The Burns Bog Ecological Conservancy Area Management plan is adopted by all four purchasing partners (Delta, Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, and Canada).
Delta adopts a new Official Community Plan that designates Burns Bog as an Ecological Conservancy Area.
2005, January - The Burns Bog Scientific Advisory Panel is formed.
A
Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP) is formed to provide technical advice the Burns Bog Planning Team, a committee of staff representatives from the four purchasing partners (Delta, Metro Vancouver Regional Parks, BC Ministry of Environment, and Environment Canada). The SAP meets every two months with the Planning Team to give advice on hydrology, ecology, and other scientific issues relating to the management of Burns Bog.
Council directs staff to proceed with the implementation of water control measures within and adjacent to Burns Bog, and work with adjacent farmers to move or discontinue existing water licenses within or adjacent to Burns Bog.
2004, October - "We're not done yet!" - Delta council vows to purchase remaining bog lands.
Even after the successful purchase of the majority of Burns Bog, Delta Council continues to pursue the protection of the remaining parcels of bog lands. At the October 4, 2004 regular meeting of Council, the following motion is put on notice: “That The Corporation of Delta hereby give notice that it views all land areas in Burns Bog as possible candidates for future environmental protection.” The question is postponed until November, to take place after the upcoming Official Community Plan meeting. The motion is carried by Council on November 29, 2004.
2004, March - "Burns Bog saved!"
Canada, British Columbia, GVRD, and Delta
purchase 2,042 ha (5,046 acres) of Burns Bog, to be preserved in perpetuity as an environmental reserve.
Bylaw 6266, 2004 is passed by Delta Council at a Special Meeting to designate Burns Bog as a Regional Park. Mayor Jackson makes the following “Special Announcement” at the March 29, 2004 Council meeting:
“Mayor Jackson announced the successful purchase of Burns Bog by Canada, British Columbia, the GVRD and the Corporation of Delta and expressed appreciation to staff who worked on finalizing the purchase. The Chief Administrative Officer, Director of Human Resources and Corporate Planning, and Municipal Solicitor were thanked for their work, along with the Mayor’s Executive Assistant. Mayor Jackson expressed appreciation to Council and for the years spent working towards the goal of preserving Burns Bog, and indicated that further work lay ahead, such as the development of a management agreement amongst the partners.”
Four levels of government make an offer to Western Delta Lands for 5,426 acres of Burns Bog, for the price of $77.8 million. Mayor Lois Jackson describes the offer as “historic”. The agreement between the four offering partners is hammered out at Delta municipal hall where politics are “left at the door”, says Mayor Jackson.
2003, February - Burns Bog tree bylaw passed by Delta Council.
In February 2003, Delta Council passes a bylaw (
6122, 2003) to stop tree cutting in Burns Bog without a permit, in response to recent logging activities on bog lands.
At an October meeting of Delta Council, an update on Burns Bog is provided. The Courts had recently ruled that the Province could foreclose on its mortgage, and that the municipal taxes on this property were now delinquent. It was stated that if they remained unpaid for one year, ownership of the property would default to Delta.
2001 - Formal offer to purchase and permanently protect Burns Bog announced but rejected.
Canada and the Province of British Columbia announce a formal offer to purchase and permanently protect Burns Bog. Delta and the Greater Vancouver Regional District are to be the other purchasing partners. The offer is rejected by the landowners.
2001 - Delta taxpayers contribute to the future purchase of Burns Bog.
A 0.3% levy is added to utility taxes for Delta residents, to be dedicated to the possible purchase of Burns Bog and to provide for the eventual closure of the Vancouver Landfill.
2001 - Delta Council resolves to acquire Burns Bog.
Delta Council resolves to purchase Burns Bog immediately, or if an agreement is not reached in one week, to pursue regulatory options and drainage management to protect the bog from further deterioration. Delta establishes the Mayor’s Task Force on Burns Bog.
Delta Council resolves that the Federation of Canadian Municipalities should urge the federal government to participate financially, as a partner with the provincial and municipal governments, in the purchase of Burns Bog.
Delta’s Environmental Advisory Committee recommends that staff do what they can to “safeguard the ecological values of Delta properties in Burns Bog, and reduce fire hazards on all properties in and near the bog by maintaining higher water levels on all municipal drainage systems in and around Burns Bog”. In response, Delta’s Engineering Department implements a water level management program for the bog, focusing on perimeter drainage management. The water level management program includes installation of control weirs, monitoring of the water levels, and aerial photography.
2000 - Burns Bog featured on U-Haul trucks.
U-Haul creates a
Burns Bog graphic for display on their moving trucks, and features information and stories about Burns Bog on their website. These trucks can still be seen driving around town today.
Delta Council establishes an internal Burns Bog Committee, consisting of Mayor Jackson, Councillor Gentner, the Director of Community Planning and Development, and the Chief Administrative Officer.
2000 - Ecosystem Review concludes, "Save Burns Bog".
A
comprehensive review of the Burns Bog ecosystem concludes that 73% of Burns Bog (2,200 of 3,000 ha) must be protected to maintain its ecological integrity. The morning after the Ecosystem Review is released, Mayor Lois E. Jackson is on the phone to arrange a meeting with regional, provincial, and federal governments to purchase the bog lands. The Mayor receives approval from Delta Council to lead the discussions with multiple levels of government to purchase the bog.
