Title: The Challenges in Maintaining an Urban Salmon Population – the Brooklyn Creek Story
Speaker: John Neilson
Date: Sunday, September 27, 2026
Time: 3:00 p.m. PT
Location: Main hall of Comox United Church, 250 Beach Drive, Comox

Streams in urban environments that support healthy Pacific salmon populations are uncommon, as natural watercourses are often degraded or even buried during the course of development of roads and other urban infrastructure.  Of the various Pacific salmon species, coho salmon show special abilities to survive and even thrive in close proximity to human settlements.  In this talk, John Neilson reviews the status of coho salmon in the region, and explores the characteristics of this species that promote their resilience.  He will also speak of the work of the Brooklyn Creek Watershed Society as they work to conserve the watershed in Comox.

About the speaker

Dr. John Neilson has had a 30-year long career as a research scientist with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, including leading research on the population status and ecology of bluefin tuna and swordfish in Canadian waters.  He was also a member of the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC), and most recently, led the preparation of the status report on chinook salmon in southern British Columbia.  He is the President of the Brooklyn Creek Watershed Society.

More about the meeting

This will be an in-person only meeting. We will make a recording of the keynote presentation available later on this website.

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 (by donation).

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.

The post Learn about coho and Brooklyn Creek stewardship at our September general meeting appeared first on Comox Valley Nature.

The New Forest Act Roadshow, initiated by the Boundary Forest Watershed Stewardship Society (BFWSS), is a series of public presentations across British Columbia explaining why BC’s current forestry system is failing, and what a workable legislative solution looks like.

That solution is the New Forest Act—a proposed policy framework developed over several years through research, public input, and lived experience in communities directly affected by forestry decisions.

BC’s forestry challenges are not isolated incidents—they are the result of a system that no longer reflects the realities on the land.

Join Jennifer Houghton and Dave Weaver on Monday June 15, 7:00 p.m., at the Stan Hagen Theatre in Courtenay for a presentation that offers a clear, developed alternative.

This event is for:

• Residents concerned about forestry in their region
• People working in or affected by the forestry sector
• Those interested in practical, policy-level solutions
• Anyone who wants a clear explanation of what’s happening—and what can be done

This is a free public event. Donations are welcome.

About the speakers

Jennifer Houghton is lead developer of the New Forest Act, a legislative proposal to replace British Columbia’s current forestry system. She works directly on forestry policy analysis, public education, and government engagement to advance structural reform in how BC’s forests are managed.

Dave Weaver has 37 years of experience in British Columbia’s forestry sector, working across industry, consulting, and government. His career includes field forestry with MacMillan Bloedel, forest consulting and applied ecology instruction in the northern interior, and 12 years with the BC Ministry of Forests developing silviculture policy and training in alternatives to clearcutting.

He now focuses on watershed-level impacts of forestry through his work with the Beaufort Watershed Stewards, bringing decades of on-the-ground and policy experience to the discussion of forestry reform in BC.

More…

To view the schedule for other presentations and for full details on the legislative framework visit the BFWSS website.

Sentinel Educational Foundation and the Watershed Sentinel magazine are the sponsors of the Vancouver Island leg of the 2026 New Forest Act Roadshow. Their support is helping bring public education about forest policy reform to communities across Vancouver Island.

The post Learn about the proposed New Forest Act, June 15 appeared first on Comox Valley Nature.

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.

The post Brandt Memorial Conservation lectures coming March 8 appeared first on Comox Valley Nature.

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 brandt@cvnature.ca and indicate what task you would like to help with.  Thank you for considering this.

Best wishes,

John Neilson
Charles Brandt Memorial Committee

The post Brandt memorial event needs you appeared first on Comox Valley Nature.

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.

The post Recording for talk on Tsolum River resilience appeared first on Comox Valley Nature.

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.

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.

The post Learn about mining and the environment in northern Ontario appeared first on Comox Valley Nature.

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 gstathers@naturetrust.bc.ca 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.

The post Help plant trees at Lazo Marsh Wildlife Management Area appeared first on Comox Valley Nature.