For the Love of Gospel Rock Society sends public letter to owner Block 7

For the Love of Gospel Rock Society, which wants to preserve Gospel Rock Block 7 as a nature area, has written a public letter to Ji Yan. He is the son of  Ji Yongqiang who owns Block 7 and Block 6.  

The Ji family intends to build 300 to 350 housing units on Block 7:  four-storey apartments,  condos and several two-storey single-family homes.  

Dear Mr. Yan Ji,

We understand your excitement with your new project Gospel Rock Village. However, your project is located on a beloved piece of land that has outstanding cultural, historical, ecological, aesthetical and spiritual value for the local community. The community of Gibsons has an immense affection for the Gospel Rock area. 

The community has been using this land for over a century to connect with nature and as a gathering place for celebration, romance, mourning, ashes disposal or simply, soothing their souls. As have people from all over the world. In 2006, the Town of Gibsons noted that Gospel Rock is a site of Primary Significance to Gibsons. The ecological importance of Gospel Rock has been cited in many scientific studies. These lands represent a very rare and special ecosystem: a coastal dryland forest, right in the middle of a rainforest. It is home to bear, deer, cougar, bobcat, numerous birds, and many smaller creatures and native plants. Maintaining this ecosystem is crucial for these species that, more and more, find no place to go.

Sadly, Gospel Rock Block 7 is the last waterfront natural area left in Gibsons. The community wants to save this precious place from development, and create a natural park for all generations to come. Protecting and preserving the habitat that wildlife needs in order to survive, runs parallel to protecting the future of humanity.  Can you imagine Vancouver without Stanley Park? Or New York without Central Park? We’d like one day to say: Can you imagine Gibsons without Gospel Rock Nature Park?

We applaud your willingness to protect some areas of Gospel Rock Block 7. However, encroaching housing and commercial development close to the park area that you intend to preserve will impact wildlife, especially large mammals that need to travel between ecosystems. It will be just a matter of time when conservation officers will be called to kill bobcats, bears, and cougars that are wondering too close to the village.  You may also be aware of the high costs of development in the Gospel Rock area, and the numerous hurdles of permits, zoning, geological barriers, as well as road, sewage, and water access.

We understand that you have come to Canada to make money, and we imagine that after a long and successful career, you will want to give back to this country you did so well in. Well, we think there will never be a better cause to give to.  Imagine the respect, honour, good karma, gratitude and support you will earn by allowing us to buy back Block 7.  You have come to Canada because of its greatness, and you chose Gibsons because of its beauty and character. Please become a community hero and help us to create the park. There are government incentives to protect rare ecosystems that can financially benefit land owners. ‘For the Love of Gospel Rock Society’  is committed to raising the money to purchase your land if you give us a written consent.

Would you like to be an honoured community leader and help us to protect this area in perpetuity? There are less ecologically significant areas in Gibsons, and on the Sunshine Coast where you could build your Green Village, with great community support and smaller development costs.

Thank you for your consideration and support. Your contribution will be forever cherished by our people, our wildlife and the next generations to come. We look forward to meeting you personally and developing a magnificent plan that will benefit us all!

Sharon Danroth

President

For the Love of Gospel Rock Society