The course detailed below is an excellent opportunity as the instructor is Dr. Katherine Dunster. Industry Professionals can get 18 Learning Units with their organization.
It takes place on three consecutive Saturdays starting on Jan. 23, 2010.The cost is $250.

Dr. Katherine Dunster is a registered landscape architect and professional biologist. Her company Unfolding Landscapes specializes in the conservation of biodiversity within both natural and cultural landscapes, particularly on the Gulf Islands of BC. She is currently working on the recovery of some species-at-risk in Canada that inhabit coastal bluffs and open forested ecosystems with many more common species that sometimes find their way into green roof designs. She is the author and illustrator of the award-winning "Garry Oak Gardener's Handbook", which was published to encourage property owners to protect species-at-risk in Garry Oak ecosystems along the south coast of British Columbia. She is particularly interested in the potential for green roofs to provide new habitat and refuge for urban-dwelling invertebrates such as butterflies.

Green Roofs – Planting in the Pacific Northwest
GROW 2000 - 18 HOUR COURSE

Dates are January 23, 30th and Feb. 6, 2010– three Saturdays – 9-4 PM
BCIT Centre for Architectural Ecology – Great Northern Way Campus

Qualifies for 18 professional learning units
1.5 CREDITS, 18.O LUs

Instructor: Dr. Katherine Dunster, BRE, MLArch, PhD, MBCSLA, RPBio

The course will provide students with a good understanding of the role that green roofs can play in the conservation of biodiversity in urban environments. Students will explore an ecological approach to plant selection and design to integrate into current green roof design practices. Using critical thinking to analyse the underlying topics of sustainability, biodiversity and natural processes, students will develop an appropriate plant selection for green roofs in the Pacific Northwest. They will study in detail a range of plants available in regional ecosystems and investigate their growing requirements as well as some non-native plants used in the green roof industry. They will also study the relationships between plant function, plant form and canopy complexity on plant survival and habitat implications. Students will practice the basic principles of plant design based on site conditions, plant function, species mix, berries, pollen, and habitat, through the preparation of a planting plan for an actual project. Students will participate in a green roof tour and visit to a local nursery.

Go to http://www.greenroof.bcit.ca or email Jonathan_Hays@bcit.ca