Author: SKEENA NEWS

SMITHERS, B.C. – A new gold mine has officially entered production in the Bulkley Valley, as Blue Lagoon Resources celebrated the grand opening of its Dome Mountain project this past week. The mine, located approximately 66 kilometres east of Smithers, held a celebration and ribbon-cutting ceremony at the site, attended by company officials, local leaders, and other dignitaries. The Member of Parliament for Skeena-Bulkley Valley, Ellis Ross, was present for the opening. “Congratulations Dome Mountain Mining and Smithers and thank you for the invite to your opening,” he said in a social media post following the event. “The commitment for the…

KITIMAT, B.C. – On a recent visit home, renowned Haisla artist Lyle Wilson made a discovery that left him stunned: a quiet residential street bearing his own name, a lasting tribute from a dear friend that he never knew existed. “I had no idea that he had followed through with it,” Wilson said, recalling a conversation years ago with his late high school friend, a local Kitimat contractor. “I laughed because I didn’t really think he was serious.” His friend, who passed away in 2019, had been developing a new housing division and mentioned the idea of naming a street after…

TERRACE, B.C. – An extensive search is underway involving multiple agencies for a 46-year-old man who went missing in the Skeena River near the community of Usk on Saturday evening. The man has been identified by police as Thomas Kelly. He was last seen at approximately 6:45 p.m. on July 12 while fishing with family members. According to the RCMP report, he was in the water for several minutes before his family lost sight of him. Terrace and Kitimat Search and Rescue teams were immediately engaged, and efforts to locate him began Saturday evening. The search has involved ground crews, boats, and…

PRINCE RUPERT, B.C. – The Prince Rupert waterfront is expected to be bustling with activity tomorrow, as the city prepares to welcome the massive Carnival Legend cruise ship to its port. The Prince Rupert Port Authority announced the vessel’s call, which is scheduled for Monday, July 14. Thousands of passengers and crew will be disembarking to explore the city’s shops, restaurants, and local attractions. Residents can expect to see visitors strolling through Cow Bay and enjoying the waterfront, with some even taking to the water themselves in kayaks to see the ship up close. About the Carnival Legend The Carnival Legend is one of the larger…

TERRACE, B.C. – A coalition of local governments across the Northwest is formally urging the federal government to create a special immigration zone for the region, warning that new federal rules restricting temporary workers and students are threatening the survival of local businesses. Without a steady supply of newcomers, businesses from hotels to restaurants have said they could be forced to close their doors. “In Terrace, the hoteliers, every single one from Thornhill to Terrace, said they would close down on the sheer fact they would lose almost all, if not all, of their housekeeping staff,” said the City of Terrace’s…

SKEENA REGION, B.C. – National headlines are painting a stark picture of Canada’s economy, with a rising unemployment rate and news of mass layoffs at colleges in Ontario creating concern across the country. But how does that national story compare to the reality here in the Northwest? Recent reports confirm that Canada’s national unemployment rate has climbed to 7 percent, a nine-year high outside of the pandemic period. A major contributor to job losses in Central Canada has been the federal government’s new cap on international student visas. In Ontario, this has led to a crisis for many colleges that had…

HAZELTON, B.C. – The Village of Hazelton is set to receive $10 million in provincial funding to build a new 1.2-kilometre dike and upgrade its existing flood protection infrastructure along the Skeena River. The major investment, announced this week, is designed to significantly reduce the risk of flooding by protecting vital community infrastructure, homes, and businesses from the high waters of the Skeena River during spring freshet or extreme weather events. The project is the largest part of a new, province-wide investment of over $6 million from the Disaster Resilience and Innovation Funding (DRIF) program, which is aimed at helping communities…

TERRACE, B.C. – In the wake of a violent attack on a fellow MLA’s office in Metro Vancouver, the MLA for Skeena, Claire Rattée, says that while she feels safe in public, her experience online has been a different story, filled with “vile” harassment that has twice prompted her to report correspondence to the RCMP. Her comments come as concerns over the safety of elected officials are escalating across the province, following a June 27 explosion that heavily damaged the constituency office of B.C.’s Infrastructure Minister in North Vancouver. “I get the occasional outburst on Facebook but it’s Twitter, or X.…

TERRACE, B.C. – A celebration a century in the making is set to take place tomorrow, as the community gathers to mark the 100th anniversary of the opening of the iconic Old Skeena Bridge. Residents are invited to join the festivities on Friday, July 11, which will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony, a parade of classic cars, and a community gathering in Thornhill. The event is being organized by the Terrace Regional Historical Society and the Terrace and District Museum Society. Here is the schedule for the celebration: Invited guests include local government representatives, federal MP Ellis Ross, provincial Skeena MLA Claire Rattée,…

SMITHERS, B.C. – A 70-year-old man has died following a single-vehicle collision on Highway 16, just west of Smithers, on Monday afternoon. The incident occurred on July 7, at approximately 1:21 p.m., near Manton Road. According to the Smithers RCMP, a GMC pickup truck that was towing a flat deck trailer drove off the roadway and into a ditch, causing it to roll over. The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle was tragically pronounced deceased at the scene. “Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of the driver during this difficult time,” said a Corporal with the Smithers…