Firewood Fundraiser Sale (Nelson Lions Club)
The Nelson Lions Club invite you to our annual Firewood Sale Fundraiser, across from Blewett School on Saturday, Nov. 2 at 8 a.m.
As always, the wood is split and ready for burning this year. Please plan to load your own vehicle. We ask for a minimum donation of $325/cord and you’ll pay only for as much wood as you can carry. We start selling at 8 a.m. on a first-come first-serve basis and usually run out by 11 a.m.
We now accept credit and debt cards, so it’s easier than ever to add an additional donation to your payment should you wish to.
Visit us on Facebook or nelsonlions.ca for additional information, to apply for community grants, or to join the club and help us serve your community. We are an inclusive club, meeting for two hours on the first Tuesday of each month — come as a guest and see what we are all about!
Contra Dancing
Contra dancing is a community social dance that has its origins in England, Scotland and France made popular in the US.
We dance to live music – Irish, Scottish and French-Canadian tunes played by talented musicians. A caller walks through the moves and prompts the figures during the dance.
Contra dance is appropriate for all ages if you can walk briskly and follow directions independently. You don't need to bring a partner. It is customary to change partners during the evening. Bring comfortable layered clothes, water bottle, indoor shoes.
We dance at Taghum Hall 6:30-7pm introductory class/ 7-9 dance $15/adults $10/youth Next dances: Friday Oct. 25 and Friday Nov. 29
Deceased Nelson police officer identified–Police chief speaks on avalanche accident
By John Rune, KCR News
NELSON, B.C – The police officer who died in an avalanche north of Kaslo on Monday has been identified as Const. Wade Tittemore, 43.
Nelson Police Chief Donovan Fisher said during a media conference on Tuesday that Tittemore had been with the department for the past four years, when he was struck by an avalanche during an off-duty backcountry trip with another officer.
"Wade was a hard worker, a skilled officer and a dedicated family man," Fisher said. "He was a mentor and an example to many of our junior officers. He will be missed terribly by all of us."
Local rescue agencies were alerted to a remote area near Goat Range provincial park north of Kaslo just past noon on Monday, following an avalanche.
On the site, Const. Mathieu Nolet, 28, was located with severe injuries, and an intense search managed to locate Wade Tittemore.
The father of two was declared deceased on the scene. The two were both experienced backcountry skiers, but were facing a significant avalanche danger. Nolet is currently at Trail hospital in critical condition.
Avalanche Canada said in a post on its website that some professionals are comparing this year's snowpack to 2003, considered one of the worst counted by fatalities.
The loss shook the 20-person strong department, as members gathered at the station on Monday night, where they received peer support, as well as the presence of an RCMP chaplain, who was in the area on an unrelated matter.
Fisher says the department, already struggling with significant staffing shortages, will be supported by local RCMP, who are currently covering 24 hours of all of the department's shifts.
"A lot of people have stepped up and offered help, so I have no concerns that we will have the policing in our jurisdiction covered for as long as we need to," said Fisher.
Nelson Mayor Janice Morrison said that the community is in grief over the loss.
"This police force is part of the community of Nelson," she said. "We have depended on them for many challenges over the years, so it is with heavy hearts that the community feels this loss.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who lost his brother in an avalanche in the West Kootenays in 1998, extended his condolences to the department, as did B.C Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth.
Nelson Police has set up a condolence email for Wade Tittemores next of kin, where community members can reach out at condolences@nelsonpolice.ca
Nelson man wants Ecocide to be a crime
By John Rune
"Those rights doesn't actually mean anything unless we have criminal law to back them up with–Stop Ecocide member Jamie Hunter explains his vision.
A Nelson climate activist calls for more criminal consequences against countries or corporations who damage the environment.
Nelson resident Jamie Hunter, representative for the Canadian branch of the international Stop Ecocide campaign says him and his colleagues in the group got a good reception at the recent COP15 Biodiversity Conference in Montreal.
"Many of those people were from countries that are really being threatened right now by climate change and biodiversity loss," Hunter said. "So they were particularly interested in solutions like Stop Ecocide."
The organization is aiming for International Criminal Court, ICC, to add ecocide as a prosecutable offence, along with the courts mandate to investigate and pursue things like genocide or war crimes. The initiative strives to give individual countries prosecuting powers, or in the case they refuse, offer the ICC to prosecute.
Hunter said being at the Montreal conference gave the organization the first opportunity to gather its Canadian branch in-person.
Black bears, street drugs and a new mayor: This made news in Nelson in 2022
With 2023 fast approaching, KCR News takes a look back in the archives on some of the major news stories we have been reporting on throughout the year.
In this special end-of-year highlight, we focus on four major newsmakers:
Dylan Griffith and his group Kootenay Insurrection for Safe Supply made headlines in Nelson in the summer, when he announced his group had handed out six grams of tested controlled street drugs, such as cocaine, meth and heroine to local users. The group has a goal to fight the toxic drug crisis through opening 'compassion clubs.'
