Local News

Teck’s Elkview operations seen from Sparwood. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)

Teck fined $200K for unauthorised tailings discharge at Elkview

The province slapped the company with two fines for the incidents which occured in 2020 near Sparwood

Andrew Ede, Sam Rampado, Blair Hindle and Cameron Sorensen are the crew behind the works on Elkford’s new bike park in the middle of town. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)

‘They’re so nice’: Elkford turns out to support bike park

Work is expected to be completed on the new bike park within weeks

Bert Schalekamp is running for Elkford council in October 2022. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)

Bert Schalekamp to run for Elkford council

Schalekamp and his family have lived in Elkford for 11 years

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An elephant and her calf are rescued from a deep pit in Thailand. (Associated Press/screenshot)
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A large plume of smoke from the Connell Ridge wildfire could be seen from Cranbrook on Sunday, Aug. 14. Trevor Crawley photo.

Three large wildfires continue to burn in East Kootenay

Fire crews continue to respond to Connell Ridge, Weasel Creek, Cummings Creek wildfires

A large plume of smoke from the Connell Ridge wildfire could be seen from Cranbrook on Sunday, Aug. 14. Trevor Crawley photo.
Brad Bowen (third from right) will be retiring from the Sparwood council at the 2022 municipal elections. (Courtesy of District of Sparwood)

Brad Bowen to retire from Sparwood council

Bowen has served on the council since 2014

Brad Bowen (third from right) will be retiring from the Sparwood council at the 2022 municipal elections. (Courtesy of District of Sparwood)
Structure protection teams in Sparwood conducting practice drills to test for efficiencies. (Image courtesy of BC Wildfire Service)

Contingency planning around Sparwood continues as Cummings Creek fire burns on

The wildfire has seen some growth, but is mostly burning within the fire perimetre

Structure protection teams in Sparwood conducting practice drills to test for efficiencies. (Image courtesy of BC Wildfire Service)
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BCGEU union members take to the picket line at the BC Liquor Distribution Branch’s Delta distribution centre on Monday, Aug. 15, 2022. (James Smith/North Delta Reporter)
VIDEO: B.C. public service workers begin job action amid bargaining breakdown
Screenshot from Fraser Valley Rose Farm Youtube video.
VIDEO: Lonely B.C. duck follows humans around after coyotes kill her friends
Author Salman Rushdie poses for a photo as he promotes the movie “Midnight’s Children” during the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto on September 8, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
Canadian literary figures double down on free speech following Salman Rushdie attack
Canadian jazz piano impresario Oscar Peterson sits at a piano in a television studio in a January 26, 1963, handout photo. Peterson is the subject of the documentary “Oscar Peterson: Black + White,” which premieres Saturday at the Toronto International Film Festival. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Archives Radio-Canada, Andre Le Coz,
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View from the reconnaissance flight. BC Wildfire Service

Mt. Evans fire near Kimberley being monitored by helicopters and air tankers

Terrain is not safe for ground crews says BC Wildfire Service

View from the reconnaissance flight. BC Wildfire Service
Ange Qualizza speaking at UBCM. (Image courtesy of Ange Qualizza)

Fernie mayor unopposed in bid to be First VP at UBCM

Qualizza is the one candidate for the UBCM executive position, with elections in September

Ange Qualizza speaking at UBCM. (Image courtesy of Ange Qualizza)
TMARS have had a mother of nine new kittens come into their care in the last few days. (Image courtesy of TMARS)

Elk Valley’s local animal rescue call out for help

TMARS have had a late influx of kittens that need homes to go to

TMARS have had a mother of nine new kittens come into their care in the last few days. (Image courtesy of TMARS)
A screenshot of Fernie air quality at 3:16 pm on August 11, 2022. (Image courtesy of Purple Air Network)

Fernie local tracking Elk Valley air quality

Ashlee Jollymore has installed an air quality monitor in her backyard

A screenshot of Fernie air quality at 3:16 pm on August 11, 2022. (Image courtesy of Purple Air Network)
Spencer Gough is running for Fernie council in October 2022. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)

Spencer Gough to run for Fernie council

A gymnastics coach, Gough has lived in Fernie full-time for the last five years

Spencer Gough is running for Fernie council in October 2022. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)
BC Wildfire Service crews mopping up as a result of the Keremeos Creek wildfire. (BC Wildfire Service- Facebook)

Keremeos Creek wildfire evacuation orders rescinded for Olalla

Village of Apex and portion of Green Mountain Road remain on evacuation

BC Wildfire Service crews mopping up as a result of the Keremeos Creek wildfire. (BC Wildfire Service- Facebook)
The Three Sisters in Fernie partially obscured by wildfire smoke in the 2021 summer wildfire season in B.C. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)

Environment Canada warns of reduced air quality in Elk Valley

Three wildfires of note are burning in East Kootenay

The Three Sisters in Fernie partially obscured by wildfire smoke in the 2021 summer wildfire season in B.C. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)
The Fernie Fire Department’s former home. (Soranne Floarea/ The Free Press)

Fernie signs new collective agreement with firefighter union

Career firefighters in Fernie will be getting 2.5 percent wage increase for three years

The Fernie Fire Department’s former home. (Soranne Floarea/ The Free Press)
The wildfire south of Rosswood as it looked from the air earlier. Skimmer aircraft were deployed today. (BC Wildfire Service photo)

Rosswood fire has moved away from structures

Skimmer aircraft used today to establish perimeter

The wildfire south of Rosswood as it looked from the air earlier. Skimmer aircraft were deployed today. (BC Wildfire Service photo)
Thomas McDonald is running for Area A director with the RDEK in October. Pictured on his Cokato farm in August. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)

Thomas McDonald to run for Area A director

Area A encompasses all of the Elk Valley outside the three municipalities

Thomas McDonald is running for Area A director with the RDEK in October. Pictured on his Cokato farm in August. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)
The (former) sani dump in Fernie was closed at the end of summer ‘21. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)

Fernie’s temporary sani dump plans get flushed

City council rejected a temporary sani-dump solution, objecting to the pricetag

The (former) sani dump in Fernie was closed at the end of summer ‘21. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)
This burned tree along Highway 3A is a hazard and could come down onto the road. It’s an example of the dangers of opening the highway too soon, said BC Wildfire. (BC Wildfire)

Some Keremeos Creek fire evacuation orders and alerts rescinded

Evacuations lifted for over 40 properties along Hwy 3A corridor

This burned tree along Highway 3A is a hazard and could come down onto the road. It’s an example of the dangers of opening the highway too soon, said BC Wildfire. (BC Wildfire)
Image of the Cummings Creek wildfire of note, taken by BC Wildfire Service on August 7. (Image courtesy of BC Wildfire Service)

Sparwood gets update on Cummings Creek wildfire activity

The fire is burning aggressively at night, and efforts will be made to slow it from crossing Cummings Creek

Image of the Cummings Creek wildfire of note, taken by BC Wildfire Service on August 7. (Image courtesy of BC Wildfire Service)
Future site of the Lubers Express Oil Change business in Fernie. It has been under a stop-work order since September 2021. Pictured in July 2022 (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)

Long-delayed Fernie lube business to move ahead again

The business had its site hit by a stop-work order in September 2021

Future site of the Lubers Express Oil Change business in Fernie. It has been under a stop-work order since September 2021. Pictured in July 2022 (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)