Our waters and water life have shaped this province. The abundant yet fragile ecosystems of our coastal waters, rivers and lakes are home to over 7,000 marine species. From port cities to towns dotted along the Fraser river, we live alongside and in connection to our natural bodies of water and their accompanying creatures. Our beach days are filled with cawing gulls, seal sightings, perching herons, and barnacle coast lines. We live in rhythm to the tides and rushing creeks after heavy rainfalls, and we grow up knowing the salty sting of the ocean and the infamous salmon run. But have you ever wanted to know what lies beyond the shoreline?
Dive deep into depths of knowledge and stories about our province’s waters and how to protect them through apocalyptic comedies, climate calls to action, and stories from rivers and the people who live off them.
Whether you’re listening to the waves crash, floating down a lazy river, or lounging pool side—or even staying completely dry at home—there’s a book about our waters that you won’t be able to cast away.
Water Adventures
River Magic: Tales from a life on 1000 rivers by Mark Angelo (Hancock House Publishers)
This short story collection takes the reader on an amazing global adventure by river. Mark Angelo, one of the world’s most acclaimed paddlers and river conservationists, who has paddled more rivers than perhaps anyone on Earth, recounts a selection of his encounters with amazing animals, big fish, unique cultures, and wild rivers. The book enables readers of all ages to better appreciate the value and magic of rivers along with the need to better care for them.
Out now
Swimming Holes and Beaches of Southwestern British Columbia by Alex McKeen (Greystone Books)
Here is a guide for everyone who loves to swim, from waders to long-distance swimmers, cold-water dippers, and beach or dock loungers. Alex McKeen and George Harwood Smith literally dove into their research, swimming in lakes, rivers, creeks, ponds, and the Pacific Ocean to curate this list of 100 top-notch places to splash, swim, and soak in southwestern British Columbia.
Out now
Ocean Conservation
Sea Change: Charting a Sustainable Future for Oceans in Canada, edited by Ussif Rashid Sumaila, Derek Armitage, Megan Bailey, and William W.L. Cheung (UBC Press)
Indigenous and non-Indigenous scholars and practitioners in a wide array of fields investigate well-being, health, and livelihoods in coastal communities as they respond to rapid environmental and social transformation. With a focus on finding solutions, they outline the implications and obstacles for legislation, make suggestions for further research, and offer policy recommendations.
Out now
A River Captured: The Columbia River Treaty and Catastrophic Change Revised and Updated by Eileen Delehanty Pearkes (Rocky Mountain Books)
A River Captured explores the controversial history of the Columbia River Treaty and its impact on the ecosystems, Indigenous peoples, contemporary culture, cross-border politics and recent history of the Pacific Northwest.
Out now
Protecting the Coast and Ocean: A Guide to Marine Conservation Law in British Columbia by Stephanie M. Hewson, Linda Nowlan, Georgia Lloyd-Smith, Deborah Carlson, and Michael Bissonnette (UBC Press)
The oceans can be protected!
Although the compound impacts of climate change, overfishing, and pollution seem overwhelming, Protecting the Coast and Ocean convincingly demonstrates that Indigenous, federal, provincial, and local governments have the legal tools to protect coastal and marine ecosystems, reverse species extinction, and plan for a resilient ocean.
Out now
Children’s Books
SOS Water by Yayo (Tradewind Books)
Sailor Lalo wants to find a safe and clean place for his fish friend Rosa, but everywhere they go has been invaded by plastic water bottles. With humour and a touch of poetry, this picture book deals with plastic pollution in our oceans.
Out now
The Heart of a River by Eileen Delehanty Pearkes, illustrated by Nichola Lytle (Rocky Mountain Books)
This story of the Columbia River is unique. Told from the river’s perspective, it is an immersive, empathetic portrait of a once-wild river and of the Sinixt, a First People who lived on the mainstem of this great western river for thousands of years and continue to do so even though Canada declared them “extinct” in 1956.
Out now
Octopus Ocean: Geniuses of the Deep by Mark Leiren-Young (Orca Book Publishers)
Octopus Ocean is a deep dive into the mysteries and histories of octopuses big and small—their biology, habitat and habits. It also looks at the threats to their future, from warming oceans to over-fishing and pollution. By working together, we can help create a better planet for octopuses and ourselves.
Author Mark Leiren-Young spent time with Storm, the octopus at the Salish Sea Centre, as part of his research for this book. Storm even grabbed his finger.
Out now
Barnacle Bay by Jana Curll (Greystone Books)
This hilarious new graphic novel from the Little Habitats series explores the ecosystem of a local bay and the marine creatures and plant life that call it home.
Out now
Hideaway Cove by Brenda Boreham, illustrated by Laura Timmermans (Strong Nations Publishing)
This children’s picture book shares the many interconnections within a healthy marine ecosystem. From the orca to the tiniest barnacle, enjoy a colourful glimpse into the lives of the many creatures that live in and around Hideaway Cove.
Out now