Official Community Plan Update

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!

View the Official Community Plan Steering Committee meeting agendas and minutes from the OCPSC Webpage.

Round 1 of Community Engagement is complete.
(Round 2 will begin Spring 2026).

Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete the survey. Your feedback will be used to develop a plan that truly reflects what is important to us as a community. (As of June 2025, the Round One Survey is closed, but it is provided here for your information).

What We Heard Report

McElhanney consultants prepared a report of Round One Engagement Findings.

Next Steps

A draft of the OCP Update has been written! Council will review it at its open meeting on May 11th. Round Two of community engagement will follow that, The chart below has been adjusted since publishing, but gives one a sense of the process.

OCP Update ProjectTimeline

We are currently in Phase 3 of the Official Community Plan update process.

Timeline graphic titled “Engagement in the OCP Update Process” with Bowen Island Municipality logo. Four phases are shown along a horizontal line:
Phase 1 (Fall–Winter 2024/2025): Project initiation, including background review, infrastructure review, base mapping, engagement planning, and council endorsement.
Phase 2 (Spring–Summer 2025): Gather ideas and explore options, including engagement materials, online tools, broad engagement, and draft vision and policy options.
Phase 3 (Summer–Winter 2025): Draft plan, including OCP outline and policies, technical memo, engagement round two, revisions, and council presentation (marked “We Are Here” and extended to spring 2026).
Phase 4 (Winter–Spring 2026): Finalization, including final draft OCP, legal review, referrals, and public hearing and bylaw adoption.

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.

Bim Ocp Display Board 1
Bim Ocp Display Board 2
Bim Ocp Display Board 3
Bim Ocp Display Board 4

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.

2025 Bowen Island OCP Update

Planning Orientation – Official Community Plan Update

Part 1: Why Review and Update the Official Community Plan?

Part 2: Relevant Legislation, Strategies & Plans

Part 3a: Community Profile

Part 3b: Demographic Profile

Part 4: The A – Z in an OCP

Part 5: Our Lenses

Part 6: Examples

History and Context

Background Papers – 2011 OCP

Bowen Island’s Three OCPs – May 21, 2024

Bowen’s OCP – Exploring the 2009/10 OCP Update

Bowen Island Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 139 – 1996

Bowen Island Official Community Plan – March 1981

McElhanney Documents (2025 Update Consultants)

OCP Update Kick-off Presentation

Assessment of OCP Accomplishments, Gap Analysis & Legislative Review

OCPSC Workshop Presentation

DRAFT Baseline Findings Report

DRAFT Transportation Review Memo

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!