The purpose of this project is to consult on potential District actions with respect to longer-term (post-2027) future uses of the Turkey Head (Spewhung Point) site.

The District of Oak Bay owns the Marina lands located at Turkey Head and has a lease with the Province for the foreshore/aquatic area occupied by Oak Bay Marina. The marina’s lease with Oak Bay includes the buildings, parking lot and water lot (a sublease from the Province). The lease with Oak Bay Marine Group expires in December 2027.

There is First Nations, business partner and community interest in future use of the Turkey Head (Spewhung Point) site. Consultation on potential next steps will help provide greater clarity on opportunities and help Council determine how best to proceed to achieve Council’s objectives for the site, which include:

• First Nations partnership,
• Sustainable Financial return,
• Site activation and public use, and
• Environmental stewardship

Oak Bay Council and Songhees Nation and Xwsepsum Nations leadership met late in 2025 and staff met again in early 2026. The key take-aways from District meetings with Songhees Nation and Xwsepsum Nations are that the three communities share many values and desired outcomes, that there are opportunities for cooperation and shared benefit, that there is interest in potentially operating the marina, and that there is interest in undertaking joint engagement with the Songhees Nation, Xwsepsum Nation, and District communities.

Songhees and Xwsepsum Nations have identified the following objectives with respect to the site:

• Revenue generation;
• Cultural presence;
• Job creation; and
• Environmental stewardship

On March 9, 2026 Council reviewed a proposed Plan for engaging with Oak Bay, Songhees Nation and Xwsepsum Nations communities. Council directed staff to pause Council Priority Project #47 (Seek Songhees and Xwsepsum Nations, potential business partners, and community input into the future of Turkey Head (Spewhung Point)) until an operator has been secured to run the marina following expiration of the current lease in 2027.

As the current marina lease nears expiration (with no provision for extension), the District is looking to achieve a new lease that reflects the objectives of Council, Songhees and Xwsepsum First Nations, and the community, including providing tangible economic, social and environmental benefits. To date, key take-aways from discussions with Songhees Nation and Xwsepsum Nations have been that they and Oak Bay share many values and desired outcomes, that there are opportunities for cooperation and shared benefit, and that there is interest in eventually undertaking joint community engagement with the Songhees Nation, Xwsepsum Nation, and District communities.

The current priority is to secure a marina operator prior to the marina lease expiration. Early 2026 District discussions with Songhees and Xwsepsum leadership and with Oak Bay Marine Group identified potential interest from all three parties in operating the Marina. For this reason, Council has directed that the three parties be invited to submit Expressions of Interest (EoI) for operating a Marina.

The EoI process is a first step within a broader process and is not intended to serve as a request for detailed proposals or financial offers. Its purpose is to:

• Understand who is interested in operating the marina;
• Assess capacity and readiness to manage a complex, operating marine asset;
• Confirm alignment with the District’s required parameters and principles; and
• Help Council determine whether to proceed to more detailed discussions or negotiations with one or more parties.

A consultant has been engaged to oversee the EoI process.

The portion of the site on which Expressions of Interest are being sought is only the part occupied by the two Marina Sales/Service buildings and the water lot. The scope does not include the restaurant/coffee shop building, nor the parking lot area (other than providing enough parking spaces to meet Zoning Bylaw requirements associated with marina operations). The restaurant is currently under a use agreement with Songhees Events and Catering which expires August 31, 2026. The long-term future of the full site is still intended to be resolved following community engagement. Parties responding to the EOI are being invited to share high-level ideas or interests related to the full site, if and as desired, but these are outside the EOI scope (area contemplated for lease).

In its efforts to potentially secure a new lease for the marina, the District has established key requirements that must be understood and adhered to by all parties. EOI responses must clearly demonstrate understanding of and alignment with these parameters:

• The District must receive market value for the marina lease (Community Charter s.25(1));
• The District will retain ownership of the land (lease-based arrangement);
• The District will not provide financial assistance for buildings, operations, or capital works;
• There will be continuity of marina services after the expiry of the existing lease, with the exception of short-term disruptions related to potential dock replacement;
• The water lot is leased from the Province until 2052, with no guarantee of extension; and
• Provincial approvals are required for water lot sublease or assignment.

All EOI responses must acknowledge and accept these parameters to advance to the next stage of consideration for marina operations.