Spring has sprung across Canada, and with the return of the warmer weather we have other annual traditions that come with this time of the year-- hockey play-offs, getting together with family at Easter and getting the garden ready for summer. Another spring activity is one that we don’t tend to look forward to but still needs...

A Castlegar city councillor is contending that changing social mores and attitudes around smoking are helping to pave the way for a potential new bylaw banning smoking in all city parks. Councillor Florio Vassilakakis said he thinks there is an appetite for this kind of bylaw. “If you had asked me 20 or 25 years ago, I would...

The BC Recreation and Parks Association (BCRPA) today presented its Facility Excellence Award for 2016 to the City of Castlegar for Millennium Natural Swimming Ponds. The award recognizes excellence in facility concept, design development, maintenance or operation in a facility that demonstrates outstanding innovation and...

One of the arguments I’m hearing most in opposition to the city’s proposed parcel tax is criticism over city council spending money on the Millennium Park Ponds – the argument being that council self-indulgently bought a shiny new toy we can’t afford and now residents are footing huge tax bills as a result. Regardless whether […]

Across the province, 86% of residents support a ban on corporate and union political donations. Voters in British Columbia believe corporations have outsized influence in determining government policy, thanks in part to unlimited political donations, a new poll by Insights West has found. The online survey of a representative...

The City of Trail has purchased the property at 1537 Bay Avenue, located on the lot adjacent to the future site of the proposed Trail Riverfront Centre (integrated library and museum) for $190,000. The City takes title of the property in early June, 2016 with plans of demolishing the existing structure in mid-July, 2016.  The...

Present:    Mayor Kathy Moore, and Councillors Lloyd McLellan, John Greene, Andy Morel,  Aaron Cosbey, Andrew Zwicker.  Marten Kruysse  arrived at 6:25. Staff:  new Chief Administrative Officer Brian Teasdale,  Consulting Chief Financial Officer Steve Ash,  City Planner Stacey Lightbourne, Manager of Public works Darrin Albo,...

Not Learning from Empires: saying Yes to imperial temptation “Take up the White Man’s Burden…”                -- Rudyard Kipling “[G]overning India is the fulfillment of a mandate from God… the miracle of the world.”  – Lord Curzon, British Viceroy in India “Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair.”    -- Percy B. Shelley,...

While travelling around my constituency of Kootenay West and the province I am often asked “what does a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) do?” I decided to share with constituents what my job has entailed since February and the start of the winter Legislative session. The days are long, sometimes difficult but it is ...

Parents of students in School District 20 (SD20) have reached such a level of frustration with ongoing and relentless cuts to education funding in the area that they've started a petition, according to Rebecca McDonnell, president of the District Parent Advisory Council. “This our sixth year of deficits approaching $1 million,...