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

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

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

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

A Tumbler Ridge volunteer is being recognized for time and energy he has poured into the maintenance of trails around the Tumbler Ridge area this spring. Photo of Chris Van Dijk with his saw at a trail end. Recently the Tumbler Ridge Outdoor Recreation Association named Chris Van Dijk their Volunteer of the Week, highlighting work he has accomplished as the Wolverine Nordic and Mountain Society’s new Trail Maintenance and Work Bee Coordinator. According to the association, Va

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

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

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

The future of the Taylor Bridge isn’t some distant policy debate, it’s a real, immediate concern for people living and working in the Peace. An op-ed written by Chris Gardner, president and CEO of the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association raised serious questions about the condition of the aging structure. The 65-year-old bridge is not just a piece of infrastructure, it’s a lifeline for industry, agriculture, and everyday travel in northeastern B.C. while it carr

Westcoast Energy Limited Partnership which is an affiliate of Enbridge, has filed an application with the Canada Energy Regulator to expand the northern section of its natural gas pipeline system according to officials. The proposal is known as the Birch Grove Program and is intended to address growing regional demand for natural gas and support potential west coast LNG exports. The project would include the installation of around 32 kilometers of 36-inch pipeline running p

The building of dreams: By Karla Marsh In 1942, young Ernie Scanlon left his jos at an aircraft manufacturing plant in Ontario and signed on with a construction company contracted to work on the Alaska Highway. With the company paying the travel expenses, Ernie boarded a train for a long trip across Canada. He met other men on the train destined to labor on the great road and together they arrived at Dawson Creek, the end of the railhead, on July 8, 1942. Ernie was first

Spring in the North is here… kind of. Expect a little bit of everything, just like your week. Photo of the northern lights in Pink Mountain, taken and submitted by Tristan Dille from the Pink Mountain Store. Aries (March 21 – April 19) You’re full of energy, but like a melting snowbank, it’s going everywhere at once. Focus it before you flood your own plans. Taurus (April 20 – May 20) You’re craving stability, but this week’s about as predictable as April weather. Roll with i

By Karla Marsh Ruby Schubert had one of the most interesting jobs a soldier could have on the Alaska Highway. He spent his days on the Trail of ’42 working as a photographer. Although born in Canada, Rudy travelled to the United States to join the U.S. Army. He had tried to enlist in the Canadian Army, but was refused by an officer who objected to Schubert’s German heritage. But it wasn’t long before Rudy returned to Canada. His regiment, the 341 st Engineers, received order

The future is so bright I’ve got to wear shades. Why would a blind woman with no light perception feel she needs to wear shades? Good question. Let’s dive into the answer. Although I still have great conversational etiquette, I sometimes have difficulty making eye contact during a conversation. The sunglasses help remove this awkward barrier for the sighted person who is used to eye contact when conversing. Glasses also protect my eyes when navigating in the wild. I am sure

For the first time in more than 50 years, humans are getting ready to head back toward the Moon onboard the Orion spacecraft. Photo of the ship during final preperations, before taking four of the bravest astronaughts on a journey around the moon and back from NASA.gov NASA’s Artemis II mission is scheduled to launch April 1, and if everything lines up, tomorrow four astronauts will be heading farther from Earth than any crew has gone in decades. It’s the kind of thing we hav

Bear Flat Dispatch. March 26, 2026 Every year the Canada Geese will consistently start showing up here at Bear Flat around March 15th give or take a couple days. That always worked out for them because even if the weather was nasty, they always had open water on the river. That changed with the flooding of the reservoir as it is now all frozen over. However, I guess old habits are hard to kick because the geese are still showing up here at the same time as before. Last year,

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