Region Archives: Canada West

From a first-time filmmaker’s look at backcountry cleanup crusaders, to the story of a historic swim down Okanagan Lake, to a quirky family tale filmed in Vernon. The fourth annual Okanagan Screen Awards shone the spotlight on independent, local productions. Dozens of awards were handed out during the two-day celebration in Kelowna. Snapping up the Social Impact honours was “What Lies Behind The Trees”, the debut documentary by Kelowna’s Eli Coburn, about the work of the Okanagan Forest Task Force. …The top feature documentary was “BC is Burning” by Murray Wilson. It explores the causes and consequences of the megafires that have devastated parts of the Okanagan and other communities in the province in recent years. …The Okanagan Screen Awards are a production of the Okanagan Society of Independent Filmmaking.

…Wildfires scorched 2.9 million hectares of Saskatchewan forest last year, forcing thousands of people from their homes and destroying more than 450 dwellings across the province, according to the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA). Some experts are warning this year could be just as bad. A relatively dry fall and unusual winter conditions are setting the stage, said Colin Laroque, a professor of environmental science at the University of Saskatchewan. …Finance Minister Jim Reiter called this year’s provincial budget “essentially” the status quo for wildfire preparation and response. The province announced a $20-million increase for the SPSA earlier this month, bringing its total budget to $140 million. The increase includes an additional water bomber. …Eric Lamb, a professor at U of S, said extreme weather conditions are no longer rare and require a different approach focused more on preventative measures, like prescribed burns, before a wildfire season begins.

The latest Increment features these topics and more:

• Forest Professionals British Columbia has appointed Patrick McClarty and Mike Russell to its board, strengthening capacity in governance, financial oversight and stakeholder engagement.
• FPBC is inviting webinar proposals while launching weekly support sessions to help trainees navigate requirements for practising registration.
• Registrants are encouraged to volunteer to help shape the February 2027 conference in Prince George through roles in program development, speaker recruitment and moderation.
• Training and resources focus on wildfire, urban forests and practice. New webinars, courses and articles address urban forest management, prescribed fire, and firebreak effectiveness, alongside guidance on professional practice.
• A range of upcoming conferences, training events and job postings continue to connect forest professionals across BC.
• Sector updates highlight leadership and innovation. Leadership transition at the Gorman Group and ongoing sector initiatives round out the update.

The Bulkley Valley Research Centre (BVRC) is seeking a Manager, Research Development & Partnerships to help expand our research programs by building partnerships, identifying funding opportunities, and developing collaborative research initiatives. This role is ideal for an early- to mid-career professional who enjoys connecting people, ideas, and funding opportunities to support meaningful environmental research. Working closely with BVRC leadership, researchers, community partners, and First Nations, you will help develop new research initiatives that address natural resource challenges across British Columbia. If you enjoy building relationships and turning ideas into funded projects, this role offers the opportunity to grow your career while contributing to research that has real-world impact. The Bulkley Valley Research Centre (BVRC) is an independent nonprofit research organization based in Smithers, BC, on Gitdumden Clan territory of the Wet’suwet’en Nation. Based in Smithers, BC, this is a full-time, 2-year term with possibility of renewal, hybrid/remote options considered. Closing Date: April 7, 2026, or until filled.

The Okanagan Screen Awards, a two-day celebration of film, creativity, and community, took place March 28–29, 2026 in the sunny paradise of Kelowna, BC. The Okanagan Screen Awards are proudly presented by the Okanagan Society of Independent Filmmaking (OSIF), a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting, educating, and advocating for independent filmmakers in the Okanagan region. Congratulations to “BC is Burning” for winning 1st Place in the Feature Docs category! 

The BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) will be jointly working on two fuel reduction measures near Lytton, one in Botanie Valley and the other near Highway 1 north of the town, and one in the Hat Creek Valley. The Hat Creek cultural burn will cover an area of up to 40 hectares, approximately 15 kilometres west of Cache Creek in the Upper Hat Creek Valley. The project, known as the Harry Lake Grasslands cultural burn, is in partnership with the Thompson Rivers Natural Resource District and Bonaparte First Nation. The burn is part of a multi-year project meant to introduce fire into the Upper Hat Creek Valley. Key goals of the burn include revitalization of cultural burning practices by St’uxwtéws (Bonaparte) First Nation; reintroduction of fire to a fire deficit ecosystem; and ecological maintenance and improvement of grasslands. It is also part of a research initiative being undertaken by the University of British Columbia into prescribed fire in the area.

