Meet The Pacific Fin Whale

The Fin Whale, a large baleen cetacean measuring up to 25 meters in length, belongs to the family Balaenopteridae. Characterized by a hydrodynamically streamlined body and swift swimming capabilities, it is second in size only to the Blue Whale. Most members of this family look similar, making it challenging to distinguish them at sea. The Fin Whale’s distinctive feature is the asymmetrical pigmentation on its lower jaw—dark on the left and light on the right. This pattern extends to part of the baleen plates. In the northern and southern hemispheres, Fin Whales are considered separate subspecies: B. p. physalus in the north and B. p. quoyi in the south. Genetic evidence supports the distinction between North Atlantic and North Pacific Fin Whales as different subspecies, yet new names are pending. In Canada, COSEWIC regards these as separate designatable units. Historically, Fin Whales were heavily targeted during 20th-century whaling, depleting populations in the Canadian Atlantic and Pacific. Nowadays, they are a highlight for whale watching in nearshore Canadian Atlantic waters.

Fin Whales are found almost globally in all major oceans, with highest densities in cool temperate and subpolar waters, and are mostly absent near the equator. They inhabit both oceanic and coastal areas, migrating to high latitudes in summer for feeding and to lower latitudes in winter for breeding. However, they can be found in Canadian waters year-round.

In Canadian waters, Fin Whale habitats are marked by oceanographic features that boost prey production and concentration. In the Atlantic, their presence is often linked to productive oceanic fronts with high densities of euphausiid crustaceans. They inhabit various bathymetric features, from continental shelves to deep canyons in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and topographically varied areas in the Bay of Fundy. In the Pacific, they aggregate along the continental slope, especially where canyons and troughs concentrate euphausiids. They also frequent deep channels between islands along British Columbia’s northern coast. Their presence off both coasts during winter suggests courtship, mating, and possibly calving occur in Canadian waters.

Fin Whales reach sexual maturity at 6 to 8 years and physical maturity at around 25 years, with a lifespan up to 100 years. Their generation time is approximately 25 years. Conception and calving, following an 11 to 12-month gestation, primarily occur in winter. Data from British Columbia indicate that 75% of births occur between mid-October and mid-February, peaking in December. Newborns are about 6 meters long and are weaned at 6 to 7 months. The average interval between births is about 2.24 years, with adult female pregnancy rates estimated at 38 to 50%.

Despite the end of large-scale whaling over 50 years ago, around 20 Fin Whales are hunted annually for subsistence in Greenland, and Iceland hunted 146 in 2018. Increasing ocean noise from oil and gas exploration, shipping, wind farms, and military exercises poses threats, causing displacement, disturbance, injury, and communication signal masking. Vessel strikes are a significant mortality source, particularly in busy shipping areas on both coasts. Fatalities from vessel strikes are likely underreported, as many struck whales sink undetected. Entanglement in fishing gear is another mortality cause, particularly in the Atlantic. Other threats include habitat suitability shifts and toxic pollutants.

The Species at Risk Act (SARA) provides measures for protecting certain listed species, including their critical habitats. Conservation responsibility is shared across Canada, with all Canadians playing a role in wildlife protection. For more information on SARA and provincial or territorial protection measures, consult relevant government websites.

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Essential Liquids Permitted On Airplanes In Quantities Greater Than 100mL

What do breast milk, liquid medication, and distilled water (for CPAP devices) have in common?

They are all considered essential liquids and can be carried through security screening in quantities exceeding the 100ml limit.

These items are exempt from the 100ml liquid limit and do not need to be placed in your 1L plastic bag. However, you must declare these items to the screening officer at the checkpoint and remove them from your carry-on bag for inspection.

Learn more about essential liquids here.

Meet The Pacific Spiny Dogfish

The spiny dogfish is a small schooling shark that forms groups of hundreds or thousands of individuals of the same sex and size. It is one of the most abundant demersal shark species. This shark is gray or brownish on top and pale gray or white on its ventral side with irregular white spots on the top or sides of the body. The second dorsal fin is smaller than the first, and both fins have spines at their origin. The caudal fin is asymmetrical, with the upper lobe being larger. The smooth-edged, short, and oblique teeth are similar in both the upper and lower jaw.

