Tyler Harper

  • 111 Stories | 
  • Page 1 of 6
Activists with Save Old Growth block traffic on the Trans-Canada Highway in Metro Vancouver in May 2022, calling for an end to old-growth logging in British Columbia. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Save Old Growth)

‘They alienate British Columbians’: Environment minister blasts latest protests, demonstrations

George Heyman said the ministry would not have dialogue with the group Save Old Growth

Activists with Save Old Growth block traffic on the Trans-Canada Highway in Metro Vancouver in May 2022, calling for an end to old-growth logging in British Columbia. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Save Old Growth)
Nelson’s Auraya Marshall, who lives with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, spends most of her days bedridden, unable to move for fear of suffering multiple dislocations. Photo: Tyler Harper

Imprisoned by pain: Nelson woman isolated by rare genetic disorder

The rare disease has left 23-year-old Auraya Marshall confined to her bed

Nelson’s Auraya Marshall, who lives with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, spends most of her days bedridden, unable to move for fear of suffering multiple dislocations. Photo: Tyler Harper
The Nelson Police Department. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

UPDATED: Eight current and former Nelson police officers under investigation for alleged racism

Officers allegedly shared inappropriate content in a chat group

The Nelson Police Department. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
Kootenay Lake Medical Clinic in Nelson used to be one of two walk-in clinics in the West Kootenay. But the family doctor shortage in B.C. has meant the clinic can no longer offer walk-in appointments. Photo: Tyler Harper

‘We have no other health-care options’: Nelson walk-in clinics struggling during family doctor shortage

In the West Kootenay, the only two walk-in clinics can’t keep up with demand

Kootenay Lake Medical Clinic in Nelson used to be one of two walk-in clinics in the West Kootenay. But the family doctor shortage in B.C. has meant the clinic can no longer offer walk-in appointments. Photo: Tyler Harper
Gary Carden, a Sinixt man, yells Friday in Nelson as he burns a copy of Canada’s 1956 declaration that his people were extinct. Photo: Tyler Harper

‘We’re still here’: Sinixt visit B.C. on anniversary of top court’s acknowledgment that they exist

It was a home coming for a people Canada had previously asserted were extinct

Gary Carden, a Sinixt man, yells Friday in Nelson as he burns a copy of Canada’s 1956 declaration that his people were extinct. Photo: Tyler Harper
Holly Trider of ANKORS at an April demonstration in Nelson calling for decriminalization and safe drug supply. Advocates say last week’s decriminalization announcement doesn’t go far enough to be effective. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

‘Do the police need to carry little scales?’: Nelson’s top cop questions decriminalization enforcement

Chief Donovan Fisher says there’s been no direction given to police

Holly Trider of ANKORS at an April demonstration in Nelson calling for decriminalization and safe drug supply. Advocates say last week’s decriminalization announcement doesn’t go far enough to be effective. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
Federal Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health Carolyn Bennett, back left, speaks as B.C. Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Sheila Malcolmson listens during a news conference after British Columbia was granted an exemption to decriminalize possession of some illegal drugs for personal use on Tuesday, May 31. Photo: Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press

2.5-gram threshold for decriminalized drugs ‘a floor not a ceiling,’ B.C. minister pledges

Sheila Malcolmson responded to criticism that the federal exemption will be ineffective

Federal Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health Carolyn Bennett, back left, speaks as B.C. Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Sheila Malcolmson listens during a news conference after British Columbia was granted an exemption to decriminalize possession of some illegal drugs for personal use on Tuesday, May 31. Photo: Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press
The Kootenay Pedalwheelers, L-R: Mike Sagal, Jay Blackmore, Mike Bowick, Doug Kennedy, Roger Hassol and Todd Kettner. The team is set to sail in the 1,200-km Race to Alaska. Photo: Tyler Harper

‘It’s the anti-yacht race’: Kootenay sailing team set to compete in Race to Alaska

Nelson’s Kootenay Pedalwheelers will sail over 1,200 km along the B.C. coast

The Kootenay Pedalwheelers, L-R: Mike Sagal, Jay Blackmore, Mike Bowick, Doug Kennedy, Roger Hassol and Todd Kettner. The team is set to sail in the 1,200-km Race to Alaska. Photo: Tyler Harper
The name of Prince Charles is removed from Creston’s high school in June 2021. The facility was renamed Kootenay River School. Photo: Kelsey Yates

Nelson and Creston-area schools to no longer be named after people

School District 8’s new policy removes people, living or dead, from consideration

The name of Prince Charles is removed from Creston’s high school in June 2021. The facility was renamed Kootenay River School. Photo: Kelsey Yates
John Korobanik is seen here on May 18 at the Nelson and District Community Complex during the launch of his book Visionary: The Ernie Gare Story. Photo: Tyler Harper

New book profiles Nelson man behind Canada’s first student-athlete scholarship

Ernie Gare was athletic director at the former Notre Dame University

John Korobanik is seen here on May 18 at the Nelson and District Community Complex during the launch of his book Visionary: The Ernie Gare Story. Photo: Tyler Harper
RCMP are seen here making arrests May 17 near Argenta, B.C., north of Nelson. A group had been camped out protesting a logging company’s plans for the area. Photo: Louis Bockner

