Mountain-high SAR save applauded by police, nod to responsible outdoorspeople
Castlegar RCMP are singing the praises of Castlegar Search and Rescue (SAR) after a dramatic save on Sunday. “Just before 6 a.m. on Jan. 14, the Castlegar RCMP received a report that SOS emergency beacon had been activated by a device owner,” said Castlegar RCMP NCO/ic Sgt. Monty Taylor. “The emergency beacon company had contacted […]
Man who killed off-duty Abbotsford Police Department receives five-year sentence
The man convicted in the killing of an off-duty Constable from the Abbotsford Police Department in downtown Nelson has been sentenced to five years in prison for manslaughter. Crown prosecutors confirmed that Alex Willness was sentenced in BC Supreme Court on Thursday after he was found guilty of manslaughter charges in 2023. With credit for […]
Cold climate and chill bills: power rates rise as temperature drops
As the temperature continues to drop in the West Kootenay region the electrical rates are rising from one of the area’s largest energy providers. FortisBC will be tacking a 6.74 per cent general rate increase — as approved by the B.C. Utilities Commission — as of Jan. 1 on to all customer bills, a rate […]
Hot cash: regional volunteer fire departments receive boost from the Province
The region is expected to heat up with almost $700,000 in grants from the Province for several volunteer fire departments. Through the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF) the volunteer fire departments — as well as Nelson’s composite professional department — will receive the money to enhance their capabilities by funding new training and equipment. “These […]
Real estate listings, sales drop across Kootenay-Boundary region
The real estate market in the Kootenay-Boundary region continued to drop at the end of 2023, according to the Association of Interior Realtors. In the Kootenay and Boundary region, unit sales saw a 13.6 per cent decrease (November 2023) compared to sales activity in November 2022 with 171 sales recorded, down from 203 units sold […]
Kootenay unemployment rate climbs to one of highest in Canada
The Kootenay region’s economy is heading into unenviable territory. Only three other economic regions in the country — outside of the Maritimes and the territories — had a higher unemployment rate than the Kootenay region in December, 2023, which now sports a 7.1 per cent rate (December, 2023, Statistics Canada). One year ago the region […]
Skier injured after triggering avalanche near Whitewater Ski area boundary
Whitewater Ski Patrol is advising skiers the dangers of recreating in the backcountry following a recent avalanche adjacent the ski area boundary in an area known as Goat Slide. According to post on the Avalanche Canada website, one person in the three in the party of three backcountry skiers sustained serious injuries but was not […]
Nearly 40 per cent rate rise proposed on parking meters in downtown Nelson
The City is contemplating a 37.5 per cent increase to hourly meter parking rates in the downtown to help bolster an already $1 million revenue generator. City council approved the first three readings of the bylaw on Tuesday night during its first regular council meeting of 2024 to thrust hourly rates from $1.25 to $2 […]
Region braces for slower economy in 2024 and faces similar challenges: chamber executive director
The other shoe is expected to drop this year for the provincial economy as slower economic growth is predicted but the West Kootenay region could still find its glass slipper. Like many jurisdictions in Canada, B.C. is experiencing the impacts of a slowing global economy and high interest rates, with the real gross domestic product […]
Winter Rescue Near Rossland
On Saturday, December 30, 2023, at 5:20 p.m., Trail and Greater District RCMP, Kootenay Boundary Regional Fire Rescue, BC EHS, and Rossland Search and Rescue responded to a report of a 41-year-old Rossland woman who had injured her knee near the Igloo Cabin, in the Rossland Range Recreation Site near Rossland. RCMP said the woman […]
