Region Archives: Canada West

Business & Politics

Scholarship to be created in memory of firefighter Adam Yeadon

By Ollie Williams
Cabin Radio
July 28, 2023
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

Adam Yeadon

Adam Yeadon, who lost his life this month fighting a wildfire near Fort Liard, will be remembered through a new scholarship. The NWT government says a scholarship in Adam’s name will support northerners who are in post-secondary education in forestry-related fields. He was killed in the line of duty by a falling tree on July 15. A service for Adam was held earlier this week. He was 25 years old and is survived by partner Keanna and their young daughter, as well as his father and brother. In a tribute to Adam, the NWT’s wildfire agency said he had tried to sign up as a firefighter at the age of 17, only to be told to come back a year later, which he did.

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Canfor delays decision to replace sawmill in Houston

By Rod Link
The Northern View
July 27, 2023
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

Canfor has delayed a final decision on whether it will build a new sawmill in Houston or not. …as part of its second quarter of 2023 results, the company said planning and technical work has been completed but that access to a fibre supply remains unknown. “Work to assess the availability of an adequate supply of economic fibre to support an investment of this size and scope is continuing,” the release indicated. …The announcement continues a period of uncertainty… The company cited high operating costs and an uncertain fibre supply as reasons. More than 300 direct employees were affected by the announcement and scores have already left for jobs elsewhere. …the District of Houston says it is disappointed Canfor has delayed a decision. …The Houston and District Chamber of Commerce is calling upon the company and the provincial government to redouble efforts to reach a fibre supply agreement.

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Career Opportunity: Passionate about sustainability and innovation in construction and design?

Forestry Innovation Investment
July 25, 2023
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

Forestry Innovation Investment (FII) is hiring a Senior Manager, Innovation and Sustainability within the Wood First team. Make a difference by driving wood use in innovative construction technologies, decarbonizing the built environment and creating healthier living, work and community spaces in B.C. FII is pleased to offer an exciting career opportunity as the Senior Manager, Innovation and Sustainability within the Wood First team based in our Vancouver office. The Wood First program focuses on improving wood use in innovative construction technologies, decarbonizing the built environment and supporting healthy living, work and community spaces here in B.C. to help position B.C. as a world leader in advanced wood construction and design. The Senior Manager is responsible for market intelligence and analyses, research and business development initiatives for new products, building systems and domestic markets. Forestry Innovation Investment Ltd. (FII) is a B.C. Crown agency with a mandate to develop and diversify markets for B.C. forest products around the world as well as promote provincial forest practices and the environmental merits of wood products.

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British Columbia’s Downtime List Keeps Growing

By David Elstone,
The Spar Tree Group
July 24, 2023
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

The list of BC forest products manufacturers temporarily curtailing or permanently closing their facilities continues to grow due to a variety reasons. A list of mills closed or curtailing since the start of the year is provided. Recent announcements include Canfor Pulp’s Northwood pulp mill in Prince George in reaction to the recent port strike and Mercer’s Celgar mill one-month outage due to the strike having affected railcar circulation. On the BC Coast, Teal Jones announced a seven-day curtailment in Surrey at the end of June. Western Forest Products saw some of its sawmills take downtime in June and iLedcor says it is permanently closing their sawmill in Chilliwack. …Note that this is not a complete representation of the situation – there are several mills said to be operating at significantly reduced production. Unfortunately, this list update will not be the last – expect more closures to come.

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Fire destroys Tseshaht First Nation cedar mill in Port Alberni

By Elena Rardon
The Alberni Valley News
July 25, 2023
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

PORT ALBERNI, BC — Crews from two different Alberni Valley fire departments put out an early-morning fire at a mill site on Hector Road. …One building on the mill site was fully engulfed and was destroyed in the blaze. While en route, PAFD called on the neighbouring Sproat Lake Volunteer Fire Department for mutual aid because there were no fire hydrants in the area. “[Sproat Lake] provided an engine and two water tankers,” explained Mike Owens, fire chief for PAFD. “Crews from both Sproat Lake and Port Alberni worked to suppress the fire while water tankers were shuttling water for us.” Because the fire took place on Tseshaht First Nation territory, Owens said that the Port Alberni RCMP is taking the lead on investigating the cause of the fire. 

