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Stories (100)
Eelgrass and Freedivers: Community-based Conservation and Restoration
It brings me great joy to share our story about eelgrass. I was introduced to this beautiful emerald green marine plant 12 years ago through a volunteer opportunity—restoring eelgrass in Saanich Inlet near Victoria. It wasn't long before I fell in love with enchanting habitat that is a nursery for thousands of marine organisms. More »
How the sea saved me
I went hunting for crabs under rocks in tidal pools, watched Orca far out in the ocean, and fed wild seals! Something in these experiences tugged at my heart...an ancient longing perhaps, or the feeling of sliding into a place in your life where you were always meant to be. More »
Enough is Enough
On October 24, 2012, the townspeople of Bella Coola demonstrated peacefully against the proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline being built through their fragile living space. More »
In my home, the home of the Nuxalk Nation
In this open letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, young Mallory and Victoria of the Nuxalk Nation (near Bella Coola, British Columbia) express their deep concerns over the Northern Gateway Pipeline proposed by Enbridge. More »
My first time: dolphins and orca
The first time I was beside the ocean was 8 years ago. It was about 9:30 at night and my Dad and I were at the Government Wharf of Bella Coola. I heard a blowing noise of in the distance. With the light that was left, I saw an orca whale for the first time in real life not on T.V.! More »
Views from the mast
How high can you get in seeing dolphins and humpbacks? Captain Tavish Campbell knows. More »
A killer whale baby shower
The whale watching boat I work aboard encountered a group of resident orcas in the Gulf Islands. This location is not an unusual place to find these local orcas, but what they were doing on that particular afternoon was very special indeed. More »
Because he was a killer whale
I leaned over the edge to see Luna better and started singing to him. He was a giant. But I wanted to jump in and swim with the whale. More »
Irresistably
The evening with sinking sun beckoned me. My shiny blue bicycle led me to a tiny paradise affectionately known as "the little Bahamas." More »
The baby eaglet who was scared of heights
Once upon a time, there was a baby bird named Eaglet who lived in a large nest with his baby brother and sister waaayy up high in a cedar tree. More »
Coast no more
I worked on the Pacific coast for many years as a tree-planter and I've seen first hand the unpredictability of the Pacific Ocean — from pleasure boats to fishing boats and the last big one being the sinking of the Queen of the North ferry. More »
Home
Highway 4, Junction Ucluelet/Tofino. Right blinker, turn and off we go. Another few kilometers and we will finally be there. I feel the anticipation grow inside and butterflies spreading their... More »
Science in Hakai
My Science 10 class and I took a three hour ferry ride from Bella Coola, BC to Calvert Island, where Hakai Beach is found. Every day was an adventure that was compacted with learning, memories, and fun. More »
A knock-down, drag-out fight with a devilfish
He was huge! Each of his eight tentacles were about eight or ten feet long and was equipped with twin rows of sucking disks that took a hold of you and didn't slip or let go without a fight. His beak looked formidable, it was as sharp as a parrot's, but I didn't allow him intimidate me. More »
Clam digging
I remember looking over the side and the water being so clear. It was the clearest I have ever seen the ocean. The colors were so vivid; the orange crabs, the blue rocks covered with seaweed and algae... More »
Bella Coola: my home
I live in the isolated village of Bella Coola by the Pacific Ocean and 12 hours away from Vancouver. It has lush coastal rainforest and lots of rain and it is because of the ocean and rain that the forests grow so well. More »
Papa's wisdom
My grandfather started gillnet fishing when he was just eighteen years of age, and he was also a logger on the coast for over thirty years. I asked him what his experiences were on or off the coast and he had a lot to say. More »
How I see the ocean
This is a video I put together documenting some of what I see when I am under the waves. The beauty of the ocean can be breath-taking. When I see the impact of humans it often can ruin these special moments. More »
The amazing "Rediscovery"
The first time I was beside the ocean was eight years ago. It was about 9:30 at night, and my Dad and I were at the Government Wharf of Bella Coola, when I heard a blowing noise off in the distance. With the light that was left, I saw an orca whale for the first time in real life—not on T.V! More »
Beach Interpretation Program
My story is about the Marine Life Sanctuaries Society of BC (MLSS), that is using Beach Interpretation Programs to educate people about the ocean and what is in it. Our ocean is in dire need of protection and the best way to engage people in the issue, is to show them the amazing creatures that live there. More »
Fighting the waves
It was a hot summer day but there was a big storm coming in from the other side of the U.S. border. We were on our way home and we decided to ride along the sidewalk along the ocean. More »
