See Also: Kelsey Centre Review Committee Inaugural Meeting

The Kelsey Centre has been an integral part of Sayward since it was built with funding from the forest industry in 1974. Recently, rumours have been swirling about a pending closure, so we started digging through the publicly available information seeking clarity on the matter. Here is a timeline of what we have found so far.

In November 2024, The Village of Sayward put together a document on the Kelsey Centre for the purpose of presenting it to the Strathcona Regional District. The tone of this presentation seems to positively emphasize the value of the Kelsey Centre to the broader Sayward Region. You can browse this document below.

On January 12th, 2025, the Kelsey Centre posted this notice of temporary pool closure.

The Board of Directors (‘Board’) for the Strathcona Regional District has, by Res. 995.24, established the Kelsey Centre Review Committee to explore the current status of the Kelsey Centre recreation centre and the Village of  Sayward’s aspirations for the future operation and maintenance of the facility. The Committee shall automatically be dissolved upon fulfillment of its mandate.

 

The mandate of the Committee is to investigate options for the future of the Kelsey Centre and to advise the Board of its findings and, specifically:

 

– to investigate the operational costs of the facility and its current benefit to area residents;
– to consider the capital costs, if any, that may be required to improve and maintain the recreation centre as a viable recreation facility for the area;
– to explore the current status of the recreation facility and its possible role into the future including the aspirations of local residents and users; and
– to make recommendations to the Board with respect to the facility.

 

This committee is to be dissolved upon fulfillment of its mandate.

The Kelsey Centre closed down pending a repair to the heating system during a spell of cold weather in Sayward.

On February 14th, 2025, Strathcona Regional District Chief Administrative Officer Dave Leitch published the below staff report outlining the terms of reference for the Kelsey Centre Review Committee formed on January 22nd, 2025.

On February 14th, 2025 a Change.org petition to “Save the Sayward Kelsey Recreation Centre’s Pool from Closure” began circulating on Sayward related Facebook groups.

The petition notes:

“The Sayward pool at Kelsey Centre, where my children learned to swim and I learned lifeguarding as a young teen, is under threat of closure. This is not just an aquatic centre – it is a cradle of vital life skills where valuable lifelong friendships are nurtured. Over the past twenty years it has become integral, not only to my family, but also to the larger Sayward community for its contribution in promoting health and wellbeing.

Verifiable data suggests the direct correlation between regular swimming and overall health improvement. According to a report by the Swim England Health Commission, swimming reduces the risk of premature death by 28% – a predmoninant evidence for the importance of pools like ours (Swim England Health Commission, 2017).

Closure of this pool would deprive our community, especially the younger generations, of a meaningful space to learn, grow and socialize. This is about preserving the health, wellness and cohesion of our community. Let’s stand together to prevent the closure of our beloved Sayward Kelsey Centre’s pool. Please sign this petition to show your support for the unquantifiable value this establishment brings to Sayward.”

As of February 18th, 2025, the petition has garnered 343 signatures.

Some community members have penned letters in light of recently canceled Village Council meetings.

The Strathcona Regional District Kelsey Centre Review Committee Inaugural Meeting is scheduled to take place at 3:30 PM on Wednesday, February 19, 2025 at the Strathcona Regional District offices located at 990 Cedar Street, Campbell River, B.C.

Regional Board and committee meeting agendas are typically published and available online by Friday evening the week prior to the meeting.

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With the information currently available, we are unable to make a clear determination as to the future of the Kelsey Centre. Anecdotal evidence points to the Village of Sayward and the Strathcona Regional District both acknowledging the value of having such a facility in Sayward, however the Kelsey Centre Review Committee has not yet had their first meeting. As such, we will revisit this story when more information becomes available.

If you have any information missing from this story, please email Hello@GoSayward.com.

Credits

Kelsey Centre Photo Image – The Village of Sayward

Kelsey Centre Presentation to SRD Board – The Village of Sayward

Pool Closure Notice – The Kelsey Centre

Heating Repair Closure Notice – The Kelsey Centre

Formation Of Kelsey Centre Review Committee – Strathcona Regional District

Terms Of Reference For Kelsey Centre Review Committee – Strathcona Regional District

Departing Campbell River at 1130pm on February 12th, it was a clear night shining bright under a full moon. These conditions often lead to plenty of elk activity along the highway, and tonight was no exception.

