Community

Armours Beach Project

The referendum

On October 17, 2026, voters will be asked whether the Town should be authorized to borrow funds to cover a portion of the costs of the proposed Armours Beach Project.

Background

Gibsons has an application pending with the national non-profit Swim Drink Fish to potentially receive 80% funding for the Armours Beach Project through their WAVE Prize urban swimmable waters initiative.

While we do not yet know if our application will be successful, should we become WAVE Prize recipients, Gibsons would need to fund 20% of the capital costs.

As such, voters are being asked whether the Town should be authorized to borrow funds for Gibsons’ 20% cost share of the proposed project.

  • If voters say Yes, we can continue through the WAVE Prize review process with the aim of being considered for the additional 80%.
  • If voters say No, the project will not continue.

The referendum question:

Are you in favour of the Town of Gibsons adopting Armours Beach Improvements Loan Authorization Bylaw No. 1346, 2026, which authorizes the Town to borrow up to $1,536,000, repayable over a maximum of 20 years, to help fund oceanside recreation infrastructure improvements at Armours Beach, including swimming facility, floating platforms, access improvements, and related or connected amenities.

Creating a more accessible and welcoming waterfront for people of all ages and abilities.
A design of the proposed armours beach project

Conceptual rendering for illustrative purposes only.

Armours Beach is a much-loved waterfront gathering place for residents and visitors. During the summer, it is a popular destination for swimming, relaxing, and spending time with family and friends. As one of the few places where people can swim in the heart of Gibsons, it is an important community recreation space.

People use Armours Beach in many different ways — swimming, jumping from the dock, paddling, playing along the shoreline, gathering with friends or simply relaxing by the water.

The existing beach and park include accessible washrooms, an outdoor shower, picnic areas and connections to the Seawalk and transit. However, the existing infrastructure is aging, and the site does not provide the space or accessibility needed to support the range of activities and users the community would like to accommodate.

The proposed Armours Beach Project builds on years of community-led improvements to create more space and more ways for more people to enjoy the waterfront.

How did we get here?

Since the 1920s, Armours has been a popular swimming spot for the community, where generations of children have learned to swim and families have spent summer days enjoying the beach.

The proposed project has evolved through years of community interest, local partnerships, design work, technical studies and public discussion.

2018–2021: Improving the existing beach

The Rotary Club of Gibsons, with support from the Town and community partners, led significant improvements to Armours Beach beginning in 2018.

The first phase included improved accessibility, a new washroom facility, landscaping, and park furnishings.

In 2019, the swimming-area pilings and log booms were replaced; the foreshore was fortified, and the stone staircase to the beach was rebuilt.

In 2021, an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) was installed with support from the Rotary Club of Gibsons.

2025: A new vision for Armours Beach

In February 2025, the Rotary Club of Gibsons presented Council with a proposal for Phase 2 improvements, including a small slide, diving board, kayak and paddleboard storage, a sheltered beach area and imported sand.

The proposal reflected community interest in creating more opportunities for youth, families, adults and seniors to enjoy the waterfront.

Later in 2025, an opportunity through Swim Drink Fish’s WAVE Prize initiative opened the possibility of pursuing funding for a larger outdoor swimming and recreation facility.

2025–2026: Developing the design

Council approved pursuing the WAVE Prize opportunity in December 2025. The design process incorporated research into Scandinavian approaches to outdoor swimming and recreation, with the goal of creating a facility that could support swimming and other water-based activities throughout the year.

A WAVE Prize application was submitted in January 2026.

The design continued to evolve through Council discussions, work with Gibsons Rotary, public comments and technical analysis.

An Armours Beach Project Feasibility Study was initiated by Town staff and professional consultants in the spring of 2026. The study, which is currently underway, is examining the proposed facility’s land and marine components, including marine conditions, environmental considerations, constructability, operations, public safety, and archaeological and environmental permitting.

The ongoing study has supported the design process, subject to further technical and regulatory work.

The feasibility work has been informing further changes to the project. In May 2026, the design was refined to reduce its scope and respond to public comments and Council’s budget cap.

What is being proposed?

The proposed project would create a public waterfront recreation facility made up of fixed and floating structures connected to the existing beach and park.

