Sign In Subscribe Now Dze L K'ant Friendship Centre Society is set to get $73,050 for operating its community shuttle services in the communities of Smithers government's recent approval of the Northern Community Shuttle Program The Northern Community Shuttle Program enables local governments First Nations communities and not-for-profit organizations to develop small-scale transportation solutions that connect to services amenities and long-haul transportation services Shuttle services in and between communities support the mobility of people who live and work in northern B.C. allowing them to visit family and friends and access the services they need “People with limited transportation options rely on the Northern Community Shuttle Program to get them around and connect to their friends and family,” said Mike Farnworth “This program ensures people in communities can continue to access the services they need and when they need them in small northern communities.”  Northern Development Initiative Trust manages the Northern Community Shuttle Program which provides grants to communities and organizations to operate community shuttles This program will ensure the continuation of services provided by seven organizations and the addition of one new service provider Funding of more than $1.3 million is allocated to the eight approved shuttles for a two-year operating term until 2027 The other seven community shuttles include Autumn Services Society Fraser Lake that will service Endako North Shore and Francois Lake into Prince George The Village of Fraser Lake will take care of the Regional District of Bulkley Nechako - Area "D" Stellat'en First Nation and Nadleh Whut'en First Nation The Village of Granisle will serve Smithers Kimta Transportation Society will serve Mackenzie Northern Rockies Senior Society will serve Fort Nelson and Fort Nelson First Nations The District of Vanderhoof will serve Vanderhoof and Saik'uz First Nations Yekooche First Nation will provide service for Yekooche 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 BC Business recreation and culture in Northern BC’s Bulkley Valley is also a growing hub of opportunity Serving a regional population of more than 15,000 people the town is strategically located on a sophisticated transportation network It is connected to major urban centres by Highway 16 (Yellowhead Highway) and the CN Rail line which links the bustling Port of Prince Rupert to global markets But connectivity is just one of the town’s strengths Smithers’ 5,400 residents are the fabric of a vibrant The skilled labour pool makes the area an attractive destination for entrepreneurs businesses and site selectors seeking opportunities to grow and thrive it serves a diverse economy that includes forestry With many industries prospering in Smithers entrepreneurs are encouraged to explore cluster development and leverage the region’s transferable labour base Nearly 700 businesses keep Smithers alive with opportunity as they benefit from ample public spaces and commercial nodes positioning Smithers as a top destination for business and resident relocation in Northern BC Visit the Town of Smithers website for business development support The economic development team is proud to support a strong and diverse economy reflected in the innovation of local businesses in the community Discover Smithers at smithers.ca/invest-smithers North Coast-Nechako: Sea Change Mainland-Southwest: Ripple Effect Vancouver Island: Welcoming Shores Thompson-Okanagan: Urban Makeover Kootenay: Hidden Gem Cariboo: Pioneer Spirit Northeast: A New Energy Era BCBusiness is your go-to playbook for what’s going on in the province right now Our magazine aims to inform and entertain you about the companies big and small making waves in your backyard the issues affecting the province and the people you really should get a coffee with Copyright © Canada Wide Media Limited. All Rights Reserved — Terms of Use & Privacy Policy This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page A few career bumps in the road led Graf west in search of something better He started working in a coal mine and quit his job to become a pilot before realizing he didn’t have enough education he found out that dream would also be dashed he was half an inch too short to meet the height requirements so he decided to follow his siblings to Quesnel in 1954 He returned to Nova Scotia to marry his wife Joan and they returned together to B.C.  They had been married for almost 69 years before Joan died last year.  They made their way up to Smithers in the 1960s with their four children Graf was elected to Smithers council as an alderman (now known as a councillor) He was on and off council for the duration of the 1970s He was then elected mayor in 1981 and held the position until 1985 he went back to service as an alderman throughout the 80s and 90s Smithers council during his tenure made some big moves including the revitalization of Main Street which saw the introduction of the Alpine Theme adding three sewer lagoons and installing a new water tower the town purchased the fall fair grounds which they traded for land where the curling rink BV Pool and Recreation Centre and skateboard park now reside he was also building a small empire at the corner of Highway 16 and Bulkley Drive He and Joan bought the gas station there from her father in 1962 Graf became a franchise owner of Kal Tire and built the building that currently stands there He also started up Wayside Industrial Supplies and then Harley Davidson of Smithers with his son Stephen After a health scare in 2005 prompted the couple to look for a smaller they moved to Telkwa where Graf ran for mayor in 2009 and was elected for two terms ending in 2014 Graf was awarded the David McKenzie Community Booster award at the Smithers and District Chamber of Commerce Business Awards he also sat down with the Interior News and