The BC Public Service Agency says it has finalized its policy regarding proof of COVID-19 vaccination for all direct government employees. The policy requires any employee working for the BC Public Service, whether at home or in the office, to be fully vaccinated by November 22nd. Guidelines have also been updated to require contractors and others using employee-only areas of indoor public-service workplaces to be fully vaccinated by Dec. 13, although this order does not apply to members of the public using those same spaces. The agency says employees with just one COVID-19 shot may be offere

International delegates attending a UN climate convention underway in Glasgow were reminded of images of homes burning and people fleeing from the Fraser Canyon community of Lytton as a wildfire levelled it in just hours on June 30th. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau discussed the fate of the village during his opening address to the COP-26 climate convention in Scotland. Trudeau noted an all-time Canadian high temperature of 49.6 degrees Celsius was set in Lytton just one day before the flames broke out. He reminded other world leaders that ``what happened in Lytton can, has and will happen any

The BC Coroners Service has released updated numbers showing 595 people died in the province during extreme heat events over the summer. That's an increase from the 569 deaths confirmed by the coroners service at the end of July. A statement from the coroner and the Ministry of Public Safety says all the deaths are being investigated and reports on each fatality should be complete by early 2022. Chief coroner Lisa Lapointe says by identifying patterns and factors in each of the deaths, the province will be ``in a better position to prevent future similar tragedies.'' The release says 526 of t

Vancouver police are investigating the city's 14th homicide of 2021 after initially responding to a weekend car crash. They say one man is dead and two others are in hospital with serious injuries connected to the vehicle incident on the south side of Vancouver. Investigators say they suspect the three men were driving in the same vehicle when they were involved in a confrontation with people in another vehicle. Police say they're looking for dash-camera footage and witnesses who were in the area of Main and Fraser Streets between 41st and 57th avenues on Saturday night.

Alberta is on track to have its deadliest year for opioid deaths. The latest numbers released by the province show that, onaverage, four people a day die from overdoses across Alberta. The numbers have been on the rise since May 2020, when overdosedeaths jumped 45 per cent. Since then, more than 100 people have died each month

Vancouver police are investigating the death of a woman following an alleged hit-and-run incident. They say the 66 year old woman was walking near East Broadway and Commercial Drive Saturday night when she was struck by a vehicle that didn't stop. Investigators say the suspect vehicle was located in east Vancouver and a 30 year old Surrey man was arrested. Police haven't released the names of the victim or suspect. VPD believes the woman was struck by a man driving a silver Acura TL, which failed to stop or render assistance following the collision. Speed and alcohol are possible factors.

City of Calgary employees are now required to disclose whether they have received their COVID-19 shots. The employees must also upload proof of vaccination. Some exemptions are being provided, but those who aren't fully protected must participate in free rapid-testing from November 1st to December 1st. Employees will be required to cover the cost of their own rapid tests if they are not fully vaccinated by December.

R-C-M-P in northern Alberta say they've arrested a teen who allegedly pretended to be a police officer. Mounties in Grande Prairie say they were called Friday night about an older model Ford Explorer with red-and-blue lights on the dashboard, that pulled over a vehicle. They say an adult male suspect who was wearing a uniform shirt approached the vehicle and reportedly told the driver it was all a joke, and then drove off. An 18-year-old male from Grande Prairie is charged with personating a peace officer, and will appear in provincial court on November 24th.

More than five-million people around the world have now died of COVID-19.Experts say that grim number is likely an undercount, because of limited testing and people dying at home.It's a crisis that has not only devastated poor countries but also humbled wealthy ones.The United States alone has recorded over 745-thousand lives lost, more than any other nation.Together, the U-S, the European Union, Britain and Brazil account for one-eighth of the world's population but nearly half of all reported deaths.