Canada Post has increased stamp prices due to growing financial challenges, effective Monday. The 25% price hike, proposed last year, affects domestic and international mail. Domestic letter stamps now cost $1.44, up from $1.15, while stamps in booklets, coils, or panes have risen from 99 cents to $1.24 each. Other products, including U.S., international letter-post, and domestic registered mail, also see a 25% increase.

The rates, proposed in September and approved in late November during a labor strike, aim to align stamp prices with the rising cost of providing letter mail services amidst declining letter volumes and inflation.

Canada Post estimates the price increase will impact Canadian households by $2.26 per year and small businesses by $42.17 annually. This comes after reporting a pre-tax loss of $315 million in Q3 2024, with parcel revenue dropping 5.8% and volumes decreasing by 9.6%.

Despite resuming full domestic services post-strike, Canada Post warns of ongoing delays for transaction, neighborhood, and international mail. The company expects another significant loss for 2024, marking its seventh consecutive annual loss.

Image Credit Google Maps

Video Credit Global News

The Kelsey Centre pool is closed until further notice for unscheduled maintenance until further notice. The sauna, weight room and other non-pool activities remain open.

Video Credit Check News

After a 35-year-old skier was found seriously injured on a steep slope at Vancouver Island’s Mount Cain, search and rescue teams arrived by helicopter and collaborated with other emergency responders to ensure a safe extraction.

On Saturday, Comox Valley Search & Rescue (CVSAR) responded to Mount Cain, located northwest of Campbell River, when the skier “suffered a serious fall and was found unconscious,” according to a social media post by the group this weekend.

CVSAR President Darren Boss reported that the incident occurred on a slope with an approximate 30-degree angle.

The critical Class D Fixed Line (CDFL) rescue took place in the west bowl of the mountain, outside the ski boundaries. Here, “the dedicated patrol team at Mt. Cain acted swiftly, initiating rescue efforts and preparing for air assistance.”

Boss stated that no one witnessed the fall, and the skier was discovered “with a decreased level of consciousness,” prompting an initial response from Mt. Cain staff.

Facing a “time crunch,” SAR crews were flown to Mt. Cain by 49 North Helicopters after being picked up from Courtenay Airpark.

“He fell, caught an edge, I believe, and fell 70 to 100 feet on a ridge. He was not wearing a helmet and then went in and out of consciousness when he hit the bottom, suffering multiple injuries as well as a head injury,” CVSAR’s Rich Swanson told CHEK News on Sunday.

Swanson provided care to the victim on the mountainside.

“When we arrived, six individuals who were already on the scene had dug a bit of a shelf,” he added.

“It was between a 20- to 35-degree slope, but they did a good job digging in a little bench, which had him somewhat on a level area.”

By the time Comox Valley-based SAR teams arrived, the staff and a doctor already on the scene had partially stabilized the skier using a vacuum spine board.

The ski hill near Woss, which is primarily run by volunteers, is operated by the Mount Cain Alpine Park Society. According to the Regional District of Mount Waddington, “At Mount Cain, you’ll find deep powder, 21 runs, with 1499 vertical feet of terrain.”

The resort is typically open on weekends and holidays from early December to April, with the backcountry offering a “multitude of bowls and gladed areas…”

CVSAR noted that the mountain had “expertly prepared” landing zones for rescue helicopters — one for 49N, and another for an Ascent Air ambulance.

“Our team completed the packaging and transported the injured skier using an Aerial Rescue Platform in a CDFL operation to the Mt. Cain parking area, where BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) took over care,” the post read.

After the skier was handed over to paramedics, the helicopter returned to the slope to pick up Boss and the rest of the team before transporting them back to Courtenay Airpark.

Photo Credit Comox Valley Search And Rescue

In the early hours of December 31, 2024, a fire broke out along the boardwalk of the historic hamlet of Telegraph Cove. Despite the best efforts of volunteer firefighters from nearby communities, parts of the iconic boardwalk and many buildings were lost. The impact of the fire is being felt far and wide, as Telegraph Cove was a beloved treasure to many. The outpouring of support from people across the globe has been simply astonishing. Your words have uplifted our family during this tragic and difficult time, and we are so thankful.

The purpose of this fundraiser is to assist in restoring the Cove for the 2025 season. The fire has presented Telegraph Cove Resorts with a challenge of unimaginable magnitude. We don’t yet know what the road to recovery will look like, but our plan is to begin repairs immediately. We appreciate your support during this time, as we know that many of the recovery project’s needs will not be covered by insurance. We are working hard to ensure that Telegraph Cove is restored to the very best of our ability so that visitors can continue to enjoy the magic of this special place.

Click here to visit the fundraising page.

Say hello to Jason Johnson from the Sayward Futures Society, the dedicated land managers of the trails used for the Kusam Klimb in Sayward, BC. Their efforts ensure that proceeds from the event contribute to maintaining the trails, as well as supporting the Kelsey Wharf. Thanks to their hard work, the Kusam Klimb continues to thrive and offer an unforgettable adventure.