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Oxygen Art Centre will present an exhibition by illustrator and writer Bethany Pardoe entitled The Small Earth.

On view in the O2 vitrine exhibition space from Nov. 22, 2025, to Jan. 16, 2026, The Small Earth features sketchbook pages and illustrations that shape the cosmology of a graphic novel in progress.

Pardoe is a traditional illustrator and writer with a bachelor of fine arts from Emily Carr University of Art and Design. From picture books to graphic novels, she writes and illustrates fantastical stories inspired by growing up, in her words, “as an odd duck.”

Imbued with elements of nature and personal folklore, her art and narratives are intended for people who “feel things deeply.” Pardoe currently lives and works in Vancouver, B.C., and grew up in Nelson before moving to the coast to attend post-secondary school.

The exhibition presents a selection of Pardoe’s works-in-progress, offering insight into the emerging artist’s creative praxis and world-building for her forthcoming graphic novel. Selections include pages created during her residency at the Banff Centre’s Comics and Graphic Novels program.

Located on the Stanley Avenue side of the Nelson Trading Company building (430 Baker St.) in downtown Nelson, the O2 is a window-turned-gallery that serves as an extension of Oxygen Art Centre’s contemporary art programming.

The Small Earth will be on public view at the O2 from Nov. 22, 2025, to Jan. 16, 2026.

This program is supported by the Canada Council for the Arts, the B.C. Arts Council, the Vancouver Foundation and the Regional District of Central Kootenay ReDi program. Special thanks to Hall Printing for their support in realizing the exhibition.

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Thanks to funding from Heritage BC, new markers will be installed in Rossland’s historic Columbia cemetery to recognize Chinese people who were buried there and later disinterred.

The Rossland Heritage Commission is receiving about $1,200 for its One Heritage Awareness project, which also includes creating a new plaque for the city’s 93-year-old swimming pool, replacing one that was stolen.

According to the commission’s 2016 book, Cemeteries of Rossland, 17 Chinese burials took place in the cemetery, beginning in 1900. Sixteen were disinterred in 1908, 1918, 1927, and 1938, with the remains sent to either China or Victoria.

The first Chinese burial was also among the most tragic: Mah Lin, 22, was shot and killed by an eight year old boy whose family had hired him as a cook. The boy became the youngest person to stand trial in Canada for a capital crime. He was acquitted.

The book notes that most of the Chinese burials took place in the northeastern-most part of the cemetery. However, there was no truth to the rumour that they were buried outside the cemetery fence.

The Rossland Light Opera Players Society will also receive over $9,100 for its Plumbing for the Players project, which will see emergency restoration of the plumbing in the society’s home, the 1897 Bodega building.

Heritage BC executive director Kirsten Clausen said the projects were among 30 chosen from among 93 applicants to their Heritage Legacy Fund. The total funding to be provided this year is close to $500,000.

Each year, five-member juries review funding applications under separate streams including heritage conservation, heritage awareness, Indigenous partnerships, and planning. Jurors are chosen for their expertise and geographic and cultural diversity. They make recommendations on funding, which are then reviewed by the Heritage BC board.

“We really do appreciate all the applications that come in,” Clausen said. “We’re very aware and sensitive that there’s an awful lot of disappointed people [who did not receive funding], but we are always really proud of the ones that we are able to support.”

Clausen said the projects contribute to tourism, economic viability, and community sustainability.

One other Kootenay project being funded this year is the restoration of the roof of one of the two remaining original buildings at the Sullivan mine in Kimberley. The Sullivan Mine and Railway Historical Society is receiving close to $60,000.

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It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but the weather outside can be frightful, making it one of the most dangerous times of the year.

So drivers, take it slow, take it slow, take it slow.

Road Safety at Work has launched its annual Winter Driving Safety campaign, raising awareness about the dangers of not taking extra precautions when traveling on winter roads. Showcasing the risks with ICBC accident claims and the potential additional risks drivers may face.

“Once we get into November, December, the start of winter, that’s when we see the crash rates in B.C increase,” says Trace Acres, the Program Director of Road Safety at work, and spokesperson of the Winter Driving Safety Campaign.

“According to Worksafe BC, the injury rates over the winter months are about 20 per cent higher than the rest of the year. We know there are a lot of hazards, and it’s a very busy time of the year.”

Along with the darker days and nights, Acres says other hazards commonly seen in the Cariboo are black ice and hydroplaning. With winter comes more rain and snow, which melt and accumulate during the day and overnight. The sudden changes of temperature the Cariboo is known for also make predicting if the weather will hold steady a challenge.

Black ice and wet patches can be hidden from drivers’ views in shadier parts of the road and under overpasses. Acres points out that the change in concrete types from road construction also poses a significant risk.

On top of that, the risk of animals crossing the roads and drivers coming out of seemingly nowhere while traveling in the dark always poses one of the highest risks.

“I think understanding just how busy a time of year it is for everyone sharing the road is important,” Acres says. “A lot of people are going to their children’s activities, holiday shopping, and events and gatherings. So make sure to give yourselves plenty of time to get where you are going safely. Avoid distractions, and plan alternate routes for weather changes. Something as simple as adjusting to increase your following distance from the vehicle ahead of you so there is plenty of room in case you need to stop in a hurry can save lives.”

While the majority of ICBC claims, crashes, and other motor vehicle incidents are located in the Lower Mainland, the Northern regions see a large spike during winter.

In the Central Interior, which includes the Cariboo regions and up to Prince Rupert, there have been 1,651 reported car crashes to ICBC between 2020 and 2024, in the month of December.

Across the province, that number is as high as 25,993 car crash reports to ICBC during the holiday month in the same time frame.

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An Evacuation Order has been issued from The Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) for an area along the Kootenay River and Fenwick Road.  The area northwest of Bull River has CPKC responding to a train derailment this morning.  The following 5 properties on Fenwick road have been ordered to evacuate:  2625 FENWICK RD, 2627 FENWICK RD, 3607 FENWICK RD, 3664 FENWICK RD, and 3611 FENWICK RD. 

A tactical evacuation was done this morning for the homes within the Evacuation Order area.

 “The tactical evacuation was performed by RCMP and CP Police in response to the evolving situation,” said Regional Emergency Operations Centre Director Christina Carbrey. 

Emergency Support Services is available to those displaced from their primary residence. Updates will be provided on  www.rdek.bc.ca and Facebook page and further information will be issued should the situation change.  A State of Local Emergency for Electoral Area C has been issued by the RDEK, which is required when an Evacuation Order is issued

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Some unfortunate news coming out of Caledonia Nordic Ski Club and Nordiq Canada, as they announce the relocation of the Olympic Trials.

The trials, scheduled for December 13th to the 16th, ahead of the upcoming Winter Olympic Games in Milano-Crotina, will be moved to the Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre in Vernon, due to unfavourable temperatures and conditions in Prince George.

Nordiq Canada Event Chair Kevin Pettersen said despite efforts of using snow making machines, the one element they can’t control is Mother Nature.

“Going into this, we knew that the temperatures were necessary so, that was our main risk was  not getting those cold temperatures.”

“It’s always something that you do plan for, if things just don’t go your way.”

Pettersen said they were able to produce about four piles of snow roughly 4 metres high, adding they would have needed about 25 of those.

A lack of snowfall and warmer temperatures wasn’t just unique to PG, as the Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre was experiencing similar issues, however, a recent snowfall ultimately helped the decision.

Pettersen noted that Caledonia Nordic Ski Club wouldn’t be out of the question for future events similar to this one, and thanks the community for the support, and everyone involved for giving their time and energy.

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The University Hospital of Northern B.C. will be holding a grand opening on Thursday.

This is for the Ronald McDonald House Family Room, in partnership with McDonalds Restaurants, Ronald McDonald House BC & Yukon, Northern Health and Spirit of the North.

Ronald McDonald House BC & Yukon CEO Richard Pass said the room gives families an opportunity to get out of the hospital environment.

“There are three sleep rooms at the Prince George family room.” said Pass.

“So, the families that need to stay, the social workers at the hospital work with our staff and determine who is going to stay in that room and for how long, and then they have a place to stay while their child is being looked after.”

Pass added that with the size of the family room, if the hospital and Northern Health decide there’s a need for the service to grow, they’re open to do so.

The Ronald McDonald House Family Room opens at 2 p.m. with a ribbon cutting and formal program at the Learning and Development Atrium.

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North Cowichan is looking to promote economic development and support industrial initiatives to attract new growth in the area.  

According to the municipality, they’ve already started to improve services for land to be used in an industrial setting. 

They add that it’ll provide a huge benefit for companies.  

“A new revitalization tax exemption program now provides significant tax relief for major industrial projects,” said the municipality. “North Cowichan council has begun developing a dedicated municipal development program that’ll support its new Economic Development Action Plan and transitions away from the CVRD’s shared service.” 

In May, council approved the new plan, which they say is the first of its kind in over a decade, and was conceived through extensive research and consultation from several local leaders. 

Mayor Rob Douglas says building a stronger economic plan will strengthen the municipality and attract better jobs for the future.  

“We’re taking deliberate steps to strengthen North Cowichan’s economy and expand our industrial tax base,” said Douglas. “From servicing industrial lands to launching our own economic development program, North Cowichan is committed to attracting investment, creating opportunities for businesses and supporting high-paying jobs for local workers.” 

Earlier this year, North Cowichan received more than half a million dollars from the Ministry of Jobs and Economic Growth’s Rural Economic Development Infrastructure Program to expand water servicing. 

According to a media release, the investments didn’t stop there. 

“Under the program, qualifying industrial projects valued at $2 million or more may receive a 100 per cent exemption on the improvement portion of municipal property taxes for up to five years, followed by a 50 per cent exemption for the next five years,” said the release. “The bylaw applies to all industrial-zoned lands in North Cowichan, including the Cowichan Valley Highway Industrial Area, Crofton, the Chemainus Industrial Park, Chemainus Waterfront Industrial Area and the Tansor Industrial Area.” 

Council passed a motion in October to step away from the CVRD’s economic development service, a move they say will make supporting industrial growth and jobs a priority in the municipality. 

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Residents of the Kootenays are being invited to weigh in on how Kootenay Lake is managed, as federal and cross-border regulators consider changes to dam operations in the region.

The International Kootenay Lake Board of Control is hosting two public information sessions this December to gather feedback on the future of the Corra Linn Dam, which controls lake levels at the outlet of Kootenay Lake.

“FortisBC operates Corra Linn Dam, which controls the lake level on Kootenay Lake for much of the year,” said Joel Trebilco, Canadian co-chair of the International Kootenay Lake Board of Control.

“The operation of the dam is stipulated by the Order of Approval from the International Joint Commission, and that order was issued in 1938. A lot has changed since 1938, so we’re looking at whether we can update that order.”

Public sessions set for Dec. 4 and 9

The Board is planning two events:

• In person: Dec. 4 at 6 p.m., Prestige Lakeside Resort, Nelson, B.C.

• Online: Dec. 9 from 6 to 8 p.m. PT (registration required via IJC website)

Trebilco said the meetings are a chance for the public to share concerns or ideas about lake levels and how dam operations affect local communities.

“We’re meeting with people in Nelson and anyone who is concerned with Kootenay Lake levels, or just cares about the lake, to hear what’s important to them.”

He said the feedback will help shape scientific studies the Board is planning over the next few years. Those studies will inform recommendations on whether and how the International Joint Commission (IJC) could modernize its 1938 order.

“This is a great opportunity for people to give their input to us so we know what people care about as we look at how the lake could be managed.”

Why the Order matters

The Corra Linn Dam, operated by FortisBC, plays a key role in regulating water levels in Kootenay Lake. Its operations are governed by a binational agreement called the Order of Approval, issued by the IJC in 1938.

The Board ensures FortisBC complies with that order, and has now been directed by the IJC to review the existing agreement to consider modernization.

The current public engagement phase aims to:

• Explain how the Order works and what could change

• Share the Board’s review process

• Gather feedback on issues the Board should consider

Public input will help the Board draft a Plan of Study to identify scientific research needed to support potential changes. A draft of that plan is expected in 2026 and will be shared publicly.

Can’t attend a session? You can still share feedback via the Board’s contact form.

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Grand Forks Border Bruins bench boss Dave Hnatiuk said he has “a bit of an old school mentality” when it comes to having his team play a tough game.

That mindset comes from his own playing days. A blue-collar type who played various roles, Hnatiuk spent two years with the University of Lethbridge in U Sports before heading overseas to play in Sweden’s Division 2 pro league. In his lone season with Boro/Vetlanda HC in 2006-07, he scored 13 goals and had 20 points in 26 games.

“My era was much different than today’s game. Towards the end of my playing days the game changed a lot to skill development,” said Hnatiuk.

“I do appreciate the tougher side of the game — the player with lots of heart who stands up for teammates and has that identity. Getting into those tough-to-play areas, finishing hits, blocking shots, and the small important details like wall work. Everyone loves to score, but some guys just have a knack for it. I feel to have success you need that balance of skill and heart and ownership of your role.”

“Be a tough team to play against physically,” continued Hnatiuk, who reached 100 career Kootenay International Junior Hockey League coaching wins on Nov. 7 in a 4-2 win over the Nelson Leafs.

“As far as the pressure, hunt for pucks and be aggressive on the forecheck. You’ve got to play a certain way and we try to teach that game to our guys. As the season goes on, the process continues, and you can see the work we put in — and the guys put in — start to pay off and come together.”

As for the milestone victory, the Regina native didn’t realize it was approaching.

“I don’t really keep track of my own individual stats,” he said. “It’s a nice surprise. To hit 100 is a milestone, and time definitely helps a guy accomplish that. It’s a testament to the program overall, not just me. I know I get credit for the 100 wins, but there’s a lot of people involved to get those. I just want to see the steadiness, the process. The last three seasons have been really successful. It’s nice to continue with that same trajectory and winning percentage to build that culture.”

Hnatiuk’s record with the Border Bruins is 105-74-5-8 (54.7 per cent) in his fifth season. He joined the Border Bruins following a season with the Selkirk College Saints in the B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League and three seasons as an assistant coach with the University of Regina.

What are things you like to focus on with players that are effective for their development?
DH: There’s lots of different answers there, depending on the player. No. 1 for us is the culture piece. Skill comes from the guys putting in the work and committing to the extra stuff themselves. It all depends on where guys are at in a year. How are you going to work with a 20-year-old like Logan McCabe or Levi Astill compared to a first-year coming in? It’s a lot different. It’s all catered — a bit individual.

Are there things from your time coaching with the University of Regina (2016–19) that you still use?
DH: For sure. The platform I began with leaving the U of R, going on to Selkirk College and then coming to Grand Forks — I give a lot of credit to Todd Johnson. He’s been a huge mentor for me from system structures to drills to culture. You take bits and pieces from everyone you work with, but Todd was very influential in a lot of my philosophies. He got me going until I had the experience to create my own philosophies and systems.

Working with athletes at that level was valuable too as they were pursuing pro careers in Europe or the AHL. Working with that level of athlete was pretty special — to see their commitment, as well as the education side. It was a great opportunity, and I’m still very fond of my time there.

How have you evolved as a coach — what’s key for player development?
DH: I’m very passionate about the game. I’m always trying to learn, listen and watch. Every team and every player gives you a new opportunity to learn a little more. Continuous learning — learning to adapt — is huge. Every few years kids are coming up with different upbringings. Overall, being able to adapt and stay current with the players is key. I’ve always used the phrase “modern-day coach.” You’ve got to adapt with the game and adapt with the players coming up.

When it comes to development and it’s different for each player, are there things that you work on in practice or that adjust during different parts of the season?
DH: We have our afternoon practices, and on Monday and Wednesday mornings we run skill development skates. Those skill skates change day to day and week to week. As the year goes on, if there’s stuff we want to see — or guys want to work on — we’ll focus on it. For example, the last skill session was a lot of work for our defencemen: getting pucks through and working on the blue line.

It’s more individual-focused. The guys get lots of reps on different skills, whether it’s quick puck touches, shooting or stickhandling. It’s up to the player to focus and work hard on those reps. The guys that do — and that’s most of them — are the ones who keep getting a little bit better.

By the Numbers

• 88 goals

• Power play: 31-for-100 — 31 per cent (2nd best in KIJHL)

• 604 penalty minutes

Top Scorers

• F Levi Astill: 21 GP | 11 G | 29 A | 40 PTS

• D Logan McCabe: 21 GP | 6 G | 16 A | 22 PTS

• Top rookie — Austin Tellefson: 20 GP | 15 G | 9 A | 24 PTS

• G Thomas Samborski: 8 GP | 5 W | 3.52 GAA | .903 SP

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Thirty-seven new licensed child care spaces are coming to Fernie, giving more families in the area access to high-quality, affordable child care.

The new centre will have 12 spaces for infants and toddlers and 25 spots for children aged 12 and under. Funding of these new spaces is part of ChildCareBC’s plan to provide affordable, quality and inclusive child care for families.

When the new centre opens, Fernie families will benefit from ChildCareBC’s Fee Reduction Program, which can reduce childcare costs by up to $900 a month per child. According to the province, the affordability programs save B.C. families an average of $6,700 annually on fees.

The centre will be added to the existing construction of the new Fernie Elementary School. The expansion is being made possible by nearly $8 million from the ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund. The fund is supported by both provincial and federal resources under the Canada-B.C. Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, which has been extended from 2026–27 to 2030–31.

When asked if there’s any plans for more childcare coming in the East Kootenays, Doug McPhee, Board Chair for School District 5 had this to say.

“Fingers crossed, we are putting together a business plan for the replacement of Amy Woodland School, and the wishes of Rocky Mountain Métis in establishing a daycare in Cranbrook that would go very nicely on that property and be of a great asset to the families in that community and that area.” Said Board Chair McPhee.

Since 2018 ChildCareBC’s space creation programs have funded over 42,200 new licensed child care spaces with 27,700 already open and in use.  Between new spaces and fee reduction ChildCareBC has helped keep over $3 billion in the pockets of BC families since 2018.

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WHL:

The Prince George Cougars start their 5-game road trip by extending their win streak to six, after taking a 3-0 victory over the Wenatchee Wild.

The Cougars play in Kennewick tonight (Saturday), taking on the Tri City Americans, with puck drop at 6:05.

The full Cougars schedule is here.

The WHL standings are here.

BCHL:

The Prince George Spruce Kings were hosts to the Chilliwack Chiefs last night, serving up a 6-4 victory.

The Spruce Kings play the Chiefs again tonight (Saturday) at 6:00 at Kopar Memorial Arena.

The Spruce Kings regular season schedule is here.

The BCHL standings are here.

Canada West Basketball:

The UNBC Timberwolves women’s basketball team fell short in a 75-63 loss at home yesterday against the Victoria Vikes.

As for the men’s team, they also dropped their matchup against the Vikes 76-55.

The teams remain in PG tonight, with the women’s game at 5:00 and men’s at 7:00.

The Canada West women’s basketball schedule is here.

The Canada West women’s basketball standings are here.

The Canada West men’s basketball schedule is here.

The Canada West men’s basketball standings are here.

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Grand Forks city council is still thinking about whether to fund an increase in maintenance for the local curling rink.

A staff report from the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary says two loans taken out in 2023 to pay for long-term improvements and repairs “left the long-term budget in a precarious position.”

The curling rink currently receives about $55,000 per year from the city and neighbouring rural areas, of which over $15,000 is eaten up by debt repayment, more than $12,000 goes to insurance, and nearly $5,000 pays for administration.

“The financial capacity remains limited in supporting investment in long-term improvements and maintenance,” the report from recreation manager Paul Keys said.

He recommended the amount the RDKB taxes for the service be increased by about $7,800, to $62,500 per year. The City of Grand Forks would be on the hook for another $2,600, rural Grand Forks another $2,100, and Christina Lake another $3,100.

“Additional funding will increase the ability to do preventative maintenance and carry out some lifecycle replacements, with continuing to build the reserve fund to a level that can support the replacement of ice plant components in the future,” Keys wrote.

He pointed to sprinkler heads that have been in use since 1978. Heads are normally tested after 50 years, but Keys said it would be more cost effective to replace them in 2028 than to have them tested.

He added a number of sprinkler heads should be replaced with proper temperature ratings, and there are a couple of areas where additional sprinklers should be installed.

Other projects include work to stop leaks in the roof and a hot water tank replacement.

“It’s in desperate need of some money put into it,” Mayor Everett Baker said. “I think because of this being preventative maintenance, it needs to be done, and with a very small portion on our part.”

Baker also noted the curling rink is used for events besides curling.

Council debated referring the request to their budget talks. But in the end, they opted to delay a decision until their next meeting, after they have held a strategic planning session.

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Williams Lake RCMP encourage motorists to use Operation Red Nose this Holiday Season.

Staff Sargeant Brad McKinnon said anyone who may be consuming alcohol or other intoxicating substances to use this service and access it during it’s period of availability.

“Operation Red Nose is a remarkable program ran by volunteers who donate their time to get individuals out celebrating the Holidays home safely as well as their vehicles. This results in a drastic reduction in impaired drivers on our public roadways and as a result our roadways are safer.”

Years ago while in Ontario, McKinnon himself had driven for Operation Red Nose.

“I use to volunteer my time over the Christmas Holidays with several of my buddies and we would go around the City of Ottawa, Gateneau, and Hull, and we would get people home safely. It was kind of an eye opener for me and it also made me realize and appreciate how important this service is during this time of year.”

McKinnon noted that not only during the Holidays, Police are always out actively looking for and trying to deter impaired driving related offences.

“There will be a marked increase in officers out on public roadways actively looking to locate and address impaired driving. We will see a significant uptick in bodies out on the road. In addition to that, you’ll also going to notice a significant increase in police officers on proactive patrols in the downtown core of Williams Lake.”

McKinnon added that the penalties can be quite significant for people who fail an approved screening device roadside.

“It can also result the loss of licence and the vehicle that was being operated at the time for a pretty significant period of time. Drinking and driving it doesn’t mix and if you are going to consume and have a good time we encourage everyone to plan ahead, identify a designated driver, but don’t drive if you’ve been consuming alcohol or drugs. It places you, your passengers, and innocent other motorists and pedestrians at risk. We encourage to make good and healthy all days of the year.”

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An extensive cleanup of lingering contaminants from the Northport smelter, which closed over a century ago, has been completed by Washington state’s Department of Ecology.

Nick Acklam, the eastern region toxics cleanup program section manager, said the project, which began in 2019, focused on the waterfront along the Columbia River, including a boat launch and beach.

The smelter site itself was cleaned up in the 2000s by his department and the Environmental Protection Agency, but they knew contamination still existed in sediments along the waterway.

“It was a priority for the agency to clean up this particular area that had a lot of recreational use to make sure that we were protecting human health and the environment,” he said.

The clean-up involved removing material and replacing it with clean sediment, followed by a capping process to limit any ongoing exposure to heavy metals.

The project resulted in 28,500 tons of sand, slag, and soil being hauled away from an 11-acre (4.5-hectare) site at a cost of nearly $11 million US ($15.5 million Cdn).

Public access to the site was blocked off at times, but has now been restored.

Acklam said some of the historic contamination was likely from the Trail smelter as well as the Northport smelter, which operated from 1898 to 1921.

He added that they appreciated working with the Town of Northport and the community.

“They were extremely supportive and helpful as we navigated this cleanup,” he said. “It’s never easy when we have to restrict access when we’re moving equipment, but it’s been a really great collaboration between the state and the city and the citizens.”

The project’s completion also included a tribute to John Roland, a department supervisor who initiated the project but died in 2021.

Northport metal worker David Fitzgerald created a sturgeon sculpture in Roland’s honor.

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Behind another sparkling performance from goalie Josh Ravensbergen, the Prince George Cougars stretched their win streak to six games, silencing 2719 fans at Town Toyota Centre with a 3-0 victory over the Wenatchee Wild.

Cougars newly acquired forward, Shaun Rios made his P.G. debut against his former team, picking up an assist on the team’s first goal by Captain (and the game’s third star) Bauer Dumanski, which turned out to be the eventual game winner 13:22 into the first period.

Bauer Dumanski has his 5th of the season, and Shaun Rios has his first point as a Cougar against his old team!@CarlsJrCA https://t.co/WTmQHiiVBy pic.twitter.com/XzrzSAjfIX

— Prince George Cougars (@PGCougars) November 29, 2025

“I think when you get an assist on a game winning goal in a building where they just released you from, I think that’s got to feel good for him and our group.” said associate coach Jim Playfair on the 94.3 the Goat post-game show.

“I think that Mark’s (coach Lamb) theory, the ownership’s theory, and management’s theory is that if we’re bringing a player in here, he’s got to be an impact player that can help us.”

Terik Parascak scored his team-high 19th goal of the season during a second period powerplay at the 2:45 mark.

The third and final goal went into an empty net from Jett Lajoie with just 31 seconds left in the third period.

While the score doesn’t show it, the win didn’t come easy for the Cougars, as the game saw 26 penalties, all within the first two periods.

“I thought the first period we played as good as we’ve played all season long, rolling four lines and six defensemen. I thought we had an excellent period. We did everything we wanted to do.” said Playfair.

“Second period, the refs got involved and we got a lot of minor penalties, a lot of back and forth powerplay penalty kill.”

Ravensbergen, the game’s first star, picked up his second shutout of the season, stopping all 29 shots from a struggling Wild offence.

With that, the San Jose Sharks prospect moves into sole possession of third place on the Cougars’ all-time shutouts list.

SIX STRAIGHT WINS.

Recap and reaction from Associate Coach Jim Playfair!https://t.co/WsGV0d8sOK

— Prince George Cougars (@PGCougars) November 29, 2025

The (17-7) Cougars continue their five game road trip in Kennewick tonight (Saturday) at 6:05 against the (11-9-2) Tri City Americans.

The Americans beat the Kelowna Rockets 5-2 Friday night.

Meanwhile, Cameron Schmidt of Prince George scored five seconds into the game to tie a WHL record for the fastest goal from the start of a game helping the Vancouver Giants to a 3-2 victory in a shootout over the Penticton Vees.

STRAIGHT TO THE HISTORY BOOKS!@DallasStars prospect Cameron Schmidt has tied the WHL Record for fastest goal to start a game with his five-second tally against the Vees.

| https://t.co/yKX4sIJBT9@WHLGiants | #WHLStats pic.twitter.com/Uhe6WIMdIx

— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) November 29, 2025

The PG Cougars schedule and results are here.

The WHL standings are here.

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The mayor of Duncan says the city is focusing on making a difference for people when it comes to community safety and advocacy. 

The City of Duncan has released documents detailing a commitment to community safety, including a plan to expand services beyond the Trans-Canada Highway corridor. 

“We want to include core residential neighbourhoods and commercial areas throughout the city and refocus efforts on concrete actions we can take,” the city said. “Such as bylaw enforcement, litter and sharps-collection programs, and enhanced security.” 

Mayor Michelle Staples said the plan aims to provide the tools needed to make a difference while helping those in need. “Our Community Safety Action Plan and Advocacy Strategy lay out a clear path forward,” she said. “We’re focusing on the pieces that actually make a difference for people, strengthening both enforcement and community supports.” 

The new plan will replace the Safer Community Plan previously implemented by the city and the Municipality of North Cowichan. According to the city, it seeks to balance the rights of people experiencing homelessness, especially those who lack access to supports. 

City officials said the plan will define the city’s future direction and provide a clear list of goals to senior governments for issues beyond the municipal boundary. 

Council hopes this will also help identify the “root cause” of community-safety issues. 

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Two Quadra Elementary students have been selected as winners in the First Peoples’ Cultural Council holiday-card contest, a provincial initiative recognising creative talent among Indigenous children and youth across B.C.

According to a release from School District 72 (SD72), Taylor Morison, 6, of the Tahltan Nation, and Carter Hunt, 8, of the We Wai Kai Nation, were chosen as top artists in their respective age categories.

During the SD72 board meeting on Nov. 25, superintendent Geoff Manning highlighted the young artists and praised their holiday cards.

“They’re just really quite striking,” Manning said. “[It’s] amazing that a six-year-old and an eight-year-old created those cards.”

The district said each student receives 20 printed cards featuring their artwork and a $150 gift card in recognition of their achievement.

According to the release, the FPCC holiday-card contest “highlights the talent and creativity of young Indigenous artists.” Submissions are grouped into four age categories, with one design selected from each. The final cards will be shared with First Nations communities across B.C., partner organizations, colleagues and the broader FPCC network throughout the holiday season.

Quadra Elementary and SD72 said they are proud of Taylor and Carter, noting their artistic gifts and cultural expression.

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Nelson Hydro customers are urging the utility to take a more environmentally conscious approach to its rights-of-way pest management plan.

Nelson Hydro laid out its draft pest management plan in early November, but it has sparked criticism over the utility’s use of chemical herbicides.

At a public meeting held on Tuesday, Nov. 25, residents questioned why Nelson Hydro “just meets” the minimum standard rather than leading with environmental stewardship in mind.

Concerns focused on the use of glyphosate, which Nelson Hydro said has been used only twice in the last decade.

