Environment
Earth Week With Project Watershed
Spring has sprung and we are busy planning for Earth Week 2021! Earth Week is April 16 – 22, 2021, and Project Watershed is celebrating the planet with a host of activities to support the health of Comox Valley Lands and Waters. These activities include a 50/50 raffle, scavenger hunt, and a shoreline cleanup. People who participate in the Earth Week activities and post photos to social media will be entered to win $20 gift cards from the Peninsula Coop.
Change begins with optimism a key message at Valley’s first Youth Climate Conference
On February 13, Comox Valley became the hub for youth and environmental think tanks
passionate about solutions-based planning on the climate issues facing society today.
The conference, dubbed Empowerment for Impact, was born in response to the growing desire
among youth and educators in the District to offer more education opportunities on the subject of
climate and environmental protection.
The public is invited to learn about CVN activities at the AGM
The Annual General Meeting on Sunday, February 16, 2020 will highlight brief presentations by the Marine and Shoreline Group and the Birders Group. In addition, Gabriel Bau Baiges (former CVN Secretary) will present an update of the Comox Strathcona Waste Management Service Capital projects. The presentations will start after introductions at 7:00pm in the Rotary Room of the Filberg Seniors Centre 411 Anderton Ave, Courtenay.
When will the Kus-kus-sum Wall Fall?
Project Watershed has committed to making the final $1 million payment for the land at the end of June of this year. The organization has been working with all levels of government to encourage the Federal Government to at least match the $1 million the Provincial Government granted the project last year.
Norwegian Salmon Farm Virus Threatens Clayoquot Chinook
Clayoquot Action, a Tofino-based conservation society, has completed a field survey of salmon farms in the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, looking for the highly contagious Norwegian piscine orthoreovirus (PRV). The Atlantic Veterinary College confirmed that samples collected by Clayoquot Action from all but one of the fifteen salmon farms surveyed was found to be infected with the Atlantic PRV-1a variant.
Comox Valley Land Trust Encourages You To Explore Our Many Protected Natural Areas
“Going for a walk in nature can be key to maintaining good mental health,” said CVLT Executive Director Tim Ennis. “Right now is a great time to reflect upon and appreciate the hard work of the many local non-profit organizations pulling together with local government partners to protect key natural spaces in the Comox Valley.
Vancouver Island Symposium On Water, Has Been Rescheduled For October 20th-22nd, 2020
Due to the increasing threat of the novel coronavirus on Vancouver Island, we are taking proactive steps to reduce the likelihood of its spread and have made the difficult decision to postpone the 3rd Annual Vancouver Island Symposium on Water Stewardship. We have concluded that this is the best course of action in order to keep attendees, presenters, guests, and our shared communities as safe as possible. Thank you in advance for your understanding.
CVN Invites The Public To Learn About The Whales In Our Waters
Comox Valley Nature is pleased to host an online lecture by Aaron Purdy from the Ocean Wise Research Institute. The lecture entitled “The Whales in Our Waters: Conservation Through Citizen Science” is on Sunday March 22, 2020, 7:00 – 9:00pm.
Sea Lice Epidemic Prompts Fish Farm Emergency Drug Trial Near Tofino
Norwegian salmon farming giant Cermaq has a sea lice emergency on their Clayoquot Sound salmon farms. Documents released through Access to Information indicate Cermaq obtained an Emergency Drug Release to use the insecticide Lufeneron to control sea lice in the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Region. Last year saw sea lice numbers in Clayoquot spike to levels never before seen in British Columbia, up to 54 lice per farmed fish—eighteen times the threshold for treatment set out by Department of Fisheries (DFO).
CVN and The Salish Sea Nearshore Habitat Recovery Project
Comox Valley Nature is pleased to host a public lecture. Join Ann Eriksson for an illustrated talk entitled: “Salish Sea Nearshore Habitat Recovery Project (SSNHRP)”. The lecture is on Sunday March 17, 2019 and will start after introductions at 7pm in the Rotary Room of the Filberg Seniors Centre 411 Anderton Ave, Courtenay.
For The Preservation Of Old Growth Trees
Communities Protecting Our Coasts presents a Brandt Film Festival Event with the screening of “Call of The Forest: The Forgotten Wisdom of Trees”, a film by Jeff Mckay, as an activity for the preservation of old growth trees.
Admission is by donation.
Strathcona Wilderness Institute AGM and Public Lecture by Ken Wu
SWI is delighted to bring Ken Wu as the guest speaker at our Annual General Meeting on Thursday, March 7th. His presentation is entitled : “From old-growth rainforests to semi-arid desert and grasslands”: conserving Canada’s amazing ecosystems. The title reflects Ken’s latest career direction in the establishment of a new national organization dedicated to Canadian Conservation Coast to Coast: the “Endangered Ecosystems Alliance.”
Comox Valley Land Trust and Cumberland Community Forest Society Announce Major Donation From Courtenay and District Fish and Game Protective Association
The Comox Valley Land Trust (CVLT) and the Cumberland Community Forest Society (CCFS) are pleased to announce a generous donation of $50,000 from the Courtenay and District Fish and Game Protective Association (CDFGPA) in support of their Morrison Headwaters Nature Preserve and Perseverance Creek conservation projects.
Update Regarding LNG Forum For February 27th
The Kwispaa LNG terminal and Steelhead gas pipeline project may be on “time out”, but a public forum on “LNG, Fracking, and the Comox Valley Connection” is still a go for Wednesday, February 27th, 7 pm at the Florence Filberg Centre in Courtenay.
Forum to Explore LNG, Fracking, and The Comox Valley Connection
On February 5, Steelhead LNG presented to the Comox Valley Regional District on their pipeline proposal that would see 1000 km of pipe constructed to carry gas from northern BC to Powell River, under the Salish Sea, and through either the Comox Valley or a more southerly point to an LNG export facility on the West Coast of Vancouver Island. On February 27, the public is invited to a forum discussion on why this is about more than just a pipeline.
Thermal Limits In Salmon And How Does The Tsolum River Rate?
The Tsolum River Restoration Society’s Annual General Meeting will take place on Saturday, March 9, 2019, at the Dove Creek Hall, located at 3400 Burns Road, Courtenay from 1 – 3:30 PM. Special guest speaker will be Ted Sweeten from the Pacific Biological Station, who will be speaking on “Thermal Limits in Salmon and how does the Tsolum River rate?”
Kus-kus-sum Fundraising Update February 219
Fundraising for the Kus-kus-sum campaign is going strong as we head into our final year of collecting community-based donations and sponsorships. Last year we met, and slightly exceeded, both of our community targets and have raised $328,000 towards our community goal of $500,000.