Mission’s forestry department hosted its annual ‘CutBlock Party’ last Saturday (March 21). The approximately 150 people in attendance planted 600 trees near Hunter Logging Road at the end of Sabo Street in northern Mission. The newly-planted trees are part of the effort to reforest a recently logged cutblock. They are among the estimated 100,000 trees the forestry department is planting this spring as part of its annual silviculture and reforestation program. Bari Hanus, forestry technician with the City of Mission, said the species that are being planted are mainly Douglas fir, western red cedar and white pine. “We plant really high quality seedlings that are well-suited to Mission’s climate. Those species are all selected for their climate adaptability, their role as a native species, and their ability to thrive in local forest ecosystem,” Hanus said.

The Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) is proud to release a new Indigenous Rights and Relationship Building Spotlight video featuring the Tsuut’ina Nation. The video highlights the Nation’s leadership in land stewardship, including wildfire resilience and community-based forest management, and in strengthening capacity, engaging youth, and advancing long-term sustainability rooted in the cultural values and self-determined priorities. It also shares how the SFI Forest Management Standard supports the implementation of many of these priorities and values, such as mitigating undesirable impacts of wildfire. …For many years, Tsuut’ina Nation has worked closely with SFI-certified organization West Fraser Cochrane, formerly Spray Lakes Sawmills, on land management consultation within its Traditional Territories and land management planning as the Nation advances toward SFI certification. One of their priorities has been wildfire mitigation efforts to reduce the risk near the community. 

Recovery operations are ongoing after 19 log bundles ended up on beaches in the PQB area after rough weather caused a log boom to break open at Mosaic Forest Management’s Northwest Bay waterfront facility two weekends ago. Mosaic said more than half of the bundles have been retrieved, but crews need favourable tides and calm weather to safely recover the remaining logs. “We’re hoping to have suitable conditions in the next few days to complete the recovery as quickly and safely as possible,” Mosaic told the PQB News on March 24. Mosaic notified the provincial regulator and is in direct contact with Rathtrevor Provincial Park representatives about its plans and timeline. The province has declared the area where the logs went astray as a “closed area in so far as the marine salvage of logs is concerned”. END

Wildfire fuel mitigation will remain a priority for the city, despite the B.C. government’s plans to stem the flow of FireSmart funding. At its March 23 meeting, city council received a presentation by Assistant Fire Chief Carmen Guidos, who was seeking direction on a couple of matters. One had to do with the Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan (CWRP) currently under development. The other was in regard of fuel mitigation work already planned for Coyote Park, South Canoe, and a small treatment area on Mt. Ida. The connecting thread prompting Guidos’ presentation was recent changes by the BC government to how it funds community FireSmart initiatives. The province introduced the FireSmart Community Funding and Supports (FSCFS) programs in 2018, providing approximately $175 million since then for communities to hire coordinators, conduct education campaigns and pay for fuel management efforts.

A new website and film showcasing wildfire mitigation efforts have been launched by the Logan Lake Community Forest. New branding has been launched alongside the release of a movie that delves into the community forest and its role in wildfire risk reduction and recreation. In a news release, Randy Spyksma, general manager for Logan Lake Community Forest, said the new, refreshed branding “better reflects who we are today and where we are going.” “It is a visual highlight of our commitment to responsible forest stewardship while supporting the long-term sustainability of our community.” …“Our film speaks to the heart of what we do as a community forest and allows us to share this work through storytelling,” Spyksma said.

A commentary by two forest ecologists who lead Raincoast Conservation Foundation’s ­Forest Conservation Program, and Raincoast’s executive director, who is a Southern Gulf Islands resident. The Islands Trust recently invited public input to help update its Trust Policy Statement, a document that guides how land-use decisions are made across the Trust Area in the Salish Sea. While the draft includes some overdue updates, it drifts from its mandate of environmental protection and fails to connect words in a policy document to decisions on the ground. To work properly, the Trust Policy Statement must clearly show how the Islands Trust will carry out its environmental protection mandate. The Islands Trust is a unique form of government. When it was established 50 years ago, its role was clear: to prevent unrestrained growth and development in the Trust Area of the Gulf Islands. The legislation recognized that the islands’ natural environment and rural character were fragile and irreplaceable.

