ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWS

A wareness isn’t just about understanding a diagnosis, it’s about seeing the person and celebrating their life while creating a world where everyone belongs. Bensyn Buck during his admission at BC Children's Hospital. There are moments in life which will shape your journey in ways you don’t fully understand at the time, for our family, that moment came when we learned Benny would be born with Down Syndrome. It didn’t change our love for him, not even for a second, but it di

By Karla Marsh Oil exploration was just beginning in the Peace country when the Americans arrived to build the Alaska Highway. It was 1942 and the derrick of the first drilling rig had been raised into the sky between Dawson Creek and Fort St. John. Photo of Rosie and Nels Westergaard, Fort St. John North Peace Museum. Rosie Westergaard was a cook for the first oil rig crew. She was busy turning out three square meals a day for oilmen when another crew stopped at the camp t

A group of young warriors recently made a trip from Halfway River to Edmonton, Alberta to compete in a large taekwondo tournament which marked another milestone for a growing program that began just two years ago. Front row, Kash Hunter- silver in sparring, Dalton Souvie - gold in patterns, Jerome Field- bronze in patterns, Zachary Souvie - bronze in patterns and bronze in sparring, Weston Hunter - bronze in sparring, Kaitlyn Gladue. Back row, assistant instructor Brooklyn Jo

North Peace locals gathered at the Lido Theatre on March 10 for the 12 th semi-annual 100 Woman Who Care event, which successfully raised more than $10,000 for the Fort St. John Men's Shed . Twice a year, once in March and once in September, this amazing initiative brings woman from the community together to help make a difference for one of three nominated local organizations. The event gives the nominees several minutes each to introduce and represent their cause while exp

The Tse’k’wa National Historic Site has been recognized at the 2026 BC Tourism Industry Conference, taking home the Indigenous Operator or Experience Award during an event which was held in Kelowna. President Garry Oker (left), Laura Webb (centre), executive director Alyssa Currie (far right). Photograph by Aspen Films for BC Tourism Industry Conference 2026. Board members from the Tse’k’wa Heritage Society traveled to Kelowna to accept the Indigenous Operator or Experience A

Bear Flat Dispatch. March 14, 2026. Occasionally my mind will wander somewhat as I wonder about things. This may prompt me to voice my curiosity or reflection with a somewhat rhetorical question such as “With all of this snow, I wonder what the spring melt and runoff will be like?” Ah yes, rhetorical questions, where there may not be an actual answer required. AI gave me this definition: “A rhetorical question is a question asked to make a point rather than to receive an a

There was a heavy RCMP presence at the southern Charlie Lake boat launch on March 14 after an individual lost their life during an altercation the night before. Local RCMP search for evidence close to the vehicle which was involved in an altercation on Friday Night at a Charlie Lake boat launch. Local RCMP were at the scene collecting evidence and conducting their investigation early on the morning of March 14, blocking off the frontage road leading to the boat launch for s

'1942 U.S. Army Visit was fun' By Karla Marsh It was a pleasant time for 11-year-old Elsie Becker and her family when the U.S. Army made a camp near the family's farm at Montney, in 1942. For a brief period of time, the lives of American boys far from home and the lives of a pioneering family would be gently intertwined. There were about one hundred men in the camp, Elsie (now Myhre) recalls, and she remembers them being kind and very friendly towards the family.

Freshwater fishing licenses will be available online through the Wildlife Information and Licensing Data (WILD) system this spring, giving anglers the option of getting their license online or in person. The streamlined service designed for the angling community has arrived ahead of the 2026-27 season, which begins April 1, allowing freshwater fishing licenses to be purchased online through WILD for the first time. Registration for a Fish and Wildlife ID (FWID) is required be

A shared theme and a room full of colour are on display this month as the Flying Colours Artists Association presents its newest exhibit, Watermark at Peace Gallery North. The grand opening for ‘Watermark’ was held Friday March 6 at Peace Gallery North, and ‘grand’ it was! The Flying Colours Artists Association presents a special ‘Points of View’ exhibition annually where members of the group select a shared theme accompanied by a collection of reference photos to draw inspir

