# Event Details - **Event Name**: FREE Garry Oak Ecosystem Restoration - **Event Start and End Date**: Sat, 11 Apr, 2026 at 10:00 am – Sat, 11 Apr, 2026 at 12:00 pm - **Event Description**: Come participate in protecting Indigenous Kwetlal Food SystemsAbout this EventIn this workshop we will be learning about Garry Oak ecosystem restoration while we are among such an ecosystem! These unique ecosystems are among the most biodiverse terrestrial ecosystems in British Columbia, as well as some of the most threatened. Less than 5% of the total area that once contained these meadow ecosystems still remains, and what is left is degraded or in danger of being lost. Garry Oak ecosystems are first and foremost food systems, which are the result of Indigenous stewardship and cultivation since time immemorial. The Kwetlal (camas) food system that we now find in the Matson Conservation Area would not exist without the stewardship of the lək̓ʷəŋən Peoples. Significant both culturally and in terms of biodiversity, we will learn about what it takes to help protect and restore these ecosystems, and what you can do to get involved. We'll even get our hands on some Invasive Species, that the instructor will help you identify and pull them to make space for Native Species. This workshop is being offered for free in partnership between the Habitat Aquisition Trust and The Compost Education Centre.The workshop will be happening at Matson Conservation Area, directions will be emailed to you via Eventbrite the week of the workshop.Instructor BioVanessa Brownlee (she/her), Habitat Restoration CoordinatorVanessa is of primarily German and Scottish ancestry and grew up on the territories of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation). She moved to Lək̓ʷəŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ territories in 2015 to study Environmental Studies, Sociology, and Restoration of Natural Systems at the University of Victoria. Vanessa began working with HAT on the restoration crew in 2022 and is now the Habitat Restoration Coordinator.About HATHabitat Acquisition Trust is a regional land trust that conserves nature on south Vancouver Island. We envision a future where the full array of natural habitats on south Vancouver Island and the southern Gulf Islands are healthy and conserved. HAT works and stewards ecosystems as visitors in the traditional and unceded territories of the W̱SÁNEĆ, SC’IȺNEW, and T'Sou-ke Nations, lək̓ʷəŋən peoples (Songhees and Xwsepsum Nations) and the many other Coast Salish peoples who have lived in relationship with and stewarded these lands since time immemorial and continue to live in relationship to the Land today. HAT supports Indigenous-led conservation by providing support and resources with guidance from elders, knowledge keepers and Indigenous consultants.How to RegisterYou must pre-register for this event. You can obtain a free ticket through Eventbrite. You can also register for the event by calling our office at 250 386 9676 or via email by contacting office@compost.bc.caVERY IMPORTANT: Please be in touch if you are no longer able to attend but hold a ticket so we can make your space available to someone else.AccessibilityThis workshop will be happening on site at Matson Conservation Area in Esquimalt, outdoors the entire time. Please dress for all types of weather, rain or shine. There will be plenty of standing in this workshop and Invasive species removal which will involve digging, pulling, bending and squating. There is not a public washroom available on site.About the Compost Education CentreThe Compost Education Centre is located on unceded and occupied Indigenous territories, the land of the Lekwungen people— specifically the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations. These nations are two of many, made up of individuals who have lived within the porous boundaries of what is considered Coast Salish, Nuu-Chah-Nulth and Kwakwa'wakw Territory (Vancouver Island) since time immemorial. At the CEC we seek to respect, honour and continually grow our own understandings of Indigenous rights and history, and to fulfill our responsibilities as settlers, who live and work directly with the land and its complex, vital ecologies and our diverse, evolving communities.Compost Education Centre memberships get you free workshops, discounts at garden centres around town and more great perks! Sign up or learn more on our website. - **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/victoria/free-garry-oak-ecosystem-restoration/100001975013470456 - **Event Categories**: workshops, sports - **Interested Audience**: - total_interested_count: 0 ## Ticket Details - **Ticket Price Range**: min: 0, max: 0, currency: CAD ## Event venue details - **city**: Victoria - **state**: BC - **country**: Canada - **location**: Garrett Place - **lat**: 48.4301219 - **long**: -123.3954353 - **full address**: Garrett Place, Garrett Place, Victoria, Canada ## Event gallery - **Alt text**: FREE Garry Oak Ecosystem Restoration - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events4/banners/3c76677600fec2ae46ce0600d626f690fd1605decf713aa73ded2a9ff33a6e53-rimg-w1200-h800-dc302e1b-gmir.jpg?v=1763944083 ## FAQs - **Q**: When and where is FREE Garry Oak Ecosystem Restoration being held? - **A:** FREE Garry Oak Ecosystem Restoration takes place on Sat, 11 Apr, 2026 at 10:00 am to Sat, 11 Apr, 2026 at 12:00 pm at Garrett Place, Garrett Place, Victoria, Canada. - **Q**: Who is organizing FREE Garry Oak Ecosystem Restoration? - **A:** FREE Garry Oak Ecosystem Restoration is organized by Victoria Compost Education Centre. - **Q**: Who is this event for? Is it right for me? - **A:** FREE Garry Oak Ecosystem Restoration is ideal for curious learners, students, and skill-builders looking to gain hands-on knowledge and practical expertise in a focused, interactive setting. Whether you're a first-time attendee or a longtime enthusiast in Victoria, this event is thoughtfully curated to deliver a standout experience worth every moment. 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The CEC’s mission is to encourage composting, local food production, and conservation, through education to residents living within the CRD. Created as a community resource, the CEC’s intent is to lower barriers to building skills that support soil stewardship and ecological sustainability. Two of the ways the CEC meets this goal are through free and affordable workshop series for adults, and a diverse, interactive, science-based educational program for students and their teachers. The CEC is mandated to teach people of all ages how to create a biologically active, organic garden amendment, as well as why composting and soil conservation are crucial practices for mitigating climate change.\r\n " } ] } ] ```