Clearwater recently hosted a roundtable discussion on wildfire risk reduction, training and preparation in advance of the approaching fire season. The Clearwater and Area Community Wildfire Roundtable was held on March 16. Chance Breckenridge, Clearwater FireSmart coordinator, said the meeting brought together 25 people representing a “broad cross-section of agencies and organizations with a shared stake in wildfire preparedness and community safety.” He said community wildfire roundtables are meant to support coordination and communication among the organizations responsible for different aspects of wildfire preparedness and risk reduction across B.C. interior communities. …Breckenridge explained that the roundtables were originally established with support from the Fraser Basin Council, and that the Clearwater and Area Roundtable “has been a key part of that effort locally and is now being coordinated directly by the District of Clearwater’s FireSmart program.”

Richard Hamelin

UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship (FES) researchers has developed a new genomic test that can trace the Asian spongy moth—one of the biggest threats to North America’s forests—back to its source, giving officials a better chance of stopping infestations before they spread. SpongySeq is a DNA analysis tool designed to detect the Asian spongy moth, an invasive insect capable of defoliating entire forests within weeks. Unlike the European spongy moth, which has been established in North America for more than a century and spreads slowly because its females cannot fly, the Asian variety can travel long distances, feeds on a far wider range of trees—including conifers—and remains a high-risk invader with no strong natural controls. …Dr. Richard Hamelin’s team created a tool that works like a “genomic passport,” analyzing 283 specific DNA markers at once to identify a moth’s geographic origin with 97-per-cent accuracy.

A packed theatre in Victoria brought together residents, experts and advocates on March 19 for a film screening and panel discussion focused on the future of British Columbia’s old-growth forests. …The 50 minute screening examined forestry practices in B.C. and raised concerns about what speakers described as outdated policies and unsustainable logging. A panel discussion followed, featuring Suzanne Simard, Casey Macaulay, Teresa Ryan, Rachel Holt and Garry Merkel who addressed questions from the audience. Dr. Rachel Holt, an ecologist working in forest policy, said current approaches to forest management are too focused on timber production. …Gary Merkel, a forester and policy adviser, said the issue is complex and involves balancing environmental protection with economic realities. “We’ve had a forest sector that’s existed the same way for a long time, and it’s going through a major transformation,” Merkel said. …While public concern over old-growth logging has grown, Merkel noted that the path forward remains unclear.

Several log bundles ended up on beaches in the Parksville and Nanoose Bay area after rough weather caused a log boom to break open at Mosaic Forest Management’s Northwest Bay waterfront facility last weekend. … “Shifting high winds pushed the logs into shallow water before crews could safely reach them,” Mosaic told the PQB News. “We responded as soon as we were alerted early Sunday morning, recovering 10 of the 19 bundles.” Mosaic says salvage crews are standing by to recover the remaining nine bundles, but the current weather system has hampered access to the shallow beach areas where they came ashore.

SaskLakes_Facebook

A fire chief who helped battle last year’s devastating wildfires says he doesn’t feel the funding in the Saskatchewan budget is enough to prepare communities for the upcoming fire season. Jim Arnold, chief of the Candle Lake fire department, helped defend the resort village from the flames as it was placed under a state of emergency last year. He said he’s expecting more of the same this summer. “I think this year is going to be another year that we’re going to have some forest fires, because we’ve got drought in the northern forest,” he said. The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency will get $140 million in this year’s budget, an increase of $20 million over the year before. Finance Minister Jim Reiter defended the funding, saying the provincial government will respond if the flames becoming overwhelming this year.

©BCWildfireService

Another year, another wildfire season, and some B.C. communities are looking to get a head start before any major blazes. Merritt Mayor Mike Goetz says preparations in his community never really stop. “We are one of the very few communities that have a full-time Emergency Management Coordinator,” he said. “We also have a full-time EOC [Emergency Operations Centre] that is always ready to go, and we have a full-time training session for our ESS [Emergency Support Services] members.” The city communicates regularly with the local fire department, BC Wildfire Service (BCWS), BC Forestry, and the River Forecasting Centre, Goetz says. He says they have been working to streamline operations at their local airport to make sure fire resources are able to make their way to the area.