The Central Market is located in the heart of Fort St. John, giving those in the North Peace a reason to get out and shop local as the indoor vendor marketplace gives people a chance to meet a friendly face while discovering local hidden gems each week. The Central Market welcomes the community every week on Friday 1-6 pm, and Saturdays 10 am to 4 pm, to their location at #1 – 10032 99th Avenue, across the street from the Pawn Shop in the old Central Emporium. Visitors can st

Sunday, March 8, 2026 will be the last time British Columbians see their clocks ‘spring’ forward an hour as B.C. adopts permanent daylight-saving time (DST) and says goodbye to twice a year time change. British Columbian clocks will move ahead an hour for the last time on March 8, beginning the transition to a shared year-round daylight-saving time which will be completed on November 1, when clocks cease to fall back. This will effectively bring many communities in eastern Br

Entrepreneurs and investors from across Northern B.C. will have another chance to connect, as the second annual Northern Angel Summit is set to return later this month. Supplied photo The program which begins on March 23 and runs through June, is organized by the Northern Innovation Network bringing founders and investors together through a pitch competition where the winner receives a $100,000 investment to help grow their business. Applications are still open for up to 24

Students from North Peace Secondary had an interesting opportunity to look a little further down the road earlier this month, during the 10th annual Grow Our Own career exploration event. supplied photo This annual event took place on March 3 at The Lido Theatre in Fort St. John, acting as a conduit for students to connect with local professionals representing a variety of careers. Organizers said the students had to pre-select six mentors they wanted to sit down with, gran

The BC Coroners Service released their report for unregulated drug deaths in our province throughout 2025 showing a decline in lost lives, however the toll remains high. The report which was recently released states that the number for unregulated drug-toxicity deaths for 2025 was 1,826, which is roughly 21 percent lower than the previous year, 2024, which saw 2,315 fatalities. During the last two months of 2025 the province lost roughly 4.5 lives a day according to their

March 1, 2026, We had some interesting interactions with ‘Flora and Fauna’ in 2025 and no, that is nothing like Thelma and Louise. Supplied photo The south facing hillsides here in the valley are home to prickly pear cactus that briefly flower normally around July 1st. The rain and heat must have lined up just right last year to produce the most prolific production of flowers we have seen that stretched out over an unusually long period of time. On October 12, a doe mule deer

On March 1, 2026, BC PharmaCare National Pharmacare Plan will be launching for provincial residents and will cover the full cost of various diabetes medications and menopausal hormone therapy. According to a recent release form the Province, close to 570,000 British Columbians who are living with diabetes will receive support from this improved coverage as well as roughly 160,000 individuals dealing with menopausal symptoms. “This is a game changer for people who will now

The BC Coroners Service released their report for unregulated drug deaths in our province throughout 2025 showing a decline in lost lives, however the toll remains high. The report which was recently released states that the number for unregulated drug-toxicity deaths for 2025 was 1,826, which is roughly 21 percent lower than the previous year, 2024, which saw 2,315 fatalities. During the last two months of 2025 the province lost roughly 4.5 lives a day according to their

The 40th annual Art Auction Gala is just around the corner, with this year’s event promising a touch of vintage glamour in the North Peace. Painting that will be at the auction on March 7 - Photos submitted Hosted by the Fort St. John Community Arts Council, the milestone event will embrace a Roaring Twenties theme, inviting guests to step into the elegance and energy of the Jazz Age. Attendees can channel their inner flapper and dress in their finest 1920s fashion, though pa

The annual tournament is a weekend long event filled with outdoor fun, community engagement and winter activity in the North Peace that attracts all branches of the community. Located just outside Fort St. John on Charlie Lake, this year’s Crystal Cup saw the frozen lake packed with activity as players and spectators came out in support. Last year’s tournament saw difficult conditions with warm temperatures and slush impacting organizers and players alike, however this year m