Columbia Shuswap Regional District board chair Natalya Melnychuk says mosquitoes are taking a bite out of life in several areas of the regional district.

In an email letter to Lana Popham, Minister of Agriculture, and Food and Minister of Environment and Parks Tamara Davidson, Melnychuk states the CSRD employs aerial and ground applications of costly larvicide and continually looks to improve the service in a cost-effective way.

“Fortunately, there is a solution,” she said.

She’s referring to the use of remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) or drones. The agricultural sector is already using drones to spray fertilizers, and Transport Canada recently issued nationwide approval for their use in avalanche control.

“The use of RPAS would transform the mosquito control industry in B.C., and in doing so would address many priorities highlighted in your ministry mandate letters,” wrote Melnychuk in her Sept. 12 email. “Provincial certification for RPAS will provide employment and significantly reduce the greenhouse gas emissions.”

Melnychuk said helicopters are very expensive and often unavailable for aerial spraying due to use in forest fires. As well, the labels on many registered pesticides are being reviewed for use by drones.

“However, what is missing is the approval from provincial government to allow this certification process that permits the use of RPAS for pest management application.”

In B.C., workers who provide mosquito control and invasive plant treatment are required to be certified and there is no B.C. certification process or category specific for RPAS applications.

In a Nov. 3 response, Davidson declared her understanding of the negative impact mosquitoes have, and the potential benefits of drones. But the ministry is busy with other matters.

“While this issue has been a high priority for my ministry to address, ministry resources have been focussed on completing implementation of recent amendments to the Integrated Pest Management Regulation,” she wrote. “When resources become available, we will consider how we can support this important initiative.”

CSRD Area A director Karen Cathcart called Davidson’s response concerning.

“I thought that letter was ‘thanks, but we’ll get to it when we get to it,” she said.

The district is exploring appeals for support from tourism associations and other local governments in its effort.

Read more: Drones sought by contractor for mosquito control in Columbia-Shuswap

Read more: Mosquito control returning to Scotch Creek, Shuswap Lake Provincial Park

Last winter AAA Marine owner Frank Hillier teamed up with fellow Tappen resident and longtime friend Mike Hall of Rust Valley Restorers fame to host a turkey giveaway at the downtown Askew’s in Salmon Arm. Hillier estimates the two of them handed out 350 turkeys, some of which went to the Second Harvest and Salvation Army food banks along with cash donations made during the event.

In years prior, Hillier said he and Hall would donate to the local radio station turkey drive.

“We always challenged each other on the radio for turkeys every year,” said Hillier. “It started off at 25, 30 and then next thing we’re up to 150.”

Last year the duo decided to take the wheel of their own turkey drive, each buying 150 turkeys to give away from the Askew’s parking lot. Hillier said Askew’s donated additional turkeys for the event, as well as baked goods and coffee.

“If somebody could afford to buy the turkey, great, they donated the cash right there for Second Harvest or the Salvation Army, and if they couldn’t and they needed a turkey, we gave them a free turkey,” said Hillier, noting one person who took a turkey gave a $100 donation.

While there hadn’t originally been plans to make it an annual event, Hillier and Hall were so impressed and inspired by last year’s, they decided to do it again, with this year’s drive taking place between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the downtown Askew’s on Saturday, Dec. 20.

“We have close to 600 turkeys this year…,” said Hillier, explaining Askew’s is again donating along with a number of sponsors. “If there are businesses out there that want to jump in and hand some turkeys out themselves or something like that – there’s some big companies in town – we would love to have them,” said Hillier.

Donations for the local food banks will also be accepted.

Read More: ‘All you can do is cry’: Shuswap man overwhelmed by support after losing automotive shop, classic cars in blaze

Read more: Retro railcar-inspired Rust Valley reveal makes a stop at Salmon Arm farmers’ market

On Oct. 22, a woman called police to report a neighbour was killing a bush on her property. The caller alleged this was devaluing her home, which was for sale.

“Police attended and spoke with the woman who showed police some bushes that were slightly less green than the ones on the other side of the property,” said Salmon Arm RCMP spokesperson Const. Andrew Hodges in a news release.

“The woman had no evidence to prove her neighbour or anyone else was trying to kill her bush.”

Read more: Woman arrested after refusing to leave hospital: Salmon Arm RCMP

Read more: Salmon Arm RCMP arrest masked man found hiding under pickup truck

Salmon Arm city officials gathered beneath the giant treble clef Salmon Arm’s downtown on Wednesday, Nov. 12, to recognize the city landmark’s recent win in this year’s Municipal World Magazine’s Great Canadian Landmark Contest.

The win was announced on Oct. 18 at the 31st annual Communities in Bloom Symposium and Awards Gala in Stratford, Ont. Mayor Alan Harrison accepted the win in a video shared at the gala.

“On behalf of the residents of Salmon Arm, we are so excited to accept the Municipal World magazine’s Great Canadian Landmark Contest victory today,” Harrison said.

“We know there’s many great landmarks across our country, so we feel very humbled to be voted the number one landmark in the country for this year, and we graciously accept.”

