Environment

A group of Canada geese stand on railway tracks as a plant operates in the background at Hamilton Harbour in Hamilton, Ont. Tuesday December 10, 2002. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Kevin Frayer

Biggest emitters paying smallest price on pollution, critics say

Big companies with higher emissions pay the carbon price only on what they emit above a set limit

A group of Canada geese stand on railway tracks as a plant operates in the background at Hamilton Harbour in Hamilton, Ont. Tuesday December 10, 2002. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Kevin Frayer
The Yukon provincial flag flies on a flag pole in Ottawa, Monday July 6, 2020. Yukon’s snow survey shows record high snowpacks in many of the basins the territory monitors. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Yukon’s record snowpack adds potential for flooding during ice breakup

April survey usually represents the peak snow levels in most of the territory

The Yukon provincial flag flies on a flag pole in Ottawa, Monday July 6, 2020. Yukon’s snow survey shows record high snowpacks in many of the basins the territory monitors. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
B.C. announced a new Mass Timber Action Plan April 7, with an initial invesment of $1.2 million into four structures. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. investing in future of mass timber with 4 new structures, long-term action plan

Province looks to be leading producer in carbon-capturing material

B.C. announced a new Mass Timber Action Plan April 7, with an initial invesment of $1.2 million into four structures. (Black Press Media file photo)
Chum fry swim in Bowker Creek before heading for the Salish Sea. (Friends of Bowker Creek Society/Facebook)

VIDEO: Oak Bay society shares thrill of finding fish fry swimming in Bowker

Nearly 30,000 eggs were planted in January; hopes they’ll return for winter 2024

Chum fry swim in Bowker Creek before heading for the Salish Sea. (Friends of Bowker Creek Society/Facebook)
Wayne and Lynn Gill stand by their oil tank that will soon make their way for a heat pump. The family is among the first 19 homeowners in Central Saanich participating in a program that offers interest-free support to eligible homeowners for switching out their oil heating systems. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Central Saanich couple looks to pump up comfort, save money through new program

District offering interest-free loan for switching to heat pump from oil furnaces

Wayne and Lynn Gill stand by their oil tank that will soon make their way for a heat pump. The family is among the first 19 homeowners in Central Saanich participating in a program that offers interest-free support to eligible homeowners for switching out their oil heating systems. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Students in Greater Victoria are invited to submit their video or illustration ideas to show how society and individuals can bring One Planet Living ideas into their communities and personal lives. (Courtesy of One Planet B.C.)

Saanich invites students from across region to take the One Planet challenge

Grade 6 to 12 students can submit creative illustrations of sustainability practices

Students in Greater Victoria are invited to submit their video or illustration ideas to show how society and individuals can bring One Planet Living ideas into their communities and personal lives. (Courtesy of One Planet B.C.)
T63 Chainsaw was one of the Bigg’s killer whales spotted in large clusters Thursday. Chainsaw is known for its jagged dorsal fin. (Photo courtesy Valerie Messier/Pacific Whale Watch Association; video courtesy of Maxx Kinert)

VIDEO: New record, Victoria expert says 72 whales spotted the most in one day

Clusters seen between Hood Canal in Puget Sound, Campbell River on Vancouver Island

T63 Chainsaw was one of the Bigg’s killer whales spotted in large clusters Thursday. Chainsaw is known for its jagged dorsal fin. (Photo courtesy Valerie Messier/Pacific Whale Watch Association; video courtesy of Maxx Kinert)
North Saanich is in the process of revising its tree protection bylaw. The municipality is currently inviting residents to participate in the next round of feedback. (Courtesy of District of North Saanich)

Next round of feedback sought on North Saanich tree protection bylaw

Resident survey, plus virtual (March 30) and in-person open houses planned

North Saanich is in the process of revising its tree protection bylaw. The municipality is currently inviting residents to participate in the next round of feedback. (Courtesy of District of North Saanich)
Before starting on that DIY project, you have a few serious steps to consider, especially if you’re planning on hauling your clean renovation waste to Hartland Landfill yourself!

Spring DIY project in the works? In the capital region, THIS is your first step

If the project will involve waste, a disposal application is job No. 1

  • Mar 28, 2022
Before starting on that DIY project, you have a few serious steps to consider, especially if you’re planning on hauling your clean renovation waste to Hartland Landfill yourself!
A couple are dwarfed by old growth tress as they walk in Avatar Grove near Port Renfrew, B.C.,Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021. An environmental organization is offering cautious support for an announcement that the largest private landowner in British Columbia will defer 400 square kilometres of old-growth stands from logging for the next 25 years. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Environmental group gives guarded support for company’s old-growth forest plan

Mosaic, B.C.’s largest private landowner, will defer logging in 400 square kilometres of old-growth

