2022 Discretionary Grants

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. Granting streams include: Arts & Culture, Community Development, Research & Environment, and Youth & Education. 

Applications for the 2023 grants will open in the new year, with funding dispersed by June.

The following is a list of projects that were funded by the 2022 grants. 

Arts & Culture Grant

Wild Pacific Trail – Ancient Cedar Voice Box: Educate the public on the diversity of trees and plants while helping to preserve the language first spoken on the land through the design and installation of an eco-friendly, hand-powered audio box.

Pacific Rim Arts Society – Missoula Children’s Theatre: The theatre group will hold an open audition casting 50 to 60 local students (Kindergarten to Grade 12) to perform in a theatre production. During the week-long event, children also have the opportunity to learn set design, lighting and costume design, leading up to two performances at the end of the week.

Seal Folk Productions - QʷAYAĆIIK: A 40-minute documentary project exploring the ecological, cultural, and social transformation happening in the relationship between humans and wildlife - namely the coastal wolves.

Carving on the Edge Festival Society – Naa’Waya’Sum Pole Raising: A Totem Pole is set to be raised during this year's Carving on the Edge Festival, in the hopes of inspiring the public, as well as to demonstrate the traditional way of raising a pole. By doing so the pole will be able to completely return to the soil when its time comes.

Coastal Queer Alliance – Coastal Queers Concert: Coastal Queer Alliance will be hosting its inaugural in-person introduction to the community through a music fundraising/educational event set for the fall. This event is intended to introduce the work that Coastal Queers has already done, provide a framework for envisioning a queer-friendly future of Tofino and provide opportunities to support that vision, while also creating a fun, engaging, musical evening.

Toquaht Nation – Toquaht Intermediate Carving Workshop: After hosting a successful beginner’s carving workshop in the Toquaht village of Macoah, Citizen Dennis Hetu is building on the momentum to offer an intermediate workshop that will build on the foundation from the first workshop.

Wickaninnish Community School – Afterschool Central Dialect classes at Wickaninnish Community School: Instructed by Grace George who has years of experience instructing language and culture, after school central dialect classes offer an opportunity for Indigenous and non-Indigenous students to learn and participate in Nuu-Chah-Nulth language and culture in an inter-generational format.

Community Development Grant

Yuulu?il?ath Government - Ucluelet First Nation - UFN Trail Crew – Collaborative Sustainable Trail Building Training: Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ Government signed a formal land use agreement with the Ucluelet Mountain Bike Association (UMBA) in an effort to collaborate to better manage and improve the previously illegal and unmaintained network of  Mt. Ozzard mountain bike trail systems without barring access to the greater community. 

Ahousaht - Revisiting our Haahoulthee (Ahousaht' Territory): Ahousaht Youth will be taken to paddle around Ahousaht Territory, enabling youth to gain self-identity and self-pride in where they are from.

District of Ucluelet – Youth Cooking Classes: This program offers youth the chance to join in after school and develop some cooking skills, alongside general food and nutrition knowledge, while working together in a positive environment.

Westcoast Community Resources Society - Wellness Markets: Monthly outdoor wellness markets aim to cultivate more compassion, understanding and connection within our communities by promoting access to resources, services and education; providing support for substance misuse through positive coping strategies, education and awareness; and promoting an inclusive approach to healing and growth by providing a link between mental heal-focused services and wellness-based local businesses.

Westcoast Community Resources Society – Sexual Assault Response Program: Set up a community-coordinated Indigenous-informed sexual assault response program for the west coast with conducted training.  

Research & Environment Grant

Ucluelet Aquarium Society – Ucluelet Harbour Eelgrass Society: The Aquarium is setting up a new project to survey eelgrass in the Ucluelet Harbour for the first time since 2002, by collaborating with local organizations already skilled in the survey techniques and methods.

Redd Fish Restoration Society – Yellow Flag Iris Volunteer Project: Volunteer project to manage the infestation of an extensive patch of Yellow Flag Iris that was discovered near Big Beach. This is a high-profile invasive species that can quickly take over entire wetlands and choke out native species.

Wetlands Stewards for Clayoquot and Barkley Sounds - Waaʕit habitat stewardship on tukʷaaʔatḥ lands: The toadlet protection project at Cadillac Lake has resumed with the goal to increase the survival of waaʕit, Western Toads and learn more about the species distribution in the region. The project will continue with initiative surveys of other lakes in the region to see if other breeding populations are found.

Redd Fish Restoration Society – Barkley Sound Kelp Monitoring: A multi-year kelp monitoring project with the goal of determining what the current baseline for kelp forest ecosystems is in the Barkley Sound region.