Delta Council gives three readings to Burns Bog Referendum Bylaw No. 5771, 1999. The purpose of the referendum, to appear on the November ballot, is to ask the residents of Delta:
“Do you support Council’s request to the Premier of the Province and the Leader of the Opposition that the Province enter into non-partisan negotiations with the owners of Burns Bog to purchase it in its entirety, and that if such negotiations fail, they commit to entering into an expropriation process?”
The referendum passes, with 75% of respondents voting “Yes”.
Delta Fraser Properties (formerly Western Delta Lands) unveils plans to conserve 1,215 ha (3,000 acres) of the bog and develop 1,102 ha (2,500 acres), including the contentious proposal to move the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) to Burns Bog. Public protest causes the province to back off on the PNE move and request an ecosystem review of the bog, to be paid for by Delta Fraser Properties. The purpose of the review is to determine how much of the bog is required to preserve its environmental integrity. Delta Council turns down the development and PNE proposal, and urges the Province to buy the bog. Delta Councillor McDonald makes a motion to demand the government buy or expropriate the bog (Vancouver Sun and Delta Optimist, February 18, 1999).
1998 - Several small fires break out in the bog, but are extinguished quickly.
1996 - Delta strikes deal to send Vancouver Landfill up, instead of out into the bog.
The City of Vancouver, GVRD, and Delta agree that a large portion of Burns Bog slated as landfill be transferred to Delta in 2003 and designated as an Environmentally Sensitive Area. A new ESA category is established to ensure that the primary uses of this parcel are: ecosystem management, including the preservation or management of vegetation and wildlife; habitat enhancement; drainage improvements that are necessary to maintain or restore the bog's hydrological functions; and low-impact research activities that contribute to scientific knowledge about the bog. Soon after, the Delta Nature Reserve is also designated as an ESA.
1996 - Fire in the bog (80 ha, 198 acres).
1995 - Dr. David Bellamy advises community to save Burns Bog.
Dr. David Bellamy, a well-known European bog expert from Britain, recommends protection of the bog ecosystem. He calls Burns Bog a “
precious place” and says that it would be protected if it was in Europe.
Western Delta Lands proposes a 1-mile thoroughbred racetrack, which would cover 350 acres (142 ha) of bog lands. The design plans are well underway when it is decided that the region does not require such a large-scale racetrack. Instead, Vancouver’s Exhibition Park is upgraded and the bog racetrack plans are rejected (Delta Optimist, Feb 3, 1999).
1991 - Residents request that Burns Bog be designated as an ecological reserve.
A motion to designate Burns Bog as an ecological reserve is brought to Delta Council by a Vancouver resident. The request is defeated by the majority of Council, with the reasoning that the bog designation would be considered during the next revision of the Official Community Plan. Council receives additional correspondence from residents and community groups requesting that the bog be protected as an environmental reserve. By 1999, Delta Council had received hundreds of letters and requests from the community, asking that the bog be saved.
1991 - Industrial Development proposed for the bog.
Western Delta Lands proposes a 55-acre (22 ha) industrial development to the Greater Vancouver Regional District (Delta Optimist, Feb 3, 1999).
1990, September - Fire in the bog (48 heactares).
Delta Firefighter Mike Cornell is presented with a plaque in recognition of heroic acts in saving four other Delta Firefighters from the Burns Bog fire.
1990 - Industrial Development proposed for the bog.
Western Delta Lands proposes a 2,500-acre (1,000 ha) industrial development, which is to be constructed over a span of 25 years. The proposal is later defeated (Delta Optimist, Feb 3, 1999).
1988 - $10 billion deep sea port proposed.
A proposal for a $10 billion deep sea port is brought forward to Delta Council by Western Delta Lands. Dubbed “Bog City” to the horror of Delta’s residents, the site was to include housing for an additional 120,000 people. The proposal was scrutinized during four nights of public hearings, and was defeated six months later (Delta Optimist, Feb 3, 1999).
1987 - Deep sea port study announced for Burns Bog.
Western Delta Lands announces a study to explore the possibility of developing a multi-billion dollar deep sea port, a large industrial site, and a residential development in 6,000-plus acres of Burns Bog. The development would have required a 40-foot deep, 600-acre water basin for the port.
1977 - Dr. Richard Hebda completes his thesis on the paleoecology of Burns Bog
Dr. Richard Hebda completes his doctoral thesis on the paleoecology of Burns Bog, painting an accurate picture of how the bog developed over the past 10,000 years. Paleoecology is the study of the ecology of past communities by means of the fossil record. Dr. Hebda used pollen grains hidden deep within Burns Bog to study its past plant communities. Dr. Hebda would later be the head author of the
Burns Bog Ecosystem Review, and an expert scientist on the
Burns Bog Scientific Advisory Panel.
In a
Delta Times article from November 8, 1907, Dominic Burns announces his plans to “improve” his newly-purchased bog lands by “brushing and draining” the 8,000 acre (3,200 ha) parcel. A large ditch was to be run through the property, as well as smaller ditches, and then the property was to be seeded for “pastoral purposes”.
...back to top
