Latest news with #VancouverIsland-based
Vancouver Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Vancouver Sun
Giant Pacific octopus shoots video of itself after claiming camera from B.C. divers
When it comes to cinematography, a giant Pacific octopus that borrowed a camera from two divers earns a solid '10 out of 10.' Underwater videographer John Roney said he and his longtime diving buddy Chris Mullen went out on Aug. 5 to Nanoose Bay on the east side of Vancouver Island, a renowned spot for large octopus. Roney said they came across several, but one 'particularly large' octopus _ as large as three metres wide, arm to arm _ caught their attention. It was resting under a ledge, but immediately showed interest in them after they passed by, he said. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'It sort of approached us directly, hopped, and explored my camera, and then I just let go of my camera and I let it have it for a couple of minutes,' said Roney. The resulting video was a mesmerizing display of the creature's pink underbelly, its sucker-covered arms fanned out like an umbrella over the camera. 'It was carrying the camera around for a little bit, aiming it at a wall and stuff. It was doing some filming on its own,' laughed Roney, 'It was even kind enough to use its suckers to turn it off after (the camera) was running for about three minutes.' Roney, a Vancouver Island-based underwater videographer who has been working as a documentary filmmaker for many years, said the animal's camera work was excellent. 'Ten out of 10 underwater videographer for the octopus,' Roney said 'Honestly, the best footage of inside an octopus' web I've seen an octopus take.' 'Better than me by far,' Mullen quipped. Roney later posted the video online, giving the octopus a credit. The footage has received thousands of likes and comments. After the animal was done with the camera, it jumped onto Mullen with its arms around him and suckers on his mask. Roney said he was able to capture the 'hug.' Rather than being aggressive, the octopus appeared curious, using its suckers to explore its environment, Roney said. 'And so you could see it was holding on to him, but it wasn't grabbing him,' said Roney, 'Chris looked like he was having a good time.' 'It was a very gentle hug,' recalled Mullen about the close encounter, 'This is what I was hoping for, this was what I wanted.' Roney said he has done about 1,500 dives over the years, but has only had two close interactions with an octopus. Giant Pacific octopuses are fascinating, interactive animals, and every single time he encounters one, he can't get enough of them, Roney said. Victoria-born marine biologist Jennifer Mather has watched the video, and said the octopus wasn't deliberately taking a selfie even though its work was beautiful. Mather, an octopus expert with the University of Lethbridge in Alberta, said when an octopus finds something interesting and potentially edible, it will pick it up and put it underneath the arm web, which is exactly what we see in the video. 'And the person who had the camera, of course, got pictures because the camera was still running. But it doesn't have anything to do with the octopus taking selfies. Sorry,' said Mather. Mather said the animals are very smart in other ways, likening their personalities to cats. In most situations, when they see divers who crowd around them, they'll sneak away or hide, but an underwater camera with shiny, fresh lights could be quite interesting to them, making them wonder what they can do with it. 'Because octopuses do play — not social play, but object play,' said Mather. Roney said the community response to the video has been incredible. 'You really see that people are fascinated by these animals because they're so intelligent and they're so curious, and they're also so otherworldly, right. They're so different from anything that you'd see on land,' he said. 'And it makes me happy to see people seeing our local marine life here.'
