Traffic fatalities are down an unprecedented 38% from 2010 to 2011 in the RCMP-policed areas in the Lower Mainland. And the drop is getting international attention from other police forces. There were 97 traffic fatalities in the RCMP Lower Mainland policed areas in 2010, and 60 fatalities in 2011. Fatalities have been dropping for the last […]

“The Columbia River Treaty has influenced the geography, economy and social fabric of this region since it was ratified in 1964. It’s critical that the people who live in the Columbia Basin understand the treaty-past, present and future-and that there are mechanisms for local views to be considered in any potential discussion...

With a new poll showing strong public support for regulations which would prohibit youth under 18 from using indoor tanning equipment, the Canadian Cancer Society is calling on the BC government to introduce legislation as soon as possible in order to protect the health of BC’s youth.  “The BC government has the ability to ...

A new year, but not a new leaf for the B.C. Teachers’ Federation (BCTF) and their contract talks with the provinicial government.  The B.C. Public School Employers’ Association (BCPSEA) and the BCTF returned to the bargaining table after the Christmas break on Thursday, Jan. 5 but nothing new has been proposed, said Boundary District Teachers’ Association […]

 In the lead-up to Rossland's recent municipal elections, all the candidates clamoured to speak in favour of greater transparency in local government machinations and to pledge allegiance to the principles of open communication and public consultation. It is fitting, then, that a controversy over the exclusion of council (and...

Mayor Greg Granstrom ended council's regular meeting on Monday with a brief apology for bypassing council consultation as he and CAO Victor Kumar ploughed ahead with a grant application for a $5 million dollar indoor swimming pool—but Granstrom made no mention of the $25,000 spent on the application without proper authorization.The...

The swimming pool controversy was sparked by a faulty process in which the CAO and the mayor neglected to consult council on important city matters, both strategic and financial, but now many Rosslanders are asking more fundamental questions, like "who is the CAO, what does he do, and what's in his contract?"Here we try and...

About a year ago, I wrote a column about John Kirkup, Rossland’s first official lawman. I gave accounts of some of his exploits and tried to provide a sense of this big man’s personality around town. Kirkup didn’t have a long tenure as keeper of local law and order; he was apparently not popular with the politicians of the ...

Without a doubt, Rosslanders are a hearty bunch as evidenced by the many of you that braved the storm in November to exchange your lights for energy efficient alternatives. In total, 152 strings of holiday lights were collected and 325 CFLS exchanged. If all of these lights are used to replace incandescent bulbs, Rosslanders...

Castlegar RCMP are recommending charges of assault and mischief endangering life against a 26-year-old Nelson man, according to RCMP Sgt Laurel Mathew.  She said the charges are stemming from an incident on Jan. 8 at roughly 3 a.m., in which a limousine ride for a driver and 18 passengers ended in a collision on Columbia […]