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Finance & Economics

West Fraser Timber reports negative Q2, 2023 earnings

West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd.
July 26, 2023
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: Canada, Canada West

VANCOUVER, B.C. – West Fraser Timber reported the second quarter results of 2023. Highlights include sales of $1.608 billion and earnings of $(131) million, Adjusted EBITDA of $80 million, representing 5% of sales, Adjusted EBITDA of $10 million North America engineered wood products segment, Adjusted EBITDA of $126 million pulp & paper segment. …“Early in the quarter we continued to experience challenging demand markets, particularly in the Pulp & Paper segment… Combined with declining pulp prices …the Pulp & Paper segment experienced higher losses than expected. Notwithstanding these challenges, we did see signs of demand improvement for some of our key wood building products as the quarter unfolded. Our North America EWP segment saw particular improvement this quarter, with recovering demand in our OSB business. …The product and geographic diversification of our European Engineered Wood Panels segment provided another positive contribution,” said Ray Ferris, CEO.

Related coverage in Business in Vancouver: West Fraser posts $173M loss on $2B in revenue

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Wood, Paper & Green Building

Organic Architecture in Whistler: Form Follows Nature Over Function

By Rosa O’Reilly
Pique News Magazine
July 30, 2023
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: Canada, Canada West

WHISTLER, BC — In modern architecture, as space and land have become increasingly precious, there is a pull to return to these intrinsic building practices, consequently, sparking an organic renaissance in home design. …Eldon Beck found himself pondering this very question while in the early stages of planning Whistler Village. …Unlike many heavily urbanized communities around the world, with its sprawl of concrete and over-condensed living, Whistler is neatly situated amongst the vast, coastal rainforest, a perfect place for organic architecture to exist. …The updated [building] code goes into effect in Whistler on Jan. 1, 2024, and, among other things, sets limits on the amount of greenhouse gas a building can emit per year. Joe Dahmen, at the University of British Columbia School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture… says “We are aware of the cataclysmic disasters around BC. Therefore, my students seek nuance; people are seeking alternatives—like plant-based materials,” he says.

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Advancing Mass Timber Connections: Western Canada Solutions

Wood WORKS!
July 25, 2023
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: Canada, Canada West

Attention structural engineers, contractors and mass timber suppliers! Join us for an overview of structural connections for mass timber that are available in Western Canada. Featuring experts from Simpson Strong-Tie the presentation will provide an overview of the following: Mass timber market and innovation opportunities; High-Performance Seismic Connections – spotlight on the NHERI TallWood Project: 10-storey testing at UC San Diego; and Application and Design Details for Mass Timber Fasteners, Connections and Straps. There will also be a demo on installing LDSS straps into a CLT block using quick tools. Includes tour of Simpson Strong-Tie Facility

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Mass-timber training hub gets $3.3M from B.C.

By Claire Wilson
Business in Vancouver
July 25, 2023
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: Canada, Canada West

The Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation announced funding of $3.3 million for a new mass-timber training hub at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT). The new funding is part of the StrongerBC: Future Ready Action Plan. …The funding will be dedicated to two new courses at BCIT that will complement the existing mass-timber training program. These courses are expected to be piloted in the fall. All the courses will be housed at the trades and technology complex at BCIT’s Burnaby campus once construction is completed. The new courses will fill knowledge gaps in the industry, increase the ability of professionals to be job-ready and will work to address the skilled labour shortage. The mass timber sector is expected to create 1,880 more jobs in technology, forestry, engineering and design by 2035.

Additional coverage from the BC Government: B.C. expanding mass-timber skills training and from the Indo-Canadian Voice

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Next-gen mass timber touted as way for buildings to ascend to 20 storeys

By Peter Caulfield
Daily Commercial News
July 26, 2023
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: Canada, Canada West

Tony Yang

Dr. Tony Yang, a professor of civil and mechanical engineering at the University of British Columbia (UBC), is working on a government-funded project to develop new materials, technology and guidelines that will make mass timber construction buildings of up to 20 storeys economically and technically feasible by 2028. Canada’s national building code currently allows mass timber construction up to 12 storeys. “The next generation of mass timber construction will mark a turning point in how we build in this country, and potentially in the world,” said Yang. “We’re confident that with these new tools and materials under our belt, we will help Canada meet, if not surpass, its 2030 carbon emissions goals.” Yang is one of the participants in The Next Generation Wood Construction project (Next-Gen), a collaboration between the Canadian wood industry, universities, government agencies and the construction sector. …“The research consists of advanced simulation, experimental testing and code development,” said Yang.

