Tom Fletcher

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Firefighter lights a back-burn to interrupt the spread of a B.C. forest fire in the summer of 2017. Preventive burns have been advocated since after the 2003 Okanagan Mountain fires. (B.C. Wildfire Service)

B.C. forest fuel load becoming priority after decades of warnings

Prescribed burning urged since 2003 Okanagan wildfires

Firefighter lights a back-burn to interrupt the spread of a B.C. forest fire in the summer of 2017. Preventive burns have been advocated since after the 2003 Okanagan Mountain fires. (B.C. Wildfire Service)
Construction of a nature-like fishway past the Big Bar landslide, March 2021. (B.C. government)

Salmon getting through B.C.’s Big Bar landslide, runs rebounding

Early Stuart sockeye run expected near average after low years

Construction of a nature-like fishway past the Big Bar landslide, March 2021. (B.C. government)
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry visits the Interior Health region in late June, 2021 to say thank you to health care workers. (Penticton Western News)

B.C.’s COVID-19 spread rises, 112 more cases confirmed Friday

Interior Health region infections higher than Lower Mainland

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry visits the Interior Health region in late June, 2021 to say thank you to health care workers. (Penticton Western News)
Cultus Lake Water Park is among the attractions receiving COVID-19 recovering funds in B.C. (Black Press files)

B.C. COVID-19 fund supports 83 tourist attractions, bus companies

Butchart Gardens, Hells Gate, water parks among recipients

Cultus Lake Water Park is among the attractions receiving COVID-19 recovering funds in B.C. (Black Press files)
A dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is administered at a clinic in Vancouver on March 11, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS

B.C. sees 89 new COVID-19 cases Thursday, active infections rising

No deaths or health care outbreaks as vaccination continues

A dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is administered at a clinic in Vancouver on March 11, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS
Firefighters ignite back-burn on the Deka Lake wildfire near 100 Mile House, July 5, 2021. (B.C. Wildfire Service)

RCMP add officers to help with B.C. Interior wildfire evacuations

North receives rain, no relief in sight for southern areas

Firefighters ignite back-burn on the Deka Lake wildfire near 100 Mile House, July 5, 2021. (B.C. Wildfire Service)
B.C. Premier John Horgan, right, walks with Hardy Wentzel, CEO of Structurlam in Okanagan Falls, March 2019. Horgan’s NDP government has emphasized value added production and redistribution of Crown timber licences. (Penticton Western News)

Record B.C. lumber profits should go to wildfire fight, Horgan says

Prices have plummeted from May peak, supply tightening

B.C. Premier John Horgan, right, walks with Hardy Wentzel, CEO of Structurlam in Okanagan Falls, March 2019. Horgan’s NDP government has emphasized value added production and redistribution of Crown timber licences. (Penticton Western News)
B.C. Labour Minister Harry Bains takes questions from reporters at the B.C. legislature, Nov. 20, 2019. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press)

B.C.’s minimum working age going from 12 to 16 in October

Some recreation, farm, administrative, retail jobs allowed at 14

B.C. Labour Minister Harry Bains takes questions from reporters at the B.C. legislature, Nov. 20, 2019. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press)
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry prepares a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic, April 21, 2020. (B.C. Government)

B.C.’s COVID-19 infection creeps up, 78 new cases Wednesday

Hospitalization remains low, no deaths or care home outbreaks

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry prepares a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic, April 21, 2020. (B.C. Government)
Trozzo Creek fire 7.5 km northeast of Winlaw in the B.C. Kootenay region, July 17, 2021. As of July 21 the fire is estimated at 1,100 hectares, out of control but not threatening structures. (B.C. Wildfire Service)

Stay out of B.C. back country while fire risk high, Horgan urges during stop in Castlegar

State of emergency is to help move people out of danger

Trozzo Creek fire 7.5 km northeast of Winlaw in the B.C. Kootenay region, July 17, 2021. As of July 21 the fire is estimated at 1,100 hectares, out of control but not threatening structures. (B.C. Wildfire Service)
Fraser Health registered nurse Ramn Manan 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 CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. reaches 80% COVID-19 vaccination starts for 12 and older