Winnipeg Free Press
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Giant Pacific octopus shoots video of itself after claiming camera from B.C. divers
When it comes to cinematography, a giant Pacific octopus that borrowed a camera from two divers earns a solid '10 out of 10.' Underwater videographer John Roney said he and his longtime diving buddy Chris Mullen went out on Aug. 5 to Nanoose Bay on the east side of Vancouver Island, a renowned spot for large octopus. Roney said they came across several, but one 'particularly large' octopus — as large as three metres wide, arm to arm — caught their attention. It was resting under a ledge, but immediately showed interest in them after they passed by, he said. 'It sort of approached us directly, hopped, and explored my camera, and then I just let go of my camera and I let it have it for a couple of minutes,' said Roney. The resulting video was a mesmerizing display of the creature's pink underbelly, its sucker-covered arms fanned out like an umbrella over the camera. 'It was carrying the camera around for a little bit, aiming it at a wall and stuff. It was doing some filming on its own,' laughed Roney, 'It was even kind enough to use its suckers to turn it off after (the camera) was running for about three minutes.' Roney, a Vancouver Island-based underwater videographer who has been working as a documentary filmmaker for many years, said the animal's camera work was excellent. 'Ten out of 10 underwater videographer for the octopus,' Roney said 'Honestly, the best footage of inside an octopus' web I've seen an octopus take.' 'Better than me by far,' Mullen quipped. Roney later posted the video online, giving the octopus a credit. The footage has received thousands of likes and comments. After the animal was done with the camera, it jumped onto Mullen with its arms around him and suckers on his mask. Roney said he was able to capture the 'hug.' Rather than being aggressive, the octopus appeared curious, using its suckers to explore its environment, Roney said. 'And so you could see it was holding on to him, but it wasn't grabbing him,' said Roney, 'Chris looked like he was having a good time.' 'It was a very gentle hug,' recalled Mullen about the close encounter, 'This is what I was hoping for, this was what I wanted.' Roney said he has done about 1,500 dives over the years, but has only had two close interactions with an octopus. Giant Pacific octopuses are fascinating, interactive animals, and every single time he encounters one, he can't get enough of them, Roney said. Victoria-born marine biologist Jennifer Mather has watched the video, and said the octopus wasn't deliberately taking a selfie even though its work was beautiful. Mather, an octopus expert with the University of Lethbridge in Alberta, said when an octopus finds something interesting and potentially edible, it will pick it up and put it underneath the arm web, which is exactly what we see in the video. 'And the person who had the camera, of course, got pictures because the camera was still running. But it doesn't have anything to do with the octopus taking selfies. Sorry,' said Mather. Mather said the animals are very smart in other ways, likening their personalities to cats. In most situations, when they see divers who crowd around them, they'll sneak away or hide, but an underwater camera with shiny, fresh lights could be quite interesting to them, making them wonder what they can do with it. Wednesdays What's next in arts, life and pop culture. 'Because octopuses do play — not social play, but object play,' said Mather. Roney said the community response to the video has been incredible. 'You really see that people are fascinated by these animals because they're so intelligent and they're so curious, and they're also so otherworldly, right. They're so different from anything that you'd see on land,' he said. 'And it makes me happy to see people seeing our local marine life here.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 9, 2025.
Vancouver Sun
29-05-2025
- General
- Vancouver Sun
Vancouver Island photographer works to save wildlife, one photo at a time
Cristina Mittermeier's photographs don't just give you pause. They stop you in your tracks. The Vancouver Island-based conservation photographer is part of a group of social media-savvy nature shooters who capture images of animals — via land, sea and air. Mittermeier's Instagram account @mitty , which has more than 1.6 million followers, provides a personal stream of photos and videos she's taken around the world. She pairs the arresting imagery with information such as animal behaviour and insight, and perils facing the species. The content is about much more than capturing a pretty picture for the awe and inspiration of others. And it's definitely not about the 'likes.' It's an effort to provide an access point to nature in the hopes it will prompt people to want to protect it. Discover the best of B.C.'s recipes, restaurants and wine. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of West Coast Table will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'It has to be a conversation that humans have every day,' Mittermeier says. A pioneer of the conservation photography movement along with her husband, fellow National Geographic photographer and Order of Canada recipient Paul Nicklen, Mittermeier's overarching goal is to help fill a void in understanding about humans' role in the world. 'Children these days have no clue how our planet works and how the systems around us are what keeps us alive,' Mittermeier says, pointing to 'eroded' education as a possible cause. 'We have, in Western education, a very individualistic, highly exceptional idea of humans as the top of the pyramid. 'And we forget that we are part of a much larger system with many, many other creatures out there that play equally important roles.' A post shared by UN Biodiversity (@unbiodiversity) Speaking from her home in Nanoose Bay — Mittermeier refers to Vancouver Island, where she's lived for about 15 years an 'absolute paradise.' She's also using her platform and imagery to combat misinformation and AI. 'There was a time when social media first came onstage, in 2012 there about when I joined Instagram, where it was so accessible. There was no algorithm throttling us or monitoring the words we used to communicate. And you truly could have a conversation with people from around the world. It was a glorious thing,' Mittermeier says. 'I felt so hopeful at that time that we could actually reach people in an honest communication.' But money and tech companies have strangled that freedom, she says. 'Having media, whether it's traditional media or social media, owned by corporations and especially by billionaires, is really dangerous, because it really skews the way we understand each other and the way we understand the world,' she says. Social media has become less a place of connection these days, Mittermeier says, and more like the 'yellow news' outlets she grew up seeing in her native Mexico. 'There was such bottom-of-the-barrel news to get people's attention. And that's how it feels like with social media, a lot of AI-generated stuff that, of course, is fake and not true. And a lot of scandalous stuff that is not true,' she explains. 'And you have to compete with that.' Credibility, she says, is key. Mittermeier and Nicklen are part of an initiative among nature conservation photographers to keep their work out of the AI training pool that big tech companies like Meta and Google use to inform and shape the understanding of AI bots. 'It's an avalanche of AI. It's an assault,' Mittermeier says. 'Somebody asked an AI generator to create an image of a salmon run, which, for all of us here in British Columbia, is something that's so clear in my mind. You know what the AI bot came up with? Sure enough, it's a stream, but it's a bunch of filets of salmon, you know, going up it.' A post shared by SeaLegacy (@sealegacy) Mittermeier urges people to scroll through social media with a critical gaze, checking facts and searching out sources before assuming something to be true. 'Whenever possible, follow the source all the way to its roots,' she says. 'It's very difficult when you're scrolling and seeing these things come up, and there's a lot of opinion from people who are not qualified. Ignore them.' The longtime nature conservationist suggests searching for sources of information from more than one place, including from the opposing side of the issue. 'I f you can stomach it, whether you are from the left or the right, look at what the other side is saying, just to contrast and understand — even though it's so hard,' Mittermeier says. As part of her goal to present accurate information and imagery of the natural world, Mittermeier and Nicklen created the non-profit SeaLegacy in 2014. 'We wanted to empower other organizations through our storytelling and our audience to have their stories seen by the world,' she explains. 'And that's what we've been doing for the last 10 to 11, years, trying to point our cameras to the heroes in the frontline, to the issues that they're trying to solve and to the solutions out there.' The platform has led Mittermeier to a few select partnerships, including with Rolex, for which she's an ambassador. Mittermeier works with the luxury Swiss watch brand on its Perpetual Planet Initiative that supports and champions explorers, scientists and entrepreneurs. 'They have empowered me and elevated me in such important ways without ever asking me to do anything in return, which is exactly what a brand should be doing when you care about a cause,' Mittermeier says. A post shared by ROLEX (@rolex) First drawn to the field of conservation while studying marine biology in her native Mexico, she became keenly aware of the many issues threatening our oceans. 'Back then, we were talking about climate change, acidification and industrial fishing as the biggest threat. So I wanted to find a way that I could contribute to raise awareness and protect the ocean, and I didn't know how to do it,' Mittermeier says. 