Just in time for the long weekend, we have experts who can weigh in on the start of the Island tourism season, wildfire season, the status of spring snowpacks and more. Don't hesitate to reach out to us with requests for experts.
Featured experts
Island tourism - are visitors coming back?
The May long weekend is the kickoff of tourism season on Vancouver Island and this is the first summer where travel is expected to be back to pre-COVID levels. Dr. Aggie Weighhill, a VIU Recreation and Tourism Professor, is keeping a close eye on the Island tourism scene. “We know there is a lot of pent-up demand for long-haul travel and exploration, but we don’t know yet whether that will translate into a full return of international visitors,” she says. Factors such as inflation, the pilot shortage and the BC wildfire season could have impacts.
Wildfire experts
Dr. Erik Krogh, Co-Director of the Applied Environmental Research Lab, can speak to connections to climate change and impacts on air quality. Dr. Chris Cole, a Professor in VIU's Forest Resources Technology program, can discuss forest management practices to help mitigate fire risk and what the program is doing with students in this area.
What is our Island water situation?
With record May temperatures, what does this mean for BC's snowpacks, flooding and summer drought? Dr. Bill Floyd is a Research Hydrologist with the BC Ministry of Lands and Natural Resource Operations, a VIU Geography Adjunct Professor and Director of VIU's Coastal Hydrology Research Lab. He recently took CBC meteorologist Johanna Wagstaffe to Strathcona Provincial Park to measure the density of the snowpack there.
Gardening season is upon us!
Denise Winter is the Horticulture Coordinator for VIU's Milner Gardens & Woodland, a public garden in Qualicum Beach. Looking for someone to talk about spring garden prep? Another area Denise studies is how climate change is changing when we do what in the garden/what we plant.
Supporting people through end of life
VIU is launching one of Canada's first end-of-life doula courses. Social Work Professor Dr. Carmen Lavoie has been guiding people through end-of-life experiences for several years. She explains what an end-of-life doula is and why this role is important on VIU's Community Classroom website.
Listen to Dr. Lavoie speak about her work and the new course in an interview with CBC Radio Victoria:
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