Events & Volunteer Opportunities

Events & Volunteer Opportunities Calendar

List of Upcoming Events & Opportunities:

Restoration at SṈIDȻEȽ with  PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱
Mar.
27

Restoration at SṈIDȻEȽ with PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱

Wednesday, March 27th, 2024

10am – 2pm

Location: SṈIDȻEȽ (Tod Inlet Trailhead on Google Maps, Gowlland Tod Provincial Park - follow the trail down to the water, we will be gathering near the beach. The walk from Wallace drive may take 10 - 15 minutes)

Join HAT and PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱ for a day of ecological restoration supporting the SṈIDȻEȽ Resiliency Project!

SṈIDȻEȽ is an important place to the W̱SÁNEĆ peoples. SṈIDȻEȽ means “Place of the Blue Grouse” in SENĆOŦEN and is the first W̱SÁNEĆ village site. The PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱ team will guide volunteers through the restoration process, while following W̱SÁNEĆ protocol.

Training, tools, and snacks provided. Please bring plenty of water, and dress for the weather!

For more information on the SṈIDȻEȽ Resiliency Project, more detailed directions, and an overview of protocol, please go to https://pepakenhautw.land/volunteer

Register here: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=RjbtPgU0ck-E5hcCpNLK-LdRrrQNdfVBrxB-65hurphUNVJDMDBNSDcyTFJYTFlOMjNVVzZHODQyVCQlQCN0PWcu

View Event →

Community Mapping Workshop
Mar.
16

Community Mapping Workshop

You are invited to join us for a mapping workshop at Oak Haven Park. Get an introduction to tools and techniques for mapping, species identification, reporting, and more. This is an entry-level workshop - no previous knowledge is required. Whether you're interested in learning more about habitat features and species on your property, or you're working on a community-based project, this workshop is for you! Snacks and warm drinks will be provided!

Register here: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=RjbtPgU0ck-E5hcCpNLK-PecqQhFSS1Es7cLPLyfyiBUNjI5MFFIUjFQSlNWQjA4WUxNVTNDWVJLTCQlQCN0PWcu

View Event →
New Salvage Restrictions
Mar.
1

New Salvage Restrictions

Are you involved in our plant salvaging program? We have important updates to the restrictions on our salvage site! As of March 1st, only those who have attended a HAT salvage training and signed off on our new restrictions will be permitted to salvage on the site. If you have been attending the salvage site with or without a HAT permit, and have not yet received information about our new restrictions, please contact us.

To find out more about our salvaging program, and sign up for the waitlist for our next training session, please visit our website: https://hat.bc.ca/salvage

View Event →
Victoria Seedy Sunday
Feb.
25

Victoria Seedy Sunday

Visit HAT at Victoria Seedy Sunday!

February 25th 10am - 2pm

Quadra Village Community Centre

What is Seedy Saturday/Sunday?

  •  A celebration of seeds that takes place all over the world

  • An opportunity for formal and informal learning aboutgardening, community food resilience, and climate-adaptive food growing

  • A chance to buy locally grown, climate-adapted seeds and plants, exchange seeds with fellow gardeners and farmers, and attend free workshops

  • An all-ages event with fun gardening-themed activities for kids!

Facebook event link: https://fb.me/e/1p6eDZLxw

View Event →
Annual General Meeting 2024
Feb.
12

Annual General Meeting 2024

After holding our last few AGMs on Zoom, we are excited to announce that we are holding the AGM in person this year, with options for those who have safety/health concerns.

Event opening and guidance will be provided by W̱SÁNEĆ Elder Eydie Pelkey.

Catering will be provided by The Bannock Room.

The AGM is an integral part of HAT's governance. It is where the HAT board and staff report to our Members the state of the organization, including all of the successes we've had in our programming over the past year, but also about the organization's financial well-being and our plans for moving through the following year. Members vote on the budget and new board members.

If you are a Member, this is also an excellent opportunity to interact with HAT staff and board, get to know us, and spend some time sharing your thoughts on the organization as we move into the year.

Pre registration is required - register here: https://forms.gle/Vq25PMi8L68Tz4YF7

Only members can vote at the AGM (both members with benefits and traditional memberships). If you have any questions about your membership status, and/or the AGM, please email Chris at chris@hat.bc.ca or phone the HAT office at 250-995-2428.

