By Timothy Schafer, The Nelson DailyA “resource-intensive” investigation by the RCMP in the West Kootenay/Boundary region in the last four months has resulted in 21 people being charged with 43 drug trafficking offences. Members of the Kootenay Boundary Regional Detachment plain clothes General Investigation Section embarked...

By Timothy Schafer, The Nelson Daily Mayor John Dooley has asked the Columbia Basin Trust to change the weather. Well, at least the weather in Castlegar, a constant thorn in the side of those who look to fly in and out of the West Kootenay during the wetter winter months of the year. The mayor — also the city’s director on ...

Due to a cabinet shuffle on Monday, there are new contact people for the pending Jumbo Wild decision, advises a member of the West Kootenay EcoSociety.Coordinator David Reid said in wake of a pending decision on creating a “resort municipality” in the Jumbo Glacier Valley — to allow a 6,500-bed resort town — and the cabinet...

For years, I have often wondered why, in such  ’tough economic times’, the very expensive  Sea to Sky highway was not tolled. I’ve called for it, many of you have called for it, and last year,  even Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson called for it as an avenue for revenue to solve Translinks money woes.   What […]

New Democrats are asking tough questions about foreign ownership in light of the revelation that the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has no research on the impact of foreign ownership in Canada’s broadcast and telecom industries. Speaking to the issue in late July, New Democrat Culture Critic Charlie Angus said the Harper government’s decision […]

The Selkirk College Saints made the first road trip a memorable one as the Kootenay-based team doubled the University of the Fraser Valley 6-3 in B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League play Friday at at the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre. Former Nelson Leaf snipers, Caleb Georgetti of Nelson and Scott Jago of Castlegar, provided the offence, […]

Columbia Basin Trust and Selkirk College are pleased to announce the establishment of the Columbia Basin Rural Development Institute (RDI), which will promote and support informed planning and decision-making in the Columbia Basin through region-specific information and applied research. The RDI, housed at Selkirk College, will monitor and report on a wide range of community indicators and trends in the […]

The BC Ministry of Children and Family Development has announced that it will require more frequent criminal records checks for foster parents and caregivers of children in care – every three years instead of every five. The ministry will have access to databases from police, the courts and corrections. “BC’s programs for children at risk […]

By Timothy Schafer, The Nelson Daily Information is a great tool in the kit of any municipality, allowing it to forge policy, planning and decision-making. However, it is in short supply for resource-starved rural governments in the West Kootenay. That will change after the announcement Saturday afternoon of an eight-year...

By Timothy Schafer, The Nelson Daily Nelson is guaranteed a share in the over 400 new jobs created in the Waneta Dam expansion on the Pend d’Oreille River, says the Columbia Basin Trust’s vice president of investments.Johnny Strilaeff said a prescription is in place to ensure that 85 per cent of the new jobs will come from ...