Did You Know? Bill C-15
The government is pushing through Bill C-15, the 600-page Budget Implementation Act. Buried inside it is something called the Red Tape Reduction Act. It lets any cabinet minister exempt any company from any federal law (environmental protections, public safety... Read more
Reclaim the Economy for People and the Planet
As readers of this column know, I often refer to a piece of wisdom put forth by the World Wide Fund for Nature in 2014: “Ecosystems sustain societies that create economies. It does not work any other way round.”
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Modernizing Industrial Water Rates in BC: Ending the Great Water Giveaway
Your voice is a key part of making water rates fair and protecting BC’s watersheds. Tell decision-makers that British Columbians care about clean water and strong, sustainable funding for our watersheds. Budget day is Feb. 17th. Talking points appear after you click... Read more
Science Alliance for Forestry Transformation Update
“SAFT is group of leading forest ecologists/forest practitioners advocating for both legislative/policy and forest practices changes in B.C. The forest industry to date has largely been one of unsustainable resource extraction and conversion of primary forests... Read more
Vancouver Island Duo Provides Free Pet Care for Owners in Treatment
The call would come in, a treatment bed ready, motivation high, everything lined up. Then the same answer, again and again. “I don’t have anywhere for my dog to go.” For Priya Sharma and Kayleigh Busch, it was one of the hardest…
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Twenty-Five Ways to Make Life Affordable for All
Robert Reich is right. In a recent Substack post he laid out how tariffs, monopolies, and corporate power are driving up the cost of living for ordinary people. Much of what we call “inflation” is not an economic inevitability, but the result of policy choices that... Read moreRare Wetland For Sale
Water is life and we desperately need to keep land for nature reserves. Please lend your support for Hamilton Marsh, the largest wetland between Nanaimo, Cumberland, and Port Alberni – located just minutes from the Town of Qualicum Beach by donating or writing a... Read more
There Is No Denying The Level Of Cycling Here
Hardly a day goes by that we don’t see letters to the editor decrying the waste of public money on bicycle facilities that apparently no one uses. Here are some numbers for those so afflicted with windshield myopia…
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Why Become a UNESCO Urban Biosphere Region?
Largely lost in the flurry of pre-Christmas distractions was a Dec. 10 announcement from the Greater Victoria Naturehood that the Capital Regional District board had approved a staff recommendation to prepare nomination documents designating Greater Victoria a UNESCO urban biosphere region.
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Growth, Grace, and Social Justice
An excerpt from Eclosion: An Artist’s Path to Power and Peace. Often, those of us who care deeply about justice shut people down for not being as far along on the spectrum of unlearning and relearning. We forget that it is a journey for all of us— that not so long... Read more
City of Victoria Draft Budget Missing Important Details – Public Comments Open Until Jan. 23rd
In response to the City of Victoria offering public input (until Jan. 23) on their draft budget, Creatively United has drafted this response. The public is encouraged to use this information to let the City of Victoria know that natural solutions, like trees, are an... Read more
Protect BC Forests
Two independent scientists in British Columbia, Dr. Suzanne Simard and Dr. Rachel F. Holt have prepared a quick and simple petition to lend support for our forests. Dr. Suzanne Simard is the author of the acclaimed book Finding the Mother Tree: Uncovering the Wisdom... Read more
Template Letters to all levels of Government – Action on Urban Forest and Climate-ready housing and Communities
Letters to Government – Action on Urban Forest and Climate-ready housing and Communities Thank you for taking action for our shared well-being! Find contact information for key government contacts here. SECTION 1 – Letter to Mayor and Council re... Read moreWhat You Can Do To Defend the North Coast Tanker Ban and Protect B.C.’s Coast
The North Coast Tanker Ban is there for a reason: to keep Coastal Communities safe What you can do to Defend the North Coast Tanker Ban and Protect B.C.’s Coast Context B.C. communities and The B.C. Government and Coastal First Nations have voiced strong... Read more
The Undoing of the Islands Trust
Fifty years ago, BC took a bold step to save our islands from “exploitation by real-estate developers and speculators,”* passing the Islands Trust Act, with its famous mandate “to preserve and protect” the Trust Area. Most islanders know that... Read more
Ella Stream in Critical Danger
Ella Stream in Critical Danger: When asked if the District of Sooke had discussions with the Federal Government about damage or potential damage to the Ella Stream and its environs, Sooke’s CAO, initially confirmed that conversations between the District and the Feds... Read more
Climate Ready Communities – A Toolkit for Local Governments
How can communities in B.C. grow and create new housing options while maintaining public safety and quality of life in the face of climate change and the biodiversity crisis? How do we create climate-ready housing and climate-ready neighbourhoods that are resilient to... Read more
