Oak Bay Talks Exploring Our National Treasure: The State of Garry Oak Ecosystems in Greater Victoria

Ryan Senechal is a practicing consulting arborist and urban forester with extensive experience across municipal, commercial, education, and nonprofit sectors. As a Sessional Lecturer at UBC’s Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship, he teaches Developing Green and Resilient Cities and contributes to field-based arboriculture courses in the Bachelor of Urban Forestry program.  

Carollyne Yardley is an interdisciplinary artist-researcher whose work has been exhibited across Canada and internationally, and whose research-creation publications explore multispecies relationships in urban environments. She is a Sierra Club BC Rosemary Fox Conservation Achievement Award recipient and an active community leader—co-chair of the Rockland Neighbourhood Association Land Use Committee, Director of the Garry Oak Meadow Preservation Society, and a Victoria Community Association Network representative—uniquely positioning her as a subject-matter expert in Garry oak conservation, mapping, and local land-use policy.

The video from our popular February 12 Oak Bay Talks Event is now available! 

VIDEO: Exploring Our National Treasure: The State of the Garry Oak Ecosystems in Greater Victoria

Ryan Senechal and Carollyne Yardley, from the Garry Oak Meadow Preservation Society, described the significance of Garry oak ecosystems, current policies, gaps in protection, and how GOMPS is responding to Garry oak loss in urban areas. With opening remarks by Chris Hyde-Lay, Manager, Parks Services, District of Oak Bay.

More Information on the Garry Oak Meadow Preservation Society

Visit the VCAN mapping project for more info.