All posts by Rochelle Baker

Rochelle Baker is a staff reporter with Canada’s National Observer, thanks thanks to a grant from the Local Journalism Initiative of the Government of Canada. She previously worked as a newspaper reporter and photographer in BC’s Lower Mainland for over 7 years.
Environment, Politics

Alberta’s fossil fuels ‘war room’ singles out a local B.C. government for battle

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Editor’s note: An alarming trend very close to us.

Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

When Nanaimo recently voted to ban FortisBC’s natural gas hookups from new buildings, Alberta’s infamous pro-oil and gas “war room” launched a cross-border political campaign to reverse the move. 

The Canadian Energy Centre (CEC) is a publically funded provincial corporation created by former Alberta premier Jason Kenney to protect and promote the fossil fuel industry. 

Continue reading Alberta’s fossil fuels ‘war room’ singles out a local B.C. government for battle →
Environment, Politics

When climate’s on B.C. communities’ agenda, fossil fuels firms turn up the heat

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Editor’s note: An alarming trend, observed in a body that funds the SRD.

Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Oil and gas companies are still major sponsors at an annual municipal leaders conference even as B.C. reels from a provincewide drought and a fire season driven by climate change.

It’s a contradiction that dismays many municipal and political leaders attending the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) annual convention this week in Vancouver. 

Climate change is one of the top issues at the gathering, with local leaders slated to attend a host of workshops and provincial policy sessions on managing the risks and health impacts of wildfires, emergency disaster response and creating climate-resilient communities. 

Continue reading When climate’s on B.C. communities’ agenda, fossil fuels firms turn up the heat →
Animals, Rivers & Oceans

Holy Mola! That’s a big fish!

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Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Sunfish sightings continue to surface on the West Coast and — Holy Mola! — some examples are pretty big ones. 

Jackie Hildering was astonished by a recent photo depicting an enormous Mola mola submitted to the Marine Education Resource Society citizen science project, which is collecting data on two different species of sunfish along the Pacific Coast.  

Continue reading Holy Mola! That’s a big fish! →
Forests

On third anniversary of B.C’s promise to protect old-growth, ancient trees still falling

Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Conservation groups are alarmed that endangered old-growth forests continue to fall three years after B.C. promised to protect the ancient ecosystems and transform the province’s approach to forestry.

The province hasn’t fully met any of the 14 recommendations of the 2020 Old Growth Strategic Review (OGSR), said Torrance Torrance Coste, national campaign director for the Wilderness Committee.

Continue reading On third anniversary of B.C’s promise to protect old-growth, ancient trees still falling →
Education, Environment

A summer scarred by wildfire and drought puts climate crisis top of mind as university resumes

Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

After a summer marked by unprecedented wildfire and drought, it’s not surprising the climate crisis is top of mind as the school year launches, Vancouver Island University (VIU) geography professor Jeff Lewis says. 

There’s the usual hustle, bustle and excitement with the start of every school year, but virtually everyone returning to campus likely had direct experience with some sort of climate impact over the past few months, said Lewis. 

People across B.C. and most of Canada faced a range of issues — whether it was road closures, interrupted travel plans, cloying smoke, or more extreme threats and stress to themselves or loved ones due to mass evacuations or the loss of homes, businesses or communities to flames or floods. 

Continue reading A summer scarred by wildfire and drought puts climate crisis top of mind as university resumes →