“The fact that it hasn’t been used only twice by Nelson Hydro in the last 10 years. Wouldn’t it make sense to rule its use out altogether?” asked one community member.

“Even if it’s more labour intensive and therefore costly, two occasions in 10 years cannot be that expensive. Let’s do the right thing and ban all use of gylsophosate.”

Other suggestions included restricting chemicals in controlled areas like substations so they aren’t near water, animals, gardens or people.

Notification practices were also raised. Residents shared experiences of discovering tree removal or chemical treatments with little warning in the past.

“One morning I woke up and a tree was coming down off of my property. That’s how much notice there was,” said a resident of Beggs Road.

Nelson Hydro staff said they currently use door notices, sandwich boards and website updates, but acknowledged the need to improve its notification practices to provide more transparency and include maps of where treatments are planned.

Community members proposed creating a community task force to provide ongoing input and explore improved, environmentally friendly strategies.

Nelson Hydro said it could envision such an initiative, particularly if funding is available to support it.

The utility also confirmed that all vegetation management is currently mechanical and “highly targeted,” using methods such as backpack sprayers on individual plants or stump injections rather than broad spraying.

Nelson Hydro’s future plans include using GIS mapping to better identify sensitive areas and determine safe setbacks for any treatments.

Residents are encouraged to continue providing feedback on the plan online or by email as the utility collects input to revise the draft PMP, balancing reliability and environmental responsibility.

More information on the plan, and how to get involved, can be found here. 

Want to get your business noticed? Have you considered advertising through your local radio station? Speak to one of our sales agents and find out how radio advertising can boost your business today. Call 250-365-7600 or email Vista Radio.

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British Columbia’s second quarterly budget report shows a projected deficit of $11.2 billion for 2025-26. 

The figure is lower than the $11.6 billion predicted in the last budget update in September, but still up from the $10.9 billion shortfall the NDP government initially forecast for the year. 

Finance Minister Brenda Bailey tabled the budget update Thursday. 

It projects B.C.’s economy to grow by 1.4 per cent this year — down slightly from the 1.5 per cent growth forecast in last quarter’s update — as U.S. tariffs and global uncertainty hit exports and business investment.

“We’re undoubtedly seeing the impact of U.S. tariffs,” Bailey said. “We’re diversifying our trade relationships with new partners and approving major industrial projects to provide good jobs for people and economic security, no matter what the world throws at us.”

The report said increased revenues largely stem from personal and corporate income tax, though a significant amount of those gains are due to prior-year adjustments from updated 2024 assessments.

The report said retail sales have also been stronger than expected, partly due to a rush to purchase big-ticket items, such as vehicles, before U.S. tariffs kicked in. However, Bailey said retail sales are starting to slow and that downward trend is expected to continue. 

Bailey also said the province is on track to exceed its target of reducing government expenditures by $300 million this year through cuts to administrative costs. She said the B.C. Public Service is expected to shed the equivalent of 700 full-time employees this fiscal year, after a hiring freeze implemented last December and job action by public sector workers. 

Changes to the timing of projects mean taxpayer supported capital spending decreased by $763 million compared to the first quarter, to $13.9 billion. Bailey noted those costs will be shifted to future years. 

Taxpayer supported debt was forecast at $117.7 billion for the year. 

Bailey warned that while the numbers show some improvement from the last update, the province continues to face significant spending pressures. 

“This snapshot shows that our deficit is slightly down, but the financial pressures that we face have not abated,” said Bailey. She said health care costs are rising with B.C.’s aging population, while federal immigration policies are impacting the labour force. 

Bailey said it is too early to see the full impact of the recent strike by public service workers with the B.C. General Employees Union, but acknowledged the mediated agreement reached in late October would significantly affect the government’s bottom line in future years.

The BCGEU reached an mediated agreement with the province after two months of job action. It included a general wage increase of three per cent each year for four years.

Bailey said there were income losses due to BCGEU strike action that shut down B.C. Liquor Distribution Board warehouses and provincial liquor and cannabis stores for weeks. Bailey said any payroll savings during the strike likely won’t make up for the lost income from liquor sales. 

The budget update also shows natural resource revenues are down $20 million, mainly due to lower water availability and falling oil prices. 

Total wildfire spending for the fiscal year is expected to be $725 million, which was about $126 million lower than forecast in the first quarter. 

The B.C. Wildfire Service said this year’s wildfire season saw close to 8,900 square kilometres burned, but was less destructive than the previous two seasons. 

In its annual report on the fire season released earlier this month, the BCWS said $510 million had been spent on wildfire suppression as of Nov. 1.

That compares to $621 million by the end of the 2024 wildfire season, and about $1.1 billion in 2023.

B.C. Conservative finance critic Peter Milobar said the budget report is “very concerning,” pointing to the province’s mounting deficit year-over-year and the budget’s reliance on prior-year income and corporate tax adjustments in its revenues.

The MLA for Kamloops Centre said the province is also using the “magical trick” of adding its share of the $2.7 billion tobacco settlement to its revenues for the year. B.C. received an initial payment of $936 million, but the rest of the funds are due to be paid out over the next 18 years. 

When delivering the first quarterly update in September, Bailey denied accusations of using the settlement money to soften the appearance of B.C.’s sky-high deficit, insisting it was part of a normal accounting practice.

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The Town of Comox is celebrating the completion of upgrades to Aspen Park.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Friday, Nov. 28, to mark the official opening of the playground, which began construction in October.

The project received a $25,000 donation from the Comox Valley Lions Club, while Kal Tire contributed $20,000 for new rubber surfacing through its Kal-Tire RePlay Fund.

The town said it is grateful for these partnerships and commitment to creating welcoming spaces in the community.

The playground is now open for public use.

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The Sunshine Coast Regional District says ongoing staffing shortages are forcing reduced hours at Pender Pool and its gym. 

The district said low attendance at the facility also contributed to the decision to change hours. 

Starting Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, the following schedule will take effect: 

Sunday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Monday: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Tuesday: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Wednesday: 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.; gym only from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; 3:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Thursday: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Friday: Closed
Saturday: Closed 

“The SCRD thanks residents for their patience and understanding as efforts continue to recruit qualified aquatics staff for our swimming pools,” said the district in a news release. 

Recruitment is ongoing and the SCRD encourages certified lifeguards to apply through its website. The district also offers training courses to help qualify future lifeguards. 

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Prince George Mayor and Council will once again discuss the short-term future the Aquatic Centre at Monday’s meeting.

This despite council already voting in favour of its two-year closure to perform 37-million dollars worth of upgrades earlier this month.

Councillor, Tim Bennett told MyPGNow.com Mayor Simon Yu is revisiting the issue once again by exercising his right under the community charter.

“This is based on the mayor having additional information to share so it’s my job as a councillor to come to the meeting with an open mind, hear the information that is going to be presented and then make a decision whether to support the recommendation or not.”

“We need to take in the feedback that we continue to receive from the community and to make the best decision I can at the table.”

Bennett was one of six Councillors that were in agreement to shut down the facility for two years stating it was the most prudent option that was presented to council.

“Ensuring that we best use tax payer dollars, rather than spending money over the next four years doing work and possibly re-doing work that had already been done the best use use of tax payer dollars to do all the work at once, recognizing the inconvenience it does cause closing the pool for an extended period of time.”

In April of 2024, the city approved the upgrades following an Alternative Approval Process.

Last month, the City of Prince George announced the Aquatic Centre would be closing for two years as of January 1st, 2026.

During the November 3rd meeting an item of correspondence from Shane Milne, outlining the negative impacts a two-year closure would have for the swimming community in the City.

In his letter, Milne stated there could be an immediate degradation of training standards due to the Canfor Leisure Pool not being equipped for a competition level program, as well as the financial burden of not being able to host swim meets.

He urged City Council to commit to the following measures:

• Investigated phased renovation and shorter downtime
• Commitment to partnership for competitive readiness
• Strict and transparent reopening timeline

After highlighting some of the concerns in Milne’s letter, Councillor Trudy Klassen put forward a motion, asking administration to return a report on options to avoid a two-year shut down.

Klassen’s motion was defeated, with Councillors Ramsay, Polillo, Sampson, Scott, Bennett, Frizzell opposed.

Monday’s council meeting begins at 6pm from the council chambers at City Hall.

– with files from Darin Bain, MyPGNow.com staff

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**Update**

Taseko Mines Limited is reporting that a bus transporting employees to its Gibraltar copper mine, northeast of Williams Lake, left the road at approximately 7 o’clock this morning less than 1 kilometre from the mine gate.

The company stated in a release that upon leaving the road, the bus remained upright and came to an abrupt stop.

It says given the proximity to the mine site, Gibraltar’s Emergency Response Team was first to respond, BC Ambulance and RCMP also responded.

Taseko says 8 employees plus the bus driver were transported to the hospital.

In total the bus carried 18 mine employees and the driver.

**Original Story**

Williams Lake RCMP is on scene of a vehicle incident that happened earlier today.

Drive BC reported that the incident occurred near the Gibraltar Mine Substation.

Staff Sargeant Brad McKinnon says at this time criminality is not suspected and injuries are still being assessed.

McKinnon says the bus involved was a commercial bus and not a school bus and that the incident remains under active investigation.

Drive BC reports that the Gibraltar Mine Road reopened to single lane alternating traffic.

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The Campbell River Minor Hockey Association’s female program is gearing up for a meaningful day on the ice as it prepares for its Hockey Fights Cancer Day on Saturday, Nov. 29.

Chad Braithwaite, female director for the CRMHA, said he is always looking for ways to make the girls’ program stand out.

“The girls will wear custom jerseys with purple socks and tape their sticks in lavender hockey tape for the event,” Braithwaite said. “All coaches were also given purple Hockey Fights Cancer jerseys that they will get to keep. On the back, they have the names of loved ones who have died of cancer, those who have beaten the disease or are currently fighting.”

All games will be played on Rink 2 at Strathcona Gardens, 225 S. Dogwood St. Game times are 8:15 to 9:45 a.m. for U11, 10 to 11:30 a.m. for U15, 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. for U13 and 4:45 to 6:15 p.m. for U18.

“Inside the arena, there will be a table with ‘I fight for’ cards available to put names or sayings on, and these will be taped to the glass around the arena,” Braithwaite said. “We will also have Hurricanes parents and players, as well as a few girls from the Impact and players from the Wildcats female adult league here in Campbell River, helping run 50/50 draws and a lollipop pull where you could win a prize.”

Prizes from those draws include a trip for two to Las Vegas — flights, hotel and two tickets to the Maple Leafs vs. Golden Knights; a $700 WestJet gift card; a $250 Esso gas card; a Trigger Pro hockey stick and Hurricanes hockey gloves.

“I want to thank Kevin Lance of El Toro Contracting, Charlie Walcot from Walcot Industries, and Bobby Chandhok from Griffin Restorations, as well as Fitness Etc., for purchasing the commemorative jerseys,” Braithwaite said. “Thanks to Don Dawson from Double D Sportswear in Victoria for manufacturing the jerseys in a timely fashion.”

Organizers hope to raise $5,000 for cancer research while giving players and the community an epic day of hockey in the process.

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Comox has indeed heard about the bird.

Nature Canada has awarded the Town of Comox an Intermediate Bird Friendly certification to recognise its efforts to protect birds and their habitats.

According to Nature Canada, Comox is one of only 34 communities in Canada to earn this distinction. The award reflects work by town council and local conservation groups to help transform the community.

Nature Canada defines a bird-friendly community as one that has:

• effectively mitigated key threats to birds
• restored natural spaces so native bird populations can thrive
• engaged residents in observing and monitoring local bird populations
• organised events to protect birds
• adopted municipal policies favourable to urban bird conservation
• established a Bird Team to lead these initiatives

Mayor Nicole Minions said Comox already holds “bat-friendly” and “bee-friendly” designations and that town staff and council are proud of the volunteer bird-friendly team.

“The Town of Comox is proud of the work of the local bird friendly volunteer team. They have made it possible to achieve bird friendly certification and contribute further to our ecosystem protection,” she said. “This intermediate certification from Nature Canada is another way that Comox is being recognised for conservation and ties in perfectly with our other designations of being bat and bee friendly. It’s the small but meaningful actions that have proven to be effective and that we can proudly stand behind collectively.”

Nature Canada said the volunteer Bird Friendly team will continue efforts toward ongoing improvement to ensure a healthy, safe environment for both bird populations and community residents.

The local Bird Friendly team comprises residents of the Comox Valley who worked to earn certification through 2025. The group is welcoming new members, especially those with social-media experience or knowledge of insects and aquatic birds. Interested individuals may contact them at [email protected].

In 2025, Comox joins communities such as Kingston, Ontario; Stratford, Ontario; and Gatineau, Quebec in being recognised as bird friendly.

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Arlo is this week’s Summit Radio Pet of the Week from the BC SPCA West Kootenay. He is a 9-Month-Old Neutered Kangal Mix Looking for His Forever Home!

This sweet, goofy boy is ready to find a family of his own! He’s treat-motivated, eager to learn, and full of puppy enthusiasm. Like many Kangal mixes, he can be a bit stubborn, but with consistency and structure he shines.

He needs plenty of mental and physical stimulation to keep him happy-think puzzle toys, training sessions, long walks, and room to stretch those legs. A secure, fenced yard is a must for this big, curious pup.

He’s a good boy with lots of potential, and he’ll thrive with an adopter who understands working-breed needs and is ready to invest time and patience into helping him grow.

If you’re looking for a loyal companion with a big heart and an even bigger personality, he might be your perfect match!

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The Sparwood Food Bank is asking for donations of food, cash or time this holiday season.

A community food drive is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 30 at 5 p.m., with emergency services crews and volunteers going door to door in neighbourhoods around Sparwood to collect contributions.

In addition to food and monetary donations, the food bank is looking for volunteers to help sort through the collected items. Those able to assist are encouraged to go to the Union Hall in Sparwood after 5 p.m. on Nov. 30, or on Monday, Dec. 1 during one of three shifts: 9:30 a.m. to noon, 1 to 4 p.m. or 5 to 7 p.m. Volunteers are also welcome on Tuesday, Dec. 2 from 9:30 a.m. to noon or 1 to 4 p.m.

While all donations are appreciated, the food bank is especially in need of non-perishable, non-expired items suitable for hampers. High-priority items include Kraft Dinner, tuna, pasta, pasta sauce, baked beans, canned vegetables and soup — specifically tomato, mushroom, chicken noodle or vegetable.

Other useful donations include cereal, peanut butter, juice, laundry and dish soap, and toiletries.

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Cranbrook city council has given two readings to an updated official community plan to incorporate findings from the 2024 interim housing needs report.

The report outlines the number of housing units required over the next five and 20 years.

Cranbrook is expected to need 1,262 units in the next five years and a total of 3,650 over the next two decades.

The city is required to update its OCP with the findings by Dec. 31 to fulfill provincial requirements.

Community planner Conor Britton said the city is in a good spot zoning wise to be able to meet the housing needs.

“We have sufficient land base to meet the needs. There’s enough residential zoned land,” he said.

“We don’t have to change anything in the zoning bylaw because we are meeting our residential needs.”

The proposed changes to the official community plan will be up for adoption at a future council meeting.

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Fernie’s firehall project was the talk of the town at this year’s council town hall.

Most of the nearly two-hour session was devoted to the project, which has divided residents since council voted in favour of locating the facility on a portion of Prentice Park.

The other potential site was at 902 Second Avenue along the railroad.

Councillor Troy Nixon said it was originally his preferred site.

“When this came in front of us in my first term, I was for the 902 location and it made sense,” he said.

“We were going to put the firehall in the back, commercial/retail in the front, residential above and a daycare in there too. It was going to be the ideal building.”

While the site could technically work, Nixon said certain building requirements, due to the proximity of the railroad, would greatly increase the cost.

“There’s this thing called post-disaster construction. It means that you’re entire building needs to be built to the standard that it’s the last standing in your community if there’s another train disaster,” he added.

“That was going to take that building from $20 million to a $100 million building, because all of the building had to be post-disaster construction. I changed my mind.”

Councillor Kyle Hamilton recognizes the Prentice Park site isn’t the perfect location but but said these are the difficult decisions council was elected to make.

“The council that was elected by this community chose to go with the Prentice Park location and I will support that decision,” he added.

“I’m not going to be somebody who will throw their toys because I didn’t get my way on one vote. I know it’s divisive in the community, we’ve heard it loud and clear, but at the end of the day we need a firehall and it’s been 46 years since this city has had a dedicated firehall.”

He said they have the opportunity with possible grant funding to build this facility at an incredible price.

“Thanks to very fortuitous timing, we have the opportunity to get a $7 million grant that could potentially wind the clock back to early 2000s pricing for the community to build this firehall,” he said.

“We would be foolish not to try and pursue that to the best of our abilities.”

If successful, the city would only be on the hook for $3.6 million.

The city is currently in the process of finalizing the building’s design.

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The First Nations Centre Research Studio at UNBC was renamed during a ceremony at the Prince George campus.

It was renamed after the late Lheidli T’enneh Elder Edith (Edie) Frederick, who was beloved and respected for her passion in preserving the Dakelh (Carrier) language and culture that left a lasting imprint on the school.

UNBC said Frederick supported students, faculty and staff in learning from Indigenous knowledge systems and ways of being, helping shape it’s efforts to enact Reconciliation and advance Indigenization across the PG campus.

An engraved wooden plaque highlighting some of Edie’s many contributions will remain on display in the studio alongside her portrait.

Frederick’s family joined with members of the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation and students, faculty and staff on Monday for a ribbon-cutting in the Edie Frederick Indigenous Research Studio.

UNBC unveiled another plaque on Tuesday honouring the late Sophie Thomas in Lhuhuhwhezdel: The Gathering Place, underneath her portrait.

Thomas was a prominent knowledge keeper and medicine woman from the Saik’uz First Nation, and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in May 2010.

More information can be found on UNBC’s website here.

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The Bow Horn Bay Fire Department will receive a custom 4×4 fire truck designed for rural firefighting, the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) announced.  

The new vehicle, built by Fort Garry Fire Trucks, cost about $745,000. Funding comes from $270,000 in reserve funds and up to $475,000 via short-term borrowing.  

The truck features a 4×4 drivetrain, a 1,050-gallon-per-minute pump and carries 1,000 gallons of water. It seats five firefighters and stores ladders of 10-, 14-, 24- and 35-foot lengths.  

“This is Bow Horn Bay Fire Department’s first new fire apparatus in 15 years and we are looking forward to having it serve the community for decades to come,” said Mark Taylor, fire chief for Bow Horn Bay Fire Department. 

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A man from Campbell River has been fined $5,000 after being convicted for illegal shellfish harvesting.  

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) said Albert Joseph Thomas Blaney was found guilty Nov. 12, 2025, in Campbell River Provincial Court of two offences under the Fisheries Act: illegal possession of shellfish and fishing without a licence.  

The offences stem from a Jan. 11, 2023 inspection at the BC Ferries terminal at Heriot Bay on Quadra Island, near Campbell River.

Officers discovered 22 sacks containing about 1,750 pounds of clams in a vehicle leaving the ferry.

None of the clams had the required bore tags to show lawful harvest under a commercial shellfish licence or aquaculture lease, and no commercial harvest was open at the time.  

DFO said unlicensed shellfish harvesting undermines sustainable fisheries, threatens the livelihoods of licensed harvesters and Indigenous food sources, and poses health risks if shellfish are harvested from contaminated areas.  

Anyone with information on suspected illegal harvesting is encouraged to contact DFO’s violation reporting line.  

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Williams Lake RCMP is on scene of a vehicle incident that happened earlier this morning (November 28).

Drive BC reported that the incident occurred near the Gibraltar Mine Substation.

Staff Sargeant Brad McKinnon says at this time criminality is not suspected and injuries are still being assessed.

McKinnon says the bus involved was a commercial bus and not a school bus and that the incident remains under active investigation.

Drive BC reports that the Gibraltar Mine Road reopened to single lane alternating traffic.

More information to come when it becomes available.

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It’s another blow to the region’s forestry sector.

Today (Friday), Conifex announced a four-week curtailment at its Mackenzie sawmill due to the continued weakness within the North American Lumber Market.

The curtailments will begin on December 15th and is expected to reduce production by 13 million board feet.

Earlier this week, Drax announced it will be ceasing operations at its Williams Lake pellet plant by the end of this year.

In addition, West Fraser is shuttering its 100 Mile House sawmill.

The two Cariboo closures will put nearly 200 people out of a job.

-files by Brendan Pawliw-MyPGNow

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Eligible people in and around Prince George are able to get a lung cancer screening.

Appointments will be held at the University Hospital of Northern B.C., where patients are put through a CT scanner, which can help find cancer in its early stages.

Northern Health Lung Screening Medical Lead Dr. Shyr Chui said lung cancer is still the leading cause of death compared to other cancers.

“It grows silently and you don’t know about it until it becomes quite large, then starts involving other parts of the chest, and that’s when you develop symptoms” said Dr. Chui.

“By the time that happens, it may have spread to other parts of the body or within the chest, and it’s much more difficult to treat, and sometimes incurable at that point.”

Dr. Chui added they’re expecting the program to expand, putting more scanners in across northern B.C., and taking in new patients.

He encourages people that are eligible to get in touch by calling the phone line (1-877-717-5864), and to encourage others that are also eligible.

More information on the lung screening program can be found on BC Cancer’s website here.

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North Island-Powell River MP Aaron Gunn has made an inaugural visit to Lund.

Area A Director Jason Lennox says Gunn took him up on an offer during the Union of BC Municipalities conference and visited the village for a couple of hours during a recent weekend.

They visited a bakery and took questions from constituents.

Lennox told members of the qathet Regional Board on Wednesday (Nov. 26), it was also a chance to talk about federal issues.

“I tried to fit in all of the different things federally that are affecting Area A. Our marine facility in Lund is condemned, the dock in Lund, the main wharfhead. So those are the types of things we need our MP to be advocating for so I think it was educational for him to see that,” he said.

Lennox says the other issue was the federal grant “in play” for the Lund Waterworks Improvement District.

He says it was a learning experience for the Conservative Member of Parliament.

“Do a little education about what it means to live in an area with a treaty First Nation and I think our MP needs to learn a little bit more about that. He actually asked me a lot of pertinent questions and I’ve gotta give him credit for that,” Lennox said.

Lennox and Gunn already have another meeting planned for this Sunday (Nov. 30) in order to “continue that work with him (Gunn).”

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Police in Cranbrook and the BC Highway Patrol will be increasing their traffic check stops as we get closer to the holidays.

Local police and the BC Highway Patrol joined forces on Monday, Nov. 24, and completed a combined total of 87 mandatory alcohol screenings.

During that stop, police issued one 90-day immediate roadside prohibition, arrested a prohibited driver and issued a 24-hour driving suspension.

RCMP officials said it’s important to plan ahead and arrange a safe ride as holidays and celebrations approach.

Drivers can expect to see more targeted enforcement through December.

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It’s another blow to the region’s forestry sector.

Today (Friday), Conifex announced a four-week curtailment at its Mackenzie sawmill due to the continued weakness within the North American Lumber Market.

The curtailments will begin on December 15th and is expected to reduce production by 13 million board feet.

Earlier this week, Drax announced it will be ceasing operations at its Williams Lake pellet plant by the end of this year.

In addition, West Fraser is shuttering its 100 Mile House sawmill.

The two Cariboo closures will put nearly 200 people out of a job.

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Fernie business owners can expect to pay a little more for business licenses as council adopted changes to the Business Licensing and Regulation bylaw at this week’s council meeting.

Fees now jump from $100 to $150 a year, which Finance direct Bryn Burditt defends saying it were losing money from the time it takes to process licenses.

“We’re losing money on running the program as it is, which means it’s being subsidized by our regular property tax payers,” he said.

While the annual fee is now set at $150, there are additional fees for changes to business location, ownership transfers, name changes and inspections.

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“It’s going to be very difficult to get any project like this through British Columbia.”

That’s from BC Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief Terry Teegee after Alberta and Ottawa worked towards an agreement to build a new pipeline along BC’s coast.

In an interview, Teegee told Vista Radio there are no shortage of concerns from area First Nations if such a project gained momentum.

“The Hecate Straight is a very precarious where a tanker would come in and we all know the ongoing effects of what we see on Exxon Valdez (in 1989) laying aground in Alaska along the coast. When it comes to the risks, its a matter of when and where this pipeline breaches.”

Simply put, Teegee believes the proposed route of the project has a lot more risk than reward and that the opposition of such a project will likely come in many forms.

“The area especially on the coast and the Interior I would say contributes to the B.C. economy and right now we are at over $21 billion dollars and 200-thousand that have jobs who would be at risk in these areas especially along the coast. I think we are very concerned about the risks.”

“Many first nations as far as I know that I have seen either publicly or have put statements out are opposed to any sort of project in the route that they are proposing in the northwest coast not only going across the terrestrial lands of British Columbia but also the coastal lands where there is an ongoing tanker ban.”

“This project would be imposed on British Columbia to take a lot of the risk as well as completely ignoring the fundamental obligations of the federal government and the province of B.C. to uphold the United Nations Declaration of Rights of Indigenous Peoples,” added Teegee.

Teegee concluded many first nations will likely not support this project looking at different avenues to get their concerns out whether its publicly or via the court system.

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The Adventure Hotel will host its annual Toy Drive and Community Breakfast this Sunday, Nov. 30, bringing holiday cheer to children in need across the community.

“It is a great way for us to be able to kick off the holiday season and help some local underprivileged kids. And that’s really what this is all about,” said Rob Little, general manager of the Adventure Hotel. “We’ve been doing it now, well, with a little break during COVID, but we started this in 2017. So we’re getting good at it.”

Little said the hotel’s chef “pulls out all the stops” for breakfast.

“You know, we’ve got a full pastry station, eggs Benny, bacon, sausage, hash browns, waffle station, you know, with all the fun treats for the kids — and maybe the kids in us — to put on those things. So the whipped cream and all the other fun stuff, berries, etc.”

Guests are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy, children’s book or cash donation in exchange for breakfast.

“Breakfast is on Santa’s tab, basically. So you can just come help yourself and enjoy it,” said Little.

This year, the event is placing more emphasis on gifts for older children.

“We’re really wanting to try to focus on those kids that are, you know, 10, 11, 12 and older,” said Little. “I mean, we always want to focus on the little kids, but sometimes that middle-aged group kind of gets forgotten. And, you know, things like gift cards go over great.”

He noted that gift cards from stores on Baker Street and other shops in Nelson are ideal for older kids who can be more difficult to buy for.

The Toy Drive and Community Breakfast will be held Sunday at the Adventure Hotel.

“Swing on by, drop off a toy, brand new book or a gift card, and get yourself breakfast on Santa’s tab,” said Little.

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The City of Nelson has named its 2025 sustainability-in-leadership and heritage award winners, along with the 2026 sports ambassador and cultural ambassador.

The city said in a press release that this year’s honourees represent a diverse group of community leaders ranging from environmental stewardship, cultural preservation, youth engagement and the arts.

The awards highlight individuals and organizations whose work strengthens community resilience and contributes to a more vibrant and connected Nelson.

Sustainability award winners

Three organizations have been named recipients of the 2025 Sustainability Leadership Awards: the Nelson Lions Club, North Mountain Construction and Kootenay Co-op.

Nelson Lions Club

The club was recognized for eight decades of being a “steady force” in the community.

Founded as a small group of volunteers 80 years ago, the organization has grown into a dynamic body behind many long-standing local traditions such as the annual firewood sale, Christmas-tree pickup, the spring Lions Park Day and the popular Canada Day pancake breakfast.

The city said funds raised through these activities support year-round community grants that help meet local needs.

“Their long-standing dedication to community resilience and sustainability has strengthened Nelson for generations,” said the city.

North Mountain Construction

North Mountain Construction was honoured for its innovative approach to environmentally responsible building.

The city said the company has made energy-efficient design, durable materials and reduced-emissions construction central to its work, with an emphasis on lowering environmental impacts over the life of a building.

The company employs more than 50 residents and has contributed to several community projects, including the Nelson Youth Centre indoor skate park and the supportive-housing project at 45 Government Road.

“North Mountain Construction continues to set a high standard for sustainability-focused construction and is helping build a more resilient future for our region,” said the city.

Kootenay Co-op

Kootenay Co-op received its award for its ongoing commitment to environmental responsibility, local food systems and community support.

Over the past 50 years,the co-op has raised more than $180,000 for community organizations.

It has built partnerships with 126 local suppliers and diverted more than 40,000 containers from landfills through its Bring-Your-Own-Container program. It has also earned Green Certified and Water Friendly certifications from BC Green Business.

“Their commitment to supporting a resilient and local food economy makes the Kootenay Co-op a deserving recipient of this year’s Sustainability Award,” the city said.

Heritage award

The 2025 Heritage Award was presented posthumously to Alan Ramsden, who died in 2021.

Ramsden was a lifelong Nelson resident whose decades of community service helped shape the city’s cultural landscape.

“Alan exemplified the leadership, passion and long-term vision that this award was created to celebrate. His lifelong passion and commitment to preserving Nelson’s heritage left an extraordinary legacy, and we are grateful for his decades of service that helped shape the museum and our community,” said the city.

