Bill Metcalfe

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Dr. Marian Berry, back in Nelson after attending a week at the COP27 U.N. climate summit in Egypt in November. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

‘It was transformative’: Nelson residents reflect on attending COP27

Gideon Berry and mother Marian Berry spent a week at the U.N. climate summit in November

Dr. Marian Berry, back in Nelson after attending a week at the COP27 U.N. climate summit in Egypt in November. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
Biologist Rosie Wijenberg at a grove of eight western red cedars in the Russell Creek area of the West Kootenay. These trees are temporarily protected from logging because they are in an old growth deferral area. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

Finding the Kootenays’ biggest trees: Biologist mapping the region’s forest giants

But only timber companies may nominate trees for a new provincial list of protected trees

Biologist Rosie Wijenberg at a grove of eight western red cedars in the Russell Creek area of the West Kootenay. These trees are temporarily protected from logging because they are in an old growth deferral area. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
The FoodCycler grinds and dehydrates food scraps to produce a soil amendment that can be used as fertilizer or added to compost. Photo: Food Cycle Science.

B.C. community launching countertop food waste treatment pilot

The program is unique in Canada, city says

The FoodCycler grinds and dehydrates food scraps to produce a soil amendment that can be used as fertilizer or added to compost. Photo: Food Cycle Science.
L-R: Sai Batta from India, Shanique Eldemire from Jamaica, and Guilherme Alano from Brazil, all say they are pleased about the federal government’s decision to allow them to work full time while studying. They are students in the culinary management diploma program at Selkirk College’s Tenth Street Campus. The program is for people who already have a culinary or hospitality credential from outside of Canada. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

B.C.’s international students applaud change to allowable employment hours

Students can now work full time while studying

L-R: Sai Batta from India, Shanique Eldemire from Jamaica, and Guilherme Alano from Brazil, all say they are pleased about the federal government’s decision to allow them to work full time while studying. They are students in the culinary management diploma program at Selkirk College’s Tenth Street Campus. The program is for people who already have a culinary or hospitality credential from outside of Canada. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
Some of the intense smoke in Nelson is partly from fires in the West Kootenay, and much of it is blown in from fires to the south and west. Photo: Tyler Harper

Creston, Nelson have worst air quality in B.C.

Vulnerable population should reduce or reschedule strenuous activities outdoors

Some of the intense smoke in Nelson is partly from fires in the West Kootenay, and much of it is blown in from fires to the south and west. Photo: Tyler Harper
Anjali Appadurai of Vancouver is campaigning for the leadership of the provincial NDP. She met with a crowd of several dozen people at Nelson’s Lakeside Park on Aug. 30. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

B.C. NDP leadership candidate says party is too comfortable, needs a shake-up

Anjali Appadurai says the NDP is not taking climate change seriously

Anjali Appadurai of Vancouver is campaigning for the leadership of the provincial NDP. She met with a crowd of several dozen people at Nelson’s Lakeside Park on Aug. 30. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
Ecologist Greg Utzig in an area of old growth cedar-hemlock forest near Nelson that is not in an Old Growth Management Area and which therefore could be logged any time. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

Kootenay forest management ignores old growth protection, two experts say

Some younger forest is protected as old growth, while much actual old growth is not protected

Ecologist Greg Utzig in an area of old growth cedar-hemlock forest near Nelson that is not in an Old Growth Management Area and which therefore could be logged any time. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
The pithouse at the Vallican heritage site. Photo: Louis Bockner

Indigenous woman occupies Vallican heritage site in West Kootenay after province revokes her caretaker role

Colville Confederated Tribes say Marilyn James has no authority over the site

The pithouse at the Vallican heritage site. Photo: Louis Bockner
The proposed cedar grove protected area is outlined in red. It is located at the north end of the Duncan Lake reservoir. Map: Valhalla Wilderness Society

Petition asks for protection of ancient cedars at Duncan Lake

Some of the trees are over 1,000 years old and one is 2,100 years old

The proposed cedar grove protected area is outlined in red. It is located at the north end of the Duncan Lake reservoir. Map: Valhalla Wilderness Society
Cory Westcott disappeared in the Nelson area in the summer of 2020. Photo: Submitted

Charismatic, troubled and still missing: What happened to Nelson’s Cory Westcott?

