Latest news with #RadioWest
CBC
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- CBC
Brian Thomas Isaac says the follow-up to his award-winning debut novel mirrors his own life
Social Sharing It's the summer of 1968 and 16-year-old Lewis Toma is spending the summer with his cousins while his mom picks fruit in the United States. It's a summer of firsts — living in a home with more modern conveniences, like a hot shower, and drinking beer and eating greasy chicken while listening to rock 'n' roll music. This all happens two years after Lewis's brother disappeared. That's the situation in Syilx writer Brian Thomas Isaac's new book, Bones of a Giant, the sequel to his award-winning debut novel All the Quiet Places. Bones of a Giant mirrors his life, Isaac told CBC's Radio West host Sarah Penton. Growing up on the Okanagan Indian Reserve, he said he and his mother and grandmother were isolated. "There was nobody up there. Nobody. We lived in a house with basically the whole world to ourselves. It was lonely, but then we got used to it." When he had to leave his home and go to school for the first time, he was terrified. "It's like going to Mars to me, you know? I didn't know what to expect and it was scary." He left school in Grade 8, because Isaac said he couldn't take the racism, and became a labourer. At 18, Isaac left his home in B.C. for northern Alberta to work in the oil patch for two years. He returned to his community with a nice new car, but missed the money he was making up north, so left again. When it didn't work out, he returned back to the Okanagan. He was a bricklayer for many years before he became a writer — at age 70. "When I was really young, I wrote a lot of poetry," Isaac said. While working on fixing up a home he and his wife had bought, he sat down and he started writing. Before he knew it, he had the makings of a novel. "I didn't know how to write," he said. "I read for two years the best books I could get my hands on, and it kind of came through me, you know, like osmosis and then I finished the book. I got a great editor. She was just amazing, taught me so much." 36 Canadian books you should be reading in May Isaac describes his first book as "cleansing," but said Bones of a Giant was much more fun to write. "Friday nights my wife and I would, in the old days, we'd read little short stories to each other for fun," he said. "Now, we sit around and I read my week's work and we have great laughs and discussions. She's amazing to bounce ideas off." In his writing, his intention is to show that First Nations people are just that — people. "We all have pains and we all have tears," Isaac said. "I really wanted people to experience what it's like to walk right beside someone, to walk them through the whole book."
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Duty-free shop owner says his B.C. business is a hostage in cross-border economic war
Cameron Bissonnette, a second-generation duty-free shop owner in Osoyoos, B.C., is facing the harsh reality that his business may no longer be viable for the next generation of his family. His son and daughter, in their early and mid-20s, have expressed interest in taking over, but that, he says, now seems unlikely. "I don't think there's going to be much here for us, so [they're] going to have to strike their own path," he told CBC's Radio West. Bissonnette, himself, is also looking ahead, pivoting to a different career in real estate finance. "I am starting on a [fresh] path... because I could see the writing on the wall," he said. His family's business, located near the U.S. border south of Osoyoos, has relied on cross-border shoppers since the 1980s, when his parents first obtained a permit to open duty-free shops in B.C., one in Osoyoos and another in the East Kootenays. For years, the business thrived, Bissonnette says, but the pandemic and growing political tensions between the U.S. and Canada have taken a shop owner says he feels his business is being held "hostage" to the "economic warfare" between the two countries, as many Canadians opt to avoid travelling south of the border. He says customers are scarce—some days, fewer than a dozen people walk through the door. On one occasion, the only visitor to the store came to process a refund, leaving the shop with what he called a "negative $67 day." The store, which once employed about 15 staff members, now operates with just three after multiple layoffs. Bissonnette had to fight back tears as he recounted his struggles during a virtual news conference on Friday, where some border business owners and mayors from Canadian border towns warned of the growing financial strain on their communities. A duty-free shop owner in Osoyoos, B.C., which has been operating since the 1980s, might soon be closing for good as the business struggles amid rising U.S.-Canada tensions. (Google street view) Osoyoos Mayor Sue McKortoff was one of eight mayors at the event, part of the Border Mayors Alliance, a coalition spanning the length of the Canada-U.S. border. The alliance aims to provide a unified municipal voice in international discussions and advocate for policies that safeguard border communities. "The duty free is one of the best businesses in town. They've been very supportive of the town. They've hired people in the town," McKortoff said. The province has been talking of boycotts and taking reciprocal action against the threat of American tariffs on Canadian exports, with B.C. Premier David Eby recently cancelling his family trip to Disneyland and urging British Columbaisn to avoid travelling to the states. WATCH | Peace Arch duty-free shop owner struggles to stay afloat: Recent data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection shows a sharp decline in cross-border travel, with nearly 500,000 fewer travellers crossing into the U.S. in February compared to the same month last year. Similarly, data from the Whatcom Council of Governments shows that the number of B.C. drivers heading south through the Peace Arch border crossing in Surrey has dropped by about 25 per cent compared to 2024. McKortoff says border communities like Osoyoos, a town of about 5,500, is feeling the squeeze with fewer Canadians crossing south. Barbara Barrett, executive director of the Frontier Duty Free Association (FDFA), warns that Canada's 32 duty-free stores—spread across seven provinces—are at risk of closure. "The businesses are facing literal demise," Barrett said. "And all of this after still not being recovered from the 20-month-long border closure during the pandemic." Businesses near the U.S.-Canada border at Osoyoos, the south Okanagan city of about 5,500, are struggling as fewer Canadians are travelling south, says Mayor Sue McKortoff. (Thomas Popyk/CBC) According to a 2024 FDFA report, duty-free stores contribute approximately $35 million in taxes annually and invest more than $60 million in local economies. Now, the FDFA and the Border Mayors Alliance are calling on the federal government to provide targeted financial support to help border communities weather the crisis. Bissonnette says he hopes Ottawa will forgive loans from the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) program, which many border businesses relied on during the COVID-19 pandemic. He's also pushing for interest-free loans and grants to help keep his business afloat. Without assistance, he warns, the Osoyoos duty-free shop — and others like it — may not survive. "It's getting to a point where you have to have a real moment of reckoning," he said. "I never thought I'd have to seriously consider closing this business down."
CBC
23-03-2025
- Business
- CBC
Duty-free shop owner says his B.C. business is a hostage in cross-border economic war
Social Sharing Cameron Bissonnette, a second-generation duty-free shop owner in Osoyoos, B.C., is facing the harsh reality that his business may no longer be viable for the next generation of his family. His son and daughter, in their early and mid-20s, have expressed interest in taking over, but that, he says, now seems unlikely. "I don't think there's going to be much here for us, so [they're] going to have to strike their own path," he told CBC's Radio West. Bissonnette, himself, is also looking ahead, pivoting to a different career in real estate finance. "I am starting on a [fresh] path... because I could see the writing on the wall," he said. His family's business, located near the U.S. border south of Osoyoos, has relied on cross-border shoppers since the 1980s, when his parents first obtained a permit to open duty-free shops in B.C., one in Osoyoos and another in the East Kootenays. For years, the business thrived, Bissonnette says, but the pandemic and growing political tensions between the U.S. and Canada have taken a toll. WATCH | Bissonnette describes the pain of likely loss of family business: Duty-free shop owner breaks down in tears over struggle to keep business going during trade war 2 days ago Duration 1:11 A second-generation Osoyoos, B.C., duty-free shop owner said he is struggling to keep his business afloat amid Trump's trade war with Canada. With cross-border traffic down, Cameron Bissonnette said he doesn't know how much longer he'll be able to pay his staff. The shop owner says he feels his business is being held "hostage" to the "economic warfare" between the two countries, as many Canadians opt to avoid travelling south of the border. He says customers are scarce—some days, fewer than a dozen people walk through the door. On one occasion, the only visitor to the store came to process a refund, leaving the shop with what he called a "negative $67 day." The store, which once employed about 15 staff members, now operates with just three after multiple layoffs. Bissonnette had to fight back tears as he recounted his struggles during a virtual news conference on Friday, where some border business owners and mayors from Canadian border towns warned of the growing financial strain on their communities. Osoyoos Mayor Sue McKortoff was one of eight mayors at the event, part of the Border Mayors Alliance, a coalition spanning the length of the Canada-U.S. border. The alliance aims to provide a unified municipal voice in international discussions and advocate for policies that safeguard border communities. "The duty free is one of the best businesses in town. They've been very supportive of the town. They've hired people in the town," McKortoff said. The province has been talking of boycotts and taking reciprocal action against the threat of American tariffs on Canadian exports, with B.C. Premier David Eby recently cancelling his family trip to Disneyland and urging British Columbaisn to avoid travelling to the states. WATCH | Peace Arch duty-free shop owner struggles to stay afloat: Surrey duty-free shop caught in the crossfire of U.S.-Canada trade war 18 days ago Duration 2:30 The trade war between Canada and the United States is now underway. A major border retailer in Surrey says its workers are caught in the crossfire. As Shaurya Kshatri reports, business groups are bracing for tough decisions, from layoffs to higher prices and British Columbians may soon feel the impact Recent data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection shows a sharp decline in cross-border travel, with nearly 500,000 fewer travellers crossing into the U.S. in February compared to the same month last year. Similarly, data from the Whatcom Council of Governments shows that the number of B.C. drivers heading south through the Peace Arch border crossing in Surrey has dropped by about 25 per cent compared to 2024. McKortoff says border communities like Osoyoos, a town of about 5,500, is feeling the squeeze with fewer Canadians crossing south. Barbara Barrett, executive director of the Frontier Duty Free Association (FDFA), warns that Canada's 32 duty-free stores—spread across seven provinces—are at risk of closure. "The businesses are facing literal demise," Barrett said. "And all of this after still not being recovered from the 20-month-long border closure during the pandemic." According to a 2024 FDFA report, duty-free stores contribute approximately $35 million in taxes annually and invest more than $60 million in local economies. Now, the FDFA and the Border Mayors Alliance are calling on the federal government to provide targeted financial support to help border communities weather the crisis. Bissonnette says he hopes Ottawa will forgive loans from the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) program, which many border businesses relied on during the COVID-19 pandemic. He's also pushing for interest-free loans and grants to help keep his business afloat. Without assistance, he warns, the Osoyoos duty-free shop — and others like it — may not survive. "It's getting to a point where you have to have a real moment of reckoning," he said. "I never thought I'd have to seriously consider closing this business down."