Ramsden contributed to a variety of community organizations, including the Boy Scouts, the Nelson & District Arts Council, the recreation commission and the chamber of commerce.

But perhaps his greatest legacy, according to the city, was his role as a founding member of the Nelson Museum, Archives & Gallery in 1955.

He served on the museum board for more than 50 years and worked tirelessly to safeguard artifacts, build community partnerships, mentor volunteers and secure long-term sustainability for the museum.

The city said his efforts to protect and preserve the historic Ladybird speedboat – now permanently displayed at the Hall Street Pier – remain one of many ways he shaped the region’s cultural landscape.

Sports ambassador

Local climber, guidebook author and route setter Allen Rollin has been named Nelson’s 2026 sports ambassador in recognition of his contributions to making the Kootenays a world-class climbing destination.

Over more than a decade, the city said Rollin has developed numerous climbing and bouldering routes throughout the West Kootenay, making the sport safer, more accessible and more exciting for athletes of all levels.

At The Cube Climbing Gym, Rollin is known for creative, challenging route-setting that fosters confidence, skill and joy among climbers young and old.

“Through leadership, dedication and passion, Allen exemplifies what it means to be a Nelson Sports Ambassador and continues to elevate both the sport of climbing and Nelson’s reputation as a hub for adventure,” the city said.

Cultural ambassador

Acclaimed jazz vocalist, songwriter and educator Melody Diachun has been named Nelson’s 2026 cultural ambassador.

A Juno Award nominee and Western Canadian Music Award recipient, Diachun has released five acclaimed albums and is preparing her sixth for release in 2026.

Beyond her recording career, Diachun has spent more than a decade teaching in Selkirk College’s Contemporary Music and Technology program and now serves as chair of the School of Arts & Technology.

The city praised her artistic intelligence, educational leadership and national recognition as qualities that make her a standout representative for Nelson’s cultural community.

“Embodying the spirit of this award, her excellence as an artist, dedication as an educator and leadership in the arts make her an exceptional representative for Nelson.”

Want to get your business noticed? Have you considered advertising through your local radio station? Speak to one of our sales agents and find out how radio advertising can boost your business today. Call 250-365-7600 or email Vista Radio.

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Prince George will have the holiday season kick off with the City’s 30^th Annual Civic Light Up tonight (Friday).

The event takes place at the Canada Games Plaza, with new additions to boost the holiday spirit including:

• The annual plaza light up at 6 p.m.
• Visits with Santa
• Horse drawn carriage rides with BCNE
• Free ice skating and rentals
• Face painting
• Nanguz ‘An outdoor market vendors
• Storytime at the library at 4:30 and 6:30 p.m.
• Plaid Friday shopping throughout downtown
• Whimsy & Wonder Market and kids’ corner at Two Rivers Gallery from 5:30 to 8 p.m.
• Street hockey with the Cariboo Cougars and Northern Capitals
• Live music and entertainment featuring Chris Goodwin Band, Nove Voce Choral Society, Judy Russell’s Enchainement Dance Centre, and College Heights Ecole choir
• Food vendors
• Free hot chocolate and holiday goodies
• Prince George Spruce Kings against the Chilliwack Chiefs at 7pm at Kopar Memorial Arena

The City said the investments into Canada Games Plaza with Tourism’s year-round skating rink and outdoor market will help make the event be bigger and better than ever.

The Civic Light Up begins at 4 p.m. and goes until 8 p.m.

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The society that runs the Phoenix Mountain ski hill is hoping for another $10,000 from the City of Grand Forks to help pay for additional insurance and other costs.

Cathy Astofooroff, the volunteer administrator, appeared before city council Monday asking for an increase from $20,000 this past season to $30,000 in the upcoming season.

She said they have learned that the ski industry standard for commercial general liability insurance is $5 million to $10 million, but they only carry $2 million. Increased coverage would mean higher premiums, going from about $7,500 to $10,000, on top of a regular four per cent increase.

Astofooroff said they also have increased expenses for things like fuel, utilities, wages and equipment, which is “all needed to continue the safe and reliable operations.”

She described last season as “an incredible year” with “lots of snow” and about 9,000 skier visits over 27 operating days. The hill earns revenue through a concession as well as a rental shop.

“We had lots of community events, and that encourages the community to come up, whether they ski or snowboard or not,” she said. “There’s lots of things going on.”

That has included a toboggan party, family day, night skiing, the Phoenix Open zone race, and a spring fling. They also welcomed nearly 300 students from five schools.

Astofooroff said thanks to the operation’s sustainability, they have staff who return year after year, including a manager coming back for a third year, and a concession manager heading into her 35th season.

She said they have new signage, new trail maps, and lots of new safety equipment. They have also upgraded all of the racer equipment and snowboard rental equipment, and made improvements within the terrain park and to the rope tow. Lift maintenance has been completed and all the runs and the terrain park have been brushed with support from the community, including a local trails group that provided a mower.

Additionally, Astofooroff said they have had a full wildfire assessment done and completed fuel mitigation work.

City council referred the society’s request to its budget discussions. In addition to funding from the city, the ski hill received $29,000 from the regional district last season, and applies for grants as needed.

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A Seasonal campaign to get you and your vehicle home safely starts tonight (November 28).

Operation Red Nose will be taking to the streets in Williams Lake every Friday and Saturday night from now until December 20^th and again on New Years Eve.

Coordinator Deborah Pickering said they’re all excited to get going again this year to provide safe rides home in the community from everyone’s Holiday celebrations.

“We run four weekends in a row starting tonight. We open at 9 pm and we’re open until 2 am. However if we’re getting lots of phone calls and are really busy we’ll hang around a little longer until we’re sure everybody has gotten home from their company Christmas parties.”

Pickering noted that typically there are less rides given on the first weekend which she is hoping to break that trend this year.

On the first night in 2024 Operation Red Nose gave 9 rides and almost doubled it up the following evening providing 16 safe rides home.

“We can’t come and pick up people without a vehicle and give them a ride home. They do need one. Then our volunteers drive you home in your vehicle and a third team member follows you home and picks up our volunteers and takes them on to the next ride.”

Pickering said there is no charge and that they don’t ask for money.

“We do hope to get donations from people who use our service. The money at the end of the campaign from all the donations combined is split equally between the non-profit youth groups that provide the drivers. This year we have 3, Cariboo Chilcotin Gymnastics, Cariboo Chilcotin Fiddlers Society, and both the boys and girls U18 Rep hockey teams.”

The number one goal for Operation Red Nose is to help maintain road safety throughout the Holiday Season.

“That’s why we do it,” Pickering said, “to get everyone and their vehicle home safely from their celebrations. Donations are secondary, although always appreciated.”

To book your safe rides home Friday and Saturday nights with Operation Red Nose in Williams Lake call 250-392-22-22.

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Since the start of the year, 25 people who have spent time in Trail’s homeless shelter have been able to find market rental housing, city council has been told.

Council heard a presentation Monday from Nancy Gurr of BC Housing and Sheila Adcock, of the Trail Association for Community Living, which operates the La Nina shelter. The shelter moved to a new facility on Riverside Avenue in September 2024. Although intended to be temporary, council has agreed to allow it to operate at that location through 2028.

Gurr stressed that the shelter, which has 25 beds, does not provide drop-in services, and only overnight guests can access food, showers, and laundry.

Adcock said word about vacancies gets out through people dropping by or phoning the Career Development Services office downtown. They also have a housing facilitator as part of the Getting to Home program who lets people know when space is available, as do nurses who visit the shelter five days per week. Beds are available first-come, first-serve. Typically they don’t stay empty long, Adcock said.

Adcock was asked how many people come to the shelter from the regional hospital or the Daly Pavilion, and if they go to the shelter because they can’t or don’t want to go home.

Adcock replied that up to 10 people a year might come from the hospital, although they are not necessarily from out of the area. She said this year, they helped at least six people return to another community. Some might come from the hospital and stay a few days until they can catch a bus elsewhere.

“So that’s what we say: come for a few days, we’ll help you get back home. Most people are pretty happy to go back to their home community. Very few end up staying here from other communities.”

Adcock said if Trail had a supportive housing facility, some residents would be eligible, having proven their ability to maintain a bed at the shelter. She said sometimes people are unable to meet the shelter’s expectations, but they might return a few weeks later, once they are stable enough to do so.

She said shelter residents can access a number of services, and be referred to their housing faciliator.

“Once we get them stable, she works with landlords, and helps get them housed,” Adcock said. “And then she’s able to follow them.” If things go sideways, landlords are able to contact her. “We’re able to intervene quite quickly and then they don’t lose their space and the landlord’s pretty happy.“

Adcock said they have helped 25 people find rental housing who would have otherwise have been homeless.

She said a handful of shelter residents have been there since the doors opened last year. Before that, they were living on the streets together as a peer group.

“A lot of them are terrified of moving out and living on their own,” Adcock said. “Who’s going to find me if I overdose? Who’s going to help me? Who is going to be there? They’re used to being around a bunch of peers.”

She said they have worked with some residents to suggest they share an apartment, or rent out a room in someone else’s home.

As for those who remain on the street in Trail, Adcock said the majority would never go into any shelter, because “that’s their lifestyle now.” She also said a small number would not be a good fit for the shelter because they are “predatory and assaultive, aggressive towards all of the other guests.”

Councillor Nick Cashol asked about the perimeter walks shelter staff conduct. He was told that while it’s not intended to monitor drug use, staff do walk around the area two to three times a day to prevent loitering and ensure residents abide by good neighbour rules.

“Typically, they’ll move on before we even get close enough to say hello, because they know that is part of their agreement and they could risk losing their bed,” Adcock said.

Cashol asked if BC Housing would consider extending the range for the perimeter walks to Groutage Avenue, but was told that without additional funding, they couldn’t commit to do so.

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Sports by Hartley Friday, November 28th, 2025  as of 12:05 a.m.

WHL:

The (16-7) Prince George Cougars start a 5-game road trip this weekend when they visit the (7-12-1-1) Wenatchee Wild tonight (Friday) and the (10-9-2) Tri-City Americans Saturday.

The Cougars filled their vacant 20-year-old spot by acquiring forward Shaun Rios (’05) who was put on WHL waivers by Wenatchee.

Prince George is riding a 5-game winning steak and sit atop the BC Division by 5 points over the (11-7-3-2) Penticton Vees.

BCHL: 

The (10-9-1) Prince George Spruce Kings host the (9-9-1-1) Chilliwack Chiefs tonight (Friday) at 7:00 and Saturday night at 6:00.

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Lake Cowichan RCMP have arrested seven people over two days while enforcing a court-ordered injunction in the Carmanah Valley near Walbran Forest Service Road.

The injunction, granted by the B.C. Supreme Court in September, prohibits anyone from blocking access to roads or construction sites in the area.

Enforcement began on November 25, when officers advised protesters to comply or face arrest. Most of the 15 to 20 individuals left peacefully, but four were arrested—three for breaching the injunction and one for criminal mischief.

The following day, November 26, officers returned to find the site reoccupied. Three more people were arrested for breaching the injunction. All seven have been processed and released on conditions, with court dates set for January 2026.

RCMP say they will continue monitoring the area to keep the site safe and allow forestry operations to resume.

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Many Vancouver Island individuals and families experience food insecurity, and local organisations are stepping up to help during the holiday season.

99.7 The River is bringing back its “Stuff the Truck” food drive for a second year, collecting non-perishable food and monetary donations to support the Campbell River Food Bank.

“Demand at the food bank is actually way up,” said Rickie Tyler, program director for 99.7 The River. “Just in the month of September, the Campbell River Food Bank served 3,200 people. That’s nearly 10 per cent of the Campbell River population, and their biggest demographic is children, followed by seniors.”

The event runs Saturday, Dec. 13, at Save-On-Foods, 1400 Dogwood St., from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Donations will help fill a truck provided by Adams Tarp and Tool.

Save-On-Foods will host a hot-dog barbecue by donation and display a table of items most needed by the food bank.

The “pallet challenge” returns this year. Participants are encouraged to buy a full pallet of food for $500 and challenge others to do the same.

Tyler said last year’s food drive raised about $10,000. “What was fun is seeing businesses — in particular the car dealerships — start challenging one another to buy a pallet,” she said. “So a lot of money and food was raised that way. It’s just great.”

Early donations are being accepted at The River’s drop-off point at Campbell River Toyota, 2785 N. Island Hwy.

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Ken Kalesnikoff is set to step back from his role as president and CEO of Kalesnikoff Lumber, effective Jan. 1, 2026.

The company said in a statement that Chris Kalesnikoff will take over as president and CEO.

Krystle Seed will serve as chief financial and strategic services officer of Kalesnikoff Lumber Co. and Kalesnikoff Mass Timber Inc.

The two appointments formally evolve the company into the fourth generation of family leadership.

The company said Ken Kalesnikoff plans to turn his full-time attention to industry advocacy, but he will remain a principal and a director of Kalesnikoff’s external advisory board.

“I am incredibly proud of Chris and Krystle’s accomplishments, as well as the entire Kalesnikoff team’s, in transitioning the company from a sawmill and lumber focus to one of North America’s leading mass timber companies and now North America’s first fully integrated mass timber modular offering,” said Ken Kalesnikoff.

“Given global economic challenges impacting the forestry sector, and Kalesnikoff’s recent success, this felt like the right time to focus on supporting our industry and to make way for this next generation of leaders.”

Kalesnikoff has operated for more than eighty-five years. The company opened its first mass timber facility in 2020 in South Slocan, which has been expanded twice.

It also recently launched North America’s first modular mass timber facility in Castlegar in June.

Both facilities use timber from the company’s legacy and foundational sawmill operation in Thrums, making Kalesnikoff one of only a handful of fully integrated mass timber facilities in Canada and the U.S.

“Our growth in the last few years has been exponential and we’ve had an opportunity to work with exceptional partners and clients on many important and spectacular buildings including schools, community facilities, multi-storey housing and commercial buildings across North America,” said Chris Kalesnikoff.

“I’m grateful to previous generations for this opportunity and to our team as we move forward to expand the use of mass timber and modular prefabricated products and services.”

“Our father, Ken, is a visionary and generous leader, and we are incredibly grateful for his guidance and the opportunities he has created here at Kalesnikoff over the last fifty years,” said Krystle Seed.

“We’re excited to lead our exceptional team into the future and to continue his legacy as he shares his many skills with the broader sector.”

Kalesnikoff has 375 employees in the Castlegar region, Vancouver and throughout the province and has completed more than 400 mass timber projects in Canada and the U.S. since 2020.

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Some holiday fun is rolling through Campbell River Friday, Nov. 28, with more festivities planned for the weekend.

The city’s “Deck the Downtown” celebration returns this year, offering a variety of events in the downtown core.

Friday’s lineup includes the BIA Big Truck Parade, a tree light-up, and a fire pit at Spirit Square. Santa and Mrs. Claus will also be visiting, along with other activities.

Saturday, Nov. 29, is “Small Business Saturday,” featuring window painting, strolling carollers, and live entertainment, along with an extensive shopping experience along Shoppers Row.

Sunday, Nov. 30, will host multiple events across downtown, including a toy and craft fair at the Sportsplex, a holiday mini-market, and live music at Beach Fire Brewing.

For a full schedule of Deck the Downtown events, visit the city of Campbell River website.

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“They don’t want EI, they want their jobs back.”

That’s the sentiment from Northern B.C. Conservative MP’s Todd Doherty and Bob Zimmer following Prime Minister Mark Carney’s announcement to provide 500-million each in funding towards a loan program for softwood lumber businesses as well assisting lumber firms facing liquidity pressures.

Cariboo-PG MP Todd Doherty told Vista Radio the funding is a case of too little, too late and that he has two major concerns with the funding announcement.

“Will the US file another countersuit against us because they might feel its an unfair advantage or that the government is propping up or subsidizing our forestry companies by providing this funding mechanism. You have to think about that.”

“What happens when the money runs out?”

Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies MP, Bob Zimmer added the reeling industry has taken a back seat for far too long pointing the finger at both Victoria and Ottawa.

“Since 2016, they have lost 30 mills, 10-thousand direct jobs and three to five times the indirect jobs. We need a provincial and federal government that really takes this seriously.”

Zimmer added Prime Minister Carney needs to find a way to negotiate a softwood lumber agreement with American President Donald Trump. Something that has been missing between the two countries since 2016.

“He should be negotiating a softwood lumber agreement as we speak. We see different deals getting done around uranium and we are getting nothing for the trade. I would expect this prime minister to be on the phone even today asking how he can workout a softwood lumber deal with the president.”

“When you talk about supporting the industry by providing loans that isn’t something we really need in getting a softwood lumber agreement and changing the direction around. Often, Mark Carney will mention other commodities but he won’t mention softwood. It’s been 10 years since the previous Liberal government. When we check to see if it’s up for discussion it is not even on the minister’s agenda.”

The Cariboo region has been rocked hard with the announcement of two mills closures this month. West Fraser is shuttering its 100 Mile House sawmill while Drax will be ceasing operations at its Williams Lake pellet plant.

Doherty stated says closures like the West Fraser sawmill in 100 Mile House will only worsen the local economy.

“The closure of that one plant, that is a million dollars from that municipal tax base. On a budget of three million dollars, that is 30% of the municipal tax base that is gone.”

“Our workers don’t want charity, they don’t want a hand out. They want their jobs back and I think that is something that needs to be done and the enhancements are welcome at this point but it remains to be seen how quickly it can truly make a difference.”

“When you are talking about that single worker that has lost a job it effects their family that they support. You think about the region and how that impacts the grocery stores and how that impacts the car dealerships, it’s far reaching. When there are no jobs in our communities these families are forced to move and when we move them from our region, we are less likely to get them back,” added Doherty.

Both closures will put a combined 200 workers out of a job.

In April, West Fraser’s Williams Lake sawmill began operating on a four-day per week schedule.

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The Sunshine Coast Regional District has received elector approval to borrow up to $13.18 million over 20 years for the Langdale wellfield project.

Provincial legislation required the SCRD to hold an alternate approval process before it could commit to issuing the debt. Under that process, electors had the opportunity to oppose the borrowing; those who did nothing were assumed to approve.

“Elector approval is obtained if less than 10 per cent (2,197) of the total eligible electors state their opposition to the borrowing by submitting a response form to the SCRD,” said Sherry Reid, SCRD corporate officer. “The AAP returned 75 response forms certified as valid in opposition to the borrowing by the deadline; therefore elector approval has been obtained.”

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The Independent Investigations Office (IIO) of BC has completed its investigation into an arrest made in Prince George earlier this year.

Shortly before midnight on April 9th, 2025, police responded to a call from a supportive housing facility on the 1500 block of Victoria Street regarding a suspected intoxicated man walking around the property with a firearm.

According to the IIO, the man was found outdoors, and was taken into custody, but was noted to have sustained a serious but not life-threatening injury during his arrest, and was taken to hospital.

The chief civilian director has reviewed the evidence, including statements from the affected person, civilian witnesses, witness officers, medical and scene evidence, and police reports, determining that there are no reasonable grounds to believe that any officer may have committed an offence.

The IIO said due to concurrent court proceedings related to the incident, the public report will not be released on its website until that process has concluded.

The information on the IIO’s decision can be found here.

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Starting Nov. 28, drivers can expect delays while heading southbound on Highway 19, about 10 km north of Hamm Road near Cumberland, due to paving work.

Crews from local highways contractor Mainroad will pave sections of the highway from 7:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.

Single-lane, alternating traffic will be in place. Drivers are being urged to respect cones and traffic control personnel and watch for roadside workers.

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Starting Nov. 28, drivers can expect delays while heading southbound on Highway 19, about 10 km north of Hamm Road near Cumberland, due to paving work.

Crews will pave sections of the highway from 7:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.

Single-lane, alternating traffic will be in place. Drivers are being urged to respect cones and traffic control personnel and watch for roadside workers.

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City crews are ready for another winter season, awaiting the first major snowfall.

Manager of Roads and Fleet, Jordan Wiseman told MyPGNow.com they are eagerly awaiting the first major dump from Old Man Winter.

“We are fully stocked with traction material and fluorides. With the temperature dropping below zero, we are utilizing a little bit of brine. It will be business as usual once we get our first significant snowfall.”

Wiseman added snow removal operations usual consists of 60 to 65 people mostly made up of city staff with some contractors mixed in.

“We can see anywhere between 20 loader operators or 10 to 11 contracted wheel loaders along with four to five graders.”

“Double-shifting those, there would be another ten operators and potentially you are adding another 30 to 40 contractors through a 24-hour period.”

Parking restrictions are in place from now until April 15 of each year to help with snow and ice control operations:

• Priority Ones and the Hospital District – On-street parking is prohibited from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
• Downtown – On-street parking is prohibited from 12 a.m. to 7 a.m.
• Residential areas – On-street parking is prohibited from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Parking on the side of the street with odd house numbers is permitted from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. unless otherwise posted.

Illegally parked vehicles are subject to a $50 ticket per offence and/or may be towed.

When at least 7.5 centimetres of snow falls over a span of 24 hours we get what the City calls a “snow event”. If a snow event happens, the city mobilizes its fleet (plus any contracted equipment) for action once the snow finally stops.

• Priority 1 (red) and Priority 2 (green) routes are cleared within 48 hours after snowfall ends if at least 7.5 centimetres of accumulates over 24 hours.
• Priority 3 (grey) routes are cleared within 72 hours after Priority 1 (red) and Priority 2 (green) routes are finished.

Earlier this year, city council made the decision to reduce snow removal costs decreasing service levels for priority three routes during STAT Holidays.

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A Prince George-born striker is a step closer to scoring goals for the UNBC hometown Timberwolves.

Today (Thursday) Women’s Soccer head coach Neil Sedgwick announced announced the commitment of Alexa Talbot for 2026 and beyond.

Talbot, a soon-to-be graduate from College Heights Secondary School will play her senior high school season under the watchful eye of T-Wolves alumna Sydney Hall.

“Switching directions and taking on a player and beating them with my speed is my best quality on the pitch,” added Talbot who is a two-time B CUP B.C. Provincial champion and has been helping coach younger PGYSA athletes since 2022.

Coach Sedgwick is excited to have another local player in the fold as he continues to add talent and high character to his roster for the seasons ahead.

“Alexa is another quickly rising product of the youth structure in Prince George,” shared Sedgwick. “We have monitored her progress and we have worked closely with her on a regular basis. It has been great to see her extending herself over the past two years. This has made the difference in her play and we believe that trajectory will continue. We are excited to have Alexa as part of what we’re building at UNBC.”

Between now and August, Talbot will be preparing herself physically for the Canada West season.

WATCH:

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After a thorough bargaining process, the Village of Cumberland and CUPE Local 556 have ratified a new collective agreement. 

The three-year agreement is retroactive to Jan. 1, 2025 and remains in force until Dec. 31, 2027. 

It includes general wage increases of five per cent in the first two years and four per cent in the third year. 

The agreement also includes benefit enhancements and other improvements aimed at strengthening clarity and consistency in the collective-agreement language. 

CUPE Local 556 president Sonya Jenssen said union members appreciated the constructive discussions. 

“We’re pleased to have reached an agreement that helps address the affordability pressures our members are facing while also improving services for residents and businesses.”

Cumberland mayor Vickey Brown said council was glad to reach a deal before the holiday break. 

“Cumberland Council is very pleased that we were able to come to a fair agreement with our employees that recognizes the increased cost of living here and provides decent employee benefits, while still considering the impacts on taxpayers who are also feeling this pinch.”

Both sides said they look forward to maintaining a constructive working relationship throughout the life of the agreement. 

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A team from Confluence Jiu Jitsu brought home multiple medals after competing at the Mountain Mayhem Submission Grappling event earlier this month in Rossland.

The event, held at the historic Miners’ Hall, featured athletes ranging in age from seven to 47 and included a full day of matches across a range of skill levels. The tournament was organized by Rebecca Verlaan and drew competitors from across the region.

Castlegar head coach Ken Postnikoff won the Gi super-fight main event and also earned “submission of the night” honours with a flying armbar in the NoGi expert division finals.

Jared Kovac picked up “fight of the night” honours and a bronze medal, while Jordan Shupe also earned a bronze. Daniel Gaughan rounded out the team’s success with a gold medal in the heavyweight division.

Mountain Mayhem is an annual grappling event designed to showcase local talent and create competitive opportunities for both novice and advanced Brazilian jiu-jitsu athletes.

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UNBC Interim President Dr. Bill Owen said public post-secondary institutions are in a critical time.

This is after the province announced an independent review of the post-secondary education system as institutions face serious financial challenges from slashed international student study permits, declining domestic enrollment, and the pandemic effects.  

Dr. Owen said the school had its own internal review of its own spending and looking at efficiencies.

“We had a small financial impact in a loss in revenues.’

“I will say though that in our past budget, which is publicly available, we did have to go into reserves to ensure we had a balanced budget. We’re looking at having to do that same model this year.”

Dr. Owen added they want to be in a position where they don’t have to go into their reserves to have a balanced operational budget.

As for the outcome of the review, he said they’re planning for worst and best case scenarios.

“The timing of this review being due March 15th, does indicate that it’s timed with provincial government budgets.”

“We are having some contingency planning that we’re doing internally, and we’ll be speaking with the Board throughout January and March about the various budget models that we’ll put forward.”

Dr. Owen highlighted that the university and three regional colleges are here to support the communities and educational needs, and are all significant economic drivers.

– With files from Emily Joveski, Vista Radio provincial reporter

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One person has been arrested for taking poppy donation boxes from local businesses after turning themselves into police.

The Cranbrook RCMP had been investigating reports of multiple poppy donation boxes being stolen.

Police said they were able to quickly identify a suspect thanks to strong support from the Royal Canadian Legion, business owners and the public.

While the investigation was going on, additional businesses came forward reporting similar thefts.

Officers collected and reviewed CCTV footage from multiple locations and gathered witness statements to compile the court package for charges.

The detachment had their suspect but attempts to locate them were unsuccessful.

On Tuesday however, the suspect turned themselves in while wearing a “Lest We Forget” bracelet and admitted to the offences.

Police said they were arrested and placed on no-go conditions for all affected businesses.

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Planning work for Cranbrook’s new UV disinfection facility is on track, though it may come in a little over budget.

Staff are expecting to have the final validation report completed for the Feb. 9 council meeting.

The project team is working to keep the scope and cost close to the original $12.5-million budget. The current estimate is $14.5 million, but staff are working to reduce that figure.

They will be proposing to council to direct the $950k yearly contributions received from the Building Communities Strong Fund to the project for 2026 and 2027.

“This external funding is currently allocated to the annual capital program spread between roads, water, sanitary sewer and storm sewer and would close the funding gap to ensure the project moves ahead without affecting borrowing, reserves or taxes,” said roads and infrastructure manager Curtis Mummery.

To create more certainty around the projects budget, city staff will start early procurement on major project items to lock in better prices.

The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2027.

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A Vancouver Island flight school says a pilot is dead after one of its planes crashed near Nanaimo. 

The Sealand Cessna 172 was operating on a private flight when it crashed south of Nanaimo about 3:00 a.m. on Nov. 27, said Sealand Flight Ltd. president Bill Alder. 

“We are devastated,” he said in a news release. “Aviation is a small community and Sealand Flight is like a family. Our hearts go out to the pilot’s family during this incredibly difficult time.” 

More information will be released when it becomes available. 

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The Village of Telkwa is hosting a workshop to help answer questions around secondary suites.

It is the third one being put on after the province made changes to regulations, requiring municipalities to increase housing density.

“The village Housing Needs Assessment reviled there was a lack of housing in Telkwa, particularly smaller units and secondary suites provide really good opportunity to fill that void,” said Development Services Coordinator Scott Beeching.

He added response to the workshops has been positive with participants able to ask questions and learning how to find information about secondary suites on the village’s website.

According to the village, a secondary suites include a basement suite, granny flat, laneway house or carriage house.

Some of the main ones that have been asked include if an owner is allowed to have a secondary suite, if building permits are required, municipal services, and the number and type of suites.

“We haven’t seen any applications for new suites in the last couple months. We did have some that were in progress which building permits have been issued for but nothing new from the workshops,” Beeching said.

The event runs on December 3rd from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the village council chambers.

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BGC Williams Lake Club was recently recognized for their work in the community.

Director Krista Harvey said it’s a true honor that they were given the Champions and Heroes Award for being a community safety leader from the Social Planning Council of Williams Lake.

“Someone from the community nominated us for this among other groups. The recognition that we received is for our exceptional efforts to create safe, welcoming, and connected spaces, where people can feel a sense of belonging.”

Harvey said their mission and vision for BGC Williams Lake encompasses all of those things.

“I am usually emotionalized when we get recognized. It shows, us as a staff of BGC, that we are being recognized for the hard work that we’re doing in our community and I am very humbled by it.”

Harvey noted that they have an amazing staff that all work really hard for their children, youth and families they provide for.

BCG Williams Lake has been a part among others of the Social Planning Council’s project “Revive the Thrive” that tries to combat homelessness and poverty.

