Monthly Stewardship Roundtable Meeting
2025-10-21 09:00 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Fish Health Building, 1080 Wharncliffe Road, Duncan, British Columbia, V9L2K7, Canada
The Cowichan Stewardship Roundtable (CSRT) is an open and collaborative group focused on protecting our water and watersheds. As independent groups and individuals we have different interests, but as Roundtable members we share a common understanding: the health of watersheds is key to the health of our families, businesses and environment. All are welcome and there is often a presentation.

Riparian Restoration - Invasive Plant Removal
2025-10-21 12:00 - 15:00, 2025-10-22 12:00 - 15:00, 2025-10-29 12:00 - 15:00
As part of our Streamside Stewardship Partners Program we are working to restore the riparian area on private properties along Bings and Menzies Creeks. Join us to remove invasive plants from the banks of Bings Creek, and learn about the Bings watershed, invasive plants and different restoration techniques. Please bring water, weather-appropriate clothing, and sturdy shoes. We will provide gloves and tools.
If you would like to join us please let us know, locations will be confirmed via email. phaedra@somenosmarsh.com.

Nature Cowichan Speaker - Environmental Psychology
2025-10-21 19:30 - 21:00 | Zoom
Lindsay McCunn’s talk is entitled “Becoming an Environmental Psychologist”. In this day, when “nature bathing” is being prescribed we harken back to the approach of longtime member John Scull in this talk.

NCC Talk-On the Forest Path
2025-10-22 14:30 - 15:30 | Zoom
Zoom talk by 3 Nature Conservancy Canada conservation leaders. Journey through some of Canada’s most remarkable forest conservation achievements — from the familiar to the unknown. You’ll hear directly as they share powerful stories of forest protection, success and what’s next. https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?

Mushroom ID@Wildwood w/ Andy MacKinnon&Ken Luther
2025-10-24 13:00 - 15:00 | Wildwood, 2929 Crane Rd, Ladysmith, BC, V9G 1C4, Canada
Join us for an enlightening journey through Wildwood ecoforest, where you’ll uncover the secrets of mushroom identification with experts Andy Mackinnon and Kem Luther. Both renowned naturalists, Andy and Kem have passionately collaborated on the seminal guide, “Mushrooms of British Columbia” – author’s copies available for purchase for $30.

Qualicum Mushroom Festival
2025-10-26 11:00 - 16:00 | Qualicum Beach Civic Center, 747 Jones St, Qualicum Beach, BC, V9K 1S7, Canada
Arrowsmith Naturalist’s club hosts their 10th annual Mushroom Festival. A huge event with displays, ID’s, fresh local shrooms of all sorts, knowledgeable folk, etc.

Ocean Film Festival Canada
2025-10-26 19:00 - 21:30 | The Port Theatre Nanaimo, 125 Front St., Nanaimo, BC,, BC, V9R 6Z4, Canada
The Ocean Film Festival Tour is an annual event that showcases a selection of the world’s most stunning ocean-themed films. Now in its 12th year, the festival continues to inspire, entertain, and educate audiences about the beauty and challenges of the oceans. Created in Australia 12 years ago, it aims to inspire the world to explore and enjoy our oceans, protect, and respect them, promote ocean conservation, and unite people to celebrate its wonders. The Film Festival worldwide has hosted more than 1200 screenings, with over 360,000 audience members and raised tens of thousands of dollars for ocean charities. Tickets available at: https://www.porttheatre.com/choose-seats/?id=33401

Riparian Restoration - Invasive Species Removal
2025-10-28 12:00 - 15:00

Volunteer Planting in the Garry Oaks
2025-10-29 09:00 - 12:00 | Cowichan Garry Oak Preserve, AitkenRoad, Duncan, BC, V9L 5S1, Canada
It’s so lovely to spend a little while in the morning mists planting out some native plants from the nursery into the Garry Oak meadows. Please try to let Laura know if you intend to come.
Lmmitic@gmail.com
250-661-3962

State of Salmon Webinar
2025-10-29 12:00 - 13:30 | Zoom
Pacific Salmon Foundation has released its second State of Salmon Report. Join us an online webinar to learn more about the State of Salmon Report and how you can use the online tool. The event will include a presentation, a live demonstration of the interactive website, and a Q&A period. Register today for the free State of Salmon Webinar.

