UPDATED: IBEW Local 213 soundly rejects recommendations from mediator Vince Ready; FortisBC surprised by vote
It appears the sides in the FortisBC lockout of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 213 are getting farther apart instead of closer together. In a media release, IBEW Local 213 Bargaining agent Rod Russell said recommendations from mediator Vince Ready have been soundly rejected by the union membership. “The...
COMMENT: MP pans Tory environmental policy
In 2009, the Conservative government’s omnibus budget bill gutted the Environmental Assessment Act to reduce the number and types of development projects whose approvals would be subject to an environmental assessment. Conservative budget bills C-38 and C-45 were a continuation of the dismantling of Canada’s long established...
Castlegar worker killed in car crash
A celebration of life for Dustin Raymond Descoteau will be held this Friday at 4 p.m. at Maple Grove. The 29-year-old Chemainus father of four was killed on Sept. 25 after his pickup truck rolled off the Coquihalla Highway, the BC Coroners Service has confirmed. "Dustin came to the Island on his days off from work in Castlegar...
Well-known local newspaper editor joins Selkirk team
Selkirk College welcomed a new member to its communications team this week. Bob Hall has spent two decades as a Nelson journalist and joins the college in the position of Community Liaison/Alumni Coordinator. "We're so thrilled to have Bob join Selkirk College,” says Selkirk College President Angus Graeme. “Our success is...
October is known for Halloween but it’s also FortisBC’s PowerSense month
While October is best known for its collection of ghosts and goblins, it’s also a great time to scare away high energy use. “In the winter energy use increases by almost 50 per cent compared with summer months,” said Tom Loski, vice president, customer service, FortisBC. “Energy efficient upgrades could help lower your heating...
The results are in: Thoughtstream CBT report available online
You logged on, you thought, you prioritized. Now Basin residents can visit CBT’s Thoughtstream website to see results from our online engagement pilot project. Close to 1,400 residents participated in CBT’s Thoughtstream and answered six questions about economic, social and environmental well-being. Over 10,000 thoughts were...
Notes from the Shadows: Remembering war, injustice, and other unreasonable aspects of human history
War and Remembrance, Feeling and Reasoning A month ago I wrote about Canada’s war in Afghanistan and concluded with a note that on November 11, I will be at the Nelson cenotaph protesting war. My theme on the radio program I’ve hosted for the last four seasons has been the history of war. During research for the show, I came...
Kootenay Region Sees Growth in Cross Country Ski Numbers
The Kootenay Region is seeing growth in youth cross-country skiing thanks to an innovative program known as the Teck Regional Camp series. These camps bring together youth cross country skiers in each of the five regions in BC to train and socialize at an important part of their development phase. The Teck Regional Camp in...
Police respond to complaint of dinosaur blocking traffic in Castlegar
In what could arguably be called an unusual set of circumstances, police responded to a complaint yesterday of a dinosaur blocking traffic on Kinnaird Bridge in Castlegar. According to RCMP Cpl. Debbie Postnikoff, police responded at about 2:45 p.m. and found a “massive”, roughly-four-foot stuffed dinosaur that was, indeed,...
Smokies split home weekend; end September in third place
The Trail Smoke Eaters finished their September schedule in third place in the BCHL’s Interior Conference after splitting a pair of home games Friday and Saturday against Cowichan Valley and West Kelowna. The Smokies (4-4-0-1), rode a pair of third-period goals, and 32 timely saves from Dustin Nikkel to a 3-2 victory over the...