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The City of Cranbrook is looking at a 6.5 per cent tax levy increase with inflationary costs as the main culprit.

Inflation and increased costs account for 1.81 per cent of the increase or $696,659, which covers the increased cost of materials or contracts.

There is also 1.60 per cent coming from inflationary increases and 0.74 per cent from benefits and insurance. These increases are related to employee contracts and set raises under their agreements.

The other two large increases are from a 1.2 per cent increase, with the RCMP contract, and a one per cent increase for the dedicated road tax.

The full specifics of the proposed tax levy can be found here.

In total it would have been a 10.70 per cent increase, but increases in other revenue have brought that down to 6.5 per cent.

Council can still get that number down further.

While most of the increases are set in stone, there are some items like the road dedicated tax they could scrap for this year.

The lowest the tax levy increase could get to is 4.6 per cent, but that still has to be decided by council.

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Mainroad East Kootenay is advising drivers to be prepared for snow along local roadways.

Crews have been pretreating highways ahead of the snowfall.

The Elk Valley can expect up to 10 centimetres of snow, but it should taper off early Friday morning.

The Cranbrook area can expect the same amount of snowfall, with heavier amounts in the afternoon.

The Columbia Valley should be getting a little less snow with accumulations of around five centimetres.

Mainroad is asking residents to leave a safe following distance on local highways while crews are plowing.

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Alberta and the federal government revealed the details Thursday of a much-anticipated agreement that includes a commitment to develop “one or more” new pipelines to increase oil exports to Asian markets — but British Columbia was largely left out of talks. 

Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith formally announced the memorandum of understanding (MOU) at an event in Calgary.

Alberta is to submit an application to the federal Major Projects Office (MPO) to fast-track a pipeline by next July.

Smith said in October her government would submit a formal application to the federal Major Projects Office (MPO) for a pipeline project, putting down $14 million from her government to support the application. The advisory group includes energy companies South Bow, Enbridge and Trans Mountain.

The MOU stipulates the pipeline would be privately financed and constructed. It also confirms Ottawa would make changes to the oil tanker ban on B.C.’s north coast if a pipeline is ultimately approved.

The agreement says the new pipeline would be in addition to expanding the capacity of the existing Trans Mountain pipeline by up to an additional 400,000 barrels per day.

News broke last week that an agreement between Alberta and Ottawa was in the works, and appeared to catch B.C. leaders off guard. Premier David Eby said talks involving B.C. should have B.C. at the table.

Eby said he spoke to Prime Minister Mark Carney by phone Monday morning to voice his concerns, emphasizing that any new project must have the support and consent of First Nations.

He has consistently opposed a new pipeline, arguing there is no private proponent and expressing doubt that any company would come forward to finance a project of such scale.

Eby has been staunchly opposed to a new pipeline project, arguing there’s no private proponent and he’s doubtful any would come forward to finance the massive project. He has also maintained that repealing the oil tanker ban on B.C.’s north coast would threaten the region’s economy and jeopardize First Nations support for other valuable major projects in B.C.

Earlier this month, Eby and Coastal First Nations signed a joint declaration calling on the federal government to uphold the ban.

The MOU states the federal government and Alberta will engage in discussions with B.C. on the potential pipeline and ensure B.C. share in the economic benefits of the project. It also says Alberta and the federal government agree to “engage meaningfully” with Indigenous Peoples in both Alberta and British Columbia on the project.

The MOU also reiterates Ottawa will work with B.C. on other major projects of national interest. Four major B.C. projects are on the federal government’s list for potential fast-tracking, including LNG Canada Phase 2, Ksi Lisims LNG, the Red Chris Mine Expansion, and the North Coast Transmission Line.

“I want to thank Prime Minister Carney for stepping up to the plate and recognizing we need to move Canadian oil to international markets,” said B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad Thursday morning.

B.C. Energy Minister Adrian Dix insisted in Question Period Thursday the pipeline project remains “imaginary” and said B.C. is focused on “real” projects that are ready go forward, like the North Coast Transmission Line.

Eby is scheduled to speak to media Thursday afternoon.

The list of other commitments in the MOU includes the development of large transmission interties between Alberta and British Columbia and Saskatchewan to help power major projects like LNG, critical minerals and data centres.

More to come.

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The Chief of the Ulkatcho First Nation will be stepping down next week.

Chief Nelson (Charlie) Williams announced on Tuesday, November 25, that he will step down as Chief, effective immediately, on Tuesday, December 2. Seven months after he was elected in April.

“I’ve been in politics with the Band for eight and a half years now, at the end of April it will be nine, and I’ve got nothing left in the tank basically,” Chief Williams says.

He also says he is handling family health priorities in addition to political burnout.

“I’ve just been at it for too long, and in previous meetings with leadership, I’ve told them family comes first. If you have to deal with a family member, I believe that family is always first, and we have to be there for each other. I still do believe that.”

In a letter posted on Ulkatcho First Nation’s Facebook Page, Chief Williams said, “serving as your chief has been one of the greatest honours of my life.” Saying that in working together with the community, they have made significant progress on strengthening the Band’s governance and community initiatives.

According to the Ulkatcho First Nation’s Custom Election Code, Council has offered the position of Chief to the person who had the second most votes in its election back in April, Dereck Sill. Chief Williams says Sill has accepted the position and will be Chief for the remainder of the elected term.

Chief Williams and Ulkatcho’s Council will have a community meeting on Monday, December 1, at 11:00 a.m.

Chief and Council will discuss the transition period, including Sill signing an Oath of Office. Chief and Council will also answer any questions from the community, and update documents to there is no disruption to programs and services in the community.

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Comox Valley RCMP officers will soon have a new tool at their disposal. 

Body-worn cameras are being phased in across the detachment to aid investigations and complaint-resolution. 

Const. Monika Terragni of the Comox Valley RCMP said the move marks a key step for transparency and community trust.

“We believe these cameras will strengthen accountability and help resolve many concerns in a more timely manner.” 

The camera will be attached to an officer’s vest and record audio and video during calls for service such as mental-health calls, public-safety incidents, crimes in progress and investigations. 

The local rollout follows a national deployment that began in November last year. 

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Nelson Minor Hockey’s U11 teams delivered on home ice, claiming first, second and fourth place at a local tournament.

Mike Murdoch, U11 director for Nelson Minor Hockey, said the results reflect the team’s dedication and the support behind the scenes.

“This is an age group that really struggled to win games when they were younger, but they put in a lot of work and they’re starting to see the results now,” he said. “It’s something we’re trying to teach all the kids — that you put in the work and results will happen.”

It’s rare for one association to sweep the podium at a tournament, especially as the host, Murdoch added.

“Typically, it’s always distributed amongst different associations, whether they’re from the Kootenays or from the Okanagan or from the Lower Mainland,” he said. “It’s pretty rare to get an association get first, second and fourth. So, really proud of all the kids and the coaches.”

The U11 division is Nelson Minor Hockey’s largest, with more than 45 players spread across three teams.

Beyond the wins, Murdoch said the weekend’s success is about building more than just hockey skills.

“Winning hockey games is one thing, but what we’re trying to build here is an atmosphere that’s positive for kids to learn and develop — not only as hockey players, but as individuals and members of our community,” he said. “The more that we get these positive results on the score sheet, the more the kids are going to continue to grow in a more positive atmosphere, mainly because they’re seeing that work and it’s great to see these results.”

Murdoch also thanked the coaches, volunteers and families who helped make the tournament possible.

“It takes a village to put on something of this scale. So, we really appreciate the efforts from everyone.”

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Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and Powell River saw an average of 3,528 crashes each December for the past four years, according to Road Safety at Work. 

The organization said next week is “Safe Driving Week” as people head into one of the most dangerous months on B.C. roads. 

Trace Acres, spokesperson for the annual safe-driving campaign, said winter weather brings more chances for things to go wrong on the road. “Whether you’re heading out for shopping or to see a client, the risks increase significantly,” she said. “Cold weather, wet roads, darkness, fatigue and rushing to fit everything into a day all add up.” 

Safe Driving at Work noted that snow is not the only risk for winter drivers. Traction problems can occur when temperatures drop below 7 C, especially with tires that are not made for winter. 

Winter tires are required on many highways in the province from October to the end of April. This includes the Malahat, Highway 19 north of Campbell River and Highways 4, 14, 18 and 28. 

The organisation encourages drivers to slow down, plan for road conditions, use proper tires and stay focused. 

Across the province, there are an average of 25,993 crashes each December and workplace injury claims rise in winter by nearly 20 per cent, according to WorkSafeBC.

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Four people were arrested after RCMP moved in to clear a forestry blockade on a service road in the Carmanah Valley earlier this week.

Police say the group had set up a roadblock on November 25th, preventing access to an active forestry operation. According to RCMP, three protesters were arrested for breaching a court-ordered injunction, while a fourth was taken into custody for criminal mischief.

The remaining individuals at the scene left without incident.
All four people arrested have since been released on conditions and are scheduled to appear in court at a later date.

Mounties say they will continue to monitor the area to ensure safe access to the site as the legal process continues.

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Island Health has extended a drug-poisoning and overdose advisory previously issued in November for the Cowichan region.

The health authority said overdoses have been rising and people using unregulated drugs face a higher risk of serious harm.

Officials advised drug users to carry naloxone, have substances checked and use a local overdose-prevention service.

The original alert was issued on Nov. 19 following reports of multiple overdoses in the area.

Additional information is available on Island Health’s social-media channels.

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A local trails society is asking the City of Grand Forks to provide $50,000 to help complete a trail that has been a priority for the organization for three years.

The Grand Forks Community Trails Society explained in a presentation to city council this week that Interfor is providing access to land it owns and making a “significant” in-kind donation towards creating a 500-meter connector along the new dike works to the black train bridge.

The organization that cares for the Trans Canada Trail has shown interest in the project and support for extending its infrastructure, but they are waiting for a written agreement with Interfor and the city as well as matching funds.

The local trails society says the city’s financial commitment would leverage other grant money. The society would become the steward of the completed trail.

Trails manager Don Backmeyer told council they have done some initial investigation with a local contractor to get an idea of the scope of the project. The preliminary budget estimate is $422,000. Backmeyer said ideally the project would be built all at once, but if needed, it can be broken into components.

“I would really like to see the city take advantage of Interfor’s in-kind donation,” said Chris Moslin of the trails society.

“They’re providing the land, the access, and the fill. This is a valued contribution. Management of Interfor sees it as a legacy contribution to our community. I think it behooves us to move on that offer to build something our community can enjoy for years.”

Council referred the request to budget discussions.

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A traditional Holiday Season fundraiser for the 100 Mile House Food Bank will be happening once again.

For the 37^th year Turkey Day will hit the airwaves this Monday morning (December 1) starting at 6 on Country 840.

Morning man Chris Adams will be joined in studio by a collection of dignitaries and community members who will be pitching in to help man the phones for pledges.

“Turkey Day started way back in 1989,” Adams said, “We figure we over the years for the 100 Mile Food Bank we’ve raised pretty close to a million dollars.”

A “Turkey” is a $25 donation to the 100 Mile Food Bank and regular programming that day will not resume until they (Country 840) reach their yearly goal of 400 “Turkeys”.

Adams noted that he has already received 64 pledges ahead of the big day Monday.

“Since I’ve been doing Turkey Day, and which I think is actually a record for it, is 819, the most we received. That was fantastic and that happened back in 2020.”

Adams said it would be fantastic to do that again this time around as the need is greater this year at the 100 Mile Food Bank with everything that’s been going on in the Cariboo.

“Sadly these programs are much needed so we are happy to do our part to help out.”

Anyone wishing to pledge a “Turkey” on December first can call the station at 250-395-3848.

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Prince George-North Cariboo Conservative representative Sheldon Clare is one of nine MLA’s from across the province who released a report regarding democratic engagement, voter participation and electoral reform.

Clare is part of the Special Committee on Democratic and Electoral Reform.

The committee made 36 recommendations to strengthen B.C.’s democracy by supporting participation and engagement, examining the efficacy of legislation and policy, and enhancing the responsibilities of and resources for Elections BC, political parties and MLAs.

To inform its work, the committee received a briefing from Elections BC and conducted a public consultation. During this time, the committee accepted written submissions and held public meetings virtually and in communities throughout B.C. hearing from 987 participants.

The committee’s report relates to the first part of the committee’s mandate on democratic engagement, voter participation and electoral reform.

The group will also review the administration of the 2024 provincial general election and is accepting written submissions until December 18th.

More information about the second part of the committee’s mandate can also be found on its website.

The members of the committee are:

* Jennifer Blatherwick, MLA for Coquitlam-Maillardville (chair);

* Ward Stamer, MLA for Kamloops-North Thompson (deputy chair);

* George Anderson, MLA for Nanaimo-Lantzville;

* Rohini Arora, MLA for Burnaby East;

* Rob Botterell, MLA for Saanich North and the Islands;

* Dallas Brodie, MLA for Vancouver-Quilchena;

* Sheldon Clare, MLA for Prince George-North Cariboo;

* Amna Shah, MLA for Surrey City Centre; and

* Qwulti’stunaat/Debra Toporowski, MLA for Cowichan Valley.

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The Nelson Leafs hope to break out of a six-game losing streak Saturday night at home against division leading Beaver Valley.

Head coach Barry Wolff is encouraged by last weekend’s game against Grand Forks in front of a Nelson crowd of just over 1,200.

He feels the 3-1 setback to the Border Bruins could easily have gone the other way and was pleased with the first home game back at home following a tough road trip.

“That was a tough stretch for us,” said the bench boss.

“We knew it was going to be playing all of those games on the road and getting off the bus in the Kelowna trip that’s a tough haul for these guys,” Wolff added.

“If we can play like that consistently we’ll win a lot of games,” surmised Wolff.

Newly acquired Ryan Williamson opened the scoring early in the first period of his home ice debut.

Although happy to hear the cheers of Nelson fans for the first time, the 19-year-old would have been much happier with a win.

“I thought we had a good game, a lot of good chances, we had a couple of mistakes that ended up in the back of our net, kind of a tough one,” said the native of High River, Alta.

Williamson has two goals in four games as a Leaf and is excited about playing in Nelson, saying he has only heard good things about the community.

“One of my good friends I’ve known since I was five years old loves it here, really enjoys it, kind of sold me on coming here,” explained the new Leaf.

Wolff feels the five-foot-nine, 185-pound forward is a good addition to their lineup.

“We got his rights from Winnipeg in the Manitoba league (MJHL Jr-A),” Wolff said.

“He was available so we did our homework, he’s a good player, he’s got good energy, good speed, creates a lot of opportunities for his line mates and himself,” the coach added.

The Leafs are fourth in the KIJHL’s Murdoch Division with a record of 6-10-1.

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The Prince George RCMP is asking the public to keep a lookout for 34-year-old Travis Darcy Blair Larson.

He was last seen near the 2200-block of Oak Street on November 20th.

Larson is described as:

• Indigenous male
• 183 cm (6’0”)
• 95 kg (210 lb)
• Black hair
• Brown eyes

“Travis’ family is very concerned for his well-being; investigators are asking that if anyone sees him, they call the Prince George RCMP non-emergency line at 250-561-3300,” states Cpl. Jennifer Cooper, media spokesperson for the Prince George RCMP.

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The Cranbrook Chamber of Commerce is asking local businesses to take part in its new Crime Impacts Survey. 

The independent survey aims to gather real information about how crime is affecting businesses financially, operationally and emotionally. 

The results will help guide the Chamber’s advocacy work and strengthen support for businesses across Cranbrook. The Chamber said the goal is to advance practical, solution-focused work around crime and public safety. The survey will measure the true costs of crime, including direct and indirect financial losses, operational disruptions, emotional and psychological impacts on business owners and staff. 

Cranbrook Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Stacey Brensrud explains how the survey falls in line with the Chamber’s commitment to measurable and sustainable outcomes.

“This data is essential for building informed, credible advocacy that reflects the true experiences of our business community. I am forever a proponent of progress through structure, to advance change that is sustainable and measurable. Issues with crime are complex – I am confident that the Chamber can support these businesses and help guide them toward solutions.” said Brensrud.

The project started in Industrial Park Zone 1 and has plans to expand successful strategies to other business areas in Cranbrook. At the recent session, attendees received clear action steps, details on the new Business Block Watch Pilot Project, and a sign-up list for real time updates through a WhatsApp group. 

Participants also get a better understanding of how the Chamber supports safer, healthier business conditions, along with information on crime prevention products and services available through the chamber

“When you leave these meetings, our goal is for you to say: ‘This was worth my time. I understand how to get involved. And I’m interested to see what we can achieve together. The Chamber is here for its members to support them in strategic ways. The meeting focused on actionable steps that can lead to tangible, replicable results,” Brensrud said.

The Chamber gives special thanks to Jenn Krotz of Canadian Rockies Landscape for leading the Business Block Watch Pilot Project. It also recognize Kristin Galanov, RCMP Community Engagement Coordinator, for sharing helpful updates and continuing partnership with the Chamber on issues affecting local businesses.

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Rossland city council is poised to adopt a 65 per cent hike in the amount taxpayers provide to the regional district in sewage fees.

In actual dollars, it works out to about another $160 per household in 2026, going from $248 to $408. That’s on top of an increase of about 10 per cent in the flat fee residential properties pay for city-specific sewage fees, which will rise $29 per household, going from $277 to $306. The combined total would be another $189.

The regional portion includes Rossland’s share of costs for a $76 million dollar upgrade to the Columbia Pollution Control Centre at Waneta Junction, which serves Rossland, Trail, and Warfield.

City staff say the increase also factors in drawing down $164,000 from the city’s regional sewer utility reserve.

Meanwhile, the city’s water rates are expected to go up 10 per cent in 2026, which works out to an extra $54 per household.

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Beaver Valley Nitehawks’ Brady Walker has been named as the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League’s (KIJHL) Rookie of the Week for the period ending Nov. 16.

Walker’s scrappy, playmaking style helped the Nitehawks take all three games on their East Kootenay road trip. He scored three goals, including game-winners against Columbia Valley and Kimberley, and had three assists. He was +7 playing an average of 18:54 a game.

“He has been playing very well, very consistent,” says Nitehawks head coach-general manager Terry Jones. “He’s a great skater, who is strong on pucks, gets to the net. He is winning lots of puck battles and is a great complement to his linemates Brady Magarrell and Michiel Leenders.”

The Montrose, B.C. native credited his linemates for helping him produce.

“The players that I’m with right now, we’ve all got different playing styles that build off each other. Magarrell shoots the puck really well, and he’s obviously having a really good season. Being able to work with him and bounce the pucks off each other has been working really well,” says Walker, who likes moving pucks off the rush.

“I’m one of the younger guys in the league, so having some guys around me that have been here and know this league pretty well definitely helps quite a bit.”

In 20 games, Walker has 10 goals, 11 assists for 21 points, ranking him eighth among all KIJHL rookies. His teammate, and current linemate Leenders, leads all KIJHL rookies with 29 points in 20 games.

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Some members of Trail city council aren’t convinced about the location of a new downtown transit exchange. But BC Transit warns that while it is possible to start over, it would come with the risk of a years-long delay and increased costs.

BC Transit representatives presented to council this week what they described as a 90 per cent detailed design for the exchange, to be built over two blocks of Cedar Avenue between Spokane and Portland streets at a cost of $3.07 million.

It would include six bus bays, three large shelters with lighting, a public washroom, driver’s washroom, bicycle racks, widened sidewalks, and landscaping. The plan also calls for making Cedar a one-way street between Spokane and Helena. Overall parking would not be reduced.

But councillor Doug Wilson asked if BC Transit would be open to other locations, now that the city has demolished two buildings on Cedar between Spokane and Helena, where the transit exchange was previously located. He fears that whatever development goes up on the site might not be compatible with a transit hub.

“It seems to me like we’re going to handicap what we could potentially do in that space,” Wilson said. “It just doesn’t make sense to build something before we know we’re going to do.”

Wilson said he was aware design work on the transit exchange started long before the city awarded the demolition contract, “so you’re probably not too happy to hear all this, but I don’t like the location.” He suggested the Esplanade near the library as an alternate location.

Councillor Thea Hanson shared Wilson’s concerns. “Once this is here, what happens if we need access off one of these streets into underground parking?” she asked.

“Are we cart before horse without knowing what we’re putting there? Would [a transit exchange] deter a potential tenant from moving into a ground-floor commercial space? You’re not going to have someone wanting to open a patio restaurant if buses are sitting in front.” She said she would prefer to see the exchange wrap around Portland Street.

Mayor Colleen Jones agreed that if the transit exchange was moved further down toward Portland Street, it would benefit whatever buildings go up on the now-vacant sites.

“We don’t know what’s going in this building,” she said. “That whole sidewalk could be [an area] where people could sit, if we have restaurants in that new building, or even people living in that building could go down and sit there.”

BC Transit government relations manager Daynika White cautioned that because the project is largely funded through the provincial and federal government, any increases in costs would have to be borne by the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary.

Planning has been underway for several years, and the previous council signed off on the location. White said going back to the drawing board is possible, but they would start over with public engagement. She said the RDKB has made it clear that it won’t sign off on the project unless the City of Trail is happy.

White added that changing locations would mean a delay of several years before planning would return to the current stage. She said work to date has already eaten into the design budget, and if costs may go up, the RDKB may not be willing to pay for the increases.

White also said BC Transit expects its modern transit exchanges to attract businesses, not deter them.

If the city and RDKB approve the current design, BC Transit will start looking for a contractor, with construction expected to begin in the spring. The new exchange would be in service next fall.

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Drivers in the East Kootenay region are being advised to prepare for snowfall beginning Thursday, with up to 10 centimetres of accumulation expected in some areas.

Mainroad East Kootenay said it has pretreated highways ahead of the incoming weather system and will continue maintenance throughout the storm.

Here’s what to expect by area:

Elk Valley: Forecasted snowfall is expected to begin tomorrow morning and last all day.
Accumulation amount is forecasted to be up to 10cm and begin to taper off early Friday
morning.

Cranbrook: Snowfall is forecasted to begin tomorrow morning with light flurries and
increase to heavier snowfall in the afternoon. Forecasted accumulation is up to 10cm.

Yahk: Snowfall is anticipated to begin tomorrow morning with up to 10cm forecasted.
Snow fall is expected to continue into Friday morning before tapering off in the
afternoon.

Columbia Valley: Snowfall is forecasted to begin tomorrow afternoon and continue
throughout the day. Accumulation is expected to be up to 5cm.

What drivers need to know

• Leave extra following distance so road crews can work safely

• Drive to the conditions — use winter tires, reduce speed and watch for black ice

• Expect delays in some areas due to weather and road maintenance

• Check DriveBC.ca before heading out for current road conditions

If you notice hazardous conditions, you can contact Mainroad East Kootenay’s 24-hour communications and dispatch office. Your reports will be passed along to crews.

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Kimberley residents could see their water and sewer bills rise by five per cent in 2026 under a proposed bylaw aimed at covering the city’s utility costs.

The city’s sewer and water systems are self-funded through fees paid by residents. Kimberley reviews these rates annually to ensure they cover the costs of operations, maintenance and future upgrades.

If council approves the bylaws, residential water and sewer rates would rise by 5 per cent starting Jan. 1, 2026.  The city said the increase is necessary to maintain and operate the systems efficiently. The higher rates are expected to generate an additional $119,000 annually for sewer services and $134,000 for water services beginning in 2026.

For a typical home, the sewer bill would rise by about $6 every three months, and the water bill would rise by about $6.80 every three months starting in 2026.

Bulk water rates would increase 15 per cent as of Jan. 1, 2026 then an additional 15 per cent for Jan. 1, 2027.  The city said the larger increase for bulk users is due to years of underpayment compared to the actual cost of supplying water. The changes are expected to bring in an additional $23,000 per year, allowing Kimberley to recover the full cost of delivering bulk water.

The bylaw needs approval from council to move forward with three readings then a final adoption in December before going into effect in the new year.

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Downtown Cranbrook is set to kick off the holiday season with its annual Shopping Night this Friday, Nov. 28, from 5 to 9 p.m..

The businesses will stay open late to roll out exclusive deals, treats, and in-store surprises for shoppers. A Downtown Giveaway will also give visitors a chance to win a grand prize filled with gifts and goodies from participating shops.

Just when you think there’s enough excitement, there will be live carolling by Sun Valley Song will begin at 6:30 p.m., adding festive cheer to the downtown atmosphere.

Organizers are encouraging residents to shop local, enjoy seasonal snacks and take in the holiday spirit with friends and family.

A full list of participating businesses is available through Downtown Cranbrook’s official channels.

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Cranbrook city council is opposing Bill M216, a provincial private member’s bill that aims to reduce red tape in the development approval process.

The bill has passed two readings in the legislature, and if adopted, would remove the ability of local governments to review development proposals. Instead, developers would hire qualified professionals to certify that their projects comply with provincial standards.

Under the proposed changes, municipalities to accept any certified submission, and any disputes will have to be appealed to the Office of the Superintendent for Professional Guidance.

Coun. Wayne Stetski said the idea might make sense in theory, but in practice, it raises serious concerns for municipalities.

“When you’re not familiar with how municipal government actually works you’d think this would be great because it will save staff time, but when you look below the surface it can ultimately cost staff more time and the city a lot of issues,” he said.

City staff said removing peer review increases the risk of deficiencies being missed.

Cranbrook has previously experienced problems related to a lack of oversight of professional work. Poor infrastructure installations throughout the city — including in Mount Royal, Orchard Heights and the Parkland subdivision — have led to financial burdens on taxpayers that staff said could have been avoided with more rigorous review

City staff said if the bill is adopted, having to appeal each time the city sees red flags with a development will will slow down the approval process substantially.

Council is sending a letter of opposition to the Select Standing Committee on Private Bills and Private Members’ Bills of the Provincial Legislative Assembly, Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs Christine Boyle, Minister of State Brittny Anderson, Pete Davis MLA for Kootenay-Rockies, and George Anderson MLA for Nanaimo Lantzville.

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Sports by Hartley Thursday, November 27th, 2025  as of 12:05 a.m.

WHL:

The Prince George Cougars have filled their vacant 20-year-old spot by acquiring forward Shaun Rios (’05) who was put on WHL waivers by the Wenatchee Wild.

Rios has seven points (3G-4A) in 18 games this season with Wenatchee.

Last season, (24-25) he produced 47 points (21G-26A) in 42 games.

Rios, who stands 6’0” and weighs 198 pounds, has 57 points in 69 WHL games with the Wild and the Tri-City Americans.

NEWS: We have claimed F Shaun Rios (05) off 20-year-old WHL Waivers.

Welcome to Prince George, Shaun!https://t.co/1bb40iUUtG#ForTheNorth • #WHL pic.twitter.com/MG9TPWQdrd

— Prince George Cougars (@PGCougars) November 26, 2025

The (16-7) Cougars visit (6-12-1-1) Wenatchee Friday and (10-9-2) Tri-City Saturday as they start a string of five straight games on the road.

Prince George is riding a 5-game winning steak and sit atop the BC Division by 5 points over the (11-7-3-2) Penticton Vees.

CHL USA Prospects Under-18 Challenge Game–(in Lethbridge)

With the two-game series split, the Americans won the challenge by scoring the winning goal in Super overtime which consisted of a 20-minute, 3-on-3, sudden-death experience.

CHL  4  USA  3

PG Cougars defenceman Carson Carels picked up an assist on the game winning goal.

A thing of BEAUTY.

pic.twitter.com/1mPj3pHtLY

— Prince George Cougars (@PGCougars) November 27, 2025

The Americans won the opener of the two-game series 4-2 Tuesday in Calgary.

The two-game series served as a showcase for players eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft.

BCHL: 

The (10-9-1) Prince George host the (9-9-1-1) Chilliwack Chiefs Friday night at 7:00 and Saturday night at 6:00.

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Fernie city council has approved design changes to the new firehall to include the option of installing solar panels in the future.

Council has not approved the purchase or installation of solar panels, but the building will be designed to accommodate them.

Coun. Ted Shoesmith opposed the addition and said it would add costs with little benefit.

“I don’t think we should further complicate design, timelines or expense to the taxpayer,” he said.

“Keep in mind this cost here isn’t the final cost if we eventually we do get solar panels. we’re going to be paying for them.”

Some councillors noted that solar panels weren’t a necessity since the city gets its power from windmills and hydro.

Coun. Troy Nixon said this addition ensures the firehall is future proofed.

“Last year British Columbia brought in $1.3 billion worth of electricity because of drought,” he added.

“I see that as the main problem and this is just going to diversify the opportunities for our facility.”

The addition passed in a 4-3 vote.

The time to update the design of the firehall is expected to delay the project by about three weeks.

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The Kootenay Kids Society has opened the wait list for its new Fairview Early Learning Centre, a brand new, 15-space childcare facility located at the Nelson Health Services Centre.

A press release from Kootenay Kids Society said the new space opened in October and is designed to prioritize access for Interior Health staff, while remaining open to other families once those spots are filled.

A few spots are currently available for community members with children aged three to five.

