Environment

Part of the 2019 Incubator cohort, Tofino residents Louise Rodgers and Georgina Valk saw a need for composting in their community so they founded Tofino Urban Farm Co. (Westerly File photo)

Project Zero Incubator program aims to support green startups in B.C.

Applications to the 2022 Project Zero Incubator is open to early-stage business ideas across B.C.

Part of the 2019 Incubator cohort, Tofino residents Louise Rodgers and Georgina Valk saw a need for composting in their community so they founded Tofino Urban Farm Co. (Westerly File photo)
The tiny warty jumping-slug, found only on Vancouver Island, is about two centimetres in length. (Contributed - Kristiina Ovaska)

Mapping project aims to save rare jumping-slugs in Sooke region

Warty and dromedary jumping-slugs are a rare find on Vancouver Island

The tiny warty jumping-slug, found only on Vancouver Island, is about two centimetres in length. (Contributed - Kristiina Ovaska)
Francis Landy hopes a petition will sway Oak Bay into considering a residential ban on gas-powered leaf blowers in the community. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

Oak Bay man looks for community support for ban on gas-powered leaf blowers

Resident cites air, noise pollution as key concerns; district already transitioning to electric

Francis Landy hopes a petition will sway Oak Bay into considering a residential ban on gas-powered leaf blowers in the community. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
The B.C. environment ministry is developing a watershed security strategy to protect wetlands. (B.C. government photo)

B.C. seeks public input on new watershed protection strategy

Groundwater licence program has March 1 deadline

The B.C. environment ministry is developing a watershed security strategy to protect wetlands. (B.C. government photo)
Cadboro Bay is among the areas that would be targeted for increased shoreline mapping work. A request for funding to help get that project going gained initial approval from Saanich council at its Jan. 10 meeting. (Black Press Media file photo)

$80,000 request for marine shoreline mapping in Saanich gains initial approval

Funding would help rehabilitate coastal areas such as between Cadboro and Cordova bays

Cadboro Bay is among the areas that would be targeted for increased shoreline mapping work. A request for funding to help get that project going gained initial approval from Saanich council at its Jan. 10 meeting. (Black Press Media file photo)
Victoria police officers arrested seven old-growth logging protesters at the intersection of Douglas Street and Burnside Road East Jan. 10. On Jan. 19, protesters plan to block the intersection of Douglas Street and Tolmie Avenue. (Black Press Media file photo)

UPDATE: Five old-growth logging protesters arrested at Greater Victoria intersection

Small group blocked Douglas Street and Tolmie Avenue intersection Wednesday morning

Victoria police officers arrested seven old-growth logging protesters at the intersection of Douglas Street and Burnside Road East Jan. 10. On Jan. 19, protesters plan to block the intersection of Douglas Street and Tolmie Avenue. (Black Press Media file photo)
The waters of Bowker Creek ran high in the Haultain Street area during the massive rain event in November 2021. (Photo by Peter Haddon)

Neighbours oppose land sale near daylighted Saanich leg of Bowker Creek

Greater Victoria School District proposes to sell 1.9 acres at Lansdowne to Victoria Hospice

The waters of Bowker Creek ran high in the Haultain Street area during the massive rain event in November 2021. (Photo by Peter Haddon)
Deep Water Recovery Ltd. owns a ship-breaking company in Union Bay. File photo

Global coalition calls for halt to Vancouver Island shipbreaking operation

Belgium-based group joins lobby concerned about the demolition of old ships in Union Bay

Deep Water Recovery Ltd. owns a ship-breaking company in Union Bay. File photo
Langford council voted against getting staff to revisit a tree bylaw. (Black Press Media file photo)

Langford tree protection bylaw felled

Mayor Stew Young said the plan wouldn’t save more trees but would create unnecessary red tape

Langford council voted against getting staff to revisit a tree bylaw. (Black Press Media file photo)
A crew is set to burn carpet burweed Jan. 13 at Cattle Point. (Black Press Media file photo)

Crews take a torch to Oak Bay seaside park to battle burweed

Burns are frequent at Cattle Point to tackle the invasive plant

A crew is set to burn carpet burweed Jan. 13 at Cattle Point. (Black Press Media file photo)
The Concerned Citizens of Baynes Sound included this photo of two ships parked in Union Bay in a presentation to the Electoral Area Services Committee. The photo shows the shipbreaking occurring on the water, which CCOBS said violates the Ministry of Forests (FLNR) foreshore lease. Photo supplied

Neighbours call B.C. shipbreaking operation a ‘disaster waiting to happen’

