Our speaker for this Thursday will be Steve MacDonald from Marine Parks Forever.

The British Columbia Marine Parks Forever Society was formed as a vehicle to raise seed money to assist in the purchase of suitable properties for use as marine parks. The Society has been in existence since 1989. The original plan was to raise these funds by asking recreational boaters to donate $10 a year. They now also receive money from the general public through boat shows, private donation and estate legacies etc.

They entire donation is applied to the purchase of parks. As population increases and urban areas expand, land is lost to the public. The Society plays an active role in ensuring more marine parkland is available by providing technical input and seed money to encourage governing bodies to purchase suitable properties for marine parks.

• Before the BC Marine Parks Society was created, the Council played a key role in acquiring the prestigious "Pirates Cove Marine Park" on DeCourcy Island.
• Later, Wallace Island was acquired after it was put on the market in 1989.

Want to hear more?
We 'll see you this Thursday, at 7:00PM, in the Maritime Museum.