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Forestry

The Almanac – Federation of BC Woodlot Associations

Federation of BC Woodlot Associations
July 30, 2023
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

The summer edition of the Almanac is published. Headlines include:

  • External Policy and Internal Workings: Change is in the Works – General Manager’s Report: The Provincial Government has been creating external regulatory / policy changes and we have been working on Internal organization proposals. We have been working on changing the organization. In order to do this, I have been focusing on 3 main changes for the organization: 1. Restructuring of the organization. 2. Engaging with woodlots through their local associations and hearing their ideas. 3. Redesigning and populating the new contracts to perform duties for the woodlotters.
  • Introducing three new Regional Reps to support woodlot licensees
  • Making safety part of good community relationships

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Practicing Landscape Fire Management – Forest Practices Board Technical Bulletin

BC Forest Practices Board
July 28, 2023
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

As a companion document to its special report, Forest and Fire Management in BC: Toward Landscape Resilience, the Forest Practices Board has produced a technical bulletin to help land managers put Landscape Fire Management into practice. The bulletin describes six key principles for practicing landscape fire management, including: Defining the landscape; Understanding current and projected conditions; Understanding risks to values; Setting complementary wildland fire objectives across land use zones; Coordinating intervention; and Adaptive management. The technical bulletin also includes practical examples of how these principles can be incorporated into planning and practice. It is designed for land managers working for provincial, Indigenous and local governments, as well as industry. …The Board has published this bulletin to inform dialogue and be a practical reference to assist land managers and natural resource practitioners in integrating fire and forest management across BC.

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Forest Enhancement Society of BC project updates from around the province

Forest Enhancement Society of BC
July 28, 2023
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

Today, society’s need for resources continues to grow every year. One way to create a win/win is to use the biomass (rotten logs, small chunks of wood, branches) left over after commercial timber harvesting, ecosystem restoration, and community wildfire risk reduction projects. The woody biomass is typically piled and burned, or sometimes just left as waste wood. Alternatively, this biomass can be used to create green energy (heat and electricity) or sustainable products (such as paper straws). Using this waste wood means that some greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced. We can reduce the open burning of waste piles and/or displace energy and everyday products that otherwise would have been made from fossil fuels. FESBC and the British Columbia government have been turning this win/win vision into a reality. Read on for a statement by Minister Bruce Ralston and more about our programs.

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Co-management builds resilience in the Great Bear Rainforest

By Ministry of Forests
The Province of BC
July 27, 2023
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

Coastal First Nations, the Nanwakolas Council and the Ministry of Forests, have worked in partnership to identify new steps to be taken as part of strengthening implementation of ecosystem-based management in the Great Bear Rainforest. …The changes result from a review of a land-use order. The regulatory and policy review is a key accountability under the co-management of the Great Bear Rainforest. Improvements have been made in four key areas: Increased oversight by First Nations of forest planning and timber harvest activity, stronger protection of Indigenous cultural heritage sites and features, and improved stewardship of key Indigenous forest values; Improvements in the way old-growth reserves are being created; Increased requirements for the protection and stewardship of habitat for regionally important wildlife; and Aquatic habitat: Strengthened requirements for protection of important fisheries watersheds.

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B.C.’s ‘most comprehensive cougar study to date’ coming to Okanagan

By Jake Courtepatte
Victoria News
July 27, 2023
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

In an effort to better understand their behaviour, over $70,000 is being allocated towards a study on Okanagan cougars. Thanks to the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation (HCTF), 40 local cougars will be fitted with GPS collars in a multi-year project. Project leader Adam Ford said that the project is “B.C.’s most comprehensive cougar study to date”. “Cougars are one of the most important predators in B.C. for mule deer, bighorn sheep, mountain goats and caribou. In spite of their high profile in B.C., we have very little information on the effects of cougar predation on prey distribution and survival, and the effects of human (e.g. road density, forestry) and natural (e.g. fire) landscape change on cougar habitat use.”

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Forestry and parks mandate letter targets Kananaskis-Country for expansion

By Jessica Lee
Mountain View Today
July 27, 2023
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

KANANASKIS COUNTRY – Premier Danielle Smith calls on Minister Todd Loewen to develop more campsites and trails, expand Crown land recreation access, enable public land use opportunities by Alberta entrepreneurs and other organizations, and shorten timelines for “permit and licence approvals in all areas of the ministry,” while protecting natural spaces in the province. Devon Earl, a conservation specialist with the Alberta Wilderness Association, said she hoped to see more of a focus on environment and prioritizing conservation within the ministry. …“The biggest thing I find missing is any kind of strategic vision that actually gets at the heart of some of the challenges that we have in these really busy landscapes, around the volume of people coming and what a visitor use management strategy could actually look like,” said Banff-Kananaskis NDP MLA Sarah Elmeligi. 

