Regional News

Giving Day provides hope, motivation for Selkirk College Learners

by Bob Hall on Sunday May 01 2022

Selkirk College alumnus Darren Paterson (left) at the Bursary Tea in 2016 where he received financial support from community donors. Now a PhD student at York University, Paterson has started a bursary of his own to support future Selkirk College learners. — Photo courtesy Selkirk College

Only a few years since he walked the hallways of the Castlegar Campus and still on an educational journey towards his ultimate goal, Selkirk College alumnus Darren Paterson is giving back to the community that holds a special place in his heart.

Nelson Women call for Guaranteed Livable Income

by Contributor on Sunday May 01 2022

Sunday morning in front of the Courthouse, from left, Zabree MacInnis, Terri-Lynn Wilkinson, Donna Macdonald and Nora Janssen from the Nelson & District Women’s Centre joined women from all over B.C. on May 1 to call for a guaranteed livable income. — Submitted photo

Sunday morning, women from the Nelson & District Women’s Centre gathered to display a banner in front of the Provincial Courthouse calling for a guaranteed livable income (GLI).

“Poverty remains a significant issue for women,” said Terri-Lynn Wilkinson, Executive Director of the Women’s Centre in a media release.

“Every day at the Centre, we see women in greater need because of the pandemic and other global events. GLI is the solution for women, and for men.”

The banner dropping in Nelson was part of a province-wide action led by the BC Women’s Alliance.

CBAL’s got access to technology covered

by CBT on Thursday April 28 2022

For 20 years, CBAL has been helping people across the region boost their literacy abilities, from reading and math to digital skills. — Submitted photo

These days, so many aspects of life rely on technology: a senior sends a message to her grandchild, a man checks in with his doctor online, an unemployed worker prints off a form to apply for Employment Insurance.

With a wide-reaching project, Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy (CBAL) is making tech more readily available to people in the region, along with the know-how to use it.

“Digital literacy has grown over the years as a piece that people need in order to be able to live in a modern world and fully participate,” says Desneiges Profili, Executive Director, CBAL.

City sits tight (for now) on banning of single-use plastics

by Timothy Schafer Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on Thursday April 28 2022

Nelson is waiting for the federal government to pass Canada-wide legislation that would ban single-use plastic later this year — Creative Commons photo.

The city won’t be jumping on board the banning of single-use plastics train any time soon, despite communities across the province already banning them ahead of provincial and federal government legislation.

A city official confirmed that Nelson is waiting for the federal government to pass Canada-wide legislation that would ban single-use plastic later this year.

Protestors gather to stop plan to cut old growth forest near Argenta

by Timothy Schafer Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on Tuesday April 26 2022

Last weekend an environmental protest camp was set up near Argenta to help protect part one of the most significant wilderness areas in southeastern B.C. — submitted photo.

People are already standing together to stop a plan to log a section of old growth forest near Argenta.

Last weekend an environmental protest camp was set up near Argenta, with support from local environmentalists and at the invitation of the Autonomous Sinixt, Last Stand West Kootenay (LSWK) — a grassroots collective, non-profit group — intends “to help protect part one of the most significant wilderness areas in southeastern B.C.,” noted a LSWK press release on Monday.

Deep thoughts delivered on amount and nature of presentations given to council

by Timothy Schafer Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on Tuesday April 26 2022

Council regularly receives presentations from staff and various outside organizations at its committee of the whole meetings, and often times there are more requests than the city is able accommodate.

Three times is the charm for city council when it comes to presentations.

Or, at least it could be capped at three, according to a discussion over Council Procedure Bylaw at the April 19 committee-of-the-whole (COW) meeting.

The number of presentations at the monthly COW meeting — from city staff and from the public — that city council could feasibly hear and discuss was discussed, with the result to be entrenched in legislation in the policy.

Enrolment projected to drop in School District No. 8 for next school year

by Timothy Schafer Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on Saturday April 23 2022

There is a projected decline of 43.125 full-time-equivalent (FTE) students for the next school year in SD8.

The school district is facing a funding shortfall next school year, a direct result of a drop in projected enrolment, which could mean fewer teachers employed.

There is a projected decline of 43.125 full-time-equivalent (FTE) students for the next school year in School District No. 8 (Kootenay Lake), a figure which is predominantly made up of regular Kindergarten to Grade 12 school enrolment.

According to a projected enrolment report from district staff to the SD8 board of trustees, the enrolment drop would represent a significant decline in funding.

Interior Health issues Drug Alert for Nelson area

by Lone Sheep Publishing on Saturday April 23 2022

The alert was issued after a sample believed to be methamphetamine tested positive for down (caffeine, mannitol, fentanyl, benzodiazepine). — Screenshot photo

Interior Heath has issued a DRUG ALERT for the Nelson area after a sample believed to be methamphetamine tested positive for down (caffeine, mannitol, fentanyl, benzodiazepine). 

Interior Health said in a media release Friday, the overdose risk is very high when stimulants are contaminated/mixed with down.

Selkirk College Valedictorians Personify Class of 2022

by Bob Hall on Friday April 22 2022

A graduate of the four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Program at Selkirk College, James Besa is one of two valedictorians who will represent the Class of 2022 at the April 26 convocation ceremony on the Castlegar Campus.

An embodiment of the spirit required to overcome challenges of the last two years, the valedictorians representing Selkirk College’s Class of 2022 will provide a rousing send-off to peers at the Castlegar Campus on April 26.

In the first in-person ceremony since 2019, students graduating from all Selkirk College programs will walk across the stage and into remarkable futures at Convocation 2022. James Besa and Gagnjeet Singh have been chosen as this year’s valedictorians who will provide inspiring words in a pair of ceremonies set for the day.

Two prescribed burns slated for this weekend, weather permitting

by Castlegar Source on Friday April 22 2022

McLeod Creek and Trozzo Creek areas may see prescribed burns as early as Sunday.

Two prescribed burns in the region may help the BC Wildfire Service get a jump on this year's fire season,

To help reduce wildfire threats, the BC Wildfire Service is supporting the Slocan Integral Forestry Cooperative (SIFCo) in conducting a prescribed burn covering up to 162 hectares in the Trozzo Creek area.

The burn site is around three km northeast of Winlaw. Smoke may impact the residents close to the burn area and be visible from Winlaw and surrounding communities; it may also be visible to motorists travelling along Hwy 6.

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