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.

Village News for March by Ron McLaughlin Hugh and Anne Crosthwaite in 1973. Photo courtesy of the family. We have enjoyed a very mild winter. A lack of snow and prolonged cold weather made life easier for us, although it may not bode well for later this summer. The cherry trees blossoming at the main entrance to the Village show the welcome move into spring. Daylight savings time is now upon us and with more sunlight there is a fresh energy about and the pace of life is picki

North Shore Rescue called in to assist LBSAR LBSAR members enroute to Mount Brunswick rescue. Photo courtesy LBSAR. Story by Maria Masiar, LBSAR After a relatively quiet winter, Lions Bay Search and Rescue (LBSAR) responded to its first call of the year on Saturday, on the steep slopes of Mount Brunswick and involving two injured hikers. While descending from the summit, a group of 14 hikers encountered steep terrain. One member of the group slipped and fell approximately 20

Recent outage update, March 18 edition Wednesday night the Sea to Sky underwent the second power outage in two weeks (the last being on March 11), both attributed to 'transmission circuit failure'. A check-in with BC Hydro indicated that 'transmission circuit failure' is code for 'tree on line'. "The outage along the Sea to Sky Wednesday night was caused by a tree falling across one of our transmission lines," said BC Hydro representative Saudamini Raina. "This is the term we

Canadian investment company sets sights on local property Photo courtesy Wealthsimple. This spring, someone is going to win a Dream Home valued at around $3 million ... and it's right here in Lions Bay. Canadian investment management company Wealthsimple is offering what they call the (Un)Real Deal to potential clients. Signing up for the contest (which involves completing a questionnaire and opening a Wealthsimple account), gives each entrant 5,000 chances to win the grand p

Doubleheader meeting covers old ground Council members celebrated St. Paddy's Day this year without a single green beer in sight. Instead, they held two meetings open to public participation and one closed, beginning at 6 p.m. and running through until 8:30 p.m. When the open portion of the first regular meeting began, all Council members were present in person, with the exception of Councillor Michael Broughton. Chief Administrative Officer Ross Blackwell joined members at t

Add a little fire to your celebrations All this rain guarantees March 17 will be a green one this year, at least. As the day falls on a Tuesday this year, most of the green beer was consumed last weekend, but for those still looking to celebrate the saint who allegedly drove the snakes out of Ireland, Greta Bar (50 West Cordova) in Vancouver is hosting a St. Patrick's Day Party. On the North Shore, Seymour's Pub at 720 Old Lillooet Road in North Vancouver is celebrating the

Two new initiatives support neurodivergent visitors Photo courtesy Tourism Squamish. Tourism Squamish has launched two new programming initiatives designed to support both neurodivergent kids and visitors with hidden disabilities. Beginning this month, the community has adopted the ' Hidden Disabilities Sunflower ' which is a recognized symbol of support for those people with non-visible disabilities including, autism, sensory sensitivities, ADHD, or other disabilities that a

The case for a full-time Fire Chief LBFR, Watershed file photo. It has now been a full year that Lions Bay has been without a Fire Chief. Former chief Barret Germscheid resigned his position as Chief in March, 2025. Germscheid is a homeowner in the Village and he continues to serve as a firefighter in the community. The Village of Lions Bay recently released their 2025 Core Services Review assessing the current state of Lions Bay Fire Rescue (LBFR). (The report can be found

New study confirms long-held concerns after wildfires File photo of Air Tractor 802 Fireboss, deployed at the Whyte Lake wildfire in 2023. A recent study co-authored by University of British Columbia professor Qingshi Tu concluded that the chemicals used to fight wildfires, along with the ash and other chemicals that leach out after the fire, can continue to contaminate groundwater for months or years after the fire has been extinguished. This finding confirms long-held conc

Celebrating the hard-working women who keep Lions Bay ticking From left: Shawna Driscoll, Jordan Szmidt, Kristal Kenna, Karen Jeffry, and in front, office Golden Girl Fernie. Photo by David Butler. In honour of International Women's Day this past Sunday, The Watershed would like to offer a huge round of applause to the hard-working women who keep things running behind the scenes here in the Village. Deputy Corporate Officer Kristal Kenna, Municipal Accountant and Film Liaiso

From emergency management to transport: Local MP weighs in MP Patrick Weiler presenting Bill C-224, the Clean Coasts Act, in Parliament in February. West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea To Sky MP Patrick Weiler announced in a letter to Council last December that the federal government had opened a public engagement process on a new national initiative to improve federal leadership in emergency management. That feedback period closed at the end of last month, and Weiler recently