When Mackenzie Clark comes into work, she knows she’s going to learn something new and chances are she will be out in the field, in a provincial park. Mackenzie is one of 37 youth employed in the BC Parks Youth Employment Program across the province, with 11 co–op positions and 26 student ranger intern positions, under the broader umbrella of the StrongerBC Future …
Boosting Butterfly Numbers in Helliwell The number of Taylor’s checkerspot butterflies, a critically endangered species, in Helliwell Provincial Park, rose significantly last spring when nearly 1,300 caterpillars, reared at the Greater Vancouver Zoo by Wildlife Preservation Canada staff, were gently placed in the park by the Taylor’s Checkerspot Butterfly Recovery Project Team. This follows the …
Context While we continue to weather the COVID- 19 pandemic, it’s never been clearer that our parks are critical to carefully manage and protect as places that sustain us and provide important connections to nature. At the same time, there is growing concern about the effectiveness of protected areas in meeting objectives such as biodiversity …
By Sabina Pereira Last summer I was employed with BC Parks and Thompson Rivers University working on the Okanagan Small Mammal Inventory Project. The goal of the project was to identify which species of small mammals were present in various protected areas in the North Okanagan and create a list for research and management purposes. …
Each year, BC Parks invites volunteers and community partners to apply for project funding from the Park Enhancement Fund (PEF). This regional PEF funding is intended to support community engagement projects and partnerships across the province. From volunteers to local scientists, regional PEF funding is a wonderful way to support our local parks partners. $240,000 …
Sugarbowl-Grizzly Den Provincial Park, a local Prince George treasure, was established in 1999 to protect the old growth cedar, hemlock, spruce forests and sweeping alpine meadows. With nearly 24,000 hectares protected, the park provides necessary habitat for a variety of wildlife, including mountain caribou. It also provides excellent recreational opportunities year-around for outdoor enthusiasts, offering …
Tucked away in the nooks and crannies of British Columbia’s mountain ranges is a symbol of the alpine. White as the snow-capped peaks, the mountain goat (Oreamnos americanus) is an iconic mountain species of British Columbia. Approximately half of the world’s mountain goats reside within the province, inhabiting the jagged alpine slopes. Owing to the …
After 16 years of hard work, a local not-for-profit society has succeeded in bringing together multiple levels of government, structural engineers, heritage consultants and volunteers to save the 106-year old Morden Colliery. Inspired by the innovative use of shipping container modules to stabilize historic buildings in the aftermath of the 6.2 magnitude earthquake that struck …
Each of BC Parks’ five regions have been allocated $20,000 to support conservation projects, and $20,000 to support recreation projects. To access this funding for a specific park, please contact your local BC Parks staff or email BCParks.Volunteers@gov.bc.ca to find out who you should contact. Application deadline is June 7, 2019 for all BC Parks regions (West Coast, …
Written by Ian Adams The helicopter nestles into the natural forest opening atop a ridge in British Columbia’s Gilnockie Provincial Park. As the rotors slow, biologists and BC Parks staff jump out and start gathering gear. The plan is to bushwhack our way downslope and intercept a small tributary stream, then follow it to the …