West Ballenas Island is 100 acres in size, located off Nanoose Bay as part of a chain of islands between Lantzville and Parksville. (BC Parks Foundation)

By Ian Holmes

mission accomplished

West Ballenas Island preserved, purchased from private owner for $1.7M

Nov 16, 2020 | 1:45 PM

NANAIMO — A privately owned island off Nanoose Bay is poised to be preserved as park land thanks to a substantial fundraising campaign.

The BC Parks Foundation has secured an agreement to purchase West Ballenas Island for a reduced price of $1.7 million after receiving donations from a range of private sources.

CEO Andrew Day told NanaimoNewsNOW the campaign to buy the prized island was impressive since it was only formally launched in early October.

The deal is expected to be finalized later this month.

“The spirit of gratitude that British Columbians have for B.C. and the desire to keep it beautiful, I think that message is so strong among British Columbians and even beyond.”

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The 100-acre undeveloped island features a rocky topography home to a rich ecosystem of rare trees, an endangered flower and an abundance of wildlife, according to the foundation.

Day said a recent surge of donations came from the United States after a CNN article featured the foundation’s quest to buy West Ballenas Island.

He said the island was slated to be divided into individual development parcels, highlighting the importance to act now.

“You don’t really know what’s going to happen and how it’s going to go, so there’s always a degree of urgency to try and get it while you can.”

He said a matching private donation of $850,000 put the campaign in a favourable position to protect the island popular with private boaters and kayakers.

The foundation had a deadline of Nov. 17 to raise the required funds, which was accomplished on the weekend.

Day said the island will be transferred to government control to become a provincial park under the condition nothing beyond low impact recreation amenities are developed.

“We talked to them right at the outset…It’s right in line with what they’re interested in,” Day said, who referenced the province’s desire for a marine park in the area.

Efforts to purchase West Ballenas Island included a fundraising effort from Ballenas Secondary School students in Parksville.

Grade nine Ballenas teacher Shayne Vollmers helped organize a firewood fundraiser, igniting $9,200 in donations from a variety of donors to the school to help buy West Ballenas Island.

He said a recent trip to a nearby island closer to shore with his French Immersion students inspired his class to take on the challenge of securing the future of West Ballenas Island.

“These kids literally took a pile of firewood and turned it into a BC park forever, wow!”

Vollmers said his students helped generate widespread media attention, which created a domino effect by exposing the BC Parks Foundation’s effort to many more people.

He said in two sessions 13 of his students chopped 10 cords of firewood, resulting in many blisters, but also immense pride for the participants and himself personally.

“It gives me a lot of hope in the future. These 14-year-old kids are going out of their way to make a true difference…They’re showing independence, maturity, care for others and care for the environment,” Vollmers said.

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes