More than 90,000 Canadians are living with Multiple Sclerosis, and each one is affected differently.

Canada has the highest incidence rates of MS in the world, and each day, 12 Canadians are diagnosed with MS. Multiple Sclerosis is a neurological disease of the central nervous system which includes the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves.

Its most common symptoms include fatigue, lack of coordination, weakness, tingling, impaired sensation, vision problems, bladder and bowel problems, as well as cognitive and mood changes.

Thanks to the efforts of MS Canada Ambassadors like Fort St. John’s Sherri Mytopher, through fundraisers and awareness campaigns advances are being made in resources, support, education and treatments for people living with MS. Ten million dollars annually goes into research for MS from the MS Walks fundraiser.

Recently, Mytopher told Fort St. John City Council during her April 13 presentation, there have been some big wins for people living with MS.

In November 2025, the province passed Bill 30 – the Employment Standards (Serious Illness or Injury Leave) Amendment Act, which saw improvements to employment standards for anyone with a serious illness, increasing the unpaid job-protected leave to 27 weeks, up from five days paid and three days unpaid leave in a 12-month period.

“This is a huge win for people who have serious illnesses. It was something that was needed. Twenty-seven weeks isn’t a lot of time, especially if you’re travelling for treatments, but it’s better than five days,” Mytopher told Council.

Recent advancements in research have increased what is known about MS, and increased treatment options.

For example, Mytopher reported that recent studies from the University of British Columbia found that MS-related health issues appear 15 years before diagnosis.

“It’s really great that advancements are being made, you know that time is of the essence with MS, because of the progressive nature of the disease.”

Researchers are also working on using blood tests to monitor MS progression in real-time, as opposed to relying on MRI’s which take a lot longer.

Some of these advancements in treatment have benefitted Mytopher, who is not only an advocate, but lives with MS herself.

“On a personal note, I mentioned last year [that] I started a new medication in October 2024, and January 8^th of this year is possibly the last medication that I will ever have to take because of the treatment plan that I was on. It’s really exciting, so we’ll be monitoring that with MRIs over time, if I have severe symptoms – but at this point I am medication and treatment free,” she said.

Councillors Gord Klassen and Byron Stewart thanked Mytopher for her dedication to raising awareness about MS and appreciate her ambassadorship of the program.

“Your personal reveal to us is promising for so many, so I thank you for sharing that,” said Stewart.

Mayor and Council proclaimed May to be MS Awareness Month in Fort St. John, and the MS Canada flag will be flown at City Hall throughout the month.

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From discussions around Artificial Intelligence in permitting, to water security, economic development, education and different types of energy found in the BC Peace Region, attendees had a very full day at the annual Creating Energy Conference in Fort St. John.

This year, the conference went beyond information, discussion and networking, when Rob van Adrichem, Patricia Lightburn and Ryan Gander, during their Renewable Energy 101 session provided an opportunity for hands-on experimentation with wind and solar power.

Half the attendees built and tested miniature solar panels, while the other half took up the challenge of assembling and testing wind turbines. Framed as a competition, groups worked to determine how to get the most power out of their experiments. The “winner” being the group whose model generated the most electricity.

The group I was in was one of those that was assigned the task of building a wind turbine, and determining which permutations produced the most electricity. We were given three different sizes of “turbine blades” and tried different arrangements, while measuring the output with a multimeter. The wind was provided via a box fan.

Once the official experiment was completed, we had some time left and our group’s biologist-turned-engineer for the experiment, egged on by others in the group, built a Franken-bine, using every blade available. It caught a lot of wind, but suffered a catastrophic failure, dropping blades all over the table. Clearly, there’s a good reason why real wind turbines only have three blades. Not twelve.

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Volunteers have long been the backbone of the North Peace, making everything from kids’ sports to community crime prevention, to cultural activities possible. But in recent years, the number of people giving their time to run events and organisations in the region has declined, even leading to some of these long-standing features of the community disappearing.

But the City of Fort St. John has a plan to reignite volunteerism in the community, by launching the first ever Volunteer Month.

In a presentation to Council on March 23, City staff described their plan and asked that Council proclaim April 2026 Volunteer Month in the city.

“In Fort St. John, volunteer contributions are woven into everyday community life. Often quietly, and often without formal recognition,” Corporate Officer Bonnie McCue told Council.

“Fort St. John has a strong tradition of community involvement, with residents giving their time and skills to support local organisations, events and services. However, like many communities across Canada, volunteer participation has been changing in recent years,” Economic Development Manager Stephanie Peters added.

Some of those changes include what Northern BC Crime Stoppers’ president Kyle MacDonald described as the “aging out” of volunteers, in an interview with the broken typewriter in January. MacDonald discussed the reasons that the Fort St. John and District Crime Stoppers folded in 2020. Covid and the aging out, he said, were the top reasons.

