The 100+ Women Who Care Oceanside donated $28,000 towards the creation of a 23-acre eagle preserve at the French Creek Estuary.
The groups who have been strongly advocating for the conservation of the area – Friends of French Creek Conservation Society and the Save Estuary Land Society– accepted the cheque at a presentation ceremony held at the French Creek Estuary on Saturday, Oct. 30.
The 100+ Women Who Care Oceanside, represented by Judy Miller, Debbe Patterson, Pat Manuel and Joan Ethier made the cheque presentation. Other dignitaries who came out to celebrate the occasion include RDN Area G director Lehann Wallace, Parksville-Qualicum MLA Adam Walker and Qualicum Beach Coun. Anne Skipsey.
The estuary land is privately owned by French Creek House Ltd., which has offered to gift more than 12 acres for the eagle preserve and to sell the remaining five acres to add to that. A fundraising campaign was launched to help purchase the five acres.
Denise Foster of the Save Estuary Land Society indicated thanks to the generosity of the 100+ Women Who Care and many other individual donors, they have already raised $180,000 of the $500,000 goal. She added by voting to award funds to the eagle preserve, the 100+ Women chose to help nature and combat climate change in the Oceanside community.
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Electoral Area G (French Creek, San Pareil, Little Qualicum, Englishman River) director Wallace appreciates the selfless efforts of the Friends of French Creek Conservation Society, Save Estuary Land Society as well as the owner for fostering the preservation of this important environmental piece of land.
“I applaud the environmental stewardship example set by the land owner of the estuary property (French Creek House) together with the Save French Creek Estuary Land group of dedicated volunteers,” said Wallace. “Working towards protecting and enhancing the French Creek estuary lands for future generations is important work. This is a great example of what can come from collaboration. My sincere gratitude also goes to the 100+ Women Who Care for their $28,000 donation.”
French Creek estuary land is a rich, biodiverse ecosystem supporting wildlife that come for food, water, shelter and to raise their young, including 19 identified species at risk such as peregrine falcons, great blue herons, marbled murrelets amd Townsend’s big-eared bats.
For info about the eagle preserve, visit saveestuarylandsociety.ca
To learn more about 100+ Women Who Care Oceanside, visit their website at https://www.100womenoceanside.com/