Inspired by silence
On our travels home we were told that several groups of killer whales were in the area. As the fog cleared and the sun began to shine through the clouds we started to catch glimpses of whale blows hanging in the air. It was one—no two—humpback whales. Then, further in the distance smaller blows....black fins... More »
Kayaking with whales and dolphins
Kayaking BC's wild coast doesn't get any better than doing it amongst whales and dolphins. A lot of people don't get to be this lucky. We're sharing this story to raise awareness about the importance of protecting our Pacific ocean and all of the life it sustains. More »
Invitation to a sea of silent dreams
You are hereby invited to come upon a floating leadership retreat that will depart from the lovely port of Vancouver, British Columbia and journey up the mystical coastline to the home of the spirit bear. More »
Holy mola
We live and work all year on our boat on the incredible north coast of BC from Cape Caution to the Alaska border and west to Haida Gwaii. We have been fortunate to see many amazing things on the ocean but these were our first sunfish and a real thrill. More »
Killer whales
I use to commercial fish with my father close to Port Simpson. Once, we were drifting with the tide going out towards the Pacific Ocean, when dad pointed out these baby killer whales swimming beside the boat. More »
Pacific love
Ever since I was a boy the Pacific has been my home. I have always dreamed of sharing my experiences under the sea, so others can see it how I do. This is my vision of the underwater playground called the Salish Sea. More »
My inspiration
Can I take each person by the hand, give them a mask and snorkel and enable them to see what they miss? Can I teach them to see fish as friend, whale as queen, plankton as foundation, coral as civilization? Can I share with them the gift of respect for all living things? More »
Wild west wanderings
A few strokes along the shore, I find a giant back eddy and enter into its domain, connecting with the force of the sun, moon, planets, and my breath... the great circle.Launching off the top of the first wave, a herd of sea lions suddenly appears and charges towards me, a few paddle lengths away, roaring in indignation that I would dare to enter The Kingdom. More »
Pixie dust
In the Strait of Georgia, eating bagels with cucumbers and cream cheese, we always catch sight of seals, and dolphin fins dance in the distance. Sometimes we are graced with sights of orcas. But nothing compares to standing on the edge of our boat at midnight shivering, compelling myself to dive into the water, but resisting because I know how cold it will be. More »
My summer with the purple martins
As a teenager living on Vancouver Island my life is full of adventures involving the ocean. This past summer, I was given the very unique opportunity to work with local biologists, helping to monitor and record purple martin nest boxes around Vancouver Island. More »
My ocean, my life
I never gave much thought to how the ocean affects the world. I am still not sure of all the ebbs and flows of it; I only know how much it means to me. More »
Living lights of the Pacific
Going at night by the moon, with lanterns and no tourists...this is the only way a local does this trip. We rowed a little boat from the bigger boat to... More »
A tourist's tale
In 1991 I decided to backpack across Vancouver Island. I was sick, life had become difficult, and through a series of events I was lead to read a book called "The Sacred Earth", which was endorsed by the Dalai Lama (whom I didn't know anything about at the time). More »
Stewardship rewards
Sometimes a small seemingly insignificant act of stewardship can make a difference AND give an unexpected reward. More »
(Credit: Peter Mieras)
Underwater video works both as fundraiser and educational tool
In order to fund our local stewardship and conservation programmes, we did not ask tax payers for money but made a local DVD about the ocean, called "Kelp and Critters, a journey through 4 seasons of marine life in the Pacific Northwest". More »
Volunteers help find old fishing nets
Each year during the salmon fishing season a number of gill nets end up on reefs. They continue to fish and kill many unwanted species of fish, invertebrates, marine birds and mammals. This is a story about an simple initiative to help reduce the impact. More »
Surface feeding
Recently, on an excursion on the waters around Haida Gwaii and the north/central coast of British Columbia, I was fortunate enough to see well over a hundred different whales. More »
Prairie dog goes coastal
I will never forget that 4 hour trip from Bella Coola to Bella Bella. It was as if I had stepped into a magical world of beauty. The waters were so calm, so magnificent. Forests and mountains that I had only heard about, right before my eyes. I was on the West Coast! More »
Swans: mates for life
We headed up the lagoon to the start of the Englishman's River and he stopped, looked at me and pointed ahead. I gasped at the most beautiful sight. More »
The beach
We spent the early afternoon on it, exploring the low tide, myself enjoying being tour-master to my spouse and three children. Until a few days ago, when an illness in... More »
What on earth do the tar sands have to do with defending your coast?
