BMN News Articles

Rod MacVicar Receives Accolades for Nature Education

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 09:00:00 -0700

A BMN member is in the news for winning an international award from the "Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History":http://www.enaturalist.org/. To read the account of Rod MacVicar's acheivement in 'The TriCity News', please click "here":http://www.bclocalnews.com/tri_city_maple_ridge/tricitynews/news/101422359.html.

Volunteer to be a Heron Counter at Colony Farm

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 21:00:00 -0700

Colony Farm's open fields provide habitat for the Great Blue Heron. Help us monitor heron populations in the park and learn about bird survey techniques. Volunteer at a time convenient to you; no previous experience necessary (and herons are easy to spot!). The information you collect provides data for future field management decisions in the park. Please call Liz at 604-939-9571 if you are interested.

Forest Adventure Playground Proposal for Mundy Park - Public Consultation

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 10:00:00 -0700

Just when you thought you could relax a bit over the summer, the City of Coquitlam has asked for public input on their proposed ‘Forest Adventure Playground’ in the tree canopy of Mundy Park... For more information on this proposal, click "here":http://www.coquitlam.ca/Residents/Recreation+and+Community/Parks+and+Trails/Forest+Adventure+Playground.htm. *The deadline for your comments is Wednesday, August 25th*. Comment from Coquitlam residents would be particularly valuable.

Draft Federal Regulations on BC Fish Farming - Public Comment Period Ends Sept 12

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 09:00:00 -0700

The federal government has released their proposed Federal Pacific Aquaculture Regulations with a 60 day public comment period that ends on September 12. Once these regulations pass, there will be no further public input on how each salmon farm licence is written, how many wild fish they can take and what diseases they must report. To read a detailed critique of the draft regulations, see the website of the "Coastal Alliance for Aquaculture Reform":http://www.farmedanddangerous.org/page/pacific-aquaculture-regulations. Alexandra Morton has also written a scathing review of the regulations, which you can read "here":/assets/bmn/doc/Morton.pdf. For more background information on the problems with BC salmon farming, see Simon Fraser University's "Speaking for the Salmon series":http://www.sfu.ca/cstudies/science/salmon.php which examines issues impacting the survival of wild salmon in BC. Please submit your comments to Mr. Edward Porter PAR-RPA@dfo-mpo.gc.ca, who is accepting public input until September 12.

Read a Commentary in 'The Georgia Straight' about the New Fish Channels at Colony Farm

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 11:00:00 -0700

Please check out this great article by Anne Murray on the compensation project at Colony Farm by clicking here.

Public Open House on Expanding Playing Fields at Inlet Park

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 18:00:00 -0700

The City of Port Moody is conducting a feasibility study for the potential future redevelopment of Inlet Park. Inlet Park (3024 Murray Street, Port Moody) currently has a large gravel sports field that accommodates soccer and softball. Inlet Park is home field to the Port Moody Soccer Association. On site is a field house and bleachers. There is an access trail that connects to Shoreline Trail. The City is looking at what kind of park and uses we could have at the Inlet Park site. At this stage, they are looking at what is possible, rather than developing specific design plans.They showed the various concept designs at an Open House on June 23rd, *but are still soliciting comments*. To view the designs options and submit your opinions on them, please click here.

Last Public Open House: How Should We Handle Our Waste?

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 18:00:00 -0700

Every year, Metro Vancouver residents and businesses generate 3.4 million tonnes of garbage and recyclables that need to be managed. But how, exactly?? One suggestion (after increasing recycling rates) is to build a new "waste-to-energy" incinerator for about $500 million. Here's your LAST chance to have a say on this proposal. Open House: 6 - 7 pm Public Input: 7 - 10 pm Q&A with Metro Vancouver staff: 10 - 10:30 pm New Westminster/Burnaby Address: Fraser River Discovery Centre 788 Quayside Drive, New Westminster For more info provided by *Metro Vancouver*, click here. *To read why BMN opposes incineration of garbage, click "here":/assets/bmn/doc/garbage.pdf.* To read an opinion piece on the proposed incineration program written by BMN's Elaine Golds and published in her April 25th _Green Scene_ column of *The TriCity News*, click here To read a handout prepared by *Zero Waste BC*, click "here":/assets/bmn/doc/0waste.pdf.

Public Open House on Proposed Fish Channels at Colony Farm

Mon, 03 May 2010 19:00:00 -0700

Metro Vancouver Regional Parks and the Transportation Investment Corporation are holding an open house on Monday, May 3 to view and comment on a proposed project "to restore tidal flow and enhance habitat for fish and wildlife in the Wilson Farm", an area within Colony Farm Regional Park that was drained and diked for agriculture in the early 1900s. This work is proposed as part of Port Mann/Highway 1 Improvement Project’s environmental commitments. *To read why BMN opposes this project, please click "here":/assets/bmn/doc/CFfish2.pdf.* The open house will provide information on: · Existing conditions and project objectives · Proposed work required to restore tidal flows and allow fish passage · Drainage improvements and the implications for park management · Potential benefits for salmon and other aquatic wildlife · Habitat enhancement components for resident and migratory birds When: Monday, May 3, 2010 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Informal open house 7:00 – 7:20 p.m. Presentation 7:20 – 8:00 p.m. Question and answer session Where: The Outlet 2100 - 2253 Leigh Square Place Port Coquitlam, BC For more information, contact Metro Vancouver Parks at 604-520-6442.

BMN Web Site Refresh

Tue, 30 Mar 2010 16:00:00 -0700

The web host bmn.bc.ca used for the last 7 years is moving on and we needed to move our site to a new server. We took the time to refresh the site to improve the look and usability while keeping what worked. Ex member Gerry Shaw who did the original site volunteered again and handled the update and migration to the new server and content management system. All the old content was migrated to the new server but the addresses have changed location. This will result in broken links but this was unfortunately unavoidable. Also the search is now handled by Google and the results may not be accurate until the Google Bot indexes the new site (usually every few weeks). Any questions or comments can be emailed directly to Gerry at "gerry_shaw@yahoo.com":mailto:gerry_shaw@yahoo.com.

Ruth Foster Awarded Port Moody's 2009 Environmental Award

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 23:00:00 -0800

Congratulations to BMN member Ruth Foster who has received this year's award for her volunteer work removing invasive plants and restoring natural habitat throughout Port Moody. To read BMN's nomination letter, please click "here":/assets/bmn/doc/ruth.pdf.