AFA’s TJ Watt to Present at TEDxVictoria on May 15!

Catch Ancient Forest Alliance Photographer and Campaigner TJ Watt at the TEDxVictoria event on May 15th! Alongside 11 other diverse presenters, TJ will speak about his efforts to document and help protect endangered old-growth forests in BC.

To grab your tickets or learn more, visit: https://tedxvictoria.ca/

The goal of TEDxVictoria is to bring together local experts, community organizations, entrepreneurs, start-ups, established businesses, and passionate individuals to explore the ways in which the city has evolved and changed over the past decade. With a fresh perspective, this conference will discuss the many opportunities and challenges that have arisen and celebrate ingenuity, problem-solving, and forward-thinking in Victoria.

TEDxVictoria organizers said, “It’s up to us, all the change we want to see personally, globally, and local to Victoria. This year’s TEDxVictoria will bring our community together for inspiring conversations that help us understand, explore, and motivate change. Whatever that change looks like, here’s to ideas worth spreading.”

 

Thanks for the support at our Year-End Celebration & Fundraiser!

Thanks to all who attended and/or supported our Year-End Celebration & Fundraiser!

We’re feeling extremely grateful following our event this past Tuesday evening, where you helped us raise $5,284 for old-growth protection through donations, the silent auction, and merchandise sales! We hope you enjoyed the engaging presentations, food, drinks, and socializing with other old-growth fans.

As always, meeting and having conversations with many of you in person is a great reminder of what a dedicated, passionate, and kind community we have standing with us. We couldn’t have achieved all the latest success without you!

A special shoutout goes to the local businesses and individuals who kindly donated items to our silent auction. Thank you to: Jordan Fritz ArtBotanical BlissFish Hair SalonHandsome Dans Port RenfrewPilgrim Coffee HouseLorelei Green ArtTimothy ColmanZula JewelryThe PaperySmoking Lily Handcrafted GoodsSeaflora SkincareSpinnacle YarnsRussell BooksWild Coast Perfumery, Richard Malacek, Robinson’s OutdoorsPatagonia VictoriaEcologystBolen Books, and Barbara Brown Art.

Your support this season will make a huge difference and will ensure we’re able to hit the ground running come 2024.

For the forests,
The Ancient Forest Alliance team

 

A lightened photo of a snowy old-growth forest with the words "Giving Tuesday" overlaid.

Support ancient forests this Giving Tuesday!

Year after year, we’re so grateful to our community of supporters who choose to donate to the Ancient Forest Alliance (AFA). Giving Tuesday (a global day where people give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity) is just a week away on November 28th. Consider supporting old-growth forest protection as part of our Giving Tuesday campaign, running from Tuesday, November 21 until Friday, December 1, 2023!

Will you help us reach our goal of $20,000?

Yes! I’ll donate!

Because of YOUR support, we’ve seen more significant shifts over the past couple of months than we’ve seen in years toward the protection of old-growth forests in BC. Many of our asks have been answered and much of the funding we’ve been calling for has arrived!

More than $1 billion in provincial-federal funding has been allocated to help achieve BC’s 30% by 2030 nature protection, conservation, and restoration goals with the launch of the BC Nature Agreement. Securing large-scale conservation financing has been a central focus of our organization for many years now and we’re thrilled to see this arrive! Following on its heels, the BC government released its draft Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health Framework that, if done right, could ensure a major paradigm shift to safeguard the most endangered and least protected ecosystems, such as big-treed old-growth forests. Together, these have the potential to protect much of the incredible ancient forests we’ve been fighting for!

This huge progress has been made possible by people like you who’ve spoken up and supported our campaign efforts over the years, so THANK YOU!

With Giving Tuesday coming up in just one week on November 28th, here are two ways you can support AFA this year.