Neighbourhood Associations Band Together to Pursue Solution
Dozens of neighbourhood associations from across British Columbia have banded together to form the British Columbia Alliance of Neighbourhoods (BCAN). BCAN is the first platform of its kind that connects, coordinates, and amplifies voices of neighbourhood groups and... Read more
Community Meditation and Brainstorm for the Old Growth Forests
Sunday, December 21, 4:30-6:30 pm, Church of Truth, 111 Superior St. Agenda: 4:30 pm: Doors open 4:45-5 pm: Introduction to the gathering’s purpose and intention 5-5:15 pm: World Meditation Day silent meditation. For 15 minutes we will join globally with an... Read moreDon’t Ram a Pipeline Through the BC Coast
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and the federal government have outlined a deal that will pave the way for a dirty tar sands pipeline from Alberta to the BC coast — without Indigenous consent and threatening our oceans, wildlife, rivers, and forests. The last time an... Read more
Urge Your MP to Stand Against Any New Tar-Sands Pipeline
With your help, 12,000 community members have already taken action against any future pipelines – but we can’t let up the pressure now. Look up your MP and send them a personal email urging them to oppose any new tar sands pipelines or tanker expansion, and... Read moreIf the Owl Calls Your Name
I have watched the film If the Owl Calls Your Name and have been watching the people from the film speak over the last few days. It is profound. And it is about us – Canada. It even talks about the protest for the forest and the pipeline. It is not like many other... Read more
Call for Biodiversity Protection
British Columbia is home to the greatest biodiversity in Canada, including the highest number of species at risk; The province is one of the few in Canada without a stand-alone law to protect endangered species; Habitat loss, climate change, and decades of... Read more
Support Lowering the Voting Age To 16
There is a crucial vote coming up in the Senate for lowering the voting age, S-222, the Vote16 Act. This is the second reading and there is a chance of winning this vote, which would be historic. They are asking for letter writing to Senators. vote16.ca/action Here is... Read moreWhat Part of ‘Global Ecological Crisis’ Do They Not Get?
Another COP, another cop-out! As anyone who pays the slightest attention to the news must know by now, COP30, the annual global climate change jamboree — this year in Belem, Brazil — ended, yet again, more with a whimper than a bang.
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Carney Offers 20th-Century Responses to 21st-Century Challenges
It is said that, during the First World War, French prime minister Georges Clemenceau remarked that generals always prepare to fight the last war. Regrettably, it seems that this also applies to governments trying to manage our society.
Read moreOil Tanker Moratorium
Here is my request to council to support the continuation of the Oil Tanker Moratorium Act. It would be helpful if you would take a moment to send a note to your council, Metchosin or other, with the same request. Dear Mayor and Council, and Admin. staff, Re: Oil... Read moreTaking a Stand for Goldstream Park and Treaty Rights
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJx5luCX7xc Many close friends in Victoria love Goldstream Park with its majestic forest and river ecosystem. (Its original name is SELEKTEL in WSÁNEĆ.) Friends carry an understanding about this region as being part of the WSÁNEĆ... Read more
Repeal (or amend) BC Bill 44 to Restore Public Hearings and Municipal Powers over Zoning
We the signed residents of British Columbia, call upon the Province of B.C. to repeal (or amend) BC Bill-44 (2023), in order to restore public hearings and municipal powers over zoning, which are being taken away by the bill. Sign the petition here. We do so, because... Read more
The Inconvenient Facts Carney and the Premiers Ignore
Prime Minister Mark Carney wants Canada to be an energy superpower, including in “conventional energy” (read fossil fuels). Far from being the climate-action champion we expected him to be, he seems to have swallowed his principles…
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Suing Canada’s Largest Pension Investment Manager Over Alleged Climate Risk Mismanagement
Ecojustice announces the first case of its kind… they are representing four young Canadians taking on the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB), one of Canada’s largest financial institutions, for putting our pensions at risk. Learn more about this... Read more
International Peace Charter Petition
This Victoria, BC based non-profit initiative just launched. Green Party MP Elizabeth May is willing to bring this forward to the House of Commons. Only 500 signatures are needed. Please sign the petition at InternationalPeaceCharter.org Read moreBeyond VIMY Débuts in Sidney – CBC Interview with Show Producer Frances Litman
Beyond VIMY is a multi-platform production, featuring the Juno award nominated band The Fugitives, which will be débuting at the Mary Winspear Centre on October 25th. We spoke with producer Frances Litman on why she created the show to honour the Canadian National... Read moreElectoral Reform Committee Consultation Results Are In – 93% for Proportional Representation!
