Fire totals vehicle, occupant uninjured
A Castlegar man got an early Christmas present yesterday when he escaped unscathed from a burning vehicle. Dan Derby, deputy fire chief at Kootenay Boundary Regional Fire Rescue, said a man was driving home from work in Trail when he noticed a serious problem. “He saw flames coming from under his vehicle, and pulled over to...
Strike ends on Christmas Eve as union ratifies new deal
Christmas Eve has brought with it an end to Castlegar’s first-everlabour dispute, ending more than five weeks of conflict. The union issued the following release on Dec. 23: Striking Castlegar civic workers have ratified a new collective agreement. The 35 members of CUPE Local 2262 voted overwhelmingly last night to accept ...
Trail says 'no' to regional airport study; sticks to Trail Regional Airport plan instead
The City of Trail would like to clarify that it does not support the proposed Regional Airport Study being developed through the West Kootenay Economic Development group. The City of Trail will be moving forward with the Trail Regional Airport Plan that will advance options to improve and enhance current operations, infrastructure...
Striking city workers reach tentative deal
CUPE Local 2262 civic workers and the City of Castlegar have reached a tentative new collective agreement. The deal was reached this afternoon following two days of mediated talks. It must still be ratified by both sides. CUPE 2262 is holding a ratification meeting this evening. The city workers have been on strike since...
Provincial Court Judge agrees charges can proceed in Lemon Creek fuel spill case
Slocan Valley resident Marilyn Burgoon is pleased with a ruling by Judge Mayland McKimm that allows the BC Government and Executive Flight Centre Fuel Services Ltd. to face charges in relation to the Lemon Creek fuel spill. In a media release, Burgoon said, “This is a very important victory for democracy.” Burgoon took up ...
UPDATED: Safeway bomb threat deemed a hoax
On Dec. 18, at roughly 1 p.m., the Castlegar RCMP, Kootenay Boundary GIS, Trail Detachment, Castlegar Fire Department and emergency services responded to a complaint of a bomb threat called in to the manager of Canada Safeway, according to RCMP Cpl. Debbie Postnikoff. "Police immediately evacuated the Canada Safeway and the...
Knot Your Traditional Classroom Activity
Students in the trades programs at Selkirk College’s Silver King Campus squared-off in the annual Knot Tying Competition on Tuesday in Nelson. The fifth annual pre-Christmas event had teams of students from the Millwright/Machinist Program, Welding Program and Carpentry Foundation Program manipulating rope as more than 100 of their peers cheered them on. “The purpose […]
OUT OF LEFT FIELD: On the strike, random acts of kindness and family
I’ve been in a total funk for the past few weeks – all the negativity and rage surrounding the current city strike have been so disheartening and demoralizing. I keep thinking, What about after the strike? We’re all going to have to go back to working together, shopping in each other’s stores, attending our children’s hockey...
Mayor speaks to issue of damaged snowplow
In a politically-driven Facebook forum called The Castlegar Podium, striking union member Darrel Bojechko was expressing upset over the amount city managment are being paid to handle essential services such as snowplowing in the union's absence, and added, "And I might add they have done thousands of dollars damage to the...
City/union to resume mediated talks
The City of Castlegar has initiated mediated talks with CUPE Local 2262 (striking city workers) to begin this coming Monday, according to Mayor Lawrence Chernoff. Chernoff said David Schuab, the Labour Relations Board mediator who wrote recommendations for settlement on Sept. 22 of this year, will be mediating the discussion....
