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With spring well underway here, this month had many residents discussing #NoMowMay, a movement that encourages people to forgo the usual maintenance of their lawns, allowing grass and flowers to grow.

But local biodiversity experts say that this movement does little to address the massive loss of the south Island’s Garry oak ecosystem, which has been depleted by 95%. By allowing non-native plants to flourish, like the grasses typically used for lawns, non-native pollinators will have an advantage over the quickly-disappearing local ones.

Instead of keeping the lawn mower tucked away for a month, conservation scientists would rather see a shift in focus to growing native plants to support our local wildlife—and they’re creating examples for locals to learn from.

Read more to learn how to take steps—both big and small—to make your lawn a safe haven for local species.

The province recently announced funding for transportation infrastructure improvements, including a $19.8M investment in 29 air facilities through the BC Air Access Program (BCAAP) to improve safety, security, and enhance economic development.

Victoria Harbour Heliport will receive $737K to improve fire protections and fire pump systems.

“The BC Air Access Program helps communities, especially smaller ones, with important improvements to their aviation facilities,” said Rob Fleming, minister of transportation and infrastructure. “This investment will help move people and goods, improve safety and benefit front-line services, like ambulance and wildfire fighting, as well as making for more secure access to remote and Indigenous communities.”

Several Island airports are also set to receive infrastructure funding. Nanaimo Airport will receive $2M for runway instrument approach lighting, while Comox Airport will receive $374K for solar power installation and electrification of ground support equipment.

Rest stop upgrades will improve safety and accessibility

The province is also investing $100M in the Safety Rest Area Improvement Program over the next nine years, with $28M being spent in the next three.

Improvements begin this summer on the Arbutus rest area on the Malahat Highway, north of Victoria. This will include new signage and lighting, increased accessibility, and improved rest area facilities and picnic areas.

“Rest areas are an essential part of the highway system and help highway safety by reducing risk of accidents related to fatigue or the need for people to stop on highway shoulders,” said Fleming. “By providing better facilities for people to take breaks from driving, these improvements to rest areas will help make travelling through our province safer and more comfortable for commercial truck drivers and everyone who uses the highway network.”

Seasonal students will also be hired to maintain rest areas and provide landscaping.

Thinking of making your next career move? Let us help!

• Spa Manager at RITUAL Nordic Spa
• Dental Reception at Oaklands Dental
• Shift Manager at Earls Kitchen + Bar
• Packaging/Shipping & Receiving Operator at Seastar Chemicals
• Investment Administrator at Meritage Financial Group
• Veterinary Technician at City Pets Animal Clinic
• Transit Operator at BC Transit
• Delivery Driver at Otto Logistics
• Newsletter Editor at Capital Daily

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