Resource person: Pam Petrie

Location: Parksville Community Centre | 223 Mills Street, Parksville, BC, V9P 2H2

Description:

Landforms are natural features on the Earth’s surface shaped by geological processes and the forces of gravity, flowing water, ice, and air. The Parksville area contains many remarkable examples, and in this course, we will visit five locations to explore how past and present geological processes have created Vancouver Island’s diverse landscape.

The six-week course begins with a classroom lecture reviewing key concepts to help you recognize and understand the features seen in the field. Participants should be comfortable walking up to 2 kilometres with approximately 100 metres of ascent and descent on park trails, some with rough or uneven sections.

Key features examined around Parksville will include bedrock geology, Quaternary (glacial and recent) sediments, erosional processes (rivers, landslides, glaciers, wave action), and evidence of recent human activity.

Instructor: Alan Gilchrist is Professor Emeritus of Geography at Vancouver Island University where he recently retired after 24 years of service. He previously held positions at Coast Mountain College in northern BC, Dalhousie University on Canada’s east coast and Edinburgh University in the UK. He has a PhD in Earth Science from Liverpool University in the UK and is a practicing Professional Geoscientist with Engineers and Geoscientists BC. His teaching and research concern understanding the origin and evolution of the world’s amazing landscapes, and the crucial role of water in human development and the need to actively manage water use due to pressures from population growth and climate change. He has a particular interest in understanding the forces causing the high mountains of the world, such as the Himalayas and the Andes, and his PhD studied the origin of the Great Escarpment of southern Africa. His most recent research has focused on understanding how the water cycle is changing due to global warming, and he has developed a model which has been applied to 13 watersheds on Vancouver Island to predict future impacts on the natural supply of water. He is passionate about giving students opportunities for experiential learning, with an emphasis on field work and using digital mapping technologies and measures from real-time monitoring networks to interpret physical landscapes.

Mandatory membership(s):

• Individual Membership 2025-26

Available spots: Full

Price: $66.00 Taxes not included

Notes: No class April 6. Reading material/supplies will be provided during the first meeting of the course. ***This course has been sponsored by anonymous — with our sincere thanks. ***The first class will be held in a classroom setting, followed by five weekly field sessions that include walking over uneven terrain.

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