Region Archives: Canada West

Fire Information Officer Amanda Cullum said effective at noon tomorrow (April 23) all Category 2 and 3 open fires must be fully extinguished. “The prohibitions will remain in place until noon on October 31, 2026, or until the Orders are rescinded. These prohibitions apply to the entire Cariboo Fire Centre including the Tsilhqot’in (Xeni Gwet’in) Title area, the 100 Mile House Forest District and the Quesnel Forest District.” …Cullum said the prohibition does not include Category 1 campfires that are 0.5 metres high by 0.5 metres wide or smaller, and CSA-rated or ULC rated outdoor stoves for cooking, heat or ambiance that burns charcoal briquettes, liquid fuel or gaseous fuel, and has a flame height that is less that 15 cm tall.

See all Fire Prohibitions and Restrictions on the BC Wildfire Service website

The board of the Regional District of Central Kootenay voted on April 16 to write a letter to the provincial government in support of a group of rural water users near Nelway. The Rosebud Community Watershed Protection Group wants two adjacent watersheds preserved as a provincially protected area or as ecological reserve. The Lomond Creek and Rosebud Creek watersheds provide water for about 25 households… Rosebud Creek drains into the Salmo River and Lomond Creek into the Pend Oreille River. The total area of the two small adjacent watersheds is 2,250 hectares. “We’re trying to get the province of B.C. to declare this area a protected area to protect the wildlife corridor and to also protect our watershed from logging by B.C. Timber Sales,” said group spokesperson Dave Lang. B.C. Timber Sales is building roads, he said, preparing to log in the area, and residents are worried about … their water supply. 

Council heard from Mosaic Forest Management representatives Jimmie Hodgson and Francis Guyver, who provided an overview of the company’s role in the coastal forestry sector, including timber markets, sustainability initiatives and wildfire preparedness. The presentation also highlighted watershed management work in the Ladysmith area and ongoing partnerships with Indigenous communities. Representatives invited council to participate in a field tour of Mosaic-managed lands.

In October 2025, the Regional Parks Committee tasked staff with looking at a potential Strategic Forest Management and FireSmart Plan, including budget. With a report in hand, the committee agreed to embark on a phased approach to develop a forest management plan for regional parks with key considerations including wildfire risk reduction, ecological values, cultural considerations and FireSmart principles in 2027. The first step would include a request for proposal process, with a price tag of up to $75,000 from the 2027 budget, to retain a qualified consultant to assist in developing a Strategic Forest Management Plan framework guiding future wildfire risk reduction and forest resilience efforts, the parks committee agreed during its April 22 meeting.

On May 2, volunteers will converge on the Bush Creek hatchery in Ladysmith to haul illegally dumped waste out of the surrounding forest and watershed. Over the past three years, the community cleanup has removed nearly 160 tonnes of garbage, the equivalent of 23 fully loaded dump trucks. “Illegal dumping is a serious offence – one that harms our forests and puts communities at risk,” remarked Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests. Mosaic Forest Management will once again supply staff volunteers, donated materials and disposal support …This summer, Mosaic is expanding its response beyond cleanups. The company is launching See Something, Snap Something, a public reporting pilot that will invite anyone recreating on Mosaic lands to photograph and report online illegal dumping they encounter. The data will help identify hot spots and trends and build an evidence base for working with local authorities on enforcement. …More information on Mosaic’s reporting pilot will be available at MosaicForests.com this summer. 

On Saturday, March 28, 2026, a fire at Evans Lake resulted in the loss of two buildings, including four cabins. We are deeply grateful that no campers were on site and all staff are safe—but the loss to our community is significant. We want to sincerely thank Squamish Fire & Rescue, Britannia Beach Volunteer Fire Department, RCMP, Conservation Officers, our team, and a member of our community for their quick and compassionate response. Right now, our focus is on recovery. While we are insured, there are always substantial costs that aren’t fully covered. As we begin to rebuild, many have asked how they can help. Donations made here will directly support urgent recovery needs, replacement of essential spaces, and ongoing operations—helping ensure we can continue to provide meaningful outdoor experiences for thousands of children and families.

Ben Parfitt

You would be forgiven for thinking that British Columba’s Ministry of Forests is really the Ministry of Logging. A recent ministry news release boasts of a 30 per cent increase in timber auctioned, legislative amendments that will result in 17,700 more truckloads of logs coming out of the province’s forests each year, and a new streamlined permitting process that will add another 11,100 truckloads of logs to the mix. Ravi Parmar, the man overseeing all of this as forests minister, is certainly working hard to meet the mandate given to him by Premier David Eby, one that instructs him to increase logging rates and that sets a numerical target. But what of old-growth forest conservation, which is also part of Parmar’s mandate? There, Parmar has acted with decidedly less zeal. …Parmar and his predecessors have clearly encouraged more logging by First Nations on the grounds that it fosters a long-overdue new relationship with Indigenous Peoples and governments in the province.

The Sunshine Coast Regional District Board is set to weigh in on 15 new or modified cutblocks BC Timber Sales is proposing over the next five years — and may withhold support for eight of those. On April 30, the SCRD board is slated to consider a large package of local comments responding to BC Timber Sales’ 2026-2030 operating plan. According to BCTS’s website, its Chinook region (which includes the lower Sunshine Coast) led this initiative, “to provide more detailed information on planned activities over a longer time period to our identified stakeholders.” At the April 16 electoral services committee meeting, rural area directors supported forwarding comments from the five area advisory planning commissions to BCTS. That would be in addition to recommendations from regional staff reviewed by committee of the whole on April 9.

