Caution! Sharp metal pieces on our streets

Be careful when out on your bicycles or walking your dogs! Residents are finding these metal spiral pieces all over our streets, likely from the street sweepers on the weekend. 

Reminder: Sugarloaf trails are closed!

Lac Le Jeune residents are grateful to Sugarloaf Ranch for allowing access to their trail system. Due the COVID-19 health and safety concerns, these trails are closed, just as all other recreational trails. Unfortunately, the signs are being ignored and we all risk losing this trail privilege.

These photos were shared by Will Ciancone, Ranch Manager. Local cycling groups, Kamloops Performance Cycling Centre and Kamloops Bike Riders Association, were quick to get the word out to members that this behaviour is unacceptable.

Please, do not put others at risk or jeopardize the future use of these incredible cycling opportunities in our area.

Thank you Sugarloaf Ranch for your generosity and local cycling organizations for establishing this valuable partnership and staying vigilant!

~ Sylvia Currie, with thanks to Chris Wynne for helping to get the word out.

News Release: BC Parks Closed Until Further Notice

BC Parks Response to COVID-19 

Updated April 8, 2020

Full BC Parks System Closure

• Order of the Executive Director [PDF]

Lac Le Jeune Park
Photo by Jacquie Brugger

BC Parks is immediately closing the entire BC Parks system, including all parks, protected areas, conservancies, recreation areas, and ecological reserves. All camping (front and backcountry) is now banned until May 31st, 2020. This action is being taken in response to the call for increased action to address the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the desire of the public to get outdoors, many parks have already experienced peak season levels of use that have resulted in overwhelmed parking lots, trails and trailheads, making physical distancing difficult, if not impossible in some locations. It has also resulted in damage to our facilities and the environment.

This closure is also necessary to ensure the continued health and safety of our visitors, employees, park operators and their staff, volunteers, and park contractors. By taking this action, we align with federal and provincial directives for people to stay home to reduce COVID-19 transmission risk.

This temporary measure means public and vehicle access is prohibited until further notice. All trails, roads, day-use areas, beaches, lakes, boat launches, and backcountry areas are closed to the public. Park closures will be enforced through regular monitoring and patrols and anyone found in a closed park will be evicted and could face a $115 fine.

In addition to the full system closure, the campground closure has been extended to May 31st, 2020. Full refunds will continue to be provided to those with existing reservations during this time. The Discover Camping reservation system has been suspended for all new reservations. A public notice will be issued once facilities are reopened and the system is able to accept new reservations.

BC Parks continues to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic closely and is following the recommendations set out by the Provincial Health Officer and the Minister of Health for decisions related to closure and reopening of parks and facilities.

Please continue to check the BC Parks website for updates.

BC Parks COVID-19 Questions and Answers: bcparks.ca/covid-19/questions-answers/

Media Release: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020ENV0014-000553

For more COVID-19 information, visit the BC Centre for Disease Control: BCCDC: http://covid-19.bccdc.ca/

Provincial Health Officer and Ministry of Health News: https://news.gov.bc.ca/ministries/health

Save the date - BCLSS Annual Conference

Save the date - BCLSS Annual Conference The BCLSS is pleased to announce that our annual conference will be held in partnership with Lake Windermere Ambassadors (LWA) and Living Lakes Canada (LLC) in Invermere. This year, the theme is All Hands on Deck - Lake Stewardship in Climate Challenged Times. The event will be held at Windermere Community Hall from October 2-4, 2020. Keynote speaker will be Bob Sandford, Chair in Water and Climate Security at the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment, and Health. Watch the BC Lake Stewardship Society website for information about this event.