Author: SKEENA NEWS

TERRACE, B.C. – The Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine (RDKS) Board of Directors has approved the allocation of more than $7 million in essential capital funding to upgrade infrastructure across its six electoral areas. This major fiscal maneuver, decided at the December 2025 meeting, is aimed not just at maintaining service delivery, but at maximizing future funding leverage with the provincial government. The total commitment is derived from two critical streams: Compliance Urgency Drives Swift Action The paramount goal of the December approval was to demonstrate proactive financial management and clear capital backlogs well ahead of mandated deadlines. The RDKS must allocate all NWRF funds…

TERRACE, B.C. – As heavy snow and freezing rain threaten the Skeena region, the City of Terrace has activated its official Snow and Ice Control Policy (Policy 43) — the rulebook that determines which roads get plowed first and why. The policy is designed to keep people moving safely with limited crews and equipment. City officials stress that winter safety isn’t just about plows — it also depends heavily on residents following parking rules and adjusting their driving and walking habits during storms. Here’s what Terrace residents need to know. Which Roads Get Plowed First? (And Which Ones Wait) Snow…

TERRACE, BC – A wave of anger, fear, and resolve swept through Jewish communities across Canada following Sunday’s horrific terror attack on a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. The mass shooting left at least 15 people dead and wounded approximately 42 others, with officials confirming the attack was an act of antisemitic terrorism. The tragedy struck particularly close to home for many, as one of the victims, Chabad Rabbi Eli Schlanger, was identified as an event organizer who had deep ties to Toronto and Ottawa. Rabbi Schlanger, described as a “very special” person, was an assistant rabbi at Chabad of Bondi…

Skeena News Exclusive – KITIMAT, B.C. – The District of Kitimat Council is set to deliberate on a range of critical community issues and capital funding decisions at its final Regular Meeting of the year, scheduled for Monday, December 15, 2025. The agenda, which includes an unbudgeted funding request for a major recreation project and the release of a concerning economic report, highlights the community’s evolving needs as the LNG construction phase winds down. Major Decision: Spray Park Cost Jumps 50%; Funding Requires Deferral Council is scheduled to vote on advancing the construction phase of the new Spray Park Design project at Lion’s…

TERRACE/KITIMAT, B.C. – Residents and commercial drivers in the Skeena region must prepare for a rapid and severe degradation of travel conditions, with an Environment Canada Winter Storm Watch in effect commencing Saturday, December 13, 2025. While the region’s main arteries—Highway 16 (Yellowhead) and Highway 37 (Stewart-Cassiar)—were operationally stable today, the forecast mandates an immediate shift to an emergency operational posture. Critical Snow and Ice Accumulation Expected Forecasters project a critical and hazardous mix of weather for the North Coast Inland areas, including Terrace, Kitimat, and the Highway 37 corridor: The heaviest snowfalls are specifically concentrated around the Kitimat area, indicating that the Highway…

TERRACE, B.C. – A detailed analysis of BC Hydro’s recent outage data confirms that the electrical grid across the Skeena corridor is operating under conditions of acute stress, characterized by both widespread volatility and ongoing localized crises. The situation escalated today, Friday, December 12, 2025, with major failures reported in Kitimat, while the remote community of Stewart continues to struggle with chronic instability. Kitimat Suffers Equipment Failures Today The BC Hydro outage list for today confirms that major infrastructure supplying Kitimat failed this morning, resulting in multiple, sustained blackouts. These new outages, primarily attributed to Equipment failure, affected multiple parts of the community:…

KITIMAT/TERRACE, B.C. – While the next provincial election is still years away—scheduled for October 2028—a new political movement is making long-term plans to court the Skeena riding. CentreBC, led by former MLA Karin Kirkpatrick, is positioning itself not as a quick-fix alternative, but as a deliberate and enduring option for Northern voters seeking a pragmatic path forward. The party, founded in March 2025 after the collapse of the BC United party, understands that it has a lengthy runway to establish itself. This distance from the ballot box allows CentreBC to emphasize substance over simple slogans, focusing on organizational strength and policy development—critical…

SKEENA REGION, BC – Influenza activity is climbing significantly across Canada as the holiday season approaches, with federal health officials reporting sharp increases in detections, outbreaks, and hospitalizations tied to the dominant Influenza Astrain. The latest update from the Government of Canada, released December 5 and covering data up to November 29 (surveillance week 48), shows that 13 per cent of influenza tests were positive, marking a rising trend nationwide. This is a sharp increase from the 0.6% positivity rate seen at the end of August. Influenza A Dominates Across Age Groups Of the 3,655 laboratory-confirmed detections reported in week 48, 99 per cent…

VICTORIA, B.C. – John Rustad officially announced his resignation as the leader of the BC Conservatives on Thursday morning, concluding a turbulent period for the party following a loss of confidence from a majority of his caucus. The announcement comes after 20 MLAs—a majority of the Conservative caucus—stated they no longer supported Rustad’s leadership on Wednesday. A Look Back at Party Growth Despite the internal conflict, Rustad’s statement focused on the significant political progress the party achieved under his tenure. “When I began this journey, our party had not elected an MLA to the British Columbia Legislature since 1975,” Rustad said. He credited…

GATINEAU, QC – Canada has cemented its position as a global leader in accessible technology with the publication of the CAN-ASC-6.2 – Accessible and Equitable Artificial Intelligence Systems standard. Announced on December 3, 2025, by Accessibility Standards Canada, this equity-based document is the first National Standard of Canada focused specifically on accessible artificial intelligence (AI). Its release coincides with the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD), underscoring Canada’s commitment to advancing inclusion as AI quickly becomes a key part of daily life, supporting everything from customer service tools to hiring systems and everyday apps. Protecting Against Exclusion from the Start The new…