A woman in a white shirt stands beside an old-growth tree in Francis/King Regional Park.

3 JUIN: Randonnee interpretative sur les forets anciennes en francais (Francophone Ancient Forest Nature Walk)

Mercredi, 3 juin, 7:00 – 8:30 pm
Francis King Regional Park ~ Rendez-vous au Centre de la Nature sur Munn Road, Victoria
Randonnée facile
Les chiens doivent être tenus en laisse
Par donation

Joignez-vous à Lysiane Chagnon Fontaine et Ken Wu pour une randonnée interprétative en français afin de visiter la forêt ancienne de sapin de Douglas la plus impressionnante à Victoria! La forêt inclue plusieurs arbres de plus de 10 pieds (3 mètres) de diamètre, ainsi que le plus large cèdre rouge creux dans la région! Apprenez-en plus sur les plantes, la faune et sur l'écologie de cette forêt!

 

THANK YOU to Our 5 Year Anniversary Supporters!

Thank you to all who donated towards the AFA’s 5 Year Anniversary Celebration & Dinner as well as our 5th Anniversary Earth Day fundraising goals! We greatly appreciate the guests, volunteers, businesses, organizations, artists and others whose generous contributions made the evening an occasion to remember, as well as the many others who weren’t able to make it but have contributed during this pivotal time.

With your dedicated support, we will continue to broaden our movement, complete the Avatar Grove near Port Renfrew, protect specific endangered ancient forests, and work towards ensuring comprehensive, science-based legislation to protect endangered old-growth forests across BC.

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5 YEAR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION – BUSINESS, ORGANIZATION, ARTIST & EVENT CONTRIBUTORS

Chefs and Front House Coordinator

A huge thanks to chef Landon Crawford, as well as his team Tom and Dion and front house coordinator Gaby Bolanos for preparing and coordinating the serving of the incredible 3-course sustainable meal for the evening.

Music

We are extremely grateful for the live music provided by acclaimed Vancouver Island singer-songwriter Shauna Janz, whose song Redwood was nominated for “Song of the Year” at the 2015 Vancouver Island Music Awards. Shauna generously donated her time to be with us for the evening.

Speakers

Thank you to our dedicated, knowledgeable and inspirational speakers – Andy Mackinnon (forest ecologist and best-selling co-author of the Plants of Coastal BC), Vicky Husband (conservationist and Order of Canada recipient), and Arnie Bercov (president of the Pulp, Paper, and Woodworkers of Canada union).

Business Sponsors

Thanks to our business sponsors who contributed to cover various costs of the event – Patagonia Victoria for general event costs, Megson Fitzpatrick Insurance Services (www.megsonfitzpatrick.com) for insurance costs, Truffles Catering (www.trufflescatering.net) for kitchen use, and Pedersen’s Rentals (pedersens.ca) for a covering a portion of our rental equipment for the evening.  Thanks as well to Hemp and Co. (www.hempandcompany.com) for their continued support through the printing of AFA T-shirts and other clothing items, and through merchandise sales at their store.

Food & Drink

Donating food and drink to the evening’s incredible dinner and bar menu were Hope Hill Farm (www.notafactory.com) on Salt Spring Island, Michell’s Farm (www.michellsfarm.com) in Saanichton, Sun Trio Farm (www.suntriofarm.com) in Central Saanich, as well as Hoyne Brewing (hoynebrewing.ca), Sea Cider (seacider.ca), and Tugwell Creek Honey Farm & Meadery (tugwellcreekfarm.com).