reflected on his life in the valley One of the projects Graf said he is most proud of accomplishing in his political career was helping to get better water for Telkwa The village replaced the main water line down Highway 16 The original water tower was also upgraded and the groundwork was laid for the new reservoir the Village bought an old building on Hankin Avenue and transformed it into the village office with commercial space that is now leased out and added a biomass district heating system was getting fired from a volunteer position The only time he was ever let go from any position was when the provincial health minister fired the entire hospital board on which Graf was sitting in the fall of 1995 The flags in Telkwa will be lowered to half-mast in remembrance of him Current Mayor Leroy Dekens said he will be missed "He did a lot for the village and for the community," he said Infrastructure Minister Bowinn Ma says new legislation will speed up approvals for infrastructure projects the Infrastructure Projects Act is meant to enable the provincial government to expand work already underway "to reduce redundancy but redundancy," Ma said in Victoria.  "We'll be able to prioritize and accelerate approval for projects that will need to support for people in their communities The environmental assessment office will be developing an expedited environmental assessment process so that designated provincially significant projects we go through a faster review while continuing to uphold high environmental standards." Ma said B.C.'s population has "exploded" by 188,000 people between June 2023 and June 2024 "For everyone 10,000 people that are added to the population we need an additional 18 hospital beds and 4,000 additional homes and we saw 188,000 people join us in a single 12-month period." the legislation will speed up approvals for priority provincial infrastructure projects It would also allow for an expedited environmental assessment process so designated projects can be reviewed "more quickly without compromising B.C.'s high environmental standards." The legislation would also allow the Infrastructure Ministry to work with school districts health authorities and post-secondary institutions to deliver some projects on their behalf.  Ma said the projects could be delivered by Crown corporations First Nations and the private sector.  "They would need to create significant economic social or environmental benefits for people in B.C. and are projects that contribute to the priorities of British Columbians Sign up for free account today and start receiving our exclusive newsletters Candidates for the Skeena—Bulkley Valley have swung into gear for the 2025 federal election Taylor Bachrach of the NDP is seeking re-election He is facing off against Ellis Ross of the Conservative Party of Canada Catriona Wright of the Green Party of Canada and Rod Taylor of the Christian Heritage Party of Canada The Liberal Party of Canada did not provide information by press deadline about whether they are running a candidate in the riding according to a predictive model published by political website 338Canada Their predictive model uses information from national polls Statistics Canada (such as age and income distribution) and other factors such as a candidate's "star" power to create riding-level predictions Ross said he and his team are working hard to earn votes "We are busy knocking on doors in communities throughout the riding," he said. "We're taking nothing for granted." said he is not concerned about 338Canada's prediction "I think while there are some ridings in which they get close to the actual result there are lots of cases in which they've been way off," he said. "I don't spend any time at all wringing my hands about things like that I'm heartened by the fact that we have lots of support here in the Northwest." Smithers RCMP have arrested three individuals and the seized multiple prohibited firearms The investigation began with a proactive vehicle stop during which officers seized prohibited firearms All occupants of the vehicle were arrested without incident police obtained a search warrant for a residence in Smithers This search led to the seizure of additional firearms This work is part of our ongoing effort in 2025 to reduce the presence of illegal weapons and drugs in the community and enhance public safety," said Corporal Jim Preston "This investigation reflects our focused efforts to disrupt criminal activity and get illegal guns and drugs off the street." and RCMP said further information may be provided in the future "We understand the public’s concerns when it comes to illegal guns and drugs in our community," said Sgt Ryan Law "This file reflects the work being done every day to address those concerns and take meaningful action."  John continued to be the most affordable communities in Northern BC in 2024 and 100 Mile and Smithers the least affordable According to the 2024 Housing Affordability Indicator Index from the BC Northern Real Estate Board home ownership in northern British Columbia remains very affordable especially when compared with the Vancouver and Victoria regions The aggregate Housing Affordability Indicator for northern BC for 2024 remains greater than 30 per cent The affordability of home ownership in northern BC is exceptionally favourable when compared with the Vancouver Area which experienced only marginally improved affordability clocking in at 133.0 per cent for 2024 According to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation housing is considered “affordable” if it costs less than 30 per cent of a household’s before-tax income Affordability improved last year for nearly all measured northern BC communities, only 100 Mile House saw affordability worsen 100 Mile House also remains the least affordable community in northern BC The major factor for this result continues to be median household income; 