B.C. Floods 2021

A house sits on high ground surrounded by flooded farmland in Abbotsford, B.C., on Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. Premier John Horgan acknowledged an “exceptionally challenging” year in a statement on New Year’s Eve. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. farmers ‘white-knuckling’ their way through extreme cold after floods, heat dome

Remaining moisture in structures on Sumas Prairie may lead to even more damage from frost

A house sits on high ground surrounded by flooded farmland in Abbotsford, B.C., on Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. Premier John Horgan acknowledged an “exceptionally challenging” year in a statement on New Year’s Eve. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Sourav Arora (left) and Jasreet Ghuman raised more than $7,000 for the Canadian Red Cross’s flood-recovery appeal. The donation is being matched by the provincial and federal governments for a total contribution of more than $21,000. (Submitted photo)

Abbotsford students’ Red Cross donation for flood recovery tops $21K

Pair’s GoFundMe campaign matched by provincial and federal governments

Sourav Arora (left) and Jasreet Ghuman raised more than $7,000 for the Canadian Red Cross’s flood-recovery appeal. The donation is being matched by the provincial and federal governments for a total contribution of more than $21,000. (Submitted photo)
The floodwaters that swept over Abbotsford’s Sumas Prairie, starting on Nov. 14, destroyed Ripples Winery on Tolmie Road along with houses and barns on the property. (Photos by Caroline Mostertman)

Class-action lawsuit filed to recoup losses from catastrophic flooding in Abbotsford

Defendants were ‘grossly negligent’ in failing to properly warn residents, lawsuit states

The floodwaters that swept over Abbotsford’s Sumas Prairie, starting on Nov. 14, destroyed Ripples Winery on Tolmie Road along with houses and barns on the property. (Photos by Caroline Mostertman)
A rail bridge washed out from the flood waters is pictured near Merritt, B.C. Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021. Economic growth in British Columbia will face erosion from the recent floods and slides that crippled transportation links, but the resilience of government and industry to keep supply chains open limits the damage, says an economist. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Flood disaster takes bite out of B.C. economy, sends infrastructure wake-up call

Major highways and rail lines were destroyed in November’s storms

A rail bridge washed out from the flood waters is pictured near Merritt, B.C. Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021. Economic growth in British Columbia will face erosion from the recent floods and slides that crippled transportation links, but the resilience of government and industry to keep supply chains open limits the damage, says an economist. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Andrew Charpentier (second from left) is arrested in the 45900 block of Wellington Avenue in Chilliwack after allegedly stealing from flood victims on Sumas Prairie in Abbotsford. (Photo: Abbotsford Police Department)

Man arrested in Chilliwack accused of stealing from Abbotsford flood victims

Andrew Charpentier has been charged with four counts of break-and-enter

Andrew Charpentier (second from left) is arrested in the 45900 block of Wellington Avenue in Chilliwack after allegedly stealing from flood victims on Sumas Prairie in Abbotsford. (Photo: Abbotsford Police Department)
Gavin King, 8, of Coquitlam crafted mini clay Christmas trees as a fundraiser for the Abbotsford-based Central Fraser Valley Search and Rescue. (Submitted photo)

Boy, 8, crafts clay Christmas trees and raises $3,500 for Abbotsford search-and-rescue team

Central Fraser Valley Search and Rescue visits Gavin King of Coquitlam to thank him

Gavin King, 8, of Coquitlam crafted mini clay Christmas trees as a fundraiser for the Abbotsford-based Central Fraser Valley Search and Rescue. (Submitted photo)
The Community Thrift Store, which is run as a partnership between the Surrey Fire Fighters’ Charitable Society and the Surrey Hospice Society, has donated clothing to help Indigenous communities impacted by the flooding last month. (Submitted photo: Dylan Van Rooyen)

Surrey firefighters, hospice donate clothing to Indigenous communities impacted by floods

This is despite the Community Thrift Store suffering yet another break-in

The Community Thrift Store, which is run as a partnership between the Surrey Fire Fighters’ Charitable Society and the Surrey Hospice Society, has donated clothing to help Indigenous communities impacted by the flooding last month. (Submitted photo: Dylan Van Rooyen)
The Great Canadian Flood Relief online concert takes place Dec. 19 with funds going to the Canadian Red Cross for people who lost homes and properties in B.C., Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador.

Online concert will benefit flood victims nationwide through Canadian Red Cross

30 award-winning musicians lined up for Great Canadian Flood Relief concert

The Great Canadian Flood Relief online concert takes place Dec. 19 with funds going to the Canadian Red Cross for people who lost homes and properties in B.C., Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador.
The Vancouver Park Board has created a brand new beach for residents to enjoy. (Vancouver Park Board)

New Barge Chilling Beach makes its debut on Vancouver’s shoreline

Barge washed up on Sunset Beach during the mid-November storms

The Vancouver Park Board has created a brand new beach for residents to enjoy. (Vancouver Park Board)
Highways outside of Agassiz ground to a halt following a landslide triggered by torrential rain. Agassiz emergency workers and volunteers quickly responded to multiple distress calls along Highway 7. (File Photo)

