It’s time to engage.

Round Two of Public Engagement on the OCP Update has begun.

(Round Two of Engagement runs from Friday, May 22 to Monday, June 22, 2026)

How do I engage?

You can review informational material: you can read a lot, or you can read a little, or you can not read at all and just have a chat with BIM Staff and/or volunteers from the Official Community Plan Steering Committee at one of our engagement events who can fill you in on background and answer your questions. Or, you can even do none of those things and just complete the survey, your opinion is still really important.

What if I want to just read a little?

That’s fine. We have developed a Discussion Guide which provides a brief overview of the Vision, Guiding Principles, Topic Areas, and Land Use proposals.

What if I want to read a lot?

That’s great. We have provided links to the draft OCP and associated maps.

Link to the Draft Updated OCP (including maps)
Proposed Land Use Designations Table
(Quick link directly to proposed Land Use Designations map)
(Quick link directly to proposed Environmentally Sensitive Areas DPA map)

What if I just want to chat with people who know things?

That’s cool, too. In addition to the event in the Theatre at the Bowen Island Community Centre on Thursday, June 11, 2026 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm, BIM Staff and OCPSC members will be hosting “pop-up” engagement opportunities at various community events and locations around Bowen Island between May 22 and June 22.

Check out our Engagement Schedule here to see where you can most easily find us, or where we will be finding you. Here is a sneak peak at some of the display material: Poster Boards.

What if I just want to complete the survey?

Totally fine! The survey has been created based on what is in the Draft OCP, so your opinions are still really important, even if you haven’t reviewed the draft.

How do I access the survey?

QR codes have been provided on all of the promotional material that has been created, paper surveys have been printed and are being distributed around the island and on the ferries, but you are already here on the OCP Update webpage, so here it is:

Complete the survey here!

Background of the OCP Update Process

Round One of Public Engagement took place in Spring of 2025. Community members were asked to complete a survey and provide feedback at engagement events regarding what they liked about the current, 2011 Official Community Plan, and what they didn’t like, and what they thought needed changing. McElhanney Consultants took the engagement results and created a What We Heard Report, and drafted a Vision Statement, Guiding Principles, Policies, and Land Use maps that were reviewed, edited, and refined by the tireless, dedicated volunteers who serve on the Official Community Plan Steering Committee.

OCP Update Project Timeline

A draft of the OCP Update has been written! Council reviewed it at its open meeting on May 11th and we are currently in Round Two of Engagement and Phase 3 of the Official Community Plan update process.

What is an OCP Update?

An Official Community Plan, often known as an OCP, is a local government’s overarching guiding document.

The current OCP was adopted in 2011, through Bylaw No. 282, 2010. It was conducted as an update to the 1996 OCP and as they are typically updated every 10 years or so as communities change, we are due for an update!

Mayor & Council appointed the OCP Steering Committee to guide the OCP Review, with their initial meeting taking place in April 2024. Based on the Committee’s recommendation, Mayor & Council hired McElhanney as the consultant team leading the review.

Background Information:

Bowen’s Current OCP

The front cover of the Bowen Island Official Community Plan Update from 2010. Shows an outline of Bowen Island in green and blue tones.

Other Reference Material

Circular Economy information may be found on the CEDC Webpage.

Official Community Plan Steering Committee:

Learn more about the Official Community Plan Steering Committee, and find meeting agenda material, minutes and videos on the OCPSC Webpage.

Stay Informed

Stay tuned to this page for more opportunities to get involved and help shape the future of Bowen Island. And sign up to receive updates and alerts from Bowen Island Municipality – sign up here!

Questions?

Feel free to reach out to staff at planning@bimbc.ca or call 604-947-4255.