Author: SKEENA NEWS

PRINCE RUPERT, B.C. – A devastating murder-suicide that occurred in Prince Rupert in 2022, involving a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer’s service weapon, has resulted in a comprehensive overhaul of the federal agency’s protocols for firearms security and employee well-being. The CBSA commissioned an independent review following the tragic death of Patricia Forman, 52, who was shot by her ex-fiancé, border services officer Siu Shen (Shawn) Yeung, before he turned his service weapon on himself. The incident occurred publicly at the Ocean Centre Mall on November 21, 2022, sending shockwaves through the Prince Rupert community. Honouring Patricia Forman Patricia Forman was…

SKEENA REGION – A traumatic grizzly bear attack in the Bella Coola Valley on Thursday, November 20, 2025, resulted in 11 casualties, with the incident highlighting both the extraordinary heroism of local school staff and the critical failure of systemic healthcare logistics in remote Northern B.C. The unprovoked attack involved approximately 20 students and staff from the Nuxalk Nation’s Acwsalcta School during a short afternoon field trip on a trail near Highway 20. The severity of the incident was immediate: four individuals—one adult and three children from Grades 4/5—sustained critical and serious injuries, necessitating a 700-kilometer air evacuation to specialized medical facilities in Vancouver.…

The economic prosperity and future labour needs of Canada are at risk, as a new report suggests immigrants are leaving the country at “near-record rates,” with highly educated and skilled newcomers leading the exodus. A joint report by the Institute of Canadian Citizenship (ICC) and the Conference Board of Canada found that highly skilled immigrants are leaving Canada at twice the rate of those with less education and lower skills. This trend is known as onward migration. The report quantified the risk, noting that in all, one in five migrants ends up leaving Canada within the first 25 years, with the likelihood of departure peaking within the first…

KITIMAT, B.C. — The heartbreaking death of a 17-year-old Indigenous resident of Kitimat, has exposed a deep crisis of governance and accountability in Northern B.C., raising devastating questions about whose lives are valued by the institutions responsible for protecting them. The teen, died in the emergency room of Kitimat General Hospital in October 2025. He had waited nearly five hours for a diagnostic CT scan that could not be performed locally because Kitimat’s new $4.7 million CT scanner — fully funded months earlier — remained non-operational. His death, which Skeena MLA Claire Rattée has described as “entirely preventable,” occurred amid a months-long administrative stall on…

TERRACE, B.C. – The political uncertainty gripping the country has concluded for now. The Liberal minority government survived the critical confidence vote on the 2025 federal budget late Monday, November 17th, successfully fending off the push for a snap election championed by Conservative MPs, including Skeena—Bulkley Valley’s Ellis Ross. The budget passed with a razor-thin margin of 170 votes to 168, a result that averts the constitutional requirement for the dissolution of Parliament and a Christmastime election. MP Ross’s Non-Confidence Bid Defeated Following his decisive “Yea” vote last week on a preliminary motion to reject the budget, MP Ellis Ross followed through on his…

TERRACE, B.C. – The Terrace Fire Department welcomed a new, enthusiastic—and temporary—addition to its leadership ranks this week. Young Chloe took charge as “Chief for a Day 2025,” showcasing commitment and curiosity that delighted the entire crew of the Terrace Professional Firefighters Local 2685. The annual “Chief for a Day” event is a special tradition where the department partners with the community to teach children about the importance of fire safety and public service. Chief Chloe’s day on the job was packed with important duties. She toured the facility, checked the trucks and the equipment, and even delivered a fire safety message to…

TERRACE, B.C. – The final vote on the federal budget, set for Monday, November 17, represents the most critical test of confidence since the termination of the Confidence and Supply Agreement (CASA) in September 2024 . The outcome will determine if Prime Minister Mark Carney’s minority government survives or if a snap election will be triggered, a constitutional consequence of defeating a “matter of confidence” like the budget . The Skeena—Bulkley Valley riding is directly implicated in this national drama, as local Member of Parliament Ellis Ross, a Conservative, has formally voted to reject the government’s fiscal plan. The Vote -…

SKEENA REGION – The 2025 Black Friday shopping season has transformed into a month-long battleground in Northern B.C., with national chains initiating sales as early as mid-November and local retailers countering with aggressive, regional-specific strategies. The market landscape across Terrace, Prince Rupert, and Kitimat is defined by two major forces: the national chains driving prices down, and local businesses using specialized services to offer greater value and combat the high cost of remote delivery. The Black Friday Calendar – A Front-Loaded Campaign The official Black Friday is November 28, but the action has begun well in advance. Major national retailers…

TERRACE, B.C. – The City of Calgary has become the epicenter of a national debate on public symbolism after its newly elected administration moved to ban the raising of all foreign national flags at City Hall. The policy shift, driven by concerns over geopolitical tensions spilling into local governance, is setting a strong precedent for municipalities across Canada, including those in Northern B.C. Mayor Jeromy Farkas, who secured office in the recent October election, introduced an urgent motion to amend the city’s Flag Policy, asserting that City Hall must remain a singular, unifying, and safe space, untainted by international disputes. The…

SKEENA REGION – The high-value commercial dive fisheries of British Columbia—including geoduck, sea cucumber, and sea urchin—are navigating a crisis precipitated by geopolitical volatility, with the economic shock disproportionately affecting harvesters in the North Coast region. The crisis began when China imposed retaliatory tariffs, including a 25 per cent levy on Canadian aquatic products, in response to Canada’s tariffs on Chinese goods. This action exposed a critical structural flaw in the B.C. geoduck sector: its extreme reliance on the Chinese market, which historically bought 90 to 95 per cent of the product. Quantifying the Shock: Harvesters Take a 50% Pay Cut The immediate…