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Canadian men's curling championship returns to Kelowna, B.C., for 1st time in decades
It was already busy at the local curling club on Monday, as curlers from across the country arrived in Kelowna, B.C., for this year's Brier tournament. "It's crazy down here," Kelowna Curling Club general manager Jock Tyre told CBC's Radio West host Sarah Penton Monday afternoon. "I'm very excited." The Brier, Canada's annual men's curling championship, will be held at Kelowna's Prospera Place downtown, but teams from the East Coast arrived early, adjusting to the time zone and practising for their first draw. The 2025 Brier kicks off in Kelowna, B.C., on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press) The tournament kicks off Friday, with draws [or games] at 6:30 p.m. Teams from 10 provinces and three territories, along with a few additional teams, will compete for the title of Canada's best men's curling team. The winning team will also go on to represent Canada at the World Curling Championships, which will be played on home ice this year in Moose Jaw, Sask. Tyre, who worked on the bid to bring the tournament to B.C.'s Interior, said the local curling community has been buzzing with anticipation. "The community has been starving for it since 1968," he said, noting the last time the tournament was played in Kelowna. A parade celebrating competing provinces was held in Kelowna on Feb. 27 to start the host city ceremonies for the 2025 Brier. (Tom Popyk/CBC) Not only does the Brier draw local fans and teams from across Canada, but it also brings a crowd of curling fans from far and wide. "You get people that have been coming for, it feels like, 100 years," Tyre said. "People make a habit of coming to the Brier or the Scotties every single year. It's amazing to see those people, and they collect pins, and they wear T-shirts, and they've got banners and flags and costumes." As part of the festivities, a fan space called the Original 16 Patch is set up at the Delta Grand Hotel near Prospera Place, with live entertainment and food and drink options. B.C. band 54-40 will be performing Friday night to kick things off. "The curlers come in, and they do a little thing called Up Close & Personal [where they] go up on the stage and have some interviews," Tyre said. "It's just an incredible feeling. It's people that truly love the game of curling and are willing to travel across the country for it." For those heading to the tournament in the coming days, Tyre is reminding people the downtown core is going to be busy and advises locals to consider taking the bus into town. According to Curling Canada's website, regularly scheduled transit services are free for anyone who shows their tickets or event ID to bus drivers throughout the week, as long as there's space on the bus. Cawston Avenue will be closed to vehicle traffic between Water Street and Cannery Lane starting at 6 a.m. PT today, until 6 a.m. PT on Monday, March 10, according to the City of Kelowna. The tournament runs from now until March 9. Some tickets are still available.
CBC
28-02-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Canadian men's curling championship returns to Kelowna, B.C., for 1st time in decades
It was already busy at the local curling club on Monday, as curlers from across the country arrived in Kelowna, B.C., for this year's Brier tournament. "It's crazy down here," Kelowna Curling Club general manager Jock Tyre told CBC's Radio West host Sarah Penton Monday afternoon. "I'm very excited." The Brier, Canada's annual men's curling championship, will be held at Kelowna's Prospera Place downtown, but teams from the East Coast arrived early, adjusting to the time zone and practising for their first draw. The tournament kicks off Friday, with draws [or games] at 6:30 p.m. Teams from 10 provinces and three territories, along with a few additional teams, will compete for the title of Canada's best men's curling team. The winning team will also go on to represent Canada at the World Curling Championships, which will be played on home ice this year in Moose Jaw, Sask. Tyre, who worked on the bid to bring the tournament to B.C.'s Interior, said the local curling community has been buzzing with anticipation. "The community has been starving for it since 1968," he said, noting the last time the tournament was played in Kelowna. Not only does the Brier draw local fans and teams from across Canada, but it also brings a crowd of curling fans from far and wide. "You get people that have been coming for, it feels like, 100 years," Tyre said. "People make a habit of coming to the Brier or the Scotties every single year. It's amazing to see those people, and they collect pins, and they wear T-shirts, and they've got banners and flags and costumes." As part of the festivities, a fan space called the Original 16 Patch is set up at the Delta Grand Hotel near Prospera Place, with live entertainment and food and drink options. B.C. band 54-40 will be performing Friday night to kick things off. "The curlers come in, and they do a little thing called Up Close & Personal [where they] go up on the stage and have some interviews," Tyre said. "It's just an incredible feeling. It's people that truly love the game of curling and are willing to travel across the country for it." For those heading to the tournament in the coming days, Tyre is reminding people the downtown core is going to be busy and advises locals to consider taking the bus into town. According to Curling Canada's website, regularly scheduled transit services are free for anyone who shows their tickets or event ID to bus drivers throughout the week, as long as there's space on the bus. Cawston Avenue will be closed to vehicle traffic between Water Street and Cannery Lane starting at 6 a.m. PT today, until 6 a.m. PT on Monday, March 10, according to the City of Kelowna.