Located at Shuswap Park Mall, the 45-foot steel sculpture, accompanied by the first few notes of O Canada, was the vision of Bill Laird, with concept art by Warren Welter, and was designed by Adam and Chris Meikle in concert with an engineer.

Laird called the sculpture a “universal image which resonates with all who live in or visit Salmon Arm.”

“Everyone listens to music – writers, tradespeople, home makers, care givers – music is enjoyed from the youngest to the oldest,” said Laird via email. “A gentleman recently stated ‘it is a metaphor for artistic creativity and life celebration in general, a fitting symbol of our community, visible to all’.

“The fact that it was chosen for this award confirms the original intent behind the project.”

Salmon Arm visitor services and communications co-ordinator Sapphire Games said the city may enter the treble clef in next year’s Great Canadian Landmark Contest.

Read more: VIDEO: Salmon Arm’s giant treble clef stands tall among Canadian landmarks

Read more: Sizeable squirrel, giant goose trailing well behind Salmon Arm treble clef

In a ceremony held Saturday, Nov. 8, the National Gallery of Canada (NGC) announced Willard won this year’s Sobey Art Award, recognized for the “strength, resonance and clarity of vision of her multifaceted practice” that “challenges us to expand our understanding of contemporary art and the role of the artist.”

Founded in 2002 with funding from the Sobey Art Foundation, the award aims to promote new developments in contemporary visual art, and attract national and international attention to Canadian artists.

One of this year’s six finalists, Willard was selected by an independent jury to receive the Sobey Art Award’s $100,000 grand prize.

“It is an incredible feeling to be acknowledged alongside all the long and shortlisted artists for this award,” said Willard in an NGC news release. “I want to thank my husband and two sons and all my family – my practice and my life are richer because of you.

“I want to thank my community and nation Secwépemc people and all Indigenous people for carrying our languages and knowledges despite so many challenges that continue today – our culture is our power.

I want to also thank the land, all lands that hold us. I also want to advocate and encourage all people to spend time with art –we need more of it in our lives, especially now in the face of austerity and injustice around the world.”

NGC director and Sobey Award jury chair Jonathan Shaughnessy said Willard’s work, “rooted in Secwépemc knowledge, values and aesthetics… challenges us to expand our understanding of contemporary art and the role of the artist.”

“She harvests berries to make ink drawings, harnesses wind and fire to compose poems and operas, and builds worlds… In the face of precarity, scarcity and conflict, her work offers a model of sustainability, abundance and connection. Above all, she amplifies the power of the land.”

Willard, who has a gallery in Chase, is one of the artists behind the Secwépemc Landmarks Project.

Earlier this year, Willard received the 2025 President’s Alumni Award from the University of Victoria, where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Arts.

In 2016, Willard received the Hnatyshyn Foundation’s Award for Curatorial Excellence in Contemporary Art. In 2020, the Shadbolt Foundation awarded her a VIVA Award for outstanding achievement and commitment in her art practice. In 2022, she was named a Forge Project Fellow for her land-based, community-engaged artistic practice. In 2023, BUSH Gallery named Willard a Future Studies recipient from the Ruth Foundation for the Arts.

“I learned a lot about myself in (UVic’s) art program,” shared Willard in her UVic bio. “Four years is enough time to decide whether you are dedicated to art or you aren’t. I made it through that program and knew it was still something I was passionate about.

“I also knew I wanted it to serve not only art for art’s sake but to widen it out to think about social engagement, think about activism, think about community – and that was through my Indigenous heritage as a Secwépemc person. In those days, there was a lot of activity on campus in music and art, in activism and in Indigenous rights, and I found my voice through those spaces.”

Read more: ‘Secwèpemc and settler’ artist receives president’s award from former alma mater

Read more: Unveiling of Indigenous landmarks in the Shuswap unites past, present

WorkSafeBC fined the province $759,388.84 for two incidents involving BC Wildfire Service.

One involved the death of 25-year-old firefighter Zack Muise, who was killed when the utility terrain vehicle (UTV) he was on rolled over while fighting the 2023 Donnie Creek wildfire. Muise was one of two workers on the vehicle when it went over an embankment.

WorkSafeBC determined neither worker was wearing a helmet, the passenger wasn’t using a seatbelt, and the passenger-side retention netting had been damaged.

“In addition, inadequate supervision, a lack of safe work procedures and training for operating the UTV, and a lack of a pre-use inspection of the UTV all contributed to the incident,” reads WorkSafeBC’s decision.

The second incident, on Aug. 17, 2023, involved a plan ignition along a power line in response to what was at the time called the Lower East Adams Lake wildfire. During the ignition, a crew of five Brazilian firefighters in one truck became entrapped.

“Other crews involved in the operation were forced to navigate off-road when their escape route was compromised,” said WorkSafeBC, which determined a “lack of planning, training, and communication” were all contributing factors. Furthermore, WorkSafeBC said elements of the employer’s safety program and operations manual hadn’t been followed.

