Protecting Vancouver Island’s Natural Legacy

Since its founding, Pemberton Holmes has recognized that Vancouver Island’s natural environment is one of its greatest assets and has worked to preserve it throughout generations of company leadership. One of the company’s original founders and second president F.B. Pemberton was an early champion of this vision. Along with other concerned citizens, F.B. advocated for the protection of some of Vancouver Island’s forests near Cameron Lake, Campbell River, and Cowichan Lake at a time when the Island was experiencing excessive logging. Among these was Cathedral Grove, which stands today as one of our province’s most well-known and valued old-growth forests.

This commitment to conservation seems to have been a tradition in the Pemberton Holmes story. Two later company presidents, Cuthbert Holmes and his son Pip Holmes, shared F.B. Pemberton’s appreciation for thoughtful planning and green space preservation. Both advocated for responsible planning in Greater Victoria, recognizing the importance of protecting parks, agricultural land, and green space from unchecked urban sprawl. Cuthbert Holmes park, behind Tillicum Mall, was named in honour of his contribution to Saanich and his efforts to preserve green space. From protecting old-growth forests to advocating for parks and greenbelts across the Island, a commitment to responsible planning and respect for the land has remained a key part of company leadership for over 100 years.