News Release - March 7, 2017
Fun Activities Planned for "Water to Earth Month"
A range of activities and events are being planned to celebrate both World Water Day and Earth Day this year. The Regional District of Nanaimo's Team WaterSmart, together with the City of Nanaimo, City of Parksville, Town of Qualicum Beach, Vancouver Island University and Nanaimo & Area Land Trust (NALT), has organized a variety of activities and events including workshops, stream walks, river rafting, educational tours, movie nights and two festival-style community events.March 12: Parksville Water Day at Parksville Community and Conference Centre (132 Jensen Avenue East). This is a free community event from 11 am to 3 pm. Workshops include WaterWise Gardening, Efficient Irrigation and Rain Gardens. The event will include artists, live music, food vendors, kids activities and interactive display booths.March 22: Nanaimo River Watershed and Water Treatment Plant Guided Tour. Come see the amazing journey our drinking water takes from the mountains to our homes. Meet at the lower Bowen Park parking lot off Wall Street. 10 am-4 pm and $10/person. Bring lunch and wear suitable clothing for rugged ground and weather.
March 22: Watercourse Restoration Talk with Dave Clough (NALT Annual General Meeting). Learn about watercourse restoration from expert biologist Dave Clough and sit in on NALT's AGM to discover what's new for this very active organization. Doors open at 5:15 pm at Kin Hut (2730 Departure Bay Rd.).
March 25: Little Qualicum River Walk. Walk along the Little Qualicum River to explore what native plants and animals thrive there. Led by Dave Clough, a skilled biologist who specializes in the waterways of Vancouver Island. Meet at the Little Qualicum River Fish Hatchery (1391 Claymore Road W, Qualicum Beach) at 11 am. Wear boots for muddy walking.
March 30: Nanaimo River Rafting Adventure. Explore the Nanaimo River Estuary and experience the rich history and natural beauty aboard a guided rafting tour. Meet at Living Forest Campground Entrance (6 Maki Road, Nanaimo) at 10 am. Dress warmly and bring lunch for this exciting day trip guided by an outdoor recreation expert from VIU.
April 1: Departure Creek Stream Walk. Walk along Departure Creek to learn about the value of this urban stream and explore what native plants and aquatic species thrive here. Meet at Woodstream Park (1555 Bay Street, Nanaimo) at 10 am. Wear boots for muddy walking.
April 6 & April 10: RDN Septic Smart Workshops. Attend a free workshop providing tips on how to properly care for your septic system. On April 6 at the Extension Community Hall (2140 Ryder St.) from 6-8 pm and on April 10 at the Parksville Community and Conference Centre (132 Jensen Avenue East) from 6-8 pm.
April 8: Dive-In Theatre (at the Nanaimo Aquatic Centre) Presents: Finding Nemo. Enjoy a movie in the pool at Nanaimo Aquatic Centre (741 Third Street, Nanaimo) 7-9 pm.
April 12: Water Films Night at VIU. Enjoy a selection of short films relating to all things water. Appreciate the beauty of aquatic ecosystems and learn about the ongoing efforts to protect our most precious resource around the globe. At the VIU Campus in Building 356, Room 109 (900 Fifth Street, Nanaimo) 7-9 pm.
April 20: Wild Foods Harvest. Join NALT as they gather wild foods for the Wild Foods Festival. Learn how to identify and ethically harvest some of our local wild food plants, help supply the wild ingredients used by chefs at the festival and take some home for yourself. 10 am - 12 pm. Call NALT at 250-714-1990 for details and location.
April 23: Nanaimo Earth, Water & Wild Foods Festival at Bowen Park (500 Bowen Road). This is a free community event from 11 am to 3 pm. Workshops include Lawn Alternatives, Cooking with Wild Foods demonstration, and a Millstone River Walk. This event will include artists, live music, food vendors, kid's activities and interactive display booths.
Please pre-register for workshops and stream walks. To pre-register:
- For Nanaimo workshops, call 250-756-5200
- For workshops in Parksville/Qualicum, call 1-888-828-2069
- For the Wild Foods Festival, call NALT at 250-714-1990
- For more information on the events and activities, as well as web registration, visit www.rdn.bc.ca/water2earth
Contact:
Joe McCallum
Drinking Water and Watershed Protection
Regional District of Nanaimo
(250) 390-6544
[email protected]