Door Prizes

Many local businesses, organizations and artists/authors donated to the night’s array of door prizes.  Prizes included gift certificates by Patagonia Victoria, Sitka (sitka.ca), Sol Integrative Healing (www.solhealing.ca), Harmony Belly Dance (www.harmonybellydance.com) and Lifestyle Markets (lifestylemarkets.com); a 30-day unlimited yoga pass by Moksha Yoga Westshore (mokshayogawestshore.com); merchandise by Patagonia Vancouver; gift sets by SeaFlora Wild Organic Seaweed Skincare (www.sea-flora.com), Harmony Herbal Teas (harmonyherbals.net), Café 932 and Nezza Naturals (www.nezzanaturals.com); wine from Kermode Wild Berry Winery (www.kermodewildberry.com); a wooden science kit by Pathfinders Design & Technology (www.pathfindersdesignandtechnology.com); copies of the CD Wildside by Quoia (quoia.bandcamp.com); a cutting board of salvaged Pacific Yew from Bahnmann Timber (bahnmanntimber.ca); a set of wooden coasters by Evan Patterson Contracting, Detox Spa sessions from Platinum Energy Systems (www.platinumenergysystems.ca); a gift certificate and hair products from Inspire Hair Design (inspirehairdesign.ca); ‘Who We Are: Reflections on My Life and Canada’ by Elizabeth May from the West Coast Greens (www.greenparty.ca), ‘The Great Western Canada Bucket List by author Robin Esrock (www.canadianbucketlist.com), books by Al Carder, and ‘Alpine Plants of British Columbia, Alberta and Northwest North America’ from co-author Andy Mackinnon.

You’re invited! AFA’S "5 Year Anniversary Celebration & Fundraising Dinner" Friday, April 17th

This is a very special time in our journey: 2015 marks 5 years since the birth of our passionate organization. Thanks to your generous support, we’ve flourished and grown since our humble beginnings and we hope you can make it to our special dinner event!
***DINNER TICKETS NOW SOLD OUT – THANK YOU!! TICKETS FOR PRESENTATIONS REMAIN***
Where: White Eagle Polish Hall – 90 Dock Street, James Bay, Victoria
When: Friday, April 17 from 6:00 to 9:30 pm

Details:

  • 6:00 – 8:00 pm “Farm and Forage” sustainable 3 course dinner by renowned Victoria chef Landon Crawford:  Choice of entrée, either Local Fish (Ocean Wise certified) or Vegetarian/Vegan, both accompanied with fresh veggies and dessert.
  • 8:00 – 9:30 pm Presentations by campaigners and special guests, including Dr. Andy MacKinnon (forest ecologist and best-selling author of the Plants of Coastal BC) on the ‘Weird and Wonderful Plants of BC’, Vicky Husband (conservationist and Order of Canada recipient), Arnie Bercov (president of the Pulp, Paper, and Woodworkers of Canada union), Ken Wu and TJ Watt (Ancient Forest Alliance), and others!
  • Free drink ticket, door prizes, and socializing with other supporters!
  • Music from Shauna Janz, acclaimed Vancouver Island singer-songwriter whose song Redwood was awarded “Song of the Year” at the 2015 Vancouver Island Music Awards

Tickets:  *limited space available

  • (SOLD OUT)3 Course Sustainable Dinner: Sliding scale price from $60-$100 per plate (includes the special presentations after dinner)
  • Presentations only (8:00 to 9:30 pm): $20

***DINNER TICKETS NOW SOLD OUT – THANK YOU!! TICKETS FOR PRESENTATIONS REMAIN***

Choose Ticket Type

Other methods of payment include:

  • Phoning us at 250-896-4007 and paying by credit card.
  • In person in Victoria at #306 – 620 View St. Tuesdays & Thursdays: 11:00 to 5:00 pm. Wednesdays: 1:30 to 6:30 pm.

AFA’s TJ Watt wins Eco-Hero Award!

Congratulations to the AFA’s photographer and campaigner TJ Watt, who through popular vote was tied for first place in the local Eco-Hero competition by Hemp & Company! We’re proud of TJ, who’s photography has gone around the world to highlight the beauty and the plight of BC’s endangered old-growth forests. Thanks for everyone’s support and votes!

Hemp & Company no longer in operation.

Donations by Businesses, Artists & Organizations

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.
 

Thank You from the Ancient Forest Alliance!

The 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!

AFA Holiday Sales Booths in Victoria and Vancouver – 2015 Calendars, Cards, Posters & More!

This 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):

  • In VICTORIA come to our office space in the Dock (#303-3 Fan Tan Alley, access via elevator in the courtyard), Mon. to Sat., 11am-5pm.
  • In VANCOUVER visit our merchandise table at Trees Organic Coffee House (Yaletown location1391 Richards St.), Tues. 12-6pm and Sat. 3-6pm.

*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!
 

Ancient Forest Alliance

NEW Ancient Forest Alliance Documentary!

Direct 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 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!

Wednesday, 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