A new mystery after the Haida Gwaii quakes

Add Bats to the list of things to research in the aftermath of last weeks 7.7 earthquake and the  many aftershocks on Haida Gwaii that followed.

Last week it was learned that the popular hot springs on the Islands had run dry, apparently it seems  shut down from the shifting of the plates underneath Haida Gwaii.

Now scientists are trying to figure out what may happen next summer when  a nearly extinct species of bats common to the region return to their birthing grounds, which happen to be at Hot Spring Island.

The CBC has details of the potential species changing situation, which sees some 40 Keen's myotis bats arrive every summer to have their offspring at the springs, one of only two maternal colonies that are known to the species.

The bats are attracted to the roosting area of the Hot Springs owing to the above average ambient temperature of the water that now used to flow under the Islands.

The Hot Springs drying up and now a potential disaster for a species is making last weeks earthquake one that is going to provide for much in the way of work and research for National and Canadian Geographic, not to mention the Discovery Channel.

Windstorm results in power outages, Ferry delays and flight cancellations

Sunday's windstorm crossing from Haida Gwaii, through the North Coast and into the inland regions of the Skeena Valley left some communities with sporadic power outages across the Northwest, resulted in flight cancellations at regional airports and has provided for a holding pattern for BC Ferries.

BC Hydro had a number of power disruptions listed on its Power Outages List for Sunday afternoon/evening as the winds gusted through as the storm front moved through the various regions.

From Port Edward to Kitkatla, Haida Gwaii, Kitimat and Smithers, BC Hydro dealt with wind storm effects that knocked the power off, in some cases for hours at a time .

The largest however was an afternoon power outage reported in Terrace, that at one point affected close to 3,700 residents. Most of the power had been returned to that city by 6 PM.

While lights occasionally flickered and/or dimmed in Prince Rupert, no widespread outages were reported in the area during the course of the Sunday winds.

Power outage updates can be accessed from the BC Hydro website

Transportation options were also affected by the windstorm, Air Canada Jazz flights out of Prince Rupert were cancelled and the morning flight to the city was diverted owing to the strong gusts in the region through the day.

A number of, but not all, of Air Canada  flights to and from Sandspit,  Smithers and Terrace all suffered a similar fate of cancellation as the day progressed.

Hawkairs' early flights of the day from Terrace and Smithers took flight, however evening flights out of Terrace and Prince Rupert have been reported as delayed.

The latest Flight information for the Prince Rupert Airport can be found here while Arrivals and Departures out of Vancouver International Airport can be accessed here.

BC Ferries schedule also faced challenges through Sunday, with the inter Island Ferry MV Kwuna on Haida Gwaii held at dock at Alliford Bay until the winds subsided.

In Prince Rupert, the Northern Expedition was being held off shore in Prince Rupert Channel owing to the dangerous winds that made docking dangerous, the Northern Expedition was to remain in its hold until winds abate, providing the opportunity to dock safely at the Prince Rupert Terminal.

Further updates on the BC Ferries Service Notices can be found here.

Local media reports on the windstorm of November 4

CFTK TV-- Wind Storm report (video)
CFTK TV-- Wind Storm Blacks Out Many Northwest Residents

Northwest Police Files -- November 2012

Our archive for November of items from the files of the RCMP in Northwestern British Columbia


From the North Coast Review


Media items from across the Northwest

Prince Rupert/Port Edward/Haida Gwaii

November 30-- Fraud complaint prompts reminder
November 22-- Prince Rupert RCMP arrest liquor bootlegger
November 19-- Masset RCMP detachment up to full strength
November 18-- Missing woman's charges stayed
November 14-- North Coast residents among the honourees at  RCMP's North District Ceremony
November 9-- Masset RCMP Busy
November 6-- Lumber truck rolls over at Port Edward turnoff


Terrace/Kitimat/Nass

November 29-- Break-in suspect pepper sprayed
November 28-- Youth missing in Terrace area
November 27-- Threats continue at northwestern BC college
November 27-- More Threats Received at NWCC Terrace Campus
November 27-- Pickup Stolen While Owner Swims
November 27-- Thornhill Teen Arrested After Attempted Arson
November 27-- Teens arrested, police stop arson attempt
November 26-- Vehicle stolen from Terrace Aquatic Center
November 21-- Nine Terrace RCMP officers honoured
November 21-- Vehicle runs over shovel fallen from truck
November 20-- Drunk drivers targeted
November 20-- Hoodie-clad men attempt vehicle break in
November 20-- Man flees in BMW after pizza theft
November 19-- Ride Offer Misunderstanding
November 19-- Missing US Hiker's Body Believed to have been found in Hazeltons
November 19-- Missing hiker's body found
November 19-- Vandals' damage sucks money from gymnastics
November 16-- Man arrested for being in store
November 15-- Bear spotted near Soucie Avenue.
November 14-- Terrace teens nabbed for Crime Spree
November 14-- Police honour three Stewart residents
November 14-- Vehicle nearly hits pedestrians
November 14-- Vandalism targeted by city
November 14-- Man sentenced for assaulting police officer
November 13-- Teens arrested for vehicle break and enters
November 13-- Teen girl allegedly assaults auxiliary constable
November 13-- Two arrested in northwest break in
November 13-- Parker goes back to court
November 13-- Help stop crime, win an iPad
November 12-- Local RCMP officers disciplined
November 11-- Men checked for trial fitness
November 10-- Crown wouldn't lay charges against Parker
November 8-- Who was that masked man?
November 8-- Terrace man found
November 7-- Terrace RCMP look for missing man
November 7-- Alleged purse thief locks self in bathroom
November 6-- Three men spotted hiding in bushes with a ladder
November 6-- Pole vandals were in 'an amazing amount of peril'
November 6-- Alleged drug trafficker to remain behind bars
November 5-- Police warn girls off of texting and using Facebook
November 4-- Crown won't lay charges from in-custody injury case
November 2-- Pantless man wheels about Terrace
November 1-- Police ask drivers to slow down

City to host Open House on Waterfront Use at Lester Centre

The ongoing consultation with the public over the use of the eastern sections of Prince Rupert's waterfront will continue this week, as the City hosts an Open House on Wednesday, November 7th at the Lester Centre.

