Bill Metcalfe

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The camp on Government Road in Nelson on Sept. 29. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

Roadside B.C. homeless camp endures rocks, fireworks, from passing cars

Winter shelter options limited, public harassment common for people without homes in Nelson

The camp on Government Road in Nelson on Sept. 29. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
An unidentified pilot landed his plane on Highway 6 on Monday. Photo: Ed Baker

Pilot lands plane on Kootenay highway after engine failure

No one injured in incident north of Salmo

An unidentified pilot landed his plane on Highway 6 on Monday. Photo: Ed Baker
Earthquake damage in Marrakesh, Morocco. Photo: Doug Jones

‘It was terrifying’: B.C. resident recalls Morocco earthquake

Fiona Richards says the country needs tourist dollars to survive

Earthquake damage in Marrakesh, Morocco. Photo: Doug Jones
The possibility of natural burials and green burials are the subjects of discussions at Nelson City Council. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

B.C. city ponders allowing natural burials in cemetery

Nelson city council has asked its staff to examine an existing bylaw

The possibility of natural burials and green burials are the subjects of discussions at Nelson City Council. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
Madame Cola, designed by Shirley McLim. Can-can dress crafted from pop tabs and crochet thread for the bodice, and coke tins, crochet thread and stiff wire for the skirt. Hat and rose accessories made from coke tins. Model: Tiffany McLim. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

PHOTOS: Nelson fashion show features wearable art made of trash

The show attracted some very skilled designers to work with throw-away materials

Madame Cola, designed by Shirley McLim. Can-can dress crafted from pop tabs and crochet thread for the bodice, and coke tins, crochet thread and stiff wire for the skirt. Hat and rose accessories made from coke tins. Model: Tiffany McLim. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
The FoodCycler grinds and dehydrates food scraps to produce a soil amendment that can be used as fertilizer or added to compost. Photo: Food Cycle Science.

B.C. community launching countertop food waste treatment pilot

The program is unique in Canada, city says

The FoodCycler grinds and dehydrates food scraps to produce a soil amendment that can be used as fertilizer or added to compost. Photo: Food Cycle Science.
Environmental microbiologist Dr. Natalie Prystajecky with some of her staff members at the BC Centre for Disease Control. Photo: Submitted

Wastewater testing for COVID-19 coming to Interior Health

Testing can tell whether cases are rising or falling in a community

Environmental microbiologist Dr. Natalie Prystajecky with some of her staff members at the BC Centre for Disease Control. Photo: Submitted
Nelson’s sewage treatment plant is located at Grohman Narrows, and treats sewage through primary treatment (filtering and settling of solids) and secondary treatment (biological processes to break down organic matter). The resulting effluent is then released into the Kootenay River. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

Sewage from Nelson treatment plant runs into Kootenay River during storms: environment ministry

City is planning a multi-million dollar upgrade

Nelson’s sewage treatment plant is located at Grohman Narrows, and treats sewage through primary treatment (filtering and settling of solids) and secondary treatment (biological processes to break down organic matter). The resulting effluent is then released into the Kootenay River. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
The Kaslo Jazz Etc. Festival has become a wildly popular cultural event in the West Kootenay. Photo: Louis Bockner

Kaslo Jazz Etc. Festival is back, with changes

First batch of tickets has sold out, a second will be offered later in the spring

The Kaslo Jazz Etc. Festival has become a wildly popular cultural event in the West Kootenay. Photo: Louis Bockner
Members of the Colville Confederated Tribes, including Richard Desautel (front row fourth from right), gathered Friday morning to hear the Supreme Court of Canada decision. Photo: Submitted

Sinixt, First Nation bordering Canada-U.S., can claim Indigenous rights, top court rules

The decision essentially reverses a 1956 declaration the Sinixt were extinct

Members of the Colville Confederated Tribes, including Richard Desautel (front row fourth from right), gathered Friday morning to hear the Supreme Court of Canada decision. Photo: Submitted
Rhonda Comeau of Salmo is recovering at home after heart attacks that followed her confrontation with a customer at Empire Coffee in Nelson on Nov. 20. Photo: Submitted

Nelson hotel mask confrontation: perpetrator arrested, victim recovering

Jeremy Undershute is expected to be charged with assault

Rhonda Comeau of Salmo is recovering at home after heart attacks that followed her confrontation with a customer at Empire Coffee in Nelson on Nov. 20. Photo: Submitted
An employee of the Adventure Hotel was taken to hospital on Nov. 20 after she confronted a customer of Empire Coffee about not wearing a mask. File photo.

