What are the opening hours?

Monday 10am - 4pm Tuesday 10am - 4pm Wednesday 10am - 4pm Thursday 10am - 4pm Friday 10am - 4pm Saturday 10am - 4pm Sunday 10am - 4pm

Gorge Waterway Nature House

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Gorge Waterway Nature House

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The Gorge Waterway Nature House is open to the public and offers environmental education programs to school and community groups.

Open hours subject to volunteer availability - any closures will be announced via Facebook post. Located right on the Gorge Waterway, the Nature House was opened in 2008 and serves as a local community hub of marine and environmental education, operated by the Gorge Waterway Action Society. Get your hands wet with a touch tank of live marine animals from our coast, check out a 3-D model of the surrounding watershed and have fun exploring various displays that provide a hands-on learning experience about local terrestrial and aquatic environments. The Nature House also runs educational programs for school and community groups, offers birthday party programs and operates a small concession stand and retail store.

10/30/2026

Just as Pacific salmon descend upon the freshwater streams that birthed them, salon enthusiasts descended upon Tillicum Centre to celebrate spawning season.

"Return of the Spawners" brought together local eNGOs, community groups, and researchers dedicated to salmon science, education, and conservation. Between learning about these critical and charismatic species and ways to protect them, attendees made salmon cards and stamped textiles, guessed the number of "salmon eggs" in the jar, and connected with fellow fish-fans.

On behalf of the Ocean Conservation & Education Action Network: South Vancouver Island (OCEAN SVI), we are grateful to the PACIFIC SALMON FOUNDATION for supporting salmon conservation and this event!

10/27/2026

The final volunteer restoration session of the year is this Thursday, October 29th. 🪏🌿🐛

We would love to see you for a morning of spooky fun and ecological impact!

No experience necessary, and all tools and gloves are provided. Light refreshments also included!

Come and meet others who care about the environment and the ecosystems in Esquimalt Gorge Park!

👻 Costumes highly encouraged! 🎃

10/27/2026

A huge thanks to our un-bill-ievable volunteers for making our Ducks & Dougs Planting Event such a success 🦆

We planted over 50 native seedlings in the mini forest and Indigenous Youth Stewardship sites in Esquimalt Gorge Park. Long-time GWAS volunteers worked alongside current staff, past staff, and new volunteers from the community. It takes a village of nature-stewards to maintain restored habitats, and we're so grateful for ours 💚

While the Bufflehead ducks were feeling shy, we were greeted by a pair of nesting bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) 🦅

In addition to our amazing volunteers, GWAS is grateful for the support from Green Communities Canada, and the ongoing support of Esquimalt Parks & Recreation for making this work possible.

10/15/2026

In honour of All Buffleheads Day, an annual celebration on October 15th, this week we are highlighting the beautiful Bufflehead 🦆(Bucephala albeola)! These incredible animals are highly punctual and often migrate to Victoria BC on this exact date!

Swing by our Ducks and Doug’s: Fall Planting Party this Sunday, October 18th, to watch for a baffle (flock) of Buffleheads in the Gorge!

📷: Creative Commons

10/14/2026

🦀 How is European green crab trapping connected to the Sustainable Development Goal #13, Climate Action? Watch the video to find out!

In this video, our Canadian Summer Jobs employees are trapping European green crab with training and support from Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

European green crab are an invasive species that cause damage to vital native habitat and native species. Monitoring their presence and abundance help us better understand where they are established and how they may be affecting local ecosystems. This information can guide efforts to protect our local waterways and the species that call them home as our climate changes.

While our crab trapping is nearly wrapped up for the season, there are always volunteer opportunities at GWAS. Email us at [email protected] to learn more.

A huge thank you to the Government of Canada for funding support. This work and these programs are funded in part by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the Sustainable Development Goals Funding Program, and Canada Summer Jobs.

10/13/2026

There are only a few weeks left of volunteer restoration sessions before we take a break for the winter. 🌱

We would love to see you out there! No prior experience required and all tools are provided.

📍Meet at the Nature House in Esquimalt Gorge Park
🕥9:30 - 11am

We are working hard to prepare a site in Sherwood forest for our upcoming Ducks and Dougs planting event on October 18th! Come and join us as we plant native species and welcome back the Bufflehead ducks on their migratory journey. 🦆

10/12/2026

Sure it's pumpkin spice season, but even more importantly, it's salmon spawning season 🐟

To celebrate, the Ocean Conservation Education & Action Network: South Vancouver Island (OCEAN SVI) and GWAS are hosting "Return of the Spawners" a free and inclusive event for all salmon-lovers!

Our goal is to connect event attendees with all of the incredible organizations that are dedicated to salmon education and conservation in their community- especially those that offer hands-on volunteer opportunities. Besides learning and networking, there will be activities, snacks, and salmon-themed crafts including linocut block printing of salmon on your textiles!

We hope to sea you there 🌊

On behalf of OCEAN SVI, we'd like to thank the PACIFIC SALMON FOUNDATION for their generous support.

10/09/2026

GWAS and the South Island Climate Action Network are hosting an All Candidates Meeting on Zoom for the Provincial Election for the Esquimalt-Colwood riding on Tuesday, Oct 13.

Details below, and poster attached.

ESQUIMALT-COLWOOD PROVINCIAL CANDIDATE MEETING
(includes Vic West + View Royal)

7:30-9 pm. Tuesday, October 13th
Live Online Zoom Meeting (will also be recorded)

Hear where the candidates for the Esquimalt-Colwood electoral district (including Vic West + View Royal) stand on a wide variety of issues.

Follow the link in our bio to register!

10/09/2026

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, we’ve been thinking about all things Turkey! 🦃 We can’t think of a better way to celebrate than to honour the local Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura). These incredible birds are native to Vancouver Island and can often be found flying around the Nature House in Esquimalt Gorge Park!

Swipe for some incredible fun facts! ↪️
📷: Creative Commons

lifeonland

10/07/2026

Last night, GWAS staff and volunteers helped out at the Township of Esquimalt’s Municipal All Candidates Meeting.

We were joined by 150 community members to hear from 12 councillor candidates and 2 mayoral candidates on issues that matter to Esquimalt.

A big thank you to the volunteers who came out to help with the event, to our MCs for doing such a great job keeping the evening moving, to all of the candidates who took part, and to everyone who came out to listen, ask questions, and be part of the conversation.

It was a great evening, and we were really happy to see so many people show up and take an interest in what’s happening in Esquimalt.

A special thank you to Creatively United, Esquimalt Climate Organizers, and the Esquimalt United Church Justice Team for organizing the evening and bringing the community together for this important conversation.

Check out www.VOTE4TOMORROW.ca for more info on candidates in you riding 🗳️

Address

1070 Tillicum Road
Victoria, BC
V9A2A3

Opening Hours

Monday	10am - 4pm
Tuesday	10am - 4pm
Wednesday	10am - 4pm
Thursday	10am - 4pm
Friday	10am - 4pm
Saturday	10am - 4pm
Sunday	10am - 4pm

Telephone

+17782565119

Website

http://www.gorge.ca/

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