LBSAR pushed to limit on Unnecessary Mountain photo by Scott Mackenzie Lions Bay Search and Rescue (LBSAR) was called into action on Wednesday after two young hikers lost their way on Unnecessary Mountain and were stranded overnight on the mountain's west ridge.     Team manager Brent Calkin said that the twin systems of intense rain and high winds combining in the air over Lions Bay meant that initial attempts to reach the hikers by helicopter were thwarted. "In the face of

Committee issues arise, Mayoral initiative defeated The stormy weather of November was reflected inside at the first regular Council meeting of the month, as Council members exchanged heated words on a number of topics throughout the evening. All Council members were present, with Councillor Jaime Cunliffe attending online. The evening's agenda   passed, and included a number of additional items suggested by both Mayor and councillors. The gallery topped out at 10 members, w

Ceremony begins at 10:15 a.m. The Village of Lions Bay will commemorate Remembrance Day on November 11 beginning at 10:15 a.m. this year. The event is expected to be well-attended, and organizers suggest arriving early to get a good seat. The Lions Bay Remembrance Day Ceremony committee has organized the program in memory of those who have given their lives in service to Canada, with a focus this year on peace. Local Member of the Legislative Assembly Jeremy Valeriote is expe

It's not just unwelcome plants moving into town Image courtesy BCISC, Invasive species come in all shapes and sizes, and not all of them have roots. In addition to unwelcome plants that have moved into the region and taken over native habitats, a few invasive animal species have ecologists concerned. According to the Sea to Sky Invasive Species Council (SSISC), invasive animal species that already have a presence in this region include goldfish and red-eared slider turtles.

CAO confirms that public hearing will be accessible online This evening's public hearing into bylaw amendments affecting short-term rentals and oceanfront property setbacks will be accessible online, CAO Ross Blackwell confirmed today. As reported last week, Lions Bay Council is seeking public input into two separate amendments to the Village's Zoning and Development bylaw (520, 2017). The property setback amendment is a semantic clarification applicable to terminology used

The loss of young humpback troubling A small group of Lions Bay residents gathered at Kelvin Grove Beach on Thursday to mark the death of a young humpback whale. The whale's body was found near Keats Island on October 26, and is being investigated by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO). The Marine Education and Research Society (MERS) identified the whale as Wisp (BCY1464), a whale born in 2021 to Ghost (BCX1333). A Hello Ferry reported striking a whale the previous

Monday last chance to weigh in on zoning and rental amendments Have thoughts about short-term rentals in your neighbourhood? What about the wording of zoning bylaws with regard to property setbacks along the waterfront? Now's the time to share them. The Village is holding public hearings addressing amendments to ensure short-term rentals comply with new provincial standards, as well as wording changes to the waterfront homes zoning bylaws. The hearings begin at 6 p.m. on Mond

RCMP offer Halloween tips The folks who are tasked with enforcing the rules are hoping for a safe and quiet Halloween this year. To that end, the Kelowna RCMP detachment is offering suggestions to those who plan to get behind the wheel, those handing out candy, and even the little goblins who are collecting. If you are driving: "Creep" it slow: drive cautiously in residential areas, especially between the hours of 5 and 9 p.m. when trick-or-treaters are most active, Don’t get

October's Coastal Canine is a Halloween Hazelnut Hazel is a three-and-a-half-year-old bundle of heavenly hazelnut. Since she was rescued from Houston, Texas, her origins are shrouded in mystery, but it makes sense that she loves a bite of steak now and then. Hazel enjoys hiking with her Dad all around Lions Bay, but also appreciates a trip into Horseshoe Bay for a good sniff, sniff, sniff. A talented spinner, Hazel also excels at playing dead. She has a ton of energy and giv

Registration opens at Lions Bay School Who doesn't want to go to school in the woods? Lions Bay School is now accepting registrations for next fall's batch of kindergarten students. This school is a part of the West Vancouver School District , and has been educating Village children in the primary grades (K-3) since 1977. Teachers are now ready to welcome a whole new group of five-year-olds in September, 2026. " Our staff are experienced educators who care for the social and

