Sign In Subscribe Now Residents and businesses in Cranbrook and Kimberley rolled up their sleeves last week in a strong show of environmental and community spirit during two Earth Week initiatives: the Springtime Spruce Up from April 22–25 and the Co-Community Cleanup on April 26 These community cleanup events were organized by Wildsight Kimberley-Cranbrook in collaboration with the cities of Kimberley and Cranbrook and Mountain Phoenix Community Culture with the goal of revitalizing shared spaces and bolstering civic pride.  The Spingtime Spruce Up saw more than double the number of businesses participate compared to previous years and others—joined schools and community groups to clean areas of their choosing throughout the week Domino’s Pizza supported the effort with prize packs to one team in each community “Seeing local businesses step up and lead by example was incredibly motivating,” said Robyn Skare “Their efforts went beyond cleaning—they helped amplify the message through their networks.” The momentum carried into the Co-Community Clean Up on Saturday where volunteers of all ages tackled streets Kimberley alone saw 14 cleanup routes completed with volunteers noting a reduction in waste compared to previous years Safety concerns have prompted organizers to consider additional strategies for future cleanups along highway areas Groups such as the Rotary Clubs of both cities and the Kimberley Chamber of Commerce brought energy and enthusiasm to the day with younger volunteers making a particularly notable impact including awards for the most unique or largest piece of garbage Approximately 1,000 pounds of waste were collected across 26 routes in the two cities Organizers acknowledged the generous contributions of many local businesses and sponsors whether it was a solo effort or a coordinated team,” said Pam Walsh, Manager of Community Development and Communications with the City of Kimberley “We’re proud of the momentum built this year and look forward to even more community engagement in 2026.” Residents are encouraged to mark Earth Week 2026 as a time to reconnect with their community and environment through these growing local initiatives Dialogue and debate are integral to a free society and we welcome and encourage you to share your views on the issues of the day. 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To learn about our commenting policies and how our community-based moderation works, please read our Community Guidelines Home » Earth Week efforts spark strong business engagement Residents and businesses in Cranbrook and Kimberley came together last week to clean up their neighbourhoods during two Earth Week initiatives: the Springtime Spruce Up (April 22–25) and the Co-Community Clean Up (April 26) Organized by Wildsight Kimberley Cranbrook both events aimed to rejuvenate shared spaces and encourage a deeper sense of community care The Springtime Spruce Up empowered local businesses and community groups to take on clean-up efforts at a time and place of their choosing during Earth Week Business participation more than doubled from previous years with groups receiving supplies and promotional materials to support their efforts and celebrate their involvement As an added incentive and to promote the team building aspect of this event Domino’s Pizza donated a prize pack to one Spruce Up team in each community Many of the participating businesses not only contributed their time and effort to clean-up activities but also helped amplify the initiative by actively promoting the event and their involvement through their social media channels Along with schools from School Districts No these local organizations took part in the Spruce Up Springtime Spruce Up: Enthusiastic Business Participation “This event gave businesses a chance to take real visible action for their communities,” said Robyn Skare Communications Coordinator for Wildsight Kimberley Cranbrook “It was inspiring to see so many step up and encourage others as well.” The week wrapped up with the Co-Community Clean Up on Saturday Volunteers of all ages came out to clean parks A total of 14 routes were cleaned up in Kimberley with noticeably less garbage than in past years Organizers are exploring different avenues for future clean up along the higher speed highway sections on either side of Kimberley Community groups like the Rotary Clubs of Cranbrook and Kimberley and Kimberley Chamber of Commerce showed up in force with large groups of volunteers ready to make a difference they infused both locations with fun and positive energy A refreshing and encouraging sight on a sunny Saturday morning was the well organized highly enthusiastic groups of younger folks ready and excited to make a difference in their community We hope to see that demographic grow with this event along with awards for: Most Unique Piece of Garbage; Largest Piece of Garbage; Most Colourful Team Teams and individuals were encouraged to send their photos to organizers showcasing their unique and interesting finds of the day Everything from old work boots that never missed a day to an oil barrel acting as an ant habitat and neon could be seen all over the streets of Cranbrook and Kimberley These generous prize donors brought smiles to many faces throughout the week and weekend the Spruce Up week-long initiative paired with the Saturday Co-Community Clean Up volunteers collected approximately 1,000 pounds of waste from our city streets They covered 12 different routes in Cranbrook and 14 in Kimberley These events would not be possible without the charitable support from local sponsors and partners: or a business bringing out their staff,” said Pam Walsh “We’re proud of what was achieved this week and excited to build even more momentum in 2026.” Organizers are looking to grow both events in future years and encourage everyone to mark Earth Week 2026 as a time for collective care and community pride A Kimberley-based author is looking for stories Greg Scott will be at Huckleberry Books in Cranbrook on May 8 to talk about his adventures cycling across Canada with his son that he put to paper with his book while also sharing recent escapades of skiing all resorts in B.C and Alberta over the last two winters with his daughter Scott will also talk about Tidbits of Change Foundation a non-profit he founded with his daughter that helps and encourages Canadian youth and parent/mentor partnerships to develop and experience community initiatives together.  He is also hoping to raise the profile of bursaries offered by foundation for Canadian teenaged youth who have created or developed a meaningful initiative or an inspirational shared adventure with a parent/mentor three youth were awarded bursaries as part of their post-secondary schooling with forms available on the Tidbits of Change website Scott said his presentation will have a number of unique elements involving both the stories within The Cycle of Life as well as the ethos of the Tidbits for Change Foundation "I've been doing a number of these events now and they've been really fun," said Scott "We have different people coming for different reasons People interested in cycling want to hear about the cycling part of the adventure There's people that love the concept of something like this happening across Canada coast-to-coast and they want to hear some of the nuances of that "Then I think that there's parents and youth that are just interested in hearing about the collaboration side of things." Traversing the country by bike over 15 years with his son Scott chronicled the adventure in The Cycle of Life The journey started with a tire dip at the Pacific Ocean when is son was 10 years old and they went as far as they could picking up at the exact same spot they left off each summer until they reached the Atlantic we went from Prince Edward Island — Charlottetown — out to St and we dipped our tires in the Atlantic and it became this amazing dad and son bonding experience over 15 years," Scott said.  and repeating the same feat in Alberta this past winter by skiing all 39 lift-serviced ski areas in 34 days "It turned out to be this magnificent dad-and-daughter journey," Scott said The Tidbits of Change Foundation was an effort that originated with both Scott and his daughter they packed up their instruments to busk and play music together while raising money and awareness for a deserving local cause That blossomed into the creation of the foundation which has gone on to raise funds and profile of all kinds of non profit causes across Western Canada and the United States while also inspiring similar efforts between youth and parents or mentors across the globe Residents marked Red Dress Day with a march to Rotary Park where community members mourned family and friends who died or have gone missing because of violence against Indigenous people and called on government leaders and communities for action The march began at the Operation Street Angel building, which was led by an RCMP escort for traffic safety as well as the Suk?ni Singers ending at the bandstand in Rotary Park Aqam Nasukin (Chief) Cheryl Casimer thanked the community for coming out to "generate and create awareness about this crisis that plagues this country." British Columbia needs to do better," Casimer said "We need to do better and we can only do that by working together in partnership with one another." Casimer said only two action items from Calls for Justice — a 2019 report that identified 231 recommendations to address violence against Indigenous people — have been implemented to date.  because what that means to me is that it's not