Sointula is an unincorporated community in Electoral Area A located on Malcolm Island.
Community Specific Information for Sointula
Includes information for staying healthy, where to access the most current official information, mental health & substance abuse services, public transportation, food security, community safety and accessing financial assistance
Property information, including civic addresses, assessment roll numbers, parcel identifier (PID) numbers, applicable zoning categories, etc., as well as other information, can be obtained through the iMap Geographic Information System at the following link: https://imaprdmw.imaptoo.ca/rdmw
| Sointula Tsunami Hazard Map | Map of Logging Roads on Malcolm Island |
| Mitchell Bay Tsunami Hazard Map 1-10 | Malcolm Island Woodlots Map |
Malcolm Island Transfer Station: 2nd Street, Sointula
Hours of Operation
Commencing: March 17, 2021 and Effective until further notice:
The Malcolm Island Transfer Station will be open Wednesday evenings, but closed on Fridays:
Tuesday: 10:00am - 1:00pm
Wednesday: 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Friday: Closed
Saturday: 10:00am - 3:00pm
View the 2023 Malcolm Island Garbage Collection Calendar
Malcolm Island has bi-weekly garbage pickup and full recycling drop off can be done at the Malcolm Island Transfer Station. Please refer to the attached calendar for pickup dates. Residents must have items for removal available at the roadside no later than 7:45 am to ensure pickup. If the collection truck passes your property prior to you taking out items for removal, you will miss your collection.
Click on the area you live in to see your route:
| Dickenson Point | South Sointula |
| Rough Bay 2 | North Sointula |
| Meynell | Veynell |
| Rough Bay | Piggy Point |
| Mitchell Bay | Kaleva |
Bylaw No. 976 Malcolm Island Solid Waste Collection Rates & Regulations
Spring 2021 - Malcolm Island Community Newsletter & Planning Article
This year's Newsletter contains important information including: The COVID-19 Impact on Malcolm Island Services, Emergency Planning, Transit, and Utility Billing.
Also, learn about what is new for the Regional District of Mount Waddington and Malcolm Island this spring: Updates on the Sewer System and Streetlights, Waste Management and Recycling news, and learn more about the Rural Tourism Action Grant program and the Sointula Volunteer Fire Department.
Malcolm Island Newsletter, April 2021
Also learn more about Land use, Planning, & Development on Malcolm Island
Malcolm Island Planning Article, April 2018
Growing Malcolm Island – Our Economic Development Plan
EcoPlan International, a company specializing in community economic development, has submitted a final report that provides a blueprint for community economic development for Malcolm Island. Major recommendations of the Economic Development Plan include the following:
| 1. | Determine a clear role for leadership of the various economic development initiatives |
| 2. | Develop a marketing, promotion and attraction campaign that develops branding and messaging based on local assets, like natural beauty, unique history (Finnish and fishing) and arts, culture and healing |
| 3. | Help local businesses to thrive and add jobs |
| 4. | Provide assistance for job seekers by ensuring that they have the resources needed to find and keep good jobs |
| 5. | Promote solutions to improve access (ferry) and connectivity (broadband) |
| 6. | Develop initiatives to encourage place-making and visitor experience as a resident attraction strategy |
| 7. | Protect core services such as health care, credit union, banking, schools, Co-op and the post-office that are critical to attracting newcomers and visitors |
| 8. | Create Local Networks for Economic Development |
A copy of the report can be downloaded here. For more information, Contact Pat English, Manager of Economic Development, Regional District of Mount Waddington, 250-956-3301, penglish@rdmw.bc.ca
 Document Sized.jpg)
Fire Protection
Sointula Volunteer Fire Department
120, 13th Avenue, Sointula, BC
Weekly Practice: 7:00pm Tuesdays - New volunteers welcome!
Sewer System
Application to Connect to Sointula Sewer System
A sewage collection and treatment plant is provided for Sointula. For emergencies involving the sewer systems please call the Malcolm Island Sewer Technician, Alden Barnett at 250-974-7074 or the Regional District of Mount Waddington Operations Manager, Patrick Donaghy at 250-956-3301.
Street Lighting
Streetlight Conversion Consultation - Have your say!
In 2021, BC Hydro is planning on converting all existing streetlights that they own from High Pressure Sodium (HPS) lights to Light Emitting Diodes (LED) lights. The new lights will use less power and should last longer. The new streetlights will generate a different colour light which will change lighting in your neighbourhood so it is important that you understand the upcoming change and provide guidance as to what you want your street to look like after dark. BC Hydro has created a toolkit regarding LED streetlights which can be accessed by the following link: Streetlight Toolkit
As you will see, it explains the different types of lights available and provides images of what the street looks like with the LED lighting. It is strongly advisable that those filling in their community’s questionnaire review the toolkit prior to providing their opinions. It is also hoped that in the near future, the RDMW will be able to show where streetlights have already been converted so that those interested can observe various LED street lights first hand. This will be dependent upon BC Hydro giving the information to the RDMW. Once the maps have been received from BC Hydro, they will be uploaded for viewing.
