ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWS

BlindScentz #34 Edwina Nearhood In September 2022, I had a heart transplant. When I woke twelve days later, I discovered that my optic nerve had been permanently damaged during the transplant due to low blood flow for an extended period. I would never again see the light of day. Do not get me wrong as I tell this story. I have navigated a huge adjustment that included grief and learning how to move through the world as a blind person. My recovery was arduous, and I spent an e

Between the music, the market and the giant prints being rolled out in the parking lot, there was no shortage of reasons to stop by Bright Nights in June. Artists prepare and apply ink using rollers before being its layed out for a construction roller to make the final roll, successfully creating wonderful prints on Big Print Day in thew North Peace. The annual three-day event was held at the North Peace Cultural Centre and drew a strong turnout throughout the weekend. Art St

For many families in the Peace, the cadet program has become a family tradition, with multiple generations passing through the same organization over the past 80 years. Supplied photo - 2276 RCACC receives the Freedom of the City Proclamation. Current and former cadets, volunteers, officers and supporters all came together in Fort St. John recently to celebrate 80 years of a program that has been part of the community for generations. The celebrations brought together current

Athletes from the Halfway River First Nations Taekwondo program were back on the road at the end of May, travelling to Red Deer, Alberta to compete in the Champions Challenge tournament and take part in a training seminar led by a world-class coach. Back row: Kaitlyn Gladue bronze- poomsae, silver-sparring, Zachary Souvie gold -poomsae silver-sparring Coach Brooklyn Jodoin

Bear Flat Dispatch. June 6, 2026 Supplied photo The region is being hit hard by caterpillars this spring with lots of bare poplar trees and greasy roads about. Soon the leaves will grow back, and all will be forgotten, but I have heard that some people will need to replant parts of their gardens because the caterpillars cleaned out what was up. We normally are not hit too hard here at Bear Flat by caterpillars, but we sure are this year. The first I noticed was when one of

If you've worked in the trades long enough, you've probably heard the phrase, "Sorry, we're crewed up." A British Columbia heavy equipment operator is hoping to change that with a new online platform designed to connect workers with employers across Canada. Supplied photo - Screen shot from the CrewedUp platform British Columbian heavy equipment operator Tim Mason founded CrewedUp, which is a free online platform designed specifically for trades and blue-collar workers. Mason

The North Peace Rod & Gun Club welcomed shooters from around the region last weekend for the 2026 P.I.T.A. Ram Buckle Shoot. Photo credits: Captured Moments Photography - By Kim Rose According to the club, the event saw a great turnout, with competitors, volunteers and supporters coming together for a busy weekend on the trap line. Like most successful community events, there was plenty happening behind the scenes. The club extended its thanks to the volunteers, scorekeepers,

By Karla Marsh In 1942, Rose Mould had an unusual occupation for a lady. She was a Trapper. Rose Mould sitting on the tree trunk with her husband, Tom, standing and Mrs. Moore in the foreground - Photo from the Fort St. John North Peace Museum Rose and her husband spent their winters harvesting furs and in the spring they travelled to the old Fort Nelson site to take their furs to the trader. In the spring of 1942, when Rose and her husband were coming in from the trapli

After nearly two months of playoff hockey, we're down to two teams. The Carolina Hurricanes and the Vegas Golden Knights will face off in the Stanley Cup Final after both teams made quick work of their conference finals opponents. Carolina knocked off the Montreal Canadiens in five games, continuing what has been an impressive playoff run. Through three rounds, the Hurricanes have lost just one game and carry a 12-1 record into the final. Vegas arrives well rested after sweep

Festival Plaza was full with colour, music, food, and good conversation on Sunday afternoon as locals gathered for the annual World Fair in Fort St. John. Residents from the community came together on May 31 to explore various cultural displays, performances, meet local organizations, and learn a bit more about the people who call the North Peace home. Visitors traveled from table to table Inside and around the plaza, collecting passport stamps while stopping to chat with v

