The Old School House arts centre
Asked for $29,000 to finish 2025, then $75,000 a year from 2026. Received $50,000, once.
- Asked
- $104,000 (2025–2026)
- Received
- $50,000 (2026 only)
- Times at Council
- 7
- Where it stands
- $50,000 paid for 2026. The $75,000-a-year agreement waits for 2027.
Who asked
The Old School House (TOSH) Arts Centre. Brought to Council by Cllr Young.
What they asked for
(a) Interim operating funding for July to December 2025; (b) an ongoing fee-for-service agreement of $75,000 a year, starting January 2026.
How the amount breaks down: 2025 interim $29,000, plus the first year of the fee-for-service agreement, $75,000 in 2026. The agreement would continue at $75,000 a year after that.
TOSH cited cultural tourism and economic impact. The Town provides the building for $1 a year, insurance (about $255 a month), grounds and capital maintenance, and $40,000 for accessible washrooms in 2025. The Town also exempts the building from property tax, and its capital plan sets aside $250,000 to replace the TOSH roof in 2027. Staff noted TOSH’s own package listed $0 in municipal support. The $50,000 granted pays for two temporary part-time staff to maintain service levels and year-round programming.
What Council decided
$50,000 one-time funding for 2026 approved and paid. The 2025 interim request was never funded separately. The $75,000-a-year agreement was referred to 2027 Strategic Planning.
How they voted: Oct 24 Committee of the Whole: $50,000 carried 4–1 (moved by Skipsey, seconded by Harrison; opposed Vander Valk); referral carried 3–2 (moved by Harrison, seconded by Young; opposed Skipsey, Vander Valk). Dec 17 Council: both unanimous. Feb 11, 2026: paying out the $50,000 carried unanimously (moved by Harrison, seconded by Young).
Reason given
Competing priorities, significant budget pressures and upcoming TOSH capital works. One-time funding lets Council measure increased programming before committing.
Reasons are paraphrased from the minutes and staff reports, not direct quotes.
Timeline
- Regular Council (TOSH presentation)
- Regular Council (TOSH asked to prepare an agreement)
- Closed meeting (Not public)
- Special Council (Kept on the list for fall strategic planning)
- Committee of the Whole
- Special Council
- Regular Council ($50,000 released)
Sources
Official Town of Qualicum Beach documents. They open as PDFs on qualicumbeach.com.
- Committee of the Whole minutes, Oct 24, 2025 (PDF, opens in a new tab)
- Special Council minutes, Dec 17, 2025 (PDF, opens in a new tab)
- Committee of the Whole agenda and scoping sheets, Oct 24, 2025 (PDF, opens in a new tab)
- Regular Council minutes, May 14, 2025 (PDF, opens in a new tab)
- Regular Council minutes, Jun 18, 2025 (PDF, opens in a new tab)
- Regular Council minutes, Feb 11, 2026 (PDF, opens in a new tab)
- Special Council minutes, Jul 23, 2025 (PDF, opens in a new tab)
- Special Council agenda and deferral lists, Jul 23, 2025 (PDF, opens in a new tab)
- 2026–2030 Financial Plan (adopted Apr 1, 2026) (PDF, opens in a new tab)
Last checked September 19, 2026. Report a mistake.