Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region

13/10/2026

An autumn morning, and a whole world of life unfolding.

Last Thursday, six curious naturalists headed out along the trails at the Little Qualicum Fish Hatchery for a morning of discovery.

Chinook salmon were jumping, a Pacific marten made an early appearance across the river, and a young black bear emerged from the spawning channels carrying a large salmon with ravens close behind!

Nearby, signal crayfish were feeding on a dead salmon, another small glimpse into the remarkable web of life supported by these waters.

In just two hours, the group documented more than 100 species, with observations still being recorded.

And perhaps that's the most wonderful part of a morning like this. The more closely we look, the more we discover.

Across the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region, there are countless stories unfolding around us every day. Some are dramatic, like a bear carrying a salmon. Others are small enough to go unnoticed beneath our feet.

What an extraordinary place we share. And how much there still is to discover.

Come discover with us!

These monthly BioBlitz outings are a collaboration between Arrowsmith Naturalists and the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region. Whether you're an experienced naturalist or simply curious about the living world around you, you're welcome to join us.

Together, we're exploring, learning, and documenting the remarkable biodiversity of the place we share.

https://www.mabr.ca/upcoming-events

09/10/2026

It was inspiring to see such a strong youth presence at EuroMAB 2026 here in the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region.

Approximately one in five delegates were youth, bringing their ideas, experiences, questions and energy into conversations throughout the week.

They were not simply attending, they were building relationships, contributing to discussions and helping shape thinking about the future of biosphere regions.

UNESCO’s MAB Youth Roadmap is about creating meaningful opportunities for youth to participate, lead and help turn global commitments into local action. EuroMAB gave us a chance to see that happening in practice.

We are grateful to everyone who took part and excited to see where these new connections, ideas and relationships lead next.

https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/global-commitments-local-action-young-people-advance-mab-youth-roadmap

Youth
Biosphere Regions Association
Commission for UNESCO / Commission canadienne pour l'UNESCO

🌐From global commitments to local action: young people advance the Roadmap

🌍 More than 50 young people involved in across Europe and North America shared experiences and explored how to turn key outcomes of the into concrete action.🤝

➡️ https://unes.co/hq1kya


UNESCO UNESCO Youth Unesco Biodiversity Mab Youth Forum Italy PoGrande MaB Unesco Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region MEdIES Park Škocjanske jame, Slovenija

08/10/2026

Amazing Places: Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park

There is something about Rathtrevor at this time of year that invites you to slow down.

As the tides move in and out, the shoreline changes with them. Migratory birds arrive, rest, feed, and continue on journeys that reach far beyond the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region.

Places like this remind us that even a familiar beach is part of something much larger, connected by tides, seasons, habitats, and movement.

Take some time to look closely when you visit. Notice what is here today. Notice what has changed since your last walk. And give the birds the space they need during this important season.

If you want to add another layer of discovery, Rathtrevor is also part of Amazing Places Geocaching - a fun way to explore the stories and features that make this place special.
https://www.mabr.ca/geocaching

Dowload the Amazing Places Field Guide:
https://www.mabr.ca/s/Field-Guide-l4s9.pdf

Sometimes discovering an Amazing Place begins simply by paying attention.

07/10/2026

Learning how to notice change.

Here in the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region, students are learning how to observe, measure and document the living world around them.

Fieldwork like this is about more than collecting information. It is about recognizing patterns, understanding what is here today, and noticing when things begin to change.
Because understanding change begins with paying attention.

There is something hopeful about seeing students learning right here, in our Biosphere Region.
Learning to look closely. To ask questions. To understand the places we share and the changes taking place within them.

These are our future researchers, environmental professionals, neighbours and community members.

The more we learn to notice, the better prepared we are to care for the places we share.

05/10/2026

From mountain to stream.

Water flowing from the Mount Arrowsmith watershed eventually becomes habitat for an extraordinary community of life.

In this moment, community volunteers are surveying a local creek to better understand the population, species and size of juvenile salmonids including Coho salmon and cutthroat trout smolts.

It’s careful, hands-on work. Each small fish helps build a clearer picture of what is happening beneath the surface and how these freshwater systems are supporting the next generation as they grow and, for some species, prepare for their journey toward the ocean.

It is also a reminder of how connected this place is.

Rain and snow fall high in the mountains. Water moves through forests and watersheds, into creeks and rivers, and eventually toward the Salish Sea. Along the way, that water supports ecosystems, wildlife and communities throughout the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region.

Sometimes understanding a whole watershed begins by kneeling beside a creek and taking a closer look.

Learn more about UNESCO Biosphere Regions by visiting Canadian Biosphere Regions Association and the Canadian Commission for UNESCO / Commission canadienne pour l'UNESCO

01/10/2026

Honouring Survivors. Remembering Truth. Walking Forward Together

Yesterday, community members gathered at ts’xwelíkwshnawtxw for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation before walking together through Qualicum Beach.

