Despite chamber of commerce objections and an increase well above inflation the City will be implementing its new hourly meter parking rates in the downtown. Approval was given by City council on Feb. 6 to a bylaw amendment to increase parking rates by 37.5 per cent to help bolster an already $1 million revenue generator. […]

The B.C. Wildlife Branch reports that cases of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) have been confirmed in two deer in the Kootenay region, south of Cranbrook. These are the first known cases of CWD in British Columbia. “We have been watching CWD spread province to province, state to state for at least 20 years, so this […]

Community programs, research, education, wellness and mental-health supports are part of a $10-million compensation package announced to provide lasting recognition of historical wrongs committed by the Province of B.C. against the Sons of Freedom Doukhobor and their families. Attorney General Niki Sharma announced the package, on behalf of Premier David Eby, at an event held Thursday […]

A new BC Stats report, Sustaining Growth: Population and Demography for B.C. and Canada, has compiled publicly available statistics and data to project population growth to 2046 and highlights demographic trends for the province. The report reflects trends seen in numbers released by Statistics Canada in December 2023 and provides a high-level summary of demographic […]

The regional district could be asking for over 11 per cent more from its major municipalities when taxation time comes knocking in spring, according to the 2024 financial plan projections. In a special board meeting on Jan. 19 the Regional District of Central Kootenay board of directors had the first glimpse of the financial wish […]

Alice Gibson nurtured her passion for creating beauty from clay in the bustling ceramics studio on Selkirk College’s Victoria Street Campus where she developed confidence at the pottery wheel that has propelled her onto the national stage. Chosen as one of 10 amateur potters in a nationwide search, Gibson is a contestant on The Great […]

Canadian beekeepers have won several first place awards at both the North American Honey Show and the American Honey Show, two prestigious juried events showcasing the best honey products on the continent. Amanda Goodman Lee and Jeff Lee, who own two honey brands, Honey Bee Zen and Swan Valley Honey, of Creston, B.C., won first […]

Bats are getting injured or even squished by roll up blinds and power awnings that provide shade to homes in the summer. The BC Community Bat Program is actively seeking assistance to assess how common this is and address it accordingly. Bats are important wildlife that provide natural insect pest control. “Most people install exterior […]

The working poor make up a staggering 42 per cent of people living in poverty across Canada. Working poverty is defined as working part or full time yet struggling to meet basic needs such as adequate shelter and food. It’s a complex challenge, and it impacts people in every community. A group of organizations in […]

People in the Columbia Basin rely on their communities for many reasons, including being able to turn to them for protection during disasters. To boost this ability, 13 projects supported by Columbia Basin Trust aim to help communities be prepared during situations like floods, wildfires or sustained power outages. “People and communities in the Basin […]