“We do have a few spaces open, probably close to three or four, and we do enrol based on first‑come, first‑serve applications,” said Anjali Varghese, senior supervisor for the Fairview Early Learning Centre.

“Now is the best time to apply to get on the list or, if it’s a younger child, to get on the wait list so that they can be enrolled when there’s a space available or when they are within the age limit.”

Varghese explained that because the facility has only been open since October, it does not yet qualify as a $10‑a‑day child care provider.

“At the moment we are not a $10‑a‑day centre because the space has to be up and running for a year before we can apply,” she said.

However, it did qualify to join the Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative (CCFRI), which brings daily fees down to $22.95 from the full rate of $50.91.

“But we have been approved for the CCFRI, which makes us eligible for a reduced rate, which is considerably less than full cost.”

Income‑qualifying Interior Health employees are fully subsidized by the provincial government for their children’s care at the centre.

Varghese said the need for more child care spaces – particularly for health‑care workers – became clear during the COVID‑19 pandemic when local frontline workers struggled to find reliable care for their children.

“This definitely put that thought in people’s heads to have a space totally designated for them. So Interior Health came up with this option to have their own centre, which provides an easier option for parents who work with them.”

The centre features a bright, open-plan design, with access to outdoor play space, and emphasises flexibility, creativity, connection, play and time outdoors.

The society said staff focus on relationship-based care, open-ended play and connecting children with nature.

To celebrate its opening, an open house will be held on Dec. 12 from 4:30 to 6 p.m.

“I invite the whole community to come explore the new space that we have set up for everybody. This is a great opportunity for us to say hello to the community as well,” added Varghese.

Those interested in joining the wait list can sign up via email at [email protected] or through the QR code available on the centre’s website.

Want to get your business noticed? Have you considered advertising through your local radio station? Speak to one of our sales agents and find out how radio advertising can boost your business today. Call 250-365-7600 or email Vista Radio.

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An independent review of British Columbia’s climate action plan says the province is mostly on the right track, though some sectors are not expected to meet their 2030 emissions targets.

The reviewers tasked with reviewing the Clean BC program said Wednesday there’s no need to go back to the drawing table entirely, but there’s a need to “recalibrate” some of the targets going forward. 

CleanBC was launched in 2018 with the goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

The B.C. NDP government agreed to a review of Clean BC programs one year earlier than scheduled, as part of their co-operation agreement with the B.C. Greens.

The province announced the independent review in May, acknowledging B.C. is not on track to meet its 2025 and 2030 targets. It said the province’s rapidly growing population required a reassessment to ensure CleanBC is effectively reducing emissions.

The review was led by Merran Smith, president of the business and labour alliance New Economy Canada, and Dan Woynillowicz, a policy analyst and strategist.

They said CleanBC’s policies are measurably reducing per capita climate emissions, but the plan is “not yet reaching its full potential.”

The report said the government aimed too high when it initially formed the Clean BC plan. “Achieving its 2030 target would have required a near-seamless execution of policies and programs, ideal economic conditions, and complete consensus between stakeholders. And even then, it would have needed a healthy dose of good luck,” Smith and Woynillowicz said in an executive summary of the report. 

They said modelling points to the province achieving just half of its 2030 targets for emissions reduction. 

The report makes dozens of recommendations across seven key areas, most of them focused on how to shift the province further toward electrification.

That includes setting more achievable zero-emissions vehicle sales targets for 2030. The province already announced last week it will be backing off target 100 per cent sales by 2035.

At the same time, the authors said B.C.’s planned rapid expansion of the LNG sector risks setting the province back on its climate targets.

They said increased gas production and new LNG export projects add significant new sources of climate pollution and threaten to wipe out progress made in other sectors. 

The report also points to concerns about the future of the LNG market, due to a global oversupply and uncertain demand.

It said the province’s focus on LNG risks pulling huge amounts of clean energy, skilled labour and fiscal support from other industrial sectors, like critical minerals mining. 

B.C. has several LNG export projects in various stages of development as the province aims to expand sales to more markets in Asia. The federal government’s Major Projects Office is looking into fast-tracking Phase 2 of the LNG Canada facility in Kitimat and the Ksi Lisms LNG off B.C.’s north coast.

B.C. Greens say the report makes it clear that the province’s LNG ambitions conflict with climate realities. “LNG is the elephant in the room, and it’s drowning out everything else,” said Jeremy Valeriote, MLA for West Vancouver-Sea to Sky.

The B.C. Greens said they support many of the recommendations of the report, including aligning the Clean BC strategy with B.C.’s frameworks for Indigenous reconciliation.

Minister of Energy and Climate Solutions Adrian Dix said Wednesday the review is “thoughtful” and the province will consider the recommendations.

Dix defended B.C.’s LNG projects as an investment in “clean energy.” He said planned B.C. LNG projects would produce far fewer emissions compared to other producers in the U.S. and globally.

When presenting the report, Smith said there was no research to support the province’s claims that B.C. LNG will help lower global emissions by supplanting “dirtier” LNG in overseas markets.

Dix said it’s clear that the province needs more electricity going forward, noting BC Hydro has issued two recent calls for power and plans to issue calls every two years. The latest call for power earlier this year looks to acquire up to 5,000 gigawatt-hours annually.

The province also saw the Site C hydroelectric dam come into full operation in August, which is estimated to increase BC Hydro’s total supply by eight per cent. 

The provincial government’s updated Climate Change Accountability Report is due out before the fall session of the legislature wraps next week.

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British Columbia leaders are welcoming a range of new measures from the federal government intended to support Canada’s lumber industry, but say the new supports for steel fall short of what the province needs. 

Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Wednesday that Canada is moving to further limit foreign steel imports to allow domestic producers better access to the Canadian market. 

Carney said his government will also work with railway companies to make it cheaper to transport Canadian steel and lumber between provinces by cutting freight rates in half, beginning next spring.

For the lumber industry, an additional $500 million will go to a loan guarantee program for softwood producers through the Business Development Bank of Canada. 

The funding comes on top of the $700 million in loan guarantees for the lumber sector Carney announced during a visit to Kelowna in August. 

Around $500 million will also be earmarked for loans to support lumber firms facing liquidity pressures due to tariffs. 

B.C. Forests Minister Ravi Parmar said the changes are a “good start,” and show that Ottawa is listening to many of the province’s concerns. 

He said the reduction of freight costs is important for B.C. to be able to ship more lumber across Canada, particularly to Ontario. 

Parmar said he hopes to see B.C. companies get their “fair share” of the loan guarantees, which he said should amount to about half the funds.

“We need to see direct investments from the federal government to help ensure we’re diversifying the sector and creating more value-added products, and I’ve certainly been given assurances from the federal government that this is just the start of more investments they’ll be making in forestry,” Parmar told reporters Wednesday.

Softwood lumber producers say more help is urgently needed as the industry faces U.S. tariffs as high as 45 per cent.

Federal and provincial officials attended a forestry summit in Vancouver earlier this month, where they announced a joint task force to determine how to support the hard-hit forestry sector.

Carney on Wednesday announced a second task force to seek input on how the forestry sector can stay competitive over the long term.

He also said Build Canada Homes, the new federal agency tasked with boosting the affordable housing supply, will prioritize shovel-ready projects that use Canadian wood.

The B.C. Council of Forest Industries (COFI) said it’s important that the operators can access the funding and supports quickly.

“While application processes are open, companies are still waiting too long for decisions,” said COFI President and CEO Kim Haakstad.

She welcomed the federal government’s announcement Wednesday that it will also establish a single window to applications to help companies navigate support programs.

“While these measures are positive, the long-term solution remains a durable, negotiated softwood lumber agreement that gives workers and companies the confidence and clarity they need to invest, compete, and plan for the future,” said Haakstad.

B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad said he’s happy to see some support for the province’s struggling forest sector. 

He said Canada needs leverage to get the U.S. to come to the table and negotiate a trade deal on softwood. Rustad has previously proposed putting a levy on U.S. shipments of thermal coal at B.C. ports.

Jobs and Economic Growth Minister Ravi Kahlon also welcomed many of the new measures, but said he has “serious concerns around steel.”

“The federal government appears to be making a policy in Ontario for Ontario around steel and not reflecting the challenges that are faced in British Columbia,” said Kahlon.

He said it currently costs about $200 per tonne to ship steel from Ontario to B.C., compared to about $35 per tonne for steel coming from Asia. 

The federal government plans to tighten tariff rate quota levels for steel products from countries that don’t have a free trade agreement with Canada, from 50 per cent of 2024 levels to 20 per cent. 

Tariff rate quotas allow a certain amount of product to be imported at a lower tariff, with a higher duty applied to imports exceeding that allowance.

The changes also include a reduced tariff rate quota for free-trade partners aside from the U.S. and Mexico, and a global 25 per cent tariff on steel-derivative products, ranging from wind towers to wires. 

The federal government estimates the changes will create about $1 billion in new domestic demand for Canadian steel. 

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Prince George City Council will have another vote on potentially avoiding a two-year shutdown at the Aquatic Centre.

At Monday’s meeting, Council will vote on the same motion that was put forward to Council on November 3rd, calling for a report on options to avoid the two-year closure.

The motion was defeated, with Mayor Simon Yu, as well as Councillors Trudy Klassen and Brian Skakun voting in favour of having a report returned.

At that meeting, some of the Councillors opposed called the motion “performative” and “financially irresponsible.”

Staff also stated: “if we had another way to present to you, it would have already been done.”

According to a staff report to Council, the Mayor may require Council to reconsider a matter that was previously voted upon under Section 131 of the Community Charter.

The report states this authority is being exercised not to predetermine an outcome, but to ensure Council has the opportunity to consider new information and updated public input.

In April 2024, City Council approved $37 million in facility upgrades for the Aquatic Centre.

In October, it was announced the Aquatic Centre would be closing for two years to complete the upgrades.

The full agenda for Monday’s meeting can be found here.

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BC Ferries announced that two of its new Island Class vessels will be named in the Kwak’wala language of the We Wai Kai and Wei Wai Kum First Nations.

According to a news release from BC Ferries, the names were gifted by the We Wai Kai and Wei Wai Kum First Nations in recognition of their deep-rooted connections to the marine environment.

The first ferry will be named Island Gwa’yam — pronounced Gwuh-yum — meaning “whale” in the Kwak’wala language. The name, gifted by the We Wai Kai First Nation, was chosen because whales are symbols of family that have recently returned to these waters.

“Naming this vessel Gwa’yam is a deep honour for our people. It reflects our connection to the sea and the importance of preserving our language and traditions,” said We Wai Kai chief councillor Ronnie Chickite. “By working with BC Ferries, we ensure that our stories and culture are carried forward for future generations, strengthening the bond between our communities and the waters that sustain us.”

The second ferry will be named Island K’asa — pronounced Kah-sah — meaning “otter.” The name, offered by the Wei Wai Kum First Nation, was chosen because the otter is a powerful guardian spirit who can navigate between the spirit and human worlds.

“As elected chief of the Wei Wai Kum Nation, I am appreciative of the BC Ferries team for working with our knowledgeable elders, holding three individual meetings for the choosing of this name,” said Wei Wai Kum chief Christopher Roberts. “This name chosen from our language will be represented on the ferries that will be sailing in our waters. This shows BC Ferries’ commitment to reconciliation. We are honoured to have these special names be commemorated and to be shared for all to enjoy.”

BC Ferries says the names have profound meaning, representing significant figures in the natural world that are woven into the Nations’ history and teachings.

“BC Ferries is sincerely grateful to the We Wai Kai and Wei Wai Kum First Nations for gifting these meaningful names. We appreciate this opportunity to honour and amplify their language and culture on our vessels in such a meaningful way,” said Nicolas Jimenez, president and CEO of BC Ferries.

The hybrid-electric vessels are expected to enter service between Campbell River and Quadra Island by 2027.

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As we begin to see more consistent winter conditions, ICBC is putting out a reminder about driving safely during the season.

They said divers need to prepare according to the changing conditions, such as darker mornings and afternoons, poor visibility, and slick roads.

“Safe winter driving requires good tires and slower speeds,” said Corporal Michael McLaughlin with BC Highway Patrol.

“Check your vehicle and yourself before every trip. If you’re not ready for bad weather, don’t risk a ticket or worse.”

According to ICBC, crash numbers spike during the winter, with fast driving for the jumping up 79 per cent in December and 64 per cent in January compared to October.

Winter tires are required on most BC highways until March 31st or April 30th, depending on the location.

More information about safe driving during the winter can be found here.

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The Northside Volunteer Fire Department (NVFD) is bidding farewell to fire chief Jim Brown, who announced his retirement after a volunteer career spanning 28 years, 18 of which were spent as the NVFD’s fire chief.

“Fire chief Jim Brown has showcased the incredible and equally powerful impact that volunteers can have in our community,” said Electoral Area A director Jason Lennox. “Chief Brown’s commitment and dedication to his role, to the NVFD, and to his team of volunteer firefighters and first responders has been nothing short of exceptional. We are grateful for his leadership and the efforts of the entire NVFD crew over these many years.”

According to the qathet Regional District (qRD), Brown worked with district staff to build the live-fire training facility adjacent to the NVFD No. 2 fire hall, which is available to all fire departments in the district.

“The qathet Regional District is deeply moved by chief Brown’s efforts to modernize the Northside Volunteer Fire Department and his collaboration in advancing fire protection services throughout the region,” said qRD board chair Clay Brander. “Our small and remote community has been made more resilient thanks to chief Brown’s continuous efforts and perseverance. We wish him the best of luck in his future endeavours, as well as a well-deserved rest.”

Ryan Thoms, general manager of emergency services, said the department will continue to be well served under veteran NVFD captain Yves Perreault, who has been appointed fire chief.

“Chief Perreault brings 20 years of firefighting experience to the role, as well as considerable leadership experience supporting volunteer firefighter training and leading live-fire facility instruction. We wish Jim Brown all the best in his retirement, and we welcome chief Perreault to the new role and wish him every success,” said Thoms.

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Sunshine Coast RCMP say security footage helped with a quick arrest after a break in at the Home Hardware in Gibsons. 

Officers were called to the store around 9:30 p.m. on Nov. 23 and were able to get information from the business owner, who was out of town, through live video of the security system. 

Police arrested a local man and recovered stolen merchandise. 

“The fact that this business had a security system that had alerts and live monitoring was instrumental in the quick arrest and recovery of the stolen property,” said Cpl. Stacey Robinson. 

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The Nechako Bottle Depot has reopened in a new location at 2895 Gunn Road.

According to a Facebook post from the depot, parking, signage and a few logistics are still a work in progress.

It adds paint and electronics drop-offs are temporarily suspended, as well as hazardous and flammable household items.

The Nechako Bottle Depot’s location on First Avenue was destroyed in a fire on the morning of September 28th.

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Rio Tinto is providing $400,000 to help 15 organizations across the country deliver essential services around gender-based violence.

This is the sixth year it has made the commitment, partnering with organizations that provide shelter, counselling, education, and help those effected rebuild their lives.

In Burns Lake, part of the funds will be going to the Elisabeth Fry Society which operates various programs for families, women, and children.

“Gender-based violence has significant impacts on individuals and families, and organisations across Canada provide critical assistance to those affected,” said Rio Tinto Chief Executive Jérôme Pécresse.

Only two B.C. organizations were on the list with the Ksan Society in Terrace being the second.

There were also 11 organizations from Quebec, one in Newfoundland and Labrador, and one in the Northwest Territories.

Since 2020, Rio Tinto has provided $2.3 million to help fund supports for those experiencing gender-based violence.

The announcement was also coincided with the federal government’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.

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That’s how Williams Lake Mayor Surinderpal Rathor reacted to the news of the Williams Lake Pellet Plant ceasing their operations at the end of 2025.

Rathor said it’s unfortunate what’s happening, he does worry, and with Christmas time coming he feels for the workers.

“Since I heard the news this morning (November 26) I’ve been working with Victoria, I sent a message to the Forest Minister asking him to please save the plant if he can.”

Rathor said it’s hard for Council to prioritize a budget and plan for the City when you have unfortunately these kind of announcements coming.

“You can’t plan anything. The cost for the infrastructure, the expenses are there. How will we continue, what are we going to do? The requests keep coming from the community to build this, to do this, to do that, it’s not easy.”

Rathor added that they are doing the best that they can, that Council is united on these issues, and that he will be reaching out to MLA Lorne Doerkson.

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A $5,000 donation to the Cowichan District Hospital Foundation (CDHF) will help fund more equipment in the new Quw’utsun Valley Hospital as fundraising moves into the final stretch. 

Funding was received on Nov. 19 from Rotary Clubs of Duncan, Duncan Daybreak, South Cowichan, Ladysmith, Shawnigan Eco and Chemainus and represents proceeds from the Cowichan Rotary Hospital’s 50/50 monthly raffles throughout the Fall.  

Fundraising chair Karen Thorington says Rotary is proud to present the cheque to the foundation and be a part of what the new hospital will bring to the region. 

“The Rotary Clubs of the area are proud to make this donation to the Hospital Foundation,” she says. “These funds will go towards the purchase of critical diagnostic and treatment equipment for the new hospital.” 

According to the foundation, the Quw’utsun Valley Hospital will boast state of the art equipment for staff to provide exceptional medical care to patients, improve patient outcomes, enhance safety, as well as support staff retention.  

 CDHF is currently in the last stretch of its $20 million matching campaign to fund the hospital that’s slated to open to patients in 2027. 

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Luke Chakrabarti had two points through six games for the Vermont State University Castleton Spartans men’s hockey team, a stretch he called “a really slow start to the season.”

That changed last weekend, when the Creston Valley Thunder Cats alumnus exploded for four goals and four assists, helping the Spartans to back-to-back wins. The performance earned Chakrabarti the Little East Conference Player of the Week honour for the week ending Nov. 23, the Spartans said in a release. He said it was nice to be recognized.

“Through the first six games I was generating chances for myself and my linemates, even leading the conference in shots on goal, but nothing seemed to be going in,” he said. “This past weekend the dam just broke and things were finally going my way, and hopefully this isn’t the last time I get player of the week.”

The sophomore led his team to a 4-3 overtime win against UMass Boston on Friday, scoring twice, including the game-winner. On Saturday night, Chakrabarti added two goals and four assists in a 9-5 rout of UMass Dartmouth.

He is now tied for the team lead in goals with five and sits second in points with 10.

“What I liked the most about the way I played was that our whole team had a hate-to-lose mentality. We dropped two games the weekend prior that we had a late lead in, so this weekend we needed to do everything we could to get both wins — there was a sense of desperation throughout our whole lineup that was contagious and allowed me to break out of my slump,” he said.

“I knew I just had to keep playing with confidence and swagger, and eventually the scoring would come in bunches. It was a huge weekend for our KIJHL alums as David Coyle (Revelstoke Grizzlies) and Cam Reid (Kimberley Dynamiters) both found the back of the net, and Tyler Burke (North Okanagan, Sicamous, Grand Forks) had a few points this weekend as well.”

Chakrabarti and the Spartans return home Nov. 28 as they host their annual Terry Moran Invitational. Last season, Chakrabarti earned tournament MVP honours after leading his team to a 7-6 overtime championship win, finishing with three goals and three assists.

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The Prince George Cougars have acquired overage forward Shaun Rios off of waivers.

Rios has appeared in 18 games for the Wenatchee Wild this season, notching three goals and four assists.

“Shaun is a left-shot winger with a knack for scoring,” said Cougars Head Coach and GM Mark Lamb.

“We have an extra overage spot, and we think he’s going to fit in well with our group.”

Rios, a product of San Jose, California, has totaled 57 points in 69 WHL games split between the Wild and the Tri-City Americans.

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The Independent Investigations Office of BC has found no wrongdoing on the part of the RCMP after completing an investigation into concerns surrounding the search for a missing woman on the Saik’uz First Nation two years ago.

On October 11th, 2023, Chelsey Quaw was reported missing after walking away from her home. She was found deceased on November 6th, 2023.

Two years ago today (Wednesday), the IIO was notified of concerns regarding the police response to a request for a wellness check for a woman on the Saik’uz First Nation, and an investigation commenced.

According to the IIO’s report, a civilian witness voiced concerns that officers may not have taken appropriate steps to locate Quaw when she went missing.

This witness reportedly said police service dogs should have been used earlier in the investigation, and when Quaw went missing.

The IIO engaged two experts in police dog deployment and handling to determine if the deployment of a dog would have assisted in the search.

One of the experts stated “We do not use methods or styles such as “showing” a dog something with odour to go to a source and ignore all others. The dog will go down-wind to the freshest, most recent human odour that is reaching their nose in that moment.”

The second expert stated that since the community had been conducting searches in the hours prior, it would have “significantly reduced if not obliterated any potential success for a police dog.”

The report states that for criminal culpability to be found, the RCMP would have had to show a wanton and reckless disregard for the individual’s life.

“The RCMP followed the policing standards in the province which apply to these types of investigations,” the report reads.

“The evidence shows both the community and police took many steps to find the AP, even though all of those steps may not have been communicated to the family and community.”

The Chief Civilian Director of the IIO, Jessica Berglund, stated she does not consider an officer may have committed an offence under any enactment, and the matter will not be referred to Crown counsel for consideration of charges.

The full report can be found here.

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The need for food is growing in the Cowichan Valley and several organizations are looking to fight hunger starting Monday. 

Stuff the Truck is an annual event to help support the Cowichan Valley Basket Society, Nourish Cowichan, House of Friendship and the Cowichan Green Community’s Meals on Wheels program.  

Each year, donors have provided a generous amount of support to those in need, with last year garnering 634 pallets, to help support food banks in Crofton, Duncan, Chemainus, Lake Cowichan and Ladysmith.  

Cowichan Valley Basket Society manager Henry Wikkerink says the need has escalated dramatically over the past years and this year is proving to have the same results.  

“In October we handed out 725 hampers that helped 1,600 individuals and that is just in the central core here,” he says. “In one month, we had 50 extra hampers.” 

Wikkerink says they’re seeing an increase in use across all demographics in the region and that’s why this year is going to be even more vital to get donations. 

“Young families are working and they’re still unable to make decisions on what they’re buying,” he says. “Seniors are coming in as well, they retired and thought they had enough to cover all their expenses but realize they need an extra hand.” 

Unsworth general manager Christle Pope was one of the donors in the palette challenge and she says providing help to those in need is not only the right thing to do, it’s the humane thing to do as well.  

“We look for ways we can donate to the community and this fills an important gap to get the things that people need directly in their hands,” she says. “We’re happy to contribute and help where we can.” 

Stuff the Truck runs from Dec. 1-5 at Save-on-Foods in Duncan and all donations are being accepted, or you can join in the palette challenge for $500 as well as provide bags of food for either $5 or $10 to help fight hunger in the Cowichan Valley. 

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Aircraft in the Comox Valley will once again be lit up for the holiday season. 

Comox Air Force Museum’s Heritage Air Park will light up some of its planes Saturday, Nov. 29, and they will remain lit for the month of December, excluding Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. 

The park will be open from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. throughout the month and admission is by donation of either non-perishable food items for the Comox Valley Food Bank or a cash donation to the Museum fund. 

Volunteers will be on hand to answer questions about each aircraft. 

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Cranbrook residents will pay more for city and police services following council’s approval of a bylaw update that raises several administrative fees.

On the city side, tax certificates jump from $25 to $35, NSF service charges increased from $25 to $30, and there’s now a 20 per cent administrative charge on recoverable work.

Residents will also see changes to certain RCMP services.

Disclosure costs have increased from $50 to $65, and information checks and fingerprinting now cost $55.

City staff said the changes will help recover costs in relation to the staff time involved.

The revised fees are already in effect.

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The RDEK has released the official results of the Edgewater commercial space service vote and the project will not move forward.

The community was asked if they were in favour of setting up a new service to enable the construction and operation of a modular building that could be leased for use as a post office.

There were 352 valid ballots cast, with 86 votes for yes and 266 no votes.

“The request for us to look into this service came from residents of the proposed service area and I am grateful to everyone for taking part in the process and casting their ballots,” says RDEK Electoral Area G Director Roberta Schnider.

“We were asked to provide details on what a proposed service would look like and cost. We gave electors the opportunity to decide, and the process worked as intended. The voters considered the question and made a clear choice.”

Since it was voted down, there will be no new tax and the service won’t be established.

RDEK officials said it will be up to the postmaster and Canada Post to look at postal service options for the community.

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Complaints against the Nelson Police Department increased in 2024-25, but the overall number of oversight files in the city continued a gradual decline.

The Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner (OPCC) released its annual report on Nov. 15, outlining how it dealt with files during the April 2024 to March 2025 reporting period.

The OPCC is an independent civilian oversight office that handles complaints about police misconduct in 15 jurisdictions across the province, including the Nelson Police Department (NPD).

According to the report, 10 public complaints were filed against the Nelson Police Department during the 2024-25 reporting period, up from nine in 2023-24.

The OPCC also ordered two investigations, compared to one the previous year.

Despite the rise in complaints, NPD saw a total of 15 oversight files opened in 2024-25, down from 18 the year prior and continuing a downward trend from 22 files in 2020-21.

The breakdown of this year’s files includes 10 police complaints, two ordered investigations, one service of policy matter, one reportable injury that did not result in an investigation and one file involving a question or concern.

No serious-harm files were launched.

Substantiated misconduct findings

The report includes details on two cases involving misconduct by Nelson police members.

One internal discipline investigation looked into an overtime claim submitted by an officer who missed mandatory training for medical reasons in 2022.

The member worked in a joint NPD-RCMP unit and was required to attend mandatory training, but said they could not attend for medical reasons.

The individual submitted a doctor’s note and an overtime claim to NPD for attending the medical appointment.

The report said Nelson’s chief constable denied the overtime claim, but the officer resubmitted the same request to their supervisor to have it processed through the RCMP, which they did.

The conduct prompted an internal discipline investigation into both the supervisor and the member, which the OPCC found to be substantiated.

The officer received a written reprimand, while the supervisor who approved the resubmitted claim received a two-day suspension without pay.

The second case involved an off-duty special municipal constable who, the report said, became involved in a physical confrontation at a licensed establishment in December 2023.

The member was removed from the establishment but tried to re-enter. When staff told them they still were not allowed to return, they showed their police identification to the establishment’s staff.

The OPCC found both the physical altercation and the attempt to use police identification to gain entry constituted discreditable conduct.

The member received two written reprimands following a prehearing conference.

The OPCC noted that the constable has since left NPD but continues to pursue work in public safety, which it said “demonstrates their dedication to serving the community.”

It said the discipline was appropriate given the circumstances.

Context

Nelson’s 15 oversight files were among the lowest of other municipal police agencies overseen by the OPCC.

Only the Stl’atl’imx Tribal Police Service (one file), the Organized Crime Agency of B.C. (three) and the Oak Bay Police Department (eight) recorded less cases.

In comparison, the Abbotsford Police Department logged 163 files, Central Saanich reported 27, Delta had 59, Metro Vancouver Transit Police had 46 and New Westminster recorded 48.

Vancouver police generated the highest total at 650 files, followed by Victoria with 189 and Surrey Police Service with 185.

Provincewide, municipal police departments generated 1,524 oversight files during the 2024-25 reporting period, an increase from 1,452 in 2023-24.

Want to get your business noticed? Have you considered advertising through your local radio station? Speak to one of our sales agents and find out how radio advertising can boost your business today. Call 250-365-7600 or email Vista Radio.

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A two-day symposium hosted by two UNBC Geography faculty members discussed issues for rivers and streams in northern B.C. moving forward.

On Thursday and Friday, over 50 attended with the focus of bringing together fish biologists and physical hydrologists working on stream temperature.

The university said presentations described new results from research, policy implications of warming streams, and provided an opportunity for groups doing similar work across northern B.C. to learn from each other.

Day two featured a field trip that showcased two restoration projects, showing what can be done in river systems to help create fish habitats resilient to floods, drought and heat waves.

The two projects were the Chilako River Restoration Project near Prince George and the Knight Creek Beaver Dam Analog Project in Vanderhoof.

The goal following the event is to continue to build on the symposium, and grow collaboration between UNBC and groups working on these issues in northern B.C.

The symposium was organized by Dr. Siraj Ul Islam and Alexandre Bevington, with funding support from the Natural Resources and Environmental Studies Institute.

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Global renewable energy company Drax will be ceasing operations at its Williams Lake pellet plant

In a release the company stated the curtailment and closures of neighbouring sawmills, and the loss of a bid for key local supply, have led to a significant reduction in fibre availability making continued operations at the plant no longer commercially viable.

It went on to say as a result we expect to cease operations after an orderly wind-down when fibre availability runs out at the site, which we anticipate will take place by the end of 2025.

Matt White, Executive Director of Pellet Operations for Drax said “The decision to cease operations weighs heavily on us as we recognize the uncertainty it creates for our dedicated employees and their families. We are committed to supporting them through this transition and helping them find new opportunities.”

The company stated they are implementing a comprehensive support plan for the 30 employees affected that includes a severance package as well as well being support.

Employees are encouraged to apply to to open positions at other Drax sites.

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Ryan Oothoudt of the Trail Smoke Eaters has overcome the first major challenge of his junior hockey career.

