Parks Canada urging visitors to West Coast Trail to postpone non-essential travel due to Mount Underwood fire
The wildfire, burning south of Port Alberni, B.C., is currently 21.56 square kilometres (2,156 hectares) in size and burning out of control. Evacuation orders and alerts have been issued for a number of properties within the Regional District of Alberni-Clayoquot, the Cowichan Valley Regional District and the Tseshaht First Nation.
In a statement, the agency said it is not accepting new reservations for the trail at this time. Anyone with reservations for Aug. 13 to Sept. 12 is eligible for a full refund, excluding the reservation fee.
Parks Canada said anyone already on the trail should complete their hike as planned; however, they may be asked to exit the trail at Nitinat Narrows if conditions change.
Non-residents are being asked to stay away from Bamfield, a main access point for the trail.
A fire ban — including beach fires — is in effect for the Pacific Rim National Park, including the West Coast Trail.
Bamfield and Balaats'adt (Nitinaht Village) are currently without power and have limited water and waste management. B.C. Hydro said it could be days, possibly more than a week, before power is restored.
Parks Canada is asking hikers to leave these communities immediately upon finishing their hike to prioritize essential services for residents.
The West Coast Trail is considered an iconic multi-day backpacking trail, along 75 kilometres of paths and paddling routes that were once used for trade by local First Nations. Parks Canada says more than 7,500 visitors hike the trail each year.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
8 minutes ago
- CTV News
Union disrupts Air Canada press conference days before strike
Air Canada abruptly ended its press conference Thursday after a lineup of union members entered the room and held signs reading 'unpaid work won't fly' and 'UnfAir Canada,' among other statements. Before the news conference ended, the airline revealed details on its plans to ground all flights by Saturday if a deal with the union isn't reached. Some long-haul flights due to depart tonight have already been cancelled. Air Canada plans to cancel 500 trips in a step towards a total stoppage Saturday morning. The disruption would impact about 130,000 customers per day, including several thousand Canadian travellers who are at risk of being stranded abroad, Air Canada executives explained Thursday. Will tickets be rescheduled? Air Canada says it's actively rescheduling tickets with other airlines, including competitors. But, it's peak travel season, Chief Operations Officer Mark Nasr explained, and the airline's capacity to rebook 'will be very limited.' Please do not come to the airport unless you have a confirmed flight," he said. Air Canada will offer affected customers a full refund or a new ticket for a later date at no additional cost. Union disrupts press conference As Air Canada executives answered reporters' questions on Thursday, a handful of union members streamed into the room with signs protesting the airline. They stood silently, most of them flanking the stage. Air Canada CUPE A protester is seen at a press conference held by Air Canada, Aug. 14, 2025, in Toronto. (CTV News) The union issued a notice to strike just before 1 a.m. on Saturday. The airline also plans to lock those workers out. Air Canada has requested government-directed arbitration, however Ottawa has not indicated whether it will intervene in the dispute. In a statement Thursday morning, federal Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu acknowledged Air Canada's request, adding she has asked the union to respond to it. She urged both sides to return to the bargaining table. 'To be clear: deals that are made at the bargaining table are the best ones,' said Hajdu. 'Federal mediators are willing and able to work with parties around the clock until they reach a deal.' Earlier this week, the Air Canada component of the Canadian Union of Public Employees rejected the airline's proposal to enter binding arbitration, saying it prefers to negotiate a deal that its members can then vote on. The union said Wednesday evening that the airline had yet to return to the bargaining table after issuing its lockout notice. 'The union tabled its most recent proposal to Air Canada on (Tuesday) at 9 p.m. ET. The union has been at the bargaining table ever since, waiting for Air Canada to issue their counter-offer. The airline has yet to respond,' CUPE's statement said. 'Needless to say, a negotiation requires two parties to be present, but Air Canada appears to be missing in action.' The union's main sticking points in negotiations have revolved around wages that have been outpaced by inflation during the course of its previous 10-year contract, along with unpaid labour when planes aren't in the air. Its members voted 99.7 per cent in favour of a strike mandate last week. Talks later resumed before the two sides reached an impasse Tuesday. With files from The Canadian Press
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Are you affected by the potential Air Canada strike? We want to hear from you
