Thanks to the generous support of donors, the Ancient Forest Alliance has quickly grown to become BC’s leading grassroots organization working for the protection of endangered old-growth forests and forestry jobs across the province.
Over the past several years since the AFA was founded, local businesses, green enterprises, artists, environmental foundations, and other organizations have bolstered the AFA’s important work through many fundraising initiatives such as yoga studio Karma Classes, gift raffles, ‘Haircut not Clearcut’ salon fundraisers, in-kind donations, proceeds from products or services, music festivals, concerts and special benefit events.
Thanks to our 2014 Donors!
In 2014, the AFA received significant support from a variety of granting programs and creative fundraisers. We are very grateful for the major support provided by Mountain Equipment Co-op’s Community Contributions Grants and MEC Victoria’s vote of preferred organizations, LUSH Handmade Cosmetics’ Charity Pot program and employee vote of preferred organizations, Patagonia Victoria’s 1% for the Planet contributions, Evergreen Foundation’s funding for a Douglas-fir ecosystem restoration project, Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation’s grant supporting the Avatar Grove boardwalk construction, and Ball Foundation’s grant towards our nature and climate campaign work. In March the annual Tree Huggers’ Ball dance party fundraiser, organized by the UVic Ancient Forest Committee, once again raised significant funds and awareness for the AFA.
To celebrate Earth Day, Grassroots Eco-Salon organized a ‘Haircuts not Clearcuts’ fundraiser, North Park Bike Shop and Café 932 raised funds from the day’s sales, and Sea Flora Wild Organic Seaweed Skincare donated proceeds from an Earth Day seaweed hike.
The AFA’s Boardwalk Fundraiser in June, hosted by Stickleback Restaurant, received support from businesses such as the West Coast Trail Express, Soule Creek Lodge and Pathfinders Design & Technology.
This summer, the Heritage Boardshop donated 50% of entry proceeds from the Salt Spring Skate Competition, the new owners of Vorizo Cafe on Hornby Island pledged support and displayed AFA posters and educational newsletters in the café, and the popular Tall Tree Music Festival once again came to Brown Mountain near Port Renfrew and lent its support to the AFA’s work to protect old-growth forests near Port Renfrew and beyond.
Throughout the year, yoga studios such as Moksha Yoga Victoria, Ananda Ayurveda, and Feel Good Yoga hosted their own Karma Class fundraisers, clothing company Hemp & Co. produced a variety of unique and popular AFA clothing items, West Coast Wonders pledged support from their guiding operations, local designers Emma Glover Design and Cat Abyss Clothing lent support through their creative work, and Port Renfrew Marina hosted many boardwalk volunteers during the boardwalk construction workparties. Banyen Books & Sound has been assisting the AFA’s efforts through sales of AFA cards at their store, and many businesses – Hoyne Brewing, River Road Chocolates, Cottlestone Apiary, Beehive Wool Shop, Olive the Senses, Third Eye Pinecones, Nightingale Naturals, Two Blooms Organics, The Copper Hat, Full Circle Studio Arts, Tonic Jewelry, LUSH, and Escents Aromatherapy – donated items to our fall raffles.
This holiday season, Inspire Hair Design provided funds from every appointment over the month of November, Trees Organic Coffee House generously offered space in their Yaletown café for the AFA’s holiday sales booth, Bon Macaron Patisserie, Cordial Wildcrafted Consumables, La Tana Bakery and Pedersen’s Rentals donated items to our year end events in Victoria, and Eternal Abundance Grocer and Vegan Café began selling AFA merchandise to help raise funding and awareness among their customers.
We look forward to working with many more such supporters in 2015 and beyond as we pursue our ambitious goal of ensuring legislated protection for endangered old-growth forests across the province!
For more information on supporting the AFA as a business or organization, see here.
For a full list of businesses, artists and organizations that have supported the AFA, see here.
Donations by Businesses, Artists & Organizations
/in AnnouncementsThanks to the generous support of donors, the Ancient Forest Alliance has quickly grown to become BC’s leading grassroots organization working for the protection of endangered old-growth forests and forestry jobs across the province.
