Tyler Harper

Darla Smith, then 11 years old, receives her first COVID-19 vaccination in 2021 in Vernon. Child vaccine rates in Interior Health are among the lowest in B.C. Photo: Jennifer Smith

After one year of child COVID-19 vaccines, most kids in Interior Health remain unprotected

The region has the second-lowest rate of child vaccinations in B.C.

Darla Smith, then 11 years old, receives her first COVID-19 vaccination in 2021 in Vernon. Child vaccine rates in Interior Health are among the lowest in B.C. Photo: Jennifer Smith
Jessica Michalofsky on the lawn in front of the Ministry of Health building in Victoria. Her son Aubrey Michalofsky died from drug overdose in Beasley, B.C., west of Nelson. Jessica is completing a marathon a day around the block every weekday in the hopes of getting a meeting with someone to discuss action for safe supply. Photo: Arnold Lim/Black Press Media

B.C. mom runs daily marathon in front of health ministry office after son dies of drug poisoning

Jessica Michalofsky wants change after her son died of drug poisoning

Jessica Michalofsky on the lawn in front of the Ministry of Health building in Victoria. Her son Aubrey Michalofsky died from drug overdose in Beasley, B.C., west of Nelson. Jessica is completing a marathon a day around the block every weekday in the hopes of getting a meeting with someone to discuss action for safe supply. Photo: Arnold Lim/Black Press Media
Kaetlyn Osmond, one of the most successful figure skaters in Canadian history, is spending a week coaching athletes in Nelson. Photo: Tyler Harper

World and Olympic champion Kaetlyn Osmond coaching Nelson figure skaters

Osmond is leading a week-long camp at the city’s rec centre

Kaetlyn Osmond, one of the most successful figure skaters in Canadian history, is spending a week coaching athletes in Nelson. Photo: Tyler Harper
Love in the Time of Fentanyl, which won an award at this year’s DOXA Documentary Film Festival, screens at Nelson’s Civic Theatre on Aug. 29. Admission is free. Photo: Love in the Time of Fentanyl

Breaking the law to provide safe drugs? Nelson advocate says it should be considered

Dylan Griffith of Kootenay Insurrection for Safe Supply wants distribution of tested illicit drugs

Love in the Time of Fentanyl, which won an award at this year’s DOXA Documentary Film Festival, screens at Nelson’s Civic Theatre on Aug. 29. Admission is free. Photo: Love in the Time of Fentanyl
David Eby takes a selfie with two supporters during a campaign event in Nelson on Saturday. Eby is one of two NDP candidates running to replace John Horgan as the party’s leader and B.C.’s premier. Photo: Tyler Harper

At campaign stop in Nelson, David Eby says all-party committee should implement changes to Police Act

Eby spoke about law enforcement and forestry on Saturday during a tour in the Kootenays

David Eby takes a selfie with two supporters during a campaign event in Nelson on Saturday. Eby is one of two NDP candidates running to replace John Horgan as the party’s leader and B.C.’s premier. Photo: Tyler Harper
The Nelson Police Department’s stats for 2021 show a significant drop in crime. File photo

Crime in Nelson drops to lowest rate in over 20 years

Statistics Canada shows the number of incidents and overall crime rating are at record lows

The Nelson Police Department’s stats for 2021 show a significant drop in crime. File photo
Activists with Save Old Growth block traffic on the Trans-Canada Highway in Metro Vancouver in May 2022, calling for an end to old-growth logging in British Columbia. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Save Old Growth)

‘They alienate British Columbians’: Environment minister blasts latest protests, demonstrations

George Heyman said the ministry would not have dialogue with the group Save Old Growth

Activists with Save Old Growth block traffic on the Trans-Canada Highway in Metro Vancouver in May 2022, calling for an end to old-growth logging in British Columbia. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Save Old Growth)
Nelson’s Auraya Marshall, who lives with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, spends most of her days bedridden, unable to move for fear of suffering multiple dislocations. Photo: Tyler Harper

Imprisoned by pain: Nelson woman isolated by rare genetic disorder

The rare disease has left 23-year-old Auraya Marshall confined to her bed

Nelson’s Auraya Marshall, who lives with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, spends most of her days bedridden, unable to move for fear of suffering multiple dislocations. Photo: Tyler Harper
The Nelson Police Department. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

UPDATED: Eight current and former Nelson police officers under investigation for alleged racism

Officers allegedly shared inappropriate content in a chat group

The Nelson Police Department. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
Kootenay Lake Medical Clinic in Nelson used to be one of two walk-in clinics in the West Kootenay. But the family doctor shortage in B.C. has meant the clinic can no longer offer walk-in appointments. Photo: Tyler Harper

‘We have no other health-care options’: Nelson walk-in clinics struggling during family doctor shortage

In the West Kootenay, the only two walk-in clinics can’t keep up with demand

Kootenay Lake Medical Clinic in Nelson used to be one of two walk-in clinics in the West Kootenay. But the family doctor shortage in B.C. has meant the clinic can no longer offer walk-in appointments. Photo: 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
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
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
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