This shark is present in all of the world’s temperate oceans. It ranges throughout the coastal waters of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The spiny dogfish can be either a resident or a seasonal migrant in Canadian waters. Most dogfish in Canadian waters move inshore in the summer and offshore in the winter but remain in Canadian waters. Semi-resident aggregations occur off southern Newfoundland, in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and on the Scotian Shelf off Nova Scotia. However, 10-20% of the dogfish around southwest Nova Scotia move south into U.S. waters each fall, returning in the spring. The species is most abundant between Nova Scotia and Cape Hatteras.

The spiny dogfish is found in cold and warm temperate oceans at temperatures between 0 and 15 degrees Celsius. However, on the Scotian Shelf, this shark has most often been caught in water temperatures between 6 and 11 degrees Celsius. The spiny dogfish is tolerant of a wide range of salinities and can be found in estuaries. It can be located in the water column from the surface to depths of 730 meters (2,400 feet).

The average adult length is between 75 and 105 cm (30 to 40 inches); however, individuals have been known to grow to 130 cm (50 inches), weighing 9 kg (20 lbs). The spiny dogfish is long-lived and slow-growing and has an estimated life span of 30 to 40 years. Ages as old as 70 years have been determined for dogfish off British Columbia. Tagging studies have determined that some spiny dogfish can migrate great distances. Individuals tagged off Newfoundland have been recovered in Iceland years later. There have also been records of transatlantic crossings. However, the bulk of the population migrates inshore/offshore or along the northeastern coast of North America on a seasonal basis.

The spiny dogfish is an omnivorous opportunistic feeder, eating whatever prey is abundant. In general, their diet is comprised of small fishes such as capelin, cod, haddock, hake, herring, menhaden, and ratfish. They also eat invertebrates such as krill, crabs, polychaete worms, jellyfish, ctenophores, amphipods, squid, and octopus.

Development in this shark is ovoviviparous. The gestation length is the longest known for sharks at an estimated 18-22 months. Young are born in the warmer waters off the northeastern U.S. and Nova Scotia during the winter months. The number of young born in a litter depends on the size of the female, with larger females bearing more pups. However, most litters are between 1 and 14 individuals that are approximately 20 to 30 cm in length. The average litter is 5-6 pups. Sexual maturity in males is reached at a total length of about 64 cm and 10 years of age. Females reach sexual maturity at a later age, around 16 years, at which time they are about 82 cm in total length. Reproduction occurs offshore in the winter.

The spiny dogfish is a major predator on some commercially important species such as herring, Atlantic mackerel, and squid. It has been harvested for the last 100 years for its oil-rich liver, which was used in lamp oil and machine lubricants. The oil was later used as a source of vitamin A. Today, spiny dogfish is valued as food in many countries. The spiny dogfish is the target of a directed fishery in Atlantic Canada.

Preparedness Tips For Winter Storm Season

Prepare for Storms and Power Outages in Advance:

  1. Gather Supplies: Ensure you have enough food, water, flashlights, blankets, and batteries to last at least three days to two weeks in case of a power outage
  2. Complete Your Home Emergency Plan: Prepare and know how to respond to emergencies. Visit PreparedBC.ca/EmergencyPlan.
  3. Stay Informed: Check Weather.gc.ca for weather alerts and updates.

U.S. Lumber Industry Poised to Challenge Canada’s Lead as Tariffs Take Effect

The southern United States is on track to surpass Canada’s longstanding dominance in the North American lumber market, as years of trade restrictions and environmental challenges take a toll on Canadian output. According to commodity pricing agency Fastmarkets, the U.S. South is poised to overtake Canada in softwood lumber capacity for the first time since at least 1970. This shift highlights how Canada’s lumber sector has weakened under U.S. tariffs, alongside issues like wildfires, land-use regulations, and insect infestations.

