Please contact us if you would like to participate!
We meet monthly from 8-9am on certain Saturdays (see below), and also in person outdoors! Scroll down to view some of our previous meeting topics.
Our meeting recordings are available at our Shawnigan Rotary YouTube channel
June Zooms – Mark Your Calendar!
- “Keep the Spark Alive” Resources to Move You Forward!
Saturday June 10th 8-9am Zoom with Sarah Smith, BGI, based here in Shawnigan Lake. You’ll want to catch Kim’s enthusiasm for having experienced the proven positivity of this collaborative approach to life and enjoying our work. - “Hope for the Future” Take a Hike Foundation Youth Outdoors
Saturday June 17th 8-9am Zoom with Zoe Lauckner
Zoe grew up here in Shawnigan Lake and knows the challenges our kids face. Learn about the opportunities being developed across the province for outdoor education and counselling, and how we can be of support. - “Think Shawnigan” Wharf Park and Boat Launch Projects
Saturday June 24th 8-9am Zoom with Shawnigan’s past/present/future in mind
Special Zoom Panel for Community Discussion
Stay tuned for more details and please Contact Us if you’d like to plan an outdoor adventure or learning opportunity together!
May Meetups
Friday May 5th 2-7pm Evergreen School Forest Fun Fair Table
Friday-Saturday May 19-20th Rotary District 5020 Conference in Victoria!
Saturday May 27th 11am-2pm St. John’s Academy FUN FAIR Photobooth and Table
Saturday, April 22 saw many Hearts-in-Action for Earth Day as Together We “Geared Up to Clean Up!”
8am to 10am – SetUp
10am to 2pm – Event Marshals
2pm to 3pm – TakeDown
5pm onward – Happy Hour!
Please Contact Us to help volunteer for or to sponsor future community-wide events!
Our hybrid in-person / Zoom meetings often take place at the Shawnigan Basin Society in the Shawnigan Village on selected Saturday mornings from 8-9am
– Early Birds are Always Welcome –
Zoom meetings open at 7:45am for chat, enjoyed along with your favourite beverage, so please feel free to invite a friend!
– Early Birds are Always Welcome –
Please contact us if you would like to participate!
Previous Meeting Highlights
Sunday, April 9th from 12noon-3pm
“Easter Eggstravaganza” with the Shawnigan Lake Community Association at the Shawnigan Lake Community Centre!
“Happy Hoppy Easter!” together with the Shawnigan Lake Community Association! Join us next time to help volunteer for this fun event!
Potluck Breakfast: Saturday, March 18th 8-9am
Topic: “Walking Shawnigan“
Join us for an in-person potluck breakfast and sharing tips for trails at the SBS Community Table! Newcomers are especially welcomed – learn more about our favourite places and where to explore next! We especially appreciate all of the walkers who pick up litter!
Saturday, January 21st and 28th, Feb 11th, and March 4th from 8-9am began our series of Planning Sessions, online by Zoom
Topic: “Shawnigan Community Clean Up Day April 2023″
Click here to learn more about this event!
We met *in-person* on Saturday, January 14th from 8-9am at the Shawnigan Lake Museum
We’re so grateful for this special Field Trip tour of the Shawnigan Lake Museum and expansion plans. “I learn something new each time!” Our Story Keepers have much to share with us that will inspire us moving forward together! A few of us were able to allow time afterwards to meet up for beverages and conversation at the Shawnigan Coffee House 🙂
“Makers & Shakers Unite!” – Stories of our Pop Up Market ...and Ideas for More…
We gathered By Zoom on Saturday, January 7th from 8-9am to share feedback and suggestions (recorded here)
We had a GREAT TIME meeting our local vendors, shopping for gifts, and featuring the game play demonstrated by special guest Chris Lumley of the Cobble Hill / Shawnigan Lake Dungeons & Dragons Club. In this Saturday’s meeting we’ll share the event feedback received and explore our next pop up market opportunities. Are you a potential vendor, event participant or local market shopper? We’d love for you to join the conversation!!
Our most recent hybrid breakfast meeting was Saturday, November 12th at 8am
“Planning for the Festive Season… and beyond!”
Thank you in advance for bringing your calendar, your treats to share, and your donation of non-perishables and/or funds for the Mill Bay Food Bank
Our October meetup was *In-person* at the home of Gordie and Karen, EcoClub members, visiting their extraordinary garden – undergoing a transformation by a Pollinator planning expert!
