🎃October 2026 Newsletter 🎃
Hi, friends!
The leaves are beginning to change colour and the breeze is getting cooler – like many animals and plants, the Gorge is transitioning into the fall. But just because the cozy season is approaching doesn’t mean that our work is done! There are still some exciting events taking place this month, as well as our weekly Thursday restoration volunteer sessions continuing until Halloween - you won’t want to miss them!
The changing of seasons also allows us to reflect on all the things we are thankful for, and we are so grateful for the opportunities we’ve had to take part in some amazing community events – and for the events yet to come! Read on to find out more about the upcoming Ducks & Doug’s planting event, celebrating All Bufflehead’s Day – the remarkable return of migrating bufflehead ducks.
GET INVOLVED
🌷 Volunteer With GWAS 🌷
Interested in getting involved at the Gorge Waterway Nature House? Volunteers support hands-on environmental education, restoration, and community outreach aligned with our Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) programming. From welcoming visitors to supporting shoreline restoration, your time helps connect people to place and care for the Gorge Waterway!
Spring options for volunteering:
Saturday and Sundays at the Nature House
Ecological Restoration Community Drop-Ins on Thursday mornings from 9:30am to 11:00am, meet at the Nature House (no registration or experience required)
European Green Crab trapping, email emily@gorge.ca for more info
💚 Become a GWAS Member 💚
An annual membership with GWAS helps fund vital restoration projects and environmental education initiatives, such as the operation of our youth-focused Nature House in Esquimalt Gorge Park. As a member, you will receive free admission to the Gorge Waterway Nature House, free tea and coffee, and you'll also receive voting privileges at the Annual General Meeting to help decide the future of GWAS!
SEPTEMBER RECAPS
🎈 Formation Fun Day 🎈
Formation Fun Day was a blast! GWAS had the pleasure of tabling at this fun filled annual event that invites the Defence community to celebrate! The event included over 30 vendors, live music, free BBQ, and fun activities such as rock climbing, face painting, pony rides, bubble making, and so much more.
GWAS engaged visitors with crab jeopardy, Sustainable Development Goals Trivia, ways to get involved, and some seriously cool specimens!
✏️ The Tides of Change Project ✏️
GWAS had the privilege of joining the Sustainability Scholars program and partnering with Caitlin Feeley, a graduate student from the University of Victoria. Caitlin led a project we called the Tides of Change, which acted as a retrospective on the history of GWAS, its founding, and GWAS’ influence on the Gorge Waterway’s ecologies and culture. Caitlin conducted archival research, interviews, and created a vibrant booklet that encompasses our story beautifully. Check out a copy of the booklet the next time you’re in the Gorge Waterway Nature House!
🍂 Community Restoration in the Fall 🍂
Community Restoration sessions are the best way to motivate yourself to leave the house on a dark and chilly morning! Rain or shine, the GWAS team is hosting restoration sessions every Thursday morning from 9:30-11:00 am.
On rainy mornings, we’ll stay cozy and dry processing native seeds inside the Nature House. And did we mention volunteers get free coffee and tea?
Community Restoration sessions will end on Thursday, October 29th, so join us before we hibernate!
👋 Welcome Sustainability Interpreter Emma 👋
Emma completed a bachelor’s degree in English literature, and is now working towards her Restoration of Natural Systems diploma at the University of Victoria. She is deeply passionate about native plants, healthy ecosystems and community connection. When she isn’t at work, Emma can be found in her garden, or reading a good book.
👋 Welcome Biologist and Sustainability Interpreter Emily 👋
Emily grew up in the prairies, but developed a deep love of marine and aquatic ecosystems through yearly childhood visits to Vancouver Island. She holds a Bachelor of Science, with a concentration in Marine Biology from the University of Victoria, and has spent many years working in the environmental non-profit sector. Emily loves animal husbandry and care, ecosystem restoration, and community education. You can often find Emily hiking and camping in the trees, or enjoying a cozy craft night at home.
🏡 Nature House Updates 🏡
The Nature House has been settling into fall quite nicely! A reminder that while we are no longer open on weekdays, we would love to see you on weekends from 10–3 pm this fall.
Come say hello to our touch tank critters, check out the specimen wall, ask about our tactile salmon, and chat nature with our wonderful Nature House volunteers and staff!
UPCOMING EVENTS
🎤 All Candidates Meeting 🎤
Join us for an evening of conversation at the Township of Esquimalt's Municipal All Candidate Meeting!
Hear from candidates running for municipal council on issues that matter to Esquimalt before you cast your vote 🗳️
When: October 5th from 7:00-9:00 PM
Where: Esquimalt United Church, 500 Admirals Rd.
Hosted in partnership by: Creatively United, Esquimalt Climate Organizers, Gorge Waterway Action Society, and Esquimalt United Church Justice Team.
We hope to see you there!
🦆 Duck & Dougs Planting Party 🌲
The buffleheads are back, and so is fall planting season! The Ducks & Dougs event is perfect for the native plant lovers and bird watchers alike. Join GWAS in planting native seedlings in our mini forest restoration site, a small but mighty mixed Douglas-fir ecosystem in Esquimalt Gorge Park. Following planting, we’ll walk a couple of minutes as a group to the Green shores beach site and the Gorge Creek salt marsh to appreciate the majestic buffleheads.
No planting experience or equipment needed, and snacks will be provided. We are grateful for our generous sponsors at Green Communities Canada, and the support of the Township of Esquimalt.
When: Sunday October 18, 2026 from 11:00am - 1:00pm
Where: Meet at the Gorge Waterway Nature House, 1070 Tillicum Rd.
🐟 Return of the Spawners Event 🐟
Sure it's pumpkin spice season, but even more importantly, it's salmon spawning season! In honour of this annual-but-no-less momentous event, the Ocean Conservation Education Action Network: South Vancouver Island (OCEAN SVI) and GWAS are hosting "Return of the Spawners" to celebrate.
Our goal is to connect event attendees with all of the incredible organizations that are dedicated to salmon education and conservation in their community- especially those that offer hands-on volunteer opportunities to support salmon. Besides learning and networking, there will be activities, snacks, and salmon-themed crafts including linocut block printing of salmon on your textiles!
When: Sunday October 25, 2026 from 12:00 - 3:00pm
Where: To be determined, stay tuned for an update in your email inbox and on our social media accounts!
🐟 Craigflower Creek Fish Fence Volunteering 🐟
Interested in salmon conservation? Want experience with biological monitoring? Join the Craigflower Creek Coalition as a volunteer this fall!
We’ll be counting, measuring, and identifying salmon and other fish species within Craigflower Creek.
Join an incredible community of anglers, volunteers, biologists and passionate salmon lovers! If you would like to volunteer, email us at volunteer@gorge.ca
📆 Save the Date for these Events! 📆
Lekwungen Community Toolshed, Restoration at Maplebank, Friday October 9th
Uvic's Ecological Restoration Club (ERC): Planting in the Learning Meadow: October 23rd, 2026
Whether you're going back to school or just relishing the change of seasons, we hope you enjoy the month of October and the start of autumn. We’ll see you in the November newsletter!
Sincerely,
The GWAS Team
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