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Low snowpack, but it's not all bad news Tunnel Bluffs Wildfire, August 30, 2025. Image courtesy BC Wildfire. This year's low snowpack in parts of British Columbia is leaving forecasters in an ambivalent position when it comes to predicting the chance of wildfires. BC Wildfire Service ’s lead fire weather forecaster Matthew MacDonald reports that the province is already into wildfire season. As of April 16, there are four active wildfires burning in the province, with 13 fires

Andrea Bradshaw: Hummingbird whisperer? Hummers enjoy a nosh at one of three Bradshaw feeders. Photo by Andrea Bradshaw, April 14, 2026. The return of spring means the local hummingbird population is out in force. And nowhere more so than in the Bradshaw/Wuetherick garden. Andrea Bradshaw has been feeding the local hummingbird population for four years, year round. She says she's careful about consistent feeding over the winter when the resident birds have no other natural fo

How will you mark International Dark Sky Week? A global celebration of the night sky began Monday with International Dark Sky Week. Held annually during the week of the new moon in April to allow for best possible viewing of the night sky, the event started in 2003 when American high-school student Jennifer Barlow launched an initiative to get people to reduce unnecessary outdoor lighting and reconnect with the night sky. Today, organizers note that dark nights "sustain criti

Vehicle owner saving airport parking fees? After a multi-day search that involved a number of agencies, the mystery of the abandoned Jeep in Lions Bay School parking lot has been solved. Local residents were concerned that the abandoned vehicle could belong to a backcountry visitor who had not returned from a hike. However, RCMP did not receive any reports of missing persons or hikers. Squamish RCMP Constable Adam Koehle said that after investigation, the police have learned

Organizers hoping many hands will make light work photo by kc dyer Val Morton wants your help making the Village entrance (even more) beautiful. She and Hana Boye are hoping to corral a large group of volunteers on Sunday, April 19 to remove all the ivy around the Lions Bay sign beside the steps leading to the underpass along Lions Bay Avenue. "It's important that the native plants that will be used in the entrance garden are planted relatively soon so they can take full adva

Powerbank rental kiosk appears at trailhead Photo by Christine Little. Heading into nature for a recharge has taken on a whole new meaning in Lions Bay. A new private initiative is allowing forest trail visitors to charge their electric devices before heading off on a hike. A power-bank rental kiosk has recently appeared at the Sunset Trailhead. According to Financial Officer Joe Chirkoff, the kiosk was spearheaded by former Director of Operations (DO) Karl Buhr. Chirkoff say

Missing driver or free parking ploy? Photo by Ian Grant. A vehicle has remained parked in the school lot for more than a month, and a local resident is concerned. Long-time resident Ian Grant, whose home is across from Lions Bay School's lower parking lot, said that he has made a report to the Squamish RCMP. "I've reported it twice to the police, and they told me that someone else had reported it as well. I'm just a little bit worried that the person has gone up the mountain

Packed agenda covered a lot of ground The April 7 Council meeting arrived with a jam-packed agenda containing more than 350 pages of reading for interested residents. Council members were all present in person, and the agenda was quickly adopted. Mayor Ken Berry, reporting from an earlier closed session, said that Council had discussed and agreed upon the costs and details of the awarding of a contract. He did not specify the nature of the agreement or whom the contract was w

(...And they're hungry) BC Conservation Officer removes bear trap from Village on April 2, 2026. Photo by Norma Rodgers. It's that time of year again. With the return of our ursine neighbours, it's also time to lock in those good habits to help protect the local wildlife. A year ago, former Mayor Douglas Miller shared his thoughts on keeping bear traps out of Lions Bay. Nothing has changed since then. Bears wake up hungry after their winter hibernation, and their excellent se

Captured by the crew of Artemis II Photo courtesy Canadian Space Agency. Do you have a beautiful photo to share? Email us at   editor@lionsbaywatershed.ca   Like what you're reading? For as little as $5/month, you can support local independent journalism by subscribing to The Watershed HERE.

photo by kc dyer Watershed subscribers can expect the March digest in their email boxes this weekend. Not a subscriber yet? Follow the link below. Happy Easter! Have a beautiful photo to share ? Email us at   editor@lionsbaywatershed.ca   Like what you're reading? For as little as $5/month, you can support local independent journalism by subscribing to The Watershed HERE.

Evacuation plan pending; new volunteers in place by Ron McLaughlin Lions Bay begins the month of April with good news regarding Emergency Social Services (ESS). In recent years, a Village-wide evacuation plan has been continually talked about, and while it has been seemingly forever in the works, has never comes to fruition.   However, back in March it was announced that Emergency Program Coordinator Mary Brown had awarded a qualified contractor the project. Brown worked with

Welcoming April on the West Coast The United Nations marked World Water Day on March 22 as a celebration of water and gender equality — and what better way to bring that home than this gorgeous shot of   Átl 'ḵa7tsem/ Howe Sound? The photo was taken by Lions Bay resident, hiker and photographer Chris Dunn from high above the Village, atop Sleepless Night trail. Later this month, the health of this body of water will become the focus as Lions Bay hosts the annual Howe Sound C

Is it a problem? BC Nature wants your thoughts It's the bane of hikers and city pedestrians alike — dog waste in your path, or worse, in the treads of your shoe. Increasingly, both on local streets and on trails through the woods, the waste is neatly bagged up, but still left behind. BC Nature is currently investigating public concerns regarding dog waste (both bagged and 'au natural') that is being left along trails, parks, and natural areas. They are asking for public feed

Squamish writer set to thrill her readers once again As a location, Squamish is hard to beat in terms of its thrill quotient. Rock climbing, hiking, mountain biking, even a gondola that whisks riders to what feels like the top of the world. All the same, local writer Amber Cowie manages to find a way to add her own brand of magic to this incredible setting, and since living here has written five edge-of-your-seat thrillers. Recently, she agreed to sit down with The Watershed

March's Coastal Canine is one handsome devil This handsome devil answers to the name of Sampson. He's about 4 years old, and has a slightly uncertain (if definitely noble!) heritage. Based on his size and his basso profundo voice, his genes likely point mostly toward an Anatolian Shepherd/Great Pyrenees cross. Sampson is unable to eat chicken, but he loves all other foods, especially cheese and sweet potatoes. He adores getting his zoomies out by running through his yard and

Weather didn't dampen spirits Wet but undaunted volunteers at the Fire Hall ivy pull. Photo by Val Morton. The Village garden group's latest Ivy Pull this past St. Patrick's Day Sunday was a major success, in spite of the waterlogged weather. Organizer Val Morton says that seven volunteers, plus Public Works stalwart Andrew Smethurst braved the atmospheric river conditions, and filled the back of a large Works truck with invasive ivy in just one hour. "It was a very good morn

Transport Canada wants to hear from you Speeding motorcycles and increased traffic are ongoing topics for Sea to Sky drivers, but nothing provokes a heated discussion faster than the new-technology headlights.   Now's your chance to have your say to those who make the rules.   Transport Canada is currently conducting a survey  on the subject of vehicle headlights and glare at night. The survey, which takes about 15 minutes to complete, is intended to compile drivers' experien

Hiker succumbs to injuries sustained in fall on Mount Brunswick Talon helicopter and LBSAR team members during Saturday's rescue. Photo courtesy LBSAR. One of the hikers rescued after a fall while hiking Mount Brunswick on Saturday has died in hospital following the incident.   A large crew from Lions Bay Search and Rescue (LBSAR) worked with North Shore Rescue (NSR) and Talon helicopters for hours on Saturday to rescue two hikers who had fallen on the return leg of a hike.