There will be a brief water interruption on Wednesday September 2nd at 10:00am.

As they look for leak detection thoughout the community.

The Nation has said finding small leaks means less strain on the reservoirs and more reiable water supply for everyone.

The water outage is expeted to last up to 30 minutes.

For any question you can contact Kyle Baker by email at kbaker@haisla.ca

Will be unviable starting Monday August 31st till Friday September 4th.

Once again due to staffing challenges

However this dose not affect the Fraser Lake Health Centre’s primary Care clinic.

It will be will be open for its regular hours – 8:30 am to 5:00 pm.

In response to the ER service interruptions, additional drop-in medical appointment times have been added at the clinic for those suffering sudden onset of minor symptoms

Like sore throat, earache, and minor injuries.

Additional appointments are available on the dates of Monday August 31 till Friday September 4 from 9am – 11 am.

People in the Burns Lake area who need life-threatening emergency care like chest pains, difficulty breathing, or severe bleeding should call 9-1-1 for transport to the nearest available and appropriate facility.

Patients who aren’t sure whether their condition is an emergency room visit, or who need health advice can call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1 or visit http://www.HealthLinkBC.ca

Applications will open for grants of as much as $200,000 per applicant for businesses and as much as $75,000 per applicant for First Nations development corporations.

The project is supported by investments provided by the Government of Canada through the employment insurance-funded Canada-British Columbia Labour Market Development Agreement.

“Our government is acting with urgency and prioritizing support for people in sectors facing the greatest impacts of global tariffs, and this investment allows us to do exactly that, in partnership with the Government of Canada, we’re funding $2.7 million to help build capacity, adapt to changing economic conditions and advance economic development projects.” -Sheila Malcolmson, B.C. Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction.

Applications will open on Wednesday September 2nd for two new initiatives delivered through Northern Development Initiative Trust (NDIT) under Phase 2 of the Province’s Rural and Remote Employment Initiatives Fund (RREIF) that was launched in 2025 through Canada-British Columbia labour market funding to support communities experiencing the effects of tariffs.

“Businesses and First Nations across the North Coast and Haida Gwaii are working hard to adapt to changing economic conditions and create opportunities close to home. These investments will help local employers bolster their operations, retain workers, create new jobs and build a more resilient regional economy for the future.” – Tamara Davidson, MLA, North Coast-Haida Gwaii

Funding supports business market expansion and productivity

The Business Diversification and Sustainability (BDS) program will provide $1.8 million to help businesses invest in equipment, technology and capital projects that diversify and strengthen their operations, expand into new markets, increase productivity and support workforce retention and job creation. Eligible small and medium-sized businesses can apply for grants of as much as $200,000, covering as much as 75% of project costs. Funding may be used to purchase equipment, adopt new technology and support projects that expand markets, introduce new products or services, or increase productivity.

Applications for the BDS program will be accepted from Sept. 2, 2026, until Oct. 15, 2026.

Strengthening First Nations economic development capacity

The First Nations Business Development Capacity Building program will make $900,000 available to First Nations development corporations throughout NDIT’s service region.

The program will provide as much as $75,000 per applicant, covering as much as 90% of eligible costs to access specialized expertise. Funding administered by NDIT will help First Nations development corporations build capacity, negotiate partnerships and pursue opportunities connected to industrial and infrastructure projects that generate jobs, revenue and long-term community benefits.

Applications will open Sept. 2, 2026, and will remain available until June 30, 2027, or until funding is fully allocated.

The Skeena Fisheries Commission is calling for immediate federal action after in-season counts show salmon returns are falling far below expectations.

The Commission represents the Gitksan, Gitanyow, Wet’suwet’en and Lake Babine Nations. It says the Babine Lake fence, a key tool for validating Skeena sockeye returns, is tracking toward about 630,000 fish, below the 900,000 escapement target.

SFC Chair Charlie Muldon says the situation is particularly concerning for First Nations that rely on salmon for food.

“Our Nations are facing a crisis,” Muldon said in an interview with CFNR News. “Every day it becomes more clear that our people will not have enough salmon to feed their families this year.”

Muldon says early-season estimates from the Tyee test fishery were too high, and commercial and recreational fisheries were opened based on those numbers. He says First Nations had cautioned DFO to use a lower harvest rate while more information came in.

He says the current management system needs to change, with First Nations involved in decisions alongside DFO.

“We need to put the fish first,” Muldon said. “If we look after the fish, the fish in turn will look after us.”

