I’m grateful to be attending the First Nations Leadership Gathering in Vancouver this week for my first time. It was helpful that I do know a handful of FN leaders from my previous local government work. The week has been very educational for me as I was entrusted to host a handful of meetings with […]

This column is a necessary sequel to my October Arc on the role Elders play in telling stories from History. I will tell a story from ‘my People’ of my People, for all readers, not only for my People. Here I attempt to be a ‘knowledge-keeper.’ The Story: Celts in Ireland encounter Normans from England; […]

BC’s NDP government has proposed that pipelines shouldn’t have to pay municipal property taxes at the same rate as other landowners. The other taxpayers in municipalities with pipelines would see increases in their tax bill, to  make up the difference in the amount of money required to continue providing services and amenities. According to the […]

The BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) has reached a tentative agreement with the provincial government, bringing an end to a historic strike that involved more than 25,000 public service workers and eight weeks of job action across British Columbia. The next step is ratification: all 34,000 members of the public service will now have the […]

Monday, October 20 Statement – I rise today to shine a light on a remarkable organization serving the Cherryville community, the Cherryville Community Food and Resource Society. This small but mighty centre is proof that when people care deeply about one another, they can build something truly special. Cherryville is a tiny, unincorporated rural community with […]

Dear editor, I’ve seen how the housing crisis has deeply affected our community. More and more people are being pushed into homelessness, and it feels like everyone is falling behind. We have to turn things around, and we have an opportunity in front of us with the upcoming federal budget on November 4th. The only […]

By: Living Lakes Canada Living Lakes Canada is joining communities across British Columbia in calling on the Province to modernize outdated industrial water rates and reinvest new revenues in watershed security. The BC Watershed Security Coalition’s new report, Modernizing Industrial Water Rates in BC: Ending the Great Water Giveaway, shows that British Columbia has some […]

The suicidal insanity of non-stop growth Growing economies, growing industry, growing cities, growing population, growing pollution… When does it stop? Our current economic system is obsessed with constant growth; everything must keep expanding — except for the natural systems on which our health and survival depend. Those are shrinking, destroyed by our obsession with growth. […]

In my youth, I worked as a carpenter for eight years, helping build houses in London, Ontario, as a framer for my uncles’ company, Suzuki Brothers Construction. A framer constructs the foundation and skeleton of a house. I would build the forms for the footings and foundation, mix and pour the concrete and, after the […]

“An Elder generally has longstanding recognition in their community and is well-respected for their actions, words, and character. Elder is not a self-designated term for individuals wishing to share cultural knowledge or teachings. “Elders are recognized for their contributions within the community and experience in sharing knowledge and tradition. A process is essential to support […]