Tag Archives: Judith Sayers

Disaster

West coast expedition explores deep-sea habitat never seen before

Editor’s note: Vancouver Island’s last major earthquake was in January 1700 and measured +9 on the richter scale. Earthquakes of this magnitude occur roughly every 500 years (but could be as little as 200 years or as much as 1,000 years – Dr. Gerard Fryer, University of Hawaii). The largest local earthquake in more historic times only measured 7.3 and occurred in 1946. The epicentre was Cumberland, Union Bay and Courtenay, where 75% of the chimneys crumbled, but building swayed as far away as Vancouver. There were reports from Campbell River, Powell River and on Cortes, Quadra and Read Islands. 

By Melissa Renwick, Ha-Shilth-Sa, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Deep under the ocean’s surface off the west coast of Vancouver Island lies a mountain range of around 50 underwater volcanoes – measuring from 1,000 to 3,000 metres high. 

These seamounts, as they’re more accurately named, are the reason earthquakes and tsunamis threaten British Columbia’s coast, said Cherisse Du Preez, head of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s (DFO) deep-sea ecology program.

Continue reading West coast expedition explores deep-sea habitat never seen before →
Forests

Mosaic defers logging of old-growth on Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii

By Melissa Renwick, Ha-Shilth-Sa, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

British Columbia’s largest private landowner, Mosaic Forest Management, is halting logging in nearly 100,000 acres of old-growth forest for the next 25 years.

The forestry company announced the deferral on March 16 and said it’s transitioning to a carbon credit program, which is expected to generate several hundred million dollars in revenue. 

Continue reading Mosaic defers logging of old-growth on Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii →
Waste

Majority of shipping containers aboard MV Zim Kingston still missing

By Melissa Renwick, Ha-Shilth-Sa, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

It’s been three months since 109 shipping containers were knocked from a cargo ship traveling through rough seas off the west coast of Vancouver Island, yet the location of all but four remain unknown.

Ashley Tapp, co-founder of Epic Exeo, said her initial optimism that the ship’s owner would be held accountable for the missing containers has begun to fade. 

“I’m starting to get pretty discouraged,” she said. 

Continue reading Majority of shipping containers aboard MV Zim Kingston still missing →
Education, Indigenous Nations

What Vancouver Island University is doing to decolonise BC’s classrooms

By Jenessa Joy Klukas, The Discourse, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Education student Hayden Taylor says Vancouver Island University (VIU) is “definitely a safe space for Indigenous future educators.” 

Taylor is a member of the Haisla Nation, and as a fifth year in VIU’s Bachelor of Education program, he regularly participates in Indigenous practices on campus.

Taylor is an active participant at Shq’apthut (A Gathering Place), the campus’s hub for Indigenous supports, and is part of VIU’s community cousins program. “[Community Cousin’s] is a mentorship program that is made up of Indigenous students at VIU, that provides support for Indigenous students.”

Continue reading What Vancouver Island University is doing to decolonise BC’s classrooms →
Indigenous Nations, Justice

Emergency motion to de-escalate RCMP tactics against land defenders gives way to Wet’suwet’en ‘internal dispute’

By Shari Narine, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Windspeaker.com

An emergency resolution calling for “de-militarizing” RCMP from using force against defenders of traditional lands was withdrawn at the Assembly of First Nations gathering because chiefs felt uncomfortable wading into the struggles between hereditary chiefs and elected chiefs in Wet’suwet’en territory.

Continue reading Emergency motion to de-escalate RCMP tactics against land defenders gives way to Wet’suwet’en ‘internal dispute’ →