Search for B.C.'s Best Symbol: Round 2 — Nature

22-07-2025

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For a province so synonymous with trees, and with so many people who love all they provide, it's ironic that the two species British Columbians might love the most carry with them a hint of false advertising.
"The Douglas Fir isn't a fir at all — it's part of the 'false hemlock' family," said CBC science specialist Darius Mahdavi, referencing the mighty conifer that can reach heights of 100 metres.
"But western red 'cedar' is no better, because it's actually a cypress."
Despite the somewhat misleading names, the two types of trees are easily identifiable through much of British Columbia, and have advanced to the second round of the Search for B.C.'s Best Symbol.
Now, however, they face off against each other in the ultimate tree tussle to see which one will advance to the semifinals of the nature quadrant of the competition.
Mahdavi says both trees have a lot going for each other.
"They are absolutely essential to ecosystems across B.C., providing habitat and food and maintaining the environment," contrasting the Douglas Fir's durability with the many ways red cedar have been used by First Nations along the coast.
Ultimately though, only one can be the last tree standing.
What will you vote for?
Four symbols move on, four go home
The Search for B.C.'s Best Symbol continues its second round Tuesday with the nature quadrant, with four different matchups that will determine which iconic and historic elements of B.C.'s land will move on to the next round.
Douglas fir vs. Western redcedar.
Pot leaf vs. gold nugget.
Dogwood flower vs. mountaintop.
Okanagan cherries vs. Vancouver Island oysters.
While it has been mostly top seeds advancing in the friendly competition so far, there are a few small but mighty symbols still in the running — including one from the Okanagan.
"Cherries are a perfect bite-size fruit, and when they are abundant and the weather co-operates, they are phenomenal," said Erin Carlson, a cherry grower at the Carcajou Fruit Company in Summerland.
It faces the Vancouver Island oyster this round, after defeating Okanagan peaches in round two.
The cherry industry is on pace to have a good year — mostly because of better weather, but partly because of the power certain symbols gain in times of political tension.
"Canadian Cherry Month [has begun], and the goal is to get more Canadians to buy more B.C. cherries and more Canadian," said Carlson.
"[Cherries] out of Washington you would find, especially as you head to Manitoba and beyond, because they try to undercut our market. But this year, there's a lot of optimism that supermarkets across the country are going to be able to stock us."
Voting is open until 10 p.m. Pacific time. May the best symbol win!

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Floating home community in Delta, B.C., worries silt buildup in Fraser River putting it at risk

CBC

2 hours ago

Floating home community in Delta, B.C., worries silt buildup in Fraser River putting it at risk

Residents of a floating home community on B.C.'s South Coast are worried about their homes as silt builds up in the Fraser River, causing them to sit in the mud during low tide. Ted Dufresne, a resident of Canoe Pass Village in Delta, B.C., said the homes tilt when the tide is low, which is putting residents' safety at risk. "We have a lot of seniors in this community," he said. "Let's say someone got up during the middle of the night and fell, broke a hip or had a heart attack … emergency vehicles, ambulances would have a real problem trying to access them and [for] some houses, they may not even be able to get inside." Paul Scott, head of maintenance for the village, said he's had to get creative to fix damage to docks as a result of this situation. After five years of working in the community, he said sediment buildup under the docks is only getting worse. "It shouldn't be this way." The silt building up in the Fraser River is also affecting Tsawwassen First Nation members; the First Nations said the buildup is threatening river health and access to fishing sites. "For us, this is not only about navigation or infrastructure, it is about our way of life," the Nation said in an email. "Without action, the silt buildup threatens, not just access to the river, but also the reasonable opportunity to fish, a right guaranteed under our Final Agreement." Now, the Tsawwassen First Nation and Canoe Pass Village residents alike are calling for the area to be dredged — but it's unclear who is actually responsible for dredging that particular channel of the Fraser River. The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority is responsible for dredging the main channel of the Fraser River, but told CBC News no single authority is responsible for the secondary channel, where Canoe Pass Village is located. Delta Mayor George Harvie said the port authority used to dredge the secondary channel, but since it stopped, no one has taken responsibility for taking care of it. Dufresne, who has lived in Canoe Pass Village for 12 years, said the channel hasn't been dredged since he's lived there. In an emailed statement to CBC News, the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship said "several organizations and levels of government" have met to discuss the issue "regularly." Harvie said Canoe Pass Village is trying to get emergency dredging done under their float homes, but the community is waiting for a permit. Residents could try having the channel dredged without a permit, but they could face hefty fines, Harvie added. He suggested annual dredging would cost about $3 million per year. Harvie said he, along with Richmond's mayor and local First Nations, sent a letter to the federal government explaining the situation and dire need for support, but they never heard back. "It's $3 million," Harvie said. "It affects public safety, affects people's jobs. I don't understand why they just won't take action on it."