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The adoption of permanent Daylight Saving Time will most likely have an adjustment period, but students could face the brunt of that.

Darker winter mornings won’t be an unfamiliar obstacle to address, as School District 57 Superintendent Jameel Aziz said northern jurisdictions have been working to address it for some time.

Aziz said its too early to tell if any real concerns would be had, adding it’s something to keep an eye on.

“I think we will have to do some monitoring and see if we’re seeing any impacts.”

“I’m going to say both for the safety sense, as well as attendance sense, where maybe some people are going to have a little harder time waking up in the morning.”

Aziz said the School District will do public service reminders for people to wear reflective clothing, and for drivers to be more alert.

Clocks will move forward one hour at 2:00 a.m. tomorrow (Sunday).

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A beloved cancer fundraiser is making a return to Prince George this summer.

Relay for Life has been absent from the community due to covid and funding cuts, however, with the help of UNBC students, volunteers, and sponsors, the 24 hour event was able to return this year.

Participants of Hope Coordinator and cancer survivor Jocelyn Kerr was diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin’s lymphoma three years ago, undergoing chemotherapy and treatments at the Vancouver Children’s Hospital.

Ker said she’s attended the event multiple times with her family, along with her grandma who’s also a cancer survivor.

“I remember the joy that it brough me to be with the community, and this is long before my own diagnosis, but I actually cut my hair at the relay in three separate occasions and donated my hair to others to make wigs, and then others did the same for me when I had cancer.”

Kerr said to be able to have the event back with so much support means the world to her.

This year, she said the goal is to raise $50,000 through solo and team participants.

Relay for Life will be taking place at Masich Place Stadium from Saturday, June 27th at 8:30 a.m. until the 28th, ending at 10:00 a.m.

More information about the relay, where to donate, and to register a team can be found on their Facebook page or website.

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One of the local legions in the Comox Valley is looking to help support people struggling with addiction.  

The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 160 (Comox) has donated $1,000 to the Comox Valley Recovery Centre to support residential addiction recovery services for men.  

“Donations such as this help sustain programs that give people the structure and encouragement they need to move forward in their lives,” said Troy Dunham, Chief Administrative Officer of the Comox Valley Recovery Centre.  

The recovery centre was founded in 1976 and provides abstinence-based residential recovery programs for men experiencing substance disorders.  

The centre is approaching its 50th anniverasary later this year, and offers long-term treatment, counselling and transitional support to help people rebuild stability and reconnect with family and the community.  

Board President of the recovery centre Brian Chow said the two parties share a common focus on service, resilience and helping people through difficult chapters in their lives.  

“This contribution helps ensure that individuals in our region have access to recovery services when they need them most.”  

The cheque was presented during a visit to the recovery centre’s facility in Courtenay by representatives of the Comox Legion. 

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WHL:

The Prince George Cougars clinched a playoff berth with a 5-1 win over the Spokane Chiefs yesterday (Friday).

Both teams play again at the CN Centre tonight (Saturday) at 6:00.

The PG Cougars regular season schedule and results are here.

The WHL standings are here.

BCHL:

The Prince George Spruce Kings started their road trip in Coquitlam yesterday, where they nabbed a 4-2 victory over the Express.

The Spruce Kings will be taking on the Chilliwack Chiefs tonight at 6:00.

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The emergency department at 100 Mile District General Hospital will be closed through Saturday, March 7.

Interior Health says emergency services will be closed from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m.

Patients in need of emergent care will need to go to Cariboo Memorial Hospital in Williams Lake. All other inpatient services at 100 Mile District General will continue to operate.

The Health Authority says people in need of life-threatening care should call 911 to be transported to the nearest available and appropriate facility.

People may also visit HealthLink BC or call 811 to speak with healthcare professionals for non-emergency care, and to determine whether a trip to the emergency department is needed.

This is the seventh time 100 Mile House General Hospital’s emergency department has needed to be closed since the start of 2026.

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There is a lot of growing interest in people attending the Williams Lake Indoor Winter Farmers Market.

Jamie Kohnke who is part of the Management Team explained how it got started.

“We have seen quite a gap in our year. The outdoor market wraps up in October and it doesn’t start again until May. A lot of people come to the market for not only our fresh food and our cool arts and crafts, it’s also a social aspect as well that’s missing for a large part of our year when we actually need it the most.”

Kohnke said she stepped forward and spearheaded it’s creation.

“We didn’t give our agricultural vendors a big enough window to be able to grow things, specifically fresh vegetables. In that respect we have a lot more baked goods, so coming into this next year of 2026-2027 our agricultural vendors are already preparing what they can grow so hopefully we’ll see a lot more fresh veggies coming in for next year. But for right now we have lots of arts and crafts and new vendors that don’t do the outdoor markets coming from 100 Mile House, Quesnel and Prince George. The Winter Market held in the Gibraltar Room is similar but a little bit different, it’s just what’s available and what vendors want to work through the winter.”

Khonke noted that this indoor market has been accepted exceptionally well by both the vendors and the public.

“It’s a place for people to meet, there are a lot of people who come and just grab a cup of coffee and hang out. We have a seating area, we’ve had live music but because it’s a small venue we’re keeping our live music a bit lower key. For the outdoor market we have a lot more music so it draws so it draws more people that way. The indoor market has been nice for the public to have something to do, somewhere to go and hang out with friends and family. There’s lots of young kids that come with their parents and grandparents that bring young kids which has been nice to see.”

April 17 will be the last indoor market and the first outdoor market is May 2 and that’s Seedling Saturday, and the regular season will start May 8.

Khonke added that their Indoor Winter Farmers Market averaged 30 vendors every market.

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A new $22,000 ultra-low-temperature freezer is now operating at East Kootenay Regional Hospital.

The equipment was funded by the East Kootenay Foundation for Health through community donations to its East Kootenay Regional Hospital Fund.

The freezer will support clinical research, medical investigations and community health needs by storing biological samples at extremely low temperatures.

The freezer will be shared by the clinical research team and the hospital’s pathology team. It will allow pathologists to store postmortem samples to investigate sudden or unexplained deaths and inherited conditions.

EKFH executive director Brenna Hong shared an example of how the equipment is already being used.

“Currently what they’re doing is they’re taking samples, and they’re doing research with the samples. So when someone passes, like there was a patient with ALS, they were able to get a sample from the patient, with the family’s consent. They are able to use those samples to do research on ALS. It gets sent to a bigger centre in order to do that, so the freezer that we received is able to freeze at a very very low temperature in order to keep the sample the way that they need them”. Said Hong.

Research into potential inherited conditions can provide potentially life-saving testing for living family members. It may also help provide closure and answers regarding the death of loved ones.

The freezer and cryopreservation of tissues also allow the donation of postmortem tissue for approved research programs, such as UBC Brain Health.

Having this equipment locally means patients in the East Kootenay won’t always need to travel to larger urban centres for certain diagnostic investigations. The freezer also enhances the ability for the hospital to involve rural communities in research by supporting secure, on-site, ultra-low temperature sample storage.

“I’m really excited about it from the foundation point, because this is a new area that our donors can support in rural research. I always find that we’re kind of left out a little bit being where we’re located. In the East Kootenay region we have smaller sectors like the Elk Valley, the Columbia Valley, as well as the Creston area, which are smaller areas, and now we’re able to conduct research in our populations in those areas. It’s going to benefit our region in hopefully getting more advanced equipment, and more equipment that we need in this area.” said Hong.

The freezer supports the goals of Interior Health’s newest clinical research site the EKRH Clinical Research Unit. The unit and program are helping expand rural medical research, giving community members the chance to participate in studies that reflect the needs of rural populations in East Kootenay. 

“What they’re trying to target is more research that can be done in rural areas, and they’re just getting started”. Hong said.

Hong also acknowledged the people who make the foundation’s work possible.

“I just want to thank our community and our supporters of the East Kootenay Foundation for Health, because we are only able to do the work that we do in our area because of them. So a huge shoutout to all the individuals, all the organizations and businesses that continually support our endeavor” said Hong.

EKFH said it looks forward to continuing to support the Clinical Research Unit and its mission of building sustainable rural research capability. Through equipment purchases and initiatives, the foundation said it is helping the program progress toward better health outcomes for the region.

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Castlegar is being asked to “future-proof” new homes by speeding up their transition to lower-carbon energy use.

Dr. Amy Rutkowski of Doctors and Nurses for Planetary Health and Laura Sacks of West Kootenay Climate Hub spoke to city council this week.

They would like the city to move further up the BC zero carbon step code, a voluntary part of the BC building code introduced in 2023 that lets local governments regulate greenhouse gas emissions in new buildings.

Rutkowski and Sacks said the code aligns with commitments in the city’s new official community plan to switch to entirely renewable forms of energy. But Castlegar is currently at the lowest rung, described as “measure only.” There are three additional steps.

“This is a really exciting opportunity to move on these commitments and in an achievable manner that’s low cost for the city,” Sacks said, adding that over 30 local governments in BC have already implemented an accelerated carbon step code, including Rossland and Nelson.

Sacks said about one-third of Castlegar’s climate pollution comes from its buildings, most of which is accounted for by space and water heating from natural gas.

She said a key component for reducing operational emissions would be mandating heat pumps, which use minimal electricity when a building is constructed to high energy efficiency standards.

She said heat pumps are typically less expensive than having both a gas furnace and central air conditioning unit. Plus she said electricity rates are more stable than gas rates, seeing smaller annual increases.

Rutkowski said electrification of new homes has important health impacts, through reduced pollutants from gas appliances. 

“Extracting and burning fossil fuels, including so-called natural gas, is driving the carbon pollution that is warming the planet, putting our health at risk,” Rutkowski said. “By adopting the zero carbon step code, we can reduce our community greenhouse gas emissions and help protect our health from the impacts of climate change.”

Rutkowski said energy efficient homes with heat pumps can keep residents safer and more comfortable during heat waves and wildfires by cooling entire homes and allowing windows to stay closed. They also have lower long-term energy costs, she said.

“We should be aiming higher than the bare minimum. That’s why we’re asking council to adopt a bylaw that supports the transition to electrified new builds.”

Safety and development director Meeri Durand said before the city can adopt higher code requirements, it has to provide a six-month notification period to the public and the building community, so it could not be in effect until August or September at the earliest. However, that would still be a year sooner than when the requirements are expected to be mandatory.

Council asked for the request in writing so they can discuss it at their next meeting.

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Community Futures South Kootenay has named Kamren Farr as the organization’s next executive director.

Farr brings more than 20 years of experience in economic development, business advisory services, post secondary education, and organizational leadership.

As an executive in residence with the Kootenay Association for Science and Technology Farr supported early-stage technology companies, helped founders navigate product development and market entry, and launched a regional angel investor network.

As a long-standing business faculty member at Selkirk College, he has taught courses in strategy, operations, marketing, and international business, while contributing to major institutional initiatives in program development, change management, and student success.

Throughout his career, Farr has worked closely with entrepreneurs, industry partners, government agencies, and community organizations. His experience spans technology commercialization, feasibility studies, new venture creation, board governance, and the development of innovative programs that strengthen regional economic opportunity. His leadership style is collaborative, community-minded, and grounded in strategic insight.

“I’m honoured to join Community Futures South Kootenay and contribute to the region’s long-standing commitment to entrepreneurship and community-driven economic development,” Farr said in a news release. “I look forward to working with our partners, small businesses, and community leaders to build on this strong foundation.”

Farr started his new position this week and is working alongside outgoing executive eirector Erik Kalacis, with a transition period continuing through early June.

Community Futures chair Wayne Kelly said the board “extends its sincere appreciation and best wishes to Erik Kalacis for eight years of dedicated leadership as executive director and for all he’s done for our organization, entrepreneurs, and community partnerships throughout our region.

“During his tenure, Community Futures expanded business advisory services, advanced key economic development initiatives, and reinforced our long-term financial sustainability. We’re excited to have Erik pass the baton to Kamren and we look forward to building stronger communities in the future.”

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Children across Canada have a chance to name one of the RCMP’s newest puppies as part of the 2026 Name the Puppy Contest, which opened for submissions Feb. 25 and runs until March 26.

RCMP Police Dog Services and the Police Dog Service Training Centre in Innisfail, Alta., are asking young Canadians to help name 13 puppies that could grow up to become police service dogs.

“We’re hoping for children to suggest original and creative names that these dogs can wear with pride during their career serving Canadian communities,” said Cst. Ross Findlay of the Lower Mainland District Integrated Police Dog Service. “This year we’re looking for names that start with the letter ‘B’.”

Contest rules:

• Names must begin with the letter “B.”

• Names must have no more than nine letters.

• Names must be one or two syllables.

• Contestants must live in Canada.

• Contestants must be four to 14 years old.

• Only one entry per child is eligible.

• Entries must be received by March 26, 2026.

Children whose names are selected will receive a laminated photo of the puppy they named, a plush dog named Justice and an RCMP water bottle.

Although only 13 names will be chosen as winners, other submitted names may still be used for puppies born later this year.

In 2025, Elisa from the Lower Mainland won the contest with the name “Anchor.”

On March 4, B.C. RCMP headquarters also welcomed several young puppies to the region’s police dog training program. Police Service Dog Lucy, Cpl. Michael Jordan, Police Service Dog Kanto and Cst. Ross Findlay from the Lower Mainland District Integrated Police Dog Service introduced the pups and discussed the training work handlers, quarries and imprinters do with the dogs.

“From the time our puppies are eight weeks old and throughout their entire careers, training remains one of the most important parts of this job,” said Findlay. “We rely on positive reinforcement; we want our dogs to enjoy what they’re doing at every stage of their development. As they grow, the time, distance, and complexity of their training and exercises increases, but it’s always designed to be engaging and fun for them.”

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Make it five in a row for the Prince George Spruce Kings.

The Prince George Spruce Kings won their fifth straight, doubling up 4-2 over the Coquitlam Express in front of 988 fans at the Poirier Sports and Leisure Centre.

The Express opened the scoring early, with Mitch Kneidel finding the back of the net 2:11 into the game, but Ryan Wachtel was able to tie the game just before the halfway point of the first period.

Five minutes later, Nolan Dupont put the Express back in front, but Mathis Laplante erased the Coquitlam lead.

After a scoreless second, Nick Bianchi scored the winner late in the third, and Tai Ushio found the back of an empty net.

Colin Reay got the start in net for the Spruce Kings, but left the game just a few minutes in. Ryder Green entered the game, and stopped both shots he faced before Reay made his return to the crease. In total, Reay stopped 25 of the 27 shots he faced.

The box score is here.

The Spruce Kings (20-14-2-0) are sitting on top of the BCHL’s Coastal East Division.

The BCHL standings are here.

The Spruce Kings travel to Chilliwack, taking on the Chiefs at the Chilliwack Coliseum Saturday night.

The full Spruce Kings schedule is here.

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The Prince George Cougars are in.

The Cougars clinched a playoff berth in convincing fashion, with a 5-1 win over the Spokane Chiefs.

Josh Ravensbergen was excellent as usual, making 28 stops on the night.

“Especially in the second period, even in the third, how many breakaway’s did he stop tonight?” said Cougars Head Coach and GM Mark Lamb on the post-game show on 94.3 the Goat.

“Those are game changers, and kept us in it until we got our powerplays in the third, and that was the game.”

The Berger makes his presence known early! @SanJoseSharks pic.twitter.com/wRSUXkGfHS

— Prince George Cougars (@PGCougars) March 7, 2026

“It was fun to get that one, to come back after a long roadie and put on a good show in front of our fans, they haven’t seen us in a while, so it was a fun one,” Ravensbergen said on the post game show.

For most of the game, it was a defensive tilt, before the Cougars blew the score open with a pair of powerplay goals on a five-minute major, the team’s only powerplay of the night.

“They got the chemistry, and they got a few plays that they can really go to, and at certain times when they feel the penalty kill get out of position a little bit, those plays, they just naturally do them now, it’s really nice to watch,” Lamb said.

Coming off an eight-game road trip, Aiden Foster welcomed the 4,326 fans at the CN Centre back to the arena early, potting a rebound after an excellent forecheck from Brock Souch 4:15 into the game.

Souch wins the race, Foster finds the net!@TBLightning | @CarlsJrCA https://t.co/mN5UWdMZW2 pic.twitter.com/ECiKv65Pi2

— Prince George Cougars (@PGCougars) March 7, 2026

Late in the first, Dawson Seitz found the back of the net with 1:07 to go in the opening period.

Dawson Seitz extends the lead late in the first!@CarlsJrCA pic.twitter.com/IgNXHwM7PA

— Prince George Cougars (@PGCougars) March 7, 2026

The second period was less than ideal for the Cougars. Spokane piled 14 shots onto Ravensbergen, while only allowing the Cougars to get two shots on Carter Esler in the period.

The Chiefs were able to find the back of the net on the powerplay in the second, as Owen Martin put a loose puck past Ravensbergen 3:01 into the middle frame.

Marty at the doorstep

Owen Martin picks up his 22nd goal of the year on the power play with help from Dominik Petr and Logan Wormald to make it 2-1!#GoChiefsGo | @NHLJets pic.twitter.com/UGrJQQyBlJ

— Spokane Chiefs (@spokanechiefs) March 7, 2026

Kooper Gizowski restored the Cougars two-goal lead in the third period, tipping home a Tyrone Sobry shot 2:00 into the period.

A ONE HANDED TIP from Gizwoski puts us up by two!@CarlsJrCA https://t.co/IMQZdyo0za pic.twitter.com/eMteMOkGK8

— Prince George Cougars (@PGCougars) March 7, 2026

42 seconds later, Chiefs forward Assanali Sarkenov was assessed a five-minute major for a check to the head, as well as a game misconduct, allowing one of the league’s best powerplays to go to work.

Brock Souch found a yawning cage, with Esler trying to prevent Dmitri Yakutsenak from finding another Cougar out front.

BEER CANS DOWN, COUGS UP! Brock Souch extends the lead!@CarlsJrCA | #NHLDraft https://t.co/HtZMYa27Vb pic.twitter.com/w4Url9MDIF

— Prince George Cougars (@PGCougars) March 7, 2026

On the same powerplay, Terik Parascak scored his 100th WHL goal, finishing off a perfect passing play.

TERIK PARASCAK’S 100TH CAREER GOAL WAS A POWERPLAY MASTERPIECE@Capitals | @CarlsJrCA https://t.co/7SnDxXigc2 pic.twitter.com/6i4XyebF6z

— Prince George Cougars (@PGCougars) March 7, 2026

The box score is here.

This weekend’s double header between the Cougars and the Chiefs is potentially a preview for the first round of the WHL playoffs.

With the win, the Cougars (37-22-2-0) are sitting third, and are currently tied with the fourth-place Kelowna Rockets (34-19-6-2) at 76 points.

With an 8-2 win over the Victoria Royals (26-26-5-3) Friday night, the Kamloops Blazers (27-22-7-5) leapfrogged the Chiefs (32-28-1-0) in the WHL’s Western Conference, putting Kamloops fifth and Spokane 6th.

The WHL standings are here.

The Cougars and Chiefs will play again Saturday night at the CN Centre.

The full Cougars schedule is here.

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The class action that was brought following the fire at Econo Lodge City Centre Inn in Prince George that killed three people and injured others on July 8th, 2020, has settled.

$5.25 million in proposed settlements has been reached to resolve the class action, which alleges the defendants were negligent with respect to fire safety at the Econo Lodge.

The settlements do not involve findings or admissions of wrongdoing.

Jamie Thornback of CFM Lawyers said: “This fire was a tragedy. Our legal system can never truly address the losses of the guests who were injured or the families of the three who were killed. We started this class action to get fair compensation for the people who were injured by this fire. These settlements achieve that goal.”

Class counsel will be seeking court orders approving these settlements, along with a plan for distributing the money on July 30, 2026, at the Prince George courthouse.

If approved, the claims of all Class Members will be resolved without the need for a trial.

Class Members will be entitled to claim compensation, with the deadline to contact Class Councel to claim compensation being June 3rd, 2026.

Class Members are:

• the registered guests at the Econo Lodge on July 8, 2020;
• people who were present at the Econo Lodge on July 8, 2020 at the time of the fire;
• people who were present at Yolks All Day Family Restaurant on July 8, 2020 at the time of the fire; and
• the family members of the victims who died in the fire.

More detailed information including settlement agreements and the distribution protocol can be found here.

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Clocks are set to “spring forward” at 2 a.m. Sunday — but it could be the last time most British Columbians lose an hour of sleep.

The B.C. government announced on Monday it’s doing away with twice-yearly time changes and adopting permanent Daylight Saving Time (DST). It said the purpose of the change is to improve people’s overall health, reduce disruptions for families, simplify scheduling and provide an extra hour of evening light during the winter months.

There will be no turning the clocks back one hour this fall, leading to darker mornings in the winter months but an extra hour of daylight in the evenings. Parts of B.C. already observe Mountain Standard Time year-round, which will align with the move to permanent DST.

Ralph Mistlberger, a psychology professor at Simon Fraser University who researches sleep and circadian rhythms, said he’s doubtful about the claims that permanent DST will be better for people’s health.

Mistlberger said he’s in favour of eliminating the twice-yearly time changes, but said choosing permanent DST is counter to the recommendations of global sleep and chronobiology societies, which overwhelmingly prefer year-round Standard Time.

Mistlberger said the darker mornings in the winter months are going to impact young people and people who are night owls the most. He said our brains and most body tissues have what he describes as a 24-hour circadian clock that is synchronized by natural light.

“The morning light is what prevents the ‘clock’ from wanting to drift to a later time. Evening light hastens the drift,” said Mistlberger. “So if you’re getting less morning light, then effectively you become more of a night owl.”

He said for children and teens who need to get up early in the morning for school, those sleep impacts can lead to poorer performance in class, mood changes and depression, and possibly affect their long-term development. He said moving school start-times later in the morning would help offset some of the negative impacts on young people.

For adults, he said it can not only affect job performance, but potentially also impact metabolic and cardiovascular health.

“Most people will like the idea of having more light in the evening. Well who doesn’t? It’s nice to have that, but you’re doing it at the cost of something,” said Mistlberger. “It may have some benefits for some things, but on balance it’s not the best at the social level.”

Mistlberger recommends those who need to start their day in the dark get a specialized light that is designed to treat Seasonal Affective Disorder, known as a SAD lamp.

“Those are really good for giving you doses of biologically significant light,” he said. “You want sort of a white-bluish light, and you want it as bright as you can get.”

B.C. first introduced legislation in 2019 that paved the way for the province to adopt permanent DST. A survey that year found 93 per cent of B.C. residents supported permanent DST, with three-quarters of those preferring year-round DST citing health and wellness concerns as a reason for their support.

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A local 40-year-old man was pulled from a burning vehicle Thursday near the corner of Willow Creek Road and Jubilee Parkway in Campbell River.

Police said officers from BC Highway Patrol and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Campbell River were on patrol at about 9:30 p.m. when they came upon a sports car that had rolled over and caught fire.

Officers approached the vehicle and determined someone was still inside.

According to the RCMP, officers smashed open the sunroof and pulled an unconscious man from the vehicle, which became engulfed in flames shortly afterward.

The injured man was taken to Campbell River Hospital before being transferred to Nanaimo Regional General Hospital with severe injuries.

“This incident is a shocking reminder of the dangerous situations police officers can find themselves in every day,” said Insp. Jeff Preston. “The officers during this incident showed amazing calm and bravery under immense personal danger. I’d like to thank the officers, BC Ambulance and The Campbell River Fire Department for their quick action and dedication to our community.”

Investigators have not yet determined what caused the crash. Campbell River RCMP are asking anyone who witnessed the incident or has information to contact police.

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The Prince George Kodiaks are seeing more changes to the team, as president Craig Briere, vice president Ken Newell, and treasurer Chipman Purdey all resigned.

Offensive Line Coach Ryan Bellamy confirmed the three had stepped down on Wednesday, however, a reason wasn’t provided.

This comes after the team dismissed head coach Jamie Boreham, who led the Kodiaks to their first ever BC Football Conference playoff spot, and was named the league’s coach of the year this past season.

Since then, community emotions have ranged from confusion to anger, with a petition launched to reinstate Boreham.

For the time being, the three board roles will be taken over on an interim basis, with membership to vote on an official replacement at an upcoming AGM that has yet to be announced.

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After the BC Teachers Federation (BCTF) voted in favour of ratifying a new collective agreement, Prince George District Teachers’ Association (PGDTA) said there’s room for improvement.

PGDTA President Katherine Trepanier noted the four-year agreement with the BC Public School Employers’ Association has some positives including an allowance increase for rural and remote teachers, a new allowance for school psychologists, and more.

Trepanier went over the highlights that help School District 57.

“We’ll see a few more councillors in Prince George over the next few years. There’s a very small increase to the prep-time for elementary teachers, not until 2027, but that is helpful.”

Trepanier said the contract gives modest improvements in supports for kids, but doesn’t go far enough.

She believes there will be continued advocacy at the government level to better support kids in the system, noting the government is always able to go above the minimum requirements.

Trepanier said teachers are happy to get some stability for the next few years, but need better retention through better supports for kids.

More information about the agreement can be found on our previous story here.