BC Hydro and the Province announced this week that the project will now be known as The John Horgan Dam and Generating Station, honouring the former premier's role in seeing the project through years of debate, construction and challenges. Shaft for the turbine inside of Site C during construction “We’re proud to name the Site C dam and generating station in honour of former Premier John Horgan,” said Premier David Eby. “John’s leadership and his decision to complete Site C t

The Street Enforcement Team (SET) of the Fort St. John RCMP recently conducted a search warrant at a residence in the North Peace, resulting in several suspects being arrested briefly. Photo from the RCMP media release According to the RCMP, they conducted a search warrant at a residence on the 9400 block of 105 Avenue on May 21 in Fort St. John, which they claim is part of their ongoing efforts to target illicit drug trafficking while suppressing gang-related activity. Inv

A new exhibit at Peace Gallery North is inviting visitors to see the Peace Region through the eyes of local artists, with the latest monthly showcase exploring what the idea of “home” means across the region. The gallery recently opened ‘Peace River: Home is...’, an exhibit featuring artists from the Peace River Chapter of the Federation of Canadian Artists. The exhibit began with a well-attended grand opening on May 9, where locals came to view the collection and meet some o

From Mile Zero in Dawson Creek to the edge of the Yukon near Beaver Creek, one local artist is turning a lifetime of Alaska Highway memories into art. Becky of Blind Creek Studios opens The Highway That Built the North on June 6, a collection of eight layered wood pieces inspired by places that have helped shape her journey through the North. Photo by Kim Rose The eight piece collection of layered wood artworks follows the Alaska Highway, hanging through the gallery from sout

Bear Flat Dispatch. May 14, 2026 Arlene and I have had a semi-official private museum here at Bear Flat for about 20 years that has generally operated by word of mouth. It started from a combination of homesteading type artifacts mostly from her family (the Bentley’s), and my log building restoration skills, and has slowly grown from there. When Highway 29 was moved due to the Site C reservoir, our collection of old log buildings suddenly became very visible to the traveling

As more than 50,000 nurses voted 98 percent in favor of strike action, the healthcare crisis continues to fester according to a release from the Conservative Party of British Columbia. Nurse at BC Children's Hospital with Bensyn and Luna during a long stay during 2025. Six months of negotiations have yet to produce any real or meaningful offer, and the B.C nurses have made it clear they are ready to fight for better working conditions within our province. “Nurses are being pu

The North Peace Rod & Gun Club continues to grow its ladies’ programming in the North Peace, with the club adding four evenings of Ladies’ Intro to Trap last week at the range on Sunnyside Drive in Charlie Lake. The Ladies’ Intro to Marksmanship program has been running at the range since last fall, with a strong interest from women looking to learn the fundamentals of safe firearm handling and shooting in a welcoming environment. The rifle program focuses on the basics inc

There are so many benefits to participating in an art program. The social benefit of spending time with community are significant. One can get lost in art as a form of meditation or present moment awareness. This reduces anxiety and stress. One of the greatest benefits is being creative. Supplied photograph of the birdhouse Edwina made at the NP Potters Guild. I have often been a trail blazer in life which is a skill that has served me well in adjusting to thriving with visio

Heartfelt vocals ring out from Festival Plaza in Centennial Park, sung by a talented youth whose generational home has become a war-torn country. Brightly coloured flags in various colours and patterns flap proudly in the southwest winds of the Peace Region. Smells to captivate the senses drift from the beautifully decorated tables inside Festival Plaza. The aroma of delicate spices and flavourful bites draw people inside. Visitors hold out their “passport,” determined to col

Written by Karla Marsh Win Baker was a newlywed when she travelled her first mile on the Alaska Highway. Win, along with her husband and two brothers, left their home in Ontario after seeing an ad in a newspaper looking for workers to build the 1500 mile long road. Photo of Winnis and Garnet Baker from Fort St. John North Peace Museum When they reached the huge project, Win’s husband started work as a cat operator for a civilian construction company while Win set up housekeep