being taken serious enough in this country," said Casimer "What that means to me is that our government representatives aren't taking it seriously." Casimer encouraged people to call on their elected government representatives to take action with the Indian Residential School Survivor Society provided some disturbing context faced by Indigenous communities Whiskeyjack said Indigenous women are four times more likely than non-Indigenous women to be victims of violence and that Indigenous women make up 16 per cent of all female homicide victims and 11 per cent of missing women yet Indigenous people make up only 4.3 per cent of the population of Canada Whiskeyjack also said around 600 Indigenous men and boys have gone missing or have been murdered between 1956 and 2016 "It's important to know and to remember and to say the names of the loved ones who are still missing," said Whiskeyjack who raised awareness about the case of Christopher Newton a 33-year-old man who was reported missing in Nelson last summer while Michele Sam reminded everyone that ʔa·kisk̓aqǂiʔit is the Ktuanxa place name for the area that settlers later called Cranbrook and spoke about how violence has affected her family and community Home » Wildfire prevention open house May 6 The City of Kimberley is hosting its annual Wildfire Prevention Open House May 6 (5:30 – 7 p.m.) This event at Kimberley Fire Hall (340 Spokane Street) is designed to educate and engage our community on wildfire prevention and fuels management strategies ensuring the safety of our residents and environment Learn about ongoing and upcoming projects aimed at reducing wildfire risks in Kimberley Discover the importance of prescribed burns and what to expect this season Gain practical steps to protect your home from wildfires through FireSmart principles This open house is a valuable opportunity for residents to gain insights into wildfire prevention efforts and learn how they can contribute to making Kimberley a safer community The Kimberley Fire Department is committed to protecting our community from the threat of wildfires through proactive fuels management and community education For more information, contact: [email protected] A historic trip seven years in the making is finally underway for the Kimberley Pipe Band. On April 28 the band arrived in Amsterdam after a red-eye flight to join a contingent of pipe bands from all over B.C. led by the Kelowna Pipe Band, to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the liberation of The Netherlands from Nazi occupation.  "It has been a long time coming," said Kimberley's Liela Cooper, who was recently honoured by ScotDance Canada for her 50 years of teaching Highland dance.  "Especially since the planning started in 2018 and when the trip was cancelled because of COVID in 2020 So to finally be here is an incredible feeling to realize this dream. In a way it might even be sweeter since we had to wait for it for so long."  Cooper said it was fantastic to connect with all the other bands from around the province.  "It’s been fantastic meeting up with all the other members," she said. "We did have a huge practice at Thanksgiving in Kelowna where we all met for two full days of practice We have lots of laughs always have time for a cold beer and share a story or two." where they learned about the over 8,000 Canadian servicemen who died in the liberation of the Netherlands in World War 2 One of the men who did the presentation was six years old when the Netherlands were liberated.  the band travelled to the city of Veenendaal where they said they were welcomed with open arms.  "The reception from the locals is the part that brings tears to your eyes every time," Cooper said. "They are so welcoming and warm They are so grateful for the service of our Armed Forces and grateful that we’re there to commemorate these very important days the band played at Commemoration events in Bemmel and Huissen and heard speeches from the organizers and the mayor The band played in castle built in the 1300s that was bombed in 1944 and rebuilt in the 1950s.  "The 'Wing' is the symbol that symbolizes any act of war," Cooper explained. "It is the metaphor for those who have not detached themselves yet from the war." they reenacted the march of the Allied Forces as they came off the ferry through the city's streets during liberation The band posted said the streets were lined with people for as far as you could see creating a "breathtaking and emotional" experience.  On April 28 the band performed at Vimy Ridge the site of one of Canada's most significant military victories and a memorial for the members of the Canadian Expeditionary Force who were killed during the First World War as well as the soldiers who were killed or presumed dead in France who had no known grave.  They were taken on a tour of the the trenches and tunnel systems there highlighting the horrors of trench warfare endured by soldiers during the First World War.  "As you walk through the trenches and tunnel system it’s gut wrenching to try to imagine what it felt like for all those young men," Cooper said. "As far as the eye could see were so many craters left from the bombing One huge crater was in what is called “no man’s land” was literally between the two enemy front lines "It’s hard to imagine being that close to your enemy That crater was created when the allied forces exploded a bomb underground to try to destroy the German trenches You can follow along with the Kimberley Pipe Band's journey at facebook.com/kimberleypipeband Most of the band will return to Canada on May 9 though some are electing to stay a little longer including Cooper and her sister who will head to Croatia for a week.  The band expressed their gratitude to everyone who helped support their fundraisers that helped make this trip possible, including Ceilidh on the Mountain the coffee fundraiser and the sale of 50-50 tickets The Bulletin will report more when the band is back in Canada.  Three Vancouver Giants won gold with Team Canada on Saturday at the 2025 IIHF U18 World Championship Cameron Schmidt, Ryan Lin and Burke Hood all had ice time in the series with Schmidt finishing the tournament with four points (2G-2A) and 22 shots on goal in seven games while Lin – who was one of five underagers on Canada and is eligible for next year’s tournament – recorded two points (1G-1A) and was +8 in seven games Hood played in pre-tournament action during his first time representing Canada internationally It marks the first time Canada has won U18 gold in consecutive years and it is also the seventh year in a row for a medal for Sweden Canada was in control for the entirety of Saturday’s gold medal game three in the second and two more in the third "We had a plan to get pucks in and to the net," said coach Cory Stillman of getting pucks back to the defencemen who got shots on net We had some big bodies that went to the net We built some momentum and eventually created some scoring chances and capitalized." This is the third time Schmidt has won a gold medal representing Canada after also winning at the 2023 U17 World Hockey Challenge with Canada White (where he scored the golden goal) and at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup This is the second time Lin has won a gold medal representing Canada after finishing first at the 2024 U17 World Hockey Challenge with Canada White Lin also played for Canada at the 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games About the Author: Langley Advance Times Staff Home » Movement that transforms lives When you step into Louise Wight’s cozy home studio in Kimberley you’re stepping into more than just a Pilates class — you’re stepping into a space built on resilience and the belief that every body deserves the chance to move with ease and confidence Her journey began with her own struggle: debilitating back pain in her twenties that left her sidelined from the activities she loved A physiotherapist’s suggestion led her to a Pilates class — and just three months later “That experience changed everything,” she shares I knew I wanted to help others feel that same empowerment.” Louise and her family made the move to Kimberley With the transition came the perfect opportunity to launch her long-held dream: her own Pilates business Louise Wight Pilates opened its doors in November personalized classes for up to four people in a welcoming home studio — with her sweet dog Tito often stealing the show inviting setting — Louise’s sessions are grounded in strength and science “Every class includes resistance work — squats “Because it’s not just about movement — it’s about getting stronger to live longer Her small studio format allows for tailored instruction whether through group classes or one-on-one rehabilitation sessions And with her recent Diploma in Clinical Pilates Louise brings the latest research-based techniques to every client “It’s a lot — but I wouldn’t trade it,” she laughed “It’s amazing watching people get stronger Her clients’ transformations are what keep her going “I hear stories every week — someone’s back pain is gone someone else has more energy or is sleeping better her vision is already looking forward: a dedicated commercial space in Kimberley that offers Reformer and mat classes — a full Pilates hub that serves the growing demand for personalized Running a business as a woman comes with its fair share of challenges “There’s this perception that it’s just a little side hustle,” she said “But I want women to believe they can create successful businesses doing what they love.” mentors like Raphael Bender and Adam McAtee of Evidence Based Pilates have played a key role in her journey Their science-backed approach helped her develop a teaching style that blends deep knowledge with intuitive care “I want every client to feel seen and safe but they know their bodies best — I trust them to choose what feels right.” When she’s not teaching or growing the business Louise is investing in herself — through daily gratitude journaling She also finds joy in singing with the Kimberley Community Choir “It’s such a stress reliever — a completely different outlet that feeds my spirit.” — but I’ll admit I’m still working on that one!” “I didn’t plan to open a home studio — but it works And remember — your work matters to your community.” She also emphasizes the power of relationships — with clients Whether you’re looking to ease chronic pain Louise is ready to guide you — with warmth Kimberley Riverside Campground will host a campout party and concert.  