Howe Sound Community Forum
Regional Governance Collaborations for a Sustainable Future
The Howe Sound Community Forum was established in 2000. The purpose is to provide a forum for local governments, Regional Districts and First Nations discussions to maintain and enhance the economic, environmental, cultural and social well-being of the Howe Sound for the benefit of present and future generations.
Each of the member local governments renewed their support for the updated Principles for Cooperation in 2022, first created in 2000.
Ruth Simons has convened the forums since 2014, first as volunteer Executive Director of the Future of Howe Sound Society and, since 2017, in her capacity as Executive Director of the Howe Sound Biosphere Region Initiative Society. Member communities take turns hosting.
Read more below about the history and each of the forums, and follow the links to the presentations.
Member communities:
Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw - District of West Vancouver - Village of Lions Bay - Town of Gibsons - Resort Municipality of Whistler - Village of Pemberton - Bowen Island Municipality - Gambier Island Local Trust - District of Squamish - Metro Vancouver - Sunshine Coast Regional District -Squamish Lillooet Regional District
Communities are located on the unceded territories of the Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), səl̓ilwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), shíshálh (Sechelt) , and Líl̓wat (Lil'wat) Nations.
PAST EVENTS
The Spring Howe Sound Community Forum took place on April 10th, at the Gleneagles Club House, hosted by District of West Vancouver.
Read more
New and returning elected officials of the 2022-2026 local government term gathered in the atrium at the Gibsons Public Market on Friday, April 21st, 2023, for the Howe Sound Community Forum, hosted by the Town of Gibsons.
On November 5th, 2022, 72 people, including new and returning elected officials, First Nations and a variety from sectors and communities around Howe Sound, gathered at the Gleneagles Clubhouse near Ch’ax̱áy in West Vancouver.
Read more here.
On Friday, April 29, 2022, the Howe Sound Community Forum was hosted by the Squamish Lillooet Regional District at Furry Creek, marking the 20th anniversary of the Principles for Cooperation.
On Friday October 22, 2022 the Howe Sound Community Forum resumed a limited in-person event hosted by Bowen Island Municipality. The hybrid virtual/in-person event took place at Cates Hill Chapel.
Read more
The Howe Sound Community Forum took place over Zoom on October 23, 2020. If not for COVID-19 the forum would have been taking place on this day in snowy Whistler hosted by the Resort Municipality of Whistler.
Read more.
Physical distancing restrictions due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic created a new experience for the Howe Sound Community Forum event. With the forum event being hosted at Whistler now delayed until October 23rd, our Society hosted a Zoom virtual forum on Friday, April 24th.
On Friday October 25, 2019, 58 people found their way into the woodlands of Paradise Valley north of Squamish for the Alt’ka7tsem/Howe Sound Community Forum, hosted by the District of Squamish.
On Friday April 26, 2019, 65 people that included elected officials from member communities, Provincial and Federal representatives, local government staff and non-government observers travelled by water taxis to Camp Fircom on Chá7elkwnech/Gambier Island for the Alt’ka7tsem/Howe Sound Community Forum, hosted by the Gambier Island and Area Local Trust Committee.
Howe Sound Sustainable Development Goals Forum took place September 28th, 2018 at the Gleneagles Golf Club House in West Vancouver. Lively dialogue among the 90 attendees that included elected and campaigning municipal candidates, industry representatives,
On Friday May 4, 2018 77 people arrived at Furry Creek Golf and Country Club for the Howe Sound Community Forum hosted by the Squamish Lillooet Regional District.
On Friday, October 13th, 2017, elected officials, local government staff and non-government observers filled Exploration Hall at YMCA Camp Elphinstone in West Howe Sound for the Alt’Kitsem/Howe Sound Community Forum, hosted by the Sunshine Coast Regional District.
On Friday, May 5th, 2017, 72 people filled Broughton Hall in Lions Bay/Ch’ich’iyuy Elxwikn for the Howe Sound Community Forum hosted by the Village of Lions Bay and Metro Vancouver’s Electoral Area A.
On Friday October 14th, 2016 the rain and wind warnings didn’t deter the 76 people that made their way to the Gleneagles Golf Club House for the Howe Sound Community Forum hosted by the District of West Vancouver.
On April 29, 2016, 80 elected officials, First Nations, government staff, and NGO representatives travelled by water taxis departing from Horseshoe Bay, Bowen Island, Lions Bay, and Langdale for a day at Camp Fircom on Gambier Island.
Bowen Island Municipality were pleased to play hosts once again to the Forum members on May 1, 2015.
On Friday, October 17th, elected officials, government staff, and NGO observers made the journey to the top of the Sea to Sky Gondola near Squamish to join hosts Squamish Nation for the third 2014 Howe Sound Community Forum. In total, 63 people came together for a packed schedule continuing on the theme of a comprehensive land and marine planning for Howe Sound.
On May 2nd, 2014 the Howe Sound Community Forum met with three representatives from the Province to further explore the Cumulative Effects Assessment as a tool for Howe Sound planning.
Read more.
The Britannia Beach Community Centre was a fitting location for the Howe Sound Community Forum meeting held on January 14th, 2014. The 1917 building has been well restored and maintained and a good reminder of this town’s mining past.
Read about the history of the Howe Sound Community Forum as narrated by the founders. Since 2000, elected representatives of communities around Howe Sound come together in the spirit of cooperation as defined in the Howe Sound Community Forum Principles for Cooperation 2002.
Not since the 1990 Howe Sound Roundtables has the community come together to discuss a common vision for Howe Sound. On Saturday, April 13th, 2013 over 130 people representing 65 various organizations attended. The purpose of the day was to:
Find common ground between all levels of government, non- profits, First Nations, industry and business towards building a vision for Howe Sound
Engage interested parties in dialogue about the values in the Howe Sound region
Discuss a way forward towards development of an overall comprehensive management plan
Leave a lasting impact. Your gift supports stewardship, education, and ecological resilience for years/generations to come.
It’s a powerful way to protect the place you love - now and forever.
