Friends of the project
There are many projects, non-profits, and organizations that are doing amazing environmental work in and around the territory. Uplifting and supporting each other is crucial to fostering healthy relationships and achieving the common goals of community building, healing the land, and disrupting colonial systems.
You can help by donating, learning about & sharing their work, and volunteering!
PEPAKEṈ HÁUTW̱ Foundation
The PEPAKEṈ HÁUTW̱ Foundation is a W̱SÁNEĆ based non-profit organization based out of the PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱ (Blossoming Place) Native Plant Nursery & Garden at ȽÁU,WELṈEW̱ Tribal School.
They lead numerous restoration projects throughout the W̱SÁNEĆ homelands, in particular at SṈIDȻEȽ — the first W̱SÁNEĆ village site (Tod Inlet, Gowlland-Tod Provincial Park).
PEPAKEṈ HÁUTW̱’s mission is to provide participatory education opportunities about traditional and healthy food systems, to contribute to the restoration and revitalization of native ecosystems in the W̱SÁNEĆ homelands, and to promote food security and Indigenous food sovereignty in the W̱SÁNEĆ community and beyond.
Special Bird Service Society
The Special Bird Service Society removes barriers to accessing nature and the outdoors, through bird watching. We're a syndicate of nature centred community building initiatives for the BIPoC, 2SLGBTQ+ and marginalized communities. We are here to challenge stereotypes and break glass ceilings by elevating BIPOC & Queer, voices, histories, and values in nature.
Through ecological stewardship, nature-based community mental health focussed, relationship building we act as social vehicle for generational knowledge transfers to take place. We aim to normalize the BIPOC & 2SLBGTQ+ communities use of the great outdoors. Reclaiming nature as a recreational and healing safe-space by offering organized bird watching walks, hikes, outdoor adventures & community connection-building events.
Habitat Acquisition Trust
HAT’s vision is to ensure that natural areas are protected and healthy on southern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. Our mission is to conserve natural areas on southern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands through protection, collaboration, stewardship and education.
Satinflower Nurseries
Satinflower Nurseries is built on the core principle of valuing nature with an aim of inspiring and empowering people to restore and conserve nature by providing native plants, seeds, and expertise. The plants and seeds they provide are native to a variety of habitats in the Victoria area, including meadows, woodlands, forests, wetlands, beaches and more. Every year, they build on the diversity of plants and seeds they offer.
The nursery is specialized in the restoration and ecology of Garry oak ecosystems (Prairie-Oak ecosystems) and meadowscaping. The total removal of lawn and transformation to a meadow is completely achievable with the suite of species we have available. By creating meadows where your lawn was will help create patches of habitat for migratory pollinators!
They strive for excellence in the health of the plants and seeds for their customers and the environment. Herbicides, pesticides (including neonicotinoids), and chemical fertilizers are NOT used. They also reduce waste by reusing and recycling as much as possible.
Sandown Centre for
Regenerative Agriculture
The Sandown Centre stewards 83 acres of working farm, wetland and forest, serving
as a hub in North Saanich for best practices in regenerative agriculture. The Sandown
Centre supports and engages with emerging growers, researchers, community
members and regional farmers; working together to build a thriving, climate change-
resilient, sustainable local food system.
Peninsula Streams & Shorelines
Peninsula Streams Society restores and protects aquatic ecosystems throughout Greater Victoria.
Their goal is to achieve healthy aquatic habitat that supports self-sustaining populations of native species in both freshwater and marine environments. Since our formation in 2002, they have worked to accomplish this objective through research, restoration, innovative projects, public education and private land stewardship.
Restoring salmon stocks through stream restoration and habitat conservation is central to their purpose. For large, complex salmon enhancement projects, such as fishways, they plan, fundraise for and implement these in partnership with local stakeholders and stewardship groups.
They provide their associated stewardship groups with technical expertise, training and other resources to help them restore and protect aquatic habitats. Volunteer members of these groups are the heart and soul of the organization, donating thousands of hours each year to restoration and enhancement projects.
They also offer environmental education programs in local schools. Delivered by our staff and volunteers, these programs reach over a thousand students annually. By providing fun and engaging indoor and outdoor activities, they raise awareness of the various natural habitats around Greater Victoria.
