With two distinctly different recreational sites - Sasamat Lake and the Belcarra Park Picnic Area on Indian Arm - Belcarra Regional Park is one of Metro Vancouver's most beautiful parks. It is well-served by trails to Jug Island, Bedwell Bay, Sasamat Lake, Admiralty Point and Burns Point.

Belcarra South lies within Belcarra Regional Park boundaries and commonly refers to the area that extends south along the waterfront from the Belcarra Park Picnic Area. Lining the foreshore are seven cottages and a two-storey heritage home - the Bole House. A gravel road turns off Tum-tumay-whueton Drive, providing access to the property. The name Belcarra South is a bit of a misnomer since only the first cottage south of the picnic area lies within the borders of the Village of Belcarra; the remaining six cottages and the Bole House fall within the jurisdiction of the City of Port Moody following its acquisition of Electoral Area B in 1988.

Those of us who live in Belcarra South know how fortunate we are to reside in this forested, seaside haven where Indian Arm branches north off Burrard Inlet and within view of the bustling cities of Burnaby, North Vancouver and Vancouver. Living in what were formerly summer cottages and the Bole House - all dating back to the early part of the 20th century - we provide unofficial stewardship of this part of the park. We recognize it is both a responsibility and a privilege to be the eyes and ears on Belcarra South and adjacent waters.

Unfortunately, the future of the cottages is not secure and Metro Vancouver's plan to demolish them is a very real and immediate concern.

• See the BSPS on facebook, with many examples of artwork of the cottages by the The Passionate Outdoor Painters.

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The Saga - A Summary Chronology of Events

