Resources

This page is a full, up-to-date (15-Feb-2026) listing of the approximately 100 studies, documents, and reports included on this website, sorted by topic. Most of these documents are still current. If they have been (or will be) updated, that is noted. Documents with a bold title are particularly relevant to current sustainability issues.

Click to jump to topic: Water … Neighbourhoods … Climate … First Nations … Ecology … Health … Research (well-being, etc.) … Land & housing … Transportation … Energy (heat pumps, etc.) … Circular economy … Gabriola Talks … Governance

Notes from monthly meetings are listed on the Meetings page.

Water

  • Household Water on Gabriola (2025-Nov), 34 pages – LINK – An “everything-you-wanted-to-know” guide for homeowners and residents, linking to official sources covering household water systems, treatment and testing, well care, rainwater harvesting, septic systems and more. From the Gabriola Climate-12 project.
  • Guidance for Treatment of Rainwater Harvested for Potable Use in British Columbia, draft (2019-07), 12 pages – LINK – A draft guidance document from the province, on harvesting rainwater for potable use.
  • See also Climate-12 factsheet #11 and its attachment (below).

Neighbourhoods

This active Climate-12 project (2025–26) seeks to support Gabriolans in the formation of small, connected neighbourhoods for mutual support and emergency prep and response.

Climate

  • Climate-12 OCP Visioning 2050 session – report (2024), 7 pages – LINK – Recommendations from Sustainable Gabriola and the Climate-12-12-12 project on climate, to the Gabriola OCP process. Also with a list of written comments from the participants on the topics of food security, buildings, biodiversity, economic change, health & well-being, transportation, waste, and water.
  • What can Gabriolans do to reduce their climate impacts? (2019), 10 slides – LINK – A short presentation on local GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions, and what individual Gabriolans can do about it.
  • Greenhouse Gases Emission Report – TO BE ADDED – A report on Gabriola’s GHG emissions, from Island Futures.

Climate-12 factsheets

Two-page documents giving relevant local science and statistics on a given climate change topic, along with a broader global perspective. From the series of Climate Cafes, held 2022–23).

  • 01–Local Terrestrial Ecosystems factsheet (Sep-2022) – LINK
  • 02–Food Security factsheet (Oct-2022) – LINK
  • 03–Local Energy factsheet (Nov-2022) – LINK
  • 04–Local Waste factsheet (Dec-2022) – LINK
  • 05–Local Indigenous Ways of Knowing factsheet (Jan-2023) – LINK
  • 06–Health & Well-Being factsheet (Feb-2023) – LINK
  • 07–Art factsheet (Mar-2023) – LINK
  • 08–Local Economy factsheet (Apr-2023) – LINK
  • 09–Transportation factsheet (May-2023) – LINK
  • 10–Local Buildings factsheet (June-2023) – LINK
  • 11–Water factsheet (July-2023) – LINK
    • 11–Rainwater harvesting system components (2023), 2 pages – LINK – A diagram of typical components in a roof-based rainwater harvesting system, with a sample table calculating usage.
  • 12–Action Areas & Tools overview + Permit Song (Aug-2023) – LINK
  • ALL Climate-12 factsheets (PDF, 3.5 MB) – LINK – A compendium of all 12 factsheets in one PDF.

Climate-12 table discussions

Ideas and suggestions for local actions, from the table discussions at Climate Cafes (2022–23)

  • Local Ecosystems: discussion summary (2022), 3 pages – LINK – Ideas from table discussions on local ecosystems and climate change
  • Food Security: discussion summary (2022), 2 pages – LINK – Ideas from table discussions on food security and climate change.
  • Waste: discussion summary (2022), 2 pages – LINK – Ideas from table discussions on stuff, waste and climate change
  • Energy: discussion summary (2022), 3 pages – LINK – Ideas from table discussions on energy, and response to various scenarios.
  • Transportation: discussion summary (2023), 1 page – LINK – A summary of the ideas raised at the Climate-12-12-12 Transportation Cafe.

Climate-12 community priorities

Expressions (using “dot voting”) of community priorities for different action on various topics, from the final Climate Cafe in October 2023.

  • Water priorities – LINK
  • Transportation priorities – LINK
  • Health & Well-Being priorities – LINK
  • Consumption & Waste priorities – LINK
  • Economic Change priorities – LINK
  • Buildings & Energy priorities – LINK
  • Biodiversity priorities – LINK
  • Agriculture & Food Security priorities – LINK

First Nations

  • Reconciliation Resources (2021), 2 pages – LINK – Some links and resources to help members of Gabriola Health & Wellbeing Collaborative and Sustainable Gabriola to understand the context underlying the need for truth and reconciliation activities.
  • Indigenous Ways of Knowing – report on 22-Jan event (2023), 2 pages – LINK – A report on a Climate-12-12-12 event with speakers Geraldine Manson, Dave Bodaly, Ardyth Cooper.

