Bill Metcalfe

Madame Cola, designed by Shirley McLim. Can-can dress crafted from pop tabs and crochet thread for the bodice, and coke tins, crochet thread and stiff wire for the skirt. Hat and rose accessories made from coke tins. Model: Tiffany McLim. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

PHOTOS: Nelson fashion show features wearable art made of trash

The show attracted some very skilled designers to work with throw-away materials

Madame Cola, designed by Shirley McLim. Can-can dress crafted from pop tabs and crochet thread for the bodice, and coke tins, crochet thread and stiff wire for the skirt. Hat and rose accessories made from coke tins. Model: Tiffany McLim. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
Jessica Michalofsky spoke to supporters at Lakeside Park in Nelson on May 21 before beginning her month-long run to Victoria to increase awareness of the need for a safe and regulated supply of drugs. Michalofsky’s son Aubrey died of a toxic drug overdose in August of last year. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

‘First-time users are dying’: B.C. mom runs across province advocating for safe drug supply

Jessica Michalofsky’s 25-year-old son died of drug poisoning in August, 2022

Jessica Michalofsky spoke to supporters at Lakeside Park in Nelson on May 21 before beginning her month-long run to Victoria to increase awareness of the need for a safe and regulated supply of drugs. Michalofsky’s son Aubrey died of a toxic drug overdose in August of last year. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
The new Kootenay Lake ferry will serve the route between Balfour and Kootenay Bay along with the MV Osprey 2000, shown here. The MV Balfour, built in 1954, will be retired. Photo: Tamara Hynd

Kootenay Lake ferry completion pushed back to late 2024, service begins 2025

But the $63-million budget stays the same, says province

The new Kootenay Lake ferry will serve the route between Balfour and Kootenay Bay along with the MV Osprey 2000, shown here. The MV Balfour, built in 1954, will be retired. Photo: Tamara Hynd
Alex Willness, accused of manslaughter in the death of Allan Young, testified in Nelson court on March 30. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

‘I wish I had walked away’: Accused man testifies in Nelson manslaughter trial

Alex Willness is accused of killing Abbotsford police officer Allan Young

Alex Willness, accused of manslaughter in the death of Allan Young, testified in Nelson court on March 30. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
Bank impersonation is on the rise, and people should not be fooled if a caller knows the details of their banking information. Photo: Pexels

B.C. woman loses thousands after bank account hacked

Veronica Azuray wants her story to be a warning to vulnerable seniors

Bank impersonation is on the rise, and people should not be fooled if a caller knows the details of their banking information. Photo: Pexels
The trial of Alex Willness following the death of Allan Young in 2020 was in its third day on March 8 at the Nelson courthouse. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

‘We can’t let him get away’: Nelson witness testifies to detaining man who allegedly struck Abbotsford officer

Alex Willness is on trial for manslaughter following the death of Allan Young in 2020

The trial of Alex Willness following the death of Allan Young in 2020 was in its third day on March 8 at the Nelson courthouse. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
Constable Allan Young died after an incident on Baker Street in Nelson in 2020. Alex Willness is being tried for manslaughter in B.C. Supreme Court in Nelson. Photo: Submitted

Off-duty Abbotsford police officer died in Nelson after being struck with skateboard, court hears

Alex Willness is being tried for manslaughter following Constable Allan Young’s death in 2020

Constable Allan Young died after an incident on Baker Street in Nelson in 2020. Alex Willness is being tried for manslaughter in B.C. Supreme Court in Nelson. Photo: Submitted
Forest at the Argenta-Johnsons Landing Face, with Kootenay Lake in the distance. Photo: Wilderness Committee

Watchdog reprimands logging company for large clearcut near Kootenay community

Forest Practice Board says Cooper Creek Cedar overstepped its consulted plan

Forest at the Argenta-Johnsons Landing Face, with Kootenay Lake in the distance. Photo: Wilderness Committee
The courthouse in Nelson, B.C., where the manslaughter trial of Alex Willness begins Feb. 28. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

Trial of man accused of killing off-duty Abbotsford police officer begins in Nelson

Alex Willness is charged with manslaughter in the death of Const. Allan Young

The courthouse in Nelson, B.C., where the manslaughter trial of Alex Willness begins Feb. 28. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
The newly built Nelson fire hall in 1913, with firefighting equipment powered by horses. Photo: Nelson Fire and Rescue

