OPSRRA has been involved in a variety of projects over last 25 plus years. Things you see or use regularly like the Welcome signs on the highway, the community notice bulletin boards, clean-ups and subsequent “no dumping” signs sprinkled liberally around the community, etc. Below we’ve highlighted just a few projects that will have a lasting legacy for our region and some of the membership surveys through the years.

Highway Safety

OPSRRA has been actively involved with improving the safety of the primary corridor that links our three regions – Jordan River, Shirley, Otter Point – over the last decade. West Coast Road or Highway 14 had the dubious distinction as the narrowest highway in the province with little funding provided beyond general maintenance.  Starting in 2017, OPSRRA held several meetings with a focus on safety, speed, noise on Highway 14 with a variety of stakeholders and met with our local MLA as well as doing drive alongs with the Ministry of Transportation.

Unprecedented funding for highway improvements was approved and roadwork was completed in 2023 in Otter Point and Shirley fixing two areas that had the highest number of accidents and fatalities (as per Emergency Services) in our region.

Additional funding was made available for Otter Point in 2025 for remediation work.

Water Security

OPSRRA has provided several instructional meetings on rainwater collection for its members in order to ensure that the community has a safe, reliable water supply.  OPSRRA is advocating for the CRD to provide simplicity and clarity around regulations for rainwater collection use and installation as well an incentive program for our region similar to the Nanaimo program.  Advocacy work continues in this area.

In 2025, OPSRRA held meetings with our community and stakeholders on the potential dangers for our water table related to biosolid distribution. The meeting, news coverage and petitions were impactful and the CRD opted for more innovative and less harmful disposal for biosolids.

William Simmons Memorial Park

William Simmons Memorial Park15 acres of parkland was acquired by the parks commission in 2007 in order to create a new park (see above). Approximately half of the new parkland was donated by Erik Sellars St. Clare who resided on the property known as La Beaumelle, since 1948 and wished to see his property remain as public parkland. The park was named after his long-time friend and local area resident William Simmons.

OPSRRA worked with other local stakeholders, the Juan de Fuca Community TrailsSociety, the Juan de Fuca Parks & Recreation Commission and others to do clean-up, demolition as needed prior to reconfiguring the space as a park.

Community Vision

OPSRRA has been involved over the years with creating an initial vision document and several of the directors were involved in pushing through the Official Community Plan (OCP) adopted in 2018 for Shirley & Jordan River and Otter Point in 2014.

As you can see dramatic improvements over the original 1996 Local Area Plan.

Membership Surveys

OPSRRA provides a voice for our rural membership. Over the years we have surveyed members on a variety of issues – such as Water Supply (2013, 2014 & 2015), wildlife and medical marijuana. We also schedule regular meetings with the membership on issues that matter to the community such as elections, road safety and water issues.