Newsletter and Blog

Living Lab Network Newsletter 2023

COMMUNITY

Community-based activities, programs and research are a key component of the Living Lab Project. Through a number of partners within the CRD, we prioritize local community-based projects to inform and guide all aspects of our work.

IN THE CLASS

We collaborate with local teachers, traditional knowledge holders and researchers to facilitate educational events for youth in the CRD public school system.

ON THE SEA

We are grateful to be situated on the Salish Sea, which is integral to the cultural heritage and environmental health of our region. Here are some of projects that have taken place on the ocean.

ON THE LAND

On the land, we are engaged in a number of activities involving traditional foods, agriculture, education and more!

View Past Activities

Latest from the Blog

UVic Living Lab Project water testing

Talen Tests The Waters From Bowker Creek

During River's Day (Sept. 22, 2019) Talen, with help from some Oak Bay High students and Biology Teacher, Mr. Derek Shrubsol, collected some water from Bowker Creek. At UVic, the water was filtered and then the filter paper placed on media that…

UVic Living Lab Project field work

Darlene spends the day at tl’ches

Darlene took this photo yesterday (Oct. 1, 2019). We think it is a spotted ratfish (Hydrolagus colliei). They are more closely related to sharks than fish. The Wiki page reports that they move closer to shore in the spring and fall, but can…

UVic Living Lab Project lab analysis

SAYL in the University of Victoria’s Biology Lab with Dr John Taylor and Matt Miller

The University of Victoria - Biology Lab with Matt Miller and John Taylor. After we collected sand and water samples from Cadboro Bay, we brought them to the University of Victoria's biology lab to be analyzed. We had a special guest drop…

UVic Living Lab Project science adventure

Digital Scholarship Commons and Science Venture

We were able to spend the last part of our Science Camp with UVIC's Digital Scholarship Commons and Science Venture. Dr Matt Huculak and his team introduced the youth to coding and circuit boarding. Digital Scholarship Commons with Dr.…

UVic Living Lab Project students

Local History with Nick Claxton and John Lutz

Local History with Dr John Lutz and Dr Nick Claxton. John showed the youth historical maps. He talked about the importance of maps and our right to fight for our traditional food systems. Nick taught us about the importance of bringing back…

UVic Living Lab Project outside

PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱ Native Plant Nursery & Garden

UVic Living Lab Project class

School District #61 Lands Program Field School – June 2019

Living Lab supported 16 Grades 10-12 indigenous youth from Esquimalt and Spectrum High school with teachers Emma Milliken and Rachel Trebilco to hold a three day outdoors Field School, based in Goldstream Park and focused on indigenous land…

UVic Living Lab Project canoe trip

Reefnet Fishery

JOIN US for a Community Celebration highlighting the Reefnet Fishery - September 22, 2018 On August 9th, 2014, the W̱SÁNEĆ Nation went reef net fishing to reclaim a practice that the colonial government outlawed a hundred years…

UVic Living Lab Project lab fun

Songhees Academic Youth Leadership Collecting Sand & Water Samples at Cadboro Bay

Songhees Academic Youth Leadership had a 2-day Science Camp at the University of Victoria. Dr. John Taylor lined up a bunch of amazing mini-workshops for our youth. SAYL working with the University of Victoria to collect sand and water samples…

UVic Living Lab Project planning

Harvesting Traditional Foods with our Songhees Elders & Interviewing our Elders

Our Songhees Youth interviewed our Elders in both Year 1 and Year 2 of the SAYL - Living Science Lab project. CRD's Erich Kelch and Keir Cordner from First Nations Health Authority made this trip possible. Erich drove us out…

UVic Living Lab Project learning

A Day in the Sun on T’liches with Songhees Community and UVIC staff

Each year, Songhees Academic Youth Leadership goes to our islands to do some historical, biological and anthropological work with Songhees and UVIC experts. Standing around an ancient longhouse foundation with Songhees youth,…

UVic Living Lab Project outside

CENQALES – Tribal School Cultural Day – June 20th, 2019

Living Lab participated in National Aboriginal Day – LAU WEL NEW Tribal School’s Cultural Day sponsored by PEPAKEN HAUTW who have been leading the Reefnet – willow restoration project. Sharing a Clam Bar B Q – marine life tent with…

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