Between Ripple Rock and the Sayward Junction, there were 4 separate herds of elk by the road, and not even half a block from home herd number 5 is raiding back yards for any tasty greenery they can find!

Keep your eyes peeled if you have to travel the highway tonight!

A 61-year-old man from Port McNeill has died following a single-vehicle crash on Highway 19 near Woss. At 6:40 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 9, the Port McNeill RCMP responded to a report of a sedan that had gone off the road and into a ditch in the southbound lane.

“The driver was returning from down-Island when the vehicle crossed the road, traveled through the southbound lane, and ended up in the ditch,” said Corporal Spencer Mylymok in an interview with the Gazette.

“Evidence at the scene indicates that a medical episode may have occurred prior to the crash,” Mylymok added.

He noted that cold weather conditions did not appear to be a factor in the incident, and the BC Coroner Service is now handling the investigation.

The man was the sole occupant of the vehicle.

Interest in backcountry skiing and snowboarding has been steadily increasing, with a noticeable surge during the pandemic, according to Jan Neuspiel, director of Island Alpine Guides in Cumberland.

Neuspiel, a veteran guide with over forty years of experience, co-founded Island Alpine Guides in 2006 with fellow Association of Canadian Mountain Guides certified guide, Cliff Umpleby. The school and guiding service offer a range of courses for Vancouver Islanders, including avalanche training, mountain weather forecasting, ski mountaineering, multi-pitch climbing, rock rescue, and more—all of which are experiencing greater demand.

In the 2013-2014 season, Island Alpine Guides’ avalanche training courses had 200 students, and by the 2022-2023 season, that number grew to 350, Neuspiel noted.

“We’re training more people in avalanche safety and backcountry skills than ever before,” he said.

However, as more individuals explore the backcountry, the risk of accidents also increases.

“The rise in course participation means more people are venturing into the backcountry,” Neuspiel explained. “Naturally, this results in a higher chance of incidents.”

Recent events underscore this concern. In the Mount Cain area, two backcountry rescues occurred in the past few weeks. On January 11, a 35-year-old man lost consciousness while skiing outside the boundaries in Mount Cain’s west bowl and required airlifting to the hospital. Then, on February 2, another man in his late 40s was partially buried in an avalanche in the same area. He was rescued and airlifted to Vancouver General Hospital.

A prolonged dry spell has increased avalanche danger. In late January, Avalanche Canada, a nonprofit focused on avalanche safety and forecasting, issued a warning that upcoming winter weather would likely elevate avalanche risk due to unstable snow layers.

As more people take an interest in winter backcountry adventures, Neuspiel offers advice on how to get started safely.

Starting Out in the Winter Backcountry

For those new to backcountry skiing or snowboarding—which typically involves skiing out of bounds, plus uphill skiing or splitboarding—Neuspiel recommends starting with an Avalanche Skills Training 1 (AST1) course. This course is also valuable for snowshoers and snowmobilers.

The AST1 course teaches participants how to assess risk and understand avalanche terrain. Island Alpine Guides offers the course over two days, with one classroom session and one field session. The course covers snowpack understanding, route planning, and risk assessment. On the field day, students practice using avalanche transceivers and analyzing snow samples and terrain.

“Avalanche Canada has done a great job raising awareness that taking a basic entry-level avalanche course is essential,” Neuspiel said, adding that the AST1 course is a “logical starting point” for beginners.

Avalanche Canada also provides an online map with avalanche ratings for popular ski touring areas, including new regions on Vancouver Island.

While the AST1 course is a strong foundation for safety, it’s just the beginning. Additional mountain experience and advanced training are crucial for anyone who wants to tackle more challenging avalanche terrain.

Avalanche Canada also offers an online tutorial called Avy Savvy, which is an excellent resource for learning how to assess avalanche terrain.