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A year-long West Kootenay Recruitment Agency pilot found local hiring strategies are the most effective way to fill jobs in the Kootenays.

Launched in November 2024 by Community Futures Central Kootenay, the pilot set out to test whether a locally based recruitment agency could help employers overcome the unique workforce challenges facing the region.

The pilot expanded on a 2024 feasibility study that identified about 1,200 roles a year needing recruitment, with barriers including housing availability, childcare access and relocation hurdles.

Mia Gardiner, the consultant who led the pilot, explained that rural recruitment requires more than posting job ads online.

“In a rural area, it’s not just about a salary. You need to show candidates what it means to live here, to work at that company, and why this role matters,” Gardiner said.

“It’s about proactively finding the right match and making sure placements are sustainable.”

Over the year, Gardiner engaged with more than 600 potential applicants and completed three recruitment projects, resulting in successful placements across trades, finance and warehouse roles.

“Every single one of those clients was very happy with what the process looked like. They really felt supported. There were different things for each of them that they felt were really helpful to them as a business owner. And it took the pressure off of them doing that recruitment themselves,” she said.

Housing, childcare and medical access frequently came up as barriers for candidates. Gardiner said she worked with companies to ensure realistic expectations and sustainable placements.

“I’ll ask candidates questions like, ‘Are you bringing a family? What’s it going to take to move here?’ Sometimes that even affects start dates or interview processes,” she explained.

“You’re really letting applicants know what it means to move here, to live here and what it means to work in that company. We’ll build a job profile that includes a little bit about the town that it’s in and what it’s like to live there and a little bit about the company.”

The pilot’s success has now led to the launch of Kootenay Talent + Recruitment, a locally owned recruitment and HR advisory firm serving the Kootenay and Boundary regions.

Gardiner said success will be measured by client satisfaction, candidate placements and the firm’s ability to operate independently.

She added that it also led to development of a strong database of candidates, making local recruitment easier and more effective.

“We now have about 500 candidates in our database across different sectors, ready to match with local employers,” Gardiner said.

“If people were to come to me right now and say, oh, do you have, you know, do you know anybody that has administrative skill, I could actually pull people right out of my database and ask them if they’re interested in applying.”

For more information on recruitment supports in the Kootenays, click here. 

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Nelson residents applying for a building permit could soon be asked to dedicate small portions of their property for future roads, sidewalks or cycling routes.

City council gave first, second and third readings this week to a bylaw that would create a new servicing officer position following recent changes to B.C.’s Local Government Act.

If adopted, the bylaw would allow city staff to require land dedication as a condition of issuing a building permit.

Previously, municipalities could only require land through subdivision applications or rezoning negotiations.

At the March 3 council meeting, city planner Ken Bourdeau said the change would give Nelson a new tool to secure land needed for infrastructure earlier in the development process.

“Up until recently, municipalities were only able to require land dedication typically as part of either a subdivision application or as part of a negotiated rezoning process,” Bourdeau said.

“As part of the whole suite of changes the province made to planning legislation a number of years ago, one of the powers that they gave municipalities was the ability to ask for land dedication at building permits.”

Under the proposed bylaw, those powers would be given to staff who hold the title of approving officer or city engineer.

“So in this case, we’d be giving those powers to people who hold the title of approving officer or city engineer.”

He added the new power is particularly useful in Nelson because much of the city is already pre-zoned. That means projects move directly to the building permit stage without triggering rezoning or subdivision reviews, where land dedication would previously be required.

The changes could also help secure new space for road widening, sidewalks and active transportation routes without the city having to purchase land later.

A policy guiding when land dedication would be required directs staff to consider city plans such as the Official Community Plan, Downtown Parking Strategy and Active Transportation Plan.

The bylaw still needs to be formally adopted before the changes take effect.

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The Comox Valley Regional District has launched a new partnership aimed at giving young players more opportunities to play ball hockey through the spring and early summer.

The CVRD said it has partnered with the C4 Ball Hockey League to introduce a drop-in program for youth.

League president Darcy McNeil said volunteer coaches with national and international ball hockey experience will help lead the sessions and share their expertise with young players.

“Some of those coaches are some pretty phenomenal players having represented Canada and even won gold medals,” McNeil said. “We’re actually really lucky in the Comox Valley to have so much talent at our disposal.”

Separate sessions for youth in Grades 1-3 and Grades 4-7 are scheduled every Tuesday from April 29 to July 22 at the Comox Valley Sports Centre.

Players need to bring a helmet, stick and protective gear like a jock/jill and shin pads.

More information is available on the CVRD website.

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Two events are happening in the Bulkley Valley to recognize International Women’s Day on Sunday.

The first is in Houston with a Special Tea at the Seniors’ Centre that day.

There, the recipient of Houston’s Most Inspirational Woman award for 2026 will be announced from nominations made through February.

It will start at 3:00 p.m. with doors opening a half hour before.

In Smithers, Positive Living North will be hosting an event the following Wednesday.

It will feature a pair of challenges with various prizes being given away.

That event runs from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

No events are happening in Burns Lake.

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The Regional District of Nanaimo has purchased the former French Creek School site from School District 69 (Qualicum) for $1.3 million. 

The 3.7-hectare property in Coombs, British Columbia includes the former school building, a gymnasium and a field with a playground. 

“I am very pleased with the purchase of the French Creek heritage school and parkland, as it will provide local residents with a much-needed community gathering place. I look forward to exploring future uses for this exceptional property,” said Leanne Salter, electoral area F director for the Regional District of Nanaimo. 

The purchase was funded using $376,000 from the electoral area F community parks and halls reserve fund, $120,000 in community works funds and long-term borrowing of $824,000 plus interest. 

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Foundry Cariboo Chilcotin in Williams Lake had over 500 reasons to smile today (Friday).

They were presented with a cheque for $515 from the money raised through Do-More Promotional’s Pink Shirt Day Awareness fundraiser.

“We’re super grateful to Do-More Promotional to accept these funds to help our youth in the community,” Peer Support Supervisor Jose Salazar said.

At Foundry Cariboo Chilcotin they offer five different core services.

“We offer Counselling, Primary Care like a Doctor and Nurse as well as some Peer Support. We offer work in education if youth are looking for a job or needing some support going into the work force, as well as some Substance Use Support,” Salazar said.

He noted the money received will go a long to assist these programs.

“A lot of our focus too is around Wellness Programs, getting the youth inside the doors doing some fun activities like bannock making, mask carving, cooking programs, which these funds will also help keep them going.”

Salazar noted that since Foundry Cariboo Chilcotin opened they have seen a steady increase and have been consistently seeing new faces.

With a new Foundry coming to 100 Mile House in the future Salazar said they will be helping to spearhead that project.

Do-More Promotional owner Nancy Dron said they always look forward to presenting cheques to Williams Lake youth organizations with the money raised from their annual Pink Shirt Day awareness fundraiser.

“I love to be able to help the community groups. It’s always a pleasure to hand over that cheque no matter how big or how small as we know it’s going to be put to good use for youth programming in the community. It’s always a good feeling to support them.”

This was the sixth year Do-More Promotional held their Pink Shirt Day awareness fundraiser.

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Iain Black, a candidate for the leadership of the BC Conservative Party, visited Campbell River for a community meet-and-greet Thursday.

Black said the stop was part of a tour aimed at learning more about communities across British Columbia.

“As part of winning the support of party members, you need to travel the province, and you need to go to communities where there is input that you can receive and learn from,” Black said.

Black said he met with representatives from the local forestry sector, party officials and community leaders during the visit.

Black served as a member of the legislative assembly for Port Moody–Westwood, later Port Moody-Coquitlam, from 2005 to 2011 as a member of the BC Liberal Party.

Black said visiting Campbell River helps provide insight into the province’s regional makeup.

“You can’t have a good understanding of the fabric of British Columbia without going up Island a little bit north of Nanaimo. You can’t,” he said.

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No charges are being recommended against a Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer in Ladysmith, British Columbia after a police dog seriously injured a person during an arrest. 

The Independent Investigations Office of British Columbia referred the case, stemming from a 2021 incident, to the BC Prosecution Service to consider charges but has since withdrawn the referral. 

A final report released March 4 said significant evidence gaps and additional investigative steps led investigators to conclude there are no reasonable grounds to believe the officer committed an offence. 

The investigation began after an officer attempted a traffic stop on Highway 1, British Columbia in Ladysmith and a police vehicle collided with a minivan driven by the suspect. 

According to the report, the officer followed the minivan because it had a stolen licence plate. The driver accelerated and dashcam footage showed “forceful maneuvers” between the suspect’s vehicle and the officer’s vehicle. 

After the minivan struck a concrete barrier on the highway, the driver attempted to free the vehicle after it became pinned by police vehicles. 

The IIO said investigators did not receive statements from either the driver of the minivan or the officer who was the subject of the investigation, making it difficult to fully understand the events leading up to the injury. 

The report said the officer was a dog handler and the police dog was not on a leash. The dog bit an officer before pulling the driver from the minivan. It then bit the person’s leg while another officer went to retrieve a leash, causing serious injuries. 

The report said a witness officer told investigators the handler was shouting and pulling at the dog for two or three minutes as it continued biting the suspect while another officer retrieved a leash. 

The IIO does not require officers under investigation to provide evidence and said the officer did not provide an explanation of his actions during the incident. Investigators also did not receive an account from the injured person despite visiting him in hospital and attempting a follow up interview.

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Correlieu Girls were crowned the 2025/2026 provincial ski champions.

Multi-podium finishes and high standings placements earned the Girls Ski Team the gold over stiff competition from across the province, held at the Hudson’s Bay Mountain Resort in Smithers.

Petra Peter won Gold and Anna Marie Kadenbach won bronze in the girls’ banked slalom.

Kadenbach also scored Silver in girls’ giant slalom.

“All the athletes did really well at the event held at Smithers,” said Coach Glen Boudreau. “The girls had a really close race with another school, York House in Vancouver, which had won it in the previous years in a row. It was a hard battle this year, but the girls ended up coming back with the gold medal.”

The team’s results were calculated by taking the four best runs from teams of six competitors from two runs across three days of competition.

The Correlieu Girls Ski team had only one event; two teammates did not finish in the Top 10 across two events by fractions of seconds.

Peter took the top spot in banked slalom with a 1:13.14 combined run, and Kadenbach got her bronze with a 1:14.21.

Down the list, Camille Boudreau finished in fourth with a 1:14.50, Liv Boudreau finished seventh with a 1:16.10, Brooklen Backer was in ninth with a 1:16.80, and Harley Connor finished in 21st with a 1:20.27.

Kadenbach earned her silver in giant slalom with a combined total of 1:19.38.

Peter came in fourth with a 1:20.96, Brooklyn Backer came seventh with a 1:22.40, Camille Boudreau just behind in eighth with a 1:23.38, Liv Boudreau was two tenths shy of a Top 10 finish with a 1:24.38, and Harley Connor finished in 30th with a 1:31.71.

Coach Boudreau was proud of all the hard work the athletes put in this year.

“These athletes worked hard to develop their skills, and in ski racing, it’s a matter of fractions of seconds, and every little maneuver takes time away. Everybody put in long hours and lots of travel days. They couldn’t have done without their sponsors, who are mom and dad. It’s really nice to see the girls get their awards.”

In snowboarding, Melia Page won Gold in girls’ giant slalom with a combined total across two runs of 1:42.92. Page also came in 4th by less than 2 seconds in girls’ banked slalom with a run of 1:26.07.

“She worked very hard over the years to get first out of all BC High School Snowboarders,” said Coach Boudreau. “She comes from a long line of snowboarders in her family. She did so well to bring home a gold.”

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The District of Sparwood has executed a lease with Elk Valley Resources for parking on a portion of 2600 Middletown Place.

EVR is moving into its new office at 2202 Middletown Place, but they believes more parking is needed.

It’s a six month lease and will bring $5,575 excluding GST to the district.

EVR will have to conduct environmental assessments before and after the use of the land.

They will also have to maintain the lease area and the access road during its tenancy.

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B.C. Premier David Eby said OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has agreed to apologize to the people of Tumbler Ridge after the company decided not to warn police about the online activity of the suspect in last month’s deadly shooting.

Eby and Tumbler Ridge Mayor Darryl Krakowka met with Altman and OpenAI vice-president of global policy Anne O’Leary on Thursday.

“I found Mr. Altman to be responsive to the concerns that I raised, that the mayor raised, and willing to engage,” Eby told reporters after the meeting.

He said Altman pledged to work with B.C. and Tumbler Ridge officials to issue an apology “in the most appropriate way.”

RCMP said on Feb. 10 that 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar shot her mother and 11-year-old stepbrother at a home in the small northeastern B.C. community before killing six children and a teacher’s aide at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. Dozens more were injured, including a 12-year-old girl who remains in hospital.

OpenAI said employees raised concerns about the suspect’s interactions with its ChatGPT chatbot as early as last June. The company said the account was banned but it decided not to refer those concerns to law enforcement.

OpenAI later said it discovered a second account created after the original account was banned. The company said both accounts have now been referred to RCMP.

O’Leary said in a letter to Canadian federal ministers last week that the company has updated its safety policies. She said under the company’s current policies, Van Rootselaar’s interactions with ChatGPT would have been referred to police if they were discovered today.

But Eby said he doesn’t believe OpenAI’s current standard for referring flagged accounts to law enforcement is strong enough.

“Where there is an option to report, that option to not report could be taken again,” he said.

Eby reiterated his call for national regulations outlining when tech companies like OpenAI must report concerning interactions to law enforcement.

“We want everyone to be on the same standard, the same obligation to report, the same consequences,” said Eby.

Federal AI and Digital Innovation Minister Evan Solomon also met with Altman earlier this week. Solomon said in a statement OpenAI had agreed to take a number of steps to strengthen its safety and reporting policies.

They include establishing a direct point of contact with RCMP, implementing safety protocols to direct users experiencing distress to local support services, and reviewing previously flagged cases under its updated safety standards.

Solomon said OpenAI also committed to looking into how it could include Canadian privacy, mental health and law enforcement experts when reviewing high-risk cases involving Canadian users.

He said the company has also pledged to provide a full report outlining its new systems to identify high-risk users and repeat policy violators.

Eby said the commitments outlined by Solomon and OpenAI do not go far enough.

“We need to very straightforwardly have an obligation on these companies to bring this information forward, full stop,” he said.

Eby noted OpenAI is one of several major tech companies offering chatbot services in Canada, pointing to Google’s Gemini, xAI’s Grok and Anthropic’s Claude.

He said a national standard and a duty to report for tech companies would prevent any one of them from having a competitive advantage.

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Fernie residents have a couple more days to provide feedback on the draft five-year financial plan.

The city’s projected shortfall is $409,313, which would result in a 4.04 per cent tax levy increase.

However, that still could change.

Council will be considering unbudgeted asks, including increased funding for community partners and reserve contributions.

Depending on their decision, that could increase the tax levy further.

Public feedback is being gathered until Mar. 8.

On Mar. 10, council will be presented with the compiled resident feedback and will be making the decisions around unbudgeted asks.

Once that’s done, the five year financial plan will be finalized and brought back to council for three readings and adoption.

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Tomorrow (Saturday) will be a significant day for the Prince George Italian Centre, as the Consul General of Italy in Vancouver will be visiting.

PG Italian Centre President Ron Polillo said the visit is a way for them to establish the relationship with the Consul General, but also discuss Canada and Italy’s connection.

With enough interest, Polillo said the visit can help Italian-Canadians renew or acquire a passport and citizenship.

“We’re hoping to identify several people that want to go through that process to get their Italian passports or the citizenship.”

“If we get enough people, the staff and the Consul General will come back up to Prince George to help facilitate that, and actually do a clinic and workshop here in Prince George.”

Polillo added there’s also economic ties, so as an official representative of Italy, the Consul General could help facilitate business connections between B.C., Canada, and Italy.

He hopes that this visit becomes yearly, to help maintain the relationship.

An informal meet and greet is open for anyone to attend tomorrow afternoon, and will be at the PG Italian Club at 1209 5th avenue from 2:00 to 4:00.

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Local businesses and organizations are being invited to support the longest-running festival in the Comox Valley. 

The Town of Comox is seeking sponsors for the 2026 Nautical Days event, scheduled for Aug. 1-3. 

“Our sponsors play a vital role in making this free event possible while connecting with an engaged audience in a meaningful way,” said Nautical Days committee chair Chris Haslett. 

The annual festival is held at Comox Marina Park and draws thousands of residents and visitors for three days of live music, family-friendly programming, artisan markets and a fireworks display. 

The Nautical Days committee outlined several sponsorship levels for the event: 

Admiral Sponsor – $10,000 

• Top billing on all signage and promotional materials 

• Stage mentions before key acts 

• On-site booth space 

• Full-page ad in event program 

• Custom social media spotlight campaigns 

Captain Sponsor – $5,000 to $9,999 

• Logo on website, event program and banners 

• Shared social media spotlight 

• On-site signage 

• Half-page ad in event program 

First Mate Sponsor – $2,500 to $4,999 

• Logo in event program and digital promotions 

• Quarter-page ad in event program 

Deckhand Sponsor – $500 to $2,499 

• Business name listed in event program and on website 

• Social media thank you 

The committee said sponsors receive exposure to thousands of attendees during the three-day event, along with marketing opportunities through print, digital and on-site promotions while supporting a family-friendly community festival. 

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A nearly three year drug trafficking investigation lead to the Prince George RCMP arresting two known offenders.

Police say officers executed an arrest warrant at a residence on the 3700-block of Landsdowne Road, with the investigation also focused on a business operating on the 100-block of Quebec Street.

Corporal Jennifer Cooper said both locations were the subject of Controlled Drugs and Substances Act search warrants in April 2024.

“Police officers located illicit drugs, drug trafficking paraphernalia, contraband cigarettes, some firearms, and over $100,000 in cash.”

“At the time, one of the suspects arrested during the search was found to have an estimated 25 ounces of cocaine and 20 ounces of fentanyl on their person at the time of their arrest.”

Cooper noted the investigations were complex, gathering vast amounts of information to ensure when they were submitted to the courts, they resulted in unequivocal charge approval.

The two arrested were:

Kerridge Andrew Lowley:

• Trafficking in a scheduled substance (four counts)
• Possession for the purpose of trafficking (nine counts)
• Possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm with ammunition (two counts)

Robyn Ann Bradley:

• Trafficking in a scheduled substance (13 counts)
• Possession for the purposes of trafficking (four counts)

Both were arrested on outstanding warrants on February 27, 2026, with Bradley released on a release order, and Lowley remaining in custody until his next court appearance.

These investigations are now before the courts.

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The Williams Lake Fire Department responded to a power pole on fire in the river valley.

Deputy Fire Chief Brendan Foote said shortly before 10 yesterday morning (Thursday) they received a by someone walking their dog on the trail.

“Crews responded to a small fire that was smoldering in one of our poles,” Foote said, “Crews extinguished the fire with a small amount of water.”

Foote said the fire did not spread, was contained to the pole, and the cause of this fire is undetermined at this point.

Earlier this week on Monday night, the Williams Lake Fire Department responded to a structure fire at the picnic structure behind the Cariboo Memorial Complex.

Fire Chief Evan Dean said when they arrived some onsite staff had already extinguished the fire with fire extinguishers and the fire was contained to one of the main support posts.

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Nelson residents have one last opportunity to comment on the city’s updated zoning bylaw, which aims to simplify development rules and encourage more small-scale housing, at a public hearing this month.

Council passed the first two readings of the amended bylaw Tuesday, setting a public hearing for March 24 before the third reading is considered.

The update aligns with the city’s new Official Community Plan, adopted in September 2025. City planners said the bylaw serves as the primary regulatory tool governing land use across Nelson and is a key mechanism for implementing the OCP.

The first round of public engagement on the update took place in October and November 2025. The city also held meetings with local business and development groups to guide the draft.

According to the city’s website, the draft includes several key highlights.

Housing and development changes

One of the most significant changes would make it easier to build small-scale residential housing.

Under the draft, the current R1 zone would allow up to four residential units on a property, with increased lot coverage depending on the number of homes proposed.

Lot coverage would remain at 35 per cent for a single home, rise to 40 per cent for two or three units, and reach 45 per cent for four units.

Setback requirements would also be reduced, with side setbacks dropping from 1.5 metres to 1.2 metres, and front and rear setbacks decreasing from 4.5 metres to three metres.

The changes, the city said, are intended to make it easier to build duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes.

The updated bylaw also simplifies how housing types are categorized.

Instead of listing multiple types of residential development, such as duplexes, townhouses and laneway homes, the bylaw would group them into two broader categories: “small-scale residential,” meaning developments with up to four units, and “multi-unit residential” for buildings with five or more homes.

Other proposed changes include adjustments to how building height is measured.

Rather than measuring from the lowest point of a building to the top of the roof, height would be measured to the midpoint of the roof. The maximum building height in single-family zones would remain 10 metres.

Landscaping requirements would also change. New developments will be required to use climate-resilient and fire-smart plants native to the West Kootenay region.

Business restrictions and next steps

The update also proposes restrictions on some businesses.

The bylaw aims to prohibit the creation of new tobacco and vapour shops, as well as cheque-cashing and payday loan stores.

Large retail stores over 3,000 square metres would require rezoning and public consultation before approval.

The draft also includes rules limiting drive-thru services, aiming to manage traffic and maintain the character of neighbourhoods.

The city said most of the proposed changes clarify existing rules rather than dramatically changing how land can be used.

The current zoning bylaw dates back to 2013. City staff said the update is meant to ensure the bylaw reflects both the new Official Community Plan and recent provincial planning legislation.

The March 24 public hearing is the last opportunity for residents to provide feedback before the bylaw is adopted.

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The College of New Caledonia will be opening its Prince George campus to prospective students, families, and community members for its Spring Open House.

CNC said visitors can learn about various programs by meeting instructors, touring classrooms, receive academic advising and financial guidance, and explore support services.

Visitors will be entered to win one of two $1,000 tuition credits to help learners get started at CNC, and also receive an application code that waives the application fee of $40.

The Prince George Spring open house takes place tomorrow (Saturday) from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m..

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A new park will soon be created in Comox. 

The Town of Comox said it completed a purchase agreement on March 1 for the property at 1413 Balmoral Ave., which will be converted into an approximately 2.6-hectare public park and green space. 

The park will be named Newson Family Nature Park to honour the family that sold the land. The site will include a stone masonry base with an anchor and plaque detailing the Newson/Fairbairn family history at the location where the house once stood. 

“We know this property will be a space for people to gather and enjoy the outdoors in a place that preserves the family’s legacy,” said Mayor Nicole Minions. 

Plans for the park include installing a labyrinth monument at the existing site, preserving a portion of the dahlia gardens, planting memorial trees and adding dedicated benches across the property. 

The town said the land was purchased using previously collected development cost charges designated for parkland and will not affect residents or property taxes. 

“This land is our family’s legacy and as a family, we firmly believe that the ability to share it with our community is the best way to honour the memory of our parents, grandparents, and those who came before them,” said Newson family member Richelle Newson. 

The property will be closed to the public for the next six months to allow work to proceed. 

A timeline for the park’s development will be determined in the coming year and posted to the town’s website. 

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The Nelson Neptunes will welcome back Megan Bonikowsky and Kallie Badry as head coaches this summer following a strong season with the Whitworth University swim team in Spokane, Washington.

Both swimmers graduated from L.V. Rogers Secondary School and are now competing for Whitworth in NCAA Division III.

Whitworth won the NCAA Division III Northwest Conference swimming championships in February in Boise, Idaho, with Bonikowsky and Badry contributing several top finishes.

Badry placed first in the 400 individual medley, second in the 1,650 freestyle and third in the 500 freestyle. She also swam on the 800 freestyle relay team that won gold.

Bonikowsky finished second in the 200 breaststroke, third in the 200 individual medley and fourth in the 100 breaststroke. She also competed on four gold-medal-winning relay teams.

Her time in the 200 breaststroke qualified her for the NCAA Division III national championships, scheduled for March 18 to 21 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The two athletes train about 20 hours a week while balancing full-time university studies under the direction of Whitworth head coach Steve Schadt.

Both credit their success at the university level to being multi-sport athletes in high school, which helped them avoid burnout at a young age.

Summer swimming has played a key role in their development.

“The things I liked most about summer swimming as a kid was the team atmosphere, all the summer meets and the opportunity to race and make friends with swimmers from other clubs in the region.” said Badry, who swam with the Nelson Neptunes for 15 years.

Bonikowsky began swimming at age five with summer swim clubs on the coast. After moving to Nelson, she swam with both the Nelson Neptunes and the Kootenay Swim Club.

Looking back, Bonikowsky remembers “the fun and supportive atmosphere and all the friendships I made”.

Now returning as coaches, Bonikowsky and Badry said they are excited to work with the next generation of swimmers. They hope to share their experience, help athletes develop new skills and keep the sport fun.

The Nelson Neptunes runs practices several times a week from mid-May through August and attends weekend swim meets across the Kootenays.

The club is open to swimmers aged four to 18, with programs ranging from beginner to competitive levels. Registration opened March 6. More information is available on the Nelson Neptunes website.

