Yellow jackets become much more active in the fall as their natural food supply disappears, sending them in search of sweet drinks, barbecue foods, and trash bins. That is why they are a common sight at outdoor gatherings this time of year.

Unlike bees, yellow jackets can sting multiple times. Most stings cause temporary pain and swelling, but some people may experience serious allergic reactions, including breathing problems or dizziness. They are also known for their fast, darting flight patterns and bright yellow and black markings.

To avoid trouble, keep food covered, seal trash containers, and stay calm if one flies nearby. With a little caution, you can still enjoy the fall season without unwanted stings.

Dreaming of bright blooms and a welcoming front yard next spring? Early fall is the perfect time to get started. September and October offer cooler temperatures and warm soil, creating ideal conditions for planting bulbs and shrubs before winter arrives.

Classic spring favorites like crocuses, tulips, and daffodils thrive in most well-draining soils and reward gardeners with some of the earliest color of the season. When planting bulbs, pay attention to their shape. Teardrop-shaped bulbs should be planted with the pointed end facing up and the wider end down. Not sure which side is which? Plant the bulb sideways. Nature usually finds a way.

Planting depth matters, too. Bulbs planted upside down often use too much energy trying to reach the surface, which can reduce or prevent blooming. After planting, give them a healthy start with bulb fertilizer to encourage strong roots and vibrant flowers.

If your daffodils produced leaves this year but no blooms, overcrowding may be the culprit. Over time, bulbs multiply underground and compete for nutrients and space. Fall is the ideal time to dig them up, gently separate the clusters, and replant them with more room to grow.

Another common reason bulbs fail to bloom is cutting foliage back too early. Those green leaves are more than just leftover growth. They collect sunlight and store energy for next year’s flowers. Allow foliage to yellow naturally or wait at least six weeks after flowering before trimming it away.

Fall is also one of the best seasons to plant new shrubs. Cooler weather reduces stress on young plants while roots continue developing underground. For best results, plant shrubs at least six weeks before the first hard frost so they have time to establish before winter settles in.

A little effort this fall can transform your landscape into a colorful, thriving garden next spring.

Thousands of years ago, ancient Egyptians sealed jars of honey inside tombs built for pharaohs. According to one famous story, archaeologists later uncovered some of that honey and found it still edible. While historians debate whether that exact discovery ever happened, the science behind it is completely real: Honey is one of the few foods on Earth that can last for centuries.

What makes honey so remarkable is that nature designed it to protect itself. It contains almost no water, which means bacteria and microorganisms cannot survive inside it. Honey is also naturally acidic, creating another barrier against spoilage. Even the bees contribute to its preservation. As they transform nectar into honey, enzymes in their bodies produce compounds like hydrogen peroxide and gluconic acid, both of which help stop bacterial growth.

That same chemistry made honey valuable long before modern medicine existed. Ancient civilizations used honey to treat wounds and burns because it could help prevent infection.

Sumerian records from 1900 BC even mention honey as a healing treatment, showing that people recognized its value thousands of years ago.

What makes honey fascinating is not just that it lasts, but why it lasts. Its strength comes from every element working together with precision and purpose.

There is a lesson in that. The things that endure are rarely loud or complicated. They are built on strong foundations, protected at their core, and designed to stand the test of time.

Canadian employment declined from the previous month, with the economy losing nearly 42,000 jobs (-0.2 per cent) to 21.173 million in August. The employment rate fell 0.1 points to 60.8 per cent, while the unemployment rate was unchanged at 6.4 per cent. Average hourly wages rose 2 per cent year-over-year to $37.02 in August.
           
Employment in B.C. decreased by 0.2 per cent to about 2.949 million, with the provincial economy losing about 5,500 jobs in August. Employment in Metro Vancouver rose by 0.7 per cent to 1.719 million. The unemployment rate in B.C. rose by 0.3 points to 6.5 per cent, while Vancouver's unemployment rate rose by 0.5 points to 6.5 per cent in August. 

August’s jobs report gave back some of the employment gains recorded over the previous three months, demonstrating the volatility that has challenged the labour market over the past few quarters. Despite relatively consistent drawdowns across different sectors in August, the Canadian economy still added over 50,000 jobs on a cumulative basis over the summer, climbing into positive territory year-to-date with July’s strong report. Resilience in the labour market since February and a resurgent second-quarter economy are biasing toward eventual rate hikes from the Bank of Canada, which has held its policy rate at 2.25 per cent since October 2025. Further, the persistence of the Iran conflict and its oil price shock along with new bilateral tariffs with the US cast inflationary pressure on the economy. Taken together, we expect monetary policy to remain unchanged this year, before the Bank raises its policy rate in 2027 toward its neutral level of 2.75 per cent.

Canadian real GDP rose by 0.3 per cent in June, after growing by 0.3 per cent in May. Goods-producing industries contracted by 0.1 per cent, offset by 0.4 per cent growth in service-producing sectors. Sectoral growth was led by wholesale trade (1.7 per cent), retail trade (1.4 per cent), and manufacturing (0.6 per cent). Meanwhile, the biggest detractor to growth was the mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction sector (-0.6 per cent). Output for the offices of real-estate agents and brokers rose by 0.6 per cent month-over-month. Preliminary estimates suggest that real GDP by industry was largely unchanged in July.
     
Real GDP increased by 0.8 per cent in the second quarter of 2026, registering an annualized growth rate of 3.3 per cent. Growth was driven by a resurgence in exports, which rose by 3.6 per cent, the largest increase since Q1 2023. Household consumption continued to strengthen, rising by 0.8 per cent in Q2, driven by higher spending on investment services that outpaced drawdowns in gasoline and food expenditure. Growth in total capital investment (1.5 per cent) was largely attributable to strong business investment growth (2.3 per cent). Looking deeper, investment into both residential and non-residential structures rose by 2.5 and 2.9 per cent, respectively. The household savings rate rose to 3.7 per cent, as disposable income growth outpaced nominal spending growth by 0.4 percentage points on the back of wage increases and higher government transfers. 

