Current threat to the wild coast

Over the last couple years the Juan de Fuca area has come under threat - from old growth logging, from urban sprawl and other development. Now a new threat has arisen in the form of a proposed tourist resort that would strech alongside 7 kilometers of this beautiful trail between China and Sombrio Beach.


West Vancouver developer Ender Ilkay and the Marine Trail Holding group wants to build nearly 300 tourist cabins within viewing of the public trail. The proposal calls for tree line “trimming” to ensure ocean view for the new home owners, and relocation of the trail in sereval places to steeper banks.

One piece of the proposed development plan.  Note the close distance from the cabins to the Juan de Fuca trail (in green)

We must take a stand against this project, not just to protect the integrity of Juan De Fuca Marine Trail, but also to ensure that the CRD does not open up this entire region to large-scale development. We need a strong vision for sustainability in the Juan de Fuca lands that protects wild places - like the Juan de Fuca Trail, the Red Creek Fir and Avatar Grove. Developments like this have no place on Vancouver Island’s Wild Coast.


Over the last couple years this area has come under threat - from old growth logging, from urban sprawl and other development. Now a new threat has arisen in the form of a proposed tourist resort that would strech alongside 7 kilometers of this beautiful trail between China and Sombrio Beach.


West Vancouver developer Ender Ilkay and the Marine Trail Holding group wants to build nearly 300 tourist cabins within viewing of the public trail. The proposal calls for tree line “trimming” to ensure ocean view for the new home owners, and relocation of the trail in sereval places to steeper banks.


Cabins and roads would encroach within 100 metres of the wilderness trail. If built, the resort will add to "tourism sprawl," increase demands for roads, increase greenhouse gases, impact wildlife, and ruin the wilderness experience of the Juan de Fuca trail.  And Ilkay intends to sell the "tourist" cabins.


We must take a stand against this project, not just to protect the integrity of Juan De Fuca Marine Trail, but also to ensure that the CRD does not open up this entire region to large-scale development. We need a strong vision for sustainability in the Juan de Fuca lands that protects wild places - like the Juan de Fuca Trail, the Red Creek Fir and Avatar Grove. Developments like this have no place on Vancouver Island’s Wild Coast.

Ender Ilkay is attempting to exploit a loophole in the CRD rezoning bylaws which would allow him to fast-track his zoning applications.  Worse yet, this bylaw would have the proposal voted on by just 5 members of the CRD board - the mayors of Sooke, Langford, Metchosin, and Colwood, plus the Juan de Fuca electorate region director.  We need to put as much pressure on these elected officials as we can. Stand up against them and stop urban sprawl!

The western half of the development plan

The Forest Action Network has a great list of resources that we can use, including more background information and a petition to stop sprawl in the Juan de Fuca region.  The Wilderness Committee has an online letter-writing campaign set up which provides key points for letter-writers (you!!) to consider. It makes it really easy - the letters practically write themselves.  Check out WTF Langford! to see how horribly some recent sprawling plans have gone, including all the juicy details on Len Barrie's Bear Mountain bankruptcy (that's right folks, Len couldn't pay his bills).  The Dogwood Initiative has some great articles and a campaign of their own that's easy to get involved with.