Monthly Meeting: Edible Mushroom Identification
2025-05-13 19:00 - 22:00 (America/Vancouver)
This month, we are welcoming yet another talented island mycologist to speak for us. Please join us Tuesday, May 13th at Floral Hall for a special presentation on edible fungi.
Past President and VP of the South Vancouver Island Mycological Society (SVIMS), mycology enthusiast Melanie Hess loves to teach the introduction of how to identify mushrooms. In this exciting talk about foraging, we will explore how to identify fungi for the table! We will be going over the basics of mushroom ID, common lookalikes, and preparation guidelines. Melanie will be focusing on the most popular mushrooms, from Spring to Fall.
Floral Hall is at 5251 Oak St, Vancouver, BC V6M 1A2
Doors at 7, Talk at 7:30
As always, we would love to see your specimens at our monthly mushroom table for identification and admiration. Be sure to check out what unique Spring finds are at the May display.
Love the talk? Your VMS membership allows you to access an archive of several past talks on our website for your marathoning pleasure. As always, masks are encouraged in indoor spaces and for all in-person events!
VMS is still hybrid and we would love to see you virtually if you can’t make it in person! You can join us live through Zoom and there will be a Zoom recording in our members’ archive:
Topic: May Meeting
Time: May 13, 2025 07:30 PM Vancouver
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81898385280?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 818 9838 5280
Passcode: [REDACTED]

4th Annual Spring Mushroom Celebration
2025-06-01 10:00 - 17:00 | The Usual: VanDusen, Floral Hall, 5151 Oak St, Vancouver, BC, V6M 4H1, Canada
It’s another year of hosting our annual spring mushroom celebration and we couldn’t be more excited to be showing off more of Vancouver’s fungal offerings! This year, we are switching things up to offer more interactive and engaging workshops and presentations, including cooking demos, dyes, talks from experts, and cultivation. We hope that the day will have something for everybody! Come by Floral hall to peruse the range of fungal specimens that grow in and around Vancouver, get answers and assistance with your pressing mushroom-related curiosities, and visit with vendors selling merch and mushrooms alike.

Hours: 10am to 5pm, June 1st 2025

Entry fee: $5, kids under 12 free

Venue is wheelchair accessible

A reminder that this event is held in Floral Hall, and admission is not associated with the nearby VanDusen Botanical Gardens – though their spring blooms are probably worth their own visit!

This event is held on Ancestral, Traditional, and Unceded territory of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.

Monthly Meeting: Fungal Collections of the UBC Herbarium
2025-06-10
Greetings VMS! And a big welcome to our new members from the Spring festival..
Apologies for the late announcement this month, I promise this one is worth the wait!
Fungal collections at the UBC Herbarium: Overview and recent developments
Presentation by Justin Ngo
7pm Tuesday, June 10th @ Floral Hall (5251 Oak St.)
Justin Ngo is one of two Curatorial Assistants under Karen Golinski at the Bryophyte, Lichens, and Fungi Collections at the UBC Herbarium, located in the Beaty Biodiversity Museum. He graduated from UBC with a Bachelor of Science studying predominantly plant biology, though many of the courses he has taken as an undergraduate student have touched upon the immense physiological and molecular complexity of the fungi. Having worked at the UBC Botanical Garden and the Temporal Ecology Lab in Forestry before beginning this position, he has had experience in handling delicate botanical material and managing large databases.
The UBC Herbarium in the Beaty Biodiversity Museum holds more than 91 thousand accessioned dried fungus and lichen specimens, serving as a key resource for fungal and lichenological research, university education and public outreach. The two collections, which emphasize B.C. specimens, are housed in 90 specially-designed cabinets in a unique, publicly-accessible space. Specimen cabinets are punctuated by stunning displays, including shadowboxes illustrating a species of Cortinarius named for Oluna Ceska, and an artful presentation of the Sherman Brough lichen-dyed wool collection.
UBC is part of a global effort to increase the visibility and usability of herbarium collections by making data and images available online through publicly-accessible data portals. We deeply appreciate the pioneering efforts of Dr. R.F. Scagel, who initiated the process of recording UBC specimen metadata in 1981. With the assistance of student and community volunteers, we have made substantial progress in processing a large backlog of specimens. Soon, with the help from mycological community members, we will start uniting specimen records with images from the Mushroom Observer and other sources to further facilitate biodiversity discovery and appreciation.
Doors at 7, Talk at 7:30
As always, we would love to see your specimens at our monthly mushroom table for identification and admiration. Be sure to check out what unique Spring finds are at the May display.

