I’ve written in a previous column about the exciting developments in battery recycling in Trail. There, KC Recycling is one of western North America’s largest lead-acid battery recyclers and Cirba Solutions (formerly Retriev) is a major recycler of literally every other kind of battery. Both these businesses are important components of the circular economy we […]

Community programs, research, education, wellness and mental-health supports are part of a $10-million compensation package announced to provide lasting recognition of historical wrongs committed by the Province of B.C. against the Sons of Freedom Doukhobor and their families. Attorney General Niki Sharma announced the package, on behalf of Premier David Eby, at an event held Thursday […]

Cancer touches all of us, and in British Columbia, lung cancer stands out as one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers, while also being the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. With this in mind, in Rossland, Castlegar, TrailMay of 2022 the provincial government through BC Cancer launched the Lung Screening Program, providing access to eligible […]

For the past three and a half months the world has witnessed the devastating situation in Palestine and Israel. Since the horrifying Hamas terrorist attacks of October 7 and the beginning of this latest assault on Gaza by Israeli forces, tens of thousands of innocent people have been killed, of whom two-thirds are women and […]

At the start of a new year, many of us take time to set goals and make plans for the months ahead. As MLA for Kootenay West, and Minister of Finance for the entire province, I know there is so much work to be done this year to make life better here and across B.C. […]

This past year has been a difficult one for many Canadians, struggling to find a home they can afford, struggling to pay for their groceries, struggling to access proper health care.  And then on top of that we faced the worst year for climate disasters with widespread fires, floods and droughts. Throughout the year, my […]

Following two days of deliberations, City of Castlegar Council approved a Draft 2024 Budget and is now seeking community input. The budget will result in 6.43 per cent tax increase for residential properties and 6.70 per cent for business and light industrial properties. This equates to $83.89 annually, or approximately $6.99 per month, for the […]

New Democrat MLAs Brittny Anderson and Katrine Conroy say local organizations and parent advisory councils will be able to support young artists and extracurricular activities thanks to over $500,000 in Community Gaming Grant funding. “People benefit tremendously from our local arts, culture and heritage organizations as well as the parent advisory councils,” said Brittny Anderson, […]

Strengthening our healthcare system If there’s one thing I’ve heard from people in our community throughout the year, it’s how important our healthcare system is, and what we can do to improve health services. Our government has been working hard to increase the number of people working at all levels of the healthcare system: 3,882 […]

Recreational trails in the Columbia Basin are cherished by users year-round. To ensure they’re in top shape and an enjoyable experience, groups throughout the region, including Rossland, Nelson, Castlegar, Warfield and Slocan, are undertaking projects with support from Columbia Basin Trust. Currently, 23 projects in 18 communities are focusing on improving trails, while 16 organizations […]