Other organisations have seen this too. People who started volunteering as young people for whichever activity or service group they were interested in, aren’t being replaced by the younger generations.

In some organisations, presidents are staying on for years after they planned to step down, but don’t, because they want to make sure that the events, organisations and activities that make our community what it is continue without interruption. While some events, like the Fort St. John Rodeo, disappeared for a time.

“As community needs and the ways people choose to give back continue to evolve, there are opportunities to refresh how to recognise volunteers and encourage participation,” Peters said.

Volunteer Month is an opportunity to celebrate community contributions, highlight local stories and encourage participation “in ways that fit people’s lives,” McCue said.

The City hopes to ignite volunteerism by “celebrating the incredible efforts already happening in Fort St. John.

“Volunteers contribute in big and small ways every day, supporting local organisations, events, emergency responses, recreation and community services that many of us rely on,” said McCue.

By focussing on celebrating volunteer impact in the community, City staff plan to lead by example with staff stories and inviting community stories of volunteerism and highlighting the personal benefits of volunteering.

“This is an opportunity to build community and community connection. Rather than focussing on long-term commitments, the invitation to ignite volunteerism emphasises flexibility and choice, helping residents see that volunteering can fit different interests, schedules and stages of life,” said Communications Manager, Ryan Harvey.

“Overall, the message is clear. Volunteering enriches lives and our community. Both for the people who give their time, and for the community as a whole. Everyone can participate in a way that works for them.”

With the snow melting, one of the first opportunities of Spring to get out and make a difference in the community, is during Pitch-In Week, which runs from April 19 to 25. Earth Day lands smack in the middle of the week and helping preserve our environment by pitching in to clean up the roadside debris, is a good way to give back to the community.

Anyone interested in participating in Pitch-In Week, is asked to register by April 10 by following this link. There is a lot of snow out there still, and although the City is hoping it will be gone by April 19, staff is prepared to push the Pitch-In day back if necessary.

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On March 23, Council proclaimed April 5 – 11, 2026 as National Dental Hygiene Week, following a presentation from three local dental hygienists; Michelle Foster, Nikki Curlew, and Tammy Gulevich.

The trio spoke to Council about the importance of dental hygiene, emphasising the benefits of oral health on whole-body health and the need for better access to dental care for seniors in the community.

“Dental hygienists are often the first line of prevention,” Gulevich told Council. “We can often detect early signs of oral disease, systemic health concerns and changes that can impact quality of life.”

Research shows that there are strong links between oral health and other conditions like heart disease, diabetes and respiratory illness, Gulevich continued.

“What happens in the mouth, truly does affect the rest of the body.”

Dental hygienists in work in a variety of settings in Fort St. John, from private and independent practices; to schools and community programs; long-term care facilities; and mobile outreach programs. These different ways of providing oral health care enables hygienists to “meet people where they are, whether that’s in the dental chair, a care facility or in their own home.”

Prevention, through proper dental care, can not only reduce disease, but stress and healthcare costs as well.

“Oral health is essential at every stage of life, from the first tooth to our later years,” Curlew said. “[National Dental Hygiene Week] also reminds us that access to care, compassion and education matter just as much as clinical skill.

“We are proud to work collaboratively as dental hygiene practices in this community. Though we each operate our own business, we believe strongly in supporting one another in supporting Fort St. John together.”

The proclamation recognizes the important work of Canada’s 31,000+ dental hygienists and highlights the critical link between good oral health and overall health.

“As dental hygienists we are passionate about creating healthy smiles, but more importantly, healthy people,” Curlew concluded.

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Wondering what to do with your natural Christmas tree now that the New Year is upon us? The City and the Peace River Regional District have a few choices for you.

The PRRD is taking trees for disposal at all landfills and Tier 1 transfer stations. Trees disposed of at the landfills will be chipped, mixed with soil and used to cover the waste.

If you have access to a shredder, you can also chip or shred your tree yourself to use as backyard compost, a post on the PRRD’s Facebook page noted.

As it does every year, the City of Fort St. John is also collecting natural Christmas trees, and this year as in recent years, the city is recycling them to be used during February’s Winter Fest (formerly the High on Ice Winter Festival). If you would like to give your natural Christmas tree a second life in Winter Fest, please drop it off at Centennial Park, between the Parkour Play Area and the Museum by January 9.

Make sure that your tree is free of decorations, including tinsel and plastic bags before dropping it off.

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Dozens of floats and hundreds of residents turned out on Saturday evening for Fort St. John’s annual Christmas Parade, with families lining the route down 100 Street from 108th Avenue to the Pool well before the parade started, in temperatures that “felt like” -30°C.

