When something changes from one week to the next for no apparent reason, it sparks some curiosity, as is the case with the B.C. finance ministry's “Keeping taxes low for B.C. families” fact sheet posted to its website only a week after the provincial budget. It favours spin right from the top. The first two lines, classic. ...

Environment Minister Mary Polak has announced that the West Arm Provincial Park is one of six BC parks to be expanded under Bill 8 which was introduced on March 2. The park will gain 1,219 hectares on the south eastern edge directly behind Ymir peak. The land is owned by the Crown, which  acquired two parcels of land totaling...

A new agreement with the Southeast Fire Centre will see the city spending roughly $50,000 initially – but recouping the loss over the term of the agreement and creating a new revenue stream for the city while ensuring the city's continuing role as the operations base for an important regional service. City director of...

As the city budget process gets into full swing, a public question at city council’s regular meeting Monday night has the city illuminating both the decision-making process and the Millennium Walkway for residents. A question regarding repair of the Millennium Walkway lights (roughly one in every three lamps needs fixing on...

There has been a great deal in the news over the past few weeks about C-51, the government’s news Anti-Terrorism Act.  It is another one in a series of omnibus bills and contains 62 pages covering everything from expanding the mandate of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) to allowing police to seize terrorist...

The city intends to increase its efforts to minimize dog conflicts in all city Parks. Dogs are currently required to be leashed and the city will increase its bylaw enforcement of these regulations and, in certain cases, the city will be levying fines to enforce compliance for the safety of all park users. The city’s Animal...

Letter re: closure of Old School Cafe: In 2010, the school district was looking for a space in Castlegar which would allow us to open an alternate learning opportunity for students not currently attending school due to anxiety challenges. An aspect of the program we wanted to provide was an opportunity for students to interact...

Editor: Proudly hanging on a wall of the Old School Cafe is a letter dated May 2011from Education Minister George Abbott.  He congratulates the vision of those who established the Alternate School and the Cafe program saying, “I was glad to have the opportunity to visit the Old School Cafe and learn about your fantastic...

City council and senior staff have begun deliberations on the city’s more-than $10-million budget, with two all-day meetings Sunday and Monday. “(Discussions) were absolutely positive and productive, moving us forward as a team and helping us set the city’s direction,” said Mayor Lawrence Chernoff. Councillor Sue Heaton-Sherstobitoff...

As many may already be aware, the Kootenays have a combination of geology and gas permeable soils that make homes and workplaces susceptible to high concentrations of radioactive radon.  It surprised me to learn that the radiation from radioactive radon gas found in homes and workplaces is estimated to cause 16 percent of the...