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Spotted owl, caribou and western rattlesnake all in decline from logging

By Don Urquhart
Castanet
July 27, 2023
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

Logging is the biggest contributing factor for the decline of southern mountain caribou and spotted owls in BC according to a recent study. The study also identified the paucity of provincial legislation aimed at protecting critical habitat on crown land. Documented by biologist Jared Hobbs, the independent case study, was commissioned by the Wilderness Committee and Sierra Club BC. Among his findings Hobbs said that in the case of spotted owls, “logging is pervasive across the habitat, extreme in the severity of harm and has an extremely high overall risk ranking.” The case study assesses wildlife decline in BC and the legal gaps responsible in three geographic regions of BC, for six different species… “This case study shows that decades of industrial habitat destruction and broken promises have led the web of life in BC into uncharted territory,” said Jens Wieting, senior forest and climate campaigner for Sierra Club BC.

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Want to Save Wild Salmon? Here’s What to Do

By Auston Chhor and Kristen Walters – Raincoast Conservation Foundation
The Tyee
July 28, 2023
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

Salmon on the Pacific coast are in crisis. In the Fraser River, which once supported one of the largest salmon runs in the world, many salmon returns are at a fraction of their former abundance. Further north on the central coast of B.C., chum salmon populations have declined by over 90 per cent since 1960. Most experts agree that there are three key drivers to this drastic decline: climate change, habitat loss and overfishing. …Salmon habitat is being degraded and destroyed by land use activities including agricultural, urban and industrial development. Industrial logging within salmon watersheds is a particular concern. …To address habitat loss, there are several actions you can take. Consider pre-owned or refurbished furniture. Most furniture is made from unsustainably harvested forests, and buying used ensures that no new trees are felled to decorate your home. …Put pressure on decision-makers to advance forestry reform and protect old-growth.

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Wetzin’kwa Community Forest hands out nearly $351K in grants

The Interior News
July 26, 2023
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

The Wetzin’kwa Community Forest held its annual barbecue breakfast July 22 at Gordon Williams Rotary Park while busily handing out allotments from funds produced by the organization. The annual grants worth nearly $351,000 this year were presented to 42 local organizations involved in a wide range of activities from sports to music. While many residents may be unaware of exactly what the Wetzin’kwa Community Forest is, most have benefited from its existence. Most simply explained, it’s a local business co-owned by the Town of Smithers and Village of Telkwa and managed with Wet’suwet’en input consisting of a 32,000-hectare area on Hudson Bay Mountain. It has areas for a wide variety of outdoor recreational activities which can be held in a sustainable manner. Local businesses are contracted and provide employment. Profits are turned back to the community n the form of financial support to a wide range of non-profit groups.

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B.C. is weighing the merits of appointing a ‘chief ecologist,’ internal docs show

By Ainslie Cruickshank
The Narwhal
July 26, 2023
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

As B.C. grapples with declining wildlife populations and faltering ecosystems, the province is considering creating a new job to hold the government accountable as it works to stem those losses. “As part of the establishment of biodiversity/ecosystem health legislation, [the] Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship is considering recommending a chief ecologist to be accountable for the policy/directives necessary to implement the legislation,” a March meeting note, obtained by The Narwhal through a freedom of information request, says. …For some, the role of a chief ecologist is long overdue, particularly given B.C. already has a chief forester who is responsible for setting timber harvest levels. Whitney Lafreniere Vicente, a staff lawyer with West Coast Environmental Law, said a chief ecologist “would be a really important role” as the province works to live up to its commitments to conserve biodiversity. “It’s kind of crazy that we don’t have one already,” she said.

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Existence of massive, ‘mind-blowing’ old-growth tree revealed in Clayoquot Sound

By Clayton Keim
National Observer
July 27, 2023
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

An enormous old-growth cedar tree has been identified in Vancouver Island’s Clayoquot Sound, possibly dating back over a millennium. The western redcedar reaches a towering height of 46 metres and stands five metres wide at its base.  It is currently the sixth largest redcedar in Canada, according to the BC Big Tree Registry. TJ Watt, a photographer with the Ancient Forest Alliance, was awed when he initially encountered the tree. “It was absolutely mind-blowing.  ….  The Ahousaht Nation, whose territory encompasses many old-growth forests including those on Clayoquot Sound, has been aware of the tree for some time. The decision to highlight its existence was made, in part, to promote the protection of old-growth trees across B.C. “We need to do more to protect these types of forests because there are fewer and fewer left,” said Tyson Atleo, hereditary representative for the Ahousaht Nation.