Black bears were in the news often after an unusually busy summer that had Nelson's conservation officers working overtime to deal with misplaced wildlife. The issue got even more attention after a black bear was euthanized in downtown Nelson during the morning rush outside a coffee shop.
Janice Morrison, the new major of Nelson and other politicians talked frequently about the bear issue throughout the election campaign, which ultimately saw the former councillor take the city's top job.
Airport chaos which struck travellers across the country spilled over into Castlegar airport, where travellers were turned away from several flights as inclement weather had Vancouver completely swamped with delayed flights. Maciej Haybrych, airport manager at Castlegar Airport said 'the timing couldn't be worse.'
Listen to this end-of-the year holiday special newscast from KCR News
The Addams Family musical is coming to Nelson this spring
By John Rune, KCR News
While the end of May will see warmer temperatures in the Kootenays, the stage at the Civic Theatre in Nelson will be sending out bone-chilling entertainment in the form of The Addams Family musical.
Local Nelson District Arts Council president Sydney Black said her company, Black Productions, will spend the new year scouting for talent to include in its anticipated 20-person cast who together will embody the spooky cult-classic Addams family.
"So that is super exciting, with probably 10 lead roles and 10 supporting roles, so there is a lot of space for people who are like 'I'm a singer but I don't dance, or I'm a dancer but I don't sing. There is all sorts of roles for people, so we are really stoked," Black said.
The musical version of The Addams premiered on Broadway in 2010 where it received high praise by critics, and has been produced in numerous countries around the world. Black said the timing couldn't have been better for a Nelson-version of the Addams Family, as the spinoff series 'Wednesday' is currently making the rounds on Netflix and in social media, where users are doing dances to the soundtrack of the movie.
"It's really interesting how serendipitous it was that we decided on this show, and then a couple of weeks later, the Wednesday-phenomenon happened."
Nelson ski guide warns of high avalanche risk in West Kootenay backcountry
By John Rune, KCR News
One of Nelson's most experienced wilderness guides says the risks for skiers and snowboarders in the West Kootenay backcountry are too high to take any risks this December.
"Now it's really sketchy," said John Buffrey to KCR News. "It's really worth emphasizing people not expose themselves to any avalanche risk at all. Like, it's as tumultuous as I've seen it in a decade."
Buffrey said light snowfalls along with clear and cold weather have created a series of stratified layers, apt to collapse with a skier in the start zone being the catalyst.
"Even Ymir proper would be hazardous, very hazardous. The risk would be considerable, is the right word," Buffrey said, pointing to mid-January as the first time in the next little while that it might be safer.
Over the past decade, around 10 people per year have lost their lives in the B.C. backcountry. It's been a slow decrease, attributed to better safety programs and increased knowledge.
'Now, it's really sketchy'–Nelson backcountry guide John Buffrey on dangerous conditions in the Kootenays right now
Family Friendly Ghost Tour and Trick or Treating
Have you always wondered about ghosts at the theatre?
Join us on Halloween for a Family Friendly Ghost Tour and Tick or Treating.
No reservations or tickets needed.
Capitol Theatre @ 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
'The Geography of Memory' Panel Discussion
Join Shelly Boyd, Jan Inglis, and author Eileen Delehanty Pearkes for a lively panel discussion on Watershed Reflections: The Ecology and Culture of Place, in Gallery A.
The discussion will be moderated by Museum Educator Lesley Garlow.
The evening will explore the impact modern borders and other political boundaries have on how all people connect to places, most especially the mountain home of Nelson.
Admission to the event is FREE. Doors at 7pm.
The Royal Art Throwdown - Round 1
Welcome back to 'The Royal Art Throwdown' for our second season.
After the fantastic success that we had last year with so many incredible artists on the stage and packed houses every night it was an easy decision to bring the Throwdown back for another winter.
Round 1 will be kicking off with a whole lot of Artists, new donations and sponsors and the same old host.
If you didn't catch a Throwdown last year this is how it plays out:
Two heats of three artists will take to the stage throughout the night and will have one hour to create their masterpiece.
They will have the options of using a canvas provided but really its pretty open forum for whatever they want to create.
After the hour is up, you (the crowd) will judge your favorite and the winner will go through to the grand final in February for some serious prizes.
Raffle tickets will be available for purchase with your chance to win the art pieces created on the night with all money raised going straight to the artists.
There will also be some interactive fun and your favorite DJ - Mr Paradise spinning some phat beats.
It's fun, it's silly and it's out right incredible watching the artists do their thing so get around it and book a table for the night cus they will book out quick.
Artists for the night are:
Anna Jauncey
Abby Wilson
Paul Greschner
Maddie Tetrault
Clancy Moonbeam
Thanks to our sponsors and donors:
Nelson District Arts Council
Nelson Kootenay Lake Tourism
Paradise Painters
The Royal
Loot
Ripping Giraffe
Farmers Supply
Backroads Brewery and more!!
Big ups Nelly
Catcha at the Throwdown.
xx Mr Paradise