The 18-year-old winger missed the first 17 games of the regular season after coming down with mononucleosis.

The BCHL rookie says although he soon felt well enough to resume physical activities, the long period needed to allow his body to heal was a mental grind.

“It was tough being sick during the season because you are missing games, you’re not with the team,” said the Minnesota native, who longed to get back with his new team mates.

“It was super hard not being able to be around the team, but I recovered, I got good sleep, ate good food and now I’m back and good to go,” said the Smokies rookie.

Oothoudt picked up a assist early in his first game and the goal post prevented the six-foot-two, 180-pound forward from scoring his first goal in his second contest.

He says creating and getting scoring chances are confidence builders.

“It felt great to get my first point, definitely helped by confidence, I’ve just got to build off that and continue to play good,” Oothoudt stated, feeling he has the skating ability to play in the high paced BCHL.

“I would say me strengths are my probably speed and my shot,” Oothoudt stated.

“If I can use my speed and get to the front of the net I can score goals and use my speed to the outside to drive the defenders to the net, taking the puck hard to the net and not the perimeter, it’s super important,” added Oothoudt.

Oothoudt caught the attention of Smokies scouts last season with his offensive ability.

He scored 22 goals and added 28 assists in just 27 games with Little Falls high school, while putting up 13 goals and 11 assists in 15 games with his U-18 team.

Oothoudt’s talent also caught the eye of former Smokies GM and longtime WHL and NHL scout Glen Sanders during training camp.

Sanders feels the tall winger has a great upside.

Now that Oothoudt is playing games, practicing with his Trail team mates each day and settling back in with his billet family, he says he feels right at home.

“It’s been great, I love the team, I love playing here,” stated Ryan.

Oothoudt was a highly sought after prospect who feels coming to Trail was the right decision.

“It’s a great community, great town, great facilities, great coaches, I mean overall it was a pretty simple decision to come here,” Oothoudt concluded.

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Prime Minister Mark Carney is due in Calgary today (Wednesday).

He’ll be signing a Memorandum of Understanding with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith covering an oil pipeline to the west coast.

Carney says the deal will create the “necessary conditions” for the project, but does not give a guarantee that it will be built.

The Prime Minister added the B-C government and First Nations will have to agree before the pipeline can be built.

So far, Premier David Eby and local indigenous groups remain opposed to the idea.

Vista Radio is reaching out to First Nations leaders on the topic and are awaiting to hear back for possible interviews.

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Police in Prince George are on the lookout for 34-year-old Chase Orion Garbanewski in this week’s Wanted Wednesday.

Garbanewski is wanted on one endorsed warrant for the following:

• Assault

He is described as:

• Indigenous male
• 5’11” (180 cm)
• 225 lb (102 kg)
• Brown hair
• Green eyes
• Tattoo on right arm of skull and roses
• Tribal design tattoo on left arm
• Also goes by the surnames “Beauchamp” and “Beaucham”

Garbanewski is considered dangerous and should not be approached. If you locate him, contact your local police immediately.

If you have any information about his whereabouts, please contact the detachment at 250-561-3300.

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For the second time this week Emergency Services will be unavailable at 100 Mile District General Hospital.

Interior Health said temporary changes to Emergency Department hours will be in effect today (November 26) from 7 am to 8 pm.

All other inpatient services will continue at 100 Mile House District General Hospital.

Interior Health said patients can access care at Cariboo Memorial Hospital in Williams Lake during this time.

People in the community who need life-threatening emergency care should always call 911 for transport to the nearest available and appropriate facility.

Emergency Services were also unavailable on Monday November 24.

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B.C. Wildlife Federation Executive Director Jesse Zemen said last week’s Grizzly Bear attack in Bella Coola that injured 11 students and a teacher is part of a worrying trend.

The federation stated grizzly-human conflicts have risen dramatically ever since the grizzly hunt was terminated in the province eight years ago.

Zemen told Vista Radio there are several communities stretching from the southeast to the northwest that are now regretting that decision due to the spike in sightings.

“We’ve got a problem when we are in the woods. Bears that would we have seen historically that would have ran away are not running away and don’t seem to be afraid of people and there are other communities calling us saying I don’t like letting my kids outside because there are so many bears in my community.”

Zemen added if the hunt carried on, the school group likely would not have been caught in the cross hairs.

“I also think that having the grizzly bear hunt helps manage some of that behaviour and that some of those bears that exhibited characteristics that were more bold or less afraid of people, hunters would have chosen those animals lessening any sort of conflict.”

Since the grizzly bear hunt was banned in 2017, encounters involving them went from 300 to 500 per year to nearly a 1,000 according to Conservation Officers.

“Typically, these are learned behaviours. So, the sow will pass these traits or these behaviours to their offspring and over time we expect that there would be more conflict on the landscape,” added Zemen.

Last month, two hikers were seriously injured after encountering a grizzly sow with two cubs on Farm Cabin Trail near the Pass Lake Forest Service Road in the McGregor Mountain area near Prince George.

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Repairing the equipment that led to a prolonged closure of the pool at the Trail Aquatic and Leisure Centre this year cost the city about $25,000 in parts and labour.

City manager Colin McClure said in an email that while there was also a drop in revenue during the closure, those losses were more than offset by reduced costs.

The aquatic and fitness centres shut down for annual maintenance on Aug. 9. The fitness centre reopened on Aug. 25, while the pool was expected to reopen on Sept. 8, but the heat exchangers leaked on startup. Replacement parts had to be produced and shipped. The pool finally reopened on Nov. 12.

McClure said the parts cost about $20,000 and the installation cost another $5,000.

On the revenue side, admissions, swimming lessons, aquafit, and swim club rentals were down about $28,000. However, city staff have rescheduled swim lessons so that there will only be two fewer lessons than originally planned, which will limit the revenue loss.

The shutdown also meant about $32,000 in savings in things like heat, power, janitorial supplies, pool chemicals, and wages for lifeguards, swimming lesson and aquafit instructors.

McClure say this type of mechanical failure isn’t easily predicted or prevented.

“Mechanical systems like the system in the aquatic center involving complex pumps, filtration units, and heating components, can experience unforeseen issues when restarted,” he said.

“Factors such as age of equipment, hidden wear, and the stress of re-pressurizing systems can lead to failures that are not detectable during routine maintenance.”

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The sister of a local woman killed a year ago says Lindsay Batts Danchella is “a light gone in a way no family should ever endure,” but her family is grateful for community support.

Kelsey Batts spoke Tuesday in downtown Trail as part of a memory walk organized by the BC Nurses Union, coinciding with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

“She had a life carefully imagined, one filled with love, stability, and the simple joy of being cherished,” Batts said of her sister, who would have been 45 this year.

“Despite the discomfort, abuse, and emotional strain she carried, she held on to hope. Those closest to her knew that things were not okay. She believed fiercely that they would get better and that she would be all right.

“Tonight, Lindsay, we gather as a community because you are not okay. And because many women are not.”

Danchella was assaulted on her front lawn in Montrose on Nov. 4, 2024, and died in hospital. Her estranged husband is accused of her murder and will have a preliminary hearing in Rossland in February. He has been in custody since her death.

Batts said intimate partner violence doesn’t recognize culture, profession, or background, and anyone can find themselves vulnerable within a relationship that becomes dangerous.

She said her sister was a “devoted nurse” and a “cherished mother, daughter, sister, niece, cousin, and friend.”

Batts said over the past year, her family has been “confused, angry, heartbroken, and overwhelmed by the path suddenly laid before us. But we have also been held gently and consistently by the people around us.”

She added they have been “given space to grieve quietly and to try step by step to move forward.” She said she is trying to show her sister’s young son “how strong, loving, and extraordinary his mother was.”

“We are not walking this path alone,” she said. “We have a community that catches us when we stumble, and people in our lives whom we are deeply and endlessly grateful for.”

Shalane Wesnoski, the BC Nurses’ Union regional chair, said Danchella’s death “shook me to the core. This was my colleague, someone who cared for others. How could this happen to her? What did we miss? It shattered the illusion that gender-based violence is something that happens to other people.”

Wesnoski said a year later, she still struggles to find words that capture the senselessness of Danchella’s death or the depth of the impact it has had on her and others. But rather than sorrow, she called for action.

“Let’s commit to taking action 365 days a year because every one of us has a role to play. When we challenge harmful comments and behaviors, we play a role.”

Trail mayor Colleen Jones said in addition to honouring Danchella, the approximately 75 people at Tuesday’s event were there “for every woman whose story never made the news, whose suffering was hidden behind closed doors, or who is still searching for a way out.”

Jones said the walk felt heavier than a similar event last year, but also had “a little bit of peace.”

“There’s still heartbreak, but there’s also a quiet sense of relief. A sense of justice finally taking shape. A sense of safety, knowing Lindsay’s son is surrounded by love and protection. And a small sense of peace that Lindsay’s spirit isn’t gone.”

Jones said over the past year “something has definitely shifted. Conversations that were once avoided are now happening with courage. People are asking more difficult questions and they’re checking in with each other. And there’s a growing awareness that matters because it’s how communities save lives.”

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Smithers council unanimously voted to have Tourism Smithers operate the Visitor Information Centre during tonight’s (Tuesday) meeting.

During initial discussions, Councillors Sam Raven and Laura Leonard mentioned a point between it and the Bulkley Valley Museum’s proposals.

“The evaluation has them in a dead heat but we’re recommending the higher price,” said Leonard.

Tourism Smithers’ proposal included the town paying $117,000 to operate the centre with the museum’s cost being $20,000 lower.

Chief Administrative Officer Michael Dewar added the higher price did put tourism’s proposal lower than the museum’s in that category.

“When we looked at the overall ranking, we did identify [Tourism Smithers] scored higher and also had a lot of validity in terms of why staff would select it as the preferred candidate,” Dewer said.

The Smithers District Chamber of Commerce has been operating the centre for several years and decided earlier this year it could no longer continue due to operating costs.

A lease and fee-for-service agreement are still to be determined with Tourism Smithers’ first day operating set for April 1st, 2026.

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Sports by Hartley Wednesday, November 26th, 2025  as of 12:05 a.m.

Volleyball:

The Provincial high school volleyball championships begin today (Wednesday) including the
AA boys at CNC and College Heights Secondary.

16 teams, including four from Prince George, are in the double-A boys tournament, which includes second-ranked Duchess Park, #4 College Heights, #10 Cedars Christian and #16 D.P. Todd.

The gold-medal match is scheduled for Saturday afternoon at 3:30 at CNC.

CHL USA Prospects Under-18 Challenge Game–(in Calgary)

USA  4  CHL  2

The game summary is here.

PG Cougars defenceman Carson Carels picked up an assist in the losing cause for Team CHL. The rematch will be played tonight (Wednesday) in Lethbridge. The two-game series serves as a showcase for players eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft.

WHL:

The Prince George Cougars play their next five games on the road starting Friday in Wenatchee against the (6-12-1-1) Wild.

The (16-7) Cougars are riding a 5-game winning steak and sit atop the BC Division by 5 points over the (11-7-3-2) Penticton Vees.

BCHL: 

The Prince George Spruce Kings have lost their leading scorer.

Kazumo Sasaki, who had 29 points in 17 games, has signed to play the rest of the season with the Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL.

#

The (10-9-1) PG Spruce Kings host the (9-9-1-1) Chilliwack Chiefs Friday night at 7:00 and Saturday night at 6:00.

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The City of Nelson celebrated the grand opening of its Victoria Street Transit Exchange on Tuesday, marking the completion of a project that’s already been in use since June.

City officials, regional partners and B.C. Transit representatives gathered at the exchange for a ribbon-cutting ceremony, praising the project as a major step in promoting regional connectivity.

Nelson Mayor Janice Morrison said its completion reflects years of planning and collaboration.

“This exchange is more than a new set of platforms and shelters. It’s a hub that will make it easier for people to get to work, to school, to appointments, to local businesses and to each other,” said Morrison.

B.C. Transit vice-president of asset management and chief sustainability officer Aaron Lamb also attended and called the completed project a long-awaited milestone.

“It’s always nice to come to see a project that you’ve been working on and your team back at home working on for many, many years now so it’s great to see that this thing has now come to life and we’re extremely proud that we’re able to deliver this.”

The completed exchange features five bus bays, with the potential for an additional bay in the future, five bus shelters with lighting, improved street lighting, bike racks, garbage cans and new sidewalks along Victoria Street.

It also has an accessible public washroom, which Lamb noted sets it apart from others in the province.

“That doesn’t happen so often where we have a public washroom in our exchanges, so that’s a great amenity.”

West Kootenay Transit Committee chair and Nelson city councillor Rik Logtenberg has been involved in the project since the start.

He said he feels satisfied seeing it come together.

“It’s gratifying because so many people have been involved in this project from across the region. A lot of people came together to help make this happen and it’s been many years to get to this point,” said Logtenberg.

The exchange soft-launched at the end of June, and Logtenberg said feedback so far has been positive.

“There’s been some growing pains as we’ve had to deal with the limitations of space so we’ve had to adapt. But overall it’s a nice, spacious place for people. It’s way more convenient and it’s opened up the flow of traffic more generally too.”

He added that the new space creates capacity for potential service expansions, such as a daily Nelson–Salmo route, which he said could help more people commute without relying on a car.

“Now that we’ve got this exchange, we can accommodate that kind of route. I hope to see more people using the bus as their commute, going to the restaurants nearby to grab lunch or breakfast, and making it really a part of their daily life.”

He emphasized how it will serve as a key piece of regional connectivity.

“It’s more than just an exchange where buses can connect. It’s the connective tissue for the region and it’s something that brings our residents together as people travel between cities. It’s really a way of building community across the region.”

Plans for the $2.4-million project were announced in February 2024. Construction began in March 2025 and finished in September.

It was funded collaboratively by the provincial and federal governments, the City of Nelson and the Regional District of Central Kootenay.

Want to get your business noticed? Have you considered advertising through your local radio station? Speak to one of our sales agents and find out how radio advertising can boost your business today. Call 250-365-7600 or email Vista Radio.

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Welcome to Hartley’s Cat Scan!

This is a weekly podcast featuring the ‘who’s who’ of the Prince George Cougars.

Hartley’s guest this week is Cougars Head Coach and General Manager Mark Lamb.

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As the holiday season approaches, those ordering packages from online retailers may want to keep them out of sight.

The Prince George RCMP want people to be aware of porch pirates, and take extra steps in preventing packages from being snatched up.

Cpl. Jennifer Cooper gives some ways to keep your items safe.

“If you can, change your delivery address to your workplace. That way you can be assured they’re not sitting out in front of your doorway for several hours.”

“If that’s not a possibility, maybe reach out to some neighbours that can maybe pick them up and tuck them in a garage, or just hold them at their house for you until you return home.”

Cooper said it’s best to call police if a package is stolen so they know where the activity is to track and trace it.

She said they have had instances where officers found the items on someone later that day, and were able to return the packages.

Any video footage of the suspect grabbing the package, or that shows what they’re wearing also gives officers something to lookout for when on patrols.

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British Columbia is launching an independent review of the post-secondary education system.  

Jessie Sunner, Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills, said Tuesday that institutions are facing serious financial challenges , worsened by the federal government’s move to slash international student study permits. She also pointed to declining domestic enrollment and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.  

“These unprecedented times in the public post-secondary sector requires decisive and measured and holistic action as a response,” said Sunner.  

She said the review will be led by Don Avison, former B.C. deputy minister and former board chair of Emily Carr University of Art + Design. Aveson’s report and recommendations are expected by March 15, 2026.  

“The review presents an opportunity to look at both near- and longer-term sustainability issues in post-secondary education and training,” said Avison in a statement. “I welcome the opportunity to consider how best to address the challenges that lie ahead.”   

In January 2022, the federal government dramatically cut the number of international student visas allotted to each province. 

Sunner said since then, B.C. institutions have seen a 70 per cent decrease in international student visas. The province said the decline in international student tuition represents a $300 million annual loss. 

The federal government released plans earlier this month for further reductions in international students, saying just 150,000 new visas will be permitted in each of the next three years. Data in the latest federal immigration report show that would mark a more than 50 per cent reduction from 2024 levels. 

Sunner said she met with the Federal Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab last month, where she voiced concerns that student visa and immigration levels need to be stable and predictable, and that B.C. wants more say in the decision-making process. 

Many institutions have been scrambling to make up for revenue losses through hiring freezes, expanding class sizes, program cuts and other measures.

The B.C. Federation of Students (BCFS) says 80 programs across the province have been paused, suspended or cancelled, mainly due to the drop in revenue from international students.

However, BCFS said the province has not stepped in to help fill those gaps. The group notes public funding made up 68 per cent of institutional revenue in 2000 but now accounts for only 40 per cent.

In 2021 and 2022, the province began a broad review of its public funding model for post-secondary model, consulting with dozens of stakeholders. That review was never completed, and the province said major changes to the economic landscape have rendered the findings outdated.

BCFS Secretary-Treasurer Cole Reinbold said Tuesday she’s glad to see the province acknowledge the financial challenges facing public institutions. 

“Students have warned for years that over reliance on international tuition and decades of stagnant operating grants would lead to this kind of crisis,” she said. 

Reinbold expressed concern that the government might raise tuition as part of its solution.

The release from the province said the review will look at ways to “deliver programs more effectively within existing budgets,” implying significant public funding increases aren’t in the cards.  

“That means the that government is considering asking students, working families and people trying to break out of poverty to pay more while refusing to commit to new public funding,” said Reinbold. 

Currently, B.C. has a two per cent cap on annual tuition increases for public institutions.

The province said domestic tuition revenue has remained largely unchanged over the past 10 years due to stagnant or declining enrolment.

Reinbold said the decline in domestic enrollment, even as B.C.’s population continues to rise, shows how the affordability crisis is increasing barriers to post-secondary education.  

“You can’t efficiency your way out of a funding crisis,” she said. “At some point, government has to fund the system that it so says that it depends on.” 

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The Bulkley Valley Concert Association is bringing a little bit of Christmas mayhem to the Bulkley Valley.

On Thursday, A Very Merry Heistmas will be at the Della Herman Theatre in Smithers.

It is done by Nico Rhodes and Patrick Courtin with piano duels, comedy, laughs, and creative takes on Christmas classics.

Opening for the act is local pianist Fynn Stasiuk with the association also giving away a pair of tickets to Kym Gouchie to someone attending in an ugly holiday sweater.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with tickets available at Mountain Eagle Books and the association’s website.

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A new potable water filling station opened in Burns Lake today (Tuesday) by the village and the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako. (RDBN)

It is located at the sani-station on Railway Avenue and will be open at all times.

According to the regional district, the station will also help rural residents around Burns Lake currently impacted by ongoing drought conditions.

“By supporting infrastructure that meets real community needs, our government is helping build resilient communities where people have the services they count on, no matter where they live,” said Christine Boyle, Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs.

“We are delighted our partnership with the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako will provide access to potable water to rural residents year-round,” said Mayor Henry Wiebe.

The water station project was funded through a Canada Community-Building B.C. Grant from RDBN Electoral Area B.

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One week has passed since the Municipality of North Cowichan began cleaning up Lewis Street, and council is hopeful the street remains safe and clean for everyone. 

Encampments were removed on Nov. 17 after the municipality issued orders for bylaw officers and the RCMP to begin the removal process, responding to growing concerns from residents and businesses. 

Mayor Rob Douglas said now that the area has been cleared, it is up to the vulnerable population to find alternatives and seek the help they need. 

“Our hope is to not see an encampment return, as this has been the case in recent months and years,” he said. “To do that we need to provide folks with alternative public spaces where they can set up these encampments, and it’s our hope they use the alternatives and not return to Lewis Street.” 

Douglas added that residents and businesses have long faced challenges related to nearby services for mental-health and addictions, which tend to attract homeless individuals close by. He said the neighbourhood deserves what he called a “well-deserved break.” 

“That neighbourhood has been through a lot over the past decade, and they need the chance to catch their breath and return to what their area looked like before all this happened,” he said. 

He acknowledged the clean-up is not a long-term solution and much remains to be done. “We need to get people the right support, whether that is village-style housing, supportive housing or addictions, treatment or mental-health facilities,” he said. 

Council considered a motion from Douglas to expand mental-health and addictions services by converting the existing Cowichan District Hospital site into a treatment facility once the new Quw’utsun Valley Hospital is completed. 

On Oct. 5, municipal director of social planning and protective services John Horn presented options to improve conditions in North Cowichan, including increased bylaw enforcement. However, council opted not to hire more bylaw officers. 

Douglas said council has adopted several public-safety bylaw provisions and approved an additional $250,000 in spending to intensify efforts in that area. 

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Parking meter and leased parking stall rates will be going up in Cranbrook this spring, with new rates coming into effect on May 1, 2026.

Current parking rates are five cents for six minutes, 10 cents for 12 minutes, 25 cents for 30 minutes and 50 cents for an hour.

Once the changes come into effect it will be 25 cents for 15 minutes, 50 cents for 30 minutes, $1 for an hour and $2 for two hours.

Leased parking stalls will increase from $35 per month to $50.

City staff said this will bring the rates more in line with other communities while still being below the national average.

The extra money brought in will go towards paving,
lighting, landscaping, signage and other downtown revitalization initiatives.

Meters have to be updated by hand, so the start date of May 1 will give crews enough time to complete the turnover.

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A Valemount man will be spending the next three years behind bars following a March 2024 traffic stop in Kamloops.

48-year-old Christopher Fillingham learned of his fate in B.C. Supreme Court earlier this month.

An investigation by the Uniform Gang Enforcement Team initiated a traffic stop after an electric motorbike committed multiple traffic violations with the driver failing to stop for police and was arrested a short time later.

A search led to the seizure of illicit drugs, cash and a semi-automatic pistol, six rounds of ammunition and a Pistol magazine and holster.

According to the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit, Fillingham was the subject of a court-ordered weapons ban at the time of the incident.

In October of 2024, the 48-year-old was charged with unauthorized possession of a loaded restricted firearm and possession of a restricted firearm while prohibited.

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Cranbrook city council will be deciding on an application to allow two structures to be built at the Common Ground space near Moir Park.

The city’s camping bylaw prohibits tents on city property during the day, but allows them to be put up at night.

Bylaw enforces it in high visible areas of town but allows unhoused residents to keep tents up in certain areas like Common Ground.

“This gives the city some form of control without ownership,” said mayor Wayne Price.

“The city isn’t moving people to Common Ground, it’s a public space and they are allowed to occupy a public space if there’s not enough housing.”

Essential services are provided by local support groups to reduce the need of having to move around the community to access support.

The Fresh Start Collaborative Society will be applying to the city for building permits to allow two structures to be placed on the property.

The society was formed as part of the mayor’s taskforce on homelessness and is a non-profit.

The new homeless shelter that recently opened its doors is already full and there are still residents needing to get in.

Price said they were assured by BC Housing that the facility would be adequate for the number of homeless in the community.

“We were promised something that would satisfy the needs of our community, but it’s undersized,” he added.

“That’s a fact and the way it is, so now we have to deal with it.”

The structures that would go on the site would be used as a meeting place.

“The idea is that when these different organizations are servicing the vulnerable population up there, they aren’t meeting with them out in the elements,” said CAO Mark Fercho. “They aren’t for lodging or anything, but a place to interact with folks.”

Council voted in favour of hearing the application which will be up for a vote at a future meeting.

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The District of Elkford is exploring the possibility of an off-leash dog park and is asking residents to have their say.

A proposal for a dog park recently went through council, but the district wanted to work out some details before signing off.

District staff said the goal is to create a safe, designated space where dogs can run, play and socialize.

At this time, they are asking residents two questions: should this project proceed, and if so, where should an off-leash park be located?

It’s still a ways a way, but the district has scheduled a public hearing for Mar. 10 from 6-8 p.m.

The district will be providing more details in early 2026.

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Hospitality workers at the Artemis Gold Blackwater Mine near Vanderhoof ratified their first collective agreement.

According to UNITE HERE Local 40, the contract covers 77 workers ranging from housekeepers, cooks and other kitchen workers who staff the remote work camp roughly four hours from Prince George.

Under the terms of the contract, workers will receive a $7 per hour wage spike, which includes retroactive pay.

“I’m proud of what we gained in this contract. A room attendant will be making $25.12 by the end of the contract, which means our pay is beginning to reflect the value of the hard work we do,” said Amina Farah, a housekeeper at the camp.

“We won major wage increases plus benefits that were overdue in our camp. These jobs are challenging and far from home, but this contract gives us the stability we need to support ourselves and our families,” said Nathan Sykes, a 1st Cook at the Blackwater Mine site.

The deal runs through 2027.

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Hospitality workers at the Artemis Gold Blackwater Mine near Vanderhoof ratified their first collective agreement.

According to UNITE HERE Local 40, the contract covers 77 workers ranging from housekeepers, cooks and other kitchen workers who staff the remote work camp roughly four hours from Prince George.

Under the terms of the contract, workers will receive a $7 per hour wage spike, which includes retroactive pay.

“I’m proud of what we gained in this contract. A room attendant will be making $25.12 by the end of the contract, which means our pay is beginning to reflect the value of the hard work we do,” said Amina Farah, a housekeeper at the camp.

“We won major wage increases plus benefits that were overdue in our camp. These jobs are challenging and far from home, but this contract gives us the stability we need to support ourselves and our families,” said Nathan Sykes, a 1st Cook at the Blackwater Mine site.

The deal runs through 2027.

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The Prince George RCMP is gathering donations in support of the Salvation Army during the holidays.

This is being done through the Cram-A-Cruiser campaign, which will be taking non-perishable food, toiletries, un-wrapped gifts, cash and gift cards.

Some examples of items include:

• Peanut butter
• Rolled or instant oats
• Pasta and sauce
• Rice
• Canned fish or meat
• Canned soup
• Canned beans in sauce
• Canned vegetables
• Macaroni and cheese
• Coffee or tea
• Size 5 or 6 diapers and Pull Ups
• Feminine hygiene products

“We will fill our police cruisers with donations as many times as we can during the day.” said Cpl. Jennifer Cooper.

“The Salvation Army has been generous in assisting our Victim Services program over the years and this is our way of returning that generosity.”

Mounties and community volunteers will be outside several Save-On-Foods locations throughout the city on Saturday, from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

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The Cariboo Regional District has rescinded the Boil Water Notice effective today (yesterday) to the Telqua Drive Area 108 Mile Water system users.

The notice was issued on November 18th pursuant to a request of a Drinking Water Officer under Section 14 of the Drinking Water Protection Act.

On that day a shut off of the Telqua Drive Area-108 Mile Water System occurred at approximately 12:45 pm for repairs to the water main on Telqua Drive.

The Cariboo Regional District said their water system’s are tested regularly to ensure they meet public health regulations.

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The City of Campbell River is proceeding with the next phase of planning for the growing Quinsam Heights neighbourhood.

City staff said the Quinsam Heights Neighbourhood Plan is being updated to guide future growth in the area, with a wider mix of housing options, new park space and potential small-scale commercial services.

The plan also outlines environmental protection priorities and long-term infrastructure needs as the neighbourhood expands.

A transportation study is underway to assess traffic flow along Petersen Road and explore possible secondary routes to ease congestion.

City officials said a final draft of the neighbourhood plan is expected to be presented to council in the coming months, and residents can provide feedback on the draft plan at an open house Monday, December 8, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Community Centre.

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Nanaimo RCMP are asking the public for help locating a man who has not been seen for more than two weeks. 

Police said 37-year-old Michael Rubin was last seen in Nanaimo on Nov. 8. He travels on foot and camps for shelter. 

He is described as six feet tall, 170 pounds, white, with blue eyes and short blonde hair. 

Anyone who has seen him or may know his whereabouts should contact Nanaimo RCMP and reference file 2025-36423. 

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Several members of Comox Fire Rescue received awards at the department’s annual ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 22. 

Fire Chief Gord Schreiner said he’s proud of all the volunteers.

“It takes a special kind of person to volunteer, let alone to serve as a firefighter, and an even better one to stay committed for so many years.”

Noah James and Hans Huggler were named Rookies of the Year.

Firefighter Todd Fyfe and Lieutenant Orod Farbod received the Firefighter of the Year award. 

Tammy Blair earned the Stewart Rennie Memorial Award, while firefighter Giovanni Vanzzini received the Kevin Kimler Memorial Award. 

Sandy Pridmore and Capt. Corey Brooks were honoured for 30 years of federal service.

Assistant Chiefs Rick Shelton and Jim Lariviere were also recognised; both plan to retire at the end of the year. 

Comox Fire Rescue has eight full-time firefighters and 50 part-time members.

The department responded to more than 900 emergency incidents this year, according to its report. 

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For the 28^th year the community of Williams Lake is once again invited to a very special Festive Feast.

On Wednesday December third the Cariboo Chilcotin Child Development Centre (CDC) in collaboration with the Society of St Vincent de Paul will be putting on a Yuletide Dinner.

CDC Executive Director Vanessa Riplinger said if you are lean on funds this Holiday Season, or all alone, you are welcome to join us for a free traditional turkey dinner with all the fixings.

