160 replies to this topic

[Lashlarue]

Horne lake turnoff. Sorry - shouldn’t have said first of any kind. There’s definitely residential but first commercial/gas station right on that stretch of highway AFAIK

Edited by Lashlarue, 23 August 2023 - 09:03 PM.

[Mike K.]

Interesting. Thank you.

[Victoria Watcher]

Highway 4 will be temporarily closed Thursday morning at the Cameron Lake Bluffs section to allow crews to remove debris caught by barricades during this week’s rainstorm.

 

The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure said there was a minor rockslide Tuesday and all debris was caught by a barrier and fencing that was constructed during the summer after a wildfire on the bluffs above the road led to a lengthy highway closure.

 

 

https://www.timescol...-debris-7936153

 

 

 

 

Cheers to the engineers and workers here that built a solid system.

[Victoria Watcher]

Drivers skidded and slid out of control on Highway 4 to Port Alberni Saturday, as fast falling snow mixed with steep elevation caught many off guard.

 

Mainroad snow plow operator Mike Backie said driving conditions reduced quickly on “the hump” as cars struggled to get up hill.

 

“I think it’s just improper tires and they don’t really know how to drive to conditions. They’re just foot to the floor, skidding out, and it makes it icier. It makes it harder,” Backie told CHEK News in Port Alberni.

 

“All of our weather is saying up to 2 cm (of snowfall) and we got more than that, so we’re doing the best we can with what we’re dealing with,” he said.

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.cheknews...turday-1181295/

 

 

 

 

 

Backie urged people to stay home, as he headed out to clear roads.

 

“Stay home, if you don’t have to go over the hump right now, don’t. Stay home,” he said.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 10 December 2023 - 04:44 AM.

[Mike K.]

Environment Canada said 2-10cm for that part of the Island.

I’m in Qualicum now. No sign of snow around here.

[splashflash]

Another atmospheric river renews calls for a real road into Nitinat Lake
Road floods multiple times every winter disrupting access to small, remote community

Members of the Ditidaht First Nation were bracing. The main road into their remote community at Nitinat Lake — about an hour’s drive from the nearest community of Lake Cowichan — has already seen multiple floods, said Chief Councillor Judi Thomas.

“Ditidaht is impacted in a big way with large rainfalls and storms that happen every year,” said Thomas. “Every year the…Campus Creek floods, blocking the main road access in and out of the village, obviously stopping ambulances, transporting people and groceries in and out of the community.”

“It disrupts transportation and even puts human lives at risk.”

https://www.lakecowi...at-lake-7119139

[Mike K.]

How bad does it actually get?

Seems like it shouldn’t be too difficult to fix the small section of road. I’m familiar with that road and area, when it rains it rains, for sure. I wonder if the time to ask for improvements is now, since the province just funded a new Bamfield road.

[Victoria Watcher]

The province has closed Highway 4 along Cameron Lake in both directions Monday night due to debris and falling rock.

 

The closure is between Cathedral Grove/MacMillan Provincial Park and Koen Road.

 

According to DriveBC a geotechnical assesment is underway. A detour route is not available.

 

 

https://www.cheknews...ctions-1183437/

 

 

 

 

https://twitter.com/...522418971173085

 

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 26 December 2023 - 03:09 AM.

[Mike K.]

Province has issued a statement:

To ensure the safety of drivers, Highway 4 at Cameron Lake Bluff will be closed until later in the afternoon on Tuesday, Dec. 26 while crews clean up a large rockfall that brought several trees down onto Highway 4.

In late afternoon on Monday, Dec. 25, two large rocks dislodged from the side of the bluff, hit the rockfall barrier and fell into the travel lanes. There were no injuries. At first light on Dec. 26, a geotechnical assessment was completed and maintenance contract crews were subsequently cleared to begin cleanup and replace the roadside barrier. Once the road has been cleared and repairs are complete, the highway will reopen to traffic.

There is no detour available.

The rockfall occurred adjacent to the area affected by wildfires during the summer.

[Mike K.]

Oh oh.