Love the talk? Your VMS membership allows you to access an archive of several past talks on our website for your marathoning pleasure. As always, masks are encouraged in indoor spaces and for all in-person events!

VMS is still hybrid and we would love to see you virtually if you can’t make it in person! You can join us live through Zoom and there will be a Zoom recording in our members’ archive:
Topic: June Meeting
Time: Jun 10, 2025 07:30 PM Vancouver
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86901348247?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 869 0134 8247
Passcode: [REDACTED]

Monthly Meeting/ Foray with Leah Mycelia
2025-09-09 11:00 - 22:00
ID Walk at Pacific Spirit Park with Leah Mycelia
September 9th @ 11 am
Next week, before our monthly meeting, we will be having a guided walk in the forest to look at the fungi of Pacific Spirit Park, which is home to a vast and diverse fungal community. Our special guest mycologist, Leah Bendlin will help to identify the specimens we encounter and talk about the fungal associations within our local ecosystem.
Please join us at the parking area (4915 W 16th Ave) at 11 am sharp on Tuesday. The walk will be on the paths only and solely for educational purposes, leaving as little impact on the public space as possible. Feel free to bring your family, friends, kids, and leashed dogs. You don’t wanna miss out on this!
—
Correction for our September 9th meeting!
Our speaker, Leah Bendlin will be presenting a talk on mycoheterotrophic plants instead of common Fall fungi. Not to worry! We will have plenty of opportunities to learn about Fall fungi in our upcoming meetings. Talk description:
Marvelous Mycoheterotrophs: The Beauty and Science of Floral-Fungal Freeloaders
If you’ve ever been fascinated by a waxy, alien looking plant without green parts in the woods that doesn’t even seem like it should be real, you may have been enchanted by a marvelous mycoheterotroph! In this talk, we’ll discuss the biology and associations of these strange looking plants that depend upon fungi for survival, as well as some of the scientific discoveries that lead to the current understanding of how they function. Leah will also help you get to know and recognize some local species and learn how they might help us in successful mushroom hunting!
For more information on Tuesday’s talk, please see our homepage!
—
Announcing MycoMap BC!
In collaboration with other naturalist societies across the province, the VMS is pleased to announce the launch of a new citizen science project for BC slime molds and fungi. MycoMap BC is a project aimed at documenting fungal biodiversity in British Columbia in partnership with Mycota Lab. This initiative will allow free, year-round DNA sequencing for mushroom and slime mould collections available to anyone in BC. Your contributions will help us better understand the unique biodiversity of our province.
How to Participate
We invite mushroom enthusiasts, backyard collectors, and mycologists to help us collect thousands of specimens from all regions of BC. Here’s what you’ll need to get started:
– A collection box
– An iNaturalist account and a camera or phone
– A food dehydrator
Once your collections are dried, you’ll ship them to our Victoria, BC collection point. We are currently accepting all collections made in 2025.
For detailed protocols, FAQs, and shipping instructions, please visit MycoMapBC.org You can also find a link to our iNaturalist project and a form to receive the mailing address for your specimens.
Launch Event
Join us for a virtual launch event and celebration on September 16th at 7 PM via Zoom. The event will feature guest speakers including Stephen Russell of Mycota Lab and Andy Mackinnon and Kem Luther, authors of Mushrooms of BC. They will discuss the importance of DNA sequencing, followed by an overview of the collection protocol. There will also be a Q&A session.
Register for the event here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/l0L8ztPTQjGI4cvxq17-fA
We will also be hosting an online mycoblitz from September 17th-24th in hopes of hitting our first 1000 specimens! Join our iNaturalist project (linked on website below), and start making collections to join our leaderboard.
Project Support & Contact
This project is supported by the South Vancouver Island Mycological Society, the BC Biodiversity Program, the Metchosin Foundation, Whistler Naturalists, SERAL (Society for Education, Research and Arts on the Land), and the Vancouver Mycological Society.
For any questions or to offer support, please contact project coordinators Elora Adamson (elora.adamson@svims.club) or Ann McCall (ann.mccall@svims.club).

