Broombusters Society Celebrates 20 Years of Cutting Broom on Vancouver Island
More than 30 volunteers joined the anniversary event as the group’s broom-cutting model spread across Vancouver Island and 14 municipalities backed local efforts.
- On June 13, more than 30 volunteers gathered in Coombs to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Broombusters Invasive Plant Society, including past and present workers who cleared Scotch broom across the Parksville-Qualicum-Beach area.
- Broombusters began in 2006 when Joanne Sales proposed a volunteer-led removal program to Qualicum Beach Mayor Teunis Westbroek; the Ministry of Transportation supported the partnership, with volunteers cutting broom while the town handled disposal.
- Retired Powell River Fire Chief Terry Peters describes Scotch broom as a "volatile flash fuel" that increases wildfire intensity, while FireSmart ranks the invasive plant among the highest-risk flammable species.
- Today, 14 municipalities and regional districts support local broom-cutting efforts across Vancouver Island; where volunteers remain active, broom populations are declining, though the plant continues spreading in unmanaged areas.
- Other 20th-anniversary celebrations are taking place in Nanaimo, Lantzville, Coquitlam, the Comox Valley and the Alberni Valley, highlighting the volunteer-driven effort's expanding reach across the region.
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Peninsula News Review
Broombusters society celebrates 20 years of cutting broom on Vancouver Island
More than 30 local volunteers gathered in Coombs on June 13 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Broombusters Invasive Plant Society. Attendees included past and present volunteers who have helped clear Scotch broom throughout the Parksville-Qualicum-Beach area, from Nanoose Bay to Bowser and west to Whiskey Creek. Broombusters began in June 2006 when Joanne Sales asked Qualicum Beach Mayor Teunis Westbroek why the town wasn’t removing the l…
Broombusters society celebrates 20 years of cutting broom - Parksville Qualicum News
More than 30 local volunteers gathered in Coombs on June 13 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Broombusters Invasive Plant Society. Attendees included past and present volunteers who have helped clear Scotch broom throughout the Parksville-Qualicum-Beach area, from Nanoose Bay to Bowser and west to Whiskey Creek. Broombusters began in June 2006 when Joanne Sales asked Qualicum Beach Mayor Teunis Westbroek why the town wasn’t removing the l…
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