will feature live music from Kimberley's The Hollers great food from Al's Smoked Meat and beverages from Over Time Beer Works You can call 250-247-2929 to book your meal in advance.  The event is also a fundraiser: $1 from every beer sold plus all food profits will go towards building a disc golf course on the property that will be free to play for the whole community.  and identified as belonging to missing Maple Ridge woman Rebecca Harbowy The Ridge Meadows RCMP reported Friday morning The 36-year-old left Ridge Meadows Hospital on Nov early into detoxing from drug use. Her family has been critical of the hospital letting her leave the facility on her own She was last seen walking east on the Haney Bypass at Burnett Street in Maple Ridge at approximately 2:05 a.m Police released few details about the discovery of the remains The family told The News it was in a forested area Distraught mother Debbie Harbowy is hopeful that an intense search of the area will lead to Rebecca Police have searched the area since the remains were discovered in early April The family is unsure where a search would be but plan to appeal to police for more information "I always felt in my heart she had passed away because she hadn't contacted me," said Debbie Rebecca's sister Rachel Bertoia posted videos on social media informing those who have tried to assist in finding Rebecca and those who have been following the missing woman's case She said there is a memorial at the 7-Eleven at the corner of Lougheed Highway and Haney Bypass where there is a missing person sign the family posted I think it would be really lovely for my mom to have people drop off flowers to her sign there," said Bertoia.  "I would love for my mom to be able to see the love and support that I know that we have felt." "I can't imagine being a mom losing a kid." Rebecca was about eight hours into what doctors advised would be a three-day stay but early the next morning she walked away Her family believes she was confused and disoriented She lived with her parents in the Yennadon area Debbie had been sitting with her daughter until midnight she got a call from the hospital that her daughter had left driving the streets of Maple Ridge for hours the family canvassed people in the hospital neighbourhood and searched the area They obtained video showing Rebecca walking down River Road eastbound near the Port Haney West Coast Express station at 1:46 a.m A tipster saw a woman matching Rebecca’s description walking on the Haney Bypass at approximately 2 a.m Another video showed her on the Haney Bypass at Burnett Street at 2:05 a.m. A man said he almost hit a woman walking on Lougheed Highway near 240 Street but the description of the woman having her hair up in a bun matched they have learned nothing more about Rebecca's movements Police and searchers combed roadsides and the edge of the Fraser River Police say this continues to be an active investigation and anyone with information which could help the Ridge Meadows RCMP you are encouraged to call the Ridge Meadows RCMP at 604-463-6251 and refer to File # 2023-23402 The RCMP extended condolences to the family and friends of Rebecca Harbowy community partners and volunteers for their assistance with this investigation thus far The Kimberley Ambulance Station held an award ceremony on Thursday April 24 to honour three of their long-serving team members.  Doug Smith was honoured for 30 years of service and Amber Pasula for 15 years — a combined 70 years of dedication to the safety and well-being of our community "It’s hard to put into words what it means to have people like Doug "They have each given so much of themselves to this community—through long nights Their commitment isn’t just to the job—it’s to the people of Kimberley "Paramedics are often the first on the scene in moments of crisis and their work is as demanding as it is vital While their contributions may not always make headlines their impact is felt deeply—by every family comforted during an emergency every life stabilized en route to the hospital and every neighbour who sleeps a little easier knowing help is just a call away and calm in the face of chaos are the foundations of our emergency response system."  The Kimberley Ambulance Station currently employs 11-full time and 13 casual paramedics.  it’s the unwavering dedication of people like Doug and Amber that reminds us what community service truly looks like," Hunt said. "We thank them—and all our paramedics—for the sacrifices they make Hunt said the station is actively recruiting for more casual team members. If anyone is interested they can contact Hunt at Donald.Hunt@bcehs.ca An Instagram influencer known for producing outdoor-related content was sentenced on May 1 at the Yukon Territorial Court for illegally hunting three bears and obtaining Yukon hunting licences using misleading information between October 2022 and May 2023 relate to offences committed under the Yukon Wildlife Act Justice Katherine McLeod ordered Hamm to pay a $10,500 fine and an equal amount in contributions to the Yukon conservation fund for illegally hunting three bears within a five-day period in May 2023 McLeod fined Hamm $2,750 and $1,750 for obtaining hunting licences using misleading information on two separate occasions between 2022 and 2023 She also ordered him to contribute a total of $3,500 to the conservation fund for both counts of obtaining Yukon hunting licenses as a non-resident McLeod prohibited Hamm from hunting in Yukon for two years McLeod ruled that Hamm must complete an online hunter education and ethics development course before he can obtain a Yukon hunting licence again She also ordered him to forfeit pelts from the bears he hunted Defence lawyer Kevin Drolet told the court that Hamm could make the payment immediately and that the necessary funds were held in a trust account Hamm attended the proceedings virtually from outside the territory Crown prosecutor Kelly McGill presented submissions on sentencing noting that the Yukon Wildlife Act authorizes the courts to impose a fine of up to $50,000 or up to one year in custody for the offences on the indictment McGill and Drolet agreed upon sentencing recommendations for the offences on the indictment that Hamm pleaded guilty to including an equal amount in contributions to the conservation fund as well as a two-year hunting ban and a three-year prohibition on joining groups out on hunts McGill and Drolet noted in their submissions that Yukon hunting licenses are reserved for Yukon residents and that Hamm had obtained one despite being a non-resident McGill argued that Yukon wildlife is a public resource and that non-residents can only hunt through a third party adding that Hamm’s non-compliance with Yukon’s licensing laws was an aggravating factor in sentencing McGill said Hamm hunted a grizzly bear near Kluane Lake in May 2023 and that he also hunted two black bears approximately a three-hour drive north of Haines Junction and another at Bove Island on Tagish Lake’s Windy Arm McGill also noted that conservation officers recovered two black bear hides a grizzly bear hide and a bear skull from a taxidermist in the Yukon Drolet argued in mitigation that sustainable harvest numbers for grizzly bears in 2022 were less than one-quarter of the annual sustainable harvest He also argued that Hamm submitted all the required harvest and biological reports to Yukon Conservation Officer Services after hunting the bears Drolet added that Hamm has family connections to Yukon despite the defence’s characterization of his residence as unusual due to the nature of his employment said in sentencing that the nature of Hamm’s employment should help serve as a deterrent against future offences untamed landscapes make enforcing wildlife and conservation laws difficult leaving the territory vulnerable to violations She emphasized that denunciation and deterrence should play a role in sentencing for the offences to which Hamm pleaded guilty Kimberley’s Chief Administrative Officer Jim Hendricks presented the Administration Update to City Council discussing some of the main projects that are planned or underway now in Kimberley.  “There’s a bunch of things starting off in the city as people will realize as they’re out and about,” Hendricks said Reconstruction that began last week — one of the most significant and most visible projects currently underway Another one Hendricks mentioned is the “much-anticipated” Cominco Gardens Rejuvenation project which he said should be getting underway in early May This project was awarded to Border Holdings Ltd City staff will not be performing annual planting but will maintain unaffected areas with mowing and trimming The report indicates they will “work closely with contractors and consultants to minimize disruptions to nearby properties.” Hendricks said there is some design work happening with the Civic Centre chiller replacement project but the chiller itself will not be installed until next year Phase 1 is expected to be completed by late July but construction is now planned for the off season of 2026.  