Metro Vancouver is on strike, a woman is preparing a record-setting swim across Okanagan Lake, and orcas were spotted in Vancouver Harbour.
Metro Vancouver parks strike: more than 100 workers walk out indefinitely
Over the weekend, more than 100 Metro Vancouver regional park employees announced an indefinite strike, stopping cleaning, repairs, trail maintenance, and first-aid services for visitors. As reported by CBC News, the union representing workers (Greater Vancouver Regional District Employees Union) said it was extremely frustrated by the lack of progress in negotiations, which have not produced a new collective agreement for 18 months. A full-day strike on June 15, escalation included, and an attempt at mediation involving the Labour Relations Board also failed to yield results.
According to union representative Bill Tillman, the original plan was only to limit the workday (from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.), but by Saturday evening a decision was made to leave work indefinitely. In the strike area are 25 parks, including popular sites such as Grouse Mountain, Pacific Spirit, Iona Beach, and Belcarra. In total, the union represents about 700 employees who provide services not only for parks, but also for watersheds, water and sewer infrastructure, and construction sites. However, for now only a “skeletal crew” remains on the job—15 workers deemed essential by the Labour Relations Board, without being called in for overtime.
The workers’ main concerns center on three key issues: workplace safety and health, the practice of contracting work out (outsourcing), and problems with retaining and hiring qualified staff. The union warns that if the parties do not make headway at the Saturday mediation session, a full-scale indefinite strike could follow. Pickets are not being set up for the moment—the striking workers do not want to interfere with people’s recreation—but they are warning that typical services at parks will be unavailable. For its part, parks operator spokesperson Gillian Glover said the parks remain open and that facility bookings and essential services continue. The Ministry of Labour urged both sides to return to negotiations with “diligence and urgency.”
A few concepts worth clarifying: “skeletal presence” (skeletal presence) is the minimum number of workers needed to carry out only the most essential functions; “essential workers” are employees whose presence is required by law to prevent threats to health or safety; and a “rotating strike” is a form of protest in which different groups walk out in sequence to minimize lost pay but maximize pressure on the employer. The current situation shows a deep rift between the union and management: for a year and a half, none of the three main points has been resolved, and the inability to retain qualified employees amid the high cost of living in Vancouver is only worsening the crisis. If Saturday’s negotiations fail, many popular natural areas could soon be left without oversight—hitting both tourists and local residents.
A British Columbia woman plans to swim nonstop for 106 kilometres across Okanagan Lake
A British Columbia resident is preparing for a unique challenge: she plans to cover 106 kilometres across Okanagan Lake without a single stop. If her attempt succeeds, it would be among the longest nonstop swims in Canadian history. Okanagan Lake is known not just for its scenic beauty, but also for harsh conditions: even in summer, water temperatures rarely rise above 20 degrees, and strong currents can be found along the route. The swimmer plans to travel along the west shore from south to north, starting near Penticton and finishing in Vernon. Specialists estimate that with good physical conditioning, the swim could take 40 to 50 hours of continuous movement.
Notably, the athlete will not use a boat or any other flotation device to rest—she will handle all food intake and hydration directly in the water, periodically receiving bottles and energy gels from a supporting kayak. According to the organizers, the main risks remain hypothermia, encountering jellyfish (which do exist in Okanagan Lake), and psychological exhaustion from long, monotonous work. Locals have even joked that perhaps the legendary Ogopogo (the lake monster) will help keep the swimmer going on the course. However, serious analysts emphasize that such ultra-long swims require not only exceptional physical endurance, but also careful mental preparation: a person spends dozens of hours isolated and without sleep, while in cold water.
To understand the difficulty, it’s worth explaining what “nonstop swim” means in the context of ultra-endurance swims. The athlete is not allowed to touch the bottom, a boat, or any solid object—only brief hand support from a companion is permitted when taking in food. This setup is significantly different from staged swims with rest breaks, and independent observers from the International Marathon Swimming Association monitor compliance. If the swimmer touches land or a vessel, the attempt is considered finished—even if she has already covered 100 kilometres. That’s why the support team plays a crucial role: they must precisely synchronize the delivery of food, monitor body temperature, and respond in time to signs that hypothermia may be starting.
A key factor for success will be the current in the southern part of the lake, where Okanagan narrows. According to figures cited by CTV News, at certain times of the year the current speed can reach 3–4 km/h, which could either significantly slow the swimmer—or, if she chooses the right start time, potentially speed her up. Forecasters are already predicting clear weather in late July, with light winds, offering hope for minimal wave activity. At that time, the lake’s surface temperature typically stays around 20–22 °C, and after 10–15 hours this becomes a critical stress factor for the body: without intense movement and insulating body fat, a person begins rapidly losing heat.
If the swim goes ahead, it will draw attention to ecological concerns for Okanagan Lake—tourism infrastructure is expanding along its shores, and such a record could act as a catalyst for more responsible stewardship of the waterbody. In addition, a successful attempt could inspire a new generation of Canadian athletes, showing that the limits of human performance can be pushed even in challenging natural conditions. In any case, regardless of the outcome, this story has already caught the attention of the international marathon swimming community and ordinary spectators alike, who are eagerly awaiting the start.
“Everyone along the seawall is freaking out”: a man took epic photos of orcas in Vancouver
Over the weekend, residents and visitors in Vancouver witnessed a rare spectacle: orcas appeared in the city’s harbour, right under the Lions Gate Bridge. Local photography enthusiast Kha Nguyen managed to capture the majestic marine mammals, and his photos quickly spread across social media. Nguyen says he saw a message about the whales at around 1 p.m. and immediately realized there was a chance they would pass underneath the famous bridge. He hurried there, and when the animals suddenly surfaced directly under the bridge supports, he ran along the waterfront to get the shots in time. In his words, it was a true show: the orcas stayed in the area near the bridge for a while, likely hunting and circling in place. That allowed him to capture spyhopping and tail slaps against the water. Kha Nguyen uses a Canon R7 camera with an EF 100-400 mm II lens, and his work has been published several times in a popular Facebook group dedicated to wildlife sightings in Howe Sound and Sea-to-Sky. The photographer adds that he always feels joy watching people along the seawall freeze in amazement—especially those seeing whales for the first time.
However, orcas aren’t exactly whales, even though they’re often called “killer whales.” In fact, these black-and-white marine mammals are the largest members of the dolphin family, which helps explain their high intelligence and hunting behaviours. In recent years, sightings of them in coastal waters of British Columbia have become increasingly common. A piece on Vancouver Is Awesome (the original can be read here) says that, according to a new study published in Marine Mammal Science, transient orcas now show up in the Salish Sea on average more than two-thirds of the year. In addition, humpback whales have returned to historical feeding grounds thanks to successful conservation programs, and gray whales are increasingly feeding in shallow waters during their northward migration. In other words, there are noticeably more whales in local waters, and people in Vancouver more and more often can spot them right from the waterfront—something Kha Nguyen’s lucky weekend proved.
For readers unfamiliar with the terms: “spyhopping” is when a whale raises its head vertically out of the water to look around. “Transient orcas” are a population that hunts marine mammals (seals, dolphins, and other whales), unlike resident orcas, which feed on fish. The author of the article emphasizes that such a close encounter is not just luck, but a sign of the broader recovery of the marine ecosystem—one with important implications for local tourism and environmental awareness. Impressed, Nguyen adds: “It’s always great to see whales so close, hear everyone along the seawall getting excited, and watch people who are seeing whales for the first time.” This incident is yet another reminder that wildlife can surprise you right in the middle of a major city.