PORT ALBERNI, B.C. – The Alberni Valley Chamber of Commerce has announced the temporary closure of the Port Alberni Visitor Information Centre (VIC) for the month of March 2025 due to a lack of funding.

The Chamber’s contract for visitor services with the City of Port Alberni concluded on January 19, 2025 and no new agreement has been reached. Without a formal contract or secured financial support, the Chamber is unable to continue funding and operating the Visitor Centre independently.

While this closure is temporary, it underscores the urgent need for a sustainable, long-term funding solution to ensure visitor services remain available year-round.

“The Visitor Centre is more than just a tourism resource—it connects thousands of visitors to local businesses, drives economic growth, and provides essential updates during emergencies,” said Chris Washington, President of the Alberni Valley Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. “This decision was not made lightly, but without adequate funding, we must pause visitor servicing operations to focus on securing long-term financial stability.”

During the closure, the Visitor Centre and its public washroom facilities will remain closed. Visitors seeking information about Port Alberni and regional attractions will be directed to online resources, including the Chamber’s websites (www.albernichamber.ca and www.portalbernivisitorcentre.ca) and social media channels and partner Alberni Valley Tourism (www.albernivalleytourism.ca)

Impact on Businesses & Community

Local businesses that rely on visitor referrals are encouraged to update their online listings to ensure accurate and accessible information is available to travelers.

The Chamber remains fully operational, continuing to provide business services, advocacy, and support to its members and the broader business community.

The Chamber is actively working with local and regional stakeholders to explore alternative funding solutions that would allow the Visitor Centre to reopen and ensure its long-term sustainability.

“We are calling on community leaders and businesses to help champion the importance of visitor services,” added Jolleen Dick, the Chamber’s Chief Executive Officer. “This is an investment in economic development, tourism, and our local business community.”

As the Chamber navigates this transition, businesses are encouraged to keep their membership up to date and to refer other businesses that could benefit from joining the Chamber network. A strong Chamber means a stronger business community.

[Victoria Watcher]

Can’t they get some volunteers?

What the hell is wrong with us?

[Matt R.]

I think volunteerism is way down since so many folks need to work more to make ends meet, less time for volunteering.

[Victoria Watcher]

In 1976, the average number of hours worked per week by men was 41.6 hours, and by women it was 33.7 hours.
In 2022, the average number of hours worked per week by men was 38.1 hours, and by women it was 33.2 hours.

[Matt R.]

And now? Just speaking from experience in my own circle.

[Mike K.]

There was a business prof or lecturer on CFAX last week, who spoke about the gap between Canadian and American worker productivity. He said Americans incentivize work to a greater degree.

I bet there are many more Canadians than we think who tap out once they hit a certain income. Otherwise the tax burden gets too big.

Now the CRA is pursuing large passive income taxes that I keep hearing are so punitive they’ll kill off a portion of investment capital within Canada. This is going to further chip away at entrepreneurial spirit on this country.

Watch as Canada loses entrepreneurs to the US, who will flock to the Gold Card program. All it takes is the sale of four or five houses. I know dozens of people in Victoria who own way, way more than that just in local real estate, without a mortgage. There are a few just on this forum.

[max.bravo]

Sounds about right. We have a lazy culture that hates success and successful people.

[Victoria Watcher]

We already lose most successful professionals to the USA.

[spanky123]

^^ The real reason why productivity is higher in the US is because of the large number of illegal workers. When you are working 16 hours a day 7 days a week it moves the needle!

[spanky123]

I don’t see too many Canadians forking over $5M US to get a faster track to citizenship. There has been an investment program available for years at a far lower threshold.

The people I can see signing up for the program would be those overseas that perhaps have local authorities after them or who are in unstable geographies.

[LJ]

^^ The real reason why productivity is higher in the US is because of the large number of illegal workers. When you are working 16 hours a day 7 days a week it moves the needle!

There are not as many of these illegal workers as you may think, and the ones that are working, especially in farm work don't get counted at all.

 

Others that have been in the country illegally for years aren't working 16 hours a day, they are on the payroll with everybody else and working normal hours and paying taxes.