Fall 2020

October 15, 2020

Despite the unusually warm weather, fall is officially here with the changing leaves and cooler ocean. After a summer of shifting to more online content, the NEST is excited to announce that there are still many learning opportunities and events going on in our region! Many events have shifted to virtual platforms with a strong focus on participant engagement and connections. This year has also given the West Coast NEST the opportunity to increase our focus on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their application in the Clayoquot Biosphere Region. NEST has centered the SDGs in many of our ongoing events and courses, particularly with our focus on how the work of many local organizations already aligns with and supports the SDGs in our region.

West Coast Online Knitting Retreat

This November, our third annual West Coast Knitting Retreat has moved to a blended delivery of virtual instructional videos from Ukeeknits and Sea Woven and the delivery of beautiful, local goods directly to participants’ doorsteps! The goodie basket includes custom-dyed yarn from Tofino Knit Co., balm from Tofino Soap Co., coffee beans from The Foggy Bean Coffee Company, and tea from Thay Tea Ucluelet. This pivot to online learning facilitates attendees’ engagement with our amazing instructors and other participants, preserving the special relationships that this event fosters. This shift online also ensures continued benefits for local businesses while prioritizing the health and safety of our community.

Clayoquot Salmon Festival

Join the Friends of Clayoquot Sound for a week of online events from November 15 – 22 as they celebrate the annual Clayoquot Salmon Festival online in partnership with the Salmon Nation’s Festival of What Works. The festival will highlight the importance of salmon to coastal livelihoods, cultures, and ecosystems on the West Coast, what is working to protect the greater salmon bioregion and celebrate this amazing species! Stay tuned for more exciting updates and details!

Leadership Vancouver Island: Community of Practice

Over 100 west coast residents are alumni of Clayoquot Biosphere Trust's (CBT) values-based community leadership program, Leadership Vancouver Island (LVI). From all communities in the region, alumni bring diverse experiences and are united by the common language and collaborative values of LVI. This fall, LVI is partnering with the CBT to host a Vital Conversation for its alumni about important community issues. The first topic will be community resilience during summer 2020: when west coast communities deeply felt the tensions brought on by very high numbers of visitors during a global pandemic.

Sustainable Development Goals Global Week of Action

September 25 – October 16, the NEST celebrated the Sustainable Development Goal’s (SDGs) Global Week of Action by organizing a SDG Photo Contest for local adults and a SDG Drawing Contest for local kids. The contests challenged participants to highlight one (or more) of the 17 SDGs in action in the local region. These contests were intended to celebrate and acknowledge the amazing work local organizations and individuals in the Clayoquot Biosphere Region are already doing to advance the SDGs.

SDG Research & Knowledge Symposium

This fall, Clayoquot Biosphere Trust and Ahousaht are co-hosting a Research & Knowledge Symposium to explore a shared regional vision for the future and ways we can work together to learn more about the land, waters, and oceans we call home. Stay tuned for more details!

NEST YouTube SDG Video Series

This spring, Stefania Gorgopa of Raincoast Education Society led an educational filmmaking course for the NEST’s regional partners to share how their work in the Clayoquot Biosphere Region aligns with and supports the Sustainable Development Global Goals. Six local organizations have already shared their videos to the West Coast NEST’s YouTube channel with more on the way! Visit and subscribe to our YouTube channel to check out these videos and stay to up to date with what local organizations are up to in your backyard!

Raincoast Field School Goes Virtual!

In the spring of 2020, Raincoast Education Society transformed their Raincoast Field School to be delivered digitally to ensure that local kids still had access to this amazing and free learning opportunity!