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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
Comox Valley Nature is attending an event.6 days 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 pmin Puntledge Park 1111 1st , Courtenay7 days 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. ...
1 week 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 ...
2 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. ...
2 weeks ago
The Canadian Coalition for Invasive Plant Regulation (CCIPR) wants the federal government to establish a regulatory body for the horticultural industry and create a national database identifying invasive plants and their risks in different regions."Even if we don't prohibit them, we need to let the public know when there is potential harm," said CCIPR co-founder Cathy Kavassalis. "We do this on other products, and we should do it on plants too. It's just common sense."
In July, Nanaimo council passed a motion to pursue a bylaw amendment restricting the sale of plants on a list maintained by the Invasive Species Council of B.C. A week later, Surrey moved to ban sales by businesses including nurseries, large retail chains and florists.
Kavassalis said a problem that could be addressed at higher levels of government is being pushed down to municipalities."These are all patchwork solutions that, in some ways, just waste a lot of resources," she said.
The CCIPR says a national database could give provinces, territories, retailers and gardeners a shared source of information about which plants pose risks in different regions. Kavassalis also wants invasive plants removed from shelves or clearly labelled.
For more on this story visit www.cbc.ca/news/science/invasive-plants-sale-federal-regulation-9.7312362 or see our link in bio ...
Category Archives: Shoreline and Marine
Learn about the state of the Salish Sea
Comox Valley Nature, in conjunction with the Canadian Society of Environmental Biologists, is pleased to host the following free online lecture: Title: The State of the Salish SeaSpeaker: Dr. Ian PerryDate: Sunday March 20, 2022Time: 7:00 p.m. PDT This webinar … Continue reading
Posted in Guest Speakers, Shoreline and Marine
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Learn about the state of Canada’s fisheries
Comox Valley Nature, in conjunction with the Canadian Society of Environmental Biologists, is pleased to host the following free online lecture: Title: The State of Canada’s Fisheries: Oceana Canada’s 2021 Fishery AuditSpeaker: Isabelle JubinvilleDate: Thursday March 17, 2022Time: 10:00 a.m. … Continue reading
Posted in Conservation and Restoration, Guest Speakers, Shoreline and Marine
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Recording available for talk on heat mortality of seashore life
Comox Valley Nature, in conjunction with the Canadian Society of Environmental Biologists, recently presented the following webinar: Title: Well that stunk: mass die-offs of BC seashore life during the 2021 heatwaveSpeaker: Dr. Chris HarleyDate: Sunday, November 21, 2021 If you … Continue reading
Posted in Climate, Ecology, Guest Speakers, Shoreline and Marine
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Learn about mortality of seashore life in the 2021 heatwave
Comox Valley Nature is pleased to co-host the following free online lecture: Title: Well that stunk: mass die-offs of BC seashore life during the 2021 heatwaveSpeaker: Dr. Chris HarleyDate: Sunday, November 21, 2021Time: 7:00 p.m. PST This webinar is facilitated … Continue reading
Posted in Climate, Ecology, Guest Speakers, Shoreline and Marine
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Recording available for talk on chemical contaminants in our oceans
The Canadian Society of Environmental Biologists recently presented the following webinar, to which CVN members were invited: Title: Environmental pollution in British Columbia: A short history of chemical conquestSpeaker: Dr. Peter RossDate: Sunday, October 17, 2021 If you missed this … Continue reading
Posted in Guest Speakers, Shoreline and Marine
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Learn about chemical contaminants in our oceans
The Canadian Society of Environmental Biologists is hosting a free online lecture as follows: Title: Environmental pollution in British Columbia: A short history of chemical conquestSpeaker: Dr. Peter RossDate: Sunday, October 17, 2021Time: 7:00 p.m. PT This talk is open … Continue reading
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Recording available for talk on Pacific Salmon Explorer
CVN’s guest speaker on March 21 via webinar was Dr. Eric Hertz whose topic was The Pacific Salmon Explorer: A novel tool for mobilizing data on salmon and their habitats risks of hatchery enhancement for Pacific salmon. The talk was … Continue reading
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Learn about exploring data on Pacific salmon
Comox Valley Nature is pleased to host a free online lecture by Dr. Eric Hertz. The lecture entitled “The Pacific Salmon Explorer: A novel tool for mobilizing data on salmon and their habitats.” is on Sunday March 21, 2021, 7:00 … Continue reading
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Recordings available for Herring in the Salish Sea webinar series
The Canadian Society of Environmental Biologists and Comox Valley Nature hosted a highly informative series of five daily webinars from February 22 to February 26 focussing on herring in the Salish Sea. If you missed any of these webinars or … Continue reading
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Recording available for talk on genetic risks of hatchery enhancement of salmon
CVN’s guest speaker on February 21 via webinar was Dr. Carrie Holt whose topic was Genetic risks of hatchery enhancement for Pacific salmon. The talk was well-attended and stimulated a variety of questions from the audience. If you missed this … Continue reading
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