Tyler Harper

Gary Carden, a Sinixt man, yells Friday in Nelson as he burns a copy of Canada’s 1956 declaration that his people were extinct. Photo: Tyler Harper

‘We’re still here’: Sinixt visit B.C. on anniversary of top court’s acknowledgment that they exist

It was a home coming for a people Canada had previously asserted were extinct

Gary Carden, a Sinixt man, yells Friday in Nelson as he burns a copy of Canada’s 1956 declaration that his people were extinct. Photo: Tyler Harper
Holly Trider of ANKORS at an April demonstration in Nelson calling for decriminalization and safe drug supply. Advocates say last week’s decriminalization announcement doesn’t go far enough to be effective. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

‘Do the police need to carry little scales?’: Nelson’s top cop questions decriminalization enforcement

Chief Donovan Fisher says there’s been no direction given to police

Holly Trider of ANKORS at an April demonstration in Nelson calling for decriminalization and safe drug supply. Advocates say last week’s decriminalization announcement doesn’t go far enough to be effective. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
Federal Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health Carolyn Bennett, back left, speaks as B.C. Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Sheila Malcolmson listens during a news conference after British Columbia was granted an exemption to decriminalize possession of some illegal drugs for personal use on Tuesday, May 31. Photo: Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press

2.5-gram threshold for decriminalized drugs ‘a floor not a ceiling,’ B.C. minister pledges

Sheila Malcolmson responded to criticism that the federal exemption will be ineffective

Federal Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health Carolyn Bennett, back left, speaks as B.C. Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Sheila Malcolmson listens during a news conference after British Columbia was granted an exemption to decriminalize possession of some illegal drugs for personal use on Tuesday, May 31. Photo: Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press
The Kootenay Pedalwheelers, L-R: Mike Sagal, Jay Blackmore, Mike Bowick, Doug Kennedy, Roger Hassol and Todd Kettner. The team is set to sail in the 1,200-km Race to Alaska. Photo: Tyler Harper

‘It’s the anti-yacht race’: Kootenay sailing team set to compete in Race to Alaska

Nelson’s Kootenay Pedalwheelers will sail over 1,200 km along the B.C. coast

The Kootenay Pedalwheelers, L-R: Mike Sagal, Jay Blackmore, Mike Bowick, Doug Kennedy, Roger Hassol and Todd Kettner. The team is set to sail in the 1,200-km Race to Alaska. Photo: Tyler Harper
The name of Prince Charles is removed from Creston’s high school in June 2021. The facility was renamed Kootenay River School. Photo: Kelsey Yates

Nelson and Creston-area schools to no longer be named after people

School District 8’s new policy removes people, living or dead, from consideration

The name of Prince Charles is removed from Creston’s high school in June 2021. The facility was renamed Kootenay River School. Photo: Kelsey Yates
John Korobanik is seen here on May 18 at the Nelson and District Community Complex during the launch of his book Visionary: The Ernie Gare Story. Photo: Tyler Harper

New book profiles Nelson man behind Canada’s first student-athlete scholarship

Ernie Gare was athletic director at the former Notre Dame University

John Korobanik is seen here on May 18 at the Nelson and District Community Complex during the launch of his book Visionary: The Ernie Gare Story. Photo: Tyler Harper
RCMP are seen here making arrests May 17 near Argenta, B.C., north of Nelson. A group had been camped out protesting a logging company’s plans for the area. Photo: Louis Bockner

RCMP make arrests at logging protest north of Nelson

Last Stand West Kootenay was camped out on a road near Argenta

RCMP are seen here making arrests May 17 near Argenta, B.C., north of Nelson. A group had been camped out protesting a logging company’s plans for the area. Photo: Louis Bockner
Nelson’s Thor Smestad (third from the left) is seen here at a tree planting ceremony April 18 at a school in the Brazilian community of Alter do Chão. Smestad and his partners have been working with the Indigenous Borari to replant trees at a local tourism destination.
Smestad is joined here by (L-R) the local Chief Neca Borari, his tree-planting partner Diêgo Figueiredo de Siqueira Simplício, three students and two professors. Photo: Submitted

On a beach in the Amazon, a Nelson man is helping restore the rainforest

Thor Smestad and his team are fixing what tourists have ruined in Brazil

Nelson’s Thor Smestad (third from the left) is seen here at a tree planting ceremony April 18 at a school in the Brazilian community of Alter do Chão. Smestad and his partners have been working with the Indigenous Borari to replant trees at a local tourism destination.
Smestad is joined here by (L-R) the local Chief Neca Borari, his tree-planting partner Diêgo Figueiredo de Siqueira Simplício, three students and two professors. Photo: Submitted
Daryl Verville released his book, Epistles to the Pope: A personal history of perilous priestcraft, in 2020. In the memoir, Verville contends with his father’s abusive nature and how it was formed by the Roman Catholic Church’s management of residential schools in Canada. Photo: Tyler Harper

Missing notes: The traumatic family history of Nelson classical pianist Daryl Verville

