Dr. Marlene Smith will deliver the last of the 2013 Comox Valley Nature Rachel Carson Memorial lectures.
Marlene Smith is a retired veterinarian in the Comox Valley with a long and distinguished history and passion for the outdoors.
The topic of her illustrated lecture is The Bedwell trail Story. This lecture is particularly timely as the public awaits an important legal decision on the fate of the Bedwell trail which will determine the management strategy and the future of Vancouver Island’s oldest and largest provincial park.
The lecture is on Sunday, May 19 at 7 p.m. in the Filberg Centre.
After roaming the mountains in Europe and the Himalaya, she immigrated to Canada in 1977. Through the inspiration of Jim Boulding of Strathcona Park Lodge, she became the co-founder of the Friends of Strathcona Park. The land adopted her for a lifelong commitment to protect and preserve its unaltered natural wilderness.
In the unfolding story of the Bedwell Valley the theme of how human activities of the past had a major impact and how we now can make amends to help nature to restore itself all come together
In keeping with BC Nature’s motto Know Nature and Keep it Worth Knowing, Marlene’s belief is “If you love it; stand up for it!”
The Bedwell story will take you through the struggles to get the valley back in the park, the challenge of how people can still visit and minimize their impact, the frustration to communicate and be heard by the BC Parks administrators, the ultimate necessity of going to court over this and finally what the land is revealing to us now.
Come along and enjoy the new route the Friends of Strathcona have found in this unique Ocean to Alpine trek.
Comox Valley Nature is a non-profit society affiliated to BC Nature which fulfills its educational mandate by hosting monthly lectures, organizing free weekly guided hikes and undertaking a variety of environmental projects.
Aside from its main activity as a non-profit, Comox Valley Nature also supports specialized groups ( Birding, Botany, Garry Oak Restoration, Wetland Restoration, Photography and Young Naturalists Club) which have separate monthly activities.
Founded in 1966, it is one of the oldest environmental societies on the North Island. Meetings and lectures of the Comox Valley Naturalists Society are held on the third Sunday of most months at the Florence Filberg Centre, 411 Anderton, Courtenay.
Meetings and guided walks are open to the public, including children and youth. Lecture is free, though a $3 contribution from non-members is appreciated. New memberships are always welcomed.
These lectures are part of CVN’s Rachel Carson Memorial lectures honouring women in Environment Studies. This is the last lecture in an educational series not to be missed.
Anyone interested in this lecture or participating in CVNS activities can also contact us at the website http://comoxvalleynaturalist.bc.ca/ or Loys Maingon (CVN President) at 250-331-0143.
— Comox Valley Nature