This document summarizes a presentation given to the Pioneer Forest School District about the history and importance of Pioneer Forest. It notes that the forest is a rare coastal ecosystem that provides recreation and community involvement. Residents strongly value the forest for its connection to nature and contribution to the livability of the area. The presentation asks the school district to halt plans to redesignate the forest's designation and to work with the community to explore alternatives to protect the forest in perpetuity.

1. Save
Pioneer
Forest
School District #68
Presentation
June 27, 2012
by Pam Agnew

2. Pioneer Forest Location

3. Pioneer Forest History
● 1913: Privately owned by Elizabeth and William Cook
● 1960s/70: Province acquired?
● 1984: Province gave land to City by way of a free
Crown Grant, for so long as it is used as a park
● 1996/7: Property was subdivided and SD#68 became
owner of the forest with no use condition
● Nov. 2011: SD#68 & City sign 5-year license agreement
● May 2012: City and SD#68 sought to "correct a
housekeeping error" changing OCP designation from
"parks and open space" to "neighbourhood"

4. Pioneer Forest
● Rare Coastal Douglas-fir
ecosystem
● Urban forest
● Recreation: easily
accessible for all
● Community involvement
● Balanced development
● A good "fence" between
Lantzville & Nanaimo:
our commons
● Health and well-being
● Long-term community
asset

5. What does Pioneer Forest mean to
residents?
● Within a week of aborted City
of Nanaimo public meeting,
100 people gathered in the
forest (June 14)
● "Friends of Pioneer Forest" --
concerned people seeking a
permanent solution to protect
forest as park
● All agree forest must be
protected
● www.savepioneerforest.com

6. What does Pioneer Forest mean to
residents?
● It's my connection with
nature. I can't drive, can't do
stairs or walk on rocks
● It's a big part of what makes
Pioneer Park a recreational
asset; removes pollutants,
reconnects us with the land
● It's why we bought our
house; it was and is a park &
the OCP has it as park and
open space
● I have walked my dogs here
for years

7. What does Pioneer Forest mean to
residents?
● This forest is why I came
back to Nanaimo
● This is where I run every
day and where my kids
connect with nature
● The value of this forest to
the liveability of the area
cannot be replaced
● A great deal. We need more
trees, not less

8. What does Pioneer Forest mean to
residents?
Youth work parties to remove invasives, revive forest
● Sadie Biggs, Grade 10, Dover Bay Secondary:
“It’s a really active project and it’s a really visible thing
you’re doing.”
● Ashley Wilson, Grade 11, Dover Bay Secondary:
“You get a result at the end of it, which is always nice.
And it’s good to get out.”
● Terry Zhang, Grade 10, Dover Bay Secondary:
“I feel like I do good when I help the community. I feel
like I’m getting involved, and I’m making new friends. I
like the Pioneer Park thing.” From Nanaimo Daily News, March 13, 2012

9. What Might it Mean to SD#68?
● Possible building site?
Bad location, expensive to build, destroys forest
● Sale to fund operating costs?
The land valuation is $960,000 -- 3 days of SD#68
salaries & benefits: destroys forest
● Alternatives?
Community wants to protect Pioneer forest in
perpetuity, care for it, keep it the special place it is.
We have ideas.

10. Will SD68 work with us to find alternatives?
Will SD#68 Work With Us?
● Halt the redesignation proposal
● Explore all options with community
● Let's work together to save Pioneer forest
● Secure a long-term, living asset that will
reap positive returns for this and future
generations
● I would like to invite all the Trustees to
come and visit the forest, walk it with
Friends and experience first-hand why it is
worth so much more as a living forest.

11. Questions?
Thank you.