BC Marine Trails Network

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BC Marine Trails Network Non-profit working with First Nations and stakeholders to link and protect the BC coast.

Use our interactive map with over 1400 sites to plan your next adventure on the BC coast.

Scott Assu, who has been a We Wai Kai First Nation Guardian since 2022, is also studying archaeology at Simon Fraser Uni...
10/18/2026

Scott Assu, who has been a We Wai Kai First Nation Guardian since 2022, is also studying archaeology at Simon Fraser University. His work has involved surveying potential forestry harvest areas to assess the location and abundance of culturally modified trees and archaeological sites that might need to be protected from logging.

Being a Guardian is more than just a job for Scott (he is seen here measuring a Large Cultural Cedar tree in his Nation’s territory), however, it is a part of who he is as a We Wai Kai man: “Being on the land, being where my ancestors have always been, that’s a very cool feeling. And knowing that what I am doing is supporting my Nation’s interests, and helping protect our important sites, is a real highlight.”

The current Trails Development Committee (TDC) chair is looking for a volunteer assistant who will take over the role of...
10/15/2026

The current Trails Development Committee (TDC) chair is looking for a volunteer assistant who will take over the role of chair by the end of 2027. The assistant would attend meetings and acclimatize themself to the volunteer role over a period of several months before stepping into the role. The chair's role includes but is not limited to:

-Develop agendas and lead monthly TDC meetings
-Develop an understanding of an unique database and mapping system
-Demonstrate BC coastal knowledge of sites
-Liaise with region managers, the First Nations liaison and chair, and periodically liaise with other committees.
-Be able to use a specialized TDC planning map
-Report mapping issues to our IT team
-Help review and sometimes develop year-to-year goals related to the overall BC Marine Trails strategic direction.
-Consider a board position for 2028 representing the TDC.

Time commitment: 2 hours weekly

Please send a message to our Helpdesk if interested in this volunteer role: [email protected]

Planning a trip through Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’ / Che’tles7et’h’ territory (Kyuquot Sound)? Visitors are asked to register their ...
10/13/2026

Planning a trip through Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’ / Che’tles7et’h’ territory (Kyuquot Sound)? Visitors are asked to register their visit before or upon arrival. This helps the Nation keep track of visitors in the territory and supports visitor safety in the event of an emergency.

To register your visit or learn more about visiting the region, contact Dianna Dragon at ​250-287-2775​ or ​[email protected]​.

If you plan to stay on Treaty Settlement Lands (TSL), you must also request permission in advance. No sites listed on the BC Marine Trails map are on TSL.

Visitors are asked to respect cultural sites, leave artifacts undisturbed, follow fishing and harvesting regulations, and follow Leave No Trace practices.

Full Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’ / Che’tles7et’h’ Territory Guidelines​: https://kyuquotbc.ca/visiting/

Our Site Condition Reporting contest has come to a close for 2026, and three contributors have won three great prizes!Du...
10/11/2026

Our Site Condition Reporting contest has come to a close for 2026, and three contributors have won three great prizes!

Duane Lawrence is walking away with a Quadra Drysuit and Essentialist Belt Pack from Mustang Survival, Sarah Richards is taking home an accessory pack fromDelta Kayaks, and Reale Emond with a 25L SeaLine Widemouth Duffle courtesy of Comox Valley Kayaks and Canoes.

Duane: “Site Condition Reports are so helpful. We just want to do our part in helping to make everyone's adventure amazing."

Sarah: "I contribute SCRs as a small way to give back to the BCMT community and tools that have been so helpful in planning my many trips!"

While the contest has wrapped up, Site Condition Reports are welcomed year round: https://www.bcmarinetrails.org/reporting/

BC Marine Trails is the official caretaker of several sites in the Discovery Islands: Freedom Point, Penn Islands North,...
10/08/2026

BC Marine Trails is the official caretaker of several sites in the Discovery Islands: Freedom Point, Penn Islands North, Francisco Island, Shipwreck Bluff, and Whale Passage.

At the end of September, Spirit of the West Adventures once again generously volunteered a vessel to bring BCMT volunteers Paul & Guy to conduct danger tree assessments, and maintain the toilets at Freedom Point and Penn Islands north.

If you visit these sites, ​please consider a donation​ to support ongoing maintenance work. Scannable signs are also present at each site to facilitate user donations.

https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/143964

Another successful Gerald Island event is in the books!From September 30th to October 4th, 35 volunteers joined BCMT on ...
10/05/2026

Another successful Gerald Island event is in the books!

From September 30th to October 4th, 35 volunteers joined BCMT on Gerald Island, off of Nanoose Bay, to tackle invasive species.

Together, we pulled 341 'person-loads' of invasive English Ivy and Himalayan blackberry (measured by the number of volunteers required to transport one tarpful of invasives). Using a conservative estimate of 30 pounds per load, the total biomass cleared was roughly 4.5 metric tonnes!

When the project began, English ivy stretched from the high-tide line across the southern tip of the island and up onto the bluffs. Today, approximately 6,000 square metres have been cleared, pushing the island’s “ivy line” inland. Well-marked trails also help protect fragile vegetation by directing visitors away from sensitive areas.

Stay tuned for April 2027 dates! We hope to see you there.

Join BC Marine Trails staff and Board Chair Karina for an open Q&A about how our organization works and the projects we’...
10/04/2026

Join BC Marine Trails staff and Board Chair Karina for an open Q&A about how our organization works and the projects we’re advancing across the coast.

We’ll talk about our processes for First Nations engagement, mapping, and environmental stewardship, and answer your questions about how we work with members, partners, and coastal communities.

This webinar will also be an opportunity to share your ideas and perspectives as we begin updating our next strategic plan. What should BC Marine Trails focus on next? We want to hear from you.

RSVP today: https://www.bcmarinetrails.org/ask-us-anything

Jordon Labbe, a Wei Wai K*m First Nation Guardian, says he really enjoyed the lab work that followed the collection of w...
10/02/2026

Jordon Labbe, a Wei Wai K*m First Nation Guardian, says he really enjoyed the lab work that followed the collection of water samples watersheds in his Nation’s territory as part of the 50 Watersheds research project into the impacts of climate change and forestry management on salmon habitat.

“It’s really fine work, looking through a microscope and counting maybe more than 100 species of invertebrate in a small drop of water,” observes Jordon.

“It was a very large project scope on watershed health, especially for salmon. How do you quantify how healthy it is from a scale of 1 to 10? There are so many different ways but through this lab work especially, being able to compare the sensitivity of the invertebrates to very similar sensitivity of salmon is really cool. Through sitting here counting you can physically verify that there's an x amount of a certain vertebrate, which is potentially directly comparable to x salmon that might be in the system. It's really cool that you can connect those dots.”

10/02/2026

We will be at the festival in North Van, come visit us and get your member sticker!

Today is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.Learning is an ongoing part of reconciliation. We’ve put together...
09/30/2026

Today is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Learning is an ongoing part of reconciliation. We’ve put together a selection of books, articles, and other resources to help deepen your understanding of Indigenous histories, rights, and relationships in British Columbia.

Take some time today to learn something new, listen to Indigenous voices, and continue the conversation.

We’ve also created a new First Nations Visitation: Frequently Asked Questions section on the BCMT site, offering answers to some of the questions that may come up as you learn more about First Nations management directives: https://www.bcmarinetrails.org/first-nations-guidelines/

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Ladysmith, BC

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