Additional coverage in Victoria Buzz: Some believe Canada’s most impressive tree was recently found near Tofino

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Wildfire exhibit coming to Railway and Forestry Museum

By Will Peters
My Prince George Now
July 26, 2023
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

A new and topical exhibit is set to open tomorrow (Thursday) at the Central BC Railway and Forestry Museum. It is called Weathering Wildfiresthe museum says it will highlight “how western fire control practices began in BC with the provincial Forest Service, and how they have changed over time while walking through a burnt cottonwood forest.” It will also feature a photo op with Smokey the Bear, some short films, a campfire, the evolution of firefighting technology, as well as a special feature on BC’s first Indigenous Forest Ranger. A 50’s themed grand opening is being held at 7:00 tomorrow, student workers and the museum curator will be present to answer questions. The exhibit will run until September 30.

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BC to feds: don’t issue emergency order to save the endangered spotted owl

By Sarah Cox
The Narwhal
July 25, 2023
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

The B.C. government is lobbying intently behind the scenes to dissuade the federal cabinet from issuing an emergency order to protect the endangered spotted owl, according to a cabinet minister briefing document. The document cites socio-economic impacts and B.C.’s “significant protections” for spotted owls as reasons why Ottawa should back away from issuing a rare emergency order. The spotted owl has become a symbol of B.C.’s failure to protect imperilled wildlife and the province’s on-going destruction of old-growth forests. …In February, federal Minister Steven Guilbeault said he would recommend cabinet issue a rare emergency order under Canada’s Species At Risk Act to protect the spotted owl’s critical habitat. An emergency order would give Ottawa the power to step in. But Guilbeault didn’t make the recommendation; a legal action Ecojustice launched in June aims to force the minister to follow through. The final emergency order decision rests with the federal cabinet.

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Micro-Certificates Information Session at the University of British Columbia

UBC Faculty of Forestry
July 25, 2023
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

Designed for working professionals, UBC Forestry’s wide array of programs offers an accessible opportunity to elevate your skills, engage with industry leaders and advance in your career. Delivered exclusively online, UBC Forestry’s Micro-Certificates are paving the way to providing quality, industry-aligned and accessible forestry education across Canada. Join us for an online Info Session on July 27 at 9:30 AM (PST) to discover our Micro-Certificates! These online programs offer a diverse range of specialized courses within Natural Resource Management, Bioeconomy, and Mass Timber Building. Taught by leading industry professionals, these certificates are designed to cater to various interests and career stages. Many of our new micro-certificates are eligible for the new StrongerBC future skills grant program, a funding opportunity to receive up to $3,500 towards continuing your education. Join via Zoom to learn more about the 13 micro-certificates, including 9 brand new programs and the StrongerBC grant!

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Battling the blaze: Understanding B.C.’s wildfire history and future solutions

By Stefan Labbé
North Shore News
July 24, 2023
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

British Columbia is no stranger to wildfires. The province’s diverse landscape, coupled with a changing climate, has made it a hotspot for these destructive events. Many experts point to 2003 as a wake-up call for provincial authorities. …the Okanagan Mountain Park fire threatened the nearby communities of Kelowna and Naramata. In the end, more than 33,000 people evacuated and 238 homes burned. Lori Daniels, a researcher examining the impacts of climate change on forests at the University of British Columbia, said we still haven’t learned all the lessons from that fire. …B.C.’s logging practices have been a contentious issue in the context of wildfires. Clear-cut logging, a common practice in B.C., involves removing all trees in a particular area. While this method is efficient for timber harvesting, it can exacerbate wildfire risks by leaving behind debris that can fuel fires. Moreover, it disrupts the natural ecosystem, making the landscape more susceptible to fires.

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Cougar tracking in the Okanagan part of $8M conservation funding

Forest Enhancement Society of BC
July 26, 2023
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

Kamloops, B.C. –The Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation is proud to announce over $8 million in funding for 167 fish and wildlife conservation projects across B.C. this year, with nearly $1 million allocated to projects in the Thompson-Okanagan Natural Resource Region. …Among this year’s projects in the Okanagan is a multi-year cougar study; by fitting GPS collars on forty cougars, the project leaders will better understand their predation rates of deer and other species and their movement behaviour. “This is B.C.’s most comprehensive cougar study, with a focus on the predation behaviour, habitat use, and impacts of harvest on cougars,” says project leader Adam Ford. “In spite of their high profile in B.C., we have very little information on the effects of cougar predation on prey distribution and survival, and the effects of human (e.g. road density, forestry) and natural (e.g. fire) landscape change on cougar habitat use.”