Ecology

  • Fire danger and Fuel Management Prescription in the 707 (2022), 4 pages – LINK – An email from RDN Trustee Vanessa Craig about Fuel Management Prescription and wildfire danger in the 707 park.
  • Light Pollution Report (2022), 4 pages – LINK – Report on a talk by an astronomer, including effects of light pollution on safety, crime, ecology.
  • Earth Day (2025), 1 page – LINK – Promotion & tips for celebrating Earth Day, April 22nd. Renewed yearly.

Health

More health-related reports are listed under Climate (above).

  • Proposal for a new Community Wellbeing Coordinator for the GHWC (2023), 2 pages – LINK – Information about a new coordinator position on the Gabriola Health & Wellbeing Collaborative, plus a list of Collaborative member organizations.
  • Health Impacts of Climate Change (2023), 9 pages – LINK – Notes for a presentation by Dr Sandra Allison and Crystal Bowes, plus a page of links to resources.
    • Health impacts of climate change, event report (2023), 1 page – LINK – Ideas and opportunities for Gabriolans to address the health impacts of climate change, as compiled at a Climate 12-12-12 event.
  • Climate Change Anxiety: a community conversation (poster, 2024) – LINK – Announcement about a community event on eco-grief, climate emotions, and how to handle them, presented by two doctors.
  • Community health & climate resilience: Protecting mental health & well-being (2024), 9 slides – LINK – Gabriola-specific information from Dr Paivi Abernethy, of Health Protection & Healthy Communities.
    • Mental Health & Climate Change Resources (2024), 2 pages – LINK – Links to resources and organizations to help learn more about, and deal with, climate stress. (Note, many links on this PDF don’t work. We are repairing it.)
  • COVID-19 Community Plea from Gabriola Medical Clinic (2020) – LINK – Guidelines to Gabriolans on recommended actions early in the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Report on LTC motion re cell towers and antennae (2020), 2 pages – LINK – A citizen report giving some history on cell tower expansion on Gabriola, and background on the approval process.

Research (well-being, etc.)

  • Gabriola Health Report – taking the pulse of our island (2020), 41 pages – LINK – Extensive statistical report on the people, economy, well-being, and sustainability on Gabriola.
  • Gabriola Beyond Recovery final report, Dec 23 (2020), 50 pages – LINK – The final report of the Gabriola Beyond Recovery survey, a community-wide survey to understand Gabriolans’ experiences during the COVID pandemic.
    • Gabriola Beyond Recovery survey, paper version (2020), 6 pages – LINK – A paper version of a community-wide survey to understand Gabriolans’ experiences during COVID, from the Gabriola Health & Wellbeing Collaborative and Sustainable Gabriola.
  • Gabriola Community Sustainability Plan – August 2010, an Evolving Document (2010), 38 pages – LINK – An overview of sustainability on Gabriola, including food security, community well-being, energy, transportation, etc. Due to be updated in 2026.
  • Results of the Gabriola Island Health and Wellbeing Survey (preliminary results, for discussion, no appendix) (2010), 41 pages – LINK – Statistics and results from a survey in 2010. For comparison, several more recent surveys have been conducted.
    • Presentation on Gabriola Health & Wellbeing Survey results, Dr Mike Pennock (2011), 45 slides – LINK – Presentation of highlights and takeaways from the survey, from Dr Mike Pennock.

Land & housing

  • Denman Island Local Trust Committee Triple Rock Housing Agreement Bylaw No. 183 (2008) – LINK – An illustrative housing agreement between the Denman Island LTC (Local Trust Committee) and the Triple Rock Land Cooperative.

Transportation

  • Gabriola Island Road Cycling Map (2024), 1 page – LINK – A map from the Gabriola Transportation Society, showing the major cycling routes on the island, along with local landmarks.
  • Ferry Hill Pedestrian & Bicycle Pathway – update (2020), 5 pages – LINK – A report from a group tasked with exploring transportation issues addressingclimate impacts on Gabriola, focussed on Ferry Hill.
  • Safer Routes for Pedestrians going to and from the Gabriola ferry terminal (2018), 18 pages – LINK – Presentation (18 slides) detailing a proposed design for a pedestrian solution on Ferry Hill.
  • Sustainable Gabriola electric vehicle initiative: introduction (2021), 2 pages – LINK – Ideas and introduction to a plan to dramatically increase EV adoption on Gabriola.
    • Sustainable Gabriola electric vehicle initiative: report (2021), 3 pages – LINK – Information and answers to commonly asked questions about EVs.
  • Ferry bike-car pamphlet draft (2020) – LINK – Draft of a proposed double-sided pamphlet of advice for car drivers and bike riders coming to Gabriola.
  • Shared Roadways – Gabriola Island Bicycle Route Plan (2010), 31 pages – LINK – An evaluation of cycling on Gabriola, with routes, unsafe areas, and ideas for improvement. (Due to be updated in 2026.)

