©HamiltonMarshFB

The deadline for the Regional District of Nanaimo to complete a major land acquisition to create a conservation site just north of the city is quickly approaching, with a massive fundraising effort underway to facilitate the purchase. The Hamilton Marsh is a 360-acre parcel of land, located along Highway 4, just north of Nanaimo, B.C., near the Town of Qualicum Beach. The wetlands are a major part of the French Creek watershed and is home to over 120 species of birds. Owned by Island Timberlands and managed by Mosaic Forest Management, the regional district struck a conditional agreement to purchase the full marsh site for $30 million in September 2025, with a requirement to secure $7.5 million of external funding by the end of January this year.