Ravi Parmar

PRINCE GEORGE – British Columbia’s wildfire service is getting a major boost ahead of the 2026 fire season. A new, larger equipment depot in Prince George is now operational, and officials say it could make a critical difference when the next big fire breaks out in the north. The BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) has received $21 million in capital funding for this new depot. The facility, located on the Old Cariboo Highway, near the Prince George Airport, gives crews in northern B.C. a much bigger home base to work from. …The depot is stocked with trucks, pumps, hoses, structure-protection units and camp infrastructure, all pre-positioned so crews can move gear faster when fires ignite. It’s not just equipment. This year, the wildfire service hit a record of roughly 24-hundred applications for seasonal firefighter positions. That’s the second straight year for record applications to the BCWS.

©TourismTofino

Tyson Atleo, a hereditary leader of the Ahousaht First Nation, says the creation of three new forestry areas to be managed by his community and two others on the west coast of Vancouver Island marks the realization of a long-standing promise. Atleo recalls assuring the community more than 15 years ago that “we would find a pathway forward to regaining control over some of our forest resources.” The vision is to manage the forests of Clayoquot Sound, a globally recognized biosphere that includes Tofino, B.C., in a way that reflects the nation’s interest in ecological integrity and balance it with access to economic opportunity, he said. The total combined area of the three new tree farm licenses is about 52,000 hectares, with Ahousaht set to manage about 33,000 hectares, Atleo said. The areas were previously part of a single, larger licence with harvesting rights belonging to forest company MaMook Natural Resources. 

A UBC FES study with St’át’imc Nation communities finds invasive grasses are the sleeper threat on B.C.’s post-fire landscape—and the window to stop them is narrow. After a wildfire, the flames may fade, but the danger does not. A new study by UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship researchers reveals that burned landscapes remain vulnerable for years, with large areas still bare and at risk of invasion by fast-growing, fire-prone grasses. The research, one of the largest vegetation trajectory studies in the world, monitored landscapes two years after major wildfires in interior B.C. While some native plants returned, recovery was slower and more fragile than expected. One of the most pressing concerns is invasive grasses, which germinate early in spring, dry out during the hottest months, and act as dry runways that spread flames at highway speed—a dynamic that contributed to the 2023 Lahaina fire in Maui and is increasingly likely in B.C.’s Interior.

Daria Mykhailovych, a Sooke resident, has been raising awareness across Greater Victoria about a petition calling on the provincial government to strengthen protections for British Columbia’s remaining old-growth forests in hopes of encouraging more people to support it. …Originally from Ukraine, she said landscapes like those on Vancouver Island are rare elsewhere in the world. …The petition was launched in fall 2025 by two B.C. forest ecologists, Dr. Suzanne Simard, a professor at University of British Columbia, and independent ecologist Dr. Rachel Holt. Originally, the petition was started with a goal of getting 10,000 signatures. As of March, 16, the petition has received support from about 4,070 people. …“Our concern is that we’ve been cutting these forests at an unsustainable rate,” Simard said. “We wanted to raise awareness and encourage people to question whether the path we’re on is good for the people of British Columbia and for the forests themselves.”

Logan Lake, B.C. – The Logan Lake Community Forest (LLCF) has unveiled a refreshed brand, website, and film that highlight its commitment to the stewardship of local forests, through indigenous collaboration, supporting what makes the communities of the Logan Lake area strong: the people, the land, and our future. …[The] redesigned website that provides clear information about forest management activities, current projects, and the local benefits of community forestry in the Logan Lake area. … The film, launched in collaboration with the BC Community Forest Association provides a look at the planning and treatment activities of the LLCF specific to wildfire risk reduction, and the enhancement of trails and wildlife habitat, and is part of a broader provincial-wide storytelling initiative showcasing community forests across British Columbia.

