Columnists

Birdwatching kits available for loan from the library include binoculars, a pocket guide to local birds, and more to help people explore the pastime. (Special to The News)

ON THE PAGE: Kit helps makes family birdwatching adventure fun

With national family fun month coming, tools here to help search for birds, bats, stars, and more

  • Jul 25, 2021
A motorhome sits amid the burnt debris in the Village of Lytton, B.C. on Friday, July 9, 2021 following a massive wildfire that tore through the town destroying 90 per cent of it. (Jenna Hauck/ Black Press Media)

OPINION: The Village of Lytton turned to ashes in moments

‘We drive by piles of ash and crumbled brick. What used to be there?’ writes Jenna Hauck

A map created by the Ministry of Forests shows the activity of the Bea Fire in Beaverdell, B.C. in 1989, including one house in particular (at bottom right) that was nearly completely surrounded by flames. (Ministry of Forests)

COLUMN: Looking back on historic fire that nearly destroyed a B.C. town

Enormous firefighting effort saved Beaverdell from destruction in 1989

Read, register, and potentially win prizes. (FVRL/Special to The News)

ON THE PAGE: Libraries give added motivation to pick up a book

Fraser Valley Regional Libraries are all taking part in the Summer Reading Club

  • Jul 2, 2021
Read, register, and potentially win prizes. (FVRL/Special to The News)
John, Martha, and Carl Brandt picked strawberries at the family farm in 1936 (Maple Ridge Museum & Archives #P06658/Special to The News).

LOOKING BACK: Farmers markets unpopular in historic Maple Ridge

It wasn’t until the third attempt in 2004 that a retail venue focused on produce took hold

  • Jun 27, 2021
John, Martha, and Carl Brandt picked strawberries at the family farm in 1936 (Maple Ridge Museum & Archives #P06658/Special to The News).
Smoke from wildfires burning in the U.S. fills the air as the Grouse Mountain tram transports people down the mountain, in North Vancouver, B.C,, on Saturday, September 12, 2020. The World Air Quality Index, a non-profit that tracks air quality from monitoring stations around the world, rated Vancouver’s air quality as the second worst in the world Saturday. Environment Canada has issued a special air quality statement for Metro Vancouver, showing a very high risk to health due to wildfire smoke from Washington and Oregon. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Prepare for the worst: 10 steps to get ready for wildfire smoke

The summer of 2021 has the potential to be worse than any wildfire season before it

Smoke from wildfires burning in the U.S. fills the air as the Grouse Mountain tram transports people down the mountain, in North Vancouver, B.C,, on Saturday, September 12, 2020. The World Air Quality Index, a non-profit that tracks air quality from monitoring stations around the world, rated Vancouver’s air quality as the second worst in the world Saturday. Environment Canada has issued a special air quality statement for Metro Vancouver, showing a very high risk to health due to wildfire smoke from Washington and Oregon. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The 1952 Pitt Meadows Day festivities included the crowning of the royal party. (Pitt Meadows Museum & Archives/Special to The News)

LOOKING BACK: Archives clear up reasons behind 1948 festival cancellation

Pitt Meadows Day goes ahead again this Saturday, albeit it primarily virtual

  • Jun 1, 2021
The 1952 Pitt Meadows Day festivities included the crowning of the royal party. (Pitt Meadows Museum & Archives/Special to The News)
Sadly, stats show that cycling in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows in recent years has actually decreased. Hopefully this last year plus, during COVID, has helped motivate more people to use their bike to get around. Some food for thought during Go By Bike Week. (Janet Dwillies/Special to The News)

CYCLING: Deadline today for input into Maple Ridge transportation plan

Fitting kickoff to Go By Bike Week, the municipality is seeking input on a 10-year plan

  • May 31, 2021
Sadly, stats show that cycling in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows in recent years has actually decreased. Hopefully this last year plus, during COVID, has helped motivate more people to use their bike to get around. Some food for thought during Go By Bike Week. (Janet Dwillies/Special to The News)
British Columbia Premier John Horgan highlights a paragraph as Finance Minister Selina Robinson tables the budget in a speech in the legislative assembly at the provincial legislature in Victoria, Tuesday, April 20, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

FINLAYSON: 3 takeaways from the new B.C. budget

‘Perhaps most notable is what’s happened in the labour market since last spring’

  • May 10, 2021
British Columbia Premier John Horgan highlights a paragraph as Finance Minister Selina Robinson tables the budget in a speech in the legislative assembly at the provincial legislature in Victoria, Tuesday, April 20, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Medical staff is shown preparing a patient outside a hospital in New Delhi. From the start of the pandemic, there have been 19.9 million cases of COVID-19 reported in India until May 3, 2021. 16.3 million have recovered, and there have been 219,000 deaths. (Photo submitted by Vivek)