This new ice plant will service the Civic Centre as well as the Curling Club.  The Centre 64 Bandshell and Landscaping project which Hendricks said will be “another great addition to downtown,” will also get underway this month and be completed by this fall.  The City recently received noticed that their grant application for a proposed sidewalk on Marsden Street construction is planned to begin this summer.  with construction to begin in early May and last one month.  Hendricks also mentioned the City has signed an agreement to purchase an electric zamboni and they will also be purchasing another loader-mounted snowblower.  He invited the public out to Public Works Day this year scheduled for May 21 at 250 Knighton Road from 8:30 a.m presentations and a hot dog and hamburger lunch starting at 11 a.m “This is something that’s been going on in the City for quite a while and we invite everybody out to participate in that,” Hendricks said “It’s always a great event for the kids and the community in general to find out what goes on down at the yards.” Hendricks then turned the presentation over to Manager of Planning and Sustainability Troy Pollock who discussed first-quarter building permit activity in Kimberley.  He said the first-quarter report “looks very positive” with 50 dwelling units that the City has issued building permits for — well above prior years “But I think that’s a little bit of an oddity because as Council recalls there was some recent building code changes that took effect as of March,” Pollock said “And so there were quite a few permits that came in early to get in ahead of those changes so that was the seismic and lateral wind loading design changes and some of the adaptability requirements so I think that’s probably the explanation there.”  Pollock expressed that 2025 is looking to be a “positive year,” even if he doesn’t think this pace for the issuance building codes will continue on through the next three quarters.  Those 50 building permits represent around $19.3 million in project construction value stemming from 39 multi-unit dwelling units You can find the full report in the City Council agendas at kimberley.ca  The mayors of North Cowichan and Nanaimo are urging the province to increase the amount of timber that can be harvested annually in the province In a letter to Minister of Forests Ravi Parmar North Cowichan Mayor Rob Douglas and Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog said that despite its recent struggles the forest industry continues to be a major part of the local economies of both municipalities providing high-paying jobs while contributing millions of dollars in taxes every year that help pay for municipal services and build critical infrastructure the Domtar pulp mill in Crofton and the Western Forest Products sawmills and remanufacturing plant in Cowichan Bay and Chemainus employ 655 workers and contribute $7.7 million per year in property taxes while Nanaimo’s Harmac Pacific mill has 350 employees and contributed more than $2.3 million in property taxes in 2024 But they said that in the face of softwood lumber duties and the declining annual-allowable cut in the amount of timber that is permitted to be harvested in B.C. they are increasingly concerned about these companies' ability to continue operating The mayors point out that while softwood-lumber duties and tariffs are beyond Parmar’s ability to control setting the annual allowable harvest is a responsibility of his ministry They said the province’s budget for 2025 projects that only 30 million cubic metres of timber will be allowed to be harvested on Crown land this year further declining to 29 million cubic metres by 2027 while more than 60 million cubic metres were allowed to be harvested in 2024 Douglas said the effects of the fibre shortage are already being felt in North Cowichan where Western Forests Products has announced a two-week shutdown in March and April due to a lack of timber “Your mandate letter from Premier David Eby includes as a priority to ‘work with all partners toward ensuring a sustainable land base to enable harvest of 45-million cubic metres per year while fulfilling our commitment to protect old growth’,” the mayors said to Parmar “We want the government to commit to the promised allowable cut of 45 million cubic metres for 2025 and maintain these levels for future years We anticipate a continued decline in volume harvested compounded with softwood lumber duties and U.S will potentially devastate the forest industry and result in the closure of more mills meaning communities like ours will lose family-supporting jobs and major taxpayers exacerbating the already high cost of living that our residents are facing.” The mayors also said they want to see the province’s permit and regulatory processes for timber harvesting streamlined “Your government has made commitments to fast-track approvals for the housing and mining sectors and we would like to see a similar approach to timber harvesting with metrics to allow the government and industry to measure success,” they said to Parmar “The backlog of cutting permits and the performance of BC Timber Sales are major concerns These issues reduce the overall wood availability for sawmills and impact the supply of residual chips which are vital for the operations of our pulp and paper mills Prompt resolution of these issues is critical for maintaining a steady log flow.” A business has reported losing $162,000 in a digital SIM card swap fraud as scams continue to impact the Parksville Qualicum Beach area was reported on March 31 and appears to be a sophisticated account hacking where the victim did not engage or initiate in any activity with any fraudsters "The good news is the victim’s bank is involved and there may be some possibility of funds being recovered," Worth said in a statement to the PQB News a resident reported losing $130,000 in a cryptocurrency scam after investing online with a firm with an alleged celebrity endorsement RCMP said this case involved a person initially investing a small amount of money in cryptocurrency based on an advertisement the returns were good and they invested more money "When the person attempted to withdraw funds there were demands for fees commissions and taxes and it was then that they realized they were being scammed and their account was no longer visible," Worth said a resident reported losing $40,000 over three years after responding to a phone call to participate in a cryptocurrency investment This person told police they were contacted by telephone by an unknown male who told them they had a large amount of unclaimed cryptocurrency and offered to help the resident followed all of the instructions provided by the man who guided them in sending various amounts of money through different online banking institutions The resident’s banks recognized they were being scammed and locked their accounts and this is when the resident reported the fraud to police.  "If anyone ever receives an unsolicited phone call or email offering an investment opportunity immediately hang up or delete the email. It is a scam," Worth said.  RCMP warn residents to not engage with the caller or the person sending the email and do not click on any link received in an email that originates from an unknown sender "These links are often sent under a ruse that there is an issue with your computer and clicking on the link can provide the scammer remote access "These scams and frauds are very complex to investigate and it is next to impossible to recover any of the victims’ lost money ask friends and family for advice or recommendations and always use a reputable financial advisor About the Author: Parksville Qualicum Beach News Staff Kimberley's Bylaw Enforcement Officer Sean Lever presented the 2025 First Quarter Animal Control and Bylaw Enforcement Report to Kimberley City Council highlighting some of their key priorities.  The first pertains to short-term rental bylaw enforcement.  "The key takeaway for that one is that we’ve been consolidating with the provincial database that has just gone through earlier last year to confirm that our numbers and theirs match," Lever said. "That’s certainly been very helpful in terms of identifying whether there are non-compliant short-term rentals in our city We’ve actually used the take-down portal through that process to remove one listing and then we’ve also sent them additional letters through from our own software but also the provincial software to help bring people into compliance."  The second highlight he mentioned is pet licensing pet licenses expire on December 31 each year Lever said January is typically the busiest period for renewals They've also been posting reminders to social media with the next step being following up on delinquent licenses and issuing fines.  "We've done enough education in that piece now with the multiple letters and the social media that at this point your next step will be a fine and I’m expecting that that will be a fairly significant amount of people just based on the fact that we’ve only got 675 licensed currently," he said. "I believe the highest that we had was at the end of 2023 was approximately 830 or something to that effect So there are a few delinquent licenses that haven’t been followed up on at this time." Mayor Don McCormick remarked with a laugh that he'd be shocked if Kimberley had less than 3,000 dogs.  