The day created space to listen, reflect, remember, and be together - honouring Residential School Survivors, their families, and the children who never came home.

Deep gratitude to Chief Michael Recalma and Kim Recalma-Clutesi for the reflections they shared, and to everyone who contributed their stories, presence, care, and time.

For MABR, this day connects closely with commitments carried throughout our work - to build respectful relationships with First Nations, remain open to different perspectives, and continue learning together. Those commitments are reflected in MABR’s Guiding Principles for Collaboration with First Nations and Culture of Engagement.

https://www.mabr.ca/s/Guiding-Principles-First-Nations_MABR.pdf

https://www.mabr.ca/s/Roundtable-Culture-of-Engagement.pdf

Truth and Reconciliation is not the work of one person, one organization, or one day. It is something carried forward through listening, learning, relationship, and the choices we make together.

Thank you to everyone who helped make the gathering possible and to everyone who came to walk, listen, remember, and continue the journey together.

Thank you to the Town of Qualicum Beach for there support in this very important day of reconciliation.

Biosphere Regions Association

28/09/2026

A Small Discovery

Sometimes the biosphere is a mountain, a forest, or the shoreline.

Sometimes it is something small enough to fit in the palm of your hand.

A moment of curiosity can make the familiar feel new again - noticing something alive in the sand, taking a closer look, and discovering a little more about the place around us.

Connecting with nature in the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region does not always require a big adventure. Sometimes it begins with slowing down, looking closely, and noticing what is already there.

The biosphere isn’t somewhere else.

It is here, in the places we explore, the things we notice, and the relationships that are already part of everyday life.

Ordinary life is already biosphere life.

Canadian Biosphere Regions Association

25/09/2026

Tomorrow in Qualicum Beach!

Curious about ways to make your home more comfortable, energy-efficient and better prepared for a changing climate?

Join MABR and the Regional District of Nanaimo tomorrow for a free drop-in Climate-Resilient Homes Information Session at the MABR Education Centre.

Drop In anytime!

Two short live demonstration sessions at:

10:30–11:00 AM
12:30–1:00 PM

Saturday, September 26
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
MABR Education Centre
124 West 2nd Avenue, Qualicum Beach
Free • Drop-in • Everyone welcome

Come explore practical ideas and resources related to:

-home energy efficiency and rebates
-heat pumps
-thermal cameras
-indoor air quality and radon
-water conservation
-rainwater management
-low-water-use and native landscaping
-making your home and property more resilient to heat, flooding, drought and wildfire.

Bring your questions, explore at your own pace, and chat with RDN staff about practical steps you can take at home.

Building a more climate-resilient home doesn’t have to happen all at once - sometimes it starts with one useful idea.

More information:
https://www.mabr.ca/upcoming-events/2026/9/26/climate-resilient-homes-climate-adaptation-open-house

Hosted by the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region, with support from the Regional District of Nanaimo and the Town of Qualicum Beach.

25/09/2026

World Rivers Day is this Sunday!

Our friends at the Mid Vancouver Island Habitat Enhancement Society and the Regional District of Nanaimo are bringing the community together for a World Rivers Day Celebration at the Parksville Community Park Arboretum.

Come by, meet local conservation groups, celebrate the rivers and streams that connect our communities, and learn more about the many ways we can all be river stewards.

Sunday, September 27
11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Parksville Community Park Arboretum

Everyone is welcome!

Looking forward to seeing everyone!

23/09/2026

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Community Gathering & Walk

Please join us for a community gathering and walk in recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

The day will begin at ts’xwelikwshenawtxw - a Pentlatch name meaning “the house at the foot of Mount Arrowsmith”

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Gather at ts’xwelikwshenawtxw, 124 West 2nd Avenue, Qualicum Beach, for tea, coffee, conversation and reflection.

Guests will be invited to create a paper Orange Shirt to carry during the community walk and bring with them to the Qualicum Beach Museum. Truth and Reconciliation resources will also be available to explore and take home.

12:30 PM

We will walk together from ts’xwelikwshenawtxw to Qualicum Beach Town Hall, where Chief Mugalease (Michael Recalma) of Qualicum First Nation and Mayor Teunis Westbroek will share words with the community.

Approximately 1:00 PM

The walk will continue together to the Qualicum Beach Museum, where Chief Mugalease (Michael Recalma) will offer final words. Participants may then visit the museums specially-curated exhibition, which includes the history of Residential Schools, the Rights of Indigenous People, and reflections from a Qualicum First Nation poet.

Wear Orange
Everyone joining the walk is encouraged to wear an orange shirt or carry an orange shirt sign or symbol.

As we walk together may we carry what we learn and remember beyond this day - into stronger relationships, deeper understanding and the future we shape together.

Everyone is welcome!

https://www.mabr.ca/upcoming-events/2026/9/30/truth-and-reconciliation-commemoration