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Before the B.C. Marine Parks Forever Society was created, the Council played a key role in acquiring the prestigious "Pirates Cove Marine Park" on DeCourcy Island. Later, Wallace Island was acquired after it was put on the market in 1989. The Council of B.C. Yacht Clubs had been discussing the increasing demand for cruising destinations at the time and decided a committee should be formed to encourage the Provincial Government to purchase private land and dedicate more crown land for the use of the public as marine parks. The committee, which later became the B.C. Marine Parks Forever Society, was tasked with finding ways and means to collect funds for the purpose of providing funds to all levels of government to attain suitable properties as they came available.

Being registered under the Society Act enabled the Society to be granted Tax Exempt Status and was awarded a tax number so that citizens making a donation could claim a deductions for Income Tax purposes

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Funds raised are used to either acquire property outright or in conjunction with B.C. Parks. In some cases our funds are pooled with other like-minded non-profit groups such as The Nature Conservancy of Canada. Regardless, the properties are deeded to the B.C. Government Parks for management as marine parks in perpetuity for the benefit of all British Columbians.

The need for this BC Marine Parks Forever Society is in recognition of a number of realities. Consider the following:

• overcrowding of existing marine parks is an increasing problem (Have you been to Montague Harbour, Newcastle Is. or Wallace Is. on a weekend in July or August recently?);

• boat ownership is increasing by over 4000 per year;

• Early retirement, longer vacations and easier, more reliable boat operations result in greater use of parks for longer periods each year;

• Government funding for acquisition of new marine parks is very limited these days and without outside help from private sources such as the B.C. Marine Parks forever Society, few new marine parks, other than on Crown land, will be forthcoming;