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The Williams Lake Urgent and Primary Care Centre (UPCC) recently celebrated their first anniversary.

Since it opened back on February 25, 2025, Clinical Operations Manager. Tina Pole, said they’ve been very busy.

“Since opening day to January 29, 2026, we’ve seen almost ten thousand patient visits. From those just over five thousand were individuals that we were able to provide care to.”

When the UPCC was being development it was intended to help relieve some of the pressure on Emergency Department staff at the Cariboo Memorial Hospital.

“This clinic is for non-life threatening conditions so anybody that’s needed to be seen for fever, flu like symptoms, minor cuts, burns, headaches, earaches, nose bleeds, things that don’t need to be visiting the Emergency Department, we welcome those people to come and see us.”

Pole noted at the Williams Lake Urgent and Primary Care Centre they do see a lot of unattached patients (without a family Doctor).

“When we’re seeing those patients we provide the care, we do a lot of support to them connecting them with the Provincial Health Connect Registry so that they are put onto the list so they can receive a family Doctor when one becomes available, but in the meantime we’re there to help support them making sure that they are getting the care that need.”

At the UPCC they have a full compliment of nursing, some medical office assistants, virtual care providers, social work in-house, and will soon have an in-house a Physiotherapist.

“We’ve had a lot of great feedback from people who have come and received care,” Pole said, “They are very satisfied with the services that have been available, the team environment, and the wrap-around services that we have for all those supports.”

Pole added if someone is unattached and they’re coming to be seen by the centre’s Physicians and they’re needing lab work or medical imaging they would have those sort of things completed and then would have a follow up with our Physician if it was needed.

Williams Lake Urgent and Primary Care Centre is open 9 am to 9 pm seven days a week, 365 days of the year on Cameron Street.

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The City of Castlegar is set to adopt a good neighbour bylaw, combining a couple of existing bylaws that deal with noise control and property maintenance.

Legislative services manager Nicole Brown presented the revised bylaw to council this week, explaining staff have reviewed practices in other municipalities and found that many use a single bylaw to govern nuisances.

In her report, she said neither of the old bylaws had been reviewed in 14 years and some areas were “vague and open to broad interpretation which has caused concerns or frustration for residents and staff in their ability to enforce.”

The report said the revised bylaw “Simplifies interpretation and expectations for residents and staff, updates outdated language and closes any regulatory gaps, [and] provides tools for staff to respond consistently and fairly to concerns.”

Among other things, the bylaw restricts noise between the hours of 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. and requires people to keep their grass no more than 30 centimeters tall.

Council had a lengthy discussion before approving the bylaw, which is expected to be formally adopted later this month. They were the bylaw is intended to be flexibl and enforcement will remain complaint-driven.

“It can’t be so prescriptive that [bylaw officers are] getting called out for every little offense,” city manager Chris Barlow said. “The bylaw officer is going to go in as a trained professional and understand what’s reasonable in each case. The bylaw leaves space for that.”

Barlow said bylaw officers are empowered to use their judgement depending on the context of the incident.

“We’re not necessarily going around and trying to get into everybody’s business,” he said. “We’re really trying to allow people to live, enjoy their properties.”

Barlow said only when things become “unreasonable” do the bylaw’s provisions kick in.

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The Trail Smoke Eaters continue their quest to secure second place in the BCHL’s Interior West Division tonight at Cominco Arena.

It will be the fourth and final regular season showdown against the Spruce Grove Saints.

The Trail troupe is coming off last Saturday’s character 2-1 come-from-behind overtime win over the Bucks in Cranbrook.

The Smokies fought through the fatigue of having to play the night before in the Edmonton area and the close to 800 km of travel to the East Kootenay, while the Bucks did not play the night before.

Erik Pastro tied the game with three minutes left in regulation, scoring his 18th goal of the season and Zach Coutu got the OT-winner converting on his third breakaway of the night, making a winner out of goalie Lyam Leblanc who turned in a 40-save gem, including 17 superlative stops in the first period.

It was Coutu’s second overtime winner of the campaign and 11th tally of 2025-26. He has thrived on a newly formed line with team-leading goal producer Cash Carter at centre and team-leading point man Christian Kim on the other wing.

The win snapped the Smokies 10-game road losing streak.

But defenseman Matthew Keller didn’t return after a heavy hit into the boards in Cranbrook, needing assistance to get to the dressing room and will not play tonight.

David Tyler Greene meanwhile is questionable. The 18-year-old winger who has two goals in his eight games as a Smokie suffered a lower body injury this week during practice.

The Saints have won the last two head-to-head matchups against Trail.

They held off a late two-goal charge by the Smokies to take a 4-3 decision on Jan. 20, as Trail had a one-game trip to the Edmonton area.

The Saints also triumphed 3-0 in Trail on Feb. 14.

That game featured a starring performance by newly acquired Chris Battaini. The 20-year-old who came over in a trade from Powell River set up the game’s opening goal early in the second period by Declan Waddick and converted a high-speed give-and-go with Waddick about eight minutes later.

The Saints put the game away with an empty-net goal with a minute left in the third period.

Spruce Grove has also been bolstered by the return of Josh Polak from the USHL. The 19-year-old forward has eight goals and six assists for 14 points in ten games since rejoining the Saints.

Trail won the opening game of the season series 7-4 in Spruce Grove on Oct.3 and have emerged victorious in three of their last four games.

If the Smokies win tonight and tomorrow night when Salmon Arm visits Trail and the Silverbacks lose tonight at home against division-leading West Kelowna, the Smokies will clinch second place.

Both clashes at Cominco Arena commence at 7 o’clock.

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B.C. Premier David Eby said OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has agreed to apologize to the people of Tumbler Ridge after the company decided not to warn police about the online activity of the suspect in last month’s deadly shooting.

Eby and Tumbler Ridge Mayor Darryl Krakowka met with Altman and OpenAI vice-president of global policy Anne O’Leary on Thursday.

“I found Mr. Altman to be responsive to the concerns that I raised, that the mayor raised, and willing to engage,” Eby told reporters after the meeting.

He said Altman pledged to work with B.C. and Tumbler Ridge officials to issue an apology “in the most appropriate way.”

RCMP said on Feb. 10 that 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar shot her mother and 11-year-old stepbrother at a home in the small northeastern B.C. community before killing six children and a teacher’s aide at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. Dozens more were injured, including a 12-year-old girl who remains in hospital.

OpenAI said employees raised concerns about the suspect’s interactions with its ChatGPT chatbot as early as last June. The company said the account was banned but it decided not to refer those concerns to law enforcement.

OpenAI later said it discovered a second account created after the original account was banned. The company said both accounts have now been referred to RCMP.

O’Leary said in a letter to Canadian federal ministers last week that the company has updated its safety policies. She said under the company’s current policies, Van Rootselaar’s interactions with ChatGPT would have been referred to police if they were discovered today.

But Eby said he doesn’t believe OpenAI’s current standard for referring flagged accounts to law enforcement is strong enough.

“Where there is an option to report, that option to not report could be taken again,” he said.

Eby reiterated his call for national regulations outlining when tech companies like OpenAI must report concerning interactions to law enforcement.

“We want everyone to be on the same standard, the same obligation to report, the same consequences,” said Eby.

Federal AI and Digital Innovation Minister Evan Solomon also met with Altman earlier this week. Solomon said in a statement OpenAI had agreed to take a number of steps to strengthen its safety and reporting policies.

They include establishing a direct point of contact with RCMP, implementing safety protocols to direct users experiencing distress to local support services, and reviewing previously flagged cases under its updated safety standards.

Solomon said OpenAI also committed to looking into how it could include Canadian privacy, mental health and law enforcement experts when reviewing high-risk cases involving Canadian users.

He said the company has also pledged to provide a full report outlining its new systems to identify high-risk users and repeat policy violators.

Eby said the commitments outlined by Solomon and OpenAI do not go far enough.

“We need to very straightforwardly have an obligation on these companies to bring this information forward, full stop,” he said.

Eby noted OpenAI is one of several major tech companies offering chatbot services in Canada, pointing to Google’s Gemini, xAI’s Grok and Anthropic’s Claude.

He said a national standard and a duty to report for tech companies would prevent any one of them from having a competitive advantage.

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Sports by Hartley Friday, March 6th, 2026  as of 12:05 a.m.

WHL:

The (36-22-2) Prince George Cougars begin a 6-game homestand when they entertain the (32-27-1) Spokane Chiefs tonight (Friday) at 7:00 and Saturday night at 6:00.

The Cougars are 4th in the Western Conference, one point behind the (34-19-5-2) Kelowna Rockets.

Both P.G. and Kelowna have 8 regular season games left.

The Chiefs are 5th in the Western Conference, one point ahead of the
(26-22-7-5) Kamloops Blazers with both of those teams having 8 games remaining.

The PG Cougars regular season schedule and results are here.

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Residential real estate sales in the Kootenay Boundary tumbled last month compared to the same time last year, which the Association of Interior Realtors suggests is due to limited inventory.

In a news release, the association said 144 sales were recorded in February, down 29 per cent from the same month of 2025, although that was up from the 123 units sold in January.

There were 331 new listings recorded in February, a 9.3 per cent decrease compared to the same month the previous year, but up from January’s 317 new listings. Overall active listings in the region saw a 0.7 per cent increase compared to February 2025 with 1,261 recorded listings.

“Buyer interest continues to hold in the Kootenay market, but relatively flat inventory levels appear to be tempering sales activity,” association president Kadin Rainville said. “When selection is limited, transactions can take longer to materialize as purchasers wait for suitable properties to come to market.”

Benchmark prices, which realtors say is a better representation of value compared to the average price as it represents a home of typical attributes, saw a 5.7 per cent increase in the Kootenay in the single-family housing category compared to the same month the previous year, coming in at $596,100.

The townhouse category saw a 0.4 per cent decrease in benchmark pricing, coming in at $496,100. Among condos, benchmark prices saw a decrease of 5.2 per cent in year-over-year comparison, coming in at $336,100.

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Residential real estate sales in the Kootenay Boundary tumbled last month compared to the same time last year, which the Association of Interior Realtors suggests is due to limited inventory.

In a news release, the association said 144 sales were recorded in February, down 29 per cent from the same month of 2025, although that was up from the 123 units sold in January.

There were 331 new listings recorded in February, a 9.3 per cent decrease compared to the same month the previous year, but up from January’s 317 new listings. Overall active listings in the region saw a 0.7 per cent increase compared to February 2025 with 1,261 recorded listings.

“Buyer interest continues to hold in the Kootenay market, but relatively flat inventory levels appear to be tempering sales activity,” association president Kadin Rainville said. “When selection is limited, transactions can take longer to materialize as purchasers wait for suitable properties to come to market.”

Benchmark prices, which realtors say is a better representation of value compared to the average price as it represents a home of typical attributes, saw a 5.7 per cent increase in the Kootenay in the single-family housing category compared to the same month the previous year, coming in at $596,100.

The townhouse category saw a 0.4 per cent decrease in benchmark pricing, coming in at $496,100. Among condos, benchmark prices saw a decrease of 5.2 per cent in year-over-year comparison, coming in at $336,100.

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“For many of us, these actions are seen as support against the regime that has oppressed our people for decades.”

Those words come from Hamidreza Nasiri, an Iranian living in Prince George, who says numerous Iranians are not upset about the military actions taken by the United States and Israel in Iran.

It was confirmed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in an airstrike on Saturday.

“For nearly half a century, this government has ruled through fear and oppression,” Nasiri said.

“Many families in Iran have directly suffered from action. Two months ago, they killed around 4,000 people in the street, people that just wanted human rights and freedom. Some people would ask why Iranians would welcome outside help and war, it is pretty simple, if a thief breaks into your house and threatens your family, you will call the police for help.”

He added many Iranians are hopeful about the future.

“For the first time in many years, there is a figure who represents hope for unity amongst many Iranians, and that is Prince Reza Pahlavi, the son of the former Shah of Iran,” Nasiri said.

He said many people believe Pahlavi could play an important role in guiding the country to a democratic transition.

“Iran has great background and great history, we had a very nice and very rich country before the Islamic Revolution,” he said.

“I think after falling the Islamic government, after that, if Prince Reza Pahlavi comes to Iran and starts to build, constructing the country, making good communication with countries around the world, Israel, Canada, U.S., every country, I think after that, we will be much better in a financial aspect, and the other problems will be solved step by step.”

After the war started, Nasiri said internet access was cut, but he was still able to get in brief contact with his sister in Iran.

“My sister in Iran could send me two messages, text messages,” he said.

“She said that “we are okay, don’t worry about that, we will gain our human rights, we will gain our freedom.””

Nasiri adds he wants to see Canadian leaders continue supporting Iranian people throughout this struggle.

“Even a small statement of support for people of Iran can have a powerful impact,” he said.

“It can give hope to millions who are fighting for freedom. Iranian people deserve a future with democracy, human rights, and peace. After many years of suffering, we hope they are finally approaching.”

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Beaverly Fire Rescue is looking to add more members to its team.

In a Facebook post from the fire department, they said after a few members left for other adventure’s, they find themselves a bit short on members.

Fire Chief Bruce Perrin said he’s hoping to stay well above the minimum number.

“We must have a minimum of 15 trained firefighters so, we’re slowly getting down there, and we’ve got a lot of people that work out of town for a week at a time or two weeks at a time.”

“Our levels go up and down, but we’re sitting at 24 right now. We’d like to have as many as 30 possibly.”

Perrin said it take a fair bit of time commitment with training on Tuesday nights and sometimes weekends, with the department supplying all the gear and training at no cost.

He added some of the perks on becoming a firefighter is learning how to deal with fires, having medical training, and the satisfaction of helping the community.

Anyone interested in joining can go to Tuesday’s training at 6:45 p.m. at the Beaverly Fire Rescue detachment.

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The Just Like Home Lodge and Health Professionals Housing project has reached a construction milestone.

The Strathcona Regional District said in a news release a major concrete pour has completed the building’s slab-on-grade foundation, allowing the structure to soon rise above ground.

According to the regional district, the lodge is intended to provide a safe space for patients and their families travelling to Campbell River for specialized care or procedures not available in their home communities.

“Once complete, the building will provide an important resource for the region — supporting people travelling for medical care while also helping attract and retain health care professionals,” said the district.

The project, located next to the Campbell River hospital, is a partnership between the Strathcona Regional District, Campbell River Hospital Foundation and Seymour Pacific Homes.

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The Town of Comox said a section of a community pathway is closed for most of Friday, March 6.

The pathway off Church Street toward Cottonwood Greenway will be closed while crews carry out service-line repairs.

Pedestrians are advised to use an alternate route.

More details can be found on the town’s website.

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Plans for new residential housing on Cedar Ave. in Comox have been paused. 

Cameron Contracting said it will pause a proposed 99-unit multi-family residential development after receiving feedback about the project’s fit with neighbourhood character, environmental concerns and its proximity to natural features such as Brooklyn Creek. 

“This pause will allow us the necessary time to reassess the project and explore alternative approaches that reflect the concerns raise, including those related to the Official Community Plan considerations, scale, and environmental impact,” said Cameron Contracting president Don Cameron. 

Cameron said protecting natural features on the site remains a priority for the company, including consideration of tree retention, natural habitat protection, creek setbacks, stormwater management and long-term environmental stewardship. 

In a delegation letter to Comox town council, Hélène Dompierre and Peter Outridge said the two four- or five-storey buildings would overshadow neighbouring properties and exceed the surrounding built landscape. 

Speaking to council on March 4 on behalf of the Pritchard Road Neighbourhood Association, Outridge said he believes there is still a way forward. 

“We would welcome and be absolutely overjoyed to have townhouses and duplexes on that site because we think there’s a need for it in the town.” 

Outridge said there are four schools within walking distance of the site and that young families are needed to help support enrolment. 

Cameron Contracting said its goal is to find a solution that balances housing needs, environmental responsibility and community values. 

Outridge said the pause is a positive first step. 

“He acknowledges there are concerns and he’s looking forward to collaborating with local residents so that’s a great first step because we do feel we’ve been a little bit isolated in terms of information.” 

Cameron Contracting said it plans to work with the Town of Comox, consultants and residents on a revised development proposal for 1533 Cedar Ave. 

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The 2026 BC High School Ski and Snowboard Provincial Championships wrapped up yesterday (Wednesday), with participants from Smithers and Burns Lake finishing on the podium.

The Smithers girls snowboard team took home gold from the event, while Lakes District’s counterpart came second.

Smithers’ girls ski team finished in third.

In Girls Giant Slalom, Davynn Hicks-Lundy from Smithers won bronze in skiing with Lakes District’s Lola Wilson taking silver in snowboarding.

Wilson also took gold in the Girls Snowboard Banked Slalom while Smithers’ Ivy Fielding and Page Stokes came second and third, respectively.

For the Boys Snowboard Teams, Lakes District took gold while Smithers placed second.

Lakes District’s Dylan Stewart and Tristan Wainwright placed first and second for Boys Snowboard Giant Slalom.

Stewart also won gold in Boys Snowboard Banked Slalom with Levi Lewis, also from Lakes District, taking bronze.

For the mixed teams, Smithers won gold for skiing; Lakes District got gold for snowboarding while Smithers ended in second place.

The tournament was originally set to happen at Mount Washington near Courtenay, but changed to Hudson Bay Mountain due to unpredictable winter weather.

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Duncan commuters are being advised that a section of Allenby Road will undergo daily closures next week.

B.C.’s Ministry of Transportation and Transit said the road between just past Boys Road and Miller Road will be closed daily from March 9 to March 13 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

The closure will allow crews to remove unstable trees ahead of permanent repairs.

“Allenby Road was damaged during the 2021 floods caused by the atmospheric river, and planning is underway for a permanent slope-stabilization project to restore the road to two-lane traffic,” said a statement from the ministry.

Drivers are advised to use Highway 1 as an alternate route and to follow the direction of traffic-control personnel.

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B.C. residents can once again access scheduled surgeries in Alberta.

The B.C. government announced a renewed partnership that took effect March 1.

“This partnership between our two provinces showcases how interconnected our communities are,” said Health Minister Josie Osborne.

“This is great news, especially for people living close to the Alberta border, who will now be able to access surgical care closer to home. We are grateful to our neighbours in Alberta and look forward to working together to strengthen health care access in our province.”

Kootenay East Regional Hospital District chair David Wilks said the announcement is great news for people in the Kootenays.

“It will give the opportunity for people who live in southeast British Columbia to access surgeries they would have had to go to Kelowna for and through their doctor they can now go to Alberta,” he said.

“It’s really welcome news and I’m very happy the health minister was able to get a memorandum of understanding with the Province of Alberta.”

Patients can speak with their primary care provider to learn more about having surgeries scheduled in Alberta.

The process requires an Alberta-based physician to accept patients for consultation and care as part of the referral process.

It is unclear whether the agreement covers radiation treatment for cancer.

“I’ve reached out to minister Osborne to clarify if radiation is part of that agreement,” said Wilks.

“She said she’d look into it, but didn’t think it was. That’s something we’ll need to look for to push for radiation treatment. The rest we can do in Cranbrook.”

A temporary restriction on scheduled surgeries for out-of-province patients was introduced in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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The District of Elkford wants to hear from residents on how to move forward with a off-leash dog park.

Council is asking the public two questions. Should the project move forward and where should the dog park be located?

There are 12 possible locations for the dog park.

The district had a proposal go through council in the fall.

Mayor Steve Fairbairn said there was a lot more to work through before approving it.

“It’s been very contentious. There are certain parameters that are developing through this process that conditions have to be met for a dog park to be feasible and functional. That includes landscape and parking.”

The open house is scheduled for Mar. 10 from 6-8 p.m.

A survey is open until 4 p.m. on the day of the open house and can be found here.

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Tsi Del Del Development in the Chilcotin is working towards expanding its offerings in the tourism industry.

Director of Operations, John Charleyboy, attended the 2026 International Indigenous Tourism Conference that was held last month (February) in Edmonton.

Charleyboy said the conference gave them the opportunity to learn from other Indigenous groups and to better understand the market as they plan for the future.

“Getting into Indigenous tourism we’ll be sharing our history and our story in our own way with the public. There is a high demand for Indigenous tourism across Canada but the offerings are not keeping up with the demands. There’s good potential there for the future and it offers sustainable local employment and with the forestry industry being the way it has been, we are looking to kind of diversify further into tourism and bigger markets and to keep the future wide open for more opportunities for our members plus keeping our stories and history alive by sharing that.”

Hosted by the Indigenous Association of Canada, the conference brought together Indigenous tourism operators, community leaders, entrepreneurs and partners to share knowledge and advance Indigenous tourism across the country.

“Across Canada right now there is 1.6 billion in revenues for Indigenous tourism and they figure there is room to triple that. There’s tons of potential for growth for any First Nations to step into this market” Charleyboy said.

Tsi Del Del currently operates in the tourism industry and is looking to include Indigenous tourism experiences rooted in culture, land, and community priorities.

“Right now we operate around Puntzi Lake that’s called Barney’s Lakeside Resort which is a fishing, hunting, RV, cabin and campground at the moment but we’re looking to re-brand and get into some Indigenous offerings in and around the lake.”

Charleyboy said there were 14 countries at the conference and 27-hundred different businesses from across Canada that are actively doing this, some from very small to some very large operations and it gives you a broader perspective of what you can offer and what’s tailor made for the area.

“There’s help available from Legacy Tourism that can point you in the right direction of what people are looking for in the market. There’s Indigenous Tourism Canada and we also work with Indigenous Tourism BC as well.”

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The Prince George Airport Authority (PGAA) says the Power Up room in the terminal will not be reopening to the public.

According to the PGAA, this follows a review completed during a closure for construction.

They say this review found the space cannot support both public seating and the operational needs of airport security personnel while maintaining appropriate accessibility concerns.

The PGAA says other seating and passenger areas throughout the terminal remain available, and they continue to assess opportunity to increase passenger seating.

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Users of the Beaver Lodge Forest Lands in Campbell River are being advised of temporary trail closures from March 10 to March 18.

The Ministry of Forests said the closures are part of its annual danger tree monitoring program, which includes tree modification and falling work in the area.

The program assesses trails, bridges and parking lots for potentially hazardous trees.

Trees identified as hazards are removed or modified.

The ministry is asking trail users to respect posted signs and instructions from work crews and stay out of areas marked “closed.”

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Love it or hate it, the Province will be adopting permanent Daylight Saving Time when the clocks move forward one hour on Sunday.

While the decision has garnered mixed responses, it’s one that can be a great move for businesses if other provinces and U.S. states such as Alberta, California, Oregon, and Washington make the switch.

PG Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Neil Godbout said if we end up being the outlier, it’ll add another level of complexity, especially during winter in Prince George.

“For retailers that are open at 7:00 or 8:00 in the morning, the sunrise in December will be around 9:30 in the morning.”

“That’s not great in terms of most people whether they’re going to head to the grocery store, or something like that.”

Godbout said it’ll be interesting to see how that would affect shopping and businesses, noting the Chamber might look at adjusting its office hours.

He also mentioned a change like this could also affect other organizations and members of the public, such as schools.

Godbout said it might become a case of  “be careful what we wish for” for B.C. residents who wanted this change, adding we’ll find out later this year exactly how they feel about it in practice.

He added this kind of change could bring significant unintended consequences for businesses and the broader community.

– with files from Emily Joveski, Vista Radio provincial news reporter

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North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP are asking for the public’s help to locate a woman reported missing last month.

Rosemarie Harry was reported missing on Feb. 4 and was last seen Jan. 28 in the Duncan area.

Police said investigators have conducted numerous interviews and canvassed businesses and homes for CCTV footage as part of the investigation.

Search efforts have also involved local search and rescue teams, including swift-water rescue, as well as RCMP Air Services.

The investigation is being led by the RCMP’s general investigation section, with support from Indigenous Police Services, Investigative Support Services and front-line officers.

Anyone with information about Harry’s whereabouts is asked to contact the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP at 250-748-5522.

Her photo is available below.

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Nanaimo RCMP are investigating a stabbing near a motel this week. 

Police said officers responded to a disturbance involving several people in the 900 block of Terminal Avenue just after 1 p.m. on March 4. 

“During the confrontation, one man sustained a single stab wound. He received medical attention and is expected to recover,” police said. “Officers quickly located and arrested a suspect near the scene and a knife believed to have been used in the incident was recovered.” 

The investigation is ongoing. Police are asking anyone with information to contact the Nanaimo RCMP non-emergency line at 250-754-2345. 

“Based on the information gathered so far, this appears to be an isolated incident with no indication of any further risk to the public,” said reserve Const. Gary O’Brien of the Nanaimo RCMP. 

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The BC Teachers Federation (BCTF) says members have voted 91 per cent in favour of ratifying a new four-year collective agreement with the BC Public School Employers’ Association.

According to the BCTF, the agreement covers 52,000 teachers and other educators working across the province in the K-12 public education system.

“This agreement is proof of what’s possible when teachers fight for their students. We pushed for improvements to learning conditions, and this agreement includes commitments to add counsellors, learning assistance teachers, and special education resources teachers in schools across the province,” said BCTF President Carole Gordon.

