Environment

Belmont Secondary School students Ian Herrington and Bernardo de Lima Oberg clear invasive species and plant trees on Earth Day (April 22). (Courtesy Dayna Christ-Rowling)

Belmont Secondary School pitching in to keep grounds natural in Langford

Students and staff spent Earth Day clearing invasive species, planting native trees

Belmont Secondary School students Ian Herrington and Bernardo de Lima Oberg clear invasive species and plant trees on Earth Day (April 22). (Courtesy Dayna Christ-Rowling)
Sooke council is delaying a plan for a tree-protection bylaw until after the municipal election. (Kevin Laird - Sooke News Mirror)

Sooke tree bylaw likely delayed until after fall election

‘The community needs time to look at all the options,’ says councillor

Sooke council is delaying a plan for a tree-protection bylaw until after the municipal election. (Kevin Laird - Sooke News Mirror)
A man walks in frigid weather at Rundle Park as emissions rise from the Imperial Oil Strathcona Refinery, in Edmonton, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2019. The federal government is pushing legislation to enshrine the right to a healthy environment into law but is giving itself up to two more years to define what that means. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Feds enshrining right to healthy environment but no clarity on what that means

Government will have up to two years after bill takes effect to define that right’s implementation

A man walks in frigid weather at Rundle Park as emissions rise from the Imperial Oil Strathcona Refinery, in Edmonton, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2019. The federal government is pushing legislation to enshrine the right to a healthy environment into law but is giving itself up to two more years to define what that means. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Sidney council formally approved a development permit for a four-storey development in downtown Sidney that has sparked a debate around the municipality’s approach toward preserving trees. (Black Press Media file photo)

Debate about Sidney’s tree policy sprouts from council development discussion

Merit of protecting single trees debated, Coun. O’Keeffe suggests possible bylaw review

Sidney council formally approved a development permit for a four-storey development in downtown Sidney that has sparked a debate around the municipality’s approach toward preserving trees. (Black Press Media file photo)
Experiencing the park in bloom is a reason to celebrate, say the Friends of Uplands Park, who are hosting Camas Day on May 1. (Photo by Britt Swoveland)

Camas Day returns to Oak Bay park with fanfare, learning opportunities

Purple field flower a hallmark of rare Garry oak ecosystem

Experiencing the park in bloom is a reason to celebrate, say the Friends of Uplands Park, who are hosting Camas Day on May 1. (Photo by Britt Swoveland)
From April 29 to May 2, the Capital Regional District and partners are hosting the Greater Victoria arm of the global City Nature Challenge – an opportunity to join a large community of local nature buffs who are helping to inventory and celebrate the capital region’s amazing flora and fauna.

Love exploring nature? Join the Greater Victoria City Nature Challenge today!

Explore the biodiversity in your backyard, get a chance to win awesome prizes

  • Apr 25, 2022
From April 29 to May 2, the Capital Regional District and partners are hosting the Greater Victoria arm of the global City Nature Challenge – an opportunity to join a large community of local nature buffs who are helping to inventory and celebrate the capital region’s amazing flora and fauna.
Trevor Davis, a base manager for the Western Canada Marine Response Corporation, stands in front of the Hecate Sentinel, an oil skimming vessel based at Sidney’s Van Isle Marina. The company invites the public to tour its warehouse and office on McDonald Park Road on April 27 from 4 to 7 p.m. (Black Press Media file photo)

Marine spill response group invites public to tour North Saanich facility

North Saanich warehouse, office building support vessels based in Sidney marina

Trevor Davis, a base manager for the Western Canada Marine Response Corporation, stands in front of the Hecate Sentinel, an oil skimming vessel based at Sidney’s Van Isle Marina. The company invites the public to tour its warehouse and office on McDonald Park Road on April 27 from 4 to 7 p.m. (Black Press Media file photo)
Ryan Cootes, Erin Bremner-Mitchell, Bill Collins and Mike Williamson of Cascadia Seaweed Corporation are here seen holding up seaweed grown in Barkley Sound in July 2020. The company will receive up to $533,475 to determine the potential of three types of seaweed as an alternative feedstock for cattle. (Cascadia Seaweed Corporation/Submitted)

Sidney company to study seaweed as a cattle feed alternative

Cascadia Seaweed will receive up to $533,475 from federal government

Ryan Cootes, Erin Bremner-Mitchell, Bill Collins and Mike Williamson of Cascadia Seaweed Corporation are here seen holding up seaweed grown in Barkley Sound in July 2020. The company will receive up to $533,475 to determine the potential of three types of seaweed as an alternative feedstock for cattle. (Cascadia Seaweed Corporation/Submitted)
Old-growth logging protestor Howard Breen says he was taken to hospital Sunday (April 24), on the 24th day of his hunger strike. (Courtesy of Save Old Growth)

B.C. man says old-growth protests escalating after brief hospitalization

68-year-old Nanaimo resident was on day 24 of his hunger strike Sunday

Old-growth logging protestor Howard Breen says he was taken to hospital Sunday (April 24), on the 24th day of his hunger strike. (Courtesy of Save Old Growth)
Howard Breen, of Nanaimo, shown in this undated handout image, says he has been on a hunger strike for 23 days and won’t stop protesting against old-growth logging until B.C.’s forests minister agrees to a public meeting. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Save Old Growth **MANDATORY CREDIT**

