Sept 16 - Old-growth protesters prepare for arrests in Walbran Valley

Good morning !

We have a environment-heavy story lineup for you today (I guess that comes with the territory of living on an island of natural wonders).

Old-growth blockades are heating up once more near Fairy Creek, UVic is monitoring the stress mountain environments face as hikers flock to trails, and sadly, another Southern Resident killer whale is mourning its young.

— Robyn

Today’s approx. read time: 6 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌤️ 24 / 13

Tomorrow: ⛅ 22 / 13

Day after: 🌤️ 17 / 13

7-day forecast

NEWS

Walbran Valley injunction approved by
BC Supreme Court

The ancient forests near Fairy Creek, where the largest act of civil disobedience in Canadian history took place in 2021, have been fairly silent for nearly four years. But as logging in Vancouver Island’s old-growth forests picks up, protesters have returned to protect these ancient trees. 

On Friday, BC Supreme Court judge Amy Francis rendered her decision to approve an injunction requested by Tsawak-qin Forestry Inc.—co-owned by Western Forest Products and the Huu-ay-aht First Nations—after two days of hearings in Vancouver last week. 

Those named in the injunction—including Elder Bill Jones, who has been at the centre of old-growth protests on Pacheedaht lands for the last five years—are banned from blocking the logging company’s access to old-growth forests in the Tree Farm License 44 area.

On Aug. 25, a 15-foot-tall cougar sculpture was erected by an anonymous group of activists—it’s not clear whether they are directly linked to the Rainforest Fling Squad, an ad-hoc group of protesters who led the 2021 blockades at Fairy Creek—on a logging road to the Upper Walbran Valley, about 12 km from the site of the Fairy Creek protests.

The Walbran Valley was ground zero for the “War in the Woods” protests of the 1980s and 1990s, which extended to Clayoquot Sound. Those protests led to the protection of some areas,  but patches within this zone are still open for logging. 

Only 5,500 of the valley’s 13,000 hectares are protected. The Upper Walbran was never included in the BC government's temporary deferrals enacted in the central part of the valley in 2021.

The group has stated that it had the blessing of several local elders to block the province-approved—and First-Nation-approved—logging of old-growth. 

The removal of the sculpture and the people protesting could happen at any time. Yesterday, blockaders at Cougar Camp—named for the sculpture blocking the logging road—said they were ready and waiting to be arrested while protecting Upper Walbran. 

If arrests happen, it will be the first time in the valley since early 2022, when the last of more than 1K arrests took place.

Read the full story here.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Help VicPD’s fraud investigation into counterfeit Ribfest tokens.

Area closure in Elk/Beaver Lake Park while filming takes place in Governor General fields and parking area, today through Sept. 26. [CRD]

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

Support local journalism by supporting Capital Daily. Become a Capital Daily Insider member today and help bring local stories to life. 

NEWS

UVic keeping tabs on recreational activities on Coast Mountains

UVic researchers are leading a team to find out whether too much of a good thing is a bad thing—specifically, whether eco-tourism and outdoor lovers are damaging the ecosystem. 

The researchers have teamed up with BC Parks and the Squamish Nation on a study of the Coast Mountains to see whether they are being overused. 

“Recreational activities affect water quality, plant community composition, and wildlife behaviour, which have led to conflicts over shared use,” Noémie Boulanger-Lapointe, UVic assistant professor, geography said in a release. 

When warmer temperatures hit mountain ecosystems, it causes glaciers to retreat and can affect plants and animals that thrive in the cold. At the same time, traffic into the backcountry of areas, such as Squamish and Pemberton, has increased, which can damage the ecosystem. 

Boulanger-Lapointe leads the Alpine Horizons research project, which aims to find new information to support conserving these biosystems, while at the same time, allowing tourists and outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy them. The idea is to develop assessment tools that can be used to make decisions on where and when the areas can sustain visitors.

Evaluating the impacts of climate warming and recreational use will dictate what becomes of the mountain systems in the next 50-200 years, the group says on the project website. 

“This knowledge is gathered with the intention to inform mitigation strategies, including the protection of culturally and economically important species,” it said.

NEWS

J-Pod orca seen pushing dead calf

The endangered whales gained a new member but quickly lost it, leaving its mother, J36, grieving.

On Friday, she was seen pushing the body of her deceased newborn calf—believed to have been born earlier that week—through Rosario Strait using her nose. It’s unclear if the calf was stillborn or died shortly after birth; its umbilical cord was still attached.

Multiple research teams from different organizations arrived on the scene, according to the Center for Whale Research, to take measurements and observe J36 and her calf. Teams will continue to monitor to “piece together” any information about the newborn and keep an eye on J36’s well-being.

