Bill Metcalfe

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Nelson police chief Donovan Fisher (right) with deputy chief Raj Saini at Nelson City Council’s Nov. 22 meeting. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

Nelson Police Department asks city council for 6.8% increase for 2023

Chief Donovan Fisher admitted to officer issues with stress, mental health, and job performance

Nelson police chief Donovan Fisher (right) with deputy chief Raj Saini at Nelson City Council’s Nov. 22 meeting. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
The Kootenay Carshare Co-op’s new low-speed electric vehicle does well in the snow, says executive director Colleen Doyle, shown here with her daughter Aven and son Oden. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

Low-speed electric vehicle hits the road in Nelson

Kootenay Carshare’s vehicle has top speed of 40 km/h, range of 90 km, and plugs into a wall socket

The Kootenay Carshare Co-op’s new low-speed electric vehicle does well in the snow, says executive director Colleen Doyle, shown here with her daughter Aven and son Oden. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
The Glade Watershed Preservation Society, along with the Laird Creek Water Users Association, have both expressed concerns about logging in forests from which they get their drinking water. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

Preserve first, log second, says West Kootenay rural watershed report

Watershed groups in Laird and Glade produce ‘nature-directed stewardship’ plan

The Glade Watershed Preservation Society, along with the Laird Creek Water Users Association, have both expressed concerns about logging in forests from which they get their drinking water. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
This is only a portion of the crowd at the Remembrance Day ceremony on Nov. 11 in Nelson. There were also many more people behind and on both sides of the photographer. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

Hundreds attend Remembrance Day ceremony in Nelson

Legion president says it was even larger than pre-pandemic crowds

This is only a portion of the crowd at the Remembrance Day ceremony on Nov. 11 in Nelson. There were also many more people behind and on both sides of the photographer. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
Biologist Rosie Wijenberg at a grove of eight western red cedars in the Russell Creek area of the West Kootenay. These trees are temporarily protected from logging because they are in an old growth deferral area. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

Finding the Kootenays’ biggest trees: Biologist mapping the region’s forest giants

But only timber companies may nominate trees for a new provincial list of protected trees

Biologist Rosie Wijenberg at a grove of eight western red cedars in the Russell Creek area of the West Kootenay. These trees are temporarily protected from logging because they are in an old growth deferral area. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
The City of Nelson’s organic waste co-ordinator Emily Mask at home with her FoodCycler. Compostable waste generally makes up 40 per cent of total household garbage. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

Nelson to launch countertop food waste treatment pilot in spring

Compostable organic waste makes up 40% of municipal garbage

The City of Nelson’s organic waste co-ordinator Emily Mask at home with her FoodCycler. Compostable waste generally makes up 40 per cent of total household garbage. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
L-R: Sai Batta from India, Shanique Eldemire from Jamaica, and Guilherme Alano from Brazil, all say they are pleased about the federal government’s decision to allow them to work full time while studying. They are students in the culinary management diploma program at Selkirk College’s Tenth Street Campus. The program is for people who already have a culinary or hospitality credential from outside of Canada. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

Nelson’s international students applaud change to allowable employment hours

Students can now work full time while studying

L-R: Sai Batta from India, Shanique Eldemire from Jamaica, and Guilherme Alano from Brazil, all say they are pleased about the federal government’s decision to allow them to work full time while studying. They are students in the culinary management diploma program at Selkirk College’s Tenth Street Campus. The program is for people who already have a culinary or hospitality credential from outside of Canada. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
The Children’s Heartbeat Parade on Sept. 29 in Nelson recognized Orange Shirt Day. Many students wore orange shirts and many sang and played drums. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

PHOTOS: Hundreds of students gather in downtown Nelson for Orange Shirt Day

The event was a prelude to National Truth and Reconciliation Day on Sept. 30

The Children’s Heartbeat Parade on Sept. 29 in Nelson recognized Orange Shirt Day. Many students wore orange shirts and many sang and played drums. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
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.