Learning how to cohabitate with Canadian geese

Good Morning! I’m back at it again with another copy of the Tri-Cities Dispatch. Thanks to all your feedback we are now covering stories requested by readers like you.

Many of you have said you like our environment and wildlife stories! Today’s newsletter features a lowdown on the overpopulation of Canadian geese in the Greater Vancouver Area.

In recent years, the Greater Vancouver Area has become overrun by Canadian geese. The area’s coastal climate has led to a spike in the number of geese that reside in local parks.

Coastal climate: The Greater Vancouver Area’s mild climate makes an ideal location for geese. It is typical for geese in other areas of Canada to fly to warmer southern climates for the cold season. The warm weather means that geese don’t actually migrate south. A lack of predators also allows geese to thrive in the Greater Vancouver Area.

Cause of concern: It is important for cohabitation efforts that we maintain a good relationship with our flying friends. Geese overpopulation is cause for concern because they have a tendency to become aggressive during mating season and will pollute water and grass with their feces.

You can help: The biggest thing you can do to help curb the geese overpopulation is to avoid feeding them says Environmental Stewardship Coordinator Dana McDonald. 

• Dana McDonald: “Feeding by humans occurs regularly and contributes to the geese congregating in high-traffic areas and popular parks near this food source.”

Local situation: Coquitlam’s Como Lake Park has been attempting to control the geese population. The park has signs reminding community members to not feed the geese. Coquitlam has also successfully installed temporary fences during the summer season.

Eagle Ridge Hospital in Port Moody is planning on offering a new surgical procedure called hip arthroscopy. This innovative surgery is minimally invasive, making young people and athletes ideal candidates. The hospital will be ready to offer the procedure some time this month.  

The lowdown: When performing a hip surgery, doctors will often make large incisions. For hip arthroscopy, a doctor makes smaller incisions on the hip joint. The doctor will then insert a camera – called an “arthroscope” – into the joint. The arthroscope will assist the surgeon for the remainder of the procedure. 

Revolutionary medicine: Hip arthroscopy is used to treat different conditions that are unresponsive to non-surgical treatment. The minimal recovery time and lack of long-term damage makes this procedure ideal for people who want to preserve mobility in their hips. The procedure can prevent a future need for hip surgery and the development of arthritis. 

Into the future: The global market for arthroscopy surgeries is expected to grow in the upcoming years as more hospitals become equipped to perform the procedure.

BC is investing approximately $5-million dollars into upgrading bus shelter systems around the province. Changes to the current shelter system will provide transit riders with a more comfortable experience.

• B.C.’s Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Rob Fleming: “Bus shelters are important transit infrastructure that provide people a safe and dry place to wait for the bus. We are happy to join with our federal and local government partners on supporting new and improved bus shelters in communities throughout B.C.”

By design: The new shelters will include updated weather resilience to keep people warm and dry through sleet, rain, and snow. The shelters will also have LED lighting, which will help bus drivers to better spot passengers.

• A lighting system will also make riders feel safer when waiting for the bus after-dark. 

Tri-Cities transit: Many people living in the Tri-Cities rely on taking public transit as a primary means of transportation. TransLink says that the most popular form of public transit in the Greater Vancouver Area is the bussing system. According to the most recent census, 16.3% of people in the Tri-Cities area rely on public transit to commute to work.

Happening Around Town

• Taste of the Tri-Cities: From now until March 19 restaurants across the Tri-Cities area are being showcased for a local food festival. Check out our featured restaurant down below. 
• Online Cooking Class: Tomorrow at 11 AM Port Moody culinary companies Eden West Gourmet and Tartine & Maple will be hosting an online breadmaking class. Learn how to make delicious desserts, bread, buns, and pizza dough! Tickets start at $34.48. 
• Creating Effective Resumes: Next Thursday at 3 PM the Coquitlam Public Library is hosting a webinar on resume writing strategies. 
• Family Trivia Night: Next Thursday at 7 PM the Coquitlam Public Library will be hosting a virtual family-friendly trivia night. This trivia night will feature animal-themed questions. 

Taste of the Tri-Cities: Cat & Fiddle Pub

A part of the Taste of Tri-Cities, we’re featuring and promoting local restaurants.

The Cat & Fiddle is a sports bar that specializes in comfort-style food. Their menu is incredibly wide-ranging – there is something for everyone to enjoy! The Cat & Fiddle is currently open for dine-in and take-out. 

PS: They have entire menus dedicated to vegetarian and gluten-free options!

In Other News

• ICBC may lose out on savings from litigation fees after the court ruled their recent reforms as unconstitutional. 
• Coquitlam reached a historical record for construction projects despite the pandemic.
• Dr. Bonnie Henry says that most British Columbians will not have the option to choose what vaccine they receive.
• Yesterday, we mentioned the COVID-19 variant that was found in local schools. Archbishop Carney Regional has since shifted to online learning.

One More Thing

Did you know? The first local telephone call in the province of B.C. was actually made between what is now known as Port Moody and New Westminster? The call was made between the two locations in 1883. Port Moody was later incorporated as a city in 1912. 

Corrections

Our commitment to you, our readers, is to be as transparent as possible. We’re only human and sometimes we make mistakes. Here are two story corrections:

• We said that the City of Coquitlam was responsible for the temporary hotel housing program when it was actually BC Housing that funded the initiative. 
• Our recent reporting on Coquitlam’s smart award nomination was a little unclear. The Fraser Health booking tool is a smart technology that is utilized by Coquitlam – the city did not develop this technology.