Opinion

File - In 2023, are celebrations such as Black History Month still needed? This writer weighs in. Picture shown is an event promoting Black history month at the The Nanaimo African Heritage Society in lieu of their second annual online gala. (News Bulletin file photo)

HITCHINS: In 2023, yes, Black History Month is still important

Recognizing accomplishments by those of African origin vital to identity

File - In 2023, are celebrations such as Black History Month still needed? This writer weighs in. Picture shown is an event promoting Black history month at the The Nanaimo African Heritage Society in lieu of their second annual online gala. (News Bulletin file photo)
Advocates for decriminalization and safe supply of drugs stood outside Nelson’s city hall on April 14th. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

OPINION: Why the drug poisoning crisis in B.C. won’t be addressed by decriminalization

On Jan. 31, B.C. began a three-year pilot project under which simple possession of some drugs

Advocates for decriminalization and safe supply of drugs stood outside Nelson’s city hall on April 14th. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
BC Ferries regularly cancels sailings between Swartz Bay and Tsawwassen. (Black Press Media file photo)

CAMPBELL: ‘You owe us!’: passenger berates BC Ferries staff for chronic tardiness

Passengers fed up with delays when BC Ferries penalizes drivers when they are late

BC Ferries regularly cancels sailings between Swartz Bay and Tsawwassen. (Black Press Media file photo)
Jessica Peters is a reporter at the Abbotsford News.
Jessica Peters is a reporter at the Abbotsford News.
Certain apps can make users more mindful of their social media use. Photo by Marc Kitteringham/Campbell River Mirror

KITTERINGHAM: Why I unfollowed 500 social media accounts this month

Social media was depressing me, so I did something about it

Certain apps can make users more mindful of their social media use. Photo by Marc Kitteringham/Campbell River Mirror
(Pixabay.com)

OPINION: High income taxes make B.C. less attractive and productive

Horgan government increased B.C.’s top personal income tax rate from 14.7 per cent to 20.5 per cent

  • Feb 1, 2023
(Pixabay.com)
Jock Finlayson is a senior policy advisor with the Business Council of British Columbia.
Jock Finlayson

FINLAYSON: 2023 could be one of the weakest years for B.C. home sales in two decades

Despite market volatility, the long-term fundamentals for housing in B.C. remain attractive

  • Jan 27, 2023
Jock Finlayson is a senior policy advisor with the Business Council of British Columbia.
Jock Finlayson
A strata council enacted a bylaw to restrict out-of-wedlock relationships. (Pexels photo)

CAMPBELL: This ‘prudish’ B.C. strata sued to stop owner from living with her boyfriend

Case raises the question of whether strata bylaws should be able to restrict certain relationships

A strata council enacted a bylaw to restrict out-of-wedlock relationships. (Pexels photo)
Kathi Diewert of Chemainus captures many interesting nature shots around the Island. No matter what it looks like outside, there’s no sense in creating any false sadness on so-called Blue Monday and beyond. (Photo by Kathi Diewert)

BODGER: Blue Monday is bogus, stop looking for reasons to be sad

There’s no evidence one day should be the saddest compared to any other

Kathi Diewert of Chemainus captures many interesting nature shots around the Island. No matter what it looks like outside, there’s no sense in creating any false sadness on so-called Blue Monday and beyond. (Photo by Kathi Diewert)
Two children under 18 held in custody by the Iranian regime that have been sponsored by Federal Canadian MPs to try to help stop their execution. Ali Rakhshani, 17, is endorsed by Fleetwood-Port Kells MP Ken Hardie, and Mohammad Rakhshani, 16, is endorsed by North Vancouver MP Jonathan Wilkinson. (Twitter @balo0chgirl)

OPINION: Iranian woman living in Fraser Valley urging MPs to sponsor prisoners to avoid execution

Nine federal Liberal MPs ‘sponsor’ Iranian detainees by sharing their plights on social media

