Smithers

A little 2-seater airplane sits on the side of a highway with mountains behind it.

Small plane makes emergency landing on Highway 16 near Smithers

October 24, 2024 by Pamela Haasen

On Tuesday October 22nd at 6PM, Murray Hamer, a pilot flying a Cessna 210 Centurion had to make an emergency landing on Highway 16 when he realized he was out of fuel.

Hamer was flying an American registered aircraft to Kitimat, about 260km southwest of Smithers. Before departure, he checked the fuel gauges to see how much fuel was onboard, but read the gauges in gallons of fuel, not pounds – which is significantly less fuel.

Acting fast, Hamer spotted a good field to land in, but moments later saw the nearby Highway 16 near Raymond Road was clear of traffic, and was more suitable to make a safe landing.

Hamer radioed the Smithers Airport tower to alert them that he was landing with little notice onto the Highway. RCMP arrived at the scene shortly after the landing to assist pushing the aircraft off of the traffic lanes.

With files by David McTavish.

A white man stands at a podium outdoors speaking into a microphone.

Health Minister Adrian Dix announces massive longterm care facility in Smithers

August 24, 2024 by Pamela Haasen

The Health Minister of British Columbia visited Smithers on Tuesday, August 21st to announce 150 new longterm care beds for the Bulkley Valley.

Minister Dix told CICK News “With respect to what we’re doing today, that I think this is meeting commitments. And what we’re doing here is building thousands of beds everywhere — but not just in Vancouver, not just in Nanaimo, not just in Surrey, not just in Abbotsford — but in Smithers.”

A new building will be built on the south end of Broadway Ave with construction beginning in 2028 and the facility is slated to open in 2030.

This new facility is a partnership between Northern Health, the town of Smithers, and Providence Living.

A group of 25 people stand ready for a photo to be taken. They are on a stage in a hall smiling toward the camera.

Groundbreaking ceremony held for first-ever Indigenous-led housing solution in Smithers

August 6, 2024 by Pamela Haasen

A celebration took place at The Dze L K’ant Friendship Centre Hall on Wednesday in Smithers to celebrate Ken’ulh k’it yikh, a 37 unit housing project that is currently under construction which is slated to be complete and ready for residents by February 2026.

What’s unique about Ken’ulh k’it yikh is that this is the first-ever Indigenous-led housing project that is being built in Smithers (a town of 5,000 people whose homeless population is about 83 per cent Indigenous).

The Dze L K’ant Friendship Centre took the lead back in 2018 to begin talks about the need for Indigenous housing. BC Housing is contributing approximately $13.6 million from the Building BC: Indigenous Housing Fund. The Town of Smithers provided a site (land equity value of $112,000) and contributed $33,000. A $100,000 donation from West Fraser will contribute to the installation of a large Indigenous art piece on the building’s the exterior and help fund an Indigenous-inspired playground.

Yesterday, the mood of the hall was celebratory – there was pride, humour, and some happy tears. CICK News was there to capture the moment.

A covered stage with a lone musician with a guitar and people sitting on the ground watching.

Midsummer Music Festival a homecoming for local talents making it big in the city

July 10, 2024 by Dan Mesec

The Midsummer Music Festival celebrated its 41st birthday in Smithers this past weekend, with acts and audience members coming from all over BC, Canada and the world.

This year’s line-up had lots of home-grown talent on the bill, musicians that started off their careers and formed their musical foundations in the Bulkley Valley, only to move away and make it big. Local musicians such as Theresa Bromley from Pony Gold, Toby Moisey from Major Funk and Juno award winner Dan Mangan, all hail from Smithers.

The Midsummer Music Festival, which began in 1983, has grown from a small local gathering into a provincial, and even national event. Over the years, the festival has expanded both in size and scope. It now features a diverse array of musical genres, from folk and country, rock to electronic and everything in between.

*Toby Moisey and Adrian Burrill from Major Funk performing at the 41st Midsummer Music Festival at the Smithers fairgrounds. Photo: Daniel Mesec*

An Indigenous man stands with his hands folded in front of him. He is wearing glasses and smiling at the camera in a parking lot with a mountain range behind him.

Forest fires, mental health, housing, BC Hydro all hot topics at NCLGA conference

May 21, 2024 by Pamela Haasen

The North Central Local Government Association (NCGLA) held its annual conference in Smithers from May 13 – 16.

The NCGLA is a democratically elected board that represents north central British Columbia from 100 Mile House to the Yukon border, and from Haida Gwaii to Alberta, representing over 240 elected officials in over 40 local governments.

Each year, one of the participating municipal governments hosts a conference in their town with the aim to bring forth resolutions, invite speakers to make presentations and panels, and vote in members to the NCLGA board.

CICK News spoke to a number of municipal representatives from Williams Lake, Vanderhoof, Chetwynd, Houston, the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako, and MLA for Peace River Mike Bernier.

Helicopter above a line of trees and a lake. There is a plume of smoke rising from the mountains.

Northwest BC prepares for another tough wildfire season

April 25, 2024 by Dan Mesec

Only 60 per cent of the average snow pack remains the Northwest region of B.C., and that has the BC WildFire Services Northwest Fire Centre (BCWS) preparing for forest fires earlier than usual.

Ground crews are already amassing throughput the Northwest region, especially near the border with the Nechako region, which has seen even dryer conditions this spring.

