Posted in Miscellaneous | Comments Off on

Learn about polar adventures and citizen science at our March general meeting

Comox Valley Nature invites its members and the public to CVN’s March general meeting. where you can hear the following keynote presentation by our guest speaker:

Title: Embracing our planet – one adventure at a time
Speaker: Sunniva Sorby (sunnivasorby.com)
Date: Sunday, March 22, 2026
Time: 3:00 p.m. PT
Location: Main hall of Comox United Church, 250 Beach Drive, Comox

Our speaker will relate tales and insights from her life’s work which bridges exploration, environmental advocacy, and the power of human connection. She is best known as one of the first two women in history to overwinter in the Arctic without men—an extraordinary 19-month experience (2019–2021) at a remote trapper’s hut called Bamsebu (little bear hut) in Svalbard, 78o N latitude. There, Sorby and her expedition partner co-founded Hearts in the Ice, a groundbreaking citizen-science and climate-action platform that connected scientists, students and the public worldwide. From their frozen cabin, they collected valuable data for research institutions and engaged over 150,000 youth in virtual dialogues about climate change, biodiversity, and hope.

More about the speaker

Sunniva Sorby is a Norwegian-Canadian polar explorer, educator, citizen scientist, and storyteller. A lifelong explorer, she first made history in 1993 as a member of the first all-women’s team to ski to the South Pole. She has skied the epic Sierra High Route in California, skied across King George Island, Antarctica, skied across the Greenland Icecap as expedition leader, and has climbed many mountains only to realize that the greatest mountain is the internal one, often less explored.

Over three decades, she has worked extensively in both polar regions as an expedition member, historian, and naturalist for organizations such as Hurtigruten, the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, and Polar Latitudes. Her storytelling blends science and emotion, weaving tales of endurance, wonder, and connection to inspire people to act for the planet.

Through her current platform, Embrace the Planet Project (ETPP), Sorby continues to elevate stories of environmental stewardship, citizen science, and hope. She believes that each of us can be a “citizen scientist,” actively observing, learning from, and protecting the natural world around us.

More about the meeting

Although this will be a hybrid meeting (in-person and videoconference), we encourage you to attend in person. Members (only) who cannot attend can participate via videoconference. The link to register for the Zoom meeting will be sent to members by email before the meeting.

As always, there will be an intermission after the presentation with a chance to meet new people and socialize with old friends. Tea, coffee and treats will be available.

A brief business meeting follows. Reports from some of our interest groups and projects are an opportunity for guests to learn more about what we do.

Posted in Climate, Conservation and Restoration, General Meetings, Guest Speakers | Comments Off on Learn about polar adventures and citizen science at our March general meeting

Botany at the Exhibition Grounds, January 2026

A small contingent of botany enthusiasts enjoyed an outing on the trails adjacent to the Comox Valley Exhibition Grounds (a.k.a. the Tsolum River flats) on January 13, 2026. The main focus was on the mosses, which are beautiful at this time of year, but other features of the area were also observed—trees and shrubs, identified by their shapes and other winter characteristics; liverworts; and a small number of fungi.

Véronique, the co-leader of the Botany Group, has again prepared a photographic guide to many of the species seen. You can download the guide here (PDF, 5.1 MB).





Here’s a selection of photos from the guide [click a photo to see the whole image]:

Posted in Field Trips, Learning material, Plants and fungi | Comments Off on Botany at the Exhibition Grounds, January 2026

Brandt Memorial Conservation lectures coming March 8

In honour of Charles Brandt, long-time and much-admired conservationist in the Comox Valley, our Brandt Memorial Committee has organized an afternoon of stimulating and informative lectures on the theme of salmon conservation:

Date: Sunday March 8, 2026
Time:
1:30 – 4:30 p.m. (doors open at 1:00 p.m.)
Location:
Stan Hagen Theatre, North Island College, 2300 Ryan Rd, Courtenay, BC.








The program includes two keynote presentations:

  • The state of salmon: mobilizing data, understanding resilience and informing recovery” by speaker Will Duguid of the Pacific Salmon Foundation.
  • “Salmon Parks: restoring wild salmon in Nootka Sound for future generations” by speakers Eric Angel and Jamie James, of the Salmon Park Stewardship Society associated with the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation.

Be sure to mark your calendars for this special event—everybody is welcome. Attendance by CVN members is free, and others by donation.

For more information about Charles Brandt and details of these lectures, visit this page.

Posted in Conservation and Restoration, Guest Speakers | Comments Off on Brandt Memorial Conservation lectures coming March 8

Join us for our 2026 AGM

Join CVN members and guests for our Annual General Meeting for 2026:

Date: Sunday, February 22, 2026
Time: 3:00 p.m. PT
Location: Main hall of Comox United Church, 250 Beach Drive, Comox

This is an opportunity to hear our interest groups and projects give an overview of the past year’s events and progress, along with a peek into their upcoming activities.

The business part of the meeting promises to be relatively short, with elections for all positions on the board of directors, and information on the state of our finances and our budget for this year.

As always, there will be an intermission with a chance to meet new people and socialize with old friends. Tea, coffee and treats will be available.

This will be a hybrid meeting (in-person and videoconference). We encourage members and the public to attend in person. Members (only) who cannot attend can participate via videoconference. The link to register for the Zoom meeting will be sent to members by email before the meeting. This meeting will not be recorded.

Posted in General Meetings | Comments Off on Join us for our 2026 AGM

Brandt memorial event needs you

Watch this space and our other channels in the coming weeks for information about the event referenced here.