Included in the agreement is:

• a general wage increase of 3 per cent per year for four years
• a wage bump at the lower end of the pay grid
• more counsellors, learning assistance teachers, and special education resource teachers
• added prep time for elementary teachers
• special allowances for psychologists and Indigenous language teachers, as well as increases for teachers in identified rural and remote schools.

Voter turnout among BCTF members was 67 per cent.

According to the BCTF, the BC Public School Employer’s Association is still in the process of ratification.

If fully ratified, the new contract will be retroactive to July 1, 2025, and will remain in effect until June 30, 2029.

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An Ontario man accused of committing an assault near the Edgewood ostrich farm last year will stand trial in Nakusp on Oct. 7 and 8.

Timothy Regan, who was born in 1965, is charged with assault, assault with a weapon, and mischief.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency obtained a warrant to search the farm last year. RCMP were called to help maintain the peace while CFIA officers carried out the search. 

Police said in a statement last year that officers arrived at the farm on Sept. 22, 2025 to help secure three properties named in the warrant. RCMP said they learned of an incident at a neighbouring property involving someone linked to a protest camp at the farm. 

Regan was arrested at the scene without incident.  

A 73-year-old woman received medical care but the extent of her injuries has not been publicly disclosed. Police confirmed the incident involved the use of gasoline.

The ostriches were subsequently shot, at the culmination of a case that drew international attention and protest.

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BC Conservation Officer Service reminds the public now is the time to make sure your property isn’t attracting bears and other wildlife.

With Spring around the corner, they encourage residents and businesses to look around their yards and properties to ensure attractants are securely stored.

Keep garbage secure at all times, preferably indoors or in a secure structure.

Keep lids tightly closed to reduce smells and never set your garbage out the night before.

CO’s recommend to use bird feeders only in the winter or take them in at night and keep the ground underneath free of bird seed.

And pet food should not be left outside, if you must feed pets outdoors, bring in the food dish between feedings.

More tips and resources can be found online WildSafeBC.

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Police in Kimberley are asking for the public’s help in finding Kevin Pearson.

The detachment said he went missing from his home in Kimberley at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Mar. 4.

He is believed to be driving a 2007 White Jeep Compass with BC License Plate TM604H.

Pearson is described as 5’10”, with a slender build and has brown hair and brown eyes.

Anyone one with information on his whereabouts or sees his vehicle is asked to call the Kimberley RCMP at at 250-427-4811.

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The Prince George Heritage Commission is looking to make two new additions to the Prince George Heritage Register.

At Monday’s meeting Prince George City Council will receive the Heritage Commission’s annual report for 2025.

Additionally, they are looking to add a house at 2299 Laurier Crescent and the Knox United Church and Performance Centre downtown to the City’s Heritage Register.

According to a Committee report, a Heritage Register is an official listing of properties with heritage value, with additions to the register requiring a City Council resolution.

The intent of a Heritage Register is to develop a formal listing of properties with Heritage Value, while helping to create a sense of pride in the community’s unique heritage.

Each property on the Register has a “Statement of Significance”, identifying key historical elements and providing key design characteristics that should be retained or restored in order to respect the heritage value of the building.

According to the Committee report, the Knox Church was originally selected as a potential Registry candidate ten years ago.

It was about to be approved by City Council in 2019, but a decision was put off until after the merger of the Knox Church and the Trinity United Church.

The process was restarted in 2024.

The draft Statement of Significance for the Knox United Church and Performance Centre can be found here.

2299 Laurier was nominated by the current owners in 2020. Because of the pandemic, the Commission’s meetings dropped from 10 to 4 each year, staff changed, and the owners were contacted again last year.

The draft Statement of Significance for 2299 Laurier Crescent can be found here.

The Commission report said these properties were selected because they are identifiably historical buildings that represent aesthetic, historical and spiritual significance to the community.

At Monday’s meeting, City Council will vote on approval for both of these properties to be added to the register.

The Heritage Register can be found here.

The full agenda for Monday’s meeting can be found here.

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The Quesnel Women’s Resource Centre (QWRC) is having two events to recognize International Women’s Day, this coming Sunday, March 8.

On Friday, QWRC will host an open house at its building at 690 McLean Street, starting at 11 a.m.

“It’s open to any women who would like to join us, we’ll be having a lunch, little snacks, and everyone who comes can put their names in a draw and may have a chance to win a gift basket,” says Emily Neilsen, Administrative Coordinator at QWRC.

“We will also have information on what we do and the resources we provide here at the centre.”

QWRC and the Quesnel Film Club will be hosting a film screening on the day of International Women’s Day, Sunday, at 4 p.m.

They will be showing the movie Out Standing, based on the story of Sandra Perron, one of the first female infantry soldiers, and the first female infantry officer in the Canadian Army.

Neilsen says International Women’s Day is an important day to reflect and recognize the contributions women provide for our communities and cultures. Often at times, putting themselves at risk.

This year, Neilsen adds, is a crucial year given the political landscapes.

“Now more than ever, it almost seems as though we’re regressing in the way we do things and the world, and women are still very much vulnerable and at risk all the time,” Neilsen says. “When it comes to gender-based violence or domestic violence, the numbers aren’t going down — they’re increasing, and women are often the targets of violence.

“One area that we are regressing in is women’s healthcare, and the knowledge and support in women’s sexual reproductive health. Resources in those areas are more vital than before.”

QWRC offers resources to help women in need. They have free counselling sessions, advocacy services that support going into court, and meetings with ministries, and more.

Neilsen says the QWRC doors are always open to help those in the community.

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A high-school volleyball team, elite-level judoka and an official from Prince George are in the running for some provincial hardware.

The 58th Annual Athlete of the Year Awards take place tonight (Thursday) at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver.

The Duchess Park Senior Boys volleyball team that won a provincial title is a finalist for the Sport BC Team of the Year.

Local hockey referee Grace Barlow is one of three people in the running for Official of the Year.

Lastly, Prince George judo standout Carla Van Zyl was named as a finalist in the Junior Female Athlete of the Year category.

Quesnel’s Brooklyn Novak who specializes in archery also made the short list.

It is being hosted by CBC’s Scott Russell, and recognizes the province’s best in amateur sport including athletes, coaches, teams, and officials for outstanding performances in their sport in the 2025 season.

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The preliminary inquiry for a woman charged in a head-on crash at Genelle more than four years ago will wait until June to be completed.

Gabrielle Lee Nelson, who was born in 1986, is charged with four counts related to impaired and dangerous driving causing bodily harm.

Her preliminary inquiry was set for a single day last month in Rossland, to determine if there is enough evidence to send the matter to trial. But the BC Crown Prosecution Service says the hearing wasn’t completed, so it will now continue on June 15.

The case stems from an Oct. 25, 2021 crash on Highway 22 that left Jessica Kluckert, then 22, with a broken pelvis, broken ankle, and a severely broken leg. Police said the driver of a southbound car crossed the centre line and hit Kluckert’s car.

According to a GoFundMe page established for Kluckert at the time, she was flown to Kelowna General Hospital. The driver of the other vehicle was also taken to hospital.

In January 2022, Kluckert wrote on the GoFundMe site that she was “slowly getting better every day” and had recently undergone a third surgery, but was receiving regular physiotherapy and counselling.

Charges in the crash weren’t laid until November 2024.

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The MLA for Kootenay-Monashee says he’s embarrassed by behaviour displayed during question period and is calling on his colleagues to do better.

In a statement in the legislature this week, Steve Morissette said as a rookie MLA, he has “come to appreciate the dedication and hard work of members from all sides.”

“I am happy to say that, in my short experience, nearly all MLAs conduct themselves respectfully outside of this chamber,” he said. However, inside the chamber, he feels it’s a different matter.

Morissette said he respects hard questions and the responsibility of the opposition to ask hard questions. He said he also respects the right and responsibility of the government to defend its decisions and explain its policies. But he said he is disturbed with the way MLAs sometimes conduct themselves while doing so.

“I do not believe it is naive to expect better from all of us,” he said. “We can disagree on policy respectfully. We can debate respectfully. We can question and answer respectfully. Passion and respect are not mutually exclusive. Conviction does not require contempt.

Prior to becoming MLA, Morissette spent a decade on Fruitvale village council as mayor and councillor. He said in those roles, he never participated in or witnessed the “level of disrespect” that sometimes occurs in the legislature.

Morissette said people expect “spirited debate” and accountability from their MLAs, but also maturity and leadership, and for elected officials to model the behaviour they would like to see in their communities.

“I understand that question period is, in many ways, performative,” he said. “It is theatre as well as scrutiny.” But he said he feels embarrassed when students are in the gallery, observing their behaviour.

“What are we teaching them? Are we showing them that disagreement requires disrespect? That volume equals strength? That wit must come at the expense of civility? Or could we show them something better? I know we can do better.”

Morissette said the legislature has a “long-seeded culture,” but change is possible, “when we remember that the people who sent us here are watching, not for our cleverest line, but for our character.

“Decorum is not about dulling debate, it’s about elevating it. It’s not about silencing opposition, it is about strengthening democracy. It is not about removing passion, it is about anchoring that passion in respect.”

You can watch the video of Morissette’s entire statement below.

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Sports by Hartley Thursday, March 5th, 2026  as of 12:05 a.m.

WHL:

The Prince George Cougars have dropped into 4th place in the WHL Western Conference one point behind the Kelowna Rockets.

The (34-19-5-2) Rockets beat the Spokane Chiefs 5-2 Wednesday night.

The loss ended the Chiefs 6-game winning streak.

The (36-22-2) Cougars begin a 6-game homestand when they entertain Spokane Friday night at 7:00 and Saturday night at 6:00.

Both Prince George and Kelowna have 8 regular season games left.

The (32-27-1) Chiefs are 5th in the Western Conference, one point ahead of the
(26-22-7-5) Kamloops Blazers with both teams have 8 games to go.

The PG Cougars regular season schedule and results are here.

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The Musqueam Indian Band and federal officials say a recent agreement related to the First Nation’s traditional territories in the Vancouver area does not affect private property rights.

The federal government and Musqueam announced the three-part Musqueam Rights Recognition Agreements on Feb. 20.

The federal government said one agreement recognizes that Musqueam has Aboriginal rights, including title, within its traditional territory and establishes a framework for the incremental implementation of rights and nation-to-nation relations with Canada.

Musqueam’s traditional territory centres around the mouth of the Fraser River and what is now the City of Vancouver and surrounding areas.

A marine management agreement also establishes collaborative working groups for shared decision-making around waters and resources within Musqueam territory. Another fisheries agreement is described as supporting Musqueam’s and Canada’s shared decision-making role in collaborative fisheries management within Musqueam territory. It also provides funding, including for access, vessels and gear.

While they were announced last month, the initial press release didn’t include the full text of those final agreements. The federal government sent the document to media outlets Monday and posted it online when after increased media scrutiny.

The B.C. Conservatives raised concerns about transparency from the provincial government surrounding the deal.

Premier David Eby said Monday his government had not been briefed by the federal government about the content of the agreement. However, his office confirmed Eby attended the signing ceremony on Feb. 20, saying he attended in his capacity as MLA for Vancouver–Point Grey.

A spokesperson for the federal Crown-Indigenous Relations Ministry told Vista News that the B.C. government was briefed several times in the years leading up the agreement, including one week before the signing.

The B.C. Conservatives grilled Eby on the matter Wednesday in the legislature. Eby clarified that a staffer with the B.C. public service was briefed on the agreements, but that briefing was not passed on to the Premier’s Office or other ministers.

“If I’m being generous, I imagine they assumed that sitting down with the Musqueam to talk about title was not controversial, was not something that was worth bringing up to those levels,” said Eby.

Conservative interim leader Trevor Halford said finds it hard to believe the premier was not aware of the  contents of the agreement prior to Monday.

“At the end of the day, transparency is important,” Halford told reporters. “It shows that we have a premier that is choosing not to be honest with the public and I am very troubled by that.”

Reports about the agreement reignited concerns about whether private property rights could be affected, following a B.C. Supreme Court decision last August in favour of the Cowichan Nation’s title claims over an area of Richmond.

The B.C. government and the Musqueam are among those appealing of the decision.

“In light of the recent Cowichan decision and the government’s own statements about reviewing DRIPA, the silence from this NDP government is unacceptable,” said Scott McInnis, MLA for Columbia River–Revelstoke and Critic for Indigenous Relations, in a statement Monday. “In absence of clear communication, British Columbians are left to draw their own conclusions about how this will impact them.”

Federal Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, Rebecca Alty said in a statement posted to social media the agreements do not affect private property.

“Under this agreement, Canada and Musqueam have created a path forward to negotiate Musqueam’s rights and title, rather than pursuing litigation in the courts,” said Alty.

“This more collaborative approach prevents uncertainty and allows us to come to an agreement that respects the rights of Indigenous People, protects existing private property rights, and is in the best interests of British Columbians and Indigenous People,” she said.

Musqueam also issued a statement Monday reiterating the agreements do not relate to land ownership and that there are absolutely no impacts to fee simple lands or private property.

They quoted a December statement from Chief Wayne Sparrow:

“Musqueam is not coming for anyone’s private property. Our approach to traditional unceded territory is one of partnership and relationship with our neighbours, not trying to take away our neighbours’ private property,” he said.

Wendy Grant-John, lead negotiator for the Musqueam Indian Band, said the agreements come after more than 10 years of discussions, collaboration and negotiation.

Wade Grant, MP for Vancouver Quadra and a member of the Musqueam Nation, also stressed in a statement on Wednesday the agreements have no impact on private property rights.

“The vast majority of the Province of British Columbia was never settled via treaties between First Nations and the Crown. Agreements like these provide greater clarity and stability for everyone,” said Grant.

Tim Dickson, a lawyer with JFK Law in Vancouver who specializes in Aboriginal law, said a key part of the agreement recognizes that the Musqueam have Aboriginal title and rights within parts of their traditional territory.

“That’s a very common statement to make in agreements with Indigenous nations,” said Dickson.

“All this agreement does is set the table for more specific negotiations, that may or may not be successful,” he said.

“There has been a lot of overreaction to the Cowichan Tribes decision in terms of fear for the validity of individual homeowners fee simple titles,” said Dickson. “Both Indigenous nations and the courts have been very careful not to undermine those rights to date.”

“I think we should all be supporting the process of reconciliation, which is done through negotiated agreements like these,” said Dickson.

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With B.C. moving to abolish the twice-a-year time change, Creston’s long-standing tradition of staying on one clock suddenly feels more relevant than ever.

Tammy Bradford, Creston Museum curator and CEO, said the province’s decision is a humorous bit of validation for the town.

“We’ve joked for years that the rest of the province just needs to figure it out and do it right, like Creston has been doing all along. So, welcome to the way of doing it right, everybody, west of us!”

Creston has long marched to the beat of its own clock, a tradition Bradford said dates back more than 100 years.

The town first opted out of daylight saving time in 1918, shortly after it was introduced nationally as a wartime energy-saving measure.

“The very first time Creston decided not to do daylight saving time was back in the spring of 1918,” Bradford said. “CPR hadn’t adopted it yet, so Creston stuck with the train schedule.”

She said the decision was rooted in practicality. At the time, the Canadian Pacific Railway dictated much of daily life and schedules.

“The railway was kind of the time setter for the community. Everything came in on train, everybody went out on the train.”

It was also rooted in geographic logistics. Creston sits at the south end of Kootenay Lake, and Bradford said passengers travelling toward Nelson or Proctor often switched from trains to steamships, which meant exact clock changes didn’t matter in town.

“It made more sense to decide where the time change happened on the lake rather than in town,” Bradford said.

“If you were on a four- or five-hour steamship trip, it didn’t really matter what time you left – the train would be waiting at the other end.”

Bradford also noted that Creston had a brief brush with controversy in 1916, when the CPR temporarily switched the town to Pacific Time.

“So when in 1916, the CPR switched us over to Pacific Time, people were grumbling that it didn’t make a lot of sense, that we were much more connected to the east,” she said.

“There was a much stronger connection east of us than there was west. A lot of the fruit and produce that was being grown here was being marketed into the Crow’s Nest Pass and into the prairies. So people were complaining that it disrupted those schedules.”

By the fall of 1918, the CPR reverted back to standard time, but Creston didn’t — a decision that has been in place ever since.

“So, yeah, we’ve never really done it except for that first time in the summer of 1918 and then just stayed with Mountain Time from then on.”

The decision wasn’t controversial. Bradford said residents were already used to following the sun rather than the clock.

“The prevailing opinion was that ‘we’re farmers. We’re getting up at sunup, and we’re working till sundown, and it doesn’t matter what time it says on the clock, our time is by the sun’.”

Staying on one clock became part of Creston’s identity. Bradford said it inspired local marketing campaigns touting the town’s independent streak.

“There have been marketing campaigns, promotional things about the place where, you know, we do our own thing. We have our own little time zone. And it’s fun.”

Bradford said while the province finally catching up is validating, for her it is also bittersweet.

“I guess there’s a bit of validation, or at least a humorous bit of validation. Though, again, speaking for myself, it’s also a little bit sad,” she said.

“Creston’s had this unique time zone for so long, it’s a little sad to see that no longer the case. But it’s good to be trendsetters.”

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Nelson’s long-awaited Waterview housing project on Vernon Street remains on track, though financing issues have slowed progress.

The Waterview Retirement Resort, under construction at 611 Vernon St., was originally supposed to be finished in spring of 2024 but has faced significant delays since construction started in 2023.

Chief administrative officer Kevin Cormack told councillors at Tuesday’s meeting that the project developer, Vendure Living, is actively working through refinancing, after their original financer encountered problems with a separate project in Vancouver.

“So they had to go and find different financing. And really, when you have a finance partner come in mid-construction, they basically had to re-look at the whole project and do a whole costing, the whole process again. So it’s taken some time,” he said.

Cormack said the developer has secured new financing commitments through their mortgage broker and remains “fully committed” to completing the project.

Finalized financing details are expected within the next month, with construction anticipated to continue once that is in place, although Cormack noted the project is still likely a year away from completion.

“They’re probably a good 12 months out. The developer also mentioned that they’re still seeing really strong demand for that product that they’re offering there as well.”  

The completed project will feature 125 suites for people aged 55 and up, with the option to lease supported or independent living units.

It will also include 5,000 square feet of commercial storefront space for lease.

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Pawesome Adventure was named Business of the Year at this year’s Houston Community and Business Excellence Awards.

It was held on Saturday at the Houston Community Hall and put on by the Houston and District Chamber of Commerce.

The awards celebrate various businesses, organizations, volunteers, and employees in the district who help sustain the community.

The other winners were:

• Spuddtacular Shenanigans – New Business of the Year
• Little Acres Artisan Loaves – Home-Based Business of the Year
• Lou Faulk – Volunteer of the Year
• Lhc’et’dli Preservation Society – Community Builder
• Dze L K’ant Friendship Centre – Rising up for Youth
• Bulkley River Veterinary Services – Customer Service: Business
• Ajay Nair – Customer Service: Employee

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The Regional District of East Kootenay will consider the issue of daylight saving time at an upcoming board meeting, with the District of Sparwood submitting a letter outlining its preferred option.

Sparwood council voted in favour of adopting Mountain Standard Time.

“This is subject to change. I just want to give understanding to the regional district from the perspective of the District of Sparwood,” said Mayor David Wilks.

“As we see it right now, the simplest decision is to stay at MST. I would leave a caveat to this that we are open, should Alberta ever change to Daylight Saving time, that we could move with them.”

If this scenario were to play out and all the East Kootenay communities were on board, we would spring forward on Mar. 8, and fall back one more time so East Kootenay communities would then be aligned with the rest of the province.

There was was vote in favour of sticking with Alberta and keep changing the clocks each year.

“Stay with Alberta,” said councillor Jason Christensen.

“This is another indication that the border stops at Kamloops and they don’t give a rat’s arse about us in the other side of the province and that shows loud and clear.”

The RDEK will be discussing it in the March board meeting. A date on a final decision has not been set.

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Nelson city council members elected in October will not see a pay increase after current council members approved a motion to maintain salaries.

City staff conducted a routine review of the city’s council remuneration policy to determine whether it remains competitive with comparable municipalities. The findings were presented to council on Tuesday, with staff recommending against a raise.

The city’s council remuneration policy, adopted in 2022, requires staff to regularly compare mayor and council pay with a group of at least eight similar municipalities across the province.

For this review, staff used the same 11 municipalities as in the exempt staff compensation study, including Cranbrook, Dawson Creek and Port Alberni.

The review considers population size, municipal revenues, staff numbers and scope of services, including policing and utilities.

Human resources manager Gabe Bouvet-Boisclair  said the city’s pay rates remain competitive.

“Our remuneration range levels here in Nelson are within kind of that range of reasonableness based on the median levels in the comparative group,” he said.

“Based on your policy, right now, both for the mayor and council, we are slightly above the median levels.”

Councillor Leslie Payne questioned whether Nelson’s unique services, including Nelson Hydro and a municipal police force, might warrant higher pay.

“They do take up, I would say, a fairly significant amount of our time,” she said.

Bouvet-Boisclair responded that finding exact comparators is difficult, noting that Nelson is “probably one of the only municipalities in B.C. that has generation capacity,” and only a few others have a local police force.

“We’re probably not going to find a municipality that has that same scope of services.”

Councillor Rik Logtenberg said his conversations with prospective candidates did not cite remuneration as a deciding factor in their run for council.

“It never came up,” said Logtenberg.

“I think maintaining the current pay is reasonable. I don’t think you’re going to get any meaningful difference, and I don’t think the taxpayers are looking for something new. We’re maintaining growth with inflation. So I’d say we just move ahead with the staff recommendation,” he added.

Councillor Jesse Piniero said the current pay structure allows councillors with other work obligations to serve.

“I’m a good example. If it was less than what it is, I could not afford to be here. I have to work, and this actually represents part of my income. It’s a job, you know, and if it wasn’t a job I wouldn’t be able to do it,” said Piniero.

“But I’m happy with it the way it is. It seems to work so far for me. I do have another source of income, but both are important.”

For 2026, Nelson’s mayor is paid $75,342 annually and councillors receive $29,591. This represents 39 per cent of the mayor’s salary, slightly below the median ratio of 43 per cent among comparable municipalities.

Mayor and councillors also receive annual cost-of-living adjustments based on the average of the consumer price index and 2 per cent.

Additionally, they are entitled to a one-time technology allowance of $2,000, a loss-of-wage benefit of $175 per day (up to 20 days for the mayor and 10 days for councillors), travel reimbursements for city business, health and dental coverage, life insurance, and up to $150 per month for dependent care where required.

Council voted in favour of staff’s recommendation to maintain the current pay with no one opposed.

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The BC Utilities Commission (BCUC) confirms the war in Iran is a key contributing factor to the rising gas prices in the Cariboo.

According to GasBuddy.com, the price at the pumps has increased to 149.9¢ per litre in Quesnel, to 144.9¢ per litre in Williams Lake, and 152.9¢ per litre in 100 Mile House.

That is around a 10¢ per litre increase from before the weekend, before the conflict in Tehran began.

“Retail pump prices in BC are largely driven by changes in the wholesale spot market prices in the Pacific Northwest, the price of crude oil, refinery costs, and margins charged by wholesale fuel distributors and retail gas stations,” A BCUC spokesperson said in an email statement.

“While BC’s gasoline supply is primarily produced from Alberta crude, crude oil is traded globally; therefore, Alberta crude oil prices are often influenced by global events, such as the US/Israel and Iran conflict.”

BCUC also said the rise in crude oil prices increases the costs to refine and produce petroleum, contributing to the rise in retail gasoline prices.

In addition to the conflict and global market stresses, the BCUC said this time of the year also marks a period when refineries along the west coast of the United States undergo maintenance, closures, and transitions from producing winter fuels to summer fuels. All of which could impact fuel supply, or even take supply off the market in the short term.

There was also an outage along the Olympic Pipeline in Oregon in February that affected fuel supplies.

The BCUC said gasoline prices are rising across Canada because of the conflict in Iran. The provinces of British Columbia and Prince Edward Island are feeling the price increases the most.

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School District 57 released its Strategic Plan survey, and are looking to gather more input.

The plan would go from 2026 to 2031, with the survey looking to help identify what’s working well, what could be improved, and what participants would like to see in the years ahead.

According to the School District, they’ve received 560 responses so far, and hope to hear from more students, families, and community members.

Once the information is gathered and shown during the “What We Heard Report” virtual presentation at the end of May, the Strategic Plan will be fully released in September.

The survey closes on Friday, March 13th.

More information can be found on the School District 57 website here.

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Several neighbourhoods in the Sunshine Coast Regional District have been recognized for their wildfire preparedness through the FireSmart program. 

The program encourages neighbours to work together to reduce wildfire hazards. Six neighbourhoods in the region have received recognition and the SCRD said several others are working toward it. 

“A FireSmart neighbourhood stands an even greater chance of surviving a wildfire than a single FireSmart property,” said David McIlwraith, FireSmart coordinator with the SCRD. “When neighbours work together to reduce wildfire risks, the benefits extend throughout the entire community.” 

Recognized neighbourhoods include Brigade Bay, Witherby Estates, Garden Bay Estates, Sandy Hook, Sherwood Grove and Woodcreek Park. 