In August, the U.S. raised import duties on Canadian softwood lumber by nearly 81%, intensifying a four-decade trade dispute. Analysts expect the current 14.54% levy could double by next year, illustrating how trade policies can reshape industries and create new market leaders. Tariffs on imports have become a prominent election topic in the U.S., with Republican candidate Donald Trump advocating for broad import taxes. The U.S. has long claimed that Canada’s C$10 billion ($7.2 billion) industry undercuts American producers with low-cost lumber, contending that Canadian loggers’ government-set fees constitute a subsidy. This dispute has severely impacted British Columbia (BC), where forest products made up a quarter of all export value in 2022. Additional tariffs could be “quite devastating for the sector,” said Kurt Niquidet, chief economist at the BC Council of Forest Industries, noting the potential for widespread mill closures across Canada.

While Canadian sawmills, especially in BC, grapple with rising costs and diminishing revenue, the U.S. South is seeing gains in lumber production. The U.S. Lumber Coalition credits tariffs for fueling American investment and boosting production capacity. North American sawmill closures resulted in a 4% capacity reduction this year alone, with over 40% of those closures in BC, according to Fastmarkets senior economist Dustin Jalbert. Canfor Corp., a major Canadian forestry company, announced plans to shutter two BC mills by year-end, citing tariffs and limited timber supply, resulting in a C$100 million writedown. Other major Canadian producers, including West Fraser Timber Co., Interfor Corp., and Western Forest Products Inc., have also cut back or closed mills in western Canada.

The U.S. South, benefiting from faster-growing private forests, has emerged as North America’s largest wood-producing region, says Brooks Mendell, president of Forisk Consulting in Georgia. However, he noted that Canada remains essential to North America’s lumber supply, as the U.S. alone cannot meet demand. If Canada’s output continues to decline, American consumers may face higher lumber prices or turn to more distant sources, like Scandinavia. “The U.S. can only produce so much more incremental lumber before reaching a maximum harvest limit,” noted BC-based forestry consultant Russ Taylor, who has been active in the industry for over four decades.

Lumber demand is showing signs of recovery, potentially slowing Canada’s decline. U.S. single-family home construction is increasing, with the National Association of Home Builders forecasting growth through 2026. Fastmarkets expects North American lumber capacity to fall short of demand this year for the first time since the pandemic-fueled home improvement surge. “If demand recovers next year while supply is down, it doesn’t take an economist to see what that likely means for prices,” said Fastmarkets’ Jalbert.

Village Of Sayward Seeking Office Administrator

Job Title: Office Administrator Department Financial Services

Reports To: Chief Financial Officer

Job Classification: ☒ Non-Management

FTE % 1.0 FTE – FT – Permanent Pay Band/Grid $60,000 – 70,000

Benefits

1. Health & Wellness

☒ Extended Health, Allied Medical Services, Prescription
☒ Life Insurance
☒ Accidental Death and Dismemberment
☒ Dental
☒ Vision
☒ Short-Term Disability
☒ Long-Term Disability

2. Pension Plan

☒ Defined Benefit Pension Plan (MPP)

3. Training and Professional Development

☒ Support for Professional and Technical Certificate Renewal
☒ Support for Tuition Reimbursement

SCOPE

The Office Administrator plays a crucial role within the administrative team, ensuring the smooth
and efficient functioning of all office operations. Acting as the central point of contact for both
internal and external stakeholders, this position is responsible for managing a broad range of duties
that are vital to the organization’s day-to-day success.

Key responsibilities include but are not limited to coordinating or overseeing front desk and
reception functions, handling incoming calls, mails/package, supporting the finance department
including payroll, coordinating basic IT and security access control functions, preparing meeting
minutes, event logistics coordination, and responding to inquiries promptly and professionally.
Additionally, they provide high-level executive administrative support to senior leadership, which
includes managing schedules, coordinating meetings, preparing documents, and ensuring that
tasks are completed efficiently and on time.

The Office Administrator is a versatile and highly organized professional who ensures that office
operations run smoothly and efficiently. Through their multitasking capabilities, attention to detail,
and commitment to supporting the administrative needs of the organization, they contribute
significantly to the overall productivity and success of the team.

The core job duties include:

Front Desk and Reception

• Answering, screening, and directing phone calls, emails, and correspondence to the
appropriate departments, ensuring professional communication standards.
• Handling general inquiries by providing accurate and relevant information about the Village
operations.
• Managing incoming and outgoing mail, packages, and deliveries, ensuring timely
distribution to the appropriate individuals or departments.
• Coordinating security access control systems including alarm systems, security fobs, and
camera systems.
• Maintaining the reception area’s organization and cleanliness to create a professional
atmosphere.

