Bishop Wild Bird Sanctuary sign at the property on Coldstream Creek Road (Image Credit: Bishop Wild Bird Sanctuary / website)

By Liam Verster

private nature reserve

Rezoning for bird sanctuary in Coldstream gets initial approval

Mar 26, 2026 | 9:58 AM

The District of Coldstream has moved ahead plans to establish a new haven for wildlife within the municipality.

At the regular council meeting Monday, March 23, Coldstream was presented with a request to rezone the property at 12408 Coldstream Creek Road from Urban Multi-Unit Residential Zone to Bishop Wild Bird Sanctuary Comprehensive Development Zone.

The Bishop Wild Bird Sanctuary would be a private nature reserve on the property, which is home to riparian, forest and grassland habitat, as well as 440 feet of shoreline on Kalamalka Lake.

The property that would be home to the proposed Bishop Wild Bird Sanctuary (Image Credit: District of Coldstream)

The property was zoned for Urban Multi-Residential use but since 1980 had been used as a bird sanctuary.

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“The lot was never intended for residential use, but for conservation purposes – specifically, the Bishop Wild Bird Sanctuary, operated by a local non-profit organization,” the staff report said.

“The Wild Bird Sanctuary has been in continuous use since December 1980, and would be defined as a non-conforming use, as it pertains to the application of this bylaw. Therefore, the rezoning of the lot to a Comprehensive Development Zone for the purposes of conservation is consistent with provisions under the Local Government Act and policies within the Official Community Plan Bylaw.”

Coldstream Council received the report and gave first and second reading for the rezoning, then tasked staff with hosting a Public Hearing regarding this proposed rezoning. A date for the public hearing had not been set as of time of publication.