• Additional coverage: Logan Lake Community Forest Featured in New Film Celebrating Forestry and Community Stewardship

BC Timber Sales is bringing forward an application to establish 17 new cut blocks on Crown land east of Okanagan Falls and Penticton. The application is being brought to the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen on March 19 for support, as the proposed cut blocks are located within the boundaries of the Okanagan Falls electoral area. The 17 cut blocks total 494.7 hectares, and the proposal would also see road construction and road deactivation. The rehabilitation process for the roads would include tree replanting. The land is in an RDOS-designated resource area, and a staff report says the proposed cutblocks fall within watercourse development permit areas and “important ecosystem areas.” The advisory planning committee for Okanagan Falls gave its support to the application at its March 9 meeting, while requesting that any approval be subject to a full environmental assessment.

Okanagan Nation Alliance is hosting a two-day water and climate forum in honour of World Water Day on March 23 and 24 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Delta Grand Okanagan Resort. In partnership with Okanagan Similkameen Watershed Collaborative Leadership Table (CLT), the alliance is bringing together Indigenous leaders, local government representatives, researchers, scientists, regional and international water experts and community partners to advocate for climate-resilient governance and collaborative watershed stewardship. ​The forum will teach participants about the importance of watersheds and how to build resilience amid rising risks from wildfires, drought and ecosystem stress.​ …“Our forests are burning, our waters are drying, and the time to act is now — the siwɬkʷ Water and Climate Forum is a call to protect our watersheds and ensure that there is cold, clean flowing water for all living things – now and for future generations,” reads the release.

Steven Hofer & hegus John Hackett

Tla’amin Nation is set to take back control over a large piece of its territory, after signing a deal to take over Western Forest Products’ licence to log more than 1,540 square kilometres of forest in their homelands. The nation agreed to buy Western’s tree-farm license for the massive parcel … for $80 million on Feb. 19. The license for the Stillwater Forest Operation covers a vast majority of forest in the qathet (Powell River) area, where Tla’amin is located. The lands themselves are not being returned to Tla’amin; tree-farm licenses are granted by the “B.C.” government to allow companies to harvest on “Crown” lands, typically over 25-year terms. But Tla’amin Hegus (Chief) John Hackett said the ability to steward his people’s land is a major step forward. “This acquisition brings another 43 per cent of Tla’amin territory back under our stewardship and control,” Hackett said in a statement.

The BC Council of Forest Industries (COFI) was barking up the right tree with the District of Sicamous, with council officially endorsing its Forestry is a Solution initiative. The request came to the March 11 council meeting, explaining the program that launched on Jan. 20 is a province-wide initiative led by a coalition of community leaders, workers and industry advocates to support forestry in light of new challenges. COFI president and CEO Kim Haakstad said in a letter, “the sector currently faces significant headwinds from global competition, challenging operating conditions, and damaging U.S. trade actions. We believe that by working together, we can show the provincial government that forestry provides the solutions for B.C.’s most urgent challenges.” …The initiative’s goal is to get 5,000 signatures to show support of having government action on those points, with Sicamous council unanimously onboard.

A tree felled in B.C.’s coastal rainforest, is towed by tugboat to lumber mills along waterways like the Fraser River. It’s difficult work. In the cold months, gales tear through inlets and the river ices over; tides and storms can yank logs out of formation all year round. For decades, beachcombers salvaged escaped logs and sold them back into use. But fuel and boat costs are rising, and beachcombers’ ranks are thinning. Reave Dennison is sometimes a tugboat worker, sometimes a beachcomber and sometimes even an arborist, doing maintenance work on trees. …Over the last 10 years, he’s assembled a collection of photographs that document the beauty he sees while toiling in the field. …As part of this year’s Capture Photography Festival in Vancouver, Dennison’s images will be displayed at the Pale Fire art gallery from March 19 to May 9. The exhibit, called Tree Work, folds three of his projects into one. 

British Columbia — As the Forest Enhancement Society of BC marks its 10th anniversary, the Society is reflecting on the investments made and the meaningful impacts achieved, many in partnership with other organizations. …“As we reflect on ten years of FESBC investments, it is clear that sustained funding and strong partnerships are an essential part of how we restore ecosystems and improve wildlife habitat across our province,” said Jason Fisher, Executive Director of FESBC. “Moving forward, we need to look at how all forest management activities, from thinning to fuel management, can be planned and carried out in ways that support and improve wildlife habitat over the long term. Continuing this work will ensure these benefits extend to future generations, setting the table for more healthy and resilient forests.”

