B.C.’s lowest-paid workers will get a pay raise when the general minimum wage increases from $16.75 to $17.40 per hour on June 1, 2024. This represents a 3.9% increase, consistent with B.C.’s average rate of inflation in 2023. The alternate minimum rates, for residential caretakers, live-in home-support workers and camp leaders, will receive the same […]

 Three new members are joining the Board of Directors of Columbia Basin Trust, becoming part of the 12-member Board which helps ensure that the organization continues to support the efforts of the people in the Columbia Basin. The new members are Angus Graeme from Nelson, Karen Hamling from Nakusp and Christine Hoechsmann from Cranbrook. Departing […]

Nelson Police are pursuing charges against a driver who sped off from officers at a high rate of speed Saturday (February 24, 2024) afternoon in the 800 block of Hume Lane. Nelson Police said officers continue to gather evidence and anticipate charging a person known to police for Flight from Police Officer and Dangerous Operation […]

The Nelson Italian-Canadian Society is delighted to announce that they recently made a $1000 donation to help KERPA (Kootenay Emergency Response Physicians Association) purchase much needed equipment for their mobile unit. KERPA’s goal is to help the most critically ill and injured patients in the Kootenay Region. They send a volunteer Emergency Response Physician to […]

The West Kootenay Transit Action group is hosting a Zoom webinar on the benefits of a major BC investment in public transit.  Economist Marc Lee from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, BC office will lay out the plan to make public transit affordable, accessible, inclusive, carbon-zero and a great experience for users.  Nelson City […]

The Ready for Home program just received a major influx of cash thanks to another successful Coldest Night of the Year fundraiser Saturday afternoon in Nelson. The Nelson Cares Society fundraiser raised almost $100,000 ($97,376 announced prior to the walk) for the program that aims to stop the cycle of homelessness and work one-on-one with individuals […]

For the second time in a few days Environment Canada is issuing a Winter Storm warning for higher elevation highways in the Southern Interior, including Highway 3 — Paulson Summit to Kootenay Pass beginning Tuesday night. Environment Canada said a strong pacific frontal system will begin to push into the BC interior Tuesday evening. “Snowfall […]

For those looking to get a little more bang for their buck, the regional district is offering public budget meetings until the end of March. Continuing through to March 21, the Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) will be hosting public budget information sessions for all its municipalities and electoral areas, including March 12 (6 […]

The region’s health district board of directors has approved a letter of support for a renal hemodialysis unit in Nelson. Slated for upper levels of government — including Interior Health Authority (IHA), B.C. Premier David Eby and the Health Minister Adrian Dix — the West Kootenay Boundary Regional Health District (WKBRHD) board passed two motions […]

Isobel Mackenzie is retiring in a few months after spending the past 10 years as BC Seniors Advocate. But that did not stop the province’s first seniors advocate for making a whistle stop tour of the West Kootenay last week. Mackenzie, who recently announced that she is stepping aside, was in Nelson Thursday to address […]