A $30,000 donation has been made to the French Creek Eagle Sanctuary campaign in memory of Alan Steven John, a generous and gifted artist who had a deep love, respect and appreciation for the Oceanside area.
Marilyn Johnson made the contribution in memory of her late husband to the BC Parks Foundation to create a 23-acre eagle sanctuary at the French Creek Estuary.
“My husband, Alan, was passionate about preserving the natural environment of this Island. This project is a remarkable collaboration between landowners, donors, volunteers, organizations, and local government,” Johnson said. “I hope others will see the value of this initiative and will be inspired to donate too and reach the $300,000 goal.”
The gift continues the couple’s legacy of supporting their community and honours the late artist’s values of generosity and his appreciation of the wildlife in the Oceanside area.
It represents 10 per cent of the $300,000 needed to secure the land purchase when the fundraising campaign was launched in February. That campaign is now within $200,000 of its goal, according to the BC Parks Foundation.
“The French Creek community has been dedicated to the protection of the French Creek Estuary for many years, and this generous donation gives the campaign and the many volunteers working on it, a significant lift,” said RDN Director Lehann Wallace. “I hope it will inspire others to give, and I sincerely thank Ms. Johnson and the many others in our community that are making the Eagle Preserve at French Creek Estuary a reality.”
People interested in protecting the estuary can donate online.
The BC Parks Foundation is an independent charity with a mission to create the greatest parks system in the world through more and better parks and protected areas.
Save Estuary Land Society (SELS) and the Friends of French Creek Conservation Society (FFCCS) are volunteer charitable organizations based in the French Creek area, working together to protect the estuary.
