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Recent Posts
- Learn about coho and Brooklyn Creek stewardship at our September general meeting
- Enjoy an afternoon of storytelling with author Caroll Simpson
- SWI workshop: Subalpine mycology 2026
- Entomology and botany at Mt. Washington, July 2026
- Smartphone photography for iNaturalist
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- Learn about the proposed New Forest Act, June 15
- SWI plant diversity workshop, June 28
- Sophia Priestman, CVN Bursary recipient, 2026
- Bruce Moffat’s nature photography talk materials
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CVN Facebook Posts
1 week ago
The CVN photo group met last night for its September meeting and here are a few of the photos we shared with one another.Species and photographer shown in each photo...Comox Valley Nature is attending an event.2 weeks ago
Join the Comox Valley Conservation Community for a day long celebration of the watersheds and waterways that connect us all in the Comox Valley!Learn about restoration and habitat enhancement projects, salmon cycles, drinking water, forests, creeks, wetlands and estuaries – and so much more. Art projects, kids activities, volunteer engagement opportunities, hands on learning and guided walks – all looking out over the beautiful Puntledge River.
Comox Valley Nature will be there with our new outreach tent. Come by and say hello, and try our bird identification game. We can also show you why native plants are best for your garden, and how to spot invasive species.
Pack a picnic and stay for the day!
Saturday Sept 19th from 9 am – 3 pm
in Puntledge Park 1111 1st , Courtenay ...
2 weeks ago
In her memoir, Pacific Northwest author Caroll Simpson recounts the highs and lows of running a remote fishing lodge on her own following the untimely death of her husband, and of falling in love with the natural world.Simpson tells stories of living in the remote wilderness and managing the lodge, becoming an accidental environmental activist, fending off wild animals, working as an angling guide and finally, fighting off a proposed mining operation and participating in the development of a government land management plan as a spokesperson for the wilderness tourism industry.
While Simpson welcomed paying guests at Ookpik Lodge, unwanted house guests included a woodchuck, a pack rat, and martens. Simpson constantly had to watch out for grizzlies, moose, and cougars. Storms and extreme weather also provided fodder for hair-raising tales. All this makes for wonderful storytelling.
Caroll’s story is essentially a love story. In an essay for Sierra Club, Simpson wrote: “I developed an immense passion for flora and fauna. Just walking back and forth on the 300’ dock several times a day, I was exposed to the unbelievable beauty of the northern spectrum of water life: the golden eagle soaring above, the osprey and kingfisher diving and coming up with fish for their hatchlings, the muskrats and otters looking for an easy meal, the tireless beaver working into the late evening sunsets. All of these creatures and more expressed their generational ownership of this small piece of the world. In return each was given my utmost respect and admiration…As I listened to the loons at the end of each day and the owl and the wolf in the night, I felt blessed to be witnessing such beauty. “
On September 20th, join Comox Valley Nature and Save Our Forests Team for an afternoon of storytelling about this remarkable time spent living on a remote British Columbia lake.
The event is being held at the Comox United Church Hall. (250 Beach Drive, Comox) Admission is by donation. Doors open at 2:30; the event begins at 3:00 p.m. There will be time for Q&A after the presentation, as well as books available for purchase. Tea/coffee and cookies - including forest-themed cupcakes - will be available for a donation.
Join us, and prepare to fall in love. ...
3 weeks ago
🎟️ Get your tickets to the Project Watershed 2026 Keeping It Living Dinner today! projectwatershed.ca/2026-keeping-it-living-dinner/Every ticket holder makes a difference. 💙🎟️ Get your tickets to our 2026 Keeping It Living Dinner today! projectwatershed.ca/2026-keeping-it-living-dinner/
When community and local businesses invest in conservation, our entire ecosystem benefits.
Ticket sales directly support habitat restoration, scientific research, and environmental education, while the generosity of our sponsors helps offset event costs, ensuring that more of the funds raised can go directly toward this important work.
Thank you to our incredible sponsors and dinner attendees for believing in the power of community-led conservation. Odlum Brown Community and Northwest Hydraulic Consultants, 40 Knots Winery, CNB
Together, we're keeping our watersheds living.
🌿 Hope to see you September 12, 5 - 8 pm at 40 KNOTS Winery
#KeepingItLiving #ProjectWatershed #CommunitySupport #Conservation #ComoxValley ...
3 weeks ago
The City of Courtenay is developing a long-term vision for Bill Moore Park and Dogwood Park to guide future improvements. To help guide these decisions, three initial concepts have been developed, and there is an opportunity for you to offer your input.The latest survey on the City website engagecomoxvalley.ca/bill-moore-and-dogwood-park asks for feedback on three concept plans and specifically which concept you prefer. The three concepts present a range of recreation possibilities and there is room on the survey for your comments.
