K’ómoks First Nation
Comprehensive Community Plan
Reporti n g Yo u r I d e a s
Community Vision
“The K’omoks First Nation is to be
a prosperous community where every
member has the right to the opportunity
for self-sufficiency. The K’omoks First
Nation and community members will move
forward in partnership with our friends and
neighbors, exercising our rights and title
and respecting ourhistorical connection
to our land and to one another.”
In the spring of 2011, K’ómoks began drafting a Comprehensive
Community Plan (CCP). The CCP is part of our treaty process.
We see a CCP as the best way to make our vision of a
prosperous future possible.
The K’ómoks First Nation doesn’t yet have a CCP. We are still in
the planning process, and we need more input from our members
about how we are going to make K’ómoks the community we
want it to be. We have ideas about everything from land and
culture to economic development and governance. The following
booklet shares with you some of the many ideas our community
members have about our future, and asks for your help in
moving from ideas to actions.
You’ll notice Questions to Members throughout this booklet.
We want your answers to these questions to help draft the
K’ómoks CCP. We’ve included tear-out sheets in the booklet for
you to write your answers and submit them to the Treaty Office.
If you submit your answers, they will help shape the CCP and
become part of the plan for the future of K’ómoks.You have
three options for submitting your answers:
1.Tear out the answer page and submit to the front desk at
the Band Office
2.Tear out the page and mail it to the Band Office:
3320 Comox Road
Courtenay BC, V9N 3P8
3.Visit www.comoxbandtreaty.ca to answer the questions online
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1.Lands and Infrastructure
Puntledge IR#2
The K’ómoks First Nation has several pieces of land it can use to
achieve its goal of becoming a prosperous community. This includes
Indian Reserves, private lands, and incremental treaty lands.
Treaty negotiations may bring more land, especially if K’ómoks
achieves and ratifies a Final Agreement. The land we have now will
always be K’ómoks land, even if we don’t achieve a treaty. Here is
what our members have to say about the land we have now:
People have a wide range of ideas about what to do with the
Puntledge IR. People have talked about expanding the campground,
and adding uses like a farmer’s market and greenhouses. Others
would like to see the development of a housing subdivision.
K’ómoks IR#1
Most of our members want to keep residential growth and
administration on this reserve. Our members would also like to
see a new subdivision in the next year, to allow for more housing.
Currently there are 28 lots planned.
Question for Members
• When you think about the future, do you see K’ómoks IR#1 remaining the focus of community life?
• Is there any amenities or services you’d like to see on K’ómoks IR#1 that aren’t there right now?
• Would you support K’ómoks searching for funding for a
multi-unit development for elders and youth?
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Some things to know about Puntledge
· We completed an intensive engineering and traffic study to understand what is possible for these lands.
· The study tells us these lands could be serviced with community sewer and water, and the cost would be the same as what it
would cost to develop lots in Courtenay
· The study says Courtenay would have to make traffic improvements if any use on Puntledge generates a lot of traffic
· We don’t think Condensory Bridge would need to be upgraded anytime soon, as it was recently improved
· The CVRD is interested in creating a multi-use trail along the
main road through Puntledge, and K’ómoks is discussing options
with them. No decisions have been made
· Puntledge is on a flood plain area, and this might mean only
1/3 of the parcel could be developed. Fill work could make 2/3
of the parcel developable.
Goose Spit IR#3
Question for Members
• There are many potential uses for the Puntledge IR.
What would you like to see on Puntledge: expanding the
campground, agriculture (greenhouses and farmers market)
or housing development?
Some people support protecting the Goose Spit lands forever
from any form of development. Others have suggested the lands
could be used for recreational purposes, like the sports camp held
last summer. Some members want to see a more intense use, like
a restaurant. Most people have stated that all of the Goose Spit
belongs to K’ómoks and should be returned to the community.
Question for Members
• The community has made many suggestions for Goose Spit –
protection, recreation use, and development. What do you think
should be done with Goose Spit?
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Salmon River IR#1
Most people see development on Salmon River happening far
into the future. The parcel is isolated and not easily accessible.
However, the site has a huge amount of gravel, and there is some
interest in extracting gravel from the site. Gravel extraction at
Salmon River could go on for decades.
