Interior Health braces for wave of refugees — no word on numbers coming to West Kootenay region
While Interior Health is preparing to welcome a large number of refugees fleeing the crisis in Syria to Canada, and help ease the transition into new lives there, there is no word yet if any at all will land in the West Kootenay. “We know how many people are landing in Toronto but we don’t know what their destination is,"...
Alarming stats in 2015 says West Kootenay Traffic Services
John Ferguson of the West Kootenay Traffic Services said police is concerned heading into the New Year after RCMP saw an increase in impaired driving charges in 2015. "Our impaired driving charges increased by 35 percent and our 1, 3 and 7 day alcohol suspensions increased by 100 per cent," Ferguson said in a year-end media...
Nelson SAR assists in rescue of backcountry skier from Five-Mile Basin
Nelson Search and Rescue was called out Saturday (January 2) to assist in the evacuation of injured backcountry skier. Chris Armstrong of Nelson SAR said in a media release the call came in during the early afternoon for a medical evacuation from Five-Mile basin located behind Whitewater Ski Resort. “A well-equipped ski group...
Nelson Fire Rescue responds to gas leak on Perrier Road — elderly occupant removed from residence
No one was hurt as Nelson Fire Rescue responded to what could have been a very serious incident New Year's Day on Perrier Road in the southern region of the Heritage City. Assistant Fire Chief Michael Daloise said in a media release the Nelson Fire Rescue Services received a call at 8:41 p.m. of a report that vehicle struck...
Body of unidentified man recovered from Kettle River
Updated Jan. 1, 2016 12:48 p.m. Nelson Search and Rescue was called out Dec 30th for an unknown male subject that was witnessed struggling for survival in the Kettle River ice just east of Grand Forks. Grand Forks Fire, Grand Forks SAR and RCMP were first on scene and called for the assistance of Nelson SAR who flew one special...
Writer's festival coming to Penticton
The Shatford Centre/Okanagan School of the Arts is preparing to host a stimulating weekend for writers and aspiring authors with the first annual Okanagan Valley Writer's Festival, April 8 to 9. Offerings include workshops and panel discussions on various aspects of writing, selling and marketing fiction and nonfiction in a...
KETTLE RIVER Q&A: What’s next for the Kettle River Watershed?
In the last column I reviewed a few of the main activities and initiatives of 2015 for the Kettle River Watershed Management Plan. Today I want to look ahead to 2016, sharing a few of the priorities in the Plan that our Steering Committee and Advisory Group are committed to achieving. On November 19 we held a second meeting...
RDKB participates in Province's Wood-Stove Exchange Program
The Regional District of Kootenay Boundary has received $7,800 in funding from the provincial government to encourage residents to trade in older, higher-polluting wood stoves for new, emissions certified stoves. The Wood Stove Exchange Program helps homeowners by providing them with a $250 rebate when a new wood-burning,...
OP/ED: Saying goodbye to Bill Bennett
My wife and I saluted the recent passing of former Premier Bill Bennett and reflected on our good fortune to have connected with Socred Governments who were great believers in small “d” democracy. If you flew their colors and supported the party and had an issue it was always the same game plan; people, project, politics....
OP/ED: Hunters and outfitters share thoughts on wildlife populations
Newsletter December 2015 I am sending you sound bytes from hunters and outfitters that once again remind British Columbians that scientific driven wildlife management in our province has lost virtually every fight to the political game of maximizing hunting opportunity. To put the stories into scientific wildlife management...
