Beginning Wednesday, April 1, 2026, the health professions and occupations act comes into effect, which will improve patient safety by increasing transparency and ensuring good and consistent governance for regulators. For health-care professionals, it means more support and structure from regulators, so they can focus on patient care. This regulation will not cause any disruption […]

“Eight former members of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) have announced that they will create their own independent league starting in 2026-27, called the Western International Junior Hockey League (WIJHL), and will no longer be affiliated with the KIJHL, Hockey Canada or BC Hockey, following the end of the 2025-26 season. The eight […]

The Government of Canada is strengthening accountability for passport processing by introducing a new guarantee for passport services. On Tuesday, the Honourable Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced that, effective April 1, 2026, applicants will receive a full refund of their passport or travel document fee if it takes more than […]

A few mild afternoons don’t mean winter is over, especially in colder and higher-elevation parts of the Kootenays. Snow flurries are in the forecast around the region. Road Safety at Work reminds drivers that winter tires are still legally required on many highways in the Kootenay regionthrough April 30. This includes Highways 3, 38, 93, 95, […]

It has become a habit to check the gas price every time I leave the neighbourhood. I would not have imagined that I would be seeing prices over $2.00 per litre a few months ago. Since I don’t yet own an electric vehicle, I choose ecodriving techniques to save money and realize that my choice […]

When large tracts of forest are clear-cut, we lose more than the trees and their shelter and all the other plant and animal species they nurture and protect; we also lose water. Our demands for water are increasing. Growing populations, water-hungry industries (including fracking and nuclear power production) and the growth of data centres all […]

BC NDP MLAs Brittny Anderson and Steve Morissette say that provincial funding distributed to volunteer and composite fire departments across the province, including in the Kootenays, will support fire department capacity and operations, making people in the community safer and better protected against fire and local emergencies. “Fire crews respond to emergencies in every corner of […]

Josh Gamble of the Castlegar Rebels has committed to play for the University of Flint-Michigan Wolverines in the American Collegiate Hockey Association Division 1 next fall. The Wilcox, Sask., native led the Rebels in points with 34 in 44 games, and led the team in points for a third straight season. “We really like his […]

Our driving centred culture and the recent decision to end the spring and fall time change have raised an important issue. It’s going to be dark while children walk to school and the province and municipalities have failed to create safe pedestrian infrastructure to protect them. Forming a Walking School Bus group may be a […]

On the afternoon of March 22, BC EHS and RCMP responded to a report of an avalanche which resulted in several fatalities.  The incident had been reported by staff at a local heliskiing lodge, and the avalanche location was identified as Iridium Shoulder (near Terrace), according to BC RCMP Sgt. Vanessa Munn. “One man was […]