British Columbians continue to grapple with the consequences of the warm season: while Vancouver Island chooses the best roadside attraction from among goats, forests and murals, families in other parts of the province are recovering after a bear attacked a child, and meteorologists warn that wildfire smoke will return to Vancouver by Wednesday.
Vancouver Island semifinal: A battle of goats, forests and murals
While some regions of British Columbia debate what should be considered the province’s top roadside attraction, the competition on Vancouver Island has reached a new level. The second round of CBC British Columbia’s annual summer contest features four completely different contenders: the famous goats on the roof of the store in Coombs, the ancient Cathedral Grove forest, the murals of Chemainus and the modern Malahat Skywalk. What, one might ask, do these sites have in common? More than simply being located beside a road, it turns out: each tells a chapter in the history of tourism in the province.
Bonnie Zabolotny, a design professor at Emily Carr University, points to the semifinalists’ remarkable diversity, ranging from natural wonders to human-made works of art. That diversity, she says, is what makes the competition particularly intriguing, since it is difficult to predict which type of interaction with the public will ultimately prove most appealing. Historian Ben Bradley, author of a book about the development of automobile culture in British Columbia, adds that the sites reflect the evolution of road tourism in the region. As early as the 1920s and 1930s, when the province was only beginning to develop a network of highways, local entrepreneurs and entire communities realized that they needed to stand out in some way to attract drivers’ attention. However, the real roadside-attraction boom began after the Second World War, when cars became more affordable for the masses and competition among towns for tourists grew fiercer than ever.
Notably, two of the four semifinalists emerged organically, without a clearly defined plan—and that may be the secret to their longevity. Cathedral Grove, with its giant Douglas firs along Highway 4 between Qualicum Beach and Port Alberni, became a popular stopping point as early as the 1920s. Old Country Market, which opened in 1973 and features goats on its roof, turned a quirky idea into an iconic attraction. Zabolotny emphasizes that you cannot simply build something and expect people to be drawn to it automatically. Success comes when a site develops a life of its own, like these goats, which can be seen from the road and watched by visitors.
Chemainus and the Malahat Skywalk, by contrast, represent a more deliberate approach. After the town’s only sawmill closed in 1983, Chemainus reinvented itself completely, becoming an open-air gallery: its streets are now decorated with dozens of murals and sculptures depicting the history of the local community. The 40-metre Malahat Skywalk, which opened in 2021, was designed as a ready-made attraction for modern travellers.
In the Vancouver Island semifinal, Coombs faces the Malahat Skywalk, while Cathedral Grove—which received 90 per cent of the vote in the first round—takes on the murals of Chemainus. Voting is already open and will continue until Wednesday, with the regional winners meeting in the final before Labour Day. The contest is more than just entertainment; it is a way to reflect on what makes a place memorable to travellers: natural grandeur, creative vision or simply a pleasant roadside surprise. Read more about the contest and voting in this CBC article.
For readers who may be unfamiliar with some of the terminology, Cathedral Grove is the name of an ancient forest containing fir trees that are several hundred years old. The Malahat Skywalk is a relatively new attraction featuring a spiral structure that offers panoramic views of the Salish Sea and the mountains from the top. The CBC British Columbia contest runs throughout the summer: each week in August, readers vote for the best attraction in one of the province’s regions, ultimately determining a champion from the four finalists.
Bear attack on toddler in British Columbia: Mother describes the shock
A British Columbia woman is still struggling to recover after a bear attacked her young child in the backyard of their home. The woman, whose name has not been disclosed to protect the family’s safety, shared chilling details of the unexpected incident, which left a deep impression on everyone who witnessed it. According to her, an ordinary day turned into a nightmare within seconds when the predator appeared without warning and maternal instinct took over, compelling her to act immediately to save her child from imminent danger.
The story, which the mother recounted in an interview with CTV News, began with the family spending time in their yard as usual. The toddler, who is only a few years old, was playing nearby when a black bear suddenly emerged from the bushes. The woman admits that she was overcome with terror, but she did not freeze; she rushed toward the child and tried to drive the animal away. The bear nevertheless managed to injure the toddler before the mother could intervene and force it to retreat. Only after her desperate screams and determined actions did the bear finally leave the property, leaving the family stunned and unable to believe what had happened.
