British Columbia Magazine

Wildlife Wednesday is a popular day on our Facebook fan page. We ask our Fans to tell us what wildlife they’ve seen in the province–and the answers always astound me. This week’s winner, chosen randomly, was Keri Brewster, who shared:

“The other day, I saw a family of otters playing right beside the seawall. There was a mom and two young ones, and they were eating crabs and chasing each other and wrestling with each other and just having so much fun! It was the cutest, neatest thing I’ve seen in years!”

Keep those wildlife sighting stories coming–and stay connected with us via our Facebook page for more giveaways.

I had an amusing thought this morning. British Columbia Magazine has been in publication longer than I’ve been alive. ☺

It is an honour to be the editor in 2009, the magazine’s 50th year of publication. And I have never been more excited about an upcoming issue than I am about the Summer 2009 edition.

Our editorial team has put together a true collector’s issue for this landmark occasion. I believe that our “50 Things to Do in B.C. Before You Die” editorial package will surprise and delight even those most dedicated subscribers who have been with us since the first issue in Summer 1959. Look for it on newsstands in mid-June.

This 50th anniversary isn’t just about the magazine; it’s also about you, our loyal and enthusiastic readers—the people who know this province, love it, and take every opportunity to explore it. And we want to hear from YOU in our anniversary year, about the places you’ve been and amazing things you’ve done.

That’s why we’ve created our new Share Your B.C. adventure database, a place for readers and travellers to post their favourite B.C. experiences. Visit www.ShareYourBC.com to search the many entries by specific activity or location. Enter your own “Top Thing to Do in B.C.” and you could be eligible to win one of four incredible B.C. travel packages, each ranging in value from $2,300 to $9,500. Don’t miss out!

See the full prize list and complete contest details at www.ShareYourBC.com/contest

Throughout 2008, British Columbia has been celebrating an important milestone: its 150th birthday. Here at British Columbia Magazine, we highlighted the sesquicentennial in our Summer 2008 issue, a special 150-themed Collector’s Edition. 

Today, our colleagues at Victoria’s Times Colonist newspaper mark a significant anniversary of their own: the first edition of the British Colonist was printed exactly 150 years ago. The four-page newspaper was produced in a shack on Wharf Street by founder Amor de Cosmos, who later became B.C.’s second premier. 

To commemorate their anniversary, the paper launched a website today that provides the public with free access to the first 50 years of Colonist newspapers. Lucinda Chodan, Times Colonist editor in chief, called the resource a “gift to the community that has helped us thrive.” 

“It’s going to be great for historians, genealogists, or anyone who wants to know about the history of the province,” she said. 

The British Colonist site, which went live today at 10:00 a.m., can be searched chronologically or by key word. Either way, it provides a remarkable record of the way we were.

Congratulations, Times Colonist!  

To mark British Columbia’s 150th anniversary, Victoria-based AbeBooks, an online marketplace for reading material (just purchased by Amazon), recently released a list of the 10 most expensive books about B.C. ever sold through the company’s website.

While I can’t fathom spending $1,500 on a book, I would love a peek at that leather-bound collection of Emily Carr’s artwork!

Here are their top five pricey picks; click here to check out the complete list.

1. David Thompson’s Narrative of his Explorations in Western America 1784-1812, ed. J.B. Tyrrell - $4,250This account of Thompson’s explorations in western Canada was published in 1916 and is one of only 550 copies.

2. The Journals of Captain James Cook on His Voyages, ed. J.C. Beaglehole - $1,750A collection of journal entries, written by Cook and his officers during three voyages (including his 1778 exploration of B.C.’s coast) and published in 1955.

3. The Art of Emily Carr, Doris Shadbolt - $1,500This signed, numbered, and leather-bound book contains reproductions of works by the celebrated Victoria-based painter and writer Emily Carr (1871-1945) and is one of only 250 copies.

4. British Columbia Historical Quarterly, various authors - $1,351An important historical resource, this book contains a complete collection of quarterly reports from 1937 to 1956 as well as photographs of prominent British Columbians.

5. Voyages From Montreal, on the River St. Laurence, through the Continent of North America, to the Frozen and Pacific Oceans; in the years 1789 and 1793, Sir Alexander MacKenzie - $1,250Explorer Alexander MacKenzie’s account of the first transcontinental exploration from the St. Lawrence River to the Pacific Ocean.

I was one month into my daily commute from Saltspring Island to British Columbia Magazine’s offices in Victoria when I spotted the handwritten note. Posted on a bulletin board near the ferry terminal, it read:

“Wanted: ride to Victoria. Will share costs.”

Seeking relief from high ferry, gas, and parking costs—and from the eco-guilt of driving alone into the city—I tore off one of the tiny phone-number slips and made the call. And that’s how I started ride-sharing with Nicole.

A study published last week by the World Wildlife Federation (WWF) and Bell Canada reminded me that there are high-tech ways to find a ride-share, too. Here in British Columbia, the Jack Bell Foundation’s online ride-share database promotes both casual ride-shares (with commuters sharing rides in their own vehicles) and formal ride-shares (commuters riding in a Jack Bell Ride-Share van or car).

The WWF study suggests that if Canadians made better use of information and communications technology—for example, to arrange ride-shares; to work from home; or to participate in e-meetings—harmful emissions could be reduced by as much as 20 million tonnes nation-wide. That’s the equivalent of taking 3.2 million cars off the road!

Interested in saving money and reducing your carbon footprint? Register your route at the Jack Bell Ride-Share website.

To read the WWF/Bell Canada study, Innovating Toward a Low-Carbon Canada: Using Technology to Transform Tomorrow, click here.

