Category Archives: Photography

Nature, Photography, Sustainability

Tree Walk ̓n Talk at Riverview Hospital Grounds in Coquitlam

Excellent tree walk ̓n talk on the grounds of the Riverview Hospital in Coquitlam, BC. The grounds have an amazing variety of trees, and the Riverview Horticultural Centre Society has been campaigning for years to save as many of them as possible as the site faces development pressures.

This was the last tour of 2019, but Yumi and I would be happy to go on another one next year!

Thanks to Julia Alards-Tomalin, an instructor at BCIT who led the tour.

And apologies to Julia for taking half the tour to place her — I kept thinking to myself “where do I know this woman from?” Jeez, brain lag, we’re both directors on the Invasive Species Council of Metro Vancouver .

tree tour riverview hospital coquitlam bc


There are a couple of Ginko trees on the grounds. They were far from full aroma. . . There was lots of talk about what they smell like at peak fullness, but there are few around here. . .

But yeah, I remember them from my years in Japan when they were, shall we say, powerful reminders of nature, even on congested Tokyo boulevards…

 

Nature, Pets, Photography

Gentle Giants, Wee Porkers

These gentle giants provide coyote protection on a farm in Langley. The owner said her predator losses went to zero after she got the dogs. Apparently they love to work, sleep much of the day, and patrol all night.

huge dogs provide predator protection

And these once nearly-extinct little KuneKune pigs love petting and attention.

kunekune pigs

Thanks to the Langley Environmental Partners Society for hosting this WaterWeeks: Farm Fresh Bus Tour!

We enjoyed it, and learned a lot. Great to visit all these small organic and heritage farms operated by passionate folks attuned with nature.

Business, Food, Nature, Photography, Streamkeeping

Ag Journalists Tour Byrne Creek with Someone Very Special

It was a pleasure to meet Cathy Glover today and get a photo taken with her at the monument to her late father Ken, who was instrumental in leading initial cleanups of Byrne Creek and the ravine decades ago.

A group of agriculture journalists toured the lower ravine with us. We talked salmon, invasive species, water quality and quantity. I feel there are common concerns about such issues across BC and Canada.

Glover monument Byrne Creek

Nature, Photography, Society, Streamkeeping, Sustainability

Super Invasive Species Council of Metro Vancouver Fall Forum 2019

Great day at the Invasive Species Council of Metro Vancouver (@iscmv) Fall Forum today in Maple Ridge. I’ve been active on the ISCMV board for a few years.

Interesting speakers, and several educational tours. I chose to visit ARMS, the Alouette River Management Society (@AlouetteRiverMS) to see their hatchery and education center. Got to see a chum salmon dissection, and learn about coexisting with black bears and cougars.


ISCMV invasive species council vancouver ARMS

Nature, Photography, Society, Streamkeeping, Sustainability

Soggy Burnaby Rivers Day

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It was a very soggy BC/World Rivers Day at the Burnaby Village Museum today. Thanks to all the volunteers!


Our Byrne Creek Streamkeepers Society booth


Byrne Creek Streamkeepers volunteers with Rivers Day founder Mark Angelo


Great chatting with Dannie, the Co-Existing with Coyotes Coordinator with the Stanley Park Ecology Society, who was in the booth next to ours.


Entertainment rain or shine!


Burnaby Councillor Joe Keithley on the left, Svend Robinson (former Canadian MP, running again in the upcoming election) to the right, and environmentalist, photographer, and First Nations educator John Preissl in the middle.


Sav Dhaliwal City of Burnaby councilor and chair of Metro Vancouver


Burnaby Mayor Michael Hurley


BC and World Rivers Day founder Mark Angelo

world rivers day burnaby bc


American Kestrel that cannot be released back into the wild due to effects of injuries


Barred Owl that cannot be released back into the wild due to effects of injuries