Galiano Conservancy

Food Forest Saturday Sessions- Fir Tip & Nettle Harvesting
2026-04-18 10:00 - 14:00 (America/Vancouver) | Millard Learning Centre, Galiano Island, 10825 Porlier Pass road, Galiano Island, British Columbia, V0N1P0, Canada
Join us for once-monthly Saturday Sessions from 10AM-2PM in the Food Forest, and enjoy time getting your hands dirty while learning about sustainable food systems, local plants, and herbalism!
Cedana will be leading a variety of activities throughout the season, suitable for all ages- this month, we will be harvesting stinging nettle and fir tips together.

Tools and refreshments will be provided, as well as Forest Garden tea!
Please email cedana.bourne@galianoconservancy.ca to register and with any questions.

Spring Nature Buddies
2026-04-20 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-04-27 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Vancouver) | Galiano Community Hall (South End), 141 Sturdies Bay Rd, Galiano Island, British Columbia, V0N 1P0, Canada
Spring Nature Buddies!

All little kiddos and parents welcome Mondays 11AM-12PM at the South Hall Playspace! Come play and have fun in nature with GCA educators!
March 30th, April 13th, 20th, & 27th

Volunteer Thursdays in the Food Forest
2026-04-23 10:00 - 14:00, 2026-04-30 10:00 - 14:00, 2026-05-07 10:00 - 14:00, 2026-05-14 10:00 - 14:00, 2026-05-21 10:00 - 14:00, 2026-05-28 10:00 - 14:00, 2026-06-04 10:00 - 14:00, 2026-06-11 10:00 - 14:00 (Asia/Shanghai) and 3 more dates | Millard Learning Centre, Galiano Island, 10825 Porlier Pass road, Galiano Island, British Columbia, V0N1P0, Canada
Every Thursday, you have the opportunity to join our Sustainable Food Systems coordinator Cedana Bourne, and our dedicated team of interns and volunteers in the GCA’s Food Forest. These 4-hour sessions will help you learn about all aspects of plant care, in the company of like-minded individuals who care about the environment, collaboration and creating a healthier world. You will get hands-on experience with soil building, composting, watering, harvesting, propagating, potting, etc. within a small nursery setting. Please bring sun protection, water and food, and dress appropriately. We hope you join us!

Volunteer Fourth Fridays - Trail Building
2026-04-24 09:30 - 15:30, 2026-05-22 09:30 - 15:30, 2026-06-26 09:30 - 15:30 (America/Vancouver) | British Columbia
On the Fourth Friday of the month, join us for trail building, across different GCA properties! This is a great opportunity to learn more about trail building techniques from our knowledgeable staff while helping to build and maintain the network of hiking trails.

Please get in touch to let us know you’ll be joining us! The morning volunteer session is from 9:30 am to noon; the afternoon session is from 1 pm to 3:30 pm. Feel free to join us for either or both.

Volunteer First Friday - Nuts'a'maat Forage Forest
2026-05-01 09:30 - 15:30, 2026-06-05 09:30 - 15:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Millard Learning Centre, Galiano Island, 10825 Porlier Pass road, Galiano Island, British Columbia, V0N1P0, Canada
Every First Friday of the month, join us in the Nuts’a’maat Forage Forest to help tend to this unique ecocultural restoration garden. Activities include planting, weeding, harvesting, trail maintenance, and ecological monitoring. This is a great opportunity to learn more about traditional edible, medicinal, and fiber plants from our knowledgeable staff while contributing to the growth and development of a native forest garden.
Please get in touch to let us know you’ll be joining us! The morning volunteer session is from 9:30 am to noon; the afternoon session is from 1 pm to 3:30 pm. Feel free to join us for either or both.
This site is easily accessible from the parking area of the classroom facility at the Millard Learning Centre, so it’s a great place to get an introduction to our restoration program.

Garden Club Plant Sale Fundraiser for Talking Trees Nature Reserve
2026-05-02 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Vancouver) | Galiano Lions hall, 992 Burrill Rd, Galiano Island, British Columbia, V0N 1P0, Canada
The GCA is proud to partner up with the Galiano Garden Club for their Annual Spring Plant Sale and Fundraiser this year. We will be providing delicious baked goods and an assortment of teas to the avid gardeners who will come to stock up for their homes and landscaping projects. All proceeds from ticket and concession sales will support the establishment and maintenance of trails at the Talking Trees Nature Reserve.
The Garden Club plant sale will take place on May 2nd, at the Galiano Lions Club Hall, 1 PM – 3 PM. We hope to see you all there!!
GCA ED Chessi Miltner and Julia Greenlaw (previous owner’s daughter) at the Talking Trees Nature Reserve

Volunteer Second & Third Fridays - Ecological Restoration
2026-05-08 09:30 - 15:30, 2026-05-15 09:30 - 15:30, 2026-06-12 09:30 - 15:30, 2026-06-19 09:30 - 15:30 (America/Vancouver) | Millard Learning Centre, Galiano Island, 10825 Porlier Pass road, Galiano Island, British Columbia, V0N1P0, Canada
On the Second & Third Fridays of the month, join us for hands on Ecological Restoration projects! This is a great opportunity to learn more about our ongoing restoration work from our knowledgeable staff while learning more about the GCA owned and managed properties on Galiano.

