Earth Week Event 2023

We’re still buzzing after such a well-attended Earth Week event in late April at St. Mary’s Church in Metchosin, where close to 200 of you joined us for an evening of knowledge-sharing, insight, and community-building with presentations from renowned forest ecologist Andy MacKinnon and AFA photographer & campaigner TJ Watt. Together, we raised almost $2000 through donations and sales, all of which will go toward protecting the remaining endangered ancient forests of BC!

Andy gave attendees a breakdown of the intricacies of an old-growth forest vs. the uniformity of a second-growth tree plantation, speaking to the value that BC’s endangered old-growth forests bring to overall ecosystem health and how they affect the planet’s well-being as well as our own.

Afterward, TJ gave the crowd a behind-the-scenes look into the trials and tribulations that accompany his trips out in the field documenting remote stands of old-growth forests as well as clearcuts in his presentation, “Exploring & Photographing Ancient Forests in BC”.

We’d like to give a special thank you shout-out to those who helped make the night a success: Janet Gray, organizer and refreshment-maker extraordinaire; harpist Allison Marshall, who greeted folks as they filed in with her beautiful music; poet Dan MacIsaac, who started the evening with his moving poem titled, “The Log in the Woods”; Heloise Nicholl for emceeing; five-year-old Margaret MacKinnon who is selling her crayon art and donating all proceeds to AFA; and Nicole Perron, Steve Gray, Wally Emer, and all the volunteers at St. Mary’s Parish for helping the evening run so smoothly.

We had such a great time connecting with everyone in person, and were reminded of what a generous, curious, and kind community we have standing with us! Couldn’t make it to the event but would still like to support our work? Click here to donate, Send a Message to the BC government using our online take-action tool, or visit our online store.