The SCRD said neighbourhoods can receive FireSmart recognition by committing to ongoing wildfire risk reduction. Requirements include completing a risk assessment, organizing local mitigation activities and maintaining a FireSmart committee. 

Residents interested in having their neighbourhood recognized can contact the SCRD FireSmart program for more information. 

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“Don’t send money unless you have talked to somebody else.”

That’s from Cpl. Jennifer Cooper with the Prince George RCMP who hosted Coffee with a Cop this morning (Wednesday) at Zoe’s Java House to help educate seniors about financial scams.

Cooper told MyPGNow.com seniors will get up in a scam a lot longer than most people, which often comes at a much higher cost.

“Whether this is a combination of having a lot more savings to kind of invest in these scams or some of them want to invest or make money quickly so they can leave more for their kids and aren’t really seeing it as a fraud.”

“What we are noticing at the detachment is that the size of the loss increases. Instead of, being a few hundred or a few thousand dollars, now we are at five, ten, fifteen thousand dollars and up.”

She added scammers are becoming more sophisticated using tools like Artificial Intelligence to trick people out of their money.

“That makes them harder to detect and tricky for someone who is more tech savvy and a bit younger to determine whether its a fraud or not.”

Oftentimes, it is a loved one or close friend that reports the scam to authorities.

“A loved one often comes in with the older person that is being scammed by the fraud to report it with them or report on their behalf. Sometimes our senior citizens like to hang on in the hopes that this time it will pay out and leave more to their loved ones. Sometimes, it’s about convincing them that this isn’t true.”

New data from Moneris, Canada’s leading commerce provider, shows a 4% increase in reported business fraud cases in 2025 nationwide.

Overall, British Columbia accounts for 14% of total reported fraud cases.

Businesses can reduce risk by monitoring weekly transaction reports for volume, location or refund anomalies, and by training staff regularly on fraud and phishing awareness.

Each year, Mail Order/Telephone Order (MOTO) fraud remains the most common type nationwide, accounting for 65% of reported cases, up from 62% in 2024.

Additional findings from the 2025 data include:

·       Refund fraud on stolen devices dropped to 1% of all reported fraud cases nationwide in 2025, compared with 16% in 2024 and 13% in 2023.

·       However, abuse of the refund process rose to 9% of reported fraud cases in 2025, compared to 1% in 2024.

March is Fraud Prevention Month across Canada.

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The City of Campbell River is inviting local entrepreneurs to join the Rail Yard Market.

The market, located on Shoppers Row in downtown Campbell River, provides affordable retail space and structured mentorship with hands-on business education for emerging businesses.

The city said it is seeking new vendors to complement the clothing retailer and artisanal collective already operating at the site.

“The energy at The Rail Yard Market is fantastic, and the current vendors have built a wonderful foundation,” said the city’s economic development and tourism manager Kimberley Worthington. “Now, we’re asking, ‘Who’s next?’ We want to hear from the creative and ambitious individuals in our community who can see their businesses thriving alongside our existing retailers.”

The city said vendors are offered short-term leases reviewed annually, and current vendors may apply for renewal.

The next available lease begins May 1, 2026, with additional openings expected in 2027.

Applications are available on the city’s website.

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Powell River transit users will have more options later this month.

BC Transit is launching its OnDemand service in Powell River, allowing riders to request pickup and travel directly to local destinations.

Riders can book through the BC Transit OnDemand app or by phone. The app identifies the fastest travel option and directs riders to a designated virtual pickup location for an OnDemand bus or to a nearby stop for a scheduled route.

The service will operate Monday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., excluding major holidays.

BC Transit said customers will book trips in real time rather than in advance, and buses will be larger and accessible for riders who use wheelchairs or mobility aids.

Mayor Ron Woznow said the city worked with the province, BC Transit and Via Transportation to introduce the service.

“The City of Powell River is pleased to have worked with the Province of BC, BC Transit and Via Transportation to bring the OnDemand transit service to our community,” said Woznow. “We look forward to OnDemand rolling out on later this month, as part of a comprehensive package of schedule and route enhancements which will improve transit services in the community.”

The new service begins March 23.

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The Prince George RCMP is holding an information session to encourage community members to become Mounties.

The session gives participants the chance to hear first-hand from members about the career, ranging from the application process, the training centre (Depot).

Corporal Jennifer Cooper said the process for this can be daunting.

“There’s quite a few steps to this application process, as well as what to expect when they get to Depot.” said Cooper.

“We feel the better prepared a person is for both those aspects of becoming an RCMP officer, the better prepared they’ll be to see the process the entire way through.”

Cooper, who’s been with the RCMP for 14 years, said the career has given her opportunities to see other places, and originally coming from the Lower Mainland, now calls Northern B.C. home.

The information session will be at the Prince George RCMP Detachment (455 Victoria Street) tonight (Thursday) from 6:00 to 7:00.

More information can be found here.

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The City of Nanaimo is seeking public feedback on proposed upgrades in the Country Club area. 

The city said it plans to improve safety and access on Norwell Drive while the road is excavated for underground utility upgrades. 

The city is also partnering with the Regional District of Nanaimo to upgrade the transit exchange. 

A second round of community engagement is underway, with feedback accepted until April 17. 

“We appreciate the feedback received so far and look forward to hearing from the community again. Replacing ageing sewer and water allows us to enhance the surface transit exchange and active transportation network at the same time. Public input will help us finalize a design that meets the needs of the Country Club area,” said general manager of engineering and public works Bill Sims. 

Residents can view the concept plan for the project on Nanaimo’s website and can complete an online form to share their opinion.  

Planning and design are expected to be completed this year, with construction anticipated to begin next year.

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The BC High School Provincial Ski and Snowboard Championships wrap up in Smithers today. (Wednesday)

The tournament was originally scheduled to happen at Mount Washington in Courtenay, but had to switch venues due to unpredictable winter weather.

“If we weren’t able to put it on up here then provincials wouldn’t have happened for these kids and that would have been really sad,” said Lex Rei-Jones, Hudson Bay Mountain General Manager.

Races started on Monday with competitors from across the province which Rei-Jones said has been going well.

“We actually hosted the U14 Provincial Championships last year which went amazing and have hosted BC High School twice before this in 2019 and 2013,” she added.

The resort is hoping to host the championships again in the future and are glad snow conditions have continued to be favourable.

“Our hearts really go out to the ski hills that are struggling and dealing with the unpredictable winters we’ve had these past few years,” said Rei-Jones.

No other tournaments are currently scheduled for the rest of this season.

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With a lower-than-normal snowpack, Ladysmith’s mayor said the town’s water reserves are strong and residents do not need to worry. 

The B.C. River Forecast Centre reported March 1 that the provincial snowpack was 58 per cent of the seasonal average, raising concerns about potential early drought conditions as temperatures rise. 

Mayor Deena Beeston said Ladysmith differs from many other Vancouver Island communities. 

“The town hasn’t been dependent on the snowpack for water,” she said. “We have the Holland Creek system as an active reservoir, which is currently at 100 per cent.” 

Beeston said the town has not “run out of water” due to conservation measures, including consumption restrictions. 

“Holland Lake runs between 40 and 60 per cent capacity,” she said. “When we put restrictions in place it’s because we’ve balanced off between our precipitation and conditions when we put restrictions in place.” 

Council is not forecasting supply issues during warmer weather, Beeston said, but added the town is preparing for future demand and possible drought conditions. 

“We have been making plans to increase the height of the reservoir by over a metre,” she said. “This will significantly its holding ability, but it’s not being done because we need the water today; rather to accommodate future growth.” 

The B.C. River Forecast Centre reported Feb. 1 that the Skagit region and South Coast had among the lowest snowpack levels in the province. 

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The Prince George RCMP have shared an update in regards to an investigation involving a vehicle.

Yesterday (Tuesday), Mounties put out a release, asking the public to help identify a black SUV and its occupants.

According to police, they have spoken with the driver and passenger of the vehicle, and no further action from the public is required.

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Just above normal…that’s how an Environment Canada Meteorologist summed up the month of February in the Cariboo.

“In Williams Lake the mean temperature was minus 2.5 and the normal is minus 4.4 a difference of 1.9 degrees,” Brian Proctor said, “For Quesnel the mean temperature was minus 1.4 versus a normal mean temperature of minus 4.1.”

Proctor said when it comes to precipitation for the month of February it’s a bit of a different story.

“Williams Lake recorded 26.2 millimetres which includes all the snow that fell and melt down. The normal is 18.5 that’s 141.8% of normal precipitation that we (Environment Canada) would classify that as wetter than normal making it the twenty-sixth wettest on the period of record going back to 1961. For Quesnel 20.7 millimetres were recorded versus a normal of 22.4.”

Proctor noted that this week the Cariboo is floating above normal when it comes to both precipitation and temperatures.

“Normally this time of year daytime maximum temperatures are about 5 degrees and overnight lows of minus 6. We’re looking at a 9 degree day today (Wednesday), 7 degrees for Thursday and Friday, and probably up to 12 on Saturday. Associated with these above normal temperatures the region is likely to see some rainfall as well. At this point we see periods of rain through much of the end of the work week and into the weekend.”

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Prince George can expect the warmer temperatures to remain, after coming off a fairly warm February.

According to Environment Canada, the mean temperature for February was minus 3.2 degrees, 2.2 degrees warmer than normal.

Meteorologist Brian Proctor said the area also saw a bit more precipitation than normal.

“We recorded 42.7 millimetres of precipitation at the auto station at the airport, versus a normal of 30.5, so about 140 per cent of normal precipitation.”

As for March, Proctor said the best way to look at it is a little warm and wet, being anywhere between 1 to 2 degrees warmer with 40 to 60 percent more precipitation.

He said the warmer start to the much give a good idea as to what Spring could look like.

“In general, we’re sort of looking that way for much of the week, and at least getting a potential for precipitation.”

“Temperatures are generally floating in the upper single digits at this point in time, and typically this time of year we should be at about a max of 3 degrees and as low as about minus 7.”

Proctor also acknowledged that snow has been lower than normal this winter, between December and February, though precipitation was around normal.

More information about the forecast can be found here.

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Two key milestones have been reached for the new East Courtenay fire hall. 

The City of Courtenay awarded the construction management contract to Kinetic Construction Ltd. in January, who will work with Sahuri Architecture on the final design and prepare the project for construction. 

The detailed design reached the 50 per cent mark this week, which the city said is a significant step in the planning process. 

“This recent progress represents exciting steps for residents and businesses on the east side of Courtenay, and for the volunteer firefighters who serve our community,” said Courtenay Mayor Bob Wells. 

The fire hall will be built at 220 Waters Place and feature two double-length drive-through bays, as well as space for administration and crew support. 

The building will include a dormitory, health and wellness space, a training room, washrooms, locker space and a decontamination area. 

The design is modelled after a recently completed fire hall in Dashwood in Area G of the Regional District of Nanaimo. 

The project is located in an area expected to see significant growth. The city said about 4,500 residents and 2,900 homes are projected to be added by 2031. 

The city said the new fire hall will help maintain acceptable response times for fire suppression and rescue services and allow the number of volunteer firefighters to increase from 55 to 67. 

Construction is expected to begin this summer or fall. 

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The RCMP are investigating a fatal collision involving a semi-truck near Summit Lake, about 115 kilometres west of Fort Nelson.

Police say the Northern Rockies RCMP received an automated crash detection notification on the Alaska Highway near the 605 kilometre mark in the area of summit lake at around 5:45 am MST yesterday (Tuesday).

First responders attended, and found both occupants of a loaded semi-truck and trailer were entrapped inside the cab of the vehicle, both had suffered fatal injuries.

According to police, the vehicle appeared to have broken through a guardrail before coming to rest down a steep embankment.

No other vehicles were involved.

“While the investigation is in its infancy, road conditions appear to have been a factor in the crash,” said Staff Sergeant Kris Clark of the BC RCMP.

“Work continues to extract the vehicle and its load from the embankment.”

According to DriveBC, the highway has reopened to single lane alternating traffic, and drivers should expect delays.

#BCHwy97 has reopened to single lane alternating traffic at KM 605 after an earlier vehicle incident. Expect delays and watch for traffic control. #FortNelson #SummitLake

More info: https://t.co/XMUVNmksl2 pic.twitter.com/2YzzpFZYgp

— DriveBC (@DriveBC) March 4, 2026

Police are asking anyone with information or dash-camera footage of the crash to contact the Northern Rockies RCMP.

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More virtual information sessions are coming this month from the College of the Rockies(COTR).

The new series of sessions is aimed at those interested in the criminal and social justice diploma, humanities and social sciences certificates, pre-education, fine arts and arts programs, or sustainable business programs.

“Whether you’re looking to explore university-level education through a certificate, earn a diploma before continuing on to further education or to employment, or complete a full four-year degree, College of the Rockies has options available,” said Stephanie Wells, Dean of Business and University Arts and Sciences. 

The college highlights the value of starting locally, pointing to a range of learning opportunities, consistent academic performance, strong degree completion rates and potential tuition savings. In the first two years at COTR, students can save between $4,000 and $5,500 compared with several B.C. and southern Alberta universities.

“No matter what education level you’re pursuing, choosing College of the Rockies provides tremendous benefits in building academic success through experiential learning, co-operative work term opportunities, and supports that develop the confidence needed for long-term achievement,” said Wells.

These virtual info sessions are free to attend and can give insight into the programs, college life, and what to expect during the journey to a degree.

The March sessions are:

• March 11 – Criminal and Social Justice
• March 12 – Pre-Education, Fine Arts, and Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences certificates
• March 18 –Sustainable Business Programs

All information sessions begin at 5 p.m. Mountain Time and require pre-registration at cotr.bc.ca/info-sessions .

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Vancouver Island University has launched a new fundraising campaign aimed at helping students complete their studies. 

The university said rising affordability barriers have forced some students to put their education on hold. The new Ripples of Change campaign is intended to increase financial support. 

“The campaign aims to raise $2 million to boost the number, and amount, of financial awards the university can give to students,” VIU said. “This year, 2,400 students applied for the 1,467 available awards, and the campaign aims to not only meet the growing need but also provide more support.” 

VIU Foundation chair Lee Rowley said the campaign is an investment in students and in the changing economy. 

“Every gift creates a ripple of impact and helps a student stay in school to reach their full potential,” he said. “As inflation and living costs continue to rise, demand for financial assistance also rises. Support from donors help close this gap for students facing financial hardships.” 

Parksville Qualicum Community Foundation executive director Charlene Smith said donors are making a difference for students and the broader community. 

“By focusing on learners who face the greatest barriers, we’re helping local students stay enrolled, reduce financial stress and continue their education close to home,” she said. 

Casey Reumkens, who received $6,000 in financial assistance through the campaign, said the funding has been life changing. 

“It will allow me to focus on my studies and my goal of becoming an elementary school teacher,” Reumkens said. “Knowing I will leave school debt-free is also hugely helpful.” 

The university said it has received 879 donations totalling $878,867 toward its $2 million goal. 

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The district of Elkford is finalizing its five-year financial plan and is now gathering residents thoughts.

Feedback can be submitted from Mar. 4-18.

A public open house is scheduled for Mar. 10 at the Community Conference Centre to chat about the budget with members of staff and council.

Elkford is looking at a possible 8.5 per cent residential tax levy increase.

The draft financial plan can be reviewed here.

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Cranbrook City council has decided to keep the intersection of Baker Street and 10th Avenue as a four-way stop, but safety improvements will be coming in the future.

In the summer of 2025, a temporary four-way stop was installed at the intersection after the traffic signals suffered electrical damage.

City staff said the intersection has been running smoothly, but there are some safety improvements that can be made.

Council approved funds being added to the 2026 Capital
Roads Program.

Work will include decreasing to one lane per approach by removing the turning lanes and installing temporary curb extensions to reduce the pedestrian crossing distance.

The estimated cost is $35,000, while the cost of installing new traffic lights would be between $600,000 and $1 million.

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The Cranbrook RCMP is asking for the public’s help in finding a stolen SUV.

The vehicle is a 2003 white Subaru Forester with the BC license plate TJ306K.

It was taken on Mar. 3 from the 100th block of Hill Avenue in Cranbrook.

Police said the vehicle is right-hand drive and equipped with a Thule roof rack.

Anyone with information is asked to call the detachment at 250-489-3471.

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A full road closure on Glen Eagle Drive is scheduled for Thursday, March 5, due to water service repairs.

The City of Campbell River said the closure will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. while crews complete the work.

Drivers are advised to follow posted traffic controls and expect delays.

Traffic will be detoured via Prentice Road.

Local access will remain available.

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Trail Smoke Eaters goaltender Cooper Michaluk has re-established himself as one of the top netminders in the BCHL, while raising money for the Canadian Cancer Association.

The 21-year-old puck-stopper from Sherwood Park, Alta., had an extra incentive during the month of February, personally pledging one-dollar for each save toward cancer research and challenged others to match.

Michaluk was still early in his return from three months on the injured list when he stepped into the crease at Cominco Arena Feb. 4 against the division-leading West Kelowna Warriors.

He responded with a 48-save performance, backstopping the Smokies to a 6-4 win.

The veteran played five more games during the month totaling 203 saves and pointed out that the campaign played a big role in producing a monumental monthly save percentage of .925.

Michaluk was pleased with his play in February, knowing his “Save for a Cause” campaign was also money in the bank in the fight against the dreadful disease.

“I think I averaged about 34 saves a game and I played like six games, that was really good, it probably went better than I expected and just super fortunate and that everyone was able to be a part of this for me,” he stated.

As of the end of February the campaign had raised over $3,500, which was well beyond his wildest dreams,

“The (Smoke Eaters) alumni donated $500 and I looked on the sheet and there is (individual donations of) 100, 200 or whatever it is, 50 bucks, just super blessed and super honoured to be able to be the driving force and super happy where the money’s going, the Canadian Cancer Society,” Michaluk beamed.

He also said the overwhelming response is a compliment to the community that he calls his hockey home.

“It’s very special that people are able to group together on something so big like this, making it bigger than the game of hockey,” he commented and is grateful for the help off the ice and behind the scenes.

“I’m fortunate to be surrounded by staff that helped me out with this and started this out for me and to be able to collect a bunch of donations and be a greater cause for everything,” Michaluk added.

Michaluk’s grandpa recently passed away after a battle with cancer and his grandma is a cancer survivor.

The Smokies goalie heads into the month of March with a 13-5 record, sporting a 2.95 goals against average and a season-long save percentage of .905.

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Three local governments are teaming up to help residents better prepare their homes for emergencies.

The City of Prince George, the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation, and the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George are hosting the second annual Be Ready: Emergency Preparedness Pop-Up at the Pine Centre Mall.

The event educates people of all ages on emergency preparedness ahead of the wildfire season.

“Thanks to a great turnout last year, we’ve expanded the 2026 event to ensure we reach more people in the community,” said Manager of Emergency Programs Tanya Spooner.

“We encourage everyone to pop by the event this week to learn more about how to be better prepared in the event of an emergency. Having these conversations empowers residents to become preparedness champions, leading to more resilient neighbourhoods and safer communities.”

Attendees will have the opportunity to learn how to protect their property from wildfire, what to pack in an emergency kit, how local governments prepare for emergencies, and what happens during an evacuation.

The pop-up event is located next to Paris Jewelers in Pine Centre Mall, taking place at the following times:

• Thursday – 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• Friday – 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

More details are available on the City’s website.

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Christina Lake’s long-awaited pedestrian bridge is being installed this week.

Regional district director Grace McGregor said she is thrilled to see the span across Christina Creek becoming a reality.

“A long, long time we’ve wanted to have this happen for many reasons,” she said. “Safety, tourism, a connection between one side of the lake to the other, and the bridge that’s currently there is a bit of a danger to walkers, quite frankly.”

The aluminum bridge was pre-assembled in Scotch Creek and brought to Christina Lake in four pieces. Cranes have been set up on either side of the creek to place each piece on pilings that were recently put in place.

McGregor said it will still be a while before it’s possible to use the bridge, because the cover and wooden walkway still need to be added.

She added there is great interest in the community about the project. Still to come will be signage and pathway links.

For now, you can just call it the Christina Lake walking bridge. McGregor said it would be up to the local parks and recreation committee to decide if it gets any other name.

The bridge will be 74 metres (244 feet) long and is costing $1.6 million, to be paid for through a combination of grants and short-term borrowing. Last year the provincial government provided an active transportation grant of $500,000.

The project has been in the works for more than a decade. The spot where the bridge crosses is where the old highway bridge was until 1962.

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A trip down under resulted in a lifetime of memories for a Prince George lacrosse player.

Cohen Bloom is coming back from Australia with a gold medal around his neck after Canada defeated the host Aussies 11-7 on Monday in the International Indoor Junior Lacrosse Commonwealth Cup.

The PG product tallied a point-per-game pace, including five assists for the Canadians who went 4-0 in the tournament.

Bloom is the reigning Zone 8 player of the year as a member of the Prince George Posse’s silver medal winning team at last summer’s U17 provincials in Vernon.

As part of the honour, Cohen received a $500 scholarship to support his post-secondary education, along with an OGO backpack.

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A 21-year-old woman facing a slew of charges is wanted by the Prince George RCMP.

Shae-Leigh Jazmin Bronk is wanted on four unendorsed warrants for the following:

• Break and enter with intent to commit indictable offence (two counts)
• Break and enter and committing an indictable offence (two counts)
• Mischief under $5000 (two counts)
• Possession of stolen property under $5000
• Possession of stolen property over $5000

She is described as:

• Indigenous female
• 5’3” (161 cm)
• 111 lb (50 kg)
• Brown hair, sometimes dyed blonde or pink
• Brown eyes

Bronk is considered dangerous and should not be approached. If you locate her, contact your local police immediately.

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The Prince George RCMP is bringing back its Coffee with a Cop series.

This time around, police will be having a conversation around Seniors Safety.

Mounties will be holding the session today (Wednesday) at Zoe’s Java House located at 1259 4th Avenue starting at 10am.

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Trail city council has removed two sections from its draft official community plan update, dealing with supportive housing and drug treatment sites, pending further discussion.

The changes came at the urging of councillor Nick Cashol.

He said council hasn’t formally debated or provided direction on the subjects. He asked that BC Housing and Interior Health be invited to council to explain what plans they have to establish such facilities in Trail.

Cashol said he thought it was “inappropriate to embed support for a specific housing model in the official community plan without clear council direction and meaningful public discussion.”

He added his motions don’t prevent future councils from considering low barrier supportive housing or overdose prevention sites, but ensure any decisions are “done transparently, intentionally, and with council approval first, rather than through the OCP by default.”

The draft plan said the city will “Work with BC Housing and non-profit organizations to ensure a sufficient supply of low-barrier supportive housing and that it is appropriated located.”

Another section listed an objective to “Ensure adequate institutional land is designated to serve residents” and said the city should collaborate with Interior Health and other groups to “ensure drug treatment facilities, including addiction treatment centres and overdose prevention sites are established and maintained in appropriate locations.”

Mayor Colleen Jones said she was “willing and open” to further conversations on the subject, adding that supportive housing “is a really complex issue.”

“We’re dealing with addiction, mental health challenges and public safety concerns all at once,” she said. “So we know that these issues don’t exist in isolation.”

Councillor Bev Benson said she agreed the topics deserved a “robust discussion” rather than being buried within a long document.

Land acknowledgement also removed

In an unrelated motion, Cashol asked that a section in the plan’s introduction about First Nations be temporarily removed. It says Trail is the traditional home of the Sinixt, Ktunaxa, and Sylix and elaborates on Sinixt use of the land.

Cashol asked for a staff report on “the legal meaning and implication of the terms traditional home and whether such language implies or could be interpreted as recognition of unceded territory or aboriginal title.”

He also requested clarification on whether the Sinixt, Ktunaxa and Sylix are “understood to have occupied the Trail area concurrently, sequentially, or in different capacities based on historical and anthropological sources.”

He further asked if the acknowledgement could have “legal or policy implications for future councils, municipal decision making, land use planning, or private property rights” and whether staff have had or plan to discuss the wording with the First Nations mentioned.

Cashol said his motion was “not intended to diminish or deny Indigenous history or presence in our region. Rather it is intended to ensure that the Official Community plan is accurate, clearly understood, and does not unintentionally create legal uncertainty for future councils and residents.”

Unlike many municipalities, Trail doesn’t begin council meetings with a land acknowledgement, although it has co-hosted events for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

While some local land acknowledgments mention specific nations, others are more generic:

• Rossland acknowledges the “traditional, ancestral and unceded territory” of the Sinixt and says it also honors “all other Indigenous people” who walked on the same lands.

• The Regional District of Kootenay Boundary acknowledges the “Indigenous Peoples
on whose traditional and unceded lands we operate,” but doesn’t name anyone specifically.

• Grand Forks’ acknowledgement says the confluence of the Kettle and Granby Rivers is a “location of ancestral importance to the hunters and fishers of our Indigenous communities,” but doesn’t mention them by name.

• Castlegar has struggled to come up with a land acknowledgement and currently doesn’t use one.