The City will review some of the preliminary analysis of the major themes of the waterfront plan, which extends from east of the Cow Bay district along the shoreline towards Galloway Rapids Bridge.

The City has been collecting comments and input from the community since the process began back in June, this Open House marks one of the final steps in the process, before the consultative project comes to an end.

Not quite as controversial as the waterfront lands west of Kwinitsa, the eastern section of the Prince Rupert waterfront seems destined to be more resident friendly than the increasingly industrial use of the western side.

The Open House offers the public a final opportunity to provide their feedback on the proposals and offer up their suggestions before the process comes to an end and council examines the final report.

This Wednesday's information session at the Lester Centre runs from 7 to 10 pm.

The session is divided into three seperate sections

The Waterfront Preview from 7-7:30 PM
The Presentation from 7:30-8:00 PM
Question Period from 8:00 PM on...

You can review some of the information on the topic from our archives on Waterfront Development.

Coverage of the Wednesday evening session can be found below

CFTK TV--  Rupert Waterfront Plan (video)
Northern View-- Prince Rupert city planner to hold meetings, interviews ahead of waterfront review

Petronas/Progress LNG Open Houses take place this week

As we reviewed earlier this week, Petronas the Malaysian energy giant is looking to extend its bid for and  review its proposed merger attempt with Canadian Natural gas provider Progress Energy. With both groups attempting to find ways to meet the questions on the bid from Ottawa and secure the blessing of the Federal Government for the merger.

With a new proposal reportedly planned for the end of November, the two companies will continue working on a revised plan that  will soon work its way through the Ottawa bureaucracy.

The giant merger was sidetracked last month when the proposal was denied by the Federal Government, a decision that temporarily provided for a set back for those hoping for economic and industrial growth on the North Coast.

However, it appears that Petronas and Progress have taken another look at the details of their proposal and are working to showcase the "net benefit" to Canada that the Federal Government requires for approval of the merger.

If approved, it could result in a significant amount of development just off Ridley Island and provide an economic boost to the entire region.

With that project now seemingly back on track, the local proponents of the LNG terminal for Prince Rupert are moving forward with their own consultations, with two Open Houses planned for the region.

Monday, the Petronas/Progress project will be available for review in Port Edward, with a presentation set from 4-8 PM at the Port Edward Elementary School, 633 Sunset Drive.

On Tuesday, they move to the Lester Centre of the Arts, where the proposed terminal and pipeline project will be available for review from 4 to 8PM.

The presentation will seek to provide some background on the proposed terminal project outlining the economic and employment benefits it could bring to the North Coast.

The Petronas Open House is the first of the public discussions, in what is shaping up to be a busy November of information delivery on LNG development on the North Coast.

The proponents of another project, the BG/Spectra GAs LNG development will hold their own Open House later this month, with sessions also planned for the Elementary School Port Edward and at NWCC in Prince Rupert.

As we outlined earlier this month, that group will feature a familiar face at the presentation, former Prince Rupert Mayor Herb Pond is the local Community Relations Advisor for the BG/Spectra proposal, North Coast residents can catch up with the former Mayor and learn more about the project in question on November 19th and 20th.

You can review all of our background items on the LNG file for the North Coast from our Archive section.

Wind Warning issued for North Coast for a Wet Sunday on the way

Sunday is shaping up to be a rather soggy end to the weekend and the start of week of wet weather for the region, with Environment Canada issuing a Wind Warning, to go along with close to 40 mm of rainfall, some of it at times heavy, anticipated over the next 24 hours.

The Wind Warning was issued at 10 pm Saturday night for Haida Gwaii and the North Coast, with potentially damaging winds from the south expected in the region.

An intense low pressure system approaching from the Southwest will track just north of the Haida Gwaii Islands on Sunday afternoon, bringing winds that will increase from 80 to 100 kilometres by early Sunday morning over the region.

A cold front moving inland on Sunday will accelerate the potential speed of the winds to gusts of 110 kilometres at times, those winds will diminish as the system progresses further inland.

Sunday marks the start of a week of wet weather for the North coast, with rain diminishing to showers continuing on through to Thursday, the full forecast from Environment Canada can be found here.

Set clocks back one hour Saturday night/Sunday morning

Spring forward, fall back... So back we go.

Residents on the North Coast are reminded to set their clocks back one hour before retiring to bed tonight, the fall ritual returning us to Standard Time from our dalliance with Daylight Savings time.

In recent years the annual clock changing has been moved back to the first weekend of November.

All  your clock changing efforts will provides one benefit for tomorrow, we all gain an extra hour of slumber for our Sunday.

The whys and wherefores can be found here...

Keep in mind though, that we'll surrender that hour next spring on March 10th, so use it wisely...