Hot cash: regional volunteer fire departments receive boost from the Province
The region is expected to heat up with almost $700,000 in grants from the Province for several volunteer fire departments. Through the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF) the volunteer fire departments — as well as Nelson’s composite professional department — will receive the money to enhance their capabilities by funding new training and equipment. “These […]
Real estate listings, sales drop across Kootenay-Boundary region
The real estate market in the Kootenay-Boundary region continued to drop at the end of 2023, according to the Association of Interior Realtors. In the Kootenay and Boundary region, unit sales saw a 13.6 per cent decrease (November 2023) compared to sales activity in November 2022 with 171 sales recorded, down from 203 units sold […]
Kootenay unemployment rate climbs to one of highest in Canada
The Kootenay region’s economy is heading into unenviable territory. Only three other economic regions in the country — outside of the Maritimes and the territories — had a higher unemployment rate than the Kootenay region in December, 2023, which now sports a 7.1 per cent rate (December, 2023, Statistics Canada). One year ago the region […]
Nearly 40 per cent rate rise proposed on parking meters in downtown Nelson
The City is contemplating a 37.5 per cent increase to hourly meter parking rates in the downtown to help bolster an already $1 million revenue generator. City council approved the first three readings of the bylaw on Tuesday night during its first regular council meeting of 2024 to thrust hourly rates from $1.25 to $2 […]
Police Beat: flipped tractor-trailer, stop & go driver
Tractor-trailer slips off the highway On Thursday, January 4, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. frontline Trail and Greater District officers responded to a single vehicle incident on Highway 3B near the intersection of Ross Spur Road, in Fruitvale, BC. When officers arrived, they discovered a tractor-trailer unit had slid into the ditch and flipped onto its […]
Region braces for slower economy in 2024 and faces similar challenges: chamber executive director
The other shoe is expected to drop this year for the provincial economy as slower economic growth is predicted but the West Kootenay region could still find its glass slipper. Like many jurisdictions in Canada, B.C. is experiencing the impacts of a slowing global economy and high interest rates, with the real gross domestic product […]
Winter Rescue Near Rossland
On Saturday, December 30, 2023, at 5:20 p.m., Trail and Greater District RCMP, Kootenay Boundary Regional Fire Rescue, BC EHS, and Rossland Search and Rescue responded to a report of a 41-year-old Rossland woman who had injured her knee near the Igloo Cabin, in the Rossland Range Recreation Site near Rossland. RCMP said the woman […]
EDITORIAL: SOS about crime?
A media release arrived in my inbox, to publicize the message of a coalition of communities and businesses urging government to take more effective action to reduce crime. The coalition calls itself “Save Our Streets” — SOS. Their message is a call “for all levels of government to coordinate their efforts and put an end […]
The Provincial government wants to hear about support for evacuees
The Province wants to hear from people about the supports available when they must evacuate their homes during a disaster. With the increasing frequency and severity of wildfires and floods due to climate change, the Province is revamping its approach to emergencies to ensure people and communities are receiving the supports they need. A part […]
Rossland Winter Carnival 2024: will we have (enough) snow?
Rossland Winter Carnival 2024 is fast approaching, with the event scheduled in Rossland January 26 – 28. The Rossland Winter Carnival Society Board of Directors have exciting news…. The Sonny Samuelson Bobsled Race is back! The Committee has had a busy off-season working hard to obtain event insurance so the Bobsled event can return, in […]