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BC Community Forest Association News

The BC Community Forest Association
July 24, 2023
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

Chinook Community Forest has been hard hit by the Parrot Lookout wildfire. Roughly 2,000 ha has burned yet at last report, the fire has slowed down. The fire has not yet been actioned due to ta lack of escape routes and is considered too dangerous… We welcome Stephen Lorimer from the Qala:Yit Community Forest to the BCCFA Board of Directors. Steve lives in  Ladysmith, and we are thrilled to have a director from Vancouver Island. He has worked in the forest sector for over 50 years and was a forester on the team that built the Qala:Yit Community Forest, a partnership with the people in the Cowichan Lake communities and Pacheedaht First Nation… A new bulletin, published by the BC Forest Safety Council, gives valuable suggestions on how to incorporate community safety into the work of building and maintaining good relationships with neighbours on and off the community forest. Click the Read More for the full newsletter.

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1.5 Million Trees in coming to Edmonton, Expanding the Urban Canopy and Contributing to Canada’s 2 Billion Trees Program

By Natural Resources Canada
Cision Newswire
July 24, 2023
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

EDMONTON, AB – Forests and trees contribute to biodiversity, protect and conserve water resources, and lower emissions by capturing and storing excess carbon. In doing so, they clean the air we breathe and help cool urban centres. …Natural Resources Canada and the City of Edmonton announced $47.8-million in federal funding from the Government of Canada’s 2 Billion Trees program. This funding will support the planting of 1.5 million trees in Edmonton and is matched by $47.8 million in municipal funding. The municipal investment is part of the City of Edmonton’s $66-million new Greener As We Grow tree-planting project. Over the next eight years, Edmonton will increase its urban forest canopy by planting approximately 300 hectares in naturalized areas, boulevards, parks and open spaces. The city has a target of having two million trees planted by 2031 as part of its Urban Forest Asset Management goal of achieving 20-percent canopy cover by 2071.

Coverage in the Edmonton Journal: Edmonton invests to increase urban forest canopy

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10,000 spruce seedlings to be planted in Manitoba’s Rosenthal Nature Park

By Shannon Dueck
Steinback Online
July 24, 2023
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

MANITOBA, CANADA – Thousands of trees will be planted later this year at the Rosenthal Nature Park northwest of Mitchell. Ken Fosty is a Certified Arborist and Forestry Specialist with Tree Canada. He says at the end of September, they will bring in a crew of tree planters to plant 10,000 white spruce seedlings throughout the park area. He notes the seedlings will be planted in the open area on the west side of the park. A lot of the seedlings will be underplanted throughout the Trembling aspen and poplar woodlot. Fosty says the spruce trees will provide more thermal cover, shelter, shade, beauty and habitat for wildlife. Fosty explains white spruce is Manitoba’s provincial tree. He notes the white spruce tree is very versatile and has a good chance of surviving rodents and deer. 

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Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy

New members appointed to BC Climate Solutions Council

By Ministry of Environment and Climate Strategy
Government of British Columbia
July 28, 2023
Category: Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy
Region: Canada, Canada West

The Province has appointed three new members to British Columbia’s independent Climate Solutions Council. The Climate Solutions Council provides advice to government on actions and policies contributing to emission reductions and sustainable economic development. The council includes members from First Nations, environmental organizations, industry, academia, labour, local government and youth representatives. “The Climate Solutions Council continues to significantly contribute to the implementation of the CleanBC plan,” said George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy. New council members include: Michelle Staples, mayor of Duncan; Andrea Reimer, adjunct professor of practice at UBC’s School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, community organizer and a director on the board at TransLink; and Tom Green, a senior climate policy adviser at the David Suzuki Foundation.

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Health & Safety

Fire sends thick smoke above industrial area of Merritt

By Brendan Shykora
Terrace Standard
July 29, 2023
Category: Health & Safety
Region: Canada, Canada West

A large fire has sparked in an industrial area of Merritt Saturday afternoon.  The fire is located off Houston Street and appears to have originated as a slash pile at a wood processing plant that got out of control due to strong winds in the area shortly before 4 p.m. July 29.  Merritt Fire Rescue is responding to the “major fire” at the old Tolko site, the City of Merritt said in a press release.    “Neighbouring communities are providing assistance with mutual aid, and we are working with BC Wildfire Service and Emergency Management and Climate Readiness BC, “the city said.  The city’s emergency operations centre has been activated to support the response.  A helicopter could be seen dumping buckets of water, and water bombers have repeatedly attacked the blaze.