Please get in touch to let us know you’ll be joining us! The morning volunteer session is from 9:30 am to noon; the afternoon session is from 1 pm to 3:30 pm. Feel free to join us for either or both.

GCA Annual Spring Plant Sale With the Seed Library of Galiano
2026-05-09 10:00 - 14:00 (America/Vancouver) | Millard Learning Centre, Galiano Island, 10825 Porlier Pass road, Galiano Island, British Columbia, V0N1P0, Canada
Mark your calendars for our Spring Plant Sale on Saturday, May 9th, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at the Millard Learning Centre, where you’ll be able to stock your garden with a wide selection of native and food-bearing plants.

This plant sale is in collaboration with the Seed Library of Galiano (SLOG)– organically grown, non-GMO, regionally resilient and genetically diverse seed varieties will be available.

Our knowledgeable staff will be on hand to answer your questions, and help you make the right decisions for your home landscaping and gardening projects!

Our current Native Plant Inventory is available HERE. (Please note that the Food Forest inventory has not been updated yet and some of the plants listed may not be available).

Food Forest Saturday Sessions- Native Seedlings
2026-05-16 10:00 - 14:00 (America/Vancouver) | Millard Learning Centre, Galiano Island, 10825 Porlier Pass road, Galiano Island, British Columbia, V0N1P0, Canada
Join us for once-monthly Saturday Sessions from 10AM-2PM in the Food Forest, and enjoy time getting your hands dirty while learning about sustainable food systems, local plants, and herbalism!
Cedana will be leading a variety of activities throughout the season, suitable for all ages- this month, May 16, we will be pricking out native seedlings.

Tools and refreshments will be provided, as well as Forest Garden tea!
Please email cedana.bourne@galianoconservancy.ca to register and with any questions.

Restoration Fridays - Make a Difference Week Edition
2026-06-05 09:30 - 16:00 (America/Vancouver) | 1000 Melissa Road, Galiano Island, BC, 1000 Melissa Road, Galiano Island, CA-BC, V0N 1P0, Canada
On Friday, June 5th 2026, the restoration team will be celebrating International Make a Difference Week by meeting at the Quadra Hill Nature Reserve for an educational day of forest restoration and ecological fuel management.

Galiano Island has a legacy of industrial clear-cut logging that has resulted in huge swathes of simplified plantation forests on our landscape. These young monocultures lack diversity and increase wildfire risk. On Quadra Hill, we’ve been working for the past couple of years to model restorative forestry practices, integrating both wetland restoration and forest restoration.

On Friday, we’ll talk about the restoration we’ve done, and then there will be opportunities to contribute by:

pulling down a Douglas-fir tree with a chain hoist
managing fuels and creating conservation burn piles for biochar generation in the fall

We’ll meet at 9:30 at the cul-de-sac at the end of Melissa Road (1000 Melissa Road). GCA staff will manage parking along the shoulder of Melissa Road, or on the Quadra Hill property depending on vehicle type. Snacks will be provided. If you want to join us for lunch, please bring a packed lunch, and water for the day.

Tools will be provided. Make sure you wear a pair of hiking boots with good traction, as well as long sleeves and pants. There is a chance of rain, so come prepared. FYI, there are no washroom facilities on this property.

We hope you’ll be able to join us for a fun, educational, and productive day! Please let Adam Huggins know ahead of time if you plan on attending, by emailing him at restoration@galianoconservancy.ca

Food Forest Saturday Sessions- Nuts'a'maat Forage Forest
2026-06-13 10:00 - 14:00 (America/Vancouver) | Millard Learning Centre, Galiano Island, 10825 Porlier Pass road, Galiano Island, British Columbia, V0N1P0, Canada
Join us for once-monthly Saturday Sessions from 10AM-2PM in the Food Forest/Nuts’a’maat Forage Forest, and enjoy time getting your hands dirty while learning about sustainable food systems, local plants, and herbalism!
Cedana will be leading a variety of activities throughout the season, suitable for all ages- this month, June 13th, we will be working in the Nuts’a’maat Forage Forest. To find the Nuts’a’maat Forage Forest, follow the road past the GCA office along the left fork down to the classroom.

Tools and refreshments will be provided, as well as Forest Garden tea!
Please email cedana.bourne@galianoconservancy.ca to register and with any questions.

