Supporting researchers in their quest to seek a better understanding of our natural environment is an integral part of our role as a leading land conservation organization. In honour of several distinguished scientists and past members of our board, The Nature Trust and its partners have established three award programs.

The Bert Hoffmeister Scholarship
It is awarded annually to a graduate student in the Faculty of Forestry at the University of British Columbia. The award is a joint effort by The Nature Trust, Wildlife Habitat Canada, BC’s Ministry of Environment and the Province of BC.

The Dr. Ian and Joyce McTaggart-Cowan Scholarship
This scholarship in Environmental Studies recognizes conservation studies at the University of Victoria.

The Brink/McLean Grassland Conservation Fund
For over 50 years, Dr. Bert Brink and the Dr. Alastair McLean dedicated their lives to the conservation of BC's natural legacy, particularly the grasslands of the Southern Interior. To ensure this conservation continues, this fund promotes applied research, habitat restoration and other stewardship activities that will assist in the management of the land, plants and animals of BC’s native grasslands.

Rain Garden Fund
The Nature Trust has established an endowment fund to support community rain garden projects. This initiative addresses the environmental and economic advantages of getting stormwater back into the ground, as well as the desirability of raising citizen awareness and supporting local involvement in aquatic habitat protection. Thanks to our donors, the Rain Garden Fund currently stands at $100,000.

In 2008 funds were provided to the Friends of Mount Douglas Park Society in Victoria for a rain garden to reduce the size of flash floods in winter and fall, and to the Still Creek Stewardship Society for a rain garden at Cascade Heights Elementary School in Burnaby.