2025/2026 Lunch and Learn Series

Thanks to Tourism Squamish, we have hosted three free 90-minute Lunch and Learn sessions in the theatre at the Squamish Adventure Centre.  Ruth Simons, Executive Director, was the M/C. This intimate theatre provided an opportunity for participants to meet the people, conservation, and educational projects in the region, ask questions, and engage in an interactive exchange with the speakers and other experts in the field. We never know who will show up, and we have met some wonderful people. With a seating capacity of 45, we had standing room only and added sessions to meet demand. People from the Squamish and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw communities, neighbouring communities, Capilano University students, and staff from local and provincial governments came to hear the speakers. It was an intergenerational experience, and we look forward to hosting more.

You can find videos from each of these events on a loop in the theatre at the Squamish Adventure Centre, which is open to the public. For more of Bob Turner’s videos, subscribe here. To join our mailing list, request information about these talks, or book a session, contact ruthsimons@howesoundbri.org.

November 27th, 2025 - Ruth Simons gave an overview of What is a UNESCO Biosphere Region. Starting with a video, The Biodiverse Átl'ka7tsem/Howe Sound Ruth shared information on the history of UNESCO and the Man and the Biosphere program, the rationale for Howe Sound, and the process of its designation in 2021.  This also included information on what it takes to maintain this designation, the Society’s activities that underpin it, and what lies ahead to ensure its sustainability. Bob Turner, an honorary director and founding member of the initiative, gave a talk and showed his film A UNESCO Biosphere Region for Átl'ka7tsem/Howe Sound. Connor McCracken shared information about his book, Átl’ḵa7tsem / Howe Sound from Sea to Sky, which is available to order online and at the Squamish Adventure Centre bookstore.

January 23rd, 2026 - Stawamus Chief looms large over Squamish and is iconic for its draw to climbers who scale its faces and cracks. But what is the story behind its famous west face? Dr. Bob Turner and Dr. Steve Quane enlightened attendees at our second Lunch & Learn. Our original plan for one session quickly expanded to two in light of demand for the talk When Mountains Talk: The Geological Origins of the Stawamus Chief Mountain. Bob Turner returned with a fascinating talk and film. I am a geologist, Stawamus Chief Mountain, Squamish, BC. In his talk, he illustrated how the cracks and faces on its west face tell the story of its formation during and after the last glaciation. We wouldn’t be surprised if it caused many in the audience to take a closer look at the mountain the next time they stare up at it. Dr. Steve Quane, volcanologist and founding member of the Fire and Ice GeoRegion, explores the processes that formed our landscape—subduction and volcanism, glaciation, and the collapse of volcanic features after the retreat of the ice. His whistle-stop tour around the region shed light on the formation of the rocks beneath our feet and the mountains that tower over us, including how we can tell how thick regional glaciation was from the degree of roundedness or jaggedness we see in the mountains. georegion. Steve debuted his film A Landscape in Motion - the Fire and Ice GeoRegion. It was a rare experience to have geologists, past and present, turn out to hear two of the region’s eminent geoscientists share the geoheritage of the landscapes we all know and love. The Fire & Ice GeoRegion overlaps our Biosphere and is an aspiring UNESCO GeoPark. Learn more here.

March 6, 2026 - For the past 4 years, our organization has been a strong partner with the Nature Squamish Project team working on the Wildlife Connectivity Project. Our video helps to inform about this work. With development a seemingly ever-present occurrence in Squamish now, identifying how wildlife moves through the area will benefit all—wildlife and people. This first public event was held with Nature Squamish to share the results of this work. Starting with words from District of Squamish staff who have been actively involved in the project Steering Committee, Dr. Murray Journeay, project lead, presented the rationale for this project and its alignment with the Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Framework. Kate Andy presented the methodology and process behind the mapping and results, identifying the core habitat areas for the 21 focal species. Niall Bell then debuted the EcoScapes website that will hold all the open-source data, a user guide and much more. We hosted two sessions, followed by an open house format session in the afternoon, to allow attendees to talk with the project team. This introduction was well received, and we look forward to supporting further communications. To be on the mailing list from when the EcoScapes website is fully launched, subscribe to Nature Squamish’ newsletter.