Pacific Peoples Partnership - ƛ i ̓ ḥ u k c a̓ a RedTide International Indigenous Climate Change Gathering: RedTide is a gathering of Indigenous peoples, knowledge and ideas from around the World. This year, ʕaḥuusʔatḥ (Ahousaht) has been established as host Nation for RedTide 2022.   ƛ̓iḥuk c̓aa - is a nuučaan̓uł term that means: “a red, strong tide” and acts as a more appropriate local indigenous title for this event. The event is for international Indigenous climate activists and the scientific community, but, is also open to the Climate Action conversation in Clayoquot Sound communities.

Youth & Education Grant

Ucluelet Secondary School – Exploring the Role of Story and Land in First People’s Perspectives: Students at USS will learn firsthand about the importance of storytelling, oral traditions, and the impact land/place has on First People’s perspectives. Three knowledge holders from different local indigenous communities will share stories, lessons, values, beliefs, and perspectives on the connections between land, identity, and culture with the students.

Yuulu?il?ath Government - Ucluelet First Nation – BMSC Field Trip: A field trip supporting UFN students to learn more about their marine backyard in a “hands on” real world experiential manner at Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre.

Ha’oom Fisheries Society – Traditional Seafood Harvest: The project will bring together youth from Ahousaht, Hesquiaht, and Tla-o-qui-aht to participate in two workshops and one harvest day to spark interest and teach about traditional seafoods.

Ahousaht Fisheries – Food security teaching traditional hunting and gathering: Support and teach youth to live off the land by connecting them to the land and sea.  

District of Tofino – Tofino Youth Night: A weekly program available for youth in grades six to twelve with the goal to enhance learning and social opportunities, and prioritize identified youth needs.

Carving on the Edge Festival Society – Through our Eyes: Tla-o-qui-aht Territory Youth: Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth, ages 10-18, living within the traditional ha-hoothlee of the Tla-o-quiaht First Nations engage in a place-based Photovoice project that teaches creative process, photography, interviewing and writing as a means to express and empower themselves.

Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation Education Department - Mułaa Surf Summer Camp & Surf Shed Build: The Indigenous led Surf Team, mułaa (Rising Tide) provides culturally relevant surf instruction and camaraderie to any Nuu-chah-nulth member over the age of 10. Mułaa does not only focus on physical skill-building around surfing, but also on reigniting the connection to land/waters/nature, mentorship of youth, community connection through bringing together families in a safe space, and cultural healing through the inclusion of knowledge holders

Ucluelet Secondary School – PAC - USS Surfrider Youth Club Waste Reduction Campaign: To encourage waste reduction and to promote environmentally conscious practices, the Surfrider Youth Club at USs will purchase four 4-bin recycling systems for the new school. The project aims to reduce unnecessary waste to the west coast landfill and educate youth on the ways to reduce waste.

Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation - Traditional Seafood Harvest: The project will bring together youth from Ahousaht, Hesquiaht, and Tla-o-qui-aht to participate in two workshops and one harvest day to spark interesting and teach about traditional seafoods.

Clayoquot Biosphere Trust Receives Transformational $1.2M Gift from the Ronald S. Roadburg Foundation

February 3, 2025
The Clayoquot Biosphere Trust (CBT) is honored to announce a generous $1.2 million philanthropic investment from the Ronald S. Roadburg Foundation, marking a significant milestone in bringing the Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Centre (CSBC) to life. This remarkable gift highlights our shared commitment to strengthening communities, advancing reconciliation, and fostering environmental stewardship.

Celebrating Community: Our Most Successful Holiday Giving Campaign Yet!

January 14, 2025
This past December, the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust (CBT) collaborated with 23 local charities to promote our shared giving platform, with the goal of standing together to strengthen local communities and ecosystems. Throughout the month, participating charitable organizations helped amplify the initiative by sharing it through their communication channels. Meanwhile, donors explored causes they cared about and supported the region's diverse needs through the Holiday Giving Catalogue.

Join the Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Centre Local Trades Fair! (PDF) 11.38 MB

January 9, 2025
Join the Biosphere Centre Local Trades Fair! We are actively seeking local contractors and tradespeople for various aspects of construction, with a strong emphasis on mass timber construction, sustainable building practices, local material procurement, Indigenous engagement and participation and workforce development and training. Collaborate on this project to make a lasting community impact by contributing to a transformative facility that honors local First Nations and prioritizes sustainable building practices. Click here for more details!

Announcing the Fall 2024 Culture Neighbourhood Small Grants

January 9, 2025
We’re excited to share this list of grass-roots community projects that received a Culture Neighbourhood Small Grants (NSG) this past fall cycle. A total of 19 projects were funded in the region! Read more about the projects below from the Clayoquot Sound NSG program.

Giving Season is Here: Join the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust in Making a Difference

December 9, 2024
As the holiday season draws near, the spirit of generosity and compassion invites us to embrace the timeless tradition of giving. For those of us living on the beautiful west coast, this time of year serves as a reminder of the supportive communities and vibrant ecosystems we cherish. While we often celebrate the visible aspects of our region, we must also recognize the passionate social and environmental charities tirelessly working to uphold the vitality of the local landscapes and communities. 