100 Mile House being markedly lower in that measure than other communities in northern British Columbia as they have been for more than five years Smithers was the second least affordable community in the north with 39.4 per cent of a median household income needed to finance home ownership The BC Northern Real Estate Board also noted that average house prices in 2024 varied widely from community to community and Prince George also surpassing the $500,000 threshold 100 Mile House saw the largest increase in prices increasing 4.3 per cent over 2023 to hit $515,946 Kitimat continues to enjoy the lowest average house price of $392,854 only Quesnel and Kitimat had average house prices below $400,000 Blue Lagoon Resources has now secured all key permits required for its Dome Mountain project located 66 km east of Smithers the company announced it has received both its mining and effluent/discharge permits from the corresponding BC ministries gaining authorization for full-scale underground mining operations at Dome Mountain the Dome Mountain mine is expected to output 15,000 oz Blue Lagoon entered in 2021 a toll milling agreement with Nicola Mining and will ship the mineralized material to its milling facilities at Merritt The most recent project owner was Gavin Mines which held it for 12 years and completed a significant part of the infrastructure construction and underground development With the existing infrastructure and permits the company is now focused on finishing the last preparatory activities to open the Dome Mountain mine including the required installation of a planned water treatment facility which is expected to be completed within three months The town of Smithers has hired a new operator for the café at the airport The cafe at YYD has been closed since the last operator, Elevate Café There has been a revolving door of different operators and many closures of the restaurant over the years According to airport manager Rob Blackburn many businesses have attempted to provide service with limited success Staff have tried to work toward a different model in which the café would have more options for success the Town issued a Request for Proposal for interested proponents to supply food and beverage services at the airport Proponents were required to meet with the airport manager prior to submitting a proposal to view the space and discuss security requirements for working at an airport Blackburn said to try to ensure the operator’s success and future longevity he suggested ideas to increase the operator’s potential customer base be listed in the request for proposals including ideas such as the ability to sell merchandise other than food and the opportunity to use the kitchen to sell food off-site like with a delivery company or to cater events The space could also be used to host events between commercial flights Councillor John Buikema thought this was a great idea "I like the idea that they're trying to run a more diversified operation at the airport because I think that's one of the reasons all the previous ones have failed," he said "I like the idea that they're going to sell other types of merchandise as well I think it will lead to a greater chance of this particular operator being successful." Two people applied for the position. Based on a four-point evaluation staff determined Katie Forsyth with her idea for The Runway Café & Bar was the preferred café operator "The proponent has demonstrated a strong background in systems and developing new and successful business ventures," wrote Blackburn in a report to council "The proponent has demonstrated a vision to promote local products showcase the community and region by having consignment items of fresh and local goods available The preferred proponent has demonstrated an understanding of the market and local conditions Staff believe the proposed direction of the new operator to not only focus on revenues from airport travellers but to expand and grow patronage from the surrounding area will allow increased usage of the space." Forsyth is anticipating the café will have a soft opening date this month and an official opening in March or April 2025 She will also start working toward securing a liquor license Town council agreed to a two-year no-fee lease and service contract Forsyth also suggested a few changes be made to the café and dining space including privacy screening and an improved seating area Town Staff recommended a budget of up to $30,000 be allocated to update the café and dining space The equipment would be owned by the airport and staff believe amendments to the café and dining space would benefit the airport It will come out of the airport’s operating budget Councillor Frank Wray was on board with spending some money for renovations "We used to pay somebody $70,000 a year to do it [run the operations] which I didn't support," he reminded his fellow councillors "So that makes the $30,000 and the fact that we're still going to own that equipment Wray also wanted to get the word out to the public that if the café is going to do events outside normal flying hours that there are parking spaces where people can park for up to an hour for free Despite coming into existence one year before them the Abbotsford Canucks have always found it challenging to hang with the Coachella Valley Firebirds Coachella has won 12 of the 16 meetings between the two teams historically they reached the Calder Cup Finals in their first two seasons they have a fancy new arena and they even have a mascot But something unusual happened on April 18 – the Canucks scored three goals in the third period to bust apart a 1-1 tie and defeat the Firebirds 4-1 in the desert It was the most lopsided win ever for Abbotsford against Coachella Valley and it could indicate a team that is ready to exorcise the demons that have haunted them since the Firebirds swooped into the AHL beginning in 2022-23 The