Nicole Hancock
Indigenous community hosts full moon ceremony ...

Kristen Villebrun and Wendy Bush hoped they wouldn't have to pray for Chedoke Creek, but four years after they first raised alarm about the water's condition, they were part of an Indigenous full moon ceremony to do just that. About 50 people showed up near Princess Point on the dark and frigid Monday evening for the monthly ceremony, which was particularly special as it focused on Chedoke Creek. The body of water that runs into Cootes Paradise had about 24 billion litres of sewage and storm water runoff leak into it due to a gate being left open.

Indigenous community hosts full moon ceremony to heal Chedoke Creek

Sumas Prairie

1 year later, British Columbians who lost everything reflect on devastating floods

1 year later, British Columbians who lost everything reflect on devastating floods

John Jongema's house is habitable again, but he is not getting rid of the fifth-wheel trailer he moved onto his farmland to ride out the rebuild anytime soon. "I'm keeping that trailer as a getaway," he said with a nervous chuckle. Jongema, who lives on a hobby farm on the Sumas Prairie about 90 kilometres east of Vancouver, is one of nearly 20,000 people in the southern part of British Columbia forced from their homes a year ago after record-breaking rains caused catastrophic flooding. The relentless rain came via an atmospheric river — an airborne stream of water vapour across the Pacific that originated in the subtropics. It triggered fatal mudslides, damaged critical highway infrastructure and called into question responsibility for flood mitigation in a province repeatedly pummeled by the impacts of climate change.

B.C. flood recovery tempered by fears of new climate disasters looming on horizon

B.C. flood recovery tempered by fears of new climate disasters looming on horizon

When a dike was breached and floodwaters started to flow across British Columbia’s Sumas Prairie a year ago, poultry farmer Corry Spitters said all he could do was let nature take its course. A feeling of helplessness gripped him as the encroaching water methodically engulfed his farm’s 21 barns, and 200,000 of his chickens drowned, he said. “You stand there and Mother Nature takes control,” said Spitters, 67. “What can you do? The water comes in and there’s nothing you can do.”

Abbotsford repairs making dikes stronger but not invincible

Abbotsford repairs making dikes stronger but not invincible

Abbotsford’s dikes are in a better position than last year when atmospheric rivers deluged the Lower Mainland-U.S. border area, flooding Abbotsford’s Sumas Prairie, said Mayor Henry Braun, but the area is still highly vulnerable. It needs both a short-term fix and long-term $800 million pumping station to be built as soon as possible. The city wants to see the proposed pumping station uncoupled from its $2.8 billion approved multi-phase flood mitigation plan that will enable more water to be pumped away from valued agricultural land that was flooded when the U.S. based Nooksack River overflowed.

Nooksack River, source of B.C. and Washington flooding fears, to get new plan

Nooksack River, source of B.C. and Washington flooding fears, to get new plan

Leaders from B.C. and Washington state say they have reached an agreement to work together on redeveloping a flooding prevention plan and response for the Nooksack River. Flooding in southern B.C. and northern Washington in November displaced an estimated 500 people south of the border and about 14,000 were forced to flee their homes on the Canadian side. Rising water levels in the Nooksack contributed to flooding on the Sumas Prairie in Abbotsford and resulted in billions of dollars of damage to the province’s agriculture industry. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee says in a release that flooding will continue to worsen in the face of population growth, development and climate change, and a long-term approach on both sides of the border is needed.

Abbotsford church helped single mother return home after devastating flood

Abbotsford church helped single mother return home after devastating flood

If, as the old African proverb puts it, it takes a village to raise a child, it can also take a community to help someone recover from disaster. That’s the story Trina Enns tells about how her church – the South Abbotsford Church, part of the Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches – is helping her rebuild her hope and home after last November’s devastating flood in B.C.’s Fraser Valley.

'Hard pill to swallow': $2 billion in climate change damage the 'new normal'

'Hard pill to swallow': $2 billion in climate change damage the 'new normal'

Severe weather led to $2.1 billion in insured damages in 2021, making it the sixth costliest year in Canada's history, says the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC). In tallying the cost, the national insurance organization said climate change is already showing just how expensive a world-dominated catastrophe will be. Last year, the most expensive single event occurred in November when an atmospheric river triggered widespread flooding across southern British Columbia and led to $515 million in claims.

