Welcome!
Find out more about this unique ecosystem and how you can help protect it.
Are you a Bird Watcher? Check out the eBird Canada listing for Esquimalt Lagoon.
Take Birds Under Your Wing!
2017 marks the 100th anniversary of Canada enacting the Migratory Bird Convention Act. Take action on behalf of the birds by signing the pledge to help conserve birds. Learn more about 100 years of bird conservation in Canada.
Visit us at Upcoming Events
Broom Pull and Beach Clean-up
Sunday June 11, 9:45am - 1pm
Meet at washrooms on Ocean Blvd at Lagoon Rd
ELSI Broom Pull Poster
Sign up through Greater Victoria Green Team
Canada Day
Saturday July 1st
Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Site, 10am - 4pm
Urban Sanctuary Project
ELSI, GWI, the Robert Bateman Centre and other regional conservation partners are collaborating to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Migratory Bird Convention Act, enacted by Canada in 1917. The Project goals are to improve stewardship of the upland and marine ecosystems that support birds and other wildlife in our urban centres, and to raise awareness of the 3 sanctuaries in the CRD:
The Urban Sanctuary Project is a collaborative effort of local conservation partners to increase awareness of the three federally-designated Migratory Bird Sanctuaries in the capital region.
ELSI teamed up with the Greater Victoria Green Team
In spring 2016, ELSI had lots of help from the Greater Victoria Green Team to remove invasive plants from around the lagoon. In April, GVGT recruited classes from Dunsmuir Middle School to join ELSI volunteers in Pit House Park to remove Scotch broom from the meadow areas.
ELSI teamed up with the GVGT on May 1st to pull Scotch broom, Himalayan blackberry and other invasive plants from Coburg Peninsula. Read more >>
Coburg Peninsula on Shaw TV
In February 2016, Lorraine Scollan of Shaw TV did a piece on some of the issues at Esquimalt Lagoon and Coburg Peninsula.
Featured Projects:
Dune Restoration
ELSI volunteers have been working since 2006 on Dune Habitat Restoration project on the Coburg Peninsula. The goals of the project are to:
- restore native dune habitats through the establishment of demonstration restoration plots
- realign beach access points and benches to reduce trampling across sensitive dune habitat
- monitor the effectiveness of restoration
- raise public awareness of dune habitats and engage residents and visitors in stewardship of the dunes.
Read more >>