a private business is the wrong direction. It risks setting a precedent that parks and adjacent Crown land can be carved up for private profit instead of being protected for ecological values and public enjoyment.
I am deeply concerned about the cumulative impacts of this proposal: new buildings and overnight accommodation on the waterfront, increased vehicle and visitor traffic, “bushcraft” activities and a bow range in sensitive habitat, and the gradual expansion that often follows once roads, utilities, and cleared land exist. These changes are not easily reversed. The Sooke Point development shows how a seemingly modest project can grow over time into a dense resort complex that fundamentally alters a landscape.
Public access is also at risk. The application area overlaps with spaces that the community understands as part of East Sooke Park, including portions of the Coast Trail and surrounding shoreline. No private tenure should be allowed to fence off, gate, or effectively privatize areas that have historically been enjoyed by the public.
For these reasons, I urge you to reject this tenure outright and work with the Capital Regional District to bring this parcel under permanent park protection.
Prohibit new permanent roads, power upgrades, docks, or moorage that would make the site attractive as a future resort location.
East Sooke Regional Park is a public treasure, not a commercial development opportunity. Please reject this tenure, or at the very least impose conditions so strict that the land cannot be transformed over time into a private resort at the expense of ecology, public access, and future generations.
This is a beautiful natural space that must be a fully protected public park.
[Your name]
[Your community / city]
cc: Chair, CRD Regional Parks Committee; Director for the Juan de Fuca Electoral Area; CRD Parks
I am writing regarding Crown land files 1415403, 1415404, and 1415322, three linked applications by One With Nature Corp for a commercial outdoor education, wilderness survival, bushcraft, and moorage development within the East Sooke Regional Park landscape, and to express my strong opposition to these Crown land tenure applications.
East Sooke is one of the Capital Region’s most important wild coastlines, with over 50 km of trails and a long history of free public access. Handing exclusive commercial use of Crown land inside this park to a private business is the wrong direction. It risks setting a precedent that parks and adjacent Crown land can be carved up for private profit instead of being protected for ecological values and public enjoyment.
I am deeply concerned about the cumulative impacts of this proposal: new buildings and overnight accommodation on the waterfront, increased vehicle and visitor traffic, “bushcraft” activities and a bow range in sensitive habitat, and the gradual expansion that often follows once roads, utilities, and cleared land exist. These changes are not easily reversed. The Sooke Point development shows how a seemingly modest project can grow over time into a dense resort complex that fundamentally alters a landscape.
Public access is also at risk. The application area overlaps with spaces that the community understands as part of East Sooke Park, including portions of the Coast Trail and surrounding shoreline. No private tenure should be allowed to fence off, gate, or effectively privatize areas that have historically been enjoyed by the public.
For these reasons, I urge you to reject this tenure outright and work with the Capital Regional District to bring this parcel under permanent park protection.
If the Province nevertheless considers approval, then it must come with strict, enforceable conditions:
Limit the tenure purpose narrowly to low-impact educational programming, with explicit prohibitions on resort, hotel, glamping, marina, event venue, and general tourism accommodation.
Cap the number and size of structures, the total built footprint, occupancy, and vehicle access, with any increase requiring a new public process and full review.
Issue only a short-term tenure (no more than 3–5 years) with stringent renewal criteria focused on ecological performance and preventing any commercial “pivot” or intensification.
Require ministerial approval for any transfer or assignment of the tenure, and refuse transfer to resort or large tourism operators whose plans differ from the original educational intent.
Prohibit new permanent roads, power upgrades, docks, or moorage that would make the site attractive as a future resort location.
Protect public access to existing trails and shoreline, with no exclusive-use zones, fencing, or “private” signage in areas that have historically been open to the public.
Require robust environmental assessment, shoreline setbacks, and ongoing monitoring to ensure sensitive ecosystems and wildlife are not degraded.
East Sooke Regional Park is a public treasure, not a commercial development opportunity. Please reject this tenure, or at the very least impose conditions so strict that the land cannot be transformed over time into a private resort at the expense of ecology, public access, and future generations.
E
Sooke, BC