Scott Tibballs

  • 505 Stories | 
  • Page 1 of 26
The number of bear reports in and around Fernie is ‘almost double’ compared to this time last year according to WildSafeBC Coordinator Kathy Murray. Pictured: Young cubs photographed in Fernie last year. (File photo)

Bear reports around Fernie ‘almost double’ compared to last year: WildSafeBC

Lots of berries, a high birth rate and a dry summer means there’s a lot of hungry bears in town

The number of bear reports in and around Fernie is ‘almost double’ compared to this time last year according to WildSafeBC Coordinator Kathy Murray. Pictured: Young cubs photographed in Fernie last year. (File photo)
A fully-loaded logging truck plunged into the Elk River on Monday, October 18 2021. (Contributed by James Kirk)

Logging truck takes a dip in the Elk River

Nobody was injured in the incident

A fully-loaded logging truck plunged into the Elk River on Monday, October 18 2021. (Contributed by James Kirk)
A fully-loaded logging truck plunged into the Elk River on Monday, October 18 2021. (Contributed by James Kirk)

Logging truck takes a dip in the Elk River

Nobody was injured in the incident

A fully-loaded logging truck plunged into the Elk River on Monday, October 18 2021. (Contributed by James Kirk)
The Fernie Chamber of Commerce hosted this year's virtual 2020 Business Awards. (File Photo)

Fernie business award finalists announced

Almost 500 nominations were received for 2021

The Fernie Chamber of Commerce hosted this year's virtual 2020 Business Awards. (File Photo)
The inside of the Royal Hotel in Fernie is looking very different after being gutted to allow its renovation into a boutique hotel. Pictured here, the soon-to-be-removed staircase in August 2021. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)

Grand plans for the Royal: Work continues on Fernie’s heritage-listed history

The Royal Hotel will be renovated into a boutique hotel which will (hopefully) open in 2022

The inside of the Royal Hotel in Fernie is looking very different after being gutted to allow its renovation into a boutique hotel. Pictured here, the soon-to-be-removed staircase in August 2021. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)
Arid Australian countryside in central Victoria state. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)

Column: Water, water, not quite everywhere

Growing up a drought can leave an impression

Arid Australian countryside in central Victoria state. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)
The sign out the front of the old Lutheran Church in Fernie is now used to spread laughter. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)

Fernie Mountain Sanctuary gives converted church a new lease on life

Fernie’s old Lutheran Church is now half a short-term rental and half a home

The sign out the front of the old Lutheran Church in Fernie is now used to spread laughter. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)
Wayne Stetski (left) is a host at the Mount Fernie Provincial Park. BC Parks are always looking for hosts to help assist visitors over the summer months. Pictured here with Deb Holliday who is BC Parks supervisor at the park, Emmalie Hayes who is a park operator, Jerry the Moose, EK Parks owner Jenna Gyurkovits and young visitors from Alberta, Winston, Harriet and Amelia Rush. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)

Think you’re a people person? BC Parks seeks campsite hosts

The Bare Campsite Program has also been proving a success at Mount Fernie Provincial Park

Wayne Stetski (left) is a host at the Mount Fernie Provincial Park. BC Parks are always looking for hosts to help assist visitors over the summer months. Pictured here with Deb Holliday who is BC Parks supervisor at the park, Emmalie Hayes who is a park operator, Jerry the Moose, EK Parks owner Jenna Gyurkovits and young visitors from Alberta, Winston, Harriet and Amelia Rush. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)
The portable electric fast-charger launched in the East Kootenays this summer can charge multiple EVs at once. (Image courtesy of Community Energy Association)

Fast charger does the rounds in East Kootenay

An EV fast charger is being deployed to raise awareness of EV tech

The portable electric fast-charger launched in the East Kootenays this summer can charge multiple EVs at once. (Image courtesy of Community Energy Association)
The unpaved and unmarked parking lot at the corner of 4th and 3rd in Fernie, B.C. in July 2021. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)

