Regional News

Severe climate events could cost Kootenay economy: report

by Timothy Schafer Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on Monday Mar 20 2023

Costs to the provincial economy from last year’s heat dome, wildfires, flooding and landslides could be more than $10.6 billion, making it the most expensive climate disaster in Canadian history.

Up to 60 per cent of some employment sectors in the Kootenay region could suffer labour market losses due to the effects of wildfire and climate disaster, according to a report from an independent think tank.

A Climate Reckoning: The economic costs of BC’s extreme weather in 2021, provides an estimate of the total economic costs associated with 2021’s back-to-back extreme weather events, including a breakdown for the Kootenay region by job sector.  

Hints of recession echo through chambers of economy in city as year moves on

by Timothy Schafer Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on Sunday Mar 19 2023

The executive director of the Nelson and District Chamber of Commerce was not adamant that there would be an economic downturn in the city as the year moved on, but he said there were some suggestions it could happen — chamber Facebook photo.

There are signs that a recession could be settling in for Nelsonites in 2023, according to the top executive with the city’s chamber of commerce.

Tom Thomson, executive director of the Nelson and District Chamber of Commerce, was not adamant that there would be an economic downturn in the city as the year moved on, but he said there were some suggestions it could happen.

With inflation still soaring and interest rates breaking records, it’s natural to assume it might just continue through the year, he said, and that’s bad for business.

Final concert of Selkirk Pro-Musica season coming to Capitol Theatre

by Contributor on Friday Mar 17 2023

The two hands of percussionist Rod Thomas Squance and the four hands of Elizabeth and Marcel Bergmann join together to perform a six-handed musical marvel. — Submitted photo

Selkirk Pro-Musica is proud to present its final concert of the 2022-23 season with Percussiano3 – “A Sound Feast of Percussion and Piano”.

The group will perform at the Capitol Theatre, 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 30. Tickets are available through the Capitol Theatre box office.

The two hands of percussionist Rod Thomas Squance and the four hands of Elizabeth and Marcel Bergmann join together to perform a six-handed musical marvel.

Four teams remain in hunt for KIJHL Title

by Lone Sheep Publishing on Friday Mar 17 2023

Beaver Valley meets Kimberley and Revelstoke hosts Princeton in the Conference Finals.

The Final Four in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League begins Friday in Kimberley and Revelstoke.

The Beaver Valley Nitehawks and Kimberley Dynamiters begin the best-of-seven Kootenay Conference Final in the Bavarian City while in the Okanagan Conference defending KIJHL champion Revelstoke Grizzlies host the Princeton Posse.

“We’re confident in our playing style and systems and we know exactly how we have to play every game,” said Hawks netminder Connor Stojan, who backstopped Beaver Valley to a 4-3 series victory in the Neil Murdoch Final.

UPDATED: RCMP locate/arrest Nelson man in Castlegar

by Lone Sheep Publishing on Wednesday Mar 15 2023

RCMP said that Nelson man was taken into custody by Castlegar RCMP.

Nelson RCMP have located, and arrested a local man wanted on arrest warrants.

Wednesday, Nelson RCMP sent out a media release asking for public assistance to locate 37-year-old Jason Robert Renwick, who is accused of Aggravated Assault, Assault Causing Bodily Harm, Break and Enter with intent to commit an Indictable Offence, and Fail to comply with court order.

As a result, police said that Renwick was located in Castlegar and taken into custody by the Castlegar RCMP. 

Man pleads not guilty to charge of manslaughter in the death of off-duty officer

by Timothy Schafer Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on Wednesday Mar 15 2023

Alex Willness, 28, pleaded not guilty in the Nelson Courthouse to one count of manslaughter from a July 2020 incident on Baker Street.

A man charged with manslaughter in connection with the death of an off-duty police officer in Nelson has pleaded not guilty.

Alex Willness, 28, pleaded not guilty to one count of manslaughter from a July 2020 incident on Baker Street that ended with a skateboard that allegedly caused the death of off-duty police officer Allan Young, 55, five days later in Kelowna at the general hospital.

Snowfall warning for Highway 3 — Paulson Summit to Kootenay Pass

by Lone Sheep Publishing on Monday Mar 13 2023

From today until Tuesday morning, Environment Canada is calling for snowfall accumulations between 15 to 25 cm for the Paulson Summit, Kootenay Pass and Rogers Pass highways.

Winter is taking its sweet time leaving in 2023.

Environment Canada is warning drivers travelling Highway 3, Paulson Summit to Kootenay Pass to be aware of heavy snow at higher elevations of the roads.

From today until Tuesday morning, Environment Canada is calling for snowfall accumulations between 15 to 25 cm for the Paulson Summit, Kootenay Pass and Rogers Pass highways.

“A frontal system will bring rain and snow to the Columbias and Kootenays today,” Environment Canada said.

“As the warm front approaches, snow levels will rise to near14oo meters.”

Despite low annual rise city retains high cost for Kootenay real estate title

by Timothy Schafer Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on Monday Mar 13 2023

The city’s single family home typical assessed value from B.C. Assessment was revealed as $675,000.

Nelson had one of the lowest percentage rises in property assessments in 2022 in the Kootenay Columbia region, but still retained its medal standing as one of the most expensive places to buy a home in the area.

The city’s single family home typical assessed value from B.C. Assessment was revealed as $675,000 (as of July 1, 2022), a five per cent rise from the previous year of $644,000, marking it as the third highest assessed value in the Kootenay Columbia region.

Lowest of the low: unemployment rate in Kootenay leads province

by Timothy Schafer Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on Monday Mar 13 2023

The ability to put people to work in the city and the surrounding region led the province in February with a 2.9 per cent unemployment rate — Creative Commons.

If you were looking for a job last month chances are it wasn’t in the Kootenay region.

Despite numerous “for hire” window advertisements in downtown Nelson, the ability to put people to work in the city and the surrounding region led the province in February with a 2.9 per cent unemployment rate.

With the lowest rate in the province — 83,300 people were working and 2,400 looking for work out of a population of 141,300 — it matched the rate of unemployment in December, 2022, but was down from the 5.4 per cent rate from one year ago.

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