Calling all boaters in coastal BC—whether you paddle, sail, or motor, it’s time to make the water safer for everyone, including marine mammals.
As someone who signed up for our Alert List, we are letting you know FIRST.
The Whale-Safe Boating Course is NOW available! Launched today, this free online course gives recreational boaters the knowledge they need to be safe, legal, and responsible on the water.
You’ll learn: ✅ The laws that protect whales and other marine wildlife ✅ Best practices for safe boating around marine mammals ✅ The reasons behind why these practices matter
💥 Bonus: The first 100 participants to complete the course will receive a free Whale Warning Flag—a signal to others that whales are in the area and to heighten vigilance.
🎓 Complete the course and receive a certificate of completion—perfect for showing your commitment to marine safety and wildlife protection.
It’s simple. It’s smart. And it helps protect you and marine wildlife.
Vancouver, BC – Thanks to an extraordinary community effort, 372 acres of pristine waterfront on Saturna Island will now be protected forever. This rare property, nestled beside the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, boasts more than three kilometers of coastline, pockets of old-growth, and Garry Oak meadows—comprising one of British Columbia’s most endangered ecosystems.
Photography credit: Nancy Angermeyer
The campaign to protect this land was made possible through the dedication of the original landowner’s family, the generosity of donors of all sizes, and the commitment of conservation partners. After major contributions from Wilson 5 Foundation and Environment and Climate Change Canada, a final push of $500,000 was needed to get across the finish line. Supporters from across BC and beyond came together to meet the goal, including key gifts from BC Marine Parks Forever Society, Ilka and Allen Olsen, and the Bloom Alter Ego Trust.
“This is about the power of community,” says Andy Day, CEO of BC Parks Foundation. “From small donors to major contributors, each and every person played a part in protecting this place forever. It shows what we can accomplish when we come together around the things we value.”
Photography credit: Nancy Angermeyer
The land holds deep significance to the family that stewarded it for decades.
“My father spent every moment he could exploring the property, maintaining the land, and gazing out at the ocean and the incredible views,” says Alex, whose family made the decision to conserve the property in his honour. “The Garry Oak meadows, old-growth cedars, and stands of giant Douglas firs create an incredible variety of coastal ecosystems. These kinds of places are precious—they’re what make BC beautiful. I’m so grateful for everyone who has come together to support BC Parks Foundation in their efforts to protect this land.”
The property lies within the Coastal Douglas Fir biogeoclimatic zone, one of the rarest and least protected ecosystems in BC. Its diverse ecosystems, including Garry Oak meadows, wetlands, grasslands, woodlands, and coastline, are home to a variety of plants and animals, including at-risk species such as the Northern Red-legged Frog and the Great Blue Heron, which have faced a steady population decline since the 1980s due to habitat loss and human disturbance.
Photography credit: Nancy Angermeyer
This is one of the largest conservation projects in recent years for private waterfront in the Gulf Islands, protecting more than three kilometers of undeveloped waterfront. “I was very pleased to hear from BC Parks Foundation that there would be an opportunity to acquire key properties on Saturna Island,” says Jim Phillips, President of BC Marine Parks Forever Society. “The B.C. Marine Parks Forever Society is supported by recreational boaters and conservation groups, and we were excited to learn that we could help protect and conserve 372 acres of undeveloped land, with 3km of shoreline overlooking waters favoured by Orcas.”
The property’s ecological and conservation value is significant, which is why it also received strong support from the Saturna Island Marine Research and Education Society (SIMRES). In addition to making a financial contribution, SIMRES played a key role in community outreach and raising awareness about the campaign. “SIMRES supports the purchase by BC Parks Foundation and is very pleased that this special Saturna property will be undeveloped and preserved as a conservation area in perpetuity,” says SIMRES President Maureen Welton.
Photography credit: Nancy Angermeyer
With the land now protected, the next steps will involve working with the community, First Nations, and conservation partners to develop a management plan that safeguards its sensitive ecosystems while allowing for safe and responsible light recreational use.
“We all know about climate and species loss and the problems we face these days,” says Day. “This is an example of something tangible that people can do to make a difference. Protecting a place like this is a gift that keeps giving for wildlife and people now and far into the future. I can’t think of anything better than that.”
BC Parks Foundation is the official charitable partner and conservation financing mechanism for parks and Indigenous protected areas in British Columbia. We inspire and empower people to enjoy and protect these natural spaces so they flourish now, for all, forever.
A historically important and ecologically rich area about 100 kilometres north of Vancouver Island on the BC coast is now protected in perpetuity, thanks to a generous donation from the Tula Foundation’s Eric Peterson and Christina Munck.
The Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD), with technical, materials and funding assistance from the BC Marine Parks Forever Society, installed 8 stern tie pins and chains to improve anchoring safety for boaters at Bute Island Regional Park in Ladysmith Harbour.
If you’ve ever been challenged trying to stern tie, as I have, here’s a great little article about using a messenger line to make it easier, courtesy of Jennifer and James Hamilton. Note that the image in the article shows stern-tying to a tree, which is not allowed within the Gulf Islands National Parks and can be harmful to our trees elsewhere – whenever possible, please check the list of stern tie locations on this site and use a sturdy Marine Parks Forever stern tie instead of a tree. Enjoy!
