Written by: Karlie Shaughnessy For hundreds of young athletes, the moment finally arrived Thursday night as the region welcomed more than 1,450 volunteers, 1,600 young athletes, and families from 131 communities across British Columbia who gathered to officially open the 2026 BC Winter Games. Before a single medal is awarded, before the first whistle blows […]

A new international order is emerging, according to representatives at this year’s World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and at the Munich Security Conference — one of fragmented states acting in their own self-interest, sovereign fortresses sliding toward economic nationalism. A Munich conference statement places much of the blame on Canada’s neighbour: “The international order […]

Jen Riley, President and CEO of the BC Chamber of Commerce, released the following statement in response to the release of Budget 2026 by the Government of British Columbia. “As expected, Budget 2026 provides a sobering economic outlook for the province in the year ahead and over the three-year fiscal plan. “Today’s budget offers little in the way of […]

The Castlegar and District Heritage Society is in the process of revitalizing and renewing the Castlegar Farmers market for the 2026 season.  The Society is looking into some big changes this year. In-coming Heritage Society Board Member, Erica Naso, says, “We will be joining the BC Farmers’ Market Association which is a huge step in […]

Change has been the constant at the Skills Centre over the years, and several major changes are happening in the coming weeks. First, the Skills Centre is announcing a change in leadership. After more than eight years in the role, executive director Morag Carter will be leaving at the end of March. “Morag has done so […]

Columbia Basin Trust is partnering with CityWest to transfer ownership and operations of its broadband network assets, ensuring long-term management of the Basin’s fibre optic network by an experienced telecommunications provider. The network will continue to operate on an open-access basis, supporting multiple internet service providers. “From the outset, the Trust’s goal was to put […]

German scientists are warning that global warming is accelerating, that the planet could heat by as much as 3 C over pre-industrial levels by 2050 — just 24 years from now — and that we could exceed 5 C of warming by the century’s end. This should be top headline news. It should alarm us […]

Kootenay Savings Credit Union (KSCU) announced Jan. 21 that it has selected VeriPark as its new digital banking partner, marking a major investment in its digital future and in the communities it serves across the Kootenays. The partnership will introduce a modern digital banking platform that enhances online and mobile   functionality, strengthens service delivery, and […]

We must stop using fossil fuels now, for the sake of the climate, but also to bring about greater global peace and stability. Renewable energy technologies are improving rapidly while installations continue to ramp up. Energy from wind, solar and storage is now the most cost-effective and prices continue to drop. It’s more efficient and […]

The 2026 property assessments, which reflect market value as of July 1, 2025, have been announced for property owners of nearly 450,000 properties throughout the Southern Interior. The updated property values are now available at bcassessment.ca in addition to 2026 Property Assessment Notices being mailed to each property owner. “For 2026, most homeowners can expect […]