FAQs

1. That the Board extend the 2012‑2021 Regional Parks Strategic Plan's term for eight months and that staff bring back an updated Strategic Plan for Board approval in July 2022.
2. And that a workshop of the Regional Parks Committee members be convened in January 2022 to provide input on the plan.
3. That staff report back at the January workshop with a list of proposed stakeholders for direct engagement.
4. That the committee request that staff, including the First Nations Relations division, engage all First Nations in the region in an early, meaningful and ongoing manner in the development of the plan.

A strategic plan guides an organization in consistently making decisions that move towards a desired future state. Through the strategic plan, CRD Regional Parks will determine a vision for the future of regional parks and trails as well as identify goals and objectives to pursue to achieve such vision.

The development of the Regional Parks Strategic Plan 2012-2021 was initiated in 2009 to replace the CRD Parks Master Plan that had been in effect since 2000. The development of the Strategic Plan was staff supported but primarily led by a volunteer Citizens Advisory Panel and included extensive engagement with stakeholders, the public, government, First Nations and other park agencies.

The Regional Parks Strategic Plan 2012-21 has set the overall vision, goals and objectives for Regional Parks’ service delivery over the past 10 years. The CRD Board initiated an update of the Regional Parks Strategic Plan on December 8, 2021 and extended the current Plan until July 2022. A new Regional Parks Strategic Plan will be brought forward for approval at that time.

Many of the trends, challenges and priorities in the 2012-21 Regional Parks Strategic Plan are still relevant today, as shown through monitoring and resident surveys conducted by CRD in 1998, 2005 and 2017. However, the planning context in the region has evolved and become more complex since 2012. It is important to update the Strategic Plan to reflect how other CRD strategies and Board initiatives relate to Regional Parks, as well as modernizing the format of the document, will improve its application to service delivery.

Updating the Strategic Plan will benefit CRD staff, the Regional Parks Committee and Board in consistently making decisions that advance the regional parks and trails vision. An updated Plan will also benefit First Nations, partner organizations, stakeholders and the public in understanding CRDs priorities and commitments moving forward.

The Strategic Plan update will have a renewed vision statement that identifies the desired future state of regional parks and trails. 

Mission and value statements that define the core function and principles of the Regional Parks service will also be revamped. Determining a suitable balance between compatible outdoor recreation and nature conservation will remain a key component of the Strategic Plan, however, resiliency, accessibility, equity and reconciliation with First Nations are proposed as additional core values. Resiliency helps achieve the region’s climate goals of using resources sustainably with a view to benefiting future generations. Equity and accessibility will allow regional parks and trails to be inclusive and accessible to people of all ages and abilities. The CRD’s path toward reconciliation with Indigenous peoples commits to supporting First Nations’ self-determination, shared prosperity and working together to take care of the land and water.

The regional context will be aligned to current and emerging trends and issues facing regional parks and trails in the coming decade. Renewed priority statements will be developed that identify the initiatives, targets and desired outcomes for Regional Parks to achieve the desired vision. 

Park-specific management plans and policy direction for program delivery are beyond the scope of the Strategic Plan. Such operational procedures and guidelines will be developed and implemented consistent with the overarching direction for the Regional Parks service as established in the Strategic Plan. 

Actions from the 2012-21 Strategic Plan that were not fully developed, such as a strategy for outdoor recreation, can be included as priority initiatives or actions in the updated Strategic Plan; however, fulsome policy development to address these individual initiatives will occur as separate processes that are guided by the vision, values, mission and priorities identified in the updated Strategic Plan. 

Recently adopted CRD documents will inform the Strategic Plan update, including the Capital Regional District 2019-2021 Board Priorities, Regional Growth Strategy, Climate Action Strategy, the Regional Transportation Plan, the First Nations Task Force Report and First Nations Statement of Reconciliation. These high-level strategies have undergone extensive public engagement and have been endorsed by the CRD Board since the adoption of the 2012-21 Regional Parks Strategic Plan. Leading initiatives and best practices, such as the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030, will be considered during the Strategic Plan update. 

The Regional Parks Committee and CRD Board provided input and direction for the new Strategic Plan prior to seeking input from stakeholders, First Nations and the public. 

Engagement will focus on high level, strategic directions to be included in the Strategic Plan. Through the overarching vision, mission, values and priorities included in the Strategic Plan, CRD Regional Parks will manage and respond to complex challenges impacting regional parks and trails. 

Updating the Strategic Plan will benefit CRD staff, the Regional Parks Committee and Board in consistently making decisions that advance the regional parks and trails vision. An updated Plan will also benefit First Nations, partner organizations, stakeholders and the public in understanding CRDs priorities and commitments moving forward.

