On Sept. 28, workers at the Rogers sugar refinery in Vancouver went on strike. Within weeks, bakeries told media outlets they were running out of sugar and supermarket shelves were sometimes bare. Lantic Inc., which owns the refinery, has kept it running with a skeleton crew of managers, but at a fraction of its capacity. […]

As of January 1, 2024, FortisBC Inc. (FortisBC) said in a media release Thursday that electricity customers will see a 6.74 per cent general rate increase as approved by the BC Utilities Commission (BCUC). For a residential customer with an average use of approximately 1,100 kilowatt hours per month of electricity, this equates to about […]

Keeping warm during winter will have a lower effect on air quality in B.C. as more incentives and education on replacing wood stoves with cleaner, healthier heating options roll out. “Burning wood is one of the largest air-pollution sources affecting B.C. communities, and switching to healthier, clean-heat sources can save people money by heating homes […]

With 2023 quickly winding down, the  Better Business Bureau of BC has compiled a list of the 12 sneaky scams of Christmas, which urges the public during this hectic shopping or donating holiday season to watch out for schemes trying to swipe cash or steal personal information. “With BC holding one of the highest cost […]

The Nature Trust of British Columbia, one of the province’s leading non-profit land conservation organizations, announces a fundraising campaign to raise the last $300,000 needed to protect 182 hectares (450 acres) of an important wildlife corridor. The area is located between the communities of Kimberley and Cranbrook and within the traditional territory of the Ktunaxa […]

The Greater Trail Community Futures office has changed its name to Community Futures South Kootenay.  The name change was announced Nov. 22 during the Community Futures Open House event held in the organization’s downtown Trail office. “We’re proud to adopt a new name that is more representative of the region we serve,” stated the organization’s […]

RED Mountain has announced a new, revamped, FREE ski bus for the 2023/24 winter season. The new bus will be larger, accommodating up to 44 passengers, and it will run seven days a week, from 7:00 AM to 6:30 PM, transporting skiers, workers and day-trippers between downtown Rossland and RED. The new shuttle will have […]

Wildsight said that Teck’s proposed sale of its Elk Valley coal mines to Glencore, a large mining company with a poor environmental record, has environmental advocates concerned that the water pollution disaster in the Elk and Kootenay Rivers could get even worse. In a media release, Wildsight, a non-profit organization based in the East Kootenay […]

Trail’s living wage has risen by 2 per cent, or 42 cents per hour this year, and is now $21.55. Despite this increase, it remains one of the lowest in the Kootenays, with Golden at $25.78, Revelstoke at $24.60, and the Columbia Valley at $22.63. Only Nelson is lower at $21.14. The living wage is […]

For developing a dynamic program aimed at teaching B.C. kids and families how to safely ride the bus, BC Transit has been recognized with a prestigious award by the Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA). “Congratulations to BC Transit on this award and for their excellent work raising safety awareness and promoting transit use for families,” […]