Official Community Plan

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CITY OF COURTENAY AND K’ÓMOKS FIRST NATION RELATIONSHIP

The City of Courtenay acknowledges the KFN community vision as articulated in the KFN Comprehensive Community Plan 2014–2024, and as a neighbour supports the vision of moving forward together: “K’ómoks First Nation is a prosperous and healthy community where each member has the right to self-sufficiency. K’ómoks members move forward with our neighbors, exercising our rights and title while respecting our historical connections to our lands and resources, and to one another.” – KFN Comprehensive Community Plan 2014-2024. The City of Courtenay and K'ómoks First Nation have experience working together and are committed to building on successes of the past while supporting the conditions to continue a strong and productive respectful relationship. Recent examples include a servicing agreement between the City and KFN on the Puntledge Lands (IR#2), Regional Community to Community Forums to share perspectives, and the Kus-kus-sum habitat restoration project. These accomplishments have positively affected our collective communities and made the relationship stronger.

To create this OCP, KFN Chief, Council, and staff provided perspective, priorities, and guidance on numerous policy topics. Together with Courtenay City Mayor and Council, a list of important topics to acknowledge, work towards, and prioritize was identified: • Action on Reconciliation and implementing UNDRIP as the framework for reconciliation • Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls • Land use plan and subdivision law • Stormwater, flooding, water diversion • Development around archeological sites • Land disposition consultation • Housing affordability • Community safety, homelessness, and the toxic drug supply • Infrastructure and shared services • Emergency planning The policies to support these mutual priorities are included in the OCP wherever possible. Some topics will require more detailed attention in order to be implemented. Cooperation on these topics and others as both our communities' needs evolve will be vital to fostering a resilient and inclusive community as well as building and maintaining a strong relationship.

City of Courtenay Official Community Plan