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Ontario firefighter killed while battling B.C.’s Donnie Creek massive blaze

The Canadian Press in the Vancouver Sun
July 29, 2023
Category: Health & Safety
Region: Canada, Canada West

A 25-year-old firefighter has been killed in northeastern B.C., marking the second such fatality in the province this month and the fourth in Canada during this year’s record fire season.  A release from the RCMP says the 25-year-old man from Ontario was working Friday just before 11 a.m. in a remote area about 150 kilometres north of Fort St. John when his heavy-duty ATV rolled over a steep drop on a gravel road.   Police say the victim, who has not been identified publicly, was transported by helicopter to Fort St. John but died en route.  The RCMP say a workplace fatality investigation is underway involving the police, B.C. Coroners Service, WorkSafeBC and the B.C. Wildfire Service.  Provincial officials have confirmed the man was a contracted firefighter working for the wildfire service through a private B.C. company and died while fighting the almost 6,000-square-kilometre Donnie Creek blaze.

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Forest Fires

Lightning ignites new fire north of 2,000-hectare blaze near Chase

By Lachlan Labere
Victoria News
July 28, 2023
Category: Forest Fires
Region: Canada, Canada West

…The Taylor Creek wildfire was discovered Wednesday evening on the lake’s east side, south of Momich Lakes Park. As of late Thursday morning, July 27, the fire was estimated to be .1 hectares in size. Lightning was the suspected cause.  Southeast of the Taylor Creek fire, the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) maintained aerial efforts to control the 2,000-hectare Lower East Adams Lake fire.  Late Thursday afternoon, the Shuswap Emergency Program (SEP) issued an update on the fire and the work being done. Reduced fire behaviour was supporting firefighting efforts and, according to the BCWS, there was no expectation of fire behaviour increasing at the time.  “The reduction in fire behaviour is allowing BCWS to attack the fire more directly with air resources,” said SEP. “This means aircraft are better able to work on the front of the fire, helping to reduce its spread.”

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Leave forest firefighting to the professionals

Letter by Dean Soiland, Prince George
Prince George Citizen
July 29, 2023
Category: Forest Fires
Region: Canada, Canada West

Due to the extreme fire situation the province finds itself in, it has many people wondering why untrained people are not being told to go on the fire lines. I am a trained and certified forest firefighter and fought fires from 1985-1996, so I do understand and know what I am talking about.   Putting untrained people on the fire line is very dangerous and a hazard to anyone around them. I should know as when I fought, I usually was the only trained person on the crew aside from the crew boss. The rest were off the street, as that was common practice at the time.  The problem with that is you have a crew of untrained people that didn’t have proper clothing or footwear and then you give them a shovel, pulaski tool or a hose can and tell them to make a fire line. 

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Evacuation order issued for western Canadian town as wildfire crosses over from US

By Jesse Winter
Reuters
July 31, 2023
Category: Forest Fires
Region: Canada, Canada West

OSOYOOS, British Columbia — An evacuation order for the Canadian town of Osoyoos and its surrounding district in the province of British Columbia had been issued late Saturday night due to an out-of-control wildfire that has crossed the border from the U.S. state of Washington. The wildfire, called Eagle Bluff, is approximately 4 kilometres from Osoyoos and is currently estimated to be 885 hectares in size on the Canadian side of the border, according to the BC Wildfire Service. It was estimated to be around 2,000 hectares in size on the U.S. side by the BC Wildfire Service. Osoyoos has an area population of about 6,700. …The Eagle Bluff Wildfire burned across the Canada-U.S. border from the State of Washington. …The evacuation order covers the area north of the Canada-United States border to the intersection of Highway 97 and Highway 3, as well as west and north along Highway 3.

Additional coverage in:

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With better visibility, air tankers fully join the fight to control Northwest Territories wildfire

By April Hudson
CBC News
July 28, 2023
Category: Forest Fires
Region: Canada, Canada West

The smoke from the wildfire that burned four homes in Behchokǫ̀, Northwest Territories, has cleared enough that air tankers can start working in full force to slow the fire’s growth. Until now, terrible visibility has meant only small bits of the giant, 1,140-square-kilometre wildfire have been accessible by air. On Friday morning, fire information officer Mike Westwick said Thursday’s reprieve from fierce winds has allowed crews to get “into a roll.” They’re building a perimeter around Rae (one portion of Behchokǫ, formerly Rae-Edzo), turning some of their attention back to Highway 3 and starting to look at the east side of the fire burning 45 kilometres west of Yellowknife. …The fire is still burning very actively on both sides of Highway 3, where it’s gobbled up a 34-kilometre stretch of land along the road and, to the south, has burned to the shores of Great Slave Lake in places.