RCMP make arrests at logging protest north of Nelson

Last Stand West Kootenay was camped out on a road near Argenta

RCMP are seen here making arrests May 17 near Argenta, B.C., north of Nelson. A group had been camped out protesting a logging company’s plans for the area. Photo: Louis Bockner
Dr. Albert de Villiers, former chief medical health officer for the Interior Health Authority. Photo: Submitted

Interior Health’s former top doctor to go on trial in January 2023

Dr. Albert de Villiers is charged with sex crimes against a child

Dr. Albert de Villiers, former chief medical health officer for the Interior Health Authority. Photo: Submitted
Nelson’s Thor Smestad (third from the left) is seen here at a tree planting ceremony April 18 at a school in the Brazilian community of Alter do Chão. Smestad and his partners have been working with the Indigenous Borari to replant trees at a local tourism destination. Smestad is joined here by (L-R) the local Chief Neca Borari, his tree-planting partner Diêgo Figueiredo de Siqueira Simplício, three students and two professors. Photo: Submitted

On a beach in the Amazon, a Nelson man is helping restore the rainforest

Thor Smestad and his team are fixing what tourists have ruined in Brazil

Nelson’s Thor Smestad (third from the left) is seen here at a tree planting ceremony April 18 at a school in the Brazilian community of Alter do Chão. Smestad and his partners have been working with the Indigenous Borari to replant trees at a local tourism destination. Smestad is joined here by (L-R) the local Chief Neca Borari, his tree-planting partner Diêgo Figueiredo de Siqueira Simplício, three students and two professors. Photo: Submitted
Dr. Albert de Villiers, former chief medical health officer for the Interior Health Authority. Photo: Submitted

Trial of Interior Health’s former top doctor moved to Alberta’s supreme court

Dr. Albert de Villiers was charged with sex crimes against a child

Dr. Albert de Villiers, former chief medical health officer for the Interior Health Authority. Photo: Submitted
Daryl Verville released his book, Epistles to the Pope: A personal history of perilous priestcraft, in 2020. In the memoir, Verville contends with his father’s abusive nature and how it was formed by the Roman Catholic Church’s management of residential schools in Canada. Photo: Tyler Harper

Missing notes: The traumatic family history of Nelson classical pianist Daryl Verville

Verville’s father was violent and abusive. He also had a terrible secret

Daryl Verville released his book, Epistles to the Pope: A personal history of perilous priestcraft, in 2020. In the memoir, Verville contends with his father’s abusive nature and how it was formed by the Roman Catholic Church’s management of residential schools in Canada. Photo: Tyler Harper
People in Nelson, B.C., protest COVID-19 mandates in January 2022. Photo: Tyler Harper

B.C. issued 2,335 COVID-19 tickets over 14 months, but not all ended in paid fines

How effective the tickets were is unclear

People in Nelson, B.C., protest COVID-19 mandates in January 2022. Photo: Tyler Harper
George Vnoucek fled then-Czechoslovakia in 1968 shortly after the Soviet Union’s invasion. Now in Nelson, Vnoucek says he’s disturbed by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the memories it has brought back. Photo: Tyler Harper

A B.C. man fled Soviet oppression. Over 50 years later, he finds he hasn’t truly escaped it

George Vnoucek left Czechoslovakia shortly after it was invaded in 1968

George Vnoucek fled then-Czechoslovakia in 1968 shortly after the Soviet Union’s invasion. Now in Nelson, Vnoucek says he’s disturbed by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the memories it has brought back. Photo: Tyler Harper
Amanda Asay prepares to throw the ball in an undated handout photo. Asay, a longtime national team member, died of injuries sustained in a skiing accident in Nelson. Photo: Baseball Canada

Toronto Blue Jays to host Nelson clinic in Amanda Asay’s memory

The event will take place in May

Amanda Asay prepares to throw the ball in an undated handout photo. Asay, a longtime national team member, died of injuries sustained in a skiing accident in Nelson. Photo: Baseball Canada
British Columbia’s Kimberly Newell, in her distinctive pads and helmet, was a star in net for Team China at the Beijing Games. Photo: Submitted

At the Beijing Games, B.C. goaltender Kimberly Newell is a Chinese sensation

Newell’s performance and love for her heritage have made her a star

British Columbia’s Kimberly Newell, in her distinctive pads and helmet, was a star in net for Team China at the Beijing Games. Photo: Submitted
This billboard advertisement near Nelson is in violation of the Canadian Code of Advertising Standards. But the organization that made the ruling says it can’t remove the ad. Photo: Tyler Harper

COVID vaccine billboard outside Nelson ruled as ‘misleading’ but won’t have to come down

The ad violates the Canadian Code of Advertising Standards

This billboard advertisement near Nelson is in violation of the Canadian Code of Advertising Standards. But the organization that made the ruling says it can’t remove the ad. Photo: Tyler Harper