Councillors threatened with financial sanctions In the second of two scheduled meetings held Monday night, Lions Bay Mayor Ken Berry lashed out at Council members for what he called "deeply concerning" absenteeism. In a report addressing attendance at public meetings, Berry recommended that Councillors agree to adhere to the "spirit of the legislation and attend duly called Special Meetings to focus on the important business of the community" and that Council members’ renumer

COW addresses Village vehicles and natural assets Lions Bay Council is closing out the month of January with a meeting marathon. Last night's double-header Committee of the Whole (COW)-Special Meeting combo went into extra innings, extending past 10 p.m. Monday's COW meeting opened at 6 p.m. with all Councillors in attendance and six residents online. The evening's agenda was swiftly approved. The intent of COW meetings is to allow for information and discussion without the

Community resources now available to Lions Bay residents North Shore Community Resources (NSCR) has been helping families on the North Shore since 1976, and for the first time, they are bringing their services to Lions Bay. On February 7, the organization is inviting local parents to bring their kids to the Village Hall for a morning of activities and light snacks, as well as a chance for parents to learn more about the resources available to them. NSCR has offices in both N

Still a chance to snag a free bottle Last weekend's Great Water Giveaway was a big success, with 300 bottles of free water distributed to community members to set aside in case of emergency. But if you missed out on collecting one for your family, don't despair. According to event organizer (and Emergency Program Coordinator) Mary Brown, about a pallet of water bottles remained at the end of Saturday's event. Those bottles have now been transported to the Community Recycle D

Popular series makes a scene at gravel pit Lions Bay had a chance to add a little local glamour to a popular American television series when a scene from the CBS drama 'WATSON' was filmed here this week. In this latest retelling of the story first penned by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in 1887, Sherlock Holmes' friend and sleuthing partner takes the form of a contemporary doctor. The title character is played by American actor Morris Chestnut, in a medical procedural that producers

As Vancouver foghorns groan, Howe Sound sparkles A tree-framed view of the retreating January fog. Photo by kc dyer. Have a gorgeous January shot 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.

Parks, Parking and bylaws on the jam-packed agenda Residents attending Tuesday's council meeting were met with a 258-page agenda brimming with new bylaws and year-end reports. All Council members were present in person, along with Chief Administrative Officer Ross Blackwell at the table and outgoing Director of Operations Karl Buhr in the gallery. The public was well-represented, with 20 residents online, and nine members of the fire department attending in person. There wa

Creative Writing sessions are back in Lions Bay! Whether it's an essay for school or your first novel, every writer wants to produce clear, evocative, readable writing. The Lions Bay Arts Council is once again sponsoring a six-week creative writing group beginning February 2. All ages (over 14 years) welcome. Here's a chance for you to meet up with other local writers, practice your craft and pick up a few tips and tricks from writer and ( Watershed publisher) kc dyer, who re

Fun ideas for (rare) sunny days, and long, dark nights While the recent bright sunny skies haven't boded well for the white stuff on local ski hills, as evidenced by the Grouse Mountain Snow Report from this past weekend. (below), skiers and boarders need not despair. Runs are still open on all the local hills, with Cypress reporting spring skiing conditions and five of six lifts open, Mount Seymour having all lifts running (though some runs are not currently open) and all

Local input sought to strengthen emergency leadership Canada Task Force One, a municipally-supported Heavy Urban Search and Rescue team, on site at the December 14, 2024 debris torrent in Lions Bay. Photo by kc dyer. Lions Bay Council is weighing in on a new national initiative to improve federal leadership in emergency management. In a December letter to Council, West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea To Sky MP Patrick Weiler announced that the federal government has opened a pub

Atmospheric river brings wet start to 2026 Clockwise from top left: water drains below tennis court, free-running creek on Mountain Drive, water pours below blackberry bushes, and a look up Harvey Creek from beneath the highway. Photos by kc dyer. Living on the windward side of a mountain in a temperate rainforest means foggy, dampish winters are almost a given. However, the series of atmospheric rivers coupled with the mild Pacific air mass that is blowing through has meant

