Business group lobbies for $40,000 feasibility study for bridge from college to downtown area
A coalition of downtown business owners wants a $40,000 feasibility study for a pedestrian/bicycle bridge spanning the Columbia River between Selkirk College and Zuckerberg Island. At its regular meeting Monday night, city council was asked to contribute $10,000 to the initiative. Presenter Jackie Letkeman told council that...
Gitxsan chiefs add fourth lawsuit opposing Pacific Northwest LNG
Inland B.C. hereditary First Nations chiefs joined coastal ones in announcing a fourth federal lawsuit against Ottawa’s approval of the Pacific Northwest LNG project, at a press conference in Vancouver. They claim that the gas export terminal is an infringement of their Aboriginal fishing rights. Two Gitxsan Nation hereditary...
Council wraps up 2016 with appointments to next year's committees
Monday night, Dec. 19, saw the final city council meeting of 2016 in Castlegar. As is customary, mayor Lawrence Chernoff announced the councillor's committee appointments for the coming year. The appointments are relevant to residents insofar as they help members of the community determine where best to direct questions,...
This time, Local Governments talk to Feds on future of Columbia River Treaty
Local government representatives Mayor Deb Kozak and Mayor Karen Hamling met with Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Pamela Goldsmith-Jones, federal officials and regional MPs in late November to emphasize the importance of working with local governments in the Columbia Basin before reaching decisions...
OUT OF LEFT FIELD: Blueberry School AGM a slap in face to taxpayers everywhere
I would like to preface this by saying I have long been a vehement – almost rabid – supporter of the Blueberry Creek Community School Hub (BCCS). I lobbied hard, both personally and professionally, for SD 20 to sell the BCCS property to its non-profit society to keep the school in operation. It is, thus, truly with a heavy ...
Blueberry school hosts unprecedented controversy
Long-brewing contention at Blueberry Creek Community School Hub reached a boiling point Wednesday night, when a large group of parents were denied membership in the non-profit society and, thus, access to its annual general meeting (which has, in the past, been open to the public). The meeting, held in the school gymnasium,...
Policy to change around city grants-in-aid
Change is in the air for Castlegar’s grant-in-aid policy after city council’s regular meeting Monday night. Finance chair and councillor Dan Rye brought forward a report suggesting that grants no longer be provided to people/groups/organizations travelling outside of the city for events such as sporting tournaments. “The...
City's trash talk paying off for tax payers
The City of Castlegar's newly-implemented garbage/recycling management program has been anything but wasteful, according to data recently released by contractor Waste Management. City director of Transportation and Civic Works, Chris Barlow, said that Waste Management tracks how much waste it collects and to which facility ...
Last week brings BC highest number of 911 overdose calls ever recorded
B.C. paramedics and dispatchers will be getting much-needed support from the provincial government in the face of the province's opioid overdose crisis, with a $5-million injection of funding for BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS), Health Minister Terry Lake announced Friday. Over the last week, B.C. had the highest number...
Castlegar/Trail dueling-airport rivalry takes wing
Cross-community competition continues, as Castlegar offers back-handed congratulations to neighbouring Trail's competing airport. A press release issued by the City of Castlegar was the latest salvo in a long-standing rivalry between the two cities, centering primarily around major infrastructure such as the airports and...