The David Suzuki Foundation said "Tell your story. Defend your ocean". So, I am. My story starts with an ocean conservation organization that I started, then it takes a detour... More »
Oceans of Family Fun
My sister and I grew up on the East coast of Canada and developed a love for the ocean and our planet. More »
My Ocean
Without the sea and the fish and the means of trade and travel it supplied, we could never have survived. The ocean and all it contained and the land that edged it nourished us and allowed us to grow here. We were barnacles on these rocks. More »
My first humpback whale
My first close encounter with a humpback whale was as a child living at Pachena Point on Vancouver Island. From time to time in summer, the light keeper would take... More »
Surfin' with giants
Grabbing my board, I began the trek to the beach at more of a trot than a walk in anticipation of hitting the water and sliding across some waves. But, the morning was destined to be monumental, not for spectacular waves, rather for the whales in the surf break just off the beach. More »
Ghosts of the Pacific
Be it gathering and shucking oysters during our thrilling winter storms, or running to evade wasps on Long Beach during a summer salmon barbecue, every memory I have is somehow married with the ocean and the creatures within it. More »
Windy day on Hecate Strait
We were about three hours out to sea when it hit us—25 foot waves. The Captain turned the vessel to head directly into it. I was on the bridge deck serving coffee and almost lost everything but managed to hang on to the railing. More »
Orcas at Stuart Island
I was ecstatic. I had never seen a whale so close up — within an arm's reach of the skiff. As my companion and I chatted excitedly about the gift of the whale's presence, three or four more surfaced, ever so calmly and casually. More »
Midway — A message from the North Pacific Gyre
Three and a half years ago, my life changed forever. I was invited to be part of a film crew, that traveled to Midway Island, one of the remotest islands on Earth. More »
Let's Play
We were fishing for tuna approximately 150 miles west of Triangle Island off the north tip of Vancouver Island. I didn't realize that the normally green waters of our nearby coast turn a lovely blue color, and tha'ts where the tuna are feeding. More »
Closer Encounter with a Bull Orca
I was swimming in behind her. All of a sudden I heard a loud blast of air/water spray and a grunting type noise right behind me. I turned my head to see the spray of a Bull Orca (killer whale) surface directly behind me. More »
Terrifying Beauty
As we were finishing our dinner and sat out on the point watching the sun set, my dad stood up and turned around and less than feet from him was a cougar. It seemed to be as shocked as we were so we both stood up and picked up some driftwood and waved it in the air to scare it away. More »
It Felt Like I Could See Forever
That sunny Saturday morning, we left the lighthouse station to go shopping for staples at the little village just south of us. In Vancouver we could just go to the corner store but where I lived for my 13th year of life...well we had to make sure the tide was moving the right way and the water was calm enough to travel because the ocean was our street and sidewalk. More »
Finding liberty through ocean night swimming
I switch onto my back and see there are stars over head, dozens of them. The ocean swells are the largest I have swam in along these typically calm shores but they are moving with me, propelling me and I enjoy their slow lift and gentle drop. More »
A Minke on a Mission
While camping and kayaking at Gooding Cove last week, we had several sightings of a sole Minke whale at the perimeter of the cove, surfacing and diving. Seeing the immense back of this beauty breaking the ocean's surface never got old. More »
Video produced by Geoff Edwards of Streamworks
A beginning of an end
As a twelve year old I recall riding my bike to Dallas Road in Victoria, BC and poking around in the tide pools. The pools were alive with tiny flatfish,... More »
Sailing the Inside Passage of BC
_Excerpt from 'Sailing to Alaska' blog_ Aug 22-23: Today we witnessed a large concentration of Humpback whales in Wright Sound. It was quiet and the water was still and they... More »
Boats to Boats on a Boat
In the summer of 2012, nine of us went on an incredible 2 week journey from Vancouver to Gwaii Haanas National Park on Haida Gwaii. We explored northern BC, went... More »
Orcas In Oil
The highlight of my trip was a couple of visits to the Cetacea Lab at Whale Point. There I was introduced to the work of Hermann and Janie who, as they put it, live "A life dedicated to the research and protection of all whales and coastal companions of this pristine ecosystem called the Great Bear Rainforest." More »
Life in the Kelp
I love paddling my kayak around the island I love on. The best part is paddling through the kelp beds just off shore. From shore you can see the kelp floating with the tides but from a kayak you can see the life within. More »
A Precious Gift
The summer of my eighth birthday, (1964) My father gave me a most incredible gift... our first summer of many on Salt Spring Island. More »
Tide Pool Treasure
This August, while 'tide-pooling' near Fanny Bay on Vancouver Island with my two little grandchildren, we made a fabulous discovery! We flipped over a large rock in search of crabs, but there we found so much more! More »
Willie Mitchell and the Stanley Cup visit the BC coast