Nelson to replace B.C.’s oldest working fire hall made famous by Roxanne

The 110-year-old facility no longer meets standards

The newly built Nelson fire hall in 1913, with firefighting equipment powered by horses. Photo: Nelson Fire and Rescue
Dr. Marian Berry, back in Nelson after attending a week at the COP27 U.N. climate summit in Egypt in November. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

‘It was transformative’: Nelson residents reflect on attending COP27

Gideon Berry and mother Marian Berry spent a week at the U.N. climate summit in November

Dr. Marian Berry, back in Nelson after attending a week at the COP27 U.N. climate summit in Egypt in November. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
Biologist Rosie Wijenberg at a grove of eight western red cedars in the Russell Creek area of the West Kootenay. These trees are temporarily protected from logging because they are in an old growth deferral area. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

Finding the Kootenays’ biggest trees: Biologist mapping the region’s forest giants

But only timber companies may nominate trees for a new provincial list of protected trees

Biologist Rosie Wijenberg at a grove of eight western red cedars in the Russell Creek area of the West Kootenay. These trees are temporarily protected from logging because they are in an old growth deferral area. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
The FoodCycler grinds and dehydrates food scraps to produce a soil amendment that can be used as fertilizer or added to compost. Photo: Food Cycle Science.

B.C. community launching countertop food waste treatment pilot

The program is unique in Canada, city says

The FoodCycler grinds and dehydrates food scraps to produce a soil amendment that can be used as fertilizer or added to compost. Photo: Food Cycle Science.
L-R: Sai Batta from India, Shanique Eldemire from Jamaica, and Guilherme Alano from Brazil, all say they are pleased about the federal government’s decision to allow them to work full time while studying. They are students in the culinary management diploma program at Selkirk College’s Tenth Street Campus. The program is for people who already have a culinary or hospitality credential from outside of Canada. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

B.C.’s international students applaud change to allowable employment hours

Students can now work full time while studying

L-R: Sai Batta from India, Shanique Eldemire from Jamaica, and Guilherme Alano from Brazil, all say they are pleased about the federal government’s decision to allow them to work full time while studying. They are students in the culinary management diploma program at Selkirk College’s Tenth Street Campus. The program is for people who already have a culinary or hospitality credential from outside of Canada. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
Some of the intense smoke in Nelson is partly from fires in the West Kootenay, and much of it is blown in from fires to the south and west. Photo: Tyler Harper

Creston, Nelson have worst air quality in B.C.

Vulnerable population should reduce or reschedule strenuous activities outdoors

Some of the intense smoke in Nelson is partly from fires in the West Kootenay, and much of it is blown in from fires to the south and west. Photo: Tyler Harper
Anjali Appadurai of Vancouver is campaigning for the leadership of the provincial NDP. She met with a crowd of several dozen people at Nelson’s Lakeside Park on Aug. 30. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

B.C. NDP leadership candidate says party is too comfortable, needs a shake-up

Anjali Appadurai says the NDP is not taking climate change seriously

Anjali Appadurai of Vancouver is campaigning for the leadership of the provincial NDP. She met with a crowd of several dozen people at Nelson’s Lakeside Park on Aug. 30. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
Ecologist Greg Utzig in an area of old growth cedar-hemlock forest near Nelson that is not in an Old Growth Management Area and which therefore could be logged any time. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

Kootenay forest management ignores old growth protection, two experts say

Some younger forest is protected as old growth, while much actual old growth is not protected

Ecologist Greg Utzig in an area of old growth cedar-hemlock forest near Nelson that is not in an Old Growth Management Area and which therefore could be logged any time. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
The pithouse at the Vallican heritage site. Photo: Louis Bockner

Indigenous woman occupies Vallican heritage site in West Kootenay after province revokes her caretaker role

Colville Confederated Tribes say Marilyn James has no authority over the site

The pithouse at the Vallican heritage site. Photo: Louis Bockner
The proposed cedar grove protected area is outlined in red. It is located at the north end of the Duncan Lake reservoir. Map: Valhalla Wilderness Society

Petition asks for protection of ancient cedars at Duncan Lake

Some of the trees are over 1,000 years old and one is 2,100 years old

The proposed cedar grove protected area is outlined in red. It is located at the north end of the Duncan Lake reservoir. Map: Valhalla Wilderness Society
Cory Westcott disappeared in the Nelson area in the summer of 2020. Photo: Submitted

Charismatic, troubled and still missing: What happened to Nelson’s Cory Westcott?

Friends and family continue to search for Westcott, who has been missing since 2020

Cory Westcott disappeared in the Nelson area in the summer of 2020. Photo: Submitted