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Street Roots •

Lead-sheathed phone lines contaminate some Portland neighborhoods

Lead is a long-time issue for Portlanders, as lead levels exceeded the federal action level in drinking water 11 times since the 1990s.

Historically, leaded gasoline, paint and galvanized pipes were the primary sources of the contaminated water and soil. Scientists recently identified another source of lead in the city in a first-of-its-kind study.

Portland’s older neighborhoods, including the city center and residential neighborhoods, contain higher levels of lead due to lead-sheathed phone...

Sustainability Op-Ed for Aspen Germany's 50th Anniversary (p. 23)

When you think about climate innovation, what comes
to mind? Is it new technologies, techniques, or processes
that push the boundaries of what we think is possible?
Solar panels? Wind turbines?

What if I told you that in today’s changing climate, none
of those are innovative. They are repeating a pattern that
has led us to the human-caused climate crisis, which was
ignited by the engine of innovation and economic growth.
Grist •

Did plastic straw bans work? Yes, but not in the way you’d think.

It was the face that launched a thousand plastic straw bans.

The video begins with a close up of the turtle’s head, its dark green, pebbled skin out of place against the stark-white boat deck. Robinson’s hands approach, moving the pliers toward the turtle’s nostril. The tool clamps down on the edge of something — A barnacle? A worm? — barely visible within the dark tunnel. The creature squirms and dribbles blood as the pulling begins. A long, thin object begins to emerge, inch by excruciating inch.
Today in BC •

Venturing into Khutzeymateen: Canada's only grizzly bear sanctuary

Hidden deep in northwest B.C.’s coast lies the lush inlet of the Khutzeymateen, bustling with grizzly bears and other rich fauna. 

Created in 1994 as the first specially protected area for grizzly bears and their habitat in Canada, it is widely regarded as the densest natural grizzly bear habitat in North America. The sanctuary is located about 45 kilometres northeast of Prince Rupert and only is accessible by boat or plane. 

The Gits’iis tribe of the Lax Kw’alaams Band has been the stewar...
Truthout •

Canada’s Predictive Policing Tech Is Poorly Regulated Under AI Policy

As surveillance has become a fact of life, digital privacy must become a human right.

In February 2019, Nijeer Parks was arrested in Woodbridge, New Jersey, based on a facial recognition match that linked him to several crimes. Parks faced charges of aggravated assault, unlawful possession of weapons, using a fake ID, possession of marijuana, shoplifting, leaving the scene of a crime and resisting arrest.

In November 2019, the case against him was dismissed — there was no evidence of him commi
CBC •

Montreal initiative connects people with Alzheimer's and their caregivers through dance | News

It's another cold and sombre afternoon in Montreal's Quartier des Spectacles, but the expressions of joy and serenity in this dance studio are anything but.

Here, people living with Alzheimer's disease and their caregivers are reminded they are more than the diagnosis that seems to dictate their lives. They dance. They connect beyond the disease.

The National Centre for Dance Therapy at Les Gr
Nonprofit Quarterly Magazine •

Study Highlights Links Between Health Costs, Unemployment, and Morbidity

Most people in the United States who have health insurance obtain it through their employers. But what happens when the cost of this insurance increases? A study from the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) has some answers.The study, Who Pays for Rising Health Care Prices? Evidence from Hospital Mergers, was authored by Zarek Brot-Goldberg, a public policy professor at the University of Chicago, along with five economists from the US Department of the Treasury, the Internal Revenue Serv...
Terrace Standard •

B.C. First Nations further green energy collaboration goal at climate conference

The First Nations Climate Initiative (FNCI) believes it has found connections through the recent COP29 climate conference that further its goal of economic development while reducing harmful emissions from the use of liquefied natural gas.

The FNCI comprises four northern B.C. First Nations, the Haisla, Nisga'a, Metlakatla and Halfway River. Two of them, the Haisla and Nisga'a, have interests in exporting LNG from northeast B.C. to Asia through proposed liquefaction plants in northwest B.C.Th...
Today in BC •

Indigenous protest blocks LNG pipeline worksite access in northwest B.C.

A group of Indigenous young people have blockaded access to a work camp site for a natural gas pipeline to feed a proposed liquefied natural gas project on B.C.'s north coast.

