Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Richard Cannings @dickcannings.bsky.social · 9h

Indeed I am. But I miss the people.

Richard Cannings @dickcannings.bsky.social · 10h

The fall season is winding down at the Vaseux Lake Bird Observatory with the shift to late migrants like Pacific Wren and Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Last day of operation is October 15.

1 3 10

Richard Cannings @dickcannings.bsky.social · 11h

Congratulations ! Wish I was in Barbados at the CPA meeting with you and everyone else. Miss that group.

Richard Cannings @dickcannings.bsky.social · 7d

Once when I was reading a book by Jane Goodall to my young son he casually told me « I know her.». Turns out she had visited his grade one class in Vancouver twice because Jane’s best friend had a daughter in that class.

3

Richard Cannings @dickcannings.bsky.social · 7d

Saddened to hear that Jane Goodall has died. She was a groundbreaking scientist and a tireless advocate for conservation. www.cbc.ca/news/world/j...

Jane Goodall, conservationist and chimpanzee researcher, dead at 91 | CBC News

Jane Goodall, the British conservationist and researcher renowned for her work with chimpanzees, has died at age 91.

www.cbc.ca

1 3 26

Richard Cannings @dickcannings.bsky.social · 19d

Two of the five lutescens Orange-crowned Warblers netted today at Vaseux Lake Bird Observatory. VLBO is open to the public every morning until October 15, located 1 km north of the lake (4 km south of OK Falls).

1 12

Richard Cannings @dickcannings.bsky.social · 26d

Dropped into Salt Spring Books and met Adina Hildebrandt who has owned this fine independent bookstore for 25 years. Support your local bookseller!

8

Richard Cannings @dickcannings.bsky.social · 26d

Nice to bump into friends and colleagues Jan O’Brien and Geoff Meggs and talk about families as well as the federal and provincial political scene.

2

Richard Cannings @dickcannings.bsky.social · 29d

It’s migration season and of birds are heading south. Unfortunately millions don’t survive travel through our cities Their deaths are preventable www.thestar.com/news/gta/mil...

Millions of birds collide with windows annually in Canada. This volunteer tries to save them

FLAP volunteers patrol areas in the Greater Toronto Area during fall and spring migration periods, rescuing birds that have collided with glass.

www.thestar.com

1 3

Reposted by Richard Cannings

Charlie Angus @charlieangus104.bsky.social · Sep 7

Sorry. Not sorry.
You elect a convicted felon who allows people to be kidnapped off the streets
and tells Canada he will break our nation.
No we won't drink your bourbon and make nice.
We are a nation that believes in the rule of law.
Consider this a renaissance moment for CDN whisky.

Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social · Sep 7

Page One in Kentucky.

100 370 1.5K

Richard Cannings @dickcannings.bsky.social · Sep 6

We were all saddened to learn today that Ken Dryden had passed away. I had the privilege of meeting him in 2022 at the celebration for the 50th anniversary of the 1972 Canada-Russia hockey series--he was a great Canadian on and off the ice.

5

Richard Cannings @dickcannings.bsky.social · Aug 30

Great news from Penticton and so proud that it is the legacy of my friend Colleen. www.pentictonherald.ca/life/health/...

Clinic may revolutionize healthcare in B.C.

The Colleen Schneider Medical Centre in Penticton officially opened its doors this summer—and it’s already being hailed as a model that could reshape how primary healthcare is delivered across British

www.pentictonherald.ca

1 4

Richard Cannings @dickcannings.bsky.social · Aug 29

Highly recommended. 👇

RMontpellier - Climate Senior @climatesenior.bsky.social · Aug 29

🔥Canada is burning - 700+ wildfires are raging across the country — threatening homes, health, and our future.
Join Seniors For Climate for a special webinar with John Vaillant author of Fire Weather.
Registration: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
#LaterIsTooLate #SeniorsForClimate #DrawTheLine

1 5 7

Richard Cannings @dickcannings.bsky.social · Aug 26

Yes I did miss this! Thanks to the Globe and Mail for a little shout out.

Doug Johnson 🇨🇦🇺🇦🌦️🏞 @smikooman.bsky.social · Aug 26

ICYMI, being retired and all, you were quoted in @theglobeandmail.com
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...

