Smoky Skies Bulletin — now includes Boundary, West Kootenay
The Ministry of Environment & Climate Change Strategy, in collaboration with the Interior and Northern Health Authorities has amended the area covered by the Smoky Skies Bulletin that was last updated on Sunday August 27 due to changing smoke conditions. Areas now covered by this Bulletin include: the Boundary, Arrow Lakes-Slocan Lake, Kootenay Lake, Elk […]
UPDATED: 'Distracted driving' contributing factor to accident near Beasley Bluffs
RCMP said in a media release, "distracted driving" looks to the be cause of a two-vehicle accident late Monday morning on Highway 3A west of Nelson near the Beasley Bluffs. The accident caused a major disruption to traffic flows on Highway 3A around the noonhour. "On August 28, 2017 at 1158 hours there was a […]
What you need to know about NAFTA's investigation into tar sands tailings leaks
By James Wilt. This article originally appeared on Desmog Canada. For years environmental organizations have called on the federal government to do something about the leakage of billions of litres of toxic chemicals from Alberta’s oilsands tailings ponds into the Athabasca River every year. And for years they’ve been ignored...
River Talk: The Columbia River Treaty and the Free Trade of Water
Eileen Delehanty Pearkes has been researching and writing about the history and politics of water in the upper Columbia Basin since 2005. Her book on the Columbia River Treaty, A River Captured, was released in 2016. Recently, her travelling exhibit on the Columbia River Treaty, curated for Touchstones Nelson, won a national...
West Kootenay Conference attracts speakers committed to renewable energy
The West Kootenay EcoSociety is hosting the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Conference in Castlegar at the Community Complex on (Thursday to Saturday) September 7-9. Inspiring and knowledgeable municipal leaders from Canadian cities that have committed to transition to 100% renewable energy in their community energy ...
20,000 days of nature conservation
At the end of this summer, Wednesday (August 30 2017), the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) will mark exactly 20,000 days of conservation. This milestone provides an opportunity to celebrate and reflect on the work done by NCC and our partners each day, and the conservation we need to accomplish in the 20,000 days to come....
Wildfire closes Highway 33 east of Kelowna
DriveBC is reporting Highway 33 20 kilometres east of Kelowna is closed due to an out of control wildfire just north of the community of Joe Rich. "Highway 33 closed in Kelowna due to forest fire," the DriveBC website said. "Closure extends from Big White Rd for Northbound traffic and SB closed at Gallagher Rd. Big White...
Columbia Basin Trust delivers $39 million in programs and services last year
Columbia Basin residents and communities benefitted from nearly $39 million in programs and services through Columbia Basin Trust, as released in its 2016/17 Annual Service Plan Report this week. The Trust also invested $10 million in new business loans and commercial properties. The Trust’s revenues reached $59 million over...
Wildfire in Idaho burning close to Canada-USA border
The Southeast Fire Centre issued a media release Wednesday about a lightning-caused fire is burning about 1.5 kilometres south of the Canada-U.S. border. The wildfire is burning about 18 kilometres southwest of the community of Newgate and about 65 kilometres southeast of Cranbrook. "The size of this fire is currently estimated...
Editorial: On pain, drugs and addiction
The opioid crisis is deeply troubling, for many reasons. One reason is the tragic deaths of so many, so unnecessarily; another reason is the likelihood that those deaths were precipitated by pain, either physical or psychological, that caused a search for relief in the illicit drugs that were fatally used. Another reason is...
