British Columbia’s Great Bear Rainforest (the largest tract of intact coastal temperate rainforest left on Earth) is in danger and there is a public call out for support to raise awareness and put pressure on the current government to keep their promise about conserving the area.
Two years ago, after a ten year struggle, a promise was made by the BC government to protect Canada’s rainforest – the Great Bear Rainforest – the world’s largest temperate rainforest, and home to the Spirit Bear.
Today, that promise is in jeopardy. With a March 31st, 2009 deadline fast approaching, a citizen-driven campaign has sprung-up to secure the fate of this vast and unspoiled wilderness, a place that has captured the imagination of people around the world with its towering red cedars (some as high as 30 storeys), and its rich salmon streams. The fate of the Great Bear Rainforest and its promise to future generations is a story that can only be written by us. [Save The Great Bear]
The campaign is reaching out through all means of social media. You can show your support by writing a blog post, sending an e-message, joining the Facebook Group, following the Twitter feed, or entering the Flickr photo contest.
Growing up on the West Coast you can’t help but appreciate the natural beauty that’s all around us, and even though Stanley Park is the closest thing I currently have to a vast expanse of forest in this city (proper), every day I can’t wait to head out on another journey, trek, camping trip, or getaway to the less populated, and more moss-covered areas of our province.
But an area like the Great Bear Rainforest is in a class of its own, being an invaluable asset to the province, the country, and the planet. This region is roughly 77,000 square kilometers and home to three species of bear (grizzly, black, and kermode – or spirit bear), thousands of unique plants and millions of migratory birds. It is also the home of several First Nations who have inhabited the region for thousands of years.
Hopefully by getting involved in the campaign, which is as simple as clicking the mouse a few times and informing yourself – especially with another Provincial election in the spring, we can remind the government to keep its promise come March 2009.
Update: You can read another variation of this interview on my E!Online post
When wanting to discuss the current state of live music in Vancouver who better to turn to than a homegrown independent band fresh off a cross-country tour. Matt Layzell, lead vocalist and songwriter for The Matinee, met with me in what is known as the city’s entertainment district to talk about being a musician in town these days.
Matt has been in a part of various local bands for the last 10 years, and formed The Matinee in 2007. “Everybody in our band is a writer and a singer,” Matt noted explaining the individual talent of each of the six full time members. Each of them got together after spending years playing with various other acts around town. Continue reading this post ⟩⟩
Last weekend we had a great time getting our boots nice and muddy trekking through the forests of the North Shore, which now leads me to adding another mini-adventure to my Metro Vancouver Park Series, Lynn Canyon Park.
How to get there: You can take Hwy 1 to the Lynn Valley Road exit all the way up to the park at the end (near Lynn Headwaters) or turn off on Peters Road to the Lynn Canyon Park Entrance and trailhead. You can also get there easily on transit (2 zones) by taking a 210 from downtown Vancouver or Phibbs Exchange, or a 228 from the Lonsdale Quay (Sea bus).
Features: At this time of year the park is open from 7:00am until dusk for all to enjoy for free. You can choose from a variety of trails, as the park borders on the Seymour Demonstration Forest, including the extensive Baden-Powell Trail that runs all the way from Deep Cove to Horseshoe Bay. The Lynn Valley Ecology Centre is a nice place to stop in for more information about the area, and there is a cafe on the West side of the suspension bridge in case you’re in need of refreshments.
Believe it or not, this was the first time I ventured across the Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge. If you’re shakey when it comes to height (or having rushing water rage beneath you) I would advise against looking down – all though that’s really the most beautiful part.
History: From VancouverHistory.ca, “September 14, 1912 Lynn Valley Park—today it’s called Lynn Canyon Park, one of the most popular parks in the lower mainland—was officially opened in the District of North Vancouver. Band concerts were given by the North Vancouver City Band. One piece of more than usual interest was entitled The Echoes of the Lynn, composed by Miss G. Strickland, age 15. The 6th Field Engineers of North Vancouver made their first appearance as an Honor Guard.”
Notes: Wear suitable footwear and if you go walking along the trails prepare for mud, roots, and plenty of stairs going up and down. At no time is jumping into the water a very good idea (especially from the 30-foot pool) as there are severe undercurrents and the water’s pace is quick. Dozens of people have lost their lives this way.
For another thrill suspended over white water rapids see my past Day Tripping post about Hell’s Gate and if you have any suggestions for the Metro Vancouver Parks Series, please drop a comment below.
In December a film based on the true story of Luna the orca (aka killer whale) that has been making the rounds at film festivals will be showing at the Ridge in Vancouver.
Luna (1999 – 2006) officially named L98 and also known as Tsuux-iit was an orca. After being separated from his mother as a toddler, he spent five years alone in Nootka Sound, off the west coast of Vancouver Island. His presence in the busy area, which delighted tourists but often brought him into conflict with boaters, led to years of controversy over whether he should be captured and returned to his family. Luna died on March 10, 2006 after he was struck by the propeller of a tugboat. [wiki]
The film, Saving Luna is about more than a friendly Orca. “As Luna got close to people, he became both treasured and feared. To natives he was the spirit of a chief. To boaters he was a goofy friend. To conservationists he was a cause. To scientists he was trouble. To officials he was a danger. As conflict and tragedy stained the waters, Luna became a symbol of the world’s wildest beauty: easy to love, hard to save.”
I’ll have a chance to see the film soon and will offer up a review and specific show times. With over 20 awards ranging from Best Documentary to Audience Favourite from the festival circuit this year, I’m certain it will be almost as captivating as Luna’s legacy.
Update: This will be playing at The Ridge on December 5th. Show times: 4:00, 7:00, 9:00 plus Saturday & Sunday 2:00.
Update: I had the chance to see the film last night and I don’t believe anyone in the audience could have walked away without being affected or touched by this very true story (and no one left with dry eyes either).
While recording an episode of The Crazy Canucks Podcast tonight, my co-host Alanah mentioned she did a Wordle of a Patrick Roy conference call. As this was the first time I had heard of Wordle I looked into it and even made my own based on my current feed.
You can input a block of text, a url or an RSS feed and it will create a tag cloud for the most prominent words used in that story, chunk of text, post or site. I think it’s pretty neat – even moreso that the largest/most used word in the Roy story was “mean”.
