Author: SKEENA NEWS
TERRACE — With temperatures in the Skeena region plummeting toward extreme lows, the City of Terrace and its community partners have activated a daytime Emergency Warming Centre (EWC) to support the city’s most vulnerable residents. The centre is designed to provide a safe, climate-controlled drop-in space for individuals who are unsheltered or precariously housed and unable to access safe shelter during the current extreme weather event. Warming Centre Details How the Community Response Works The activation of an EWC is a coordinated effort between the City of Terrace, local service providers, and the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness (EMCR). Staffing and Safety…
THORNHILL / TERRACE — The Skeena Valley entered a high-intensity search phase over the Valentine’s Day weekend as emergency crews and community members rallied to find 69-year-old Noel Ross Grant. An Indigenous elder from Thornhill, Grant has been missing since February 6, 2026, after being last seen leaving his Sharples Road residence for a walk. As the search passed its ninth day on February 15, the operation faced increasing pressure from deteriorating weather conditions and the inherent risks of the vast Northwest terrain. Multi-Jurisdictional SAR Mobilization The disappearance of Grant, who suffers from dementia, triggered a massive coordinated response. On February 14, Terrace Search…
TUMBLER RIDGE / TERRACE — In a profound display of national solidarity, federal and provincial leaders gathered outside the Tumbler Ridge Town Hall on the evening of Friday, February 13, to mourn the eight lives lost in Tuesday’s mass shooting. The vigil drew together a rare assembly of political rivals, including Prime Minister Mark Carney, Governor General Mary Simon, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, and NDP interim leader Don Davies. The collective presence of these leaders served as a formal recognition of the unique vulnerabilities faced by small, northern resource towns and underscored the national significance of the tragedy. The Human Cost…
TUMBLER RIDGE — In a solemn update provided on February 12, 2026, the BC RCMP officially confirmed the identities of the eight victims killed in the February 10 mass shooting. Working in close consultation with the families, authorities released names and heartfelt personal tributes to honour those who lost their lives at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School and a private residence on Fellers Avenue. The community now begins the long process of healing, with the RCMP emphasizing that the focus must remain on supporting the families and respecting their privacy during this time of profound sorrow. Remembering the Victims The following individuals…
TUMBLER RIDGE / SURREY – Nearly 24 hours after an emergency alert paralyzed the community of Tumbler Ridge, B.C. RCMP have identified the suspect and revised the total number of fatalities in what is being called one of the deadliest mass shootings in provincial history. In a press briefing held Wednesday morning at RCMP headquarters in Surrey, Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald identified the suspect as Jesse Van Rootselaar, an 18-year-old resident of Tumbler Ridge. Correction to the Death Toll Authorities clarified that nine people are confirmed deceased, including the suspect—correcting an earlier report of 10 fatalities. The discrepancy occurred after it was initially believed…
TUMBLER RIDGE – The tight-knit community of Tumbler Ridge is in mourning following a catastrophic shooting event on Tuesday, February 10, that claimed the lives of 10 people, including the suspected shooter. The incident, which began early Tuesday afternoon, prompted a massive law enforcement response and a multi-hour “shelter-in-place” order that paralyzed the northeastern B.C. town. Timeline of the Incident The crisis began at approximately 1:20 p.m., when the Tumbler Ridge RCMP received reports of an active shooter at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. Authorities quickly issued a Police Initiated Public Alert (PIPA), warning residents to lock their doors and remain indoors as the North…
TERRACE – Local emergency services and the Terrace RCMP have entered a critical stage in the search for Noel Ross Grant, a 69-year-old Indigenous man who has been missing since the morning of February 6, 2026. Terrace RCMP are actively investigating the disappearance and issued a renewed alert on February 9, escalating search operations to include specialized drone surveillance and police service dog units. Missing Person Profile The last confirmed sighting of Grant was on the morning of February 6, when he left his residence on Sharples Road in lower Thornhill for a walk. Noel Ross Grant is described as: Urgent Appeal to Residents The…
VICTORIA – The landscape of British Columbia’s provincial politics shifted significantly on Monday as the B.C. Green Party officially terminated the Confidence and Reform Government Agreement (CARGA) with the governing NDP. In a press conference held in Victoria on the morning of February 9, B.C. Green Party Leader Emily Lowan, alongside MLAs Rob Botterell and Jeremy Valeriote, announced that the party would no longer provide guaranteed support for the government. The leadership cited a “breakdown in trust” and a failure by the NDP to meet specific commitments outlined for 2025. Breakdown in Trust Rob Botterell, MLA for Saanich North and the Islands, stated that the…
SMITHERS — In a significant step toward addressing the regional homelessness crisis, the Town of Smithers has been officially selected as a partner in the Province’s Heart and Hearth program. The announcement, shared with Skeena News via a press release from the Town of Smithers, marks a major milestone for local advocacy efforts aimed at supporting the community’s most vulnerable residents. Smithers joins six other B.C. communities—including Cranbrook, New Westminster, and Powell River—in the second phase of this provincial initiative. What is Heart and Hearth? Funded under the Belonging in BC Homelessness Plan, the program is a dual-track initiative managed by BC Housingand the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs.…
KITSAULT / PRINCE RUPERT — The weekend has brought renewed focus to one of the most unique real estate holdings in Northern B.C.: the “ghost town” of Kitsault. Located approximately 140 kilometers northeast of Prince Rupert, this uninhabited former mining community is at the center of an aggressive lobbying effort to become Canada’s next dedicated energy export terminal. A Town “Frozen in Time” Unlike competing greenfield sites that require billions in new housing and civic infrastructure, Kitsault offers a turnkey solution. Purchased by businessman Krishnan Suthanthiran in 2005, the town remains “frozen in a 1980s time warp,” meticulously maintained despite having no permanent residents.…