The Heron Newsletter - Fall 2022

Extracted text (beginning)

Heron
the
A newsletter from the Islands Trust Conservancy, protecting islands in the Salish Sea | islandstrust.bc.ca/conservancyfall 2022
2022 Field Season Highlights  p. 6
For links and additional media, visit the Heron newsletter online. 
www. islandstrust.bc.ca/conservancy/heron-newsletter/
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
Introducing 
Link Island
Nature Reserve p.3 
Link Island
Inset: The Swift Family Photos: C. Smith
Nature stewardship  
gets funding boost 
p. 8

Islands Trust and Islands Trust Conservancy respectfully acknowledge that the lands and waters that encompass  
the Islands Trust Area have been home to Indigenous peoples since time immemorial and that their deep connection  
to the islands continues to this day. We are committed to reconciliation, to upholding the rights of Indigenous peoples, 
and to working together to preserve and protect this ecologically, culturally, and spiritually significant region in the 
Salish Sea. The Islands Trust Area is located in the treaty and territorial lands and waters of the BOḰEĆEN, Cowichan 
Tribes, K’ómoks, Lyackson, MÁLEXEȽ, Qualicum, scəẃaθən, səlilw ̓ ətaɬ, SEMYOME, shíshálh, Sḵwx
̱
wú7mesh, 
Snaw-naw-as, Snuneymuxw, Songhees, Spune’luxutth’, SȾÁUTW
̱
 , Stz’uminus, ɬaʔəmen, Ts’uubaa-asatx, 
Wei Wai Kum, We Wai Kai, W
̱
 JOȽEȽP, W
̱
SIḴEM, Xeláltxw, Xwémalhkwu, Xwsepsum, and xʷməθkʷəy.
Drum detail. photo: l. wilcox
Link Island  
a family’s conservation legacy
Link Island  
a family’s conservation legacy
2

How does a family agree to give up 
ownership of an island in favour of  
long-term conservation? 
When the Swift family came together to discuss donating 
Link Island (21.45 ha) to Islands Trust Conservancy (ITC) 
Betty Swift and her three adult children agreed it was 
the right thing to do. The decision was based on shared 
values that have deep-seated roots. Since 1910, their 
grandparents and parents were inspired by Aldo Leopold’s 
land ethic philosophy. The family has valued and embodied 
conservation across generations.   
“When we see land as a community  
to which we belong, we may begin  
to use it with love and respect.”  
– Aldo Leopold 
In 2019, Betty Swift made an ecological gift and placed a 
conservation covenant on the island with ITC and Nanaimo 
& Area Land Trust as a first step in securing her dream to 
protect the island. Before Betty passed away in 2021, she left 
instructions that the island be transferred to the ITC with 
a condition that her children and grandchildren maintain 
right of use for Link Island for the duration of their lives. 
Gabriola Land and Trails Trust was invited to co-hold the 
new covenant going forward. The family will continue to 
steward the island throughout their lifetime knowing that 
Betty’s vision has been achieved. 
Life Estate & land ownership: A donor can give away 
land but retain a life interest (such as the right to live 
on it or for someone else to live on the land for life). 
An agreement with the Swift Family allows for the 
right of us

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