October 2025 Newsletter

1. Gerald Island Results
2. Annual General Meeting: November 29th
3. KHFN Recreational Use Survey
4. Courtenay River Cleanup with Ace Brewing
5. Marine Debris Removed from Clayoquot Sound
6. Prideaux Haven Is Protected Forever!
7. Ghost Gear Fund Petition
8. Coastal Cafe: Winter Kayaking in the Sea of Cortez
9. Winners! Site Condition Reporting Contest
10. Trail Blazers' Corner

Gerald Island Results

From September 25-28th, a small but mighty crew braved strong winds and rain to continue our work restoring the coastal bluff ecosystem of Gerald Island. While many registered volunteers couldn’t make it due to the weather, thirteen participants joined over the four days, logging an impressive 284 volunteer hours!

Together, we pulled 98 tarp loads of invasive English Ivy and Himalayan blackberry. Though weather limited our numbers, the progress is clear: invasive plants continue to be pushed back, trails extended, trees freed from ivy’s grasp, and space created for native species to return. Every tarpload removed makes a lasting impact on this special island ecosystem.

We’ll be back next spring to keep building on this momentum! 🌿

Annual General Meeting: November 29th

Mark your calendars! Our AGM will take place on November 29th, at 11am. At the AGM, we’ll hold elections, share updates, discuss what’s ahead, and talk about how you can get involved.

Following the AGM, hear from Connor McCracken, author of the newly released Átl’ḵa7tsem / Howe Sound book. Through stunning imagery and lived experience, Connor will bring the spirit of Howe Sound to life. Connor is generously donation a portion of book sales to BCMT.

RSVP for the AGM today!

In advance of the AGM, we are seeking board member nominations. In particular, we are looking for individuals with skills in:

• Finance / accounting
• Fundraising / donor acquisition
• Database management
• GIS / geomatics

To put your name forward to join our 12-person board, please reach out to Karina at president@bcmarinetrails.org.

Various volunteer positions are also available through our committees: First Nations Engagement, Trails Development, Communications, Environmental Stewardship, and IT.

Open volunteer positions

KHFN Recreational Use Survey

Ḵwiḵwa̱sut'inux̱w Ha̱xwa'mis First Nation (KHFN) is developing the Hada and Kakweikan Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area (IPCA), and is looking for your input!

Please help KHFN understand how you engage with their territory (North Broughtons) so they can optimize stewardship for the future.

Background information Take the short survey

Courtenay River Cleanup with Ace Brewing

Ace Brewing, with help from BC Marine Trails, is hosting a cleanup of the Courtenay River, along the Riverway Heritage Walk. Meet at 10am on November 9th at Ace Brewing (150 Mansfield Drive, Courtenay) before heading out with the volunteer crew! After the clean, all are invited back to Ace Brewing to enjoy 15% off lunchtime food and beverages. Help Ace keep our local waterways clean, and prevent debris from entering the ocean!

RSVP today

Marine Debris Removed from Clayoquot Sound

In the last week of September, the Western Canada Marine Response Corporation sent out landing crafts to remove marine debris from BC Marine Trails drop zones on Vargas Island. 440 pounds of debris were removed (including several large foam blocks!), thanks to recreationists piling debris all summer long, and reporting through BCMT Site Condition Reports.

Debris was transported to the Ocean Legacy Foundation depot in Ucluelet, where it was sorted and prepared for recycling!

By continuing to pile and report debris, you contribute to larger removal efforts — no amount is too little when you're out on the water. Together, we can make a big difference!

Thanks to donations to the BC Parks Foundation (promoted in our last newsletter) another piece of the BC coast is now protected forever.

Together, donors helped raise an incredible $1.25 million, with another $1.25 million matched by the Wilson 5 Foundation. The funds allowed for the purchase of 100 acres of coastal forest and nearly one kilometre of untouched shoreline in Prideaux Haven.

The property’s marbled murrelet habitat, thriving eelgrass beds, and breathtaking views will now remain intact, helping strengthen conservation connections around Desolation Sound Marine Park.

Ghost Gear Fund Petition

Ghost gear (abandoned and lost fishing gear) is one of the most dangerous and prevalent forms of marine debris. A petition in the House of Commons is calling for the reinstatement of Canada’s Ghost Gear Fund to support:

• Ongoing ghost gear removal and remediation
• Moving projects from survey to implementation
• Large-scale cleanup and recycling solutions

When this fund is active, it directly funds our close partners (like The Ocean Legacy Foundation), strengthening many of our stewardship efforts — from coastal cleanups to marine debris drop zones.

Sign the petition digitally

Winter Kayaking in the Sea of Cortez

In this article, Robin Macqueen recounts his weeklong guided kayaking adventure around Isla Espíritu Santo, an uninhabited island and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in the Gulf of California which Jacques Cousteau called the “world’s aquarium.” Joined by a small group of mostly Canadian paddlers and two experienced Mexican guides, they explored turquoise waters, white-sand beaches, and vibrant coral reefs, camping each night under star-filled skies.

Days were spent paddling 10–15 km along rugged coastlines, snorkelling, and sharing meals prepared together on the beach. Despite strong winds and blazing sun, spirits remained high thanks to the guides’ expertise and the camaraderie of the group.

Read Robin's full article

Winners! Site Condition Reporting Contest

The 2025 Site Condition Reporting (SCR) contest has officially wrapped up, and we are thrilled to announce our four winners! Sponsored by Mustang Survival, Backroad Maps, Comox Valley Kayaks & Canoes, and Valhalla Pure Outfitters Nanaimo, the contest encouraged participants to contribute valuable SCRs to help maintain and improve our marine trail network.

Sarah Meyer took home a Helix drysuit from Mustang Survival, valued at $1599.99. Sarah shared: “Submitting Site Condition Reports is my little way of giving back and feeding into a resource that has been so helpful."

Brenda Hardie won the Backroad Maps prize pack valued at $400, noting: “As amazing at the BCMT map is, it truly shines when you find up-to-date Site Condition Reports. When we all contribute it makes it so much better.“

Sarah Richards will be sporting a new Tow Line, courtesy of Comox Valley Kayaks & Canoes. Sarah shared: "Completing a 58-day circumnavigation of Vancouver Island this summer, I wanted to contribute as many SCRs as possible to keep information up-to-date for other paddlers!"

Art Skoda is walking away with a $50 gift card to Valhalla Pure Outfitters in Nanaimo. Art is an active beach cleaner, primarily making use of our reporting system to submit marine debris reports across the coast.

Thank you to everyone who submitted SCRs over the summer season, and to our contest sponsors, helping to maintain our marine trail network.

Trailblazers' Corner Trailblazers are recognized BC Marine Trails leaders who care deeply about the BC Coast and support the hard work of BCMT, its volunteers, and staff. The generous contributions from Trailblazers ensure that others are able to enjoy the coast safely, sustainably, and respectfully. Trailblazers contribute annual donations of $250 or greater.

"As a Trailblazer, I hope to help preserve the opportunity for my children and grand children to recreate in the wonderful and unique coastal environment of British Columbia. There is nowhere in the world that offers the beauty, serenity, and real-life educational opportunities that we enjoy here on the northwest coast of North America. We must preserve them for the generations to come."

Join our group of dedicated Trailblazers!