Honeysuckle Woods: Petition Update
Meeting with MoTI Minister Rob Fleming, BC Legislature - May 15, 2024.
Video: Experience the beauty and peace of Honeysuckle Woods and learn why GaLTT and GIMS want to see it protected…
Honeysuckle Woods Video 2024 - With thanks to Rob Brockley & Libby Gunn
Signed by almost 1200 Gabriola residents, the petition to "Save Honeysuckle Woods" was presented to the BC Legislature in Victoria by local MLA Doug Routley on May 15. Representatives of the Gabriola Island Memorial Society (Kristina Baerg) and the Gabriola Land and Trails Trust (Rob Brockley, Anne Landry, Hugh Skinner) attended and later met with Hon. Rob Fleming, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoTI) and his senior staff in the Minister’s office. They were joined by MLA's Doug Routley and Sheila Malcomson.
GIMS and GaLTT briefed the Minister on the Honeysuckle Woods proposal, pointing out that the undeveloped Barrett Quarry has never been used for gravel extraction and that MoTI has other gravel source options on the island. GaLTT highlighted the high conservation value of the 40 forested acres while GIMS focused on the need for a new natural burial site due to capacity constraints at the existing Gabriola Community Cemetery. The Minister asked several questions about the property and the proposal, and consultation with the Snuneymuxw First Nation was discussed. The Minister committed to have his staff look into MoTI’s continuing need for the property and provide GIMS and GaLTT with an update.
Honeysuckle Woods: Worth Protecting
A trail in Honeysuckle Woods. 2023.
Why this land? Why now?
Current Issues of Land Protection and Cemetery Capacity on Gabriola
Honeysuckle Woods is a magnificent Coastal Douglas-fir ecosystem and has important conservation value.
The amount of protected land on Gabriola lags far behind the 20% average for most islands in the Trust Area. Currently only 12% of Gabriola is protected. Gabriola’s remaining unfragmented mature forest, wetlands, and high biodiversity ecosystems are quickly disappearing.
Gabriola is quickly running out of room for full body burials in our only existing cemetery.
Acquisition of land through purchase is beyond the resources of small community non-profit organizations and there are few large, undisturbed parcels remaining on Gabriola.
Honeysuckle Woods is one of very few government managed properties on the island potentially available and suitable to set aside for conservation.
Finding land that is suitable for burials is challenging; ensuring adequate setback from wells and considerations including the protection of groundwater, soil type and depth, and ease of access are important factors which limit where a burial site can be situated and operated safely. Preliminary research indicates the land at Honeysuckle Woods is likely to satisfy the technical requirements for locating a cemetery.
Protection of the 40 acres of Honeysuckle Woods would be a small but tangible sign that the provincial government is serious about achieving its public commitment to conserve 30% of BC’s land base by 2030.
In 2006, the land for Gabriola’s S’ul-hween X’pey (Elder Cedar) Nature Reserve was acquired by the Islands Trust Conservancy via a simple, no-cash transfer of land between different levels of government. GIMS and GaLTT propose a similar process be used to transfer Honeysuckle Woods.
At the end of Honeysuckle Lane, surrounded by residential neighbourhoods, is a forest valued by the Gabriola community for recreational trail use and neighbourhood connection.
The upland area of the property is a mature Douglas-fir forest while the north-facing slope is rare, ecologically sensitive cliff habitat. There are a few very large old-growth Douglas-fir trees (greater than 250 years old) scattered throughout, and the lower area is primarily populated by beautiful big-leaf maples.
The mostly undisturbed land, 40-acres in total, is currently licensed and zoned as a “gravel pit” under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoTI). The Gabriola Land and Trails Trust (GaLTT) and the Gabriola Island Memorial Society (GIMS) would like to see this land protected as public parkland with a small area set aside for a much needed community natural burial site.
We refer to the land as “Honeysuckle Woods”; MoTI calls it “Barrett Quarry.”
The proposed new protected area is located on the traditional territory of the Snuneymuxw First Nation. Acknowledging the relationship of the Snuneymuxw people to this land and the importance of protecting aboriginal rights and title, GIMS and GaLTT respect that, in any discussion of potential crown land transfer and use, the wishes of SFN will be paramount.
Sign posted at Honeysuckle Woods. 2023
Engagement wth Snuneymuxw First Nation
Engagement with Community
Community is important to us and we want to hear from you. While formal meetings and community planning sessions are planned once GIMS secures land for a natural burial site - Honeysuckle Woods or any other site - we welcome your questions and feedback. Please email: naturalburialgabriola@gmail.com or if it is specific to the Save Honeysuckle Woods initiative: savehoneysucklewoods@gmail.com
GIMS is often at the weekend Gabriola markets, talking to residents and visitors and answering questions about natural burial. We love talking to people and we have bookmarks! Please look for us and say hello.
GIMS founding member Elfi Dillon-Shaw and Sean from Gabriola Skateboards sharing a tent at the Silva Bay Market. 2022.
For more information please contact:
Gabriola Land and Trails Trust: info@galtt.ca Gabriola Island Memorial Society: naturalburialgabriola@gmail.com
Where is Honeysuckle Woods?
Building a positive, respectful relationship with the Snuneymuxw First Nation is important for GIMS and connecting with them about our ideas for a natural burial site has been important to us since our earliest days. With respect to the Honeysuckle Woods initiative, we want to affirm the following:
Commitment to the Consultation Process: GIMS is committed to respecting the consultation process with the Snuneymuxw First Nation. Our recent petition, supported by a quarter of Gabriola residents, is a call to the BC government to ensure this consultation is properly opened and conducted.
No Pursuit Without Consent: GIMS will not pursue the development of Honeysuckle Woods without the explicit consent of the Snuneymuxw First Nation. Their agreement is essential to any future plans for the site.
Role and Limitations of GIMS: GIMS is not in a position to negotiate directly with the Snuneymuxw First Nation regarding Honeysuckle Woods, as we are neither a government body nor the owners of the land in question. We do want to meet with Snuneymuxw when that is feasible for the nation.
Collaborative Vision Development: GIMS is eager to collaborate with the Snuneymuxw First Nation to develop a shared vision for Honeysuckle Woods or any other suitable and available site on Gabriola Island for green burials.
SFN Elder Geraldine Manson at Honeysuckle Woods with GIMS founding members Mary & Gary Holdgrafer and Maureen Wild. 2022.