Canada’s economic performance in Q2, coupled with an upward revision to growth in the previous quarter, will dispel previous fears of a prolonged technical recession. Annualized quarterly growth reached its highest level since Q3 2024, outperforming the Bank of Canada’s projection of 2.5 per cent. Sharp export recoveries spearheaded growth, as exports to both the US and the rest of the world have steadily risen over recent months. Household spending remained resilient, while business investment comfortably outpaced a decrease in government investment. Taken together, final domestic demand grew by 1 per cent in the second quarter, the largest quarterly increase since Q4 2024. 

Looking ahead, economic headwinds continue to intensify, as seen by recent trade escalations and new tariffs between Canada and the US. Moreover, a breach in the Iran ceasefire at the end of July means continued inflationary pressure as oil prices remain significantly elevated. Altogether, the Canadian economy will have to continue demonstrating similar resilience in Q3 to reach or surpass the Bank’s projection of 1.5 per cent growth. Overall, we expect the Bank to hold its policy rate through this year. However, this report, along with encouraging signs in the labour market, is slightly biasing toward eventual rate hikes in 2027, which markets continue to expect.

For more information regarding British Columbia’s GDP growth, please visit our Nowcast for an estimate of economic activity throughout the province:

BCREA Nowcast - British Columbia Real Estate Association

Vancouver, BC – August 20, 2026. The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) released its 2026 Third Quarter Housing Forecast Update today. 

Multiple Listing Service^® (MLS^®) residential sales in BC are forecast to fall 1.2 per cent to 69,325 units this year. In 2027, MLS^® residential sales are forecast to move higher, rising 7.5 per cent to 74,500 units.

“A long-awaited recovery in the British Columbia housing market appears to be underway as we enter the second half of 2026, but will be slow and gradual and continues to be challenged by persistent geopolitical volatility,” said BCREA Chief Economist Brendon Ogmundson. “Ultimately, an expected pick-up in the provincial economy over the next year provides cause for optimism that sales activity will improve in 2027.”

With active listings near their highest level since 2015, and additional pressure from elevated new-home inventory, we anticipate the average price in BC will fall by 1.2 per cent in 2026 to $941,800, down from $952,767 in 2025. This decrease largely reflects disproportionate weakness in more expensive markets in the Lower Mainland, casting downward pressure on the broader provincial average price. 

Canadian housing starts decreased 5 per cent from the previous month, totaling 229,074 units in July at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR). Starts were down 22 per cent from the same month last year (SAAR). In areas with 10,000 or more residents, single-detached housing starts were down 7 per cent year-over-year, while multi-family and other starts decreased by 21 per cent compared to July 2025

In British Columbia, starts fell by 14 per cent from last month to 30,685 units (SAAR) in all areas of the province. In areas of the province with 10,000 or more residents, single-detached starts increased by 5 per cent to 3,440 units, while multi-family starts fell by 17 per cent to 25,043 units month-over-month (SAAR). Starts in the province were 47 per cent below July 2025 levels (SAAR). Year-to-date starts are up 145 per cent in Nanaimo, but down 47 per cent in Abbotsford, 37 per cent in Kelowna, 30 per cent in Victoria, and about 10 per cent in Vancouver.

As August begins to wind down, many insects and rodents start searching for warm places to shelter before cooler weather arrives. Unfortunately, homes often become the perfect target. Taking a few preventative steps now can help keep unwanted pests from moving indoors later in the season. Late summer is the ideal time to seal up small openings, reduce moisture, and clear away outdoor areas where pests like to hide before fall temperatures send them searching for warmth. Even small cracks around doors, windows, and foundations can provide easy access once the weather cools. Rodents can squeeze through surprisingly tiny openings, making early prevention especially important. A little preparation now can help prevent larger and more costly problems later.

Seal cracks and gaps. Inspect the outside of your home for small openings around windows, foundations, doors, and utility pipes. Even tiny gaps can give pests a way inside.

Repair screens and door sweeps. Damaged window screens and worn door sweeps make it easier for insects and rodents to enter as temperatures begin to cool.

Trim plants away from the house. Overgrown shrubs, tree branches, and garden debris create hiding places for pests and easy pathways into the home.

Store firewood properly. Keep firewood, lumber, and other stacked materials at least twenty feet away from the house whenever possible.

Keep moisture under control. Damp basements, crawl spaces, and clogged gutters can attract insects. Use dehumidifiers if needed and make sure water drains away from the home.

Keep food sealed and surfaces clean. Crumbs, pet food, and unsealed pantry items can quickly attract pests searching for shelter and food sources.

Most people believe they use sunscreen properly, but health experts say many still apply too little or forget to reapply often enough. As August brings some of the strongest sun exposure of the year, protecting your skin remains just as important as it was at the start of summer.

Dermatologists recommend choosing a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. Apply it at least fifteen minutes before going outdoors and make sure to cover commonly missed areas like the ears, scalp, shoulders, lips, and the backs of the legs. Lip balm with SPF protection can help prevent sun damage to sensitive skin around the mouth.

How sunscreen is applied matters, too. Lotion sunscreen should be used generously, about a shot glass amount for the entire body. Spray sunscreen should be applied until the skin visibly glistens, then rubbed in evenly for full coverage. Sunscreen sticks require several passes over the skin to provide proper protection.

Most importantly, sunscreen does not last all day. Reapply every two hours, especially after swimming or sweating.