Calls for service for streets and traffic bylaw infractions remained relatively consistent this quarter at 104 compared to 96 in the first quarter of 2024 and 111 in 2023 but animal control calls are down significantly from 43 in 2023 to 21 in the first quarter of 2025.  Mayor Don McCormick asked Lever to describe what the Good Neighbour bylaw encompasses.  Lever explained that it's a "fairly extensive" category "Those kind of things that we were working very closely with the RCMP on a couple of files," Lever said "We’ve built up a good relationship there where they’re now in a position and they’re feeling comfortable with issuing municipal infraction tickets for Good Neighbour bylaw for infractions that occur while I’m off duty "And then I represent those tickets in court if they go that far which helps reduce the burden on having them having to leave the city to go to court So I take on that portion of it and that helps drive turnover." Sign up below for unlimited digital access for 30 days receive our daily news alerts & breaking news April 28 Kimberley City Council adopted the 2025-2029 Five Year Financial Plan Bylaw as well as the Parcel Tax Imposition Bylaw and the 2025 Tax Rates Bylaw.  The bylaws were passed without any discussion as they had been discussed at length over the previous three meetings Readers can refer to past Bulletin articles for our coverage on the lead-up to this approval.  Mayor Don McCormick highlighted a few key points.  "All of our capital projects are fully funded it’s coming from either reserves or grants "The other key thing is that 1.5 per cent of the tax increase is specifically for infrastructure funding and I think that’s pretty key We need to bolster our reserves for future projects and 1.5 per cent of the tax increase is specifically for that."  McCormick also mentioned the work the City has put into the Asset Management Plan which they've used to prioritize projects since 2017.  and so we are in good shape as a result of that," he said.  Residents are encouraged to visit engagekimberley.ca to view the 2025-2029 Five Year Financial Plan and all associated materials presented throughout the preceding budget deliberations and share their thoughts or input on it. The overview on Engage Kimberley outlines all expenses for the next five years and their expected revenue sources.  a $2 increase from 2024. Funding the 2025 budget requires a 6.99 per cent increase over the combined total of the Property Value Tax and Flat Tax collected in 2024 Based on the average single-family home in Kimberley being assessed at $574,954 property taxes collected for the municipality will increase by around $201.08 per year The full overview can be seen here: kimberley.civicweb.net/document/126674 Enter your email to connect to 30 more days worth of stories by journalists living & working in Kimberley Steve Woodcox presented the 2024/25 fourth quarter report to Kimberley City Council at their meeting on Monday Woodcox highlighted three key objectives the RCMP in consultation with their partners including the City of Kimberley have identified for the 2024-25 fiscal year: traffic — specifically impaired driving — youth He said calls for service were down seven per cent from the same period as last year Eight reports were forwarded to Cranbrook Crown Counsel for charge approval during this quarter.  There were 344 total calls for service from January to March Police stopped 100 vehicles at road checks with seven Immediate Roadside Prohibitions issued and 31 tickets issued.  RCMP members made over 44 visits to local schools during the quarter to "interact and build relationships with local youth."  Woodcox also highlighted a few files of interest when the Kimberley RCMP were called to respond to a male in crisis who had threatened to burn down his condo building resulting in the evacuation of several residences and the response from the Containment Team and the Emergency Response Team (ERT) The individual eventually surrendered to police and was safely taken into custody after several hours of overnight negotiation.  had been granted a Protection Order against her partner by the court stating he was to have no contact with her or their children The male came to her home and took one of their children arrested and held in custody by police.  Kimberley RCMP attempted to stop a pickup truck and the driver fled Three males were taken into custody.  In an interview later that week with the Kimberley Bulletin, Woodcox advised the public to report suspicious behaviour to the RCMP "What we have been seeing lately is some of the more known drug addicts becoming more familiar in Kimberley," Woodcox said. "And the only thing I would suggest is that when the members of the public see something suspicious happen because sometimes that gives us the alert ahead of time that these certain things are happening in certain areas of town "The sooner we find out about where some of these individuals are frequenting the quicker we can go and proactively try to deal with some of that But we do see some more of that transient nature where some of those people are coming to Kimberley more often we just seem to see a little bit more of that frequently." Woodcox noted that a Block Watch that was started by Kimberley residents in fall is still being organized and he hopes it will continue to run into the future.  the RCMP delivered over 10 hampers of food to individuals and families in the community Members from the Kimberley RCMP regularly attend Garden View Village to serve coffee and meet with the residents and then have plans to do the same at the Pines Retirement Home as well.  The Kimberley RCMP detachment is currently operating at 80 per cent of full capacity.  No One Covers Kimberley Like The Kimberley Bulletin Don’t miss out on reading the latest local Join our community and receive daily news alerts & breaking news approved the 2025-26 Columbia Basin Trust (CBT) Resident Directed (ReDi) Grants and their allocation recommendations The ReDi Grant Program is funded by CBT and administered by the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) "These grants require no funding from local government but they certainly do make a massive impact on all of our local organizations," said Pam Walsh, Manager of Community Development and Communications Join thousands of other like-minded readers and sign up below to gain immediate & unlimited access to our news for the next 30 days – plus start receiving our newsletters RCMP have confirmed that alcohol was a factor in the single-vehicle collision on Highway 95A between Kimberley and Marysville on the evening of Friday RCMP attended to the driver of a pickup truck that had gone off the road and collided with several power poles The sole occupant of the vehicle showed signs of impairment by alcohol and he was issued a 90-day driving prohibition Home » ReDI grant program allocations forwarded Kimberley City Council Report City of Kimberley council held its regular bi-monthly meeting Jason McBain and Sandra Roberts were present along with Mayor Don McCormick An archive of the meeting can be viewed on the City of Kimberley YouTube channel. Watch it here. Resident Directed (ReDi) Program Grants Announced Pam Walsh Manager of Community Development and Communication presented council with the final ReDi grant allocations chosen by the Local Selection Committee (LSC) The ReDI grant program is funded by Columbia Basis Trust (CBT) and administered by the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) The use of the LSC in assessing grant applications is a new approach that council adopted in lieu of the past where the whole council was part of the process Scaling back full council participation and adding staff support was meant to streamline the assessment process Given “the distribution actually seems fairly consistent to what we had done in the past,” Coun McBain said the LSC was a “good idea … a good way to go.” Walsh asked council to approve the LSC grants and have them forwarded to the RDEK board for its approval and dispersal of funds “Grants support local projects that benefit the broader community and public good through community-based decision-making.” She noted the city had $97.903.76 to allocate across 48 applications who requested over $226,000 The grant money has a “massive impact” on the 36 groups receiving funds The RDEK Board has yet to approve these grant allocations The largest grant went to LEES Spark Society for Youth ($8,911) Followed by Underground Mining Railway ($7,000) and the Rotary Club ($6,200) The smallest grant went to the Wasa Loins Club ($400) Animal Control and Bylaw Enforcement Report The Bylaw Enforcement Officer (BEO) presented council with an over-view of Q1 activity In terms of calls for service from the public Good Neighbour (23) and Animal Control (19) were the most numerous concerns called in by residents streets and traffic accounted for 72 actions The Short-term Rental (STR) Bylaw enforcement and pet licensing “We’ve been consolidating with the provincial database … to confirm that our numbers and theirs match This helps to identify if there are non-compliant short-term rentals.” The BEO noted that one “take down notice” was issued to an STR that was not licensed Anyone who has not updated a pet license will face a fine if their pet is found wandering the streets The BEO noted that at the end of 2023 there were 830 licensed dogs suggesting