Manning Park Foray
2025-09-12 17:00 - 2025-09-14 12:00
Hi folks! We are excited to officially announce that the VMS will be returning to Manning Park once again for our annual weekend excursion from September 12-14, 2025.
We’d love for you to be there! We will have lots of fun walks, talks, and bonding with your fellow fungi enthusiasts! Think of it as Mushroom Summer camp.
The Last Resort Lodge in Manning Park boasts dorm-style shared accommodations for up to 50 people, and comes with amenities like shared washrooms, a communal fire pit, a dining and lounge area, access to pool and sauna facilities, and an outdoor picnic area.
The VMS will provide breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well as snacks and refreshments.
We will be arriving at the lodge Friday evening and returning home Sunday afternoon.
Please note that collecting of fungi within Manning is only for scientific purposes and not for consumption or dyes (unless folks choose to gather on their own outside the park).
Pricing:
Tickets are on sale NOW and likely to sell out, so act fast!
Admission: $250 pp
We only take e-transfer, please be ready to send one with your name in the message once you’ve submitted the form.
The fees cover 6 meals, accommodation for 2 nights, walks with expert mycologists, and memories to last a lifetime!
For insurance reasons, all attendees must be valid VMS members (if you are receiving this email, you are a member). To sign up or renew, please visit our website
We are also offering 3 cost-reduced volunteer tickets for those who are interested in helping us serve meals and clean. Please email president@vanmyco.com for more info (first come first serve)
Accessibility:
Most dorms are located on the second floor, with 2 large rooms at ground level. There is a 6″ concrete lip to get through the front door of the lodge. There are no private rooms in the lodge and a majority of the beds are bunk beds. The walks will be of varying length and difficulty and done in subgroups. Dogs are not allowed in the lodging area.
REGISTRATION:
If you would like to attend, please fill out the form below and send payment and we will send you a confirmation of your spot.
https://forms.gle/6SpBQE9EM1LBpd8a6
For any questions, concerns, or inquiries please email foray@vanmyco.com. Thank you!

Mushrooms of BC Walk – Richmond Nature Park
2025-10-15 10:00 - 11:30
External guided walk – see details here: https://www.richmond.ca/parks-recreation/parks/aboutrnp.htm

Fungus among us – Whistler (external event)
2025-10-17 08:00 - 2025-10-18 17:00
https://www.whistlernaturalists.ca/fungus-among-us-mushroom-festival

Urban Foray for Fall Show
2025-10-25 11:00 - 13:00
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25 @ Riley Park Community Garden, 11a,-1pm.
email secretary@vanmyco.com for updates/ registration information.

VMS Fall Mushroom Show
2025-10-26 10:00 - 17:00
Hello VMS! Can you believe we are at our 44th year of hosting the Fall Mushroom Show? We are excited to announce that the big event will take place on October 26th, from 10-5 at the Floral Hall. Expect live entertainment, arts and crafts, guest presentations, and dazzling displays that are sure to impress.
There will be a costume contest for the best mushroom inspired outfit, with some great prizes. You may also check out our ID table with any burning questions or ID requests for experts to handle. Our raffle will feature prizes from all the vendors of the show and some other cool swag.
See Facebook event here: https://www.facebook.com/share/1FezmKocPE/
Admission is $5 and gets you access to the whole show for the day. Kids under 12 are free and the venue is wheelchair accessible. The poster, which was made from photos from our most recent Manning excursion (big thanks to Pete), is attached below. Please share with your circles!