Energy (heat pumps, etc.)

  • Heat Pump Owners Guide (2018), 7 pages, 12.5 MB – LINK – A consolidated owner’s guide for for Fujitsu 12RLS, 12RLS2, and 12RLS3 Heat Pumps, including remote control “cheat sheets,” maintenance instructions , and a service checklist. Includes the docs below.
    • 12RLS3 heat pump recommended settings (2017), 1 page – LINK – Image of and recommended settings for remote control for Fujitsu 12RLS3 / 12RLS3Y heat pumps.
    • 12RLS2 heat pump recommended settings (2017), 1 page – LINK – Image of and recommended settings for remote control for Fujitsu 12RLS2 heat pump.
    • Heat Pump Service Checklist (2017), 1 page – LINK – A somewhat more completetrades checklist for servicing a heat pump.
  • Household energy tools, available on loan from the Gabriola library. More info at this link.
    • Thermal imaging (infrared) camera – Used to detect water and moisture damage, insulation deficiencies, heat-leaking windows, and drafts. Available on loan from the Gabriola library; manual included with borrowed unit.
    • Moisture pen – Measures moisture content in wood and other common building materials. Available on loan from the Gabriola library.
    • Kill A Watt Meter – Measures how much power your home appliances use. Three available to borrow from the Gabriola library.
      • Using the Kill A Watt Meter (2017), 2 pages – LINK – Basic instructions for using the Kill A Watt power consumption meter.
    • How Many Watts Do You Need? (2017), 3 pages – LINK – A worksheet listing power consumption for many common household electric appliances, for estimating household power needs.

Circular economy

  • Fix-It Fairs – held three times a year at the Agi Hall. Community members can bring broken tools, toys, appliances, etc. for the fixers to attempt to fix (75%+ success rate). Fabric mender often present as well. Look for the oval posters, and announcements in the Sounder and on social media.
  • Tool Library on the Commons: Facebook page.

Gabriola Talks (community conversations)

Gabriola Talks is

  • Gabriola Talks: a Community Charter for Dialogue (2019), 3 pages – LINK – The vision, core values, and core principles of Gabriola Talks events.
  • Resources:
    • The World Café in ‘Action Research’ Settings (2015), 9 pages – LINK – A paper on the “world café” technique, its origins and application.
    • Polarization, Conversation, and Collective Intelligence (2021), 16 pages – LINK – A paper by Tom Atlee on polarization and dialogue.
    • Four Levels of Listening (2019), 1 page – LINK – A brief overview of ways of listening—downloading, factual, empathic, generative—by C. Otto Scharmer.
    • Ground Rules for Creative Dialogue (2019), 2 pages – LINK – A quick precis of tips for creative dialogue, with a note on dialogue from David Bohm.
    • Engaging Polarities—Self as Instrument , 5 pages – LINK – Explanative slides on dealing with polarities, by Amigail Lynam.
  • Gabriola Village Vision Plan (2017), 49 pages – LINK – A commuity-led planning process envisioning the future of Gabrila Island’s Village Centre.
  • Village Visioning – [TO BE ADDED: pages documents from a separate website (see archive.org) to a “Village Visioning 2050” page]

Governance

  • Letter to Leaders Debate Commission (2021) – 2021-09-07 – https://sustainablegabriola.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Leaders-Debate-ltr-2021-Aug-SG-website.pdf – A sample letter to the federal Leaders Debate Commission, asking for a debate on the climate crisis.
  • Agricultural Co-op governance model (2020), 2 pages – LINK – Diagram and statement of the Agricultural Co-op’s governance model.
  • Gabriola Island Land Stewards Society announcement (2020-Nov-16), 1 page – LINK – Announcement of the formation of GILSS.
    • GILSS information brochure (2022), 2 pages – LINK – Information brochure on the Gabriola Land Stewards Society.
  • Gabriola Community Land Trust Purpose and Objectives, draft (2019-07-28), 2 pages – LINK – Draft statement of the GCLT purpose & objectives.
    • Gabriola Community Land Trust draft bylaws (2019-07-25), 11 pages – LINK – Draft bylaws of the Gabriola Community Land Trust society.