Over the past several years since the AFA was founded, local businesses, green enterprises, artists, environmental foundations, and other organizations have bolstered the AFA’s important work through many fundraising initiatives such as yoga studio Karma Classes, gift raffles, ‘Haircut not Clearcut’ salon fundraisers, in-kind donations, proceeds from products or services, music festivals, concerts and special benefit events.
Thanks to our 2014 Donors!
In 2014, the AFA received significant support from a variety of granting programs and creative fundraisers. We are very grateful for the major support provided by Mountain Equipment Co-op’s Community Contributions Grants and MEC Victoria’s vote of preferred organizations, LUSH Handmade Cosmetics’ Charity Pot program and employee vote of preferred organizations, Patagonia Victoria’s 1% for the Planet contributions, Evergreen Foundation’s funding for a Douglas-fir ecosystem restoration project, Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation’s grant supporting the Avatar Grove boardwalk construction, and Ball Foundation’s grant towards our nature and climate campaign work. In March the annual Tree Huggers’ Ball dance party fundraiser, organized by the UVic Ancient Forest Committee, once again raised significant funds and awareness for the AFA.
To celebrate Earth Day, Grassroots Eco-Salon organized a ‘Haircuts not Clearcuts’ fundraiser, North Park Bike Shop and Café 932 raised funds from the day’s sales, and Sea Flora Wild Organic Seaweed Skincare donated proceeds from an Earth Day seaweed hike.
The AFA’s Boardwalk Fundraiser in June, hosted by Stickleback Restaurant, received support from businesses such as the West Coast Trail Express, Soule Creek Lodge and Pathfinders Design & Technology.
This summer, the Heritage Boardshop donated 50% of entry proceeds from the Salt Spring Skate Competition, the new owners of Vorizo Cafe on Hornby Island pledged support and displayed AFA posters and educational newsletters in the café, and the popular Tall Tree Music Festival once again came to Brown Mountain near Port Renfrew and lent its support to the AFA’s work to protect old-growth forests near Port Renfrew and beyond.
Throughout the year, yoga studios such as Moksha Yoga Victoria, Ananda Ayurveda, and Feel Good Yoga hosted their own Karma Class fundraisers, clothing company Hemp & Co. produced a variety of unique and popular AFA clothing items, West Coast Wonders pledged support from their guiding operations, local designers Emma Glover Design and Cat Abyss Clothing lent support through their creative work, and Port Renfrew Marina hosted many boardwalk volunteers during the boardwalk construction workparties. Banyen Books & Sound has been assisting the AFA’s efforts through sales of AFA cards at their store, and many businesses – Hoyne Brewing, River Road Chocolates, Cottlestone Apiary, Beehive Wool Shop, Olive the Senses, Third Eye Pinecones, Nightingale Naturals, Two Blooms Organics, The Copper Hat, Full Circle Studio Arts, Tonic Jewelry, LUSH, and Escents Aromatherapy – donated items to our fall raffles.
This holiday season, Inspire Hair Design provided funds from every appointment over the month of November, Trees Organic Coffee House generously offered space in their Yaletown café for the AFA’s holiday sales booth, Bon Macaron Patisserie, Cordial Wildcrafted Consumables, La Tana Bakery and Pedersen’s Rentals donated items to our year end events in Victoria, and Eternal Abundance Grocer and Vegan Café began selling AFA merchandise to help raise funding and awareness among their customers.
We look forward to working with many more such supporters in 2015 and beyond as we pursue our ambitious goal of ensuring legislated protection for endangered old-growth forests across the province!
For more information on supporting the AFA as a business or organization, see here.
For a full list of businesses, artists and organizations that have supported the AFA, see here.
Thank You from the Ancient Forest Alliance!
/in Announcements, Thank YouThe Ancient Forest Alliance is most grateful to the Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) for their major support provided through their Community Contributions grant program. This funding support will allow the AFA to expand our capacity as an organization and strengthen our campaign to protect endangered old-growth forests on Vancouver Island! See MEC's website at: www.MEC.ca
The AFA would also like to thank Innerlife Health Services (innerlife.ca) for their Community Clinic on January 25th, offering BodyTalk sessions with proceeds to the Ancient Forest Alliance, as well as Climbing Arborist (www.climbingarborist.com) and the Mat Fernandez Project for supporting the AFA through their film screening event on January 30th, which included Darryl Augustine's (Roadside Films) AFA documentary. Thank you to all who were involved for your dedicated support!