“The employer failed to provide its workers with the information, instruction, training, and supervision necessary to ensure their health and safety, a repeated and high-risk violation,” said WorkSafeBC.

North Shuswap resident Jim Cooperman, who maintains that the planned ignition contributed to the blaze that rolled through his and neighbouring communities, views the WorkSafeBC fine as further confirmation that the “backburn was an obvious mistake.”

“To this day, they (BC Wildfire Service) continue to say the backburn was a success and saved hundreds of homes and yet they’ve been fined for almost killing their crew because of the backburn,” said Cooperman. “It just shows how the government, the BCWS, continues to deny their mistake and claim that what they did was the right thing to do when it’s quite obvious that it wasn’t.”

WorkSafeBC’s decision stems from a 2024 inspection report, which noted 11 days had passed before the incident involving the Brazilian fire crew had been reported. WorkSafeBC said from interviews with workers it became apparent that a lack of planning led to the entrapment incident, and noted BCWS’ own Facilitated Learning Analysis of the incident mentions “no consideration towards ground resource co-ordination was part of the planning process.”

Cooperman is waiting for the B.C. Forest Practices Board to complete its investigation of the planned ignition, as well as a response from the BC Ombudsperson.

Read more: Planned burn in North Shuswap led to entrapment of firefighters: WorkSafeBC

Read more: Planned ignition during North Shuswap wildfire under investigation

In an Oct. 30, 2025, decision, Judge Jeremy Guild determined the Crown had proven beyond reasonable doubt that Christopher Robert Mowbray had intentionally failed to comply with “the proper demand” made by Const. Rachel Mandel, and convicted Mowbray of the offence charged.

The charge stemmed from two reports received by police on June 15, 2024, regarding a blue Toyota Tacoma with three bicycles in the back, driving eratically on the Trans-Canada Highway from Sicamous to Revelstoke.

Mandel located and pulled over the Tacoma about 10 kilometres west of Revelstoke.

In Guild’s written reasons for judgement, Mowbray is identified as the driver. Mandel also found two children in the vehicle.

Conducting an impaired driving investigation, Mandel used an approved screening device (ASD) to try and obtain a suitable breath sample from Mowbray. One was not provided, leading to the charge under Section 320.27(1) of the Canadian Criminal Code.

In court, Mowbray’s defence contested whether Mandel had grounds to make a demand for a breath sample; whether he knew a proper demand for a sample of his breath had been made; and whether his failure to provide a valid breath sample was intentional.

Mowbray argued Mandel did not have reasonable grounds to suspect he had alcohol in his body. Mandel said she relied on two factors in coming to her suspicion: “that when Mr. Mowbray was pulling his driver’s license from his wallet, he was clumsy and had slow, fine-motor-skills; and that she smelled a strong odour of liquor coming from him, although she could not say it came from his mouth.”

Also, before making the breath demand, Mandel asked Mowbray if he’d had anything to drink.

“Mr. Mowbray responded by saying ‘not that long ago’ and shortly after, ‘I don’t drink’,” said Guild, who determined there was “more than sufficient basis for concluding that a lawful demand was made.”

Regarding Mowbray’s understanding that a proper demand for a sample of his breath was made, Guild referred to evidence provided by Crown counsel, noting Mandel had read a proper demand from a card issued to her by the RCMP; that when asked if he understood it, Mowbray, according to Mandel’s notes and testimony, had replied “yes” and; when asked if he’d provided a breath sample before, Mowbray “answered that he had and did not need instructions on how to provide a sample.”

To the question of whether or not Mowbray intentionally failed to provide a suitable breath sample, Guild said Mowbray was given six opportunities over a nine-minute period to “provide a steady, five second blow.”

“He was given instruction on how to blow, and coached through each blow. After three attempts, where he provided unsteady breaths, the straw for the ASD was changed,” Guild said, adding Mowbray demonstrated, without the machine, that he could “blow in such a way as to provide a suitable sample.”

“When given the ASD to blow for the next three attempts, (Mowbray) again fluctuated his breath, leading to the same results: he did not provide an adequate sample of his breath.”

Between the first and second of three attempts, Mowbray “said words to the effect that this (apparently referring to the impaired investigation) would ruin him and his life.”

“Yet for the next three attempts, and while being coached, he did not blow in the same way as he did in practice…,” said Guild. “After those further three fails, he was arrested for his failure to comply with the demand.

“Mr. Mowbray then made a number of comments about how that would ruin his life, and gave some resistance to being arrested.”

Guild found Mowbray’s concern the impaired investigation would “ruin his life” to suggest Mowbray believed he would fail the ASD.

“He said he knew how to provide a suitable sample. He proved he could provide a suitable sample in practice breaths. He did not complain about any obstruction or other issue with the device or his breathing,” Guild said. “I can only conclude that he deliberately tried to not provide a suitable sample, hoping in some way he would not have to face what he expected would be the negative consequences of giving a suitable sample…”

Read more: Nearly 1,500 driving violations handed to B.C. Interior motorists in October

Read more: Utility work on Highway 97B further slows traffic near Salmon Arm