“The Society is amazing, they do all the cooking and organizing and Dave the chef from the Loon comes in and oversees the food, orders it all, then does the plating. It’s a full turkey dinner with mashed potatoes, gravy, buns and desserts. It’s a wonderful dinner for people who may not get a Christmas dinner. We also have the men’s choir performing and Santa will be there as well handing out stockings.”

Riplinger said if anyone who would like to donate to this annual event can sponsor a family of four for just $50.

“The community and our businesses are incredibly giving to our (CDC) Christmas events. Year after year places like 150 Tire give every year, Johnston Meir is a huge sponsor of the Yuletide Dinner, aso we’re really grateful to all the businesses that step up and say they want to sponsor families and individuals during the Holiday Season and we’re going to help with this meal.”

Last year the Yuletide Dinner served over 640 meals which Riplinger says every time they hold it a great deal of volunteer hours goes into preparing for it.

“The St Vincent de Paul Society will be cooking probably from the first of December on getting things ready and Chef Dave is in and out helping which is amazing. We started preparing this event a couple of months ago. We sat down with Dave, the ordering was done, so this isn’t something we do like a week or two ago, this is something we’ve been doing for a a couple of months.”

The 28^th Annual Yuletide Dinner will be served between 4 pm and 7 pm on Wednesday December 3^rd at the Sacred Heart Hall in Williams Lake

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Malahat Fire Rescue has taken delivery of a new tactical water tender to boost safety and resilience in the Cowichan Valley Regional District’s Area A. 

The 2,000-gallon unit arrived on Oct. 12, said the CVRD, and will be a critical asset for firefighting in areas where water is limited or unavailable. 

CVRD chair Kate Segall, who represents Area A (Mill Bay/Malahat), said the tender will be especially valuable in hot, dry summer months when water is scarce. “Its ability to respond to rural fires, especially in areas with limited water access, will be critical during our increasingly dry and hot summer months,” she said. “This tender not only strengthens Malahat Fire Rescue’s capacity but also provides peace of mind for residents throughout wildfire season.” 

Fire Chief Tanya Patterson praised the vehicle’s suitability for the area’s terrain and climate. “It will significantly enhance the operational capabilities of CVRD Malahat Fire Rescue,” Patterson said. “This custom-built unit is ideally suited to the geography and year-round weather conditions of the Malahat Fire Service area and fully equipped to support the province during wildfire season.” 

The CVRD board approved a contribution of $100,000 for the tender, funded through the Community Works Fund. 

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This year’s Festival of Trees being put on by the Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation is going to be one the biggest editions yet.

“This has been so much creativity and hours of dedication by our volunteer team,” said Spirit of the North CEO Aimee Cassie.

“They have been working around the clock to bring Festival to life at CN Centre, and I’m excited to see it all come together, and I’m excited for them to see CN Centre fill up with everyone coming to check it out.”

This is the first year the Festival will be at the CN Centre, but it’s a change Cassie says they have been considering for quite some time.

“This year dates worked out and we thought if we’re going to make a change, let’s make a change,” she explained

“The event’s really grown and we’ve seen challenges with space in the last few years, so this has just allowed every space, every display, every aspect of the festival a little bit more room to continue to expand.”

Cassie said the increased space allows for more trees, more children’s space, and a vendor market.

“This year we’ve brought the vendor market inside, and I think we’ve quadrupled what we had last year, which is great,” she said.

“Our littles area, so our little houses, wreaths and trees, have way more space, so it’s just allowed everything to expand a little bit more and bring more pieces in.”

Alongside of the Festival is a number of events and fundraising initiatives throughout the week, including the McDonald’s Fundraising Breakfast on Thursday morning, the Gala Whobilation on Friday evening, and the Kopar Holiday parade on Saturday afternoon.

The parade made its return last year, which Cassie said the community was excited for.

“It’s something that I think most everyone has talked about for years,” she said.

“Being able to bring it back last year, it was just magical. This year we’ve doubled the route size which allows more space between the floats because that was one thing, we had the shorter route last year, when the last float was leaving, the first float was pulling back around, so this gives us more space, which was really nice, we can welcome more floats, welcome more user groups to come in.”

Cassie said funds raised through the festival will be used to bring an endobronchial ultrasound system to UHNBC.

“It’s a piece we don’t currently have, and it’s used to diagnose throat, lung, pancreatic, stomach cancers at home locally,” she said.

“Right now we’re sending anywhere from five to ten patients per week down to the Lower Mainland and Kelowna for this service. This really is a a big addition for Northern B.C. that’s going to have a direct impact on our friends and family.”

More information and a schedule of events for the Festival of Trees can be found here.

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Two new electric-hybrid B.C. Ferries vessels for the Nanaimo–Gabriola Island route have been given hul’q’umi’num’ names by Snuneymuxw First Nation.  

One will be called xwsaĺux̌ul (pronounced “Xwus-wol-ox-wutl”), meaning “grassy place,” a reference to where the Snuneymuxw Sarlequun Treaty of 1854 was signed.  

The second ferry will be known as sarlequun (pronounced “Sar-le-kwun”), meaning “people at Nanaimo Harbour.” 

“hul’q’umi’num’ is a powerful force within Snuneymuxw territory, carrying the knowledge of our ancestors and the spirit of the land.  

The names we are gifting hold immense strength and offer a sense of belonging to all who board and sail these new vessels.  

“We look forward to expanding our collaborative efforts with B.C. Ferries, recognizing that this is just one part of our shared commitment to meaningful partnership,” said Snuneymuxw First Nation Chief Michael Wyse. 

Audio recordings to help learn pronunciation of the new vessels can be found on the BC Ferries website. 

The new Island Class vessels are expected to enter service by 2027 on the Nanaimo Harbour–Gabriola Island route.  

“These names are a powerful symbol of Snuneymuxw First Nation’s inherent rights and enduring presence within their territory. It is a privilege to incorporate them into our fleet,” said Nicolas Jimenez, president and CEO of B.C. Ferries. 

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The Village of Sayward says ongoing issues with water drawn have triggered a level one Emergency Operations Centre and an investigation into a landslide that occurred near the Newcastle watershed.  

According to the village, an investigation is being carried out to determine the extent of the landslide and any potential impacts on the Water Treatment Plant. 

The Emergency Operations Centre is in discussions with McElhanney Limited to obtain more funding and get a technical report on remediation and mitigation options for the area. 

Funding for the assessment has so far been obtained from the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness. 

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Over 43-hundred pets in the Northern BC/Cariboo region have been helped through the province’s SPCA Food Bank Program.

The initiative has provided a week’s worth of food to 44,320 dogs and cats province-wide, equating to 622,850 meals.

“That works out to the BC SPCA supporting an average of 923 pets per week just through our pet food banks alone,” says Diane Waters, the BC SPCA’s community services specialist.

“We distributed the most pet food in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley, but it was only slightly more than what we did in the Thompson, Okanagan and Kootenay.”

Waters added many of the BC SPCA’s animal centres are reporting that cost is one of the top reasons owners are surrendering their pets.

In addition to any physical donations received, the organization includes a dedicated amount in its annual budget for purchasing food and other supplies for the pet food bank program.

Numbers by the Region:

• Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley 14,907 pets helped
• Thompson, Okanagan, and Kootenay 13,324 pets helped
• Vancouver Island, Gulf Island and Sunshine Coast 11,770 pets helped
• Cariboo and North Region 4,319 pets helped

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The boil water notice for Fairmont residents is no longer in effect, after it was first issued on Nov. 18.

A complete power failure in the water system caused a depressurization in the entire service area.

Lab tests have come back and confirm that the water supply is safe for all uses.

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The Trail Smoke Eaters have signed another two local boys.

Brayden Tremblay and Ben Fragle were at training camp this past fall and played preseason games with the Smokies.

The 17-year-old Tremblay is off to a strong start to his second season with the U-18 Okanagan Hockey Academy Prep team with a goal and three assists in the first six games.

Smokies head coach and GM Eric Thurston believes the defenseman checks off all the boxes.

“A big, strong kid, six-foot-three, he’s heavy, I like the way he plays the game,” said Thurston.

“He plays with an edge, he moves the puck well, I think he is going to be a nice addition as he progresses with his development, he’s going to be a formidable force,” Thurston added, who also pointed out the back liner from Fruitvale has an another attribute coaches covet.

“Being a right handed shot, all teams are looking for that, especially at six-foot-three, those guys just don’t grow on trees,” said Thurston.

Fragle is in his first full season with the Okanagan Hockey Academy U-18 Preps.

The five-foot-nine, 170-pound forward who moved to Trail from Edmonton before the 2020-21 season doesn’t turn 17 until late December and impressed observers during training camp and preseason with his work ethic.

The son of former Smokies forward and head coach Tim Fragle appeared in three games last season with the KIJHL’s Beaver Valley Nitehawks.

That’s where two local 17-year-old Smokies prospects are learning their junior hockey ropes.

Brady Walker of Montrose has 10 goals and 21 points in 20 games.

The six-foot-one, 185-pound forward has fired four goals and added four assists over the past five games.

Maddox Ghanda of Trail has also been hot lately.

The six-foot, 168-pound forward has three goals and 12 assists over the past ten games, totaling 19 points in 20 games so far this season.

Both were with the Smokies through the entire training camp and preseason after signing last summer.

Castlegar’s Brayden Rotach cracked the Trail lineup and recently recorded his first BCHL goal.

Meanwhile Trail’s Chayse Johnson is off to an impressive rookie season as a Smoke Eater.

The 18-year-old goalie has been named a game star in three of his four victories and has impressive numbers, with a 2.30 GAA and .910 SP.

Trail’s Judah Makway earned an NCAA Division-1 Scholarship with the University of Alaska Anchorage during his third and final season with the Smoke Eaters.

The power forward who scored 22 goals in 2024-25, has three goals and an assist in his first 12 regular season games with the Seawolves after leading the team with a goal and four assists during a preseason contest.

Thurston says local players will continue to be given a chance to wear Smoke Eater uniforms.

“When you get those local kids that can play and they’re impact guys, that’s exciting for your program,” Thurston explained.

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One of the longest serving members of the Prince George Spruce Kings has decided to depart for the USHL.

Leading scorer Kazumo Sasaki left the BCHL club to sign with the Youngstown Phantoms this week.

Sasaki tallied 29 points in 17 games sitting fourth in league scoring.

The 20-year-old from Japan was entering his third season with the Junior A club.

In the previous two years with the Spruce Kings, Sasaki tallied 65 points in 90 regular season games.

He is committed to Lake Superior State of the NCAA for next season.

The Phantoms sit third in the USHL’s Eastern Conference with a record of 13-6-1-1, two points back of the top-seeded Muskegon Lumberjacks.

In a media release on the Phantoms website, co-general manager Jason Deskins said the acquisition is a major plus.

“We’re excited to welcome Kazumo to Youngstown,”

“He plays with pace, he competes and he brings a creativity that fits the style and identity of our program. We believe he will make an immediate impact within our group.”

“We’re always looking for players with high hockey intelligence, skill and speed,” Deskins said. “Kazumo checks all those boxes. We look forward to supporting his growth and integrating him into our culture.”

Prince George welcomes the Chilliwack Chiefs to the Kopar Memorial Arena Friday (7pm) and Saturday (6pm).

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A local non-profit group is asking the City of Grand Forks to develop a plan to give people with nowhere else to go a place to warm up in below-zero temperatures.

Amanda Erickson of ANKORS, who co-ordinates the local community action team, spoke to city council Monday. ANKORS helps people with mental health, substance use, and housing issues. Erickson also works with the Grand Forks collaborative community wellness and safety group, which focuses on improving housing, especially for seniors.

Erickson said she has provided the city with material from the provincial government on cold weather, municipal responsibilities, and provincial funding opportunities.

“We are hoping to work together with you to support the most vulnerable populations in Grand Forks during this coming winter,” she said.

Erickson said most cities in the Interior have cold weather plans that are activated when the temperature falls below a certain threshold, or during special winter weather warnings. She listed Nelson, Trail, and Cranbrook as examples, but wasn’t sure if any others already exist in the Boundary.

She said developing a cold weather plan for Grand Forks would come at no cost to the city, as funds are available from the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness.

Erickson said local service workers estimate 30 to 35 people in Grand Forks are homeless. She noted the local shelter has 15 beds and is reportedly full every night, leaving 15 to 20 people with nowhere to go in cold weather, including seniors.

“We have grave concerns about their health and welfare and conditions like frostbite, especially at night when the temperature can drop below minus-10 or when it’s very snowy and damp,” she said.

Erickson said the ANKORS office at 7331 3rd Street provides a warming drop-in centre Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. However, after hours and on weekends, it is not an option. That is where they would like the city to step in.

“A cold weather plan could bring people off the streets and out of the public spaces,” she said. “Then people could have a private, safe space, personal dignity, warmth, connection, and even an opportunity for support or rehabilitation services.”

Erickson said there is an option to apply for winter supply kits through the provincial government, which could include boots, hats, or mitts.

Tanis Carson, an ANKORS outreach worker, pointed to studies that found providing housing programs, including emergency shelters, can reduce health care costs and improve health outcomes for homeless people.

Mayor Everett Baker noted the city received a letter from Interior Health supporting a cold weather plan. However, council took no immediate action other than to receive the presentation for information.

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UNBC is partnering with a technology platform to plant trees in Senegal.

veritree connects restoration projects with sustainably minded companies, and their planting partners, to take action.

The platform was designed to keep tabs on each project, from seed to grown tree, giving UNBC students, faculty, staff and alumni the ability to see the real-time impact of the project.

“UNBC’s collaboration with veritree gives students a clear example of how local choices can have global impact,” said UNBC Interim President Dr. Bill Owen.

“Supporting reforestation in Senegal allows UNBC to contribute to climate resilience abroad while cultivating a culture of community responsibility here at home.”

UNBC’s Faculty of Business and Economics is leading the effort by supporting the planting of more than 1,600 trees this year in recognition of this year’s incoming class with the goal of adding to the project for future years.

The trees will be planted in the Kedougou region in south-eastern Senegal.

“This initiative gives students in the Faculty of Business and Economics the opportunity to be part of something lasting, a living legacy that grows year after year,” says Dean of the Faculty of Business and Economics Dr. Ron Camp. “Each tree planted is a symbol of UNBC’s commitment to sustainability, community and a healthier planet for generations to come.”

The partnership helps to advance UNBC’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, specifically Goal No. 13 Climate Action and Goal No. 15 Life on Land.

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Charges have been stayed against a man whose arrest this year in the Fairview neighbourhood south of Castlegar was captured on video and posted to social media.

Laurence Darren Charles McKay was accused of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and two counts of breach of release. However, last week Crown counsel ordered the charges be stayed.

The BC Prosecution Service doesn’t normally disclose reasons when it stays charges, although in all cases it is guided by the principles that charges are only approved when there is a substantial likelihood of conviction and if the matter is in the public interest.

Prosecutors did not say which of those tests they felt no longer applied in this case, nor why they changed their minds.

RCMP said they were called on Sept. 10 to a home in the 500 block of 201st Avenue in Fairview after a victim and a witness fled. They arrested a man who was known to them and under court conditions not to have firearms.

The road was closed to ensure public safety. Police said they phoned the man, who left the home and was arrested.

The video of the arrest showed a suspect walking toward police with his hands on his hands on his head and then laying down on the ground. Officers approached him with weapons drawn and took him into custody.

McKay was also facing three counts of possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking. Those charges have been stayed as well. The offences were alleged to have occurred in Castlegar on the same day as the Fairview incident.

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Premier David Eby said he spoke to Prime Minister Mark Carney by phone Monday morning, amid reports that Ottawa is close to inking a deal with Alberta that includes steps toward a new pipeline to British Columbia’s north coast.  

Premier Danielle Smith said last week the two governments were “very close” to a deal. Smith said the talks have included ways of getting Alberta bitumen to new markets, including a new pipeline, and easing the so-called “nine bad laws” that she said are barriers to oil and gas investment. 

Eby said Carney told him Monday morning that a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Alberta had not been finalized. 

Hours later, CBC reported a deal has been reached and a formal announcement on the agreement is expected Thursday.   

Eby has repeatedly dismissed Alberta’s pipeline proposal as unrealistic, too costly and potentially dangerous for the economy.  

He said he outlined B.C.’s position to Carney, including that any new project must have the support and consent of First Nations.  

Eby reiterated that no private backer has come forward to support a new pipeline project — and he doubted any would.

“There is not a world in which, with the current price of oil, a private company is going to step up and pay for this pipeline to the north,” Eby told reporters on Monday. 

He said he made it clear to Carney that taxpayers shouldn’t be on the hook for a new pipeline. Eby said he suggested there should be a prohibition or a cap on taxpayer dollars invested in the project — “Or If it is going to be taxpayer funded, then British Columbia get access to a $50 billion federally funded project as well,” said Eby. 

He said he also spoke to Carney about keeping the oil tanker ban on B.C.’s north coast in place.  

A voluntary tanker exclusion zone had been in place in the region since 1985. The federal government formalized the moratorium in 2019, prohibiting oil tankers carrying more than 12,500 metric tonnes of oil. It covers the area from the Alaska border, down to the point on British Columbia’s mainland across from the northern tip of Vancouver Island, including Haida Gwaii. 

Smith has said the tanker ban is one of several barriers to investment in a new pipeline. Dozens of major energy companies have also called on Ottawa to repeal the ban.   

Eby said Monday the ban on oil tankers in the region has been around for decades because it’s an “incredibly precarious” shipping route.  

“A heavy oil spill will decimate a $1.7 billion industry of fisheries and tourism and a way of life for people in the northwest who have been living that way of life for a millennia,” he said. 

Eby and Coastal First Nations signed a joint declaration earlier this month calling on the federal government to uphold the oil tanker ban. 

Eby said Carney listened to his recommendations carefully but made no commitments about what will be included in the agreement with Alberta.  

B.C. Energy Minister Adrian Dix noted it’s still not clear what the MOU will contain, so it’s hard to comment on it. He said the pipeline project still lacks any real plan, proponent or budget.  

Dix said last week he would rather see Alberta and the federal government focus on expanding the capacity of the existing Trans Mountain pipeline.  

B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad said Monday afternoon he is glad to see the federal government prioritize a new pipeline. He said the Eby government is standing in the way of a “nation-building” project.  

Smith said in October her government would submit a formal application to the federal Major Projects Office (MPO) by next spring to fast-track a new pipeline project. She said the application would be supported by $14 million from her government. The advisory group includes energy companies South Bow, Enbridge and Trans Mountain.    

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Nelson Hydro will hold a public discussion on its draft rights-of-way pest management plan tomorrow, Tuesday, Nov. 25.

Provincial legislation requires Nelson Hydro to file a pest management plan every five years.

The plan covers substations, wooden power poles and power line rights-of-way. The current one expired July 15, 2025. The utility is now updating it for the 2025-30 period.

The draft plan outlines how the utility manages vegetation around electrical infrastructure and pests that degrade wooden poles.

Nelson Hydro said on its website that the plans ensure compliance with provincial and federal regulations, protect sensitive ecosystems and guide safe operational practices.

Community backlash

The draft plan has sparked criticism from residents over the proposed use of chemical herbicides, particularly pesticides and fungicides, in rights-of-way that run through residential, agricultural and semi-rural areas around Nelson.

A petition titled “stop Nelson Hydro’s Toxic Spraying Plan: Protect Our Health, Pollinators & Watersheds” has more than 1,300 signatures.

It calls for the “immediate cessation of pesticide, herbicide, and fungicide spraying on rights-of-way under powerlines managed or contracted by Nelson Hydro and RDCK.”

Organizer’s argue community consultation has also been inadequate, citing the 30-day comment period ending Nov. 23 was poorly advertised and included only one public information session.

“Many residents were shocked to learn at the recent Nelson Hydro public meeting that ‘consultation’ only means notification, there is no option to opt out of chemical treatment for communities or individuals,” read the petition.

“Nelson Hydro is 100 per cent owned by the City of Nelson. If you have a power pole or line near your property, this plan affects you.”

Concerns related to health, environmental and legal uncertainty are also listed:

• Health risks: The petition noted that glyphosate and some pesticides are classified by the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer as “probably carcinogenic to humans,” warning of potential drift into gardens, farms, homes and children’s play areas.

• Legal uncertainty: It referenced major U.S. court cases where plaintiffs won damages after glyphosate exposure and ongoing legal challenges to pesticide approvals in both the U.S. and Canada.

• Democratic deficit: It argues residents deserve meaningful participation in decisions affecting public lands, health and the environment, and calls for more public meetings.

Nelson Hydro response

Nelson Hydro said in a statement it is aware of public concerns about the draft plan and emphasized several points.

The utility noted that it has only used glyphosate twice in the past 10 years, both times inside locked, fenced substations.

It said chemical treatments are used only as a last resort and only by qualified, licensed applicators, noting that non-chemical options such as mowing, brushing, trimming and gravelling are always preferred.

Permission from the land or property owner would be required if it considered chemical treatment on private property, with the utility reiterating that it has a legal duty to manage invasive species and must maintain safe clearance around electrical infrastructure.

Three options

Nelson Hydro has put forward three options for the 2025-30 pest management plan, each of which it said has pros and cons that may affect electrical rates.

Option 1: Only allow pesticide use for invasive species control, introduce more robust landowner consultation and remove chemical use for general vegetation that interferes with electrical structures.

Option 2: Remove specific chemicals from the plan.

Option 3: Remove all chemical treatments from rights-of-way, rely exclusively on manual, mechanical or biological methods, and potentially increase costs and affect electricity rates.

The utility emphasized that it has no plans for aerial or widespread herbicide spraying and no history of blanket spraying in rights-of-way.

At the Nov. 25 public meeting, Nelson Hydro will walk through the plan, answer questions and hear directly from the community. It said it is open to making changes based on community input.

The open house will be held in person from 3:30- 5 p.m. at the North Shore Hall at 675 Whitmore Rd., or online.

Online participants must RSVP to register.

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Coast Mountain College (CMTN) will continue to provide educational opportunities in Hazelton through existing community spaces on an as-needed basis.

That’s according to a recent announcement outlining more information about the closure of its Hazelton campus.

The closure was initially announced on October 20th as part of a restructuring of operations to rebalance the budget with declining international student enrollment.

Its mobile training unit would be used for future trades and academic offerings with currently scheduled programs still happening pending sufficient enrollment.

“Coast Mountain College will have a part-time employee in Hazelton to support students in-person from a local office and education offerings will continue to be available in local communities, based on interest and demand for courses and programs,” said President and CEO Dr. Laurie Waye.

The college added its board have agreed to sell the campus land and building with the proceeds to be used for future capitol projects.

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Sometimes you must clip the wings off your opponent to soar past them.

In the case of the U18 Cariboo Cougars, that was a pre-requisite as they collected a pair of convincing victories over the Fraser Valley Thunderbirds Saturday (5-2) and Sunday (5-0) from Kin 1.

Cariboo scored five unanswered goals against the T-Birds en-route to a 5-2 victory in the first half of the double-header.

After Koltin Herfst drew first blood for Fraser Valley, the Cougars put their work boots and flipped the script the rest of the way.

The blue-collar approach led to some quick-strike offense in the last minute of the first period as Nic Gordon and Kadric Mujcin lit the lamp 25 seconds apart to put the hosts up 2-1 after 20 minutes.

In the second, Dylan Stanley’s hard point-blast got past T-Birds netminder Mason Clegg extending the Cariboo advantage due to a deuce.

However, the pesky birds from the Fraser Valley didn’t go away quietly as Wyatt Van Tongeren scored on a late power-play trimming the deficit to a single goal at the second intermission.

Easton Goulet and Riley Lettington added key third period markers to deliver the knockout blow for the U-18 Cougars giving them a 5-2 victory.

Oscar Hicik made 22 saves in the Cariboo net while Clegg stopped 32 Cariboo shots in defeat.

Sunday was a totally different outcome as the Cougars suffocated the Thunderbirds from start to finish skating to a convincing 5-0 victory.

Colton Campbell opened the scoring with a well-placed slapshot that went top corner, under the bar past goaltender Grayden Van Der Sweep.

PG Cougars prospect Jaxon Larmand notched his first of two on the power-play driving hard to the blue paint, tipping a point shot from Ryan Richter.

Larmand added his second of the contest in the middle frame on a play that was started by Connor Feeney.

Cariboo got more offense from the blueline thanks to goal by Richter and Feeney putting Cariboo comfortably ahead.

Ivan Anderson collected the 24-save shutout. His best stop came off a Lukas Woods turnover inside the Cariboo defensive zone.

The U18 Cougars (7-5-1-1) are back at home Saturday (6pm) and Sunday (10:30 am) when they entertain the Thompson Blazers (7-6-0-1).

Cariboo sits third in the seven-team league.

In U15 action, Cariboo collected 5-1 (Saturday) and 6-3 (Sunday) wins against the winless Greater Vancouver Canadians.

On Saturday, a three-goal second period from Ryland Lemp, Wyatt Callender and Jaxon Pankhurst put the Cougars in the driver’s seat with a 4-1 lead after 40 minutes.

Max Pellegrino capitalized on a Taylor McKay feed to add to the Cariboo lead in the third period.

The Cougars held a 1-0 edge after the first period thanks to a well-placed shot from Madden Weldon.

Carter DeWolff scored in the defeat for GVC.

Linden Green picked up the win in net for the Cougars turning aside 16 shots.

A bright and early 7am start at CN Centre on Sunday saw Cariboo jump out to a 3-1 lead after the first period.

After Mattias Wolf made it 1-0 Canadians, Warner Callender, Trysten Schmidt and Jackson Malo put the Cougars offense into high gear lightning the lamp.

The flood gates continued to open in the middle frame with both teams scoring a combined five goals.

Carter DeWolff collected his second of the weekend for GVC trimming the deficit to 3-2.

Callender notched his second of the day shorthanded off a Hendrick Hesselgrave feed followed by a Taylor McKay marker assisted by Max Pellegrino and Ryland Lemp.

Kayvon Salamatian put the Canadians back to within two with less than five minutes remaining in the period.

Luke Broster provided the back breaker for the Cougars as his point shot beat the buzzer and GVC goaltender AJ Kwok to give the hosts a 6-3 edge.

Jayden Avery made 24 saves in the win for Cariboo who improves to 8-6-0—0.

The U15 Cougars are in the Lower Mainland this weekend taking on the Valley West Giants (3-10-0-0) Saturday at 7pm in Surrey and Sunday morning 9:30am in Langley.

In addition, the U17 Cariboo Cougars were on a bye and sit second in the league standings with a mark of 12-4-0-1, three points back of the Thompson Blazers (13-5-1-1) for first place in the nine-team league with three games in hand.

Cariboo finishes a stretch of six straight on the road this weekend with a pair of matchups against the Vancouver NE Chiefs (7-7-1-0) in Burnaby Saturday (3:30pm) and Sunday (10:45am) from the Scotia Barn.

In female U18 hockey action, the Northern Capitals dropped a pair to the Greater Vancouver Comets by scores of 6-2 (Saturday) and 4-1 (Sunday).

Marianne Campbell and Hana Nishi put the Comets ahead early in the first period of Saturday’s tilt.

Khya Swanson and Paxton Fraser replied for Capitals to even the score prior to intermission.

However, Greater Vancouver stymied the Caps scoring four consecutive goals in the second and third.

Nishi collected her second of the game followed by singles from Lucy Peloso, Zoe Wilcox and Diana Wang

Taylor Rutter took the loss in net for the Capitals while her counterpart, Madison Kong picked up the win for Greater Vancouver.

On Sunday, an early first period goal by Swanson wasn’t enough as the Capitals surrendered four straight markers to the Comets.

In the final 40 minutes, Wilcox scored twice for the host’s while Nishi and Carolyn Koo tallied once each.

The Capitals are 6-9-0-1 and host the Vancouver Island Seals (2-13-0-0) Saturday at 1:15pm and Sunday at 8am from Kin 2.

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North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP have launched an investigating after two men were found dead in Chemainus last week. 

According to police, the men were in an industrial area just after 6 a.m on Nov. 21. 

Investigators are working alongside the General Investigations Section and Forensic Identification on the case. 

RCMP says the investigation is just starting and believes this is an isolated incident; they add there is no immediate danger to the public. 

If anyone has information on the incident, they’re asked to contact North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP at 250-748-5522. 

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The City of Prince George is moving onto the next phase of public engagement on its Active Transportation Plan.

Earlier this year, the City of Prince George launched an update to its Active Transportation Plan, asking for feedback from residents.

“Earlier this summer, we gathered a ton of information from the community about what’s working well and what needs improvement, when it comes to walking, cycling, and rolling in Prince George,” said Transit Planner Daniel Pearce.

“Using that feedback, we created draft network maps, policies, and actions and we want to understand how participants feel about this work – did we get it right? Are there further improvements that could be made?”

Starting today (Monday), the City has launched two online surveys to allow residents to give their feedback on the draft. These will be open until December 14.

Additionally, an open house is being held at the Prince George Public Library’s Bob Harkin’s Branch, with staff on hand to answer questions on the proposed transportation network connections and improvements.