Walbran Valley at risk of old-growth logging
/in News CoverageHere's a new article in the Island Tides about the Central Walbran Valley's ancient forest being flagged for potential logging – see the full article here: https://www.islandtides.com/assets/reprint/forests_20150205.pdf
Saving Giants with the Ancient Forest Alliance
/in News CoverageMountain Life Magazine has just done a little piece on the Ancient Forest Alliance and filmmaker Darryl Augustine (of Roadside Films – see https://www.facebook.com/roadsidefilmsbc) about his experience working on a film about us.
You can see Darryl's great new film at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hg9dcc2WPjk
Read more: https://www.mountainlifemag.ca/2015/01/saving-giants-ancient-forest-alliance/
Alfred Cecil Carder Obituary
/in News CoverageCARDER, Alfred Cecil 1910 – 2014 We celebrate the life of our beloved father & grandfather who died peacefully on Winter Solstice, December 21, 2014 shortly before his 105th Christmas. Al was born to John & Harriet Carder in Calgary, AB on April 20, 1910 – the fourth of five children. Al was predeceased by his wife Mary (2008) and is deeply loved and missed by children: Judith, Mary-Clare, and Andrew (Jill); grandsons: Jeremy and Noah; sister-in-law, Torla and many nieces and nephews in England. Al grew up in Cloverdale, BC, earned his BSc at UBC (1935) and began his career in Beaverlodge, AB. After decorated World War II service in England and Europe, he returned to earn his MSc (McGill) and PhD (Wisconsin) continuing his research on plant responses to climatic effects – laying groundwork for climate change studies – with Canada's Dept. of Agriculture for which he received Canada's Centennial Medal. While working in Beaverlodge, Al met Mary and they wed in Mary's hometown of Petersfield, England in 1954. Together they raised a family in Beaverlodge and in 1970, after 35 years of civil service, Al retired and they moved to Cordova Bay, BC. Al was very active in his retirement – hiking daily, building the family cottage near Point-no-Point and beginning his research on giant trees resulting in two publications: Forest Giants of the World, Past and Present (1995) and Giant Trees of North America and the World (2005) with his “to scale” drawings. Al continued researching, writing and self-publishing information into his 101st year with The Blooming of the Earth: A Brief History of the Advent of Plants and Man and finally, Reflections of a Big Tree Enthusiast about his beloved giant Douglas-firs. Recently, Al received the Ancient Forest Alliance's Forest Sustainability Award honoring his decades of service to document, research, and promote the conservation of BC's old-growth trees which included proving the Red Creek Tree to be Canada's largest tree. In 2005, Al and Mary moved to The Camelot in James Bay where they enjoyed the company of good friends. After Mary's passing, it was here that Al continued living a healthy, happy, vibrant life. The family is grateful to the incredible staff at The Camelot, Saint Elizabeth, Royal Jubilee Hospital, Beacon Services & St. Charles Manor. With faith, curiosity and wonder, Al lived his life leaving a legacy of love, humour, appreciation, knowledge and philosophy. A celebration of life and thanksgiving will be held on Friday, January 23 at 2:00 p.m. in the Chapel of the New Jerusalem, Christ Church Cathedral, Quadra St., Victoria, with reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations in Al's name to the Ancient Forest Alliance, the Nature Conservancy of Canada, or a charity of your choice would honour his memory.
Read more: https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/timescolonist/obituary.aspx?n=alfred-cecil-carder&pid=173870047
AFA Holiday Sales Booths in Victoria and Vancouver – 2015 Calendars, Cards, Posters & More!
/in AnnouncementsThis Holiday Season, VISIT our AFA SALES BOOTHS, open until December 23, to get our new CALENDARS (2015), CARDS, POSTERS, CERTIFICATES (Adopt-an-Ancient Tree or Grove, Avatar Boardwalk), SHIRTS, STICKERS, and other items (or you can order online at www.ancientforestalliance.org/store.php):
*cash, cheques, & credit cards accepted at both locations**
Other Ways to PURCHASE GIFTS and DONATE:
ONLINE: Purchase Gifts via our Online Order Form here, and pay via PayPal or credit card. You can also DONATE online here.
