AC/BC: air conditioning use leads to higher summer electricity demand in B.C.
BC Hydro data shows a rise in air conditioning (AC) use in B.C. homes has significantly increased summer electricity demand and it is forecasting this upward trend will continue due to climate change. The new report titled, “AC dependency: summer demand for electricity increasing with AC use,” shows since 2017 BC Hydro...
West Kootenay Immigration Pilot Helps Kootenay Businesses Address Workforce Shortages
On June 14th, 150 people attended a gathering to celebrate the 211 people (including spouses and dependents) who received their Canadian Permanent Residency through the West Kootenay Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot. The Pilot is a community-led immigration program that brings skilled workers to rural communities in...
Housing, homelessness and poverty emerge as top issues for voters heading into B.C. civic elections this fall
As voters prepare to go to the polls for local elections this fall and candidates across the province announce their intention to seek office, a new survey done by Research Co. for BC Non-Profit Housing Association, the Co-operative Housing Federation of BC and the Aboriginal Housing Management Association finds housing,...
Arena floor at Castlegar & District Community Complex to be replaced
The ice floor of the arena at the Castlegar & District Community Complex will be replaced in 2023 to address brine leaks that have been occurring over the last few years. The work to replace the ice floor will require the closure of the arena for approximately six months, but will be timed to have the least impact on ice...
State of the Basin Focus - Subjective Well-being Research Released
Personal and community well-being contribute to the health, vitality, and future of our communities. To understand this subjective well-being, in 2021, researchers at Selkirk Innovates administered a survey to 400 residents of the Columbia Basin-Boundary Region. The survey asked over 100 questions regarding residents’...
Trail Campus Purchase Bolsters Legacy of Learning in Silver City
An essential community in the Selkirk College learning corridor for five decades, the purchase of the building that houses the Trail Campus opens a new chapter of exciting possibility and future growth in the Lower Columbia and Boundary regions. The Greater Trail Community Centre building located at the corner of Cedar and ...
Slocan Valley Rail Trail Society introduces Lend-a-Leash program
The Slocan Valley Rail Trail Society (SVRTS) has introduced a new feature for users of the 50-km long Slocan Valley Rail Trail. The “Lend-A-Leash’ program is intended to help ensure that dog owners have a leash available when they take their pet for a stroll on the Rail Trail. At three locations there will be a supply of...
Drug crisis kills 161 in BC during April 2022
Illicit drugs continue to claim the lives of British Columbians in larger numbers than homicides, motor-vehicle incidents, drownings, deaths by suicide and fire-related deaths combined, according to the latest data released by the BC Coroners Service. “Coroners’ investigations continue to document the volatility and inconsistency...
Aben Resources Announces Update on Slocan Graphite Project
Aben Resources Ltd. has shared an update on its Slocan Graphite Project, which spans 2,387 hectares and is located 34 km northwest of Castlegar. The Project has outstanding infrastructure, including forestry road access to the property, a high-voltage transmission line within 1.2 km of the property limits, and an existing...
Government launches preparedness plan for heat events, heat alert
The Province is launching the BC Heat Alert and Response System (BC HARS) to help ensure people, First Nations communities and local governments have the tools they need to stay safe during heat events. Under BC HARS, the Province is prepared to issue a Broadcast Intrusive alert for extreme heat emergencies. The Province is...