Saturday Sessions: Nuts'a'maat Forage Garden
2026-06-13 10:00 - 14:00 (America/Vancouver) | Millard Learning Centre, Galiano Island, 10825 Porlier Pass road, Galiano Island, British Columbia, V0N1P0, Canada
Our monthly Food Forest Saturday Sessions continue on Saturday, June 13th, in the beautiful Nuts’a’maat Forage Garden from 10am-2pm. Join us for a day of harvesting yarrow and trailing blackberry, weeding the flower beds, and learning about native species!
Tools, refreshments, and Forest Garden Tea will be provided. This is an all-ages event, please email Cedana at cedana.bourne@galianoconservancy.ca to register and with any questions.
The Nuts’a’maat Forage Garden can be found by taking the left fork in the road behind our office building at 10825 Porlier Pass Rd.

2026 Annual General Meeting
2026-06-27 13:30 - 16:30 (America/Vancouver) | Millard Learning Centre, Galiano Island, 10825 Porlier Pass road, Galiano Island, British Columbia, V0N1P0, Canada
We are pleased to invite you to our upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Saturday, June 27th starting at 1:30 PM at the Millard Learning Centre (10825 Porlier Pass Road). You are encouraged to attend in person, but can also join remotely via Zoom at this LINK. AGM agenda is found below, and at this LINK.
If you are able to arrive early for the AGM (anytime from noon onwards), we are organizing an informal social hour and (optional) volunteer activity (weeding in the Nuts’a’maat Forage Forest). Join us at the MLC classroom starting at 12:00 PM to chat with staff and board members and get a bit of fresh air in good company! Refreshments & snacks will be served.
IMPORTANT NOTE REGARDING MEMBERSHIPS & VOTING
The GCA’s AGM is open to the public, but only members in good standing can vote. To be considered a member in good standing, you must have renewed your membership in 2025 (6-month grace period ends June 30th) or in 2026, either by donating an amount greater than $10, or by volunteering with the GCA for at least one hour and signing up to be a member.
Interested in being more involved? If you wish to know more about the roles and responsibilities of board members and eligibility to stand for election, please email Risa Smith, current GCA Board Vice-Chair: vice-chair@galianoconservancy.ca
We are pleased to announce that this year’s featured speaker will be Dr. Jennifer Grenz

Talk title and description:
Relational Restoration: Reclaiming Land, Responsibility, and Reciprocity
Conservation is often framed as protection and management, creating conservation practices that may leave essential long-term human relationship out of land care. Drawing upon her Canadian National Bestselling book, “Medicine Wheel for the Planet: A Journey Toward Personal and Ecological Healing” and the principles of Indigenous Ecology, Dr. Jennifer Grenz explores how land stewardship can move beyond preservation toward relational restoration—where ecological health, cultural continuity, and governance are understood as inseparable. Grounded in examples from her restoration practice and Indigenous-led land healing research in British Columbia, she demonstrates how we can engage with deeper time, recognize shifted baselines, and support pathways that restore not only ecosystems, but the relationships that sustain them.
Bio
Dr. Jennifer Grenz is an Assistant Professor and Indigenous Scholar (Nlaka’pamux, member of the Lytton First Nation) in the Department of Forest Resources Management, jointly appointed between the Faculty of Forestry and Faculty of Land and Food Systems at the University of British Columbia. The research focuses of her Indigenous Ecology Lab (www.IndigenousEcology.com) are on the application of a food systems lens to restoration ecology, and developing culturally centered, data-driven restoration interventions using Indigenous and western sciences. The lab works entirely in service to the land-healing research needs of Indigenous communities, particularly in the context of building climate resiliency and major climate event recovery. Prior to her academic appointment, Dr. Grenz was the Executive Director of the Invasive Species Council of Metro Vancouver and ran her own invasive plant management company, Greener This Side, managing invasive species for government agencies. Dr. Grenz is the author of National Bestseller, “Medicine Wheel for the Planet: A Journey Toward Personal and Ecological Healing”, a book based on her PhD dissertation published by Knopf Canada (imprint of Penguin Random House) and the University of Minnesota Press (USA).
AGM Agenda
(See more detailed Agenda here)
12:00PM – Social Hour & Volunteer Event @ Nuts’a’maat Forage Forest
1:30PM – AGM Proceedings

Welcome & Acknowledgement of Shared Territory
Call to Order
Approval of Agenda (LINK) and 2025 AGM Minutes (LINK)
Chair’s Statement (see 2025 Annual Report)
Financial Report (LINK to 2025 financial statements)
Board Elections (see detailed agenda for nominee bios)
Strategic Plan 2026-2030 Overview
Program Updates / Staff Reports
Special Resolution: Motion to appoint the current GCA Land Conservation & Stewardship Committee as the Pebble Beach Reserve (PBR) Management Committee, a committee mandated in the 1998 PBR Management Plan (LINK) to be appointed by GCA membership at an AGM, to oversee an update to the PBR Management Plan.

2:45PM – Intermission
3:00PM – FEATURED SPEAKER: Dr. Jennifer Grenz – Relational Restoration: Reclaiming Land, Responsibility, and Reciprocity