Unfortunately, some spectators were sprayed with flamethrower fuel when Eagle Vision’s Flamethrower truck malfunctioned. EV is taking the truck out of service pending a review of what happened and repairs, to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

A minor glitch was the Tree Lighting, which didn’t light up when Mayor Lilia Hansen reached the end of her countdown, but it lit up moments later, to the cheers of the hardy spectators! Other than those two things, some cold noses and toes, the event went off with its usual success.

the broken typewriter was there - with very cold toes, time for some new boots! - and captured a few pictures.

Parade Winners were: 1st Place JDA Ventures Ltd.; 2nd Place Enbridge; and 3rd Place Surerus Pipeline Inc.

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The Fort St. John and District Chamber of Commerce welcomed new board members last week during the swearing-in ceremony held at the Chamber’s offices on 99th Avenue.

The Board of Directors for 2026 are:

• President - Deena Del Giusto

• Vice-President - Jamie Williams

• Treasurer - Leanne Johnson

• Past President - Vince van Wieringen

Directors:

Alisha Cobbett, Micah Sanchez, Forrest Liddicoat, Darin Hancock and new to the board this year, directors Claire Abbott, Ben McCord and Natasha Scott.

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The Fort St. John Hospital Foundation has been making a difference in the health and well-being of residents for decades now, holding a variety of fundraisers to assist in the purchase of much-needed medical equipment for the Fort St. John Hospital and the Peace Villa Residential Care centre.

Kelly Amboe, Executive Director and Emily Olson, Community Giving and Event Coordinator for the FSJ Foundation recently gave a presentation to Fort St. John City Council and the District of Taylor’s Council asking each to proclaim November as Be An Angel Month, as the recognition by these communities has helped the Foundation engage the community, foster collaboration and inspire participation throughout the years.

Through their efforts, and the generous contributions of residents and businesses in the community, the Foundation has raised over $20 million in support of local healthcare. Items purchased over the years for the hospital and Peace Villa range from dialysis chairs, wheelchairs and Butterfly tables; to ultrasound machines, a bone density scanner, a blood fridge and most recently, the MALDI machine, as well as ongoing cancer treatment equipment and pediatric equipment.

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The various public art projects around Fort St. John were already standouts, but this weekend’s snowfall is likely to showcase them even further as their bright, vibrant colours pop out of the snow now blanketing the city.

Throughout the summer the City and other organizations sponsored public art installations around the community. From the Bike Rack Design Artist Call launched in 2024, which invited local artists and students to submit concepts for functional public art; to the Utility Box Art Wrap Program which sought designs from local artists reflecting the community’s people and places; to the Treaty 8 Mural painted by Dawson Creek Cree artist Alisa Parenteau; to the downtown mural on the wall of the Moose FM studio painted by Artist in Residence Francine Freeman-Wedrat with the help of two emerging artists Simone Olanski and Sophie Zaldy these works of art will showcase our local talent for years to come.

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Three career fire fighters were recognized at last week’s Regular Council meeting for not only their years of service, but for their dedication to the community, to promoting fire safety, fire prevention activities and leadership in the department and the community.

Alyn Stobbe joined the Fire Department in May 2010, rising to the role of Lieutenant-Fire Inspector in 2014.

Throughout his tenure, Stobbe has been dedicated to promoting fire safety throughout the community, working diligently to inspect both commercial and residential buildings, and taking time to educate owners, occupants, residents and managers about the importance of fire safety.

Marco D’Agostino began his career with the Fort St. John Fire Department in March 2000, and in April 2014 was promoted to Suppression Captain before moving into his current role of Captain of Fire Prevention in 2016.

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A coincidental text message from a Fort St. John resident led to a discussion about blocked railway crossings during a Canadian National Railway representative’s Rail Safety Week presentation and proclamation request.

CN Railway’s Transportation Manager, Shawn Lussier, asked Council to proclaim September 15 – 21 as Rail Safety Week in Fort St. John, which aims to draw attention to the need for public caution on and around tracks and crossings to prevent avoidable injuries and deaths.

In 2024, there were 261 railway crossing and trespassing incidents in Canada, which led to 68 avoidable fatalities and 58 avoidable serious injuries, according to a presentation given to Fort St. John City Council at its September 8 regular meeting.

For two decades, CN has partnered with Operation Lifesaver Canada (OL) to raise public awareness about the dangers surrounding railway crossing and trespassing on railway property, Lussier told Council.

“Through collaborative efforts and community engagement, we strive to foster a culture of rail safety and prevent accidents across our network,” he said. “By looking out for each other and working together, we can help keep our communities safe and prevent injuries and fatalities on and near the railway property.”

Councillor Gord Klassen relayed a concern from a resident about the blocking of 100 Avenue at the railway crossing with a parked train, a concern he had coincidentally just received via text message.

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For the eighteenth year, the City of Fort St. John celebrated and honoured the outstanding contributions of community members to their community.

The annual awards recognize the efforts of individuals, youth, businesses and non-profit organizations that make Fort St. John a vibrant and caring community. This year’s nominees and winners all embody the spirit of service, leadership, pride in and commitment to their community.