the level of upcoming fines would be significant given the discrepancy between the two numbers “I’d be shocked if we had less than 3,000 dogs in Kimberley,” which drew chuckles from the BEO there were 13 complaints about animals “at-large,” three dog attacks three dogs off leash and one dog “deemed vicious” after attacking a person Chief administrative officer Jim Hendricks presented council with an over-view of the major projects and activities the city is undertaking “One of the more visible projects is the St That’s in full swing now.” Completion is expected in late September of this year “a much-anticipated project,” will get started in early May As is the Centre 64 Bandshell and landscaping project “Another great addition to downtown,” said Hendricks Public works day is scheduled for May 21 starting at 8:30 a.m “It’s always a great event for the kids.” Hendricks’ invitation was for “everybody to come out and participate.” The Marsden Street active transportation project moves ahead as the city received a grant that it applied for The purchase an electric Zamboni for the Civic Centre is underway who reported on Q1 building permit activity Saying the activity “looks very positive,” he said the city issued 50 building permits in Q1 Pollock told council the significant increase in permits was due to builders obtaining permits before provincial building code changes took effect in March 2025 “It’s still looking like a pretty positive year.” The total construction value for these permits is $19.3 million Kimberley city council assembles twice monthly starting at 7 p.m Lead image: Cominco Gardens rejuvenation will get started in early May Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application she was the daughter of the late Lorne and Elva (Coughlan) Kelly and worked as a cook at Little Forks Fishing Lodge.  She enjoyed spending time with her family who she loved very much especially the newest addition to her family and going for long drives with her friends and family and generosity; she would go out of her way to do something for you and always made sure that everyone around her had everything they needed She will be greatly missed by everyone who was lucky enough to know her.  She will be greatly missed by her husband Boyd Curtis of Gray Rapids; her children Rudy Curtis Fallon Curtis (Toby Jardine) and Ginnie Coughlan (Late Gary Coughlan) all of Gray Rapids; four sisters Louise Robertson (Garry) of Hampton and Rhonda Jardine (Late Lorne Amos) of Gray Rapids; three brothers Ivan Kelly (Late Joan) of Gray Rapids and Alvin Kelly (Sheila) of Gray Rapids; two sisters-in-law Linda Price and Lilah Kelly; four grandchildren Shana Jardine (Thomas) and Avrey Coughlan (Payton); great grandson Jax Coughlan; and several nieces and nephews she was predeceased by her sisters Winona Gallan and Lois Kelly; and brothers Shirley Kelly and Allison Kelly The family will receive relatives and friends from Gray Rapids United Pentecostal Church The funeral service will be held at Gray Rapids United Pentecostal Church Interment will take place in the church cemetery donations made to the family would be appreciated.  Funeral arrangements are in the care of Northumberland Funeral Home & Crematorium Where your loved one never leaves our care Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors Nearly $3 million in provincial funding is being granted to a number of organizations and local governments across the Kootenays for invasive species response and programming.  has some of the most amazing ecosystems in the world fragile and in danger from invasive plants,” said Ravi Parmar agency or government can effectively control invasive plant species alone and collaboration is critical to everyone’s success The work these groups do is crucial in our fight together to ensure B.C.’s unique environments remain healthy and vibrant.” The East Kootenay Invasive Species Council is receiving a significant amount at $282,000 The organization has twin mandates of field operations to help partners to plan and monitor terrestrial invasive species while also providing education and outreach to spread knowledge to curb the spread of invasive species alter soil chemistry and adversely affect agriculture production and water quality causing substantial economic and environmental damage They may also pose a health risk to people and animals.  Further funding in the Kootenays was earmarked to the Regional District of Kootenay-Boundary ($78,000), Regional District of East Kootenay ($29,000) and Central Kootenay Invasive Species Society ($80,000) "Invasive species pose a significant threat to biodiversity," said Brittny Anderson "I am grateful we are continuing to partner with the Central Kootenay Invasive Species Society who through education and managing invasive species in effective ways work hard to keep our lakes pristine The work of these groups supports B.C.’s Invasive Plant Program in identifying and reporting where invasive plant species have been found encouraging landowners and managers to control invasive plants and managing high-risk infestations to limit further spread throughout the province.  Some of the targeted invasive plant species in B.C Bohemian and giant knotweed; marsh plume thistle; common tansy; wild chervil; garlic mustard; poison hemlock; spotted knapweed; common bugloss; orange and yellow (non-native) hawkweeds; giant hogweed; blueweed; tansy ragwort; spartina species; hoary alyssum; purple loosestrife; field scabious; leafy spurge; yellow flag iris; and Scotch broom Sign up for free account today and start receiving our exclusive newsletters guys are winning career grand slams — the excitement for golf is in the air I decided to hold off on publishing my first column of the year to ensure I had a lot of material to discuss My season this year began a little earlier than usual with two and a half rounds played while on a five-day family trip to Palm Desert visiting my wife’s grandma and great aunt and getting to play a club her grandma belongs to “The care & attention to detail you provided for us was outstanding!" 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CLICK HERE We are here to help you tackle the choices one by one and make the process one of love There’s a lot that goes into planning a funeral but making those arrangements beforehand gives you time to consider all of your options it can be difficult to know how to cope with the loss Here are some great resources to help you on your grief journey We’ve provided a list of answers to questions we frequently receive regarding our services and other activities related to funerals Receive emails when new obituariesare published to our website Map & Driving Directions Map & Driving Directions Barrett's Funeral Homes | (709) 579-6007328 Hamilton Ave Barrett's Funeral Homes | (709) 364-193773 Commonwealth Ave. © Barrett's Funeral HomesCrafted with care by Frazer Consultants & TA Your browser may not work with certain site. Upgrade now. Home » Minor injuries and driving prohibition after 95A crash Kimberley RCMP responded to a single motor vehicle collision on Highway 95A between Kimberley and Marysville where a pickup truck went off road and collided with several power poles Upon RCMP attendance the driver and sole occupant showed signs of impairment by alcohol which resulted in a 90-day driving prohibition being issued The driver was assessed by BC Ambulance and suffered only minor injuries Canada will play for gold at the 2025 IIHF U18 World Championship following a 4-0 win over Slovakia on Friday in the semifinal The Canadians struck three times on the power play in the third period to turn a 1-0 score into a 4-0 final Defenceman Xavier Villeneuve (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada) scored in the first Jack Nesbitt (Windsor Spitfires) and Ryan Roobroeck (Niagara IceDogs) each found the back of the net in the third period Home » City welcomes two new planning department members The City of Kimberley is pleased to announce the addition of two new members to its Planning Services Department Justin Cook (pictured above) returns to the city in the newly created role of Senior Planner while Max Garvey joins as the Planning Technician Justin Cook brings a passion for planning and a wealth of experience to his new position having previously worked as a Planner at the Regional District of East Kootenay for two years at the City of Kimberley before that and at the Town of Caledon Justin holds a graduate degree in Planning from the University of Waterloo and an undergraduate degree from Simon Fraser University His first priorities will be updating the Official Community Plan and zoning bylaws with a focus on addressing the housing issues facing Kimberley today The public will soon learn about ways to get involved in this important process Max Garvey joins the City of Kimberley after completing his undergraduate degree at the University of British Columbia and gaining experience with the District of North Vancouver and UBC Forestry Max is eager to contribute to the community and support the Planning Department’s initiatives “We are thrilled to welcome Justin and Max to our team,” said Troy Pollock “Their expertise and dedication will be invaluable as we work towards creating a sustainable and vibrant future for Kimberley.” Stay tuned for updates on the public engagement process for the Official Community Plan and zoning bylaw reviews The entire planning team looks forward to community input through the spring and summer months A prescribed burn on 20 hectares of City-owned land in the Levirs Avenue Kimberley Nature Park area that was cancelled due to inadequate weather last weekend has been rescheduled and could begin as early as Saturday This burn is part of the City's ongoing work to reduce wildfire hazards along Kimberley's western flank The fire grew to 80 hectares but BCWS is classifying the fire as being held meaning it is not expected to spread further.  