In my personal affairs these days there's been a real Spring climax of amazing new life. With luck, six of my eight does will have kids in a month or two. (The owner of the buck I borrowed this winter assured me of Bradley's vital mojo, but we'll see!) The chickens are laying again after a winter molt, the baby bunnies have...

We've all heard the stories about the faithful pooches who smell smoke and save their families from burning to death by waking everyone in time to get out. But what happens if good ol' Rover (or Fido or Spot) ends up suffering from smoke inhalation, or has a weak heart that can't bear up under the strain of emergency? The...

For the fifth consecutive year, FortisBC is encouraging individuals and communities to pledge to reduce electricity and natural gas use during Earth Hour from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. March 23. “FortisBC PowerSense encourages customers to turn every hour into an ‘Earth Hour’ by making impactful changes that can reduce energy use and...

The Mir Lecture Series and the Columbia Basin Trust present renowned anthropologist Wade Davis April 3 in Nelson. Davis leads us on a thrilling journey to celebrate the wisdom of the world's indigenous cultures.  Understanding the lessons of this journey will be our mission for the next century so we do not lose this vast...

“Seed is the source of life and the first link in the food chain.  Control over seed means a control over our lives, our food and our freedom.” Physicist and activist Vandana Shiva It’s time to dust off the gardening equipment and start planning your crops for this year! Rossland REAL Food’s annual Seedy Sunday and Interact...

From the outside Blueberry Creek Community School (BCCS) looks like any typical small older rural elementary school but BCCS is anything but typical. BCCS is a Ministry of Education designated Neighbourhood of Learning and a Ministry of Children and Family Development designated Community HUB. Both ministerial designations ...

Human beings should be treasured. Material is to be used. Our crises now all originate from one source – things are treasured, people are used. Very little commentary is posted after my columns. I do wonder if I am writing into a vacuum sometimes. But then, I have felt the same over a dozen years of broadcasting a program on...

First, let me acknowledge that this is a very challenging and demanding task and I believe the Electoral Boundary Commission has overall worked hard to try to come up with something manageable in an environment where there will always be disagreement and inevitable disappointment. I will also go on record in suggesting my...

In my Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF) column (Part I) I gave a general description of this Inter-Parliamentary Forum held in Vladivostok, Russian.  During the meeting, resolutions were adopted that will be presented to each of the countries represented at the APPF and it is possible that these statements will wind up...

Pope Benedict is retiring. Nelson is national news for its dog-ban bylaw. Tornadoes and blizzards have hit eastern regions of the continent. A fired L. A. cop commits suicide after a murder spree. BC’s Legislature is back in session. The Grammies have been awarded. The Canucks had a streak of wins but just lost it. This, if...