Change of Date for the Celebration
Construction on the Spit Road is taking longer than expected and will not be done by the original date of July 19. We have rescheduled the celebration of Chris for Saturday July 26th.
Memorial Bench Installed
On June 7, a team of five volunteers completed the installation of a memorial bench in honour of Chris Dale, a beloved friend, mentor, and passionate advocate for nature. The bench is located in the estuary — a place Chris deeply loved — at the south end of the Chelem Trail at the end of the Spit Rd. The bench looks east over the Estuary towards Siyám’ Smánit (the Stawamus Chief) and is watched over by Nch’kay (Mount Garibaldi) from the north.
The bench sits on a berm full of life: home to ground-nesting bees, red alder (Kwelúl̓ay) trees, and bank-stabilizing sweet gale — all species Chris would have known and appreciated.
Celebrating Chris’ Life and Legacy
We warmly invite the community to join us in celebrating Chris’s life and the natural world he cherished:
🗓️ Saturday, July 26
🕙 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 At Chris’s bench, Chelem Trail, end of the Spit Rd
We’d love to hear your stories, memories, or reflections about Chris — or simply welcome you to sit with him awhile, breathe in the beauty of the Skwelwil’em Wildlife Management Area, and feel his enduring presence in this Important Bird Area (IBA) he held so dear.
Chris Awarded IBA Caretaker of the Year
We are also thrilled to announce that Chris was awarded the IBA Caretaker of the Year Award at the recent BC Nature AGM. This award is presented to a recognized IBA Caretaker who has made an outstanding contribution to the knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of their IBA. Caretakers are the eyes and ears of the conservation community in the most critical sites for birds in the province, and their dedication facilitates the monitoring, promotion, and stewarding of these sites for future generations of both birds and humans. BC Nature, with this award, recognizes their service, dedication, time, and resources to monitor their IBA, its wildlife, and habitat. Chris Dale was nominated for this award by Liam Ragan, the BC Provincial Coordinator of the Key Biodiversity Areas/Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas. Liam also kindly received the award on Chris’ behalf and ensured it reached his family.
Header image: Niall Bell