since 1966-67, british columbia has been segmented into 27 regional districts as a way of extending municipal powers outside of municipalities. these regional districts are governed by boards composed of representatives of member municipalities and electoral areas. the unincorporated area of the regional district is segmented into electoral areas. each electoral area elects one director who sits on the regional board and the electoral area directors committee. the islands trust acts similar to a regional district for most of the unincorporated islands in the gulf of georgia between the mainland and vancouver island, which are part of various regional districts though the islands trust supersedes them in planning and zoning authority.