The Commission is requesting an independent review of 2026 management decisions, a true co-management regime and planning for potentially poor returns between 2027 and 2029. It is also asking for a closure of fisheries impacting Skeena salmon while fish are still returning.

Construction is moving ahead on a new hatchery in Gitanyow territory aimed at helping rebuild the struggling Kitwanga River sockeye population.

The Government of Canada announced Tuesday that a construction contract worth more than $7.5 million has been awarded to Progressive Ventures Construction for the Wilp’Ho Dix Hatchery.

The facility will be built on the Kitwanga River and operated in partnership with Gitanyow Nation. It will have the capacity to raise 300,000 juvenile sockeye each year, with the potential to expand to 400,000.

CFNR News spoke with Joel Starlund, Executive Director of the Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs Office, about the decades of work behind the project.

Starlund says Gitanyow has managed its fisheries for thousands of years. Historical research, combined with Gitanyow oral histories, has helped document the dramatic decline of the Kitwanga sockeye.

He says the population was once between 40,000 and 50,000 fish, while modern counts have sometimes been around 200.

“This isn’t something to just produce more sockeye economic benefit,” Starlund says. “It’s really to save a potentially species that may be going extinct.”

Starlund says the hatchery also builds on decades of Gitanyow monitoring and stewardship, including the use of fish fences and modern fish-counting technology.

For Gitanyow, recovery would also mean restoring access to a fishery that some house groups have not been able to harvest for more than 50 years.

Starlund says the project also represents an opportunity to repair a difficult history between Gitanyow and Canada, including past government opposition to Gitanyow’s traditional fishery management.

He calls the hatchery a significant step toward reconciliation.

Funding goes to 4 airports in the North, 1 on Central Coast, 1 in Interior.

Today, August 26th the Honourable Steven MacKinnon, Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, announced that the Government of Canada is investing over $23.5 million through Transport Canada’s Airports Capital Assistance Program to support critical infrastructure improvements at six airports across British Columbia.

The airports receiving funding are:

Prince Rupert Airport

• $3,756,600 to rehabilitate airfield lighting.

Northern Rockies Regional (Fort Nelson) Airport

• $552,600 to replace runway approach lighting.

Masset Airport 

• $10,852,330 to improve airfield pavement and drainage.

Smithers Airport 

• $3,624,612 to rehabilitate airfield electrical equipment.

Bella Coola Airport 

• $3,396,100 to rehabilitate the runway, taxiway, and apron.

Kamloops Airport 

• $1,349,057 upgrade and replace electrical infrastructure.

“Local and regional airports are lifelines for many communities across British Columbia. These investments will help maintain safe and efficient airport operations, improve the movement of people and goods, and strengthen the transportation links that connect British Columbians to jobs, services, and the rest of the country. By investing in our airports, we are building a stronger and more resilient Canada.” – The Honourable Steven MacKinnon

In total all  six airports will get $23.5M

With the money coming from Transport Canada’s Airports Capital Assistance Program.

One is covering 110 hectares north of Coryville right on the border of the Northwest and Prince George Fire Centres.

And has prompt an evacuation alert, for a map for evacuation alerts and orders you can view at https://www.emergencyinfobc.gov.bc.ca/

The second is burning less than a hectare west of there, just south of Burns Lake.

Both are believed to be lightning caused, and suppression efforts are underway.

They’re among the 61 active out of control wildfires burning across BC right now.

Evacuation alerts have been lifted for Summerland, but the Bald Range Fire is continuing to grow away from the community.

Meanwhile, the Pear Lake, French Bar and Bonanza Creek fires in the south Cariboo have now burned 2,500 square kilometers.

There are currently about 2,000 British Columbians on evac orders and about 14,000 on alerts.

Lincoln is wanted on an unendorsed warrant for failure to appear.

Lincoln is described as Indigenous male, 6 feet tall, 172 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.

If you have any information about George Lincoln’s whereabouts, contact the Terrace RCMP at 250-638-7400.

If you wish to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

The RCMP thanks the media and public for their assistance.

On August 14th of last year around 5:00pm a black Ford SUV collided with a grey GMC pickup on Highway 1 south of Lytton.

Two people passded away while four pepople were injured, with both vechiles were destoryed by fire.

The file was transferreed to BC Highway Patrol.

The results of the investigation were then forwarded to the BC Prosecution Service, and on August 6, of this year 44-year-old Joel Chenier was charged with.

Driving without due care and attention.

Chenier and the occupants of his vehicle included three of the injured and one of the deceased.

Chenier has been served with a Summons to appear in Lillooet Provincial Court on September 15.