About Us
"From Headwaters to Deepwaters"
est. 2002
At Peninsula Streams Society (informally known as Peninsula Streams and Shorelines), our registered charity’s mission is to build a legacy of healthy streams and shorelines. We envision a future where everyone knows, respects, and protects their local streams and shorelines, fostering a deep connection between communities and their natural environments.
Vital Waters - a short film by Surf and Stone Studios featuring Peninsula Streams and Shorelines
Peninsula Streams Society is a registered charity (charitable registration #865001457 RR0001).
Our Approach
Guided by our three foundational pillars—Ecological Restoration, Environmental Education, and Community Stewardship—we take a holistic, grassroots approach to stream and shoreline restoration. Our work is driven by a watershed and ecosystem-level perspective, with Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus) species (including coastal cutthroat trout) as well as intertidal spawning species of forage fish (surf smelt, Pacific sand lance, and herring) serving as focal and umbrella species that guide our restoration efforts.
We are committed to integrating our pillars through innovative programming, fostering collaboration, and sharing capacity to achieve shared environmental goals. We provide our partner groups with shared capacity in many forms, including expertise, funding, equipment, volunteers, and more.
Where We Work
Peninsula Streams Society operates within the Traditional Territories of the Lək̓ʷəŋən and WSÁNEĆ Peoples, and we are honored to work alongside and learn from WSÁNEĆ and Lək̓ʷəŋən Nations, community members, and stewardship teams. Our collaborations extend to over 10 municipalities, 6 First Nations, 20 "Friends Of" stewardship groups, and numerous environmental non-governmental organizations (ENGOs). Together, we take meaningful steps toward restoring and protecting our watersheds.
Project Feature: The Songhees Walkway Pocket Beach Restoration
This Welcome Pole, carved by Master Carver Tom LaFortune, overlooks the beautiful Songhees Pocket Beach recently restored in partnership with Songhees Nation and Esquimalt Nation. (Photo by Ken Barnes, Salish Eye Productions)
Project Feature: The KÉNNES Watershed Restoration Project
This multi-phase initiative led by W̱JOȽEȽP (Tsartlip First Nation) in partnership with Peninsula Streams & Shorelines, focuses on restoring vital ecosystems, including riparian, wetland, stream, and Garry oak meadow habitats, on the 78-hectare MÁWUEĆ property, recently returned to Tsartlip.
Our Volunteers
Our volunteer members are the heart and soul of Peninsula Streams Society. They contribute thousands of volunteer hours each year, playing a crucial role in supporting our organization and programs. Their dedication and passion help drive our mission forward and make a lasting impact on our local ecosystems.
Inclusivity and JEDI Commitment
We are committed to fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment in all aspects of our work. Our organization embraces Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) principles, recognizing the importance of diverse perspectives, knowledge systems, and voices in environmental stewardship. We actively seek to create spaces where all individuals—regardless of background—feel valued, heard, and empowered to contribute to the health of our local ecosystems as well as offer educational programming free of charge to help remove barriers to participation.
Small but Mighty
Though we are a small team, our impact is significant. Through dedication, collaboration, and community-driven and supported action, we continue to make meaningful strides in restoring and protecting the vital streams and shorelines that sustain us all.
Join us in our mission and become part of a growing movement to safeguard our shared natural heritage!
A Brief History
2001
The directors of five small stewardship groups brought together for the TENTEN/WSIKEM Watershed project on the Saanich Peninsula faced a daunting decision: either fold in the face of the withdrawal of government funding for their environmental projects, or regroup and rebuild.
2002
For the conservation enthusiasts, the choice was clear, and Peninsula Streams Society was formed in 2002. The goal: Build an umbrella organization to improve access to long-term funding for watershed restoration programs.
To kickstart the new organization, founding director Tom Davis secured several corporate donors. The District of North Saanich led local governments, providing $10,000 through their Grant-in-Aid program. The Science Branch of Fisheries and Oceans Canada provided office space and support at the Institute of Ocean Sciences in North Saanich.
Directors of the society soon developed new environmental programs and stream restoration projects, broadening the scope of activities to include watersheds throughout the Saanich Peninsula. An environmental education program was launched for school-age children, and a water quality monitoring service was established for local municipalities.
2006
We achieved charitable status, further improving access to funding from foundations and donors interested in supporting watershed conservation activities.
TODAY
Peninsula Streams Society provides expertise from headwaters to deep waters, with over 6 qualified staff members supporting over 20 stewardship groups operating in 15 watersheds across 10 municipalities. Our programs range from stream and shoreline restoration and advocacy to community science, stewardship, and environmental education. Peninsula Streams Society is an innovative watershed stewardship organization on Southern Vancouver Island engaging thousands of volunteers and residents to achieve collective environmental goals.
