Author: SKEENA NEWS

Northwest BC earthquake risk SKEENA NEWS  — A sobering new provincial report has confirmed what geologists have warned of for decades: a catastrophic earthquake is not just a possibility for British Columbia, but an inevitability. According to the British Columbia Disaster and Climate Risk and Resilience Assessment (DCRRA), released in October 2025, the risk is no longer a distant “what if” but a measurable threat to nearly every citizen in the province. The assessment outlines a “most likely” scenario with severe consequences: a magnitude 9.0 megathrust earthquakerupturing off the Cascadia Subduction Zone. In that scenario, more than 3,400 people could die and…

Skeena RCMP January 2026 report NORTHERN B.C. — The first ten days of 2026 have been a busy period for RCMP detachments across the Skeena and Bulkley Valleys. From managing extreme weather hazards on Highway 16 to hunting for wanted offenders, police are setting a firm tone for the new year. Kitimat & Smithers: Stability and Success Kitimat saw a relatively peaceful transition into the new year. The detachment’s first weekly report (Jan 1–7) noted that New Year’s Eve passed without major incident, largely due to a high volume of safe rides utilized by the public. However, the first week was not…

QUESNEL, B.C. — A 40-year-old man is fighting for his life after a violent targeted assault at a downtown gas station on Thursday evening. The Quesnel RCMP have launched a full investigation into the stabbing, which occurred during the busy evening commute. The Incident On Thursday, January 8, 2026, at approximately 5:55 p.m., officers were dispatched to the Petro Canada gas stationlocated in the 200 block of McLean Street. Upon arrival, police discovered a man suffering from serious stab wounds. Emergency crews provided immediate medical aid, and the victim was rushed to a local hospital. Due to the severity of his injuries, he was later transported…

SKEENA NEWS  — As British Columbians ring in the new year, the latest federal labor data reveals a cooling national economy and a growing rift between large corporations and the small businesses that form the backbone of the Northwest. Statistics Canada’s final Labour Force Survey of 2025 shows that while Canada added 8,200 jobs in December, the national unemployment rate still climbed by 0.3 percentage points to 6.8%. This increase was driven by a surge in the number of people actively looking for work, outpacing the economy’s ability to create new positions. B.C. Resilience vs. National Volatility British Columbia remains a relative point of stability.…

B.C. India Trade Mission 2026 VANCOUVER & SKEENA REGION — In a bold move to safeguard the British Columbia economy from the volatile trade policies of the United States, Premier David Eby and Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation Ravi Kahlon announced a high-stakes trade mission to India this week. The mission, which embarks this Friday, is being described as a “critical window of opportunity” to diversify B.C.’s trade portfolio. With U.S. President Donald Trump’s aggressive tariffs hammering B.C.’s forestry and energy sectors, the provincial leadership is looking to India—the world’s fastest-growing major economy—to fill the void. Minister Ravi Kahlon: The Architect…

SKEENA NEWS  — The British Columbia government has officially set the 2026 threshold for the provincial homeowner grant at $2.075 million. This marks a decrease from last year’s threshold of $2.175 million, reflecting shifts in the provincial real estate market as of the July 1, 2025, assessment date. For residents of the Skeena and Bulkley Valleys, where property values typically sit well below this threshold, the announcement ensures that the vast majority of local homeowners will remain eligible for full property tax relief this year. Grant Amounts: Regional Breakdown The grant amounts are categorized by geography, providing higher relief to those living…

SKEENA NEWS TRAVEL REPORT — A massive wave of aviation gridlock has swept across Canada today, leaving thousands of passengers stranded as the country’s major airlines and hubs buckle under systemic operational strain. As of Sunday, January 4, 2026, a total of 1,650 delays and 102 cancellations have been recorded across seven major airports, highlighting a nationwide network failure that has turned domestic and international travel into a logistical nightmare. Epicenters of Disruption: Toronto and Vancouver Lead the Chaos While the disruption is national, the pressure is most concentrated at Canada’s busiest transit points. Toronto Pearson (YYZ) remains the epicenter of the crisis, handling the highest volume of…

SKEENA NEWS  — As the climate crisis peels back the ice of the High Arctic, uncovering new shipping lanes and untapped resources, Northern British Columbia is finding itself at the center of a strategic “battle for the North.” The federal government’s recent inaugural budget, spearheaded by Prime Minister Mark Carney, has committed $1 billion over four years to a new “dual-use” infrastructure fund. This initiative aims to bridge the gap between civilian needs and military preparedness, funding airports, seaports, and all-season roads that serve both northern residents and national defense assets. Surveillance from ‘Seabed to Space’ For regions like the Skeena and North Coast,…

SKEENA NEWS WORLD DESK — In an unprecedented military and legal action that has redefined international statecraft, the United States executed Operation Southern Spear (also referred to as Operation Absolute Resolve) in the early hours of Saturday, January 3, 2026. The tactical mission resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, marking the first time since the Cold War that the U.S. has unilaterally removed a sitting head of state through direct kinetic action. Tactical Execution: A Lightning Strike The operation commenced at approximately 1:50 a.m. local time with a multi-domain assault intended to neutralize the Venezuelan military’s command-and-control infrastructure within a 30-minute window.…

Mutual-aid fire crews contained the early-morning blaze to work camp trailers, protecting Pembina’s Watson Island LPG terminal and Prince Rupert’s export logistics corridor. PRINCE RUPERT, B.C. — In the early hours of Friday, January 2, 2026, a massive structure fire erupted at the entrance to Watson Island, threatening the logistics framework of one of North America’s most critical energy export hubs. The blaze, which concentrated on the modular work camp trailers servicing the Pembina Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Terminal, prompted a joint tactical response that successfully prevented a regional economic catastrophe. Tactical Chronology: A Race Against Time The fire was first detected by on-site…