Ways you can support night-migrating birds Image courtesy of Roland Dechesne of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada   and Bird Friendly Calgary. by Penny Nelson, founder/team lead Bird Friendly Lions Bay Although Lions Bay is on the Pacific Flyway, a major migratory route for birds, we don’t often see large numbers of birds flying by. This is because around 80% of bird species, especially small birds, undertake these gruelling journeys at night to take advantage of calme

First snow spotted on mountains above Lions Bay This trace of snow on the mountains above the Village spotted October 26, 2025. photo by kc dyer The Watershed values your opinion. Leave a comment below, or email 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.

The Dan Brubeck Quartet returns to jazz up our community It should be no surprise that the son of a jazz phenom and a lyricist loves playing music. Brubeck is one of four sons of jazz musician Dave Brubeck and his wife Iola who went on to become professional musicians. Dan says that music has always been a part of his life. "I started playing when I was about three or four years old and I’m 70 now, so my life would be completely different without it." In 2013, Brubeck's band

A bit of history on the house destroyed by fire 239 Bayview Road in the 1970s. In 1976, Horst Stegemann built a house above where the school would be located on Bayview Road, and the family lived there for ten years. Horst's daughter Natasha Stegemann, who says she is gutted by the news of the fire, remembers the house fondly. "I remember my parents building the house. They were so young and vibrant, and they put in an extra floor because they thought I would like it," she sa

What is a Unesco Biosphere Region, anyway? photo by Richard Duncan Have a passion for the natural beauty, incredible biodiversity, rich cultural heritage, and a sustainable economy in the place you live? Like eating lunch? Local resident Ruth Simons has the perfect combo for you. Along with Tourism Squamish, the Howe Sound Biosphere Region Initiative Society is hosting a ' Lunch & Learn' event at the Squamish Adventure Centre on Friday November 7 from noon to 1:30 p.m. Simons

Agenda squabbles overshadowed by film windfall All Council members were present in person for their final regular meeting of October, with the exception of Mayor Ken Berry who chaired the meeting while attending online. A total of 16 residents attended online and in person over the course of the evening. Approval of the evening's agenda began with an ironic twist, when Councillor Michael Broughton's report complaining that fellow councillors Neville Abbott, Jaime Cunliffe a

Toasty toes for all this winter How toasty are your toes right now? Let's face it, when you live on the West Coast, cold wet feet are a frequent problem. Imagine how much worse it would be if your feet were never warm or dry? Socktober is your chance to help others who may not have access to the clean, dry socks that you enjoy. According to Squamish's Helping Hands society, as local emergency shelters reach capacity, this donation drive "aims to provide warmth and dignity" t

From in and around the Village, the school and more by Ron McLaughlin Happy almost Halloween, neighbours! David, Magnus and Siri Carver. Submitted photo. Summer is now behind us, and normal routines and cooler weather have returned. It’s a time of year where things begin to speed up. Halloween is followed by Remembrance Day which is followed by Christmas activities and suddenly people are running into frigid water for the annual New Year’s Day Dip’N’Dash. Let’s get you up to

Lessons learned and shared View of the house fire from Douglas Miller's deck, 5 a.m., October 13, 2025 Thanksgiving Monday is now deeply etched in my memory.   I awoke to shouts coming from somewhere nearby. The flickering orange light on my bedroom ceiling had me jump out of bed and peering out the window in disbelief. Our neighbour’s house was ablaze.   A quick call to 911. Shouts to awaken Norma. The immediate assumption was the fire would be quickly spreading to the trees

Maria Escobar Truijjo's 'Cartographies of the Woods' Maria Escobar Trujillo has spent much of the last five years walking.   Since moving here to Lions Bay with her partner Catalina Lopez Correa and their dog Luna, most of that walking has been in the woods in and around the village. And out of all the walking has come a book of poetic snapshots of her life in the mountains, among the trees and by the water.   Escobar Trujillo's  Cartographies of the Woods is her second book,