Passengers check in for an international Air Canada flight at Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, B.C., on Aug. 13, 2025. (Darryl Dyck / The Canadian Press) Air Canada passengers are dealing with travel headaches Thursday as the carrier begins cancelling flights ahead of a possible flight attendants' strike. The airline said it is gradually shutting down operations before a potential halt to all flights, should no deal be reached by Saturday at 12:58 a.m. ET. Flight attendants could walk off the job and the airline could lock out employees if the work stoppage occurs. The Air Canada Component of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) said it is trying to negotiate a new collective agreement with the airline after its 10-year contract for flight attendants expired March 31. The union said sticking points in the negotiations include compensation for currently unpaid work, including during boarding, deplaning and medical emergencies on the ground. It also argued that the airline's current wage offer was 'below inflation, below market value, below minimum wage.' Meanwhile, the airline said in a press release Aug. 11 that its new offer sought no concessions, offered a 38 per cent total pay hike over four years and addressed contract improvements such as ground pay, better pensions and benefits. Air Canada also said it offered to resolve the dispute through third-party, binding arbitration, but the union rejected the idea, saying it wants members to vote on an agreement. wants to hear from passengers about how the possible Air Canada strike is affecting them. Have you changed or cancelled your plans? Are you stuck at your destination or worried about your trip? How are you dealing with the disruption? How do you feel about the dispute between the union and company? What do you think needs to be done to help resolve the labour disagreement? Share your story by emailing us at dotcom@ with your name, general location and phone number in case we want to follow up. Your comments may be used in a story. Advice for customers Air Canada said on its website that it will notify people if they have cancelled flights and if they could be eligible for a full refund, or for alternative flights with other Canadian and foreign airlines, where available. But the carrier noted that other travel options in many cases 'will not be immediately possible' because other carriers are already full during the peak of summer travel. Air Canada also advised customers to ensure they have a confirmed booking and to check their flight status on or on its mobile app before going to the airport. The airline said it has a flexible rebooking policy for all customers allowing them to change or defer travel for free. 'Air Canada will in all cases inform passengers of their rights under applicable rules if their flight is cancelled or delayed and meet its regulatory obligations,' it stated on its website.
2 hours ago
Canada's national parks are free for everyone this summer. Should they be?
Lorne and Riza McVicar of Halifax were excited to take advantage of the federal government's much-touted Canada Strong Pass (new window) . It includes automatic free admission to Canada's national parks and a 25 per cent discount on campsites from June 20 to Sept. 2. The pass has been billed as a way for Canadians to more easily explore their own country (new window) . But Lorne McVicar says it has actually made it more difficult for the couple to vacation in Canada — and he questions why the program is open to everyone, including international tourists. In June, he says, the couple tried to reserve a camping site for several days in July at New Brunswick's Fundy National Park, but it was completely booked that month. So was Newfoundland and Labrador's Gros Morne National Park. I anticipated with the Canada Strong Pass, there'd be a higher demand for these campsites, but I didn't anticipate that it would be such a demand that everything was sold out, said McVicar. Enlarge image (new window) Lorne and Riza McVicar at their home in Halifax. The couple says when they tried in June to book a camping trip in July at a nearby national park, they were surprised to discover all sites were booked. Photo: David Laughlin Parks Canada told CBC News it won't have attendance data until the end of the season, although it expects high volumes to continue this year. But one thing is already clear: The Canada Strong Pass has helped draw an influx of visitors to the country's most popular parks, sparking concerns about overcapacity. Stay off the sand dunes In late July, Prince Edward Island National Park (new window) announced (new window) it has been experiencing record numbers of visitors and traffic congestion. It is overcrowded, said Mike Kelly, who lives close to and frequently visits the park. If you're going to invite the whole world here for free, you should be ready for it. Amid the record attendance, the park reissued warnings to visitors (new window) to stay off its sand dunes, which help protect the coastline (new window) from storm surges. Walking on them damages the grass that holds them together, leading to