Ed. Note: the author of this letter has asked to remain anonymous, which is not our usual policy. Howerver, they have disclosed their identity/address/rationale for requesting privacy with this editor, and I am satisfied both that they are who they say they are and that their reason for wanting anonymity is 100 per cent valid. […]

Rekindle is back this Saturday, Dec. 6 in downtown Rossland for festive fun, local shopping, treats, tunes and kicking off to the holiday season with the infamous tree lighting! Many thanks to the amazing retailers and community members who make this tradition shine. Enjoy all the of the holiday happiness includng: Shop local; Santa photos; […]

The numbers tell a difficult story. As reported in Food Banks Canada’s Hunger Count 2025, the 131 BC non-profits that submitted data recorded 223,340 monthly food bank visits this year, including more than 68,000 visits to help children access food. Across the Columbia Basin, demand continues to rise, with food banks and community food programs seeing […]

According to preliminary data, 150 people died in October 2025 due to unregulated drug toxicity, as reported by the BC Coroners Service. The number of unregulated drug deaths in October equates to about 4.8 deaths per day. In 2025, deaths among those between the ages of 30 and 59 accounted for 70% of drug-toxicity deaths […]

‘I read fiction for the story, and find a novel at its best when it’s pure storytelling. Not to say that I don’t care about politics, but that I can get my fill of current thought through non-fiction books, podcasts, radio shows, and all the rest.’  — Tara Thorne Burns ‘I may forget what this […]

By Tandeep Sidhu and Lacee O’Neill, University of Manitoba Highly publicized grizzly bear attacks have ignited calls to reopen grizzly trophy hunts across Western Canada. The most recent push came from the B.C. Wildlife Federation, a conservation and hunting advocacy organization that called for a hunting season on grizzlies after a bear attacked a group […]

Economic reporting could mislead one into believing that budget deficits are the most important challenge governments face. They’re used as an excuse to curtail spending on necessary benefits, including health care, education, social security, climate action and more. Is it true that countries such as Canada and the United States can’t afford these services? A […]

B.C. has invited stakeholders, experts, Indigenous partners and government representatives from throughout the country to a wildfire symposium in Vancouver on Dec. 5, 2025 Focus will be the 2025 wildfire season, wildfire technology, active forest management and national readiness for future wildfires Includes advancing discussions on a national leadership strategy and stronger collaboration that will shape […]

 Food banks across the region are upgrading their facilities and equipment to create safer, more efficient spaces for volunteers and clients. With support from Columbia Basin Trust, these improvements will help organizations better store, move and distribute food to the individuals and families who rely on their services. “All people in the Columbia Basin deserve […]

I have a story to tell that is in no way newsworthy, but still worth the telling, I think. Back in spring/early summer, an illness struck me hard. It took away the use of my hands, left me unable to walk for a while, wiped out significant portions my memory. It’s called peripheral neuropathy, but […]