Bill Metcalfe

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The Touchstones Museum exhibit Back on Track features a working model train from the Creston Museum from the 1980s. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

Train enthusiasts roll into Nelson for convention, exhibit

International conference coincided with Nelson museum’s history exhibit on trains in the Kootenays

The Touchstones Museum exhibit Back on Track features a working model train from the Creston Museum from the 1980s. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
Susan Faye took this photo of a mother bear with cubs in her yard in Uphill on Sept. 7.

Seven bears euthanized in Nelson this year

Conservation officers and WildSafe BC say number of bears in the city is ‘far beyond normal’

Susan Faye took this photo of a mother bear with cubs in her yard in Uphill on Sept. 7.
West Kootenay wildlife photographer Jim Lawrence contributed this photo of the Fry Creek wildfire taken on Sept. 8.

Three major fires burning in West Kootenay

Many smaller, remote fires are still out of control

West Kootenay wildlife photographer Jim Lawrence contributed this photo of the Fry Creek wildfire taken on Sept. 8.
Some of the intense smoke in Nelson is partly from fires in the West Kootenay, and much of it is blown in from fires to the south and west. Photo: Tyler Harper

Creston, Nelson have worst air quality in B.C.

Vulnerable population should reduce or reschedule strenuous activities outdoors

Some of the intense smoke in Nelson is partly from fires in the West Kootenay, and much of it is blown in from fires to the south and west. Photo: Tyler Harper
New construction of a 120-unit seniors housing project at 611 Vernon St. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

Residential construction booming in Nelson

The number of new apartments and condos in multi-unit buildings is unprecedented, say city staff

New construction of a 120-unit seniors housing project at 611 Vernon St. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
Taryn Marchi’s case against the City of Nelson began in B.C. Supreme Court in Nelson and eventually ended up at the Supreme Court of Canada. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

Nelson snowbank lawsuit settled out of court

The amount the city will pay Taryn Marchi is undisclosed

Taryn Marchi’s case against the City of Nelson began in B.C. Supreme Court in Nelson and eventually ended up at the Supreme Court of Canada. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
B.C. Green Party leader Sonia Furstenau at Cottonwood Falls in Nelson on Sept. 3. She visited the city over the Labour Day weekend and visited the Cottonwood Market, met supporters at a Lakeside Park gathering, and took part in the Pride Parade. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

BC Green Party leader Sonia Furstenau talks housing, old growth in visit to Nelson

Furstenau also discussed challenges of a small caucus, the drug crisis and seniors care

B.C. Green Party leader Sonia Furstenau at Cottonwood Falls in Nelson on Sept. 3. She visited the city over the Labour Day weekend and visited the Cottonwood Market, met supporters at a Lakeside Park gathering, and took part in the Pride Parade. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
Kozmo Sammartino and Rachel DeShon in a scene from Souvenir: a Fantasia on the Life of Florence Foster Jenkins, running at the Capitol Theatre Sept. 8 and 9 Photo: Electrify Photography

The baffling story of Florence Foster Jenkins

Sept. 8 and 9 production stars Rachel DeShon and Kozmo Sammartino, directed by Pat Henman

Kozmo Sammartino and Rachel DeShon in a scene from Souvenir: a Fantasia on the Life of Florence Foster Jenkins, running at the Capitol Theatre Sept. 8 and 9 Photo: Electrify Photography
Anjali Appadurai of Vancouver is campaigning for the leadership of the provincial NDP. She met with a crowd of several dozen people at Nelson’s Lakeside Park on Aug. 30. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

In Nelson, B.C. NDP leadership candidate says party is too comfortable, needs a shake-up

Anjali Appadurai says the NDP is not taking climate change seriously

Anjali Appadurai of Vancouver is campaigning for the leadership of the provincial NDP. She met with a crowd of several dozen people at Nelson’s Lakeside Park on Aug. 30. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
Macton Milton Gomez (left) and Harigaranraj Ramakichenin are both employees of Kootenay Tamil Kitchen in Nelson under the Rural and Northern Immigration Program. This employment puts them on track to permanent resident status, and helps the employer with the local labour shortage. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

Nelson employers depend on foreign workers, want increased immigration

Many depend on Selkirk College international students and a local immigration program

Macton Milton Gomez (left) and Harigaranraj Ramakichenin are both employees of Kootenay Tamil Kitchen in Nelson under the Rural and Northern Immigration Program. This employment puts them on track to permanent resident status, and helps the employer with the local labour shortage. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
The new Kootenay Lake ferry is being built in a dry dock in Nelson. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

New Kootenay Lake ferry completion delayed to 2024

The ferry’s engines are taking longer than expected

The new Kootenay Lake ferry is being built in a dry dock in Nelson. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
The newly renovated ferry landing at Balfour. Photo: Government of B.C.

Renovated Kootenay Lake ferry terminals open, receive mixed reviews

The changes include more lanes for traffic queues

The newly renovated ferry landing at Balfour. Photo: Government of B.C.
The site of the TEETH clinic on Front Street in Nelson is still boarded up following a fire in February. Photo: Tyler Harper

Man accused of Nelson dental clinic arson has died

Nicholas Ardito was to appear in Nelson court on Aug. 16

The site of the TEETH clinic on Front Street in Nelson is still boarded up following a fire in February. Photo: Tyler Harper
The Nelson to Playmor Junction section of the Castlegar–Nelson Active Transportation Network Vision. The vision document also includes maps of four other segments between Nelson and Castlegar. Map: West Kootenay Cycling Coalition

Cycling group gets $50,000 to study Nelson-Castlegar route

Plan envisions separated bike lane, walking paths, and electric rail travel

The Nelson to Playmor Junction section of the Castlegar–Nelson Active Transportation Network Vision. The vision document also includes maps of four other segments between Nelson and Castlegar. Map: West Kootenay Cycling Coalition
Ecologist Greg Utzig in an area of old growth cedar-hemlock forest near Nelson that is not in an Old Growth Management Area and which therefore could be logged any time. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

Kootenay forest management ignores old growth protection, two experts say

Some younger forest is protected as old growth, while much actual old growth is not protected

Ecologist Greg Utzig in an area of old growth cedar-hemlock forest near Nelson that is not in an Old Growth Management Area and which therefore could be logged any time. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
RCMP are seen here making arrests May 17 near Argenta, B.C., north of Nelson. A group had been camped out protesting a logging company’s plans for the area. Photo: Louis Bockner

Complaint filed against RCMP for alleged ‘unlawful’ arrest tactics at Argenta protest

A coalition of eight groups wants police actions reviewed

RCMP are seen here making arrests May 17 near Argenta, B.C., north of Nelson. A group had been camped out protesting a logging company’s plans for the area. Photo: Louis Bockner
Several dozen people came to Nelson court on July 19 for the hearing of 19 logging protesters arrested on May 17 near Argenta. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

Court date for Argenta logging protesters delayed

The date of the next appearance is not yet decided

Several dozen people came to Nelson court on July 19 for the hearing of 19 logging protesters arrested on May 17 near Argenta. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
Jay Chalke is B.C.’s Ombudsperson. His office invites West Kootenay people who believe they have been treated unfairly by a provincial or local government to make an appointment during the week of July 18-22. Photo: Amy Romer

Treated unfairly by provincial government? B.C. Ombudsperson visiting West Kootenay

Ombudsperson office will be booking appointments July 18-22.

Jay Chalke is B.C.’s Ombudsperson. His office invites West Kootenay people who believe they have been treated unfairly by a provincial or local government to make an appointment during the week of July 18-22. Photo: Amy Romer
Bob Keating (left) writes and edits The Headwaters podcast, and Mitchell Scott is its producer and host. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

‘Tell them something unique in a unique way’: The Headwaters podcast tells surprising Kootenay stories

With 4,000 downloads since May, producers say success is about sound, pacing, and unexpected stories

Bob Keating (left) writes and edits The Headwaters podcast, and Mitchell Scott is its producer and host. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
FortisBC’s power plant at Upper Bonnington Falls. Photo: Tyler Harper.

FortisBC fined $11,000 for unsafe practices on Kootenay River dam

The incidents took place at one of FortisBC’s hydro generating facilities

FortisBC’s power plant at Upper Bonnington Falls. Photo: Tyler Harper.