B.C. man wanting public meeting has ‘death-watch monitors’ on Day 23 of hunger strike

68-year-old activist protesting the logging of old growth forests

Howard Breen, of Nanaimo, shown in this undated handout image, says he has been on a hunger strike for 23 days and won’t stop protesting against old-growth logging until B.C.’s forests minister agrees to a public meeting. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Save Old Growth **MANDATORY CREDIT**
Butler Concrete and Aggregate and Empire Hydrogen Energy Systems have announced a partnership aimed at using Empire’s technology to make concrete trucks more efficient and less polluting. (Photo courtesy of Business Wire)

Greater Victoria companies team up to make concrete more environmentally friendly

Hydrogen fuel additive system to reduce fuel consumption and emissions in trucks

Butler Concrete and Aggregate and Empire Hydrogen Energy Systems have announced a partnership aimed at using Empire’s technology to make concrete trucks more efficient and less polluting. (Photo courtesy of Business Wire)
Abby and Roger St. Pierre put the finishing touches on a dogwood tree planted in their honour at Latoria Creek Park Friday, April 22, as part of being awarded the first-annual environmental award by the Citizens’ Environmental Network in Colwood. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

Colwood couple recognized for park cleanup efforts on Earth Day

Abby and Roger St. Pierre were recognized by the Citizens’ Environmental Network in Colwood

Abby and Roger St. Pierre put the finishing touches on a dogwood tree planted in their honour at Latoria Creek Park Friday, April 22, as part of being awarded the first-annual environmental award by the Citizens’ Environmental Network in Colwood. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Tsawout First Nation fisheries staff came together with the community to clean up the Tseycum and Tsawout beaches on Friday (April 22) and host a treasure hunt of Salish Sea species. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)

Peninsula First Nations lead beach cleanup as part of Earth Day celebration

Caring for the earth, stewarding the land important, say Tsawout, Tseycum leaders

Tsawout First Nation fisheries staff came together with the community to clean up the Tseycum and Tsawout beaches on Friday (April 22) and host a treasure hunt of Salish Sea species. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)
This submitted photo shows Paul Cottrell, wearing the red jacket, helping to disentangle a humpback whale.

A first as the world warms: New forecasts could help predict marine heat waves

Multiple marine heat waves have occurred since 2014 along the Washington coast

This submitted photo shows Paul Cottrell, wearing the red jacket, helping to disentangle a humpback whale.
A video captured on the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge in Metro Vancouver Thursday (April 21) morning, shows angry drivers dragging old growth logging protestors, who were blocking their commute, out of the way. (Save Old Growth/Twitter)

‘You wanna die?’: Angry commuters drag ‘Save Old Growth’ protesters off B.C. highway

Video captured clash between drivers, protestors in Metro Vancouver April 21

A video captured on the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge in Metro Vancouver Thursday (April 21) morning, shows angry drivers dragging old growth logging protestors, who were blocking their commute, out of the way. (Save Old Growth/Twitter)
View of a stockpile at the facility on Vye Road.

Toxic chemicals discharged from Abbotsford waste facility into fish-bearing creek

Company responsible is under contract with the City of Abbotsford

View of a stockpile at the facility on Vye Road.
An upstream view of BC Hydro’s Strathcona Dam. The company is under fire from the BC Wildlife Federation, which says BC Hydro isn’t meeting its environmental compensation requirements. (BC Hydro photo)

BC Hydro falling short on environmental obligations, conservation group claims

BC Wildlife Federation calls for auditor general to examine electric company

An upstream view of BC Hydro’s Strathcona Dam. The company is under fire from the BC Wildlife Federation, which says BC Hydro isn’t meeting its environmental compensation requirements. (BC Hydro photo)
A new 30-metre wide opening in the Fraser River’s North Arm Jetty allows juvenile Chinook salmon to reach a vital estuary for the first time in more than 100 years. (Photo by Alex Harris/Raincoast Conservation Foundation)

Juvenile salmon gain access to crucial B.C. habitat for first time in 100 years

New opening in Fraser River jetty allows for slow transition from fresh to salt water

A new 30-metre wide opening in the Fraser River’s North Arm Jetty allows juvenile Chinook salmon to reach a vital estuary for the first time in more than 100 years. (Photo by Alex Harris/Raincoast Conservation Foundation)
Abe and AJ Stobbe, dairy farmers in Mara, BC standing in front of the geothermal heat exchange system that heats their milking parlour and their homes.

BC Dairy farmers going green — 3 stories of environmental innovation

BC dairy farmers caring for their cows, their land and their community

  • Apr 18, 2022
Abe and AJ Stobbe, dairy farmers in Mara, BC standing in front of the geothermal heat exchange system that heats their milking parlour and their homes.
Students from Oak Bay High work with the CRD’s Bowker Creek Initiative and the Greater Victoria Green Team to remove invasive species and plant native plants and shrubs. They’ll be at the creek April 23 for the environment club’s annual clean-up and rubber ducky race. (Courtesy Greater Victoria Green Team)

Community invited to clean up Bowker Creek, race rubber duckies with Oak Bay students

Environment club hosting annual event April 23

Students from Oak Bay High work with the CRD’s Bowker Creek Initiative and the Greater Victoria Green Team to remove invasive species and plant native plants and shrubs. They’ll be at the creek April 23 for the environment club’s annual clean-up and rubber ducky race. (Courtesy Greater Victoria Green Team)