Three new agreements involving eight local governments have been reached in the Kootenays, allowing small businesses to operate in multiple jurisdictions with a single business licence – cutting red tape while freeing up time and money.

The Province has provided $7.125 million to create new hospice beds in communities around British Columbia, make improvements to current spaces, and support best practices in the palliative approach to care as well as advance care planning, working through the BC Centre for Palliative Care.

British Columbia finished 2016 with more than $950 million worth of school construction projects underway – something the Province will be building on in 2017.

The Province, in partnership with the BC Lung Association, is improving air quality throughout B.C. by providing $190,000 to 14 communities/regional districts as part of the Provincial Wood Stove Exchange Program.

If you find yourself scratching your head for last-minute gift ideas this holiday season, consider a gift with a social impact.

Students throughout the province soon will have more opportunities and resources at their fingertips to help them train for careers after graduation.

Forty-five school districts throughout British Columbia will each receive funding of between $20,000 and $40,000 for the Youth Work in Trades program to boost trades training for young people in the province.

Community organizations working to address racism through the B.C. Organizing Against Racism and Hate (OARH) program will share over $217,000 in provincial funding aimed at supporting their efforts to challenge racism and celebrate diversity. Funds will be directly distributed to 33 organizations located in communities throughout British Columbia.                               

Two organizations on the Sunshine Coast will receive $14,000 in funding to help challenge racism and celebrate diversity: Wit Works Ltd. ($7,000) and the Powell River Diversity Initiative Society ($7,000). These organizations are among 33 community groups throughout British Columbia working to address racism through the B.C. Organizing Against Racism and Hate (OARH) program.

Seven organizations in Northwest B.C. are receiving a total of $48,750 in funding to help challenge racism and celebrate diversity. They are among 33 community groups throughout British Columbia working to address racism through the B.C. Organizing Against Racism and Hate (OARH) program, and include: