Category Archives: News

THANK YOU

to everyone who came to the inaugural WILD ABOUT BURNABY LAKE! We hope you had a good time on your canoe tours, nature walks and weed pulls, as well as enjoy the exhibits from:

  • Bird Studies CanadaBLPA-WaBL-Thank_You_Visitors_&_Exhibitors
  • Burnaby Beekeepers Association
  • Catching the Spirit Youth Society
  • North Shore Black Bear Society
  • Northern Spotted Owl Captive Breeding Program
  • Northwest Wildlife Preservation Society
  • Pacific Parklands Foundation
  • Stanley Park Ecology Society
  • Wild Life Rescue Association of BC
  • City of Burnaby Planning Department
  • Metro Vancouver Regional Parks
  • Burnaby Lake Park Association

This event was presented in conjunction with Metro Vancouver Regional Parks and the City of Burnaby Planning Department with support from the TD Friends of the Environment Fund. Special thanks to Burnaby Lake Rowing Club and Burnaby Canoe & Kayak Club who accommodated the voyageur canoes on Burnaby Lake and Metro Vancouver Regional Parks Special Events, Interpreters and Operations staff for all your help with set up and take down.

Photos:  Suzanne Rushton Photography

Visitors and exhibitors! If you took any photos, we’d love to see them – please tag us @BurnabyLakePark on Twitter, Instagram or FacebookThank you!

If you would like to contact any of our exhibitors, please go to the event page where it will link you that organization’s website, Facebook page or contact details.

Don’t Let It Loose! Be a Responsible Pet Owner

As a suitable follow up from #WorldTurtleDay yesterday and to highlight the population of endangered Painted Turtles who make Burnaby Lake Regional Park their home.

Dont-let-it-loose-logo-web
The Invasive Species Council of BC has proclaimed May  as Invasive Species Action Month.

While we usually think of invasive plants first, they also include animals and organisms that are not native to BC, and have serious impacts on our environment, economy and society. Invasive species can out-compete native species for food and space, damage ecosystems, disrupt food sources and introduce parasites and disease.  Some of the most serious invasive species were originally sold as pets or plants for water gardens and aquariums.

Most pets don’t survive in the wild – some die by being killed by predators or hit by cars, and others die of starvation. It is inhumane to release an animal into an environment it is not accustomed to. Releasing a pet into an unsuitable habitat is also considered animal cruelty and charges can be laid (BC SPCA).  However, several species have the ability to thrive and reproduce in their new environment.

The following exotic pet and plant species are commonly released into the wild, and have had serious impacts on BC’s native ecosystems and natural flora and fauna.

  • Red Eared Slider Turtles
  • European Rabbit
  • American Bullfrog
  • Koi Carp
  • Goldfish
  • Eurasian Watermilfoil
  • Parrot Feather
  • Brazilian Elodea

For example, the  Endangered Western Painted Turtle is a native Species at Risk within Burnaby Lake Regional Park and has faced many challenges with Red Eared Slider Turtles from pet shops that people have released into Burnaby Lake when they decide they no longer want their pet.  with which they compete.

Plants and animals should never be released into the wild: For information on actions to take visit www.bcinvasives.ca and www.bcinvasivesmonth.com.  Any sightings of these or other invasive species should be reported to the local invasive species committee.  Remember to sign the Don’t Let It Loose Commitment Form.

Burnaby Board of Trade Eco-Hero

BBOT_HeaderLogo

bbot-pledge-logo

In celebration of Earth Day (April 22nd), the Burnaby Board of Trade asked its members of their community to nominate Eco-Heroes in Burnaby. They celebrated their Pledge for a Sustainable Community heroes and others in the community who are working hard to make a difference to the environment and helping to create a sustainable Burnaby.

Pledge_Home_Eco-Hero

RowingWe were so pleased to find out that one of our super volunteers, Dave Stafford, was nominated by the organizing committee of the National Rowing  Championships and Canada Cup regattas at the Burnaby Lake Rowing Pavilion.  He’s a familiar face in the community for all the great work he does with them, as well as with the Burnaby Lake Park Association stewardship and outreach programs and the Wildlife Rescue Association of BC.

The organizing committee of the 2016 National Rowing Championships and Canada Cup Regattas at Burnaby Lake (from Rowing BC) were overwhelmed by how much of a positive impact Dave created by ensuring the waste captured at their event was handled extremely well as he helped individuals sort their garbage/recycling so that nothing ended up in the incorrect bin . His efforts enabled them to offer an exceptional event from all perspectives and because of it they believe those who participated were inspired and will take on similar initiatives at other regattas. There was significantly less waste collected after the regatta and this helped them set the ideal standard for years to come. Thanks for helping Dave, they say that they could not have done it without you!

DaveRecycler2

We would also like to congratulate our fellow Burnaby Environmental Stewards Nick Kvenich of the Eagle Creek Streamkeepers and John Templeton of the Stoney Creek Environment Committee for being recognized by the Burnaby Board of Trade.

To read about all of the Burnaby Board of Trade’s Eco Heroes, click here.