HAT in the News

2026

Victoria News - Esquimalt Garry oak meadow work funding extended through 2029 - https://vicnews.com/2026/04/02/esquimalt-garry-oak-meadow-work-funding-extended-through-2029/

Times Colonist - Counts suggest screech owls in dramatic decline in Greater Victoria - https://www.timescolonist.com/local-news/counts-suggest-screech-owls-in-dramatic-decline-in-greater-victoria-11683571

Chek News - South Vancouver Island residents asked to report dead bats and winter bat activity - https://cheknews.ca/south-vancouver-island-residents-asked-to-report-dead-bats-and-winter-bat-activity-1303910/

CFAX - Spreading fungus could devastate BC bats - https://omny.fm/shows/cfax-1070/spreading-fungus-could-devastate-b-c-bats

2025

Chek News - Bat Week spotlights importance of bats on Vancouver Island - https://cheknews.ca/bat-week-spotlights-importance-of-bats-on-vancouver-island-1283975/

Times Colonist - Our Community: Eco-employment programs helps more than habitat - https://www.timescolonist.com/islander/our-community-eco-employment-program-helps-more-than-habitat-artistree-returns-to-government-house-10965858

Victoria News - Victoria organization restoring ecologically important areas with $60K goal - https://vicnews.com/2025/07/04/victoria-organization-restoring-ecologically-important-areas-with-60k-goal/

Land Trust Alliance of BC - Land Trust Q & A: Habitat Acquisition Trust - https://ltabc.ca/uncategorised/habitat-acquisition-trust/

2024

District of Saanich - Saanich fosters backyard biodiversity on private land - https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/news-events/news-archives/2024-news/saanich-fosters-backyard-biodiversity-on-private-land.html

Times Colonist - Annual B.C. bat count keeps watch on births, deadly fungus - https://www.timescolonist.com/life/annual-bc-bat-count-keeps-watch-on-births-deadly-fungus-8907770

Times Colonist - Explore: Learn about flying mammals - https://www.timescolonist.com/entertainment/explore-learn-about-flying-mammals-crab-fishery-classic-cars-9205503

2023

Times Colonist - Our Community: Learn about endangered prairie ecosystems - https://www.timescolonist.com/islander/our-community-learn-about-endangered-prairie-ecosystems-foundry-seeks-funds-for-move-6827944

CBC - Vancouver Island family returns 18 hectares of former wetland to First Nations - https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/wsanec-maber-flats-berglund-1.6944201

Times Colonist - W̱SÁNEĆ nation celebrates land transfer - https://www.timescolonist.com/local-news/wsanec-nation-celebrates-land-transfer-7438298

Chek News - “You are now the first and final owners of this land”: W̱SÁNEĆ Nation recieves 19 hectares of Island land back -https://www.cheknews.ca/you-are-now-the-first-and-final-owners-of-this-land-w%CC%B1sanec-nation-receives-19-hectares-of-island-land-back-1165099/

W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council - W̱SÁNEĆ Nation holds ceremony in celebration of 45.7-acre parcel transfer to W̱SÁNEĆ Lands Trust Society -https://wsanec.com/w%CC%B1sanec-nation-holds-ceremony-in-celebration-of-47-5-acre-parcel-transfer-to-w%CC%B1sanec-lands-trust-society

CBC - Artist invites volunteers to pull invasive plants from Vancouver Island forest as an act of decolonization - https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/pulling-invasive-plants-as-an-act-of-decolonization-1.6937118

CBC News - Volunteers clear invasive ivy to help restore native plants. - https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2254153795896

2022

Check News - Sc’ianew First Nation signs standstill agreement to explore creation of Indigenous-led conservation area - https://www.cheknews.ca/scianew-first-nation-signs-standstill-agreement-to-explore-creation-of-indigenous-led-conservation-area-958517/

Time Colonist - Sc'ianew First Nation and partners co-operate on Indigenous Protected Area at Mary Hill in Metchosin - https://www.timescolonist.com/local-news/scianew-first-nation-and-partners-co-operate-on-indigenous-protected-area-at-mary-hill-in-metchosin-5100712

Time Colonist - Charla Huber: Indigenous Protected Area plan demonstrates reconciliation in action - https://www.timescolonist.com/islander/charla-huber-indigenous-protected-area-plan-demonstrates-reconciliation-in-action-5106426

The Discourse - Historic land agreement ‘will bring our people home,’ says SC’IA⁄NEW Chief - https://thediscourse.ca/west-shore/indigenous-protected-area-mary-hill

2021

Times Colonist - Couple donates forest land in Highlands to Habitat Acquisition Trust - https://www.timescolonist.com/local-news/couple-donates-forest-land-in-highlands-to-habitat-acquisition-trust-4687707

Sooke News - Funding boosts restoration efforts for Vancouver Island’s Garry oak ecosystems - https://www.sookenewsmirror.com/community/funding-boosts-restoration-efforts-for-vancouver-islands-garry-oak-ecosystems/

Cheknews - If you’ve noticed bats flying erratically recently, you’re not alone says ecology specialist - https://www.cheknews.ca/if-youve-noticed-bats-flying-erratically-recently-youre-not-alone-says-ecology-specialist-863091/

2020

Times Colonist - CRD contributing $2M to preserve 20 hectares of forest in Saanich - https://www.timescolonist.com/local-news/crd-contributing-2m-to-preserve-20-hectares-of-forest-in-saanich-4685945

Victoria News - CRD, Habitat Acquisition Trust to spend $3.4M on 20-hectare forest park in Saanich - https://vicnews.com/2020/12/01/crd-habitat-acquisition-trust-to-spend-3-4m-on-20-hectare-forest-park-in-saanich/

CTV News - CRD and Habitat Acquisition Trust to establish new park in Saanich - https://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/vancouver-island/article/crd-and-habitat-acquisition-trust-to-establish-new-park-in-saanich/

2019 and Earlier

GOERT - Success Stories Matson Conservation Area, Esquimalt- https://goert.ca/developers-government/success-stories/

The Daily - 2005, Matson Land - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0U8oNfX64U

Times Colonist - Volunteers asked to follow call of the wild in search for owl - https://www.timescolonist.com/local-news/volunteers-asked-to-follow-call-of-the-wild-in-search-for-owl-4659109