The tiny 'Namgis First Nation of remote Alert Bay welcomed the return of an adopted son. Willie Mitchell, the stalwart Los Angeles Kings defenceman who helped his team win the Stanley Cup two months ago, grew up in nearby Port McNeill and brought hockey's hallowed trophy to the dense forests of northern Vancouver Island. More »
Memoirs of Beautiful Tofino
It was 1989 and we were on our way to Tofino, on Vancouver Island. My son was 2 years old, filled with rambunctious energy and eager to explore and learn. We stayed in a motel in town that overlooked the water, listening to the sounds of the healthy, active, noisy lives of ocean life that made Tofino their home. More »
Coastal Lights
As a child, I lived at Pachena Point on the west coast of Vancouver Island, a tiny out-port of civilization between forest and sea. At that time, the lighthouse and the marine radio station, where my father worked, were vital links in the navigation system that allowed cargo vessels to move safely along our dangerous and rugged coastline. More »
My Personal Experience with the Pacific
I had left Winter Harbour after selling my load of fish. I had fished alone this trip and was on my way home to Port Alberni on the Pacific side of Vancouver Island. I had passed Cape Cook on Solander Island and was enjoying the quiet and peacefulness of the open ocean after coming through the pass. More »
All photos taken in the cold, dark, rich waters of Northern Vancouver Island, BC
(Credit: Marine Detective)
The reason you can't see to the bottom of these cold, dark waters . . .
The reason you can't see to the bottom of these cold waters is because there is so much life... A rich plankton soup... Dark green with the phytoplankton that make... More »
Story of Corporate Deceit: How Enbridge erased BC islands
I'm an independent scientist and I recently discovered that Enbridge deliberately removed 1,000 square kilometers of islands off their route safety video and map to make the oil tanker route look much less treacherous than it actually is. More »
Pacific Gold
When I was a kid I found a snail washed up on the beach so big it filled a margarine container... I remember it being better then finding gold:) More »
My Encounter with "Splitfin" the Humpback Whale
In 2007, I captured an image of a young humpback whale with a freshly cut dorsal fin (probable vessel strike) and had been sliced into two parts. His scientific name is BCY0324 and nickname is Splitfin. More »
Looking Up!
A married couple from Eastern Canada, who must have been fighting on the plane trip to Campbell River on Vancouver Island, because when I picked them up at the airport they were not talking to each other or me. I was their fishing guide, ready to provide them a good ocean experience on Canada's west coast. More »
When Will We Wake Up?
Twenty five years ago my husband and I were crab fishers working from the dock in Crofton on Vancouver Island. More »
The First Time I heard the Earth Speak
Recently I embarked on a four day kayak trip on the waters of Haida Gwaii. One night, camping out in the narrows I was surrounded by complete darkness. More »
Prescription for Recovery
The fog clasped me to my very soul, tendrils of cold damp probing my clothing, finding every kink and pinprick. The cool air off the ocean coagulated and coughed its phlegm upon the shoreline, and me. I was used to it. More »
(Credit: Cloverpoint)
Unlocking the Lands and Ocean
The Huu-ay-aht want to share the story of their journey to self-governance with the hope that they can inform and inspire other First Peoples to unlock their lands and build a bright future for generations to come. More »
I Got a Spill in Kalamazoo
Concerned about Enbridge's propsed pipeline to the Pacific? Sing along as Just Theatre explores the lighter side of heavy crude. More »
Paddleboarding Before Work Everyday in Serene Sea
It's just another typical work day in Vancouver. I get up, head to Jericho beach, all year round except in heavy rain, and hop on the stand up paddle board and head out for a meditative 20 minutes or so. More »
Plastic in Paradise
As a little girl, I used to read books about the Bobsey twins, Bert and Nan and Freddie and Flossie. I loved it that they went to the sea shore for their holidays and longed to one day smell the salty air and curl my toes in the sand... More »
Adam and the Dreamfish
Once upon a time there was a young boy named Adam who was afraid of the dark. Every night at bedtime, his Father would switch on the night light beside his bed. One day his Father said, "You're a big boy now, it is time you learned to sleep without your night light."... More »
Ten minutes of Exhilaration
Kayaking off of Bamfield on Vancouver Island, a group of us men, camping on the Deer Island Group, decided to paddle about Vargus Island. The weather was sunny as eagles soared overhead; a light breeze made a small chop on top of the incoming large Pacific rollers... More »
Cute Baby Animals
There are a lot of cute baby animals out there in the world. Most people have been exposed to kittens and puppies; some people are lucky enough to encounter chicks, lambs, calves, piglets and other livestock. More »
Fresh Air and Beauty All Around
I have had sooo many fabulous stories about the West Coast Ocean, from explorations through diving, sailing, windsurfing, surfing, swimming. It's big, it's deep and recuperative. It hugs me with it's pressure and buoys me playfully. More »
Funeral Entourage (Credit: Karen O'Hearn and Tana Frie)
Gone in a Flash!
