The Garry Oak in Autumn: Foliage, Acorns, and Conservation
Recognized as the only oak species native to British Columbia, the Garry oak is soon to make its mark on the beauty of autumn.
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It’s Beginning to Look a Lot like Nature
There’s something quite satisfying about restoring nature and making a very tiny part of the world better. I suppose I’ve always known that, but it really struck home when we purchased the place we were going to retire to 15-years ago. We were still working fulltime,... Read moreProtecting Our Communities in a World on Fire
Thanks for joining us (or registering) for Protecting Our Communities in a World on Fire. There were over 400 of you who tuned in, and of those who took the poll at the start of the webinar, 96% indicated you had experienced some level of impact from the wildfires... Read more
Wicked, Entangled Problems Call for Virtuous Solutions
We live in an era of polycrisis — defined as a situation in which “crises in multiple global systems become causally entangled in ways that cause major human harm,” according to the Cascade Institute at Royal Roads University. The institute identifies 14 global systemic stresses that create systemic risk, including “climate change, biodiversity loss…
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Save Canada’s Last Ancient Forests
As wildfires rage across Canada, Pacheedaht Elder is sounding the alarm to save Vancouver Island’s last ancient forests. In British Columbia, old-growth forests continue to fall to industrial logging, while authorities stand by. Let’s make Bill Jones’... Read more
Petition to Gain Legal Habitat Protection for American Goshawk at Haida Gwaii and the Skeena Natural Resource Region of Northwestern British Columbia
The Haida Gwaii goshawk (Accipiter gentilis laingi) is facing a real threat of local extinction. At the same time, the American Goshawk (Accipiter atricapillus) is vanishing from the Skeena Natural Resource Region quickly because too much mature and old-growth... Read more
How Can We End Capitalism?
In June, I shared my thoughts on how we can end capitalism, and build for ourselves in its place a kind, green, cooperative economy. This invites the obvious question: how? We need to do so because capitalism is driving our world to chaos and collapse. Its selfish... Read more
Nature Activities and Climate Solutions Resources for Busy Parents, Educators and Nature Lovers
This free downloadable e-book for parents of children age 0 – 12, is filled with creative activities, practical tips, nature activities and climate friendly solutions. It will spark environmental awareness, foster nature stewardship and make sustainable habits a... Read more
National Food Security? Not Without a Healthy Diet
The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization describes an agri-food system as encompassing everything from “field to fork.” Unfortunately, Canada’s new National Food Security Strategy fails to pay much attention to either the field or the fork end of the system.
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Send a Wake-up Call to the Forest Practices Board
The BC Forest Practices Board calls itself “BC’s independent watchdog for sound forest and range practices”. The Board is the BC public’s only avenue for holding logging companies and the government accountable when either transgress a narrow range of forest-related... Read moreCollaboration Results in Community Win
Working collaboratively with members of the Peninsula Biosolids Coalition, Creatively United is happy to report that our collective efforts (see our biosolids video) have finally resulted in a big win for our region. The Capital Regional District (CRD) has just... Read more
A Morning Guided by Nature at Yew Lake
“Nature Vancouver” introduces its upcoming event, “Birds and Butterflies: Yew Lake Trail Walk,” fostering enjoyment and conservation of the city’s natural environment.
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National Food Security? Not Without Natural Security
The Carney government recently released its National Food Security Strategy. Unfortunately, the strategy only serves to show that the government doesn’t really understand food security, particularly when it comes to the environment and health…
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An Open Letter from Elder Bill Jones
As the NDP government and the forest industry continue to clear cut on unceded Pacheedaht lands and wildfires rage throughout BC and Canada, Elder Bill Jones calls again for the protection of the old-growth forests he calls his cathedral.
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Towards a Drought-Ready British Columbia
Drought Ready analyzes the last decade of droughts and drought management in B.C. and offers practical guidance to move away from reactive crisis response and toward proactive drought planning. The authors focus on the provincial government’s foundational role in... Read more
Petition Launched: That the CRD be Fully Transparent in Regard to Its Felling of Trees by Elk/Beaver Lake:
Readers of CRD Watch or the Creatively United for the Planet blog, will likely be familiar with recent articles about the felling of trees by the CRD in Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park. Like Wooden Tombstones: The Latest Tree Decimation in Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park... Read more
Help Shape Canada’s National Strategy to Advance Environmental Justice and Address Environmental Racism
About the Strategy As mandated in the National Strategy Respecting Environmental Racism and Environmental Justice Act, the federal government must publish the official Strategy by the end of 2026. The Strategy must: Identify and address environmental... Read more
Why is Mark Carney Undermining Our Environment?
