Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
After hiking along the Campbell River in unseasonably warm September sunshine, wrestling my middle-aged body into a wetsuit is no easy feat.
But I’m determined to get a new angle on the iconic West Coast keystone species I so regularly write about as a reporter. I’m going swimming with salmon.
Continue reading I swam with the salmon — they taught me about dignity and strengthCanada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporters
A tiny B.C. island is charting a new course for rural education to keep families from abandoning the community to ensure their kids can attend high school.
This fall, the Cortes Island community and School District 72 are piloting a half-year of public high-school programming shaped by students’ interests, community expertise and the surrounding environment, said Manda Aufochs Gillespie, one of the project’s organizers.
Continue reading Small B.C. island floats new model of rural education
By Natasha Bulowski with files from Rochelle Baker, Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporters
B.C. municipalities are pushing for stronger environmental protections from the federal government to keep harmful cargo and cruise ship pollution out of the ocean.
In a “historic” motion unanimously passed Sept. 16, the Union of BC Municipalities asked the province to urge the federal government to address pollution produced by exhaust cleaning systems on cargo and cruise ships, according to a Stand.earth press release.
Continue reading B.C. municipalities want action on cargo and cruise ship pollutionNational Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The blueprint for a vast network of marine protected areas across the northern third of Canada’s West Coast is being unveiled after more than a decade of work.
A group of 17 coastal First Nations and the Canadian and B.C. governments have crafted a draft action plan for the BC Northern Shelf MPA Network — covering 100,000-square-kilometres of ocean — and released it for public input Thursday.
Continue reading ‘A huge achievement’: Vision for vast network of West Coast marine protected areas unveiled at lastNational Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Environmental groups worry Ottawa is backtracking on its commitment to phase out open net-pen salmon farming in B.C. waters after approving expansions to three operations off the west coast of Vancouver Island.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has permitted Cermaq Canada to significantly increase the volume of Atlantic salmon produced at three farm sites in Clayoquot Sound, said Bonny Glambeck, campaigns director for Clayoquot Action.
Continue reading Ottawa is scaling back its promise to phase out open net-pen salmon farms, critics say