In 2007 I was living with a community of friends at a marina. There were a lot of guys named Dave living there, so we assigned them each a nickname to keep track of them. Dave Number Three or Flash as we called him, was a sweet and cheerful guy with a pocket full of plans for his future. Then one tragic day he was taken from us, killed in a senseless accident. More »
Wonderful orca encounter
My two friends and I were out for a leisurely fishing day near Pender Harbour in a small 14-foot aluminum boat, just off Nelson Island (Sunshine Coast). We'd heard there... More »
The Frozen Catch
The highlight of my summers growing up was spending time at my family's cabin on Savary Island. For anyone who hasn't been there, Savary is a stunning place. It is one of the few islands in B.C. with sandy beaches and very warm waters. More »
Nova Scotia writer Donna Morrissey finds healing, peace in the fury of Tofino, BC's wild Pacific
The cloud-darkened sun was just setting on the churning Pacific waters near Tofino, BC when our eight-seat float plane touched down onto the short airstrip. Wet, sandy beaches glistened surreal with a silvery light beneath looming cedars... More »
Not so alone...
One of my stories...just a few moments in time, but I will never forget the feeling of peace and awe and beauty...kayaking back with a friend from the Broken Group to Toquart, into the thickest fog I have ever experienced. More »
My Treasure
I was walking along a small sandy spot among a quiet harbour. I saw a little bubble-like creature. A friend came to look and identified it as a jellyfish. She said to me "you've found a treasure". More »
Swimming across Georgia Strait
Each summer, a group of swimmers embark on a 35 kilometer swim across the Straight of Georgia. My story recounts the wildlife and natural beauty we encountered in 2011. More »
The "Rainblow"
I am a student, working full time in a paddle sport store, but I also work as a photographer. I currently work with a whale watching company in my area to take photos of whales during their trips. Each trip has its special moment and some are more memorable than others. Last week I had a special moment that topped all others. More »
Solving two of BC coastal issues at once
The best way for a visual artist to reach out to people is through pictures, so I decided to add my voice as a cartoon. I wish the answers to the difficult issues we face were as simple as putting pen to paper. But if you can draw it... It's a start. More »
Eden in the Pacific
Tiny morsels that are very appetizing to these birds include bottle caps, lighters, toys and all sorts of plastic that does not sink or biodegrade. While they continue to eat these small bits of plastic, and feed them to their chicks, they cannot digest or pass them. Plastic stays in the birds until they die. More »
Tofino tide pools
I remember waking up early every morning to investigate tide pools. I found the interactions between species to be fascinating. More »
Coho Flats
The waters that I hiked to and fished at are connected to this ocean and so are its inhabitants. Now that I'm a mother to a little girl, these memories have become more vivid, and my desire to share these kinds of experiences with her have become more vital. More »
The Battle of the Sea Anemones
Sea anemones can fight each other for territory, but the ones in BC aren't poisonous to humans, and can't protect their territory from us. Protect the waters for them. More »
Pipe Dreams! Raven vs. Pipeline
The people of Haida Gwaii don't want the Enbridge Pipeline. We don't want oil tankers in these precious waters. More »
A grey whale brings hope to Vancouver harbour
A couple of years ago, back in May of 2010, I got a call from a friend of mine who works at the Vancouver Aquarium: "There's a grey whale in... More »
Kelp Creature
This really made me smile today. I have known this humpback "KC" (BCY0291) since he first came to the area with his mother as a first year calf in 2002.... More »
All content, information and opinions are those of the authors and do not represent the official views and opinions of the David Suzuki Foundation.