The project has three main goals:

  1. Improve access to the water
    Provide purpose-built entry and exit points and improve access for people of different ages and abilities.
  2. Create more opportunities for recreation
    Provide space for swimming, paddling, training, diving, gathering, relaxation, and shelter from the sun and rain.
  3. Support marine stewardship
    Integrate new infrastructure with ongoing environmental monitoring, education, habitat protection, and restoration.

The proposed facilities would be free to use.

NOTE: The planning process is still underway and the project’s design may be adjusted to reflect technical and design considerations. Project images are for illustrative purposes only.

Family Shore

Conceptual rendering for illustrative purposes only.

A gentle shoreline area designed for babies, toddlers, and families. A deck and pavilion would provide shade and a space to gather and enjoy the beach and water’s edge.

Recreation Zone

Conceptual rendering for illustrative purposes only.

A semi-protected, barrier-free swimming area for general public use. A floating ramp would allow people to enter and exit the water gradually, providing an easier option for children, older adults, beginner swimmers, and people with mobility challenges.

Training Zone

Conceptual rendering for illustrative purposes only.

A defined swimming area approximately 12 metres wide and 50 metres long at low tide, providing space for fitness swimmers, instruction and longer-distance swimming.

Paddle Craft Zone

Conceptual rendering for illustrative purposes only.

Dedicated access areas make it easy for kayakers, canoers and paddleboarders to drop by the swimming platform. Separating paddle craft access from the main swimming routes would help reduce conflicts between different water users.

Adventure Zone

Conceptual rendering for illustrative purposes only.

An active recreation area with staggered diving and jumping platforms over deeper water. The surrounding platform would also provide space for sitting, watching, and socializing.

Swimming Platform

Conceptual rendering for illustrative purposes only.

The central gathering and recreation platform would provide accessible water entry, swimming, training, seating, and flexible space for community activities.

A pavilion would provide shelter and shade for relaxing, exercising, and other activities, while a sauna would support use of the waterfront beyond the summer season.

Comfort Station

Conceptual rendering for illustrative purposes only.

The proposed Comfort Station would provide four year-round washrooms and two exterior showers.

The layout would provide privacy while minimizing the visual impact of the facilities. The exterior showers would be positioned beside existing retaining walls, providing partial screening for people rinsing before and after swimming.

Long-Distance Zone

Conceptual rendering for illustrative purposes only.

Past the swimming platform, a dedicated area marked by buoys would provide experienced swimmers with an open-water route for longer-distance training and exploration.

More Information

A key goal of the project is to make it easier for people of different ages, abilities and swimming experience to enjoy the water.

A low-slope ramp system and universal entry ramp would provide stable access across changing tide conditions and allow people to walk into and out of the water.

The design includes accessible spaces for families, seniors, and people with mobility challenges.

The project would be designed in alignment with the Sunshine Coast Regional Accessibility Plan and the Accessible BC Act.

Environmental protection is an important part of the project.

The proposed design would use low-impact and ocean-friendly materials, minimize seabed disturbance, and incorporate floating or removable components where feasible.

The design layout does not directly impact existing eelgrass beds. Potential impacts on eelgrass and nearshore habitat will be assessed as the project progresses. If mitigation is required, measures could include habitat restoration or enhancement, such as kelp or eelgrass planting.

Further technical and regulatory work including Fisheries and Oceans Canada review would be required before construction.

The project is already building on existing marine stewardship and monitoring work at Armours Beach through the Healthy Harbour Program, a partnership between the Town of Gibsons and BlueAct Marine Society. BlueAct is undertaking the baseline Water Quality Feasibility Study in 2026 and will continue to act as Harbour monitor with annual updates thereafter.

The Town of Gibsons is committed to working respectfully with the Squamish Nation on culture, heritage conservation and environmental stewardship.

The Armours Beach project has been referred to the Squamish Nation and the review and engagement process is underway. Town and Squamish leaders have met and discussed the project together.

The Town has requested the Nation’s input and an indication of its desired role in the project. Opportunities for cultural interpretation and displays are being considered as part of the design, subject to ongoing engagement.

2018 — Phase 1 improvements begin.

2019 — Swimming area and foreshore improvements continue.

2021 — AED installed with support from the Rotary Club of Gibsons.

February 2025 — Rotary Club of Gibsons presents Council with a Phase 2 improvement proposal.

November 2025 — Swim Drink Fish WAVE Prize initiative announced.