'So I started out as a scientist, and my first job ever was for Conservation International. I became a conservationist, and I've been doing that ever since.' Her journey eventually brought her to Canada after she met Nicklen. Happily settled on Vancouver Island, Mittermeier says we're at a crucial time in the country's nature conservation story. 'As Alaska is looking at culling the populations of grizzly bears and wolves, we have an opportunity in British Columbia to protect ours and to make them even more special than they already are,' Mittermeier explains. 'Our neighbours to the south are threatening with logging because they have their own lumber. It gives us an opportunity to even cherish our forests so much more …' 'And I think Canada is going to emerge as a superpower because of our environmental leadership.' While we wait to see how shifting political climates face the environmental crises, Mittermeier says there are a few things people can do. 'The one thing that we all can do, and it has to be a personal choice that you make every day, is, No. 1, to stay hopeful and to know that the pendulum will swing and our time will come again,' Mittermeier says. 'And the second is to stay engaged. There's such a temptation to just turn the other way and not pay attention, and say things like, 'I'm not political. I don't care about that.' 'You have to care, because the power of the people is greater than the people in power. If we all participate, the power of advocacy is massive. If we all use our voice.' Aharris@
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trucking company with 41 drivers shuts down after dispute with bank
A 46-year-old Canadian trucking company has been put into receivership at the request of Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), which said the carrier owes it $6.7 million. Kingsley Trucking ceased operations on Thursday, the same day that the British Columbia Supreme Court placed the carrier into receivership due to the company's being 'unable to secure a transaction, financing, or other arrangement to address the defaults or repay the Indebtedness owing to the Bank,' according to court filings. The Vancouver Island-based trucking company was founded in 1979. It had more than 100 employees, including a fleet of 23 trucks and 41 drivers. Company officials did not return a request for comment from FreightWaves. Kingsley Trucking is related to a lumber company called the San Group, which is in a dispute with its lenders for over $150 million, including RBC and Business Development Bank of Canada. The San Group sought creditor protection under Canada's Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) filings on Nov. 29, 2024. The San Group of Companies, which included Kingsley Trucking, was founded in 1979 by CEO Kamal Sanghera and President Suki Sanghera, along with partner Iqbal Deol. The group of companies included five wood product manufacturing plants and over 625 employees. According to court documents, the San Group's financial troubles started in 2023, when global and domestic lumber prices dropped domestically and globally. RBC persuaded the court to add Kingsley Trucking to the proceedings in February, as well as another firm owned by the San Group called Cojax Heavy-Duty Repair. Kingsley Trucking provided transportation services for the San Group's products on Vancouver Island, while Cojax performed heavy-duty equipment repair services, primarily to Kingsley, court documents said. In its petition to add Kingsley Trucking and Cojax Heavy-Duty Repair to the proceedings, RBC cited payments to the related companies leading up to the San Group's CCAA filings in Canada. Deloitte Restructuring, which was appointed monitor to the CCAA proceeding for the San Group, said payments were made to Kingsley in January that could not be explained. 'The monitor has not received a clear answer on why these payments were made leading up to the CCAA proceedings,' Deloitte said in court documents. 'The monitor also understands that two payments totaling approximately $300,000 were made to Kingsley from San Group in October 2024, which do not appear to relate to or be applied against specific accounts payable invoices or recorded in the San Group accounts payable subledger for Kingsley.' The post Trucking company with 41 drivers shuts down after dispute with bank appeared first on FreightWaves. Sign in to access your portfolio
CBC
01-04-2025
- Business
- CBC
B.C. judge orders Monette Farms from Swift Current, Sask. to pay $12-million fee to adviser in ranching deal
