Save Mary Lake Campaign

Mary Lake sits in the midst of a treasured 107-acre parcel of land near Victoria, BC, that’s now under threat of development. The property is a critical habitat for numerous indigenous plant and animal species, many listed as endangered or threatened.

The Save Mary Lake campaign, led by 86-year-old eco-champion Bob McMinn, is now in full swing and gaining steam. Campaign proponents invite donors to own virtual square metres of the property on an
online map for as little as $10 each. Donations have come from across Canada and around the world. A Radio-Canada report in Québec, for example, prompted more than 200 donations from the province in just 48 hours. Word is now spreading fast from the group’s Facebook, Twitter and YouTube pages.

Preserving Mary Lake would create a wildlife corridor connecting the Gowlland Tod Provincial Park and the Thetis Lake Regional Park. With its natural trail network established over the past 60 years, the Mary Lake property – if saved – will also provide a key link in the Southern Vancouver Island trail network as a contiguous natural link between the two neighbouring parks.

The Mary Lake Conservancy is desperately trying to raise $1-million by February 1. With the deadline looming, the campaign has shifted into overdrive. A mini-documentary series, Reflections of Mary Lake, has just begun on the Save Mary Lake YouTube channel, and a web-a-thon is planned for January 27.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aN97A-pcCA[/youtube]

What’s at Stake
The Mary Lake property is home to a large tract of endangered Coastal Douglas Fir ecosystem that provides habitat for a variety of endangered species: the great blue heron, the red legged frog, mountain sneezeweed and a host of others. The land connects several regional and provincial parks that provide access to spectacular natural areas within a short drive of Victoria. When Mary Lake becomes a park, hikers will be able to follow a 25 km trail loop that traverses three mountains and passes through a rich diversity of habitats.
Related articles

• 86-year-old Launches Social Media Fundraising Campaign to Save Treasured Parcel of Land (prnewswire.com)
• B.C. residents embark on social media fundraising campaign to save treasured land from destruction (techvibes.com)
• An 86-Year-Old Tweets to Save a Lake (sierraclub.typepad.com)
• 86-Year Old Conservationist Tweets to Save Local Lake (doyourpart.com)
• Vancouver Island ‘Save Mary Lake’ campaign closing in on multimillion-dollar fundraising goal (theprovince.com)