A couple are dwarfed by old growth tress as they walk in Avatar Grove near Port Renfrew, B.C.,Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021. An environmental organization is offering cautious support for an announcement that the largest private landowner in British Columbia will defer 400 square kilometres of old-growth stands from logging for the next 25 years. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
The Greater Victoria Green Team is organizing a volunteer effort removing invasive species from a vulnerable ecosystem near University of Victoria on March 27. (Photo courtesy of Ali Gladwell)

Restoration efforts happening in ecosystem near University of Victoria

Greater Victoria Green Team hosts invasive species removal March 27, volunteers invited

The Greater Victoria Green Team is organizing a volunteer effort removing invasive species from a vulnerable ecosystem near University of Victoria on March 27. (Photo courtesy of Ali Gladwell)
A pumpjack works at a well head on an oil and gas installation near Cremona, Alta., Saturday, Oct. 29, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Alberta auditor general gives qualified thumbs-up to oil well cleanup spending

At the end of 2021, there was $420 million left to spend

A pumpjack works at a well head on an oil and gas installation near Cremona, Alta., Saturday, Oct. 29, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
The draft of Sidney’s new climate action plans points to the municipality’s southeast near the municipal boundary with North Saanich as an area with high flooding risk through severe coastal storm surges caused by climate change. (Black Press Media file photo)

Coordinated effort needed for Sidney to reach ambitious climate change goals

New report highlights Sidney’s high risk of severe coastal storm surges and heatwaves

The draft of Sidney’s new climate action plans points to the municipality’s southeast near the municipal boundary with North Saanich as an area with high flooding risk through severe coastal storm surges caused by climate change. (Black Press Media file photo)
The University of Victoria Foundation has made a large investment into a fund targeting market opportunities relating to the transition to net-zero emissions. (Photo courtesy of the UVic Foundation/Puhimec/Envato)

$25M investment in net-zero transition fund latest green move for UVic Foundation

Asset manager continues environmentally responsible investment direction

The University of Victoria Foundation has made a large investment into a fund targeting market opportunities relating to the transition to net-zero emissions. (Photo courtesy of the UVic Foundation/Puhimec/Envato)
Sidney Coun. Scott Garnett fears the loss of multiple trees, including the Douglas fir in the background, just off the proposed site of a new 19-unit condominium building. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Sidney councillor laments potential loss of trees near proposed development

Neighbours worried about safety while Coun. Scott Garnett calls on developers to save trees

Sidney Coun. Scott Garnett fears the loss of multiple trees, including the Douglas fir in the background, just off the proposed site of a new 19-unit condominium building. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Mike Yip photo SNACK TIME: Marine wildlife of all kinds enjoyed a smorgasbord as the herring run arrives off Parksville’s shore last weekend. Here, photographer Mike Yip captures a sea lion getting in on the buffet.

Pacific herring spawn spectacle surfaces along West Coast

Seabirds and sea lions cry and bark while feasting on abundant herring return

Mike Yip photo SNACK TIME: Marine wildlife of all kinds enjoyed a smorgasbord as the herring run arrives off Parksville’s shore last weekend. Here, photographer Mike Yip captures a sea lion getting in on the buffet.
Coho salmon swim at the Fisheries and Oceans Canada Capilano River Hatchery, in North Vancouver, on Friday, July 5, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Tire residue chemical in rain runoff kills fish in urban streams, research finds

Fish appear to gasp, swim erratically and in circles, then die

Coho salmon swim at the Fisheries and Oceans Canada Capilano River Hatchery, in North Vancouver, on Friday, July 5, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Val Aloian checks the temperature every day to follow the maturation of 30,000 chum salmon eggs that were planted in Bowker Creek in January. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

Oak Bay woman tracks Bowker water, temperature levels to keep chum eggs healthy

Salmon fry projected to emerge from creekbed home April 1 at the earliest

Val Aloian checks the temperature every day to follow the maturation of 30,000 chum salmon eggs that were planted in Bowker Creek in January. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Scotch broom is an invasive plant introduced to Vancouver Island in the mid-1800s. The plant spreads rapidly on rights-of-way, trails, forest roads, under power lines and any disturbed land. (Shutterstock)

Spring blooms in Sooke a sign of unwanted Scotch broom

Volunteers, council call for all hands on deck this spring to help remove noxious weed

Scotch broom is an invasive plant introduced to Vancouver Island in the mid-1800s. The plant spreads rapidly on rights-of-way, trails, forest roads, under power lines and any disturbed land. (Shutterstock)
The Capital Regional District’s residuals treatment facility at the Hartland Landfill is where the region’s sewage is meant to be turned into Class A biosolids. (Photo courtesy CRD)

Greater Victoria group demands halt to spread of biosolids at landfill

CRD spread 6,630 tonnes of waste at landfill in 2021, instead of planned 700

The Capital Regional District’s residuals treatment facility at the Hartland Landfill is where the region’s sewage is meant to be turned into Class A biosolids. (Photo courtesy CRD)