$23.6 million. That’s what B.C. Housing says it has agreed to pay for the Nelson property selected as the site of a four-storey, 43-unit supportive housing complex at 45 Government Rd. in Nelson.
Back in March of 2023, the partially completed property was listed for $8,400,000 — but that price reflected the fact the place was only 40 per cent built. An independent appraisal last September assessed the property’s value upon completion at $24.3 million, according to BC Housing. Slated for opening next summer, the project budget is approximately $24.9 million.
Local MLA Brittny Anderson spoke about the plan on Kootenay Co-op Radio’s Kootenay Morning current affairs show last week. Anderson, also Minister of State for Local Governments and Rural Communities, recently toured a supportive housing facility in Vernon with Premier David Eby and says she was impressed.
“These projects really help turn peoples lives around,” the MLA says.
Supportive housing provides subsidized rent and round-the-clock support for people who are either homeless, or close to. Tenants can get 24-7 connections to health care, mental health, substance-use services and life skills training.
Public opposition to the venues often stems from public safety concern.
In late May, the City of Vancouver yanked support for a proposed 129-unit supportive housing project slated for the Kitsilano neighbourhood, after a barrage of court challenges launched by residents and businesses angry the site was next to a park and elementary school.
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With summer holiday season here, lots of West Kootenay businesses are literally banking on a strong tourism run for the next three months or more.
After some seriously challenging years due to COVID-19 and fires, as well as in-house upheaval on the board, staff and executive director front, Nelson Kootenay Lake Tourism is back at ‘er.
NKL is the organization that stewards our share of the Kootenays' $1-billion a year tourism industry.
With a year under his belt, new executive director Peter Moynes led NKL’s AGM a few weeks ago at the Nelson Museum and Gallery. The new 12-person board is stacked with relevant talent. Adventure Hotel boss Rob Little takes on the board president’s role, leading a formidable crew made up of new Whitewater GM Mike Reubenstein, Community Futures Central Kootenay executive Andrea Wilkey, Balfour’s Alana Jenkins, Martin Hotel Group owner Ryan Martin, outdoor adventure entrepreneur John Dutton, the Sterling Hotel’s Marika Melville, East Shore rep and Bocalino Restaurant and Cabins owner Gisella Conrad, Ainsworth Hot Springs’ Mark Price, Nelson and District Chamber of Commerce board president and Baldface GM Rebeckah Hornung, arts and culture ace Sydney Black and Kaslo tourism vet Debra Hamilton, owner of Wing Creek Resort.
In light of Trump-related tensions, Little says NKL is boosting marketing in Idaho and Washington to bolster U.S. traffic. That includes a big new billboard on Spokane’s busy Division Street.
“With the strength of the U.S. dollar and many Americans frustrated with their current administration, we’re welcoming them with open arms,” says Little, adding the region is seeing an uptick in Canadians taking a pass on holidays down south.
Little says the NKL re-build is well underway, with the organization “no longer looking in the rear view mirror” but poised to push forward on a number of fronts, including sustainable tourism. The industry's major provision of jobs and Kootenay-wide economic impact can’t be understated. Little notes that over 70 per cent of staffing in the area relies on hospitality and tourism.
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On the links – nope, not a Hallo Nelson update or lack thereof – Jon Langille is overhauling the hospitality experience at Crawford Bay’s 55-year-old Kokanee Springs Golf Resort.
Langille is founder of the legendary All Season’s Cafe, wine aficionado, and former Selkirk College housing, food and beverage juggler.
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To the retail front, way back in 1994 business woman and general go-getter Judy Banfield opened the doors at a shop that would go on to become a Baker Street pillar. Rossland’s Angela Goertzen picked up the Mountain Baby torch in 2019.
But times, like babies, need changing. As of end of May, Goertzen has closed the shop’s doors and combined its forces with Rossland sister store Delicious Baby and Kids, founded in 2009. You can still shop for the munchkins online at mountainbaby.com.
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On the political front, provincial Conservative leader John Rustad loaned a quick ear to number of industry and business leaders in Nelson, Trail and Castlegar a few weeks ago, including Kalesnikoff Lumber, the Chamber of Mines and Save Our Streets Kootenay rep Tanya Finley.
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With $9 million in jobs and programming cuts needed to help Selkirk College balance next year’s $70.4M budget, the school is saying so-long to a lot of familiar faces. Forty three full-time equivalent positions in all have been axed due to the expected loss of around 400 international students next year.
One of the outgoing Selkirk stalwarts is Bob Hall, communications co-ordinator and community liaison in the college’s bustling marketing department.
”It was an absolute honour to help document Selkirk’s story over the last 12 years,” says Hall, the former editor of both the Nelson Star and former Nelson Daily News. “It’s a remarkable place full of dedicated community members committed to brightening the future for all those who pass through the doors.”
Hall says the West Kootenay is fortunate to have quality post-secondary right in its backyard, adding that Canada’s post-secondary sector is facing a time of significant adjustment and challenge.
“The community needs Selkirk and Selkirk needs the community, so the people of the region need to continue looking close-to-home for their post-secondary experience.”
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Still on the education front, only a few days after grads cavalcaded down Baker then danced ’til the sun came up, there were cheers and more than a few tears at L.V. Rogers’ Monday morning farewell assembly. Outgoing LVR principal Dan Rude and co-valedictorian Cooper Peloso teamed up for an acoustic version of Green Day’s 1997 ode to everything that ends, Good Riddance.
“It's something unpredictable,” Rude sang, “but in the end, it's right. I hope you had the time of your life.”
Happy summer everyone. See you in August.
The financial information in the first two paragraphs of this story were provided to the Nelson Star by BC Housing. On July 10 we made minor changes to those paragraphs to clarify this.
