Tyler Harper

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Salmon Arm’s Joanne Wittstock holds a childhood photo of herself. Wittstock is the subject of a new TVO documentary series about people reconnecting with friends they knew in school. Photo courtesy TVO

B.C. trans woman looks for childhood friend in new documentary series

Joanne Wittstock is among the people looking to reconnect in the TVO show Yearbook

Salmon Arm’s Joanne Wittstock holds a childhood photo of herself. Wittstock is the subject of a new TVO documentary series about people reconnecting with friends they knew in school. Photo courtesy TVO
Ico de Zwart stands near the water box that serves the community of Krestova, B.C., located between Nelson and Castlegar. De Zwart is among volunteers trying to get the system upgraded to remove a boil water notice in place since 1992. Photo: Tyler Harper

Glass half empty: Rural Kootenay water systems struggle to meet health standards

There are 28 boil water advisories in the Kootenays that have been in place since the 1990s

Ico de Zwart stands near the water box that serves the community of Krestova, B.C., located between Nelson and Castlegar. De Zwart is among volunteers trying to get the system upgraded to remove a boil water notice in place since 1992. Photo: Tyler Harper
A man wears a face mask that says “I Can’t Breathe” in Vancouver on June 19, 2020 during the height of the Black Lives Matter protests. B.C. police reforms that began in 2020 have been delayed by the public safety ministry. Photo: Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press

First reforms to B.C. Police Act delayed to spring 2024

The final set of proposals won’t be considered by MLAs until at least late 2026

A man wears a face mask that says “I Can’t Breathe” in Vancouver on June 19, 2020 during the height of the Black Lives Matter protests. B.C. police reforms that began in 2020 have been delayed by the public safety ministry. Photo: Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press
The first recommended changes to B.C.’s Police Act will be brought at the legislative assembly in the fall of 2023, according to the public safety ministry. Photo: Shane MacKichan

First Police Act reforms to be tabled in fall: Public Safety Ministry

The ministry is acting on 11 recommended changes to law enforcement in B.C.

The first recommended changes to B.C.’s Police Act will be brought at the legislative assembly in the fall of 2023, according to the public safety ministry. Photo: Shane MacKichan
Orange Shirt Society founder Phyllis Webstad is seen here attending a ceremony to launch the ground search at the former St. Joseph’s Mission Residential School near Williams Lake on Aug. 30, 2021. The idea for Orange Shirt Day started in April 2013. Photo: Monica Lamb-Yorski

‘I’m still not comfortable with it’: Orange Shirt Day founder reflects on decade of reconciliation work

Phyllis Webstad has been telling her story for 10 years. It’s taken a toll

Orange Shirt Society founder Phyllis Webstad is seen here attending a ceremony to launch the ground search at the former St. Joseph’s Mission Residential School near Williams Lake on Aug. 30, 2021. The idea for Orange Shirt Day started in April 2013. Photo: Monica Lamb-Yorski
Dr. Nicholas Sparrow is Nelson’s 2022 Citizen of the Year. Sparrow, an ER doctor at Kootenay Lake Hospital, also volunteers his time responding to emergency calls after founding the Kootenay Emergency Response Physicians Association. Photo: Tyler Harper

‘If I can go, I go’: Nelson ER doctor saves lives in his spare time

Dr. Nicholas Sparrow is Nelson’s Citizen of the Year

Dr. Nicholas Sparrow is Nelson’s 2022 Citizen of the Year. Sparrow, an ER doctor at Kootenay Lake Hospital, also volunteers his time responding to emergency calls after founding the Kootenay Emergency Response Physicians Association. Photo: Tyler Harper
Ruth Krulitsky (left) and Shelby Sanford perform a Brooks & Dunn song during Intuit Studio’s Lip Sync Battle and Variety Show at The Capitol Theatre in Nelson on Saturday. Photo: Tyler Harper

VIDEO: At this B.C. lip sync competition, the best performers fake it until they make it

