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Announcing the 2021 Vital Grant Awards

Photo credit: Maaqutusiis Hahoulthee Stewardship Society

Our Vital Grant program began in 2018 with the goal to address regional priorities and complex challenges influencing sustainability in the Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Region. These $15,000-20,000 grants support meaningful collaboration between organizations, communities and cultures and must include a minimum of two project partners. This year, the CBT also reviewed Vital Grant applications with an equity lens by considering whether projects addressed regional social and health inequities.

Congratulations to all recipients. Thank you for the important work that you are doing in our Biosphere Region!

We are happy to announce the 2021 Vital Grant projects:

Bedwell River Habitat Restoration and Enhancement – Ahousaht / Maaqutusiis Hahoulthee Stewardship Society

The Bedwell River watershed is located in the traditional territory of the Ahousaht First Nation and is approximately 24km Northeast of Tofino within Clayoquot Sound. The project aims to restore and enhance vital spawning and rearing habitat for chum, coho, and chinook salmon. The restoration and habitat enhancement of this watershed is crucial for the survival and sustainability of Clayoquot Salmon.

To learn more and discover future projects follow Maaqutusiis Hahoulthee Stewardship Society and their partners in this project Central Westcoast Forest Society, Ha'oom Fisheries, Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge, and Uu-a-thluk.

Assessing Juvenile Chinook Salmon Survival – Cedar Coast Field Station

The Cedar Coast Field Station (CCFS) is working on a large, locally-led, collaborative effort to evaluate early marine survival in threatened Clayoquot Chinook salmon. Over the past two years, CCFS has piloted an effort working with First Nations, DFO, and local organizations to address knowledge gaps regarding Chinook lifecycles and potential factors affecting the population's ability to rebuild to healthy levels.

Follow the Cedar Coast Field Station and their partners in this project (Maaqutusiis Hahoulthee Stewardship Society, Ha'oom Fisheries, and Uu-a-thluk) to learn more about their work and future projects.

ƛaʔuukʷiʔatḥ Family Learning Curriculum Development – Language Keepers Society

Fluent Elders, Moses and Levi Martin, with linguist, Adam Werle, Phd, have been developing and implementing a family language curriculum with a dedicated group of approximately thirty learners. This curriculum breaks the language into learnable pieces. The benefit of this approach is evidenced in the rapid language acquisition of dedicated learners.

The Language Keepers Society has a new website coming out soon - stay tuned to our Facebook page and we will share it when it is live!

Tla-o-qui-aht Nation Community Safety Initiative – Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation

The Tla-o-qui-aht Nation Community Safety Initiative seeks to fund, support, and provide training opportunities for TFN a network of on-call Community Crisis Responders (CCR). CCR's will be available 24/7 to those in crisis in Tla-o-qui-aht communities to respond in place of or alongside colonial police to protect lives from violence and connect to community resources.

Vital Grants - Looking Back & Looking Forward

January 18, 2023
Five years ago, CBT launched Vital Grants: a stream of partnership funding to address regional priorities and complex challenges that influence sustainability in the Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Region. Vital Grants were launched in response to grantee feedback that small grants (e.g. $5000) and short timelines make it difficult to address larger issues

Join our team as Director of Partnerships for Conservation

January 9, 2023
Reporting to the Executive Director, the Director of Partnerships for Conservation will build out a new role collaborating with partners on conservation projects, as well as leading research, planning, and engagement activities linked to the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere designation and Canada Target 1. The individual participates in relevant networks and committees aligned with key projects and contributes to the objectives of the Canada Fund Agreement, the MAB Statutory Framework and the MAB Lima Action Plan.

The 2022 Holiday Giving Catalogue is here

December 2, 2022
'Tis the season for giving and standing tall as a region. We're honoured to bring back the Giving Catalogue—an annual collaborative holiday initiative.

Living Building Challenge

October 5, 2022
CBT has committed to achieving the Living Building Challenge! LBC provides a sustainable framework for the design and construction of buildings and cultivates a symbiotic relationship between people, communities, and nature. Living Buildings are regenerative and inspire innovative methods of construction throughout the building!

