Sophia Priestman, a graduate of Mark R. Isfeld Secondary School, is the 2026 recipient of the CVN Bursary. Our $1000 bursary was presented to her at the school’s awards ceremony on May 28.

Sophia graduates with straight A grades. She made extensive contributions to the Environment Club throughout her career at Isfeld, taking on the president’s role in grades 11 and 12. She was also very involved in the Model UN Program, and participated in other school clubs and sports.

Outside school, Sophia has volunteered with Anderton Therapeutic Garden and with Lush Valley for several years.  At 12 years old she was offered a job by five vendors at the Farmer’s Market and chose Alderlane Bakery where she is in her sixth year of employment. She also has helped out at Pendleton Farm.

Sophia has been accepted at the University of Victoria where she will pursue a dual major in Environmental Studies and Economics with a minor in Applied Ethics. Of this somewhat unusual combination of disciplines, Sophia says:

This variety of disciplines will allow me to see complex political and environmental issues from multiple perspectives and find innovative solutions that both foster sustainability and ensure welfare for all (human and non-human alike).

Congratulations, Sophia!

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CVN members and others who have or know university students in a nature-related degree program should be aware of two scholarships awarded by BC Nature:

• Bert Brink Scholarship
  
  $2,500 to a graduate student “in a discipline which contributes to an awareness, appreciation, improved management of flora and fauna, conservation, restoration, and understanding of our natural environment.”
  
  
• Rene Savenye Scholarship
  
  $2000 to a post-secondary student “enrolled in an undergraduate degree program that contributes to awareness, appreciation, and understanding of our natural environment.”

Both scholarships include the following evaluation criterion (among others): “length of time volunteering in nature for BC Nature or a member club or another non-profit with focus on conservation.”

For more information, including access to the application forms, visit this BC Nature web page.

Applications for both scholarships must be submitted by June 15.

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Our first recipient is Sophie Johnston who receives a $5,000 grant to support her field research on coastal areas of north Vancouver Island. Sophie is currently a PhD Student at the University of British Columbia under the supervision of Dr. Chris Harley. She has a BSc (Honours) in Biology and Mathematics from Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario. Sophie currently has a publication in the journal Marine Ecology Progress and has other manuscripts in preparation on the effects of a warming ocean and ocean acidification on marine invertebrate species and coastal ecosystems.

Sophie’s research is documenting the effects of ocean acidification on intertidal marine communities in the Johnstone Strait. The goal of her research is to investigate how a dominant ecosystem engineer, a limpet in this case, shapes marine community structure along a gradient of ocean acidification.

Watch for a more detailed description of Sophie’s research in our June newsletter.

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The Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region (MABR) has launched a Conditional Pledge Drive to help secure the remaining 24.8% of the $30,000,000 goal to acquire the ecologically vital 360-hectare Hamilton Marsh and Forest.

Hamilton Marsh is one of the last remaining large wetlands on Vancouver Island, a haven for countless species of birds, amphibians, and native plants. Among its most secretive residents is the blue-listed American Bittern – a master of camouflage whose survival depends on the health of large wetlands. Protecting Hamilton Marsh and Forest will support the stability of the threatened French Creek watershed, and ensure preservation of one of the most critical natural ecosystems within the MABR.

Through fundraising efforts that include donations and pledges from the community, MABR needs to raise the remaining $7,450,000.000 before November 18 in order for the Regional District of Nanaimo to purchase the lands. Help build a lasting Nature Legacy in the MABR by submitting a Conditional Pledge today. 

Read the full news release here (PDF, 409 KB). Full instructions for making a pledge are given there.

“Conditional” means that your pledged amount is collected only if the acquisition deal is successful. Pledged funds will not be collected until 2026.

The post Help preserve Hamilton Marsh near Qualicum Beach appeared first on Comox Valley Nature.

Enjoy an afternoon of music to celebrate wildlife and support MARS Wildlife Rescue!

Saturday, November 15th, 2:30 p.m.
Comox United Church in Comox, 250 Beach Dr.
Doors open at 2 p.m.

Concert followed by wine, cheese, and refreshments.
Meet a MARS ambassador bird and learn more about the work at MARS.

Most of all, enjoy stellar vocal and instrumental performances of classical, jazz, and pop music featuring:

Christine Constabel & Antonia Mahon – Flute Duo
Indigo Jazz Trio – Dale Graham (vocals), Rick Husband (guitar) & John Hyde (bass)
Orlando Weibe – Piano & Vocals
Crown Isle Piano Duo – Michelle Stewart & Alistair Taylor
Austin Diotte-Turner – Vocalist
Rachel Cooper – Clarinet / Sax with guests Jeff Agopsowicz (trombone) and Dave Lymburner (trumpet)
Mindy Wise – Vocalist

As a bonus, local wildlife photographer, Bruce Moffat, will share his enchanting photos of local birds.

Tickets: $35 Adults / $15 Youth 13 & under
Available at Blue Heron Books, Benjamin Moore House of Color,
and on the MARS website.

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The Cumberland Community Forest Society invites you to participate in an autumn herb walk to learn about the medicinal plants of Cumberland. Herbalist Amanda Howe will lead this fundraising event and donate all proceeds to CCFS to support their campaign to acquire and conserve the area known as Middle Earth.

Date: Sunday, September 28
Time: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Cost: $30
Location: Cumberland trails (exact meeting place provided on registration)
Difficulty: We will be walking for 10 minutes on a logging road at the start to reach the access to the trails. These trails are not suitable for strollers.

REGISTER HERE

Middle Earth is the Cumberland Community Forest Society’s newest focus for acquisition. It is a beautiful, forested wetland corridor that offers refuge for species big and small. Amanda is excited to be leading a herb walk in this area and to introduce people to the wealth of medicinal plants growing there. The walk will take you through some of the trails that are closer to the village and and will be alive with the folklore and medicinal use of the plants and their connection with the land.

You will learn how to make simple and safe preparations with these plants to use in your
everyday life. Amanda will be sharing her 40 plus years experience as a herbalist immersed in the world of medicinal plants.

About the walk leader

Amanda Howe has been a herbalist for over forty years. She’s passionate about herbs and herbal medicine and about sharing the connection with the natural world that can be found through connecting with and learning about the healing power of plants. She trained in England in the early 1980s and became a member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists (UK). She went on to receive her MSc in Herbal Medicine from the University of Wales. Amanda teaches in the Pacific Rim College Herbal Practitioner program in Victoria, BC. She also teaches workshops and classes from her home and garden in Cumberland, BC. Amanda loves to teach and is happiest when she is in the garden and forest teaching people how to grow, harvest, use and listen to the magic of the plants that are thriving there.

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The CVN Bursary for environment-related post-secondary studies is awarded to a deserving Grade 12 graduate from School District 71 each year. The 2025 recipient is Madison Hamilton, a graduate of Georges P. Vanier Secondary School. Madison plans to attend St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia to pursue a Bachelor of Science Degree, with a focus on aquatic resources.

Madison admires CVN’s work to protect natural habitats, support biodiversity and advocate for sustainable environmental practices. She believes grassroots initiatives with collaboration among researchers and community members are essential for creating long-lasting change.

Congratulations, Madison!

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