Intuit Studio hosted the event Saturday at The Capitol Theatre in Nelson

Ruth Krulitsky (left) and Shelby Sanford perform a Brooks & Dunn song during Intuit Studio’s Lip Sync Battle and Variety Show at The Capitol Theatre in Nelson on Saturday. Photo: Tyler Harper
A person in Nelson holds a bag with 2.5 grams of methamphetamine. Possession of that amount of certain types of drugs, including meth, will be decriminalized in B.C. as of Jan. 31. Photo: Tyler Harper

B.C. drug advocates cautiously optimistic about decriminalization

But there remains concerns about how possession will be enforced

A person in Nelson holds a bag with 2.5 grams of methamphetamine. Possession of that amount of certain types of drugs, including meth, will be decriminalized in B.C. as of Jan. 31. Photo: Tyler Harper
The Bass Coast and Shambhala electronic music festivals each host drug-checking services. An Interior Health report shows a rise in festival goers having their drugs checked, especially if they bought drugs at the festival. Photo: Bass Coast

B.C. music festival visitors more likely to use drug-checking services: Interior Health

A report found high uptake of drug testing at the Bass Coast and Shambhala music festivals

The Bass Coast and Shambhala electronic music festivals each host drug-checking services. An Interior Health report shows a rise in festival goers having their drugs checked, especially if they bought drugs at the festival. Photo: Bass Coast
Nelson Police Department Const. Wade Tittemore (left) died in an avalanche while backcountry skiing north of Nelson on Jan. 9, 2023. His colleague Const. Mathieu Nolet (middle), seen with Chief Donovan Fisher, was critically injured in the incident. Photo: City of Nelson

Nelson officer killed in avalanche identified as 43-year-old father of two

Const. Wade Tittemore died in the accident near Kaslo on Monday

Nelson Police Department Const. Wade Tittemore (left) died in an avalanche while backcountry skiing north of Nelson on Jan. 9, 2023. His colleague Const. Mathieu Nolet (middle), seen with Chief Donovan Fisher, was critically injured in the incident. Photo: City of Nelson
The Nelson Leafs and Beaver Valley Nitehawks were handed a number of suspensions after both teams brawled during a game Dec. 31 in Nelson. Photo: Hockey TV

VIDEO: B.C. hockey coach suspended indefinitely; players penalized after brawl during Kootenay junior game

Fights broke out during a Dec. 31 game in Nelson

The Nelson Leafs and Beaver Valley Nitehawks were handed a number of suspensions after both teams brawled during a game Dec. 31 in Nelson. Photo: Hockey TV
Kokanee Glacier, a geographic icon that has environmental and cultural significance to the Kootenays, is melting rapidly and will likely be gone within 50 years. Photo: Petra Hekkenberg

B.C.’s iconic Kokanee Glacier is melting and it can’t be saved

Within 50 years, one of Canada’s most famous glaciers will have melted away

Kokanee Glacier, a geographic icon that has environmental and cultural significance to the Kootenays, is melting rapidly and will likely be gone within 50 years. Photo: Petra Hekkenberg
Jessica Michalofsky on the lawn in front of the Ministry of Health building in Victoria. Her son Aubrey Michalofsky died from drug overdose in Beasley, B.C., west of Nelson. Jessica is completing a marathon a day around the block every weekday in the hopes of getting a meeting with someone to discuss action for safe supply. Photo: Arnold Lim/Black Press Media

B.C. mom runs daily marathon in front of health ministry office after son dies of drug poisoning

Jessica Michalofsky wants change after her son died of drug poisoning

Jessica Michalofsky on the lawn in front of the Ministry of Health building in Victoria. Her son Aubrey Michalofsky died from drug overdose in Beasley, B.C., west of Nelson. Jessica is completing a marathon a day around the block every weekday in the hopes of getting a meeting with someone to discuss action for safe supply. Photo: Arnold Lim/Black Press Media
Activists with Save Old Growth block traffic on the Trans-Canada Highway in Metro Vancouver in May 2022, calling for an end to old-growth logging in British Columbia. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Save Old Growth)