3rd Herring Symposium
2025-10-30 18:00 - 21:00 | Esquimalt Gorge Park & Pavillion, 1070 Tillicum Rd, Esquimalt, BC, V9A 2A1, Canada
At our 2nd Herring Symposium (February 2025), we asked the big question: What can we do now about herring troubles? This follow-up event has answers.
Highly recommended!! Immerse yourself in all the interconnections around that Big Little Fish!
3rd Victoria Herring Symposium: What Can We Do to Turn the Tide for Herring Tickets, Thu, Oct 30, 2025 at 6:00 PM | Eventbrite

Garry Oak Ecosystems-Gathering
2025-11-01 - 2025-11-02 | University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Rd, Victoria, BC, V8P 5C2, Canada
Garry Oak Ecosystem Recovery Team (GOERT) puts on this splendid annual event again with the usual format: Talks on Saturday at U. Vic. and Field Trips on Sunday.
More information can be found here: 2025 Garry Oak Ecosystems Gathering and here: Facebook

Native Planting - Diana Princess of Wales Park, Saltair
2025-11-01 10:00 - 13:00 | Diana Princess of Wales Park, 10681 Olsen Rd, Saltair, BC, V9G 2B3, Canada

Family Spawning Day@Nanaimo Hatchery
2025-11-02 10:00 - 15:00 | Nanaimo River Hatchery, 2775 Rugby Road, Nanaimo, BC, Canada
By Donation, Prizes, BBQ, Dissection, Fishing Pool, Guided walks, and more. Something for everyone in the family!
http://www.nanaimoriverhatchery.ca/

Nature Cowichan Speaker-Christoph Steeger
2025-11-03 09:30 - 11:30 | Fish Health Building, 1080 Wharncliffe Road, Duncan, British Columbia, V9L2K7, Canada
Christoph Steeger is a Conservation Biologist residing alongside our river. His talk is entitled: The Cowichan Watershed: A Natural History Perspective for Environmental Stewardship. In it he will address questions such as: What is a watershed? What are the important features of our watershed? How are things interconnected? What can we focus on to help maintain or improve our watershed health? Bring a toonie for coffee or email cvns@naturecowichan.net for the zoom link.

Water Quality Monitoring
2025-11-03 10:00 - 12:00 | Somenos Creek Dog Park, Somenos Creek Dog Park, Duncan, BC, V9L3G1, Canada
Join us for a morning of hands-on water quality monitoring across the Somenos Watershed! We’ll visit Somenos, Bings, Averill, and Richards Creeks, carpooling between sites to collect samples and record data. It’s a great opportunity to learn about key water quality parameters and how our creeks are affected by development and climate change.
If you are interested in joining us, please email us at phaedra@somenosmarsh.com for more details.

Riparian Restoration - Streamside Stewardship Partners Program
2025-11-03 12:00 - 14:30, 2025-11-05 12:00 - 14:30, 2025-11-12 12:00 - 14:30 | SMWS Office, 55 Station Street, Duncan, BC, V9L1M2, Canada
Join us for an afternoon of restoring the riparian area along Bings and Menzies Creeks. Through our Streamside Stewardship Partners Program we are working with private landowners along our watersheds creeks to help restore and enhance riparian function through invasive removal and native species planting. You can expect to learn about riparian areas, invasive and native species and restoration processes.
If you would like to hear a little bit more about this event or would like to join us, please email us at phaedra@somenosmarsh.com.

