Fungus Fest 1 was so much fun! We can’t wait to do it again!
Below you’ll find links and videos from our inaugural event, a truly interdisciplinary celebration of ‘shrooms. (and slime molds)

We respectfully acknowledge that we live, work and play within the forests, lands and waters of the unceded traditional territory of the Pentlatch, Eiksan and K’ómoks peoples.
FAMILY SCAVENGER HUNT – Open to everyone. ON YOUR OWN TIME. Nature, history, point of interest and fun fungus facts (take only pictures)
Fun Fungus Links – check out this cool, curated collection of mushroomy goodness.
Host Your own Mushroom Dance Party with Shamanatrix
CV Dance Temple Host, Shamanatrix (Mel) is sharing the tracklist from their Thursday night set for you this weekend! Crank it up! (see the full track list here)
iNaturalist Bio Blitz
“Deathcap Observations on the South Island” with Jason Gowen
Jason Gowen is a mushroom picker, educator, and a consultant for mushroom ID in suspected poisoning cases. When not in the forest foraging, he studies the urban expansion of the death cap mushroom Amanita phalloides in his home town of Victoria. Passionate about mycology, fungal ecology, and conservation Jason administrates several large mushroom identification and information pages and is a regular contributor to regional events as an identifier and presenter. You can find him through Instagram @jroot250
Fungus Talk w/ Andy MacKinnon – “Fabulous Plants and their Fungal Friends”
Andy MacKinnon is a forest ecologist who lives in Metchosin, BC. His recent research interests include ecology of BC’s ectomycorrhizal fungal species. He was lead BC scientist for Environment Canada’s 2017 ranking of our province’s threatened and endangered fungal species. He is co-author of six best-selling books about plants of western North America, and co-author of the Royal BC Museum Handbook “Mushrooms of British Columbia” (anticipated date of publication: June 2021). He is an enthusiastic participant, speaker and field trip leader for various mushroom festivals in southwestern BC each autumn.
CCFS Science Pub – “Fungus, Forests & Folklore” – 7:00-9:00 pm. VIA ZOOM.
Grab a growler, mix up a cocktail or brew of cup of tea, and kick back for presentations from guest mycologists, naturalists, & herbalists exploring the remarkable world of the fungus among us!
PANELISTS
Dr. Shannon Berch – See Bio Above
Yarrow Willard Cl.H. – See Bio Below
Andy MacKinnon – See Bio Above
Jason Gowen – See Bio Above
Dawn Copeman is an avid forest explorer, community historian, photographer and ‘naturalist in residence’ for the Cumberland Community Forest Society with a passion for the wild side of the forest including the incredible world of slime molds. She can be found on Instagram at @cumberlandforesthag
Very special presentations put together especially for Fungus Fest by Dr. Phil Ayres of CITA – Centre for Information Technology and Architecture at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts
Dr. Ayres was recently on CBC Spark talking about fungal architecture so we reached out for Fungus Fest! We are so delighted to share this very cool research and innovation!