Why the fast-melting snowpack is a real problem for B.C.

Good morning,

Two of my favourite less-known businesses in Chinatown are finally getting some attention.

Tosi’s is a small Italian spot on Main in Chinatown where you can get cheese, salami and canned tomatoes, and it’s featured in a CBC story about the history of the Italian Canadian community. Benny’s is also featured, a staple of my shopping when I lived in Chinatown.

Both are locally run, and examples of what makes a neighbourhood worth visiting. I highly recommend you read the story and check them out when you’re in the area.

But before you read that story, let’s get to today’s newsletter. We’ve got:

• A breakdown of a First Nations’ housing project on Commercial 🏗

• And a dire warning about B.C. drought conditions 🚰

Let’s get to it

— Geoff Sharpe, Vancity Lookout newsletter writer

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WEATHER

Monday: 27 🌡️ 15 | 🌤

Tuesday: 21 🌡️ 11 | 🌤

Wednesday: 18 🌡️ 11 | 🌤

WEEKLY LOOKOUT

Decision incoming: The development at 105 Keefer, which has faced protests and years of approval delays, will be decided this week by the Development Permit Board. While neighbours are opposed to it, many community organizations in the area are in favour. Coun. Pete Fry noted it will likely be approved since it’s not a rezoning project. City council cannot overturn the decision of the board. [CTV]

ENVIRONMENT

Why the fast-melting snowpack is a real problem for B.C.

We don’t throw the d-word around lightly, but it appears B.C. is in for a drought-filled summer.

What’s happening: The province is facing dire drought conditions as unseasonably hot weather has melted B.C.’s snowpack, to the point that it’s at just 29 percent of what it usually is at this time of year, according to CBC.

According to the Fraser Valley Current, the snowpack trendline was not concerning in early May, and was at normal level for that time of year. But unseasonably warm weather over June melted the snow far faster than normal.

• That snowpack feeds rivers and provides drinking water for British Columbians.

A silver lining? Significant drought can be avoided if there is “substantial and sustained rainfall over the coming months”...

No, not really: ...which is unlikely according to CBC.

The impacts: Beyond the normal water conservation efforts we face in Vancouver, the effects of the drought will impact rivers, which are currently at their lowest-ever flows for this time of year, according to the B.C. government. This affects fish populations, ecosystems, and forests and potentially even B.C. hydroelectricity generation, as several reservoirs contain less water than normal, according to the Vancouver Sun.

Looking ahead: More droughts and extreme weather events should be expected in the future according to a hydrologist speaking to Vancouver is Awesome. It could result in more serious water restrictions, as well as the need to look at ways to expand water reservoirs.

The Sunshine Coast is already preparing for drought conditions, with the city requesting and receiving approval for a new water license at Church Road Well, according to CBC. Last year the area declared a state of emergency due to a lack of drinking water because of drought conditions, according to the Vancouver Sun.

• Meanwhile: Fires continue to wreak havoc across the province. In the northeast, 2,400 residents were forced to flee Tumbler Ridge, according to CBC.

The Cameron Bluffs fire on Vancouver Island has grown to 208 hectares, while Highway 4 remains closed, cutting off Port Alberni, Tofino and Ucluelet, though a detour route has been opened along a forest service road, according to Global.

If you’re planning a weekend trip to Tofino from Vancouver, you may want to cancel!

VANCOUVER BY THE NUMBERS

⛽ $2: Gas prices rose above this amount over the weekend, with some prices rising to as much as $2.04. The cause was a shortage of gas in the Pacific Northwest. [CityNews]

🚲 52%: The percentage that bike thefts have fallen in Vancouver since the introduction of a bike tagging system. You can tag your bike here so it’s easier to recover if stolen. [Vancouver Sun]

HOUSING

First Nations seek project approval for social housing near Commercial and Pender

What’s happening: The Aboriginal Land Trust and Lu’ma Native Housing Society are proposing to build an Indigenous social housing complex, a mixed-use 18-storey building at 1710-1730 East Pender St., according to Urbanized.

Challenges: The building is larger than what the community plan stipulates but shows that the area may be primed for larger developments than the original community plan envisioned.

• The proponents of the project argue the building height should be larger given numerous planned developments half a block north will be even larger.

The building includes a mix of “core/shelter rate units, rent geared to income units, low-end-of-market rental units, and affordable leasehold homeownership units,” according to Urbanized.

Speaking out: Chairperson of the Squamish Nation, one of the groups leading the Sen̓áḵw development near Kitsilano, spoke out about the project, calling on the city to approve it.

Zoom out: The project is Indigenous-led and is another example of First Nations taking the lead in developing housing in Vancouver, as well as pushing for projects that help lower-income people. The project is also a non-profit.

Why it matters: Housing developments like this, which put lower-income residents first, are critical to ensuring people from all income types can live in Vancouver. It also challenges existing city plans at a time when a massive expansion of housing is needed to account for expected population growth.

NEW JOBS

1. Senior marketing specialist at Stantec

2. People and culture manager at Smythe LLP

3. VIP relations manager at Plenty of Fish

4. Account executive at Hootsuite

5. Manager, climate change and sustainability services at Ernst and Young

THE AGENDA

🚓 Police are investigating a shooting in the Downtown Eastside on Saturday at about 7:15 pm. The individual shot has life-threatening injuries and one person was arrested at the scene. [Vancouver Sun]

🏠 A modular housing project with 89 units funded by the province at Main and Terminal that was supposed to open in March has been pushed back a second time. [Vancouver is Awesome]

🪧 This weekend advocates took to the streets in honour of the second annual march for murdered Indigenous boys and men. Indigenous men are seven times more likely to die than non-Indigenous men in Canada. [CBC]

⛴️ If you ever thought, hey, why do they still collect paper tickets on BC Ferries walk-ons, you aren’t the only one. BC Ferries announced changes to speed up processing passengers, including fare gates and automated systems to reduce vehicle ticket purchase wait times by 30-40 seconds each. [Urbanized]

👍 The naughty housing list released by the province to encourage municipalities to build more housing is already seeing results, as municipalities believe it will help serve as cover for them to approve more developments. [CBC]

🍺 Is Granville Island now booze island? Not so much… But a pilot program does make it easier to drink in designated areas in the Public Market and the Courtyard. Of course, you need to keep an eye on the boundaries. [Vancouver is Awesome]

🤖 Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim plans to hire a Chief AI Officer, to help on projects like speeding up the permitting process. No word on whether they plan to implement a bot called Skynet! [VanTech Journal]

SPORTS

⚽ It’s been a good season for the Whitecaps. The team beat Montreal CF 2-1 to win the Canadian Championship trophy for the second year in a row. The Best Young Canadian Player Award was given to Ali Ahmed…

⚽ After winning the game, head coach Vanni Sartini said he wanted to continue coaching the team. He joined the Whitecaps in 2021. [Global]

🏒 It looks like that Canucks defenceman Ethan Bear will likely need to undergo shoulder surgery, which would mean starting the season on the injury list. [The Province]

🥊 UFC Vancouver proved to be a big event this weekend. Winners included Amanda Nunes, who announced her retirement after the fight, Charles (Do Bronxs) Oliveira, and all six Canadian fighters winning all their matches. [CBC]

⚾️ The Vancouver Canadians defeated the Everett Aquasox 2-0 and 8-2 on Saturday. [MILB]

GOOD NEWS MONDAY

Start your day off with some good news:

TransLink is encouraging more cycling and transit usage by partnering with businesses where you can get special discounts if you show your Compass Card. Participating businesses include the Museum of Vancouver, Grouse Mountain, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, multiple breweries, the PNE and many more. Check them all out here.

And before you ask, not this isn’t an ad, I just really like public transit!

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• Here’s a helpful list of plants that are native to Vancouver that you can grow in your garden. [Daily Hive]

• Apparently, JJ Bean and Flourist make the best oatmeal raisin cookies, for those who like those types of cookies. I do not, but I won’t judge. [Reddit]

• If you’re in Stanley Park in the evening, you may hear screaming. Fear not, unless you like birds, because it’s just an eagle trying to capture nesting baby heron. [Vancouver Sun]

• Ever wondered why there are palm trees in English Bay? Well here’s your answer. [Vancouver is Awesome]

• Someone made some miniature Vancouver Specials! [Reddit]

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Reddit user mthyvold captured this beautiful shot of English Bay on Thursday!

Aspiring photographer? Send us your image and we’ll include it in the newsletter.

GAME TIME

Congrats to everyone who correctly guessed the Wordle. The answer was DEFER.

Today’s quiz question - what price did gas prices hit this weekend? The first five people to reply will have their names included in the next newsletter.