AN OPEN LETTER TO THE PEOPLE OF CASTLEGAR, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL This is a call for calm. And a call for respect.  Your city workers are on a legal strike – for the first time in 60 years. That’s a long relationship and one that needs to be protected and respected. Much has been said during this dispute and while most of the...

I’d like to thank the residents of Castlegar for your patience and understanding during the labour strike by our unionized CUPE city employees. We are now in snow season and our management staff are working around the clock to keep the roads clear and safe. We appreciate that residents and businesses are helping to keep...

Nov 25., 2014 Dear Mayor Chernoff and Council, This Open Letter proposes a human-to-human way to break the labour dispute impasse that -- to put it mildly -- is negatively affecting all our citizens in a number of ways, and not just in practical terms. How about all councillors get together with all of the City's striking...

I believe that true faith, no matter the stripe, is the most beautiful, miraculous thing a person can be given. And I believe it comes through questioning and soul-searching and observation. I believe that the ugliest thing ever visited upon humanity is blind faith. No questioning, no use of our God-given gift of discernment,...

At its first regular meeting since the election, city council expressed frustration over a less-than-satisfactory response from CP Rail regarding a new schedule of night trains running through the region. This, after CP Rail sent a delegation to council's regular meeting on Oct. 6 attended by more than 100 upset residents, ...

Further to the Public Notice issued on Nov. 20, from the Winterfest Organizing Committee, Winterfest will remain cancelled for 2014. After continued discussion and consideration of potential options for hosting Winterfest 2014 at a different location, it has been determined that alternative arrangements for the annual parade,...

The following is a press release issued by CUPE local 2262: We all love Winterfest and your Castlegar city workers know that it's an important annual community event. Unfortunately, the unresolved labour dispute with the City of Castlegar would put the usual ceremony behind a legal picket line. Given this, CUPE Local 2262 is...

The Winterfest Organizing Committee regrets to inform our community that the 19th Annual Winterfest Family Celebration has been cancelled due to planned labour action by striking CUPE City workers during the event. The Committee decided to cancel the event after hearing that some participants would not continue in the event...

Ed. Note: This is a press release issued by CUPE via Marketwire: With the ongoing labour dispute and the City's refusal to bargain, CUPE city workers will be maintaining picket lines during Winterfest, including the planned tree lighting on December 5. CUPE 2262 president Leford Lafayette said that members regret that they ...

She’s not the queen of pot. Speculations that pro-cannabis Sensible BC delivered the winning votes to Nelson mayor elect Deb Kozak “couldn’t be further from the truth,” she said. “I’m not a pot queen.” But she didn’t discount that Sensible BC had an impact on the final tally in the Nelson municipal election November 15. […]