Faye Memorial Project:

Brant Viewing Area Upgrade

November 2019

This photo of the visiting orca pod was taken from the Sea-side Nature Pavilion - a rare treat and privilege to see!

Congratulations to Streamkeeper, Pat Jacobson on being named “Citizen of the Year” in Qualicum Beach for her tireless work on the new pavilion and interpretive signage.

Our pavilion can now be called “award winning” as it won "Honourable Mention in the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Award for Design in the Community category.

We are very appreciative of the generous donations from the Oceanside Community. For a list of Major Donors, Valued Community Contributors, and Town of Qualicum Beach Contractor and Supply Contributors please click here.

This project also entailed the work of many Community Volunteers, over the period of the past year and a half. For a list of these people and organizations please click here.

All of this wonderful support has helped us to provide a lasting legacy to Faye while at same time,  inspiring us to better understand and protect this very special place.

For more information about Faye's contributions to our community, click here.

September 2018 - Project Complete!

All the hard work has now been done to complete the Seaside Park Faye Smith Rosenblatt Memorial Pavilion. The pavilion is completed, benches installed, and all the interpretive signage erected.

Trees have been planted on site, and native planting is well on its way now that the weather has turned favourable. The public is welcome to enjoy the view and learn about our incredible Salish Sea.

Thanks to the countless hours of work contributed by the planning committee and on-site work volunteers. Our community is very lucky to have such dedicated citizens who care about nature and our environment.

Many thanks to the Town of Qualicum Beach for their support and hard work to make this project a success. A special thank you to the many donors. Without your generosity, this project could not have happened. From the moment we opened the pavilion and surrounding area to the public, many have come to explore, learn and enjoy! The response has been very positive, and we are grateful for the support. We welcome everyone to stop by and enjoy.

Summer 2018

Interpretive Signage for the Pavilion and adjacent area is in production, as are Pavilion benches.  We anticipate these features to be completed and installed in the first two weeks of August.

Landscaping has been done and a wide array of Native Plants will be planted when conditions permit in the Fall.  

We are collaborating with the Qualicum First Nation on the design of a First Nations art component.

Our original fund raising goal has been achieved, but we are still accepting donations to cover unanticipated costs.

May 2018

We are in the process of finishing the roof and expect to be starting on sign installation and site landscaping with a target of having public access in mid-June. We have reached our original fundraising goal, but still need donations to cover unanticipated costs.

April 2018

We are waiting for weather to improve to pour the slab, which will be followed by the assembly of the finished timbers for the frame.

We expect this to be late April. In terms of donations, we are very close to our target, but still need to raise more funds to cover expected costs.

March 2018

The original Brant Viewing Platform has been removed and the site has been graded for our new structure. The foundation framing is in place and the concrete for the footings, walls, and slab will be poured in the weeks ahead. Further landscaping of the site by the Town of Qualicum Beach will start shortly as well.

January/February 2018

Contributions of approximately $20,000 have been committed since our last update, so we are getting closer to our target.  Thanks to all those great supporters out there, both individuals and organizations.  We are looking forward to breaking ground at the site of the new pavilion in early March.  Do stop by to see the progress and at the same time enjoy the migrating Brant Geese and other wildlife that are gathering for a Herring Feast!

November/December 2017

Since October, we have increased our community contributions from organizations and individuals from $25,000 to $40,000. We  really appreciate the support and commitment to this great project. Additionally, we have received a grant from the Pacific Salmon Foundation in the amount of $20,000 for signage on the site and at Grandon Creek.

However, we were unsuccessful in receiving a grant from the BC Gaming Commission, so that leaves us with at least $30,000 more to raise. We will be breaking ground on the site early in the New Year, and have signage on the site that allows people to connect with us. Watch for more detailed drawings and information in the weeks ahead.

October 2017

Our volunteer team has received approval from the Town to proceed and refine our conceptual plans. We have completed a set of preliminary design drawings for the structure, and are working with the Town and consultants on a detailed site plan. To date we have raised close to $25,000 in community donations and have applied for a couple of grants that we hope to find out about before mid-December. Our target to have the structure construction completed by April 15, 2018 is on target.

September 2017

We have a volunteer team that is working on a conceptual design proposal for the site. A presentation will be made to the Qualicum Beach Town Council at a Committee of the Whole Meeting on Wednesday, September 6th, 2017 at 10:00 am. The purpose of this meeting is to review the design proposal and discuss the path forward with the Town Council, Staff, and interested parties from the community.  Everyone is welcome to attend. To date we have raised close to $8,000 dollars in donations.

Project Description

The Qualicum Beach Streamkeepers and the Oceanside Environmental Community lost a great friend and advocate on March 26, 2017 with the passing of Faye Smith Rosenblatt.

Faye was a co-founder (1995) and ongoing director of our society and was a driving force in the delivery of over seventy projects supporting wild salmon habitat from the Englishman River to Little Qualicum River watersheds.

As a memorial to Faye, Qualicum Beach Streamkeepers are excited to announce that they are undertaking a project to replace the well-worn "Brant Viewing Platform" at the west end of Qualicum Beach with a new and enhanced structure.

This project presents a unique opportunity to expand the horizons of the people who visit our bountiful shores.

Photo above shows the Brant Viewing Platform as it exists today.
Photo: Pat Jacobson

The new “Brant Viewing Platform” and site will involve:

• Replacing the current platform with a new roofed structure.

• Recognition of Qualicum First Nation traditional territory and history.

• Adding pictorial signage about the panoramic view, the intertidal ecology, and the myriad of bird species and other wildlife.

• Telling the stories of wild salmon in nearby Grandon Creek, and of the Parksville Qualicum Beach Wildlife Management Area.

• Enhancing the site with native vegetation.

We are collaborating with the Town of Qualicum Beach, Arrowsmith Naturalists, Faye’s family and others to re-purpose this awesome location to make it an 'interpretive destination' to seek out, as well as a ‘stop-by' for locals and visitors.

This project is consistent with the vision and mandate of our society to build awareness and understanding in the community for wildlife habitat protection and enhancement.


Photo above taken at the Platform, circa 1997. QB Streamkeepers Faye Smith, Doug Taylor, Pat Hadley and Councillor Teunis Westbroek are doing a beach clean-up. Photo: Jenny Westbroek