The blockade was set up on Aug. 22 at Cranberry Junction where the access road for the pipeline project site meets Highway 37, approximately 170 kilometres north of Terrace. It is the shortest route to transport the equipment and supplies necessary for the pipeline's Nass work camp. The Nass Forest Service Road was also...
The Japan Times •

How rain and snow play a role in Noto’s ‘seismic swarm’

Sitting on top of four major tectonic plates, Japan is one of the countries most at risk of earthquakes.

That fact was demonstrated in tragic and dramatic fashion on Jan. 1, when a magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture, directly and indirectly killing as many as 275 people, knocking out key infrastructure, displacing thousands and severely damaging or destroying tens of thousands of homes.

The Noto Peninsula has, in fact, been experiencing an ongoing “seismi
Georgia Straight •

For people with autism, ICBC’s testing system is inequitable

Caitlyn Peterson has taken the ICBC driving knowledge test eight times over the past four years, and has failed every time.

Peterson has autism, which means she requires enhanced and equitable support in order to operate and excel in stimulating situations. According to the 29-year-old, what ICBC currently offers autistic people hoping to get licensed is inadequate.

“The lights are so bright, people’s cell phones are going off, lights are flashing,” she says of the test-taking environment. “Pe
The Japan Times •

How a Japanese scientist is turning the climate crisis into music

The climate is changing in the here and now, and consequences have already been severe. But for scientists, a major question persists: How do you make people care? Dire warnings and images of melting glaciers and burning forests — the list goes on — have become standard tools, but people are arguably becoming desensitized to these approaches.

So how else can you communicate the most pressing issue of our lifetimes? It turns out that music offers a way.

Imagine sitting down at one of the world’
Today in BC •

Music festival set amidst a forest coming to northwest B.C. this June

Set amidst the backdrop of an old-growth forest near Terrace, B.C., ValhallaFest is where music and nature dance alongside each other, moving in harmony. This year's experience is from June 20-22.

For owner and operator Ray Pederson, the festival was the culmination of a dream to host a music festival.

"When I first bought the property that would become Valhalla Fest, I already had the idea of hosting a music festival in the back of my mind — even if my wife thought I was crazy and told me...
Today in BC •

Venturing into Khutzeymateen: Canada's only grizzly bear sanctuary

Hidden deep in northwest B.C.’s coast lies the lush inlet of the Khutzeymateen, bustling with grizzly bears and other rich fauna. 

Created in 1994 as the first specially protected area for grizzly bears and their habitat in Canada, it is widely regarded as the densest natural grizzly bear habitat in North America. The sanctuary is located about 45 kilometres northeast of Prince Rupert and only is accessible by boat or plane. 

The Gits’iis tribe of the Lax Kw’alaams Band has been the stewar...
Terrace Standard •

$1.2 million towards 8 fish and wildlife conservation projects in Skeena region

Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation (HCTF) is providing over $1.2 million in funding towards eight conservation projects in the Skeena region.

The funding come from the foundation's model of a surcharge on hunting, fishing, trapping and guide outfitting licenses.

"Each year, the conservation surcharge from these contributors funds over one hundred fish, wildlife, and habitat projects above and beyond government funding," said Dan Buffett, CEO of HCTF, a non-profit organization dedicated...
Terrace Standard •

It's time to change the way we think about wind farms

Two of the biggest factors in the hesitancy towards wind energy has been the perception of how inefficient it is with land use, and how wind turbines are deadly for birds. Wind energy has grown significantly in Canada, but it can grow even further if we can get beyond these perceptions — perceptions that are lasting beyond the actual impact of the issues.

When decisions are made about wind energy, the entire wind farm area is usually considered as land given over to wind development. However,...
Terrace Standard •

UNBC researcher helps further understanding of global glacier loss

A leading scientist in understanding glacier and climate change in western Canada collaborated with colleagues around the world to produce a clear picture of the health of Earth's glaciers.

The findings of this international team known as the Glacier Mass Balance Intercomparison Exercise (GlaMBIE) were published in Nature. Brian Menounos, a professor in UNBC's Department of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences was a part of the team.

Using a combination of different tools to measure...
Terrace Standard •

High blood pressure is a leading cause of death and disability in Canada — it shouldn't be

High blood pressure (also known as hypertension) is one of the leading causes of death and disability in Canada, but when we had a health coalition focused on hypertension control, that wasn't the case. Canadian healthcare leaders published an editorial in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology in 2024, pleading for the re-establishment of this coalition.

