As the Straight went to press on June 6, the Kwikwetlem First Nation had just put out calls for volunteers to help place sandbags on portions of its reserve, which faces a flood threat. There are 30 band members, including children, who are living at the reserve located close to the Coquitlam River, which drains into the Fraser River.

Band member Kristina Cunningham told the Straight in a phone interview that her group has until Friday (June 8) to complete the sand-bagging operation. Hundreds of families from northwestern B.C. to the Fraser Valley have been placed on evacuation notice. Flood waters are expected to rise further on the June 9 weekend.

NDP MPs Nathan Cullen (Skeena–Bulkley Valley) and Dawn Black (New Westminster–Port Coquitlam) issued a media release on June 6 urging the federal government to reassure residents with swift help. The two also noted that Ottawa needs to look into future flood planning in the region.

“Clearly, an assessment after the flood is over will need to be completed, but nothing is stopping the Minister of Public Safety from issuing a clear and calm statement that the money will flow from Ottawa as fast as possible,” Black said in the news release. “Now that the murky waters of the Fraser are on the rise, perhaps they will take this situation seriously and commit to something the Conservative budget failed to—prudent and proper flood planning.”

The City of Vancouver isn’t at risk, but emergency staff are also monitoring the situation. City workers are keeping an eye on structures such as park piers that could be damaged by floating debris.

A spokesperson for the British Columbia Provincial Emergency Program told the Straight that the provincial government isn’t calling for volunteers. Glen Plummer said that prospective volunteers can get in touch instead with the local offices of either the Red Cross or the Salvation Army.