Gospel Rock: Conservation Area
Gospel Rock is a rocky bluff looking over Howe Sound and Georgia Strait, just north of the town of Gibsons. It is one of the most spectacularly beautiful and ecologically sensitive places on the entire Sunshine Coast, and is home to the last stretch of natural waterfront within the Town of Gibsons.
Trees over a century and a half old stand in the mature dryland Douglas Fir-Arbutus forest which stretches from the upper bluffs down to the shoreline.
This type of forest grows exactly where people want to work and live - in sunny areas near the shoreline. As a result, almost all the stands like it on the Sunshine Coast have been logged and developed. Gospel Rock is one of only a couple of small parcels like this that remain between Gibsons and Pender Harbour.
As of March 30, 2022 - after more than 35 years of community, non-profit, and local government effort - 16.6 acres of rare and sensitive forests on “Gospel Rock” are now permanently protected!
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Why Protecting Gospel Rock Matters
Sunshine Coasters have known in their hearts for generations that the Gospel Rock area is special. Currently available scientific information, provided through the Province's Conservation Framework, strongly supports this widely held point of view.
The land in the Gospel Rock Neighbourhood Plan area is within the Coastal Western Hemlock very-dry maritime biogeoclimatic subzone;. one of the most heavily disturbed ecosystems in the lower mainland and along the coast, second only to the Coastal Douglas Fir moist maritime.
Approximately 8% of this type of subzone occurring on Crown land in the Sunshine Coast Regional District has been protected. Less than half of this land is in old growth condition, due to the history of human settlement and industrial, agricultural and forestry-related uses.
The particular site type of the standing forests above and below Gower Point Road is naturally rare. The Province recognizes these stands as Imperiled and Imperiled to Vulnerable.
Updates on Gospel Rock
Rare Forest at Gospel Rock Protected with New Conservation Convenant
After more than 35 years of community, non-profit, and local government effort, 16.6 acres of rare and sensitive forests on “Gospel Rock” are now permanently protected. The Sunshine Coast Conservation Association (SCCA), The Land Conservancy of British Columbia (TLC), Greenlane Homes, and the Town of Gibsons have announced the registration of a conservation covenant protecting […]
Unsanctioned Logging at Gospel Rock
On December 31st, 2020 the SCCA was informed by citizens of Gibsons that trees had been cut down in the sensitive forest area on Gospel Rock, Block 7. We walked the property on January 2nd and 3rd, 2021 and documented a freshly cut swath of the sensitive ecosystem along the eastern edge of the property. […]
January 2021 Gospel Rock Update
Dear Friends, On December 31st, 2020 the SCCA was informed by citizens of Gibsons that trees had been cut down in the sensitive forest area on Gospel Rock, Block 7. We walked the property on January 2nd and 3rd, 2021 and documented a freshly cut swath of the sensitive ecosystem along the eastern edge of […]
Gospel Rock Update
The SCCA has been working with the Friends of Gospel Rock Society to protect ecologically rare and sensitive lands in the Gospel Rock Neighbourhood area since 2004. In 2018, the SCCA partnered with The Land Conservancy of BC (TLC) to negotiate a conservation covenant with the Gospel Rock property owner, to forever protect the ecologically sensitive […]
Gospel Rock Covenant
The SCCA has worked in partnership with the Friends of Gospel Rock Society (FOGRS) to secure protection of ecologically rare and sensitive lands in the Gospel Rock Neighbour Area since 2004. In 2013, The Town of Gibsons adopted the Gospel Rock Neighbourhood Plan, which outlined its commitment to protect over 47% of Block 7, a […]
Gospel Rock Covenant
The SCCA has worked in partnership with the Friends of Gospel Rock Society (FOGRS) to secure protection of ecologically rare and sensitive lands in the Gospel Rock Neighbour Area since 2004. In 2013, The Town of Gibsons adopted the Gospel Rock Neighbourhood Plan, which outlined its commitment to protect over 47% of Block 7, a […]
FOGRS Elects new Board
The Friends of Gospel Rock Society held their annual general meeting on March 26. The new board consists of six members: Patricia Braithwaite (Chair), Brad Benson, Lee Haffner, Catherine McManus, Suzanne Senger, and George Smith. The contributions of outgoing board members Janet Genders, Jan Schuks, and Lola Westell were noted with sincere appreciation. The new […]
Wasn’t that a party?
We had a fantastic party at the Hall on November 17 for our annual Celebration of Conservation. Long time supporters, Sweet Cascadia, were joined this year by a host of amazing and generous musicians. Kenji Akimoto entertained us on guitar while we welcomed everyone to the event and then Dan’s Daughter’s took over with their […]
Gospel Rock: Waterfront development voted down
On Tuesday, October 16, at the regular meeting of Gibsons Town Council, Mayor Rowe and all four councillors unanimously agreed to move Option B, an amendment to the Gospel Rock Neighbourhood Plan which will disallow waterfront development (delete cluster housing on the waterfront from the plan and maintain the designation of “green space”). Council also voted […]