• 2021 Mar 24 - BSPS's appeal is denied, the judicial review upheld (BC Court of Appeal decision / 2021 BCCA 121).
  NET: The notice to end tenancy remains in effect.
• 2020 ? - BSPS appeals the judicial review to the BC Court of Appeal, that is, hoping to reinstate the RTB arbitrator's decision.
• 2020 Apr 29 - The judicial review concludes the RTB arbitrator's decision is invalid.
  NET: The notice to end tenancy is in effect.
• 2019 ? - MV seeks a judicial review of the RTB arbitrator's decision. This is a process whereby a BC Supreme Court judge will assess the RTB arbitrator's decision for its legal validity.
• 2019 Jan - The adjudicating RTB arbitrator declares MV had not met requirements to end tenancy, and so overturns the notice to end tenancy.
  NET: The notice to end tenancy is not in effect.
• 2018 Mar 29 - BSPS files for dispute resolution through the Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB).
• 2018 Mar 14 - MV serves BSPS with a notice to end tenancy in 6 months.
• 2017 Nov 24 - The MV Board approves a revised plan for Belcarra Park, which includes changing the Belcarra South cabins area to non-residential public use.
• 2016 Spring/Summer - Metro Vancouver announces a planning process and undertakes public consultation for Belcarra Park South, including the cabins.
• 2015 Oct 04 - Belcarra South Preservation Society (BSPS) participates in Ioco Ghost Town Day, 12:00 - 4:00 PM, Ioco Townsite, First Avenue at Ioco Road, Port Moody.
• 2015 Sep 28 - Lorna Dysart, Chief Administrative Officer of the Village of Belcarra, advises Jo Ledingham that "with limited resources and more pressing priorities, the municipality will not be pursuing the creation of a Heritage Register at this time."
• 2015 Sep 08 - Metro Vancouver (MV) notifies BSPS of a rent increase beginning January 1, 2016.
• 2015 Aug 04 - BSPS sends letter to Port Moody Mayor Mike Clay and Council regarding Metro Vancouver's intention to move the cottages. Response received notes exemptions to Bylaw 3006 are to be vetted through Port Moody Council.
• 2015 Aug 01-31 - House moving and surveyor contractors measure the cottages and tag all trees over 23 cm on and in proximity to the property.
• 2015 Jul 21 - At MV's request Mitch Sokalski and Jamie Vala and BSPS tenants meet at Belcarra South to discuss the future use of the cottages. MV claims "all options are or the table." MV discloses they are considering a plan to move the cottages and will be sending contractors to the property in August to assess this possibility. *Note Bylaw 3006 does not allow demolition, alteration or moving of the cottages.
• 2015 Jun 18 - Information Item 6.4 is included on the agenda of MV Parks Meeting: Correspondence from the City of Port Moody regarding their adoption of Bylaw 3006 (Heritage Designation Belcarra South Cottages). The letter, dated May 6, 2015, is addressed to CAO Carol Mason and cc'd to Alan Neilson, General Manager, Planning, Regional Parks.
• 2015 May 31 - BSPS submits a cheque for $26,321 to Metro Vancouver for back rent owing due to the legal impasse that occurred between July 2014 to March 2015 (nine month's rent).
• 2015 Apr 28 - *Port Moody Public Hearing, third reading and ADOPTION OF BYLAW 2015, NO. 3006 HERITAGE DESIGNATION (BELCARRA SOUTH COTTAGES) WHICH PROHIBITS DEMOLITION, ALTERATION OR MOVING THE COTTAGES. Alan Neilson, General Manager, Planning spoke on behalf of Metro Vancouver requesting the bylaw not be passed and advising Council that the proposed 200 additional parking spaces (part of the 1994 Belcarra Regional Park Expansion Plan) are now off the table. Jo Ledingham and Michael Elson spoke on behalf of BSPS.
• 2015 Apr 19 - Passionate Outdoor Painters (POP) Event - Tea and Tour hosted by Jo Ledingham at Mayo Point Lodge
• 2015 Apr 14 - Port Moody Council gives first and second reading for Bylaw 3006 re Heritage Designation for the Belcarra South Cottages and recommends the bylaw be brought before a Public Hearing on Tuesday, April 28.
• 2015 Apr 01 - Belcarra South Preservation Society`s former lease is reinstated and BSPS resumes paying rent to Metro Vancouver (the landlord) on a month to month basis.
• 2015 Mar 24 - Port Moody Council supports the higher protection of heritage designation for the Belcarra cottages. It recommends "THAT staff be directed to focus on the preparation of a heritage designation bylaw for the Belcarra South Cottages to be completed before the expiry of the Temporary Protection Order on May 8, 2015."
• 2015 Mar 20 - MV notifies BSPS that they will be discontinuing their petition at BC Supreme Court (filed on Aug. 8, 2014) and that our lease will recommence as of April 1, 2015 (after nine months in limbo). MV is required to pay court costs incurred by BSPS. However, MV advises of their "intention to terminate tenancy in accordance with the provisions of the Residential Tenancy Act".
• 2015 Mar 10 - Port Moody Council Meeting (Item 9.2) - In response to MV's application for a demolition permit for Belcarra South cabins, Council directed staff to notify Metro Vancouver of their intentions to: 1) create the Belcarra South property as a heritage conservation area, and 2) seek heritage designation for the Belcarra cabins.
• 2015 Feb 02 - Metro Vancouver submits and application for a demolition permit to Port Moody Planning Dept. for the six Belcarra cottages located in Port Moody.
• 2014 Nov 03 - Confirmation is received that six of the seven Belcarra South cottages (those that lie within the boundaries of the City of Port Moody) have been officially added to the Port Moody Heritage Register and the Canada's Historic Places list. The Village of Belcarra has been asked to create a Heritage Register so that the seventh cottage (lying within the Village) can also be recognized for its heritage value.
• 2014 Oct 07 - Tri-Cities NOW article "Six Belcarra cottagers still remain".
• 2014, July 02 - Province article by Jeremy Deutsch "Truly the end: A bitter Canada Day for evicted Belcarra Park cottage owners".
• 2014 Jun 17 - 24-Hours article by Sara Norman "Belcarra Cottagers 10-days away from eviction".
• 2014 Jun 17 - Request for extension denied by Allan Neilson, General Manager, Metro Vancouver Policy, Planning and Environment. BSPS are advised that an extension can only be granted by the Board; staff merely responds to Board direction.
• 2014 Jun 16 - BSPS letter to MV Mitch Sokalski requesting an extension "since there is no urgency for expansion and since expansion has been officially opposed by both municipalities, we formally and with respect request an extension until October 31 or until the future of the cottages is determined and the 'in process' issues are resolved."
• 2014 Jun 08 - Baidarka Day - Belcarra South celebrates the relaunching of the Mount Fairweather - a 48-foot six-man (Aleut style) baidarka built by former resident George Dyson and launched in 1975. In situ on the lawns of the Bole House since the late 70s it now resides at Bay Cottage.
• 2014 Jun 05 - Price Tags website uploads article "Michael Kluckner on an act of vandalism" re Belcarra South cottages.
• 2014 Jun 05 - Jo Ledingham attends the Metro Vancouver Environment & Parks Committee to present a proposal on behalf of Belcarra South Presentation Society for improved public access to Cabin Beach, cultural and historical public programing, mitigation of liability and to provide new information regarding heritage status supported by the City of Port Moody and Village of Belcarra.
• 2014 Jun 05 - CBC News article.
• 2014 Jun 04 - CBC Radio comes out for interview with Jo and Andrea Ledingham for Jun 5th 6:40 AM spot on The Early Edition.
• 2014 Jun 03 - Tyee article by Charles Campbell "Rustic Belcarra cabins face eviction, demolition".
• 2014 Jun 02 - Michael Kluckner posts article and paintings of Bay Cottage.
• 2014 Jun 01 - Library Opening - Belcarra Cottages Exhibit - Passionate Outdoor Painters and Photographs by Andrea Ledingham.
• 2014 May 22 - MV Mitch Sokalski sends a letter to remind tenants of the impending eviction date of June 30 and to let us know they plan to cut off utilities and board up the cottages shortly thereafter.
• 2014 May 21 - Mike Clay writes a forceful letter to the Board and to MV Regional Parks requesting the tenants be left in place until the situation is resolved.
• 2014 May 18 - CTV News crew comes out for interview with Jo Ledingham and Michael Elson.
• 2014 May 14 - Article by Jeremy Deutsch, Tri-Cities NOW.
• 2014 May 13 - Port Moody Council approves heritage status for the seven Belcarra South cottages and adds them to the Port Moody Heritage Register. The Statement of Significance presented by Don Luxton & Associates includes recognition of the Belcarra South Preservation Society residents for their commitment to preserving the cottages for over four decades. Mayor Clay and Port Moody council also approve a letter to Metro Vancouver: 1) enquiring about process re purchasing the cottages, 2) stating that the City of Port Moody is not supportive of the expansion of Belcarra Park as it relates to traffic on Ioco Road and increased costs in policing, and 3) requesting the Metro Vancouver Board revisit previous motions relating to future expansion of Belcarra Regional Park, (as per the 1985 Belcarra Regional Park Plan and 1994 BRP Pre-Design Picnic Site Expansion Plan). See Mayor Clay's letter of May 21.
• 2014 May 12 - Lynda Floyd, CAO Village of Belcarra - letter to Ron Wood, Central Area Parks Manager re process for Heritage Protection/Designation for Mayo Point Lodge (the one cottage within Belcarra boundaries).
• 2014 Apr 29 - John R. Taylor, filmmaker, arrives with a documentary film crew and continues to arrive throughout April and June. Conducts in-depth interviews, takes stills as well as film.
• 2014 Apr 14 - Jo Ledingham Presentation re Belcarra South Proposal re public access to Cabin Beach, additional cottage maintenance (no cost to taxpayers), and public programming for the park.
• 2014 Apr 08 - Port Moody Heritage Commission & Council. After obtaining the support of the The Port Moody Heritage Commission for preserving the cabins, the commission made a recommendation to PM council to declare some level of heritage status for the cabins and community. (Item 6.3, City of Port Moody Regular Council Meeting).
• 2014 Apr 06 - Port Moody Mayor and Council tour.