Northwest Fire Centres Information Officer Morgan Blois, said many crews are already training. “We’ve hired more members this season and acquired more equipment to help ground crews be more effective, given the increased fire risk so early in the season.”

According to the BCWS, there are more than 150 fire crews stationed in the Northwest region with more to come as the season progresses.

Smithers singer, songwriter to receive honorary Doctor of Laws degree from UNBC

April 23, 2024 by Sabrina Spencer

Alex Cuba is receiving an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from UNBC in recognition of his achievements in music next month.

The award recognizes individuals who have achieved eminence and accomplishment in various fields and have made notable contributions to humanity.

This is his second honorary degree, and he will soon be releasing an album called “Voices of My Family” featuring family members from Cuba.

Born in Artemisa, Cuba, the singer-songwriter immigrated to Canada in 1999 and now resides in Smithers, according to the release. He says he’s proud to be from Smithers, BC and has built his international music career from there; he has won multiple Latin Grammys and American Grammys.

Alex Cuba is grateful for the love and support he has received from Canada and is passionate about elevating the importance of culture and art in Northern British Columbia.

CFNR spoke with the singer regarding his honorary degree, his tour and up coming projects.

People sit around a U shaped table in a council chambers with three flags on the back wall and presentation screens on either side of the desk.

Smithers looks at 7.1% increase in taxes for 2024

April 11, 2024 by Dan Mesec

Smithers town Council is looking at a 7.16 percent increase in taxes this year, following a nearly 10 percent increase in property taxes in 2023. However, Mayor Gladys Atrill said the Town worked very hard to keep it under 8 percent for 2024.

A major contribute to the perennial increase in taxation is the growing costs for the RCMP detachment for the town of 5,000 people. Currently Smithers is shelling out $2.3 million per year policing in the community, which Mayor Atrill says the Province needs to start contributing more for.

CICK News talks to Mayor Atrill about this and other factors impacting the town’s budget.

Primer Eby with Mayors Bujtas, Artill, Pond

Province earmarks $250M for Northwest Resource Benefit Alliance

February 28, 2024 by Dan Mesec

After nearly a decade of negotiation and advocacy from more than 21 communities and regional districts across Northwest B.C., the Northwest Resource Benefit Alliance (NWRBA) has secured $250 million dollars over the next five years for infrastructure needs from the Government of B.C., following last weeks throne speech in Victoria.

“Securing a commitment to the Northwest BC Resource Benefits Alliance has been the primary priority of my term as Mayor of Terrace,” said Mayor Sean Bujtas. “I am so proud to have been part of the team who signed this game-changing deal. It will go a long way toward making our communities in the northwest more liveable.”

These funds are just a fraction of what resource projects have generated in Northwest B.C. over the past decades, however, according to the alliance, a longer-term agreement is still needed.

A display of books that have been banned in the past sit underneath a wire cage.

Freedom to Read Week celebrates 40 years

February 22, 2024 by Pamela Haasen

Books have been banned for centuries. Libraries have been burned under threat of what thoughts might exist in historic libraries such as the Library of Alexandria or the Leuven Library.

In 1984, Canadian librarians, archivists and book and periodical councils started a movement to bring awareness to the banning of books and the importance of intellectual freedom. It’s called Freedom to Read Week and this year marks 40 years of the right to read books. This year’s Freedom to Read Week runs from February 19-24.

In northern British Columbia, librarians and library staff are passionate about the right to read books. CICK News spoke with library staff from Hazelton, Prince Rupert and Smithers as well as Superintendent of School District 54 about the protocols regarding challenged resources in school libraries.

A group of people stands around in a meeting room. There are posters and a powerpoint presentation on the periphery of the room.

BC Housing could soon build 40 bed supportive housing unit in Smithers, maybe

February 6, 2024 by Dan Mesec

Housing has been a long stand issue in many communities, especially in small, rural, Northern B.C. communities.

At a BC Housing community information session in Smithers on February 5th , some residents expressed support, for the proposed 40 unit supportive housing facility, while others, including adjacent property owners, expressed concerns.

“When you give somebody that’s capable of working housing and food, you take away their freedom because they don’t have to earn it,” said a neighbouring property owner who only identified himself as Jason.

Still, despite the concerns of some residents, the recently identified location for the new facility has the received the most support out of any previous options.

Smithers Council will vote on whether to approve the rezoning of the land in question before the end of the month, which would initiate BC Housing to initiate the development.

A council chamber with a powerpoint presentation projected on the left wall. The desks are arranged in a U shape, and there are two flags on the back wall. Councillors sit around the table.

Childcare crisis worsens in Smithers — council prepares for a rough road ahead

January 24, 2024 by Dan Mesec

The childcare situation in Smithers and across the province is at an all time low, possibly the worst childcare crisis in a generation.

Although the federal and provincial governments have promised $10 a day daycare over the past two years, there are still hundreds of families in Smithers alone struggling every day to find affordable, reliable childcare.

Over the past year Smithers Council has been working with partners and consultants to draw the Smithers Child Care Plan in the hopes of cultivating the right conditions for more childcare spaces to be added in the community and for new opportunities for daycares to open up.

Last year Smithers council entered into negotiations with the YMCA of B.C. to possibly develop a new daycare in town. However, if that comes to fruition, it is at least a year-and-a-half away, leaving many parents in the lurch.