Parts of an Empire Russians of the former Soviet imperial power, in the period 1945-90, with their formal annexations [e.g. Armenia, Ukraine], client states [Mongolia, Cuba], and occupied satellite nations [Poland, Romania]  regarded Canada as belonging to America’s empire, not different in status from Soviet imperial dependencies. Canada was a solidly-American client, a dependency, a […]

Most people worldwide want action on climate change. A significant majority would even be willing to give up some of their income to help. You wouldn’t learn that from most mainstream media or politicians. A 2024 survey of 130,000 people in 125 countries, published in Nature Climate Change, found 89 per cent want “intensified political […]

The new school year is underway, and it’s a great time to highlight how we can keep kids safe inside and outside the classroom. With more children on the road, remember to slow down in school zones, put your phone away, and keep an eye out for pedestrians crossing the street. When possible, walking to […]

More than 3,000 new student seats opening in B.C. As families prepare to send kids back to school in September, new schools and additions are opening in several growing communities, with thousands more spaces under construction throughout British Columbia. In Trail, the new Glenmerry Elementary is a full replacement school built at expanded capacity, adding 165 new […]

Wildsight is resuming efforts to obtain an emergency order for the endangered mountain holly fern, after learning last week that B.C.’s environmental assessment office (EAO) won’t require the proposed Record Ridge magnesium mine, near Rossland, to undergo an environmental assessment (EA). In its August 18 report, the EAO confirmed that the mine, proposed by West […]

The Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services has released its Budget 2026 Consultation Report, reflecting the voices of British Columbians from every corner of the province. After hearing 350 presentations and reviewing 406 written submissions, the committee has put forward 86 thoughtful recommendations to help shape the next provincial budget. Between May 30 and […]

DELEGATION Not in My City Paul Brandt, Canadian country music star and founder of Not in My City, presented to Council on the organization’s work to raise awareness and prevent human trafficking and sexual exploitation. The campaign focuses on building partnerships, increasing public awareness, and providing resources to help prevent exploitation in communities across Canada. The […]

The City of Castlegar has received approval for up to $399,920 through the Province of British Columbia’s Disaster Resilience and Innovation Funding (DRIF) program to advance a comprehensive Flood Plain Mapping and Climate Change Hazard Risk Assessment project. This project will strengthen the City’s ability to understand and proactively address potential flooding events and geohazards, […]

I recently had the privilege of learning about the Columbia River Field School. I was invited to attend their “Future of the River Symposium”, which was a gathering of the youth, facilitators, and local experts to debrief and share about their experience in the program. The field school is a program hosted by Wildsight, which […]

This economic story doesn’t end well. Let’s change it! The natural world is foundational to every aspect of our lives. We all need food, air and water. But nature is not our sole underpinning; stories are also foundational. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to make sense of the world or create meaning within it. […]