Giving our students the tools and confidence they need to be successful in a rapidly-evolving global environment is our first priority as a Board of Education.  To assist us in achieving this goal, we will be engaging our communities in building and maintaining a school system that reflects local priorities, values and...

In late November the federal government’s House Leader announced a series of changes to the ways the House of Commons is to conduct its deliberations. The ways in which Parliament operates were to be changed to empower backbenchers, diminish partisanship, restore civility, and to make government more accountable and more...

As I mark my first anniversary as Board Chair of Interior Health, I’m looking back on the highlights and challenges of 2015. From wildfires that blazed through much of our region, to major investments in surgical care, and a change in leadership within our organization, it has been quite a year. We saw the departure of Dr. ...

On the positive side, in a spirit of optimism, we have this report  from  "Tree Alerts": "195 countries reached across traditional divides today to unite behind the greatest moral challenge of our time and seal the deal on a historic climate accord.  The Paris Agreement is an inclusive, ambitious, science-based deal that...

Christmas Stress Test             With the Holiday Season ahead of us I worry about my ability to survive it one more time.  It will take almost a full month to recover from the excessive eating, the revitalizing visits, the frantic shopping and the compulsive decorating.  The repetitive experience of Christmas stress makes...

 “Instead of cursing the darkness, light a candle for where we’re going…”                                                                    -- Neil Young, Candle in the Dark “We are stupid, fickle beings with feeble memories… But who knows? Maybe this time we will not forget what has happened, we will learn from it…”...

Editor's Note:  Nick Loenen, the author of this proposal, served as an MLA in BC from 1987 to 1991, as a Social Credit member for the constituency of Richmond. He is now free of  political affiliations, and enjoys sailing his beautiful  Dragon-class sailboat as well as giving thought and expression to potential improvements...

Editor's Note:  Andre Carrel, author of the following response to Nick Loenen's proposal on electoral reform, was born and raised in Switzerland.  He  immigrated to  Canada in 1963 and  holds dual citizenship.  He is a  retired municipal administrator,  and has published a book on local governance:  "Citizens’ Hall: Making ...

by David Suzuki With world leaders now meeting in Paris for the UN Climate Change Conference, we’re seeing signs of hope for an agreement to limit the escalating effects of global warming.  Canadians, especially, have reason to be optimistic about our country’s role. It hasn’t always been this way.  Governments have been...

As a teen the fantastical technology of Star Trek riveted me. The phaser weapon, universal translator, hand held computer and medical tricorder all found an ‘if only’ niche in my imagination.  A half century later my ‘if only’ has come closer to reality than I could ever have imagined.  Laser pointers and battleship mounted laser […]