What does climate action mean to you?

Come meet MABR’s Youth Climate Ambassador and share your ideas!

With support from the Town of Qualicum Beach, MABR is inviting community members to take part in our Climate Outreach Project and help shape the conversation about local climate action.

Our Youth Climate Ambassador is connecting with people across the community to hear what matters most to them. What are your priorities? What concerns you most? What would you like to see our community do?

This is an opportunity to meet the Youth Climate Ambassador, complete engagement activities and share your thoughts about the future of climate action in our community.

Join us for this special Climate Outreach Open House:

August 14
12:00–3:30 p.m.
MABR Education Centre, 124 West 2nd Avenue, Qualicum Beach

For more information about the Climate Outreach Project, visit:
https://www.mabr.ca/climate-outreach-project
Or email climate@mabr.ca.

Living Wonders of the Salish Sea

Discover the fascinating world where land and sea meet during this hands-on NatureKids adventure at Seaside Nature Park in Qualicum Beach. Together, we'll explore the rich marine habitats of the Salish Sea through interactive activities, games, and a guided beach exploration.

Begin your adventure with a fun, family-friendly scavenger hunt using the park's educational interpretive signs to uncover amazing facts about local marine life. Then, join us for a beach walk to discover the incredible plants, animals, and hidden treasures revealed by the tide. Prefer to stay on accessible pathways? The park's gazebo will host engaging ocean-themed games, tactile learning activities, and marine ecosystem challenges so everyone can participate and learn.

This event is designed for curious young explorers and their families and is a wonderful opportunity to connect with nature while discovering why the Salish Sea is one of Canada's most remarkable coastal ecosystems.

Accessibility: Seaside Nature Park features paved pathways, ramps, shaded areas, and accessible washrooms. The guided beach walk takes place on uneven, rocky terrain and may not be suitable for everyone. Accessible educational activities will be available in the gazebo throughout the event for participants who prefer or require a more accessible experience.

What to Bring: Weather-appropriate clothing, sturdy footwear suitable for rocky beaches, a water bottle, and your sense of adventure!

Registration: ray@mabr.ca

Register for NatureKids at https://naturekidsbc.ca/join-us/memberships-slidingscale/

Arrowsmith Naturalists and MABR Monthly BioBlitz

Join Arrowsmith Naturalists and the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region in exploring and documenting the biodiversity of the Englishman River Estuary from Mariner Way.

Using iNaturalist, participants can record observations of plants, animals, fungi, and other living organisms, helping to build our collective understanding of the species and ecosystems that make this place unique.

Every observation contributes to community science and supports biodiversity awareness, stewardship, and conservation throughout the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region. Whether you're an experienced naturalist or simply curious about nature, your observations matter.

Please preregister by emailing ray@mabr.ca

Project https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/august-2026-mabr-monthly-bioblitz-with-anats

Living with a Changing Coastline - Coastal Climate Adaptation Open House

As coastal conditions continue to change, communities are exploring ways to maintain healthy shorelines, protect valued community assets, and build resilience for future generations.

Stop in for a community open house to explore coastal flooding, erosion, sea level rise, waterfront planning, and nature-based solutions. Learn about local planning efforts and discover how working with nature can help create a more resilient shoreline for future generations.

Free Admission • Drop In Anytime • Everyone Welcome

Community Climate Action at the Skatepark

What would make Qualicum Beach an even better place to walk, ride, skate and prepare for the future? We want to hear your ideas.

Drop by the Qualicum Skatepark and join the MABR Youth Climate Ambassador for a fun, interactive community conversation about the future of Qualicum Beach. Share your ideas, experiences, and priorities through engaging activities designed to explore what climate action means to our community, what residents are already doing, and what support would help people take part in local climate initiatives. 

Whether you skate, ride, walk, or simply enjoy spending time outdoors, your voice matters. The feedback collected will be summarized and shared with the Town of Qualicum Beach to help inform future climate outreach, education, and community engagement. This initiative is delivered in partnership with the Town of Qualicum Beach as part of MABR's UNESCO Biosphere Programme, connecting people, nature, and communities to build a more resilient future.

Learn more about the project at: https://mabrclimateoutreach.wixsite.com/mabrclimateoutreach

Driving towards a better future together.

Join us on July 7th at 6 pm for our Community Cafe targeting alternative transportation.

We want to hear your voice about how we can move away from personal vehicle use towards a more eco-friendly, sustainable future. This community cafe, we hope to answer the questions;

1. What are the main reasons people use their vehicles to travel in this region?

2. What would be needed for residents to have a lifestyle independent of their personal vehicles?

3. What type of barriers are community members currently facing when using alternative transportation in the PQB?

4. What type of infrastructure and policies would better support our community moving towards alternative transportation?