According to lead author Dr. Norm R.C. Campbell, "What was achieved in Canada was highly unique. Canada used to be the most successful country...
Terrace Standard •

Tea Creek receives $1 million grant to tackle Skeena Valley food insecurity

Tea Creek Farms plans to develop a food hub and training centre in the the Skeena Valley with the help of a $1 million investment from United Way B.C.'s Large Food Infrastructure Grant.

In partnership with the Government of B.C. through the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction, the aim of this food sovereignty initiative is to revitalize food production and economic interdependence. The grant will be used towards a 4,000 square-foot longhouse that will serve as the facility fo...
Terrace Standard •

Report: B.C. LNG market weaker than previously thought

An October 2024 report found that Liquefied Natural Gas market is likely to be oversupplied by the end of this decade.

What this means for British Columbia is that as the province's production will ramp up, LNG production around the world will plateau according to the Carbon Tracker report, "Turning Tides: The economic risks of B.C.'s LNG expansion in changing energy market."

In partnership with the David Suzuki Foundation (DSF) and the Pembina Institute, the research states that B.C. will...
Terrace Standard •

Terrace had 4th highest drug death rate in B.C. in 2024

There were 25 deaths related to consuming unregulated drugs in Terrace in 2024 according to the B.C. Coroners Service annual report.

That translates to a drug death rate of 109 per 100,000 population, which was fourth in the province only behind Greater Campbell River, Lillooet and Vancouver's Centre North region. 

Both the total deaths and death rate in Terrace are the second highest they have been in the past eight years, second to 2022 when Terrace had 27 deaths and a rate of 122.9 per...
Terrace Standard •

UVIC professor researching housing insecurity in Terrace

A University of Victoria professor is researching the housing and homelessness crises in Terrace.

Brenda Mishak, who has been living in Kitimat since 2020 and has a daughter who lives in Terrace, wants people to move away from the idea that homelessness is something that happens to other people.

"Many of us are one paycheque away from being homeless," she said. "Many of us one medical emergency, one breakup, one housemate moving out without paying their half of the rent away from being in...
Victoria News •

SFU study urges Canada to build solar mega-projects

Simon Fraser University's Clean Energy Research Group (CERG) recommends that Canada should build utility-scale solar projects to kickstart its green energy transition. 

Utility-scale projects combine solar power with battery storage technology to get the most out of the energy. 

Co-authors Anil Hira and Prasanna Krishnan believe there is a mistaken impression that Canada is not suitable for solar. Their research was published in Solar Compass in December 2024.

"There are large parts of...
Today in BC •

SFU researchers laud potential of solar mega-projects in B.C.

​Researchers from Simon Fraser University's Clean Energy Research Group (CERG) believe British Columbia may have more potential for solar than people may realize.

In their research published in Solar Compass in December 2024, co-authors Anil Hira and Prasanna Krishnan argued that Canada should focus on building utility-scale solar projects to kickstart its green energy transition, including in British Columbia. Utility-scale projects combine solar power with battery storage technology to get...
Terrace Standard •

SFU researchers see potential for solar in northwest B.C.

​Researchers from Simon Fraser University's Clean Energy Research Group (CERG) believe B.C.'s northwest may have more potential for solar than people may realize.

Their research was published in Solar Compass in December 2024 in which they argued that Canada should focus on building utility-scale solar projects to kickstart its green energy transition. Utility-scale projects combine solar power with battery storage technology to get the most out of the energy.

Anil Hira and Prasanna Krishn...
Terrace Standard •

B.C. ethics professor brings Canadian mental health standards to the world

From Vancouver to the world, a registered clinical counsellor is using her Canadian training to bridge critical gaps in mental health care globally.

Shivani Agarwal wants to ensure that therapy is safe, ethical and accessible, especially in places where the profession isn’t regulated.

Agarwal built the Centre for Self-Discovery in 2019, a women-led BIPOC organization based in Vancouver, serving immigrants and diverse populations across the country. It has since become a global organization...
Nonprofit Quarterly Magazine •

Study Highlights Links Between Health Costs, Unemployment, and Morbidity

Most people in the United States who have health insurance obtain it through their employers. But what happens when the cost of this insurance increases? A study from the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) has some answers.The study, Who Pays for Rising Health Care Prices? Evidence from Hospital Mergers, was authored by Zarek Brot-Goldberg, a public policy professor at the University of Chicago, along with five economists from the US Department of the Treasury, the Internal Revenue Serv...
Terrace Standard •

Northwest B.C. First Nation proposes Indigenous Protected Area to block pipeline project

A northwestern B.C. First Nation wants to create a protected area to block a natural gas pipeline from crossing its territory.