Ucluelet Co-op and FCL Donate $300,000 to the Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Centre

December 3, 2024
Ucluelet Co-op and Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL) are pleased to announce a joint donation of $300,000 to the Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Centre in Tofino, British Columbia. Ucluelet Co-op and FCL will each contribute $150,000 to this groundbreaking and innovative community project that will see the establishment of the Co-op Community Teaching Kitchen within the Centre.

What does the Living Wage mean to you?

November 19, 2024
With help from Living Wage BC, we’ve calculated the west coast’s living wage for 2024. Across the province and the country, living wages have increased in recent years, mainly because of the costs of rent and food.

Join the Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Centre Local Trades Fair! (PDF) 7.72 MB

November 15, 2024
Join the Biosphere Centre Local Trades Fair! We are actively seeking local contractors and tradespeople for various aspects of construction, with a strong emphasis on mass timber construction, sustainable building practices, local material procurement, Indigenous engagement and participation and workforce development and training. Collaborate on this project to make a lasting community impact by contributing to a transformative facility that honors local First Nations and prioritizes sustainable building practices. Click here for more details!

The Clayoquot Biosphere Trust's Regional Forum: Highlights and Insights from October 2024

November 4, 2024
On October 24, 2024, the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust brought together a mix of participants for a gathering on ƛaʔuukʷiʔatḥ (Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations) territory at TinWis. This gathering was all about fostering connections, sharing knowledge, and building strong, collaborative relationships. Attendees included representatives from First Nations, local governments, and organizations involved in environmental research, stewardship, restoration, and sustainable development.

Fostering Collaboration: BC's UNESCO Biospheres Gather in the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region

October 9, 2024
In early October, the three BC-based UNESCO Biosphere Regions gathered for knowledge sharing within the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region. Each Biosphere Regions works together on shared priorities including biodiversity conservation and climate action. By leveraging our unique strengths and priorities, we are able to collaborate and support each other’s efforts.  

Collaboration and Conservation: Highlights from Our Gathering at the Waterton Biosphere Region

October 9, 2024
Earlier this month, Janessa (Conservation Partnerships Coordinator) and Rebecca (Executive Director), joined colleagues from across Canada’s 19 UNESCO Biosphere Regions for a knowledge-sharing event within the Waterton Biosphere Region. This gathering was made possible thanks to support from Environment and Climate Change Canada and the Canadian Biosphere Regions Association. 

Koyah's Journey: From receiving CBT's Education Award to Studying Science at UBC

October 1, 2024
Koyah Morgan-Banke a Toquaht student who received CBT's Central Region nuučaan̓uł (Nuu-chah-nulth) Education Award in 2023 and is currently studying Sciences at the University of British Columbia to pursue a career in medicine. She has recently gotten in touch to share an update on her academic journey as well as her personal growth since receiving the award. 

Insights from our 2024 Intern: A Summer with the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust

September 25, 2024
This summer, we had the privilege of welcoming Zahur as CBT's 2024 summer intern, where they played a key role in supporting a variety of initiatives across the organization. Zahur brought fresh perspectives and a strong work ethic, making a meaningful impact on numerous projects. We’re incredibly grateful for their hard work and dedication! To learn more about Zahur's experience, read their blog post below.

New Signage: Welcoming You to the Haḥuułi of the Five Central Nuučaan̓uł (Nuu-chah-nulth) Nations

September 9, 2024
If you’ve driven from Port Alberni to the coast recently, you may have noticed a new sign 2km before you arrive at “the junction.” The sign welcomes you to the ḥaḥuułi of the five central region nuučaan̓uł (Nuu-chah-nulth) Nations — hiškʷiiʔatḥ (Hesquiaht), ʕaaḥuusʔatḥ (Ahousaht), ƛaʔuukʷiʔatḥ (Tla-o-qui-aht) Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ (Ucluelet), and tukʷaaʔatḥ (Toquaht) — where the biosphere region is designated. 

Announcing the 2024 Vital Grants

September 5, 2024
We are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2024 Vital Grants. This year, the CBT awarded $80,000 in funding to three inspiring projects in the region. These grants focus on addressing regional priorities and complex challenges that influence sustainability in the Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Region. They also aim to support meaningful, longer-term collaboration between organizations, communities, and cultures.

Announcing the Community Prosperity Fund Recipients

September 3, 2024
We are pleased to announce that $125,000 in funding was distributed to support three projects in the region through the Government of British Columbia’s Community Prosperity Fund. The Community Prosperity Fund is a $25 million investment from the Government of B.C. that advances poverty reduction and social inclusion. This fund is part of the Government of B.C.’s commitment to supporting the non-profit sector and empowering local communities to make decisions about what would most benefit them and their communities.