‘They alienate British Columbians’: Environment minister blasts latest protests, demonstrations

George Heyman said the ministry would not have dialogue with the group Save Old Growth

Activists with Save Old Growth block traffic on the Trans-Canada Highway in Metro Vancouver in May 2022, calling for an end to old-growth logging in British Columbia. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Save Old Growth)
Federal Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health Carolyn Bennett, back left, speaks as B.C. Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Sheila Malcolmson listens during a news conference after British Columbia was granted an exemption to decriminalize possession of some illegal drugs for personal use on Tuesday, May 31. Photo: Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press

2.5-gram threshold for decriminalized drugs ‘a floor not a ceiling,’ B.C. minister pledges

Sheila Malcolmson responded to criticism that the federal exemption will be ineffective

Federal Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health Carolyn Bennett, back left, speaks as B.C. Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Sheila Malcolmson listens during a news conference after British Columbia was granted an exemption to decriminalize possession of some illegal drugs for personal use on Tuesday, May 31. Photo: Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press
Nelson’s Thor Smestad (third from the left) is seen here at a tree planting ceremony April 18 at a school in the Brazilian community of Alter do Chão. Smestad and his partners have been working with the Indigenous Borari to replant trees at a local tourism destination. Smestad is joined here by (L-R) the local Chief Neca Borari, his tree-planting partner Diêgo Figueiredo de Siqueira Simplício, three students and two professors. Photo: Submitted

On a beach in the Amazon, a Nelson man is helping restore the rainforest

Thor Smestad and his team are fixing what tourists have ruined in Brazil

Nelson’s Thor Smestad (third from the left) is seen here at a tree planting ceremony April 18 at a school in the Brazilian community of Alter do Chão. Smestad and his partners have been working with the Indigenous Borari to replant trees at a local tourism destination. Smestad is joined here by (L-R) the local Chief Neca Borari, his tree-planting partner Diêgo Figueiredo de Siqueira Simplício, three students and two professors. Photo: Submitted
People in Nelson, B.C., protest COVID-19 mandates in January 2022. Photo: Tyler Harper

B.C. issued 2,335 COVID-19 tickets over 14 months, but not all ended in paid fines

How effective the tickets were is unclear

People in Nelson, B.C., protest COVID-19 mandates in January 2022. Photo: Tyler Harper
The B.C. health ministry says it is working on a plan to mandate vaccines for private practitioners including dentists. Photo: Evelina Zhu/Pexels

Mandatory COVID vaccines for private practitioners are coming: B.C. health officials

Doctors, dentists who don’t work in hospitals aren’t required to be vaccinated

The B.C. health ministry says it is working on a plan to mandate vaccines for private practitioners including dentists. Photo: Evelina Zhu/Pexels
Travis Bridge takes part in the 10-hour Bike-A-Thon held at Bigby Place. Participants were raising money for Nelson adults with special needs to travel to an athletics event in 2022. Photo: Tyler Harper

VIDEO: Nelson’s Bigby Place holds 10-hour marathon fundraiser

Participants spent the day on a stationary bike to pay for a trip to Operation Trackshoes

Travis Bridge takes part in the 10-hour Bike-A-Thon held at Bigby Place. Participants were raising money for Nelson adults with special needs to travel to an athletics event in 2022. Photo: Tyler Harper
Doctors and nurses gathered outside the emergency room at Nelson’s Kootenay Lake Hospital on Friday evening as local police and firefighters paraded by to show support. Photo: Tyler Harper

‘A kick in the teeth’: B.C. doctors, nurses react to anti-vaccine passport protests

Local health care workers are critical of demonstrations held in their name

Doctors and nurses gathered outside the emergency room at Nelson’s Kootenay Lake Hospital on Friday evening as local police and firefighters paraded by to show support. Photo: Tyler Harper