This wildfire season has been one of the most challenging in recent memory. As of July 14, fire crews have responded to 1,083 fires throughout the province - compared to 523 at the same time a year ago. Of those fires, we know over one-third are human caused. That's 375 fires, leading to an estimated 43,718 hectares going up...

A presentation to city council from the Kootenay Tobacco Free Coalition has left at least one councillor undecided on the merit of the coalition’s proposed bylaw outlawing smoking in outdoor public places such as plazas, trails, beaches, parks, recreation facilities and patios at restaurants/bars. Councillor Dan Rye said he...

Members of the Health and Hospital Committee of the LCCDTS were just some of the community members on hand to welcome seven new medical trainees to the Lower Columbia recently. The medical students and residents are part of two growing programs that are expected to have a positive, long term impact on recruiting new doctors...

Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve Thomson issued the following statement in response to a July 10 incident involving a firefighting aircraft working on the Puntzi Lake wildfire: “On the afternoon of July 10, 2015, an Air Tractor AT-802F Fire Boss amphibious airtanker working on the Punzti Lake wildfire in the Cariboo Fire […]

Ed. Note: for the context of this letter, see full coverage by following this link. I just want to give a huge thanks to all those who played a part in allowing me and my family to keep Chumlee and Rosie.  I first must thank my wonderful neighbours who signed my original petition that I submitted to city council and the...

Everyday tasks that were once done in person, such as shopping, communicating, learning and banking, are now done online. To help Canadians have better access to these and many other online opportunities, the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Industry and Minister Responsible for British Columbia, and David Wilks, Member ...

The pigs have won the day! At a special meeting this afternoon (July 9), council voted unanimously to reconsider the motion of July 6 regarding the Lamonts’ pot-bellied pigs (for full story, click here). “In today’s meeting, council confirmed their intent not to amend the Animal Control bylaw, but to allow the Lamonts to keep...

Thanks to a successful AGM and a decision from council Monday night to offer some financial support, Castlegar’s Community Garden is now blossoming and ready to run riot into the coming seasons despite almost withering into obscurity just months ago. “Last year we were running with a skeleton crew, just enough to keep the...

I think Castlegar Mayor and Council owe a local family both money and an apology – not because of a decision made at last Monday’s meeting, but because of the way it was handled, which I feel was heartless. To be clear, I’m a big fan of the sitting council, who seem to me to have a ton of heart. They volunteer relentlessly,...

A Castlegar family will be forced to part with their pet pot-bellied pigs – and eat a several-thousand-dollar investment in said pigs - after city council decided, at its regular meeting Monday night, to deny their request for an exemption from the city’s animal bylaw. City director of Development Services Phil Markin compiled...