Region Archives: Canada West

The Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) is calling for better education on Stanley Park’s Indigenous history after a First Nations group threw their connection into question during a logging protest earlier this month. A “sacred fire” lit March 15 was kept ablaze for over a month at Brockton Park’s totem poles by a woman who identified, according to protest group Save Stanley Park, as a “matriarch” of the land. The woman claimed to be a descendent of “Portuguese Joe”, an early B.C. settler with Musqueam lineage, and was in protest of the Vancouver Park Board’s ongoing project to remove hundreds of trees affected by the looper moth disease. Squamish Nation elected councillor Wilson Williams says the claims are still yet to be verified, and his own community is left reeling at the group’s failure to address the history of the Squamish people that dates back thousands of years within the park.

Premier David Eby has issued the following statement marking Earth Day: “On Earth Day, people in British Columbia join other Canadians and people around the world in celebrating our planet as we rededicate our efforts to protect it. British Columbia is lucky to have so many marvelous natural wonders, from snowcapped mountains to verdant valleys to spectacular coastlines. Our government is working in partnership with more than 60 First Nations on stewardship projects embracing local and Indigenous knowledge to protect nature. Our unique biospheres are our inheritance. We have an obligation to preserve them as our legacy for future generations.” …Tamara Davidson, Minister of Environment and Parks, said: “Earth Day allows us to reflect on where we are and where we need to go to build a cleaner, sustainable future. I am committed to do my part in stewarding our environment for future generations to benefit from, care and enjoy.”

CRANBROOK – The Forest Practices Board has released its audit of Canadian Forest Products Ltd. (Canfor) Forest Licence A19040 in the Rocky Mountain Natural Resource District. The report finds overall compliance with forestry legislation but highlights a notable practice and a fire-hazard abatement issue. The audit examined Canfor’s forestry activities, which covered an extensive area near Cranbrook, Kimberley, Sparwood, Wasa and Elkford. The board found that Canfor met its legal obligations for operational planning, timber harvesting, road construction and maintenance, silviculture and most wildfire protection requirements. Canfor’s operations included harvesting in 90 cutblocks and maintaining more than 4,600 kilometres of forest roads. “The way Canfor managed its forest operations was very well done, given its size and complexity,” said Gerry Grant, vice-chair of the board. “We also saw a notable practice in this audit: Canfor’s use of a new predictive pine rust tool that can be used to model forest-health risks and support healthy, resilient forests.” 

The B.C. Wildfire Service is gearing up for the approaching season, noting drought conditions persist in some regions of the province. A seasonal outlook from the services says a less aggressive start to the fire season is expected in the coastal and southeast regions of the province, due to above-average precipitation this winter. However, forecasters expect drought to persist in B.C.’s northeast and southern Nechako regions, elevating fire risk, even if they receive average or above-average rainfall. It said there is also a higher fire risk in the western Chilcotin area. Much of the province is currently experiencing warmer-than-usual temperatures, said the service, but the intensity of the wildfire season will depend on the amount of rain during May and June. …Households should start preparing for fire season, Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness Kelly Greene said at a news conference last week. 

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — BC Hydro says it’s taking proactive steps to address wildfire risks due to higher-than-average temperatures and dry conditions anticipated in the coming months. BC Hydro has been trialling fire-resistant pole wraps between Fort Nelson and the Alberta border. These wraps are made of steel mesh that is coated with a heat-activated barrier, which protects power poles from “radiant heat and flames while allowing water evaporation to prevent decay.” Northern community relations manager with BC Hydro, Mike Kellett, told Energeticcity.ca that in early 2024, crews cleared vegetation along the right of way of the transmission line running from Rainbow Lake to Fort Nelson from the Fort Nelson River to the Alberta border. This work included installing the fire protection wrap on about 1,000 structures and over 90 per cent of the line.

Matt Casselman

Castlegar biologist Matt Casselman believes public opposition to logging plans does not make much difference. Last summer, Casselman sent a 450-signature petition to B.C.’s then-forest minister Bruce Ralston asking him to cancel or postpone logging planned by BC Timber Sales (BCTS) near Castlegar in the Cai Creek watershed. His rationale was that BCTS was planning to cut old-growth trees in an intact watershed ecosystem of a kind that is rare and should be preserved. The minister declined to accept the petition. During the same period, BCTS requested public comment on the logging plan… The result was 93 against the logging and four in favour. …Casselman says that BCTS “mostly considers public comments a nuisance … BCTS will do the legal minimum to show they have considered public input” …The FPB investigation has not yet concluded, but BCTS nevertheless put the contested cut blocks up for public auction, with a deadline of April 24.

The BC Council of Forest Industries (COFI) is now accepting applications for the 2025 Forestry Scholarships. As part of our commitment to supporting the next generation of forestry professionals, COFI will award 10 scholarships of $2,000 each to students from across British Columbia pursuing post-secondary studies or skilled trades training related to the forest sector. The scholarships are open to BC residents entering a forestry-related program at an accredited post-secondary institution in fall 2025 or spring 2026—whether you’re from a rural community, coastal town, or urban centre.