Our Next NPSG Event is Guest Speakers & Meeting
Thursday April 17th 2025 at 7:00pm
Swan Lake Nature House and on Zoom
Topic Focus: Metchosin Biodiversity Project
with Andy Mackinnon and Kem Luther
Talk Topic: Metchosin Biodiversity
The Metchosin Biodiversity Project has logged over 3800 different species from all corners of Metchosin and Race Rocks–the second highest count in Canada! Come and see some staples and surprises, the banal to the bizarre, from the last 13 years of counting, ranging from birds to green things to toadstools to sea creatures. With a special focus on native plants.
About Speakers
Andy MacKinnon – Andy is a forest ecologist who lives in Metchosin, BC. His recent research interests include ecology of BC’s ectomycorrhizal fungal species. He was lead BC scientist for Environment Canada’s 2017 ranking of our province’s threatened and endangered fungal species. Andy has taught rainforest ecology field courses in Bamfield and Tofino (for the University of Victoria) and Haida Gwaii (for UBC). He has also taught mushroom identification courses in Tofino (for the Rainforest Education Society) and in Victoria. He is co-author of six best-selling books about plants of western North America, and co-author of the newly published Royal BC Museum Handbook “Mushrooms of British Columbia”. He is past-president of the South Vancouver Island Mycological Society (SVIMS) and organizer for Botany BC.
Kem Luther – Kem has lived in Nebraska, Illinois, Wisconsin, Virginia and Ontario. He is a Canadian citizen and currently resides in Victoria, British Columbia. His wife, Jeanne, is a musician and an early childhood music specialist. They have two grown daughters. Kem has seen three rounds of academic education/employment. In round one, he was a philosophy student (BA, classics, Loyola University, Chicago, and PhD, philosophy, University of Chicago) and teacher (Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, Virginia). Round two was in computer science (BA, York University, MSc/ABD, University of Toronto). He taught computer science for twenty years at Sheridan College and at the University of Toronto, specializing in operating systems and networks. His third round was in college administration, as the first Director of a joint program between Sheridan College and the University of Toronto. The program, Communication, Culture and Information Technology, currently enrolls a thousand university/college students.
~In-Person and Online~
In Person Location: At the Swan Lake Nature House, 3873 Swan Lake Road -> Link to Map
Cost: Free event but donations gratefully accepted! Everyone welcome, and no need to RSVP.
What to Expect:
Event Timeline:
6:30-7:00 Volunteer Set up and socialize (anyone welcome to help for 3 free raffle tickets!)
7:00-7:20 Introductions & Welcome, Announcements, Question Jar
7:20-8:30 Presentation including Q&A
8:30-8:45 Tea & Cookies break
8:45-9:00 Plant Raffle!
Help with set up or bring cookies to share for 3 free raffle tickets!
Note: This talk will be recorded, and all speaker talks are shared to NPSG members. To become a member, visit npsg.ca $25 for the year.
What to bring:
- A mug for herbal tea or decaf coffee
- A friend if you want
- Some small change for cookies, tea, or raffle tickets
- Drop in admission is by donation (if possible), or $25 for your annual 2025 membership fee
- Native plant or native seeds if you have extra for the plant raffle
- A flashlight as the path is not well lit leading to the Nature House from the Parking Lot
Accessibility Notes:
The Nature House Building is on the ground/main floor and is wheelchair accessible up a concrete path with a slight incline. There are two accessible parking spots at the very end of Swan Lake Road here past the main parking lot, about 20 steps from the front door. The area is not well lit – flashlight or additional light is recommended. Washrooms are accessible inside the building. There is a HEPA filter air purifier we turn on during our meetings, masks are not required.
Territorial Acknowledgement:
The Native Plant Study Group respectfully acknowledges that we meet on the unceded territory of the W̱SÁNEĆ and Lekwungen Peoples. We are a garden group with a strong interest in gardening with native plants for their aesthetic, intrinsic, and conservation values. We gratefully recognize the longstanding stewards of these plants and ecosystems, as well as their cultural significance.
We encourage a safe and respectful space for everyone to learn along with us in our individual and collective pathways of decolonization.
Registration Information is also sent via the NPSG email newsletter. Please send us an email at nativeplantstudygroup@gmail.com if you have problems or questions.
Native Plant Study Group is on Zoom!
NPSG is still using Zoom to host our monthly talks, and we host in-person events as well. Meeting details will be sent out via the NPSG email newsletter. If you would like to become a member, please see our Membership Info.
Who We Are
The Native Plant Study Group respectfully acknowledges that we meet on the unceded territory of the W̱SÁNEĆ and Lekwungen Peoples. We are a garden group with a strong interest in gardening with native plants for their aesthetic, intrinsic, and conservation values. We gratefully recognize the longstanding stewards of these plants and ecosystems, as well as their cultural significance.
General meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month from September to May (except December) and feature a speaker, draw for native plants, and discussion.
Many thanks to our Sustaining Supporters!
These businesses provide discounts to our active card-holding members:
- Borden Mercantile
- Buckerfields
- Dig This
- Garden Works
- Satinflower Nurseries (formerly Saanich Native Plants Nursery)
Territorial Acknowledgement:
The Native Plant Study Group respectfully acknowledges that we meet on the unceded territory of the W̱SÁNEĆ and Lekwungen Peoples. We are a garden group with a strong interest in gardening with native plants for their aesthetic, intrinsic, and conservation values. We gratefully recognize the longstanding stewards of these plants and ecosystems, as well as their cultural significance.
We encourage a safe and respectful space for everyone to learn along with us in the process of decolonization.