best-of-five Pacific Division semifinal opens tonight (Thursday) at 7 p.m The series then shifts to the Abbotsford Centre for game three on Wednesday (May 7) Coachella did win the 2024-25 regular season series 3-1 Abbotsford Canucks head coach Manny Malhotra said he's aware of the talent and experience on the Firebirds "Obviously throughout the year they've played outstanding hockey," he said "They've been to the finals a couple of years in a row so they know how to play this time of season Anybody that we're facing in the next round is there for a reason." The Abbotsford Canucks have arguably learned how to play in late-April and May too Abbotsford entered the playoffs on a 16-1-1 stretch to close out the season and won their last 10 games on the road Abbotsford hasn't lost a road game since Feb The Canucks eliminated the Tucson Roadrunners 2-1 in round one and that included a definitive 5-0 win in the do-or-die game three on April 26 Malhotra made some adjustments following a 4-1 loss in game two on April 24 and they all paid off who went on to record his first-ever AHL playoff shutout and forward Nathan Smith added some grit Canucks captain Chase Wouters stepped up in the elimination game scoring a critical shorthanded goal to break open the game He said the Canucks will have their hands full with the Firebirds "They're a really good team and we're going to put our best foot forward and do everything we can to win they're big and they've been there – the last two years they have that experience." Abbotsford also got a big opening round series from Sammy Blais who led the team with three goals and four points Arshdeep Bains chipped in with four assists and both Linus Karlsson and Tristen Nielsen had two goals Max Sasson led the Canucks with 13 shots in the series and was a consistent threat offensively against Tucson The Canucks could also slot in Jonathan Lekkerimaki up front after he missed game three due to lingering effects from oral surgery Victor Mancini impressed defensively in round one playing big minutes and pushing the pace offensively He recorded seven shots against Tucson to lead all defenceman The status of former Eddie Shore Award winner Christian Wolanin is also unknown after he missed game three due to an injury The Firebirds entered the playoffs as the fourth seed in the Pacific Division and dispatched the Calgary Wranglers in two games Game one was a 4-3 triple overtime epic that was ended by forward Mitchell Stephens Coachella wrapped up the series with a 2-0 shutout earned by goalie Nikke Kokko Stephens and Kokko are both players that Abbotsford will have to watch out for Stephens led team with three goals against Calgary and Kokko finished with a .952 save percentage in round one Forward Ben Meyers scored a team-high 52 points in the regular season Ian McKinnon is another player who could get under Canucks' players skins as he recorded 141 penalty minutes during the season (seventh highest in the AHL) A dark horse forward to watch is former WHL scoring champion Jagger Firkus who is a former second round pick and had 36 points as a rookie Coachella also has a solid defensive corps with talented and steady veterans like Nikolas Brouillard, Max Lajoie and Cale Fleury Kokko had stellar regular season numbers and back-up Ales Stezka has also given Abbtosford headaches in the past "They've had a great season," Firebirds head coach Derek Laxdal told media about the Canucks "They've had stretches where they're undefeated and they've got depth – they're big but we know we're the underdog in this series." who scored one goal in round one and had 34 points in the regular season said his team is looking forward to the series "I think it's a great test for us," he told media "If you ever want to win a Calder Cup you have to beat the best teams and it's exciting we get to play probably the hottest team down the stretch here in the second round It's going to be a treat for us to see what we're made of." Both teams were perfect on the penalty kill in round one but the Firebirds failed to score in six opportunities with the man advantage Abbotsford enters round two with a power that operated at 25 per cent in round one Continue visiting abbynews.com for ongoing coverage of the Calder Cup playoffs is also an examiner from the Royal Conservatory [of Music (RCM)] making the experience even more valuable for the students who are preparing for their RCM exams." Ivy Fielding and Fynn Stasiuk have been invited to the Gala Honours Concert this evening (April 17) to perform and receive an award for earning high marks at the Lakes District Festival.  Fynn Stasiuk has been recommended by adjudicator Alan Crane to attend Provincials as a Merited Participant.  The event takes place in Victoria this June.  Smithers RCMP are investigating a break-in at Red Apple after an alarm was triggered on Tuesday morning "This incident serves as an important reminder of how valuable alarm systems and proper security measures are in helping deter crime and support police response," said Sergeant Ryan Law of Smithers RCMP "Alarms can result in faster police attendance and surveillance footage often provides critical evidence." Officers arrived to find the south entrance door had been smashed A search of the premises failed to locate anyone inside The investigation is ongoing as police work to identify the person or people responsible The detachment is also reaching out to businesses to promote preventative strategies that can help reduce crime Officers at the Smithers detachment are trained in Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) a method that uses design and property layout to reduce opportunities for crime CPTED principles include improving lighting and managing access to buildings and property Business owners interested in making their properties less vulnerable are encouraged to contact the detachment Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Smithers