Tyler Harper

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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
Dr. Albert de Villiers, former chief medical health officer for the Interior Health Authority. Photo: Submitted

Interior Health’s former top doctor to go on trial in January 2023

Dr. Albert de Villiers is charged with sex crimes against a child

Dr. Albert de Villiers, former chief medical health officer for the Interior Health Authority. Photo: Submitted
Kootenay Lake Hospital in Nelson. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

Nelson’s Kootenay Lake Hospital closed to non-essential visitors due to COVID-19

Interior Health has not said how many cases are active at the hospital

Kootenay Lake Hospital in Nelson. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
Cathy Scott-May stands in front of Bonnington Regional Park, which is in poor repair. Scott-May is concerned history may repeat itself at the nearby Campbell Field. Photo: Tyler Harper

A tale of two parks: As field between Nelson and Castlegar languishes, plans for a nearby rec facility questioned

Bonnington Regional Park sits in disrepair just 7 km near the proposed Campbell Field site

Cathy Scott-May stands in front of Bonnington Regional Park, which is in poor repair. Scott-May is concerned history may repeat itself at the nearby Campbell Field. Photo: Tyler Harper
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
Kim Irving is one of the organizers of Run Like A Mother. The Nelson race takes place May 7. Photo: Tyler Harper

Get ready to Run Like A Mother: Nelson’s first race in five years kicks off May 7

Runners can compete in 5, 10 and 21-kilometre distances

Kim Irving is one of the organizers of Run Like A Mother. The Nelson race takes place May 7. Photo: Tyler Harper
Dr. Albert de Villiers, former chief medical health officer for the Interior Health Authority. Photo: Submitted

Trial of Interior Health’s former top doctor moved to Alberta’s supreme court

Dr. Albert de Villiers was charged with sex crimes against a child

Dr. Albert de Villiers, former chief medical health officer for the Interior Health Authority. Photo: Submitted
Aimee Beaulieu is seen here in an undated photo. Beaulieu was 19 when she and her infant twins died in a fire near Nelson in 1992. Police consider it an open homicide case, but have never made an arrest. Photo courtesy Theresa Koetsier

30 years later, Nelson’s Aimee Beaulieu murders remain unsolved

Police suspected homicide when Beaulieu and her twin babies were killed in a 1992 fire

Aimee Beaulieu is seen here in an undated photo. Beaulieu was 19 when she and her infant twins died in a fire near Nelson in 1992. Police consider it an open homicide case, but have never made an arrest. Photo courtesy Theresa Koetsier
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

B.C. issued 2,335 COVID-19 tickets over 14 months, but not all ended in paid fines

How effective the tickets were is unclear

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

Toronto Blue Jays to host Nelson clinic in Amanda Asay’s memory

The event will take place in May

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
Marty Sutmoller reads a poem in the memory of Sebastian Witt, who died of fentanyl poisoning in 2015. Sutmoller spoke at an event in Nelson marking International Overdose Awareness Day on Aug. 31, 2021. Photo: Tyler Harper

Toxic drug supply leads to seven Nelson deaths, 29 in Kootenay Boundary in 2021

It’s the most the area has had since the start of the health crisis in 2016

Marty Sutmoller reads a poem in the memory of Sebastian Witt, who died of fentanyl poisoning in 2015. Sutmoller spoke at an event in Nelson marking International Overdose Awareness Day on Aug. 31, 2021. Photo: Tyler Harper
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

School District 8 becomes 3rd district in B.C. to require proof of COVID-19 vaccination from staff

The announcement doesn’t apply to students

Hume School in Nelson is one of several that have sent letters alerting parents to absenteeism potentially linked to COVID-19. Photo: Tyler Harper
Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital in Clearwater is one of several Interior Health care centres impacted by service reductions. File photo

Rural health service reductions to last up to 4 weeks: Interior Health president

Susan Brown says emergency room access is being prioritized

Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital in Clearwater is one of several Interior Health care centres impacted by service reductions. File photo
Interior Health says it investigated 34 cases of seniors abuse in Nelson from January 2019 to December 2021. Photo: Kindel Media/Pexels

Advocates concerned elder abuse underreported in Nelson area

Interior Health says there were 34 cases investigated over last 3 years

Interior Health says it investigated 34 cases of seniors abuse in Nelson from January 2019 to December 2021. Photo: Kindel Media/Pexels