Students in the Qualicum School District are connecting with skills and technology training development thanks to a $17,500 grant to the district from the Province’s Shoulder Tappers Program.

Students, teachers and staff at three schools in the Qualicum school district will benefit from $202,300 in provincial School Enhancement Program funding.

Families in the Qualicum school district will no longer pay fees for students riding school buses within their schools’ catchment area thanks to $426,341 in funding under the new provincial Student Transportation Fund.

Effective at noon on Sept. 26, 2016, all open fires will once again be permitted throughout the Coastal Fire Centre’s jurisdiction. Tiki torches, burn barrels, fireworks, sky lanterns and binary exploding targets are also permitted. Accumulated rain and cooler temperatures has reduced the wildfire risk in the region.

Effective at noon on Sept. 1, 2016, campfires and Category 3 open fires will once again be permitted throughout the Coastal Fire Centre’s jurisdiction.

Effective at noon on Aug. 17, 2016, campfires and Category 3 open fires will be prohibited throughout the Coastal Fire Centre, with the exception of Haida Gwaii and the area known as the “Fog Zone”.

Effective at noon on Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2016, an existing prohibition on Category 2 open fires within the Coastal Fire Centre’s jurisdiction will be expanded to include Haida Gwaii.

The BC Wildfire Service is reminding the public that the use of fireworks or sky lanterns is currently banned within the Coastal Fire Centre’s jurisdiction.

British Columbia’s expertise in managing forest fires has helped a B.C. company win a contract extension to train workers in fire-plagued regions of Indonesia.