🍂 September 2026 Newsletter 🍂
Hi, friends!
With the flurry of summer activity now coming to a close, GWAS is shifting gears, but our commitment to the Gorge Waterway hasn’t slowed down one bit. Before you plan your next visit to the Nature House, we at GWAS would like to remind you to check out our new Fall hours! As of September 1st you’ll find us open for visits on Saturdays and Sundays from 10-3pm, so open up your weekend schedule and come say hi!
While we’re heading into the Fall with exciting events and volunteer opportunities on the horizon, we would like to give a special shout-out to all of our amazing summer staff who have now closed out their time with us for the season—whether you were working behind the scenes or getting your hands dirty in the park, you make all the difference!! And we can’t forget to say thanks as well to Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) and CanAssist for providing GWAS with the funding that made our summer staff program possible. Read-on for what we’ve been up to this past month!
GET INVOLVED
🌷 Volunteer With GWAS 🌷
We’re looking for volunteers at the Gorge Waterway Nature House this Fall!
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!
Fall options for volunteering:
Nature House volunteer orientation: Thursday September 10th from 5:45 - 7:15pm! If you are interested in joining this orientation, or future sessions please email us at volunteer@gorge.ca. Please also note that volunteers must be 19+ in order to work independently in the Nature House, and must be able to submit a criminal record check.
For European Green Crab Trapping, please email volunteer@gorge.ca for more information on our fall trapping events.
Community Restoration Drop-Ins on Thursday mornings from 9:30am to 11:00am, meet at the Nature House (no registration or experience required).
Stay tuned for details about volunteering at the Craigflower Creek fish fence this fall!
For any other volunteer-related inquiries, contact us at volunteer@gorge.ca.
💚 Become a GWAS Member 💚
Considering joining our community? It’s so worth it! An annual membership with GWAS helps show our strength in the community and fund vital environmental projects and 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!
AUGUST RECAPS
🦋 BioBlitz Nature Scavenger Hunt 🦋
On August 23rd, nature lovers of all ages gathered in the park for our BioBlitz Nature scavenger hunt, and what a day it was! Participants set out on a guided nature walk with GWAS Interpreters where they learned how to use the iNaturalist app to identify the plants, animals, and insects that call the Gorge waterway home. We also got the rare chance to learn from our amazing staff and do pollinator trapping! A truly un-bee-lievable experience!
And of course, no scavenger hunt is complete without prizes. Thanks to the generosity of local businesses, BioBlitz participants got the chance to go home with some great rewards to places like the Shaw Center for the Salish Sea, Habit Coffee, Axe&Grind, Miniature World, Satinflower Nurseries, and 49 Below! Events like this really remind us how amazing our community is, and we can’t wait to see you at the next one!
🔦 Dungeness Light Trap Program Recap 🔦
With the start of September comes the end of our Dungeness Crab Light Trapping, but we had so much fun while it lasted! Our traps saw all sorts of marine life like Megalopae crabs, Instar crabs, Pipefish, Sea Lice, Worms, Glass Shrimps, and more that were carefully catalogued and returned back into the waterway. We had an amazing volunteer and summer staff turn-out, so thank you to everyone who participated.
🦀 European Green Crab Trapping Recap 🦀
Over the course of the summer, GWAS biologists set out traps for invasive European Green Crabs (EGCs) at Esquimalt-Gorge park and Craigflower-Kosampsom park. With the help of 17 volunteers, a total of 96 traps were set between June and August and we are happy to announce that no European Green Crabs were found! The absence of EGCs is definitely positive, as it suggests their population in the Gorge Waterway is small, however it does not mean they are absent entirely. Continued monitoring by GWAS staff and our lovely volunteers will help protect the Gorge Waterway from these invaders, which rip up eelgrass beds and outcompete native species.
🌱 Craigflower Creek Restoration Party 🌱
On August 18, GWAS staff members and 1 member of the Craigflower Creek Coalition gathered at the fish fence to conduct ecological restoration work. Removing Himalayan blackberry (Rubus armeniacus) and freeing up water-levelling pipes were the main goals of the event. Secondary goals included removing arboreal ivy from two mature Douglas-fir trees, and levelling the access point to a retention pond to improve water flow and accessibility for fish.