Canada doesn’t have a national firefighting agency. This fall is decision time on whether to build one

As climate change makes fire seasons more destructive, Ottawa must choose whether the current mix of services is enough to stop them

www.theglobeandmail.com

4

Richard Cannings @dickcannings.bsky.social · Aug 25

We need a national wildfire fighting force.

Mike Flannigan @mikeflannigan.bsky.social · Aug 25

Canada has been at National Preparedness Level (NPL)5 for over 77% of the days in the 2025 fire season. NPL5 (highest level - see chart below). Problem - US is at NPL4 & record-breaking season in Europe so where are the extra resources - southern hemisphere.
Clearly, we do not have enough resources.

Chart showing national preparedness levels for Canada 1 -5 highest.
https://ciffc.net/pdfs/nationalpreparedness-levels.pdf

1 3 7

Richard Cannings @dickcannings.bsky.social · Aug 25

I remember talking to the VP of Scotiabank over ten years ago. When asked the “what keeps you awake at night” question he said it was the gap between the top 1% and the rest of us. “This will not end well” he added.

The Tyee @thetyee.ca · Aug 25

The gap between Canada’s haves and have-nots has never been bigger.

How Rich Canadians Got Even Richer | The Tyee

Canada’s income gap reached a record high this year. How did we get here?

thetyee.ca

2 2 6

Reposted by Richard Cannings

Citizens’ Climate Lobby Canada @citizenslobbyca.bsky.social · Aug 24

👀 Oil 👇 -34% in the past decade

Jan Rosenow @janrosenow.bsky.social · Aug 24

The energy transition is in full swing. Renewables have now surpassed fossil fuels as #1 for energy investment.

2025: Renewables investment to hit $780B
Last decade: Renewables up 109%
Grids & storage up 44%
Energy efficiency up 42%
Electrification up 131%
Oil down 34%, gas down 19%
Coal up 13%

2 6 20

Richard Cannings @dickcannings.bsky.social · Aug 24

You don’t have to be official to visit!

1

Richard Cannings @dickcannings.bsky.social · Aug 24

It operates every morning August through mid-October 1 km north of the lake.

1

Richard Cannings @dickcannings.bsky.social · Aug 24

It’s moulting season at Vaseux Lake Bird Observatory for songbirds as they get their flight feathers renewed for the fall and winter ahead. This young chat and adult male goldfinch are going through complex patterns of moult that will make it easier for them to fly.

2 1 8

Richard Cannings @dickcannings.bsky.social · Aug 23

Vaseux Lake Bird Observatory continues to monitor a good diversity of birds with numbers ahead of last year. Today’s highlight was a young Black-headed Grosbeak—with a beak like that you have to handle them carefully! Open every a.m. 1 km N of the lake on Hwy 97.

1 3

Richard Cannings @dickcannings.bsky.social · Aug 23

We do. peachfest.com

Peach Fest | Penticton Peach Festival

Five days of FREE Family Fun! Aug 8, 2026 | 10-11:30am Okanagan Lake Park Penticton Peach Festival is an annual South Okanagan Valley tradition, which began ...

peachfest.com

1

Reposted by Richard Cannings

Ghouly Hoye 🇨🇦 👻 @hollyhoye.bsky.social · Aug 21

"Any publicly funded immunization in B.C. can be provided at no cost to any Canadian travelling within the province," a statement from the ministry said.

Nice to know that BC has our backs, even when our own government does not.

Albertans can get COVID-19 vaccinations for free in B.C. | CBC News

People who don’t qualify for free COVID-19 vaccinations in Alberta can get one in British Columbia, the province’s ministry of health confirmed with CBC News.

www.cbc.ca

29 170 410

Reposted by Richard Cannings

Mike Flannigan @mikeflannigan.bsky.social · Aug 21

A good story about current and historical fire activity in Canada (and the US) though I may be biased

thetradeoff.substack.com/p/north-amer...

North America’s forests used to burn a lot more than present…

So, is climate change really making wildfires worse today?

thetradeoff.substack.com

2 15 34

Richard Cannings @dickcannings.bsky.social · Aug 10

The Vaseux Lake Bird Observatory continues to see and band good numbers of local birds and migrants. This Least Flycatcher was one of this morning’s surprises. Drop in any morning until October 15–we’re 1 km north if Vaseux Lake on the west side of Hwy 97.

2 10