Verville’s father was violent and abusive. He also had a terrible secret

Daryl Verville released his book, Epistles to the Pope: A personal history of perilous priestcraft, in 2020. In the memoir, Verville contends with his father’s abusive nature and how it was formed by the Roman Catholic Church’s management of residential schools in Canada. Photo: Tyler Harper
People in Nelson, B.C., protest COVID-19 mandates in January 2022. Photo: Tyler Harper
People in Nelson, B.C., protest COVID-19 mandates in January 2022. Photo: Tyler Harper
George Vnoucek fled then-Czechoslovakia in 1968 shortly after the Soviet Union’s invasion. Now in Nelson, Vnoucek says he’s disturbed by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the memories it has brought back. Photo: Tyler Harper

A B.C. man fled Soviet oppression. Over 50 years later, he finds he hasn’t truly escaped it

George Vnoucek left Czechoslovakia shortly after it was invaded in 1968

George Vnoucek fled then-Czechoslovakia in 1968 shortly after the Soviet Union’s invasion. Now in Nelson, Vnoucek says he’s disturbed by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the memories it has brought back. Photo: Tyler Harper
Amanda Asay prepares to throw the ball in an undated handout photo. Asay, a longtime national team member, died of injuries sustained in a skiing accident in Nelson. Photo: Baseball Canada
Amanda Asay prepares to throw the ball in an undated handout photo. Asay, a longtime national team member, died of injuries sustained in a skiing accident in Nelson. Photo: Baseball Canada
British Columbia’s Kimberly Newell, in her distinctive pads and helmet, was a star in net for Team China at the Beijing Games. Photo: Submitted

At the Beijing Games, B.C. goaltender Kimberly Newell is a Chinese sensation

Newell’s performance and love for her heritage have made her a star

British Columbia’s Kimberly Newell, in her distinctive pads and helmet, was a star in net for Team China at the Beijing Games. Photo: Submitted
This billboard advertisement near Nelson is in violation of the Canadian Code of Advertising Standards. But the organization that made the ruling says it can’t remove the ad. Photo: Tyler Harper

COVID vaccine billboard outside Nelson ruled as ‘misleading’ but won’t have to come down

The ad violates the Canadian Code of Advertising Standards

This billboard advertisement near Nelson is in violation of the Canadian Code of Advertising Standards. But the organization that made the ruling says it can’t remove the ad. Photo: Tyler Harper
April Lavine, a Nelson substitute teacher, contracted COVID-19 earlier this month. Like other subs, she’s not eligible for sick pay. Photo: Submitted

B.C. substitute teachers who catch COVID not eligible for sick day pay

BC Teachers’ Federation president says it will be an issue included in bargaining this year

April Lavine, a Nelson substitute teacher, contracted COVID-19 earlier this month. Like other subs, she’s not eligible for sick pay. Photo: Submitted
Daniel Fitzgibbon and his wife Rachel Dugdale in Vancouver. Fitzgibbon, who lives in Meadow Creek, is recovering from a successful double-lung transplant. Photo: Submitted

‘Nothing but celebration’: Kootenay man has successful double-lung transplant surgery

Daniel Fitzgibbon underwent a nine-hour surgery on Jan. 2

Daniel Fitzgibbon and his wife Rachel Dugdale in Vancouver. Fitzgibbon, who lives in Meadow Creek, is recovering from a successful double-lung transplant. Photo: Submitted
Hume School in Nelson is one of several that have sent letters alerting parents to absenteeism potentially linked to COVID-19. Photo: Tyler Harper
Hume School in Nelson is one of several that have sent letters alerting parents to absenteeism potentially linked to COVID-19. Photo: Tyler Harper
Amanda Asay of Prince George, prepares to throw the ball in an undated handout photo. Asay, a longtime National team member, died of injuries sustained in a skiing accident in Nelson. Photo: Baseball Canada

‘A terrific person’: Canadian baseball star remembered after tragic death at Nelson ski resort

Asay was living in Nelson and working in forestry prior to her death

Amanda Asay of Prince George, prepares to throw the ball in an undated handout photo. Asay, a longtime National team member, died of injuries sustained in a skiing accident in Nelson. Photo: Baseball Canada
Nelson-Creston MLA Brittny Anderson. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

RCMP investigating after Nelson-Creston MLA verbally assaulted over vaccine policies

Brittny Anderson says she and her staff were targeted at a highway rest stop

Nelson-Creston MLA Brittny Anderson. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
Al Magaw pets his dog Pan at his home in Salmo. Magaw operated a sled dog kennel for over 40 years until February, when most of his dogs were seized by the BC SPCA. Photo: Tyler Harper

The dogs of Al Magaw: How a prominent B.C. dog trainer lost his pack

Some call him a miracle worker, others a dog abuser. Should the BC SPCA have taken Al Magaw’s dogs?

Al Magaw pets his dog Pan at his home in Salmo. Magaw operated a sled dog kennel for over 40 years until February, when most of his dogs were seized by the BC SPCA. Photo: Tyler Harper