The morning of April 3 marked the sod-turning for the new Halfmoon Bay community hall at Connor Park. A day later project proponents the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) reported site signage had been vandalized.
According to an April 8 SCRD communications department Facebook posting, that was followed by a graffiti clean up effort which appears to have eliminated the need to replace the three signs that were damaged. The posting expressed thanks to the parties that undertook the work to restore the signs.
An event that was years in the making
The majority of the estimated 35 sod-turning event attendees were SCRD elected officials and staff. Representatives of the shíshálh Nation, School District #46, the District of Sechelt rounded out the official contingent. The remainder were community residents, including two uniformed members of the local volunteer fire department and representatives of the construction contractor, Summerhill Fine Homes.
Speaking to those gathered just before the first six shovels officially hit the ceremonial soil pile, SCRD board chair Alton Toth stated, “What we will have here in 2026, will be an incredible space for the whole community to enjoy."
In her comments, Area B (Halfmoon Bay) director Justine Gabias thanked those who held that role before her for their years of dedication to seeing the project become a reality. She credited the need to bring forward the change in project location from Coopers Green with building opportunities for her to connect with and listen to her constituents about what was wanted and needed in a modernized community gathering place.
Community views and involvement
Speaking with Coast Reporter at the event, the SCRD’s manager of the construction portion of the project, Kyle Doyle, noted that the majority of the tree removal for the new structure was completed earlier this year before the season for bird nesting began. Two of the white pine trees, marked with red heart-shaped signs by community members in 2023 in an effort to ensure as many of the species as possible were protected in hall siting considerations, remain standing within feet of the area cleared for the new facility.
Doyle explained that tree work in the park is an ongoing process. The expansion of the parking area for the new structure may mean some smaller or struggling trees will need to be taken out. In addition, he noted that several trees along a vehicle access road have had their root systems damaged by past vehicle parking practices. Those, he said, may need to be removed, and that “no parking” signage will be put up along road areas that have trees with root systems that could be further damaged by vehicles in the future.
Communications manager Aidan Buckley highlighted that a reach out to the site's neighbouring elementary school through the school district is planned, to incorporate some form of student art into the project.
The public can follow the progress of the project and submit questions on the SCRD “Let Talk” page dedicated to the project.
