The Skeena - Queen Charlotte Regional District will be no more if board members have their way.
At last Friday’s meeting the board voted to change the name of the body from the Skeena - Queen Charlotte Regional District to the North Coast Regional District. However, there is still some procedure that needs to be followed before the change can be formalized.
“It requires provincial approval, we don’t have the authority to change the name,” explained CAO Joan Merrick.
It would have to come through a change to our letters patent. I have contacted the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development to see what that process will look like and am waiting to hear back.”
Speaking at Port Edward council on Tuesday night, councillor and regional district board member Murray Kristoff said the decision was an easy one for the board to make.
“The reason we looked at that is that the Queen Charlotte Islands have officially been renamed Haida Gwaii, so we didn’t feel the terminology was appropriate anymore,” he said.
“It is something that was passed unanimously.”
The Skeena - Queen Charlotte Regional District was formed in 1967 and includes Prince Rupert, Port Edward, Haida Gwaii, Dodge Cove and Oona River. It is estimated the regional district encompasses about an area with approximately 20,000 residents.