Red-winged blackbirds and many other species depend on protected wetlands like TLC’s 141-acre Clearwater Wetlands and Wildlife Corridor, in the Thompson-Nicola region of B.C. Photo: Max Bailey.

Help TLC Raise $165,000 for Community-Powered Conservation!

From my office window in Victoria, I watch the natural world prepare for the year’s shortest days: squirrels busily burying their final caches of nuts and flurries of songbirds gathering seeds and grubs before their long journeys south. Like them, I hold my breath, anticipating the icy northwesterly gales to come. With the strongest El Niño event in history expected to peak in the months ahead, I feel an even greater sense of urgency for British Columbia’s precious landscapes, and for the wildlife and communities that depend on them. That urgency is reflected in the conversations our staff have every day. More landholders and nature-lovers are reaching out with concerns about the increasingly unpredictable conditions of a changing climate.

As individual caretakers of the land, it is easy to feel overwhelmed by challenges as vast as climate change. In moments like these, I am reminded that meaningful change happens when people come together with a shared purpose. In 2027, TLC will celebrate its 30^th anniversary. In three decades, through moments of challenge and hope, our community has continued to advocate for nature in B.C. The result: more than 15,000 acres of ecologically and culturally significant land is protected across the province.

Lasting land protection is built on more than covenanted acres.  It is built on relationships. Bringing people together creates opportunities for trust and problem-solving that can shape the future of conservation for generations. While the outcomes of connection are profound, conventional grants rarely fund the work behind building them. That is where supporters like you make all the difference.

T’Sou-ke Nation guardian, Raven, plants fringecup at TLC’s Ayum Creek covenant in Sooke. Photo: Emily Francis.

What does community-powered conservation look like in practice at TLC? It can be as simple as walking alongside the landholders of TLC’s 250+ conservation covenants across B.C.  Landholders are more than stewards. They are the keepers of stories, knowledge, and deep connections to the land. They know where an endangered wildflower returns each spring, how many black bears foraged for berries that year, and which ancient trees have weathered generations of change. They are often the first to notice when something is wrong, and the first to step forward when habitats need care. With climate-driven uncertainty, landholder relationships matter more than ever. By building stewardship plans rooted in local experience, we can better adapt and respond to changing conditions and protect the places that wildlife and communities depend on.  Every monitoring visit, every stewardship conversation, and every opportunity to strengthen these partnerships requires resources. Your generosity funds the travel and field tools needed for ecological monitoring and the time to stay connected with the people who know these landscapes best.

Community-centred conservation means creating meaningful opportunities for people to give back to the places they love. This year, TLC’s Passport to Nature program included three restoration events that brought communities together to care for southern Vancouver Island’s coastal forests. At TLC’s Alston-Stewart Estate in Saanich, more than 40 volunteers joined forces with the Greater Victoria Green Team to contribute over 120 hours removing invasive species. At Ayum Creek Regional Park in Sooke, volunteers and members of the T’Sou-ke Nation celebrated a major milestone: the reintroduction of native plants after nearly a decade of effort and countless wheelbarrows of cedar-bark mulch used to suppress invasive dwarf periwinkle. Together, they planted 90 native plants, including salmonberry, fringecup, large-leaved avens, and Pacific bleeding heart.

As the saying goes, many hands make light work. The success of TLC’s restoration efforts depends on people coming together, and on supporters like you. Whether it’s funding hazardous waste bins to dispose of invasive species appropriately, providing PPE to keep volunteers safe, or supplying snacks that fuel a day of hands-on stewardship, your contributions turn community passion into lasting impact.

TLC and members of the Georgian diaspora at the Abkhazi Garden International Day of Peace . Photo: Carlos Nitido. 

Few places embody community-powered conservation more fully than Abkhazi Garden. For 80 years, this cherished sanctuary has been sustained by generations of people who believed it was worth protecting: from its royal Georgian founders, Nicholas and Peggy Abkhazi, to the community members who rallied to secure its future when it was at risk. Today, more than 70 volunteers help care for the garden and welcome over 30,000 visitors each year. Its roots reach far beyond its gates, connecting people across generations and continents through a shared appreciation for beauty, resilience, and peace. This spirit of connection was especially evident during this year’s International Day of Peace celebration, where TLC supporters, Salome Kurasbediani, Chargé d’affaires of the Georgian Embassy to Canada and members of the Georgian diaspora planted a commemorative Pearlbush together. With its brilliant white blossoms returning each spring, the Pearlbush will stand as a living reminder of 80 years of shared history and a symbol of shared commitment to the stewardship of the garden. The legacy of “the garden that love built” is kept alive by our donors who fund essential infrastructure and landscaping projects, and everyday behind-the-scenes management tasks required to keep the garden thriving as a place of beauty, connection, and inspiration for all who visit.

Finally, community-powered conservation means investing in the people who will carry this work forward. Each year, TLC hires summer students to support our conservation work and gain hands-on experience in the field. While these positions are partially funded through the federal Canada Summer Jobs wage subsidy program, the remaining support comes from generous donors like you. Summer students play a vital role during our busiest season, helping monitor and steward conservation lands while bringing fresh perspectives, enthusiasm, and valuable skills to the team. This year, summer students contributed to the development of a new 5-year invasive species management plan for TLC’s Alston-Stewart Estate, performed drone monitoring for post-fire analysis of TLC’s Sooke Hills conservation covenant, provided vital outreach to our supporters online, and facilitated nature-based learning at our Passport to Nature events.  Just as healthy habitats provide space for young birds to grow and take flight, these positions give emerging conservationists the opportunity to build their confidence, develop their expertise, and find their place in B.C.’s conservation community. While it’s always bittersweet to see them leave the nest at summer’s end, we take pride in watching them spread their wings and make a lasting impact in conservation and beyond.

Will You Join Us in Protecting B.C.’s Biodiversity in Perpetuity?

A single tree does not sustain the strongest forests: countless connections beneath the soil do. Conservation work is no different. As TLC approaches its 30th anniversary, we are building on nearly three decades of conservation success and community stewardship. This winter, we have an ambitious goal: to raise $165,000 for community-powered conservation across British Columbia.

Not only will your gift continue to support our work caring for over 15,000 acres of vulnerable forests, wetlands, and grasslands, but it will also strengthen the partnerships, volunteer efforts, and local knowledge that make lasting stewardship possible. At a time when climate change is placing increasing pressure on the landscapes we cherish, your support will help ensure both nature and the communities that care for it thrive.

We invite you to:

• Make an online gift at www.conservancy.bc.ca/donate
• Send an e-transfer to accounting@conservancy.bc.ca
• Call 250-479-8053 (toll-free 1‑877‑485‑2422) to donate by phone
• Mail a cheque addressed to “The Land Conservancy of B.C.” to: 5150 Cordova Bay Road, Victoria, B.C. V8Y 2K6

All donations made by December 31st are eligible for 2026 charitable tax receipts.

On behalf of TLC’s staff and board, thank you for being part of this community of care. Your generosity is creating a legacy for nature, today and for generations to come.

Dianna Stenberg
Executive Director
The Land Conservancy of B.C.