Wednesday - Nov. 20, 2024 - Mission proclaims proclamation policy

💨 High 8C | Special weather statement

Good morning!

It’s weird some of the things people concoct conspiracy theories about. The other day, I saw a Facebook post speculating about the nefarious origins of why the storm hitting BC right now is being called a “bomb cyclone.” The person suggested the term was being used to influence policy and sentiment about weather or climate change or something. I’ve heard similar concerns about the term “atmospheric river.” The terms, the people accurately note, describe weather phenomenons that we are broadly familiar with. So what’s the point other than alarming people?

Well, accuracy, science knowledge, and public awareness, to name three benefits. Meteorological professionals and weather agencies use these terms to better educate the public about the science behind what we once may have just called a “big honking storm.”

A Pineapple Express is one type of atmospheric river that originates around Hawaii. But not all atmospheric rivers are pineapple-y. Some originate further north, even as they bring the same type of weather. The term “atmospheric rivers” allows for a broader set of storms to accurately fit in the same lexicological box. In doing so, it can help create a scientifically rigorous categorization system that allows meteorologists to tell people just how bad a storm is going to be—and why. (It helps to know if we’re staring down the barrel of your average atmospheric river or a 2021-scale storm.)

As for “bomb cyclone,” the term is also favoured by weather-watchers looking to better educate the public. A bomb cyclone is distinguished by a particularly severe drop in pressure. (You can watch one good explainer here.) The dramatic name gets picked up and spread by us reporters—though not for any nefarious reason beyond our normal desire to use evocative language that attracts readers’ attention. But the terms also have a public safety usage; a good number of people may be better prepared for power outages tonight because of the language used to describe it.

Anyways, this particular bomb cyclone is expected to generate winds that remain strong for quite some time. Back in 2022, we wrote about how outages are becoming more frequent across the province. The length of outages are also increasing. So make sure your flashlights, phones, and various power banks are all charged up.

– Tyler

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Traffic & Weather

🌤 Local forecast: Langley | Chilliwack | Abbotsford | Hope (We have had to temporarily change our forecast links to the Weather Network due to a technical error.)

🚘 Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google, and find DriveBC’s latest updates.

🛣 Click here for links to road cameras across the Fraser Valley, including those for the Coquihalla, Highway 7, Hope-Princeton, Fraser Canyon, and Highway 1 in Langley and Abbotsford.

NEWS

A year after an overpass collision, Hope students are still waiting for a new, safe crossing

The loss of an overpass has left children to fend for themselves on one Hope street for more than a year, a local parent says.

In October 2023, an excavator destroyed a Silver Creek overpass, a walkway used by children to cross Flood Hope Road and access nearby Silver Creek Elementary.

Despite calls earlier this year for a safe temporary replacement, the overpass hasn’t been fixed and there’s no backup on the horizon. That has left students and families in limbo for months, says Krystal Ridgway, the former president of the Silver Creek Elementary PAC. (Ridgway left the role in the summer due to personal reasons but has continued to advocate for an overpass replacement.)

Without the overpass or a temporary crosswalk, Ridgway said some parents have resorted to driving their kids to school. Many other students still walk to school, but some do so dangerously. Although there are crosswalks a couple hundred metres away, some students jaywalk across Flood Hope Road at the site of the former overpass.

• Today, Josh writes about a missing overpass, and when local students may finally get a replacement for their demolished crossing. 

Related

Need to Know

⚡ You can find BC Hydro’s list of power outages here, and its map of outages here [BC Hydro]

👉 Newcomers to a homeless encampment at Abbotsford city hall have been forced to leave [Abbotsford News]

🌳 Winds have toppled another massive willow tree along Harrison Lake [Agassiz-Harrison Observer]

🚔 A months-long string of vandalism has cost an Abbotsford car dealer more than $100,000 [Abbotsford News]

🔥 Firefighters extinguished a blaze in an outbuilding at a rural property near Mission Monday [Mission Record]

🚓 A thief stole an engagement ring from an 85-year-old Abbotsford woman [CTV]

🥊 A Chilliwack boxer will compete at a national championship event in Ontario [Chilliwack Progress]

👉 A fundraiser has been set up to help the family of a missing Agassiz angler [Agassiz-Harrison Observer]

👉 Protests near an Abbotsford gurdwara have remained peaceful, Abbotsford Police say [Abbotsford News]

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This Pride and Prejudice adapted by Kate Hamill, is energetic and irreverent. A fun stage adaptation of a classic Austen story. Running from Nov 21 - Dec 1, including two Sunday matinees!

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The Agenda

Mission pushes back against ‘polarizing’ proclamation requests

Faced with increasing requests for potentially controversial proclamations, the City of Mission is set to enact a new policy to steer the municipality and its politicians clear of international and religious affairs.

Mission’s council, like its counterparts elsewhere, regularly proclaims various days, weeks, and months in recognition of various activities, communities, and public awareness efforts. This fall, for instance, Mission’s council has proclaimed Rail Safety Week, National Forest Week, Welcoming Week (a week promoting activities for immigrants), Economic Abuse Awareness Day (recognizing domestic violence in which one party exercises financial control over another), Wrongful Conviction Day, and Literacy Month.

Most of those have some local impact, but Mayor Paul Horn said earlier this month that the city has also been fielding increasing numbers of requests related to more global issues, including international political and religious affairs.

“I’m starting to see a troubling trend when it comes to proclamations,” Horn said. “People are using them in a way that is almost … trying to polarize factions against each other.”

So far in 2024, council has issued 24 proclamations. It issued 26 proclamations in 2023 and 35 in 2022. The proclamations typically follow a request from an external organization or agency.

In a report to council, staff wrote that with no policy, “the City has historically proclaimed nearly everything it has been asked to.”

Horn suggested earlier this month that while some other councils had stopped making proclamations altogether, he would like the city to continue the practice, but require a proclamation to have some particular local relevancy. Council agreed, sending staff to draft a new policy. On Monday, council unanimously voted to adopt the new policy.

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🗓 Things to do

Coca-Cola castle: The Coca-Cola Holiday Caravan comes to Castle Fun Park on Thursday starting at 5pm. Details online.

Sustainable holiday: Sustainable UFV hosts its holiday market on Thursday from 10am to 6pm at the Student Union Building in Abbotsford. The market will include a silent auction, live music, and gift wrapping. Details online.

Glow-back: Glow returns to Langley on Thursday. This year's theme for the lights display is Enchanted Forest. The family-friendly outdoor event will include magic wands to bring the forest to life. The event ends on Dec. 28. Tickets and details online.

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