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.

Announcing the 2024 Community Development Grants

July 23, 2024
We are excited to announce the recipients of the 2024 Community Development grants. This year, five outstanding projects in our region have been awarded a total of $24,000 in funding. These grants are dedicated to fostering accessible, inclusive, healthy, supportive, equitable, and sustainable communities, helping to build a stronger and more united region.

Announcing the 2024 Research & Environment Grants

July 17, 2024
We're excited to announce the recipients of the 2024 Research and Environment grants. This year, the CBT awarded over $36,000 in funding to six inspiring projects in the region. These projects address threats to key species and ecosystems and uplift nuučaan̓uł (Nuu-chah-nulth) ways of knowing. Efforts also focus on habitat conservation, restoration, and protection for ecologically and culturally important species and ecosystems.

Welcoming our 2024 Summer Intern

July 15, 2024
We're excited to welcome Zahur Ashrafuzzaman (she/he/they), our new summer intern who is already making valuable contributions to a variety of projects across the organization!

Our Team's Experience at EuroMAB 2024

June 11, 2024
In early June 2024, two members of the CBT team, Colin Robinson and Janessa Dornstauder had the opportunity to attend EuroMAB 2024 in the Elbe River Landscape, Germany – a UNESCO Biosphere. Because there are so few countries in North America, Canada, and the USA participate in the European network, while Mexico participates in the Latin network. Read more about their experience! 

Marcie Callewaert Reflects on her Leadership Journey

May 6, 2024
“Participating in LVI gave me back my leadership confidence that I had lost somewhere along the way. It was a great reminder of what I am capable of and provided me with tools to strengthen my skills as I move forward in new roles. Because of LVI, I took chances that I never would have taken just a few years ago and they paid off! I am so thankful for the community of support that LVI creates during the program and in the months and years afterwards."

Share the Fare: Elevating Sustainability for the Biosphere Centre

May 2, 2024
Harbour Air, renowned as the Pacific's premier seaplane airline, has recently forged a partnership that aims to redefine the skies. Collaborating with the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust (CBT), Harbour Air's mission goes beyond flight; it's about flying with purpose, with its new support for the Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Centre.

Harbour Air Expands Share the Fare Program to Include the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust

April 10, 2024
arbour Air, North America’s largest seaplane airline, announced today its partnership with the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust (CBT) as part of its Share the Fare program. This collaboration underscores Harbour Air’s commitment to supporting coastal communities in British Columbia and advancing sustainable initiatives.

Join us for our Annual Biosphere Region BioBlitz!

April 2, 2024
On Saturday, April 20th, participate from anywhere within the biosphere region to celebrate the upcoming Earth Day! It’s an excellent opportunity to step outdoors and learn about the amazing biodiversity in the area.

Pani's Journey : From receiving CBT's Education Award to Pursuing Medicine at UBC

March 8, 2024
Pani Ayoubizadeh from Ucluelet received the Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Education award in 2022 and is currently studying science at the University of British Columbia to become a cardiac surgeon. She has recently gotten in touch to share an update on her academic journey as well as her personal growth since receiving the award.

Grant Writing Workshop

January 26, 2024
Join this half-day workshop hosted in partnership with the West Coast N.E.S.T. (CBT's regional education tourism initiative) to learn effective grant writing and fundraising strategies.

Good News for the Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Centre Project!

January 17, 2024
In a remarkable display of commitment to community and environmental stewardship, the Wickaninnish Inn has pledged an astounding $150,000 over the course of five years to support the Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Centre. In a generous gesture, they have already contributed $40,000 as their inaugural installment.

Announcing the fall 2023 Culture Neighbourhood Small Grants!

December 6, 2023
We are excited to share this list of grass-roots community projects that received Culture Neighbourhood Small Grants (NSG) this past fall cycle. This has been our most successful cycle to date, with a total of 33 projects in the region, 15 projects for Clayoquot Sound NGS and 18 for Ahousaht NSG!