Tourism suffering while the East Island burns
The fight to bring Zain Haq home continues. Elizabeth May to step down as Green leader before next election.
Good morning !
Today we’re looking at the financial consequences of wildfires—particularly for small tourist towns that rely on the summer season. We also have an update about the fight to bring Zain Haq—a climate protester who was deported earlier this year—back home.
While these two stories technically aren’t linked, it’s hard to ignore the overlap between burning old-growth forests and the alleged mistreatment of a man who has been fighting to protect them.
🌡️ Weather Forecast
NEWS
Mount Underwood wildfire threatens to wash out Bamfield's summer season
While the Mount Underwood wildfire has shrunk nearly 50 ha this week, it’s still raging through 3,600 ha of forest just south of Port Alberni.
For the small coastal resort community of Bamfield—with its main road cut off by the blaze—the most vital part of the summer tourist season threatens to be a washout.
Bamfield and the neighbouring Huu-ay-aht First Nation community of Anacla aren’t at any physical risk of the fire, burning approximately 50 kilometres northeast of the community, but they are bearing the brunt of its effects.
Both communities lost power and the Bamfield Road from Port Alberni has been shut since the fire started in the afternoon of Aug. 11, leaving resorts, restaurants, campgrounds, fishing guides and water taxis scrambling to stick-handle cancellations, uncertainty and financial strain, say local business owners.
“August is the one month that everyone in Bamfield relies on to make money,” said Gillian Bradley, owner of Flora's Restaurant and the Bamfield Inn.
“We’ve obviously taken a big hit tourism wise. It's a very, very tricky situation for all of Bamfield for sure.”
With the main road closed and authorities advising only essential traffic along the backroad route through Youbou from Cowichan, Bradley has been getting non-stop calls from visitors looking to cancel or postpone their stay.
⚠️ Capital Bulletin
Crown Royal whisky recalled due to possibility of glass shards.
Enoki mushrooms (Gangrongtai brand) recalled for listeria risk.
Single lane alternating traffic on Fort, from Fern to Morrison, tomorrow. 9am-4pm. [City of Victoria]
Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.
NEWS
Thousands send message to immigration minister demanding BC climate protester be sent home
Earlier this year, Zain Haq—a 24-year-old climate activist who lived in Vancouver and Victoria for more than five years—was deported to his birth place, Pakistan, after a lengthy battle to keep him at home with his wife, Victoria-born Sophia Papp.
Haq was deported under the guise of a student visa violation—SFU, his university, has disputed this—but his legal team believes his removal from Canada was tied to his climate activism.
Now, a campaign by Dogwood BC has gathered support from more than 5,500 Canadians, who have emailed Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab, telling her to bring Haq home to BC.
Haq’s lawyer Randall Cohn said in a release that Haq’s deportation was “an extreme departure from convention.”
He said it was surprising to see that an “individual with significant public support and strong establishment in Canada” was removed so hastily. The Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) had said in its decision that Haq was non-violent and posed no threat to the public.
Haq and Papp say their family wasn’t considered when making the decision, with Papp telling Capital Daily that she felt “betrayed by Canada.”
She says she’s hoping the Dogwood BC letter-writing campaign will help generate momentum on Haq’s case before the next parliamentary session starts on Sept. 15.
As wildfires burn through BC forests and floods rip through Pakistan, the reason for Haq’s activism seems more prescient than ever.
Read our previous coverage of Haq’s first deportation battle in 2024.
Read how the IRCC’s alleged lost paperwork led to his removal from Canada.
⭐️ Capital Picks
🦫 Cheerful beavers: A mother beaver and her young tidy up their dam—and themselves—in Nanaimo. [Facebook photos]
🎆 Outdoor summer concerts and fireworks at The Butchart Gardens are ending soon! There are 7 performances left with two fireworks shows on Saturday nights.*
📚 Young readers wanted: Voracious readers aged 10-18 could win prizes for writing book reviews for GV Public Library. [GVPL]
*Sponsored listing
🗞️ In Other News
Elizabeth May to step down as Green leader before next federal election
The long-standing Green Party of Canada leader—and currently the only MP from her party—announced Tues. she would step down from her role before voters head to the polls again. The Saanich-Gulf Islands MP—who won her seat in a landslide in the spring—says she intends to remain as leader for now, as her position is stronger as the sole representative of the party in Ottawa. She’s led her party through five federal elections since 2008. She stepped aside as leader in 2019, before retaking the position in 2021 alongside Jonathan Pedneault. When he didn’t secure a seat in the recent election, he resigned, leaving May as the main party leader. [CBC]
Langford loses bid to host 2026 FIFA World Cup base camp
The city council unanimously rejected the plan, arguing that without funding from Canada and BC, the cost was too much to shoulder. The city would be required to replace the artificial turf at Starlight Stadium with grass at an estimated cost of up to $1.2M. There would also be significant costs for added security measures. A staff report showed the city could have lost an estimated $50K in revenue. [Times Colonist]
Evacuation orders downgraded for area near Mount Underwood Fire
Two areas that were ordered to evacuate have been downgraded to alerts: Headquarters Bay Recreation Community and China Creek Campground (the site where approx. 300 people had to suddenly flee last week when the fire was discovered). Several evacuation alerts have been lifted, including in the Cameron Heights neighbourhood of Port Alberni. The fire is still considered out of control, but crews are hopeful it won’t grow further. [CHEK]
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🗓️ Things to do
🧘 Outdoor Hatha Flow Yoga: Connect with nature while strengthening your body and mind at this yoga class at the HCP Gardens today. 10-11:15am. [Info]
🎨 Community Craft Connect: Drop in to work on your own project or try something new while connecting with community members of all ages at Luther Court Community Health Centre today. 3-4pm. [Info]
🐍 Slithery Slimy Scaly: Meet some fascinating reptiles, amphibians, and snakes on a guided walk led by CRD Regional Parks naturalists. Meet at Beaver Lake Picnic Shelter today. 10am-1pm. [Info]
🍺 Gorilla vs Dinosaur: This battle of the beers will feature Phillips Gorilla Mode and Dinosour brews—choose your fighter, enjoy some pints, and listen to live music at Phillips Tasting Room tomorrow. 6-10pm. [Info]
🎥 Free-B Movie: King Kong vs Godzilla: See cinema’s most iconic monsters go head-to-head at this outdoor movie screening at Cameron Bandshell tomorrow. 9pm. [Info]
🎶 Harbour Roots and Blues Festival: See the best in blues and R&B music at Ship Point this weekend, starting tomorrow. [Info]
🐲 Vancouver Island Dragon Boat Festival: See the unique racing format at Fairway Gorge Paddling Club. Sat. & Sun. [Info]
🍿 Free-B Movie: Clue: Bring a blanket and catch a screening of the 1985 classic at Cameron Bandshell. Sat. 9pm. [Info]
👀 In Case You Missed It
Wednesday’s headlines: Fringe Festival is back in Victoria this week; VI marmot baby boom at Alberta conservation centre; Air Canada strike ends. [Aug. 20]
Air Canada may cover passengers’ alternative travel expenses. [Financial Post]
VicPD investigating a downtown bank robbery at CIBC. [Victoria News]
On the front lines: See what it’s like to battle a BC forest fire in this five-part series. [Knowledge Network]
Closure at Elk Lake fishing dock on Sept. 4 for upgrades. [CRD]
Kattia’s Kitchen opens new location in Saanichton.
Sky full of stars: See the Milky Way captured at Sombrio Beach. [Damian Chudzinski / Facebook]