Hornby Island Natural History Centre

Category: Speaker Series


Protecting Herring Habitat in Baynes Sound and Lambert Channel

July 21 from 1:30 – 2:30pm at New Horizons 1765 Sollans Road The shellfish aquaculture industry operates in areas that include critical spawning and rearing habitat for the herring stock which returns to Denman and Hornby Islands each year. Recently publicized…

Read More

Summer 2022 Calendar

We are pleased to announce that the Summer 2022 Natural History Events Calendar is now available! Check out our speaker series, nature walks, forest family circles, or exhibit with hands-on activities.

Read More

Autumn Update from the Stewards

Despite not having a visitable location during summer 2019 after the fire, Hornby Island Natural History has remained busy: maintaining the collection in the temporary storage location, hosting the speaker series and nature walk programs, and connecting with the community at the Market.

Read More

Speaker Series – “Changing Wildfire Regimes” with Kendrick Brown

Join us Thursday, August 1st for a talk with Kendrick Brown, paleoecologist, on Changing Wildfire Regimes. Dr. Brown will look at changing wildfire regimes in British Columbia and beyond in response to changes in climate, vegetation, and human activity. New Horizons Centre, 2:00 pm. $5 per adult. Free for youth 18 years and younger.

Read More

Speaker Series – The Geology and Paleontology of Hornby Island

Join us on July 25th for a talk about the Geology and Paleontology of Hornby Island! Dan Bowen and Betty Franklin of the Vancouver Island Paleontological Society – VIPS will discuss the fossil story of marine life in our ancient ocean.

Read More

Speaker Series – Microplastics in our Local Waters

On July 10th, join us in learning about what is happening with plankton and microplastics in our local waters. Dorrie Woodward, a Denman Island based marine conservationist, will present at Hornby Island’s New Horizons Centre, 2 pm.

Read More

Summer 2019 Calendar

We are pleased to announce that the Summer 2019 Natural History Events Calendar is now available! Please note: Although we have speakers and nature walks, the Natural History Centre is closed for summer 2019.

Read More

Summer 2018 Photos

Thank you to the speakers and nature walk leaders for sharing their knowledge and supporting the Natural History Centre. Check out this cool footage from Dr. Archer’s presentation of a young glass sponge reef taken just east of Hornby Island!

Read More

Speaker Series: “Canada’s Glass Sponge Reefs”

Thursday, August 23rd, 2 pm – 3 pm, with Stephanie Archer, marine biologist. This presentation is part of the Expert Speaker Series. Admission is $5.00 per person. Youth 18 and under attend for free. Please enter through the Natural History Centre door at the…

Read More

Speaker Series: “Vancouver Island Marmot Recovery”

Thursday, August 16th with Adam Taylor, conservationist  Learn about the natural history of the Vancouver Island Marmot and efforts to recover this critically endangered species from the brink of extinction. Once, this marmot numbered fewer than 30 individuals in the…

Read More

Speaker Series: “Exploring Pebbles, Rocks, and the Stories they Tell”

Thursday, July 19th with Eileen Van der Flier-Keller, geologist In this interactive presentation, Eileen will identify pebbles and rocks and explore the stories they tell. Dr. Eileen Van der Flier-Keller is a geologist and Teaching Professor in Earth Sciences at Simon Fraser…

Read More

Summer 2018 Events Calendar

We are pleased to announce that the Summer 2018 Natural History Events Calendar is now available! Join us in learning with experts passionate in the areas of marine biology, paleontology, geology, conservation, and ornithology. The Exhibit’s Summer hours of operation begin Tuesday, July…

Read More

Helliwell Park Bird Walk with Art Martell

About eighty people gathered to catch a glimpse of some of the forest and shoreline birds at Helliwell Park. We sought, listened, and enjoyed their presence under the guidance of Art Martell. Art is an ornithologist and keen birder locally,…

Read More

Speaker Series: “Sea otters – A very natural history”

Thursday, August 17th with Jane Watson, marine biologist Sea otters, prized for their thick fur, were hunted to extinction in British Columbia in a commercial fur trade that started in the late 1700s and lasted until sea otters were protected…

Read More

Bird Walk – Hearing, seeing and enjoying our local birds

Thursday, August 10th with Art Martell Meet at Helliwell Provincial Park at 9:00 am.  The walk will be about 3 km. and take about 2 hours.  Bring binoculars if you have them. No dogs please. Art Martell is retired in the Comox…

Read More

Speaker Series – “A preview of the upcoming Total Solar Eclipse”

July 27th: “A preview of the upcoming Total Solar Eclipse, August 21, 2017” John Nemy, public astronomer from Island Stars Observatory on Hornby island, BC, will present a show about eclipses and the upcoming Total Solar Eclipse. Learn how to safely observe your…

Read More

Speaker Series – “Hornby Island: 75 Million Years in the Making”

July 20th: “Hornby Island: 75 Million Years in the Making” From an early age, Sandy McLachlan has been captivated by the majesty of Hornby Island and the hidden world locked in stone beneath the waves of her shimmering shores. Over 120 years of beach…

Read More

Summer 2017 Events Calendar

We are pleased to announce that the Summer 2017 Natural History Events Calendar is now available! This year’s topics include Hornby Island fossils, the upcoming Total Solar Eclipse (and what to expect on Hornby), a Helliwell Park Bird Walk, and Sea Otters!…

Read More

Summer 2016 Photos

View photos from our Summer 2016 programming including nature walks, speaker series, and nature art tent activities.

Read More

Speaker Series – “Raptor Awareness”

August 18th: “Raptor Awareness” Join the Mountainaire Avian Rescue Society (MARS) accompanied by an educational ambassador raptor in this presentation for all ages about raptor awareness in the Comox Valley. Some birds who have been rescued cannot be safely returned back to the wild…

Read More