their destruction. I see an awful lot of people walking on the dunes; I see a lot of people digging on the dunes, said Kelly. It's really disheartening. Enlarge image (new window) Parks Canada has posted signs and barriers at Prince Edward Island National Park, reminding people to stay off the fragile sand dunes. Photo: Parks Canada Park warden Doug Campbell says with the large influx of visitors, it's likely more people are trespassing on the dunes. It's such a beautiful spot and we hate to see damage done. Traffic jams More visitors also means more traffic on roadways near popular parks, including the world-famous Banff National Park. Traffic in the town of Banff is on pace for a record-breaking year, with volume up more than six per cent over the past seven months, compared to the same period last year. We are so glad that people can connect with their national park system. But we do know that we cannot handle that volume of vehicles into the long term, said Banff Mayor Corrie DiManno. Enlarge image (new window) The Town of Banff says traffic is on track for a record-breaking year, with volume up more than six per cent over the past seven months, compared to the same period last year. Photo: CBC / Helen Pike Traffic got so heavy at southern Alberta's Waterton Lakes National Park on Aug. 3 that park officials had to block cars from entering (new window) for about two and a half hours. We recognize that that has a real impact on visitors and is a really challenging situation for all involved, said Christy Gustavison, visitor experience manager for the park. The only other time (new window) Waterton had to temporarily close the park to traffic was in 2017 (new window) — when Parks Canada also offered free admission (new window) to celebrate the country's 150th birthday. Parks Canada responds Parks Canada spokesperson Claudia Crépeault told CBC News in an email that traffic diversions and fully booked campsites happen each year, and that current camping reservation levels are similar to previous years. But according to recent regional CBC News reports, July saw bigger camping crowds — at least at some parks. Parks Canada told CBC last month (new window) that Gros Morne National Park's campsites booked up about a month earlier than last year. The agency also said (new window) that at La Mauricie National Park in Quebec, year-over-year attendance climbed by 19 per cent and campsite bookings by 10 per cent between July 7 and 13. WATCH | Ottawa launches Canada Strong Pass: Crépeault also said that Parks Canada incorporates many effective strategies to manage crowds and protect the parks' ecosystems. U.S. parks surcharge Because the Canada Strong pass was promoted as a perk for Canadians, it has raised questions about why it's accessible to international visitors. It should have been for taxpayers only, said McVicar, of Halifax. "It was for Canadians to access the Canadian parks." Hermine Landry, spokesperson for the office of the minister of Canadian identity and culture, did not directly address why foreign travellers have also been able to use the pass. Our government will be reviewing the success of the pass this summer to assess its impact, she said in an email to CBC News, adding that the pass has proven popular with many Canadians. There currently isn't data suggesting international tourists are behind an uptick in park attendance this year. However, many countries, including Ecuador (new window) and Costa Rica (new window) , charge tourists more than their own residents to access national parks and protected areas. Last month, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order (new window) to hit foreign travellers with an increased fee to visit his country's national parks. The yet-to-be-determined charge could take effect in 2026 (new window) . Most U.S. national parks have free entry, but popular sites like Yellowstone (new window) and the Rocky Mountain (new window) charge admission fees. McVicar said he hopes Canada will make a similar move: [Trump's fee] should definitely be met with a surcharge on Americans coming to our parks. Ottawa didn't directly respond to a question about whether it's considering doing so. Riza McVicar at Fundy National Park where she and husband, Lorne, managed to stay three nights in July by moving to different camping sites each day. Photo: Submitted by Lorne McVicar For their part, the McVicars report they eventually managed to book their July camping trip, by constantly checking the Parks Canada reservations site for cancellations. Still, they say their trip wasn't on par with previous years, because they had to change sites five times over six nights, as they could only secure single-night bookings each time. It's unfortunate, said McVicar. But he added, Beggars can't be choosers. Sophia Harris (new window) · CBC News · Business Reporter Based in Toronto, Sophia Harris covers consumer and business for CBC News web, radio and TV. She previously worked as a CBC videojournalist in the Maritimes, where she won an Atlantic Journalism Award for her work. Got a story idea? Contact: @sophiaharrisCBC (new window) With files from Gwyneth Egan and Helen Pike
