A Victoria company that cleans building exteriors and roofs has been fined $11,000 by the province for discharging a toxic substance into a storm drain that flowed into Sidney’s Reay Creek, killing 300 fish and setting back restoration of the waterway.
“It was horrible for the fish and absolutely devastating for the creek,” Bruce said of the fish deaths, which were found in June 2021 by a five-year-old. He told his parents, who reported to the Town of Sidney. Nathan Bancroft, co-owner Elevate Exterior Washing, said the company takes full responsibility for the spill, which he called an “accident” caused by a malfunction in one of the company’s vans.
Bruce said it was the seventh fish kill he has investigated at Reay Creek over the decades, but the first time anyone has been fined. Bruce said restoration of Reay Creek was initiated by the Sidney Anglers Association decades ago and the work continues.
Maybe the storm drain shouldn’t outflow into a sensitive fish bearing stream?
$11,000 seems like a slap on the wrist. Probably would not cover anyway near the cost of cleanup.