Nelson hotel employee suffers heart attack after being assaulted in anti-mask incident

An accountant at the Adventure Hotel is in hospital in Kelowna

An employee of the Adventure Hotel was taken to hospital on Nov. 20 after she confronted a customer of Empire Coffee about not wearing a mask. File photo.
The six-week trial of RCMP officer Jason Tait was held in Nelson at the Capitol Theatre because the courthouse could not accommodate a jury under COVID-19 restrictions. File photo

UPDATED: Nelson jury finds RCMP officer Jason Tait not guilty of manslaughter

The decision came on Nov. 6 after a five-hour deliberation

The six-week trial of RCMP officer Jason Tait was held in Nelson at the Capitol Theatre because the courthouse could not accommodate a jury under COVID-19 restrictions. File photo
Biologist and writer Jamie Bastedo interviewed 11 prominent Canadian activists from several generations and tells us what makes them tick in his new book Protectors of the Planet: Environmental Trailblazers from 7 to 97. Photo: Submitted

Nelson author launches book on Canadian environmental heroes

Jamie Bastedo’s Protectors of the Planet looks at common traits of successful activists

Biologist and writer Jamie Bastedo interviewed 11 prominent Canadian activists from several generations and tells us what makes them tick in his new book Protectors of the Planet: Environmental Trailblazers from 7 to 97. Photo: Submitted
A Sinixt drum circle on the stage of the Capitol Theatre in Nelson. The case, which began in 2010, was heard at the Supreme Court of Canada on Oct. 8. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

UPDATED: American Indigenous group, province argue over cross-border rights at Canada’s top court

The case of Richard Desautel was heard in Ottawa

A Sinixt drum circle on the stage of the Capitol Theatre in Nelson. The case, which began in 2010, was heard at the Supreme Court of Canada on Oct. 8. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
The pilot of a plane that crashed on Monday morning in the Wholesale Club parking lot in Nelson was taken to hospital with minor injuries. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

Two injured after plane crashes into Nelson supermarket parking lot

Pilot and passenger have minor injuries

The pilot of a plane that crashed on Monday morning in the Wholesale Club parking lot in Nelson was taken to hospital with minor injuries. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
Dentist offices around the province are coping withconcerns around COVID-19. Photo: Angie Mindus

B.C. dentist petitions province to order shut-down of all dental offices

David Alfaro says current COVID-19 recommendation doesn’t go far enough

Dentist offices around the province are coping withconcerns around COVID-19. Photo: Angie Mindus
B.C. woman pulled over for being impaired passenger sues police officer, province

B.C. woman pulled over for being impaired passenger sues police officer, province

Sarah Coghill was detained and her vehicle impounded for being an impaired passenger

B.C. woman pulled over for being impaired passenger sues police officer, province
Caitlin Burge of Nelson, who works for Next Generation Reforestation, has 14 years of experience in treeplanting camps. She’s developing sexual safety guidelines and training for the company. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

Stories of sexual assault at B.C. tree planting camps ‘shocking but not surprising:’ advocate

Contractors’ association is working with trainers to create respectful culture

Caitlin Burge of Nelson, who works for Next Generation Reforestation, has 14 years of experience in treeplanting camps. She’s developing sexual safety guidelines and training for the company. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
Biologist Wayne McCrory thinks this potential bear den should remain undisturbed. Den trees only exist in old growth and he estimates that 80 per cent of the old growth forest in the Slocan Valley has been logged. Photo submitted

Biologist wants to save Slocan Valley tree that’s likely bear den

Wayne McCrory wants industry to move a planned road

Biologist Wayne McCrory thinks this potential bear den should remain undisturbed. Den trees only exist in old growth and he estimates that 80 per cent of the old growth forest in the Slocan Valley has been logged. Photo submitted