RCMP at (250) 847-3233 SMITHERS - Construction will soon begin on 37 new homes for Indigenous individuals Ken'ulh K'it Yikh is the community's first Indigenous-led housing project The name Ken'ulh K'it Yikh means "wetland housing" "We know that many existing affordable housing buildings are often missing holistic programming and cultural spaces that offer a sense of belonging for Indigenous people looking for an affordable and inclusive place to live," said Ravi Kahlon "This project is an example of how we are working with Indigenous organizations to ensure that these affordable homes also centre Indigenous values and ways of living." Ken'ulh K'it Yikh was designed in close consultation with the community to reflect the needs of those who will make it their home It will include culturally appropriate features and larger unit sizes to accommodate families and intergenerational living counselling and advocacy will be available to tenants including supports for individuals and families within the building as well as at the nearby Friendship Centre A tenant support worker will be present during regular business hours "These 37 homes at Ken'ulh K'it Yikh will mark a step forward in offering affordable and culturally supportive places for Indigenous families and seniors in Smithers," said Nathan Cullen "Our government is proud to be delivering these affordable homes through the support of the Dze L K’ant Housing Society as we keep moving forward in reconciliation and affordability for Indigenous people." Owned and operated by Dze L K’ant Housing Society the three-storey building will consist of studio in recognition of the high need for housing for off-reserve Indigenous families and seniors in Smithers Ten of the homes will be wheelchair accessible (six one-bedroom and four two-bedroom) An additional six one- bedroom units will be adaptable allowing residents to remain in their homes as they age "Ken'ulh K'it Yikh is a by-Indigenous-for-Indigenous housing project guided by traditional values and principles Our approach to housing is rooted in culture and heritage," said Annette Morgan "By centring Indigenous perspectives and leadership our initiatives are culturally responsive to the unique needs of our community We are proud to be creating a space that is more than shelter fostering a sense of belonging and connection to our heritage." The Ken'ulh K'it Yikh's cultural amenity room and community kitchen will be places to foster a sense of community and intergenerational connections among the tenants These spaces will be used for a range of activities events and workshops to support healing and well-being The property is owned by the Town of Smithers and leased to the society through a long-term agreement Completion of construction is expected in early 2026 This project is part of a $19-billion housing investment by the B.C the Province has nearly 80,000 homes that have been delivered or are underway including 154 homes in the region of Smithers more than 110 have been delivered and approximately 40 are underway "The Town of Smithers is thrilled to see this project materialize; we are proud to have contributed to the site This is the first Indigenous housing in Smithers and will fill a big gap in the community's housing needs Congratulations to the Dze L K’ant Housing team for bringing their vision to reality." Aboriginal Housing Management Association (AHMA) - "AHMA celebrates Dze L K’ant Housing Society and Dze L K’ant Friendship Centre Society for their ongoing expertise and community leadership in supporting urban Indigenous people living in Smithers Ken'ulh K'it Yikh offers a place of safety wellness and cultural programming that is much needed across northern B.C AHMA members provide a critical community service." To learn more about government's new Homes for People action plan, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2023HOUS0019-000436 To learn about the steps the Province is taking to tackle the housing crisis and deliver affordable homes for British Columbians, visit: https://strongerbc.gov.bc.ca/housing/ The Smithers Airport is looking for a new manager Rob Blackburn has been at the helm for the past 16 years but has now decided to take a 'soft retirement.' I’ve helped secure over $17 million in grant funding for the airport and have had the opportunity to lead several major projects — all while juggling day-to-day operations," he said.  "Some of the highlights include implementing the safety management system and security management plan the terminal expansion ( which received the BC Construction Association’s best of public procurement award in 2017) and acquiring several key pieces of runway equipment and I’m proud of what’s been accomplished." Mayor Gladys Atrill is sad to see Blackburn go but is appreciative of everything he has been able to do at the airport.  he takes on big projects at the airport," she said.  and we get the reports, occasionally we're out of the airport and it's when you're there that you see the scale of what goes on in a big project and that Rob is able to lead that so he has a high capacity for attention to detail has just helped make the Smithers Regional Airport a better place to able to serve better the customers that we have but when he returns he will be relaunching his consulting and project management business, Bulkley Valley Resource Management — a frim that has been sitting dormant for the past 20 years "I’m excited to offer my experience in engineering technology but very much a continuation of the work I love to do," he said The town is in the midst of the hiring process and has completed the first round of interviews for the airport manager position They are looking to fill that role very soon Sign up below for unlimited digital access for 30 days receive our daily news alerts & breaking news Smithers council has awarded the 2025 traffic marking contract while also increasing the budget for it.  