“Planting for Pollinators – a Tour of Transformation”
Guest Speaker: Kyla Atkinson
Kyla says, “My focus is on growing gorgeous varieties of native wildflowers, grasses, pollinator plants & specialty cut flowers for you to fill your home & garden with.
My goal is to transform as many backyards as I can into biodiverse pollinator sanctuaries and I aim to educate on the importance of environmental sustainability and the role that people & pollinators play within it.”
Her services are available through Meadow Wren Flower Farm, and specialize in:
- Pollinator/Wildlife Garden – A bright and colourful garden to attract all the birds and the bees. Add-ons include: Mason bee hives, bird baths and other beneficial habitat features.
- Native Plant Garden – Grow and learn about the medicinal & beneficial properties our native plants have to offer! The plants in this garden are nourishing for humans and animals alike. They are low maintenance, provide shelter & food for wildlife, and promote biodiversity + stewardship of our indigenous ecosystems.
- Edible landscape – Food sovereignty is extremely important, especially this day in age. With permaculture design in mind, we plant and maintain edibles for you! Why not eat food that’s grown in your own backyard?
- Drought tolerant landscapes – A modern meadow that can handle the heat.
We also offer Outdoor Adventure Meetups . . . !
A 6am Solstice Hike is in the works!
Are you interested in joining us for helping good things happen? Please contact us with your questions, and we’d be happy to meet with you!
Previous Meetings and Topics:
Our October Call to Action is “Acts of Hospitality” – please share your story when we meet again
Photo by Element5 Digital on Pexels.com
We were delighted to pitch in for World Clean Up Day on September 17th!
You can also find us helping out at local events over the summer –
The Farmer’s Institute and South Cowichan Rotary offer a variety of Volunteer Opportunities at the Cobble Hill Fair on the last Saturday of August.
The next day, it was the Cowichan River Clean Up Day!
“Ecological Stewardship: A Call to Action”
Saturday, April 9th, 8-9am – Shawnigan Basin Society
Click Here to Watch the Recording
Our recorded EcoClub Zoom featured Guest Speakers Bernie Juurlink, Ed Wiebe, and President Dave Munday of the Shawnigan Basin Society, to talk about our Shawnigan ecosystems and conservation plan, including time for Q&A.
Rewilding with Native Plants Workshop March 26th
This workshop is led by Hannah Sophia of the Resiliency Project, a local initiative focused on planting native meadows throughout our community in our yards, parks and shared green spaces.
The gardens are at 2431 Beverly Street in Duncan
“Growing Our Roots” – Planning Session
8-9am Zoom on Saturday, February 12th
EcoClub members are sent an Agenda and meeting link by email
Please Contact Us if you’d like to be on our email list for future meeting details!
Meetup at Mason’s for a Litterpick!
9-11am on Saturday, January 22nd
We Did It! #TogetherWeTransform
2 hours, 7 people from 3 households, 2 dumpsters, a large two level parking lot plus perimeter, including forest trails and “the DIY” – all litterpicked and cared for!! 
Special thanks to everyone who helped!!! 
We extended an invitation to come join us for our first EcoClub in-person outdoor meetup/litterpick of the new year!
We met at Mason’s on a Saturday from 9-11am, and reconnected with one of the first initiatives we undertook as a club – the beautification of the Mason’s parking lot. The area around the parking lot has been identified as a bit of a litter hub, so we gave this area a thorough clean on Saturday.
Be prepared for an adventure, hope to see you there! (*see notes below*)
– Steve Elskens, EcoClub President
*Please send us a message if you have any questions, thank you! Here’s some additional notes:
Plan to Park – across the lot from the store towards the forest side
Safety Tips – sturdy footwear, bright clothing and layers appropriate for the conditions, gloves, and tongs or a picker if you have one! We can supply tongs and bags, as well as Gardena-brand gloves you can keep (limited quantities)
BYOB or Buy Local – Mason’s is running a coffee promo this month, with $1 from each XL coffee going to the Food Bank!
If time permits, we can explore the trails leading away from the parking lot further into the forest all the way to the major litter piles at what’s known as the “DIY” bush skatepark. Together we hope to identify causes and solutions for this ongoing community caretaking effort!
