This is a multi-institutional, collaborative research project funded under Natural Resources Canada’s Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Program , CCAF – Coastal Zone (Project A580, PI: Ian J. Walker, Geography UVic). The aim of this project is to assess biophysical & socioeconomic vulnerabilities to climate change and sea-level rise on one of Canada’s most ‘sensitive’ yet understudied coastlines (Shaw et al. 1998, GSC-Bulletin 505). Macrotidal range, erodible sediments, frequent extreme storms & strong winds, & an energetic wave climate produce a dynamic environment that experiences ongoing costal erosion of 1-3 m/yr. As such, this coast is highly vulnerable to projected sea-level rise of 0.15 m/century. In addition, extreme climate variability events, such as 1997-98 El Niño, impact the coast by causing local sea-level rise (0.4m) and enhanced coastal erosion (12 m, Barrie & Conway 2002). Such events provide an analogue for future physical impacts (i.e., increased storminess & sea-level rise) that threaten sensitive ecological reserves, fishing grounds, parks, and eco-tourism, as well as valuable resources, livelihoods, cultural sites, & infrastructure. In addition, the project will work with communities and institutions in the area to assess socio-economic and socio-cultural vulnerabilities that may play a key role in either enhancing or inhibiting the resilience and adaptive capacity (cf. Smit & Pilifosova, 2002) of communities to deal with ongoing hazards and future changes. The research will be conducted on two fronts: i) local scale assessments of resilience and adaptive capacity via interviews, focus groups and questionnaires plus examination of existing planning, hazards and resource management policies and decision making processes; and ii) mapping and assessing coastal geomorphology and morphodynamics to assess sensitivities, resilience and physical impacts (e.g., erosion, flooding) to ongoing climate variability and longer term sea-level rise. These components will be merged into an encompassing ‘vulnerability index’ that will be mapped and incorporated into an integrated, human-environmental system vulnerability assessment (Dolan & Walker 2004). This study has timely relevance for land use planning and development, sustainable and adaptive resource management, tourism, parks conservation strategies, and for yielding key information on impacts of sustainable energy (wind power) & hydrocarbon exploration in HG-QCI.