Over 90 community-led projects supported in BC Parks this year
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Across the province, $360,000 has been allocated from the Park Enhancement Fund (PEF) for community led BC Parks projects to be completed by March 31, 2024. Revenue from the sale of BC Parks licence plates goes into PEF and supports this Community PEF Program.
Over the years, BC Parks has funded community partners to lead projects that greatly enhance and enrich the public’s enjoyment of provincial parks, while protecting cultural and conservation values. This year, each of our six BC Parks regions received $60,000 in funding for over 90 community-led conservation and recreation projects. Last year BC Parks funded 75 projects and distributed $180,000 in funding. It’s exciting to see a significant increase in demand for funding in communities across B.C.
Projects this year include:
- invasive species inventory, treatment and monitoring;
- trail maintenance, improvements and signage;
- species monitoring, habitat restoration and species counts (e.g. western toad, bats, birds, and vegetation);
- accessibility projects;
- marine debris cleanups;
- education programs, camps and more.
We would like to recognize the community partners we are working with this year:
Omenica-Peace
- Alberta Speleological Society, B.C. Speleological Federation
- Caledonia Ramblers Hiking Club
- Charlie Lake Conservation Society
- Great Divide Trail Association
- Kakwa Snowmobile Club
- Ozalenka Alpine Club
- Prince George Backcountry Recreation Society
- Prince George Canoe & Kayak Club
- Swan City Snowmobile Club
- Tumbler Ridge Global UNESCO Geopark
- Whiskey Jack Nordic Ski Club
North Coast Skeena
- Father’s Day Fishing Derby at Tyhee Lake
- Lakelse Watershed Society
- Royal BC Museum
- Nature photographer Cindy Lewis
- Skeena Valley Snowmobile Association
- Skeena Wild Conservation Trust
- Stewart Public Library
Kootenay Okanagan
- Boundary Invasive Species Society
- British Columbia Conservation Foundation – BC Community Bat Program
- Central Kootenay Invasive Species Society
- Columbia Basin Environmental Education Network
- Community Recreational Initiatives Society
- East Kootenay Invasive Species Council
- Elk River Alliance
- Friends of Manning Park
- Hope Mountain Centre for Outdoor Learning
- Kokanee Creek Nature Centre
- Kootenay Native Plant Society
- KVR Middle School
- Lake Windermere Ambassadors Society
- North Okanagan Cycling Society
- OKIB Cultural Immersion School
- Penticton and Area Cycling Association
- Queen’s Park Elementary School
- South Okanagan Immigrant & Education Service
- Toadfest
- Trail Wildlife Association
- Uplands Elementary School
- Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative
Thompson Cariboo
- Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Society
- Friends of Churn Creek Protected Area Society
- Grasslands Conservation Council of BC
- Kamloops Bike Riders Association
- Kamloops Naturalist Club
- Lillooet Regional Invasive Species Society
- Seton Portage and Shalath Chamber of Commerce
- Shuswap Hut and Trail Alliance Society
- The Adams River Salmon Society
- Thompson-Nicola Regional District/Thompson-Nicola Invasive Plant Management Committee
- Tweedsmuir Ski Club
- Wendle Park Board
South Coast
- Bowen Island Fire Rescue Services
- Divers for Cleaner Lakes and Oceans
- Environmental Consultant Olga Grunland
- Fraser Valley Conservancy
- Friends of Garibaldi Park Society
- Intellectual Disabilities Society
- Marine Life Sanctuaries Society
- McAdie Wildlife Veterinary Services
- Reach Community Health Centre – Multicultural Family Centre
- Sea Kayak Association
- Squamish Access Society
- Squamish Environment Society
- Tetrahedron Outdoor Club
West Coast
- Arrowsmith Cycling Club – Englishman River
- Back Country Horsemen of BC
- BC Marine Trails
- Beaver Creek Community Club
- Bowser Ecological Reserve Warden
- Cetus Research & Conservation Society
- Cowichan Community Land Trust
- ER Warden for Comox Lake Bluffs
- Friends of Cortes Island
- Gabriola Land and Trails Trust
- Galiano Conservancy Association
- Heron Rocks Friendship Centre Society
- Laskeek Bay Conservation Society
- Living Oceans Society
- Pearson College of the Pacific and United World Colleges
- PEPAKEN HAUTW Foundation
- Salt Spring Island Trail and Nature Club
- Volunteer Warden for the San Juan River Estuary Ecological Reserve
- Wildlife Biologist Laura Matthias
We are grateful to our community partners who lead these projects and contribute so much of their time to parks. Keep an eye on our social media channels next spring when we’ll be announcing another year of funding for community-led projects.
For more information about Community PEF, contact your local BC Parks employee or email BCParks.Volunteers@gov.bc.ca.
