Presentation by Ryan Senechal at the GOMPS AGM on November 17th, 2024

Summary

Garry Oak Meadow Preservation Society is a volunteer-run non-profit based in Saanich, BC that advocates for individual Garry oak and Garry oak ecosystem protection and stewardship. Mapping and analysis of the overall Garry oak ecosystem and individual trees in the Capital Regional District is out of date. LiDAR is a cost-effective, high accuracy method of forest analysis that enables measurements such as change to tree populations through intensifying land development. Our interest is in developing a new approach to map Garry oak species presence using LiDAR and machine learning. By conducting species specific detection analysis to form a species composition baseline, we can enable future analysis opportunities that are Garry oak and Garry oak ecosystem specific. This is an important contribution to a growing body of regional urban forest mapping that could influence changes in tree protection policies (e.g., enhanced existing tree protections and requirements for Garry oak replacement trees through private development), and management and planning for Garry oaks on public property.

Analysis

Our initial analysis goals are to perform Garry oak species detection within a minimum of a single municipality (City of Victoria) and eventually expand the method to survey all municipalities in the Capital Regional District. We hope to have located and calculated the overall Garry oak canopy area. Our goal is to offer the Garry oak mapping and high resolution raw LiDAR/ortho data flown for this project publicly. This data sharing will support researchers, community members and other nonprofit organizations with our Garry oak species analysis, and also enable additional novel data analysis approaches supporting Garry oaks and Garry oak ecosystems.

Presentation slides (.pdf)

Presentation by Carollyne Yardley at AGM November 17, 2024.

A conversation about the distribution of biodiversity within and between the City of Victoria's neighbourhoods.

To complement the City’s excellent inventory of all trees on public land, the Victoria Community Association Network (VCAN) has involved each neighbourhood in an inventory of Garry oaks and other elements of biodiversity on private property. Each neighbourhood developed their own approach and will be reporting back to residents on what they learned and what we have learned about the larger patterns within our urban forest.

The urban area of the City of Victoria is the Garry oak ecosystem (GOE)–– a fact often left out of discussions on the urban forest.  Objectives of the project include:

• to connect people, cultural connections to the territory, map current Garry oak distribution, enhance canopy equity.
• to directly benefit residents and wildlife, wildlife corridors for the movement and dispersal of organisms, and establish nodes of functioning.
• assist in protecting and restoring the function of sensitive ecosystems and natural areas, including habitat corridors and assist with the parks acquisition strategy (9.2 of the Official Community Plan). 
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GOMPS provided a letter of support and urban forest expertise via a walking tour for participants.

Presentation slides (.pdf)

Printed slide deck at wrap up event by Jacklyn Jolicoeur (.pdf)

Annual General Meeting
 
GOMPS 2023-24 AGM will be held:

DATE: Sunday, November 17, 2024
TIME: 3:00 to 5:00pm
LOCATION: Banquet Room, Cedar Hill Golf Course, 1400 Derby Rd, Saanich.
 
Our meeting will include:
·      Presentation of various reports – President, Nursery, Treasurer & Volunteer
·      Election of officers, and 
·      An open discussion about Garry oak issues with focus on future directions
 
As per GOMPS bylaws, there are 7 board members’ positions including:
·      President,
·      Vice-President,
·      Secretary,
·      Treasurer, and 
·      3 Directors at Large. 
 
3 Director positions are up for election this year as 4 Directors continue in their 2-year terms and 1 Director becomes a Director Emeritus. Please consider joining our board or nominate someone for a board position by sending nominations to: Judith Carder (Secretary) at judeathome at shaw.ca by Friday, November 8th, 5:00 pm.
 
In order to vote at meetings and to run for election to the board, you must have a current GOMPS membership.  
 
The opportunity to purchase or renew your membership will be available at the AGM (cash or cheque only, at this time).
 
Your attendance and input during the discussion period at our meeting will be greatly welcomed and appreciated!

Last February 23, 2022, Dr. Erin O'Brien & Dan Baxter with the Pender Islands Conservancy picking up 40 of our Garry oak seedlings for new homes on the Pender Islands. Quoting Dr. Erin here, "Thank you and all your volunteers for all you do to help restore Garry Oak ecosystems!" 

Last December 7, 2021, Ms. Maxine Moiner and partner picked up 10 x 2 gal seedlings for new home in Errington. And so, on behalf of everyone here at the Garry Oak Meadow Preservation Society we are very grateful for your support.

We would like to extend our gratitude to Mr. Malcolm McCartney of Duncan, who is creating a Garry oak ecosystem on his property. He picked up 20 of our volunteer nursery seedlings. 

We would like you extend our gratitude to the Grade 4 students at École Élémentaire Doncaster for their wonderful donation of Acorns.

We especially liked the handmade card included with the acorns. Thanks to the artist(s) who created the card. Very nicely done!
 
The acorns that Division 5 collected for us this year will be more than enough to complete our 2020 acorn collection. We’ll keep them all safely refrigerated until early 2021 and then they’ll be planted out next February/March.
 
On behalf of the Garry Oak Meadow Preservation Society,  our thanks, once again, for your generous donation. Best wishes to those hard working students.

It is always exciting when our trees leave the Garry Oak Nursery! As time goes on, more and more of our little oak are being adopted out into the community and planted into their permanent homes. Local couple Liz and Dan sent us these photos of an oak they picked up this May being planted into their yard. It is wonderful to see one of our seedlings help to naturalize our local landscapes!

As the health & safety of our members, volunteers & interested public are paramount, the Garry Oak Meadows Preservation Society (GOMPS) has POSTPONED our Annual General Meeting in accordance with Government Health directives.  GOMPS Board of Directors will be in touch with members when we have determined how best to proceed in this regard.

While our Garry Oak Nursery no longer has official volunteer work parties, our Board members work to ensure the nursery continues to function. We have just finished planting the collected fall 2019 sprouting acorns!  The Nursery work area is structured to ensure social distancing, so interested volunteers are welcome to join us weekly on Sunday mornings from 10am to 1pm.

During this challenging time, GOMPS deeply appreciates the SUPPORT shown by our members & interested public through their memberships and donations. 

Even though there is uncertainty, please know that we continue to advocate for Garry oaks and their associated ecosystems as well as growing Garry oak seedlings for planting in our communities!

If you are concerned about Garry oak trees (and other mature trees too) please consult our links to the Tree Protection Bylaws in your municipality or electoral region.