It was a big day, with 5 cubic metres of Himalayan blackberry removed! We're grateful for all who lend their enthusiasm (and muscles) to helping steward Craigflower Creek.
🐥 Rocky Point Bird Observatory Visit 🐥
We had a great day out at Rocky Point Bird Observatory! Our visit started with a bird walk, where we learned about the nets used to safely catch birds and why healthy habitats matter, especially with increasing challenges like urbanization and noise pollution. We even got lucky enough to spot some rare birds along the way, including a Western Tanager and an American Goldfinch! At the banding station, we watched talented staff record measurements and band birds before getting to help release a few ourselves—definitely the highlight of the trip!
UPCOMING EVENTS
🌅 Power To Be Seniors Events 🌅
Are you 55+ and wanting to get outside, experience new things, and make connections? The Power To Be organization holds senior’s events twice monthly from July to October where participants will get the opportunity to explore a variety of activities like gardening and site stewardship, canoeing, kayaking, yoga, arts & crafts, guided walks, and much more. This program is completely free and open to all abilities. If you’re interested (or know someone who might be) click below for more information!
🏞️ Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea is looking for board members! 🏞️
Passionate about marine life and looking for another way to get involved in your community? The Shaw Center for the Salish Sea is searching for Board Members! The work of the board includes overseeing the strategy and providing guidance to the Executive Director and Staff of the institution. This work takes place via in-person meetings, Zoom discussions, working groups, hands-on volunteering and written contributions. If you are interested in this unique and rewarding opportunity, please send a letter of interest and your resume to Pauline Finn, Executive Director of the Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea (pauline.finn@salishseacentre.org) by September 14, 2026.
🌎 All Candidates Meeting 🌎
On October 5th, GWAS has the unique opportunity to work alongside Esquimalt Climate Organizers (ECO) to help run an All Candidates Meeting for the Township of Esquimalt Municipal Election! This All Candidates Meeting will be focused on Climate and Environmental issues, allowing residents to ask questions and hear directly from different party candidates about their stances on various environmental topics.
Join GWAS at the event in-person or via zoom—come prepared with environmental questions and concerns you think your potential future representatives should hear! More details to come in the October newsletter, and on our social media.
Date: Monday, October 5th
Time: Late Afternoon/Evening
Location: Esquimalt United Church and Zoom
🎊 Formation Fun Day 🎊
For over a decade, Formation Fun Day has celebrated the CFB Esquimalt community. This annual event includes over 30 vendors for live music, free BBQ, and fun activities such as rock climbing, face painting, pony rides, bubble making, and so much more. With over 1000 attendees every year, the event is designed for good times and connection. This year, Formation Fun Day is moving its location from Naden Athletic Centre to Work Point where the fun will continue!
Date: September 12, 2026
Time: 12 pm – 4 pm
Location: Work Point (Nixon Building and surrounding grassy areas)
🪸 Ocean Week Film Festival Arrives 🪸
In case you haven't heard, the 2026 Ocean Film Festival World Tour is coming to Victoria for just ONE Night on Friday, September 11, 7-10PM at the Vic Theatre. This year’s tour promises an unforgettable night out for ocean lovers, featuring six remarkable films from around the globe. From high-stakes adventure and record-breaking journeys to intimate portraits of marine life and environmental restoration, the 2026 program is packed with breathtaking cinematography, inspiring characters, and a deep respect for the ocean and the communities shaped by it.
📆 Save the Date for these Events! 📆
Nature House Fall Hours | Tuesday, September 1
Birdsong: A Festival Day of Music and Nature | Saturday, September 12
The Great Canadian Bioblitz | September 18-27
Whether you're going back to school or just relishing the change of seasons, we hope you enjoy the month of September and the start of autumn. We’ll see you in the October newsletter!
Sincerely,
The GWAS Team
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