By Richard Cannings, MP for South Okanagan -- West Kootenay Last week we saw the Liberal government bring forward their first budget, a document that was expected to deliver on the many promises they made just six short months ago during the campaign. Instead of fully delivering on those campaign commitments, they delivered...

Discussions on electoral reform are as persistent in Canadian politics as is their failure to achieve results. Before any decisions are contemplated on what kind of electoral system would best serve Canadian democracy, we ought to reflect on which objectives elections are to advance in a democratic society. What is a democracy?...

As Selkirk College students prepare for the final push to the end of the Winter Semester, students and instructors in the School of University Arts & Sciences (UAS) gathered on the Castlegar Campus last week to recognize outstanding achievements and accomplishments. The annual UAS Excellence Awards Ceremony was held in ...

Camera buffs have a few weeks to collect those award winning photos for entry into the West Kootenay Camera Club Photo contest. Deadline for entries is (Saturday) April 23 at 4 p.m. Entries can be submitted to:  Kel Print in Castlegar, Doell Photography in Trail, or Vogue Photography in Nelson.  Photographer Jim Lawrence of...

A trio of regional science enthusiasts are ready to travel to Quebec to represent the region following a successful showing at the West Kootenay Boundary Science Fair Saturday at L.V. Rogers high school in Nelson. Joining Dylan Peil of LVR, who now has qualified three times to attend the Canada-wide Science Fair, are the...

Before the 2015 federal election, local communities entered into an agreement to try to improve voter participation, and called it the "Community Voters' Challenge."   Whichever community  most improved its percentage of eligible voters who actually voted in the election would be declared the winner. Rossland won the challenge...

There was plenty of precipitation, but not much accumulation of snow at the higher elevations said Ron Lakeman, Weather Forecaster for the Southeast Fire Centre in his monthly weather release. "As is typical of a late winter-spring El Nino, March of 2016 was mild and very wet,'' Lakeman said. "The mean monthly temperature was...

Team BC's run at the 2016 Canadian Senior Men’s Curling Championships in Digby, Nova Scotia ended Saturday morning with a 6-5 loss to Bryan Cochrane of Team Ontario during semi final action. Team BC lost a chance to finish in the medals after dropping a 7-5 decision to Alan O'Leary of Team Nova Scotia in the Bronze Medal...

In 2015, Kimberley netminder Tyson Brouwer was "All World" in backstopping the Nitros to the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League championship. This year is was Zane Steeves turn to lead his 100 Mile House Wranglers to the top of the KIJHL. Steeves turned aside 40 of 41 shots to lead the Wranglers to a 2-1 victory over...

The City of Rossland has announced the identity of its new Chief Administrative Officer:  Brian Teasdale, who comes to us all the way from Montrose.   The City's press release states, Mr. Teasdale comes highly recommended to his new role and has years of experience in local government. He has been the Chief Administrative...