Author: SKEENA NEWS

Northwest B.C. Faces a Housing Test as Resource Development Accelerates PRINCE RUPERT, B.C. — Northwest B.C.’s housing shortage is becoming increasingly difficult to separate from the region’s economic ambitions, as major projects and expanding industries compete for workers in communities where finding a home can already be a challenge. From Prince Rupert’s port and logistics sector to industrial development in Kitimat and growth around Terrace and Smithers, the Northwest is positioning itself for continued investment. But municipal housing assessments show that communities across the region will need thousands of additional homes over the coming years. The challenge is no longer simply…

B.C. Wildfire Emergency: As Communities Fight for Their Homes, the Skeena Watches and Prays SKEENA REGION — British Columbia is in the midst of a major wildfire emergency. Communities in the southern Interior have been evacuated, homes and livelihoods have been lost, thousands of people have been displaced and firefighters are working around the clock to protect communities from fires that have demonstrated extraordinary speed and intensity. On August 8, Premier David Eby declared a provincewide state of emergency as wildfire conditions escalated across B.C. At the centre of the emergency is the Bald Range wildfire near Summerland, a fire that…

Northwest B.C. Keeps Losing Its Communications. Where Are the Leaders Who Represent Us? Repeated telecommunications outages have exposed a vulnerability in Northwest B.C. that governments, carriers and elected representatives have known about for years. Residents deserve to know what their leaders are actually doing about it. SKEENA REGION — When a telecommunications cable is cut in Northwest British Columbia, the consequences can extend far beyond a lost internet connection. Businesses can lose the ability to process payments. Residents can lose reliable access to communications. Healthcare facilities can be forced onto backup systems. Emergency communications can be disrupted. Communities hundreds of kilometres…

Terrace emergency calls rise 23% as suspicious fires and staffing pressures challenge fire department TERRACE, B.C. — The Terrace Fire Department responded to 576 emergency incidents during the first six months of 2026, as rising call volumes, a sharp increase in overlapping emergencies and a series of suspicious fires put additional pressure on the city’s emergency-response system. Fire department figures for January 1 through June 30 show that the 576 incidents included 263 fire responses, 243 immediate medical-care calls and 70 rescue calls. The total represents a significant increase from the same period in 2025. Primary emergency incidents rose from 350 to 432,…

Porter flight cancelled after child refuses seatbelt, leaving passengers stranded overnight in Victoria VICTORIA, B.C. — A Porter Airlines flight from Victoria to Toronto was cancelled late Thursday night after a young child refused to remain seated and secure a seatbelt, forcing the aircraft to return to the terminal and ultimately causing the flight to miss Victoria International Airport’s overnight operating window. Porter Airlines flight PD444 was scheduled to depart Victoria International Airport for Toronto Pearson International Airport on August 6. The aircraft had already pushed back from the gate and was taxiing for departure when cabin crew discovered that a…

Skeena steelhead fishing restrictions could have major economic consequences New report says restrictions on recreational steelhead fishing could put more than 200 jobs and about $23 million in annual economic activity at risk in Northwest B.C. SKEENA REGION, B.C. — Potential restrictions on recreational steelhead fishing in the Skeena watershed could have significant economic consequences for communities across Northwest B.C., according to a new economic assessment that estimates the fishery supports more than 200 local jobs and approximately $23 million in annual regional economic activity. The report, Renewable Value, Minimal Impact: The Economic Value of Skeena River Steelhead, was prepared by Big…

Carney Jokes About Trump After Teleprompter Glitch as Polls Show Strong Public Support By Skeena News Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney turned an unexpected technical problem into a light-hearted political moment this week after his teleprompter stopped working during a housing announcement in Toronto, drawing laughter from the audience and renewed attention across Canada and the United States. As Carney paused mid-speech, he smiled before telling reporters: “I would like to inform you that the teleprompter has ceased to function. Unlike a certain world leader, I do not view this as a conspiracy.” The remark was widely interpreted as a direct reference…

Nomination Packages Open as Skeena Region Prepares for a High-Stakes Local Election With the 2026 local election process now underway, voters will soon be asked to decide not only who wants to hold office, but who has genuinely lived, worked, invested, employed and served in the communities they hope to govern SKEENA REGION — Nomination packages for British Columbia’s 2026 local government elections became available on Tuesday, August 4, beginning the process that will determine the next municipal councils, regional district representatives and school trustees across the Skeena region and Northwest B.C. The formal nomination period will open on September 1…

One Fibre Cut Disconnected Northwestern B.C. — and Exposed a Bigger Problem Vandalism between Fraser Lake and Burns Lake disrupted internet, mobile, television and telephone services across a vast region, raising new questions about network redundancy and emergency preparedness A major telecommunications outage on Sunday, August 2, left communities across Northwestern British Columbia without reliable internet, mobile service, television and telephone connections after infrastructure was damaged between Fraser Lake and Burns Lake. CityWest identified the cause as vandalism connected to cable theft. The damaged line formed part of a major telecommunications route serving communities west of Fraser Lake, allowing one…

From Sternwheelers to Drone Shows: How Riverboat Days Grew With Terrace What began as a three-day community celebration in 1970 has evolved into a 10-day regional festival that reflects more than five decades of change in Terrace. For generations of Terrace residents, the arrival of August has meant parade floats on downtown streets, music in George Little Park, packed sports tournaments, community breakfasts and families gathering for Riverboat Days. The festival has become one of the most recognizable annual traditions in Northwest British Columbia. But the Riverboat Days celebrated in 2026 is far larger, more diverse and more complex than…