Richard Cannings
Biologist, author, birder, mediocre fiddle player, slow cyclist and grandfather. Canadian Member of Parliament for South Okanagan-West Kootenay 2015-2025.
- The last our 2025 potato crop is going crazy (poorly stored) so I took advantage of the warm spring weather and planted them yesterday!
- These social huntsman spiders are common in Australia—and spectacular—but luckily are harmless. Took this pic in Tasmania a couple of weeks ago
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- Deeply saddened by news that my friend Kirsty Duncan passed away today. I worked closely with her while she was the Minister of Science and the Chair of the Standing Committee on Science and Technology. I texted her on Saturday when I was at a Robbie Burns dinner—her favourite event of the year.
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- I’m with Charlie on this one.
- Wonderful to hear this project has been completed—I remember talking about it almost 20 years ago at NCC board meetings. Sometimes good things take time! Thanks to all the groups and individuals who stepped up to get it done.
- The weather has been crazy lately but I was still surprised to see this red-eared slider sunning itself in Penticton on December 14!
- The Dream is still alive… www.pentictonnow.com/watercooler/...
- I remember a conservative Australian MP testifying before the House of Commons Natural Resources Committee about 7 years ago who warned that in Oz the main effect of new LNG exports was a sharp increase in domestic gas prices.
- Reminiscent of the one in 100-year atmospheric river event that happened four years ago… www.castanet.net/news/BC/5888...
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- Patrick Weiler is right--it makes no sense to give $$ to the highly profitable oil industry when we could be encouraging clean energy. The NDP fought these subsidies for more than a decade and thought the Liberals were finally onside, but now Carney caves. nationalnewswatch.com/2025/12/03/c...
- Just heard Tom Powers interviewing Con O'Brien of the Irish Descendants on CBC, lovely that they finished by playing "Let Me Fish off Cape St. Mary's", one of the greatest Newfoundland songs of all times. I used to live in the lighthouse at the Cape back in 1976... www.google.com/search?sca_e...
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- 4 weeks ago I had a tumour removed from my thymus—all went well and no further treatment is needed. I want to thank the nurses and thoracic surgeons at KGH — and everyone who supports universal health care in Canada!
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- Alberta’s new tax on high value wine puts the lower limit so low that « As one Calgary wine shop put it, in cheese terms, that’s like defining high-value as “anything that exceeds the price of Cheez Whiz.” » This is once again killing BC wine sales in Alberta. apple.news/ANt5ggM15TNO...
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- This continues and amplifies a very worrying trend started by the Conservatives in the last Parliament —meddling in basic science and universities in their misguided anti »woke » crusade.
- How much are MPs entitled to know about research grants? Not as much as they think. A parliamentary committee is asking for researchers' personal information in what seems like an anti-DEI crusade, by @picardonhealth.bsky.social www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti... via @theglobeandmail.com
- Just checked out Comet Lemmon in the western sky by following the arc of the handle of the Big Dipper down towards Arcturus. Helps to have binoculars or a scope and a dark sky! Map by Anthony Wood.
- The 2025 Vaseux Lake Bird Observatory season ended with 1539 birds of 55 species banded and an impressive 185 species detected. A record hot September kept birds at higher elevations so a lot of birds passed us by. Thanks to David and Aiva and all the volunteers!
- Only a few days left in the banding season at Vaseux Lake Bird Observatory. A lot of big birds going south on the north wind this morning —vultures, ospreys, harriers, rough-legged hawks and more. Last day is Wednesday!
- The fall season is winding down at the Vaseux Lake Bird Observatory with the shift to late migrants like Pacific Wren and Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Last day of operation is October 15.
- Saddened to hear that Jane Goodall has died. She was a groundbreaking scientist and a tireless advocate for conservation. www.cbc.ca/news/world/j...
- Two of the five lutescens Orange-crowned Warblers netted today at Vaseux Lake Bird Observatory. VLBO is open to the public every morning until October 15, located 1 km north of the lake (4 km south of OK Falls).
- Dropped into Salt Spring Books and met Adina Hildebrandt who has owned this fine independent bookstore for 25 years. Support your local bookseller!
- Nice to bump into friends and colleagues Jan O’Brien and Geoff Meggs and talk about families as well as the federal and provincial political scene.
- It’s migration season and of birds are heading south. Unfortunately millions don’t survive travel through our cities Their deaths are preventable www.thestar.com/news/gta/mil...
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- We were all saddened to learn today that Ken Dryden had passed away. I had the privilege of meeting him in 2022 at the celebration for the 50th anniversary of the 1972 Canada-Russia hockey series--he was a great Canadian on and off the ice.
- Great news from Penticton and so proud that it is the legacy of my friend Colleen. www.pentictonherald.ca/life/health/...
- Highly recommended. 👇
- Yes I did miss this! Thanks to the Globe and Mail for a little shout out.
- We need a national wildfire fighting force.
- I remember talking to the VP of Scotiabank over ten years ago. When asked the “what keeps you awake at night” question he said it was the gap between the top 1% and the rest of us. “This will not end well” he added.
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- It’s moulting season at Vaseux Lake Bird Observatory for songbirds as they get their flight feathers renewed for the fall and winter ahead. This young chat and adult male goldfinch are going through complex patterns of moult that will make it easier for them to fly.
- Vaseux Lake Bird Observatory continues to monitor a good diversity of birds with numbers ahead of last year. Today’s highlight was a young Black-headed Grosbeak—with a beak like that you have to handle them carefully! Open every a.m. 1 km N of the lake on Hwy 97.
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- The Vaseux Lake Bird Observatory continues to see and band good numbers of local birds and migrants. This Least Flycatcher was one of this morning’s surprises. Drop in any morning until October 15–we’re 1 km north if Vaseux Lake on the west side of Hwy 97.
- After a wipeout of last year’s crop due to a flash freeze, it is so good to see and smell a bumper crop of fresh peaches! We be jammin’ today.
- Retirement so far.
- I don’t often post fly pictures here but this Rocky Mountain Hornet Fly is one of the most convincing wasp mimics I’ve ever met.
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- Cedar Waxwing fledglings in our elderberry yesterday--even the late starters are leaving the nest this time of year!
- The shrine grows for the Stubbies rehearsals in Stew McLeod’s garage.
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- Fantastic performance of Dream—Tempest Theatre’s reimagining of a Midsummer Nights Dream—at Linden Gardens this evening. Fabulous cast and magical setting. www.tempest.ca/on-stage.html
