May 13, 2025
Town of Sidney Council Meeting Highlights: May 12, 2025
Sidney BC
Highlights from regular Council meetings provide a brief summary of some items of broad public interest. The summary is not inclusive of all agenda items. Please refer to sidney.civicweb.net/Portal for the full agenda, minutes, and webcast.
Council approves Sidney’s first Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan
Council approved Sidney’s first Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan to better protect the Town from the risk of wildfires. The plan identifies high-risk wildfire areas, strategies for protecting existing infrastructure, and recommendations for educating residents on how to FireSmart their homes and properties. The Fire Department will begin implementing recommendations in the long-term plan this year. Where necessary, staff will bring back specific items for Council approval, such as a part-time FireSmart Coordinator.
While Sidney does not have large, forested areas, the community was identified as having a moderate wildfire risk due to the risk of embers from other forested areas on the Peninsula reaching the Town. The development of the plan was funded by the Community Resiliency Investment Program Grant administered by Union of BC Municipalities.
Staff Report and Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan Video
Council opts not to change seasonal flag display in downtown Sidney
After considering various perspectives, Council has decided to continue including the American flag in two seasonal flag displays at Beacon Wharf and Seaport Park, serving as both a welcome to American visitors, and a gesture of continued goodwill between the Canadian and American people, regardless of political tensions. This year, the Town received feedback from some members of the public requesting that the flag be excluded, citing concerns over recent annexation threats and trade tariffs by the U.S. President. The Sidney Business Improvement Area (BIA), speaking on behalf of local businesses, requested that the American flag not be removed from these displays as American visitors play an important role in supporting the local economy.
The flag displays are in place each year from May to October, with the display on Beacon Wharf including a range of flags including the Union Jack, Provincial flag, and Town of Sidney flag, in addition to the American flag.