It is worth explaining that black bears, which are common inhabitants of British Columbia’s forests, generally avoid contact with people. Under certain circumstances, however—such as when searching for food or protecting their young—they can become aggressive. In this case, preliminary information suggests that the animal was likely attracted by the smell of food or garbage, prompting it to approach the home. Wildlife experts emphasize that although such incidents are rare, they are becoming more common in areas where urban development encroaches on natural habitat, leading to inevitable encounters.
Fortunately, the child survived and was taken to the nearest hospital after receiving first aid, where doctors described the condition as stable. The mother says that although the physical wounds are healing, the psychological trauma will remain with the family for a long time, and everyone is now learning to feel safe in their own home again. She also expressed gratitude to medical personnel and neighbours who immediately responded to her cries for help, and urged other residents to remain more vigilant and avoid leaving food outdoors to prevent similar tragedies.
The incident raises serious questions about how humans should coexist with wildlife as cities continue to expand. On the one hand, animals cannot be blamed for their natural instincts; on the other, more effective conflict-prevention measures are needed, including wildlife-resistant garbage containers and educational programs for residents. Local authorities have already said they are investigating the incident, while conservation officers are searching for the bear to prevent further attacks. However, as experience shows, even the best precautions cannot guarantee complete safety. The case is a harsh reminder that nature remains an unpredictable force with which humans must contend.
Wildfire smoke will cover Vancouver again by midweek
Wildfires burning in British Columbia’s Interior continue to release enormous amounts of smoke into the atmosphere, forcing thousands of residents to leave their homes. Although the Vancouver metropolitan area has not yet been directly affected by the fires and skies over the city remain clear, meteorologists warn that this temporary calm could end as early as Wednesday. Environment and Climate Change Canada specialist Morgan Schull says computer models point to a high probability that the smoke will return during the morning and early afternoon on Wednesday. The city was choking under heavy smoke just last week, prompting an air-quality advisory that remained in effect for several days, and the situation could now repeat itself.
The change is being driven by a shift in airflow. Westerly winds are currently carrying the smoke toward the Rocky Mountains, but on Wednesday a weak area of low pressure—known as a trough—is expected to move from the Interior toward the coast. This will alter the circulation, turning the winds and drawing the smoke-filled air masses back toward the ocean. The meteorologist notes that it is difficult to predict exactly how intense the smoke will be: the trough could bring unsettled weather, including brief showers that might help settle some of the smoke. However, even if precipitation occurs, it is unlikely to extinguish the enormous fires burning deep inside the province. Winds are also expected to remain light, which will not help disperse the smoke quickly.
If the smoke does return, Schull says it will remain at least until the end of the week, as no major weather changes are expected after the trough passes. While the trough remains over the coast, it will continue to “draw in” air from the Interior. Only a truly major weather front would be capable of dispersing the haze, and forecasters do not currently see such a development. As of Monday, the air-quality index in Metro Vancouver stood at just 2, indicating “low risk,” but that picture could change dramatically within a couple of days. Residents—particularly those with respiratory conditions—should prepare in advance for a possible deterioration in air quality.
To understand what is happening, it is important to clarify some of the terms used by meteorologists. A trough is an elongated area of low atmospheric pressure that often produces clouds and precipitation, but in this case it acts as a “switching mechanism” that changes the direction of the wind. The air-quality index is a scale used to assess pollution levels: readings up to 3 are considered low risk, 4 to 6 moderate risk, and above 7 high risk, when vulnerable people are advised to reduce the time they spend outdoors. The fires themselves are the result of the abnormal heat and drought that have affected the province in recent weeks, creating ideal conditions for the spread of flames. The situation is made more difficult by the enormous resources required to fight large fires in remote, mountainous terrain. Even the rain in the forecast will not fundamentally change the situation—extinguishing the fires would require prolonged, heavy precipitation rather than brief showers.
Experts point out that such episodes are becoming more frequent and intense because of climate change, and Vancouver—historically considered a city with clean air—is now regularly facing summer smoke cover. This places additional pressure on the health-care system, increases the number of people seeking help for asthma and cardiovascular conditions, and harms the region’s appeal to tourists. As Schull himself noted in an interview with Richmond News, the current forecasts are preliminary, and the exact picture will become clearer over the next few days. Nevertheless, residents should monitor updates from Environment Canada and, if necessary, use air purifiers and masks, especially if the air-quality index again reaches dangerous levels. For now, people can only hope that nature delivers a surprise in the form of stronger winds or rain to clear the smoke—but based on the meteorologist’s comments, that is not something to count on.