Peninsula Streams Society is a registered charity, charitable registration #865001457 RR0001
Raincoast Conservation Foundation
Raincoast is a team of scientists and conservationists empowered by their research to safeguard the land, waters, and wildlife of coastal British Columbia. They investigate to understand coastal species and processes. They inform by bringing science to decision-makers and communities. They inspire action to protect wildlife and wildlife habitats.
Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary
Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary Society stewards 170 acres of wetland and oak meadow habitat just 6km north of downtown Victoria, BC.
The vision of the Nature Sanctuary is to foster community appreciation and respect for natural systems, and the knowledge and skills to act responsibly to benefit the environment and future life.
Their mission is to conserve and restore Nature Sanctuary lands and waters while inspiring stewardship through community engagement and collaboration.
They offer opportunities to learn about local nature and ecological restoration through their Native Plant Workshops, On-site School Programs, and Community Drop-in Programs as well as hands-on learner-volunteer programs.
The Nature Sanctuary was established in 1975 and is a non-profit with charitable status (#11920 7157).
Visit their educational Nature House and find great treasures in their Gift Shop!
Yarrow Collective
Yarrow Collective invites communities into creative acts of public gardening. They create participatory art installations that raise awareness of Indigenous pollinator plants and wild bees and invite urban humans to consider the role they play in an ecosystem. They work with an extended community of artists, backyard gardeners, community activators, and a certified bee steward. Their installations have been featured at Pacific Opera Victoria’s Voices in Nature, SKAMpede Performance Festival, FringeKids, Play Streets, The City of Victoria’s Tree Appreciation Day, and the AGGV. Their Garden of Stories project is a collaboration with Elder Johnny Aitken that explores relationships with invasive plants and asks: what does healing the land mean to you?
Greater Victoria Green Team
TThe Greater Victoria Green Team is a program of Green Teams of Canada, organizing hands-on educational activities that have a positive environmental impact to empower people. Through activities such as invasive plant removals, plantings, litter cleanups and more, we are fostering connections with others and nature so that health and well-being is prioritized, lifelong environmental stewardship is promoted, and community members are enabled to take care of themselves, each other and the places they live.
https://greenteamscanada.ca/our-green-teams/greater-victoria-green-team/
Vancouver Island Decade of
Ecosystem Restoration
The challenges of today requires problem-solvers who bring different perspectives and are willing to take risks. The University of Victoria's Decade Team emerged out of a pursuit to inspire and support the community, and a desire for actions to speak louder than words. The Decade, proclaimed following a proposal for action by over 70 countries, runs from 2021 to 2030.
The United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration launched in 2021. The declaration aims to halt the degradation of ecosystems and create a restorative mindset in our communities. The healthier our ecosystems are, the healthier the planet and its people! This Decade supports ecosystems on every continent and in every ocean. It can help to alleviate poverty, combat climate change, and curtail mass extinction. It will only succeed if everyone plays a part.
In 2021 and 2022, Vancouver Island's collective work led our region to be the global leader in restoration events worldwide.
In 2023, they are aiming to expand their network to put Vancouver Island on the map as a hub for ecological restoration. This year, they're placing their focus on sharing and compiling knowledge and both developing and helping research initiatives focused on ecosystem restoration.
The Decade offers an opportunity to collaborate regionally on a collective push to raise awareness of ecosystem restoration in our region, and to encourage hands-on action by regional organizations and residents. Led by the Restoration of Natural Systems Program at the University of Victoria, representatives from municipalities, conservancies, and volunteer groups have come together to help organize a regional movement.
https://www.restorationscience.net/vi-decade-on-ecological-restoration.html
Reciprocity Connects
The mission of Reciprocity Restoration is to support Indigenous nations and communities to lead restoration and reclamation activities on their lands and waters, and to support Indigenous reconnection and long-term stewardship.
"We are a group of knowledge holders, qualified professionals, and restoration practitioners passionate about the importance of communities in restoration of lands and waters. We are majority Indigenous-owned and Indigenous-led. Our work supports communities to take the lead in restoration and reclamation on their lands and waters. We prioritize the involvement of local Indigenous businesses and development of community capacity for future work. Ecological and Cultural restoration and reconnection go hand-in-hand."