Dear Editor,
We’ve been discussing an alternative vision for the Cape. Something very different from 100 campsites, and something other than just “no”. Other islanders, like Ellen Hayakawa, have also been giving this some thought.
On the lands at Cape Roger Curtis (CRC), Metro Vancouver Parks (MVP) is missing a unique opportunity. Not to develop one more traditional recreational regional park, but instead, create a collaborative model for restoring, rewilding, and researching damaged ecosystems and degraded landscapes and provide a world-class learning and research reserve in the Howe Sound Biosphere Region.
MVP has successfully worked collaboratively in the past toward a shared vision with local governments, local organizations, non-profits operating under license, higher levels of government, the Parks Foundation, private donors, and others. Why not now? Why not, with Cape Roger Curtis, turn their most expensive land acquisition into a potentially world-changing centre for education and research?
British Columbia is home to many renowned land and marine research institutions and foundations including UBC, SFU, UVic, BCIT, Hakai Institute, Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre, Raincoast Conservation Foundation, and Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions. These organizations all contribute significantly to the understanding and preservation of terrestrial and marine ecosystems, as well as the diverse species that inhabit them. They also play critical roles in educating the public and influencing policy on environmental conservation and management.
Let’s collectively expand the vision of Cape Roger Curtis, work collaboratively together with some of these respected organizations, and have a much larger impact on the region, the country, and the world than simply providing overnight campsites.
In the heart of nature, nestled amidst the tranquility of Bowen Island, exists a visionary endeavour – the Nex̱wlélex̱wm Ecological Learning Reserve. This profound beacon of education and environmental restoration and preservation stands as an immersive testimony to human potential and symbiotic living. Visitors to the Nex̱wlélex̱wm Reserve will contribute to a new model that puts respect for nature and local cultures at its core.
By encouraging the flow of new ideas between Nature, Metro Vancouver, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw, the Bowen Island community, and land and marine research institutions and foundations, the Reserve will stimulate innovative, collaborative approaches to environmental conservation and education.
This Reserve is more than just a physical space; it is a place for learning, where children and youth can immerse themselves in nature, understanding its wonders and our essential role in its preservation. Educational programs at the Learning Reserve focus on areas where visitors will learn valuable life lessons of respect, responsibility, and the importance of sustainable living.
The Nex̱wlélex̱wm Ecological Learning Reserve is not merely a vision — it’s an embodiment of our commitment to sustainable coexistence.
By re-imagining the use of the CRC lands, MVP can create a powerful legacy of environmental stewardship for generations to come. The Nex̱wlélex̱wm Ecological Learning Reserve can be a world-class, innovative model for public land use. Let’s not miss this opportunity.
- Sheree Johnson & Edward Wachtman