This engagement process will not focus on specific regional parks and trails, program service delivery, or operational procedures and regulations. Other mechanisms are in place for such discussion, such as the park management plan processes, interpretive programs, and compliance and enforcement program.

Staff from CRD Regional Parks and First Nations Relations, with support from a consultant, have sent letters to all First Nations in the region outlining the purpose of the Strategic Plan update and inviting participation. The CRD hopes to better understand First Nations interests related to the Strategic Plan update and key priorities going forward.

Engagement on the Strategic Plan update will identify areas of mutual interest that CRD and First Nations can continue engaging on over the next 5-10 years.

The updated Strategic Plan will support the CRD’s commitment to reconciliation as a key priority and highlight opportunities for ongoing and meaningful engagement with First Nations.

The Regional Parks Committee requested that staff report back at the January workshop with a list of proposed stakeholders for direct engagement.

Staff have developed a stakeholder engagement plan that establishes key stakeholder interest groups and the level of engagement. Objective criteria were used for selecting more than 80 stakeholder groups, representing community, conservation and outdoor recreation interests in the region, to participate and provide feedback. 

Stakeholder groups will be invited to a series of focus groups in February to provide input on the proposed vision, values, mission, priorities, and targets to be included in the Strategic Plan.

For the purpose of engagement on the Regional Parks Strategic Plan update, stakeholders are defined as organizations that are located within the region, representing broad outdoor recreation, conservation and/or community interests.

Criteria were used to select key stakeholders for participation in the focus groups from a master stakeholder list of approximately 240 organizations compiled by Regional Parks. The following selection criteria were applied to evaluate the suitability of stakeholder groups for direct engagement in the Strategic Plan update: 

• Being located in the CRD (having a regional-scale focus, rather than provincial or neighbourhood scales).
• Representing a broad outdoor recreation, conservation/nature and/or cultural/social interest (Ad-hoc clubs and for-profit groups are not considered stakeholders for the purpose of this engagement. Only outdoor recreation’ groups that meet the definition of a ‘compatible outdoor activity’ in the 2012-21 Regional Parks Strategic Plan were evaluated).
• Having knowledge or expertise relating to CRD Regional Parks (experts with knowledge about the environmental, cultural and outdoor recreation components within regional parks and trails, such as best practices, stewardship and sustainability).
• Having an interest and experience in working in multi-stakeholder groups (having a previous established relationship with Regional Parks through partnering or engagement activities or having demonstrated experience working in a coalition representing multiple stakeholder groups). 
• Self-identifying as a First Nation (representing First Nations’ interests).

Based on the above criteria, approximately 80 stakeholder groups having a score between 5 and 7 were identified for direct engagement in the Strategic Plan update.

A snowball technique will be also used to expand the list of possible interest groups. Snowball sampling is a recruitment technique in which invited stakeholders are asked to assist in identifying other potential subjects that may have been missed from initial screening. The Committee and Board have also brought forward additional groups to consider. The same criteria used to select the initial stakeholders will be applied to potential subjects for consistency in selection. 

Compatible outdoor recreational activities are defined in the 2012-21 Regional Parks Strategic Plan. The park’s classification and zoning specify what types of activities, the density of the activities, and development of related facilities are permitted. A Compatible Outdoor Activity:

• depends on a natural environment;
• has minimal impact on the natural environment;
• encourages an appreciation for and understanding and enjoyment of the natural environment; and 
• is compatible with other park or trail users.

As part of the Strategic Plan update, the public will be invited to participate in a survey and visit this website to learn, share and offer feedback on Regional Parks future strategic directions.

Input and feedback received will contribute to the development and inform the outcome of an updated CRD Regional Parks Strategic Plan. Input and feedback received through the engagement will be considered by staff as they update priority areas of focus for consideration of the Board. An engagement report will be presented to the CRD Board with the updated Strategic Plan. Once approved, the updated Regional Parks Strategic Plan will set a long term vision and guide future decisions but will not prescribe outcomes of future financial planning and management planning processes.

Stakeholders will be invited to a series of focus groups to be held in February. A public survey will be launched during March. First Nations engagement will occur during winter and spring 2022. Results of engagement will be summarized in April and presented to the Regional Parks Committee in June 2022.

Costs associated with the Regional Parks Strategic Plan update will be covered by the Regional Parks 2022 core budget. Staff time has been allocated to the Strategic Plan update and engagement. In this way, the Strategic Plan can be updated at minimal cost and with the least amount of delay between expiration of the existing plan and adoption of an updated Plan.