J-Pod whales have made headlines over the past few years for their unique way of mourning. J35 (AKA Tahlequah), a whale close in age to J36, has been recorded propelling her dead calf on two occasions: once in 2018, when she pushed her offspring’s body for 17 days straight, and again earlier this year, when she pushed the dead calf for 11 days.

SPONSORED BY CITY OF VICTORIA

Beyond the Curb: Recycling Simplified

The City’s making it easier to recycle flexible plastics, foam packaging, and small appliances and electronics. Visit Victoria’s weekend recycling hub at 1234 Yates Street on Saturdays and Sundays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

You can also drop off flexible plastics and foam packaging at various community market locations.

⭐️ Capital Picks

🧑‍🎨 Artist callout: Victoria at Dusk is looking for creators to design art installations. Applications open until Sept. 30. [Details]

🧡 South Island Powwow. [Sept. 30]

📚 Celebrate 1K Little Free Libraries on Sept. 20. [Call for stories] 

🗞️ In Other News

8.74% tax increase expected for Saanich residents
Increased labour and building costs are huge challenges, but the “council will be seeking ways to bring that number down,” Mayor Dean Murdoch said. Last night, the council was scheduled to consider budgetary guidelines—including that all municipal government departments issue zero spending increases over 2025 spending—and scenarios that could reduce the hike by 1 or 2%. Last year’s tax hike for Saanichites was 8.02%, and the year before was 7.93%. [Times Colonist]

Qualicum Beach motorcycle crash victim was a mother of 2
Amanda (Mandy) Boss and her boyfriend were on a Harley Davidson that collided with a pickup on Island Highway near Mistaken Road Saturday night at about 7:30. The man was rushed to the hospital with “very serious injuries” but Boss, 37 and from Port Alberni, who has sons ages seven and 10, died in the collision. A 54-year-old man driving the truck was not injured. [CHEK]

Road closed between Bamfield and Port Alberni may open at the end of October
Trees, debris, and unstable slopes—a result of the Mount Underwood Fire, which led to the evacuation of hundreds of residents—continue to block the route to the small tourist town of Bamfield. The province is working with a local forest management company to clear the roads and prepare it for future extreme weather events. A new weather station and closure gates on the road will be installed in the next two weeks. The only access to Bamfield is a rough detour road from Youbou. [CTV]

🗓️ Things to do

🧵 Mending Workshop: Bring your well-loved garments to receive supplies and guidance for mending, or practice sewing skills on scrap fabricat Little Fernwood today. 5-6:30pm. [Info]

🎵 Shannon Perkins Carr: Enjoy the talented local performer, along with food trucks, games, and outdoor activities at Ship Point today. 5-6:30pm. [Info]

🎭 1979: A sharp comedy about backroom politics following Joe Clark as Canada's youngest prime minister at Belfry Theatre today. 7:30pm. Runs through Oct. 5. [Info]

🎪 Circus Osorio: Experience skilled aerialists, daring motorcycle stunts, and international performers up close under the Castle Big Top at Mayfair Shopping Centre today. 7pm. [Info]

🤣 Rick Mercer: The popular Canadian comic will be at the Royal Theatre twice this week: tonight & Friday. 7pm. [Info]

🐳 Making Waves: Under the Sea in Victoria: Watch a film about our local orca pods and see 100 new sculptures of whales, octopus, sea lions, and more at Cedar Hill Rec Centre. Fri. 5:30-8:30pm. [Info]

🎨 Art Battle Victoria: In three fast-paced rounds, artists battle the clock and each other to create their best work in just 20 minutes at Downbeat Event Centre. Sat. 6-9:30pm. [Info]

👗 Attic Treasures Vintage Market: Discover vintage clothing, jewelry, accessories, collectibles, and more at St. Luke’s Community Hall. Sat. 9am-4pm. [Info]

🖌️ Clay & Canvas: A collaborative exhibition featuring the paintings and pottery of six local artists at Artsea Gallery. Sept. 19-25. [Info] 

👀 In Case You Missed It

Sunday’s headlines: UVic quiet about Charlie Kirk-related social media posts; Weekly roundup; Engagement continues on Victoria OCP.  [Sept. 15]

Sunday’s Terry Fox Run broke the fundraising record in Victoria for cancer research. [CHEK]

BC Maritime Museum acquires virtual encyclopedia of nautical history. [Times Colonist] 

BC doesn’t make Carney’s cut for new housing. [CP / CBC]

Odd otter attack near Port Alberni. [Black Press]

Missing person found: Kevin, 55, has been located. 

RCAF CF-18 flypast over Royal Roads (Yesterday) at 2pm.

Blue-green algae advisories remain in place for two beaches in Thetis Lake Park and Beaver Lake. People and pets should not swim in these spots. [CRD]

That’s it!

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