Tag Archives: BC

Animals, Health

Chronic Wasting Disease reported in the Kootenay Region

On January 31, 2024, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency confirmed that two cases of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) have been found south of Cranbrook, in the Kootenays. ‘The first sample came from a ‘harvested’ adult male mule deer and the second from a white-tailed doe that was struck on the road. 

CWD is a highly infectious and fatal disease, which the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention states, “affects many different species of hoofed animals including North American elk or wapiti, red deer, mule deer, black-tailed deer, white-tailed deer, sika deer, reindeer, and moose.”

This is the first report of CWD west of the Rocky Mountains in Canada or the United States.  

Continue reading Chronic Wasting Disease reported in the Kootenay Region →
Disaster, Indigenous Nations

Frantic escapes, damaged homes and lost time: First Nations hit hardest when wildfire season comes

By Matteo Cimellaro, Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Debbie Rupke (Tomma) heard a rattle at her door. It was her cousin in a panic, telling her they had only minutes to leave. Strong winds had shifted, and the Bushcreek fire, which has burned at least 43,084 hectares north of Kelowna so far, was bearing down on their homes. Rupke (Tomma) had returned from Vancouver the day before, so she grabbed her yet-to-be-unpacked suitcase and her most precious memento: a family portrait of her daughter she gave up for adoption at 15.

Continue reading Frantic escapes, damaged homes and lost time: First Nations hit hardest when wildfire season comes →
Indigenous Nations

Canoe journey crosses colonial border, upholding syilx sovereignty: ‘this is still our territory’

By Aaron Hemens, The Discourse, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

For the 22nd year in a row, syilx Okanagan people took a canoe journey across the invisible border between “Canada” and the “United States” that divides their territory — challenging a colonial marker that continues to infringe upon their unceded homelands.

Dozens of pullers hauled at least 10 boats, including several dugout canoes, to the shore of nk’mip (Osoyoos Lake) in sw̓iw̓s (Osoyoos) in syilx homelands on Tuesday. The group sailed through the lake’s waters on the way to Oroville, Washington, before returning later in the day. 

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Environment, Rivers & Oceans

Canada must speed up decarbonizing ports to slash rising shipping emissions

Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Canada urgently needs to chart a course of action that will dramatically reduce the shipping sector’s surging greenhouse gas emissions, says an international coalition working to decarbonize the maritime sector. 

Each year, international shipping creates a billion tonnes of carbon dioxide. If the sector was a country, it would be the sixth largest emitter of CO2 emissions, roughly equivalent to Japan. 

Continue reading Canada must speed up decarbonizing ports to slash rising shipping emissions →
Housing, Jobs

Canada has jobs and public support for immigrants but it doesn’t have the housing

By Fabian Dawson, New Canadian Media, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Canada’s plan to open its doors to hundreds of thousands of immigrants will be a “trainwreck” if the Trudeau Liberal government does not come up with a comprehensive housing solution for the newcomers who are needed to fill jobs in the country, experts say.

Housing affordability and availability are the key issues of concern for Canadians, who are generally in favour of immigration, said pollster Nik Nanos. The results of his organization’s latest survey shows over half of Canadians polled believe an increase in immigrants as permanent residents will have a positive or somewhat positive impact on the economy.

Continue reading Canada has jobs and public support for immigrants but it doesn’t have the housing →