BC Government wants your opinion on ICBC rates
First, a bit of background. ICBC is in dire financial straits. Back in 2016, ICBC applied to the BC Utilities Commission for permission to raise its rates by 4.9%. This publication posted an article by Dermod Travis of Integrity BC on ICBC’s request. Travis unpicked the rationale for the proposed increase in rates, delved...
Recycling depot deal denied by regional board
In the face of increased costs, fewer operating hours and a reduction in the regional recycling service, the regional district has rejected an offer from the provincial recycling body to establish a new service. The Regional District of Central Kootenay board of directors have said ‘no’ to a deal from Recycle BC (RBC) to fund...
Crash sends woman to hospital in critical condition
Highway 3 was closed for roughly an hour this morning after an MVI involving a small car and a logging truck, according to Ootischenia Fire Chief George Hamm. Hamm said the call came in at 8 a.m., and both Ootischenia and Castlegar Fire Departments attended a crash roughly one-and-a-half km past the weigh scales, heading...
Seeking family of Thomas Dunlop McVie, killed in 1944
It’s not November, so why the picture of a war plane? We should always remember the immense and cruel losses of life in wars, not just for a few days in November, but there’s another reason for this one. A man in Germany is trying to locate family members of those who were shot down and crashed in 1944 at a...
CFD evacuates Kootenay Market, responds to MVI Monday afternoon
Castlegar Fire Department had a busy afternoon Monday, first with an evacuation and then responding to a single-vehicle MVI on Kinnaird Bridge. Fire Chief Sam Lattanzio said it was just before noon when they received a report of a gas leak at Kootenay Market. “When we arrived, they had already evacuated the grocery store,...
Going Green on Highway 3 gets boost with five new Fast Charging Stations
People in the Boundary region are now connected with the West Kootenay after the opening of five electric vehicle Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFCs) stations along Highway 3. The stations have been strategically sited in Greenwood, Christina Lake, Castlegar, Salmo and Creston to ensure connected travel and charging options...
Winlaw snowmobiler rescued from backcountry
A 35-year-old Winlaw resident is happy to be drying off and warming up after spending a night outside, according to RCMP Sgt. Monty Taylor. "On the evening of Feb. 9, the Slocan Lake RCMP were contacted by the male's girlfriend after she could not get in contact with him," said Taylor in a press release. "RCMP attended to the...
MoT sends delegation to discuss local conditions and crashes
A delegation from the Ministry of Transportation (MoT) attended Castlegar City Council Monday evening to discuss local road conditions and MoT’s Shift into Winter campaign. They spoke at length about resources available to assist motorists in making safe decisions and driving to conditions (see links below) and reporting...
Column: A strange way to pick a leader
When a political party sets rules for a leadership race and tries to be all things to all members, the result can end up looking more like the proverbial camel designed by a committee than a true and fair method for members to choose a new leader. As they did in 2011, the B.C. Liberal party opted to continue with its practice...
Editorial: On how we vote in BC -- will it change, or not?
Come the next BC election, will we have Proportional Representation (of some kind) or business-as-usual with First-Past-the-Post? A lot of ink and pixels have been swirling around the news and opinion media on the topic. It still bears more examination, given the disparate views expressed. Let’s do some examining, and...
