Habitat Acquisition Trust

The Cordova Shore Good Neighbours project

This summer HAT’s award-winning Good Neighbours Project goes to the beach! We are helping residents in the Island View area care for the rare and beautiful habitats of the Cordova Shore through free family events and confidential land care visits.

 Free Family Events at Island View Beach this summer:

 July 11 - Eelgrass mapping with Nikki Wright (SeaChange) with intertidal touch tank;

 July 25 - Birding at Low Tide (featuring the ScallyWags Dog Agility Training Group performance);

 August 14 - Super Dog Day (featuring Wonder Dogs training company show).

For a full description of our summer events click here:

Land Care Visits

Landowners on the east side of the Saanich Peninsula, particularly those within five kilometres of Island View Beach, TIXEN Spit, or Tetayut ("Shady") Creek, are eligible to receive a habitat information package, plus a free and confidential visit by our staff biologist. We can help residents identify and solve many common land management problems including invasive weeds, erosion, drainage, and pests. Residents living in or near sensitive natural habitats appreciate our simple and effective suggestions for protecting the natural values of their land and local parks. Please telephone or email Todd Carnahan for your free info package or to schedule a free and confidential land care visit.

250 995 2428 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

More Information about Cordova Shore/TIXEN

Although the Cordova Shore is small in size and isolated from other protected areas, its threatened ecosystems are home to many rare and endangered species. There are currently six federally-listed endangered species and several other at-risk species living within the park boundaries. Several of these endangered plants and animals are of significant historical and traditional value to the Tsawout First Nations Band. The Tsawout reserve is adjacent to the park, and suffers the same species loss and watershed contamination as the surrounding area. The Sandhill/Tetayut ("Shady") Creek, which flows across Central Saanich, also drains into the Cordova Shore threatened estuary.

The CRD has recently announced a park expansion of 10 hectares, however the amount of protected natural area remains small and is particularly vulnerable to land-use changes, such as water contamination, invasive weeds, and soil erosion. As a result, the future of many species within the park, the reserve, and the surrounding area will depend on the land use decisions of nearby private property owners. HAT’s engagement in conversation with landowners this summer is in hopes of helping neighbours to improve property management for all of the area’s sensitive natural habitats.

For event details, your habitat info package, a land care visit, or to volunteer for conservation activities:

please contact Todd or Kimberly at 250.995.2428 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Thanks to our funders who have the 2010 Good Neighbours project possible: EcoAction (Environment Canada); the Province of BC; Walmart-Evergreen Green Grant; RBC Foundation Blue Water Project; and Shell Environment Fund.

About HAT's Good Neighbours projects

There are many initiatives in the Capital Regional District (CRD) working to protect a rich diversity of habitats, but habitats that are “protected” are still vulnerable to many threats. These protected areas become "islands" in a sea of agriculture, development, or resource extraction. There is an unusually high percentage of privately owned land in the CRD, and unrelenting development pressure; voluntary land stewardship is a vital and cost-effective method of protecting natural resources.

Ecosystems rarely follow the boundaries of parks and protected areas; typically, park boundaries cut through ecosystems, and residential development occurs around the protected area. Private landowners can enhance habitat protection by creating or conserving habitat on their properties. The integrity of the entire ecosystem can be harmed by activity on neighbouring private land – conversely, good land stewardship on privately owned land adjacent to protected areas could enhance habitat protection. HAT works with property owners to provide them with information and practical advice to be "Good Neighbours" to these protected areas, enhancing wildlife habitat and the viability of these ecosystems over time.