British Columbia: Soil Testing on Vancouver Island

I want to continue to keep in touch with local gardeners.

My question is where are the Soil Testing labs on Vancouver Island -- is it done via the provincial government or via private labs, and could someone send me the name and hopefully address of one? Mainland BC is of course a good option, if that is where my samples should go. I have let go the soil testing for too long, merely guessing, or using my store-bought pH tester, and would like to now get this done.

I have found a nice list of labs for BC, here they are:

BRITISH COLUMBIA
Agrichem Analytical 409 Stewart Rd. Saltspring Island, BC V8K 1Y6; Ph: 250-538-1712; www.agrichem.ca info@agrichem.ca
M.B. Laboratories Ltd. Mail: P.O. Box 2103 Sidney, BC, V8L 3S6, Location: 2062 Henry Ave. West Sidney, BC, V8L 5Y1; Ph: 250-656-1334 Fax: 250-656-0443: mblabs@pacificcoast.net www.mblabs.com
Exova (Nor-west Labs) 104, 19575-55A Ave. Surrey, BC, V3S 8P8; 604-514-3322 or 800-889-1433; www.bodycotetesting.com
Pacific Soil Analysis Unit #5, 11720 Voyageur Way, Richmond, BC, V6X 3G9. 604-273-8226


from website: http://www.certifiedorganic.bc.ca/rcbtoa/services/soil-testing-services.html

 

please note lab addresses and contacts supplied above

 

Hi, Janet

Thanks for compiling this list of labs. I was just thinking, myself, about getting my soil tested, but I'm looking more for whether there are toxins present in the soil.

Does anyone happen to know what lab(s) test soil for toxic contamination?

 

I know that MB labs can test for heavy metals... I usually go through Integrity Sales out on Keating X Rd but I believe they send the samples elsewhere for testing.

 

Thanks for the tip. I'll check these two.