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The Gorge Waterway Action Society (GWAS) conducts many activities and has a variety of Gorge resources available for individuals and groups.
Shoreline Restoration and Conservation
The Gorge Waterway Action Society provides waterfront property owners and managers with by-donation and low-cost environmental property prescriptions by a professional biologist. These conservation prescriptions recommend low-cost environmental improvements specific to your property. More information is available elsewhere about the Friends of the Gorge Waterway Project.
Environmental Education
We have an environmental speaker's list for school classrooms, organizations and public talks. The society hosts informal swim events in summer months to remind the public that the Gorge is swimmable. GWAS provides information booths at public events to display Gorge information. We have a mobile, working model of the Gorge Waterway. The model is used in local schools to assist the delivery of environmental programs and is available for public display. In addition, the society loans Gorge material and historical photos to schools and other interested groups. Contact us if you would like a speaker or if any of these other educational opportunities interest you.
Water and Land Stewardship
The Gorge Waterway Action Society supports stewardship to achieve the short, medium and long term goals for protection, enhancement and restoration of the Gorge. Initiatives are underway to work with landowners, community groups and municipalities to develop and implement better Gorge Waterway stewardship.
Water Quality and Clean Ups
We continue to work with the Veins of Life Watershed Society (VOLWS), Gorge Waterway Initiative, and others to keep the Gorge clean, and by participating in activities such as "Adopt a Shore".
The Gorge Waterway Action Society participates in and also organizes cleanups of the waterway and shoreline. See our Calendar of Events for the next upcoming cleanup.
Why We Fundraise
The annual Rubber Duck Race conducted by GWAS and VOLWS raises funds for Gorge clean-ups. We are currently fundraising for three special purposes:
- The ongoing clean-up, protection, enhancement and restoration of the Gorge.
- To support the delivery of a UVic course in the School of Environmental Studies, Restoration of Natural Systems Program, and programming in the public schools that have a focus on Gorge studies and projects.
- The bolstering of the Gorge legal fund to be able to respond when the need for legal action arises.
Some Completed Activities and Projects
- GWAS significantly contributes to the development of Official Community Plans and Neighbourhood plans of the municipalities bordering the Gorge.
- GWAS benchmarked the status of the Esquimalt Gorge shoreline using video, still photos, maps and narrative documentation to support Esquimalt's implementation of its Gorge Development Permit Zone.
- GWAS surveyed, photographed and documented the existing dock facilities in the Victoria Arm. The City of Victoria used that data in the development of the City's dock policy in 2000.
- GWAS surveyed and compiled information about their understanding of Gorge issues from candidates in the 1999 and 2002 municipal elections.
- GWAS established a Legal Defence Fund to use when necessary to protect the Gorge. The fund was used to convince the City of Victoria to designate as parkland two City-owned waterfront lots on Burleith Crescent rather than sell it for development.
- The GWAS lobbied for several years to convince public officials to open the Selkirk Trestle to pedestrian and cycle traffic.
- GWAS completed a project to compile historical Gorge information from newspaper and public archives for Gorge awareness displays.
Non-Profit Partners
The GWAS works in collaboration with many community groups, but most closely:
- Gorge Waterway Initiative (a network GWAS inspired)
- Veins of Life Watershed Society
- Burnside Gorge Community Association
- Vic West Community Association
Volunteer - Become A Member
The GWAS welcomes volunteers with time to help with the newsletter and to participate in events that promote awareness of the Gorge Waterway.
Membership is based on a token annual fee, but interested persons wishing to assist with the preservation of the Gorge are welcome, whether they are members or not.
Environmental Publications
The GWAS publishes the Gorge Newsletter and has brochures that describes the Society and its environmental projects. To get on our mailing list contact the society.
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