Gaining Backcountry Experience

Neuspiel suggests three options for gaining backcountry experience after taking an avalanche course: trips with peers of similar experience, trips with more seasoned peers, or guided trips with professional instructors. Each has its advantages and limitations.

Trips with similarly inexperienced peers encourage shared decision-making and learning, though the terrain chosen may be more conservative. Trips with more experienced peers could lead to more exciting, riskier adventures, but less experienced participants should still voice their concerns. Guided trips allow for direct learning from certified professionals but come at a cost.

Ultimately, gaining hands-on experience in decision-making and terrain navigation is essential. “You can take more courses, but nothing compares to actually getting out there,” Neuspiel emphasized.

Backcountry on a Budget

Neuspiel suggests purchasing used gear from shops like Blue Toque Sports in Courtenay or online gear exchanges and Facebook groups such as the Vancouver Island Ski Touring Society or Vancouver Island Climbing and Mountaineering. Club trips, like those from the Alpine Club of Canada’s Vancouver Island section, offer another affordable option.

Pooling funds with friends to hire a guide can reduce the cost, and backcountry adventurers can also save money by skipping lift passes.

Assessing the Risks

Despite the inherent risks of backcountry travel, Neuspiel views his experiences with avalanches as valuable learning moments. “The risks are real, but they’re manageable with a systematic approach to learning and decision-making,” he said. “It’s not a mistake if you learn from it—it’s an opportunity to grow.”

A proposed wind farm with 30 turbines is slated to be built northwest of Campbell River. This initiative is one of ten resource projects in British Columbia being fast-tracked to boost job creation in rural communities.

On February 4th, the provincial government announced that these ten projects, including the Brewster Wind Project, are expected to attract a total investment of $20 billion and generate about 8,000 jobs across the province.

Premier David Eby shared that these projects were selected after the government asked major business groups to propose quick-to-launch initiatives to create employment opportunities. Eby emphasized that these projects are “not dependent on the American market.”

“We’ve identified ten projects we can advance quickly, getting construction underway and people employed,” Eby stated.

The Brewster Wind Project, aiming for up to 200 megawatts of capacity from around 30 wind turbines, was proposed by Toronto-based Capstone Infrastructure as part of BC Hydro’s 2024 Call To Power.

In December, the provincial government revealed that wind farm projects will no longer need environmental assessments. Under current rules, wind projects that exceed 50 megawatts or have more than 15 turbines typically require such assessments.

Eby noted that the current list of projects represents only a “small fraction” of potential future initiatives. He mentioned that these projects are focused in “smaller, rural, and remote communities that will be most affected by these tariffs.”

While Eby did not specify exact timelines, he confirmed that new legislation would be introduced to support these projects.

See Related Stories: 

Second Green Energy Company Targets North Vancouver Island For Wind Farm Site

Island Wind Farm Firm Assures Quality Care Despite Absence of Formal Assessment

Proposal for 30 Turbine Wind Farm Northwest of Campbell River Unveiled

Sayward RCMP have confirmed that a man has died following a two-vehicle collision on Highway 19, south of Woss. The crash occurred near Highway 19 and Nimpkish Road, close to Mount Cain, on Friday night.

The deceased man was the driver of one of the vehicles involved, while two individuals in the other vehicle were transported to the hospital with serious injuries.

“British Columbia Highway Patrol (BCHP) technical investigators responded to the fatal crash, which led to the closure of Highway 19 near Woss for several hours,” stated Sayward RCMP.

Officers arrived at the scene just before 7 p.m. and found two vehicles involved. One driver was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other two individuals were airlifted to the hospital in serious condition.

The highway was shut down in both directions near Nimpkish Road for several hours, from Friday night into early Saturday morning.

“The closure allowed police to conduct their investigation and ensure the scene was safe. The highway was reopened at 2 a.m. after being closed for about eight hours,” the statement noted.

According to the RCMP, road conditions were not a factor in the crash, which remains under investigation. Sayward RCMP is working with the BC Coroners Service to determine the cause.

Image Credit Reinhard Zinabold