I have noted several times recently in these columns that Mark Carney’s mandate letter to his cabinet a year ago does not identify the environment as one of the government’s seven priorities; indeed, the word ‘environment’…
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BC Heat Collaborative Launch
The BC Heat Collaborative will officially launch at the end of this month, coinciding with the 5 year anniversary of the 2021 BC Heat Dome. The launch includes an event at Vancouver City Hall on Sunday June 28th, 1-2:30pm. More details on the Vancouver event here. How... Read more
For Good Measure: A Handbook on Advancing Water Metering in British Columbia
Released this month, this handbook offers a practical path forward for provincial decision-makers to achieve universal water metering within the next decade. Universal water metering supports conservation, enables fair and transparent cost recovery, enhances overall... Read more
Watershed Security Matters
To offer insight on how British Columbians want to move into an increasingly uncertain water future, this brief analyzes trends over 10 years of surveys and polls on public attitudes on fresh water in B.C. The authors highlight three crosscutting takeaways and the... Read more
Better Government Coordination on Wildfire Resilience Will Make B.C. Stronger
Victoria, B.C. lək̓ʷəŋən territory: New research from the POLIS Wildfire Resilience Project, based at the University of Victoria’s Centre for Global Studies, recommends a transformative shift within the provincial government to address the growing wildfire crisis in... Read more
Share Your Thoughts on Saanich Climate Plan
The 2026 Climate Plan: 100% Renewable and Resilient Saanich will be presented to Saanich, BC Council on Monday, June 22nd for approval. Share your thoughts on the 2026 Climate Plan with Council, email council@saanich.ca. Attend the meeting in person or online (learn... Read more
BC’s Budget 2027 Consultation is Closing Soon and Nature Needs Your Voice!
Right now, the BC Government is consulting with people across the province on next year’s provincial budget. This is your chance to encourage the BC Government to invest in protecting nature. Protecting nature is key to thriving communities, healthy ecosystems, and a... Read more
BC Budget Consultation – by 2 pm, June 19
The NDP Budget Committee is accepting written submissions for its 2027 Budget. What should we be asking for? You can make up to three recommendations, with an explanation for each. Participate by using the submission form HERE. We have set up a google doc to share... Read more
Flood the Consultation: Don’t Fast-Track Destruction
The Government of Canada is proposing major legislative changes that would make it easier for mega-corporations to profit while our communities and the planet suffer the consequences. Act now. See email template to send critical feedback to Prime Minister Carney and... Read more
One of the Strongest Marine Protected Areas in the World
Six First Nations, BC and Canada will preserve and steward a large chunk of the Central Coast. That means no pipelines. The area will be protected under Indigenous law, and known as Mia-yaltwa Ha’lidzogm hoon, pronounced “Me-ah-yall-twa Ha-lee-joh-gom hOH-own,”... Read more
Stop War Profiteering: Tax Excess Profits
Oil and gas companies are making skyrocketing profits — an extra $60 billion within a year. The federal government has the power to step in. Instead of letting corporations profit off global instability while people struggle to pay bills, it should impose a 75%... Read more
We CAN End Capitalism, and Build Instead a Kind, Green, Cooperative Economy
Introduction If you think of capitalism as the global entanglement of everything financial and economic, then for sure, it feels like a pretty wild dream to imagine that we could disentangle it all and establish something different. It is a pretty wild dream, because... Read more
Birding 101 and 10 Fun Family Outdoor Ideas
Connect with nature by enjoying some of these simple fun things to do outdoors with children, family and friends. Bird names might be half the fun, but the real joy of birding goes far beyond. There’s something deeply rewarding about slowing down, tuning in and... Read more
What is the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region? (PNWER) and What Are its Connections to Big Oil?
I’d like to shine a spotlight on one of the South Island Prosperity Partnership’s members: The Pacific Northwest Economic Region. (PNWER) Two years ago, I wrote an Open Letter to SIPP. In the letter, I asked them the following question: “SIPP’s membership includes an... Read more
New Forest Act Roadshow Active in BC
The New Forest Act Roadshow launches this week across British Columbia to dispel the following myths about forestry in BC. MYTH #1: Mill closures are mostly about tariffs and markets Reality: Markets matter. But depleted forests matter too. Good timber is becoming... Read moreBC Wants to Extend the Wolf Cull
Is killing wolves ever justified as a conservation tool? And what does it say about humans — and our relationship with wildlife — when we choose “predator reduction” over real solutions? For over a decade, the B.C. government has been gunning down wolves and calling... Read more
Action Alert: Canada’s Species at Risk Act is at Risk
Economic development should not come at the expense of the laws that protect endangered wildlife. Canada does not need to choose between a strong economy and a living planet. The real test is whether we protect not only endangered species, but also the laws that stand... Read more
A Sequel We Don’t Want
The conflict in the Persian Gulf has caused the greatest disruption in world oil supply in history. Canadians have felt immediate consequences from this oil shock, through much higher prices for gasoline and other petroleum products. But that is just the beginning of... Read more
Summer on the Yintah
The Unist’ot’en clan continue to fight against industrial development on their sovereign Yintah. Instead of two work parties, they are doing one extra long one, August 1st until September 7th, and can use help. All skills are welcome but especially: skilled... Read more
Open letter Density Without Demolition – A Politically Viable Solution for Climate and Housing Resilience
The View Royal Climate Coalition urges Minister Boyle to adopt “Density Without Demolition.” This strategy promotes adaptive reuse and internal home conversions over demolition, offering a faster, cheaper, and climate-resilient path to housing density.