RESULTS ARE IN! 93% of submissions to the BC Democratic and Electoral Reform Committee committee called for proportional representation. Please share now! Dear Frances, The BC NDP and BC Green Party’s “Cooperation and Responsible Government Accord” included an... Read moreThe Problem is Income Inadequacy, Not Affordability
Food Banks Canada just released its annual report on poverty in Canada. Its key findings are that one in 10 Canadians are living in poverty, over 40 per cent are paying more than 30 per cent of their income…
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Protect Goldstream Salmon Now
I think that saving the salmon spawning area of Goldstream River is a very important cause. If people even know about this highway expansion, they probably don’t know that nobody will get to their destination any sooner. The highway will still be single lane... Read more
Save the Tsitika! Take Action Before Sept. 30th
The Tsitika Valley is home to beautiful ancient trees and countless animal kin. Along its beaches, where streams from the Tsitika watershed meet the sea, lies one of the only places on Earth where killer whales are known to rub their bodies along the shoreline... Read moreDraw The Line – Sept. 20 Global Day of Climate Action
Communities are mobilizing across the country, demanding that Prime Minister Carney and the Canadian government pick a side: injustice, violence, and climate destruction— or a just and safe future for all of us. Find your local event here Prince George,... Read more
Save the Garry Oaks And Tree Canopy on Lynnfield Crescent
The historic Garry Oaks on Lynnfield Crescent are more than just trees; they are living monuments to our shared heritage and an essential part of the urban canopy that enriches our community. These majestic oaks, some which have stood for over two centuries, not only... Read moreSilver Lining
There exists a Greater Awareness that exists in every moment, if we choose for it. Our daily experience can transform rapidly from one of separation to one of unity and wholeness. Using tools to guide you is essential.
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Vast Tree Removals Set For Victoria, and Victoria’s OCP Update Means Significantly Fewer Big Trees
The following was posted on the Friends of Vancouver Island Facebook page: Friends of Vancouver Island | Tree Removal Notices Appearing Across Victoria | Facebook “Tree Removal Notices Appearing Across Victoria If you’ve been walking around Victoria lately, you... Read more
National Tree Day 2025
Celebrated annually on September 24, National Tree Day is a holiday dedicated to recognizing the importance of trees in our lives. Initiated in 2011 by Tree Canada, this day serves as a tribute to the beauty, resilience, and crucial role of trees across Canada’s... Read more
Let’s Have a Conversation About the Future We Want for this Region
Last week I suggested we need a national People’s Well-being Commission to craft a new vision for Canada, one focused on how we become a society committed to equitable health now and for future generations while living within planetary boundaries.
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Beyond the Curb: Recycling Simplified
Let’s keep recyclables out of the landfill! Victoria’s new Beyond the Curb pilot program makes 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... Read more
Cougar Sculpture Blocking Logging Trucks in Upper Walbran Valley
Press Release: Defenders Call for Protection of one of BC’s Last Intact Old-Growth Watersheds August 25, 2025 — Upper Walbran, Tree Farm License 44 —A 15-foot tall cougar sculpture has been erected to block logging trucks on Monday morning from actively logging in the... Read more
Let’s Talk About Becoming A Well-Being Society
Last month I noted a growing recognition that the many challenges we face, from environmental degradation to concentration of wealth, structural inequality and exclusion, are a product of the economic and other societal systems we have created.
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Saanich Community Gallery Program
Do you have a story to tell, a message to share, or a creative project that reflects the impact of your community work? The District of Saanich invites local non-profits, grassroots groups, and community organizations to apply for free exhibition space at Saanich... Read more
Petition that the District of Saanich Phase out Highly Polluting Gas Landscaping Equipment
A new petition for the District of Saanich, calls for the municipality to take the crucial action of immediately deciding to phase out highly polluting gas landscaping equipment.
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