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OctNovDec

Off-road vehicles prohibited on provincial Crown land in many fire centres, including ours

Effective at noon (Pacific time) on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, the operation of any off-road vehicle for recreational purposes on Crown land is temporarily prohibited throughout Kamloops Fire Centre and Southeast Fire Centre, as well as parts of the Cariboo Fire Centre and Coastal Fire Centre. During this period of extreme and unpredictable fire activity, the […]

DriveSmartBC: Dirt Bikes, Public Roads and Responsibility

A discussion in a local community group recently caught my attention because it illustrated how easily unsafe driving behaviour can become normalized. A resident described a young rider leaving a community centre parking lot on an unlicensed dirt bike, travelling along a public road, performing wheelies at high speed, and then disappearing onto a logging […]

A mix of musical magic closes out Music in the Park for this year

Join the Trail & District Arts Council and Trail’s Incredible Farmers Market on August 13 for an entertaining evening of food vendors, market, and live music for The Night Market, supported by Kootenay Insurance Services’. From 5 pm to 8:30 pm there’s lots to do in Gyro Park for our last event of the summer […]

LETTER: Why are we bringing more fuel to the fires?

Dear Editor, I am writing from indoors today because the wildfire smoke in the West Kootenays is once again at hazardous levels. Thousands across the province have been evacuated or are on alert. Hundreds of exhausted fire fighters continue to battle the flames in an attempt to save communities. Kids, adults and seniors are cloistered […]

Minister’s statement on arrival of wildfire personnel from Mexico

Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests, has issued the following statement in response to the arrival of wildfire personnel from Mexico: “Supporting our neighbours and communities, showing hospitality to our partners and taking care of each other. These are the values that make me proud to be a British Columbian. “In our time of need, I […]

LETTER: Concerns about West Coast Pipeline

Dear Editor, I want to express my concerns regarding the proposed new West Coast Pipeline. Here is my letter to the editor: We are all impacted by wildfires. Climate change isn’t tomorrow’s crisis. It’s today’s rising insurance bills, cancelled harvests, smoky skies, sweeping floods, destructive fires and deadly heat waves. It’s checking the BC Wildfire […]

BC Campfire Ban Patrols net almost $22,000 in fines over weekend

BC Conservation Officers are engaging in Campfire Ban Patrols as wildfire season continues to ramp up across the province. “Over the weekend, BC Conservation Officers conducted campfire ban patrols across several regions of the province,” read a Facebook post on BC conservation wall. “Unfortunately, numerous illegal fires were discovered.” They said a total of 19 […]

Excessively long test drive leads to excessive speeding impound

A man who claimed to be on a test-drive has had his prospective purchase impounded just east of Merritt, over 300 kilometres away from the dealership where he started. On July 17, 2026, at 6:15 p.m., on Highway 97C near Elkhart, BC, a grey Toyota sedan was stopped for excessive speed when a BC Highway […]

Canada expands online passport renewal to all eligible adults

The Government of Canada is committed to making life simpler and more convenient for Canadians. This includes a modern passport program that delivers secure, user‑friendly digital services that save time, reduce in‑person visits and make passport renewal easier. Today, the Honourable Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced that online passport renewal is […]

Kootenay Gallery of Art Presents: For The Love Of Dog by Kimberley Hyatt

Exhibition Dates: August 13 – October 31, 2026 Artist Reception: Saturday, September 12, at the Kootenay Gallery of Art from 2-4pm What is it about dogs that connects us? How do they bring people together, shape our relationships, and leave lasting impressions on our lives? For the Love of Dog is a multimedia exhibition that […]

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