18 firefighters attend chimney fire in Rossland
Eighteen firefighters attended a residential blaze in Rossland Sunday, according to Kootenay Boundary Regional Fire Rescue Cpt. Jason Milne. Crews from Rossland, Warfield and Trail were called out to Mann Road in Rossland at 4:04 p.m. and arrived on scene at 4:15 p.m. to douse a chimney fire. The incident was under control by 4:53 […]
Interior Health CEO mourns loss of Board Chair Dr. Doug Cochrane
In a statement Tuesday, president and CEO Susan Brown said Interior Health is mourning the loss of Interior Health Board Chair Dr. Doug Cochrane. Brown said as Chair of Interior Health Board of Directors, Dr. Cochrane demonstrated a deep commitment to continuous improvement of patient care, quality and safety knowing it would lead to improved […]
New service model sought for paused recreation service in Area E
Call it a work in progress. For the Recreation Commission No. 10 service in the Regional District of Central Kootenay’s (RDCK) Area E, the funding has been paused as of Jan. 1. The service is no longer responsible for providing recreation grant funds to local groups running recreational programs. Instead, a new community society is […]
Splashy fun: Annual Swim-a-thon -- March 7th, 2024
The Greater Trail Area Hospice Society will be having a swim-a-thon to raise awareness of all the services available to our community. Brenda Hooper, Hospice Board Chair notes, “Like most non-profit organizations much of our financial support is provided through donations; without our community support we couldn’t make a positive difference in this community.” […]
Solutions for Village of Silverton challenges making progress: Mayor
Progress is being made on a series of challenges that plague one of the smallest municipalities in Canada. The Village of Silverton, the second smallest municipality in Canada, had employed the services of a provincial government municipal advisor — for 12 weeks — in order to address several issues during a “difficult time” it had […]
Low snowpack expected to further impact water sources as drought conditions continue
The West Kootenay’s snowpack is falling below record-low levels as the warm, dry winter weather continues, prompting a call for a watershed management system. According to the B.C. River Forecast Centre’s snow survey (Feb. 1), the West Kootenay snowpack remains very low — averaging 33 per cent below normal throughout the region — but the […]
Funding boost for firefighter training in the Kootenays
New Democrat MLA Katrine Conroy says that people in the Kootenays will benefit from a significant investment to enhance live fire training for local firefighters. Funding will go towards establishing regional training hubs for local fire crews to enhance their skills and strengthen public safety, while reducing the time and costs involved in travelling to […]
Selkirk College Invites Community to Inform Future Strategy
Selkirk College is renewing its strategic plan, and asking for public input on how it can best meet regional labour market demands and educational aspirations. Since the mid-1960s, Selkirk College has been an essential economic and cultural driver that contributes more than $450 million annually to the West Kootenay and Boundary regions. It provides a […]
Non-profit organizations get climate-smart
Twenty-nine non-profit organizations in the Columbia Basin are undertaking projects to reduce their energy use, create fewer greenhouse gases and adapt to the impacts of climate change. The projects are being realized with support from Columbia Basin Trust. “Non-profit organizations hold important roles when it comes to well-being in the region, from serving vulnerable people […]
Kootenay Boundary plagued by low childhood immunization rates: Interior Health
Low childhood immunization rates continue to plague the Kootenay Boundary despite outbreaks in the region and major outbreaks in some parts of the world. Current immunization rates for Kootenay Boundary seven-year-old children sit at 54.8 per cent — Interior Health (IH) target is 70 per cent — while for two-year-old children it is 66.6 per […]