As we live through a hot summer, we are faced with the constant threat of fire and with water shortages in most of BC. It is heartening to finally hear ongoing public recognition of the fact of global warming and the warnings that fire threat and water shortages will be a fact of life in […]

This wildfire season has been one of the most challenging in recent memory. As of July 14, fire crews have responded to 1,083 fires throughout the province - compared to 523 at the same time a year ago. Of those fires, we know over one-third are human caused. That's 375 fires, leading to an estimated 43,718 hectares going up...

To The Editor: On behalf of my wife and children, we would like to express our heartfelt and sincere appreciation to all those who helped my wife in the aftermath of the assault on her life on 8 July, 2015 at approximately 2 p.m. Your immediate aid and subsequent assistance, your many thoughtful responses and […]

To The Editor: June 18 was a momentous date for the people of the Kootenay and British Columbia – cancellation of the Environmental Assessment Certificate (EAC) for Jumbo Glacier Resort must now mark the end of a decades-long struggle for the protection of one of this region’s most beloved wild places, the Jumbo Valley.   The...

Interior Health’s board chair Erwin Malzer today announced that president and CEO Dr. Robert Halpenny has informed the board of directors of his decision to resign in the fall of 2015 in order to pursue other opportunities. “In his tenure as president and CEO, Dr. Halpenny has been a passionate leader, working tirelessly to...

Dear Editor, I've been seeing a large number of "kind people" picking up "lost pets" and posting on social media. It's a bit disturbing to me and others that people are so quick to grab the animal and take it home to keep safe until owners are located.  Last fall one of our dogs ran out our front door and down the street and...

To The Editor: The Honourable Peter Fassbender Minister of Education PO Box 9045, Stn Prov Govt Victoria, BC V8W 9E2 Dear Minister Fassbender: As the Board of Education for School District #8 (Kootenay Lake), we are deeply concerned about the ramifications of Bill 11 on the future of public education in the Province of British...

Dear Editor, I would like to urge all citizens of Canada and our local MP Alex Atamanenko,  to speak out against Bill C-51. The government’s secret police Bill C-51 is reckless, dangerous, and ineffective: reckless for turning CSIS into a ‘secret police’ force with little oversight or accountability; dangerous for opening the...

It is with mixed feelings of gratitude and sorrow that we extend a heart-felt thank you to the brave individuals who responded to our house fire in Paterson on the evening of Tuesday, April 7, 2015.  Thank you for saving our outbuildings and the forest surrounding our home.  Our horses are also grateful to you all for saving...

The Editor: Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has been used a long time as a measure of economic growth and assumed to describe the overall economic health of a nation.  The calculation of GDP, however, does not factor in the real costs of doing business.  Issues such as social and environmental impacts are not considered.  Resource […]