December 2025 — Council approves applying for WAVE Prize funding.

January 2026 — WAVE Prize application for 80% project funding submitted.

April 2026 — Feasibility study work initiated with final completion targeted for the end of 2026.

May 2026 — Design refined based on feasibility work, public feedback and Council’s budget cap.

May 2026 — Council decides to ask voters a referendum question regarding borrowing for the Town’s 20% share of the project cost.

May 2026 — Gibsons Rotary extends log booms around Armours Beach as temporary improvements for summer 2026.

October 17, 2026 — Voters will determine whether the project advances based on a project question at the Local Government Election.

  • If voters say Yes, Gibsons can continue through the WAVE Prize review process with the aim of being considered for the additional 80%. 

 

  • If voters say No, the project will not continue.

Total project cost: $7.68 million (Council capped).

External funding opportunity: $6.14 million (WAVE prize application for up to 80%).

The Town’s share: $1.54 million (20% of total project cost).

Proposed borrowing: $1.54 million (which may be reduced by fundraising or grant).

Estimated impact on property owners: Property parcel tax of $52/year for 20 years.

Operating and maintenance costs: $95,000 projected in 2029, the first full year of project operation, requiring a one-time increase on Town municipal property tax of 1.6% to cover.

Frequently Asked Questions

The existing marine infrastructure is aging, and the site has limited accessibility and space for the range of activities and users identified through community discussions and project planning.

The proposed project builds on the existing beach rather than creating a new waterfront recreation site.

The original Phase 2 proposal focused on specific improvements such as a slide, diving board, paddleboard and kayak storage, and a sheltered beach area.

The WAVE prize opportunity allowed the Town to explore a broader vision for swimming and water-based recreation. The design has since been refined through feasibility work, public feedback, and Council’s budget direction.

No. The proposed waterfront recreation area will be free for public use.

Yes. The two pavilions will offer protection from the sun on hotter days and escape from the rain on wetter days.

Yes. The project is designed to accommodate different experiences — including quieter areas for sitting and relaxing as well as more active spaces for swimming, jumping and diving.

Accessibility is a core principle of the proposed project.

The design is intended to make the waterfront more usable for people of different ages and abilities, including children, seniors, and people with mobility challenges.

A low-slope ramp system would provide stable access across changing tide conditions.

The project would be designed in alignment with the Sunshine Coast Regional Accessibility Plan and the Accessible BC Act.

Armours Beach does not have a large dedicated parking lot, and the geography of the area limits opportunities for additional parking.

The Town is following its 2025 OCP work with a parking management strategy for the Lower Gibsons area. This includes increasing off-street parking, changes in on-street parking, and encouraging active transportation which includes Armours Beach as a walk-in, walk-out site via the Seawalk.

There are parking spaces within approximately a five-minute walk of the beach. The beach is also accessible by bus and from the Seawalk.

Historically, on the busiest hot summer days when Armours has been packed with community members and visitors, everyone has managed with the parking resources available.

No. A permanent kayak and paddleboard storage rack is not proposed as part of the project. The steep hill leading down to Armours Beach does not provide a suitable location for a storage rack.

The project does, however, include dedicated access areas for kayakers and paddleboarders to stop in at the platform, making it easier for paddlers to enter and exit the water.

A storage rack was considered as part of earlier proposals but is not included in the current design.

Currently, Armours Beach water quality is monitored and tested seasonally by the Town and Vancouver Coastal Health. The project would result in all-year round testing and an enhanced Healthy Harbour Program delivered by Blue Act Marine Society with a focus on Harbour water quality.

The enhanced program with Town bylaw enforcement will reduce contaminant risks from boats in the Harbour.

Large grants for municipal recreation infrastructure are rare. The WAVE Prize opportunity provides the Town with a chance to fund 80% of the project through external funding — otherwise it would not be possible for the Town to undertake a project of this quality.

If successful, the WAVE funding would allow Gibsons to create a major public recreation asset that would serve residents and visitors for generations.

Outdoor recreation also provides important opportunities for physical activity, social connection, and enjoyment of the natural environment. The proposed project would create free public access to swimming and water-based recreation for people of different ages, abilities, and interests.

Without significant external funding, a project of this quality would not be financially feasible for the Town.

Have a question that isn’t answered here? Get in touch with us at communications@gibsons.ca, and we’ll be happy to help.