1. Give a monthly or one-time donation to the Ancient Forest Alliance

As a small charitable organization, our work is driven by donations from individuals like you. By making a monthly or one-time donation, you’ll help us carry out critical work including supporting First Nations partners in developing Indigenous Protected Area proposals that protect old-growth, exploring and documenting endangered forests, and building and strengthening relationships with non-traditional allies to create a broad-based movement of support for ancient forest protection. We acknowledge times are challenging for many right now, so any amount helps. Plus, all donations are now tax-deductible!

Give to ancient forests here!

2. Join us for our Year-End Celebration & Fundraiser!

This year we’ll be celebrating our successes on Giving Tuesday itself! We’d love to see you at Victoria Event Centre on Tuesday, November 28th from 6–9 pm for a fun-filled evening to celebrate a monumental year for the old-growth campaign.

This is a night for our supporters to get to know the AFA team, connect with other supporters, donors, and volunteers, and enjoy a presentation from AFA campaigner and photographer TJ Watt and researcher Ian Thomas.

There will be a silent auction with loads of fabulous items from local businesses such as Robinson’s Outdoors, Botanical Bliss, Patagonia, ecologyst, The Papery, Bolen Books, Barbara Brown Art, Seaflora Skincare, Jordan Fritz Art, and more. There will also be appies and refreshments, a cash bar, and AFA merchandise for sale, so don’t miss out! All funds raised go toward protecting the endangered old-growth forests in BC and ensuring a sustainable second-growth forest industry.

Thank you for spreading your generosity to ancient forests this Giving Tuesday. Together, we can give back to the ancient forests that give so much to us.

Save The Date! AFA’s Year-End Celebration & Fundraiser is Tuesday, November 28th

Mark your calendars! We’re excited to announce that we’ll be hosting our Year-End Celebration and Fundraiser on Giving Tuesday this year. Join us at the Victoria Event Centre (1415 Broad St) on Tuesday, November 28th, 6–9 pm for a fun-filled evening to celebrate a monumental year for the old-growth campaign.

This is a night for our supporters to get to know the AFA team, connect with other supporters, donors, and volunteers, and enjoy a presentation from AFA campaigner & photographer TJ Watt and researcher Ian Thomas.

There will be a silent auction with loads of fabulous items from local businesses such as Robinson’s Outdoors, Botanical Bliss, Patagonia, ecologyst, The Papery, Bolen Books, Barbara Brown Art, Seaflora Skincare, and more. There will also be appies and refreshments, a cash bar, and AFA merchandise for sale, so don’t miss out!

All funds raised go toward protecting the endangered old-growth forests in BC and ensuring a sustainable second-growth forest industry.

Schedule:
5:45: Doors open, refreshments & socializing
6:30: Slideshow presentation by Campaigner & Photographer, TJ Watt and Research & Engagement Officer, Ian Thomas
7:45: Meet and greet, and fantastic silent auction fundraiser featuring select prints from TJ as well as an array of other amazing items from local businesses
8:45: Silent auction winners announced
9:00: Wrap up

Tickets:
Fixed price of $10 (not tax deductible). Available online (until NOON on November 28th), at the door, or call us at 250-896-4007. If there are any financial barriers to attending, please contact us at info@16.52.162.165 or call 250-896-4007. Tax-deductible donations can be added to cart at checkout!

Save the date in your calendars and scoop up your tickets today!

Accessibility:
The Victoria Event Centre currently does have an operational elevator or there is one long flight of stairs at the venue entrance. If you would like to attend the event but require assistance accessing the space, please contact us ahead of the event and/or text or call Joan at 250-213-1674 when you arrive and we will direct you.

We respectfully acknowledge that this event is taking place on the unceded territory of the lək̓ʷəŋən People, known today as the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations.

About 200 people listening intently as renowned forest ecologist Andy MacKinnon presents about old-growth forests vs. second-growth tree plantations

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.