Saturday, January 8th, 8-9am
“Tracking Our Footprint of Stuff”
Get Motivated To Clean Where You Are – Indoors!
Click Here to Watch the Recording
Do you have a strategy, some wisdom and/or encouragement to offer as we EDIT our footprint of STUFF? Join us for a life-giving time of discussion and shared motivation!
Special Guests: Tobin and Sarah Smith of www.MrandMrsSmithStudios.com
(No Zoom on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day! Wishing you a wonderful time of connections with people and nature! See you in 2022!)
Please Contact Us if you’d like to be on our email list for future meeting details!
Saturday, December 11th from 8-9am on Zoom
Click Here to Watch the Recording
“Clear the Tracks for the Salish Sea Connector Trail”
Our Guest Speaker is David Slade, a director for Friends of Rail to Trail Vancouver Island https://fortvi.ca/
Picture the conversion of the derelict E&N rail corridor to an active transportation corridor (similar to the Galloping Goose) that would join coastal communities all the way from Langford to Courtenay!
“I consider this to be a climate change and sustainability issue, in that it has the potential to get a lot of people out of their cars.” – David Slade
We met IN PERSON on Sunday, November 28th at 10am for a
Field Trip to a Net Zero Home!
Our club members enjoyed a Field Trip to the Net Zero home of the Slade family 👏 We’re so grateful for the lessons in energy efficiency – including building with Insulated Concrete Forms, and triple pane windows. In this rainy weather we could appreciate the benefits of Geothermal Exchange, and cozy heated cob floors 💚 Thank you for this inspiration, David, from all of us!!
Presented from 8-9am on Saturday, November 13th
Click Here to Watch the Recording
“Shawnigan’s Natural Edge” + Rail Trail Discussion
Guest Speaker: Dave Munday, President of the Shawnigan Basin Society
We thank everyone who was able to join us on Saturday, November 13th at 8am to discuss the importance of the health of our lake edges – the Riparian Zone – and how we can advocate for this! Shawnigan Basin Society President Dave Munday shared information to help us understand the issues around the remaining section of the proposed CVRD Trail between Old Mill Park and the Government Wharf park. We also welcomed our Rotary District 5020 Assistant Governor Nora Dowsett for her quarterly club visit to update us on our Rotary opportunities!
Additional Resources
Shawnigan Basin Society Website
CVRD Rail Trail Documents – main portal
Shoreline Habitat Creation brochure
Wildflower Pollinator Garden guide
See below for photos from our epic Sunrise Mt. Baldy Hike
…and stay tuned for notice of our next in-person meetups!
“Time to Tour!”
On Saturday, October 16th in a special morning Zoom from 8-9:30am we had the privilege of connecting internationally for a time of discussion
between our two EcoClubs
. . .
From Shawnigan Lake, Canada to Istanbul, Turkey!
We gratefully hosted this very special meeting (in English) of the members of our two EcoClubs – to explore our common purpose and discover connections that bridge the distance between our two geographical locations, diversity of ecosystems, environmental challenges and cultural distinctiveness!
Please share with a friend!
AREA 5 Rotary District 5020 is inviting you to view a special Zoom meeting:
Watch the Recording
Topic: EcoClub International Collaboration – A Tour of our EcoClubs
Time: Oct 16, 2021 08:00 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Time: Oct 16, 2021 06:00 PM UTC+0:300 (Turkey)
Happy Thanksgiving!
See recorded presentation above
Amanda Crowston, Cowichan Valley Coordinator, WildSafeBC
“Bear Aware and Beyond”
. . . Keeping Wildlife Wild & Communities Safe . . .
Season your Thanksgiving Weekend with Gratitude for our Wild Things!
Amanda’s presentation is tailored to our Cowichan Valley area, with current data and proven strategies for all of us to co-exist with increased knowledge and respect.
WildSafeBC is the provincial leader in preventing conflict with wildlife through collaborations, education and community solutions.
Rainy Day Connections (brainstorming and planning) Tuesday, Sept 14th
. . .
Grateful for the chance to meet together in person at the Shawnigan Pavilion!
We organize social activities and projects at various dates and times (stay tuned for details here and posted on our social media!)
Rotary Club of Shawnigan Lake EcoClub 