Fernie plots a carpark glow-up

City applies for half a million to improve parking around downtown core

The unpaved and unmarked parking lot at the corner of 4th and 3rd in Fernie, B.C. in July 2021. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)
Two of the many kittens TMARS re-homed in the 2021 ‘kitten season’. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)

TMARS re-homes 30 cats over 2021 ‘kitten season’

To help TMARS re-home more animals, donations and fosters are needed

Two of the many kittens TMARS re-homed in the 2021 ‘kitten season’. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)
An image of the vandalism carried out at the Sparwood Leisure Centre over the weekend. (Image courtesy of District of Sparwood)

‘Disappointing’ vandalism of district property in Sparwood

District money and staff time will have to be set aside to repair the facilities

An image of the vandalism carried out at the Sparwood Leisure Centre over the weekend. (Image courtesy of District of Sparwood)
A mockup of the exterior of the Royal Hotel in Fernie as proposed by the owners. (Image courtesy of the City of Fernie)

City grants Heritage Alteration Permit to Royal Hotel

The Royal Hotel is being renovated into a Boutique Hotel

A mockup of the exterior of the Royal Hotel in Fernie as proposed by the owners. (Image courtesy of the City of Fernie)
Wayne Stetski was officially confirmed as the NDP Candidate for Kootenay-Columbia at a virtual nomination meeting held on March 27, 2021. (Submitted file)

Nobody wants an election, but NDP are ready: Wayne Stetski

The Kootenay-Columbia NDP candidate has been touring the riding

Wayne Stetski was officially confirmed as the NDP Candidate for Kootenay-Columbia at a virtual nomination meeting held on March 27, 2021. (Submitted file)
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry speaks with Minister of Health Adrian Dix at the Victoria Conference Centre vaccination site to promote walk-in Wednesdays, an effort by the province to encourage those needing a first or second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine during a site tour in Victoria, B.C., on Tuesday, August 3, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

IH reports increasing COVID-19 cases, Kootenays report erratic numbers

Interior Health is hosting four pop-up vaccine clinics in the Fernie area through August

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry speaks with Minister of Health Adrian Dix at the Victoria Conference Centre vaccination site to promote walk-in Wednesdays, an effort by the province to encourage those needing a first or second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine during a site tour in Victoria, B.C., on Tuesday, August 3, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
The Racehorse Pass trail between B.C. and Alberta in the Elk Valley and Crowsnest Pass area has been saved by spirited public engagement. (Image courtesy of Fernie Snowmobile Association).

Elk Valley stakeholders successfully campaign to keep Racehorse Pass trail open

The Racehorse Pass trail had been considered for decommissioning to reduce habitat fragmentation

The Racehorse Pass trail between B.C. and Alberta in the Elk Valley and Crowsnest Pass area has been saved by spirited public engagement. (Image courtesy of Fernie Snowmobile Association).
Local graphic designer Vanessa Croome with her dumpster for 2021, depicting trees of the valley in a colourful, abstract style. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)

Dumpster art brightens Fernie

Local artists spent last week painting dumpsters to go around Fernie

Local graphic designer Vanessa Croome with her dumpster for 2021, depicting trees of the valley in a colourful, abstract style. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)
A swimming advisory has been in place for Maiden Lake in Fernie for over a month, after staff reported E. coli during a routine water quality inspection in June 2020. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)

Fernie’s Maiden Lake returns E. coli result for second month

A swimming advisory remains in place for the lake in Fernie

A swimming advisory has been in place for Maiden Lake in Fernie for over a month, after staff reported E. coli during a routine water quality inspection in June 2020. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)
Teck’s Elkview operations seen from Sparwood. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)

Teck’s profits up, coal recovers from 2020 lows in Q2 report

Profits from coal are up to $233 million for Q2 this year, compared to $58 million last year

Teck’s Elkview operations seen from Sparwood. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)
The Elko sawmill is part of the province-wide Canfor sawmill shutdowns. File Photo

Canfor trims lumber production due to BC wildfires

The company has announced it is reducing lumber production by 115 million board feet due to supply chain disruptions

The Elko sawmill is part of the province-wide Canfor sawmill shutdowns. File Photo