Opinion

Shirley Frost, left, and Gerda Faber, both members of the Wells Gray Lively Arts Society, pick up their feet during a blues song performed by Randy Hedlund and Linda MacKenzie. A Coffee House was held by the WGLAS on Saturday, March 5 in the lodge at the Clearwater ski hill. It was the first Coffee House to be held since COVID-19 restrictions were eased last month. (Stephanie Hagenaars/Clearwater Times)

Cole’s Notes: Re-opening will be awkward, so be kind

Use your COVID common sense and don’t be rude, Schisler says

Shirley Frost, left, and Gerda Faber, both members of the Wells Gray Lively Arts Society, pick up their feet during a blues song performed by Randy Hedlund and Linda MacKenzie. A Coffee House was held by the WGLAS on Saturday, March 5 in the lodge at the Clearwater ski hill. It was the first Coffee House to be held since COVID-19 restrictions were eased last month. (Stephanie Hagenaars/Clearwater Times)
Robert’s column

Robert Barron column: Fond memories of ‘Paddy’s Day’

By mid afternoon, the party started really taking off

Robert’s column
Andrey Goncharuk, 68, a member of the territorial defense stands in the backyard of a house damaged by a Russian airstrike, according to locals, in Gorenka, outside the capital Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, March 2, 2022. Russia renewed its assault on Ukraine's second-largest city in a pounding that lit up the skyline with balls of fire over populated areas, even as both sides said they were ready to resume talks aimed at stopping the new devastating war in Europe. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

CAMERON: What freedom truly looks like

Canadians are often portrayed as polite, decent, unassuming, and hard to anger.…

  • Mar 2, 2022
Andrey Goncharuk, 68, a member of the territorial defense stands in the backyard of a house damaged by a Russian airstrike, according to locals, in Gorenka, outside the capital Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, March 2, 2022. Russia renewed its assault on Ukraine's second-largest city in a pounding that lit up the skyline with balls of fire over populated areas, even as both sides said they were ready to resume talks aimed at stopping the new devastating war in Europe. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Bruce Cameron has been a pollster and strategist for over 35 years, working initially for Gallup Polls, Decima Research and the Angus Reid Group before founding his own consultancy, Return On Insight. (Black Press Media files)

CAMERON: Bleeding hearts, lawlessness and leadership: ‘Just Watch Me’

Scrolling through my social media feed last week, I came across a…

  • Feb 17, 2022
Bruce Cameron has been a pollster and strategist for over 35 years, working initially for Gallup Polls, Decima Research and the Angus Reid Group before founding his own consultancy, Return On Insight. (Black Press Media files)
(Nature Conservancy of Canada photo)

World Wetlands Day: Nature needs us to do more

Canada’s largest land conservation organization says there has never been a more important time for nature conservation

  • Feb 4, 2022
(Nature Conservancy of Canada photo)
Only about half of Grade 10 students in B.C. completed the latest “mandatory” student assessments, which revealed worryingly low levels of proficiency in literacy and numeracy. (Pixabay.com)

FRASER INSTITUTE: 60% of Grade 10 students in B.C. not proficient in math

‘Simply put, to know how to improve, you must know how you’re doing’

  • Feb 1, 2022
Only about half of Grade 10 students in B.C. completed the latest “mandatory” student assessments, which revealed worryingly low levels of proficiency in literacy and numeracy. (Pixabay.com)
Lantern decorations are hung on trees on the Olympic Green near the Olympic Tower at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2022, in Beijing. Millions of people in China and beyond are celebrating the Lunar New Year holiday on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

CAMERON: Is it time to get tough with China?

When the torch is lit in Beijing National Stadium February 4, marking…

  • Feb 1, 2022
Lantern decorations are hung on trees on the Olympic Green near the Olympic Tower at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2022, in Beijing. Millions of people in China and beyond are celebrating the Lunar New Year holiday on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
According to University of Toronto Global Journalism Fellow Anthony Fong, sexually aggressive online behaviours, affects 88 per cent of all Canadian university undergraduate women. THE CANADIAN PRESS

FONG: Legal reform needed to protect young women from growing online sexual violence

Liberals promised to rework online harms legislation within 100 days of Parliament’s Nov. 22 return

According to University of Toronto Global Journalism Fellow Anthony Fong, sexually aggressive online behaviours, affects 88 per cent of all Canadian university undergraduate women. THE CANADIAN PRESS
FILE – Smoke rises from the Babine Forest Products mill in Burns Lake, B.C. Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

BAINS: Worker protections remain key 10 years after fatal northern B.C. sawmill explosions