• Selkirk College’s land acknowledgement has a few variations, but each refers to the Sinixt, Syilx, Ktunaxa, and Secwepemc.

Trail council agreed to each of Cashol’s motions, although councillor Paul Butler voted against the removal of the section concerning the land acknowledgement.

Trail’s official community plan hasn’t been updated since 2001.

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Sports by Hartley Wednesday, March 4th, 2026  as of 12:05 a.m.

WHL:

Cameron Schmidt of Prince George scored twice, including his WHL-leading 43rd goal, to help the Seattle Thunderbirds to a 4-1 Tuesday night victory over the Blazers in Kamloops.

The Prince George Cougars begin a 6-game homestand when they entertain the Spokane Chiefs Friday night at 7:00 and Saturday night at 6:00.

With 8 regular season games left, the (36-22-2) Cougars are second in the B.C. Division and third in the Western Conference, one point ahead of the (33-19-5-2) Kelowna Rockets.

The (31-26-1) Chiefs have won six in a row and are 5th in the Western Conference, one point ahead of the (26-22-7-5) Blazers.

Spokane will play at Kelowna tonight (Wednesday) before heading to P.G.

The PG Cougars regular season schedule and results are here.

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B.C.’s chief coroner says there will be an inquest into the Tumbler Ridge shootings.

The Feb. 10 shootings at a school and a home in the northeastern B.C. community left nine people dead. RCMP said 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar shot her mother and 11-year-old stepbrother at a home in the community before killing five children and a teacher’s aide at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. Police said Van Rootselaar died of a self-inflicted wound at the school.

Dozens more were injured in the shooting at the school, including a 12-year-old girl who remains in serious condition in hospital.

Dr. Jatinder Baidwan, who goes by Taj, said Tuesday the inquest will aim to identify systemic and procedural issues and make evidence-based recommendations aimed at preventing similar tragedies. He said a key area to be examined will be how people in crisis are supported, including access to mental health services in rural and remote B.C. communities.

“A key area of examination will be how individuals in crisis are identified and supported, including access to mental health supports and services in rural and remote and small communities across British Columbia, such as crisis intervention and wraparound supports,” said Baidwan.

He said the inquest will also review the emergency response to the shootings, including law enforcement and medical responses, and communication with the public and families in Tumbler Ridge.

He said other areas that could be examined include gun control and how the weapons used in the attacks were obtained by the shooter. RCMP said they seized four firearms connected to the incidents, two from the school and two from the home.

He said the inquest could also look at how information is shared between online platforms and law enforcement. Premier David Eby has said it’s possible the shootings could have been prevented if OpenAI had notified police about its concerns related to Van Rootselaar’s interactions with its ChatGPT chatbot months earlier.

Baidwan said details about the timing of the inquest will be released once the initial coroner’s investigation is complete. He said that while there’s a long list of inquests waiting to happen, the Tumbler Ridge inquest will not be added to the backlog and will go ahead as soon as the necessary information is available.

Baidwan said there is no decision yet on whether the inquest will be held in Tumbler Ridge or elsewhere.

“I think it behooves us to hold the inquest where it will do the most good and I’m talking to various people including the Premier’s Office, including the mayor of Tumbler Ridge to work out exactly where it will be held,” said Baidwan.

The B.C. Conservatives welcomed the announcement of a coroner’s inquest but continued to call for a public inquiry.

Skeena MLA Claire Rattée said an inquiry involving provincial and federal governments could allow for a broader scope.

“If there is something to come out of this that could prevent a future tragedy from happening, something that’s going to strengthen our system, I would rather see it applied across this country, not just in British Columbia,” said Rattée.

Baidwan said he believes a coroner’s inquest can be broad enough to answer any outstanding questions about the shootings.

“It’s a very broad spectrum of stuff that we can look at,” he said. “The terms of reference are really as wide as you want them to be.”

Eby said Monday that questions around firearms and the role of social media companies might be best addressed at the federal level. He left the door open to a public inquiry once the police investigation is completed.

“It is far from obvious right now what the best approach will be, but what I can assure British Columbians is, bottom line, we will get those questions answered for them,” said Eby.

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Human remains found north of Nelson have been confirmed as those of Christopher Newton, closing the investigation into his disappearance.

Newton, 33, was last seen in Nelson in August 2024 and reported missing in January 2025.

In a press release, Nelson police said his remains were discovered as part of their missing persons investigation. Nelson RCMP were then deployed to investigate.

On March 3, 2026, the B.C. Coroners Service confirmed that the remains belonged to Newton, effectively closing the missing persons investigation.

“The Nelson Police Department would like to thank the public and our partner agencies for their assistance throughout the investigation. At the request of the family, no other details will be provided by the Nelson Police Department,” said Sgt. Dan Markevich.

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Campbell River city council has approved up to $24,000 to keep a local food security program operating through the end of April.

The funding will come from the city’s financial stabilization reserve and will allow the program to continue for another two months.

The city said the closure of the Harbourside Inn forced several social services operating out of the building to relocate, and those groups have not secured a new permanent space.

To help bridge the gap, the city has provided takeaway dinners for vulnerable residents since July through a partnership with the Salvation Army.

The meals are intended to supplement the hot lunch program offered at the Salvation Army’s Centre of Hope.

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The College of New Caledonia is helping seven Prince George child-care workers earn credentials while remaining employed.

The initiative is delivered through a partnership with CEWIL Canada to launch a hands-on, federally funded program.

The program aims to address local staff shortages by providing an on-the-job training model that accommodates working professionals.

Each student is receiving $2000 each in bursary funding, which will play a critical role in helping participants access early childhood education certification.

Jessica Fee of the early childhood care and learning faculty said the program allows learning to begin directly in child-care programs, working alongside children.

“This approach allows students to begin with the children and their real experiences in childcare settings,” said Fee.

“From there, we choose the readings, videos, and learning resources that deepen understanding. It builds stronger professional confidence and learning that is grounded in real relationships with children, families, and colleagues.”

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The Williams Lake Fire Department responded to a fire at the picnic structure behind the Cariboo Memorial Complex.

Fire Chief Evan Dean said they got the call last night (Monday) at around 10:15.

“Once we attended some onsite staff had already extinguished the fire with a couple of extinguishers. The fire was actually contained to one of the main support posts.”

Dean added they had their main initial attack truck respond and were able to extinguish the fire.

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The Prince George Public Library (PGPL) Board of Trustees says a new Board Chair will be stepping into the role.

The Board announced today (Tuesday) Jennifer Wilczek has been appointed the new Board Chair, with Anna Duff stepping down after three years in the role.

“Anna has been an excellent leader during her time on the board,” said Library Director Paul Burry.

“Her commitment to the values and importance of the public library has been unwavering, and we appreciate her many important contributions to the Board and the library, including helping to expand representation on the Board to include a standing member from the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation and the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George.”

Wilczek joined the Library Board in 2023, and brings experience in governance, policy development and strategic planning to the role.

“Our library plays a vital role in Prince George,” Wilczek said.

“I look forward to working with fellow trustees and staff to continue building on our strong foundation of literacy, lifelong learning, and community connection.”

The PGPL Board of Trustees provides strategic oversight of the public library, ensuring it remains accountable to and aligned with the needs of the community it serves.

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Over 150 biathletes from across North America are in Prince George for some high-level competition.

The Caledonia Nordic Ski Club is hosting a combined International Biathlon Regional Event, Western Canadian Biathlon Championships and the BC Provincial Biathlon Championships Friday through Sunday.

Spokesperson, Kevin Pettersen told Vista Radio Otway will be in pretty good shape despite the balmy conditions we’ve had for most of the winter.

“With the snow that we make, its very resilient and stands up to rain and everything like that. We are in really good shape here for the event.”

“We had that cold snap two weeks ago and we were able to make a lot of snow and so the stadium, arena and the trails are in really good condition.”

He added the athletes that are set to touch down in the northern capital are ready to put their skills to the test.

“It is one of those events where everything can change on a shot or missed shot and even shooting clean so it is a pretty amazing event to watch in person.”

In addition, UNBC is offering a $2,000 tuition credit to eligible competing athletes continuing a program it introduced at the 2023 Nordiq Canada Selection Trials and Nordiq Cup.

Prince George was slated to hold the Olympic Trials but were cancelled by Nordiq Canada on November 27th due to uncertainty around snow conditions caused by unusually mild temperatures.

The trials were re-located to Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre near Vernon.

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Prince George residents can plan their Spring with the City’s latest recreational guide for the season.

The guide provides a variety of activities to try, including:

• Sports such as pickleball, beach volleyball, t-ball, softball, and soccer
• Fitness programs such as yoga, pilates, seniors in motion, bootcamp, and Zumba
• Activities such as women’s trail walking, birdwatching, and martial arts

It also has details about keeping kids busy through the summer with information about Park Play Days, summer day camps, and the City’s Kids in PG Parks Passport program.

Different associations will also be providing programs in school gyms, fields, and parks including:

• Beaverly West Leisure Society
• Blackburn Community Association
• College Heights Community Association
• Hart Community Association
• South Bowl Community Association
• West Bowl Community Association

The Spring Recreation Guide can be found here.

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Comox Valley residents will have an opportunity Wednesday to meet two candidates seeking the leadership of the B.C. Conservative Party. 

Caroline Elliott and Iain Black will be in Courtenay on March 4 to discuss their visions for the province. 

“There are nine candidates that have now been approved, and we are hoping to get all of them through Courtenay-Comox,” Courtenay-Comox MLA Brennan Day said in a social media post. 

Elliott will appear at Match Eatery Public House from 2:30 to 4 p.m., while Black will be at Ace Brewing Company from 6 to 8 p.m. 

Residents who want to cast a ballot in the leadership race must be members of the B.C. Conservative Party. 

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The College of New Caledonia (CNC) is welcoming new and returning students with an open house on Thursday, Mar 5.

“It’s an opportunity for us to open the doors to the community and to students who may have applied or may be accepted or are thinking of applying to a program at CNC,” says Shelley Carter-Rose, the Vice-President of Student Affairs at CNC Prince George Campus.

Prince George’s CNC Campus will have its open house later in the week on Saturday. Current and prospective students from both campuses may attend both open houses.

At the open houses, visitors will be able to meet with instructors and current students to discuss and learn about the program options, and tour classrooms and labs.

According to the province of British Columbia’s labour market outlook, more than one million jobs, including long-term opportunities, are projected for 2035. These jobs are driven largely by replacement needs and growth in skills professions across key sectors in the workforce.

Students and visitors who attend the open houses will be able to see how CNC’s programs align with the regional and provincial labour demands in the trades, technology, healthcare, sciences, and business sectors.

“These open houses are a nice way for CNC to support students as they begin their journey,” says Carter-Rose. “The energy at these events is very high, and people are excited. CNC staff are excited to showcase the campus and support the needs in the community.”

In addition to learning the campus and programs, those who attend may take part of campus-wide activities, and be entered to win one of two $1,000 tuition credits to help get started at CNC.

Attendees will also receive an application code that will waive the $40 application fee until the end of March.

The Quesnel Campus‘ open house will be on Thursday, March 5, from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m.

CNC Prince George Campus‘ open house will be on Saturday, March 7, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.

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Residents in the Wet’suwet’en First Nation’s Palling reserve can now call 911 incase of a fire emergency.

It and the Village of Burns Lake signed a five-year Fire Protection Services Agreement on Friday after two-and-a-half years of negotiation.

“Prior to that, we did not have any fire protection services and were pretty much on our own,” said Chief Maureen Luggi.

She added no fire protection was in place for the First Nation because it fell outside the village boundary.

“Up until the agreement was signed, we have lost five homes that were burned to the ground,” Luggi said.

It also gives the community a sense of community according to the chief.

“We have a service agreement with the Lake Babine Nation as well as Ts’il Kaz Koh but those two nations are within our village boundary so this is the first one outside of the boundary with a First Nation,” said Mayor Henry Wiebe.

He added he was glad an agreement could be reached and is beneficial to both Wet’suwet’en and Burns Lake with the possibility of acting as a stepping stone for future agreements.

The fire department will be visiting the First Nation to assess its current infrastructure and create plans to prepare if a fire should break out.

Luggi added it is looking at starting discussions to implement fire protection for the Duncan Lake reserve.

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Home sales on Vancouver Island were down three per cent in February compared with the same month last year. 

The latest report from the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board said 465 units were sold across all property types last month. Active listings rose four per cent to 3,360 homes on the market. 

Condominium sales fell 19 per cent year over year, with 47 units changing ownership. Townhouse sales declined eight per cent to 55, while single-family home sales slipped three per cent to 228. 

There were 988 single-family homes listed for sale, compared with 975 a year earlier. 

VIREB chief executive officer Jason Yochim said year-to-date sales remain below the 10-year average, but he believes overall market sentiment is improving. 

“Realtors are feeling optimistic about 2026. Activity is picking up and with spring just around the corner, we expect to see more listings and more movement from both buyers and sellers,” he said. 

The benchmark price of a single-family home was $772,300 last month across the island, up one per cent from a year earlier. 

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A trial opened this morning in Rossland for a man accused of pushing another man down a flight of stairs at the Beaver Valley arena during a KIJHL playoff game last year.

Glenn Holbrook, who was 57 at the time of the incident, is charged with aggravated assault. Provincial court judge Rob Brown is hearing the case, which is expected to continue tomorrow and then adjourn until April.

Crown counsel alleges that on March 19, Holbrook attended the concluding game of the Nitehawks’ series against the Grand Forks Border Bruins. The Crown says Kevin Doherty of Fruitvale, who was 47 at the time, confronted Holbrook at the end of the game about using an airhorn.

Doherty testified today that Holbrook used the airhorn “non-stop,” causing many in the crowd to become “very irritated.” Doherty said he walked down from the arena concourse to where Holbrook was sitting.

Doherty said he used words to the effect of “Hey, that’s enough of that thing. The game’s over.” Doherty said Holbrook responded by grabbing him with both hands and throwing him down the stairs.

“I hardly had the words out of my mouth and I was grabbed,” Doherty said. “He threw me down like a rag doll.” Doherty said he landed head-first on the concrete steps and was knocked unconscious.

Doherty said he was in “excruciating pain” and he later learned both of his knees were dislocated, which required surgery. He said his right elbow was also injured and his head was bruised.

Doherty said he spent the next four or five days in hospital and when discharged, he remained in bed for over a month, as he couldn’t walk or stand.

Denies exaggerating injuries

During cross-examination, defence counsel Alan Perello raised inconsistences between Doherty’s testimony, his police statement, and his medical records.

In his statement to police about a week after the incident, Doherty expressed uncertainty about how he fell down the stairs and speculated Holbrook may have hit him over the head with a box connected to the airhorn.

While Doherty agreed those were his words, he said he was on heavy pain medication at the time, had suffered a concussion, and his memory had been spotty.

“I know how it started, I know who did the damage, and what was done,” Doherty said. “I didn’t jump down the stairs.”

Perello cited medical records that stated Doherty had ruptured tendons in his knees, but didn’t mention broken bones, smashed kneecaps, or a head injury. Doherty said the injuries to his knees were greater than described in the report.

While Doherty agreed there was no evidence of broken vertebrae or open cuts on his head, he insisted there was visible bruising, even though it wasn’t in the medical records. He also insisted his arm was injured in the fall, while the report suggested it may have been due to a previous incident.

“You have vastly exaggerated the injuries you actually suffered,” Perello said.

“Not a chance,” Doherty replied.

“I’m going to suggest you could have tripped,” Perello said later.

“Not a chance,” Doherty replied.

“I’m going to suggest someone else nudged you,” Perello said.

“Not a chance,” Doherty said. “I was violently grabbed and thrown down the stairs.”

While Doherty said he didn’t drink any alcohol on the night of the game, Perello showed him a picture of himself at the arena that night holding a white can. Doherty agreed he bought alcohol for others, but said did not have any himself. He testified that a medical report that indicated he had one beer at the game was wrong.

The second witness to testify was Castlegar Rebels trainer and retired RCMP officer Darren Oelke, who attended the game. He corroborated Doherty’s account of being grabbed with two hands and pulled down the stairs and he disagreed with Perello’s suggestion that Doherty may have lost his balance and fallen on his own.

Oelke said he didn’t find Holbrook’s airhorn use excessive, but based on Doherty’s quick approach to Holbrook, he feared something potentially violent might occur. After Doherty fell, Oelke said his immediate reaction was not to call the police. He said he felt the situation was in hand and he left soon afterward.

Before the day ended, Nitehawks president Steve Piccolo began to testify.

Crown prosecutor William Westcott indicated he expects to call two more witnesses. The defence hasn’t said how many witnesses it plans to call, but each side is expected to take two days to present its case.

RCMP posted a picture of the suspect about ten days after the incident, looking for information about his identity. A Grand Forks man turned himself in about a week later.

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East Kootenay businesses have been seeing success after diversifying their trade following U.S. tariffs.

Export adviser Michael Hoher said Canada’s efforts to pivot to other markets are helping offset shortfalls caused by the United States.

“Beautifully so, between the European Union, China and especially the United Kingdom, we almost made up for a shortfall for at least the year 2025, which shows us immediately the power of market diversification,” he said.

Hoher said a local e-commerce company that had an 80-20 sales mix in favour of the U.S. saw the writing on the wall in late 2024 and was able to flip that ratio.

“They turned off the marketing campaigns in the US entirely, switched it to Canada full blast and within 7-8 months, it turned the ratio from 80-20 to 20-80 in Canada’s favour,” he added.

“That was without a loss on the top line and without a loss on the bottom.”

He said another local manufacture pivoted away from the U.S. and was able to immediately secure a $5 million contract in South Korea.

Hoher said the tariffs have been very difficult on businesses, but other opportunities are out there it will just take effort.

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The Prince George RCMP is asking for the public’s help in identifying a vehicle and its occupants that approached a thirteen-year-old girl.

Police said on Feb. 27th, a couple in a black Hyundai SUV approached the girl, who was walking towards the skate park on Blackburn Road South, between 4:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m..

Allegedly, the couple offered the girl a ride several times, which she declined, with the vehicle circling the area where the girl was walking.

She was able to create come distance from the vehicle, and called her parents for a ride home.

Investigators released a clip from nearby surveillance in hopes that someone recognizes the vehicle and occupants, so they can speak with the couple to determine what their role was in the incident.

“This young girl took exactly the right action in a situation that made her uncomfortable: she created some distance and called for help.” said Corporal Jennifer Cooper.

“Police want to encourage parents to speak to their kids and youth about what to do when they don’t feel safe, and this is a great example of what actions to take.”

Mounties say the man is described as in his 40s, with dark hair and a beard, and the woman is of a similar age and had a chihuahua with her.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Prince George RCMP at 250-561-3300.

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The Prince George RCMP is asking for the public’s help in identifying a vehicle and its occupants that approached a thirteen-year-old girl.

Police said a couple in a black SUV approached the girl, who was walking towards the skate park on Blackburn Road South, on Feb. 27th between 4:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m..

Allegedly, the couple offered the girl a ride several times, which she declined, with the vehicle circling the area where the girl was walking.

She was able to create come distance from the vehicle, and called her parents for a ride home.

Investigators released a clip from nearby surveillance in hopes that someone recognizes the vehicle and occupants, so they can speak with the couple to determine what their role was in the incident.

“This young girl took exactly the right action in a situation that made her uncomfortable: she created some distance and called for help.” said Corporal Jennifer Cooper.

“Police want to encourage parents to speak to their kids and youth about what to do when they don’t feel safe, and this is a great example of what actions to take.”

Mounties say the man is described as in his 40s, with dark hair and a beard, and the woman is of a similar age and had a chihuahua with her.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Prince George RCMP at 250-561-3300.

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The City of Cranbrook is requesting to have discussions with other local governments after being left out of the B.C. government’s recent daylight saving announcement.

MORE: B.C. to end twice-yearly time changes with move to permanent Daylight Saving Time (Mar. 2, 2026)

Communities that are under Mountain Time are currently unaffected by the changes.

City staff said the provincial announcement also indicated that it was up to the local governments in the East Kootenay to decide whether they wanted to be part of the change, or not.

“As a Council, we want to meet with all of our regional local government partners around the RDEK Board table to see if a change is wanted here and to make sure our approach is coordinated,” said Mayor Wayne Price.

“This announcement by the Province on Monday, was as much a surprise to Council as it was to the rest of the community and the region. We understand the concerns and the frustrations our residents and business owners are raising – we hear you loud and clear.”

The RDEK has already stated that the matter will come before the board for discussion and consideration at a future date.

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A Montrose man accused of killing his estranged wife will stand trial for first-degree murder.

A preliminary hearing for Donald James Danchella concluded last week in Rossland Supreme Court. Such hearings are used to determine if there is enough evidence to send a case to trial.

According to the BC Prosecution Service, Danchella was ordered to stand trial “by consent.” He will return to court on April 7 to schedule his next appearance.

Danchella, who was born in 1977, has been in custody since Nov. 4, 2024. On that day, police were called to a home in Montrose about a man assaulting a woman on the front lawn. Lindsay Batts Danchella, 44, died in hospital.

Lindsay was survived by her young son, her mother, sister, and other family. She was raised in Richmond and obtained a nursing degree and bachelor of science.

She moved to Montrose in 2018 and became the 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.

Two vigils have been held in her honour, coinciding with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

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One particular group in BC was excited to hear that the Province decided to adopt year round daylight saving time.

Stop the Time Change has been on the go for more than ten years advocating that.

One of the Co-Founders, Tara Holmes, said she kind of knew there were some conversations and meetings going on because their Organization had done a lot of work on it and was requested for some data that they had compiled over the years.

Holmes said this is a non-partisan issue, it’s not something political and we started this campaign in 2015 when we under the Liberal Provincial Government.

“I think that what’s happened is some people are just afraid to get it going. I know in Alberta they just brought this up about a month ago, Ontario has been working on it, Quebec, so I wouldn’t be surprised in the next couple of years to hear some more announcements for sure.”

Holmes noted she was sure this was going to happen in 2019 when John Horgan contacted them, legislated the Bill, sent her the package and made the announcement.

“He went up to the Yukon to see if Sandy Silver was going to follow along and she decided to go ahead and do it. The Yukon stopped in 2020. When COVID hit I thought the time change might not happen for a long time. I think honestly because of the problems with Canada and the U-S I think this has really spurred this on. The idea before was to wait for Washington State, Oregon and California, but I think we’ve realized that we have to show that BC can stand on it’s own two feet.”

The move to adopt year round daylight saving time will also add an extra hour of evening light during the winter.

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The Cowichan Valley Regional District has scrapped a proposed tipping fee increase following pushback from residents. 

The regional district had proposed raising fees by seven dollars to help save $325,000 in its budget. 

Chair Kate Segal said the district initially believed a user-pay system was a good idea, but directors reconsidered after hearing public feedback and concerns about the increase. 

“By the time we made out final decision we received a lot of community input for concerns of illegal dumping, extra burning and the potential increase the spread of invasive species,” she said. “There were also concerns over a potential increase of fire risk.” 

Directors voted to remove the proposed tipping fees. Segal said that decision mitigates the risks raised by residents and helps keep the area safe. 

“We heard loud and clear that residents wanted this to be available for free, so it’s easy to take the dry yard and garden waste to the transfer stations,” she said. 

Most directors voted in favour of keeping yard and garden waste free for Cowichan Valley residents. Director Bruce Findlay was the only member to oppose maintaining the status quo, supporting a shift to a user-pay system. 

Yard and garden waste remains free at all transfer stations in the Cowichan Valley. 

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The Sunshine Coast Regional District is offering rebates of up to $100 for homeowners who want to start or expand a composting system at home. 

The rebates are available to homeowners from Egmont to West Howe Sound, the islands within the SCRD, Sechelt, Gibsons and the shíshálh Nation Government District. 

The SCRD said pre-approval is not required and homeowners may apply after purchasing a composter. Application details are available on the SCRD website. 

Applications will be accepted until the end of October this year. Only purchases made this year are eligible for the rebate.

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A meeting regarding the Nukko Lake Community Hall is scheduled for Sunday.

The Regional District of Fraser Fort-George and its Consultation Committee will discuss the next steps to replace the facility after it was lost to a fire last November.

The session will take place at the Nukko Lake Elementary School from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. located on 23955 Chief Lake Road.

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It may have been cold outside, but the atmosphere in Duncan was anything but.

The Cowichan Valley branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association hosted its Coldest Night of the Year walk over the weekend, drawing more than 300 walkers, 54 teams and 68 volunteers to raise funds for people experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity.

Organizers said more than 500 people locally are unhoused or precariously housed, including youth who rely on programs such as the Youth Emergency Shelter, Mischa Lelum.

CMHA’s Judy Peterson said despite the serious cause, the vibe of the night felt more like a celebration.

Money raised will continue to support safe spaces, meals, showers and shelter for vulnerable youth in the Cowichan Valley.

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Lhatko Dene Nation’s Chief Clifford LeBrun will face an opponent in an upcoming election.

The First Nation Band announced the final list of candidates for one chief and one councillor on social media on Monday, Mar 2.

Joely Paul has thrown her hat in the ring for Lhatko Dene’s chief against LeBrun.

