Project Investment:

• Island Coastal Economic Trust: $40,000
• Total Budget: $117,731

Project Highlight:

The Thieves Bay Park Community Pavilion will provide Pender Island’s only covered outdoor venue, expanding opportunities for special events, gatherings, recreation, and economic participation across multiple sectors.

Located adjacent to the Thieves Bay Marina, the park is a key recreation area connected to the island’s active transportation trail network and near Magic Lake, a neighbourhood of approximately 2,000 residents.

Managed by the Pender Island Parks and Recreation Commission on behalf of the Capital Regional District, the project involves construction of a timber-frame pavilion, complemented by accessible picnic tables, a native plant garden, and interpretive signage.

Designed to be accessible, low-profile, and integrated with the park’s natural setting, the pavilion will create a new focal point for community, cultural, recreational, and educational activities. By providing an all-season venue for gatherings and small-scale events, the project will strengthen community connections, expand opportunities for local vendors and tourism operators, and enhance the quality of life on Pender Island.

Island Coastal Economic Trust is partnering on the project through an investment from the Community Placemaking funding program, under the Entrepreneurs and Local Businesses investment priority.

Wellbeing Impact

The Trust invests in projects using a Wellbeing Impact Framework that looks beyond traditional economic metrics. This approach evaluates how each investment strengthens economic prosperity, cultural vitality, climate resilience, and social empowerment. By focusing on outcomes that matter to people and place, the Trust works to spur new investments that create meaningful, lasting benefits across Vancouver Island and the coast.

The pavilion will transform an underdeveloped area of Thieves Bay Park on Pender Island into a vibrant, inclusive gathering space and economic driver.

Economic Prosperity 

This project strengthens the local economy by:

• Enabling the expansion of 15 local businesses, including:
  – Special event vendors including event planners, caterers, rental companies, graphic designers, transportation providers
  – Accommodation providers
  – Artisans
• Forging six partnerships, including with:
  – SȾÁUTW̱ (Tsawout) Nation (cultural monitoring)
  – Magic Lake Property Owners Association representing 2,200 residents
  – Capital Regional District
  – Pender Island Chamber of Commerce
  – Pender Island Conservancy Association
  – Southern Gulf Islands Tourism Partnership

Social Empowerment

The project supports social empowerment with:

• Three temporary construction jobs
• Nine new volunteer opportunities

Climate Resiliency

The project will contribute to climate resiliency by:

• Incorporating low-carbon, adaptable design
• Using sustainably sourced wood and construction methods that minimize waste and emissions

Cultural Vitality

The project will strengthen cultural vitality by:

• Creating an accessible, inclusive community space that will provide a venue for local events, interpretive displays, and education programming