A zoom link will be sent out closer to the date for those who are unable to join in person!

This gathering is taking place on territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ Peoples. HAT works and stewards ecosystems as visitors in the traditional and unceded territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən, W̱SÁNEĆ, SC’IȺNEW, and T'Sou-ke Nations, Nations who have lived in relationship with and stewarded these lands since time immemorial and continue to live in relationship with the Land today.

View Event →
A Hooting Time with HAT - Guided Walk
Feb.
10

A Hooting Time with HAT - Guided Walk

The owls are hooting! Join a CRD Regional Parks naturalist and the Habitat Acquisition Trust (HAT) to learn about our local owls, including the endangered Western screech owl. Through engaging activities, you’ll discover the lives of these amazing hunters and how you can help protect them.

DATE: Saturday February 10 2024

TIME: 1:30pm - 3:00pm

LOCATION: Mill Hill Regional Park, Langford.

Meet at the information kiosk at the parking lot off Atkins Avenue.

For more information, visit https://www.crd.bc.ca/about/events/event/2024/02/10/default-calendar/a-hooting-time-with-hat-(guided-walk)-all-ages

Facebook event link: https://fb.me/e/91AAXv10y

View Event →
A Celtic Christmas - Wavelengths Community Choir Concert (Copy)
Dec.
10

A Celtic Christmas - Wavelengths Community Choir Concert (Copy)

Get “in tune” with the season!

A Seasonal Music Celebration featuring Wavelengths Community Choir, led by Denis Donnelly and guests. Music will include traditional music of the Yuletide Season, mainly from the British Isles, as sung by the choir and a 9-woman vocal ensemble, Lanny Pollet, flute, with Denis on the Irish harp.

$30 per ticket, with all proceeds going to support HAT!

Buy tickets here: https://www.marywinspear.ca/event/wavelengths-community-choir-celtic-christmas-0

View Event →
A Celtic Christmas - Wavelengths Community Choir Concert
Dec.
6

A Celtic Christmas - Wavelengths Community Choir Concert

Get “in tune” with the season!

A Seasonal Music Celebration featuring Wavelengths Community Choir, led by Denis Donnelly and guests. Music will include traditional music of the Yuletide Season, mainly from the British Isles, as sung by the choir and a 9-woman vocal ensemble, Lanny Pollet, flute, with Denis on the Irish harp.

$30 per ticket, with all proceeds going to support HAT!

Buy tickets here: https://www.marywinspear.ca/event/wavelengths-community-choir-celtic-christmas-0

View Event →
Lekwungen Community Toolshed Maplebank Restoration
Dec.
1

Lekwungen Community Toolshed Maplebank Restoration

Contribute to the invasive plant species removal and Indigenous plant reinstatement in the Songhees community. Volunteers are invited by Cheryl to assist in her restoration work including removal of Himalayan Blackberry, Broom and Daphne in an important coastal oak meadow restoration site in lək̓ʷəŋən (Lekwungen) territory. Cheryl maintains communication with the Songhees Nation about these restoration events. Training, tools, gloves, and snacks will be provided.

HAT is supporting this restoration work and invites volunteers to respectfully assist.

Register here: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=RjbtPgU0ck-E5hcCpNLK-LdRrrQNdfVBrxB-65hurphUNVM2MTMwSERBOUlJUVNXVThENUZXM045NSQlQCN0PWcu or email volunteers@hat.bc.ca

View Event →
Friends of Oak Haven Park
Nov.
26

Friends of Oak Haven Park

Join HAT, Central Saanich, and the Friends of Oak Haven Park for a morning of restoration and stewardship!

The Friends of Oak Haven Park meet on the last Sunday of every month.

If you are interested in getting involved, email volunteers@hat.bc.ca

Photo taken by Milen Kootnikoff 📷

View Event →
(REGISTRATION CLOSED) HAT Plant Salvage Training
Nov.
19

(REGISTRATION CLOSED) HAT Plant Salvage Training

REGISTRATION CLOSED

Registration for this salvage training is now full. Please join our waitlist here: https://hat.bc.ca/salvage

As part of the Stewardship Programming, HAT hosts training and safety orientation sessions for HAT volunteers, landowners, and restoration practitioners who are interested in learning how to safely and effectively salvage native plants in areas slated for development.

