Mayne Island Conservancy Society

Community Action

Broom Bash

The Broom Action Team organises a Community Broom Pull or "Bash" from time to time. We pick a time and place and many enthusiastic volunteers and supporters turn out to cut as much Scotch Broom as possible in a 3 hour period. The festivities have begun in the past with the burning of the "Broom Man" outside the Firehall. For a look at 2009's Community Broom Bash click here.

The 2010 Broom Bash took place on Friday June 4 at Barabara Baker's property details here

Beach Cleanup

This year's Beach Cleanup, co-sponsored by MICS, the Mayne Island Recycling Society and the Association of Mayne Island Boaters took place between 10:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.on Sunday April 17th 2011. For more information about the splendid work done by the "Beach Captains" and a host wonderful volunteers please visit our Community Action event page.

May Day Will be Celebrated On Saturday May 21st in 2011

The Mayne Island Conservancy began organising May Day Celebrations on the island six years ago and they quickly became the biggest draw, and a significant fund raiser for the Society's more down-to-earth activities. The Morris Dancers, a Piper, Buskers of many sorts, a skilled Master of Mirth and a Queen of the May, complete with Consort and Attendants have engaged and delighted Mayne kids and the inner child of most everybody else.

Join us again this year for the usual merriment in the grounds of the Ag Hall and the parade with the May Pole to Miners Bay Park where the pole is planted, the "Queen" crowned and danced around. Labyrinths, face painting, refreshments and much more goes down on Saturday May 21st this year.

For pictures of some of the going's on in 2010 visit our Gallery page

Our May Day page has a report on the event, with thanks to the people who have been working to top last year's resounding success. You can also find out you can help with the success of the 2011 Mayne Island fun event of the year!

Farmers' Markets

Mayne Island Farmers' Markets are a weekly event during the summer months. Come to the grounds of the Ag hall on Fernhill for a look at and taste of Mayne's local produce, art literature & handicrafts. Mayne Island Conservancy will have a table their most Saturdays. For more information visit our Farmers' Market page

Fall Fair

Story & pictures of the 2011 event will be posted here when available. Meanwhile you will find a little blurb about Mayne Island's Fall Fair and an illustration of our table at the 2010 gathering.

Information Sessions

Volunteer Lunch and Open House at the Ag Hall - Saturday February 20th More pictures here

The Open House afternoon was preceded by an invited group of hard-working and enthusiastic volunteers who joined the our conservation efforts during the past year. Some had pulled broom with BAT, some had helped Michael Dunn on Henderson Hill while others had assisted Leanna Boyer and her technical partners in Eelgrass mapping and in the search for Sand Lance eggs. Before a sit down lunch catered by Eden Buday both Michael and Leanna brought everyone up to date with the latest news on the progress of their projects and Maggi Cheetham made a pitch for May Day volunteers, mentioning the "Earth Spirit Fundraiser" to be held on Saturday May 8th. The meal being over, the guests completed questionnaires about their volunteer experiences and their assessments of the value of MICS work in the subject fields.

Between 1:00 and 4:00 pm the Open House welcomed a steady stream of visitors who had a look at the informative displays and asked questions of the project organisers. Leanna had set up an art table well stocked with crayons, paper and seashore materials where junior conservationists indulged their fancies. MICS was glad to welcome a number of new members during the afternoon and we thank then for signing up and for their donations. We also added to our volunteer llist, which was a GOOD THING!

Annual General Meeting

Saturday March 19th at 1:30 pm at the Ag Hall

All are welcome to attend the meeting, though only currently paid up members may vote. 2011 Memberships can purchased before the meeting and prior to the Call to Order. Members will vote to filll vacancies on the Board (nominations will be accepted from the floor) and receive the 2011 Budget and the President's and Treasurer's report for 2010.

After the short business meeting addressing the items mentioned above refreshments will be served during the break. Then our special guest, David Cunnington will deliver the address on the topic of "Froggy Festivities." A short summary of Dave's presentation appears on the AGM page.

Pictures of proceedings at the 2010 AGM have been put up on our gallery page

Movie Nights

Come to the Ag Hall on a Saturday evening for a private showing of conservation-themed movies. Sometimes the evening is hosted and lively question and answer sessions ensue.

Admission is free and your donation gets you popcorn and occasionally other refreshments.

These dates are booked in our 2010 - 2011 Programme:

• November 13th
• January 15th

Movies start at 7:30 pm

Conservation Talks

Thursday April 22nd Ag Hall 7:30 pm - Living on the Edge

The Lives of Seabirds off NW Vancouver Island - with Michael Dunn

A celebration of Earth Day and a presentation on the extraordinary lives of seabirds off the northwest coast of Vancouver Island, one of the biodiversity hotspots for marine organisms on the Pacific coast of North America.

The number of seabird species who spend some part of their lives here is high, including the most diverse colonies found in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

This will be a story of their lives, and about the trials and tribulations of living on the edge.
Admission by Donation

Saturday May 1st Ag Hall 7:30 pm - Know Your Birds - Part 2

The Spring and Summer Birds of Mayne Island - with Michael Dunn

This will be a follow-up to the popular winter bird workshop and will focus on the spring and summer birds of Mayne Island. The core of the workshop will provide participants with the skills using field markings to identify more of the diverse bird fauna on the island. The spring and summer focuses more on our forest dwelling birds where field marks and calls are critical to their identification. Join Michael Dunn for this fun and engaging workshop.

Sunday May 16th Ag Hall 12:30 - 3:30 pm SEM Workshop for Landowners

Presented by Todd Carnahan of the Islands Trust assisted by Kaitlin Kazmierowski

Free - All Welcome

Field Trips

MICS regularly offers educational field trips on a wide range of topics. Here is a sample of past events:

• Mushrooms & Fungi with Andy MacKinnon


• Intertidal Ecology with Doug Biffard


• Pacific Sand Lance Ecology with PamThuringer


• The Eelgrass Meadow with Nikki Wright


• Beach Forming Processes with Michael Dunn