Please use the link below to access the Survey Monkey questionnaire that allows you give your input regarding the LED conversion of Sointula’s street lights. Since the questionnaire refers to the street lights by their ID#, a series of seven images have been created that show street light locations with the associated ID# for each light. An overall reference map is available to help find the image that covers the part of Sointula you are interested in. If you have any question, please email them to info@rdmw.bc.ca
Survey Link for Malcolm Island Streetlights
Community of Sointula Streetlight Overview Location Map
- Sointula Streetlight Location Map 1 - Sointula Streetlight Location Map 2 - Sointula Streetlight Location Map 3
- Sointula Streetlight Location Map 4 - Sointula Streetlight Location Map 5 - Sointula Streetlight Location Map 6
- Sointula Streetlight Location Map 7 - Installed Sointula Streetlights Location Map
If a streetlight is burned out or for more information about street lighting services, please contact Nadine Weldon at the Regional District Office, at 250-956-3301.
Water System
The Sointula Waterworks District is an independant local utility that supplies drinking water to the village of Sointula on Malcolm Island. For more information on how to connect to the Sointula water system, general inquiries or to report a concern, please contact the Sointula Waterworks District at 250-973-2308 or email sointula_water@yahoo.ca.
The Old Medical Clinic
270 1st Street, Sointula, BC
Hours of Operation 10am - 2pm
Sointula Waterworks District
Sointula Emergency Plan
Malcolm Island is subject to an Official Community Plan Bylaw (Bylaw No. 708, 2005) and a Zoning Bylaw (Bylaw No. 725, 2006). The Official Community Plan includes objectives and policies to guide decisions related to planning and land use management into the future. The Zoning Bylaw is intended to implement the objectives and policies of the Official Community Plan and prescribes detailed regulations related to land use; the siting, size and dimensions of buildings; minimum lot size for the purposes of subdivision; etc. Please refer to the following links for more information:
Official Community Plan:
Malcolm Island Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 708, 2005 (consolidated November 18, 2019)
Malcolm Island Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 708, 2005 - Schedule B1, Malcolm Island
Malcolm Island Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 708, 2005 - Schedule B, Sointula
Malcolm Island Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 708, 2005 - Schedule C, Foreshore Designations
Zoning Bylaw:
Malcolm Island Zoning Bylaw No. 725, 2006 (consolidated May 17, 2022)
Malcolm Island Zoning Bylaw No. 725, 2006 - Schedule A (Malcolm Island)
Malcolm Island Zoning Bylaw No. 725, 2006 - Schedule B (Sointula)
Building Bylaw:
While approval of a Building Permit is not required, the siting of buildings and structures must be undertaken in accordance with the BC Building Code, and a Building Bylaw is in effect that requires a Site Permit be applied for and issued by the Regional District. The Site Permit process is designed to ensure that the siting of buildings and structures conforms to the requirements of the applicable zoning bylaw. Please refer to the following links for more information.
Building Bylaw No. 682, 2003 (Consolidated)
Example Site Plan to Accompany Application for Building or Site Permit
Owners Acknowledgement of Responsibility Form - Site Permit
Link to Provincial website for British Columbia Building, Fire and Plumbing Codes: https://www.bcpublications.ca/BCPublications/
Subdivision:
With respect to the subdivision on land, the Ministry of Transportation processes and approves applications for this purpose. Information, including a copy of the application required for subdivision, can be found on the Ministry's website at:
http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/DA/Subdivision_Home.asp
Applicants are encouraged to consult with the Regional District as a prelude to making application for subdivision.
Contact:
If you have any questions regarding planning, development and building, please contact the Regional District of Mount Waddington, by telephone at 250-956-3301 or by email at info@rdmw.bc.ca
The Malcolm Island Advisory Commission (MIAC) includes nine members that are appointed by the Regional Board to provide advice and recommendations regarding local planning and servicing matters. The Commission meets on a monthly basis as needed at 7:15pm on the fourth Monday of the month. The meetings are held at the Old Medical Clinic (now Sointula Waterworks District office) at 270 1st Street in Sointula. The public is welcome to attend. Please note that the MIAC may not meet when no matters have been referred to it by the Regional District.
Commission Members:Joy Davidson, Eric Hutchingame, Wanda Laughlin, Michelle Pottage, Connor Siider, Carmen Burrows, Hans Madsen