In addition to the eagles, the French Creek estuary supports 180 species of birds, 60 species of waterfowl, salmon, river otters, and beavers. (Melanie Leeson Photography)

By Jordan Davidson

fly eagles fly

French Creek Eagle Sanctuary soars past lofty fundraising goal

Apr 13, 2022 | 4:46 PM

NANAIMO — Purchase of an 18 acre plot of land in French Creek can go ahead after an ambitious fundraising goal was met.

The site will be home to the French Creek Estuary Eagle Sanctuary, a protected nature reserve dedicated to the large number of eagles naturally flocking to the area. It’s the first facility of its kind on Vancouver Island.

Andy Day, CEO of BC Parks told NanaimoNewsNOW, they still needed $300,000 as of earlier this year and they got the job done by an April 10 fundraising deadline.

“I’m overwhelmed, I’m sort of floored by the goodwill people have for B.C. and for nature.”

The BC Parks Foundation spearheaded the initial effort to raise near $5.2 million in donations to purchase the 18 acres of estuary land and join it with 5 acres of an existing protected area.

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Day said the final $300,000 came through donations big and small from across the province.

“There were quite a few groups like Rotary Club, and business associations and voluntary groups like Paws for the Parks where pet owners got together and did a fundraiser,” Day said. “Lots of different businesses and groups got active.”

French Creek Housing Ltd. gifted a portion of the newly acquired 18 acres, worth around $3.2 million.

B.C entrepreneur Dax Dasilva and his non-profit Age of Union Alliance donated $1 million, while the Regional District of Nanaimo provided an additional $400,000.

Day gives credit to the tireless efforts of volunteers for making this a reality, in particular, the local Save Estuary Land Society (SELS) and Friends of French Creek Conservation Society for spearheading local efforts to protect the estuary.

“They’ve been at this for years and years and years and the credit really goes to them. They were the ones on the ground meeting with people, talking with people, distributing brochures. I just think they are so overjoyed by this.”

Chair of the SELS Denise Foster said it’s been inspiring to see people come up with creative ways to raise awareness and donations.

“When we come together in our local neighbourhood to help protect nature, it’s an amazing feeling. It unites us as a community.”

Students from Ballenas and Kwalikum Senior Secondary schools planted hundreds of native trees in the estuary, while the Parksville Golden Oldies Sports Association held a cycling event to raise money.

Currently, the land remains private and is off-bounds to visitors for the coming months as the deal closes and restoration and planning begin.

Once the purchase is official, the RDN will co-own the wildlife estuary with the BC Parks Foundation, which will see the RDN manage the lands as a nature preserve through a 99-year renewable lease agreement with the Foundation.

More information on the nature reserve is available on the BC Parks Foundation news release here.

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jordan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @JordanDHeyNow