The Village of Slocan has launched a new public engagement project to gather thoughts and ideas for the future of the former industrial mill site.
The “Imagining Slocan’s Waterfront Commons” project has introduced a digital hub and is working towards a community symposium event on May 24 and 25, 2025. This event will give residents the opportunity to participate in shaping the future of the site.
The Village purchased the former mill site on the village’s waterfront in 2020 for $1.5 million. It has been vacant since the mill was demolished in 2013.
The intent of the purchase, according to Mayor Jessica Lunn, was to create a thoughtful, community-driven plan for the site with maximum community benefits.
While the project is still in the concept phase, the symposiums represent the first phase of community engagement.
In 2022, the village updated its Official Community Plan (OCP), but Mayor Lunn explains that council made a conscious decision to separate the visioning of the mill site from the actual OCP update.
“I know the community was extremely excited to start talking about the specifics of the site at that time, but it was outside the scope of that project, so this is our first real opportunity to bring the community together to talk about the more specific ideas and potential for the site. We really wanted to hold space so that we could take our time to do this right.”
Instead, the Village defined the site a Mill Site Master Planning Area, with Lunn saying the current public engagement project is part of the Plan’s visioning phase.
“The symposium is about bringing people together to learn together, to dream together, and to start shaping a shared vision for the site. We’re thinking big—what’s the maximum benefit to restore the creek and the waterfront, create community spaces, and there’s huge potential for economic development opportunities as well,” added Lunn.
During the symposiums, Slocan residents and those living in the surrounding area are invited to participate in a weekend of learning and sharing.
Events include panel discussions, design workshops, a keynote address with Shorefast, and more.
Lunn says the feedback gathered through the symposium will guide the village as it embarks on the Mill Site Master Plan.
“The hope coming out of this process will be to start shaping some high-level vision and ideas for the site, which will then be used as we move into a more formalized master planning process. The intent really is to start garnering ideas and putting them together so that we have some semblance of a shared vision moving into the master planning process.”
The Village hasn’t yet determined when the Mill Site Master Planning process will begin, but Lunn says the goal is to begin at the end of this fiscal year or early in 2026.
“The intent is to really scope the master planning projects, put out a call for proposals, and then start moving into that planning process at the end of this year or into the early part of the next fiscal year.”
Additionally, Lunn extends an invitation to residents in the surrounding area to participate in next weekend’s symposiums, as she says the potential benefits would extend beyond the village itself.
“The site is really beautiful and important for the valley; there is a lot of potential. So, we’re just encouraging folks who feel drawn to have the conversation or share ideas to come on out. It’ll be a great opportunity to learn.”
The Village will be documenting the process on its Waterfront Commons website, which will also serve as a resource for information as the Village moves forward with the Mill Site Master Plan.
For more information on the project and symposiums click here.
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