76 new cases reported Tuesday, no deaths or outbreaks

Fraser Health registered nurse Ramn Manan 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 CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
B.C. forest firefighters head into an area south of Lytton to perform a back-burn, June 17, 2021. (B.C. Wildfire Service)

B.C. declares state of emergency over wildfire season, preparing for potential ‘mass evacuation’

High winds forecast for Interior and across southern regions

B.C. forest firefighters head into an area south of Lytton to perform a back-burn, June 17, 2021. (B.C. Wildfire Service)
Witness gathering at the B.C. legislature in response to 215 unmarked graves located at Kamloops residential school, June 8, 2021. (B.C. government photo)

B.C. approves search funds for 18 residential schools, 3 hospitals

Program includes community mental health services

Witness gathering at the B.C. legislature in response to 215 unmarked graves located at Kamloops residential school, June 8, 2021. (B.C. government photo)
Faydra Aldridge, CEO of the B.C. Schizophrenia Society, speaks at a funding announcement July 20, 2021. (B.C. government video)

B.C. psychosis intervention to expand with 100 care providers

Regional mental health programs to include rural outreach

Faydra Aldridge, CEO of the B.C. Schizophrenia Society, speaks at a funding announcement July 20, 2021. (B.C. government video)
Theresa Hamilton plays tic tac toe on a window with a senior in Mt. Cartier Court as the pandemic limited in-person visitors into senior care homes. Visit restrictions have been eased effective July 19, 2021. (Liam Harrap/Revelstoke Review)

COVID-19: Loved ones line up for reopening of B.C. senior home visits

Staff may keep mask rules in place to reduce infection risk

Theresa Hamilton plays tic tac toe on a window with a senior in Mt. Cartier Court as the pandemic limited in-person visitors into senior care homes. Visit restrictions have been eased effective July 19, 2021. (Liam Harrap/Revelstoke Review)
Canadian and U.S. flags fly above the Peace Arch at the Canada-USA border in Surrey, B.C. Canada has announced U.S. residents can visit without border testing starting Aug. 9 if they are fully vaccinated. THE CANADIAN PRESS

Another 156 cases of COVID-19 confirmed in B.C. since Friday

Two more deaths, one senior care home outbreak

Canadian and U.S. flags fly above the Peace Arch at the Canada-USA border in Surrey, B.C. Canada has announced U.S. residents can visit without border testing starting Aug. 9 if they are fully vaccinated. THE CANADIAN PRESS
Google Earth image of B.C.’s Fraser Valley, an area of intensive agriculture and development pressure for housing and industrial needs. (Google)

Eyes in the sky have a future for B.C. farmland, minister says

Satellite surveillance of agricultural use stopped after protests

Google Earth image of B.C.’s Fraser Valley, an area of intensive agriculture and development pressure for housing and industrial needs. (Google)
Cranes guide sections of Coastal Gaslink pipeline into a 1.3 km tunnel under the Murray River in northeast B.C., June 2021. (Coastal Gaslink video)

Coastal Gaslink pipeline nears halfway mark with B.C. river crossing

Tunnel under Murray River one of longest in North America

Cranes guide sections of Coastal Gaslink pipeline into a 1.3 km tunnel under the Murray River in northeast B.C., June 2021. (Coastal Gaslink video)
B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry update the province’s COVID-19 vaccine program, May 10, 2021. (B.C. government)

B.C.’s COVID-19 infection rate stays low, 41 cases Wednesday

Two hospital outbreaks over, none in senior care homes

B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry update the province’s COVID-19 vaccine program, May 10, 2021. (B.C. government)
B.C. Emergency Health Services ambulance station at Langley Memorial Hospital. (Black Press files)

B.C. funds 85 new paramedics, 22 ambulances as demand climbs

22 rural ambulance stations to be upgraded to 24/7

B.C. Emergency Health Services ambulance station at Langley Memorial Hospital. (Black Press files)