Tag Archives: Broom bash

Environment, Tourism

Summer with the Friends of Cortes Island

Leave a comment

The Friends of Cortes Island (FOCI) has a very full summer calendar for 2026. 

Their  events program started Monday June 28 with Misty Isles, and the Secret Shelf Exploration. Executive Director Helen Hall recently explained, “That’s a guided visit to a really amazing intertidal area off southern Cortes. People will get the chance to explore by snorkel and learn all about the marine environment there.” It was fully booked, and unfortunately, those who might have liked to go along have now missed the opportunity.

Upcoming Events

Continue reading Summer with the Friends of Cortes Island →
Parks

Friends of Cortes Island at Mansons Landing Provincial Park

Originally published, as part 2 of the Cortes Island Resonance series by the Cortes Community Radio Society.

With its shallow watered tidal lagoon and long sandy spit, Mansons Landing Provincial Park is one of Cortes Island’s most treasured tourist spots. It is also the home of several plant species not found in many places along the coast, as well as forage fish, biodiverse marine life and birds. Friends of Cortes Island (FOCI) have been helping BC Parks maintain this location since 2016. 

Continue reading Friends of Cortes Island at Mansons Landing Provincial Park →
Environment

FOCI’s 2025 Broom Bash at Mansons Lagoon

Friends of Cortes Island (FOCI) has been helping maintain Mansons Landing Provincial Park since 2016. They’ve been putting up railings to prevent further erosion of banks, putting up interpretive signage and maintain the trails. FOCI also holds a Broom Bash every year. 15 volunteers and staff showed up to remove this invasive species on Saturday, March 21, 2025.

Cortes Currents asked Helen Hall, FOCI’s executive director, “Is this a good turnout?” 

Helen Hall: “We’ve got a lovely turnout of people this morning, all ages and we’re anticipating more people will turn out throughout the morning. We’ve also got BC Parks rangers coming out to help us as well, which is great news.”   

Continue reading FOCI’s 2025 Broom Bash at Mansons Lagoon →
Parks

FOCI: Maintaining Mansons Landing Provincial Park

The Friends of Cortes Island (FOCI) has been helping BC Parks maintain Mansons Landing Provincial Park since 2016. 

“ We’ve been doing various improvements over time. That included removing broom from the Spit, signage to help interpret what’s down there and also fencing to prevent erosion. We’ve just finished two new sections of fencing,” explained Helen Hall, Executive Director of FOCI.

Continue reading FOCI: Maintaining Mansons Landing Provincial Park →
Environment

2023 Broom Bash at Mansons Spit

Close to a dozen volunteers and two Park Rangers participated in the Friends of Cortes Island (FOCI) annual Broom Bash on Saturday, March 18.

They swept the spit at Mansons Lagoon in about 3 hours. 

“We really appreciate all of the help from the volunteers here on Cortes. It’s really amazing that the local community comes out and takes ownership of this place. We couldn’t do it without the volunteers,” said Eli Simcoe Metcalfe, of BC Parks.

Continue reading 2023 Broom Bash at Mansons Spit →