Sunday, September 20, 2020

Blog Watching: Week ending September 20, 2020


Civic issues took some prominence over the course of the last seven days, with a range of local themes finding interest for our readers.

Among them our look at the increasing use of Social media by the city and some local politicians to showcase civic initiatives and themes; while at times seeming to not take notice of a growing number of quesitons being asked on those information streams.

The announcement by Stikine MLA and Minister of Forests Doug Donaldson that he will be stepping back from politics at the call of the next election, captured the interest of large volume of our readers this week.

Also finding some interest this week, a surprise temporary pause on plans towards additional housing for the Kootenay/McKay area of Prince Rupert.

The ongoing efforts of law enforcement also captured the attention of our readers this week, the arrest of an escaped suspect in a recent home invasion in the city, with his capture effected in Edmonton, with that city's Police Service working with the Prince Rupert RCMP to bring him back into custody.

Education themes also dominated the week, with our notes on an information program to identify local schools should a COVID situation be reported capturing some interest, as did our notes on the move late in the week by the BCTF to take its restart of school concerns to the Labour Relations Board.

However, when it came to the most read item of the last week, our review of how in a time of limited access to city hall, the increasing use of Social media at times is leaving for some information gaps.

Mayor Brain's Dead Letter Office -- With access to City Hall increasingly becoming more limited and the City making use of Social Media as its main delivery system for information and the push towards those notes they look to put the best light on. However, as  a growing number of residents take to leaving comments on the many posts and updates,  responses which at times seem to get lost in the internet vapour.   (posted  September 14, 2020)

That article was followed by:

Man wanted on range of Prince Rupert charges taken into custody in Edmonton -- Some multi-jurisdictional police work brought an on the lam North Coast resident back into custody in Edmonton, after escaping a correctional facility.    (posted September 14, 2020)

Stikine MLA Doug Donaldson to step away from provincial politics at call of the next election -- As election speculation continues to percolate across BC, long serving MLA Doug Donaldson has announced he won't be seeking re-election at the drop of the writ. His announcement was followed days later by former Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP Nathan Cullen advising that he would be seeking the nomination for the NDP to contest the next election, a quest that could prove contentious in the weeks ahead.  (
posted  September 15, 2020 )

Parents will soon be able to access a COVID check up on their local school -- Northern Health and the school districts of Northern BC will be working together to provide updates on any COVID contacts in the school system, The notes on COVID protocols came in the same week as the BCTF took the Ministry of Education to the Labour Relations Board over the provincial school restart program.  (posted September17, 2020)

BC Housing Kootenay Avenue plans to come back to Council later this year, following proponent's adjustments -- Some feedback from residents of the Kootenay/McKay area have put a pause on the path forward for a proposed expansion of BC housing in the area, with the proponents holding off on presenting their plans further pending a bit more work on the files   (posted September 16, 2020)

You can find our weekly Blog watching feature posted every Sunday morning by 9AM, making for a handy way to catch up to the week that was, at a leisurely weekend pace.

You can also review the full listings of the week just past, from our Blog Archive index page found on the right hand side of the page.

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