Focus on Community Preparedness by Mary Brown, Emergency Program Coordinator Water inventory from last year's Great Water Giveaway. Photo by kc dyer. In emergencies, each person needs at least four litres of water per day, and Lions Bay is kicking off the new year with a gesture that’s as practical as it is symbolic.  This Saturday, January 17, the Village’s Emergency Support Services (ESS) team will host the second annual Great Lions Bay Water Giveaway — an event that has qu

Excessive speed, tire checks under scrutiny Photo courtesy BC Highway Patrol. December and January have seen a big increase in visible traffic enforcement on the Sea to Sky Highway. On Christmas Day, no fewer than 14 cars were towed and impounded for excessive speeding on the Sea to Sky. "Every speeder who had their vehicle impounded on Christmas Day was at least 40 km/h over the limit, and two were caught doing 145 and 147 km/h in an 80 zone," said Corporal Michael McLaughli

Jones is One Very Good Boy Meet Jones, who is four years old and (probably) a Shepherd Husky cross. This handsome fella has come a long way from his birthplace under a shed in icy-cold Manitoba in January 2022. Back then, his name was Manhattan. Since they were born around New Year's Day, he and his litter-mates were all (temporarily) named for cocktails. He and his mama, along with eight siblings (then known as Bellini, Julep, Martini and so on) arrived to live with their fo

Valeriote addresses wide range of topics during Village visit Residents gather for a conversation with MLA Jeremy Valeriote, January 8, 2026. Photo by kc dyer. Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) Jeremy Valeriote dropped by the Village Hall on Thursday evening to chat with local residents. The turnout was moderate with about 20 residents present, but engagement high as the cross-section of residents, councillors and even future voters turned out to hear what the MLA had

MLA to drop by Village Hall from 5 to 7 p.m. Valeriote in Victoria, 2025. Photo courtesy Instagram. A reminder that Member of the Legislative Assembly for West Vancouver-Sea to Sky Jeremy Valeriote will visit the Village Hall in Lions Bay this evening from 5 to 7 p.m. No registration is required for this event, which is being billed as an informal chat with his constituents. Bring your questions and comments for your MLA. Coffee and tea will be served. MLA Jeremy Valeriote vi

First meeting of 2026 looks to the trees Lions Bay Council's first meeting of 2026 got off to a bumpy start when three of four Councillors declined to participate in the usual 6 p.m. closure of the meeting to the public. In the heavy silence that followed the failure of the motion to move into a closed session, Chief Administrative Officer Ross Blackwell made reference to  emails Councillors had received "regarding Battani", and suggested that if Councillors wished "some dee

A look back over a year of coverage Photo by Marcus Reuter. The devastating debris torrent that swept through Lions Bay on December 14, 2024 took the lives of long-time residents Barbara and David Enns, and continues to reverberate more than a year later. The Watershed has covered this story from the very beginning, and has kept readers informed of developments throughout the year. With at least two lawsuits pending and an RCMP investigation underway, there is certain to be

Looking ahead to an action-packed year This is going to be a big year for British Columbia. Top travel guide Lonely Planet named the province to their list of the the 25 Best Destinations to Visit in 2026, and the world will descend upon us when seven of the 104 scheduled FIFA World Cup matches will take place here in June. That same month, the Squamish Off-Road Triathlon  (swim, mountain bike, trail run) is set for Saturday June 6 at Alice Lake. The Squamish 50 series of t

Environment Canada issues coastal flood warning for Sunday Environment Canada has issued a Flood Advisory for low-lying areas around the South Coast, including Lions Bay, throughout the upcoming weekend. The strongest chance of flooding is expected Sunday. The combination of very high tides and the current low-pressure system could lead to moderate coastal flooding, according to the government agency. Current tide patterns are at a seasonal high, and the concern is that the