Council agreed to up the budget from $123,000 to $145,000 and give it to DBA Yellowhead Pavement Marking has successfully completed the Smithers traffic marking/line painting contract each year for the past several years Painting will be scheduled for May-June and will begin when the operations department has cleared the roads of winter sand and debris Council also directed staff to add painting of the rainbow crosswalk (at the intersection of Main Street and Second Avenue) to the 2025 Traffic Marking Contract at a cost of $7,500 Councillors had a brief discussion on whether to include a $7,500 line item for a rainbow crosswalk in the $145,000 traffic marking budget Councillor Sam Raven suggested making it an assumed portion of the contract while Councillor Laura Leonard preferred keeping it separate due to rising costs She also emphasized the need for staff discretion on repainting it was about $4,500 so it's become quite expensive in terms of the overall traffic marketing budget I would appreciate knowing that information." Council agreed to keep a separate line item for the rainbow crosswalk acknowledging the need for annual repainting to maintain vibrancy and the discretion for staff to decide if repainting is necessary and I'm happy with seeing it separate," added Mayor Gladys Atrill.  Road pavement markings are mandated under the Motor Vehicle Act for higher travelled roads and streets The paint markings are subject to deterioration over the winter season and must be repainted annually to maintain their visibility As part of the town’s road maintenance program the Development Services Department administers a traffic marking contract each spring The contract provides for line painting within the Town as well as ground-side markings at the Smithers Regional Airport.  Enjoying Reading The Smithers Interior News Enter your email to connect to 30 more days worth of stories by journalists living & working in Smithers Thank you for supporting local journalism The Town of Smithers has put out official notice it intends to turn over vacant town land between Alberta Street and Vancouver Street and Alfred Avenue and First Avenue to the Northern Health Authority The town will sell the land for $1 and indemnification for $1 milion in environmental liability for use as a long-term care facility "The transfer will take place in 2025 but the exact date is still in progress," said the town's Engagement and Communications Officer Sam LeBlanc Adrian Dix, announced more seniors housing is coming to Smithers The new long-term care home will bring 160 new publicly-funded beds to the community the home will replace 56 beds at Bulkley Valley Lodge The new home will be built and operated by Providence Living in partnership with Northern Health under a Project Development Agreement The new building will be at the end of Broadway Avenue There is no plan yet for the Bulkley Lodge after the new facility is built.  The vacant lots are currently being used for the town to dump snow.  "The town is actively seeking a new snow dump location We will continue to use the land for this entire snow season," said LeBlanc Construction is expected to begin in spring 2028 with the home expected to be open for residents in 2030 No One Covers Smithers Like The Smithers Interior News Don’t miss out on reading the latest local provincial and national news. Join our community and receive daily news alerts & breaking news Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application our loving father died peacefully on October 26th Dad had a love of life and learning that was contagious with a smile which lit up every room.  dad (known as Rob to many and Bob to many more) graduated from McGill University Not long afterward he married the love of his life Diane (née Crowley) dad pursued many hobbies including photography (which meant building a darkroom to develop his photos) he could captivate a room describing the hunt for the perfect pasta in Italy or discussing which Scotch brand was the best He loved being a dad and grandfather and took an active role in his children’s lives and interests Rob coached hockey for many years and was involved with the Beaconsfield Softball League One of his great joys was mentoring his children and their friends He would often spend time with his teenage children and their friends in the family’s basement joining in games of pool or talking with them instilling such wisdom as “if you’re going to sweep a floor sweep it better than anyone else”.  Rob embraced his role as a grandfather and will be greatly missed by his eight grandchildren Our family thanks the staff of the Gary J. Armstrong Long Term Care Home for the care and comfort they provided for dad as his health declined.Donations in Robert’s memory can be made to: The Dementia Society Ottawa Renfrew  https://dementiahelp.ca/ A Celebration of Robert's life will be held at the Hendley's home (324 Hamilton Road, Russell, ON  K4R 1E5) on Saturday, November 23, 2024 beginning at 12 p.m.  Enquires can be sent to jdsmithers13@gmail.com.  