2022 Discretionary Grants

September 6, 2022
Each year, the CBT provides funding up to $5,000 for small projects that promote the health of individuals, communities and ecosystems throughout the Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Region. Each granting stream is overseen by an advisory committee of local volunteers who have an interest and expertise related to the grant.

Announcing Spring 2022 Neighbourhood Small Grants !

June 14, 2022
We are excited to share nearly 20 grass-roots community projects that will be receiving Neighbourhood Small Grants this cycle.  As usual, the West Coast Community Resources Society, our community partner for creating the cheques for community members. NSG makes empowering, accessible opportunities for residents from all demographics rise up and make their communities more inclusive, vibrant places to live. Check out the projects below and reach out to colin@clayoquotbiosphere.org if you want to connect to a project leader and participate. 

Biosphere Centre: moving forward on the land in a good way

June 13, 2022
On June 2nd, the CBT board, staff, and partners gathered at the future site of the Clayoquot Biosphere Centre for a small ceremony led by Tla-o-qui-aht cultural workers Chris and Hayden Seitcher. The intentions were simple yet profound: to reflect with gratitude on the work done to bring the Biosphere Centre initiative where it is today and to envision the next phase of the project.

CBT Granting Update and Equity Pathway

February 22, 2022
We continue to reflect on key learnings from our UNESCO periodic review, our Vital Signs research, and the pandemic. We’ve committed to work with volunteers, First Nations, communities, and partners on making CBT a more equity-driven organization: in our granting program, in our organizational culture, and beyond.

The Coastal Family Resource Coalition is hiring

February 22, 2022
The Coastal Family Resource Coalition (CFRC) is looking to hire a qualified proponent to provide leadership capacity and coordination services for the CFRC, a regional network coordinated and administered by the CBT and guided by the CFRC Executive Committee. 

We're looking for a new team member

February 15, 2022
We're hiring a Program Coordinator to work 30 hours/week. As part of our goal to be representative of and responsive to the communities we work with, the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust (CBT) is seeking a Nuu-chah-nulth person to join our staff team.

Seeking a contractor to support research and communication for the Indigenous-led Westcoast Stewardship Corridor

February 4, 2022
The CBT is supporting the establishment of an Indigenous-led Stewardship Corridor. We are looking for a contractor (individual or firm) to create an inventory of existing Indigenous-led stewardship and resource management activities and collaborations on the west coast of Vancouver Island (VI) (from T’Sou-ke Nation to the Clayoquot Biosphere Region) and the vision forward for a collaborative stewardship corridor.

Audit Services Invitation to Tender

October 25, 2021
The Clayoquot Biosphere Trust Society (CBT) is requesting tenders from qualified firms of public accountants to audit the financial statements of the CBT for the year ending December 31, 2021, and if a contract is assigned for each fiscal year ending during that period.

Join our team as an At-Large Director

September 24, 2021
The CBT is seeking expressions of interest in a 4-year volunteer term as Alternate At-Large Director. The CBT exists to support research, education and programs that advance conservation, the understanding of natural processes in the marine and terrestrial ecosystems and that promote the health of individuals and communities in the Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Region. The CBT relies on the vision and strategic direction of a committed Board of Directors representing a diversity of experience, skills and interests supportive of the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere designation.

2021 Discretionary Grants

August 6, 2021
Every year, the CBT provides small project funding (up to $5,000) in the following four areas: Research and Environment, Community Development, Arts and Culture, and Youth and Education. Each granting stream is built upon different funding priorities and overseen by its own Advisory Committee comprised of 12-15 local volunteers with interest and expertise relevant to the specific grant.

2021 Youth Action Grants

July 21, 2021
Our Youth Action Grants are one of the ways we fulfil our priority of Empowering Youth in the region. This is our 7th year offering youth-led grants and we are always inspired by the creative projects and their beneficial ripple effects in the community.

New Nelly Heyduck Art Collaboration

July 2, 2021
Nelly Heyduck has created a beautiful new print depicting our biosphere region in recognition of the 20th anniversary of the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere designation.