Two children under 18 held in custody by the Iranian regime that have been sponsored by Federal Canadian MPs to try to help stop their execution. Ali Rakhshani, 17, is endorsed by Fleetwood-Port Kells MP Ken Hardie, and Mohammad Rakhshani, 16, is endorsed by North Vancouver MP Jonathan Wilkinson. (Twitter @balo0chgirl)
Worker at Swartz Bay terminal. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito)

CAMPBELL: Couple ‘evicted’ from B.C. ferry terminal gets zero sympathy here

Couple posts video of confrontation onto social media after being 4 minutes late

Worker at Swartz Bay terminal. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito)
Jessica Peters is a reporter with the Abbotsford News, and an invasive cervical cancer survivor.

OPINION: Cervical cancer awareness didn’t seem important to me, until it was

January is cervical awareness month and a time to understand how devastating the disease really is

Jessica Peters is a reporter with the Abbotsford News, and an invasive cervical cancer survivor.
Someone in Victoria had a frustrating birthday after a sign meant for them was put on the wrong lawn. (Pexels photo)
Someone in Victoria had a frustrating birthday after a sign meant for them was put on the wrong lawn. (Pexels photo)
FILE - This undated image provided by the National Ignition Facility at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory shows the NIF Target Bay in Livermore, Calif. The system uses 192 laser beams converging at the center of this giant sphere to make a tiny hydrogen fuel pellet implode. (Damien Jemison/Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory via AP, File)

OPINION: Nuclear fusion may change our world but renewable energy sources will save it: experts

Harnessing nuclear fusion could take more than 40 years, while some solutions already exist

  • Jan 8, 2023
FILE - This undated image provided by the National Ignition Facility at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory shows the NIF Target Bay in Livermore, Calif. The system uses 192 laser beams converging at the center of this giant sphere to make a tiny hydrogen fuel pellet implode. (Damien Jemison/Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory via AP, File)
The Buffalo Bills pray on the field after their teammate Damar Hamlin was taken to hospital after suffering cardiac arrest. (@BuffaloBills/Twitter)

Jordy’s Journal: The good and the bad of the Damar Hamlin incident

As of Wednesday morning, Hamlin remains in critical condition in ICU, showing signs of improvement

The Buffalo Bills pray on the field after their teammate Damar Hamlin was taken to hospital after suffering cardiac arrest. (@BuffaloBills/Twitter)
Still from Chilliwack Realtor Kevin Schroeder’s January 2022 Instagram video where he explains how BC Assessment increases in property value have no impact on property taxes. (Instagram @kevinschroederrealtor)

OPINION: B.C. Realtor’s explanation how property assessment increases do not affect taxes

Because it’s important, a 2nd look at Kevin Schroeder’s Instagram video on how property taxes work

Still from Chilliwack Realtor Kevin Schroeder’s January 2022 Instagram video where he explains how BC Assessment increases in property value have no impact on property taxes. (Instagram @kevinschroederrealtor)
Premier David Eby and Premier Danielle Smith (Canadian Press photos)
Premier David Eby and Premier Danielle Smith (Canadian Press photos)
Jessica Peters is a reporter at the Abbotsford News and a big fan of Father Christmas.

COLUMN: The magic of Christmas isn’t so unbelievable, is it?

A deep adoration of Santa Claus and everything he represents has led to a life of loving Christmas

Jessica Peters is a reporter at the Abbotsford News and a big fan of Father Christmas.
(Nature Conservancy of Canada handout photo)

OPINION: Conserving forest, grassland and wetland ecosystems in B.C. has global impact

This week and next governments, scientists and conservation experts are gathering in…

  • Dec 8, 2022
(Nature Conservancy of Canada handout photo)
File photo

Barron: Remembering when gun-toting elementary schoolkids said ‘enough’ to the rats

A half-century ago, school pest-control methods were a little bit different

File photo