Four workers died in two separate explosions at sawmills near Burns Lake and Prince George in 2012

  • Jan 19, 2022
FILE – Smoke rises from the Babine Forest Products mill in Burns Lake, B.C. Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we grieve. (File photo)

Hay: We can’t let the pandemic put grief on hold

‘I have learned the difference between fear and hope is focus’

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we grieve. (File photo)
Fraser Health registered nurse Kai Kayibadi draws a dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine into a syringe at a walk-up vaccination clinic at Bear Creek Park, in Surrey, B.C., on Monday, May 17, 2021. The deadline for British Columbia health care workers to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 is today. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Looking ahead to upheaval in 2022: The great reset in B.C.

By Bruce Cameron Decades ago, Bob Dylan sang, “You don’t need a…

  • Jan 10, 2022
Fraser Health registered nurse Kai Kayibadi draws a dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine into a syringe at a walk-up vaccination clinic at Bear Creek Park, in Surrey, B.C., on Monday, May 17, 2021. The deadline for British Columbia health care workers to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 is today. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
People wear face masks to curb the spread of COVID-19 while visiting the Christmas Market in Vancouver, on Thursday, December 23, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

FINLAYSON: B.C.’s economy has largely healed, thankfully

Over the last 18 months, overall economic production has rebounded, writes Jock Finlayson

  • Dec 24, 2021
People wear face masks to curb the spread of COVID-19 while visiting the Christmas Market in Vancouver, on Thursday, December 23, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The B.C. Ferries vessel Spirit of British Columbia passes Salt Spring Island while travelling on the Salish Sea from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay, B.C., at sunset on Sunday, October 3, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

The best of times, the worst of times

During these tumultuous times, it is easy to forget how blessed we truly are

  • Dec 22, 2021
The B.C. Ferries vessel Spirit of British Columbia passes Salt Spring Island while travelling on the Salish Sea from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay, B.C., at sunset on Sunday, October 3, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
(Pixabay photo)

With eggnog only: Terrible Christmas movies you’ll want to avoid this season

North Island Gazette editor Tyson Whitney watched these ‘classics’ so you don’t have to

(Pixabay photo)
This image provided by Abbott Laboratories in August 2020 shows the company’s BinaxNOW rapid COVID-19 nasal swab test. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Abbott Laboratories via AP

How to use rapid testing to keep you and yours safe during the holiday season

Experts say rapid tests are one more tool in our toolbox to stay safe

This image provided by Abbott Laboratories in August 2020 shows the company’s BinaxNOW rapid COVID-19 nasal swab test. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Abbott Laboratories via AP
Flooding this past spring forced many houses in the Houseman Subdivision to erect makeshift barricades from sandbags to hold back the water. (Patrick Davies photo)

Water, water everywhere, and a tough choice about what to do with it all

Clean Energy BC estimates power demand in B.C. will grow by over 40 per cent over the next 20 years

  • Dec 7, 2021
Flooding this past spring forced many houses in the Houseman Subdivision to erect makeshift barricades from sandbags to hold back the water. (Patrick Davies photo)
NDP MP Sheila Malcolmson speaks with the media about her private members bill regarding abandoned vessels, in Ottawa on Thursday, November 30, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

MALCOLMSON: B.C. expects feds to ‘make our application a priority’ on drug decriminalization

B.C. is the first province to offer a safer supply program

  • Nov 29, 2021
NDP MP Sheila Malcolmson speaks with the media about her private members bill regarding abandoned vessels, in Ottawa on Thursday, November 30, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Interior Health's 310-MHSU number connects callers directly to the closest mental health and substance use centre in their community.

B.C.’s mental health crisis is bad and getting worse

Nearly half of British Columbians polled said their mental health was worse due to COVID-19

  • Nov 18, 2021
Interior Health's 310-MHSU number connects callers directly to the closest mental health and substance use centre in their community.
Mitzi Dean, Minister of Children and Family Development. (B.C. government)

DEAN: Hub model will provide care for thousands of B.C. families left without support

Mitzi Dean says province has consulted with 1,500 families, advocates and community partners

  • Nov 3, 2021
Mitzi Dean, Minister of Children and Family Development. (B.C. government)
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney announces new COVID-19 measures for Alberta in Calgary, Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

To Have and Have Not: Alberta opens can of worms, but will B.C. bite?

Equalization payments have often been used to incite political anger in Canada

  • Nov 1, 2021
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney announces new COVID-19 measures for Alberta in Calgary, Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh