Announcing the Spring 2023 Neighbourhood Small Grants!

We are excited to share this list of grass-roots community projects that received Neighbourhood Small Grants this past spring cycle. 

As usual, we want to extend our thanks to 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 to make their communities more inclusive, and vibrant places to live. Check out the projects below and reach out to marianne@clayoquotbiosphere.org if you want to connect to a project leader and participate. 

2023 Spring NSG Projects

Cedar bark weaving, canning, and cooking workshop – Maria Desnoyer, Hesquiaht

I want to host a few workshops to share skills on food preservation, baking, and cedar weaving. I will invite an elder to bring language and knowledge sharing during the event as well. I will use seasonal berries and run the workshops accordingly.

Traditional Foods and Medicine - Bernard Charleson, Hesquiaht

Gather youth and elders from our small village to bring back some traditional teachings which help our remote community as it is expensive and far to travel to Tofino for food and medicine. I want to pay elders to share knowledge on when and how to harvest traditional foods and medicine. We will have a knowledge walk to gather the food and medicines and then a workshop to process and preserve them.

Cedar Bark Workshop - Dolores Bayne, Hesquiaht

Using the leftover cedar, we have harvested in previous years, I would like to host a few workshops in the community. I will host them in the old hall and invite anyone in the community who is interested in participating. I will let the community choose what they want to weave but will suggest that they start with a laundry basket which they will be able to complete over 2-3 sessions. 

Harvesting cedar bark - Beverly Martin, Ucluelet

Creating an educational video for children and youth about the protocols around harvesting cedar bark. It will be taught by a Nuu-chah-nulth knowledge keeper from Hitacu. It will teach language and practices for harvesting cedar with respect, and reciprocity, take only what is needed, and use what you have harvested. Never to waste. It will incorporate the practices and teachings of the Nuu-chah-nulth people to be preserved and passed on. 

Tuff City Vegan Dinner - Jordan Linley, Tofino

The goal of this dinner is to spread awareness and education about vegan foods and the impacts of non-vegan foods while bringing people together in a fun safe space. I live in staff accommodation at Pacific Sands and am hoping to grow my connections in the local communities.

Ocean Inclusive, a West Coast Adaptive Surf Clinic - Jess McGarry, Tofino

Surfing is more than just a sport. It can be therapy. We will be organizing an event that provides accessible surfing instruction to people of all abilities. The clinic is open to individuals with physical and cognitive disabilities, regardless of their surfing experience. The plan will be to run a 1- or 2-day clinic “try-it-out” day at the beach. Our adaptive surf clinic will provide an opportunity to experience not just the therapeutic qualities of the ocean but also the pure joy that surfing can bring without compromising safety.

Community Beach Sports Library - Keegan Mccoll, Tofino

Our objective is to offer recreation opportunities for families and residents to encourage community building and a healthy lifestyle. The Community Beach Sports Library will be located at South Chesterman Beach and will include a community logbook, a beach volleyball net, volleyballs, a pump, and instructions/guidelines which will be enclosed in a waterproof locked cargo tote.

Seed Bombing Raincoast Commons - Todd Smith, Ucluelet

Gardening & food cultivation in the area is thought to be difficult because of our humid and rainy climate. This project aims to disprove that myth by teaching people about gardening, soil fertility, and indigenous plant life, while proactively solving the possibility of soil erosion in a new neighborhood development. By hosting a gardening block party, we can increase knowledge about plant life that thrives in our region while also welcoming adjacent streets to mingle and converse over a shared activity.

The Hongos Domum Project - Colin Steven, Tofino

This project aims to plant edible gourmet mushroom gardens for local community members by providing laboratory-grown mushroom cultures and installation of gardens with full instruction for new growers. This project seeks to complete the complicated and sterile preparation of mushroom cultures at my home laboratory, then plant the gardens for community members in a simple "set it, forget it "style of cultivation. The garden will provide gourmet mushrooms for eating as well as serve to introduce and inspire new mushroom gardeners.

Grade 7 Team Building and Transition Trip - Miranda McIver, Tofino

We are planning a celebration trip for our Grade 7's as they transition from Wickaninnish Community School to Ucluelet Secondary School. To celebrate their successes of this year as they move on together and take them on a trip to Fast Time Amusements for a day of games, bonding, laughs, and community building. After we will have a celebratory meal together. In fostering a common lived experience, we hope to deepen the relationship and provide common ground to extend friendships further as they transition into high school.

West Coast Summer Swim Team - Shannon Summersides, Ucluelet

I would like to start a summer swimming club for the West Coast youth. The swim team would connect the communities on the Peninsula and provide an additional athletic opportunity for our youth/kids; allowing them to reap all the benefits of being on an athletic team (sportsmanship, comradery, discipline, hard work, inclusion, etc.). The program would also instill valuable water skills in an ocean environment. These skills would translate to increased water safety/confidence in the ocean amongst our youth and an overall positive effect on ocean safety.

Plant Technology for Kids- Identifying & Harvesting the plants in our back yard - Kimberly Johnston, Tofino

Children ages 7-10 will be welcome in our backyard to attend a workshop where they will learn about local medicinal and edible plants, harvest them, and then make tea, salve, and a poultice from the plants. We will go on a local plan scavenger hunt, play games, do some art, and work in teams to learn as much as possible about the local medicinal plants in our region.

Sound & Media - Ernest Adusei, Ucluelet

Sound & Media's first project will be a workshop followed by an exhibition. The plan is for 6 individuals in our community to be given disposable cameras to capture the things they care about to understand framing a shot to tell a story. We will reconnect to drop the cameras off for development, discuss what we have learned, and make selections for the exhibition. The workshop will be composed of individuals with marginalized identities across race, gender, age, and sexuality. This workshop aims to have a platform that helps create and promote more diverse and representative media within our community.

Tales from life in Clayoquot Sound - Carly Steven, Tofino

My project/vision is to create a podcast that captures actual tales from life in Clayoquot Sound. This would include stories from when the area was pioneered up to the present day. I am hoping to do interviews with long-time locals and Indigenous community members to include first-person perspectives. I see this project connecting the community by providing entertainment, preserving the community's history, and teaching newcomers about the area’s past and how much it has changed.

Baby and Mom Gatherings - Megan Cameron, Ucluelet

This group is intended to connect new moms with other women going through the same experiences. It's a chance for our children to make friendships and connections to their community.

Caregiver Meet-up and Swap - Caitlin O'Connell, Tofino

Raising a baby on the west coast comes with a lot of challenges. It can be difficult to find clothes or baby/toddler supplies that aren't for a tourist market. It can also be hard to meet other parents when there are very few events for young children.  I'd like to host a swap meet for caregivers of children 6 or under, where people could bring clothes or toys that have been outgrown, find new treasures, and meet new caregivers at the same time.