BC’s Ombudsperson Jay Chalke released an update today on the province’s progress addressing an unfair practice that withheld federal financial support from caregivers of children with disabilities. The issue was first highlighted in the Ombudsperson’s 2022 report, Short-Changed: Ensuring federal benefits paid to the province reach caregivers of children with disabilities. The report detailed the […]

Niki Sharma, Attorney General, has released the following statement regarding the B.C. Supreme Court’s decision to certify British Columbia’s class-action lawsuit against opioid manufacturers and distributors: “In 2018, British Columbia took the unprecedented step of launching a class-action lawsuit on behalf of all jurisdictions in Canada and enacted the Opioid Damages and Health Care Costs […]

The Sonny Samuelson Bobsled Race will thunder down Spokane Street on Saturday, January 25, starting at 9 a.m. Building on last year’s successful return, the event promises another adrenaline-packed day of speed, competition, and community spirit. Event Chair Jon Marion has worked tirelessly to uphold this cherished Rossland tradition. After overcoming challenges, the race continues […]

The Kootenay Gallery’s “souper” popular annual fundraising event will take place again at the Castlegar Recreational Centre on Sat., March 8. Chefs from local restaurants will be in attendance to dish out their culinary creations, accompanied by wine, artisanal breads by Crumbs Bakery, and delicious gourmet chocolates by Doodlebug Chocolates. Attendees will have the opportunity […]

The raging infernos devastating the Los Angeles area are tragic and horrifying — thousands of homes lost, at least 100,000 people under evacuation order or in emergency shelters and dozens killed. One consolation is the number of people and organizations from all over that have stepped up to help —individuals, faith groups, food providers, firefighters […]

Environment Canada put on notice for 10-year delay in caribou protections  Environmental groups, including Wildsight, sent a letter to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) today calling on the Ministry to complete critical habitat mapping and finalize a recovery strategy for deep-snow dwelling mountain caribou that is more than 10 years overdue. The ECCC originally […]

  A friend is one to whom one may pour out the contents of one’s heart, chaff and grain together, knowing that gentle hands will take and sift it, keep what is worth keeping, and with a breath of kindness, blow the rest away.  — George Eliot A secret about friendships in adulthood: Sometimes they […]

A call to start the quit journey — and resources to help. This week, Canadians from coast to coast will unite to celebrate National Non-Smoking Week, an annual initiative dedicated to raising awareness about the benefits of living smoke-free. The Lung Health Foundation (LHF) is proud to support this important week by spotlighting its comprehensive quit-smoking […]

To help more families find a place to live in B.C. and build on actions underway, the Province is launching a new short-term rental (STR) registry. “We are taking action to help more people find a home in the communities they love by reining in speculators who are operating illegally,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of […]

By Road Safety at Work Black ice, complacency behind the wheel increase risk of crashing Freezing temperatures across the Kootenays this week mean drivers need to be doubly cautious, “When the roads are icy you not only have to watch yourself, you have to watch for others sliding into your path,” says Trace Acres, program […]