Executive/Council Administrative Support

Under the direction of the Chief Administrative Officer, the Office Administrator provides support in
the following areas:

• Assisting with drafting correspondence and preparing documents.
• Attending council meetings and taking detailed, accurate minutes, capturing key
discussions, action items, and decisions.
• Ensuring minutes are reviewed, finalized, and distributed to council members and other
relevant stakeholders promptly after the meeting.
• Maintaining a record of resolutions adopted by Council.
• Where requested, coordinating meeting logistics, including room setup, equipment needs,
and any necessary catering arrangements.
• Ensuring that meeting materials (agendas, reports, notices, etc.) are distributed in advance,
posted online and in public notice places.
• Supporting the Corporate Officer and Chief Financial Officer in ensuring record
management responsibilities are addressed.

Finance Administration

Under the direction of the Chief Financial Officer, the Office Administrator provides support in the following areas:

• Assisting in preparing, generating, and issuing accurate invoices and tax notices under the
direction of the Chief Financial Office and in accordance with established policies.
• Following up on outstanding invoices, tracking payment statuses, and coordinating overdue
accounts.
• Reconciling discrepancies between issued invoices and received payments, resolving
issues with vendors or customers.
• Processing accounts payable by verifying, entering, and paying vendor invoices.
• Preparing and processing electronic fund transfers (EFTs), checks, and wire transfers for
payment.
• Ensuring that all payments are authorized and supported by appropriate documentation.
• Monitoring and managing the schedule of payments to ensure they are made within the
required deadlines.
• Reconciling company credit card and expense reports, ensuring compliance with company
policies.
• Working with department heads to ensure the proper coordination of receipts and expense
claims processing.
• Preparing journal entries for expense corrections and accruals when necessary.
• Maintaining accurate and up-to-date financial records and documentation, including
receipts, invoices, statements, and reports.
• Entering financial data into accounting systems or software (AMAIS), ensuring all
transactions are properly recorded.
• Assisting with the archiving and filing of financial documents, ensuring they are organized
and accessible for audits or reports.
• Monitoring accounts to ensure that discrepancies are identified and rectified in a timely
manner.
• Performing monthly reconciliations of bank accounts, credit card accounts, and petty cash.
• Investigating and resolving any discrepancies or variances between bank statements and
internal records.

HR/Payroll/Benefits Administration

• Collecting and verifying employee timesheets and ensuring payroll accuracy.
• Accurately calculating and processing wages, salaries, overtime, and deductions in line
with the Village’s policies, employment contracts, and Employment Standards Act.
• Ensuring timely payroll processing and verify working hours, PTO, and other payroll data.
• Assisting in processing payroll, including entering data into payroll systems, generating
payslips, and addressing employee payroll queries.
• Ensuring compliance with tax regulations, benefits deductions and administration.

Communications

• Overseeing the coordination of the Sayward Newsletter.
• Supporting the development of content creation on behalf of the Village.
• Coordinating the Village’s communication platforms including but not limited to updating
the website, YouTube channel, and print material.

Other

• Provide assistance during the local elections for the Village as required.
• Provide assistance including but not limited to serving within the Villages Emergency
Operations Centre in preparation for, during, or in response to an emergent situation
affecting the Village.
• Other duties as may be assigned from time to time.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Highschool diploma or equivalent required.
• Certificate, diploma, or other post secondary education in the area office administration,
business, finance, or related field would be considered a strong asset.
• Minimum three (3) years’ direct experience with office administration in a fast-paced
environment, preference will be given to municipal experience.
• Sound analytical thinking, exercise of professional judgement, planning, prioritization, and
execution skills.

Skills:

• Strong organizational and multitasking abilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong proficiency and experience in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams,
PowerPoint).
• Working knowledge of and experience with AMAIS financial software is a strong asset.
• Basic understanding of IT systems and ability to liaise with IT professionals.
• Strong attention to detail and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information.

Key Competencies:

• Professional demeanor with strong interpersonal skills.
• Ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong customer service orientation.
• Capable of working independently and as part of a team.