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 The Town of Smithers is backing a request for several geographical names to be changed in the region The BC Geographical Names Office received a request from Dr Jane Smith (Xsiwis) from the Gitxsan Nation with support from the Gitxsan Huwilp Government and the Regional District of Kitimat Stikine to change the official name of several features located in the Bulkley-Nechako and Kitimat-Stikine regional districts 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 I've always been a strong believer in the concept that every vote counts my opinion on whether it matters who wins a federal election has been waning I’ve lived in different ridings with various members of parliament representing those regions I’ve always thought there hasn’t been much difference between the two main parties that usually make up the government in Canada the Smithers Community Band performed three pieces of music at the Northwest Music Festival in Terrace and ended up taking home the gold award for the Senior High School and Community Band category This was the first time in recent memory that the band had made the trip to Terrace to enter the festival the band was given an invitation to enter the Canada Music Festival which will be held in Toronto this year The Smithers RCMP have located and arrested a suspect they have been seeking since at least October 2024 Jonathan Wilson is charged with assault by choking failing to comply with an undertaking and failing to comply with a probation order "The nature of these charges reflects the seriousness of the situation," said Smithers detachment commander Staff Sgt She reached out to me after the town removed a homeless camp at the corner of King Street and Hwy 16 She had been staying there with her boyfriend She told me at the time there had been no warning They returned home one day to find their tents gone Property owners in the town of Smithers will see an 6.13 per cent increase in their taxes this year if the 2025 budget is adopted on May 6.  this equals an estimated $9.92 increase per month 3.6 per cent, of that increase is because of what the town is calling forced growth "This reflects the rising cost of maintaining existing services Smithers RCMP and BC Highway Patrol are reminding drivers to slow down and stay alert.  The Prince Rupert Amateur Swim Club (PRASC) Rapids came home champions from a meet in Smithers March 1 - 2 PRASC outscored the Terrace Bluebacks and hometown Bulkley Valley Otters with 754 points over 631 for Terrace and 546 for Smithers Leading the way for the Rapids were Olivia Marogna (16) and Sophia McDonald (12) Both swept all six of their individual events en route to gold aggregate medals in the 15 and over girls and 11-12 girls age groups respectively Provincial Time (“A”) in the 200 freestyle Emily McDonald (9) and Jack Armstrong (13) also won gold medals in their age groups Julia DeMille (13) won a silver aggregate medal in the 13-14 girls age group She also added a new Swim BC Divisional time in the 100 free and a new “A” time in the 400 IM Julia swam best times in all six of her individual events Harper Dopko (12) matched DeMille with a silver medal and six best times She also picked up her first ever Swim BC Divisional times in both the 100 breaststroke and 50 freestyle Harper also added a new “A” time in the 100 freestyle Eva Sumanik (16) also won a silver aggregate medal in the senior girl’s age group Lucy Phuong (13) won the bronze aggregate medal in the 13-14 girls age group She added a pair of new “A” times in the 100 and 200 backstrokes Elijah Kroeker-Wilson (11) won the bronze for 11-12 boys and Naveen Gautam (10) won the bronze for 10 and unders despite missing the Saturday session with illness and only competing in three events Hadley Seier (12) qualified for her first Divisional Championship with a 3:05.27 200 backstroke She also added a new “A” time in the 200 IM Nadia Marogna (13) also qualified for Divisionals with a 34.66 50 butterfly Emily Tran (11) swam a new “A” time in the 200 breaststroke as one of her six new best times Bianca Marogna (11) swam new “A” times in the 200 IM and 200 freestyle Sophia Le (11) and Victoria Le (13) all swam best times in all of their individual events scheduled to compete in Swim BC’s Provincial Championships in Victoria this weekend I was offered a job at a radio station and jumped at the chance I had never been to British Columbia and I had never heard of Smithers When I came to what was called The Peak (now The Moose) there was quite the crew working there A church with roots that date back more than a 100 years in Smithers is downsizing The United Church on the corner of Queen Street and Eighth Avenue is up for sale and it's just too big of a space for us to maintain," explained Rev and we're sharing space now with the Anglican Church Residential real estate activity in Burns Lake and the Smithers area is off to a solid start in 2025 with both communities seeing strong sales numbers compared to the same period last year according a press release from the BC Northern Real Estate Board (BCNREB) 11 properties changed hands in the first quarter of 2025 up from seven sales during the same period in 2024 A new program in Smithers designed to give teenagers a chance to give back to the people who grew their hometown all started with a group of high school wrestlers and a letter to Santa We are very concerned teenagers from the community of Smithers and Telkwa who wrestle for Smithers Secondary High School While everyone knows you deliver presents to young children all over the world what we didn’t know is that you don’t deliver gifts to the silver and golden members of our community Former Smithereen and watercolourist Jess Olsen is being featured at the Smithers Art Gallery Her exhibition "Road Trip" is currently hanging in the main gallery space and takes people on a journey from her old stomping grounds to new ones after making the switch from digital animation to a traditional medium she describes her landscapes as less an attempt at capturing a snapshot and more the movement of time as a place is observed favouring bright saturated colours and bold graphic white linework that tends to be less typical for watercolorists The Lake Babine Nation’s forestry company has signed a long-term log supply and forest management agreement West Fraser which owns the Pacific Inland Resources sawmill in Smithers Lake Babine Nation Forestry Limited Partnership (LBN Forestry) will supply the mill through its new First Nations Woodland Licence (FNWL) and provides for West Fraser to work with LBN Forestry in the sustainable long-term management of the licence consistent with Lake Babine Nation’s traditional values The newly revived Smithers Citizens on Patrol has begun patrolling the streets of Smithers and surrounding areas at night the group is looking for a few more helping hands.  