We are currently working in partnership with a developer located in Langford. This partnership allows HAT staff and HAT-trained individuals to salvage native plants prior to development.

You must participate in a training and safety orientation session by a HAT staff member, and sign liability and code of conduct waivers prior salvaging.

View Event →
W̱S͸ḴEM Ivy Project (Healing the Place of Clay)
Nov.
10

W̱S͸ḴEM Ivy Project (Healing the Place of Clay)

Join us in working to help heal the land and restore the native ecology at the Jim family's lands in the Tseycum village. Sarah Jim is a proud member of the W̱SÁNEĆ nation, an emerging artist, and works as a land steward conducting ecosystem restoration with PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱. This event will be the last gathering of the season, as we pause for winter. Volunteer events will resume in the Spring.

Location: RSVP for address and additional event details

For more updates on the W̱S͸ḴEM Ivy Project go to www.wsikemivyproject.com

REGISTER HERE (for November 10th event)

View Event →
Friends of Oak Haven Park
Oct.
29

Friends of Oak Haven Park

Join HAT, Central Saanich, and the Friends of Oak Haven Park for a morning of restoration and stewardship!

To sign up, email Denis at denis@denisdonnelly.ca or follow this link: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=RjbtPgU0ck-E5hcCpNLK-D4Yw1c1eoxFgcD7A4SFHgpUMzNPT1FUT1ZTWkk1OUJORjZITTRWVUlRRi4u

The Friends of Oak Haven Park will meet on the last Sunday of every month.

Photo taken by Milen Kootnikoff 📷

View Event →
Victoria Migratory Bird Sanctuary 100th Anniversary - Tour of Matson Conservation Area
Oct.
27

Victoria Migratory Bird Sanctuary 100th Anniversary - Tour of Matson Conservation Area

Join Max Mitchell and members of the HAT team for a tour of the Matson Conservation Area, the largest remaining example of a Garry Oak ecosystem still found on the Victoria Harbour waterfront. Garry Oak ecosystems are among the most threatened terrestrial ecosystems in British Columbia, and with the support of a dedicated community of volunteers, HAT has been working to restore the ecological health of this site over the past 20 years.

This tour will highlight the restoration efforts undertaken by HAT, the significance of the site and its ecosystems in lək̓ʷəŋən culture, the plant and animal biodiversity found at the Conservation Area, as well as a historical overview of the site. Conservation and restoration efforts at the Matson Conservation Area have helped to make it one of the most spectacular sections of the Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary. Maximum 20 registrants.

To learn more, visit: https://vhmbs.com/events/

View Event →
W̱S͸ḴEM Ivy Project (Healing the Place of Clay) with Sarah Jim
Oct.
13

W̱S͸ḴEM Ivy Project (Healing the Place of Clay) with Sarah Jim

Call for volunteers!

W̱S͸ḴEM Ivy Project (Healing the Place of Clay) with @sarahjimstudio

Join us on Friday, October 13th from 10am - 2pm for a day of restoring native habitat at Sarah Jim's family lands in the Tseycum village. Sarah Jim is a proud member of the W̱SÁNEĆ nation, an emerging artist, and works as a land steward conducting ecosystem restoration with PEPAKEṈ HÁUTW̱.

For more updates on the W̱S͸ḴEM Ivy Project, join the Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/514039189789660 or visit the website here: https://www.wsikemivyproject.com/

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP

Photos in this poster taken by Karissa Chandrakate: @pangea1010 https://karissachandrakate.com/

View Event →
Restoration for Songhees
Oct.
7

Restoration for Songhees

Last-minute call for volunteers! Restoration for Songhees Saturday October 7 9am to noon

Register here:

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP

Help remove invasive plants on reserve in a kwetlal (Camas) ecosystem. Volunteer to remove invasive plant species including broom and daphne at an important coastal meadow restoration site in lək̓ʷəŋən (Lekwungen) territory. Opening and guidance in the morning by Songhees member and knowledge-keeper Cheryl Bryce. Co-hosted by the Lekwungen Community Toolshed. Training, tools, gloves, and snacks will be provided by HAT.