Agassiz fire chief recounts dangerous week of flood rescues

No local firefighters were injured during dangerous rescue operations

Highways outside of Agassiz ground to a halt following a landslide triggered by torrential rain. Agassiz emergency workers and volunteers quickly responded to multiple distress calls along Highway 7. (File Photo)
Toy Drive organizer John-Andrew Pankiw-Petty of Victoria hands donated gifts to Chilliwack Community Services executive director Diane Janzen at the Chilliwack Airport on Dec. 14, 2021. (Jennifer Feinberg/ Chilliwack Progress)

Santa flight toy drive touches down in Chilliwack

‘When we asked people to help out, the response was incredible,’ says toy drive organizer

Toy Drive organizer John-Andrew Pankiw-Petty of Victoria hands donated gifts to Chilliwack Community Services executive director Diane Janzen at the Chilliwack Airport on Dec. 14, 2021. (Jennifer Feinberg/ Chilliwack Progress)
Ninja survived the flooding on Sumas Prairie in Abbotsford in mid-November and made his way back to his former home in Huntingdon – almost 20 kilometres away.

Ninja the cat survives Abbotsford flooding, travels almost 20 km to former home

Pet got away from owner during evacuation from Sumas Prarie home on Nov. 15

Ninja survived the flooding on Sumas Prairie in Abbotsford in mid-November and made his way back to his former home in Huntingdon – almost 20 kilometres away.
FILE – Motorists purchase fuel at a gas station in Kamloops, B.C., Friday, Nov. 19, 2021. British Columbia is lifting gas rationing measures put in place following recent devastating floods. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

VIDEO: B.C. to lift gas restrictions in southwest region, extends state of emergency

Gas restriction were first put in place in mid-November

FILE – Motorists purchase fuel at a gas station in Kamloops, B.C., Friday, Nov. 19, 2021. British Columbia is lifting gas rationing measures put in place following recent devastating floods. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Flood waters surround a farm in Abbotsford, B.C., Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021. Nearly 15,000 people were forced from their homes in southwestern B.C., where repairs on some severed highways and bridges have been made while the Coquihalla Highway, a major route to B.C.’s Interior, is expected to remain closed until late January. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Volunteers join forces to help clean up after unprecedented flooding in Abbotsford

Flood damage across B.C. is expected to cost $450 million

Flood waters surround a farm in Abbotsford, B.C., Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021. Nearly 15,000 people were forced from their homes in southwestern B.C., where repairs on some severed highways and bridges have been made while the Coquihalla Highway, a major route to B.C.’s Interior, is expected to remain closed until late January. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
A chicken walks in front of a row of sandbags in Clayburn Village in Abbotsford, B.C., Monday, November 29, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Fraser Valley farmers say they may be forced to leave industry as post-flood costs pile up

Farmers were already facing a tough future as many had little feed for their animals after heat waves in the summer

A chicken walks in front of a row of sandbags in Clayburn Village in Abbotsford, B.C., Monday, November 29, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Qualicum Beach-based pilot Sigmund Bering Sort during one of his recent flood relief flights. (Sigmund Bering Sort photo)

B.C. pilot joins volunteer team flying relief supplies to flood-ravaged communities

‘It has been a crazy human experience’

Qualicum Beach-based pilot Sigmund Bering Sort during one of his recent flood relief flights. (Sigmund Bering Sort photo)
Farmer Avtar Dhillon was surprised to see that his saffron plants survived the catastrophic flooding that hit the Sumas Prairie area of Abbotsford in mid-November. (Vikki Hopes/Abbotsford News)

Abbotsford saffron farm suffers major flood losses, but crop is in renewal

Small glimmer of hope amid devastating situation for Sumas Prairie family

Farmer Avtar Dhillon was surprised to see that his saffron plants survived the catastrophic flooding that hit the Sumas Prairie area of Abbotsford in mid-November. (Vikki Hopes/Abbotsford News)
Highway 1 at Bridal Falls looking east. (DriveBC)

Highway 1 fully reopened between Abbotsford, Hope

Unnecessary travel on Highway 1 should still be avoided through Fraser Valley, officials say

Highway 1 at Bridal Falls looking east. (DriveBC)
A collapsed section of bridge destroyed by severe flooding is seen in Merritt, B.C., in an aerial view from a Canadian Forces reconnaissance flight on Monday, November 22, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Nearly 300 still in the dark in flood-ravaged Merritt area as BC Hydro works to restore power

City was evacuated on Nov. 15 when heavy rains led to river overflowing

A collapsed section of bridge destroyed by severe flooding is seen in Merritt, B.C., in an aerial view from a Canadian Forces reconnaissance flight on Monday, November 22, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The view of Cultus Lake from Sunnyside Campground a few days after the flooding. (Facebook/Betty Ann Kickbush Bedard)

Crisis Cleanup volunteers ready to roll into flood-damaged areas across the Lower Mainland

Cleanup volunteers can cut fallen trees, remove drywall, tarp roofs, help with mould mitigation

The view of Cultus Lake from Sunnyside Campground a few days after the flooding. (Facebook/Betty Ann Kickbush Bedard)