Grohman Narrows, Ootischenia, and Central Transfer Sites Open for Organics Waste Disposal
The Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) is pleased to announce the opening of three organic waste disposal sites. Starting January 22, 2024, all customers, residential and commercial, will be able to utilize the new service of separated organic waste disposal. Grohman Narrows, Ootischenia, and the Central (Salmo) facilities will be able to accept organic […]
Castlegar’s Outdoor Ice Rinks Open for the Season
Castlegar’s outdoor community rinks are now open for skating and hockey. The rinks are free to use and located at the back side of Kinnaird Park, 2501 14th Avenue. They are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day and lit during the evening hours. Both rinks normally remain open as long as temperatures […]
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Dangerous lies about renewables
Dear editor, Pro-oil politicians like Premiers Danielle Smith and Scott Moe are lying to Canadians about renewable energy and I’m sick of it. The risk of losing power during a brutal cold snap like the one Alberta just had is terrifying. The province’s power grid struggled because extreme temperatures took out multiple gas generators, not […]
Mountain-high SAR save applauded by police, nod to responsible outdoorspeople
Castlegar RCMP are singing the praises of Castlegar Search and Rescue (SAR) after a dramatic save on Sunday. “Just before 6 a.m. on Jan. 14, the Castlegar RCMP received a report that SOS emergency beacon had been activated by a device owner,” said Castlegar RCMP NCO/ic Sgt. Monty Taylor. “The emergency beacon company had contacted […]
Cold climate and chill bills: power rates rise as temperature drops
As the temperature continues to drop in the West Kootenay region the electrical rates are rising from one of the area’s largest energy providers. FortisBC will be tacking a 6.74 per cent general rate increase — as approved by the B.C. Utilities Commission — as of Jan. 1 on to all customer bills, a rate […]
Hot cash: regional volunteer fire departments receive boost from the Province
The region is expected to heat up with almost $700,000 in grants from the Province for several volunteer fire departments. Through the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF) the volunteer fire departments — as well as Nelson’s composite professional department — will receive the money to enhance their capabilities by funding new training and equipment. “These […]
Real estate listings, sales drop across Kootenay-Boundary region
The real estate market in the Kootenay-Boundary region continued to drop at the end of 2023, according to the Association of Interior Realtors. In the Kootenay and Boundary region, unit sales saw a 13.6 per cent decrease (November 2023) compared to sales activity in November 2022 with 171 sales recorded, down from 203 units sold […]
Kootenay unemployment rate climbs to one of highest in Canada
The Kootenay region’s economy is heading into unenviable territory. Only three other economic regions in the country — outside of the Maritimes and the territories — had a higher unemployment rate than the Kootenay region in December, 2023, which now sports a 7.1 per cent rate (December, 2023, Statistics Canada). One year ago the region […]
Region braces for slower economy in 2024 and faces similar challenges: chamber executive director
The other shoe is expected to drop this year for the provincial economy as slower economic growth is predicted but the West Kootenay region could still find its glass slipper. Like many jurisdictions in Canada, B.C. is experiencing the impacts of a slowing global economy and high interest rates, with the real gross domestic product […]
EDITORIAL: SOS about crime?
A media release arrived in my inbox, to publicize the message of a coalition of communities and businesses urging government to take more effective action to reduce crime. The coalition calls itself “Save Our Streets” — SOS. Their message is a call “for all levels of government to coordinate their efforts and put an end […]
