HATZIC – A rocky outcrop on Stave Lake Road east of Mission offers a panoramic view of the Hatzic Valley, the flat land and alluvial soils ideal for blueberries, nurseries, livestock and poultry farms. But in 2021, the valley also began attracting other kinds of operations. Dozens of trucks hauling fill from across the Lower …
Saanichton Farm launches Hall of Fame for Island farmers
SAANICHTON – On April 28, over 250 people attended the Saanichton Farm Hall of Fame hosted by the Rashleigh family to celebrate local farmers and mechanics for their contributions to the farm and broader community. “It was unbelievable. I’ve never seen anything like it,” says event organizer and Saanichton Farm owner Bryce Rashleigh. “My heart …
Disaster fund denial flabbergasts
Ottawa has denied millions in funding to the three municipalities hit hardest by the 2021 atmospheric rivers. Abbotsford, Merritt and Princeton received written notice last week that the federal Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund would not support a host of planned projects due to a lack of information. The application packages each totalled more than …
Sumas class action certified
Sumas Prairie residents affected by the atmospheric rivers that rolled across southern BC in November 2021 will get their day in court. On May 29, BC Supreme Court certified a class action lawsuit against the City of Abbotsford by residents who suffered damage when the floodwaters rose across the Sumas Prairie. “We’re happy with the …
BC farm income plummets
The final numbers are in, and they’re worse than forecast. BC’s agriculture sector posted a net loss totalling $263.7 million last year, the biggest ever, trumping last year’s loss of $194 million and the previous record loss of $252 million reported in 2008. While the total loss includes paper losses such as depreciation, even net …
Chetwynd rancher leaves a lasting legacy in the organic sector
CHETWYND – Mention the name Charlie Lasser within organic farming circles and stories about ingenuity and having a vision for the future will abound. The 92-year-old Chetwynd farmer and rancher passed away on December 9, 2023, but left an indelible mark in his wake on younger farmers and others in the industry. “As a young …