Bench Donation Program
Start: Fall 2025
End: (Ongoing)
Last Updated: March 20, 2025
- Council has approved the development of the Bench Donation Program, which includes the creation of a policy.
- This will be a new program. Staff will be developing the program to deal with the issues that led to the program being put on hold and discontinued in 2019.
- Council has directed staff to review and return with a policy/program. Final approval is still required before the program/policy is confirmed to proceed.
- It will take about a year to develop the new program due to existing workplan project priorities that are ahead of this project.
- Also staff need time to inventory what benches/plaques are still in service at the various original installation locations. Also new locations will be proposed as we create park plans and review existing and potential bench inventories on trails.
- If a new program is approved by Council, past participants will be provided an opportunity to purchase a new bench and plaque before opening up the program to waitlisted requests or new requests.
- If Council approves the new policy, it will be at a new fee and new contract established through the fees and charges bylaw.
- If the past donor isn’t interested, then the location will be made available to next person on the waitlist. Note that staff are not taking new waitlist contacts until the program is officially restarted.
- We anticipate the new program will be in place the fall of 2025.
Other memorial donation options
Existing City of Courtenay civic cemetery memorial programs
Two options are available to the public through a memorial program in place in the Scattering Garden in the Courtenay Civic Cemetery. This includes memorial boulders with plaques or bronze plaque placed on a granite memorial book.
For more information contact:
Legislative Services
Phone: 250-334-4441 (ext.7241)
Email: cemeteryadmin@courtenay.ca
Other community memorial donation programs:
i. The Sid Williams Theatre: The Sid Williams Theatre offers legacy donation opportunities through their Share the Limelight Program.
For more information contact:
Deborah Renz, General Manager
Phone: 250-338-2430
Email: deb@sidtheatre.com
https://www.sidwilliamstheatre.com/support/donations/
https://www.sidwilliamstheatre.com/support/donations/planned-giving/
ii. Comox Valley Hospice: At Christmas anyone who would like to honour the memory of a loved one can include their name(s) on decorative tags, which will be added to the Memory Tree at the Comox Valley Hospice.
For more information contact:
Christine Colbert, Executive Director
Phone: 250-871-0696
Email: ed@comoxhospice.com
https://comoxhospice.com/memoriam
https://comoxhospice.com/legacy-giving
iii. Comox Valley Healthcare Foundation: When you make a donation to the Comox Valley Healthcare Foundation in memory or in honor of someone important to you, your gift is celebrating that individual and memories you have shared together. These memories will live on through the advancements and resources you have helped bring to healthcare in the Comox Valley. This generosity helps create a legacy of love and gratitude.
For more information contact:
Comox Valley Healthcare Foundation Team
Phone: 250-331-5957
Email: info@cvhealthcarefoundation.com
https://www.cvhealthcarefoundation.com/donate
https://www.cvhealthcarefoundation.com/donate/honour-a-loved-one
Background information
In-Progress