Dogwood Park is a 2.32‑hectare nature park featuring mature forested areas, natural habitat and a small wetland.
Only Concept A will maintain the intact forest areas in Dogwood Park. Concepts B and C propose increased recreation in the park including an off leash dog park, disc golf course, pump track (a purpose built track for children’s cycling) and nature play areas. While the planners may say that no trees or few trees will be taken down to accommodate this, the under-story will not survive this level of trampling and fragmentation. The trees as well as all the wildlife who now call that area home will disappear over time.
For those of us who value this forest, Concept A is the only option that makes sense.
Dogwood Park is one of the few islands of green for many, many blocks. It provides habitat for wildlife, shade, retains water and acts as a carbon sink. On the architect's base plan of current conditions it is now characterized as an "underutilized space".
The City has heard from sports enthusiasts but not nature lovers. Let them know why you value an intact forest and your connection to it. The survey is open until Sept 15. ...
Author Archives: Botany
Outing: Shoreline and Botany, Miracle Beach, 4th March 2019
Between the Botany group and the Shoreline group, we had a big turnout on a lovely late winter day. Conditions were so great, in fact, that we were hardly bothered by the lack of seaweeds that were supposed to be … Continue reading
Posted in Field Trips, Plants and fungi, Shoreline and Marine
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Shoreline Outing Summary: Miracle Beach, Night outing, Jan 19th, 2019
Hi Everyone,Here is my take on last night’s wonderful outing at Miracle Beach Thirteen naturalists caught a break in the weather to survey the sand flats of Miracle Beach Provincial Park. Under the light of a full moon, the group … Continue reading
Posted in Field Trips, Shoreline and Marine
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Guest Speaker: John Neilson, Tuna, Swordfish & Sharks, Sun. Jan. 20, 2019
(Bluefin tuna swimming off Nova Scotia. Photo courtesy of M. Stokesbury) CVN invites the public to learn about the really big fish of Canada Comox Valley Nature is pleased to host a public lecture. Join Dr. John Neilson for an … Continue reading
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Shoreline Outing Summary: Williams Beach, High Tide, November 28th, 2018
We had a good turnout on a mild and bright Wednesday morning at Williams Beach for the second highest tide of the year. While confined to a narrow strip of shore between the gentle waves and the slippery, imbricate logs, … Continue reading
Posted in Field Trips, Shoreline and Marine
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Botany Outing Report: Fungi and Soup, Nov 19th, 2018
Botany Group Report : November 19th Outing Tsolum River Road The range of fungi for later November was still large. Of note we identified many large Russula brevipes – short- footed russula- that heaves up moss, turf, branches etc. ( … Continue reading
Posted in Field Trips, Plants and fungi
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Guest Speaker: Terry Thormin, Sun. Nov. 18, 2018
CVN invites the public to learn about Nature Photography Comox Valley Nature is pleased to host a public lecture. Join Terry Thormin for an illustrated talk entitled: “Nature Photography in the Comox Valley” The lecture is on Sunday Nov. 18, … Continue reading
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Botany Outing Report: Paradise Meadows, Oct 15th, 2018
Report on October 15th walk For those who missed the report at our last general CVN meeting, for the October 15th gathering we had a glorious day to meander around the Paradise Meadows loops, collecting the SWI plant signs to store … Continue reading
Posted in Field Trips, Plants and fungi
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Upcoming Botany Group Meeting November 2018
Upcoming Botany group Meeting First of all, our next Gathering will be on Monday November. The forecast at this point seems to call for showers. However, we will have a walk around our woods first to see the latest crop … Continue reading
Posted in Field Trips, Plants and fungi
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Guest Speaker: Scott Wallace, Sun. Oct. 21, 2018
CVN invites the public to learn about Comox Valley Nature is pleased to host a public lecture. Join Dr. Scott Wallace for an illustrated talk entitled: “Can the Species at Risk Act Recover Southern Resident Killer Whales?” The lecture is … Continue reading
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VIGIRM Conference 27th and 28th October 2018, Courtenay
OCTOBER 27th & 28th, 2018 VANCOUVER ISLAND AND GULF ISLANDS REGIONAL SEMINAR Hosted by Comox Valley Nature October 27th, 2018: Florence Filberg Centre, 411 Anderton Ave., Courtenay BC Schedule: 09:30 am Registration open 10:30 am Seminar starts: Chaired … Continue reading
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