MT. SEYMOUR RESORTS PROPOSED EXPANSION PLANS – SUMMARY OF THE TOUR JULY 29, 2026
Report by Alex Jamieson
Hello to those of you who are interested in the Mt. Seymour expansion plans, and the tour we had with Eddie Wood, the operator of Seymour Mountain Resorts. Michelle Sheardown provided notes, and both David Cook and Alan Bardsley provided comments about ecology:
Mr. Wood has been the holder of the Renewable Park Use Permit on Crown Lands at Mount Seymour since the 1980s. The Park has been in use for recreation since the 1940s. It has always been family operated, beginning with Harold Lundquist as its first concessionaire through to Mr. Wood today. Mr. Wood also operates other BC Parks in the Sea to Sky region, including Alice Lake and Porteau Cove. During the existing term of the lease much has been learned and accomplished, including the creation of an updated Master Plan and recommendations that formed the basis for the Commercial Ski Area Policy. There are currently 8 years left on the lease with an option to renew for 30 years.
Because of capital costs, in order to make the operation viable Mr. Wood stated the need for:
1. increased demand = more terrain in order to grow (new lifts, higher elevation) and
2. diversification = a summer presence that fits within the park (glamping, aerial adventure park and zip-lines, disc golf, mountain biking, etc.).
The process will include feedback from the survey → communication of intentions → development of a Master Plan → Permit. I did not hear at which points, if any, the public might be provided with opportunities for further input. Mr. Wood did indicate consulting with various groups, including the BC Mountaineering Club, and told us he has a good working relationship with Tsleil-Waututh Nation.
When asked about why there isn’t an updated Park Management Plan, Mr. Wood responded that “it would be nice, but the clock is ticking.” He mentioned a lack of BC Parks staff to do this work. We believe it is essential that a completed Plan be in place. A Park Management Plan would identify and inventory the park’s ecological, cultural, and recreational values, establish appropriate zoning, and provide opportunities for public engagement before major development decisions are made.
When asked about the ecological considerations to what he is proposing, he said there would be rigour applied to any analysis of what is being considered.
In addition, there is concern about the effects of proposed “glamping” on the wetlands around Goldie and Flower lakes. The same comments about old growth apply, with the added concern about wetland ecology. People could do glamping somewhere nearby and then walk around the lakes on a boardwalk with new educational signs.
It seemed that a decision had already been made, apparently based on topography, of where any expansion of the park could take place: the De Pencier and Percy chairs. Anywhere else would be too steep or get into the watershed reports Mr. Wood. To build the chairs it would seem to require major road building, etc. With the long timeline and remote, difficult, access this phase seems quite imponderable.
On the tour we visited the two sites. Almost the all of the sites consist of old growth forest, with mature Mountain Hemlock, Yellow Cedar and Amabilis Fir and associated flora and fauna. (see photos below). In particular, there are many characteristics of an old-growth ecosystem intact in an active ski area. This forest has a high ecological value but it seems change will be needed to increase the recreational value, and hence economic value, of the mountain.
It is concerning that the plan to thin some areas to facilitate glade skiing will remove younger trees, shrubs, and ground cover and diminish the mixed-age characteristic so important to the long-term sustainability of the forest. This will impact the area as older trees die of natural causes and the younger trees that would normally replace them are missing.
The effect of logging to facilitate glade skiing is similar to selective logging. It reduces the moisture in the forest by increased evaporation and unimpeded air (wind) passing through the forest and removing moisture. This is a death-knell to the forest as it upsets the ecological balance of the forest. Also, like selective logging, heavy equipment compresses the oxygen out of the soil which is deleterious to developing root systems as roots need oxygen.
Its unclear whether Mr. Wood fathoms “Old Growth” means more than individual trees.
I am linking to Nature Vancouver’s comments because they have a similar position to ours:
There is probably not much more to do until BC Parks releases their summary of the survey results. Please let us know your thoughts and ideas. In the meantime, feel free to write to contacts below:
May the forest be with you.
Contacts:
1. parkinfo@gov.bc.ca – your letter will become part of the Public Engagement Record.
2. Johanna.Hirner@gov.bc.ca – Planning Section Head, Lower Mainland South Coast Region | Coast Area Parks and Recreation Program Ministry of Environment and Park. I also have her phone #
3. ENV.Minister@gov.bc.ca Hon. Tamara Davidson, Environment and Parks Minister
4. Jim.Standen@gov.bc.ca Jim Standen, Assistant Deputy Minister, Environment and Parks
5. john.martin@naturevancouver.ca John Martin, President of Nature Vancouver.
