(Vancouver, BC) – July 14, 2026 – Kim Haakstad, President & CEO of the BC Council of Forest Industries (COFI) issued the following statement in response to the announced closure of another pulp mill:  

“COFI extends our deepest concern to the workers, families, and communities affected by today’s closure announcement. For too many people across this province, the consequences of inaction for the struggling forestry sector are happening in real time.  

While this is a difficult day, it also underscores the urgency of working together on short-term action to stabilize the sector – ensuring mills stay open, people stay employed, and forestry continues to anchor rural, urban and First Nations communities across BC.   

It also highlights the importance of continued collaboration between industry and government to address the structural challenges and help restore the conditions for a globally competitive forest sector. 

Forestry supports nearly 100,000 good jobs, generates billions in economic activity, and underpins reconciliation and rural stability. Every day without long-term predictable and economic access to wood means more families, workers, and communities are put at risk. 

We call on the provincial and federal governments to urgently implement the recommendations of the Forest Sector Transformation Task Force, with a specific focus on improving access to wood and utilization of sawmill residuals.”  

SOURCE: COFI Media Release

www.cofi.org

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July 10, 2026

Union says job action will continue as nurses await evidence government and employers are prepared to reach a fair agreement

The BC Nurses' Union says today's appointment of special mediators to assist with negotiations is only meaningful if it results in the significant movement needed to address the issues driving thousands of nurses to job action across the province.

The union also expressed disappointment that news of the appointment was announced publicly before it had been formally communicated to the Nurses' Bargaining Association (NBA)."

The first time nurses should hear about a major development in negotiations should not be through a government announcement,” said BCNU President Adriane Gear. “Nor should we be learning through the media who we will be working with. The way today’s announcement was communicated does little to build the trust that’s needed to move these negotiations forward.”

The appointment comes after bargaining reached an impasse and nurses began escalating job action across British Columbia, following a record 98.2 per cent strike mandate."

This is not how a process built on good-faith bargaining should unfold," says NBA Chief Negotiator Jim Gould. “As the NBA prepares to participate in the mediation process, nurses remain focused on securing an agreement that meaningfully addresses wages, staffing shortages, workplace violence and the growing pressures facing the profession.”

Job action will continue while mediation gets underway with picket lines expected to go up at Victoria General Hospital on Sunday and Nanaimo Regional General Hospital on Monday and the Royal Jubilee Hospital on Tuesday."

Nurses are taking the difficult step of escalating job action because they're fighting for solutions,” says Gear. “We remain hopeful, but we are also realistic. Until we see meaningful progress at the bargaining table, nurses will continue standing together and taking action to fight for the changes patients and our profession need."

BCNU says the coming days will demonstrate whether the appointment represents a genuine commitment to resolving the dispute or simply another delay in addressing the challenges nurses have been raising throughout bargaining.

Source: www.bcnu.org

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CHETWYND, B.C. — Red and white filled the streets of Chetwynd as residents and visitors came out to celebrate Canada Day 2026 with a parade and an afternoon of family-friendly activities, live entertainment and community connections.

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The fun began at 11:00 a.m. with the annual Canada Day Parade. Spectators lined the parade route from the District of Chetwynd Office down to the Splash Park. The festive atmosphere was a display of pride and spirit of the community as families, friends and visitors waved Canadian flags and cheered local organizations, businesses, emergency services and community groups as they paraded through town.

The parade was followed by the celebration at the Chetwynd Splash Park from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. where residents enjoyed an afternoon of free activities and entertainment for all ages.

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The official program kicked off with welcoming remarks by Mayor Allen Courtoreille, who thanked the many volunteers, sponsors, community organizations and attendees who helped make the annual celebration a success. A Chetwynd Visitor Centre & Rec Centre staff member led the crowd in a heartfelt “O Canada”, bringing the community together to celebrate the nation’s birthday.

Guests could indulge in free Canada Day cupcakes and $5 food truck coupons from the District of Chetwynd, giving guests the opportunity to enjoy delicious food from the two food trucks that were serving at the event.

Everyone found something to enjoy at the afternoon celebration. The Chetwynd Public Library provided a variety of interactive games and activities for children and families, while the Chetwynd Arts Council invited visitors of all ages to let their creativity flow at a free community painting booth.

The Chetwynd & District Recreation Centre also contributed to the fun with a free popcorn station, temporary Canada Day tattoos and a pinwheel-making booth for fun keepsakes and activities for young attendees.

Children lined up for colourful face painting provided by Tiffany Martin, whose creative designs added even more smiles to the celebration.

An open and inviting display of one of its fire trucks greeted visitors to the Chetwynd Fire Department, giving families a chance to see the vehicle up close, meet local firefighters and learn more about the department’s role in keeping the community safe.

Laughter filled Splash Park all day long as families enjoyed games, activities, tasty food, creative pursuits and precious time together. The event was a testament to the strong community spirit in Chetwynd and the dedication of the many volunteers, organizations, businesses and sponsors who came together to make it another memorable Canada Day Celebration.

Animal lovers also had a special stop to make during the celebrations. K9 Pawsitive Training and Pet Valu joined forces to display some of Chetwynd’s beautiful purebred dogs on the Pet Valu sidewalk from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Visitors learned about responsible pet ownership and canine training while meeting Basset Hounds, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Shetland Sheepdogs and several other breeds.

The buzz of the morning parade to the family friendly activities in the afternoon, Canada Day 2026 was a reminder of what makes Chetwynd a special place to call home – a community that comes together to celebrate, connect and create lasting memories.

Peace FM and ChetTV would like to thank the District of Chetwynd, participating organizations, volunteers, and everyone who attended for making this year's Canada Day celebration a tremendous success. Happy Canada Day! 🇨🇦

More Event Photos visit Peacefm/Chettv Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/share/1K84fUBgY8/?

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CHETWYND, B.C. - On June 29, the community gathered for Chetwynd Pride 2026, an afternoon of celebrating diversity, inclusion and belonging as residents, families, local organizations and community leaders came together.

The event ran from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and was open to all ages, featuring activities, community resources and the opportunity to connect in a fun and welcoming environment.

Mayor Allen Courtoreille and some members of the Chetwynd District Council were present and celebrated and showed their support towards building an inclusive community where everyone feels welcomed.

One of the event highlights was Chetwynd Pharmachoice, who transformed the area in front of their building into a creative activity space. Face painting, bracelet making and stone painting gave a colourful and artistic touch to the celebration that was enjoyed by families and children.

Several organizations also set up booths and tents, providing information, resources and engaging activities to attendees. Organizations that took part:

• British Columbia’s Office of the Human Rights Commissioner
• Chetwynd Public Library
• Chetwynd Visitor Centre
• North Peace Pride Society
• Tansi Friendship Centre
• Linda Krystina Housing Society

The RCMP also participated in the event, helping ensure a safe and welcoming environment for everyone throughout the afternoon.

Throughout the celebration, attendees enjoyed connecting with local organizations, taking part in activities, and celebrating the values of acceptance, respect, and community spirit.

Chetwynd Pride 2026 highlighted the strength of partnerships between community organizations, volunteers, businesses, and local government, demonstrating how collaboration can create meaningful opportunities to bring people together.

The event served as a reminder that diversity is one of the community’s greatest strengths, and that everyone deserves to feel seen, respected, and valued.

Peace FM and Chet TV were proud to be on site to capture and share the day’s memorable moments with the community.

Event Photos:

https://www.facebook.com/share/1FZqFhia7p/?

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