Sandhill Cranes, courtesy Tim Penney IN THIS ISSUE Fall in the Subalpine SPWC and Buttle now closed for the Season Upcoming events – Back Country Film Fest, Nov. 15 FALL IN THE SUBALPINE Since mid Read...
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CLOSED - Paradise Meadows and Buttle Lake Information Centres
Now Closed for the Winter Season. Thank you to everyone who visited this year!
SWI AGM & China Climbing Presentation
Date: Wednesday April 23rd, 2025
Time: 7pm – 9:00pm
Location: Evergreen Lounge, Filberg Centre, Courtenay.
Event Details: SWI will hold its Annual General Meeting on April 23th in the Evergreen Lounge of the Filberg Centre starting at 7:00 pm, in conjunction with a presentation by Rob Szasz on exploring a remote mountain area of Sichuan Province in southwestern China.
Our guest speaker, Rod Szasz, is a Nanaimo-based inventor and entrepreneur with a love for adventure and climbing. He grew up in Ladysmith and was educated at Malaspina University-College (now Vancouver Island University) and the London School of Economics. After travelling the world, he then spent most of his adult life working in Japan, during which time he climbed extensively in Asia. He returned to Vancouver Island about 13 years ago, where he continues to climb remote peaks but periodically travels overseas to climb and explore out-of-the-way places.
Here is Rod’s introduction to his presentation:
“China has long been a destination for Western explorers, and its vast southern border encompasses the entire Himalayas along with the lesser-known foothills of some of the most remote regions on Earth. While rapid modernization has transformed China from a former colonial backwater into one of the world’s largest economies, adventure and exploration still thrive in its untamed landscapes. For those with the time, determination, and willingness to navigate Chinese bureaucracy and law enforcement, countless Himalayan peaks remain unclimbed. In 2017, a group of four of us from Vancouver Island spotted an uncharted range in Sichuan Province, with peaks soaring above 5,000 metres—absent from maps, with no recorded history, and little information in any language. Armed only with Google Earth downloads, we embarked on a two-week trek into the unknown. We climbed San Dui, a 5,200-metre peak, lost our mules for a time, dodged police roadblocks, endured gut-wrenching illness, and found warmth in Tibetan hospitality. It was an expedition into the raw, untamed China—where adventure is not just possible but inevitable. China’s wild landscapes and rich cultural heritage are waiting to be explored.”
The presentation is open to all and FREE to attend. The presentation will begin at 7pm and the SWI AGM will take place afterwards.
We invite former and potential volunteers to attend the AGM and learn more about SWI’s work, accomplishments and plans for the upcoming year. We openly welcome volunteers to staff our visitor centres and participate in our educational programs, thus ensuring the continuation of what we have achieved in the past. Please put your names forward! Anyone who loves Strathcona Park and would like to contribute a little of their time to the organization of SWI’s many activities should consider becoming a director. Nominations can be made from the “floor”.
Work With Us - Summer Students 2025
SWI has as usual submitted an application to the Canada Summer Jobs Program for funding for FIVE positions working with us from late June to the end of August. We are looking for energetic, self-reliant and environmentally conscious students who would enjoy working in Strathcona Provincial Park. Please Visit our “Work With Us” page for more information.
(Accepting Applications) Visitor Information Counsellor at Paradise Meadows
(Accepting Applications) Visitor Information Counsellor at Buttle Lake
(Accepting Applications) Naturalist Interpreter/Research Assistant – 2 Positions
(Accepting Applications) Environmental Program Coordinator
Recent iNaturalist Observations
Listed below are some of the most recent observations of species in Strathcona Provincial Park using iNaturalist. Species are recorded by SWI Directors and Summer Students. The data from our own SWI Data Collection project has been incorporated into the statistics of the BC Parks iNaturalist Project.
Latest Newsletter
Summer Season Hours
Wilderness Centers operate during the summer from June (once the snow melts) to Thanksgiving Weekend.
Strathcona Park Wilderness Centre
Open: 7 Days/Week
Hours: 9am – 4pm
Location: Paradise Meadows
Hours subject to volunteer availability.
Buttle Lake Wilderness Centre
Open: Friday/Saturday/Sunday
Hours: 9am – 4pm
Location: Westmin Road
Hours subject to volunteer availability.