Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region

31/08/2026

Amazing Places - Along the Englishman River

Follow the clues. Listen to the river. Discover an Amazing Place!

Winding through forests beneath Mount Arrowsmith, the Englishman River connects mountains, wildlife and communities on its journey toward the Salish Sea.

Follow it upstream and you’ll find one of the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region’s 10 Amazing Places - Englishman River Falls Provincial Park.

Bring your binoculars and listen along the way. Birds move through the forest and river corridor, and if you’re trying the Amazing Places GeoTour, one of the clues waiting for you at Englishman River Falls is all about a bird that can be heard singing along the river and nesting in the cliffs. Can you figure out which one?

Englishman River Falls is Amazing Place #9, and you can make the visit part of a real-world treasure hunt by finding its geocache, exploring the interpretive sign and solving the GeoClue. The full Amazing Places GeoTour takes you through 10 special places across the Biosphere Region.

Ready to explore?
Learn about the Amazing Places GeoTour and download the free Field Guide:
mabr.ca/geocaching

Discover all 10 Amazing Places:
mabr.ca/amazing-places

What birds have you noticed along the Englishman River?

Connecting people with nature and community.

To plan your next adventure visit Parksville Qualicum Beach Tourism Association https://www.visitparksvillequalicumbeach.com/tourism/

To learn more about UNESCO Biosphere Regions visit Canadian Biosphere Regions Association https://biospherecanada.ca/

11/08/2026

What does climate action mean to you? Come meet MABR’s Youth Climate Ambassador and share your ideas!

With support from the Town of Qualicum Beach, MABR is inviting community members to take part in our Climate Outreach Project and help shape the conversation about local climate action.

Our Youth Climate Ambassador is connecting with people across the community to hear what matters most to them. What are your priorities? What concerns you most? What would you like to see our community do?

This is an opportunity to meet the Youth Climate Ambassador, complete engagement activities and share your thoughts about the future of climate action in our community.

Join us for this special Climate Outreach Open House:

Friday August 14
12:00–3:30 p.m.
MABR Education Centre, 124 West 2nd Avenue, Qualicum Beach

For more information about the Climate Outreach Project, visit:
https://www.mabr.ca/climate-outreach-project
Or email [email protected]

05/08/2026

Some Amazing Places reveal their magic one step at a time. Others reveal it from above.

This beautiful aerial video by local photographer Dave Hutchison showcases the incredible expanse of Rathtrevor Beach during an extreme low tide, where winding channels, tidal flats, estuaries, and coastal ecosystems come together in one of the most unique landscapes in the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region.

Rathtrevor's shoreline is recognized as an important area for birdwatching and migratory birds using the Pacific Flyway.

August is a particularly exciting time to visit. The exposed tidal flats provide feeding habitat for migrating shorebirds such as Western Sandpipers, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Dunlin, and Black Turnstones. In the surrounding forests and coastal habitats, you may also encounter southbound migrants such as Rufous Hummingbirds, Pacific-slope Flycatchers, Swainson's Thrushes, Warbling Vireos, Orange-crowned Warblers, and Yellow-rumped Warblers as they begin their remarkable journeys south.

Whether viewed from above or explored from the sand, Rathtrevor Beach is an Amazing Place where biodiversity, migration, and stunning coastal scenery come together.

Take a few minutes to enjoy this spectacular bird's-eye view: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9urFW4ucdMw

Discover more Amazing Places throughout the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region: www.mabr.ca/amazingplaces

Explore while you learn with our Amazing Places Adventure Labs and Geotour: www.mabr.ca/adventure-labs
https://www.mabr.ca/geocaching

Discover local birding hotspots with the MABR Bird Trail Guide:https://www.mabr.ca/s/Bird-Trail-Digitial-Guide.pdf

Plan your next adventure: https://www.visitparksvillequalicumbeach.com/
Parksville Qualicum Beach Tourism Association

Learn more about UNESCO biosphere regions at Canadian Biosphere Regions Association



Photo/Video Credit: Dave Hutchison Photography Two Trees Art Gallery
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9urFW4ucdMw

Soar above the extreme low tide along the beautiful shores of Ratht...

29/07/2026

Follow the clues, Listen to the forest, Discover an Amazing Place!

Explore the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region’s ten Amazing Places through geocaching.

In August, watch and listen for Townsend’s and Yellow-rumped Warblers, Western Tanagers, Pacific-slope Flycatchers, Western Wood-Pewees and Swainson’s Thrushes as summer visitors begin moving through Coastal Douglas-fir forests on their southward journeys.

As you search for caches and GeoClues, stay on established trails, observe birds from a respectful distance and leave each place as you found it.

Complete all ten Geo Clues to earn the Amazing Places GeoCoin.
Start your adventure at:
https://www.mabr.ca/geocaching

Plan your stay with:
Parksville Qualicum Beach Tourism Association

Connecting people with nature and community!

Learn more about UNESCO Biosphere Regions at:
Canadian Biosphere Regions Association and Canadian Commission for UNESCO / Commission canadienne pour l'UNESCO

Geocaching Beautiful BC

20/07/2026

Add an Amazing Places to your stay.

