B. Cusano Contracting Inc., R.F. Binnie & Associates Ltd. and Kinder Morgan subsidiary Trans Mountain Pipeline L.P. were sentenced in provincial court today to pay $550,000 in fines and penalties for their role in a 2007 oil spill pollution incident in Burnaby.

A Vernon resident is the grand prize winner of a spa retreat and a spelunking adventure at one of B.C.'s top attractions in the Share Your B.C. parks online contest sponsored by British Columbia Magazine and BC Parks in celebration of 100 years of BC Parks.

With 43 sold so far, there's still time to sponsor a BC Parks' limited-edition bench as part of its 100 park benches for 100 years of provincial parks program.

BC Parks' White Lake Grasslands Protected Area is bigger now, thanks to an "ecological gift" from Oliver resident Denis Pelletier, Environment Minister Terry Lake announced.

The Province has officially proclaimed Oct. 17-23 as Waste Reduction Week, which is aimed at raising public awareness about the importance of recycling, Environment Minister Terry Lake announced.

A new apartment building that will provide 36 supportive homes for individuals at risk of homelessness is under construction in Nanaimo.

Wood stove exchange programs in communities throughout B.C. will share another $200,000 in funding to help more people swap old wood stoves for new high-efficiency models, Environment Minister Terry Lake announced.

Overall, at 93,465 reservations to date, camping reservations in provincial parks are up eight per cent over last year, and up an impressive 48 per cent for the week of Aug. 22-28, 2011.