Young bear spotted by hikers in Deeks Lake area Shot of light brown grizzly bear taken from video shot by hiker Alexsander Savin near Deeks Lake in mid-August. A number of hikers have reported spotting a light brown grizzly bear near Deeks Lake, about three kilometres north east of Tunnel Bluffs, in the past week. According to Lions Bay Search and Rescue (LBSAR) member Maria Masiar, the bear is believed to be a young male, approximately six to eight years old. Sightings of g

Why is Lions Bay the only restricted beach in Metro Vancouver? Lions Bay Beach remains closed to swimming through the August long weekend. Photo by kc dyer. Lions Bay Beach continues to be flagged by Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) since testing completed on July 16 showed the location to be unsafe for swimming due to the presence of E.coli bacteria. Beaches at Kelvin Grove and Brunswick remain open, as are all other public swimming beaches in the Lower Mainland. Testing of th

Nature Lions Bay teams up with BC Nature Photo by Danielle Wills. by Penny Nelson Nature Lions Bay is thrilled to announce the society is now a member club of BC Nature. BC Nature, a registered charity, acts as a federation of organizations throughout BC, giving them a collective voice on conservation and environmental issues to foster awareness, appreciation and understanding of nature and to advocate for the sustainable use of natural spaces so that they are maintained fo

One of two local beaches closed to swimming due to bacteria Swimming is not recommended at Lions Bay Beach Park this week according to Vancouver Coastal Health. (VCH). Beach alerts courtesy Vancouver Coastal Health. Throughout the summer season, VCH tests at popular swimming beaches around the Metro Vancouver area. Samples are tested for the bacteria that shows up when there are faeces in the water from humans or wildlife. Swimming or playing in water infested with E. coli b

July's Coastal Canine is a snuggler This beautiful brindle from Barhead is called Samson. He is the second Coastal Canine Samson featured this year, so you know he's got to be handsome. Samson is three years old, runt of the litter of 13 puppies from a cane corso/ rottie mum, and a poodle/ golden retriever dad. He was born on a farm, but decides he prefers Village life. His family calls him a goofball of a protector, with a deep woof and a wiggly greeting for all. He loves pe

Fifteen Years of Working Together Bear cub (Tsaw'in) prior to rescue, December 2022. Photo by Michelle Langford. This year marks Lions Bay's 15th anniversary as a Bear Smart community, but the history of supporting bears and other wildlife in and around the Village goes back even farther. In 2004, Lions Bay's then-Chief Administrative Officer Lori Pilon worked together with resident Norma Rodgers to apply for a new "Bear Smart Community Program" grant being offered by the M

Howe Sound Biosphere team brings their message to Victoria HSBRIS team members Joyce Williams, Samantha Wing, Karen Eliott and Ruth Simons gather at the BC Legislature on May 26. Photo submitted by HSBRIS. Members of the Átl’ka7tsem / Howe Sound Biosphere Initiative Society (HSBRIS) organization joined other provincial groups at the BC UNESCO Biosphere Region Day at the BC Legislature in Victoria recently for a chance to inform and educate MLAs about the significance of thei

Resident petition to Council faces uphill battle Clearcut area along Rundle Creek is highly visible on this screenshot taken from Google maps, June 13, 2026. A group of residents concerned with the clearing of a lot at 250 Oceanview Road has been stymied after presenting a petition to Council asking for immediate action. The lot abuts the property of Hanna Bartholomew, a 34-year Kelvin Grove resident, who says she is deeply concerned that her neighbour has removed more than 2

Western Tiger Swallowtail frolics in the flowers Photo by kc dyer. Seeing more butterflies, bees and other pollinators around lately? You can thank the hard-working Butterflyway Rangers for promoting the growth of indigenous plants in gardens around the Village. Want to encourage more pollinators in your garden? Reach out to local Butterflyway Rangers Val Morton and Hana Boye on their Facebook page HERE. This Western Tiger Swallowtail was spotted on June 6, frolicking on the

Bear pauses in Sunday sunshine to allow fans a photograph Photo by Norma Rodgers, May 31, 2026. Spot a bear? Make sure you report the sighting to Lions Bay Bear Smart. While you're there, take a look around the site to learn all the tips and tricks for keeping bear encounters positive and conflict-free. The Watershed values your opinion. Share your thoughts below, or email editor@lionsbaywatershed.ca Like what you're reading? For as little as $5/month, you can support local

Wishing a lovely long weekend to all Watershed readers A Lions Bay rhododendron offers a glorious display. Photo by kc dyer. The Watershed welcomes your thoughts. Leave your comments below, or 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.

LBSAR Urges Caution Story by LBSAR member Maria Masiar LBSAR rescue team members assist injured hiker into ambulance after recent rescue. Photo courtesy LBSAR. Lions Bay Search and Rescue is urging hikers to take extra precautions as unusual spring conditions are creating a challenging and often deceptive environment in the backcountry. Following a recent rescue involving a hiker who became lost and dehydrated after leaving the trail to access water, teams are seeing an early

Residents Fired Up Over Staff's New Parking Proposal Watershed file photo. Resident reaction was swift and united in response to proposed changes to parking in the Village. After the agenda for Tuesday's regular Council meeting became available last Friday, a number of residents reached out to The Watershed to express their concerns. The two principle areas of concern were proposals to: increase the number of parking spots along Mountain and Timbertop Drives, and re-allocate

Lions Bay SAR call-out season off to a busy start Members of the SAR teams deliver an injured hiker to BC Ambulance Services via helicopter on May 1. Photo courtesy Lions Bay SAR. An injured knee and a lost backpack both proved problematic for hikers this weekend. The sunny weekend proved to be a siren song, as hikers flocked to the trails to enjoy the sun and the views. A call came in to Lions Bay Search and Rescue (LBSAR) on Friday May 1, reporting an injured hiker near Tun

Meet Obi Bun Kenobe & Anakin Fluffwalker These are not the Coastal Canines you're looking for... Meet Obi Bun Kenobi and his brother Anakin Fluffwalker, who are twin one-year old Mini Plush Lops, (and Coastal Canine wannabes). Who knew that Lions Bay was home to a pair of Jedi Knights? Obi Bun and Anakin moved to the Village last spring, and since then, they have made themselves truly at home. They use the Force to generate unlimited energy, only pausing occasionally to flop

Popular event returns to Lions Bay Since it began in 2022, the Bird Friendly Lions Bay event for World Migratory Bird Day has grown into a Nature Celebration that not only marks the return of our songbirds but also showcases our amazing natural heritage and local environmental initiatives. Community groups will again share knowledge and news about local projects on Saturday May 9 at the Village Hall in a social setting that includes refreshments, a BBQ, several kids’ activiti

April's Coastal Canine knows what he wants Akira is a 10-year-old Siberian Husky who knows what he wants. Feel like a little attention? He'll tap the closest human on the hand or the leg. An alert sit on the kitchen rug means a snack should be due in short order. And stationing himself bedside first thing in the morning can mean only one thing: it's time to go out! Akira was adopted by his family during Covid when he was about four. He quickly trained his people into understa

Our power, our planet What you do matters. The daily actions of communities, educators, workers, and families helps sustain and give momentum to environmental progress, according to the organizers of Earth Day. The international celebration of this planet and its fragile environment has taken place every April 22 since 1970. This year, organizers chose the theme 'Our Power, Our Planet' to remind people that environmental progress doesn’t depend on any single administration or

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

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