Environment

A woman wearing a red leather jacket, black top, black rimmed glasses and holds a microphone addressing the crowd at an all candidates debate. Behind her, a projection is displayed. On the table in front of her are a binder of notes, to her right is a pitcher of water and a plastic red cup. Picture Credit - Ian Gregg

Independent candidate Rachael Weber shares plans and platform at UNBC All Candidates debate

October 15, 2024 by Ian Gregg

All candidates running for all three ridings intersecting the Prince George Lheidli T’enneh townsite were invited to an all candidates debate at UNBC Wednesday October 9th.

In attendance for the Prince George–Mackenzie riding were James Steidle of the Green party; BC NDP’s Shar McCrory; and current independent, Rachael Weber of the Prince George–Mackenzie riding. Kiel Giddens of the BC Conservative Party was absent.

All candidates have been invited to share their views on CFUR. Rachael Weber has not done an interview with CFUR yet — to ensure that she has had a chance to be heard on our station, we have excerpted her segments only in this program.

The event was organized by the BC chapter of Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) and UNBC students, notably Madi Tokarchuk and Tina Watters, both local participants in CPAWS’ Young Leaders in Conservation Program.

A blue and white kiosk on a trailer with hoses, brooms and a sign that says "Invasive Species - Protect Our Lakes" and "Clean, Drain and Dry your Equipment for Free". The trailer sits on a parking lot in front of a stand of trees and a lake.

County launches boat cleaning pilot project to fight the transfer of invasive species

September 24, 2024 by Brenda Little

Prince Edward County is taking part in a pilot project to help stop the spread of invasive aquatic plants, animals and/ or algae through recreational boating.

Zebra mussels, water soldier and phragmites are just a few of the invasive species threatening waterways and wetlands.

The CD3 Wayside Solar Trailer is a waterless watercraft cleaning system that is available to the public, to clean, drain and dry their boat, canoe or kayak when retrieving their craft from the water and before entering a different lake, river, pond etc.

Quinte Conservation staff moves the trailer to five different boat launch sites throughout the County for boaters to use free of charge. The goal is to educate the public, demonstrate how the cleaning station works, why it is important, invasive species to watch for, and to gauge usage. The project runs for four weeks ending Oct. 15 at the Northport launch.

The vaccine baits for racoon rabies. They are a khaki green colour and the package is in the shape of a stuffed ravioli.

Vaccination against racoon rabies continues in Estrie, Montérégie following spike in U.S. cases

August 8, 2024 by Taylor McClure

An increase in the number of racoon rabies cases reported in Vermont close to the Quebec border has led the Ministry of Environment to conduct wild animal vaccination operations in the Estrie and Montérégie regions

The vaccination campaign is running Aug. 7-24 in order limit the risk of the disease being reintroduced in the province.

According to Marianne Gagnier, biologist and coordinator of the Raccoon Rabies Surveillance and Control Operations for Quebec, the Ministry of Environment conducted its first vaccination campaign in the spring as a response to the reported cases in Vermont, and it will continue to immunize racoons, skunks, and foxes against racoon rabies over the next couple of weeks.

The vaccine bait will be dispersed over 59 municipalities in Estrie and Montérégie either by plane in highly forested areas or ground baiting, which sees biologists and wildlife technicians on the ground targeting specific habitats, explained Gagnier.

This is an image of the Abbotsford Campus of the University of the Fraser Valley. In this picture, you can see the entire campus with several buildings surrounded by green grass, trees, sidewalks, and parking lots along with a road that is in front of farms.

Co-author of UFV extreme heat mapping report says society unprepared for future extreme weather events

July 26, 2024 by Surjit Atwal

The co-author of a recent University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) report says more work needs to be done to address future extreme weather events.

The report, titled “Extreme Heat Risk Mapping, Assessment, and Planning,” was conducted on behalf of Leq’a:mel First Nation and the City of Mission.

“The extreme heat risk map produced [in the report] was based on the details of the unprecedented and lethal heat dome in the Fraser Valley from June 25 to July 1, 2021,” and then compared various climate projection models against the actual extreme heat risk that occurred three years ago, according to the report.

“The changes that are coming with climate change are massive,” said Dr. Afia Raja, a co-author of the report, and the head of UFV’s Planning, Geography and Environmental Sciences department.

“In our research, we saw that our preparedness plan was very, very weak, and whatever was done was a reaction,” Raja said.

A woman with long blonde hair wearing a blue blouse and grey jacket looks at the camera.

Masland — New mill in Liverpool is a great opportunity, but environment must be respected

May 30, 2024 by Rick Conrad

Nova Scotia’s Public Works Minister and Queens MLA Kim Masland won’t commit to supporting a new mill in Queens County until she has more information.

The Nova Scotia government announced last Thursday that Paper Excellence Canada, the company that operated the former pollution-prone Northern Pulp mill in Pictou County, is looking at the possibility of opening a new mill in Queens County.

Masland says the area desperately needs the jobs and economic activity a mill could bring. Still, she wants to make sure that if one is built, it is done according to the highest environmental standards.

The company plans to conduct a feasibility study that could take nine months. It’s part of an agreement between the province and Paper Excellence to settle the company’s $450-million lawsuit it filed after the mill shut down in 2020.

A map slhows the proposed location for a new trail in Prince Edward County.

New South Shore Foot Path coming to Prince Edward County

May 23, 2024 by Brenda Little

Prince Edward County councillors were introduced to a nature project taking place on the South Shore of the County at Tuesday’s council meeting.

Over twenty volunteers have been involved with a project for over a year to develop a 26 kilometre walking trail from Point Petre to Point Traverse using the Bruce Trail as a model. Because the trail will pass through several conservation areas as well as private properties, the group is in discussions with the various parties impacted by the project.

The Bruce Trail attracts visitors from all parts of the world so it is hoped that the new South Shore Foot Path could contribute to increased eco tourism in the County and will also be accessible to all.

A small sized young hawk (Coopers Hawk) stands on a perch.

Renaming North American birds an inclusivity endeavor

May 14, 2024 by Brenda Little

Inclusivity, equality and diversity are not words that are associated with birding — but at the Spring Bird Festival located at the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory this past weekend, those words rang loud and clear at a talk about renaming birds.

In 2023, renaming birds became a high priority for the American Ornithology Society (AOS) that will change the names of 70-80 North American English named birds this year including Cooper’s Hawk, Wilson’s Sniper and Lincoln’s Sparrow, all living in Ontario and beyond. In the past, birds have been named after people, not discoverers, scientists nor ornithology experts but military high ranking men deemed offensive or exclusionary by today’s standards. The AOS will rename birds with consideration to their appearance, habitat, behavior and song.

The festival included discussions about bird naming, plus numerous interactive activities to encourage people of all ages and backgrounds to participate in the demonstrations. There were also guided walks and talks given by ornithology volunteers.

Bird banding with Mira Furgosh Photo B.Little

Waterloo mayor McCabe delivers “State of the City” address

May 10, 2024 by Dan Kellar

Waterloo’s annual State of the City address was delivered on May 2nd by mayor Dorothy McCabe at Wilfrid Laurier University, and was full of celebration of the current work the city is doing, and enthusiasm for the future.

The mayor focused significantly on the work the city is doing on housing, climate action, community building, infrastructure, service delivery, and affordability and she noted the interconnectedness of these topics throughout her speech.

McCabe also celebrated the youth of the city and the students of the region’s high schools, post-secondary institutions throughout the speech, saying of the “council for the day” students “Waterloo’s future looks very very bright”.

The State of the City was organized by the Rotary Club of Waterloo and raised over $15,000 for Supportive Housing of Waterloo, an organization which helps people who have experienced long periods homelessness with housing and other support services.

A meadow with yellow flowers under a blue sky with fluffy clouds.

Agriculture meets nature with WonderMud program

April 16, 2024 by Taylor McClure

Local organizations Nature Nerding and Patch Farms are launching a new program for children in the Eastern Townships that connects farming and agriculture with the natural world.

Starting this summer, WonderMud will provide children with the opportunity to explore the land that is Patch Farms, and learn just how much farming is “founded in nature” and how important it is to protect it, said Meagan Patch, one of the educators behind WonderMud.

Described by Nature Nerding founder Jessica Adams as a more “unstructured” and “self-directed” experience, WonderMud participants will have the chance to explore their interests and curiosities around farming and the natural world, including the life cycles and behaviours of animals on the farm and seasonality and food.

According to Adams, WonderMud is a collaboration with Parc d’environnement naturel de Sutton (PENS) and it is one of many nature-education activities offered through its new Nature and Discovery program.

Two swallowtail butterflies are photographed from below while feeding on a flowering bush

Blooming roadsides restore habitats for pollinators

April 8, 2024 by M.P. Holmes

A few years ago, it was common for car windshields to be spattered with bugs after a drive in the country. According to Jennifer Leat of the Pollinator Roadsides Project, that’s not happening so much anymore. There are fewer bugs, and fewer bugs equals fewer pollinators.

A community driven project to help pollinators will be happening on Saturday April 13 to restore habitat corridors for pollinators by planting pollinator-friendly native plants along roadsides.

Backed by a grant from the Region of Waterloo’s Community Environment Fund with support from volunteers and sponsors, the Pollinator Roadside Project seeks to increase biodiversity, support pollinator conservation, reduce maintenance costs, and control water runoff. The project also hopes to set a provincial and national precedent for prioritizing sustainability in roadside plantings.

Jennifer Leat, Lead of the Pollinator Roadsides project talks to CKMS about the project and the importance of pollinators.

The site C Dam Construction site as seen from a viewing platform on the north side of the Peace River. Photo Credit - Ian Gregg

BC Hydro looks for ways to increase power generation as potential drought conditions loom

March 11, 2024 by Ian Gregg

Persistent drought conditions persist in Northern BC could lead BC Hydro to import power this summer.

Mike Kellett, BC Hydro’s Manager of Northern Community Relations identifies that the crown corporation’s Call For Power Request for Proposals is a potential solution for future energy demand. The goal of the plan is to purchase renewable energy from independent power producers.

If hydro-electric generation cannot keep up with demand, importing power from the USA and/or Alberta is an option. When the Site C dam comes online in 2025, hydro electric capacity will increase up to 1.1 megawatts.

As industry expands in BC, and demands for electricity grows, options such as hydrogen plant proposals, and EV use are being explored.

Flooding in a field in Mayerthorpe. Weather is partly cloudy.

Alberta introduces new program to prepare for floods, droughts

March 5, 2024 by Ryan Hunt

The province’s new Drought and Flood Protection Program was introduced yesterday.

It is listed in Budget 2024 and will see $125 million be invested into the program over the next five years.

The program will provide municipalities and Indigenous communities with funds to help build flood and drought prevention infrastructure such as berms, flood walls, and retention ponds.

According to the provincial government, the current El Niño conditions are causing warm temperatures and little precipitation over the winter which could lead to major droughts sweeping across during the summer. Minister of Environment and Protected Areas Rebecca Schulz said that, “this program is about funding the lifesaving infrastructure needed to protect Alberta’s communities for years to come.”

The Drought and Flood Protection Program is expected to launch later this year.