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

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

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

Council reviews 2026 budget particulars The community COW is getting a good workout this month. On Thursday, Council members attended the third Committee of the Whole (COW) meeting in October, and the second devoted solely to budget discussion. The evening's agenda focused almost entirely on a review of utilities costs and a look at potential capital and operating supplemental expenses. Utility Cost Projections In this current draft budget, general water rates (beginning on

LBFR information session this Saturday LBFR in action on Thanksgiving Monday. photo by Herb Johnston It's been a busy week for members of Lions Bay Fire Rescue (LBFR). When a house caught fire at 3 a.m. on Thanksgiving Monday, LBFR with the support of members of the West Vancouver Fire Department, spent most of the day battling to keep the surrounding forest interface and a number of nearby homes from going up too. By the time firefighters were on scene just after 4 a.m., the

Serendipity brings pies and butter candles to the same table Beloved Lions Bay baker Jessica Weiss has been making a name for herself since the start of this decade, with her Red Couch pies becoming the instant favourite of anyone who takes a bite. And now, serendipity has Weiss sharing kitchen space with Melt & Munch founder Lauren Gibson, also a Village resident. Lauren Gibson and Jessica Weiss in their shared commercial kitchen space. Photo by kc dyer.   Weiss's business

Are YOU prepared? It's always important to prepare for the unexpected, according to Lions Bay Emergency Program Coordinator Mary Brown. "Drills and practicing help make reactions more automatic when emergency situations occur," says Brown. "Panic and muddled thinking are the enemies of calm reaction. Calm reaction allows you to assess, assist and stay safe." Tomorrow is the perfect time to do just that. October 16 marks the province's annual reminder that here in BC, we live

Former Fire Chief reflects on devastating house fire Yesterday's housefire that destroyed the Bayview Road home of long-time resident Morey Darvazehban began in the middle of the night. While watching the news on television sometime in the early hours, Darvazehban heard a loud bang, and went to the window to find one wall of his house on fire. The house was roofed and sided in cedar, and Darvazehban said that once it started burning it "just went up like a candle". Without ti

Taking a moment to be thankful in the face of fire photo by Herb Johnston This morning, in honour of the day, we here at The Watershed had a post ready to thank our readers and especially our subscribers, who help sustain this publication. But after this very busy Thanksgiving Day, one that began for many people just before 4 a.m. when a neighbourhood house caught fire , it turns out we have a few more things to be thankful for. Thank you to the firefighters of Lions Bay Fire

Road blocked by trucks and hoses 5:00 p.m. update: Alertable has cancelled the Fire Alert for Bayview Road, which has fully reopened. Neighbours reported the demolition of the burned home is completed, and LBFR has left the scene. More information on the fire and an statement with former Fire Chief Barret Germscheid will be forthcoming. 10:30 a.m. update: Public Works Director of Operations Karl Buhr reports that the water system was sufficient for fire-fighting needs this mo

Fall gardens still glorious Last week's beautiful autumn rose prompted an outpouring of glorious autumn garden blossoms from Watershed ...