MYCOblitz 2023 on Cortes Island

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - Close to 70 people of all ages took part in Cortes Island’s community fungal forest walk on November 1, 2023. The students of the Cortes Island Academy were among them. We were greeted outside the Linnaea Education Centre by one of the islands better known scientists, who declared:

“Good afternoon. Good afternoon. ‘Truncocolumella citrina‘ you can call me, the Latin name for Lemon truffle. On any day other than MYCOblitz, my name is Sabina Leader Mense. I’m a founding director and an educational research associate with the Forest Trust for the Children of Cortez Island Society and it’s my pleasure on their behalf to be hosting MYCOblitz 2023.” (Cheers)

“‘Myco’ is the Greek word for fungus. So MYCOblitz 2023 is a celebration of the kingdom fungi. And to add to our myco-merriment this very special day, we have invited three outstanding mycophiles, lovers of mushroom, and mycologists who do professional studies with mushrooms.”

Andy MacKinnon is the lead author of Mushrooms of BC, Paul Stamets founded Fungi Perfecti and Paul Kroeger is President of the Vancouver Mycological Society.