PEMBERTON, BC – On Monday, March 6, 2023, the Village of Pemberton held a Community Open House as part of Phase One of its Official Community Plan (OCP) Review. The event sought input from the community on the future of the Village to 2050.
“The Community Open House was extremely well attended with over 160 community members coming by to provide their input,” said Mike Richman, Village of Pemberton Mayor. “This kind of engagement is a huge success that will guarantee a strong outcome for this OCP Review.”
At the event, Village Staff and consultants provided a short presentation to inform the crowd about what an OCP is and how it affects Village bylaws, policies, and projects over its lifetime. Display boards at the Open House consulted on Pemberton’s community values, character, and how the Village can advance the path of reconciliation. Following the presentation, residents were involved in smaller roundtable discussions on four key topics: reconciliation, housing, environmental sustainability and resilience, and the local economy.
“The roundtable discussions offered a cross-section of residents a chance to interact and consider how the Village can address these important topics,” said Colin Brown, Village of Pemberton Planner ll. “We developed Discussion Guides that provide background information on each of these topics and suggestions of things to think about. These are available on the project website.”
The OCP Review process is currently in Phase One which focuses on gathering information from the community and bringing together all relevant data and other plans, such as the Community Climate Action Plan. Concurrent to the OCP Process, the Village is updating its Housing Needs Report that is due at the conclusion of Phase One in June 2023.
The Village has offered several opportunities for the community to get involved with the OCP Review project since community engagement began in January 2023. Kitchen Table Discussion Packages have been available from the Village Office and the Pemberton and District Community Centre, designed for residents to host their own OCP discussion with family and friends. To date, more than 100 residents have engaged through these small group discussions.
“The Village is committed to involve the children and youth of the community in this process too,” said Brown. “Village Staff and Council have engaged with students at local schools to understand how youth see the community and what they think could be added to make Pemberton more fun!”
Phase One of the OCP Review continues until June 2023. A “What We Heard” report will be presented in April with all the details gathered in all engagement activities to date. A first-draft of a vision, guiding principles, goals and objectives will complete Phase One. Early drafts will be brought back to check in with the community to ensure they have been heard correctly. Phase Two involves further drafts of the new OCP and new engagement events that will occur at popular local summer events.
“The Community Open House created space for many meaningful and constructive conversations and we’re looking forward to hearing the details of these in the “What We Heard” report,” said Richman. “The Village would like to extend its sincere thanks to the community for the tremendous turnout and for engaging in this process.”
The Village of Pemberton welcomes all feedback and community inputs during this process. For more information about the OCP Review process, visit haveyoursay.pemberton.ca/ocpreview or contact Colin Brown at the Village of Pemberton at cbrown@pemberton.ca.
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About the OCP Review:
The Village of Pemberton initiated the Official Community Plan (OCP) Review in July 2022, to update and help shape the future of Pemberton. An OCP communicates a community’s vision, goals, and objectives. An OCP also outlines long-term development plans for a community and guides planning and land use management. 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 the Village of Pemberton Council. The new OCP will guide growth and development to 2050.
About the Village of Pemberton:
Pemberton is one of the most desirable communities in BC and home to family farms, fresh outdoor adventures and stunning vistas. With over 3,400 residents and just 30 kms from Whistler, Pemberton prides itself on its creative and collaborative approach with the business community, local volunteer groups, neighbouring communities and key business and tourism partners such as Tourism Pemberton and the Pemberton & District Chamber of Commerce. Pemberton’s mild winters, warm summers and unique pioneer heritage provide an ideal place to enjoy arts, culture, history, recreation, dining, shopping and comfortable lodging.
The Village acknowledges that the entirely of the Village of Pemberton is located on the unceded traditional territory of the Líl̓wat Nation and honours the language, culture and history of the Lil̓wat7ul.
Media inquiries to be directed to:
Vinka Hutchinson
Communications and Grant Coordinator
Village of Pemberton
Phone: 604.894.6135 x 230
Email: vhutchinson@pemberton.ca