A British Columbia judge says Saskatchewan farming magnate Darrel Monette must pay the $12 million he promised to an adviser in a multimillion-dollar ranching deal in 2021. David Dutcyvich owns Vancouver Island-based 3L Developments Inc., which advised Monette in the ranching deal, the judgment said. Born on a farm in Saskatchewan, Dutcyvich moved to B.C. as a teen and started working as a logger. He went on to create Lemare Lake Logging and then, from those profits, form 3L Developments, now part of a related group of companies through which he carries out development, ranching and agricultural activities. Monette is the owner of Monette Farms Ltd., a ranching and farming operation with holdings in Saskatchewan, B.C., Manitoba and the United States. In a news release March 31, he said that the company, based in Swift Current, Sask., about 245 kilometres west of Regina, is appealing the ruling. Justice Emily Burke's 50-page ruling on March 25 from the Supreme Court of British Columbia details the complex maneuvering behind the multimillion-dollar deal involving cattle and thousands of hectares scattered across 16 ranches in the province's interior. For all its complexities, Burke's decision came down to deciding which of the two multimillionaire farmers was telling the truth about what was or wasn't said on a day in May 2021 when the two men took a helicopter ride near Kamloops to tour the ranches. Burke chose to believe Dutcyvich's account of what happened. "Mr. Dutcyvich said he had a brief early morning conversation with Mr. Monette just prior to the helicopter tour, during which he advised Mr. Monette that his work was essentially done and he expected his $12 million when the deal closed," Burke wrote. "Mr. Monette says this conversation did not occur." B.C. cattle country The dispute began in 2020 when the Blue Goose Cattle Company in Vancouver wanted to sell its ranching interests in B.C. The shares in Blue Goose Cattle were owned by Blue Goose Capital, which is a subsidiary of the Dundee Corp., a public company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Blue Goose Cattle owned 16 separate ranches with more than 18,200 hectares and 14,000 cows. It started negotiating the sale with LBJ Capital Inc., based in Okotoks, Alta, about 45 kilometres south of Calgary. As part of its due diligence, LBJ hired Dutcyvich and his company, 3L Developments, to review the deal. "He is an 81-year-old, self-made, successful businessman," Justice Burke wrote. According to Burke's decision, Blue Goose wanted just over $100 million for its holdings. Dutcyvich's deal with LBJ was to see if the price was fair, and if he could get it lower, he would get a portion of anything under the $100 million asking price. "For example, as Mr. Dutcyvich explained, if he was able to reduce the purchase price by $20 million, Mr. Dutcyvich and 3L Developments would receive $10 million," Burke wrote. The judgment details how Dutcyvich's chief financial officer at 3L Developments reviewed the company's private financial statements, while Dutcyvich did on-the-ground inspections to ultimately value the holdings at $76 million. He concluded that Blue Goose had claimed to have more cows than it did, moved equipment between ranches to fudge the amount of assets, and would have a problem with its land leases as property was being returned to First Nations peoples. After providing LBJ Capital the advice, the company and Blue Goose entered into a preliminary deal in June 2020 to sell the package for $76 million. This would net Dutcyvich a $12 million fee — half the $24 million difference from the original $100 million asking price. Monette Farms enters the picture As it happened, LBJ Capital was unable to close the deal and by the fall of 2020 Blue Goose decided it wouldn't deal with the company. "At this time, unknown to Mr. Dutcyvich and 3L Developments, it appears that the defendants, Darrel Monette and Monette Farms, were making arrangements to have some measure of involvement with LBJ," Burke wrote. "Mr. Monette disputes this. However, I find that the evidence supports this involvement." Monette was involved in conference calls in late 2020 involving LBJ and Dutcyvich, Burke wrote. In January 2021, Blue Goose cut its dealings with LBJ. In March, Monette and Dutcyvich first met in person, which is when Dutcyvich said Monette first asked for help. Burke wrote that the crucial conversation about Dutcyvich's fee happened on the helicopter ride to tour the ranches, in the first or second week of May 2021. "As part of this conversation, Mr. Dutcyvich said to Mr. Monette: "You know the deal, my fee is $12 million … are you going to pay me?" Mr. Dutcyvich testified that Mr. Monette replied "yes," he would pay the fee," Burke wrote. "When cross-examined on why he took no more steps to confirm the payment owed by Monette Farms, Mr. Dutcyvich said that he took Mr. Monette at his word when he said he would pay Mr. Dutcyvich for the work. He liked and trusted Mr. Monette, and so he didn't feel the need to pursue him." In October 2021, Dundee Corp. announced it had closed the sale of its Blue Goose Capital Corp. shares to Monette Farms. Justice Burke had harsh words for Monette in her conclusion. "The defendants' duplicity throughout sought to minimize and deny the work undertaken by the plaintiffs, and I do not accept those claims. As argued, Mr. Monette appears to be reluctant to pay for those who assist him on his path to accumulate his very significant wealth, and the court will not assist him in those endeavours." In the March 31 news release, Monette and Monette Farms wrote "we completely reject and disagree with the findings of the judge and will be appealing the decision to the BC Court of Appeal immediately."
