PLEDGE OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT Affordable Wellness and Public Sauna Initiative Summary : This letter represents a pledge of community support for the proposed rezoning and development vision located at Victoria International Marina – 1 Cooperage Place, Victoria, British Columbia. The initiative seeks to introduce affordable wellness infrastructure, including sauna and hydrotherapy experiences, spaces for social connection, and relaxation. Pledge Your Support for Affordable Wellness in Victoria Westcoast Bathhouse is working to create affordable wellness spaces that unify wellness, fitness, and social connection under one membership-based club that extends beyond a single location. The goal is to build a quintessential west coast community space where people can meet friends, care for their health, and enjoy a balanced lifestyle. At Victoria International Marina, our long-term vision is to create a space dedicated to inviting people to explore who they are, how they think, and who they want to become. The intention is to build a third space that exists outside of home and work — a place centered around sauna, hydrotherapy, and meaningful gatherings. Right now, Westcoast Bathhouse exists as a sauna showroom located in front of Victoria International Marina at 1 Cooperage Place. This represents the first phase of a larger journey toward building accessible wellness infrastructure on Vancouver Island. We believe that what is truly expensive is neglecting our health and wellbeing over time. Preventative wellness should not be reserved only for those who can afford luxury facilities. It should be part of everyday life. The Vision for 1 Cooperage Place (1–5 Year Outlook) The long-term vision is to transform 1 Cooperage Place into a living, breathing community health club — a place people can return to again and again. This space will not exist simply as a place to sit quietly or disconnect. Instead, it will function as a social experiment rooted in shared responsibility, where the culture of the space is shaped by the people who participate in it. The goal is to instill healthy social values without over-spiritualizing the experience, creating an environment where people feel comfortable connecting with others for support, inspiration, and collaboration. The space will support: Accessible preventative wellness, including sauna and hydrotherapy experiences.
Group fitness and training opportunities.
Community games and outdoor activities in nature.
Experiential wellness events and gatherings.
Cultural celebrations and social events.
Lounges designed for conversation, work, rest, or reflection. Daily life within the space may include calm lounge environments, light music, tea service, and flexible areas where people can spend time working, resting, or connecting with others. A Vision Rooted in the Pacific Northwest The Pacific Northwest has a unique cultural identity shaped by nature, creativity, independence, and a deep respect for the environment. Vancouver Island sits at the heart of this identity. Our forests, coastlines, and outdoor culture influence how people live, gather, and care for their wellbeing. This initiative is designed to contribute to the long-term cultural development of the Pacific Northwest by helping define and celebrate what many people describe as the “West Coast Spirit.” The West Coast Spirit reflects values that are already present across the region: A connection to nature and the ocean.
A culture of outdoor activity and preventative health.
Creative expression and community gatherings.
Respect for the environment and shared public spaces.
A belief that life should include both work and meaningful social connection. By introducing accessible sauna culture and community wellness spaces along our coastlines, this project aims to strengthen a cultural identity that is already emerging across the Pacific Northwest. Public wellness environments encourage people to gather outdoors, care for their health, and build relationships that support vibrant local communities. In this way, the vision for Westcoast Bathhouse is not only about one location. It is about contributing to a broader cultural movement that reflects the values and lifestyle of the Pacific Northwest. Offline is the New Luxury In a world dominated by digital interaction, real-world connection is becoming increasingly rare. This initiative embraces the belief that authentic human experiences are now one of the most valuable forms of luxury. The culture of the space will rely on a simple social agreement. Members and guests are expected to care for the environment and for one another, acting with awareness, responsibility, and integrity. Luxury, in this context, is not defined by exclusivity or price. Instead, it is defined by the way people treat shared spaces and by the quality of the community that forms around them. Affordable, But Elevated Many beautiful wellness spaces come with high price tags. Our question has always been different: how can we create something that feels elevated without making it inaccessible? What people often appreciate about well-designed environments is not the cost, but the culture they create. Clean spaces. Considerate behaviour. Social awareness. A shared responsibility to maintain the environment. Westcoast Bathhouse seeks to build a space where everyone contributes to maintaining that standard, making wellness environments accessible while preserving a thoughtful and respectful atmosphere. The Cultural Gap We Are Addressing Modern society increasingly lacks spaces where people can feel that they are part of something together. Many public environments prioritize consumption over connection. Westcoast Bathhouse is intended to disrupt this pattern by creating a place where people can show up, soften, and belong — while still honoring the natural rhythm of human connection, nature, and community life. The experiences hosted in the space may include sauna-centered wellness gatherings, community games, conversations, social events, and cultural celebrations. At its core, the space is designed to remain flexible, alive, and shaped by the people who participate in it. Accessible Wellness for All Across Canada, quick fixes and medications are often more accessible than spaces designed for long-term preventative health. This gap is particularly visible in urban environments where affordable wellness infrastructure is limited. We believe that public saunas along our coastlines and beaches provide a meaningful opportunity to address this gap. Accessible sauna and hydrotherapy experiences can promote preventative health, support mental wellbeing, and create spaces where communities can gather in healthy ways. These spaces are not luxuries. They are essential components of a balanced and healthy society. Starting in Victoria Victoria is an ideal place to begin this movement. The natural beauty of Vancouver Island, combined with the region’s strong culture of outdoor activity and wellness, makes it a natural home for public sauna culture and preventative wellness spaces. Supporting this initiative helps bring forward a future where affordable wellness infrastructure becomes part of everyday life for residents and visitors alike. Pledge Your Support By signing below, you are expressing support for the development of affordable wellness infrastructure, community gathering spaces, and public sauna experiences at Victoria International Marina and along Vancouver Island’s coastline. Name: ___________________________________ Email: ___________________________________ Signature: _________________________________ Date: ____________________________________ Westcoast Bathhouse
1 Cooperage Place
Victoria, British Columbia support@westcoastbathhouse.com
250-986-4855 We respectfully acknowledge that we operate on the unceded territories of the Skwxwú7mesh, Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh, and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm Nations. Westcoast Bathhouse creates wellness entertainment centered around hydrotherapy, nature, connection, and a healthy social culture. | 