Column: Let’s uplift the heroes in India’s battle against COVID-19

India reported over 360,000 infections on Monday, May 3

Medical staff is shown preparing a patient outside a hospital in New Delhi. From the start of the pandemic, there have been 19.9 million cases of COVID-19 reported in India until May 3, 2021. 16.3 million have recovered, and there have been 219,000 deaths. (Photo submitted by Vivek)
Maple Ridge librarian Jessica Boorsma is a reading adviser within the Fraser Valley Regional Library system. (Special to The News)

ON THE PAGE: Reading advisers there to help find good books, more

Hunting for a page-turner, a TV show to binge watch, or a movie to enjoy? These folks can help.

  • May 2, 2021
Maple Ridge librarian Jessica Boorsma is a reading adviser within the Fraser Valley Regional Library system. (Special to The News)
Alice Marc with her children at the homestead in Yennadon, circa 1925. (Maple Ridge Museum #P05175/Special to The News)

LOOKING BACK: Reflections of a tough pioneering motherhood

After living in Versailles and Victoria, Marcs family homesteads in forest around Loon Lake

  • May 1, 2021
Alice Marc with her children at the homestead in Yennadon, circa 1925. (Maple Ridge Museum #P05175/Special to The News)
Chronicle Editor, Cole Schisler taking part in the ageing senses challenge. (Kara Olson photo)

Schisler: Try actually walking a mile in an elder’s shoes

Workday spent with artificially aged senses a real eye-opener

Chronicle Editor, Cole Schisler taking part in the ageing senses challenge. (Kara Olson photo)
Machine gun on roof of Pitt Meadows municipal hall, circa 1929. (Pitt Meadows Museum & Archives/Special to The News)

LOOKING BACK: German machine gun mystery solved – at least part of it

Recently discovered documents uncovered how war trophies came to exist in Pitt Meadows

  • Apr 17, 2021
Machine gun on roof of Pitt Meadows municipal hall, circa 1929. (Pitt Meadows Museum & Archives/Special to The News)
Men with horses and wagons mining gravel in Kanaka Creek in around 1920. (Maple Ridge Museum #P04966/Special to The News)

LOOKING BACK: Maple Ridge’s coal boom – that wasn’t

Discovery of the mineral weren’t total fiction in Kanaka Creek

  • Apr 8, 2021
Men with horses and wagons mining gravel in Kanaka Creek in around 1920. (Maple Ridge Museum #P04966/Special to The News)
There’s room for all users on the dikes and trails in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows. Everyone just has to be aware and courteous of one and other. (HUB’s Janet Dwillies/Special to The News)

CYCLING: Increasing use of dikes and trails sparks quick review of trail etiquette

Long-time cycling advocate speaks of new bike maps, HUB website, and resources available this spring

  • Apr 5, 2021
There’s room for all users on the dikes and trails in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows. Everyone just has to be aware and courteous of one and other. (HUB’s Janet Dwillies/Special to The News)
Nick Greenizan

REVERSE ANGLE: Premier’s pot-shot at young people aging poorly

Yes, some are breaking the rules, but most 20- to 39-year-olds just trying to get by

Nick Greenizan
Ruby Selkirk and Nelson Lougheed during their wedding reception at the Selkirk family home. (Maple Ridge Museum & Archives – P00201/Special to The News)

LOOKING BACK: Nelson and Ruby Lougheed’s wedding a day to remember

Museum curator does a little digging about a well-known Maple Ridge couple, and a dress

  • Mar 20, 2021
Ruby Selkirk and Nelson Lougheed during their wedding reception at the Selkirk family home. (Maple Ridge Museum & Archives – P00201/Special to The News)
A nurse prepares to vaccinate healthcare workers at a COVID-19 drive-thru immunization site in Coquitlam in this image supplied to the media by Fraser Health on March 8, 2021. (Fraser Health)

OPINION: Helping a 97-year-old man get his COVID vaccination appointment

Call centre inundated with 1.7 million calls while there are just 50,000 folks over 90 in B.C.

A nurse prepares to vaccinate healthcare workers at a COVID-19 drive-thru immunization site in Coquitlam in this image supplied to the media by Fraser Health on March 8, 2021. (Fraser Health)
The Foundry Ridge Meadows offers services for youth ages 12 to 24. (Foundry Ridge Meadows/Special to The News)

Guest column: Foundry Ridge Meadows offers peer supports

Peer support worker can help young people navigate the resources in the community

  • Mar 9, 2021
The Foundry Ridge Meadows offers services for youth ages 12 to 24. (Foundry Ridge Meadows/Special to The News)