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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

On Saturday, Jan. 20, students from J.L. Crowe will pick up Christmas trees at designated locations within each neighbourhood. See the locations listed below or shown on the map at www.trail.ca/TreePickUp/. Students will pass through your area only once, so please ensure your tree is placed at a designated location prior to Saturday, Jan. 20, […]

Did you make any New Year’s resolutions? Anyone resolve to help overthrow consumer capitalism? If we come together and resolve to do better for each other and the planet, we could find a better path. It would be easier if the gas, oil and coal industries and their supporters would resolve to clean up their […]

Effective Jan. 3, 2024, the Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) will accept grant applications for the Columbia Basin Trust Resident Directed Grants (ReDi). The program supports local projects that provide additional value to Basin communities. ReDi Grants are intended to be flexible and incorporate community-based funding decisions. Program funds are distributed annually to the […]

A trio of parents in Interior Health region took turns welcoming newborn babies on New Year Day 2024. At Kootenay Lake Hospital, Ali Israel Dalwampo was born at 8:26 a.m. Mother and baby are doing just fine according to Kristyl Banaag, who was quick to give kudos to the staff and nurses at Kootenay Lake […]

In the next few days, owners of nearly 500,000 properties throughout the Southern Interior can expect to receive their 2024 assessment notices, which reflect market value as of July 1, 2023. In Castlegar and Nelson, typical assessments went down by one per cent, whereas in Trail and Grand Forks, they went up by one percent. […]

With a flurry of recent NCAA Division I commitments, the BC Hockey League (BCHL) has set a new benchmark for committed players with 193, with many more expected in the coming months. The previous high of 190 was set in June of last season. Trail Smoke Eaters players committed to NCAA Division I programs are:  […]