View Royal residents have just over a week to share their thoughts on a new recreation plan that will shape parks and recreation services across the Westshore. The Town of View Royal announced the consultation on May 25, 2026, and the online survey closes June 4.
The draft plan, commissioned by West Shore Parks & Recreation Society and developed by Expedition Management Consulting Ltd., is a ten-year guide for recreation facilities and programs. It comes as the area faces rapid growth. According to the plan, the Westshore population is expected to jump by 38 percent by 2046, adding nearly 39,000 new residents. That means more people wanting to use pools, arenas, sports fields, and community programs.
The society says demand is already outpacing what can be offered. Drop-in visits to its facilities rose by 25 percent between 2023 and 2025, and program registrations are up 31 percent since 2022. Some aquatics and skating programs are oversubscribed by as much as 78 percent, and 90 percent of community sports groups expect their participant numbers to keep growing over the next five years.
The plan highlights top needs, including a new indoor recreation complex with a pool, two ice rinks, a multi-use court and fieldhouse, and a fitness centre. It also calls for more sports fields and a new senior staff position. Building everything would cost an estimated $311 million over ten years, and the document says a mix of funding sources will be needed, including some local tax support. In a survey done during the planning process, 70 percent of residents said they would accept some property tax increase to improve recreation, with most in favour of an increase under $100 a year.
Town officials encourage View Royal residents to review the 167-page plan and fill out the feedback survey before the June 4 deadline. Mayor Sid Tobias and other Westshore mayors have already weighed in during earlier input sessions, but this final round lets everyday users have their say.
