ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWS

Local students have qualified for the Skills Canada BC regional competition coming to Dawson Creek later this month. The winning students after the spaghetti bridge competition at Robert Ogilvie Elementary last Wednesday, who will be going to the Skills Canada BC regionals in Dawson Creek later this month. Students from Alwin Holland Elementary, Taylor Elementary, and Robert Ogilvie Elementary placed high enough at a recent local spaghetti bridge competition, a qualifying eve

Multiple search warrants were executed on January 23, stretching between Fort St. John, Cecil Lake, Charlie Lake resulting in eight arrests being made and their seizure of more than 50 firearms. Photo credit: Fort St. John RCMP Local RCMP were busy conducting search warrants in northern BC on January 23, including five in Fort St. John, one in Charlie and one in Cecil Lake. An investigation regarding local organized crime and

Bear Flat Dispatch. January 19, 2026 It was recently reported that some individuals are negatively affected by the fumes when having to walk through the perfume and mascara department at the local Shoppers Drug Mart. That has never bothered me, but it does seem somewhat strange how everyone is routed through that particular section to gain access to the entire store, including the pharmacy and post office departments. I always thought it must just be a marketing ploy. Howe

Skaters, coaches and families from around British Columbia descended on Fort St. John last weekend for a busy and action-packed BC Speedskating Championships on home ice. Athletes pose with their medals following competition at the B.C. Speed Skating Championships in Fort St. John. Hosted by Fort St. John, this year’s provincial championship showcased speedskaters of all ages darting around the oval, accompanied by the community spirit of a North Peace crowd. Numerous volunt

Discover wool in all its artistic glory at Peace Gallery North’s new exhibit celebrating the woolly arts. A well-attended opening reception was held January 9 for ‘The Art of Wooly Wonders’ at Peace Gallery North and will be up for the rest of the month. The medium of wool allows for limitless expression using a fiber commonly associated with warmth, tradition and hard work. Texture and technique come together in this exhibit, showcasing how wool can transform into wonderful

North Peace Museum curator/Manager Heather Sjoblom is being honoured this month for her 15 years of service to the community. Raymond Ensz of the Fort St. John’s Trappers Association and Heather Sjoblom, curator of the North Peace Museum during one of the many educational programs the museum holds throughout the year. She has been applauded for her steadfast commitment to preserving our North Peace history. For many years she has provided stability and answers for not only t

British Columbia’s 2025 Winter Impaired Driving Campaign resulted in fewer impaired drivers being taken off BC’s highways than last year’s initiative but results varied greatly throughout the province. Photo of a checkstop from the BC Highway Patrol media release BC Highway Patrol reported that 240 drivers were removed from BC roadways in December 2025 for alcohol and drug related driving prohibitions according to a media release , a decrease from the 267 prohibitions served

The local police swiftly responded on January 6, to a collision which involved multiple vehicles on Highway 97. The RCMP and the Fort St. John Fire Department were quickly on scene following the two-vehicle collision on Highway 97, which resulted in traffic being closed in both directions for roughly 5 hours. "The 5 occupants in a 2 vehicle collision escaped serious injury in collision on Highway 97," said Cpl. Shawn Ingham Fort St. John RCMP in a media release. Two individ

Where did 2025 go? As I look back, I am truly celebrating all of the wins much like new parents do with their child’s first few years. This past year I passed some great milestones that included: *First solo 5 km walk *First solo trip to mall and nail spa *First participation as a speaker in a panel at a UBC Conference *First time making all my own travel arrangements. *First solo trip via plane complete with gate changes to connecting flights *Taught a winter solstice kun

North Peace residents can now donate to the Fort St. John Association for Community Living (FSJACL) when you recycle using the Return-It App. Supplied photo The FSJACL is collaborating with the Return-It App to raise money to support people with developmental disabilities and complex needs in Fort St. John. This initiative allows residents who use the Return-It App to direct their refunds back to FSJACL, turning your empty beverage containers into support for a good cause. “M