This planning message from our Charles Brandt Memorial committee is intended for CVN members.

Dear CVN members:

CVN is hosting an important and exciting event on March 8 (1:30 to 4:30) at the Stan Hagen Theatre entitled the Inaugural Charles Brandt Conservation Lectures.  CVN members can attend free of charge!

We are looking for some volunteers to help with specific duties at the event (see details here). If you can help out, please write to  and indicate what task you would like to help with.  Thank you for considering this.

Best wishes,

John Neilson
Charles Brandt Memorial Committee

Posted in Conservation and Restoration, Guest Speakers, Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Brandt memorial event needs you

Recording for talk on Tsolum River resilience

Comox Valley Nature hosted the following presentation at our January 2026 general meeting:

Title: Tsolum River Watershed – River Resilience in the 21st Century
Speaker: Laura O’Brien (Tsolum River Restoration Society)
Date: Sunday, January 25, 2026

If you missed this event or would like to see it again, a recording is available here (MP4, duration 1:02, 309 MB if downloaded).

For more information about this talk, see the announcement in our earlier post.

Posted in Conservation and Restoration, General Meetings, Guest Speakers | Comments Off on Recording for talk on Tsolum River resilience

Botany at Kitty Coleman Park, December 2025

On December 2, the Botany Group met at Kitty Coleman Provincial Park to explore both a typical Douglas-fir forest and the estuary at this coastal location. The focus was on the lush mosses and on signs of both winter setting in (but with no snow yet) and optimistic preparations for spring. The group also looked at ways to identify trees without their leaves and at a few fungi, lichens, and slime molds. The trip was repeated on December 6.

You can download co-leader Véronique’s photographic guide to many of the species seen on this trip here (PDF, 12.9 MB).

Here’s a selection of photos from the guide [click a photo to see the whole image]:

Posted in Field Trips, Learning material, Plants and fungi | Comments Off on Botany at Kitty Coleman Park, December 2025

Learn about mining and the environment in northern Ontario

CVN members and the public are invited to attend the following free online lecture hosted by the Canadian Society of Environmental Biologists:

Title: Mining and the Environment in Northern Ontario
Speaker: Dr. Constance O’Connor (Wildlife Conservation Society)
Date: Wednesday, January 28, 2026
Time: 10:00 a.m. PT

See the registration link below.

Peatlands of Hudson Bay Lowland
(Photo: Connie O’Connor)

The boreal forests and peatlands of northern Ontario represent one of the world’s largest remaining intact forests and the third-largest wetland in the world. This area is the homeland for Anishnaabeg and Ininiwak, is an important refuge for northern wildlife, and a globally important carbon store. This area has seen little of the industrial resource development and urban settlement that has transformed areas to the south,

However, there is growing interest in resource development in this region, particularly for mining. These developments would also require associated roads, transmission lines, and other infrastructure. This presentation will provide an overview of the current context of mining in northern Ontario, including a discussion of limitations and concerns with the regulatory and planning frameworks for mining in Ontario relative to the environment and Indigenous rights; and current status and issues with proposed projects, including within the Ring of Fire area.

About the speaker

Read about Dr. O’Connor on the Wildlife Conservation Society website.

Registration

“Seating capacity” for the talk is limited, and you need to register in advance. You can check the computer requirements for attendees here.

Register here

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with instructions for joining the webinar.

Posted in Conservation and Restoration, Guest Speakers | Comments Off on Learn about mining and the environment in northern Ontario

Help plant trees at Lazo Marsh Wildlife Management Area

Nature Trust of British Columbia is calling for volunteers to help plant trees at the Lazo Marsh Wildlife Management Area (WMA) on Monday, January 19.

The West Coast Conservation Land Management Program of Nature Trust BC manages this important conservation area in Comox. Their plan this month is to plant 330 native trees and shrubs in the area. This work is the continuation of a large scale restoration project that began in 2025 and treated over 1.5 hectares of Himalayan blackberry and Scotch broom. The selected area for planting native species is roughly 0.5 hectares.

The Nature Trust BC leader of this work party is Geoff Stathers. Please email Geoff at to let him know you are coming and for answers to any questions you may have. Geoff estimates that with enough volunteers the job can be done in one day.

Geoff has provided the following details.

What to expect

  • Start time: 11:00 a.m. on Monday January 19.
  • Where: I will meet everyone at the entrance to the WMA off Torrence Rd between Highland Secondary and the public works yard. The planting site is roughly a 500 metre walk from the parking lot to the restoration area.
  • Prior to any work, a safety meeting is required and volunteer waiver must be signed, both provided by NTBC.
  • All trees and shrubs will be staged by Nature Trust (NTBC) staff before volunteers arrive.
  • Extra shovels and gloves will be provided by NTBC.
  • A demonstration will also be provided on planting.
  • Only expectation is to have a great time meeting some new people and restoring the Lazo Wildlife Management Area!

What to bring

  • Planting shovels, pickaxes, and any tools that could be helpful. The ground here can be quite dense.
  • Weather conditions look favourable at the moment for Monday but I suggest wearing layers and bring appropriate raingear regardless. 
  • Proper footwear for the walk to and from the restoration area and for protection while planting.

Other details

  • Pot sizes for native species: (1-gal, 2-gal, 5-gal, 7-gal).
  • A pre-measured volume of time-release fertilizer will be added to each plant– a demonstration will be provided in the field.

Posted in Conservation and Restoration | Comments Off on Help plant trees at Lazo Marsh Wildlife Management Area