VMS local foray
2025-11-01 08:00 - 17:00
details TBD

Richmond Nature Show
2025-11-02 11:00 - 16:00
Details can be found here:
https://www.richmond.ca/parks-recreation/parks/aboutrnp.htm

Monthly Meeting: Mushrooms and People
2025-11-11 19:00 - 22:00
Next Meeting: Tuesday, September 11th

I am pleased to announce that our next meeting will feature a special presentation from Paul Kroeger, a founding member of the VMS.

Mushrooms and People

This eclectic talk flows through various ways people interact with mushrooms. The commercial harvest of edible wild mushrooms is discussed with excursions into medicinal mushrooms and ethno-mycology of traditional cultures. We will also learn of some unusual places and ways to look for fungi, and some surprising things found.

About our speaker:

Paul Kroeger has studied mushrooms for over thirty-five years and is a founding member of the Vancouver Mycological Society. He has been involved in many projects and studies about diverse aspects of mushrooms, gaining knowledge about fungal ecology, biochemistry of toxic, hallucinogenic, medicinal, and edible mushrooms. Years of experience have created unique insights and understanding of fungal life-ways and interactions in temperate ecosystems.

Tuesday November 11th, 2025 @ Floral Hall, VanDusen Gardens (5251 Oak St.)
Doors at 7pm, Talk at 7:30pm

As always, we would love to see your specimens at our monthly mushroom table for identification and admiration. Be sure to check out what unique and abundant Fall finds are currently growing around us.

Love the talk? Your VMS membership allows you to access an archive of several past talks on our website for your marathoning pleasure. As always, masks are encouraged in indoor spaces and for all in-person events!

Intermediate Mycomap Foray
2025-11-16 12:00 - 14:00
Announcement will be made at the meeting with more information, this will be an intermediate level foray from 10-12 am starting at Mystery Falls led by Marshall focused on gathering species for the BC Mycomap project. Email foray@vanmyco.com for more information.

Dec 10th Meeting: Jared “Qwustenuxun” Williams
2025-12-10 19:30 - 22:00
Hello VMS members,
Our next meeting will be held exclusively online, with no in-person option at VanDusen this time, and will feature a special talk by Jared “Qwustenuxun” Williams.
Join Qwustenuxun, from the Quw’utsun Nation on southern Vancouver Island, for an evening of learning about the deep relationships Indigenous peoples have with mushrooms and the cultural protocols that guide how we harvest them. Together we’ll explore how mushrooms have been part of our food, medicine, and teachings, and how these practices remind us to approach the land with respect, reciprocity, and care. This talk invites us to reflect on our own foraging, and how we can walk in better relationship with the fungi and the living world around us.
Jared “Qwustenuxun” Williams is a Hul’q’umi’num language speaker, Indigenous chef, Salish culture educator, and consultant from Quw’utsun. Raised in Salish culture by his father and late grandmother, he carries forward teachings of traditional harvesting, Indigenous foods, and community history. After a decade in western kitchens, Qwustenuxun returned home to cook for Cowichan Elders and deepen his knowledge of Indigenous foodways.

Today, he shares those teachings widely from Cooking in Two Worlds with FeedBC to a TEDx talk, national food sovereignty projects, and his role as Chair of the Indigenous Advisory Council to BC’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food. Whether presenting at the UN World Food Forum or paddling the Salish Sea with his sons, Qwustenuxun’s work is grounded in humility, self-determination, and the relationships that keep culture alive.

