Skip to main content

Skip to navigation

The access keys for this page are:

LiveSmart BC

Your King Tides - get involved in your community

Start a conversation about sea level rise in your community! Use these resources to promote the King Tides Photo Initiative in your area.

Why Organise a King Tides Initiative?

On the B.C. coast, sea level is expected to rise by about 1m by the year 2100. What would that look like in your community? What will be affected - beaches, parks, roads, homes, businesses, infrastructure, habitat? King Tides offers an opportunity to start a community discussion about the potential impacts of sea level rise and what can be done to prepare for these impacts over the coming decades. These conversations can grow and lead to consideration of sea level rise and other climate change impacts in community plans and investment decisions. Planning for sea level rise now will be less costly than reacting to the impacts in the future.

What Can We Do?

First check the BC King Tides Schedule to find out when the highest tides of the year will occur on your piece of the coast.  If you can’t find your community listed, go to the Fisheries and Oceans Canada Tides, Currents and Water Levels website and look for the dates and times of the highest December and January tides for your location (for most of the province, the highest tides will occur during the period around December 18-30 and in mid-January).

Here are a few ideas for things to do to promote King Tides in your community:

  • Write the dates and times on the King Tides poster (PDF, 2MB), print copies and put them up in recreation centres, libraries, businesses, walkways, parks, marinas, etc.
  • Or email an electronic version of the poster to your contacts (email us if you want help customising the poster for your location). Point people to the LiveSmart BC King Tide Photos page (http://www.livesmartbc.ca/connect/kingtidephotos/) for background information and helpful tutorials, and the BC King Tides Flickr group (http://www.flickr.com/groups/kingtidephotos/pool/) to upload photos and view King Tides pics from B.C. and beyond.
  • Organise a “King Tides Tour” of your community. Go to locations in the community that could be affected by higher sea levels (e.g. parks, utility infrastructure, streets, beaches, boat launches, ferry terminals, etc.). Invite friends, residents’ associations, environment groups, mayor and council, local media etc. to join you.  Bring along a meter stick to help the group visualise where sea level is likely to be in 2100. And take pictures!
  • Contact your local newspaper or radio station to run a story on the initiative, how sea level rise might affect your community and what the community can do to prepare. B.C.’s proposed new Climate Change Adaptation Guidelines for Sea Dikes and Coastal Flood Hazard Land Use provide local governments with information on how to incorporate sea level rise into flood protection and development requirements.
  • Let people know with Twitter: Send tweets with your community hashtag and #KingTideBC. Include a shortened link to the King Tides web page on Live Smart BC: http://goo.gl/RGHnR. Use @mentions to stimulate the conversation with local organisations and elected representatives.
  • Share your King Tides activities on our Facebook page and see what others are doing.

Above all, BE SAFE! Storms that occur during high tide events can cause flooding. Waves and spray can throw rocks, logs and other debris onto seaside roadways, sidewalks and beaches.  Stay well back from the shore during stormy weather!

Who Should the Initiative Target?

There are many individuals and organisations that have an interest in sea level rise. Here are a few examples:

  • Residents’ associations
  • Elected representatives
  • City staff (e.g., departments of engineering, planning, environment, emergency management)
  • Photography clubs
  • Local media
  • Youth groups
  • Environment and conservation groups

Where can we get More Information on Sea Level Rise in B.C.?

Go to the Sea Level Rise page on the BC Ministry of Environment website for more information about sea level rise in B.C. and what the Provincial Government is doing to prepare.

How Can LiveSmartBC Help?

Let us help you promote your King Tides event.  Tell us what you have planned and we’ll blog, tweet and post Facebook updates about King Tides in your community. You can reach us at kingtidephotos@gov.bc.ca, send us a message on Twitter @LiveSmartBCca or post a message to our wall on Facebook.

Go Back to King Tide Photos Initiative Main Page