British Columbia’s official bird is the Steller’s jay, but a close second, in the worst forest-fire season since 2003, is the flying whale known as the Martin Mars water bomber. The government has burned through its $63-million fire budget, but with 200 fires raging, 10 evacuation orders and 1,600 crew on the ground, it has…
A Vancouver engineer is lucky to be alive following a grizzly bear attack near Bella Coola on the B.C. Central Coast. George Knoll was working with several other forestry workers in an area about 33 kilometres outside of Bella Coola. The crew was flagging off an area for logging when Knoll encountered a sow grizzly…
Crafted by artisans using high quality oak, “Made in France” wine barrels — in which age some of the world’s most expensive wines — are selling like hot cakes abroad, with exports making up 70 per cent of the market. The barrels house an elite club of wines, with only two to four per cent…
Pictou Landing First Nation is taking its Northern Pulp appeal to the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia. Earlier this year, the Environment Department issued an industrial permit for Northern Pulp that calls for the Pictou County mill to reduce its environmental footprint and close its Boat Harbour effluent treatment facility, which is located on First…
While there are fewer wildfires this week than last, an upcoming thunderstorm predicted for early next week following a dry weekend means the fight isn’t over yet. As of Thursday, there are 166 wildfires burning across the province, but thunderstorms next week and a humid, dry weekend threaten that progress, according to the BC Wildfire…
The Emerald Ash Borer is headed to the Muskoka Forest accroding to the Muskoka Conservancy. They’re already in Barrie and it’s only a matter of time until they get here. On Monday, July 20 at 9 a.m. in front of the Visitor Information Centre (Bird’s Mill) in Bracebridge, the Muskoka Conservancy, along with BioForest Technologies,…
The premiers of British Columbia and Saskatchewan would like to see a national approach to fighting forest fires, fearing this year’s wildfires are the new normal. Saskatchewan’s Brad Wall said Thursday he is grateful for the help his province has received from across the country and called for a partnership between the provinces and the…
A cut to Canada’s key lending rate isn’t expected to affect housing sales much but it could improve the bottom line for Island forest companies. The Bank of Canada cut its target for the overnight rate by a quarter of a percentage point to 0.5 per cent, sending the Canadian dollar tumbling to its lowest…
The British Columbia government is seeking public comments on proposed amendments to land use objectives for the Great Bear Rainforest. The draft order offers a unique solution for this globally significant area. It was developed by the Province, the Coastal First Nations and the Nanwakolas Council using technical recommendations from the Joint Solutions Project, a coalition of major…
Sometimes, when Nelson is unrolling yet another smoky, soot-soiled fire hose, he finds a burnt, blackened stick trapped inside. “That’s what gets me,” he says. The charred twigs are a reminder of the reality of B.C.’s forest fires, of the wildlife fleeing the flames, of the exhaustion of the firefighters, of the homeowners left wondering…