A group dubbed Concerned Citizens of Baynes Sound (CCOBS) is pressing the…

The Concerned Citizens of Baynes Sound included this photo of two ships parked in Union Bay in a presentation to the Electoral Area Services Committee. The photo shows the shipbreaking occurring on the water, which CCOBS said violates the Ministry of Forests (FLNR) foreshore lease. Photo supplied
A lower pathway in Cuthbert Holmes Park in Saanich sits flooded during a recent day as heavy snow, combined with a high tide, brought up the level of the Colquitz River. Creek upgrades in the past year are expected to help mitigate concerns about impacted fish habitat, says a local biologist. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)

Upgrades in Saanich’s Cuthbert Holmes Park may help prevent damage to fish habitat

Amidst extreme weather events, native plant buffer assisting stormwater, snow melt runoff

A lower pathway in Cuthbert Holmes Park in Saanich sits flooded during a recent day as heavy snow, combined with a high tide, brought up the level of the Colquitz River. Creek upgrades in the past year are expected to help mitigate concerns about impacted fish habitat, says a local biologist. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)
The District of Saanich is offering online climate action workshops to help residents reduce climate impact in and around their communities, such as in shared green spaces like Elk-Beaver Lake Park. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)

Six-week workshop to help Saanich residents tailor climate action efforts

Sustainable transportation options, living minimally among topics to be discussed by experts

The District of Saanich is offering online climate action workshops to help residents reduce climate impact in and around their communities, such as in shared green spaces like Elk-Beaver Lake Park. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)
King tides encroach on Imperial Lane homes in Ucluelet on Jan. 2.

King tides surge along Tofino and Ucluelet coastline

Pacific Rim National Park Reserve urges residents and visitors to be CoastSmart

King tides encroach on Imperial Lane homes in Ucluelet on Jan. 2.
A hungry gull picks away at a dead salmon on the banks of the Goldstream River. The Goldstream Hatchery saw far fewer chum salmon than exected this year due to weather extremes, experts say. (Black Press Media file photo)

Goldstream Hatchery salmon program hit hard by ‘perfect storm’

First drought, then flooding decimate chum numbers in West Shore spawning river

A hungry gull picks away at a dead salmon on the banks of the Goldstream River. The Goldstream Hatchery saw far fewer chum salmon than exected this year due to weather extremes, experts say. (Black Press Media file photo)
A hungry gull picks away at a dead salmon on the banks of the Goldstream River. The Goldstream Hatchery saw far fewer chum salmon than exected this year due to weather extremes, experts say. (Black Press Media file photo)

Goldstream Hatchery salmon program hit hard by ‘perfect storm’

First drought, then flooding decimate chum numbers in West Shore spawning river

A hungry gull picks away at a dead salmon on the banks of the Goldstream River. The Goldstream Hatchery saw far fewer chum salmon than exected this year due to weather extremes, experts say. (Black Press Media file photo)
Live Green

Local guide shares tips and resources to Live Green

From the summer heat dome and wildfires to the recent flooding, the…

  • Dec 27, 2021
Live Green
Bill Coltart, president of Campbell River Association of Tour Operators (CRATO), as debris the organization has collected from local shorelines and sorted is loaded onto a transport truck for recycling. Photo by Sean Feagan / Campbell River Mirror. Bill Coltart, president of Campbell River Association of Tour Operators (CRATO), as debris the organization has collected from local shorelines and then sorted is loaded onto a truck to be transported for recycling. Photo by Sean Feagan / Campbell River Mirror.

Vancouver Island shorelines scrubbed cleaner thanks to tour operator-led project

Campbell River Association of Tour Operators lead removal of 37 tonnes of debris over 350 kilometres

Bill Coltart, president of Campbell River Association of Tour Operators (CRATO), as debris the organization has collected from local shorelines and sorted is loaded onto a transport truck for recycling. Photo by Sean Feagan / Campbell River Mirror. Bill Coltart, president of Campbell River Association of Tour Operators (CRATO), as debris the organization has collected from local shorelines and then sorted is loaded onto a truck to be transported for recycling. Photo by Sean Feagan / Campbell River Mirror.
Participants of the ghost gear recovery training program in November. Photo courtesy Joan Drinkwin. Participants of the ghost gear recovery training program in November 2021. Photo courtesy Joan Drinkwin.

Diver training helping B.C. get to the bottom of its ‘ghost gear’ problem

Training part of federal government program targeting lost fishing gear in Canadian waters

Participants of the ghost gear recovery training program in November. Photo courtesy Joan Drinkwin. Participants of the ghost gear recovery training program in November 2021. Photo courtesy Joan Drinkwin.
Shahn Torontow says a small amount of oil accumulates in his tidal pond every few days, and when the tide lowers gets washed into Ayum Creek. (Bailey Moreton - Sooke News Mirror)

Sooke resident struggles to get government officials to investigate oil spill

The oil sheen first appeared in Shahn Torontow’s tidal pond nine months ago

Shahn Torontow says a small amount of oil accumulates in his tidal pond every few days, and when the tide lowers gets washed into Ayum Creek. (Bailey Moreton - Sooke News Mirror)