Fraser-Fort George has rescinded the evacuation order and alert put in place due to the fire The regional district of Fraser Fort George issued an evacuation alert for properties north of Hixon.  The fire's behaviour has subsided since sunset last night and with windy conditions there is still risk Wildfire crews are continuing to battle the fire and protect infrastructure While BCWS says there is no risk to the highway at this time they are asking that those travelling on the highway do not stop to look at the fire The wildfire near Hixon is now estimated to be 70 hectares Friday evening Prince George Fire Centre lists the fire as out of control and says it measures 45 hectares and was human-caused.  Today is a day to remember lives lost and those impacted by the Lapu Lapu Day Festival.  recently declared May 2 a provincial day of remembrance and mourning for victims of tragedy at the Lapu Lapu Day Festival one non-binary person and a five-year-old girl – and at least two dozen more were injured ranging in age from 22 months old to 60 years old when a person drove an SUV through the crowd at the Vancouver festival on Saturday Major construction is set to start at Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal at the end of the peak summer travel season and at that time BC Ferries will make reservations mandatory on sailings to Departure Bay announced some of its plans related to upcoming terminal upgrades work in West Vancouver The most significant change is that starting in the fall pre-booking will be required for all vehicle traffic from Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay with standby no longer an option except for emergency vehicles and travellers with medical assured loading status "This change applies to one direction only and is designed to prevent traffic from backing up onto the highway and supporting better traffic flow through the terminal during construction," noted a press release from BC Ferries Reservations will not be required in the other direction Project plans at Horseshoe Bay terminal include deconstruction of the elevated concrete holding area and relocation of the control tower and the phase of work is expected to reduce the terminal's vehicle capacity by approximately 25 per cent “Every element of this project is being thoughtfully planned to safeguard the customer experience and ensure the safety of both our customers and crew as we renew our infrastructure at this critical terminal,” said Melanie Lucia vice-president of customer experience with BC Ferries “We recognize that construction brings challenges which is why we’re acting early and taking proactive steps to minimize disruption and maintain reliable service throughout the transition.” Other plans include licensing for the Queen of Capilano vessel servicing Bowen Island to carry approximately 33 per cent more passengers and crew, and the previously announced once-a-day sailings from Tsawwassen to Departure Bay starting at the end of spring BC Ferries said it is also developing "advanced modelling" technology to try to simulate how traffic will move through Horseshoe Bay terminal during each phase of construction to help with planning and decision-making Future phases of the work at the terminal include upgrading or replacing three berths and enhancing seismic resiliency and "operational efficiency." BC Ferries says the total cost of the renewal program at Horseshoe Bay terminal is expected to be in the hundreds of millions of dollars The ferry corporation noted that the terminal is one of its busiest and most operationally complex but is challenged by its relatively small footprint with limited space for vehicles and its lack of flexibility to accommodate growing demand "The need for change is clear," noted BC Ferries in the release the limitations of the Horseshoe Bay terminal were evident with high traffic volumes and congestion putting pressure on local communities contributing to a negative customer experience for passengers trying to travel through this terminal to their final destination." About the Author: Nanaimo Bulletin News Staff Home » To ban or not to ban drive throughs re-dux An archive of the meeting can be viewed on the City of Kimberley YouTube channel. Watch it here. Columbia River–Revelstoke MLA Scott McInnis made a presentation to council The first thing McInnes spoke about was that local healthcare workers in Cranbrook and Kimberley “do not receive the PRRI – Provincial Rural Retention Incentive funding.” He said that funding is “$8,000 per year.” The incentive is designed to “attract and retain healthcare workers in rural and remote communities.” Invermere and Trail healthcare workers do receive the PRRI funding “I’ve brought this up in question period and had some backroom conversations with the Minister and can’t really get an answer as to what the rubric is around why Kimberley are not getting this.” McInnis brought up the short-term rental registry and that the province is charging fees on top of municipal costs He noted this is problematic for Kimberley as it relies on tourism dollars “I see this as a double dip on the part of the province and there is absolutely no return for short-term operators.” “Why resort municipalities are not exempt from the Provincial Registry?” is a question McInnis will be seeking to answer upon his return to Victoria The local MLA is also looking to the government to explain and clarify Resort Municipality Initiative (RMI) funding compared to revenues generated “How much money are the RM getting out of the deal?” At a recent meeting with the Tourism Minister “With all due respect he seemed disorganized He couldn’t tell me how much money was coming in from the 14 Resort Municipalities I feel the government uses RMs a little bit like an ATM machine I don’t think the return to resort municipalities is fair I will be seeking some clarity around what that structure looks like.” The last item McInnis touched on was the government’s recent response to US tariffs – Bill-7 – Economic Stabilization Tariff Response Act 2025 “Grants the government the authority to make executive decisions without legislative over-sight No votes on passage of new legislation and regulations No due process.” The Bill would have a sunset clause for spring 2027 Pointing out that the Bill is not supported by some NDP caucus members McInnis felt it was an “over-reach” and said “no other province has such legislation.” Responding to McInnis’ earlier comment regarding the RMI Mayor McCormick said the14 resort municipalities (in B.C.) receive a total of $15 million from the program and that money is “paid back to provincial coffers before the 15th of January That’s how small that money is in comparison to what the 14 RM bring in.” Kimberley is one of the 14 RMI municipalities along with Fernie McInnis ended his presentation saying he would continue to work on issues important to the City Council awarded the annual road rehabilitation contract to Terus Construction Council had originally budgeted $400,000 for the project The remaining $132,232 will be allocated to small patching The Morrison sub-division sanitary sewer lining project contract was awarded to Insituform Technologies Ltd Council had originally budgeted $482,500 for the project The remaining $187,795 will be allocated to pre-lining pipe repairs project scope expansions and unexpected costs Council was presented with Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 2780 – Future Drive-Throughs and Gas Stations which was passed at a previous council meeting that would restrict new drive-through restaurants and gas stations Fox and Dunnebacke recused themselves as they have a possible conflict of interest due to their commercial holdings about the type of community Kimberley residents say they want: walkable healthy and not dominated by large corporate chains Mayor McCormick passionately spoke about the message that banning sends to potential investors while supporting Maguire and Cairns point of view about what the community wants Roberts and McBain voted against the motion to provide first reading of the zoning amendment bylaw community input and many city staff resources dealing with the proposed Zoning Bylaw Amendment council is back where it started almost two years ago The next regular council meeting: April 14 forced some evacuations Thursday evening (May 1) which is 56 hectares and burning out of control was discovered on Thursday and is believed to be human caused Wildfire Service says 12 firefighters are responding alongside the Fort St along with two helicopters and an air tanker The Kimberley and District Chamber of Commerce will host an All Candidates Forum on Friday April 11 ahead of the 2025 Canadian Federal Election on April 28.  will allow residents to hear from four candidates running in the Columbia-Kootenay-Southern Rockies riding: Conservative candidate and incumbent Member of Parliament Rob Morrison NDP candidate Kallee Lins and Liberal candidate Reggie Goldsbury.  Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada610 Parkhill Road West, Peterborough ON K9J N6Web: https://mssociety.ca/contact-us?office=65 Home » Candidates square off in Kimberley debate The Kimberley and District Chamber of Commerce April 11 hosted a federal election all-candidates’ debate at McKim Theatre Columbia–Kootenay–Southern Rockies riding candidates in attendance included: Rob Morrison – Conservative Party candidate and incumbent MP; Jim Weidrick – Independent candidate; Kallee Lins – NDP candidate; and Reggie Goldsbury – Liberal Party of Canada candidate “A huge thank you to all the candidates who participated and shared their visions for our community,” the chamber noted in social media post including a video of the candidates’ debate “Gratitude also goes to the Kimberley & District Chamber of Commerce for organizing and hosting and everyone who joined us in person or online.” Kimberley and District Chamber of Commerce photo A seven-year-old missing Chilliwack girl has been found alive after she went missing from Winona Road in the Chilliwack River Valley the previous day around 4 p.m she's in good health as far as we can tell."  Chilliwack RCMP had just wrapped up a press conference when media were called back to the detachment for the good news Bowerman said that Lily had wandered "quite a distance" from her home but was in good enough shape to walk out on foot with the search-and-rescue team in place.  "I really want to the opportunity to thank the citizens of Chilliwack that assisted in this search," he said Bowerman had explained the lengths that rescuers had already gone to in order to find the young girl She had chased some neighbour's dogs into the woods beside her home on Thursday (May 1) at about 4 p.m A massive search was launched immediately by neighbours in the closely knit rural area People in Chilliwack gathered Thursday evening to help in the search for a missing seven-year-old girl and she still hadn't been found by Friday at noon.  Chilliwack RCMP put a call out at 10 p.m Thursday night, asking for the public's help to find Lily Coursol Chilliwack Search and Rescue is on scene with a command unit and crews from around the Fraser Valley were out until about 5 a.m. They are conducting a full search on the ground According to a Chilliwack RCMP news release crews are using “all technological resources available” to find Coursol.  They are urging those who want to help to stay away from the area and let the search and rescue teams do their work Initially there were about 20 neighbours searching for the girl into the night and a call was put out for more searchers to arrive Friday morning.  officials decided to stick with trained search crews and those who arrived were turned away. A police checkpoint is in place along Sleese Road.  "We understand the public’s concern and wanting to help; however the search consists of difficult terrain and is a heavily wooded area Untrained personnel in the area will make search efforts more difficult and put others at unnecessary risk," Chilliwack RCMP said.  Police say the child apparently followed her neighbour's dogs into a wooded area but did not return with them An air and ground search are currently underway She was last seen wearing all pink clothing.  Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Lily Coursol is urged to contact their local police, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) Janice Cooper dabs her eyes with an orange handkerchief as a chorus of pipe bands play in downtown Nelson was among the Canadian soldiers who helped liberate the Netherlands during the Second World War Munro played his own bag pipes in the streets of Amsterdam on the day of Germany's formal surrender in the country The Association of Kootenay-Boundary municipalities are holding a conference in Kimberley and they started things off with a tour of Kimberley’s Underground Mining Railway Pictured in front of the train are (left to right) Society President Mick Henningson Councillor Sandra Roberts and Engineer Lloyd Miller This is the earliest train tour they’ve ever done in 40 years of operation and the season officially starts This weekend the Kimberley Fire Department in collaboration with the Cranbrook Fire Zone conducted a prescribed burn on 20 hectares of City-owned land in the Levirs Avenue Kimberley Fire Chief Will Booth told The Bulletin the burn was extremely successful area has been on the books for the last six years and has kind of fallen out of the funding window a couple times," Booth explained adding that with the help of funding from Columbia Basin Trust the department was able to schedule the burn this year Rick Tocchet will not return as head coach of the Vancouver Canucks His decision to step away follows what the team described as “thoughtful discussions” with management While the Canucks held an option to retain the 61-year-old for another year "I'm choosing to move on from the Vancouver Canucks," Tocchet said or exactly how this will play out for me over the near term I feel like this is the right time for me to explore other opportunities in and around hockey." Tocchet took over the Canucks bench on Jan following head coaching stints in Arizona and Tampa Bay and a role as an assistant coach in Pittsburgh where he won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017 he compiled a 108-65-27 record over 200 games – the ninth-most wins by any coach in franchise history His .608 points percentage is the highest in team history and he reached 100 regular-season wins faster than all but seven others He earned the Jack Adams Award as the NHL's Coach of the Year last season guiding the Canucks to a 50-23-9 record and a second-round playoff appearance Tocchet’s 286-265-87 record across nine NHL coaching seasons reflects a career that balanced rebuilding teams with periods of competitive success Vancouver finished 38-30-14 and missed the playoffs by six points The disappointing result came despite a strong campaign from Tocchet individually – he served as an assistant coach for Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament in February Vancouver’s president of hockey operations said the organization had hoped to retain Tocchet but respected his choice to move on unfortunately Rick has decided to leave the Vancouver Canucks,” Rutherford said but we respect Rick’s decision to move to a new chapter in his hockey career We did everything in our power to keep him but at the end of the day Rick felt he needed a change and we can’t thank him enough for all he did for our organization and we wish him nothing but the best moving forward.” Tocchet becomes the 10th NHL coach to leave his position this season The Canucks now join a growing list of teams in search of a new head coach and Seattle Kraken in what is shaping up to be a turbulent offseason behind the benches Vancouver’s next hire will mark the 22nd head coach in franchise history – and the fourth since 2022.  held on January 19, Kimberley Alpine Resort raised money for the Cranbrook-Kimberley Hospice Society.  100 per cent of lift ticket proceeds went to supporting a future Hospice House to support communities across the East Kootenay On April 17 the resort posted that the total raised was $5790.95.  and supported this fundraiser," a KAR spokesperson said. "Your Home » Wildsight Kimberley Cranbrook AGM May 6 Wildsight Kimberley Cranbrook will be hosting their Annual General Meeting (AGM) Tuesday at Cranbrook Public Library – Manual Training Centre Hobby astronomer Jamie Levine and Janice Strong will present ‘Cosmic Odyssey: From Stardust to Life,’ a short journey through the universe Jamie will guide us through fascinating cosmic insights plus a stunning slideshow of night sky photography featuring Jamie and Janice’s images alongside breathtaking shots from Hubble The AGM and board member elections will follow the presentation You’ll hear from our board and Branch Manager and have a chance to connect with other Wildsight members Advanced registration is kindly requested RCMP say a wildfire near Dawson Creek has impacted communication services in the area A cluster of wildfires are burning around Dawson Creek including G70192 along Highway 52 toward Tumbler Ridge It's listed as out of control at 35 hectares RCMP's North Division says the fire destroyed the Tumbler Ridge fibre optic radio and internet connections unavailable will have to go to the local detachment to report any issues.  RCMP added it's not known when repairs will be made.  The cluster of wildfires have also partially shut down Highway 52 between Brassey Road and Bearhole Lake Road It is currently single-lane alternating traffic.  British Columbia will be testing it's Emergency Alert System on Wednesday an alert tone and message will be broadcast to radio and television stations as well as compatible cell phones The test takes place to make sure the province is ready when or if a large-scale disaster or emergency does strike This is an example of the message that will appear on Wednesday: "This is a TEST of the Emergency Alert system this message would tell you what to do to stay safe This information could save your life. This is ONLY a TEST The public is asked to not call 911 in response to the alert or for information about the test as it could delay help for people in crisis This is the first of two tests the province conducts every year The second will is scheduled for Wednesday the event has to follow the following criteria: Alerts can be send out by different agencies depending on the emergency.  More information about Wednesday's test or about the Emergency Alert System in general can be found on the Government of B.C.'s website.  There have been no emergency alerts in B.C Dialogue and debate are integral to a free society and we welcome and encourage you to share your views on the issues of the day. 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