British Columbia denies wilderness school land use in East Sooke Park

The British Columbia government has denied three Crown land applications from One with Nature Corp to operate a commercial wilderness training and outdoor education school near East Sooke Regional Park. The proposal sought to use up to 71 hectares of land for infrastructure, including permanent buildings, a dock, and vegetation clearing.

In a decision signed by Peter Warburton, the province stated the application was “incompatible with the existing conservation, recreation and stewardship objectives of the area.” The denial followed significant opposition from the public, referral agencies such as the Capital Regional District (CRD) and the Ministry of Forests, and First Nations. Two First Nations formally opposed the applications, citing potential impacts on Aboriginal and Treaty rights, cultural heritage, and environmental resources.

Vitaliy Svetlichnyy, founder and head instructor of One With Nature, stated he accepts the decision, noting, “If the public doesn’t need it, I’m fine with it.” The CRD expressed strong support for the rejection, noting the proposed site intersected with popular trails and could reduce public access to one of its busiest parks.