Columbia Basin organizations and residents are benefiting from $3 million in wildfire reduction funding through a partnership between the Province of British Columbia and Columbia Basin Trust, according to a March 17 funding announcement. The projects are guided by FireSmart principles and aim to reduce wildfire risk and strengthen local resilience. The practical projects range from managing wildfire fuels to educating residents. Actions include hiring FireSmart coordinators, preparing fuel-treatment plans, carrying out on-the-ground fuel management and providing FireSmart training. The program is tailored to the Columbia Basin and is part of B.C.’s Community Resiliency Investment Program. The Ministry of Forests, BC Wildfire Service and Columbia Basin Trust are partners in delivering this support.

©BCWildfireFacebook

Thousands of people have applied to be wildland firefighters in B.C., as the province prepares for whatever kind of wildfire season may lie ahead. Environment Canada expects 2026 to be one of the hottest years on record. Meanwhile, B.C.’s River Forecast Centre says low snowpack in some regions could increase the potential for drought this spring and summer. Last year, 1,370 wildfires burned more than 8,863 square kilometres of land in B.C., well above the province’s 10-year average, according to the B.C. Wildfire Service. It was a hot, dry season, particularly at the end of August and beginning of September, which extended fire season into the fall. After several tough wildfire seasons in recent years, the province says it is preparing. …The province says about 2,400 people have applied for seasonal firefighter positions, and it’s given special urban wildfire training to more than 1,700 fire departments, First Nations and contractors.

• Government of BC press release by Ministry of Forests: Preparing for 2026 wildfire season
• CFJC Today, by Michael Reeve: Forests minister touts investment into BC Wildfire Service during stop in Kamloops

Ravi Parmar

…B.C. Minister of Forests Ravi Parmar was on Vancouver Island March 13, to meet with the B.C. Forest Safety Council and to talk about supports for forestry workers. … “We know the biggest challenge to our national forestry sector is the unfair, unjust and unprovoked duties and tariffs that Donald Trump has imposed on us … we are focused on being sure that we can get a long-term deal with the United States,” Parmar said. According to him, the path forward is “very uncertain” for many workers on the Island, especially in Chemainus and Crofton where lumber and pulp mills have shut down. …“We have to move this sector away from ‘boom and bust’ to stability and certainty.” That means getting more value out of lumber produced in B.C. … Raw logs exports, Parmar said, have been reduced by 80 per cent since the NDP took office and new companies are taking up the challenge of manufacturing wood products in B.C.

District of 100 Mile House Council voted unanimously to write a letter of support, as well as sign a petition related to the Forestry is a Solution initiative. A letter was written to the District Council by Kim Haakstad, the president and CEO of B.C. Council of Forest Industries, which outlined its key priorities: speeding up access to economic wood, improving competitiveness and cost certainty, fixing B.C. Timber Sales and supporting First Nations partnerships. The letter asked council to endorse the campaign, sign a petition and send a letter to their MLA, government officials and the Forests critic. Finally, it asked council to support the District of 100 Mile House staff to share information about the campaign through official communication channels.

Woodlots BC’s latest Woodlots Weekly highlights opportunities for learning, connection and professional development across the province’s woodlot community. Applications are now open for the Woodlots BC Bursary, a $5,000 award supporting individuals pursuing goals that benefit forestry and their communities, with submissions due May 1, 2026. Planning is also underway for the 2026 Woodlots BC Conference and Workshop, scheduled for October 1–4 at the Tigh-Na-Mara Resort in Parksville. The event will feature the association’s AGM, field tours and presentations, with a theme focused on strengthening communication, collaboration and the long-term resilience of BC’s woodlot sector. The newsletter also promotes an upcoming Woodlot Talk featuring COFI’s Jim Costley on engaging youth in forestry, upcoming BC Forest Safety Council training courses, and updates from the Boundary Woodlot Association. Readers will also find notices about surplus seedlings seeking new homes and a calendar of upcoming forestry conferences and industry events.

The provincial government is being accused of ignoring recommendations from a panel of experts urging protection of old growth forests. As Kylie Stanton reports, the province maintains it is trying to strike a balance between protecting industry and jobs and the environment.