A man with grey hair and a beard stands in front of a massive old-growth tree wearing a puffy Patagonia vest and neon green t-shirt. Beside him on the right is a photo of another man with red hair and a beard wearing a teal Ancient Forest Alliance t-shirt, also standing in an old-growth forest.

Earth Week Event with Andy MacKinnon & TJ Watt – Wed. April 19th

Are you curious to learn about biodiversity and old-growth ecosystems in BC, what they can teach us, and how you can help see them protected?

Then please join us for a free night of insightful presentations and a special photo show on Wednesday, April 19th from 7–9pm (doors at 6:30pm) at St. Mary’s Church in Metchosin, BC (4125 Metchosin Rd.)!

Dr. Andy MacKinnon, renowned forest ecologist, educator, and co-author of Plants of Coastal British Columbia, among other publications, will speak to the connections between old-growth ecosystems and biodiversity and how they affect the planet’s well-being as well as our own.

TJ Watt, Ancient Forest Alliance’s award-winning conservation photographer, will present on Exploring & Photographing Ancient Forests in BC, giving a behind-the-scenes look into how his images are captured, new updates on the old-growth campaign, and how people can help move it forward!

A man in a red jacket stands beside a massive old-growth cedar tree.

Arrive at 6:30pm to enjoy a few refreshments while viewing TJ’s photos, which will be on display for this event. TJ’s photography will be on display for public viewing April 20th, 22nd, 24th, 26th, 27th, and 29th from 1–3 pm, April 21st and 28th from 6-8 pm, April 25th from 10–12 pm. The event is free, but donations to the Ancient Forest Alliance are welcome!

Click here to register for the Earth Day event. We look forward to seeing you!

 

 

Join us for our Year-End Celebration & Fundraiser on Weds. Nov. 30th

You’re invited to our Year-End Celebration & Fundraiser at the Victoria Event Centre (1415 Broad St.) on Wednesday, November 30th from 6 pm – 9 pm!

Join us for our first in-person Ancient Forest Alliance year-end event in three years to celebrate our 12th year of operation and the amazing community that has helped us get to where we are today!

The evening includes a slideshow presentation with new photos and stories from AFA’s TJ Watt & Ian Thomas, appetizers, drinks, socializing, and a small silent auction fundraiser featuring select prints from AFA’s award-winning conservation photographer and campaigner, TJ Watt. Plus, you’ll have the chance to win some awesome AFA gear, such as t-shirts, cards, calendars, and more!

 

Ancient Forests of BC: TJ Watt Photo Exhibition, Presentations, & Fundraiser. Oct 26th-30th, Salt Spring Island.

MEC Victoria Tabling Event

Thank you to MEC Victoria for hosting our tabling event over the Victoria Day long weekend.

We’ll be there again this Saturday, June 25 from 10:30 am – 3:30 pm. Stop by to say hello, learn about our campaigns to protect endangered old-growth forests, and check out our awesome eco-friendly merch!

Making an appearance again is this stunning painting by Jeremy Herndl titled, “Black flies and Trilliums”, painted within and of the unprotected old-growth at Eden Grove, near Port Renfrew. Proceeds from the sale of this painting will go towards our old-growth forest campaign! Thank you to Jeremy for his generosity and commitment to raising awareness of endangered old-growth in BC. To view this painting, please visit Jeremy’s website.

Looking forward to seeing you on Saturday!

Educational Webinar: Wednesday, June 1, 2022.

 

Join us on Wednesday, June 1st from 7-8:30 pm PDT for our old-growth and wildlife webinar “Confiers, Carnivores, & Coho: The importance of old-growth forests for bears and wild salmon”.

 

The evening will be spent learning from our esteemed guests, Helen Davis and Roger Dunlop, who will speak about the importance of old-growth forests and their role in supporting thriving wildlife communities such as bears and wild salmon.

 

Tickets are by donation and you can register for this webinar here.

 

Proceeds go toward our work to protect old-growth and ensure a sustainable, second-growth forest industry.