For many people in our community and across B.C., affordable and available housing is top of mind. It’s one of our government’s top priorities too. This week, our government announced two actions from our Homes for People plan that will help get more British Columbians into affordable homes, faster. We launched the Single Housing Application Service […]

September 24, B.C. Rivers Day highlights the decline of the province’s vital arteries  It is tempting to shrug off the latest catastrophic wildfire season as The New Normal and throw up our hands about the damage that incinerated forests do to B.C. rivers and fish habitat. Forest fires are normal, natural, and even rejuvenating for […]

‘ “To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not rich. To study hard, to think quietly, talk gently, act frankly, to listen to stars, birds, babes, and sages with open heart, to bear all cheerfully, to do all […]

Be prepared for extreme heat and drought  As we kick off the summer months, now is the time to ensure people in your community are prepared for extreme heat. Making a plan is the first step you can take to keep yourself and your loved ones safe during extreme heat. Staying hydrated, finding ways to keep your home cool, and ...

In communities across B.C., farmers’ markets offer an opportunity for people to get locally grown, healthy, fresh food from the farmers in their neighbourhood. Farmers’ markets also are a place for social connection, as well as a support for food security across B.C. But, we know that this food isn’t always accessible to...

A long, destructive summer is coming to B.C. forests  British Columbia is poised to suffer a historically ruinous fire season and we have only ourselves to blame.  Warm, dry weather early in the season is part of the problem, to be sure. Climate change is likely making things worse. But B.C.’s history of fire suppression and...

West High Yield (WHY) continues its efforts to further its application for a permit to go ahead with the next phase of its proposed magnesium mine on Record Ridge.  The Ministry has accepted the WHY application for a permit, but has not approved it.  The review process has just begun. Local residents should be aware that...

Support for oil and gas projects is often justified on economic grounds: they fuel the economy and create jobs. But do those arguments hold up? Even leaving aside the enormous costs of climate-related disasters such as flooding, drought and increasing water scarcity, and pollution-related health impacts and premature deaths,...

I learned this week that Canadians are considered to rank 42nd out of 50 countries based on how good they are to drive in. This disappointed me until I sat back and thought about it a bit. Based on a bit of self examination and what I see happen around me when I drive I think that I have to say that we are not serious about...

Dear Editor, With Alzheimer’s Awareness month coming to a close, the Alzheimer Society of B.C. wants to say a big thank you to the people of the West Kootenay for joining forces with us to raise awareness and flipping the script on stigma associated with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer’s...