Shifting Volunteer Hours to Work-Related Endeavours

I’m rejiggering my volunteer time. Pulling back a bit from some of the fishy/enviro stuff, and shifting over to more work-related volunteering.

First step, meet the new Program Chair for the Editors Canada BC Branch :-).

I really enjoyed meeting lots of folks and renewing many acquaintances at the Editors Canada BC Branch Annual General Meeting tonight.

Thank you for your confidence in accepting me into the executive fold, and here’s to having more great programs for 2016-17 starting next autumn! And thanks to Kyra and Marianne for also joining the program committee.

I have some big shoes to fill, but I’m happy that everyone is happy to help.

Nikon, Broadway Camera Event at Iona Beach, YVR

I took in the Broadway Camera / Nikon Canada camera/lens event at Iona Beach Regional Park near YVR (Vancouver International Airport). It was fun trying out all the latest Nikon gear, and huge Nikkor telephoto and telephoto zoom lenses.

I fell in lust with the new Nikon D500 just as I figured I would. Amazingly responsive autofocus and blazing speed make for a superb wildlife camera. Going to need to save up a lot of coins in the spare change jar! : -)

I then shot some osprey and tree swallow photos with my, er, Tamron 150-600mm lens : -). Hey, I’ve got several Nikon DSLRs and half a dozen Nikkors, too!

Nikon camera event

osprey iona beach

osprey iona beach

osprey iona beach

tree swallow iona beach

tree swallow iona beach

Green Talks with Burnaby Board of Trade, City of Burnaby

I enjoyed the Green Talks this morning sponsored by the Burnaby Board of Trade.

The City of Burnaby was also at the event to solicit input into its Environmental Sustainability Strategy (ESS).

I had the pleasure of being a member of the ESS Steering Committee, and am also a former member of the BBOT’s Environmental Sustainability Committee, so it was great to see ongoing progress in such initiatives.

The Green Talks included several speakers in a rapid-fire format, sharing sustainability programs from their organizations.

green talks

ESS input
Folks checking out ESS panels and providing feedback

Byrne Creek Runs Milky Day After Fish Release

I was shocked to see Byrne Creek running a milky gray-green the day after volunteer streamkeepers and local schoolchildren released several thousand coho smolts (yearlings) into the creek.

I called the City of Burnaby, and neither City staff nor I saw any dead or distressed fish, but folks, please remember that NOTHING is to go down street drains other than rain.

We missed a bullet today!

byrne creek pollution
Griffiths’ Pond near Edmonds Skytrain Station

Streamkeeping, sustainability, community, business, photography, books, and animals, with occasional forays into social commentary. Text and Photos © Paul Cipywnyk