HUGE thanks to Karissa Chandrakate @pangea1010 for the photos in this poster

View Event →
A Hooting Time with HAT
Oct.
1

A Hooting Time with HAT

Join a CRD Regional Parks naturalist and the Habitat Acquisition Trust to learn about our local owls, including the endangered Western Screech Owl. Through engaging activities, you’ll discover the lives of these amazing hunters and how you can help protect them.

This is an all ages event, so bring the whole family!

To learn more about this event, please check out: https://www.crd.bc.ca/about/events

If you are curious about the Western Screech Owl, you can read more on HAT's website: https://hat.bc.ca/westernscreechowl

Photo by Anthony Bucci 📷 http://www.abucciphotography.com

View Event →
Friends of Oak Haven Park Inaugural Restoration Event
Sep.
24

Friends of Oak Haven Park Inaugural Restoration Event

Join Habitat Acquisition Trust, Central Saanich and the Friends of Oak Haven Park for a morning of ecological restoration and stewardship! This event will mark the first meeting of the Friends of Oak Haven Park volunteer stewardship group!

The Friends of Oak Haven Park will meet for monthly restoration events on the last Sunday of every month.

Location: Oak Haven Park (register to receive specific meeting point)

RSVP Here: Register for Sunday, September 24th, 2023

View Event →
W̱S͸ḴEM Ivy Project
Sep.
16

W̱S͸ḴEM Ivy Project

Join us in working to help heal the land and restore the native ecology at the Jim family's lands in the Tseycum village. Sarah Jim is a proud member of the W̱SÁNEĆ nation, an emerging artist, and works as a land steward conducting ecosystem restoration with PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱.

Location: RSVP for address and additional event details details

For more updates on the W̱S͸ḴEM Ivy Project go to www.wsikemivyproject.com

RSVP here: Register for Saturday, September 16th 2023

View Event →

Recurring “Friends of” Events

Friends of Havenwood Park

Time: 9:30am - 11:30am every Friday.

Location: Havenwood Park, CF7V+J8, Colwood, BC

Join the Friends of Havenwood Park every Friday in Colwood!

Carol and the group work hard to remove invasive species, including Scotch broom, Himalayan blackberry, and English holly, as well as plant native species to help support the park's biodiversity.

If you are interested in getting involved, email volunteers@hat.bc.ca

Matson Mattocks

Time: 9am - 12pm every Wednesday.

Location: Matson Conservation Area, Esquimalt, BC V9A 7J6

Join the Matson Mattocks volunteer stewardship group every Wednesday morning to remove invasive species from Matson Conservation Area!

If you are interested in getting involved, email volunteers@hat.bc.ca

Friends of Oak Haven Park

Time: 10am - 1pm on the last Sunday of every month (as this monthly date can change, it will be shown in the event calendar above!)

Location: Oak Haven Park, 1251 Garden Gate Dr, Brentwood Bay, BC V8M 2H6.

Join HAT, Central Saanich, and the Friends of Oak Haven Park for a morning of restoration and stewardship!

The Friends of Oak Haven Park meet on the last Sunday of every month.

If you are interested in getting involved, email volunteers@hat.bc.ca

Photo taken by Milen Kootnikoff 📷

Volunteer with HAT

Top 5 Reasons to Volunteer with HAT

1. Educational - learn from HAT staff and other volunteers about the importance of native ecosystems, local species and the history of local lands.

2. We're Local - help your own community and region by volunteering with HAT as we focus all of our work within the Capital Regional District (CRD).

3. Learn New Skills - we always make sure our volunteers benefit from their experience by learning a new skill or two along the way.

4. Protect Nature - the more help we have the more resources and time will be availble to commit to the important goal of protecting land in the CRD.

5. Fun! - whether you are exploring a pristine wooded area with our covenant coordinator or coming up with new material for one of our programs, we remember to keep things fun.

We are always looking for passionate individuals to help out with our diverse projects.

Interested in Salvaging Native Plants?

As part of the Stewardship Program, HAT hosts training and safety orientation sessions for HAT volunteers, landowners, and restoration practitioners who are interested in learning how to safely and effectively salvage native plants in areas slated for development. To learn more about salvaging or participate in an upcoming session, click below.