Watershed Resilience

Climate Change, Collaboration and Landscape Restoration

Watershed Resilience

Climate Change, Collaboration and Landscape Restoration

An engaging five-session webinar highlighting the power of collaboration between local government, environmental organizations, First Nations, elected leaders and industry. This collaboration is essential to mobilize and respond effectively to the impacts of climate change.

WATCH THE VIDEOS to learn about exciting projects and initiatives that are reconnecting ecology and hydrology in the built and natural environments of the Comox Valley.

Over the past 150 years, the Comox Valley landscape has been transformed by logging, coal mining, agriculture, road building, industry, and development. These altered landscapes are where the local impacts of climate change – flooding, erosion, and loss of biodiversity – first become evident. But these altered landscapes also hold the greatest potential for building resiliency. Kus-Kus-Sum, The Courtenay Estuary, Morrison Headwaters, Perseverance Watershed, Comox Lake – these places are at the heart of our local climate story.

Join archeologist Jesse Morin, Comox Valley Land Trust ED Tim Ennis, Cumberland Community Forest Society ED Meaghan Cursons, and Project Watershed staff biologist Jennifer Sutherst for a visual exploration of local land use history and current day conservation in action from mountain top to ocean floor. Together, in partnership with local government, indigenous leadership, industry and community, we are stitching together altered landscapes of the Comox Valley.

Presenters:

Jesse Ketler – MC/Host, Chair Comox Valley Regional District
Jesse Morin – Archeologist and K’omoks First Nation researcher
Tim Ennis –  Executive Director, Comox Valley Land Trust and Conservation Partnership
Meaghan Cursons – Executive Director, Cumberland Community Forest Society
Jennifer Sutherst – Estuary Coordinator & Staff Biologist, Project Watershed

What is the starting place for our work in water sustainability, landscape scale restoration, collaboration and facing the impacts of a changing climate? It starts with an understanding of the culture, land, water, and stories of the places where we do our work. Join us for this welcome to the territory of the K’omoks First Nation and an introduction to the exciting projects underway that demonstrate our shared commitments.

Presenters:

Wedlidi Speck – Cultural Advisor
Cory Frank – Guardian Watchmen Manager, K’omoks First Nation
Tim Ennis – Project Manager, Kus Kus Sum Project
Doug Hillian – Councillor City of Courtenay
Caila Holbrook – Fundraising and Community Engagement, Kus Kus Sum, Project Watershed

The Comox Valley has never witnessed the scale of cross sector and cross jurisdictional work toward watershed sustainability than we have in the past 5 years. At the forefront of these collaborations are the Watershed Advisory Group, the Comox Lake Municipal Natural Assets Initiatives and recent land protection actions in the Comox Lake Watershed. This session will explore the complexities and opportunities of this regional collaboration at work.

Presenters:

Kris La Rose –  P.Eng. CVRD Senior Manager of Water/Wastewater Services
Michelle Molnar – Environmental Economist and Policy Analyst at the David Suzuki Foundation
Kevin McPhedran – Village of Cumberland’s Parks and Outdoor Recreation Coordinator
Meaghan Cursons – Executive Director, Cumberland Community Forest Society, Community Engagement, Connected by Water

Local government leadership is making it clear that meaningful community engagement and climate change awareness are critical to all levels of community planning. What tactics make a real impact? How do we deepen interest and engagement to achieve success? From official community plan processes to sea rise response strategies – community engagement in climate adaptation is at the top of the agenda.

Presenters:

Wedlidi Speck – Cultural Advisor
Tatsuyuki Setta – Manager of Community and Sustainability Planning, City of Courtenay
Nancy Gothard – Policy Planner, City of Courtenay
Serina Allison – SD71 Comox Valley, Environmental and Outdoor Learning Lead District Teacher
Will Cole-Hamilton – Councillor, City of Courtenay
Robyn Holme – CVRD Coastal Flood and Mitigation Planning

Connected by Water is a program of the Comox Valley Regional District to build capacity, connection, and community in support of watershed protection. This project connects schools, parks, sporting events, campgrounds and the public to stories and actions that help support the health of our watershed. Learn more about the approaches, messages, and successes of this project and how it can be applied to our collective efforts to support a climate resilient watershed in the Comox Valley.

Presenters:

Christina Willard-Stepan – Environmental Educator CVRD Connected by Water, and Comox Strathcona Waste Management
Genevieve Burdett – Executive Director, Cumberland Lake Park Wilderness Society
Meaghan Cursons – Executive Director, Cumberland Community Forest Society, and Community Engagement, Connected by Water

Meet our Presenters
Connected by Water
Cumberland Community Forest Society
Pacific Salmon Foundation
Lush Cosmetics

Presented by the Comox Valley Land Trust, Connected by Water, the Cumberland Community Forest Society, the Pacific Salmon Foundation, and Lush Cosmetics

PRESENTED VIRTUALLY IN OCTOBER 2020

HELP US PRESERVE THE BEAUTY OF THE COMOX VALLEY

Since our formation in 1999, the Comox Valley Land Trust has protected and conserved almost 300 hectares of ecologically significant land and wildlife habitat. This success is thanks to the vision and generosity of our donors and partners. Your donation to CVLT goes directly to acquiring and protecting the natural wealth of the Comox Valley.

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