they have about 19 volunteers but according to Grant Harris "The ideal amount to adequately cover all the areas in a town the size of Smithers would be about 40 volunteers," he said The town of Smithers has adopted a new logo The town is currently undertaking a brand refresh to modernize its visual identity that it hopes better aligns with its goals of economic development The town's Engagement and Communications Officer Sam LeBlanc explained the brand refresh project consists of a brand update rather than a full organizational rebranding The refresh will include an updated colour palette and icons designed specifically for online use to ensure compatibility with social media platforms and graphic elements to enhance the overall visual appeal of the town's brand Santa’s Breakfast at the Prestige Hudson Bay Lodge in Smithers returns for its 23rd year on December 1 from 9 a.m - 11:30 a.m The annual tradition benefits those less fortunate and helps fill the shelves at the Salvation Army food bank and about 5000 lbs of non-perishables," said event organizer Emma Robinson. "We have set our goals a bit higher this year We are sad to share the news that Bruce MacMillan passed away suddenly of a heart attack on Feb Bruce was born in June of 1941 to parents Bruce (Mac) and Lucille McMillan Bruce grew up on his parent's small farm near the prairie town of Pooka Nearby cousins substituted for the siblings he never had and the various branches of the family frequently gathered together at their Grandma Parks home for special occasions often travelling across the fields by horse-drawn sled over the frozen prairie snow drifts Smithers looks within for new fire chief After being with Smithers Fire Rescue since 2013 Alle Jan de Vries was promoted to chief in November.  he had been the deputy chief for almost three years.  I have an excellent and experienced group of officers and a dedicated and high-functioning group of firefighters," he said. "My The Town of Smithers is making some moves to try and calm traffic in the community council approved the town’s submission of an application to the British Columbia Vision Zero in Road Safety Grant Program for implementing the town's ‘Safe Streets and Lanes for All’ project The idea behind the grant is to support equitable use of streets for all British Columbians while improving safety and minimizing road-related injury risks through a range of measures including new policy changes and enforcement measures or other innovative projects that have the potential to improve road safety and equity won the evening's top category of Business of the Year at the Smithers and District Chamber of Commerce's 2025 Community Business Excellence Awards on April 5 The catering company also won Telkwa's Business Leadership Award Owner and chef Brandi Collins and her team also catered the event and she was seen running from the kitchen to the stage numerous times as a presenter and to pick up a couple of accolades Remembrance Day ceremonies will be held on Nov the Parade Commander will call the colour party to fall into position in front of the cenotaph at Veteran's Peace Park a parade begins at the Inlander Grocery parking lot Smithers RCMP have apprehended a repeat property crime offender wanted on 11 outstanding warrants and breaches of probation and release orders The arrest of Amily Tom is part of an ongoing effort to address property crime which authorities say is a persistent issue impacting the safety and security of the community “Property crime offences significantly impact our community and while we remain committed to holding individuals accountable the ultimate decision rests with the courts,” said Sergeant Ryan Law of the Smithers RCMP A Smithers woman has been awarded almost a million dollars after tripping in a pothole in front of a convenience store in Smithers more than six years ago Crystal Tommy was on her way to work and stopped for a morning coffee at 7-Eleven she tripped on a pothole in the 7-Eleven parking lot and broke her ankle in three places She suffered an ankle fracture involving a distal fibula fracture and an anterior distal tibia small bony fragment fracture Tommy suffered a number of complications since then and brought forward a claim of negligence for damages She missed several months from work while using crutches and a wheelchair She said she continues to experience persistent pain hips and lower back as well as difficulties with her mental health and sleep the plaintiff said she gained a substantial amount of weight creating further complications She missed several months from work but ultimately returned to work at the nursery late in 2018 because Her ankle continued to swell at work. Tommy had to use a makeshift stool to sit down for her work when previously she would stand all day for her tasks After more complications from the initial injury plus two more related injuries she stopped working in 2022 while she struggled with her health issues Her mental health had deteriorated and she is presently suffering from poverty took photos of the pothole and returned later in the day and noted it had been filled in 7-Eleven denied liability for the injuries Supreme Court Justice Emily Burke sided with the plaintiff granting Tommy damages of $907,363 for past and future loss of wages “It is further reasonable to conclude that Ms. Tommy is limited in her capacity to compete for non-physically demanding employment in North West British Columbia The plaintiff argues that Ms. Tommy will likely need to retire by the age 50 and will lose out on 20 years of income,” said Burke in her ruling released last week 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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