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B.C. crews hopeful heavy rain can dampen massive Donnie Creek wildfire

Canadian Press by Victoria News
July 25, 2023
Category: Forest Fires
Region: Canada, Canada West

©Canadian Press/AP-Noah Berger

Crews fighting British Columbia’s largest-ever wildfire are hoping a “heavy, prolonged rain” in the forecast can help them turn the corner on the massive blaze. Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for the northeastern corner of the province where the Donnie Creek fire has burned close to 6,000 square kilometres of forest land. The weather statement says a low-pressure system over Alberta will interact with the east Rockies, leading to heavy rain in northeastern B.C., creating accumulation of up to 70 millimetres until Thursday morning. Prince George Fire Centre Information Officer Julia Caranci says the rain in the forecast is “very good news,” but they remain cautious because it may not fall evenly across the large area of the fire.

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Over 1,000 properties on evacuation alert after wildfire breaks out near Invermere, Radium Hot Springs

By Michael Rodriguez
The Calgary Herald
July 25, 2023
Category: Forest Fires
Region: Canada, Canada West

©BC Wildfire Service

Twenty-five properties have been ordered evacuated and more than 1,000 are on alert as wildfire crews battle a 300-hectare blaze near Invermere and Radium Hot Springs in B.C., popular destinations for Alberta tourists. The Horsethief Creek wildfire is burning on the side of Bruce Mountain, about seven kilometres north of Panorama Mountain Resort and 10 kilometres west of Invermere. The out-of-control blaze was first spotted Monday, growing to 70 hectares before swelling to 300 overnight. The exact size of the blaze as of Tuesday morning was unclear, with the B.C. Wildfire Service stating accurate tracking wasn’t possible due to smoke and challenging flying conditions. The fire is expected to grow. “This fire is suspected to be lightning-caused and aggressive fire behaviour is being driven by a cold front causing southwest winds that are gusting in the 45-km/h range,” the B.C. Wildfire Service said in an update on its website.

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Ross Moore Lake wildfire claims one structure as rain, winds arrive in Kamloops area

By Michael Potestio
Kamloops This Week
July 24, 2023
Category: Forest Fires
Region: Canada, Canada West

The Ross Moore Lake wildfire continues to expand and is now just 10 kilometres south of Kamloops city limits as a major rain and windstorm blows through the city on the evening of July 24. At about 9 p.m., strong winds and heavy rain arrived in parts of the city, with the winds strong enough to toss patio furniture around. Weather radar shows rain falling in the vicinity of the fire and expected to continue to at least midnight. The lightning-caused wildfire, which was discovered on the afternoon of July 21, is now estimated at 2,600 hectares in size as July 24, up from a previous estimate of 1,800 hectares. …Kamloops Fire Centre fire information officer Shaelee Stearns said the fire remains burning out of control. …Meanwhile, two wildfires burning on either side of Adams Lake remain classified as out of control.

Additional coverage in CTV News by Regan Hasegawa: Evacuation order due to fast-growing Kamloops wildfire expands by hundreds 

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Highly-visible wildfire breaks out near Invermere and Radium Hot Springs, B.C.

By Simon Little
Global News
July 24, 2023
Category: Forest Fires
Region: Canada, Canada West

A new, highly-visible wildfire broke out just west of Invermere and Radium Hot Springs in southeastern B.C. on Monday. The Horsethief Creek fire is burning on the slope of Mt. Bruce, about seven kilometres north of the Panorama Mountain Resort and 10 kilometres west of Invermere. Started by lightning, it was discovered Monday and has grown to 70 hectares in size. “Aggressive fire behaviour is being driven by a cold front causing southwest winds that are gusting in the 45 kilometre an hour range,” the wildfire service said. …Late Monday, the Regional District of East Kootenay issued an evacuation order for 25 properties in the Horsethief Creek and Bear Mountain area due to the Horsethief Creek fire in the Columbia Valley. …As of Monday, 677 properties remained under evacuation alert and 51 others remained under evacuation order from the St. Mary’s River fire near Cranbrook. …Further east, crews also battled the Lladnar Creek wildfire, just west of Sparwood.

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