Nestled beneath steep forested slopes in the heart of the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region, Cameron Lake is more than a stunning destination. It is part of a living landscape that supports incredible biodiversity, including migratory birds that connect our region to ecosystems across the Pacific Flyway.

Throughout the year, summer breeders like the Rufous Hummingbird, Warbling Vireo, Violet-green Swallow, and Pacific-slope Flycatcher fill local forests with movement and song. During migration, species such as the Yellow-rumped Warbler and Orange-crowned Warbler pass through on remarkable journeys that span thousands of kilometres.

Whether you're taking in the view, hiking nearby trails, or simply pausing to listen, Cameron Lake offers a chance to connect with the natural rhythms that make this biosphere so special.

🌿 Explore more Amazing Places: https://www.mabr.ca/amazingplaces

🧭 Turn your visit into an adventure with our Geotour and Adventure Labs: https://www.mabr.ca/geocaching https://www.mabr.ca/adventure-labs

🐦 Discover local birdwatching opportunities with the MABR Bird Trail Guide:https://www.mabr.ca/s/Bird-Trail-Digitial-Guide.pdf

🏖️ Looking for more local experiences? https://www.visitparksvillequalicumbeach.com/

20/07/2026

Arrowsmith Naturalists and MABR Monthly BioBlitz

Join Arrowsmith Naturalists and the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region in exploring and documenting the biodiversity of the Englishman River Estuary

Using iNaturalist, participants can record observations of plants, animals, fungi, and other living organisms, helping to build our collective understanding of the species and ecosystems that make this place unique.

Every observation contributes to community science and supports biodiversity awareness, stewardship, and conservation throughout the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region. Whether you're an experienced naturalist or simply curious about nature, your observations matter.

Please preregister by emailing [email protected]

Project https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/august-2026-mabr-monthly-bioblitz-with-anats

Event Website:
https://www.mabr.ca/upcoming-events/2026/8/13/monthly-bioblitz-with-arrowsmith-naturalists

19/07/2026

Community Feedback Open House at MABR

Join for a fun, interactive Community Feedback Open House and help shape the future of climate action in Qualicum Beach.

Drop in to share your ideas, priorities, and concerns while exploring engaging activities on topics including:

🌱 Active Transportation
💡 Home Energy Efficiency
🥕 Local & Sustainable Food
♻️ Waste Reduction & Recycling
💧 Water Conservation
🌳 Trees & Urban Shade
🌲 Protecting Natural Areas
🔥 Wildfire Preparedness
🚨 Emergency Preparedness
🌿 Natural Asset Management

Your feedback will be gathered by the MABR Youth Climate Ambassador and shared with the Town of Qualicum Beach to help inform future climate outreach, education, and community engagement.

Whether you have five minutes or an hour, we'd love to hear your ideas!

Friday July 31st 10:00 - 4:00
Saturday Aug 1st 10:00 - 4:00

Learn more about the project:

https://mabrclimateoutreach.wixsite.com/mabrclimateoutreach

This Community Climate Outreach Project is delivered by the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region in collaboration with the Town of Qualicum Beach.

14/07/2026

The Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region is proud to recognize Lana and Sean McCaul of Royal LePage for their generous donation in support of the 15th Annual Qualicum Beach Thursday Night Market.

Community events like this don't happen on their own. They thrive because local businesses step forward to invest in the people, small businesses, artisans, farmers, and organizations that make our region such a vibrant place to live.

Thank you, Lana and Sean McCaul of Royal LePage, for helping strengthen our local economy and our community.

Join us for one of the summer’s most loved events from 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM every Thursday evening in July & August.

-Shop locally made products
-Browse handcrafted goods
-Enjoy delicious eats

This vibrant evening market celebrates local talent, supports small businesses, and helps build a stronger, more inclusive economy right here in the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region (MABR).

Come connect, shop, eat, and experience the power of community - one Thursday at a time.

https://www.mabr.ca/market

24/06/2026

Join the Conversation: MABR Community Café - Alternative Transportation

Driving towards a better future together.

On Tuesday, July 7 at 6:00 PM, MABR invites you to a Community Café focused on alternative transportation - and your voice matters.

This is a chance to come together as a community and explore how we can move toward more sustainable, accessible ways of getting around in the Parksville–Qualicum Beach region.

We’ll be discussing:

• Why residents rely on personal vehicles
• What’s needed to support car-independent lifestyles
• Barriers to using alternative transportation
• Ideas for infrastructure, policy, and community solutions

This conversation connects directly to Sustainable Development Goal #11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities, helping us shape a future that works for people, nature, and community.

Let’s build practical, local solutions—together.

Register to attend: https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/climate-cafe-alternative-community-transportation

More details may be found visiting - https://www.mabr.ca/upcoming-events/2026/7/7/mabr-community-cafe-alternative-transportation

Learn more about UNESCO Biosphere Regions by following the Canadian Biosphere Regions Association