Flood warnings for Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island with heavy rain, rising temperatures in forecast

Flood warnings for Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island with heavy rain, rising temperatures in forecast

The agency that monitors British Columbia's waterways is warning of "minor to significant flooding" in B.C.'s Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island as warming temperatures and persistent rain melt heavy snow. The River Forecast Centre says in a high stream-flow advisory that a significant weather pattern change will occur this week and cause rapid rises in creeks and rivers, especially at low and mid-elevation watersheds on the coast.

Freezing weather compounds challenges for B.C. farmers dealing with flood aftermath

Freezing weather compounds challenges for B.C. farmers dealing with flood aftermath

Dave Martens is working on rebuilding his poultry farm and his home, which he hasn't been able to live in since the Sumas Prairie region east of Abbotsford, B.C., was hit by floods triggered by historic rainfall in November. "Currently I'm at the point of trying to dry things out still," said Martens of the two farm houses he owns, one of which he lives in. "You hear people talk about people being back in their homes and things like that. That might be true for some, but not the majority."

Barrowtown residents saved pump station from being swamped, Abbotsford mayor says

Barrowtown residents saved pump station from being swamped, Abbotsford mayor says

Four Abbotsford-area neighbours are being recognized for their early work helping to save the Barrowtown pump station after it was nearly swamped by floodwaters during November's deadly and destructive storms. Chris Kitt, Doug Kasper and brothers Cam and Patrick Raines told CBC News they had been monitoring the water levels for about a day close to properties in Barrowtown on the Sumas Prairie near Abbotsford B.C., where many of them live, when it suddenly became apparent the nearby Sumas River was about to breach its banks.

Boil water advisory for Abbotsford’s Sumas Prairie rescinded

Boil water advisory for Abbotsford’s Sumas Prairie rescinded

he boil water advisory for much of Sumas Prairie has been rescinded. The city of Abbotsford made the announcement on Monday (Dec. 20). The notice applies to the following areas: Angus Campbell Roadd to the west, Highway 1 to the north, Chilliwack/Abbotsford border to the east, Canada/US Border and Old Yale Rd to the south. According to the city of Abbotsford, consecutive sampling results show that the water in the Sumas Prairie system meets regulatory water quality requirements and normal water usage can be resumed.

Cars, couches, fridges and fuel tanks among 'mountains' of flood debris requiring disposal

Cars, couches, fridges and fuel tanks among 'mountains' of flood debris requiring disposal

Unprecedented flooding in southwest British Columbia last month has left hard-hit communities dealing with the disposal of debris like drywall, insulation, silt-soaked mattresses, couches and kitchen cupboards damaged by water that gutted homes and businesses. Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun said a second waste transfer station is expected to open for "mountains" of trash left outside homes after record rainfall killed thousands of livestock and devastated a prime agricultural area of the province.

B.C. flood update: Highway 1 fully re-opens | WorkSafeBC warns flood contractors to watch out for asbestos | Evacuation order lifted for Abbotsford's central Sumas Prairie

B.C. flood update: Highway 1 fully re-opens | WorkSafeBC warns flood contractors to watch out for asbestos | Evacuation order lifted for Abbotsford's central Sumas Prairie

A series of atmospheric rivers hit southern B.C. in November, causing evacuations, widespread flooding and mudslides. Watch this file for updates with the latest on the recovery effort. Highway 1 has been fully reopened between Abbotsford and Hope, said the transportation ministry Tuesday. WorkSafeBC is reminding employers and contractors to watch out for hazardous materials during post-flood recovery.

Evacuation order lifted for part of Abbotsford as city unveils 'Return Home' plan

Evacuation order lifted for part of Abbotsford as city unveils 'Return Home' plan

Some Abbotsford residents will be able to return home after the city lifted an evacuation order for a portion of the Sumas Prairie as part of a "Return Home" plan unveiled on Friday. In a news conference, Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun lifted an evacuation order for around 240 properties in the north of the city effective immediately, as floodwaters dropped 12 inches — 30 centimetres — over the past 24 hours in the Sumas Prairie.

