Regional News

Kokanee begin the uphill swim from record low levels in Kootenay Lake

by Timothy Schafer Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on Sunday September 26 2021

Eight years ago the kokanee salmon population in the lake collapsed, from an average of about a million to “unprecedented low numbers,” averaging between a record low of 12,000 in 2017 to about 90,000 in 2020 — TND photo.

The ravages of 2014 are still affecting current populations of Kootenay Lake salmon and are keeping their numbers low, but the land-locked fish’s future is looking much different.

Eight years ago the kokanee salmon population in the lake collapsed, from an average of about a million to “unprecedented low numbers,” averaging between a record low of 12,000 in 2017 to about 90,000 in 2020.

B.C. Vaccine Card makes its presence known in Heritage City

by Timothy Schafer Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on Saturday September 25 2021

Within the first week of the B.C. Vaccine Card implementation in Nelson many businesses indicated that their business was down — likely because even the vaccinated hadn’t had a chance to download the QR code app — but there was no trouble reported and no “real problems” arose.

Although the people on the frontlines in the Nelson service industry have braced and borne the burden of the dirty work in enforcing the B.C. Vaccine Card since it was required earlier this month, the transition so far has been without incident, noted the city’s chamber executive director.

Regional unemployment figures rise, but improve overall

by Timothy Schafer Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on Thursday September 23 2021

Statistics Canada's Labour Force Survey for August 2021 revealed that the Kootenay region — including Nelson, Castlegar, Trail and the Slocan Valley — improved its unemployment rate from a high of 15.8 per cent in June, 2020 at the height of the pandemic to a recent figure of 6.7 per cent.

The Kootenay region went from one of the hardest hit areas for unemployment one year ago to dropping to nearly one third of that rate, according to recent labour force statistics.

Statistics Canada's Labour Force Survey for August 2021 revealed that the Kootenay region — including Nelson, Castlegar, Trail and the Slocan Valley — improved its unemployment rate from a high of 15.8 per cent in June, 2020 at the height of the pandemic to a recent figure of 6.7 per cent.

New housing project looks to lift rental market temperatures from sub-zero climate

by Timothy Schafer Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on Tuesday September 21 2021

The pastor of Kootenay Christian Fellowship (KCF) watched the door slowly shut on available rental accommodations and affordability in Nelson for working class people as the housing market transitioned traditional rental units to short-term offerings over the last 10 years.

A nearly zero per cent rental availability rate in Nelson had troubled Jim Reimer for years.

The pastor of Kootenay Christian Fellowship (KCF) watched the door slowly shut on available rental accommodations and affordability in Nelson for working class people as the housing market transitioned traditional rental units to short-term offerings over the last 10 years.

Canadian voters see red but Kootenay-Columbia gets the blues in 2021 federal election

by Timothy Schafer Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on Tuesday September 21 2021

Fast forward two years and one pandemic later and the same results of 2019 transpired in the 2021 federal election Monday night, with a Liberal win and Conservative Rob Morrison heading back to Ottawa for the Kootenay-Columbia.

Two years later the song remains the same.

In the 2019 federal election the Liberals won a minority government — being declared before polls closed in B.C. — and Conservative candidate Rob Morrison edged NDP candidate Wayne Stetski for the Kootenay-Columbia seat.

Fast forward two years and one pandemic later and the same results transpired in the 2021 federal election Monday night, with a Liberal win and Morrison heading back to Ottawa.

New Selkirk College Indigenous Classroom Opens Circle of Learning

by Bob Hall on Monday September 20 2021

Selkirk College students, faculty, staff and community Elders joined together to officially open the post-secondary’s first Indigenous classroom on the Castlegar Campus. Set in a permanent circular configuration and featuring brilliant wood furnishings, the bright space sets an immediate tone of openness.

A fresh space on Selkirk College’s Castlegar Campus welcomes students from diverse cultural backgrounds to join together in dialogue, knowledge and understanding.

During the first full week of classes at the regional post-secondary, students, faculty and staff joined together with Elders to officially open the college’s first Indigenous classroom. Beginning with a smudging ceremony outside, students taking the Indigenous Studies 287 course entered a beautiful room configured and adorned in a manner that inspires interconnected learning.

Burning ban, state of emergency ends to signal final stages of wildfire season

by Timothy Schafer Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on Sunday September 19 2021

The end of the burning ban is a sigh of relief for urban and rural residents in the Regional District of Central Kootenay — smoke, wildfire, heat and drought combined to create one of the more difficult summers in recent memory — Brad Lidell, Creative Commons.

People can light them if they got them as the burning ban has been lifted in most of the rural West Kootenay region.

As of late last week open burning is permitted in several fire zones, including Kootenay Lake — which contains Nelson and the Slocan Valley — Arrow, Columbia, Invermere and Cranbrook.

The lifting of the ban — which had been in place for nearly three months — unofficially signals the end of the wildfire season in the region.

Nelson anti-vax supporters join World Wide Rally for Freedom demonstrations

by The Nelson Daily Staff on Sunday September 19 2021

More than 300 protesters lined the sidewalks around Nelson City Hall to show their displeasure with various public-health measures. — Submitted photo

Saturday marked another round of protests in Nelson as anti-vaccine supporters filled the sidewalks in front of City Hall as part of the mass World Wide Rally for Freedom demonstrations across Canada and the world.

More than 300 protesters waved Canadian flags and held signs, some saying “Say No to Vaxx Tyranny”, “No to Vaccine Passports” and “Pro-Choice NO Mandates” to show their displeasure with various public-health measures.

New look for BC Hockey’s AAA Leagues

by The Nelson Daily Sports on Thursday September 16 2021

The BCEHL logo is designed to be representative of the beauty and strength of the province, while also paying tribute to traditional and foundational elements of hockey in our region of Canada.

BC Hockey’s AAA Leagues enter the 2021-22 season with the exciting introduction of a new league name, logo and brand. 

The British Columbia Elite Hockey League (BCEHL) will now be the official home to the top AAA hockey players in the province at the U15, U17, and U18 level.

THE LEAGUE: The BCEHL is the home to four AAA leagues (Female U18 and Male U18, U17 and U15). These four leagues include 35 teams and 680 elite athletes.

Open burning allowed again in parts of Southeast Fire Centre

by Lone Sheep Publishing on Wednesday September 15 2021

All open burning will be permitted in the Cranbrook, Invermere, Columbia, Arrow and Kootenay Lake fire zones, but will remain prohibited in the Boundary fire zone.

Effective at noon Pacific Time on Thursday, September 16, 2021, the Southeast Fire Centre said all open burning will be permitted in the Cranbrook, Invermere, Columbia, Arrow and Kootenay Lake fire zones.

However, open burning will remain prohibited in the Boundary fire zone.

In the Boundary Zone the following equipment and activities remain prohibited:

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