By PHONE at 250-896-4007 to specify your order or donation amount and to pay with your credit card. We will ship product orders you (with an additional shipping cost added).
By EMAIL (for product orders) at: sales@15.222.255.145
Products List (view and order products here):
AFA 2015 CALENDARS: $25.00 each; 3 or more $20.00 each
CARDS (Classic Collection & New Collection available): $5.00 each; 6 for $25.00; 12 for $40.00
POSTERS (Avatar Grove’s Gnarly Tree, San Juan Spruce, and Canada’s Largest Tree the Cheewhat Giant): $12.00 each; all 3 for $30
STICKERS: Bumper Stickers $6.00 each; Logo Stickers & Tree Stickers $4.00 each
SHIRTS (made of hemp & organic cotton by Hemp & Co.): $45.00 each **shirts are in limited supply – please contact to confirm availability
ADOPT-A-TREE CERTIFICATE: Minimum $50 donation
ADOPT-A-GROVE CERTIFICATE: Minimum $100 donation
AVATAR GROVE BOARDWALK CERTIFICATE: Minimum $100 donation for 1 metre of boardwalk
ANCIENT FOREST GIFT PACK (2015 Calendar, 12 pack of cards, all 4 stickers): $70.00 each
Please make the AFA your priority organization to support this Holiday Season! We are BC's lead organization working to ensure comprehensive provincial legislation to end logging of our endangered old-growth forests and to ensure the sustainable, value-added logging of second-growth forests. Due to our low overhead costs combined with our effective campaigns, your contribution truly goes far with us!
Thank you for your dedicated support!
NEW Ancient Forest Alliance Documentary!
/in AnnouncementsDirect link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hg9dcc2WPjk
This documentary, by filmmaker Darryl Augustine (www.facebook.com/roadsidefilmsbc ), features an overview of the history of the Ancient Forest Alliance, spectacular images of BC’s old-growth forests, and interviews by Ken Wu and TJ Watt (Ancient Forest Alliance), Valerie Langer (ForestEthics), Rosie Betsworth (Port Renfrew Chamber of Commerce), Jessica Hicks (Coastal Kitchen Café), Ken James (Youbou TimberLess Society), Arnold Bercov (Pulp, Paper, and Woodworkers of Canada), Robert Morales (Hul’qumi’num Treaty Group), and Scott Fraser (BC Member of the Legislative Assembly).
We are grateful for the support of Darryl, and for thousands of our supporters including you, who are helping to build the strength of our young organization to protect BC’s endangered old-growth forests and to ensure a sustainable, second-growth forest industry!
If you’d like to support the Ancient Forest Alliance, please consider making a donation (including gift donations for friends and family) through our website https://www.ancientforestalliance.org/donations.php or by phoning us at 250-896-4007.
Thank you!
AFA Year End "Meet & Greet" and Open House – THANK YOU!
/in AnnouncementsIn wrapping up our successful year of 2014, the AFA opened our doors to our supporters for our “Year End Meet & Greet and Open House” this past Wednesday, Dec.10 at our office space at The Dock above Fantan Alley in Victoria. It was wonderful to have so many members of our community come out and celebrate the work we do together. The night was filled with photos and friendly faces, and also fancy treats for which we owe thanks to several generous local businesses. Bon Macaron Patisserie Ltd. (www.bonmacaronpatisserie.com), your donation of a macaron tree was thoughtful and delicious, and they were a hit with our guests! Cordial Wildcrafted Consumables, we are also so grateful for the giant batch of Grand Fir cookies you made us! We’d also like to give a thanks to Pedersen’s Event Rentals (https://pedersens.ca), for their discounted rate on glassware rental for the evening – every little bit helps! As we all know, good news, good food, and good company makes a great party – we’re looking forward to celebrating with you all again next year!
Wednesday, Dec. 10th 5-7pm: AFA Year End "Meet and Greet" and Open House in Victoria!