“We congratulate all the nominees for their dedication to Fort St. John and for playing such an important role in shaping the heart of our community,” Mayor Lilia Hansen said.

Citizen of the Year

Leading by example, with their commitment to Fort St. John and surrounding area spanning decades, Jim and Margaret Little have had both a far-reaching and deep impact on the community.

From serving as president of the Peace River North Teachers’ Association to her current role as president of Save Our Northern Seniors, Margaret’s dedication to advocating for her fellow community members is an inspiration.

Jim has been by Margaret’s side throughout, from his career with BC Lands, wildlife and land advocacy to serving as a director with SONS.

The pair have advocated for the third house at Peace Villa for many years and created a mini-health guide which has become a trusted resource for families navigating senior care.

The Littles believe in meaningful action and have proven their dedication through their service to these groups and countless local and provincial organizations.

Their involvement touches almost every facet of our community, including roles with Aging in Place, the Fort St. John Senior’s Task Force, FSJ-NP Museum, the FSJ Public Library, North Peace 4-H, the North Peace Rod & Gun Club and Northeast Immigrant Services.

Non-profit Award

Tending the Memorial Rose Garden and running the gift shop at the hospital are just some of the things the Fort St. John Hospital Auxiliary does to make visits and stays at the hospital and Peace Villa more pleasant for everyone.

Through the gift shop, the Hospital Auxiliary raises funds to support various hospital initiatives. They also host a variety of programs to benefit individual patients and the hospital community, including the Comfort Cart, which offers complimentary snacks and drinks to patients and staff in the Emergency Room.

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Pioneer of the Year

The Pioneer of the Year was awarded to two couples this year - Arthur and Laurel Hadland, and Gary and Vickie Hettrick and both couples have been involved in both agriculture and the community at large for decades, lending a hand where needed.

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August 31 is “a day to honour those we’ve, support those still struggling and recognize the resilience of the individuals affected by this crisis,” Heather Boswell, from Moms Stop the Harm and a Healing Hearts facilitator told Fort St. John city council on Monday.

Boswell and Hailey Testawich of Nenan Dane-Zaa Family Services gave a short presentation to council on August 11, asking that August 31 be proclaimed Overdose Awareness Day.

For the past six years, the Fort St. John Community Action Team (FSJ CAT) has organized activities to raise awareness about the overdose crisis, highlighting the need for continued outreach and education.

Since 2016, some 49,000 Canadians have died from a drug overdose, said Testawich.

“Each one a person with a story, a family, a community in mourning.”

This is a crisis which has hit Indigenous people particularly hard, and in 2024 First Nations people died at 6.7 times the rate of other BC residents.

“Here in Fort St. John, we do have a drug crisis. The impact is severe, especially in our community,” she said.

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The pickleball courts were full at Kin Park on Saturday afternoon as enthusiasts of the sport gathered to enjoy a game or two and celebrate National Pickleball Day.

The City of Fort St. John and Peace Country Pickleball Association were on hand at Kin Park to help anyone who wanted lessons, as well as hosting drop-in pickleball games.

For those who haven’t heard of pickleball, it’s a sport that was invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington, created with leftover equipment from wiffle ball, on a badminton court using paddleball paddles and a tennis-height net.

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Panners from near and far headed to Taylor this past BC Day Long Weekend, to try their hands at panning for gold in the World's Invitational Gold Panning Championships.

With both adult and juvenile categories for most of the events, there was something for everyone, including a demonstration booth where people could learn to pan, as MLA Jordan Kealy did prior to his panning debut in Celebrity/Sponsor/Media event on August 2.

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After kicking off Canada Day celebrations with a pancake breakfast at the Fire Hall, the fun continued with the annual parade from the North Peace Seniors Housing complex on 108th Avenue down 100 Street to Centennial Park, where more festivities awaited the public.

The parade was made up of floats of all descriptions from local businesses and community groups, and featured some of the large and unique vehicles in the Peace Region, from Willms’ combine, to a North Peace Airport fire truck, to a Monster Truck and Eagle Vision’s fire truck, featuring an enormous Canadian flag. It wasn’t just large vehicles in the parade.

Some of the most unique vehicles were the tiny ones, like the Shriner’s Tin Lizzies and a minature John Deere tractor pulled along by one of it’s larger counterparts. There were also scooters, motorcyles, classic cars and trucks, and a selection of tractors from 1937 to modern times.

Local politicians got in on the act as well, with decorated vehicles, a float bearing members of city council, while MP Bob Zimmer walked the parade route handing out candy.

Although there were no fireworks again this year, due to the fire restrictions, there were plenty of things to do at Centennial Park throughout the day, from the Farmer’s Market to music from the Northwinds Community Band, and a variety of activities for the kids.

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