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Port Renfrew Chamber of Commerce President Rosie Betsworth makes her speech during the AFA hosted fundraiser at the Sooke Harbour House.

Port Renfrew aided by donations

Mar 23 2011/in News Coverage

Once the phrase “Avatar Grove” was coined, the flood gates opened out at Port Renfrew.

Avatar Grove refers to the stand of old growth forest just outside Port Renfrew and features the “Canada’s Gnarliest Tree,” a giant red cedar with a 12-foot wide contorted burl located just five minutes past the end of the paved road.

Perhaps it was because of the popular movie, perhaps it was the incredible tree itself but, in any case, efforts by the Ancient Forest Alliance are paying off and the trees in the grove are one step closer to being protected.

At a fundraiser on March 17 at the Sooke Harbour House, local area business people and interested conservationists came together to raise funds for an information centre in Port Renfrew.

“The Ancient Forest Alliance became an integral part of our community and the chamber of commerce and our campaign to protect these forests,” said Port Renfrew Chamber of Commerce president Rosie Betsworth.

Ken Wu, of the Ancient Forest Alliance, spoke of small towns in Canada trying to attract tourists with the “biggest something.” He said Port Renfrew is a small village with a population of 200 and it has the biggest trees in Canada.

“It’s the real deal, the biggest fir tree on the planet and the gnarliest tree in the country in the Avatar Grove. It is a rallying point for people who want to save the old growth forest,” said Wu.

He said Avatar Grove is still unprotected although the logging company has stated it is not interested in logging in the grove.

“It is a magnificent forest for future generations. The increasing number of people will ramp up the total visitor-ship of the entire region,” said Wu.

Jon Cash was pointed out as the first person to push for increased protection of old growth in Port Renfrew. He said that with an adult population of 75 voters politicians aren’t there for you.

“The Ancient Forest Alliance has given us a voice and the chamber of commerce a voice… it is rebranding the whole town,” said Cash. “We are hugely affected by this campaign.”

He said people came to the area expected to see big trees and this “special place” needs to be treated as such.

Photographer TJ Watt said he has seen a shift in people’s willingness to protect those ancient trees.

“It was not by ranting and raving to save the trees,” he said.

The Ancient Forest Alliance is working to get the government to establish an old-growth management area where trees will be valued and protected.

“If we don’t succeed it will be the ‘Biggest Stump Capital of BC’,” said Watt.

By May 1, the Port Renfrew Chamber of Commerce wants to have its information centre up and running.

Adrianne Carr of the Green Party led the pledge auction which raised $6,100 in cash and in-kind services for the chamber of commerce.

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A South Vancouver Island National Park Reserve

Mar 22 2011/in Announcements

A South Vancouver Island National Park Reserve

An idea whose time has come

Dr. Keith Martin, P.C., M.P.

Member of Parliament for Esquimalt – Juan de Fuca

VICTORIA, B.C. – South Vancouver Island in British Columbia is an extraordinarily beautiful part of our planet. It is a place of ecologically sensitive areas, some of which contain rare flora and fauna. However, population pressures threaten these areas and one day will, through urban sprawl, obliterate these important ecosystems. Once they are gone, they are gone forever.

However, we now have a precious opportunity to preserve these lands. The solution: that the lands of Mary Hill, Race Rocks, and the undeveloped portions of William Head and Rocky Point be designated a National Conservation Area. This should be part of a larger canvas— a South Vancouver Island National Park Reserve—which would include parks in East Sooke, Albert Head, and Fort Rodd Hill connected to the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail system and an expanded Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. This would also embrace the Upper Walbran Valley and sites around Port Renfrew that contain magnificent stands of old growth forests. These remarkable trees tower above all others and predate the birth of our county by centuries.

Linking these areas will create a contiguous area of parks. Uninterrupted protected spaces are crucial for the survival of both marine and terrestrial species. These lands can be managed in a sustainable way to create jobs and revenue from several untapped sources including from eco- and ethno-tourism ventures. Individuals from First Nations and other communities can educate people about the rich and fascinating natural and historical treasures in our backyard and earn sustainable monies from doing this. In other countries that still have wild spaces these activities generate millions of dollars.

Development can occur around existing towns in Jordon River, Port Renfrew, and Sooke. Building up and not out would mitigate urban sprawl, create the tax base needed for services, and provide the homes we all need to live in while preserving these priceless ecosystems.

We have but one opportunity to do this. The time to act is now. An expansion of the Pacific Rim National Reserve, linked to a chain of parks, would create the South Vancouver Island National Park Reserve. This would be an enduring legacy that generations to come will enjoy. We cannot let this moment pass.

San Juan Spruce tree and the Red Creek Fir - some of the Canada's largest trees found right nearby!

Sooke fundraiser aims to raise awareness of Island’s ancient trees

Mar 20 2011/in News Coverage

Port Renfrew Chamber of Commerce and the Ancient Forest Alliance are jointly organizing a fundraiser Thursday evening to help raise awareness of the need to protect ancient trees.

The aim of the free-drink-and-free-appetizer event at Sooke Harbour House is to increase tourism to monumental trees around Port Renfrew.

The community is Canada’s big trees capital with Avatar Grove, the Red Creek fir — the largest Douglas fir in the world — and the San Juan spruce — the largest spruce tree in Canada — all in close proximity to town, said Ken Wu of the Ancient Forest Alliance.

This summer the Chamber of Commerce wants to hire someone to run its new information centre, Wu said.

“Thousands of visitors will be directed to visit Avatar Grove and ancient forests nearby,” he said.

“This will greatly help to raise the needed awareness about our endangered old-growth forests and will generate greater tourism to the region as friends tell friends to come and see the area’s incredible ancient trees.”

NOW HIRING: Forest Campaigner

Mar 3 2026

The Ancient Forest Alliance (AFA) is hiring a passionate Forest Campaigner to join our team and help protect old-growth forests in BC!

Employment

It’s AFA’s 16th Birthday!

Feb 26 2026

On Tuesday, February 24th, we’re celebrating 16 years of working together with you, our community, to ensure the permanent protection of old-growth forests in BC. To mark the date, will you chip in $16 or more to support our work?

Announcements

Budget 2026 Shortchanges Nature Protection and Sustainable Forestry Transition At a Critical Time for British Columbia

Feb 20 2026

BC’s Budget 2026 fails to provide the funding needed to secure lasting protection for endangered ecosystems and at-risk old-growth forests in the province.

Media Release