• The Wee Cottage by Alison White

  2014 Mar/Apr - Members of the The Passionate Outdoor Painters arrive regularly to produce paintings of the cottages and surrounding landscape. See the BSPS on facebook for many examples of their works.
• 2014 Mar 10 - Jo Ledingham's presentation to Village of Belcarra Mayor and Council re application for heritage status for Mayo Point Lodge.
• 2014 Feb 16 - Additional tour, Port Moody Heritage Commission.
• 2014 Feb 02 - Port Moody Heritage Commission and Heritage Society tour.
• 2013 Dec 20 - Village of Belcarra Mayor and Council tour. Cancelled due to snow (although Councillor Jennifer Glover did manage to arrive after a commendable hike across the picnic grounds in her weather-worthy snow boots).
• 2013 Dec 13 - Belcarra South Preservation Society members meet with Mayor Greg Moore, Chair, Metro Vancouver Board of Directors.
• 2013 Dec 05 - Linda Reimer, MLA, visits Belcarra South.
• 2013 Dec - The Situation. We are very grateful for the 10-month extension to June 28, 2014 awarded by the GVRD Board on July 26, 2013. However, the recent Board decision on October 25 to strike down our bid to remain in our homes and preserve our cottages is, needless to say, very disheartening. That said, we will continue to work to persuade those in power to reconsider the preservation of our longstanding and vibrant community.
• 2013 Oct 25 - The GVRD Board-Parks produces a second decision: To reconfirm that the Belcarra South cabins not be retained: Items Released from Closed Meeting - Metro Vancouver.
• 2013 Jul 26 - The GVRD Board-Parks hands down a decision: To extend the termination of our lease to 2014 June 30: MV/GVRD Board Meeting.
• 2013 Jul 26 - Presentation to Vancouver GVRD Board (all lower mainland mayors, first nations and Metro Vancouver staff).
• 2013 Jun 25 - Port Moody Council votes to send a letter of support to retain Belcarra South cabins.
• 2013 Jun 11 - Presentation to City of Port Moody Council.
• 2013 Jun 05 - Belcarra South residents met with Metro Vancouver Parks staff who presented five options for review. Metro Vancouver Parks staff requested the "Options" document not be circulated publicly. Belcarra South residents favoured Option 4 - retain all seven cabins with alternative septic system improvements.
• 2013 May 16 - Appeal to Metro Vancouver Environment and Parks Committee to withdraw our termination notice and retain the seven Belcarra South cabins. Recommendation from E&P Committee: That Metro Vancouver Parks staff work with Belcarra residents to find alternatives to removing the cabins. ( MV E&P Meeting Agenda 2013-May-16 (PDF) ).
• 2013 May 06 - Presentation to Village of Belcarra Council. Letter of support sent to Metro Vancouver.