Southlands (DL7, Union Bay Benefiting Lands)
People see the Southlands, and any other lands that could be
acquired in the Union Bay/Kensington Area, as market development
lands. That means they are intended for commercial, residential
and even some industrial development. These lands would generate
income for KFN.
There is a lot of development planned in the Southlands, with
many partnership opportunities for K’ómoks. Current economic
conditions have slowed plans don, but there is a great deal of
optimism projects will move forward.
Piercy Road/Browns River
Members see the potential for residential development on these
lands. We are working to figure out the costs of servicing and the
best route to develop these lands.
Some things to know about the Southlands
K’ómoks applied for a grant worth $6 million from the federal
government to fund sewer servicing to these lands. We are
hopeful we can expand the grant to include water services. If we
get this grant, we would be able to partner with developers to
bring services to the area. We could be part of the planning and
initial structuring of services, rather than just a user group who
has to negotiate fee-for-service with a provider.
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Mt. Washington Parcel
The Mt. Washington parcel is in a prime location at the bottom
of Mt. Washington, and there are many land owners in the area
interested in partnering with K’ómoks on development projects.
This includes the owners of Mt. Washington who are looking to
expand into four season activities, and bring people to the hill year
round. They are working with the CVRD to develop a new plan,
and expect to be finished in the next few months. K’ómoks will
spend the next year determining what kind of land use, services
or development would be best for this parcel.
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Future Treaty Lands
Question for Members
• How do you think K’ómoks can capitalize on the changes
happening on Mt. Washington?
Treaty negotiations may result in additional lands for K’ómoks,
and new options for development. Members have indicated that
they want to see new treaty lands used efficiently and for the
benefit of the membership.
Question for Members
• Have you given any thought to the impact of climate change –
like rising ocean levels – on possible land uses?
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2.Economic Development
Economic development is important to our members.
Our members want a future with jobs, the opportunity to start
business, and the support to achieve their educational goals.
K’ómoks is developing a Human Resources Plan to tell us what job
we’ll need if we become a self-governing First Nation under treaty.
Our Capacity Coordinator is working hard with companies like
BC Hydro to identify job opportunities for our members now.
And we are making partnerships with companies like Kensington
to help us develop the lands we own, and create long-term
opportunities and wealth for our people.
Some things you want to see:
· New sources of funding for education
· Education programs for all age groups: early childhood to
life-long learning
· A new Administration Building with a wider range of services,
and even economic generators like a restaurant or coffee shop
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3.People and Culture
Our community wants to see culture and language to be a part
of everything we do for our people. That includes culturally
appropriate programs and services, and the opportunities for
our young people to learn their culture.
Some things you want to see:
· Expand the Health Centre to include cultural programs
· Promote health and healing in traditional ways
· Address the special housing needs of youth and Elders
· Expand regular housing through a new subdivision
· Take care of our elders
· Improve recreational services. How about a lacrosse pitch
or a waterslide?
Question for Members
• Do you have ideas about how we can get youth involved in the Comprehensive Community Planning Process?
How can we encourage more youth involvement?
• Would you support a walking path around the Estuary on K’ómoks IR#1 that could be used by members and other
Valley residents?
• What would be your top priority for recreation on
K’ómoks IR#1?
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4.Governance &
Constitutional Development
K’ómoks members want our nation to be self-sufficient and
self-reliant, and our government to be efficient and effective.
That includes expanding our current business, finding sustainable
sources of revenue, and making our businesses profitable.
Members are also interested in member dividends. Governance
is an issue that is being addressed in treaty negotiations, and will
grow and develop as negotiations continue.
K’ómoks is developing our own Constitution that will serve as
a framework for how we structure ourselves in the future.
Question for Members
• What are your top 3 governance issues? Have you given any
thought about how we can address your top three?
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5.Capacity Development
To be ready to take on Treaty responsibilities, and to be selfreliant, K’ómoks is implementing a Capacity Development Plan
to ensure our members are prepared to fill the positions that will
flow from a treaty environment. Capacity building starts with you.
Question for Members
• What can you do to help your community?
Copies of the Draft CCP are available for your review and
comment- every aspect is open for change and improvement!
We still have much to do and are grateful for your support
and encouragement.
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K’ómoks First Nation
3320 Comox Rd
Courtenay, BC
V9N 3P8
T: 250.339.4745 F: 250.339.7053
1-866-9-TREATY info@comoxbandtreaty.ca