qathet Regional District (qRD) is seeking feedback from all qRD residents and property owners to help determine the future of the Shelter Point Park concession stand. The stand is managed through the Regional Parks Service, which is paid for by all members of the qRD, according to a media release from the regional district.
During the summer season, qRD hosted a contract concession at Shelter Point Park. qRD provides the structure as well as the necessary equipment for a turnkey concession business. In the last six years of operations, the concession has had four different operators.
Since 2018, qRD has had challenges receiving responses to its request for quotes. Due to limited responses, qRD had to re-advertise for quotes in 2018, 2020 and 2022. The concession stand contract was recently advertised in 2023, with a deadline of March 31; no bids were received.
qRD has continually accepted offers to operate the Shelter Point Park Concession Stand, which have decreased from $4,000 per year in 2017 to $500 per year in 2022, when the direct annual maintenance costs were $4,373.59, according to the release. The equipment is growing older. qRD has replaced two deep fryers, two freezers and a refrigerator in the last five years. There are annual expenditures for fire safety inspections ($600 due to the deep fryers) and deep fryer duct cleaning ($400). In 2023, the cost of advertising for the concession Request for Quote was $238.34. This spring a leaking water line had to be replaced, and the archaeological fees were $2,500, the release stated.
The Shelter Point Concession Stand is supported through taxation. qRD is legislatively unable to provide a grant, benefit, advantage or other form of assistance to an industrial, commercial or business undertaking.
Take the survey
A region-wide survey regarding the future of the Shelter Point Concession Stand will be available between October 2 and 20, 2023 at qathet.ca/shelter-point-park-concession-stand. A paper version of the survey is available upon request. Call 604.485.2260 or email [email protected] to get a copy.
The survey is non-binding, and will be one of the tools used by qRD to make a decision regarding this service. qRD will provide a publicly-available “What We Heard” report to summarize the community input received. For more information on this project, go to qathet.ca/shelter-point-park-concession-stand.
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