Friends and family continue to search for Westcott, who has been missing since 2020

Cory Westcott disappeared in the Nelson area in the summer of 2020. Photo: Submitted
Tanya Finley, left, with Oleksandra and Serhii and their twin boys, from left, Oleksii (Lesha) and Oleksandr (Sasha). Photo: Bill Metcalfe

‘All we had was our children’: A Ukrainian family’s harrowing escape from the war to Nelson

After being on the run for two months, the family is now resting and healing

Tanya Finley, left, with Oleksandra and Serhii and their twin boys, from left, Oleksii (Lesha) and Oleksandr (Sasha). Photo: Bill Metcalfe
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
Environmental microbiologist Dr. Natalie Prystajecky with some of her staff members at the BC Centre for Disease Control. Photo: Submitted

Wastewater testing for COVID-19 coming to Interior Health

Testing can tell whether cases are rising or falling in a community

Environmental microbiologist Dr. Natalie Prystajecky with some of her staff members at the BC Centre for Disease Control. Photo: Submitted
Bruce Hunter built his ‘Nelectricar’ with all locally purchased parts and materials. He designed the shell of the vehicle to resemble Nelson’s historic streetcars. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

Nelson man builds electric mini-car in his garage

Bruce Hunter says his ‘Nelectricar’ is the car of the future

Bruce Hunter built his ‘Nelectricar’ with all locally purchased parts and materials. He designed the shell of the vehicle to resemble Nelson’s historic streetcars. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
Nelson’s sewage treatment plant is located at Grohman Narrows, and treats sewage through primary treatment (filtering and settling of solids) and secondary treatment (biological processes to break down organic matter). The resulting effluent is then released into the Kootenay River. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

Sewage from Nelson treatment plant runs into Kootenay River during storms: environment ministry

City is planning a multi-million dollar upgrade

Nelson’s sewage treatment plant is located at Grohman Narrows, and treats sewage through primary treatment (filtering and settling of solids) and secondary treatment (biological processes to break down organic matter). The resulting effluent is then released into the Kootenay River. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
The Kaslo Jazz Etc. Festival has become a wildly popular cultural event in the West Kootenay. Photo: Louis Bockner

Kaslo Jazz Etc. Festival is back, with changes

First batch of tickets has sold out, a second will be offered later in the spring

The Kaslo Jazz Etc. Festival has become a wildly popular cultural event in the West Kootenay. Photo: Louis Bockner
Const. Allan Young died five days after being attacked on Baker Street in Nelson in the summer of 2020. Photo: Abbotsford Police Department

Trial date set for accused killer of off-duty police officer in Nelson

Alex Willness will be tried for manslaughter on Feb. 28, 2023

Const. Allan Young died five days after being attacked on Baker Street in Nelson in the summer of 2020. Photo: Abbotsford Police Department
Dr. Rachel Holt at a Dec. 1 video press conference on old growth forests held by the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs. Photo: Video screenshot, Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs

Nelson ecologist questions B.C.’s roll-out of old growth strategy

Rachel Holt was part of a technical panel that mapped old growth

Dr. Rachel Holt at a Dec. 1 video press conference on old growth forests held by the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs. Photo: Video screenshot, Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs
The jury in the inquest into the death of Peter de Groot delivered its verdict at the Nelson courthouse on Oct. 13. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

RCMP crisis intervention improvements among West Kootenay inquest recommendations

Jury suggestions follow the inquest into the death of Peter de Groot in 2014

The jury in the inquest into the death of Peter de Groot delivered its verdict at the Nelson courthouse on Oct. 13. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
A heron nest in a white pine on golf course land, barely visible from the ground, taken with a telephoto lens on Oct. 12. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

Nelson golf club developing land at protected heron nesting site

Buffer at Granite Pointe Golf Club should have been left around two nest trees, says biologist

A heron nest in a white pine on golf course land, barely visible from the ground, taken with a telephoto lens on Oct. 12. Photo: Bill Metcalfe