My Value Village find today — a book presented to John Fraser, who was a Canadian federal Minister of the Environment, Fisheries & Oceans Minister, and House Speaker.
And a cool tidbit — he was born in Yokohama, Japan.
Category Archives: Sustainability
FraserFest 2017 Events
Check out FraserFest 2017 Events!
FraserFEST 2017 celebrates our watersheds with a series of river adventures and wild salmon feasts in communities along the Fraser River.
Canadian Govt Seeks Input on Strengthening Enviro/Regulatory Reviews
If you’re involved in environmental issues in Canada in any way, be it as a volunteer, consultant, NGO staff member, etc., you may be interested in contributing feedback to this discussion paper.
Environmental and Regulatory Reviews: Discussion Paper
Purpose
Our Government is committed to deliver environmental assessment and regulatory processes that regain public trust, protect the environment, introduce modern safeguards, advance reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, ensure good projects go ahead, and resources get to market.
We made this commitment because we share common concerns about the ability of Canada’s environmental assessment and regulatory processes to protect and sustain the natural environment while getting resources to market and creating good, middle class jobs for Canadians. In the current system:
- There is a need for greater transparency around the science, data and evidence supporting decisions and to ensure Indigenous knowledge is sufficiently taken into account;
- Protections to Canada’s fisheries and waterways are insufficient; and,
- Indigenous peoples and the public should have more opportunities to meaningfully participate.
This discussion paper outlines the changes our Government is considering for Canada’s environmental assessment and regulatory processes that will:
- Regain public trust;
- Protect the environment;
- Advance reconciliation with Indigenous peoples; and,
- Ensure good projects go ahead and resources get to market.
Government is seeking feedback on this discussion paper.
Spring Bug Count on Byrne Creek
Byrne Creek Streamkeepers Society volunteers sampled nine sites on the creek today for bugs — AKA aquatic invertebrates. The types and quantities of bugs found are an indicator of water quality.
After the bugs are collected using D-nets, we retire to a volunteer’s home to count in comfort, accompanied by coffee, tea, and muffins.
Caddisfly
Growing collection of mayflies
A cool aquatic snail
Prepping To Put Out Mason Bee Boxes
Yesterday, Yumi and I spent a wonderful evening with mason-bee whisperer and native-plant gardener Joe Sadowski. Thanks for the personal tutoring and inspiration!
We even got several plants to take home!
Today I put my basic carpentry skills to the test (earning at best a “C”), and made two additional boxes.
I’ve never been a cabinetry or finishing type of carpenter, if I may call myself a carpenter at all — more of a demolition and framing, roughing in, kinda guy.
But while not pretty, they’re functional.
Subaru Outback Hits 300,000
Our trusty ’98 Subaru Outback hit 300,000 kilometers today, or just over 185,000 miles. As you can see, at nearly 20 years old, we don’t put a lot of mileage on it annually. Never used it for commuting until about six months ago, and that commute is only a couple of klicks.
Our mechanic says he regularly services an Outback with over 500,000 kilometers on it. Doubt if we’ll keep ours that long — while still reliable, it’s becoming increasingly expensive to maintain. And we’d also like a hybrid. . .
Celebrating Burnaby Enviro Strategy Steering Committee
Dinner and certificates tonight for folks who served on the City of Burnaby’s Environmental Sustainability Strategy Steering Committee. It was a great team!
Forest Walks Rejuvenate Muscles, Mind
A brisk afternoon below-freezing walk in Byrne woods in SE #Burnaby does wonders to rejuvenate one’s stiff muscles and overtaxed mind.
Nature in general, and forests in particular, are my lifeline. They alleviate general blahs, stiff muscles from sitting too much at the desk, brain stupor from too much office work, and more. Get the blood pumping, muscles moving, and it’s amazing how much better you feel.
We are so fortunate to have this wonderful ravine park just out the back gate to our townhouse complex.
Byrne Creek Dike Clearcut Well Underway
Provincial dike regulations are forcing the City of Burnaby to clearcut the habitat along lower Byrne Creek that shades the creek and is home to dozens of species of birds and other wildlife.
You can see in these photos how this stretch is going from lush mixed trees, bush, and other vegetation, to wasteland. I understand the need to inspect dikes for safety reasons, but is it really necessary to clearcut everything?
I know that Burnaby protested, to no avail, but I wonder why the work is going ahead just as salmon are returning to spawn.
And I’m sure that summer water temperature in this lower part of the creek will become lethal to trout and salmon with all the cover gone.
UPDATE: Over the course of the day I was in touch with both DFO and City of Burnaby Environmental staff. DFO will be looking into this, and enviro staff sounded surprised at the extent of plant removal, saying they thought only trees that were impeding vehicle movement along the top of the dike were supposed to be targeted at this time.
However, this still comes down to unbending provincial regulations. Cannot a happy medium be found that allows for inspection and assurance of safety, yet retains critical suburban salmon and other wildlife habitat?
Rivers Day at Burnaby Village Museum
Volunteers with the Byrne Creek Streamkeepers Society participated in World Rivers Day at the Burnaby Village Museum. It was a lovely day.
Byrne Creek Streamkeepers booth
The ancient Japanese kamishibai storytelling art with a rivers twist
: -)
An OWL ambassador (Orphaned Wildlife Rehabilitation Society)
An endangered Western Painted Turtle, cared for by the Coastal Painted Turtle Project
Rivers Day founder Mark Angelo
City of Burnaby Environment Committee Chair Anne Kang
Lots of fun for kids!
A couple of City of Burnaby eco-sculpture cows hanging out.