The local police have reached out to the public for help locating Taylor Lepine, a 32 year old woman who is currently wanted in relation to warrant for Theft Under $5000. Photo from the RCMP media release The RCMP describe Lepine as: 5 feet 4 inches tall (162 cm), 128 lbs (58 kg), Caucasian female, Green eyes, Blonde dyed hair, Has a tattoo of lips on the right side of her neck. Fort St. John RCMP have asked anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Lepine to con

Bear Flat Dispatch. January 1, 2026 "There have been a lot of changes in the Peace River Valley in the last decade. Here is an opinion piece that I wrote on January 1, 2016 about our New Year’s Eve celebration on the banks of the Peace River at historic Rocky Mountain Fort" - Ken Boon Supplied Photo On the south bank of the Peace River, just a short distance upstream from the mouth of the Moberly River, is the site of historic Rocky Mountain Fort in Northeast BC. It was es

As many locals, friends, and family filtered through the doors on 100th Street, Saturday, Dec. 6, it marked the official opening of Tanalea L. Belter CPA Inc., Fort St. John’s ‘funkiest’ accounting firm and one that’s already rooted firmly in the community’s past. Photo of Tanalea and her husband Cameron Belter The office is located in a renovated downtown building with a story of its own. Long before spreadsheets and tax filings, the structure once belonged to Fort St. John’

With winter weather conditions worsening across the Peace Region, Fort St. John RCMP are reminding drivers to slow down and be prepared. Police say the combination of snowfall, blowing snow and colder temperatures has already seen an increase in weather-related collisions across the detachment area. With much more winter weather in the forecast, officers including Police Service Dog Mako and his handler are patrolling and responding to incidents. December is one of the most d

The days are getting shorter and for some people that might mean sinking deeper into winter blues, but for the rest of us in Fort St. John it means outdoor ice rinks are back. A number of outdoor rinks around town opened over the last couple of weeks and with that came the familiar sounds of sticks clacking on boards, skates on ice, and kids wrapped from head to toe, learning how to not fall over. This sort of energy and activity can make even the coldest weather feel a litt

Two individuals were pronounced dead, and one was transported to Vancouver following a serious highway crash north of Pink Mountain earlier last week. According to Fort St. John RCMP, general duty officers and the BC Highway Patrol were called to a two-vehicle collision involving two tractor trailer units, which occurred during adverse winter driving conditions at around 1:39 pm on December 8. Police say two men were pronounced deceased at the scene, and a third man was taken

A familiar face around the council table in Taylor is being celebrated for a big milestone. - Photo from the District of Taylor's Facebook Councillor Ponto has reached 20 years of service on council, marking two decades on the municipal stage which included participating in important discussions, decisions, and events that have made up life in the District of Taylor over that time. From local issues and concerns to long-term plans as the community has evolved, she has had a

16-year-old Kiyara Blue was reported missing after not being heard from since November 20. Photo from RCMP media release. The RCMP believe Blue is in the Fort St. John area and are concerned about her wellbeing. She has been associated with a white 2013 Dodge Ram pickup according to the police, and describe her as: Medium length red hair Slender build Brown eyes 5’6” (170 cm) The RCMP are asking anyone with information about Kiyara Blue or where she might be to contact them

Purdy’s holiday Dear Santa bars are back, and every bite helps support the kids in the Peace who receive support from the BC Children’s Hospital. The ‘Dear Santa Bar’ is back for a limited time and raising money for BC Children’s Hospital and partners, with two dollars from every sale being donated to children’s hospital foundations. The money raised is used to fund vital care and essential support for children and their families in need during the holiday season. This ch

Peace Country Mobile Home Park has once again drawn police attention after a search warrant executed on November 21 led to eight arrests and the seizure of a loaded firearm. A drug trafficking investigation recently came to an end in the park following the execution of a search warrant at what police called a ‘problem premise’. On November 21, the North Peace RCMP conducted a search warrant at a residence in the park which was well known to local police following multiple