Category: Wetlands Education Program (WEP)

Building Wetland Stewardship Skills in Victoria B.C.

This July, the B.C. Wildlife Federation’s Wetland Education Program (WEP) facilitated a 2.5‑day Wetlandkeepers workshop in Victoria, B.C., in partnership with the Bilston Watershed Habitat Protection Association and Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary at Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary—a living classroom rich with native plants, visiting and resident birds, and even a Western Painted Turtle.…
Kicking Off 2025 with Hands on Restoration and Training in the South Okanagan

The South Okanagan is one of the driest regions in British Columbia, yet it’s full of life. Alongside vibrant vineyards, sparkling lakes, and rolling grasslands, the region is home to an incredible diversity of fish and wildlife that flourish where water flows. From the smallest stream to the quietest wetland to the broadest lake, these…
Get to Know the 5 Freshwater Wetland Classifications!

From mossy bogs and spongy fens to forested swamps and vibrant marshes, wetlands are among the most ecologically rich ecosystems on the planet. Each type plays a unique role in supporting biodiversity, filtering water, storing carbon, and helping to reduce the impacts of floods and drought. Wetlands support an incredible variety of life. Often…
Wetlands Institute — Virtual Speaker Series 2025

The B.C. Wildlife Federation’s Wetland Education Program is returning this February for the Wetlands Institute: Virtual Speaker Series! Join us and some amazing speakers to discover new and emerging research in wetlands. See below for details of each webinar. Thank you to our funders for making these webinars possible:
Keeping up with the Wetlands — A Summer of Wetland Exploration

With fall weather in full swing, it’s time to look back on some of the educational workshops the BCWF’s Wetlands Education Program (WEP) ran this summer! From exploring fens and marshes, to swamps and other wetlands, the WEP team connected with passionate individuals and local projects across coastal B.C. To kick off our summer season,…
Wetlands Institute in Creston & Salmo — 2024

This September, the B.C. Wildlife Federation held its 22nd annual Wetlands Institute in Creston and Salmo, B.C., on the traditional and unceded territories of the Ktunaxa and Sinixt Nations. Since its inception in 2002, the Wetlands Institute—an immersive, educational wetland conservation program—has brought together ecological professionals and environmental stewards from across British Columbia to learn…
nʔaʕx̌ʷt (Ginty’s Pond) — The Power of Partnerships

As much as 85% of wetlands have been lost in the Okanagan and Similkameen region. Given the heavy dependency on water conservation in farming communities like Cawston, BC—known as the Organic Capital of Canada—the opportunity to restore Ginty’s Pond (nʔaʕx̌ʷt) back to an open water wetland was a clear choice for Josie Symonds, a senior…
City of Vancouver Staff Plunge Into the Wetlands Institute

Members of the City of Vancouver’s engineering department will spend the next several years building and rehabilitating urban wetlands in the Still Creek Watershed, using skills they acquired from a Wetlands Institute workshop last year. Sophie Warren and Julie McManus collaborate with the City of Vancouver Parks Board on improving stormwater management and on rainwater…
Collaborations Yield a Healthier Landscape

Living off the land is fundamental to rural and First Nations communities. Caring for the land is essential to the traditions and practices that encompass hunting, fishing, and foraging. The B.C. Wildlife Federation and Indigenous communities have made considerable progress toward a shared vision of maintaining healthy fish and wildlife populations. By weaving Indigenous values…
Wetlands Institute — 2023 Recap

For over two decades, the B.C. Wildlife Federation’s Wetlands Institute has been essential in empowering participants with the skills necessary to lead watershed projects across BC. In 2023, the Wetlands Institute, facilitated by the BCWF’s Wetlands Education Program, provided a lively foundation for the exchange of knowledge among industry professionals and participants, alike. Held in…