Even as firefighters continue to battle blazes throughout the province, the British Columbia government is already implementing a long-term plan to recover from this year’s unprecedented wildfire activity and support affected British Columbians.

Motorists are advised that as part of the six-laning project through Kelowna from Highway 33 to Edwards Road, the highway on-ramp by Auction World off Sexsmith Road and Old Vernon Road will be closed permanently to traffic, effective Thursday night, Sept. 14, 2017.

The Province is providing the Thompson-Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) and the Kootenay Rockies Tourism Association with financial support of $200,000 each to help with tourism-related impacts from the B.C. wildfires, announced Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Lisa Beare.

The British Columbia government’s Startup in Residence (STIR) program, the first of its kind in Canada, is helping local startups do business with the Province, while improving services to British Columbians.

The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure has awarded a $998,900 contract to Seismic 2000 Construction Ltd. of Aldergrove to carry out the Cowichan River bridges’ seismic safety retrofit project.

Companies in British Columbia, especially those in the tech sector, will gain greater access to the U.S. market and investors through B.C.’s new Trade and Investment Office in Seattle.

Burnaby-based cybersecurity success story Fortinet’s plans to expand its workforce by 1,000 jobs is fantastic news for B.C.’s tech sector and the provincial economy, announced Jobs, Trade and Technology Minister Bruce Ralston.

With hot and dry conditions continuing in the East Kootenay region, the BC Wildfire Service is anticipating an increase in new wildfire activity and is monitoring growth on existing fires in the region today.

Responding to continuing warm and dry conditions, the Province has announced a Level 4 drought rating for the South Thompson, Kettle and Granby watersheds.