LeBrun, who has been in the role of chief for more than a decade, will be seeking re-election for his fifth term as chief in April.

Voters will also choose a councillor from four candidates.

Sheila Fiddler, Luna Ildzi, Tyler Lulua, and Tim Michell, the latter of whom is seeking re-election

Lhatko Dene Nation’s election will be held on April 22, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., polls will be at the Lhatko Dene Nation Longhouse, located at 1555 Chief Dominic Road.

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The Beaver Valley Nitehawks and Castlegar Rebels combined for six major honours as the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League announced its Neil Murdoch Division award winners for the 2025-26 season.

Beaver Valley claimed four awards, including most valuable player, rookie of the year, most sportsmanlike player and coach of the year. Castlegar earned top goaltender and general manager of the year honours.

Division winners are selected ahead of the KIJHL playoffs, with overall league award recipients to be announced later.

Most Valuable Player — Brady Magarrell, Beaver Valley Nitehawks

Magarrell finished second in league scoring with 75 points, including 33 goals and 42 assists, in 44 games.

The Coaldale, Alta., forward recorded a 13-game point streak, the fourth longest in the league, and posted three five-point games. He averaged 17:38 per game, finished plus-64 and scored six game-winning goals.

Magarrell added 14 power-play points and contributed three short-handed goals and two assists on the penalty kill while winning 61.12 per cent of his faceoffs.

Rookie of the Year — Michiel Leenders, Beaver Valley Nitehawks

Leenders had 53 points, including 23 goals, in 42 games, ranking second in team scoring.

The Calgary native placed among the league’s top rookies, finishing fourth in goals and fifth in both assists and total points. He averaged 18 minutes per game, finished plus-48 and added 13 power-play points.

Most Sportsmanlike Player — Owen Dickson, Beaver Valley Nitehawks

Dickson completed the 44-game regular season without taking a penalty while averaging 14:39 per contest.

The Trail, B.C., forward recorded 27 points this season and saw regular duty on both special teams units.

Coach of the Year — Terry Jones, Beaver Valley Nitehawks

Jones guided the Nitehawks to a 33-11 record and 66 points, securing the Neil Murdoch Division title and finishing second overall in the league.

Beaver Valley led the KIJHL with 208 goals and featured four 20-goal scorers. The team allowed 125 goals and posted a .910 save percentage.

The Nitehawks went 19-5 within the division and 5-0 against the Doug Birks Division.

Top Goaltender — Jac Carli, Castlegar Rebels

Carli posted an 11-9-0 record in 27 games after joining the Rebels in late September from the Calgary Buffaloes U18AAA program.

The Calgary netminder recorded a .920 save percentage and a 2.91 goals-against average, along with two shutouts in 1,505 minutes. He ranked fifth in the league in save percentage.

Carli also earned rookie of the week honours in February.

General Manager of the Year — Jesse Dorrans, Castlegar Rebels

Dorrans assembled a roster that finished 20-20-4 for 44 points, placing third in the division.

Among the Rebels’ additions was forward Rylan Davis, who recorded 17 points in 16 games after arriving from the Pembroke Lumber Kings of the CCHL. Defenceman Nix Andersen, a 2007-born player acquired from Kimberley, added six points in 15 games.

Castlegar converted 22 per cent of its power-play opportunities, ranking ninth in the KIJHL, and recorded 852 penalty minutes over the regular season.

Grand Forks players Levi Astill and Logan McCabe were named top scorer and top defenceman, respectively.

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The Grand Forks Border Bruins were well represented as the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League announced its Neil Murdoch Division award winners for the 2025-26 season.

Grand Forks players earned two of the division’s major honours, with Levi Astill named top scorer and Logan McCabe selected top defenceman.

The league annually recognizes leaders in each division ahead of the KIJHL playoffs. Overall league award winners will be announced later.

Top Scorer — Levi Astill, Grand Forks Border Bruins

Astill led the KIJHL in scoring for the second consecutive season, finishing with 86 points, including 27 goals and 59 assists, in 44 games.

The Edmonton native produced the league’s longest point streak at 18 games, recording 43 points during that stretch. He averaged 21:41 per game and scored a league-best eight game-winning goals.

Astill also contributed 11 power-play goals and 32 points with the man advantage, adding two hat tricks and six multi-goal games.

Top Defenceman — Logan McCabe, Grand Forks Border Bruins

McCabe led all KIJHL defencemen in scoring with 53 points in 42 games, an average of 1.26 points per game.

The Edmonton product logged 24:47 per contest and finished plus-33. He recorded 28 power-play points and assisted on two short-handed goals while playing regular minutes on the penalty kill.

McCabe helped anchor a Border Bruins power play that operated at 26.8 per cent, second best in the league.

Division honours

Beaver Valley Nitehawks forward Brady Magarrell was named most valuable player after finishing second in league scoring with 75 points in 44 games.

Castlegar Rebels goaltender Jac Carli earned top goaltender honours with a .920 save percentage and a 2.91 goals-against average in 27 games.

Beaver Valley’s Michiel Leenders was selected rookie of the year, while teammate Owen Dickson was named most sportsmanlike player.

Nitehawks bench boss Terry Jones received coach of the year honours after guiding Beaver Valley to a 33-11 record and the division title.

Castlegar’s Jesse Dorrans was named general manager of the year after the Rebels finished 20-20-4, third in the division.

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A 58-unit affordable housing development in Chemainus that has been put on hold may be revisited in the future. 

Plans to convert the former elementary school were first discussed three years ago after several redevelopment proposals were brought forward, including housing, community gardens and park space. 

Mayor Rob Douglas said council’s decision to proceed was based on a shortage of affordable units in the region and provincial funding available at the time. 

“They (provincial government) gave us funding to develop concepts on how to re-develop the whole site,” he said. “We have the concepts, but we just can’t apply to the specific program yet.” 

During a Feb. 18 council meeting, Douglas said the project was part of B.C.’s affordable housing program. However, after the provincial budget was released last month, the province suspended applications until further notice. 

“The program has been their flagship for funding low market housing across the province and the government isn’t accepting any new applications to the program,” Douglas said. “That could change for the next fiscal year. 

“Applications could open again in the future, but we’re not going to be able to submit another application for it.” 

The municipality planned to convert the former school on Elliot Street into affordable housing for families, seniors and people with disabilities in 2023. 

The elementary school property has been the subject of several redevelopment proposals over the years, including housing, park space and community gardens. 

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A majority of Electoral Area C residents say they do not support paying an annual contribution for recreation and culture services, according to survey results released by the Regional District of East Kootenay.

The survey followed a 2024 Recreation and Culture Service Review by the City of Cranbrook that examined ways to improve services and ensure their long-term sustainability.

“In 2024, the City of Cranbrook completed a Recreation and Culture Service Review, which looked at ways the City could improve services and ensure their long-term sustainability. One of the recommendations from the City’s Recreation and Culture Service Review was to seek a financial contribution from RDEK Electoral Area C,” said Area C Director Rob Gay.

“To better understand how residents felt about this concept, we prepared this survey.”

Two identical surveys ran from Jan. 12 to Feb. 9. One was open to the public online and the other mailed directly to a random sample of 1500 Area C residents.

In the the online survey 71 per cent of residents voted not to an annual contribution while 68 per cent voted no on the mailed out survey.

“Hearing from the residents was critically important to me. I want to acknowledge everyone who participated and shared their feedback. We received an excellent number of responses, and this input is incredibly valuable,” added Gay.

The results will be shared with the RDEK board at its March meeting.

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Impaired driving is being investigated as a potential factor in Monday’s collision along Highway 3A near the North Shore.

Nelson RCMP said it responded to reports of a serious collision involving a truck and a motorcycle on Highway 3A near Keiran Road at about 3:15 p.m.

Highway 3A was reduced to single-lane alternating traffic so emergency responders could safely access the scene.

Corporal Derek Pitt said an initial investigation indicates an eastbound travelling pickup truck crossed the centre line and struck a westbound motorcycle head-on.

The driver of the motorcycle was transported to Kootenay Lake Hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

Pitt said impaired driving is being investigated as a potential contributing factor in the collision.

Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to contact Nelson RCMP at 250-352-2156.

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The 2026 BC Winter Games hosted by Trail and Rossland wrapped up Saturday. We spoke to local president Brian Stefani about the event that drew over 900 athletes and 300 coaches to the area.

How did the Games go from your perspective? 

We couldn’t ask for better conditions. Road conditions coming up [were] perfect. And then nice sunny weather while the kids were here. All the venues were great: Red Resort, the outdoor events, Blackjack, just fantastic. 

Did you get to take the games in yourself or were you busy in the background? 

Quite busy doing things, but my goal was to see all 15 sports and I got to see all 15. 

What were some highlights? 

I’ve never seen biathlon before, like the actual shooting aspect of it. Wheelchair basketball was my highest priority. I’d never seen that either. And rhythmic gymnastics, just the young ones dancing around, it was quite special. 

Our head of ceremonies, Naomi Bain, and her team put together a fantastic athlete carnival night at the Cominco Arena on Friday night, but the interactive show over at the Bailey Theatre on Saturday was probably the most popular event for all the athletes. It was just so fun to watch. The feedback from athletes and coaches was just fantastic. 

What event drew the most people? 

I can’t pick out one. I haven’t seen the curling rink in Trail that packed in a long time. Wheelchair basketball had a lot of people. James Brotherhood, our sports chair, put together little passport books for the K to 7s in our school district. I saw a lot of young kids at the events getting their passports stamped and autographs from the athletes, so that was really nice. 

How did things go from an organizational standpoint? 

Great. I can’t say enough about my board of directors. Fourteen different directorates, very unique, and challenges within each. They were the backbone of the games. Their organizational skills were top-notch, and that’s why the games went off without a hitch. 

A lot of planning that goes into it. A couple years worth or more for an event that goes by really quick. 

Yes. But once we got the floor down in the arena for the opening ceremonies, the stress level sort of peeled away. Once the buses started to arrive on Wednesday night, it was just a joy. The kids were fantastic, so polite, smiling all the time. Once the game started, all that stress and all that planning was just so much worth it. And Betty Ann Marino and her group put together a great group of volunteers. We had a great appreciation event for them on Sunday and it was so nice to see so many people come out from all areas of our communities. 

Now that the games are over, is there still work to do? 

Yes. Our goal this week is to get all of our equipment and supplies off to Kelowna because they’re hosting the 2026 Summer Games in July. And we’ve got some legacy items to start getting out to our communities. We’re donating a balance beam to the Trail Gymnastics Club. There’ll be some equipment going to the local sports teams. And then we’ll have to start looking at our finances and any money left over from under budget directorates or donated cash funds we split with the BC Games Society in Victoria, and the remainder stays in our community. So we’ll have to decide how we’re going to be giving those out. 

Anything else you would like to add? 

I can’t say enough about the City of Trail and City of Rossland’s vision to have this. And then the support of their municipal staffs to make it happen, helping us out with all aspects. And to the Trail Smoke Eaters who actually changed their hockey schedule so we could use the arena for a whole week. We couldn’t have had a better opening ceremony so a shout out to the team and the organization for letting us use that.

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Sports by Hartley Tuesday, March 3rd, 2026  as of 12:05 a.m.

BCHL:

The Prince George Spruce Kings have signed General Manager Mike Hawes to a 4-year contract extension that runs thru until May 31, 2030.

Hawes has been with the Spruce Kings since the 2005/2006 season and has been the General Manager since 2010/2011.

Hawes was named the BCHL Executive of the Year in 2019 when the Spruce Kings won the Fred Page Cup (now Rogers BCHL Cup), and Doyle Cup before finishing second at the National Championship.

The Prince George Spruce Kings have signed General Manager Mike Hawes to a 4-year contract extension.

DETAILS: https://t.co/MRnrflS5YV pic.twitter.com/DbF9I7fE6V

— Prince George Spruce Kings (@SpruceKings) March 2, 2026

#

The (29-14-2) P.G. Spruce Kings visit the Coquitlam Express Friday night at 7:00 and the Chilliwack Chiefs Saturday night at 6:00.

The Spruce Kings, with just nine regular season games remaining, are in first place in the BCHL Coastal East Division by seven points over the (25-17-2-1) Express and by nine over the (24-18-2-1) Chiefs.

Prince George has won four in a row and 13 of its last 15.

The BCHL Standings are here.

WHL:

The Prince George Cougars begin a 6-game homestand when they entertain the Spokane Chiefs Friday night at 7:00 and Saturday night at 6:00.

With 8 regular season games left, the (36-22-2) Cougars are second in the B.C. Division and third in the Western Conference, one point ahead of the (33-19-5-2) Kelowna Rockets and 12 points behind the (39-13-4-4) Penticton Vees.

The (31-26-1) Chiefs have won six in a row and are 5th in the Western Conference, one point ahead of the (26-21-7-5) Kamloops Blazers.

Spokane will play at Kelowna Wednesday night before heading to P.G.

The PG Cougars regular season schedule and results are here.

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The federal government has announced a $13-million tariff response investment in B.C.’s Southern Interior to help forestry and manufacturing businesses respond to global trade disputes.

The funding, announced Monday at Kalesnikoff’s mass timber prefabrication and modular facility near the West Kootenay Regional Airport, is being provided through Canada’s Regional Tariff Response Initiative.

The $1-billion initiative aims to help companies boost productivity, strengthen supply chains and reach new markets.

Of the $13 million, Kalesnikoff is set to receive a $5.5-million repayable investment to purchase new equipment for its modular and mass timber manufacturing operations.

Speaking at Monday’s event, Gregor Robertson, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada, said tariffs and economic uncertainty are creating significant challenges for Canadian manufacturers.

“There are really tough circumstances right now with the tariffs from the U.S. Ongoing software challenges,” said Robertson.

“But the overall challenge that we have right now, based on the volatility and all the disruption we have around the world, is it’s day to day. That has slowed down our markets. That has created all kinds of challenges, particularly with housing and construction.”

Robertson said companies like Kalesnikoff are well positioned to adapt.

“Kalesnikoff got an incredible national reputation as a leader in wood products,” he said.

“What I see here today is extraordinary progress on modular and mass timber products, which we need across Canada right now. We have a fraction of the manufacturing here that Europe has with wood products, and we need to scale that up and Kalesnikoff is one of our top companies nationally that can do that.”

He said the federal government is focused on supporting modern methods of construction to help speed up housing development nationwide.

“We want to move this as fast as we can given the threats to our economy and use technologies like these to move faster and get homes built for Canadians.”

The investment is also intended to protect jobs and strengthen regional supply chains in areas heavily affected by trade disruption, including forestry and equipment manufacturing.

Chris Kalesnikoff, president and CEO of the company, said the funding will help expand its modular manufacturing capacity during a time of economic uncertainty.

“In short, we’re open for business now, and we look forward to expanding to meet the growing demand for housing construction across Canada,” said Kalesnikoff.

Ten projects throughout the region are receiving funding through the initiative. The federal government said the program is designed to help businesses adapt to shifting global trade realities while positioning them for long-term growth.

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The Regional District of Central Kootenay has approved a preferred conceptual layout for upgrades at the Ootichenia Landfill.

At the Feb. 19 meeting, RDCK directors voted to advance Option C from an engineering assessment prepared by Sperling Hansen Associates Inc. Cost estimates for the option sit at $5,013,758.

The project total includes about $3.04 million in construction costs, $1.52 million in contingency and roughly $456,000 for engineering and contract administration.

Major components of the estimate include:

• $769,783 for earthworks and surface water management

• $543,000 for nine Z-wall bays and six U-bays

• $450,000 for a new 80-foot weigh scale

• $876,450 for paving

• $149,000 for bins, barriers, gates and signage

• $250,408 for contract considerations

The RDCK evaluated three layout options based on operational efficiency, scalability, site area and cost. Option C received the highest overall score.

The report found Option C provides a large space for customers and the public to drop off materials, along with a flexible area for recycling and operations that can be rearranged depending on the RDCK’s needs.

Option C would require the least amount of fill to construct, provide a separate entrance that would not interfere with traffic on Columbia Road and give staff an entrance that would not interfere with scale traffic.

The RDCK said in a media release the site expansion is needed to alleviate traffic congestion, long customer wait times, improper waste disposal and a reduced desire to divert recyclable materials properly.

The approved design would add a second scale, expand drop-off areas, increase space for recycling and future Eco-Depot development and introduce a new entrance about 120 metres north of the current access point so residents can drop off recyclables before entering the landfill queue.

The project is forecast to proceed in phases.

Phase 1 would include critical infrastructure, most of the earthworks, Z-wall and U-bay construction, surface water controls and paving around the proposed additional scale and entrance.

Phase 2 would mainly include further earthworks, subgrade preparation for system expansion and paving of the remaining transfer station components.

No construction timeline has been announced. The report notes the figures are conceptual and will be refined during detailed design.

You can view the full report here.

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British Columbians will spring forward for the last time this weekend.

The province said Monday that B.C. will adopt permanent Daylight Saving Time when the clocks move forward one hour on March 8.

It comes years after B.C. introduced legislation that paved the way for a move to permanent daylight time. The province said in 2019 the change wouldn’t take effect until Washington, Oregon and California are all aligned on the move.

Several U.S. states have enacted legislation or made moves toward maintaining daylight time year-round, but the changes can’t take effect without movement from Congress.

Premier David Eby said Monday B.C. is done waiting.

“This is an unusual time, and we had committed to wait for out American partners. But the reality is that they’re stuck and we want to help give them a push that they need,” said Eby.

Eby said he hopes U.S. Congress “will make the right decision” and allow the Western states to follow B.C.’s lead.

The next time change would have been Nov. 1, 2026, but now the clocks will remain the same instead of “falling back.” The province said people and businesses will have eight months to adjust to permanent DST.

B.C.’s new time zone, Pacific Time, will be set seven hours behind Coordinated Universal Time, or UTC-7, matching the current offset used during daylight saving time.

The switch means B.C. and Yukon’s time zones will be aligned year-round. From November to March, B.C.’s time zone will match Alberta and other regions observing MST. From March to November every year, it will align with California, Washington, Oregon and other Pacific Daylight Time jurisdictions.

The government said the purpose of the change is to improve people’s overall health, reduce disruptions for families, simplify scheduling and provide an extra hour of evening light during the winter months.

“Having more light on the roads for drivers at the end of the day, coming home from work, will have the impact, we hope, of reducing collisions and ensuring what little light we do have in British Columbia in those short days during the winter is concentrated when the majority of activity is taking place,” said Eby.

B.C. Attorney General Niki Sharma said it marks the end of a twice-yearly ritual that goes back more than 100 years in B.C. But she said it will bring health improvements for shift workers like nurses, paramedics and hospitality workers who won’t need to deal with the disruptions to their sleep schedules.

“At a time when so much around us an feel chaotic and out of control, I think this consistency with sticking to one time zone will be much needed,” said Sharma.

The province said B.C. communities that observe some form of Mountain Time instead of Pacific Time will not be affected by the changes. It said the move will bring some communities more into alignment with the rest of the province. It cites Dawson Creek as an example. The northeastern B.C. city observes Mountain Standard Time year-round and will be on the same time as most other places in British Columbia following the change.

The province conducted a survey in 2019 that found 93 per cent of British Columbians supported moving to daylight time permanently. The province said support for year-round observance of DST was higher than 90 per cent across nearly all industry groups.

Ryan Mitton with the Canadian Federation of Independent Business said many businesses were surprised by the move, years after the initial consultations took place. Mitton said Monday’s announcement came after a limited and rushed consultation with the business community last week.

“The last time we spoke about ending the time change, one of the big conclusions was that we needed to be co-ordinated with other jurisdictions,” said Mitton. He said there are concerns that it will cause uncertainty for businesses who trade goods or services across the U.S. border or to other provinces.

“We’re worried this is an attempt to distract from the devastating financial situation in B.C. and trying to divert people’s attention away from the budget,” said Mitton.

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The Nechako Valley Secondary (NVSS) 1A girls basketball team took home bronze at the provincial championships in Langley which ended on Saturday.

They got the spot after beating Dasmesh 61-52.

Sixteen teams took part in the division.

Also from northern B.C. were Cedars Christian from Prince George (2nd), Bulkley Valley Christian (5th) and Ebenezer from Smithers. (7th)

The boys high school basketball championships take place this week.

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The Bulkley Valley Christian and Ebenezer 1A girls basketball teams competed at the provincial championships in Langley which ended on Saturday.

BV Christian came 5th after beating St. John’s School 44-32 while Ebenezer came 7th taking down Immaculata.

Sixteen teams took part in the division.

Also from northern B.C. was Cedars Christian from Prince George (2nd) and Nechako Valley from Vanderhoof. (3rd)

The boys high school basketball championships take place this week.

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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 Goaltending Coach and Director of Business Taylor Dakers.

During the episode, he discussed several topics including:

• Playoffs
• Josh Ravensbergen and Alexander Levshyn
• Developing Ravensbergen with San Jose Sharks Goaltending Scout and former NHLer Ryan Miller
• Jordan Binnington and Canada
• Retro weekend

You can also find this podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Google, Stitcher, and TuneIn.

LISTEN:

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It’s four more years for Mike Hawes.

The Prince George Spruce Kings announced today (Monday) they’ve signed their General Manager to a four-year contract extension.

Hawes’ contract was set to expire on May 31st, 2026.

“I’m very appreciative of the confidence the organization has shown in me with this contract extension,” Hawes said.

“Our focus is and always will be on building a team that competes every single night and represents the Prince George community the right way.”

Hawes has been with the team since the 2005-2006 season, and has been the General Manager since 2010-2011.

Hawes was also named the BCHL Executive of the Year in 2019, when the Spruce Kings won the Fred Page Cup and Doyle Cup, before finishing second at the National Championships in Brooks.

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The City of Trail says a text message scam is circulating in the area, claiming you need to pay a parking ticket. Don’t click on the link.

The city says it doesn’t send parking infraction notices or follow-up correspondence by text or email. All official communication about tickets is sent by hard copy only.

The city sent along these tips for spotting a scam:

• Unexpected messages – Be cautious of unsolicited texts, especially those demanding immediate payment.
• Suspicious links – Never click on links from unknown or untrusted sources.
• Urgency or threats – Scammers often try to scare you into acting fast.
• Spelling and grammar mistakes – Many scam messages include awkward wording or typos.
• Inconsistent fonts or formatting – Unusual text styles or layouts can be a red flag.
• Generic greetings – Scams often use vague terms like “Dear user” instead of your name or no name at all.

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The City of Grand Forks is hoping to find a new well to expand its water capacity.

In a presentation to council today, capital projects manager Ben Stevens explained that city staff looked at water reports, aquifer studies, drilling records, and water quality data dating back to 1963 and provided all of that data to ISL Engineering.

The consultant collected water samples and flow tests from existing wells, old test wells, and a few private wells, and mapped water quality and aquifer characteristics.

The city also revisited five previous test wells drilled in 1977, 1999, and 2018. It found none of them suitable to be developed into full-blown wells, although Stevens said a couple could potentially be revisited if they were flushed and retested.

The city further considered various other sites independent of the contractor. Ultimately, 16 potential spots were narrowed down to five:

• Airport property at the far south end of 2nd Street
• The disc golf course on 68th Avenue across from No Frills
• Columbia Drive road allowance near Coalchute Road
• City-owned lot at 68th Avenue and 17th Street
• Airport property near Cameron Avenue, halfway between Como Road and International Road

Stevens said they have a $400,000 grant to do the work, and won’t spend any more than that, even if won’t cover drilling at all five sites.

Depending on which sites are deemed suitable, the cost of developing a new well could range anywhere from $1.5 million and $3.4 million. While the cost of drilling is estimated at $1.3 million no matter which option is picked, the cost would go up depending on how much piping is needed to connect to the distribution system.

Stevens said the tentative schedule calls for the city to seek a contractor who would ideally do the test drilling in April and May. Consultant ISL would analyze the results in June and staff would return to council with the results in July.

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The Kootenay International Junior Hockey League has announced its Eddie Mountain Division award winners.

The league annually recognizes on-ice excellence with awards for most valuable player, top scorer, top defenceman, top goaltender, rookie of the year, most sportsmanlike player, coach of the year and general manager of the year. Divisional winners are named ahead of the KIJHL playoffs. Overall league honourees will be announced later.

Luke Davies, Kimberley Dynamiters – Most Valuable Player and Top Scorer

Davies earned both top player honours in the division after recording 25 goals and 33 assists for 58 points in 36 games. He averaged 1.61 points per game and finished plus-52.

The second-year forward added 25 points on the power play and scored three game-winning goals. He also contributed three short-handed goals and was twice named to the KIJHL Team of the Week.

Jackson Murphy, Kimberley Dynamiters – Top Defenceman

Murphy ranked third among league defencemen in scoring with six goals and 40 assists for 46 points in 43 games. He averaged more than 21 minutes of ice time per game and posted a plus-52 rating.

The veteran blueliner collected 20 power-play points and earned three Team of the Week selections. He was also named the league’s top defenceman for October and November.

Leo den Besten, Fernie Ghostriders – Top Goaltender

Den Besten led the league with a 2.01 goals-against average and a .932 save percentage in 25 games. He compiled a 16-5-1 record with three shutouts.