Help us tackle Sustainable Development Goal #11- Sustainable Cities and Communities by attending and sharing your voice about the barriers you face regarding alternative transportation and what you hope to see moving forward that could support a community-wide shift away from personal vehicle use. Let’s keep our communities moving in a more sustainable way together.

Register here to attend: https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/climate-cafe-alternative-community-transportation

The 15th Annual Qualicum Beach Thursday Night Market is now accepting vendor applications! Vendor spaces are just $25 per evening, making this a great opportunity to showcase your products and connect with thousands of visitors throughout the summer. Apply today: https://www.mabr.ca/market

Every Thursday evening in July and August, downtown Qualicum Beach comes alive for one of the summer’s most beloved community events.

• Shop locally made products
• Browse handcrafted goods
• Enjoy delicious eats

This vibrant evening market celebrates local talent, supports small businesses, and helps strengthen a more inclusive and sustainable economy throughout the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region (MABR).

By shopping local and supporting community vendors, you’re helping build stronger connections, a healthier local economy, and a more sustainable future.

Come connect, shop, eat, and experience the power of community - one Thursday at a time.

Join us to celebrate Pollinator Week at ts'xwelikwshenawtxw (MABR Education Centre) for a series of pollinator-themed activities for all ages!

Discover the fascinating world of pollinators and learn why they are essential to healthy ecosystems, biodiversity, and many of the foods and resources we rely on every day. Explore what makes pollinators so important and find out how you can help support them in our diverse community.

Drop in Saturday, June 27th, between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m and enjoy a variety of hands-on activities, including:

• Pollinator Searches

• Colouring Sheets

• Word Searches

• Microscope-Based Activities

• AND MORE!

See you soon!

Explore nature. Record what you see. Support local biodiversity.

Join us for an iNaturalist training session - learn how to observe, photograph, and record plants, wildlife, and other species in the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region.

Whether you are new to iNaturalist or looking to build your confidence, this session is for you. Learn how your observations contribute to community-based research and support ongoing efforts to protect biodiversity across the region. No experience needed - just bring your curiosity and a willingness to explore.

Register today to save your spot and receive event details, what to bring, and information about iNaturalists software.

Register Here

MABR project page https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/2026-mabr-bioblitz

Join us every Saturday in June for casual, drop-in iNaturalist learning sessions in preparation for the 2026 MABR BioBlitz (June 26–28).

Drop in anytime to:

• Learn how to observe and record plants and wildlife

• Get tips on photographing and identifying species

• Get set up to contribute to the 2026 MABR BioBlitz

No experience is needed, and there is no formal instruction, just guidance, support, and conversation in a relaxed and welcoming environment. Bring a smartphone or camera if you have one, along with your curiosity and sense of exploration.

Your future observations will contribute to community-based research and support ongoing efforts to conserve biodiversity while balancing ecological integrity with the needs of local communities.

Learn more about the 10th Annual MABR BioBlitz June 26th - 28th at here

Celebrate nature and wildlife by showcasing your creativity in the Brant Wildlife Festival Colouring Contest! Win a pizza party for your class or learning group.

How to Enter: Grab a colouring page from MABR or choose your own. Get Creative! Use crayons, markers, or paints to add your artistic touch. 

Submit Your Artwork: Take a photo or scan your masterpiece and send it via email to ray@mabr.ca or drop of at the MABR Education Centre or Brant Festival Family Day at Ocean Side Place Sunday April 12, 2026.

Contest Timeline: Submissions are due by Monday April 20th, 2026 at 3:00 pm. 

Prizes: Winning entries will receive a pizza party for their class or learning group! 

Judging Criteria:  

• Creativity 

• Connection to nature & wildlife 

• Use of colour 

Brant Wildlife Festival Nature Film Night

Join us for an inspiring evening of storytelling, conservation, and breathtaking coastal imagery at our Nature Film Night, part of the Brant Wildlife Festival.

This special event features three captivating short films that celebrate the beauty, complexity, and importance of our local ecosystems:

Hamilton Marsh: A Living Legacy

Experience the story of restoration and resilience through this powerful film screening, followed by a presentation from filmmaker Taryn Pickard of Seidr Productions. Discover how community efforts are helping to protect and revitalize this vital habitat.

The Extraordinary Salish Sea

Filmmaker Bob Turner takes you beneath the surface of one of the richest marine ecosystems in the world, revealing the remarkable diversity and interconnected life of the Salish Sea.

Dance of the Herring

Witness the mesmerizing spectacle of herring spawning—one of nature’s most important and visually stunning events—captured through Bob Turner’s lens.

Whether you're a nature enthusiast, filmmaker, or simply looking for a meaningful night out, this event offers a unique opportunity to connect with the landscapes and wildlife that define our region.

Come be inspired, learn something new, and celebrate the natural world with your community.

