ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWS

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

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 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

Team Canada Fell to team USA in Overtime of the gold medal game for Olympic hockey, losing a hard-fought game after the toughest tournament in the world. The Canadian Brewhouse was packed from wall to wall at 6AM,as Team Canada went to war against team USA during the Gold Medal Hockey Game on February 22. The Alaska Highway News woke up before the sun to watch the gold medal game at the Canadian Brewhouse, who opened early and provided the community with somewhere to watch th

To the Editor, Please accept the following letter for consideration in your Letters to the Editor section. NCI Are Farmers Safe in Canada? (Kelowna Hearings March 9–11, 2026) Across Canada, agricultural producers are facing mounting pressure from disease-control policies, regulatory frameworks, and trade obligations that can result in the rapid loss of entire herds or flocks. Recent events in British Columbia highlighted these tensions, but similar herd and flock losses have

Business owners in rural communities across the Peace River region can now upgrade their storefronts, with new funding from the Peace River Regional District. Thanks to financial contribution from the Northern Development Trust Initiative, the PRRD has created a Business Facade Improvement Program for 2026 targeting commercial corridors outside of municipal areas. Owners will be able to access reimbursement grants covering up to 50 per cent of eligible expenses, to a maxi

In the wake of the heartbreaking tragedy at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School , all of us at Alaska Highway News stand in solidarity with the community during this time of unimaginable loss. Our hearts are heavy as we mourn alongside you. We offer our deepest condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones, to the youth whose lives have been forever changed, and to every student, educator, first responder, and resident carrying the weight of this tragedy. No communit

A new all-wheel drive fire engine built specifically for rural emergencies has officially arrived in Dawson Creek. New DC Fire Truck - Peace River Regional District media release The truck was welcomed during a traditional “push-in” ceremony held Friday, Feb. 13 at the City of Dawson Creek Fire Hall. Officials said the ceremony is a long-standing fire service tradition, where firefighters physically push a new engine into the hall for the first time. Through the Dawson Cree

Bear Flat Dispatch February 13, 2026 There are horrific tragedies around the world every day, but a mass killing of kids at a school is the worst. To have that happen not only somewhere in Canada, where such events are rare, but right here in the Peace is devastating. We have all seen reporting on school shootings in the US, and how residents are often shocked that such a horrible event could take place in their relatively peaceful community and region. Sadly, now we know h

Thank-you FSJ! My heart smiles and melts each time I go out. I would like to share some great experiences I have had that explain the benefits of community! One of the social determinants of health is community. I go out more for social interaction than anything else. Fort St. John, you do not disappoint. The more I find myself out the more I experience people getting used to the idea that I am a person first and the blindness is something need only be accommodated on occas

Nine lives were stolen from their families during a school shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, marking the darkest day in the community’s history Victims photos from RCMP media release. Tumbler Ridge RCMP were alerted to the active shooter at the school just after 1 p.m. on February 10 according to a media release and issued a public alert while responding. Officers from Tumbler Ridge RCMP responded to the school within minutes of the call, where there was active gunf

An Agricultural Emergency Response Plan that outlines how to prepare and respond to emergencies has been released by the Peace River Regional District for farmers, producers and processors within the region. The regional agricultural emergency response plan will help local farmers during all phases of an emergency from preparedness, response and recovery. It also describes how emergency management functions in B.C. and highlights roles, responsibilities and contact informatio

A group of North Peace residents gathered Sunday afternoon in Fort St. John to remember and raise awareness for Kiara Agnew, the Dawson Creek woman was vacationing with her boyfriend Ryan Friesen in 2023 when she was tragically murdered. Agnew’s body was discovered beaten to death in a laundry room while Friesen was asleep beside her.People at the gathering held signs with photos and details surrounding this tragedy, speaking with one another and urging justice for Agnew. Fr

Three individuals have been charged in relation to a Dawson Creek murder that took place just over two years ago. Photo of victim 37-year-old Robert Eric Douglas Girbav from the RCMP media release. RCMP responded to 17th Street and 116th Avenue in Dawson Creek on December 31, 2023, after receiving a report of a suspicious vehicle. Upon their arrival, police located a man inside of a red Dodge Calibre. The man, who was later identified as 37-year-old Robert Eric Douglas Girbav

FSJ RCMP officers Caitlyn Rissanen and Chad Neustaeter attended Prince George Cougars hockey games Jan. 23 to 25 to speak with fans and encourage them to consider careers in Indigenous Policing. The two officers, both part of Fort St. John’s Indigenous Policing Services (IPS) unit, partnered with IPS officers from Prince Rupert, Burns Lake and Chetwynd this past weekend for a regional Indigenous policing recruitment initiative. “The RCMP has over 150 different career speciali

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