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Who the new Smithers Visitor Information Centre operator will be up for discussion during tomorrow (Tuesday) night’s council meeting.

In July, the town put out a request for a new operator after the Smithers District Chamber of Commerce announced it would not be reapplying to operate the centre.

According to a report, both the Tourism Smithers Society and Bulkley Valley Museum submitted applications to operate the centre.

Town staff are recommending that council chose Tourism Smithers as its new operator.

It added the tourism society requested the town provide $117,000 to them for operating the centre.

The cost to the town for operating the centre itself would be about $123,000.

The full agenda can be found here.

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The Town of Ladysmith is hosting its annual Festival of Lights. 

The event runs from the last Thursday in November until mid-January and features thousands of Christmas lights turning the town into a holiday display. 

Residents and visitors are encouraged to drive or walk along First Avenue, support local vendors, and participate in a 50/50 raffle. 

Starting Nov. 27, the festival will include food trucks, a photo booth, a selfie station, a craft fair, and a stage for live entertainment along First Avenue. 

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RCMP on the Sunshine Coast are asking for information to help locate a 67-year-old woman who went missing from Gibsons. 

Carol Rivera was last seen on Nov. 23 around 2:30 p.m. on a trail north of Gilmore Road and Keith Road. Police said she was walking her friend’s basset hound and has not been found since the dog returned home without her. 

“Rivera did not have a cellular phone with her and did not appear to be dressed for the weather,” RCMP said in a news release. “Rivera is described as a white female with brown eyes, graying blond shoulder-length hair, 5’2″ tall, medium build, 130 pounds, possibly wearing a light-coloured sweater or jacket.” 

Police are asking anyone with information to contact them at 604-885-2266. 

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Beaver Valley Nitehawks head coach Terry Jones has been behind the bench since 1996, and over nearly three decades, he’s watched the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) evolve dramatically.

“The league’s evolved a lot. I think it’s changed for the better. I think the league is a lot stronger. I think every team’s run more professionally. It’s just everything about it,” he said. “I think it’s really come a long ways and I’m really happy to be a part of it.”

Jones, one of the most successful coaches in the league’s history, credits his player development success to the personal relationships he builds.

“Developing relationships and connections with players so that they know that you care about them and that you have their best interests, and you hope that that goes a long way in them wanting to be their best,” he said.

Since joining the club Jones has led the Nitehawks to an impressive 12 division championships, 11 conference titles, eight KIJHL championships, four Cyclone Taylor Cup wins and one Keystone Cup.

Off the ice, Jones is also a proud father of twin sons who’ve carved out their own paths in high-level hockey and beyond.

“I know the road has taken one to Las Vegas, but can we talk about your two? Sure, yeah, well one of my boys was scouting with Vegas for a year, and the other won the cup. He loved his time with the organization and then got an opportunity to get into coaching. So he’s coaching at Princeton University. And my other son, Kellen, he had settled into his business working in NBA, an oil and gas company on the East Coast. And then he got an opportunity to coach at Holy Cross. So he’s there right now. He’s playing right now against U of Alaska. He’s one of our former Nitehawks, Judah McWick.”

He remains a fixture in the Nitehawks’ organization as a coach, mentor and father whose influence extends far beyond the rink.

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Only a week remains to buy a ticket for the 2025 Prince George Hospice Dream Home Lottery.

The annual Dream Home Lottery is the biggest fundraiser of the year for Hospice, allowing them to provide the services and programs they do.

“We’re only partially funded to do the work we do, and we’ve worked really hard to ensure that there’s no barrier to Hospice Care,” said Hospice Executive Director Donna Flood.

“No one pays a fee, this year we’ve totally got rid of the actual daily per diems that used to be charged, so for our Home Hospice program, for our Hospice House, and all of our community programs, they’re open and available to anyone who needs them at no fee.”

Flood said there are about 2,600 tickets remaining as of Monday afternoon.

“We’re really urgently asking the community to step up and help us sell out,” she said.

“Really what these tickets represent is actually the money that we make through the lotto, the early tickets help support us in buying the house and having that built, but these last ones are actually the revenue that we make in order to do the care that we do.”

This year’s home is located at 7807 Southridge Avenue, and is valued at over $1 million.

A list of locations where tickets can be purchased in person, as well as a link to buy them online can be found here.

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Labour peace has been re-established between CUPE 1699 and the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George.

On Friday, a new five-year deal was reached between both parties with support of a mediator, addressing some of the affordability challenges some workers were facing.

RDFFG CAO, Chris Calder told MyPGNow.com given where we are on the calendar, it was especially important to get a deal done.

“Roughly there were similar total costs to what we had outlined through negotiations publicly and there are some minor enhancements for vacation and other things to keep some employees in sort of best-in-class in terms of benefits and entitlements to be sure we are attracting a great workforce and good services to the area.”

“I think we wanted to get this done as soon as we could because we wanted to get the services back to work in a timely fashion and we did everything we could to make that happen.”

CUPE 1699 represents approximately 100 workers in the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George in communities including Prince George, District of Mackenzie, the Villages of McBride and Valemount, and 7 electoral areas.

The garbage collection schedule will shift back to Monday to Friday on December 1st according to the City of Prince George.

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The Courtenay and District Memorial Outdoor Pool could be getting a replacement. 

Courtenay city council has been considering options for the outdoor pool at Lewis Park after it was determined the facility had reached the end of its life and requires major investment to remain in service. 

Council presented four options: repair the pool for about $5.3 million, extending its life by five to 10 years; renovate the change rooms and mechanical systems for $13.3 million to $14.5 million, extending its life by 10 to 20 years; replace the facility with a new pool and amenities for about $32.5 million, extending its life by more than 40 years; or decommission the pool at a cost of about $1.5 million. 

Public engagement included a survey and two open houses, with 62 per cent of respondents favouring a full replacement. 

At the Nov. 19 council meeting, councillors endorsed replacing the pool and directed staff to explore options for a new facility at the current location. 

Staff will redefine the project scope, schedule and cost estimates, which will be included in the 2026-2030 financial plan, while also exploring funding models with the Comox Valley Regional District. 

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The City of Duncan’s 2025 citizen satisfaction survey shows residents are concerned about city services and safety. 

The survey, conducted in September, was sent to about 1,500 households. 

Mayor Michelle Staples said the survey is conducted every two years to gauge residents’ priorities and guide council decisions. 

“By conducting the survey every two years, we’re building a picture of how our community is growing and changing,” she said. “We’re looking at what residents love, hope for, struggle with, while providing valuable insights to inform current and future council decisions.” 

Fourteen per cent of respondents said accessibility, convenience, central location and stores were the features they liked most about the city. 

When asked whether services should be maintained, increased, or reduced to maintain current tax rates, 59 per cent said services should be maintained or increased — 39 per cent suggested increasing user fees and 21 per cent favoured higher taxes. Forty-one per cent said services should be reduced to maintain current tax rates, but 69 per cent said the tax rate should be kept the same by managing finances better rather than cutting services. 

Chief administrative officer Peter de Verteuil said the decline in satisfaction with services is concerning but may reflect broader community issues. 

“This was disappointing to see, as the city is committed to providing excellent service for the community,” he said. “We worry that the general dissatisfaction with the issues of homelessness and associated public disorder and increasing taxes due to policing are influencing opinions of the city services generally.” 

Survey results also showed 60 per cent of respondents identified crime, citizen safety, homelessness or drugs as the most important issue facing Duncan. The city said these concerns have grown since surveys began in 2014, peaking at 66 per cent in 2023. 

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Nanaimo residents will have a chance to weigh in on the city’s 2026 draft financial plan during an eTown Hall next week. 

The plan projects a 7.1 per cent municipal tax increase in 2026 — roughly $218 for the average home — according to city documents.  

The meeting will take place during the council session on Monday, Dec. 1 at 7 p.m., when council will review the financial plan.  

Mayor Leonard Krog said this is a good opportunity for citizens to learn about the budget and share their priorities. “I encourage Nanaimo citizens to explore the budget documents and submit your questions — we want to hear from you,” he said. 

Residents can submit questions ahead of time via the city website, or during the meeting, using the hashtag #NanaimoTH on Instagram, Bluesky or X. 

They can also call the city at 250-754-4251 during business hours. 

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The Courtenay Fire Department says retired chief Lawrence Burns passed away over the weekend.

Burns joined the department as a volunteer firefighter in the early 1950s and became Courtenay’s first full-time fire chief in 1969. He served in that role until retiring in 1995.

After leaving the position, Burns continued to serve the fire community as chaplain for the Comox Valley Fire Chiefs Association until 2024.

He also chaired the city’s Heritage Advisory Commission and was recognized by Heritage BC for his volunteer work in heritage conservation.

In 2022, the city named a park in East Courtenay in his honour.

“As a mark of respect, we will be lowering the flags at the fire hall. We will provide information about his service as it becomes available,” said the fire department.

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As fall takes hold and winter approaches, it’s a good time to make your home warmer while cutting energy costs. A few small steps taken before the cold sets in can help reduce energy use and lower bills throughout the winter.

FortisBC’s Retrofit Assist Program offers free advice to help homeowners improve their home’s energy efficiency. The Community Energy Association guides people through cost-saving and energy-saving measures, along with access to rebates for upgrades. The Regional District of East Kootenay is one of six communities working with funders to support the program.

 “As the weather cools down, we know customers are looking to keep their homes comfortable without increasing their energy costs and our goal is to help them find targeted ways they can lower their energy use,” said Alicia Hearn, program manager, conservation awareness and marketing strategy at FortisBC.

Since heating makes up about half of a home’s energy use, and water heating another 25 percent, it’s important to reduce heat loss wherever possible.

FortisBC’s tips to lower energy use:

• Seal gaps in exterior walls, caulk windows, and weatherstrip doors to prevent heat from escaping.
• Turn off heating in empty rooms and use fireplaces or baseboard heaters only in areas you’re using.
• Keep heat systems running efficiently with regular maintenance.
• Install water-efficient showerheads and faucets, and take showers instead of baths to reduce water-heating costs.

FortisBC also provides free support for income-qualified customers. Eligible households can receive a free Energy Saving Kit with weatherstripping and energy-efficient showerheads. They may also qualify for a free home energy evaluation and installation of energy-saving products at no cost. Rebates are also available for upgrades including insulation, windows and doors for residential customers.

More information and rebate details are available at fortisbc.com/rebates.

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Central Cariboo Search and Rescue CCSAR) was tasked out over the weekend.

Public Relations and Member Deborah Bortolussi said they were called out Saturday afternoon (November 22) at 5 for a vehicle that was overturned and had gone down an embankment west of Williams Lake.

“It was a single occupant with a dog and we responded with our team as well as with mutual aid from South Cariboo Search and Rescue. They had their High Angle Technical Rope Rescue Team, we also had our Rope Rescue Team, as well as an ATV and UTV Team, along with a Ground Search Team.”

In total 14 volunteers responded to the incident in the rain, the snow, the dark and cold, and were on scene for about 2 hours.

“Fortunately this person had the essentials on them so they were able to keep themselves and the dog warm. The lone occupant of the vehicle and their dog had no significant injuries and were returned safely back to town.”

Bortolussi noted the only way Central Cariboo Search and Rescue was alerted about the call was through a bystander.

“Thankfully they got quite lucky in that situation. We always like to encourage people to hopefully have a form of communication whether that be a radio or any type of satellite device.”

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Environment Canada has issued a snowfall warning for the Elk Valley, with heavy snow expected throughout the day.

Environment Canada officials said the area can expect 10-20 centimetres, with the highest amounts near Fernie.

Snowfall will begin in the morning and intensify throughout the day and is expected to wrap up early in the evening.

Environment Canada officials said roads and walkways could be difficult to navigate, and residents should allow extra time for travel.

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A string of thefts dating back to August at the Powell River Recreation Complex has led to the arrest of a 55-year-old man, the RCMP said. 

The first incident was reported in August after a victim using the pool facilities said undergarments were taken from their locker in the family change room.  

In September, three more victims came forward with similar reports, the RCMP said.  

Officers arrested the suspect on Nov. 13 as he left the complex carrying stolen undergarments.

He has been banned from the facility.  

Staff Sgt. Lee Dyson, officer in charge of the Powell River detachment, called the incidents “a concerning series of crimes” and thanked City of Powell River staff for their help.

“It was challenging to identify the person and gather enough evidence to support charges, it could not have been done without their help.”  

The RCMP said there may be other victims who have not yet reported their experiences. Anyone with information is asked to call Powell River RCMP at 604-485-6255.  

The man is scheduled to appear in court at a later date. 

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The preliminary results of the Edgewater Commercial Space Service assent vote show residents are not in favour.

RDEK officials said there were 352 votes cast, with 86 yesses and 266 no’s.

The question on the ballot was whether residents want the RDEK to establish the commercial space service and let it be leased to entities such as public authorities, societies, corporations, individuals, or used by the RDEK.

Part of establishing the service would include the RDEK borrowing $450,000 over 15 years.

RDEK director Mike Gray was against the proposal and said the RDEK should look at other options.

“I believe Edgewater is worthy of investment. I think it is a community that deserves to have dollars invested in it and I think the taxpayer should look at options for community building things for our community,” he said. 

“But to the tune of the taxpayer paying approximately $800,000 by the time you added the interest in that on this project, I just think that if we are going to spend $800,000 in this community, we should be looking for community changing type of projects to work on.”

He added that he appreciates the amount of work that was put in to the proposal and getting the vote ready.

“Whichever side of this issue you’re on I think there is an acknowledgement that needs to be made of how much good work has been put in by the professionals on our staff and Director Roberta Schnider in bringing us to where we are now.”

The official results will be declared on Nov. 25 at 1 p.m. by the Chief Electoral officer.

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The Cranbrook RCMP have been kept busy with 390 calls for service between Nov. 1 and Nov. 15.

Some of those calls included 23 theft reports, including the theft of a vehicle, 17 motor vehicle accidents and seven missing persons that are all resolved.

The detachment also investigated a shots-fired report.

Police said they got a report from hunters in the Bull River area saying they heard three gunshots followed by a scream and an additional shot.

The hunters tried to locate the source, but were unsuccessful.

Officers responded to the area with the BC Conservation Service and Police Dog Service, but were also unable to locate anyone.

The only heat signature that showed up on a thermal drone was wildlife.

Police believe an individual was likely startled by a bear and fired shots prior to leaving the area.

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The intersection of Red Cedar Drive and Pine Avenue will be closed in Sparwood tomorrow for storm line flushing.

The intersection will be closed between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Drivers are asked to use the alternate route highlighted in the map.

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The Lheidli T’enneh is banning the use of herbicides including glyphosate within their territory.

Last month, Chief Dolleen Logan and her council made the decision during a meeting.

In a letter, Logan stated the host first nation listened to its members and have discovered various environmental and health impacts herbicides have had on waters, medical plants, wildlife and ecosystems.

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The Prince George RCMP is encouraging residents to get more involved through “See Something, Say Something” this week.

This week, Mounties are encouraging residents to volunteer by joining their local Block Watch, or by becoming an RCMP Patrol Volunteer.

For Block Watch, it forms a communication chain aided by block maps of names, phone numbers, email, and addresses.

“You kind of do what we’re already doing, band together, share information about suspicious activity, keep people apprised of what’s going on in the neighbourhood, and then turn that information into police if it turns out the suspicious activity is criminal in nature or potentially could be criminal in nature,” said Cpl. Jennifer Cooper.

The RCMP’s Community Policing Section has more information on becoming a Block Watch Captain or member.

RCMP Patrol Volunteers are community members who volunteer to patrol areas of the city in a vehicle with a partner, acting as “observational support” for the RCMP.

“Patrol volunteers take part in activities like Speed Watch, report erratic driving, report unsecured businesses to RCMP, or maybe any maybe vacant businesses that look like they’ve been recently broken into,”

“They’re kind of our additional set of eyes and ears on the street in Prince George.”

The Prince George RCMP’s Community Policing Section has more information on getting involved with both programs.

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Sports by Hartley Tuesday, November 25th, 2025  as of 12:05 a.m.

WHL:

Prince George Cougars defenseman Carson Carels will play in the CHL USA Prospects Challenge games tonight (Tuesday) in Calgary and Wednesday in Lethbridge.

Carels is part of the Canadian Hockey League’s under-18 team that battles the Americans in the two-game showcase series.

#

The Prince George Cougars play their next five games on the road starting Friday in Wenatchee against the (6-12-1-1) Wild.

The (16-7) Cougars are riding a 5-game winning steak and sit atop the BC Division by 5 points over the (11-7-3-2) Penticton Vees.

BCHL: 

The (10-9-1) Prince George Spruce Kings host the (9-9-1-1) Chilliwack Chiefs Friday night at 7:00 and Saturday night at 6:00.

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Campbell River city council has given first and second readings to a bylaw that would impose a $250 fee for emergency calls deemed to be a nuisance. 

At its Nov. 20 meeting, council received a staff report on how other municipalities are recovering costs when city services are repeatedly called to “problem properties.” The report reviewed similar bylaws in Nanaimo and Penticton.  

“Staff reviewed Nanaimo’s Nuisance Abatement Bylaw and Penticton’s Good Neighbour Bylaw,” the report says. “Staff recommend similar language as the Nanaimo bylaw as the provisions closely align with what the city is seeking to achieve. Staff also reviewed Penticton’s bylaw provisions around ‘Repeat Nuisance Service Calls’ defined as more than one call where fire, police or city departments respond in a 24-hour period or more than three calls in a calendar year, and the corresponding fee for each subsequent visit therein.” 

The city said it already has a Public Nuisance Bylaw that defines unsightly or problematic properties and allows for remedial action. But it does not have a system to recover the costs of repeated nuisance calls. 

Council’s proposed bylaw would let the city decide when a property becomes a “nuisance property,” then recover costs when fire, bylaw or RCMP respond to calls there. 

The city classifies nuisance behaviour as partying, loud music, public intoxication, fighting or potentially illegal or criminal activity, and said the bylaw would not affect urgent emergency calls. 

Some residents have opposed the “cost recovery” system, arguing it’s unfair. Previous letters to council asked for exemptions for social service or harm-reduction agencies, a review of how the bylaw would interact with zoning and removal of ambiguous wording. 

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the City of Campbell River has amended its budget to include new five-year licences for three local organizations to deliver arts and culture programming. 

According to the city, the groups were granted their licences for one dollar and will continue to receive support for the Tidemark Theatre ($415,421), the Art Gallery ($53,685) and the Maritime Heritage Centre ($307,560). 

“In total, the city provides $776,666 in annual financial assistance through these agreements, with additional support provided through property tax exemptions, building maintenance and grant funding,” the city said in a statement. 

The city said it will continue to support non-profits across the region and earlier this year identified five that demonstrated challenges in raising revenue. 

“In November, the five core non-profit operators of city-owned facilities presented to council to share information about their operations, highlight any revenue diversification strategies they’ve identified and share their operational challenges which may limit opportunities for revenue diversification,” the statement said. 

Licences for the city-defined core-operated facilities expire between 2026 and 2028. The city said it will continue assisting the operators as they enter new agreements. 

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Nanaimo RCMP are seeking a suspect after a man armed with a weapon stole cash from a business on Blueback Road. 

Police responded to the robbery around 6 a.m. on Nov. 22, said Const. Sherri Wade of the Nanaimo RCMP. 

“A male, approximately 5-foot-10, wearing dark clothes and a mask and wielding a bladed weapon, jumped over the counter, rummaged through the cash drawer, ran out of the store, turned right and headed down Groveland Drive,” Wade said in a statement. 

The RCMP are asking residents in the 6300 block of Groveland Drive and the 6200 block of Blueback Road to review their dashcam or surveillance footage between 5:50 and 6:20 a.m. for anything that could help their investigation. 

The suspect was wearing a blue shirt, black pants and carrying a grey bag. 

Anyone with information is asked to contact Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345. 

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The holiday season has arrived in the Comox Valley.

Hundreds of people attended Friday’s annual Downtown Comox Mayor Tree Lighting and Winter Market to enjoy music, food, events, a visit from Santa and a chance to do some holiday shopping.

Comox Mayor Nicole Minions lit the large Christmas tree downtown, drawing loud cheers from the crowd on Comox Avenue.

She said she enjoys seeing the community come together for events like Friday’s.

“It just is really nice to see events where everyone can come down,” said Minions. “It’s basically free, unless you decide to do some of your holiday shopping. It’s really meant for everyone to come down and enjoy together.”

The event featured live music from Steelhead, the Just in Time Choir, Easy Street and Juno Award-winner Helen Austin.

Meanwhile, Filberg Park in Comox has been fully decorated for the season following an event on Saturday that also included a market and a visit from Santa.

Holiday decorations will remain on display at the park until Dec. 31.

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The Smithers Steelheads won their second consecutive game, 3-1 over the visiting Hazelton Wolverines Saturday in the Central Interior Hockey League (CIHL).

Levi Olson, Dylan Oud, and Nathan Soucie scored for the Steelheads, with Layne Sniher getting the lone goal for the Wolverines.

Hazelton (5-4-0) currently sits third in the league, while Smithers (3-6-0) is sixth out of the seven teams.

This Saturday, both teams head west as Smithers visits the Terrace River Kings and Hazelton plays the Rampage in Prince Rupert.

The Wolverines also visit the Ice Demons Sunday in Kitimat.

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Expenses for the RCMP municipal policing contract in Cranbrook will jump by nearly $500,000 in 2026.

The city can expect to pay $483,470 more, which covers a 3.5 per cent member inflation adjustment and replacements to tasers, firearms and body armour.

The City is also anticipating a $344,056 increase for support staff wages and benefits.

It will go towards a three per cent inflation adjustment, a new assistant manager position and a watch clerk.

The detachment is expecting to bring in more money next year, but quite a bit lower than the increased expenses.

“Revenue we’re projecting is going to increase by just over $25,000 in 2026,” said municipal operations manager Amanda Peters.

“Revenue is from the fees we receive for police information checks, disclosure, keeping of provincial prisoners and the funds we receive for leasing a portion of the detachment to Provincial RCMP.”

Cranbrook’s next special budget meeting is scheduled for Nov. 26.

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The debut for the new goaltender of the Trail Smoke Eaters was nothing short of dynamic.

Lyam Leblanc came within one minute of a shutout, backstopping Saturday’s 7-1 shellacking of Okotoks.

The 20-year-old brought the Cominco Arena crowd of 1,568 to its feet with a momentum maintaining breakaway save in the first period while Trail was leading 1-0.

He was especially stellar in the third period while the Smokies were killing off seven straight minutes in penalties, making 16 of his 32 stops in the final frame.

Leblanc replaces goalie Brady Smith who left the team two weeks ago and decided to become a Smokie after speaking with the team captain.

“I got a call from my friend Isaac Fecteau,” said the fellow native of Trois-Rivieres, Que.

“When he told me he wanted me to come here I was pretty excited and I jumped on the opportunity,” Leblanc explained, adding it’s nice to have the team captain in his corner.

“It helped me to come here because I know someone and I was close with him last summer so I’ve been with him for a while and just to know that he’s here, to know someone coming in here, it’s great,” commented Leblanc.

He left the Amherst, NS, Ramblers this season after compiling a 6-5 record with a 3.01 GAA as well as a .912 SP and was named Maritime Hockey League goaltender of the year last season.

Leblanc says his style is similar to a good young goalie in the NHL.

“I compare myself to Dustin Wolf in Calgary,” stated Leblanc.

“A normal sized goalie, so I like being aggressive and use my reflexes and I think the fans are going to love me for that,” he surmised, and the fans sure did enjoy Lyam’s performance on Saturday.

Coach and GM Eric Thurston was also impressed with Leblanc in practice.

“I really like how calm he is,” said the bench boss.

“He’s not fidgety, he’s not overanxious in the net, he’s very quiet,” added Thurston who said that’s an attribute high on the list of skills espoused by goalie coaches.

“That’s what they like, a player being quiet and not making the first move, being set and confident in net,” Thurston stated.

“He seems big, he seems to take up a lot of the net and he just seems to be very patient, kind of saying (to shooters) if you’re going to beat me, you’re going to have to beat me with a good shot,” the coach concluded.

Leblanc also comes to Trail with a specific goal.

“For sure I would like to play in the NCAA or U-Sport.” he said.

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“We are looking forward to having something to vote on that we can ratify.”

That’s from Local CUPW 812 President Nicole Chouinard after an agreement in principle was reached between Canada Post and its unionized workers on Friday.

Chouinard told Vista Radio with the company still bleeding red ink, she is hopeful a new contract can turn their fortunes around.

“Canada Post came out with its third-quarter report and it wasn’t promising again. So, hopefully, having a collective agreement and taking job action off the table, hopefully that stability will help grow the business again.”

She mentioned this changes complexion completely as we continue with the holiday season.

“We are in a position where we can go on strike and Canada Post can’t lock us out and that will create a confidence in the Canadian citizens being able to use our services that will hopefully get our service back to regular Christmas volumes.”

“Obviously, we are a long way away from everything being finalized, the paper work needs to be done to create the collective agreement but we are looking forward to having something to vote on.”

The current collective agreements shall remain in full force and effect, the union said.

Upon signing the agreements, the union will pause its strike action and the employer will suspend its right to lock out, however, CUPW retains the right to strike until the new agreements are ratified.

– with files from John White, Vista Radio National News

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Emergency services will be unavailable until 1 o’clock this afternoon at the 100 Mile House District General Hospital.

Interior Health said patients can access care at Cariboo Memorial Hospital in Williams Lake during this time.

All other inpatient services at the 100 Mile House District General Hospital will continue.

IH said people in the community who need life-threatening care should always call 9-1-1 for transport to the nearest available and appropriate facility.

Services to the emergency department was last temporarily interrupted back on October 18th.

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There’s still time if you’ve been thinking about joining South Cariboo Search & Rescue (SCSAR).

Training Director and Member, Danielle Wettstein said their current intake for new members this year closes December 3^rd.

“We’re looking for a few more people to join so we invite anyone who is interested in volunteering to come and see us on a Wednesday night either this week or next week. We can answer any questions you might have along with providing details on what it takes to join and what you might expect if you’re part of the team.”

At the beginning of October, South Cariboo Search and Rescue held a couple of recruitment open houses at their Hall and Wettstein noted it went really well signing up a couple of new members.

“They’ve been enjoying training the last few weeks and have been doing great, but we’re looking to add maybe 3 or 4 more new faces by December third.”

The Ground Search and Rescue training takes about a year, meeting Wednesday night’s 3 times a month.

Wettstein noted that the first step for new recruits is to complete that particular training before moving on to other specialized teams.

“We do have a few people who specialize in more technical things. We have a rope rescue team, swift water, ice rescue, and others specializing in first aid.”

Wettstein added being a long time member has made the experience very rewarding.

“If you’re looking to volunteer, I think Search and Rescue is a great opportunity especially for people who like to be outdoors and learn new things. We have a really great team and I’ve met some super cool people through SAR. Whether you’re interested in ground search, medical support, technical rescue or simply want to contribute to your community in a meaningful way, we’d love to hear from you.”

To find out more you can private message South Cariboo Search and Rescue on their FaceBook page or by email [email protected]

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Nurses will rally in Trail on Tuesday on the International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Women while remembering one of their own who was killed a year ago.

The walk will remember Lindsay Batts Danchella, a nurse who moved to Montrose in 2018 and became patient care co-ordinator of the surgical unit at Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital. She was later community care co-ordinator for Trail home health services. She was survived her young son, mother, sister, and other family.

Her estranged husband is accused of first-degree murder in her death and is expected to have a preliminary hearing in February.

Tamara Roscoe, a regional lobby coordinator with the BC Nurses’ Union, said the rally is to honour Danchella and all victims of gender-based violence.

Roscoe said Danchella was “a compassionate, caring, dedicated nurse. And she really brought the community together, especially with us nurses working so closely together. We’re still honoring her through our daily lives at work and just carrying on her compassion and her dedication.”

Roscoe noted there have been some positives in the last year, such as the Canadian Federation of Nurses passing a resolution to create safe places for patients facing gender-based violence.

“But we have much work to do as British Columbia still exhibits high rates of intimate partner violence,” she said. “And so we are calling on the government and the local municipal councils to to keep the momentum.”

Tuesday’s event begins at 5 p.m. at the Trail Riverfront Centre and is open to all. Expected speakers include Trail mayor Colleen Jones, MLA Steve Morissette, BC Nurses’ Union regional chair Shalane Wesnoski, and a member of Danchella’s family.

A similar event was held last year.

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Sports by Hartley Monday, November 24th, 2025  as of 12:05 a.m.

WHL:

Prince George Cougars  3  Edmonton Oil Kings  2  (Saturday)

Corbin Vaughan snapped a 2-2 tie with 3:10 left in the 2nd period in front of 5,503 fans at CN Centre.

The game summary and highlights are here.

Prince George Cougars  6  Lethbridge Hurricanes  2  (Friday)

Dmitri Yakutsenak notched a hat trick for the Cougars in front of 3,337 hometown fans.

The game summary and highlights are here.

The P.G. Cougars won all of their games on a 5-game homestand.