By the end of June, British Columbians will open their mailboxes to find a big, fat, $100 opportunity waiting for them—formally known as the Climate Action Dividend.

The cheques, issued by the Government of British Columbia, are intended to provide incentive for B.C. residents to choose a “lower-carbon lifestyle.” They are also meant to ease the discomfort of the new provincial carbon tax that comes into effect July 1. All carbon-based fuels will be taxed $10 per tonne of greenhouse gas generated, which works out to 2.4 cents/litre for gasoline at the pump—up another 7.35 cents by 2012—and 2.8 cents/litre for home fuels.

While some may be tempted to use the money to fill up their tanks, others are considering the most effective way to invest in the environment. The Tyee, an alternative online news magazine, recently polled its readers and found that British Columbians have great interest in pooling their resources to make a larger, collective impact.

Need ideas? The Tyee—working with the Western Canada Wilderness Committee, Voters Taking Action on Climate Change, the David Suzuki Foundation, and the Pembina Institute—has launched an informative website: www.greenyourcampbellcash.ca. The site showcases climate-action projects throughout the province, all willing to put your money to good use.

Now that I have a few good options for my $100 cheque, only one question remains: what will the Carbon Tax Dividend Fairy look like? Anita thinks she’ll definitely be green. I picture a winged sprite with pointy shoes and Carole Taylor’s smile.

“Share the Road.” It’s a phrase we normally associate with cyclists, but as the Victoria Day holiday approaches, it’s important to remember that wildlife use our roadways, too. According to the the Wildlife Collison Prevention Program (WCPP), more than 19,500 animals are killed each year on B.C. roads.  About 76% of these incidents involve deer; moose, elk, coyotes, bears and other wildlife make up the remaining 24% of annual animal fatalities. Before you set off this long weekend, consider the following drive-safe tips:

Watch for the signs - The yellow, diamond-shaped Wildlife Warning Sign warns of a hazard ahead.

Reduce speed -  Reduce speed, regardless of road or weather conditions, whenever your travels take you through a high density wildlife area.

Drive defensively - Actively watch for movement or shining eyes, on and beside the road, especially between dusk and dawn. Moose are especially difficult to see because of their dark coats; their height also places them above most headlights.

Use your vehicle - Wear your seatbeat at all times, and use your horn or flash your lights to frighten animals off the road. Keep your headlights on high beam at night for greater long-range visibility.  

For more tips and information about how to avoid a wildlife vehicle collision, visit the Wildlife Collision Prevention Program website.  

This year marks the 150th anniversary of B.C. being named a Crown colony, and here at British Columbia Magazine, we’re all busy preparing sesquicentennial stories for our Summer 2008 issue. It looks like a library has exploded in our editorial office—everywhere I turn, there are stacks of books on local history!

One of my assignments has been to research the Royal B.C. Museum’s upcoming exhibit, Free Spirit: Stories of You, Me and B.C. Last week, the RBCM gave me a sneak peek. Free Spirit showcases the province’s history and character through the tales of individual British Columbians—both famous and unknown—as well as historic artifacts, images, performances, and other elements. 

One man’s story, in particular, reminded me that B.C. has had its share of delightful oddballs.  Frederick Gerald Tibbs lived on an island in Clayoquot Sound that he called Dreamisle (now Arnet Island). According to Tofino Time magazine, Tibbs cut down every tree on his island except for one giant spruce. He would climb that tree to a chair he had lashed to the top, 30 metres off the ground, and play his cornet for Tofino. When the eccentric Mr. Tibbs died in 1921, he left his island to one sweetheart, and his castle on the island to another.

If you have an interesting personal story about life in B.C., consider posting it to the Free Spirit website. (It doesn’t have to be as quirky as Mr. Tibbs’s tale!) The RBCM will be including some of these stories in its public exhibit, which opens March 13, 2008, and will run until January 11, 2009.

For more information, contact the Royal B.C. Museum. 

Recent avalanche deaths in the province provide a sobering reminder that snow conditions aren’t the only thing you should check before heading out to ski, snowboard, or snowmobile this winter. It’s also critically important to study avalanche advisories, and to understand how local weather conditions can affect the terrain at your destination.

Visit the Canadian Avalanche Centre (CAC) website, which offers a free online avalanche-rescue course, along with detailed avalanche forecasts, bulletins, incident reports, and risk summaries. You can also search the Internet for avalanche-safety courses in your area. 

The CAC advises winter travellers to leave a trip plan behind with a responsible person before venturing into the backcountry, and to pack a beacon, shovel, probe, and other emergency gear (such as an avalanche transceiver). Once at your destination, watch for changing weather conditions that may indicate new safety concerns.

To help raise avalanche awareness and promote winter safety, the CAC will host Avalanche Awareness Days from January 11 to 13 at 19 B.C. ski and snowmobile areas. Activities will include hands-on demonstrations of safety gear as well as tips on how to use public avalanche bulletins. 

To learn more, and for current avalanche advisories, contact the CAC.  

“I’ll be home for Christmas, you can count on me. . . .”

Are you one of the many travellers who will be making a winter roadtrip home for the holidays? After you select your seasonal music for the long drive, and stow a winter emergency kit in your trunk, there is one more thing you should do. Fire up your computer and visit DriveBC on the Internet.

The website, maintained by the Ministry of Transportation, provides up-to-date information on highway conditions throughout the province. Search by individual highway number, or click the online map to view regularly refreshed road reports for your planned route.

To see conditions in real time, choose the Highway Cams link to view recent highway photographs. Weather reports are also available.

Once you’re on the road, you can call DriveBC’s free automated telephone hotline for current information: 1-800-550-4997.

Happy holidays, and please drive safely.