2022-24 Official Community Plan Review

Update: September 12, 2023

In the interest of gaining and acknowledging the Líl̓wat Nation's perspective on land use and other topics relating to the Village of Pemberton's Official Community Plan (OCP), the Village has paused its OCP review process. During this time, the Village will be focusing on building a deeper and more meaningful relationship with the Líl̓wat Nation through a renewed protocol agreement along with a better understanding of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

At the Regular Council Meeting of September 12, 2023, Pemberton Council rose with report and announced the following resolution:

WHEREAS The Village of Pemberton recognizes that it lies entirely within the traditional territory of the Líl̓wat Nation, who has used and occupied these lands since time immemorial, and that the nation holds inherent aboriginal rights and aboriginal title for all lands throughout its traditional territory, and that these rights have never been ceded, surrendered, or abandoned; and

WHEREAS the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), endorsed and adopted by the Government of Canada, states that “Indigenous peoples have the right to participate in decision-making in matters which would affect their rights” and that “States shall consult and cooperate in good faith with the indigenous peoples concerned through their own representative institutions in order to obtain their free, prior and informed consent before adopting and implementing legislative or administrative measures that may affect them”; and

WHEREAS the Province of British Columbia passed the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act into which establishes the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as the Province’s framework for reconciliation, as called for by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action; and

WHEREAS the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) published its final report detailing the experiences and impacts of the residential school system, which details 94 calls to action across a wide range of areas including child welfare, education, health, justice, language and culture, including specific calls to municipal governments to “fully adopt and implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as the framework for reconciliation”; and

WHEREAS the Local Government Act requires municipalities to consult with persons, organizations and authorities it considers will be affected, including first nations, when updating Official Community Plans; and

WHEREAS In response to early consultation on the Village’s Official Community Plan Review the Village of Pemberton received a request from the Líl̓wat Nation to update the protocol agreement between the two governments;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the municipality of the Village of Pemberton pause the consideration of the Official Community Plan Review project to create space and opportunity to strengthen the relationship with the Líl̓wat Nation and begin updating the protocol agreement;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Council thanks all community members who have participated by sharing their insights and perspectives for the new Official Community Plan, and directs staff to retain and share all information gathered to date for use when Council determines it is appropriate for the project to resume.

“The decision to pause the OCP was made after careful consideration of feedback we received regarding the existing protocol agreement and determined it to be the best course of action to demonstrate a genuine commitment towards establishing a trust-based relationship with the Líl̓wat Nation,” says Mike Richman, Village of Pemberton Mayor. “We recognize the importance of ensuring our OCP encompasses and speaks to the shared values, visions, and priorities of all community members. To do so, we need to update the existing protocol agreement along with deepening our understanding of UNDRIP and how it can be implemented to create a path forward that is rooted in respect, understanding, and shared goals.”

“The Líl̓wat Nation looks forward to continuing to build our relationship with the Village of Pemberton and update our Protocol Agreement,” says Chief Dean Nelson. “This builds on the good work completed through our shared services such as water and fire, as well as Pemberton Valley Emergency Management Committee, Nuk̓w7ántwal̓ Intergovernmental Committee, Transit Committee and others.”

Adopted by Canada in 2020, UNDRIP is an international framework that emphasizes Indigenous rights, including self-determination, cultural preservation, and protection from discrimination and exploitation. Recognizing its significance, the learnings from understanding this framework will serve as a foundation for revising the protocol agreement between the Village of Pemberton and the Líl̓wat Nation to reflect the shared aspirations, values, and priorities of everyone involved.

“By taking this pause, our teams can devote time into fostering a more profound and collaborative relationship with the Líl̓wat Nation,” says Elizabeth Tracy, Village of Pemberton Chief Administrative Officer. “This is an important step in moving away from past traditions and towards more meaningful processes that drive transformative change and help us work together in partnership to build a brighter future for everyone.”

The Village would like to extend its sincere gratitude to the community for contributing invaluable feedback during the OCP review process. The insights and feedback provided by community members on the OCP up to this point remains a crucial part of the review process and will be preserved until the project resumes. Community members are invited to stay up to date and continue to share feedback on the OCP review project.

BACKGROUND

In July 2022, the Village of Pemberton launched a two-year planning process to draft a new Official Community Plan (OCP) for the community. The Village’s existing OCP was adopted in 2011 and much has changed within the community and the surrounding area since that time.

The OCP Review is a strategic priority of Council. The new OCP will guide growth and development to 2050. The OCP Review is an opportunity to strengthen the Village’s relationship with Lílw̓at Nation and to advance truth and reconciliation within the community. The OCP Review will build on other municipal and regional planning initiatives including, but not limited to, the Community Climate Action Plan, Pemberton Valley Recreation Trails Master Plan, and Cycling Network Plan.

PHASE 1 - Thanks for your input!

Thank you to everyone who attended the Village of Pemberton’s Official Community Plan (OCP) Review Community Open House on Monday, March 6, 2023 and to those who took part in a Kitchen Table Discussion! Your thoughts and feedback provided will help shape the future of Pemberton to 2050.

All input provided during the Community Open House and Kitchen Table Discussions has been compiled into a “What We Heard” report and presented to the Village of Pemberton Council on April 11, 2023. Both presentations are available using the link below.

Presentation Recording: https://youtu.be/YZGc6XlOSzQ

What We Heard Presentation begins at 1:40, What We Heard - Summary of Youth Engagement begins at 57:00 of the recording.

The full What We Heard Report and the supplementary What We Heard Report - Summary of Youth Engagement may be viewed with links provided under the Documents and Resources tab.

PHASE 2 - DRAFT POLICIES, STRATEGIES & ACTIONS - PAUSED

Phase 2 is scheduled to run from June 2023 to January 2024. This phase includes a new round of community engagement in form of Summer Pop-Up Events that were held throughout the summer of 2023.

During the first phase of engagement, we heard you say:

• Growth management is the biggest challenge facing Pemberton over the next 25 years.
• Affordable housing is the #1 priority the OCP Review should focus on.

The Summer Pop-Ups dug into these and other topics. Read through our latest discussion guide: ‘Let’s Talk about Growth & Development’. We asked the community to share their thoughts and ideas at various events and locations in the community, including Mountain Muse Festival, Canada Day, Farmers’ Markets and on the street near Pemberton Valley Supermarket and outside Blackbird Bakery.

The remainder of Phase Two will include drafting of a Vision Statement and Guiding Principles that will guide the new OCP. We will also draft policies, strategies, and actions that will set Pemberton up for success and better enable the community to achieve its vision.

The Village remains committed to embracing reconciliation and adopting principles that will grow and enhance the community’s relationship with the Líl̓wat Nation. In the interest of gaining and acknowledging the Líl̓wat Nation’s perspective on land use and other topics relating to the OCP, the Village has paused the OCP review process, giving space for dialogue and input from Líl̓wat Nation towards a shared vision and principles.

The Village thanks all community members who have participated in this project so far. The insights and feedback have been tremendous and will be crucial to drafting the new OCP. All input and comments will be preserved and considered with the contributions from Líl̓wat Nation when the project resumes.

You are invited to watch this page to stay up to date and continue to share feedback on the OCP review project.