Author: SKEENA NEWS

TERRACE, B.C. – In a moment of profound relief for their families and the entire Northwest community, the three drillers trapped deep underground at the Red Chris Mine since Tuesday have been brought safely to the surface. Kevin Coumbs, Darien Maduke, and Jesse Chubaty, all employees of Hy-Tech Drilling, emerged from the mine at approximately 10:40 p.m. Thursday night. A statement from the mine’s emergency response team confirmed all three men are in good health and spirits and have been reunited with their families after being assessed by medical and wellness teams. The successful rescue marks the end of a tense…

THORNHILL, B.C. – On the Thornhill frontage road today, the classic sign of a northern summer—fresh jubilee corn for sale—is carrying a message of profound love and community support. A fundraiser is underway to help bring home Marleigh Marie, a brave Terrace toddler who has spent the last ten months fighting for her health at BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver. Marleigh, a bright and beloved little girl, was diagnosed with a serious medical condition that required intensive, long-term care far from home. For ten months, she and her devoted mother, Elizabeth Clarice, have been in Vancouver navigating the difficult journey of…

TERRACE, B.C. – The Terrace Sportsplex is alive with drumming and celebration as the X’maay Festival welcomes the community to a vibrant, three-day event honouring Nisga’a culture, tradition, and community. Hosted by the Gitlaxdax Sayt K’ilim Gootihl Nisga’a Dancers, the festival’s name, “X’maay,” means “berry” in the Nisga’a language, symbolizing the summer harvest and the spirit of community gathering. The event is a vibrant, open invitation to all nations to come together to celebrate Indigenous strength, resilience, and joy. The festival features a packed schedule of cultural performances, traditional food, and family-friendly activities running all weekend. Attendees can expect to see…

TERRACE, B.C. – Drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians will notice significant changes on Kalum Street as crews begin reconfiguring traffic lanes to improve safety and traffic flow for all users. The project, which affects the stretch between Greig Avenue and Soucie Avenue, is based on the recommendations of a recent ICBC road safety audit. The most substantial change will occur on Kalum Street between Davis Avenue and Greig Avenue. The current configuration of two traffic lanes in each direction will be converted to one lane in each direction, with a new centre two-way left-turn lane. This “road diet” is designed to reduce…

TERRACE, B.C. – While national headlines report a decline in international visitors to Canada, Northwest British Columbia’s tourism sector is charting a different course, marked by robust growth, record-breaking forecasts for cruise traffic, and a steady stream of travelers through its regional airport. Recent data from Statistics Canada shows that Canada has indeed seen a downturn in some key international markets in 2025. In May, trips by U.S. residents were down 5.6% compared to the previous year, and overseas arrivals fell by 6.6%. Economists point to global economic uncertainty and past trade tensions as contributing factors. But here in the Northwest,…

TERRACE, B.C. – A large-scale rescue operation is underway at the Red Chris Mine in northwest British Columbia, where three contract drillers have been trapped underground since a ground-fall incident on Tuesday, July 22, 2025. The men, confirmed to be employees of the Smithers-based company Hy-Tech Drilling Ltd., are believed to be safe and uninjured inside a fortified refuge chamber while crews work around the clock to clear a massive debris field blocking their exit. As the complex operation entered its third day, the focus has shifted to the advanced tools being used to safely navigate and clear a massive debris field. The…

By Skeena News | July 23, 2025 Canada has pledged an additional $14.6 million USD (approx. $20 million CAD) to support Leopard 2 tank repairs in Poland, part of its ongoing military aid to Ukraine. The announcement was made by Defence Minister David McGuintyduring the 29th Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting (Ramstein format) on July 21, 2025. This commitment, while praised by many in global diplomatic circles, also raises questions here at home—especially in communities like Terrace, Kitimat, and across the Skeena region, where taxpayers are balancing the cost of living, housing shortages, and unemployment. Where Is the Money Going? The funds will be directed toward a Leopard 2 Maintenance…

SKEENA REGION, B.C. – A major financial crisis hitting the company that builds Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs could soon be felt on dealership lots in Terrace, Kitimat, and across the Skeena, as U.S. auto tariffs threaten to drive up the price of new vehicles. The automaker, Stellantis, announced a staggering $3.7 billion loss for the first half of 2025. The company directly blames a $480 million blow from U.S. President Donald Trump’s auto tariffs, which make it more expensive to build vehicles in Canada and ship them to the American market. While the most immediate impact is in Southern Ontario,…

SKEENA REGION, B.C. – A high-level national security advisory is warning Canadian businesses of a sophisticated scheme involving North Korean IT workers posing as legitimate freelancers, a threat that has direct relevance for the small business community across the Skeena region. The joint advisory, issued by the RCMP, Public Safety Canada, Global Affairs, and Canada’s financial and cyber security agencies, cautions that hiring these individuals—even unknowingly—could lead to severe legal consequences, major cybersecurity breaches, and the funding of North Korea’s illicit weapons programs. With a thriving small business community and many companies supporting major industrial projects, the Skeena region presents potential…

TERRACE, B.C. – Skeena MLA Claire Rattée is lambasting the provincial government over an impending maternity care crisis in the North, warning that families will be forced to shoulder significant hidden costs as a specialist shortage forces some pregnant women to travel out of the region for care. The criticism comes in response to a public notice from the University Hospital of Northern BC (UHNBC) which announced that a shortage of obstetrical specialists will require some high-risk pregnant patients to be transferred to other facilities starting in August 2025. In a social media post Monday afternoon, Rattée highlighted a critical issue…