The proposal by the Gitanyow Nation comes after the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission (PRGT) pipeline's environment assessment certificate expired on Nov. 25.

On Nov. 19, the proponents, a partnership of the Ksi Lisims government and Western LNG (a Calgary-based company), applied to have the project designated "substantially started," which would extend the certificat...
Terrace Standard •

B.C. First Nations further green energy collaboration goal at climate conference

The First Nations Climate Initiative (FNCI) believes it has found connections through the recent COP29 climate conference that further its goal of economic development while reducing harmful emissions from the use of liquefied natural gas.

The FNCI comprises four northern B.C. First Nations, the Haisla, Nisga'a, Metlakatla and Halfway River. Two of them, the Haisla and Nisga'a, have interests in exporting LNG from northeast B.C. to Asia through proposed liquefaction plants in northwest B.C.Th...
Terrace Standard •

100-year-old model totem pole returns to B.C. carver's family

Kwakwaka’wakw artist Lou-ann Neel has been reunited with a rough cut of a model totem pole carved almost 100 years ago by her grandmother, Ellen Neel.

Ellen Neel was an accomplished carver, running Totem Arts Studio in White Rock, B.C. in the 1940s and 1950s. She carved iconic poles in Vancouver's Stanley Park and at the University of British Columbia, as well as numerous other totem pole commissions from around the world including Denmark, Korea, England, Australia and the United States....
Today in BC •

First Nations climate organization joins COP29 Canadian delegation

The First Nations Climate Initiative (FNCI)  is going to its third straight United Nations climate conference (COP29) with the Canadian delegation.

At the conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, a country off the coast of the Caspian Sea, FNCI plans to call on the B.C. and federal governments to make policy and regulatory changes that enable large net-zero infrastructure projects, boost economic development for B.C and Canada through partnerships, and further reconciliation with First Nations. They h...
Today in BC •

Northwest B.C. First Nations take renewable energy projects to COP29

The First Nations Climate Initiative plans to highlight progress it has made on the construction of renewable energy network in northwest B.C. at the United Nations Climate Conference Conference (COP29).

The organization, also referred to as FNCI, is going to their third straight UN climate conference as a part of Canada's delegation, this time in Baku, Azerbaijan, a country off the coast of the Caspian Sea.

FNCI plans to call on the B.C. and federal governments to make policy and regulato...

Sustainability Op-Ed for Aspen Germany's 50th Anniversary (p. 23)

When you think about climate innovation, what comes
to mind? Is it new technologies, techniques, or processes
that push the boundaries of what we think is possible?
Solar panels? Wind turbines?

What if I told you that in today’s changing climate, none
of those are innovative. They are repeating a pattern that
has led us to the human-caused climate crisis, which was
ignited by the engine of innovation and economic growth.
Terrace Standard •

Gitanyow nears completion of independent pipeline environmental assessment

The Prince Rupert Gas Transmission (PRGT) pipeline's environmental assessment is a point of contention between the Gitanyow First Nation and the Western LNG-Nisga'a First Nation partnership.

The project that was assessed and approved is not the project being currently constructed in the Nass Valley of Terrace, according to Gitanyow.

"As far as we're concerned, this pipeline needs a new environmental assessment," said Gamlakyeltxw (Wil Marsden), a chief of the Ganeda Clan.

Gamlakyeltxw i...
Terrace Standard •

Northern Health has highest whooping cough rate in province

Whooping cough is a serious bacterial infection that is currently on the rise in northern B.C.

While British Columbia is not considered to have an outbreak at this time, the Northern Health Region has been affected more than the rest of the province. 

Northern Health saw the highest rate of whooping cough in 2023 at 6.5 cases per 100,000 population, and this year has been worse so far.

The B.C. Centre for Disease Control (CDC) reports that between Jan. 1 and June 27, Northern Health saw...
The Georgia Straight •

Eight Vancouver cafes that don’t charge extra for non-dairy milk

Cafes charging extra for non-dairy milk alternatives is a hot topic. How much is too much for a little frothy almond or oat beverage with your espresso? And is it actually fair to upcharge for this in the first place?A $5 million California-based class action lawsuit against Starbucks is alleging that it’s actually a form of discrimination against customers with lactose intolerance and dairy allergies (very curious to see how this plays out). Even for those who aren’t allergic, though, choosing...
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