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A New Approach to Lower Housing Costs: A Cooler, Cheaper (leafy) Path to Housing
Greater Victoria needs Density Without Demolition. Adaptive reuse adds units without the high cost of full-lot rebuilds, protecting tree canopies and cutting infrastructure fees. B.C. needs conversion codes and co-op tools to keep housing affordable.
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Protecting the Great Bear Sea
CPAWS-BC is calling for the establishment of a Marine Protected Area (MPA) network, co-developed with Indigenous partners, to safeguard the vibrant network of life in the Great Bear Sea. This network will preserve marine biodiversity, enhance ecosystem resilience, and... Read more
‘Fairy Creek’ – Documentary
A new feature film documenting the unprecedented campaign of civil disobedience on Vancouver Island, and some of the disturbing police tactics it unleashed. -Knowledge Network Watch here Read more
No Taxpayer Money for American LNG!
Nearly 5,000 people have sent letters to the board members of the Canada Infrastructure Bank, demanding they vote no on a massive public loan for Ksi Lisims LNG. This Wall Street scheme can’t survive without public money. Add your voice, and urge them to hold the... Read more
Why Are Our Political Leaders Such Fossil Fools?
I understand why the fossil-fuel industry pursues growth in the extraction and consumption of fossil fuels. It’s all about making money and damn the consequences. But how can any responsible political leader at this point push for more fossil-fuel extraction and use?
Read moreThe Elderberry: A Symbol of Climate Resilience in Canada
As a natural resource, the elderberry is cherished for supporting ecological conservation and personal wellness. Beyond its nutritional value, the elderberry may also represent something greater, such as a symbol of resilience amid climate change.
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Suzanne Simard Forest Panel
Thanks to Laura Lynch and the What on Earth team for this fantastic Earth Day podcast featuring Suzanne Simard, who became famous for her work about how trees communicate through a forest web; Tsimshian scientist Teresa Ryan, Kwakwaka’wakw artist and hereditary chief... Read more
When It Comes to Sustainability, Ottawa Ignores an Inconvenient Truth
Last week, I began an analysis of the federal government’s draft Federal Sustainable Development Strategy, which somehow manages to ignore planet Earth, fails to mention planetary boundaries or our ecological footprint, or to recognize ecological limits and the need to invest in…
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Re.climate.ca’s Four Steps to Breaking the Spiral of Silence
Re.climate.ca’s Four Steps to Breaking the Spiral of Silence – A Users Guide for Communicating Climate Change and Solutions is available as a short resource guide here. Watch the webinar video replay here. Follow along with slides here. Related Links: ... Read more
Improve Old Growth Ecosystem Conservation
Please write in support for the Improve Old Growth Ecosystem Conservation Resolution to your Municipal Government reps. SILGA votes on this resolution end April 2026 and if passed, the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) vote Sept 2026. Thank you.
Read moreBalancing Nature’s Needs with Fire Protection: Protecting Trees, Dispelling Myths
Are we putting too much emphasis on targetting trees as a fire threat while we trustingly leave our highly flammable, plastic-laden vehicles parked in or next to our residences? Creatively United presents this free webinar/conversation and Q&A with some of BC’s... Read more
Urgent Need for a Windfall Profits Tax on Oil and Gas
“No great fortunes can be accumulated out of wartime profits.” — J.L. Ilsley, Canada’s Second World War finance minister As in the past, this illegal war appears to be lasting considerably longer than its US protagonists initially claimed. And even if this ostensible... Read more
Draft Sustainable Development Strategy Misses the Mark
Thirty-nine years ago, Gro Harlem Brundtland, prime minister of Norway and chair of the World Commission on Environment and Development, presented its report to the United Nations. That report, Our Common Future — widely referred to as the Brundtland Report — proposed the concept of sustainable development…
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