Provincial Funding Aims to Strengthen Capacity of Volunteer Fire Departments

by Go Sayward News Desk | Apr 3, 2026 16:52 | Posts

The Province is investing nearly $4 million to support volunteer and composite fire departments across British Columbia, helping improve emergency response capabilities and enhance community safety.

The funding will provide departments with new equipment and training through the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF), supporting 86 projects throughout the province.

“Volunteer firefighters show up when it matters most, and this funding equips them to respond faster and more effectively,” said Kelly Greene, Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness. “Every community faces different risks, and these projects will allow local fire departments to invest in the specific training and equipment they need to keep both responders and residents safe.”

The CEPF Volunteer and Composite Fire Department Equipment and Training stream is designed to help departments prepare for emergencies by improving access to modern equipment and professional training opportunities.

“Firefighters put themselves in harm’s way to protect people, homes and businesses in B.C.,” said Nina Krieger, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. “This funding will strengthen training and ensure firefighters are equipped to handle any challenges that arise, helping keep both responders and communities safe.”

Strengthening local emergency response

Many communities throughout B.C. rely on volunteer and composite fire departments as their primary emergency response services. Since the CEPF program was launched in 2017, more than $29 million has been invested in over 500 fire department projects.

Several projects receiving funding in 2026 include:

Errington Volunteer Fire Department will upgrade portable pumps and equip engines with essential tools to improve firefighter safety and enhance response to structure fires in rural areas.
Central Kootenay Regional District will expand regional firefighter training and upgrade equipment, including hiring two training officers and improving the Live Fire Centre and Regional Training Centre.
Neskonlith Indian Band will purchase six new self-contained breathing apparatus units to improve firefighter safety and meet provincial training standards for structure fire response.
Mount Waddington Regional District will equip volunteer fire departments in Coal Harbour, Hyde Creek, Sointula and Woss with breathing apparatus, protective gear, radios and other essential equipment.
Hawkins Lake Volunteer Firefighters Association will purchase protective gear to support its growing volunteer roster and department expansion.

Provincial officials say investing in equipment and training helps ensure volunteer firefighters are better prepared to respond quickly and effectively when emergencies occur.

Program background

The Community Emergency Preparedness Fund has received $369 million in provincial funding since its creation in 2017.

In addition to supporting volunteer and composite fire departments, the program also funds:

emergency operations centre equipment and training
emergency support services equipment and training
public notification and evacuation route planning
disaster risk reduction initiatives

More than $346 million has been distributed to First Nations and local governments for over 2,600 emergency preparedness projects.

The CEPF program is administered by the Union of British Columbia Municipalities on behalf of the Province.

Strathcona Regional District Encourages Residents to Take Part in Tsunami Preparedness Week High Ground Hikes

by Go Sayward News Desk | Apr 3, 2026 16:43 | Local

The Strathcona Regional District is encouraging residents in west coast communities to take part in upcoming High Ground Hikes during Tsunami Preparedness Week, reminding people that in a real emergency, quick action—not waiting for alerts—can save lives.

Scheduled for mid-April, the hikes and related activities are designed to help residents understand local tsunami risks and practice evacuating to higher ground after a major earthquake. The goal is to strengthen community readiness and ensure people know exactly what to do when every second counts.

Emergency officials emphasize that preparedness goes beyond awareness. Community leaders note that readiness is a shared responsibility, and collective action helps build stronger, more resilient coastal communities. (Strathcona Regional District)

Focus on Immediate Action

Emergency staff stress that residents should not wait for official notifications after a strong coastal earthquake. In many cases, the shaking itself may be the only warning before a locally generated tsunami.

The region’s highest risk comes from the Cascadia Subduction Zone, where a major earthquake could send waves ashore within minutes. Depending on the community, estimated wave arrival times range from roughly 25 to 54 minutes—often too short for sirens or alerts to activate reliably. (Strathcona Regional District)

By comparison, tsunamis from distant sources—such as the Alaska-Aleutian Subduction Zone—usually allow several hours for warnings and evacuation planning. Preparedness exercises help communities test systems and practice evacuation routes under realistic conditions. (Strathcona Regional District)

Community Events and Exercises

Tsunami Preparedness Week will feature High Ground Hikes, emergency notification tests, and community-focused preparedness events across west coast communities. Participants will walk evacuation routes, learn safety information, and connect with local emergency personnel.

To boost participation, organizers are hosting community barbecues and offering prize draws, including emergency kits and other safety gear.

Officials say these events help residents become familiar with evacuation paths and muster points, ensuring they know where to go and how to respond during an actual emergency.

Building Safer Coastal Communities

High Ground Hikes are part of a province-wide effort to increase tsunami awareness and promote hands-on preparedness in coastal British Columbia. The exercises help residents build confidence, practice evacuation procedures, and strengthen community connections.

Emergency management officials continue to reinforce a simple but vital message: after a strong earthquake, move to high ground immediately—do not wait for official alerts.

Tsunami Preparedness Week serves as an annual reminder that preparation, practice, and community cooperation can significantly improve safety and resilience during natural disasters. (Strathcona Regional District)

Crossroads Restaurant & Pub Hiring Bartender and Front-of-House Support Staff

by Go Sayward News Desk | Apr 2, 2026 03:36 | Jobs

The Crossroads Restaurant & Pub is currently seeking to hire an additional team member to join its front-of-house staff, with a focus on weekend, evening, and summer shift coverage.

