The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations is closing the cougar hunting season in the East Kootenay, effective midnight on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2014.

A renewed strategic engagement agreement (SEA) will continue to strengthen the relationship between British Columbia and the Ktunaxa Nation, through ongoing engagement on resource stewardship issues.

Students in the Kootenays who want to learn a trade are getting a helping hand with more than $65,000 in one-time funding for 16 foundation seats in targeted trades training courses during 2013-14.

Cranbrook is the 113th B.C. municipality to join BizPaL, a program that makes it easier to start and run a business.

The Province is accepting bids on a new woodlot licence in Skookumchuk, a move that will eventually generate new job opportunities across the region.

Residents of Cranbrook, Elko and surrounding areas may see smoke over the next month as a result of prescribed burning operations being conducted throughout September.

The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations has announced changes to the elk hunting season in the East Kootenay.

The Kootenay Regional Workforce Table has completed a skills training plan that will help ensure communities in the region have skilled workers to fill both current and future jobs.

To highlight how easy it is for families to get the new $1,200 BC Training and Education Savings Grant, Education Minister Don McRae and Kootenay East MLA Bill Bennett visited a BMO Bank of Montreal branch to discuss the new grant with a BMO financial planning expert and a local parent.