Farmer devastated over loss of crop says dream of making Abbotsford the 'saffron capital' of B.C. persists

Farmer devastated over loss of crop says dream of making Abbotsford the 'saffron capital' of B.C. persists

For Avtar Dhillon, living in the Sumas Prairie in Abbotsford meant cultivating his dream to farm the world's most expensive spice in British Columbia. Now his crop of about 250,000 saffron bulbs lies still under several feet of muddied water. The farmer, who recently said he was B.C.'s first to farm saffron on a large commercial scale, says his farm has suffered catastrophic damage due to flooding in the Fraser Valley. "I'm very upset about [the] saffron ... I take six years to get to this point ... and then Monday just lost everything." For Dhillon, who is also a blueberry farmer, it took several years of experimenting with different methods of growing saffron before finding one that worked.

Province warns next 10 days could be 'quite challenging' as more storms set to hit B.C.

Province warns next 10 days could be 'quite challenging' as more storms set to hit B.C.

British Columbia is bracing for more rainfall in the coming days and weeks as the province works to rebuild after unprecedented precipitation earlier this month. Up to 80 millimetres of rain is forecast for Metro Vancouver, Howe Sound, Whistler and the Fraser Valley, starting this morning and continuing until Friday. Strong southeast winds near the water are also predicted as part of this weather system, and freezing levels will rise above mountain tops, which could trigger snowmelt and worsen the flooding situation.

Before-and-after satellite images show flood devastation in B.C.'s Sumas Prairie

Before-and-after satellite images show flood devastation in B.C.'s Sumas Prairie

Dramatic satellite images show the extent of flood damage in B.C.'s Sumas Prairie following last weekend's historic rainfall. The low-lying rural area, east of Abbotsford's town centre, is mostly farmland and was created by the draining of Sumas Lake in the 1920s. Last week the area suffered extensive flooding as water gushed in from the Nooksack River from neighbouring Washington state, forcing evacuations and killing livestock.

Volunteers in Abbotsford help with cleanup as receding floodwaters leave behind trail of garbage, debris

Volunteers in Abbotsford help with cleanup as receding floodwaters leave behind trail of garbage, debris

In the days following the catastrophic flooding in the southern part of B.C., including Abbotsford, receding water left behind a trail of garbage and debris in its path. Now, community volunteers are gathering to help with the cleanup. "We weren't affected for our house, but we want to help the community as much as we can," said Melissa Lippmann, who brought her husband and daughter to help pick up trash and litter at a blueberry farm in the area.

Helicopters drop drinking water at flooded B.C. farms

Helicopters drop drinking water at flooded B.C. farms

Karl Meier has spent days battling to save his property and dairy cattle from flooding in British Columbia's Fraser Valley, but he says the biggest issue right now is with local law enforcement. "It was bad enough we had to fight the water, but now we've got to fight someone against what we're trying to do," said Meier. Meier owns U & D Meier Dairy in the Sumas Prairie region of Abbotsford, about 100 kilometres east of Vancouver. The area is under an evacuation order because of flooding in the nearby Sumas River. Police-enforced roadblocks have been set up around the area to prevent people from coming or going. Meier said this is making it difficult for people to bring in supplies to the farmers who have chosen to stay to protect their business and their animals.

Abbotsford water pump an 'example' of broader climate change infrastructure issues: experts

Abbotsford water pump an 'example' of broader climate change infrastructure issues: experts

Four massive water pumps working to keep a low-lying community in British Columbia from devastating floods is shining a light on a larger, Canada-wide issue. Experts say infrastructure across the Canada was not built to withstand the impacts of climate change and the increasing severity of extreme weather events. On Wednesday, Mayor of Abbotsford, B.C. Henry Braun told a news conference that the Barrowtown Pump Station which is struggling to keep Sumas Prairie from completely flooding was working at “maximum capacity.”

Flooding in B.C. ‘testing the resilience’ of dairy farmers, says association

Flooding in B.C. ‘testing the resilience’ of dairy farmers, says association

Farmers in southern British Columbia are coming together to save livestock as parts of the Fraser Valley remain under water from devastating flooding, says a member of the association that represents the province’s dairy farmers. Holger Schwichtenberg, chair of the board for the BC Dairy Association, said he was not yet sure how many farmers were working to move their milking cows, but in such situations, they would reach out for help to get their animals off site.

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