Organization Mandate The Gorge Waterway Action Society (GWAS) is a non-profit society and a registered charity dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of the Gorge Waterway in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Our vision is a waterway that is a place of beauty for human recreation and a safe place for the fish, wildlife and plants that make it their home. The GWAS' mandate covers the Gorge Waterway and surrounding shoreline from the Johnson Street Bridge in Victoria's Inner Harbour to the and including Portage Inlet. The municipalities of Victoria, Esquimalt, Saanich, and View Royal all border the Gorge.
Current Activities and Projects The GWAS conducts three types of activities: Awareness The GWAS hosts informal swim events in summer months to remind the public that the Gorge is swimmable. The GWAS provides information booths at public events to display Gorge information. GWAS has recently funded the Stream Team to construct a working model of the Gorge. The model is used in local schools to assist the delivery of environmental programs. In addition, the GWAS loans Gorge material and historical photos to schools and other interested groups. Waterway Restoration Under the lead of The Land Conservancy of BC, GWAS is participating in the restoration of the shoreline of specific propertyies under long-term covenants.
Stewardship GWAS supports stewardship to achieve the short, medium and long term goals for protection, enhancement, restoration of the Gorge. Initiatives are underway to work with landowners, community groups and municipalities to develop and implement Gorge Waterway Stewardship.
Water Quality The GWAS continues to work with the Veins of Life Watershed Society (VOLWS) to keep the Gorge clean, and by participating in activities such as "Adopt a Shore". Fundraising The annual Rubber Duck Race conducted by GWAS and VOLWS raises funds for the Gorge clean-up. Completed Activities and Projects - GWAS significantly contributes to the development of Official Community Plans and Neighbourhood plans of the municipalities bordering the Gorge.
- GWAS benchmarked the status of the Esquimalt Gorge shoreline using video, still photos, maps and narrative documentation to support Esquimalt's implementation of its Gorge Development Permit Zone.
- GWAS surveyed, photographed and documented the existing dock facilities in the Victoria Arm. The City of Victoria used that data in the development of the City's dock policy in 2000.
- GWAS surveyed and compiled information about their understanding of Gorge issues from candidates in the 1999 and 2002 municipal elections.
- GWAS established a Legal Defence Fund to use when necessary to protect the Gorge. The fund was used to convince the City of Victoria to designate as parkland two City-owned waterfront lots on Burleith Crescent rather than sell it for development.
- The GWAS lobbied for several years to convince public officials to open the Selkirk Trestle to pedestrian and cycle traffic.
- GWAS completed a project to compile historical Gorge information from newspaper and public archives for Gorge awareness displays.
Fundraising Initiatives The GWAS is currently fundraising for three special purposes: - The ongoing clean-up, protection, enhancement and restoration of the Gorge.
- The bolstering of the GWAS 'legal defense fund in order to have funds readily available when a need for action arises.
- To support the development and delivery of a new UVic course in the School of Environmental Studies, Restoration of Natural Systems Program, with a focus on Gorge studies and projects.
Partners The GWAS works in collaboration with many community groups, but most closely: - The Veins of Life Watershed Society
- The Burnside Gorge Community Association
- The Vic West Community Association
Volunteers The GWAS welcomes volunteers with time to help with the GWAS newsletter and to participate in events that promote awareness of the Gorge. The GWAS is membership based on a token annual fee, but interested persons wishing to assist with the preservation of the Gorge are welcome, whether they are members or not. Publications The GWAS publishes a Gorge Newsletter and has a brochure that describes the Society.
Contact Us info@gorge.ca Henry Kamphoff, Director
Phone: (250) 389-1939
Fax: (250) 361-4970
Peter Gooch, Director
Phone: (250) 727-6195
Fax: (250) 479-1700 Gorge Waterway Action Society
PO Box 44164
RPO 2947 Tillicum Road
Victoria, BC, BC V9A 2A0
A Special Thanks to Our Corporate Sponsors    
City of Victoria, The Real Estate Foundation of British Columbia,
Vancity, Vancouver Foundation
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