Just because The Nature Trust of British Columbia took over running the Brant Wildlife Festival four years ago, doesn’t mean local participation isn’t needed, says Doug Walker.
The president and CEO of The Nature Trust was in Qualicum Beach recently, to give that message and to call for support.
“The Nature Trust continues to seek support to continue with the festival,” he said. “We agreed in 2006 to run it until we can find others to keep it going. We are putting increasing time and energy to make sure this continues and we want to continue working with the communities involved. We want to make sure it has a viable format and that the communities want it.”
He said he has heard people suggest The Nature Trust has done such a good job with the festival over the past four years that they should continue to do so. However, he stressed his group needs community partnerships in order to keep it going and to raise sponsorship funds.
The festival, he said, costs $30,000 to put on every year.
That figure was put into context by town councillor Barry Avis, who noted the Brant Wildlife Festival brought in $625,000 to the area every year.
The Brant Wildlife Festival runs from the beginning of March to the end of April, with numerous events and activities planned to highlight the special significance of the Oceanside area to Brant geese, as well as other wildlife.