The Province of British Columbia is developing a new road safety strategy that is expected to guide road safety work through 2030. The strategy is scheduled for publication in late 2026. The Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) has shared information about the engagement process, including a presentation outlining the proposed direction for the B.C. Road […]

With employment insurance funding provided by the Government of Canada under the Canada-British Columbia Labour Market Development Agreement, people in the Kootenays will have new opportunities to train for careers in the skilled trades through the Industry-Ready Carpentry Foundation project. The program will be delivered by Kootenay Career Development Society in partnership with Selkirk College. […]

Into the Trees Music Festival has released its full lineup, inviting festivalgoers to spend three nights this Labour Day weekend under string lights in the forested grove behind the Ram's Head Hotel in Rossland. Early-bird passes are already sold out, and only a handful of weekend passes remain for the intimate festival, running Sept. 4 […]

Premier David Eby has issued the following statement on the declaration of a state of provincial emergency in B.C.: “British Columbians are waking up today to devastating news from the South Okanagan. “Since first reported early yesterday evening, the Bald Range wildfire has grown rapidly as winds intensified, pushing into the Summerland area and affecting communities […]

Effective at noon (Pacific time) on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, the operation of any off-road vehicle for recreational purposes on Crown land is temporarily prohibited throughout Kamloops Fire Centre and Southeast Fire Centre, as well as parts of the Cariboo Fire Centre and Coastal Fire Centre. During this period of extreme and unpredictable fire activity, the […]

BC NDP MLAs Brittny Anderson and Steve Morissette hosted Minister of Water, Lands and Resource Stewardship Randene Neill on August 5th, 6th  and 7th as she met with local leaders and organizations and toured local projects. “Clean water is fundamental to healthy ecosystems, healthy communities, and our local economy. It was an honour to welcome […]

A discussion in a local community group recently caught my attention because it illustrated how easily unsafe driving behaviour can become normalized. A resident described a young rider leaving a community centre parking lot on an unlicensed dirt bike, travelling along a public road, performing wheelies at high speed, and then disappearing onto a logging […]

Join the Trail & District Arts Council and Trail’s Incredible Farmers Market on August 13 for an entertaining evening of food vendors, market, and live music for The Night Market, supported by Kootenay Insurance Services’. From 5 pm to 8:30 pm there’s lots to do in Gyro Park for our last event of the summer […]

Dear Editor, I am writing from indoors today because the wildfire smoke in the West Kootenays is once again at hazardous levels. Thousands across the province have been evacuated or are on alert. Hundreds of exhausted fire fighters continue to battle the flames in an attempt to save communities. Kids, adults and seniors are cloistered […]

Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests, has issued the following statement in response to the arrival of wildfire personnel from Mexico: “Supporting our neighbours and communities, showing hospitality to our partners and taking care of each other. These are the values that make me proud to be a British Columbian. “In our time of need, I […]