Active Program
YOUTH CLIMATE CORPS BC - Courtenay
In the 2026 season, the YCCBC Courtenay team is supporting organizations, community groups, and local residents working toward a more climate-resilient future. Acting as a collaborative partner and capacity builder, our adaptable, creative, and dedicated mobilizers support projects that might not otherwise have the resources to move forward. Through this work, YCCBC strengthens connections across the community while advancing initiatives focused on food security, ecological restoration, waste reduction, environmental monitoring, and community engagement.
To support food security in the Comox Valley, YCCBC is partnering with LUSH Valley and Lake Trail Community Education Society supporting farm gleans, fruit-picking, and garden revitalization projects. The team is also helping improve water catchment systems and planting native species to enhance water conservation, increase climate resilience, and support FireSmart initiatives.
YCCBC Courtenay is supporting restoration work with partners including BC Parks Foundation, the Comox Valley Regional District, Project Watershed and Cumberland Lake Park Society through invasive species removal, the reintroduction of native plants and monitoring/mitigating erosion. The Courtenay team will also contribute to the monitoring of water quality, wildlife, and vegetation at several riparian and coastal zones around the valley.
To engage and educate the public, the team will support waste diversion planning, implementation and education at major community events, including a FIFA World Cup event on June 12th, National Indigenous Peoples Day event hosted by Komoks First Nation, a Pride celebration with the Cumberland Lake Park Society and others TBD. Additional public education efforts will focus on topics such as mineral sunscreen use, FireSmart practices, responsible camping habits and water conservation initiatives.
Land Acknowledgment
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The City of Courtenay stands on the unceded traditional territories of the K'ómoks First Nation. The name K’ómoks refers to “the land of plenty” and paints a picture of the vast biodiversity that the valley holds. The K’ómoks First Nation is made up of several tribes including the Sahtloot (sath-loot), Sasitla (sa-seet-la), Ieeksun (eye-ick-sun), Xa’xe (‘ha-hey), and Pentlatch. We would like to thank these peoples for their past, present and future caretaking, stewardship and protection of the area. We appreciate the ongoing relationship that the K’ómoks Peoples have with this land and understand that this knowledge is incredibly important in addressing climate change. As uninvited guests, we are committed to continued reconciliation and to supporting and uplifting K’ómoks perspectives and priorities.
If you are looking for ways to get involved, you can:
1. Educate yourself on K’ómoks history and culture
https://www.comoxvalleyschools.ca/indigenous-education/resources/start-here
2. Support authentic Indigenous businesses:
https://www.indigenousbc.com/authentic-indigenous/
Photo Caption: The 2026 YCC Courtenay team from left to right: Jill Kennedy, Ruby Vie, Tovia Wolfe, Ella Oldaker, Mikasa Quaife, Heather Welch, Haven Hache.
Within Youth Climate Corps, crew members are between 17-30 years old; they earn wages, gain work experience, build networks, and develop themselves personally and professionally. Meanwhile, they complete projects that both benefit their own communities and support global efforts to act on the climate crisis.
If you or your organization wants to learn more about how to team up with us and move forward on projects in your community, or if you are interested in funding one of our projects related to our different focus areas, we are here to support you.