From the Canopy: September Stories & What’s Happening This October
Above the Canopy
From the Canopy
September at Vision, and a Look Ahead to October
September has a way of changing things quietly.
The mornings become cooler, the light shifts, and our gardens begin showing us how they handled another Vancouver Island summer. Around Campbell River, salmon return to our rivers, birds are on the move, and the first signs of autumn begin appearing in the landscape.
It has also been a pretty special month for us at Vision.
This month, Ben and Vision Arboriculture were honoured with the Habitat Protection & Creation Award at the Haig-Brown Environmental Stewardship Awards.
The award recognizes efforts and education that help protect, restore, or create habitats for native plants and wildlife.
That means a great deal to us.
Our work has never been just about individual trees. Trees are part of gardens, forests, waterways and wildlife habitat. They are part of the larger landscapes we all share.
The awards are a community-driven effort, spearheaded by a committee representing the Museum at Campbell River, Greenways Land Trust, We Wai Kai First Nation’s Guardian Program, and Wei Wai Kum First Nation’s Guardian Program.
We are incredibly grateful to be recognized alongside people and organizations doing meaningful environmental work throughout our community.
From the Canopy
Late Summer Tree Care
September may feel like fall, but our soils can still be surprisingly dry.
In Late Summer Tree Care: What to Do in Your Campbell River Garden, we look at deep watering, drought stress, fall planting, pruning and what your garden may be telling you after a long, dry summer.
One of the most important things right now? Don't put the hose away just because the mornings are cooler.
Seeing Webs in Your Trees Again?
We've been hearing from people spotting webs in their trees and wondering whether the tent caterpillars have returned.
Not every web you see at this time of year is a tent caterpillar.
We took a closer look at what you might be seeing, when to be concerned, and when the best thing you can do for your tree is leave things alone.
Something to Notice This Month
Leave a Little Mess
As our gardens begin winding down for the year, there can be a strong temptation to cut everything back and clean everything up.
Consider leaving a little mess.
Seed heads can provide food for birds. Hollow and standing stems can provide overwintering habitat for insects. Fallen leaves protect the soil and provide habitat for countless small organisms.
A garden doesn't have to look abandoned to provide habitat.
Sometimes leaving one corner a little wild is enough.
From Brett
Hummingbirds, My Grandma & a Simple Fall Recipe
Hummingbirds have always reminded me of my grandma.
She was born and raised on Texada Island, and her home seemed to be buzzing with hummingbirds year-round. There was almost always a feeder outside, and watching those tiny birds dart back and forth was simply part of being at Grandma's house.
It's one of those small memories that has stayed with me.
I still put out a couple of feeders when I can. Hummingbirds can be surprisingly territorial, so having more than one feeder can give everyone a little more room.
Grandma's Hummingbird Nectar
You don't need anything fancy.
Regular recipe:
1 cup white granulated sugar
4 cups water
For colder winter weather:
1 cup white granulated sugar
3 cups water
Bring the water to a boil, remove it from the heat, and stir in the sugar until it has completely dissolved. Allow the mixture to cool fully before filling a clean feeder.
There's no need for red dye, honey, brown sugar or artificial sweeteners. Just plain white sugar and water.
During fall and winter, keeping feeders clean and the nectar fresh is especially important. If you're going to feed hummingbirds through the colder months, keep an eye on the weather too. Feeders can freeze surprisingly quickly during a Vancouver Island cold snap.
For me, though, putting out a hummingbird feeder will always be about a little more than feeding the birds.
Every time I hear that familiar buzz past my head, I'm back at my grandma's place on Texada Island.
Brett
From Our Socials
September has also been about sharing more of the people, knowledge and stories behind Vision.
You may have met Brett, our Client & Communications Coordinator, learned a little more about Ben and the crew, or caught some of our seasonal tree and garden advice.
We want our social pages to be another place where people can learn, ask questions and get to know the people caring for properties throughout our community.
So, we have a question for you:
What would you like to learn more about?
Tree care? Wildlife? Native plants? Gardens? Interesting local trees? What the crew actually does in a day?
Send us your questions. Some may become future posts or even future editions of From the Canopy.
Around Campbell River
Looking Ahead to October
There is a lot happening around Campbell River this October.
From voting and community theatre to art, live music, comedy and a good old-fashioned toy show, here are a few things worth putting on your calendar.
Local Government Election | October 17
Campbell River's 2026 Local Government Election takes place Saturday, October 17, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Residents will elect one mayor and six councillors, along with voting for school trustees and on an assent voting question regarding the Strathcona Gardens Recreation Facility Service.