Please register by emailing ray@mabr.ca

Great Blue Heron and Coastal Wildlife - A Brant Wildlife Festival Video & Photo Event

Featuring photos and videos from local Oceanside Wildlife Photographers Deborah Freeman, Wayne Duke, Marnee Pearce, Randy Findlay and the Save Estuary Land Society.  The panel of photographers will share stories about their experiences photographing wildlife and answer audience questions. 

The theatre accommodates those using mobility aids such as walkers and wheelchairs.
Adult admission by donation and children are free. 

A Silent Auction will be held at the event with bids collected on paper bid sheets

All funds raised support the Save Estuary Land Society's Viking Way Land Acquisition Campaign

Seating available on a first-come basis

For more info visit:   https://www.saveestuarylandsociety.ca/

Contact: saveestuaryland@gmail.com

Basic Bird ID & Birdwatching workshop

A practical bird identification workshop, led by naturalist Dr. Lynne Brookes. This workshop is suitable for beginning/intermediate level participants and includes use of taxidermy mounts and viewing resident birds. Resource materials, birdwatching pointers, places to go and local bird viewing opportunities are all included. Bird ID skills will be practiced on-site at the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre, and off-site in the Parksville-Qualicum Beach area.

Register at NIWRA or by calling 250-248-8534 ext 3

Infrastructure for Nature by Town Qualicum Beach

Tour the Rain Garden and Beach Creek Jetty with Qualicum Beach Mayor Teunis Westbroek and MABR Executive Director Ray Woroniak.

Register at ray@mabr.ca

Movie Night with the QB Cinema Society 

"Salmon Secrets" presented by Clayoquot Action from Tofino, Dan Lewis will be presenting followed by a Q&A.

"Call of the Orcas" and "Shared Water, Shared Crisis" is a presentation through the QB Museum.

Tickets will go on sale Mid March

Web: www.qbcinema.org

Contact: info@qbcinema.org

Brant Festival Free Skate

Free ice skating, rentals and face painting

Tour of Heritage Forest

Join Tom Whitfield for an easy walk along the mulch trails of the 50-acre Qualicum Beach Heritage Forest. Here’s an opportunity to learn about old-growth Douglas-fir trees, forest ecology, wildlife and cultural history of this rare gem.

Web: www.heritageforest.ca

Register by emailing: heritageforest@shaw.ca

Try birding, it’s a hoot! Join the Arrowsmith Naturalist’s birding experts observing birds, hopefully Brant in Parksville Bay. Located at the Parksville Community Park, at the far end by the Mandala. We will have loaner binoculars and members will bring their scopes to share. This event is weather dependent.

First Annual Brant Wildlife Family Festival

We’re excited to introduce the Brant Wildlife Family Festival at Oceanside Place! The event features free skating and rentals, face painting, with music by DJ Connor on the pond, and educational displays and activities hosted by local community groups and school PACs.

This fun-filled afternoon also serves as a fundraiser for local school food programs, supporting local students with healthy meals.

Bring your family and friends, enjoy the games, music, and skating, and help us make a positive impact in our community!

Tour of Heritage Forests

Join Tom Whitfield for an easy walk along the mulch trails of the 50-acre Qualicum Beach Heritage Forest. Here’s an opportunity to learn about old-growth Douglas-fir trees, forest ecology, wildlife and cultural history of this rare gem.

Web: www.heritageforest.ca

Register by emailing: heritageforest@shaw.ca

Brant Festival’s 33rd Annual Carving, Woodworking & Art Show

Each spring, something special happens on the mid-Island. Wood shavings replace winter rain, conversations turn to grain and finish, and creativity takes centre stage. This year, that energy comes together again at the Pacific Brant Carving, Woodworking & Art Show — an event that has become a quiet favourite for artists, makers, and anyone who appreciates skilled hands and beautiful work.

Held on April 11 and 12, 2026, at the Qualicum Beach Civic Centre, this show has earned its reputation as one of the top carving and woodworking competitions in Western Canada. Walk through the doors and it becomes clear why. Tables and displays are filled with carefully carved birds, figures, bowls, furniture, and art pieces that reflect hundreds of hours of patience and practice. Some works are bold and dramatic, others subtle and finely detailed, but all share a respect for wood as both material and teacher. The nature-themed art show added in recent years brings even more excitement.

There is something a bit intimate about the event. There are stories behind the gouges, lathes and paint brushes. Visitors often pause beside a piece, lean in, and quietly ask how something was done. Just as often, the artist is happy to explain, sharing tips, lessons learned, and the occasional hard-won mistake. That openness is part of what has kept the show thriving for more than three decades.

