Thank you again for inviting Dan and I to the CERCA dinner last Friday evening. It was a pleasure interacting with all of the people carefully chosen to sit at our table!

The entertainment was all fun, but it was especially interesting to see the work done by CERCA over the last several years. Dr. Goetz Schuerholz is an inspiring and charismatic leader.

I have already signed up for the e-mail subscription. Next I would like to join as a family membership for 2017 and make a donation.

— Barb

This past weekend while walking at the estuary with friends, we encountered your work party and heard of CERCA. I was so very impressed with the quality of the work on the viewing platform and of the beautiful, interesting signage! Thank you for all your hard work past and present on preserving, restoring this very special habitat.

— Pam, 2016

Peter and I both want to congratulate you on the Symposium, in ALL its aspects. The speakers were all so good. The day was well organized. And what a service you have provided to the community by such an event. As we spoke about the symposium on Friday evening and on Saturday, we realized we couldn’t even come up with the one big highlight, because there were so many. It was a wealth of information (but not too much!), and in such a short time frame too.

We feel much gratitude.

— Julie and Peter, 2017

Please accept this donation in appreciation of your fine work and beautiful results. To environment trumping industry in this fragile area.

— P.B., 2016

We are loving the new CERCA Trail. And the kiosk at the trailhead is fantastic. I love it. So I thank you for your devotion and hard work. It is much appreciated in the valley… I know that. And when I tell people about what CERCA is doing, they are blown away. Yes, they are. I am not embellishing.

— Julie

I congratulate you and Beate on a wonderful symposium. Unfortunately I had an LNG meeting with Wsanec First Nations during the afternoon but Barbara filled me in on what happened. The Wasnec meeting went very well. If there is anything I can do to help CERCA’s efforts please let me know.

— Bernie, 2017

Thank you so much for organizing the symposium. I noticed video cameras recording the presentations. Would it be possible to access the recording of the presentation Solutions for local economy – by Beate Weber-Schuerholz ?

I would like to pursue for the Victoria area something similar to Heidelburg’s initiative with all businesses, “The Energy Transition- Solar Energy and Energy Efficiency.” Having Heidelburg’s successful initiative as an example could give the required players (municipal governments, universities, business associations and the businesses) confidence to move forward in Victoria.

Again, my thanks for organizing a most educational and inspiring symposium.

— Bruce, 2017

David and I really enjoyed the symposium yesterday! Stimulating talks, and a rousing conclusion offered by Eli Enns!

Lots to think about and digest, and it was good to hear that there are plans for a follow-up workshop to start putting ideas into practice. Between the Cowichan Valley and Salt Spring Island, there sure is fertile ground to make things happen–lots of thinking and passionate heads! Incidentally, today at our Farmers’ Market we saw one of the other Salt Spring Islanders who were at the symposium, a woman who is deeply involved with climate change action and the Transition movement here on the island, and she was also positively impressed. So it seems there would definitely be opportunities to link up what you are doing in Cowichan with what is being done here!

So let’s definitely continue the conversation after you are both back from Germany. Meanwhile, is there a way we could get a hold of Andrew Weaver’s PowerPoint? David is keen to study the data he showed!

— Luisa & David, 2017

Just following up from the Estuary walk we joined you on the other day. Joe and myself thoroughly enjoyed it and learnt a wealth of information about the local area.

Although we are leaving Vancouver Island on Sunday, I am keen to follow your work and learn more about the challenges you face and overcome with this local project. If I had more time on the Island (or come back) I would love to get more involved.

Back at home in Bristol, I volunteered on a local wildlife radio show every week and they have asked me to continue to write blogs for them whilst I am away. So I will be sure to feature your great work on my next blog!

Joe and myself are heading up to the Great Bear Rainforest on Monday to stay at a work away in Bella Coola. Fraser, our host is involved with eco tours and human-wildlife conflict with bears so I am looking forward to learning some more about this sensitive subject as I hear the community is divided with its feelings on the bears!

— Sara, 2018