/in AnnouncementsWednesday, December 10th
5:00 to 7:00 pm
The Dock, 3rd floor (accessed via elevator in the little courtyard), by Fan Tan Alley off Pandora Street, Victoria
Invite friends and family on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/events/371190086382882/
**Drinks! Appetizers! Socialize! Slideshow! AFA Holiday Season Products!**
Dear AFA Supporter,
What a year we've had! There have been great things to celebrate and there are big plans for the future, which we hope to share with you at our year end meet & greet, slideshow and open house.
Held at our new shared office space, The Dock, it will be a warm and cozy evening where you can meet most of the AFA team and many fellow supporters like yourself, and have a sneak peak into the behind the scenes of the AFA. There will be light snacks and drinks, plus two slideshow showings, one from 5:30 – 5:45 pm, and another from 6:20 – 6:35 pm, where Ken Wu and TJ Watt will share stories and images from this past year, and give you some insight into the year to come. Also, enjoy hundreds of TJ Watt's NEW ancient forest images from 2014 – most of which we haven't had a chance to share yet – which will be on a revolving slideshow throughout the night. We will have a letter-writing station if you want to express your concerns to our elected representatives about our magnificent forests as well.
The event will be held next Wednesday evening, December 10th, from 5:00 – 7:00 pm at our shared office, The Dock (3rd floor, by Fan Tan Alley off Pandora Street, accessed by the elevator in the little courtyard). Come say hi and enjoy some happy company and tasty treats! We will also have our cards, calendars, shirts, and certificates available to purchase as conscious gifts for this holiday season.
We look forward to sharing our night with you!
~ The Ancient Forest Alliance Team
Joan, Jackie, Amanda, TJ, Sandi, Ken, Hannah, Kevin
Watershed action urgent: Fraser
/in News Coverage“The time to act is now” was the message delivered by outgoing Shawnigan Lake director Bruce Fraser on protecting the Alberni Valley’s watershed.
Bruce delivered that message to a packed Search and Rescue Hall that included local residents, Island Timberlands representatives and city officials during a watershed forum organized by the Watershed-Forest Alliance and Alberni-Pacific Rim MLA Scott Fraser.
Bruce Fraser said that the concerns he’s heard voiced in the Alberni Valley about watershed protection are similar to the worries people are having all around the province, as well as the issues he dealt with in Shawnigan Lake.
“Shawnigan is feeling that human footprint, everything from climate change to gravel beds,” said Bruce, comparing the situation there to the Alberni Valley’s, both in terms of industry encroaching on the watershed and the provincial government’s seeming lack of initiative in terms of dealing with any problems that may arise.
“Our senior governments have basically retreated from the fields in so many cases, leaving us with a damaged environment and too little control to do anything about it,” said Bruce, adding that public support was key to getting a say in watershed planning.
However, Bruce said that Port Alberni is in a better place to take action with its watershed than was Shawnigan Lake, which is an unincorporated electoral area with no municipal council.
“We had to create local civic infrastructure [in Shawnigan Lake] to try to gain some authority to be involved in watershed planning,” he said. “Here you already have a council and you are a municipality, you don’t have to reinvent that.”
Having the civic authority in place means that “city council will have to step up to continue to put pressure on the various interests” in the area, said Bruce.
The recently passed Water Sustainability Act will be key to gaining control of the watershed.
“It has a clause in it that enables local governments to become involved in some of the responsibilities for watershed planning.”
While the details aren’t yet hammered out and regulations won’t be written until 2015, Bruce said that this is the ideal time for Port Alberni to position itself to be a part of the dialogue.
“City council should be having a dialogue with government about their role under the Water Sustainability Act and they should do so as soon as possible.”
That’s the sort of action Scott Fraser is hoping for from Port Alberni’s new city council, some of whom were in attendance at the forum.
Scott said he was frustrated by the lack of action he’s seen from the province. He cited correspondence between Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources Steve Thomson and environmental experts that stated that areas currently being logged in the China Creek watershed by Island Timberlands should not be logged as something that should have spurred the province into action, rather than being ignored.
“I need support from local government, from the regional district, from the city of Port Alberni,” Scott said, adding that on his own, he doesn’t have enough clout.
“We still have a chance to have some control over what happens in our region. The local government has that responsibility and I think we’re going to see this local government take that seriously.”
Until local governments pressure the provincial government into taking action, there’s not much that can be done.
“Private land is private land, you can do pretty much what you want with it,” said Scott.