For those who want to go deeper, seminars will be running throughout the weekend. These sessions cover a range of carving, turning, and woodworking techniques, offering practical insights whether someone is just starting out or has been working with wood for years. Watching a skilled woodworker demonstrate a cut or explain why a piece cracked can feel like standing beside a master mechanic with the hood open — suddenly, things make sense in a new way.

The show is also designed to be welcoming and fun. Door prizes and draws add a sense of anticipation, and there is always a bit of friendly excitement as names are called. It is not unusual to see people arrive “just for a quick look” and stay far longer than planned, pulled in by conversation, craftsmanship, and the warmth of the community.

The event is hosted by three organisations deeply rooted in the local arts scene: the Mid-Island Woodworkers’ Guild, the Oceanside Wood Carvers, and the DeCosmos Fine Arts Society. Together, they bring a mix of experience, passion, and volunteer effort that keeps the show grounded and authentic. It is a reminder that events like this do not happen by accident; they are built over time by people who care about craft and community.

The Pacific Brant Carving, Woodworking, & Art Show is not just for woodworkers or artists. It is for anyone who enjoys seeing what patient hands and creative minds can do with a natural material. It is for those looking for inspiration, a conversation, or simply a good way to spend a spring weekend along with the other events happening as part of the Brant Wildlife Festival.

The Qualicum Beach Civic Centre, located at 747 Jones Street, provides an accessible and comfortable setting, making it easy to drop in, wander, and enjoy. Whether arriving with a notebook full of questions or simply curiosity, visitors are likely to leave with a deeper appreciation for the art of working with wood or paint — and perhaps a new reason to mark April on the calendar. Admission is $10 for adults and $8 for seniors and students. Kids 12 and under are free. We look forward to seeing you there!

Community Breakfast Fundraiser at Kwalikum Secondary School

Join in for a warm and welcoming community breakfast featuring bannock, pancakes, scrambled eggs, yogurt parfait, coffee, and tea. Local leaders including MLA Stephanie Higginson and Town of Qualicum Beach Mayor and Councillors and RDN Director Lehann Wallace will show their leadership by volunteering alongside students to help serve breakfast and support this important cause.

All proceeds will go directly to the KSS Food Program, helping provide meals for students at Kwalikum Secondary, Qualicum Beach Elementary, Arrowview Elementary, as well as take-home food for families in need.

Come enjoy a delicious breakfast, support local students, and connect with your community while making a meaningful difference!

Bird Photography Workshop at the Brant Wildlife Festival

Come join Dave to celebrate the Brant Festival in the community and enjoy a Bird Photography Workshop.  Dave has been photographing nature for over 20 years specializing in landscape and wildlife photography.  Based on Central Vancouver Island, Dave has been teaching nature based photography workshops to all levels of ability since 2010.  In 2025, Dave co-authored a BC Bestselling book celebrating the beauty of this wonderful island, with his wife, called "Vancouver Island: The Art of the Landscape".

100% of the proceeds for this workshop will be donated to the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region (office in Qualicum Beach).  Suggested donation is $25-50 but any amount is welcome (cash only, please).  My wife Kelly, a certified forest therapy guide and nature photographer, will also be available for support. 

Workshop is open to all levels of ability.  Workshop is rain or shine.  Please bring a rain jacket, cap, and water.​

What are we going to do at the workshop?

Dave will guide you through technical aspects, composition techniques, and lighting for bird photography through the 2 hour workshop.

Register at: https://www.davehutchisonphotography.com/birdphotographyworkshop.html

Hamilton Marsh Walk

Visit this spectacular wetland just 5 minutes from Qualicum Beach! Enjoy guided tours down the trails to Hamilton Marsh and learn about the flora and fauna. Tour led by RDN Drinking Water Watershed Protection. This tour is limited to 20 participants.

Register at: https://anc.ca.apm.activecommunities.com/rdnrecreation/activity/search/detail/17932?onlineSiteId=0&from_original_cui=true

Contact: watersmart@rdn.bc.ca

Kw'a'luxw (Englishman) River Estuary Tour – Arrowsmith Naturalists

Join the Arrowsmith Naturalists for a relaxing tour of the Englishman River Estuary.  The tour will feature views of the Englishman River and the estuary , as well as the river’s recent history and the restoration efforts of The Nature Trust of BC and the stewardship of the Arrowsmith Naturalists.

Registration is required, with a limit of 15 participants

Meet at 1:30 pm in the parking area at the north end of Shelly Road. The walking trail is not difficult but may be muddy in places.  Sturdy footwear is recommended.

Contact: ray@mabr.ca

Heritage Forest Tours

Join Tom Whitfield for an easy walk along the mulch trails of the 50-acre Qualicum Beach Heritage Forest. Here’s an opportunity to learn about old-growth Douglas-fir trees, forest ecology, wildlife and cultural history of this rare gem.

Web: www.heritageforest.ca

Register by emailing: heritageforest@shaw.ca