Bill Metcalfe

2 weeks ago | nelsonstar.com | Bill Metcalfe

Three of the election candidates in Columbia-Kootenay-Southern Rockies attended an all-candidate meeting sponsored by the Nelson and District Chamber of Commerce on April 23 at the Adventure Hotel. Reggie Goldsbury (Liberal), Kallee Lins (NDP) and Jim Wiedrick (independent) attended, while Rob Morrison (Conservative), Steven Maffioli (Green Party), and Laurie Baird (People's Party of Canada) were absent.

3 weeks ago | vernonmorningstar.com | Bill Metcalfe

A Nelson wood manufacturing company will receive a $7.5-million grant from the B.C. government to expand its North Shore facility. Spearhead Timberworks designs and produces customizable, highly advanced wood structures for residential and commercial use in an international market. The new facility, Spearhead's owners say, will allow it to upgrade and increase production of its own custom glue-laminated timber.

3 weeks ago | comoxvalleyrecord.com | Bill Metcalfe

Castlegar biologist Matt Casselman believes public opposition to logging plans does not make much difference. Last summer, Casselman sent a 450-signature petition to B.C.'s then-forest minister Bruce Ralston asking him to cancel or postpone logging planned by BC Timber Sales (BCTS) near Castlegar in the Cai Creek watershed. His rationale was that BCTS was planning to cut old-growth trees in an intact watershed ecosystem of a kind that is rare and should be preserved.

4 weeks ago | boundarycreektimes.com | Bill Metcalfe

Selkirk College will close its learning centres in Kaslo and Nakusp this year. The closures are a result of recent federal restrictions on international student recruitment, which have led to a loss of $9 million in revenue for the 2025-26 fiscal year. “While this decision wasn’t made lightly, it’s part of a larger plan to ensure Selkirk College remains financial sustainable and continues to serve our region for generations to come,” said Selkirk College president Maggie Matear.

2 months ago | thenorthernview.com | Bill Metcalfe

On a hot, dry night in July 2024, a lightning storm passed across the north end of Kootenay Lake, leaving several columns of smoke rising from the heavily forested Argenta area. Rik Valentine of Argenta drove around to the Lardeau side of the lake in the very early morning so he could look across the  water and take stock the situation.