The St. Albert, Alta., native was selected to the Team of the Week four times and recorded a four-game winning streak between Oct. 31 and Nov. 7.

Hayden Iron Shirt, Golden Rockets – Rookie of the Year

Iron Shirt finished third in rookie scoring with 57 points, including 22 goals and 35 assists, in 40 games. His assist total led all first-year players.

The Lethbridge, Alta., product, a draft pick of the WHL’s Lethbridge Hurricanes, also spent time with the Vancouver Giants. He scored five game-winning goals and averaged 22 minutes per game.

Peter Godley, Columbia Valley Rockies – Most Sportsmanlike Player

Godley recorded 51 points in 42 games while spending just eight minutes in penalties. The Calgary native added 17 goals and 34 assists and finished plus-21.

Jed Houseman, Golden Rockets – Coach of the Year

Houseman guided the Rockets to a 23-18-3 record and 49 points, good for third place in the division.

Golden posted an 82.2 per cent penalty kill and was led offensively by Iron Shirt. Goaltender Beck Boiteau went 20-11-1 with a .917 save percentage and a 3.18 goals-against average.

Derek Stuart, Kimberley Dynamiters – General Manager of the Year

Stuart was recognized after Kimberley finished 31-9-2-2 in 44 games for 66 points, placing fourth overall in the league.

The Dynamiters scored 201 goals and allowed 121. Key additions during the season included forwards Braeden Jack, Jaden Rusznak and Brayden Schwartz, defencemen Owen Bambrick and John Lozeman, and goaltender Connor Baumbach.

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February in the Bulkley Valley and Lakes District was slightly warmer than normal despite a cold spell ending the month.

According to Environment Canada, the mean temperature recorded was -3 degrees compared to the average of -4.6.

Meteorologist Colin Fong said an arctic front starting February 18th and lasting a week brought overnight lows of -18 degrees.

“Temperatures were above normal for the other days in February which is why overall we’ve had a warm month,” he said.

The only temperature record broken was on February 4th when Burns Lake’s high was 10.58 degrees compared to 1991’s record of 8.

It was also wetter than normal through the month with 39 millimetres of precipitation falling in the region compared to the normal of 24.

Fong said daytime highs of 3 degrees are expected heading into March with overnight lows being above the -7 normal.

He added precipitation is also possible switching between rain and snow depending on the temperature.

A full forecast for the Bulkley Valley and Lakes District can be found on Environment Canada’s website.

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The dry landfill at the Sparwood Transfer Station is expected to close once it reaches capacity in 2027.

Regional District of East Kootenay officials said a recent consultant’s analysis, based on current and projected tonnages, shows the site will reach its limit that year

“We recently had a consultant provide an updated analysis based on current and projected tonnages and we anticipate reaching capacity in 2027,” said RDEK General Manager of Operations, Jamie Davies.

“We looked at a number of different options to extend the life of the landfill; however, the significant associated costs, combined with the limited additional lifespan that would be achieved made other options cost prohibitive.”

The landfill only accepts commercial type of waste, while other waste is handled through the transfer station system and hauled off site for burial.

The RDEK board has approved an amendment to the 2026-2030 Financial Plan to include the addition of a facility to accept commercial construction and demolition waste for when the site reaches capacity.

“In 2026, we will work on creating a formal closure plan for the landfill portion of the site and undertake a feasibility study to explore how best to develop the infrastructure to continue to accept construction waste, with the goal of having something in place to coincide with the landfill’s closure,” added Davies.

RDEK officials said the project will have no impact on the Sparwood Transfer Station.

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Cranbrook council has approved short-term borrowing of $1,312,000 to help pay for a new fire engine.

City officials said the current truck must be replaced to meet insurance industry requirements, which recognize fire apparatus for 20 years.

Chief administrative officer Mark Fercho said 20 years was once considered generous given how often engines were used, but that’s changing.

“In our current world, what used to be a call out for response maybe 2-3 time a week, we’re now seeing engines roll out for the number of medical calls,” he said.

“That can be anywhere between 11 and 20 some times per day.”

The city said it expects to receive the new engine within the next few weeks.

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Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies MP Bob Zimmer is calling for a public inquiry into last month’s Tumbler Ridge shooting that claimed the lives of eight people.

Zimmer was joined by fellow Conservative MP Frank Caputo (Kamloops- Thompson Nicola) in Vancouver on Sunday stating each family deserves an independent investigation on all aspects of the crime.

He told Vista Radio closure for the community and impacted families is a must.

“A lot of parents sent their kids off to school and a family sent their Mom to continue teaching and were expecting them to return home that afternoon and that is not happening. There are some things that are a little different in parts of the story that have come out and what we want is a more full some inquiry so there is no stone left unturned.”

“Once those causes are understood, a few recommendations can be made so then the federal government can fix this so this doesn’t happen again.”

The Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies representative stated following his news conference in Vancouver on Sunday that speaking with impacted family members is never easy.

“I was at Ezekiel’s funeral and I met his Mom but I also met his grandpa. We had this conversation about his energetic grandson who he won’t see again on this side of Heaven and the grief for these folks is not going to end very soon.”

Peace River South MLA Larry Neufeld said a public inquiry is needed to answer questions on what led to the shootings.

Premier David Eby isn’t ruling out the possibility of such an inquiry into the tragic event.

Earlier today (Monday), the Prince George Chamber of Commerce along with the District of Tumbler Ridge are calling on Ottawa to prohibit social media access and AI tools to youth under the age of 16.

This, among other recommendations, will be voted on at the B.C. Chamber AGM set for June 1-3 in Fort St. John.

Here is the full list:

• Enact legislation prohibiting Canadians under the age of 16 from accessing social media
  platforms and generative AI tools.
•  Require technology companies to implement secure, privacy-compliant age verification systems to enforce minimum age requirements.
• Require platforms to report to appropriate Canadian law enforcement authorities any credible threats of violence, criminal activity, exploitation, or other dangerous conduct involving users over the age of 16 when such conduct results in suspension or removal from the platform.
•  Establish meaningful and proportionate financial penalties or operational restrictions for
  companies that fail to comply with age verification and reporting requirements.
•  Invest in education programs that support youth, parents, educators, employers and
  employees in understanding the safe use of online technology.
• Invest in youth mental health programs that supports youth, parents, educators, employers and employees in addressing the personal effects of online harms.

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The PGA Championship of Canada is coming to the St. Eugene Resort this summer.

The event is scheduled from Aug. 3-6.

The championship brings together the top players on the PGA Player Rankings vying for the P.D. Ross Trophy.

The PGA also announced two other tournaments in Ontario and Quebec.

“These three national championships represent the very best of our membership at every stage of their careers,” said PGA of Canada Senior Manager of Championships and Events Matt Mueller.

“Three incredible venues have stepped up to host our professionals at these events and will surely give us three worthy champions.”

Championship registration opens on April 1.

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Since 1967, while serving people in British Columbia, 17 search and rescue volunteers have lost their lives.

Today (Monday), is Search and Rescue Volunteer Memorial Day in the province honouring the dedication, service and sacrifice these volunteers make on a daily basis.

Dave Merritt with Prince George Search and Rescue told MyPGNow.com members have put in no shortage of time and effort over the years to safely locate those who are in danger.

“We have had some volunteers over the years given up 800, 900 hours of volunteer hours and to be recognized for the hours that our volunteers put in is nice to hear from the province.”

“You could be having a family dinner and get called out even on days like Christmas Eve. The effort our volunteers put in is pretty amazing bracing for all conditions and helping those in need.”

Over the weekend, Prince George and Quesnel Search and Rescue (SAR) assisted a snowmobiler trapped in a large drainage at the back of Yanks Peak, roughly 195 kilometres east of Quesnel.

25 members were deployed with snowmobiles, snowshoes and skis, with teams out for around 12 hours while also receiving further assistance from the Royal Canadian Air Force.

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A series of townhouses will be built in North Cowichan despite concerns over parking and infrastructure on Highland Avenue.  

Council heard public feedback on the development during a Feb. 18 meeting on a zoning amendment bylaw over a 20-unit development in North Cowichan, saying the area doesn’t have enough capacity to support the project. 

But mayor Rob Douglas says it isn’t as simple as just putting the project on hold. 

“The challenge is that we’re handcuffed on how we (council) decided on the application,” he says. “If we had turned down this development, the developer could’ve come back with another proposal and built up to 24 units.” 

According to Douglas, the municipality is mandated to allow for more diverse and densified housing in the region to increase the housing supply, but council did decide to take extra steps to take into consideration concerns from residents near the Highland Avenue development.  

“We rezoned it to include provisions around setting up parking spaces and ensuring there are facilities for bike storage as well,” he says.  

During the Feb. 18 council meeting there were concerns brought forward by council members with coun. Bruce Findlay says he’s not in favor of building higher density in the region but feels the municipality really doesn’t have a choice.  

“I don’t generally like higher density stuff; it’s not really what I like seeing, especially in mature neighbourhoods, but we’re kind of handcuffed in this case,” Findlay says.  

Coun. Mike Calijouw also says it didn’t matter what council decided. 

“I think the proponent has done a pretty good job trying to mitigate the project to make it fit into the character of the neigbourhood,” he says.  

Three readings were given by council on Feb. 18 to go ahead with the development at the south end of North Cowichan. 

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Reports of a snowmobile being driven on Smithers’ perimeter trail and roadways led to RCMP arresting a man.

According to police, the calls were made on February 22nd where officers found the snowmobile and attempted a traffic stop.

Mounties add the man ran away before being located and found to be under a Conditional Sentence Order that included a 24-hour curfew.

Officers issued him tickets for operating a vehicle without insurance and failing to register the snowmobile.

He was also charged with obstructing a peace officer.

“Community safety is a shared responsibility. We are grateful to our community who continue to report concerns and to our justice partners who work alongside us to support accountability,” said Staff Sergeant Ryan Law.

No further information is available.

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Prince George drivers will likely be paying more to fill up at the pumps, especially if your vehicle requires diesel.

According to Dan McTeague with Gas Price Wizard, the recent unrest in the Middle East including the weekend killing of Iran’s leader is said to be the likely culprit.

“We are price takers, not price makers. Oil and gasoline are created on a North American and International market so it means that the price going up does mean we will see higher priced passed on regardless whether we have a refinery in our own back yard. At this point, it looks like the only situation in question is how high can it go and for how long?

“Given that about 20% of the supply of oil has now been disrupted or is at risk, that might not sound like a great number but when you are a world consumer producing 105 – 20 million barrels short every single day, it’s going to leave a mark and that usually means higher prices until the matter is corrected.”

McTeague added diesel prices could go up by 12 to 14 cents per litre as early as Wednesday while regular fuel prices could hike between four or five cents.

“Diesel is most likely to get his as Iran and many other nations producer heavier oil as we do in Canada, crimping supplies due to colder weather and other major use as we transition over to more mining, more agriculture and it means there could be a significant crimp on supply.”

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Two leaders within School District 91 are calling it a career.

Former Acting Superintendent Mike Skinner and Director of Curriculum Service Mark Gauthier will be retiring this summer.

Both have served the Nechako Lakes School District for decades.

Skinner has spent his entire career with the district, starting in 1993 as a teacher at Grassy Plains School.

He moved to the Lakes District Secondary School two years later, where he served for 20 years as a teacher, guidance counsellor, and vice principal, as well seven years as principal.

He subsequently joined the Board Office, serving as Director of Instruction, and in 2018, was appointed Assistant Superintendent, and stepped into the role of Acting Superintendent in 2024.

Skinner is looking forward to spending more time with his family, travelling to some bucket-list destinations, and continuing exploring the outdoors Canada offers.

Gauthier started his educational career in 1991 in Bella Coola before joining School District 91 as a teacher at Eugene Joseph School in Tl’azt,en Nation.

He taught at a number of schools within the district, advancing to vice-principal and principal positions in both Fraser Lake and Vanderhoof, including a nine-year tenure as principal of Evelyn Dickson Elementary School.

In 2020, he was appointed Director of Instruction – Curriculum Services, supporting key initiatives aligned with the Board’s Strategic Plan.

Gauthier is looking forward to enjoying time with family and the outdoors, including mountain biking and flyfishing across BC.

Superintendent Anita McClinton will provide information regarding postings in the coming weeks.

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Three people have been inducted into the Nanaimo Sport Hall of Fame in the Nanaimo Museum. 

Hadi Abassi was recognized as a builder in the sports community. Larry Brown was inducted in the media category and Yvonne Visser was recognized for her performance as a biathlon athlete. 

“These inductees have represented leadership, talent and sportsmanship in Nanaimo and elsewhere, leaving lasting legacies in their respective areas of expertise. They represent the spirit and heart of Nanaimo’s sports heritage and we are grateful to be able to recognize their significant contributions with a celebration and an ongoing exhibit the public can enjoy,” Nanaimo Museum general manager Sophia Maher wrote in the program for this year’s ceremony. 

Abassi worked to establish the Vancouver Island Raiders Junior Football program and was a driver of the team’s first decade of success, with three national championships and six consecutive B.C. titles. 

Brown worked as a live television director on networks including Sportsnet, TSN and CBC. He began his career in 1957 in Victoria and moved to Nanaimo in 1997. He worked as a TV director for the Vancouver Canuck play-by-play from 1998-2006. He also directed national TV coverage of curling events in the 1970s and 1980s and coverage of the Olympic Games in 1976,1984, 1988,1992, 1994 and 2010. 

Visser was on the Canadian National Biathlon team for 12 years and competed in the Olympics in 1992 and 1994. She moved to Nanaimo in 2000 after becoming a sports massage therapist. She worked on medical teams accompanying Canadian athletes to the Olympics and various other events. 

The Nanaimo Sports Hall of Fame in in the lobby of the museum and is free to view. Nominations are accepted year-round and an induction ceremony is held every second year. This year’s was held at the end of February. 

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The City of Prince George is accepting applications for a new, one-time Climate Action Micro Grant.

According to the City, this grant was made possible by funding from the B.C. Government’s Local Government Climate Action Program.

The funding supports timely local climate action that reduces greenhouse gas emissions and prepares communities for the impacts of a changing climate.

In total, $25,000 is available to allocate to local non-profits with relevant projects or events in 2026, with grant funding amounts of $2,500.

These projects can include projects that promote-energy efficiency, extreme-heat response efforts, existing community garden upgrades, water conservation projects, bike valet programs, and bike to work events, etc.

The deadline to apply for the grant is March 31 at 4:30 pm, with more information about the grant available on the City website.

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The Smithers Steelheads and Hazelton Wolverines both lost their first game in the best-of-3 Central Interior Hockey League (CIHL) playoff conference finals.

On Saturday, Smithers fell 5-3 on home ice against the Quesnel Kangaroos while Hazelton dropped a 5-2 decision in Terrace against the River Kings.

This Saturday, Smithers is at Quesnel and Hazelton hosts Terrace.

If 3rd and deciding games are needed, they will be played on Sunday.

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Quesnel RCMP responded to a fatal motor vehicle collision involving a pedestrian over the weekend.

On Saturday, February 28, Sergeant Clay Kronebusch said at approximately 2:50 am they received a report where a man had been struck by a vehicle on Front Street near McNaughton Avenue.

“The pedestrian had been walking in the North bound lane of traffic when he was struck by a pickup truck,” Kronebusch said, “The 34-year-old man succumbed to his injuries.”

He said the investigation has determined that weather and road conditions where contributing factors to the collision.

“The RCMP would like to remind the public to wear highly visible clothing when walking at night to help ensure their safety and allow motorists to be able to see them in poorly lit areas,” Kronebush said.

– story done by Pat Matthews, My Cariboo Now staff

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Comox residents who use the Brooklyn Creek Greenway will have to plan around upgrades to the Brooklyn Creek Greenway for the coming weeks. 

Starting on March 2, crews will be performing tree maintenance, path improvements and drainage upgrades. 

The Town of Comox said to keep the project moving efficiently, sections of the trail will need to be closed during the day from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 

The trail is expected to reopen during the evenings, but hours may vary depending on the daily progress of the work. 

The area north of Balmoral Avenue to Cortez Crescent will be closed. 

Work is expected to continue until March 20, with some days where crews will not be on site, and the trail will be open. 

Residents are asked to respect closure notices at the trail access points. 

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School District 72 and Campbell River RCMP say there is no credible threat to local secondary schools following rumours circulating online.

In a statement released today, the district says it contacted the RCMP immediately after becoming aware of the information. Police investigated and confirmed there was no credible threat.

A news release from RCMP says police were made aware of a series of online threats, including a youth posting a picture of himself with a gun. Police say it was a BB gun and it has been seized.

Police say online communities spread rumours of heavy police presence and events that were not real and ask families to rely on credible sources when seeking information.

“The Campbell River RCMP understands the fear that online threats and rumours create, especially in the wake of the tragedy in Tumbler Ridge. However, it is also important to receive information from credible sources and although they are extremely quick at spreading information, local Rant and Rave pages and Snapchat groups leave a lot to be desired when it comes to information credibility,” reads the news release from RCMP.

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Vanderhoof Mounties are investigating reports of possible threats at Nechako Valley Secondary School yesterday (Sunday).

However, at this stage of the investigation, no information has been identified to suggest the threats are credible according to police.

Out of an abundance of caution, RCMP have increased patrols in the area of the school. These additional patrols are intended to provide visibility and reassurance to students, staff, and the wider community.

“At this time, we do not believe there is any risk to the public or to those within the school,” said Cpl. Brett, RCMP spokesperson.

“We understand that these types of reports can cause concern for parents and the community, and we want to reassure everyone that we are actively investigating and will continue to maintain a presence around the school.”

Police continue to work closely with school administration as the investigation moves forward.

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Motorists and hikers traveling near Ten Mile Lake may see some smoke and flames in the spring.

The Quesnel Natural Resource District will be conducting a wildfire risk reduction project starting today in the area North of Quesnel until May 30th.

The treatment zone will be a 2.29-hectare area within Kostas Cove Park along Bjornson Road.

The Natural Resource District says residents, hikers, and motorists in the area should expect to see:

• Crews use chainsaws and hand tools to create gaps between the larger, mature timber and the smaller understory trees.
• Understory trees, less than 12.5 centimetres in diameter, will be thinned and branches on residual conifers will be pruned up to 3 metres, or up to 50 per cent of their height, whichever is less.
• Wildlife trees, deciduous trees, and coarse woody debris will be retained to protect wildlife habitat.
• Piles no larger than two metres by three metres will be created. The piles will be burned in the spring or fall when conditions are appropriate.
• Crews will ignite burn piles using hand torches under favourable conditions and will closely monitor all fire activity. Burning may occur over multiple days, as weather and site conditions allow.
• Personnel will remain on-site each day to ensure fires are controlled and will only leave once the fires have safely burned down and no longer pose a risk of spreading.
• Fires will continue to be monitored and extinguished once burning is complete.
• Smoke and flames will be visible to surrounding residents and to motorists travelling along Bjornson Road.
• The boundary of the treatment area is marked with orange ribbon on trees, branches, and fences.
• This project does not include private property.

The treatment areas will be marked with orange ribbons on trees, branches, and fences.

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For nearly a decade, Central Chilcotin Rehabilitation Ltd, (CCR) has been implementing large-scale, Indigenous-led forest management programs and initiatives.

With funding support from the Forest Enhancement Society of BC (FESBC) they have expanded their forest rehabilitation work, delivering innovative treatments that are making local forests in the Chilcotin more resilient to climate change and losses from wildfires.

One of CCR’s project involving fire salvage and ecosystem restoration is called “the Palmer Project” located along Palmer Lake Road in the Cariboo Chilcotin heavily impacted by wildfires in 2017.

“We’re helping Mother Nature recover,” CEO of Central Chilcotin Rehabilitation and elected Councilor of Tsi Del Del First Nation Percy Guichon stated, “and we are showing what is possible when Indigenous communities take the lead in the planning and implementation of the work.”

Since the devastating 2017 Plateau wildfire, the objectives of the Palmer Project sought to address some of the large scale, post wildfire challenges.

They applied some lessons learned from their previous experience reclaiming damaged stands in the Pressy Lake area to treat or remove fire killed trees in the Palmer Lake area.

“From the outset, our focus was on finding innovative ways to utilize this stranded fire resource,” Registered Professional Forester and CCR’s Forestry Superintendent, Daniel Persson said, “turning what is currently a liability on the landscape into long-term economic opportunity. If we can solve the operational and economic challenges of recovering and using this material, it has the potential to create sustained employment and predictable forestry work for CCR partner communities for many years.”

The Palmer Project focuses on treating extensive burned lodgepole pine stands.

Central Chilcotin Rehabilitation said recovering and utilizing fire-damaged fibre at sufficient volumes was essential to making the treatment economically viable while supporting rehabilitation objectives.

At the same time, CCR noted addressing the burnable materials at this scale across the landscape presented a significant opportunity to implement landscape-level fire management strategies, expanding defensibility, reducing reburn potential and influencing how future wildfire interacts with the broader land base.

Currently more than 1,500 hectares have been rehabilitated and around 200,000 cubic metres of wood fibre have been recovered from both Pressy Lake and Palmer projects.

CCR said the wood fibre from burnt trees has been transported either to pulp mills or bioenergy facilities supporting these operations at a time of scarcity of wood fibre.

“The Palmer Project has supported Nation-led employment and generated roughly $14 million in product revenue that flows back into jobs. This equates to about 45 people working full-time for one year across operations, forestry, supervision and administration,” Persson said.

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Trail city council is still thinking about whether to provide a $30,000 grant to the struggling Trail Skills Centre.

While council members spoke both in favour of and against the grant last week, they ultimately decided to seek more information from the organization first.

In its application, the Skills Centre said its operating funds come mostly from programs funded by the provincial and federal governments. But “changing priorities and tariffs” have resulted in “delays, reductions, and elimination” of the funding they rely on.

In the past year, the Skills Centre said it has applied for operating and program funding from the provincial government, the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary, and a variety of foundations. The RDKB recently agreed to provide $30,000, pending receipt of some additional information.

“We have had some success … but not enough to carry the organization through 2026/27,” the Skills Centre wrote. Two programs, Sparking Opportunities and Inclusive Futures in Industry and Trades, have been extended until the end of March 2027.

In the meantime the Skills Centre says it continues to look for ways to increase revenue through renting offices and meeting spaces in its building at 1060 Eldorado Street. It has also cut costs through staff layoffs and eliminating discretionary spending. Longtime executive director Morag Carter will leave at the end of March.

Councillor Nick Cashol said he was “strongly opposed” to providing the grant, in part because he felt it was unclear what the money would be used for.

“Will these funds address short-term operating gaps, debt servicing, staffing, or capital costs?” he asked. “What measurable outcomes or deliverables will the city receive in return? Council requires clarity on how municipal funds will directly benefit Trail residents in a defined, accountable way.”

Cashol said he worried a one-time $30,000 grant would represent less than one month of operating costs and wouldn’t “materially address” the organization’s financial challenges. “Council must consider whether such a contribution would meaningfully improve financial sustainability or merely delay difficult decisions,” he said.

Councillor Terry Martin said while he didn’t disagree with Cashol, he felt that in addition to the services the Skills Centre provides, they have made a significant investment into a building to improve the downtown core, and he felt comfortable supporting the grant.

Mayor Colleen Jones also spoke in favour of the grant, which she said was intended to bridge the gap until the Skills Centre can secure other government money.

“They are expecting funding to come hopefully before the end of the year,” she said. “They’re trying to have people continue to work for the next little while to help them through this difficult period.

“The service that the Skills Centre provides is so important to our community. They’re asking us to help get them over this bit of a bump. And they know that we’re not going to be doing this forever.”

Councillor Bev Benson said she wanted more information on how the money would be spent and suggested postponing a decision until the Skills Centre can provide those details. Council agreed. The organization will also be asked to provide more current financial information.

The city previously provided a $5,000 grant to the Skills Centre in 2019 for child care centre planning and $18,000 in 2023 in reduced property taxes and utilities.

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This post was originally published on My Kootenay Now

Sports by Hartley Monday, March 2nd, 2026  as of 12:05 a.m.

WHL:

Prince Albert Raiders  4  Prince George Cougars  3  (Saturday)

Kooper Gizowski had two goals and an assist to give him five points in two weekend road games for P.G.

The game summary and highlights are here.

Prince George Cougars  4  Saskatoon Blades  0  (Friday)

Josh Ravensbergen blocked 21 shots for his third shutout of the season.

Kooper Gizowski scored twice while Carson Carels recorded a goal and two assists to become the third fastest P.G. Cougar to reach 100 points.

The game summary and highlights are here.

The (36-22-2) Cougars finished 5-3 on an 8-game road trip.

With 8 regular season games left, Prince George is second in the B.C. Division and third in the Western Conference, one point ahead of the (33-19-5-2) Kelowna Rockets and 12 points behind the (39-13-4-4) Penticton Vees.

The Cougars host the Spokane Chiefs Friday night at 7:00 and Saturday night at 6:00.

The (31-26-1) Chiefs have won six in a row and are 5th in the Western Conference, one point ahead of the (26-21-7-5) Kamloops Blazers.

The PG Cougars regular season schedule and results are here.