Invasive Plant Removal – Garry Oak Protected Area
2025-11-05 09:00 - 11:00
Join us to pull invasive hawthorn, blackberry, and broom from the Somenos Garry Oak Protected Area. Learn about different removal methods and the uniqueness of the Garry oak ecosystems. You can expect to do some digging, cutting and moving of invasive plant material. Bring weather appropriate clothing and water, SMWS will provide tools, snacks, and warm drinks.
We will be meeting on site at the end of York Road, left off Trillium Terrace through the Timberlands neighbourhood.
If you are interested in joining us for this event, please email us at phaedra@somenosmarsh.com

Garry Oak Volunteers
2025-11-05 09:00 - 12:00 | Cowichan Garry Oak Preserve, AitkenRoad, Duncan, BC, V9L 5S1, Canada
Planting out babies, pulling invasives all in a beutiful setting. Might even see a few bluebirds hanging back for the winter! Register in advance if you can by emailing: info@CowichanLandTrust.ca

Swan and Goose Count
2025-11-05 09:45 - 13:00, 2025-11-12 09:45 - 13:00 | Somenos Creek Dog Park, Somenos Creek Dog Park, Duncan, BC, V9L3G1, Canada
Once a week over the winter a crew of people head out to a few spots around the Cowichan Valley to monitor and count swans and geese. Whether your new to birding or an expert your bound to learn something from the awesome crew of people who have been dedicated to this count for many years now. Bring binoculars, weather appropriate clothing, some water and a willingness to learn. Length of the event will vary depending on which route you join and the number of birds to count.
The crew meets at the Somenos Dog Park on Beverly Street at 9:45 then will head out together from there.
If you are interested in joining for this event please email us at phaedra@somenosmarsh.com.

Coastal Bird Count-Citizen Science
2025-11-09 09:30 - 10:30 | Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre, 1845 Cowichan Bay Road, Cowichan Bay, British Columbia, V0R1N0, Canada
Young and old, novice and pro birders are all welcome to join in the Coastal Bird Counts at high tide on the second Sunday of each month. . The route is along a nice flat track. Sea lions tend to be an added attraction for the first few months. Later on, the Great Blue Herons at the Rookery are fun to watch as well. Surveys began in 1999 and provide valuable data to Birds Canada totrack the health of our coastal habitats.Check their Coastal Bird Survey Newsletter at https://www.birdscanada.org/bccws_newsletters. If you want to
borrow some binoculars and give it a try, please email me at
kathrynmariec@gmail.com. Hope to see you there!

Garry Oak Volunteers
2025-11-12 09:00 - 12:00 | Cowichan Garry Oak Preserve, AitkenRoad, Duncan, BC, V9L 5S1, Canada
Come on out and learn something new about this important ecosystem by working alongside other fun, dedicated folk. Let Laura know in advance if you can by email: info@cowichanlandtrust.ca

Salmon Watch Survey
2025-11-12 09:00 - 12:00 | Somenos Marsh Head Office, #3-55 Station Street, Duncan, BC, Canada
The SMWS salmon watch annual surveys have begun with the salmon returning to the watershed. Join us, on Wednesday mornings to complete salmon spawning surveys in the Somenos Watershed creeks. We will be walking up the watershed creeks to count spawning salmon so be prepared for difficult terrain and some scrambling. Please bring water, weather appropriate clothing, polarized sunglasses and waders if you have them, if not, we will supply you with a pair. All other materials will be provided.
We will be meeting in the SMWS office at 55 Station Street at 9:00 am on Wednesday mornings.
If you are interested in joining us, please email us at phaedra@somenosmarsh.com as space is limited.

CANCELLED!!! Xwulqw'selu (Koksilah)-Watershed Plan-Open House
2025-11-13 15:00 - 19:00
Help shape the future Plan for this Watershed. This process is a first for BC!

Riparian Restoration – Streamside Stewardship Partners Program
2025-11-17 12:00 - 14:30 | SMWS Office, 55 Station Street, Duncan, BC, V9L1M2, Canada