A new old-growth logging controversy is unfolding in British Columbia, dividing Indigenous leaders and pitting the provincial government against scientists and conservation groups. The Tsitika River watershed …was deemed to be at such high risk of biodiversity loss that the B.C. government placed it in an old-growth deferral area, off limits to logging. But last year, the government quietly removed a large tract of the forest from its old-growth deferral list. And then in March, the government agency BC Timber Sales auctioned off 24 hectares for clearcutting. …The B.C. Forests Ministry told The Tyee it approved the Tsitika cutblock following consultation with Tlowitsis Nation, We Wai Kai Nation, Wei Wai Kum First Nation and Kwakiutl First Nation, “on whose territory this cutblock overlaps.” But other Indigenous leaders, including Ma’a̱mtagila Hereditary Chief Rande Cook, whose ancestors stewarded the Tsitika area, strongly object to logging.

©CityofEdmonton

The City of Edmonton has released its Wildfire Risk Strategy, as Canada has seen an increase in wildfires over the last few years. The City says it is developing a roadmap for a coordinated approach to protecting people, property, and natural areas. “This strategy flows from our commitment to building a resilient city where we are aware of the risks associated with climate change, including wildfires, and protect our ecosystems and communities through proactive planning,” said Kent Snyder, Branch Manager of Planning and Environment Services. …Through the strategy, the City will look to minimize ignition risk through vegetation management and updated development regulations, increase community awareness and support initiatives such as the FireSmart™ Neighbourhood Recognition Program, strengthen integrated emergency response and specialized wildfire training across City departments, and Collaborate with regional partners and Indigenous communities to build landscape-level resilience.

Rena Dehne

FORT NELSON, B.C. — A wildfire technician from the Fort Nelson fire zone has won an award at the recent BC Wildland Firefighter Award. Rena Dehne, a wildfire technician for BC Wildfire Service, was given the Vanguard Award at the recent 2026 Wildfire Resiliency and Training Summit that was held from April 8th to April 12th. As a wildfire technician, Dehne’s job supports both wildfire response and fire management within her respective zone, including contributing to fire preparedness and prevention work. According to Dehen, the Vanguard Award is a “specific honor” within the BC Wildland Firefighters Award “This award recognizes an early career wildland firefighter with 10 years or less of experience who demonstrates excellence, dedication and leadership within their role,” Dehne explained. Dehne was humbled and surprised when she won this award.

Doug Donaldson

A special feature interview with Doug Donaldson, former Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development. As the Forest Enhancement Society of BC (FESBC) marks its 10th anniversary, it is a chance to look back on a decade of investments and work that has quietly but meaningfully contributed to the health and resiliency of forests and communities throughout British Columbia (B.C). Established in 2016, FESBC emerged at a time when B.C.’s forests were facing growing pressures from the risk of catastrophic wildfires and the mountain pine beetle epidemic to ever changing economic conditions in the forestry sector and growing concerns specific to climate change. For Doug Donaldson, who served as Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development (now the Ministry of Forests) for a few years shortly after FESBC’s creation, the Society quickly proved its value in ways that were not initially expected.

Creston, BC — The Creston Community Forest (CCF) is featured in a new film as part of a province-wide project led by the BC Community Forest Association, showcasing the work and impact of community forests across British Columbia. The film highlights how the CCF is managing its forests to support local priorities, including wildfire risk reduction, recreation, and long-term sustainability. “We’re excited to share this film as a way to show the work that happens on the ground and what this community forest means to the community of Creston,” said Daniel Gratton, Registered Professional Forester and Forest Manager at the CCF. Unlike traditional forestry models focused primarily on timber, the CCF has been taking a broader approach. Its work reflects the needs and values of the residents first, balancing ecological health, economic activity, and public use of the land.

Oliver, BC — Nk’Mip Forestry, the professional forestry branch of the Osoyoos Indian Band (OIB), is leading a wildfire restoration project within the OIB traditional territory following the 2021 Nk’Mip Creek wildfire. The work, which will include forest recovery, wildfire risk mitigation, and community involvement, is supported by Environment and Climate Change Canada through the Climate-Smart Forestry grant, administered by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI). This project reflects a long-term approach to caring for the land by bringing back diversity to the forest and supporting a healthier landscape over time.

After more than three years of community engagement, expert input and advisory committee work, residents in Coquitlam are left asking a simple question: Why is the city choosing not to include the very measures needed to make its Urban Forest Management Strategy succeed? The draft strategy presents a strong vision and highlights planting programs, volunteerism and monitoring. These are positive steps. But they are not enough. What is missing are the core elements that actually determine whether our urban forest survives and thrives over time. There are no measurable canopy targets to tell us whether we are gaining or losing tree cover. There is no clear alignment with the bylaws that regulate tree removal and development. There is no defined pathway to update the Tree Management Bylaw, which has not been meaningfully revised since 2010. …That is not a plan. It is a deferral. And deferral has consequences.

Join Kelly Greene, Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests and other subject matter experts for an update on seasonal hazards in BC. As warming weather raises the risk of climate-related emergencies, the Province is urging people throughout British Columbia to prepare for potential spring flooding, drought and wildfires. “Our government is continuing to strengthen mitigation and emergency response supports for people and communities, but preparedness starts at home,” said Kelly Greene, Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness. …The April 1, 2026, River Forecast snowpack survey shows B.C.’s overall snowpack at 92% of normal, compared to 79% in April 2025. …The BC Wildfire Service forecast indicates the potential for an active spring wildfire season due to persistent drought conditions. This activity is expected to increase if limited precipitation continues over the next several weeks and months. Watch the full presentation on YouTube here.