Metro Vancouver must counter turbulent public emotions with sober facts and studies when it comes to deciding the fate of the region’s garbage, said Metro Vancouver chief administrator Johnny Carline Friday.

He was defending the reputation of UK toxicology expert Dr. Jim Bridges, who Metro flew here to counter public fears about pollution from garbage incinerators.

Critics accused Bridges of ties to the waste-to-energy industry, but Carline said Bridges has “absolutely impeccable credentials.”

Carline repeated Bridges’ assertions that people are exposed to more dioxins barbecuing or frying up bacon than living downwind of a waste incinerator.

Fall challenge

The official launch of the Healthy Abbotsford Fall Activity Challenge takes place today (Thursday) at University of the Fraser Valley.

The celebration begins at 11:30 a.m. Helping to kick off the challenge will be UFV Cascades athletes and their new mascot, kinesiology instructors, and students from South Poplar Traditional School.

The Fall Activity Challenge runs from Oct. 1 to 31. The public is invited to record their daily exercise in activity logs available around town, and become eligible for prizes.

More information is available online at healthyabbotsford.ca.

Bus impacts

Scheduled work on the Mission Bridge will result in the cancellation of certain bus services in both Abbotsford and Mission on Oct. 3 and Oct. 17.

The work is slated to start at 10 p.m. on both nights, and that will see a number of evening routes cancelled in both communities.

Further information on the impacted routes is available at www.bctransit.com or by calling 604-854-3232.