Islands Trust

The Islands Trust Act, and the administrating body, the Islands Trust, which the act established, represents a commitment made by the provincial government to islanders and to the people of British Columbia, generally, that the islands would be protected for all time from over-development and inappropriate development.

2026 Islands Trust Election

Learn About The Islands Trust

Object of the Trust Act

The Islands Trust Act established an object or mandate under which land use decisions should be made:

“The object of the trust is to preserve and protect the trust area and its unique amenities and environment for the benefit of the residents of the trust area and of British Columbia generally, in cooperation with municipalities, regional districts, improvement districts, First Nations, other persons and organizations and the government of British Columbia.”

The Islands Trust is unique, and there are no other local or regional decision-making bodies like it elsewhere in Canada. It remains a singular accomplishment in our country as a government charged with the stewardship of a fragile environment and the preservation of a special, rural quality of life.

Though a half-century old, the Islands Trust however continues to struggle with opposition to its mandate, both from elected trustees and from some factions of the public. Increased populations, escalating development pressures, and climate concerns all present a worrying future for the Trust Area—one that the Friends of the Gulf islands Society is working to address.

Islands Trust Reports
Islands Trust Governance Review Report Feb 2022
State Of The Islands Project Indicator Report 2020
Current Trust Policy Statement April 2003
History of the Islands Trust

The Islands Trust Story by Peter Lamb, former Islands Trust trustee and Salt Spring Island resident

READ THE STORY

Debate of the Legislative Assembly and the report of the Select Standing Committee on Municipal Matters September 25, 1973

READ THE DEBATE

The Object of the Islands Trust: Renewing the Consensus  ||  Islands Trust Position Paper No. 1  November 1986

READ THE PAPER

2026 Islands Trust Election Information

Basic Election Information for Voters and Trustee Candidates

The next general local elections including election of Islands Trust (IT) trustees is on October 17, 2026.

The important dates for this year’s election are:

July 20 – Start of the pre-campaign period
September 1-11 – Formal notification period for candidates
September 16 – Start of official campaign period
October 17 – General Voting Day

Who Can Vote for Islands Trust Candidates?

In the Islands Trust area, voter eligibility allows for both residents and off-island property owners to have a say in local land use decisions.

  1. Resident Electors – You can vote as a resident if you meet all of the following:
    • 18 years of age or older on voting day
    • a Canadian citizen
    • have lived in BC for at least 6 months immediately before you register
    • live within the Local Trust Area

  2. Non-resident Property Electors – This category is for people who live elsewhere in BC but own property on one of the islands. To qualify, you must:
    • meet the basic age, citizenship, and BC residency requirements mentioned above
    • have been the registered owner of the property for at least 30 days before registering to vote
    • if the property has multiple owners, only one person can be designated to vote for that property, and they must have written consent from the majority of the other owners
      Note: you cannot vote if the property is owned even partially by a corporation

  3. Voters who are off-island off-island on election day
    • can request a mail-in ballot in BC through the regional districts’ Legislative Services or visit their website to request a mail-in ballot package well in advance of the election
    • in previous elections, regional districts in which Trust area islands fall, provide “off-island” voting locations, usually at their respective regional head offices.
    • polling locations are published in late summer or early fall of the election year

 

Becoming a Candidate for the Islands Trust

This is a structured process governed by provincial law. Since the Islands Trust contracts out its election administration to regional districts, the specific “where” and “who” for your paperwork depends on which island you are interested in. 

If typical, this is how the process can be expected to unfold for the 2026 election cycle:

  1. Confirm Eligibility
    To run for the office of Local Trustee, you must:
    • Be 18 years of age or older on general voting day
    • Be a Canadian citizen
    • Have been a resident of British Columbia for at least six months immediately before filing your nomination documents
    • Not be disqualified by the Local Government Act or any other law
    • Note: You do not actually have to live on the island you are running for, though most candidates do

  2. Obtain a Nomination Package
    Nomination packages are usually made available in the summer of the election year (around July or August 2026). You can pick these up from the Regional District office that handles elections for your specific island:
  3. Complete the Nomination Documents
    The package is extensive and includes several key forms:
    • Nomination Papers: You must be nominated by at least two eligible electors from the local trust area where you are running
    • Financial Disclosure: A statement of your assets and liabilities as required by the Financial Disclosure Act
    • Candidate Declaration: A sworn statement that you are qualified to hold office

  4. File During the Nomination Period
    There is a very strict window for filing your papers. For 2026, the nomination period runs from:

    9:00 AM on September 1 to 4:00 PM on September 11, 2026

    Papers must be filed with the Chief Election Officer of the relevant Regional District. If you miss this deadline, you cannot run.

  5. Managing Campaign Finances
    Once you officially become a candidate (or even before, if you start spending money), you must follow the rules set by Elections BC. This includes:
    • Opening a separate campaign bank account
    • Appointing a financial agent (you can act as your own)
    • Recording all contributions and expenses for a disclosure statement that must be filed after the election

      There are also rules about campaigning and election materials with substantial fines for non-compliance. Make sure you read and understand all the rules.

Helpful Resources

For more information visit Elections BC. If you are planning ahead, the Islands Trust website and the BC Ministry of Municipal Affairs provide candidate guides that explain the roles and responsibilities of a trustee. These guides are helpful for understanding the time commitment and the specific “preserve and protect” mandate you would be upholding.