Topic: December Virtual Meeting
Time: Dec 10, 2025 07:30 PM Vancouver
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85272250725?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 852 7225 0725
Passcode: [REDACTED]

Love the talk? Your VMS membership allows you to access an archive of several past talks on our website for your marathoning pleasure.

Pokong Dinner RSVP required
2026-01-13 18:30 - 20:30
Hello VMS and happy new year! I am pleased to announce that the annual Po Kong dinner will take place in lieu of our in-person meeting this month on Tuesday, January 13th at 6:30.

The Po Kong dinner is a yearly tradition where members are able to sample many varieties of mushrooms in a communal setting. Po Kong‘s menu is fully vegetarian and features many fungi, including stinkhorn, lion’s mane, enoki, wood ear, and more.

How it works:
Each person orders 1 mushroom dish and all the food is shared family style. After the meal, the bill is divided among your tablemates (usually 10). The individual bill averages $30-40 after gratuities, not including beverages. Cash is preferred to reduce our queue for a card reader.

Before filling out the form, please take a look at the main menu here: https://www.pokongvegetarian.ca/menu

(bamboo pith = stinkhorn, monkey head = lion’s mane, ling chi = reishi)

To streamline the process for the kitchen, please tell us in the form which dish you would like to order and 1 backup just in case there’s many of the same request at your table (ex. C30, E6). If you’d like the lion’s mane/hericium on veggies dish (off menu) please indicate in the form.

The restaurant is located at 1334 Kingsway, Vancouver, BC V5V 3E4
Street parking is available, but limited.

We will have 50 seats reserved, so please RSVP at this link before they fill up: https://forms.gle/yVyDRNLvZadNKXc58

Hope to see you there as we welcome the new year together over some great food and conversation!

February 10th Meeting: Member’s Night
2026-02-10 19:00 - 22:00
Hello myco people!
I’m excited to announce our first Floral Hall meeting of the year, featuring the return of member’s night, and to share details about a special mushroom presentation from the folks at Nature Vancouver.
Member’s Night:
As per tradition, member’s night is a chance for members of the VMS to put on short presentations on different fungal topics. We have so many amazing experiences and perspectives within the Vancouver fungal community and we love to showcase what people have been up to. Some speakers may choose to talk about academic work, regional species, cooking, or photography to name just a few examples!
We would love to hear from you on what has caught your interest in mycology from the past 2 months.. or 2 years!
Please email president@vanmyco.com to sign up or for more information.
While it may not be peak mushroom season, we’d still love to see any specimens you bring to our monthly mushroom table for identification and admiration.
Love the talk? Your VMS membership allows you to access an archive of several past talks on our website for your marathoning pleasure. As always, masks are encouraged in indoor spaces and for all in-person events!
VMS is still hybrid and we would love to see you virtually if you can’t make it in person!
Topic: February Meeting
Time: Feb 10, 2026 07:30 PM Vancouver
—
Nature Vancouver will be hosting a special virtual presentation (via Zoom):
fire-following fungi– MONIKA FISCHER: Thursday, January 22nd @ 7:30 pm
Monika Fischer is an Assistant Professor of fungal biology in UBC Botany department. Her lab’s research seeks to understand the molecular mechanisms that mediate fungal interactions and drive ecological processes, especially in the context of fire. Her first passion was food and she was a chef for several years before getting bit by the fungal bug while working at a farm-to-table restaurant in Washington. A strong desire to understand how fungi interact with each other and their environment propelled her through a biology bachelor’s degree at University of Washington in Seattle, and then a microbiology PhD and postdoc at UC Berkeley in California, which is where she started studying the genetics and ecology of fire-adapted fungi.
Please see here for more details on how to attend: https://naturevancouver.ca/events/%F0%9F%8C%BFfire-following-fungi_monika-fischer/

VMS meeting – details TBD
2026-03-10 19:00 - 22:00, 2026-04-14 19:00 - 22:00

Bowen Foray (tentative)
2026-04-18
