Local face shield production expanded
Austin Innovation is scaling the production of medical face shields from their lab in Trail, BC as a stopgap measure to meet the demand for COVID-19-specific personal protective equipment (PPE). The new entity, located in the lower level of Austin Engineering, is part of the collaborative team manufacturing PPE for the medical...
Early prohibition of fires, fireworks throughout BC: UPDATED
In addition to the earlier announcement of an early burning ban across the province to begin on April 16, the province has issued open burning restrictions for all High Smoke Sensitivity Zones across the province until Wednesday, April 15, 2020. These restrictions are directly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the...
COLUMN: From the Hill -- supports for people affected by the pandemic
The COVID-19 crisis continues to dominate the news across the country and around the world. As the news gets grimmer in other regions, there is growing hope from British Columbia analyses that show the daily increases in cases diminishing. Our efforts at physical distancing are working, and we must keep up those efforts. ...
EXPLAINER: 10 things you need to know as a barrel of Alberta oil is valued at less than a bottle of maple syrup
As fears intensify that the benchmark price for Alberta’s oilsands crude could drop below zero, we dig into what’s behind the crash, the phenomenon of ‘homeless crude’ and why new pipelines ultimately won’t solve the problem By Sharon J. Riley for The Narwhal The headlines don’t...
Letter: Invented money and helping each other
Does anyone without an economist's education understand how vast sums of money are "created" when Western, highly-developed economies are in crisis? In 2008/09, trillions of dollars seemed to be conjured out of nothing, to rescue banks, corporations, and finance capitalists in the USA. Then, Wall St. nearly ruined our world...
Column: Knowledge and Wisdom; COVID-19
Let’s come together in these physically distancing times. These are difficult times, especially for people who lack safe shelter, food and other necessities — and for those on the front lines. Even though we must maintain physical distance, we need to come together more than ever. As bad as things are, and could get, compassion...
Province offers guidance to mining and smelting operations during COVID‐19
As challenges caused by novel coronavirus (COVID-19) continue to shift, the B.C. government and Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer (PHO), are taking unprecedented measures to slow transmission. On March 16, 2020, Henry issued an order under the Public Health Act prohibiting gatherings of more than 50 people....
Community Futures: Helping Businesses through the COVID-19 Pandemic
With businesses closing their doors in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the need for business supports is urgent. As a non-profit community economic development organization, Community Futures Central Kootenay is committed to helping businesses and communities through this crisis. Staff have been monitoring government...
A cash crunch, self-isolation and food: solutions in Rossland
Food is essential, so Ferraro’s remains open to serve Rossland while other retailers must close their doors. But there are many among us for whom obtaining food is a challenge in these times – for some, because income that was already in short supply is suddenly absent; and for seniors and the immune-compromised,...
Kootenay Savings offers options/relief as COVID crisis evolves
As a member-owned credit union, local decision-making and thriving communities are the cornerstone of who we are. The health and safety of our members, employees and communities are of utmost importance to us. With the extraordinary events around us evolving at a rapid pace, we’re proactively taking precautions against the...