Advance voting is available:
October 7, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Campbell River Community Centre
October 14, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Campbell River Sportsplex
Local government decisions affect many parts of the community we share. Whatever issues matter most to you, take some time to learn about the candidates, ask questions and make your voice heard.
Hear From the Candidates
There are also opportunities to hear directly from candidates before voting.
The Campbell River & District Chamber of Commerce, Campbell River Mirror and Tidemark Theatre Society are co-hosting a series of all-candidates debates.
The public can attend at the Tidemark Theatre, watch the livestream online, or watch recordings afterward.
October 1: Strathcona Regional Area Director Candidates
October 4: School Board Trustee Candidates
October 8: Campbell River City Council Candidates
Art & Culture
Welcome to the Carving Shed | Through October 31
As part of the Super/Natural Creatures! exhibition, artist James Kwaksistala is transforming the Campbell River Art Gallery into a working carving shed.
Visitors can observe the carving process as it unfolds, connect with the artist and guest carvers, and watch a carving take shape over the course of the exhibition.
It is an opportunity to experience art not simply as a finished object, but as a process.
Campbell River Art Gallery, 1235 Shoppers Row
Artist Trading Cards LIVE! | October 3
The Campbell River Art Gallery is also holding an autumn and spooky-season edition of Artist Trading Cards LIVE!
People of all ages and skill levels can create miniature works of art and trade their creations with others.
A lovely excuse to spend an afternoon making something.
Something for the Whole Family
Toys on the Island | October 10
For collectors, families and kids at heart, Toys on the Island Toy Show returns to the Campbell River Sportsplex.
The show includes 175 tables of collectibles, artists and creators, along with cosplay, food trucks, door prizes and a charity raffle.
Even better, proceeds from the raffle support the Campbell River Hospital Auxiliary.
Saturday, October 10
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Campbell River Sportsplex
Admission is $3 for adults and free for children under 13.
Local Theatre
The Kitchen Witches | October 14 to 24
Rivercity Players presents The Kitchen Witches, a Canadian comedy about two rival cooking-show hosts whose long-running feud becomes the centrepiece of their television show.
There's an extra community connection on opening night. Proceeds from the October 14 performance benefit Caremongering Campbell River.
Supporting community theatre supports a lot more people than those you see on stage. There are directors, designers, technicians, stage managers, builders, volunteers and many others behind every production.
Go see what our local theatre community has been creating.
See Something Live
The Great Canadian Road Trip | October 21
Canadian country music comes to the Tidemark Theatre with Doc Walker, Jason McCoy and Michelle Wright sharing one stage.
Wednesday, October 21 at 7:30 p.m.
Tidemark Theatre
Improv Comedy Rumble | October 24
For something completely different, the Comedy Department brings Improv Comedy Rumble to Campbell River.
Three improvisers compete in challenges created on the spot from audience suggestions, which means no two performances can ever be quite the same.
Saturday, October 24 at 7:30 p.m.
Tidemark Theatre
Halloween Around Campbell River
October wouldn't be October without a little Halloween fun.
Keep an eye on the local community calendars as Halloween approaches. There are usually family activities, performances, dances and other reasons to get out of the house.
Support Something Local
You don't need a special event to support your community.
See a show at the Tidemark.
Catch a production by Rivercity Players.
Walk through the Campbell River Art Gallery.
Visit a local artist or maker.
Stop into a locally owned shop.
Go to a fundraiser.
Listen to a local musician.
Volunteer somewhere you've always meant to.
And sometimes, simply show up.
Our community is shaped by the people who organize things, make things, perform things, volunteer their time and create spaces where the rest of us can come together.
If you know about an upcoming Campbell River event, environmental initiative, performance, fundraiser or community project that we should know about, send it our way. We'd love to discover more of what is happening around our community.
Heading Into October
October is one of our favourite months to simply pay attention.
Watch which trees change colour first. Notice the mushrooms appearing after the rain. Listen for migrating birds. Watch the rivers. Leave some leaves on the ground.
Go see a local performance.
Learn about the people hoping to represent our community.
Vote.
And take a walk somewhere you've passed a hundred times before. You might notice something new.
Thank you for following along with us, whether you've worked with Vision, read one of our articles, asked us a tree question, waved at the crew, or simply enjoy learning a little more about the place we all call home.
We'll be back next month with more from the trees, gardens, wildlife, people and landscapes around Campbell River and the Comox Valley.
Until next time,
The Vision Arboriculture Team
Arboriculture, Landscape Ecology & Outdoor Property Stewardship
Campbell River, BC V9W 3R9 | Questions? Email us at visionarborist@gmail.com
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