Shacum Conservation Covenant

About

Shacum Covenant protects four hectares of open park-like Garry oak meadow facing west over Stuart Channel.  Shacum links with Lot 31 and Manzanita Ridge covenants, and the Mount Erksine protected areas to create a protected area network of more than 200 hectares. 

The landowners who donated this covenant named it Shacum in memory of their grandfather who was a dentist in Ladysmith.  Two Coast Salish men used to affectionately call him Shequm, meaning 'to open wide', as in to open a clam or shellfish wide.  He named his boat "Shacum", and it was a name he came to be known by.

Shacum Covenant came to the Islands Trust Conservancy as a result of the transfer of the property's development rights to another property.  On Salt Spring Island, landowners owning properties in certain areas can take the theoretical number of lots the Official Community Plan allows their property to be subdivided into and sell those development rights to other properties in designated 'receiving ' areas. This unique planning tool allows the community to intensify development in suitable areas on the island while preserving the most ecologically significant areas.