August 20, 2011
Toronto, OntarioDear Friends,Tens of thousands of Canadians have written to me in recent weeks to wish me well. I want to thank each and every one of you for your thoughtful, inspiring and often beautiful notes, cards and gifts. Your spirit and love have lit up my home, my spirit, and my determination.Unfortunately...

Opposition leader Jack Layton died Monday morning at his home. The Layton family announced the sudden passing in a statement. Layton had been battling cancer and recently stepped down as federal NDP leader. He, however, had hoped this would be a short time away from politics, optimistic to return when Parliament resumed next month. “We […]

The Vallican Whole Community Centre, originally the epicentre of the counterculture movement in this part of the West Kootenays, is celebrating its 40th birthday with a three-day party Aug. 26-28. Who can believe it’s 40 years since this wild and crazy bunch of dreamers built the most beautiful hall in the Kootenays? Several of the […]

By BBC Earth Steve Backshall and the Deadly 60 team trek deep into the hot and muddy jungle to seek out one of the world’s most elusive birds of prey. But no Deadly 60 trip is without its surprises, and when Steve meets an old enemy his nerves truly are put to the test. What’s […]

The more we get together the happier we’ll be, goes the song—and the Nelson Public Library agrees. The Library has partnered with Touchstones Nelson: Museum of Art and History in Nelson, and Kootenay Gallery of Art in Castlegar to give Library members a taste of these great places—and all it takes is a Library card. […]

People in the West Kootenay have one more kick at the Gaming review can, courtesy of the East Kootenay. BC’s Community Gaming Grant Review will visit Cranbrook for a community forum on Thursday, Aug. 25 at the Prestige Rocky Mountain Resort. Skip Triplett, appointed last month by Premier Christy Clark to lead the independent review, […]

 City contractors trying to install water meters are meeting some resistance from residents – and city officials are warning people that’s a decision they may later regret. Castlegar Mayor Lawrence Chernoff said several people have now turned the contractors away, and he’s not sure they understand the financial consequences of so doing.  “If you get […]

 A 26-year-old Castlegar man will be facing charges after police raided a grow-op believed to be worth about $700,000, according to Castlegar RCMP Cpl. Darryl Orr.   “On Aug. 17 at approximately 12:30 a.m., the Castlegar Crime Reduction Unit, along with Castlegar General Duty members, executed a search warrant issued under the Controlled Drugs and Substances […]

 It’s not uncommon, in the Koots, to find wildlife in one’s backyard – but imagine waking up one morning to find two llamas lounging on your lawn. Fruitvale’s Darcy Samulak doesn’t have to imagine anything – except maybe how to feed his furry new friends, and how to find their owners.  “When we got up […]

If you’re like me, a cat person who does a lot of walking around town (not with the cat, obviously), you might have been noticing an awful lot of missing cat signs posted on telephone poles and community bulletin boards. It seems that every few days, there is a new sign up announcing another vanished […]