You can protect a rare land-to-sea treasure at Deep Bay.
Why Deep Bay matters
Today, you have a rare opportunity to protect 122.5 acres at Deep Bay, between Qualicum Beach and Courtenay, near Fanny Bay.
Deep Bay sits at the heart of one of Vancouver Island's richest coastal ecosystems. Here, forest, wetland, estuary, salmon-bearing creeks, and the Salish Sea come together in a way that's becoming increasingly rare.
BC Parks Foundation has secured an agreement to purchase this property for $4 million. With extraordinary support from the Wilson 5 Foundation and other generous donors, $495,000 remains to reach our goal by September 10, 2026. Incredible partners in conservation, Comox Valley Land Trust and Nanaimo & Area Land Trust, have each committed $50,000, leaving just $395,000 to raise from this amazing community.
Please consider donating today. 100% of your gift will help protect this irreplaceable piece of BC forever.
“Places like this don’t come along very often. It’s one of those rare spots where forest, wetland, estuary, and ocean still meet the way they’re meant to. By protecting this land now, we’re keeping salmon moving through its creeks, birds returning to the estuary year after year, and the shoreline doing its job of filtering water before it reaches the Salish Sea. Opportunities to protect an intact land-to-sea system like this are increasingly rare, and stepping up here makes a real difference for this coast and all the life that depends on it.”
—Andy Day, CEO, BC Parks Foundation
A rare coastal ecosystem
Deep Bay lies at the northernmost edge of the Coastal Douglas-fir ecosystem on Vancouver Island, making it an important place for wildlife and plant species as the climate changes.
This property protects rare coastal forests, productive wetlands, important bird habitat, and salmon-bearing creeks that help sustain life throughout the region.
Protecting this land helps ensure wildlife and plant communities have the space they need to adapt and thrive as the climate changes.
A missing link from forest to ocean
Deep Bay connects forests, wetlands, estuaries, and the Salish Sea in a way few remaining parcels can.
To the north and south are Bowser Ecological Reserve, Rosewall Creek Provincial Park, Old Growth Management Areas, Visual Quality Objective protected lands, and more than 2,000 acres of Crown land protected for Coastal Douglas-fir ecosystems.
More than 4,300 acres of protected land already exist in this region, but much of it remains disconnected from the ocean.
BC Parks Foundation has already protected 83 acres nearby. Protecting this property would complete a vital land-to-sea corridor, connecting thousands of acres of protected habitat to the rich marine ecosystems of Baynes Sound.
This land-to-sea connection is crucial for wildlife, water quality, climate resilience, and the health of the entire coastal ecosystem.
A stronghold for salmon, birds, and marine life
The creeks and estuaries that flow through Deep Bay support robust populations of coho, chum, pink, and chinook salmon, along with trout and other fish species.
Just offshore, Baynes Sound is Canada’s shellfish capital, a major herring spawning hotspot, and a critical feeding ground for migratory waterfowl.
The region is also part of the broader K’ómoks Estuary system, the second most important estuary on the BC coast after the Fraser River. Its rich marine life helps explain why the southern Salish Sea hosts more overwintering migratory waterfowl than any other region in Canada.
By protecting Deep Bay, we can help safeguard an entire coastal food web, from forest to freshwater to ocean.
Your impact
Every donation helps get this campaign across the finish line. And thanks to the Wilson 5 Foundation, your gift will be matched dollar for dollar.
That means your $50 becomes $100. Your $100 becomes $200. Your $500 becomes $1,000.
Together, we can protect 122.5 acres of rare coastal habitat, strengthen one of Vancouver Island’s most important land-to-sea ecosystems, and ensure this remarkable place remains healthy and thriving for generations to come.
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