There are a myriad of ways that each of us can make a difference in protecting biodiversity in our region.
On this page we celebrate the everyday 'heroes' who are taking action and making a difference.
If you know someone we should feature on this page, please contact us.
Help Create This Year’s Sunshine Coast Ocean Festival
The Sunshine Coast Ocean Festival (SCOF) is an annual, community-powered celebration of the ocean that sustains us. Coordinated by the Sunshine Coast Conservation Association (SCCA) and RhizomeUp!MEdia, in collaboration with local partners, SCOF brings together education, storytelling, science, and action to deepen our connection to the marine and nearshore ecosystems of the Sunshine Coast. As […]
World Environmental Education Day: Caring for What Sustains Us
Why Environmental Education Matters on the Sunshine Coast Every year on World Environmental Education Day, people around the globe pause to reflect on the health of our planet and the role each of us plays in protecting it. Led by the United Nations Environment Program, this day is a reminder that environmental action doesn’t happen […]
Daniel Bouman: Advocate, Founder, Mentor, Friend
Celebration of Life for Daniel Bouman A Celebration of Life for Daniel Bouman will be held on Saturday, March 14, 2026, from 2:00 to 5:00 pm at High Beam Dreams in Gibsons. Friends, family, colleagues, and community members are invited to gather in honour of Dan’s life and legacy. As founder of the Sunshine Coast […]
Remembering Andrew Scott
When Andrew Scott passed away this summer, the conservation community of the Sunshine Coast had to say goodbye to a dear friend. Andrew’s love of nature was undeniable, as was his commitment to help protect it locally. So in 2001, he got himself elected to the Board of the Sunshine Coast Conservation Association (SCCA) and […]
Honouring Sid Quinn (skénáw)
Sid Quinn (skénáw) Sid Quinn passed away on June 5, 2025. On June 28, at a crowded memorial at the shíshálh Nation Hall, indigenous and non-native citizens alike expressed deep love and respect for the astounding contributions to the shishálh community and environmental sustainability of the nation’s swiya by this remarkable man. Sid’s 43 years […]
Meet our Volunteer – Maggie Kalve-Guzzi
There’s something special about volunteering that transforms both the volunteer and the community. For over a decade, the Sunshine Coast Conservation Association (SCCA) has been fortunate to have dedicated volunteers like Maggie Kalve-Guzzi, whose warmth and enthusiasm have helped shape our conservation efforts. Whether engaging with visitors at community events or participating in hands-on environmental […]
Pat Demeester – Biodiversity Hero
Pat Demeester grew up in rural southwestern Ontario. Angling was a family tradition and by the age of three, he was fishing the local ponds and tributaries of Lake Erie. One highlight from his childhood was landing a skamania trout, a breed that is known for its fighting spirit. A similar tenacity would one day […]
Paul Harris Jones: Marbled Murrelet Protector
Paul Harris Jones is recognized locally and nationally for his dogged determination to protect marbled murrelet birds. The species is listed as threatened by both the provincial and federal governments. Jones and his wife, Mavis, received the Davidson Award from the Vancouver Natural History Society for their combined efforts to study and defend the murrelets […]
Gertrude Pacific: Artist and Forest Activist
Gertrude developed a love for nature at an early age. Raised in Victoria, she began painting scenes in clamshells when she was just six-years-old. Her artistic talent eventually led to a Master of Fine Arts degree at the University of Washington. Gertrude became Curator of Design at the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture […]