With temperatures set to approach 30 degrees Celsius in BC’s southern Interior this week, the province’s update on its wildfire action plan hasn’t come a moment too soon. Released last week, the update outlines actions taken on to implement 108 recommendations made in the independent report the province commissioned following the devastating 2017 wildfire season. …
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Grape specialist honoured for dedication
KELOWNA – With more than 50 years’ of service to BC’s grape industry, John Vielvoye was critical in helping the BC grape industry navigate key changes while playing a critical role in the development of BC’s modern wine industry as the province’s grape specialist. Now retired, Vielvoye was honoured in April with the first lifetime …
Grapegrowers share sustainability objectives
PENTICTON – It was an all-wine grapes meeting when the two groups that represent the sector met together for the first time in Penticton in early April. Kathy Malone, winemaker at Hillside Winery in Naramata and chair of the BC Wine Grape Council (BCWGC) tipped her glass to the BC Grapegrowers’ Association (BCGA) for hosting …
Protest sends warning signal
The invasion of an Abbotsford hog farm by protestors shortly after dawn on April 28 was the culmination of days of rumours that such an incident was in the works. Fraser Valley livestock producers were on alert, and police in Abbotsford were aware of the rumours, but there was no solid evidence until protestors arrived …
Province releases ALC/ALR report
The province has released the final report of the committee appointed to recommend ways to revitalize the Agricultural Land Commission, nearly five months after it was submitted. The report makes 32 recommendations and concludes by encouraging an “agriculture first” approach to managing the Agricultural Land Reserve. Dated December 4, the province released it April 30. …
Children can keep helping
Children can continue to help on their family’s farm, even as the province moves to bar youth under the age of 16 from dangerous occupations. “We are moving the minimum age from 12 years to 16 years,” BC labour minister Harry Bains said April 29, announcing a host of amendments to the Employment Standards Act. …