The local restaurant and pub is looking for a bartender/front-of-house support worker who can thrive in a fast-paced hospitality environment while providing friendly and reliable service to customers. The position is open to individuals aged 19 and older who hold a valid Serving It Right certification and are available to work evenings and weekends.

While previous experience behind the bar is considered an asset, the business emphasizes that reliability, confidence, and a willingness to learn are equally important qualities for applicants.

Interested individuals are encouraged to drop off a resume in person, send a message to the restaurant, or apply by email at info@thecrossroadsrestaurant.ca.

The hiring effort comes as the restaurant prepares for increased activity heading into the busy summer season, with additional staff needed to help support operations and maintain service levels for residents and visitors alike.

Sayward Delivery Bringing Convenience, Time Savings, and Fuel Savings to Local Residents

by Go Sayward News Desk | Mar 29, 2026 04:33 | Local

In a rural community where travel to larger shopping centres often requires a significant drive, Sayward Delivery is helping residents save both time and money while improving access to essential goods and services.

Operating out of Sayward, the locally owned delivery service connects the village with Campbell River and communities across Vancouver Island, offering personal shopping, retail delivery, restaurant delivery, and courier services. The company schedules several trips each week between Campbell River and Sayward, reducing the need for residents to make frequent long-distance trips themselves.

Reducing Travel and Fuel Costs

For many Sayward residents, a round trip to Campbell River can take over an hour and require a significant amount of fuel. By consolidating multiple customer orders into scheduled delivery runs, Sayward Delivery allows individuals and families to avoid unnecessary travel, resulting in noticeable fuel savings and reduced vehicle wear.

The service uses a fuel-efficient delivery vehicle capable of transporting multiple grocery orders and bulk items in a single trip, helping keep costs low while ensuring goods arrive safely and in good condition.

This approach provides a practical solution for residents who:

Want to reduce weekly travel expenses
Need groceries, supplies, or restaurant meals without leaving the village
Have limited mobility or transportation options
Prefer to save time for work, family, or community activities

Convenient Personal Shopping and Delivery

Sayward Delivery offers more than simple courier service. Customers can either purchase items online and have them picked up, or use the company’s personal shopping service, where staff purchase goods on behalf of customers — especially useful for stores without online ordering or for those without credit cards.

The company delivers:

Groceries and household items
Restaurant meals and take-out food
Retail purchases and specialty goods
Pet supplies, building materials, and other essentials
Parcels and courier shipments across Vancouver Island

Deliveries are brought directly to the customer’s door, with refrigerated and hot items transported using temperature-controlled containers to maintain quality and safety.

Supporting Rural Accessibility

Reliable delivery services play an important role in small communities where access to large retail stores and services is limited. Sayward Delivery’s regular trips and flexible service model help bridge the gap between rural residents and urban retail centres, making everyday shopping more accessible and convenient.

The company emphasizes its community-focused approach, describing its mission as “going the extra mile, so you don’t have to.”

A Growing Community Asset

Customer feedback highlights the value of the service, with users describing it as reliable, affordable, and an essential resource for a small rural community. Residents have noted that the service saves them “so much hassle” and provides dependable delivery for those living far from town.

As rural communities continue to look for ways to improve access to goods and services while reducing travel costs, Sayward Delivery is becoming an increasingly important part of daily life in the region — helping residents save time, reduce fuel expenses, and enjoy the convenience of having essentials delivered right to their door.

Artificial Intelligence Tools in 2026 are a Compromise Between Power and Value

by Go Sayward News Desk | Mar 29, 2026 04:17 | National

The New AI Landscape: Which Tools Actually Deliver Value in 2026?

Artificial intelligence is no longer a single category—it’s an ecosystem. Over the past two years, the market has fractured into specialized domains: large language models powering reasoning and productivity, image generators redefining visual creation, and video tools attempting to automate what was once the most expensive form of content production.

But as capabilities surge, so does confusion. The question is no longer “what can AI do?”—it’s “which tools are actually worth paying for?”

Here’s a grounded look at the current state of AI across its three most important categories, and where real value lies.

The LLM Wars: Power vs Price

Large language models remain the backbone of the AI revolution. Systems like GPT-4o and Claude Opus represent the cutting edge—capable of complex reasoning, long-form writing, coding, and increasingly, multimodal tasks that blend text, images, and audio.

Yet the most important shift in 2026 isn’t raw capability—it’s pricing divergence.

At the top end, frontier models deliver exceptional reasoning and reliability, but at a steep cost. For high-stakes use—legal drafting, advanced engineering, or research synthesis—they’re often worth it. But these use cases represent a minority of real-world demand.

Instead, the center of gravity has moved toward mid-tier models like Claude Sonnet and GPT-4o mini. These systems achieve something closer to a breakthrough than a compromise: near-premium performance at a fraction of the cost. For most business workflows—emails, reports, coding assistance—they are effectively “good enough,” and dramatically cheaper to scale.

At the bottom end, ultra-low-cost models such as Gemini Flash and DeepSeek V3 are reshaping high-volume applications. They lack consistency and depth, but their pricing makes them ideal for bulk generation tasks like summarization, tagging, or first drafts.

The emerging consensus is clear: the smartest users don’t pick one model—they orchestrate several. Cheap models handle volume, while premium ones refine the final output. In practice, that hybrid approach delivers the best return on investment.