All posts by Guest Post

Energy, Politics

Bloc Québécois MP Monique Pauzé confronts feds about Trans Mountain’s ‘cooked’ books

By Natasha Bulowski, Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Bloc Québécois MP Monique Pauzé blasted the federal government in question period after a report forecasted roughly $17 billion of Trans Mountain’s public debt will be forgiven.

“The government has cooked the books to hide the fact that it continues to sink our money into the Trans Mountain pipeline,” the MP for Repentigny told the House of Commons in French on Oct. 7.

Continue reading Bloc Québécois MP Monique Pauzé confronts feds about Trans Mountain’s ‘cooked’ books →
Education, Indigenous Nations

Trauma and hope: Ucluelet Secondary exhibits poems inspired by residential school survivors

By Melissa Renwick, Ha-Shilth-Sa, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Ucluelet, BC – Ucluelet Secondary School (USS) began preparing for the Legacy of Hope Exhibit within days of welcoming their students back from summer vacation, ahead of the deadline for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30th. 

Continue reading Trauma and hope: Ucluelet Secondary exhibits poems inspired by residential school survivors →
Education, Indigenous Nations

First of 12 nsyilxcən language signs at BGC locations unveiled in kiʔláwnaʔ

By Aaron Hemens, The Discourse, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The first of 12 educational signs promoting the nsyilxcən language has been unveiled at a BGC Okanagan location in kiʔláwnaʔ (Kelowna) — part of an initiative being spearheaded by the Syilx Language House.

Sʔímlaʔxʷ Michele Johnson, the executive director of the Syilx Language House, said she reached out to BGC Okanagan more than a year ago to ask if they were interested in nsyilxcən signs outside of their 12 main locations. 

Johnson also organized a beginners nsyilxcen language course for early childhood educators who are working with BGC.

Continue reading First of 12 nsyilxcən language signs at BGC locations unveiled in kiʔláwnaʔ →
Energy, Finances

Finance Canada won’t rule out debt forgiveness for TMX

By Natasha Bulowski, Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Finance Canada won’t confirm whether it will consider forgiving Trans Mountain’s massive public debts at the expense of taxpayers, despite ample indications that loan forgiveness is inevitable.

Continue reading Finance Canada won’t rule out debt forgiveness for TMX →
Justice

More Chaos, Less Patience – qathet has a serious crime problem

Originally published on qathet Living

By Isabelle Southcott

More than most, Debbie Dee’s words hold weight on issues affecting marginalized locals. So when she stood at the lectern at the Evergreen Theatre on September 14, the 200-plus people who had come to discuss solutions to the escalating crime issue listened intently. Debbie has been executive director of the Powell River Brain Injury Society since 2003. She was a Powell River city councillor from 2008 to 2014. In her speech at the meeting, she revealed that last year, she lost her step-son, Bodie, to a fentanyl overdose. 

Debbie was very clear: Powell River’s support system for struggling people isn’t working. It’s not working for people with addictions, mental health challenges and sometimes brain injuries. It’s not working for the wider community, who have to live with theft, vandalism, and fear. 

Continue reading More Chaos, Less Patience – qathet has a serious crime problem →