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tubing-accident-survivor-recalls-clinging-for-her-life
WorldJun 23, 2021

Tubing accident survivor recalls clinging for her life

One of four survivors of a deadly tubing accident said by the time her family saw the dam on the Dan River, it was too late. Irene Villano told news outlets they hadn't seen any signs warning of the 8-foot-high Duke Energy dam when they heard water rushing. Villano says she was the last in the group of nine relatives to go over the dam. Villano, her father, her older brother and cousin had their tubes around them and they clung to the dam for 20 hours and waited. The next afternoon, a Duke Energy employee spotted them and called 911. Duke Energy says there were two warning signs and the compa
premier-john-horgan-remembers-the-passengers-and-crew-of-air-india-flight-192
BCJun 23, 2021

Premier John Horgan remembers the passengers and crew of Air India Flight 182

Premier John Horgan is remembering the 329 passengers and crew killed 36 years ago today when a bomb blew apart Air India Flight 192 over the Atlantic Ocean. 280 of those aboard were Canadian, many of them from BC, and the bombing remains the worst terrorist attack and mass murder in this country's history. A statement from Horgan's office says we remember all Canadians whose lives have been disrupted by terrorism, including the four members of a family from London, Ontario, slain for their Muslim faith earlier this month. Horgan says anyone, especially anyone with privilege, who has never be
BCJun 23, 2021

Armed standoff in Richmond ends peacefully

An armed standoff that shut down part of a Richmond neighbourhood for several hours ended peacefully. The Lower Mainland Emergency Response Team and Richmond RCMP were called yesterday by bailiffs trying to enforce a Supreme Court order to remove a man from a residence. Police say the bailiffs reported the man came out on a second-storey balcony and fired several shots into the air. A negotiator was called and the man left the house peacefully about four hours after the standoff began. Richmond RCMP on Twitter: 1. Officers attending incident in East Richmond. Avoid the area. Police situation
rcmp-arrest-11-people-at-blockades-against-old-growth-logging-on-vancouver-island
BCJun 23, 2021

RCMP arrest 11 people at blockades against old-growth logging on Vancouver Island

RCMP have arrested another 11 people at blockades set up to prevent old-growth logging on southwestern Vancouver Island. The Mounties were enforcing an injunction ordering the people off land in the Braden Mainline Forest Service Road area near Port Renfrew. All 11 were charged with breaching the injunction, with one person also arrested for designing and building the locking devices which are actively being used to breach the injunction. The RCMP began enforcing a B.C. Supreme Court injunction on May 17 ordering the removal of blockades and protesters at several sites. Since then, 271 people
renew-relationship-with-indigenous-peoples-without-trying-to-cancel-canada-otoole
CanadaJun 23, 2021

Renew relationship with Indigenous Peoples without trying to 'cancel' Canada: O'Toole

Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole says he's committed to a renewed nation-to-nation relationship with Indigenous Peoples, but stands firm against so-called activist efforts to ``cancel'' Canada, particularly on July 1.O'Toole offered his insights on the moment the country finds itself in to members of his caucus and staff gathered in Ottawa before the House of Commons breaks for summer.He called the discovery in British Columbia of what are believed to be the remains of 215 Indigenous children from a former residential school ``a necessary awakening for our country.'' O'Toole pledged that a gov
n-s-protest-against-covid-travel-rules-blocks-highway-on-boundary-with-new-brunswick
CanadaJun 23, 2021

N.S. protest against COVID travel rules blocks highway on boundary with New Brunswick

Police say traffic is at a standstill today along the Trans-Canada Highway at Nova Scotia's boundary with New Brunswick as a protest continues over COVID-19 travel restrictions.Nova Scotia RCMP Cpl. Chris Marshall says traffic was shut down in both directions overnight after a protest that began Tuesday at Exit 7 near the Cobequid Pass moved to the border area outside Amherst, N.S. Marshall says police are hoping to begin talks with the protesters to get the highway reopened.The protest began after the Nova Scotia government announced that starting today, travellers from New Brunswick will ne
india-slams-pakistan-at-unhrc-over-forced-religious-conversions
IndiaJun 23, 2021

India slams Pakistan at UNHRC over forced religious conversions

While addressing the 47th session of UNHRC, First Secretary at India's Permanent Mission to United Nations Pawan Badhe expressed concern on the forced religious conversions in Pakistan. "Forced conversions have become a daily phenomenon in Pakistan. We've seen reports of minor girls belonging to religious minorities being abducted, raped, forcibly converted and married," said First Secretary. "More than 1,000 girls have been forced to convert their religion in Pakistan every year," he added.
b-c-health-officials-say-mixing-mrna-vaccines-is-safe-effective
BCJun 23, 2021

B.C. health officials say mixing mRNA vaccines is safe, effective

British Columbia's provincial health officer is encouraging anyone who is offered a different COVID-19 vaccine than the one they first received to take it. Dr. Bonnie Henry says fluctuating vaccine supply means if you received Pfizer-BioNTech, you may be offered Moderna for your second shot, or vice versa, and she says health officials are confident both vaccines are safe, effective and interchangeable. Dr. Henry made the comment as she announced a sustained drop in new COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and clusters. She says 56 new infections were confirmed Tuesday and there were no new death
b-c-official-condemns-threats-of-violence-against-anti-racism-rally-organizers
BCJun 23, 2021

B.C. official condemns threats of violence against anti-racism rally organizers

A British Columbia official whose job it is to tackle racism is condemning threats of violence that led to the postponement of an anti-racism rally on Vancouver Island over the weekend. Rachna Singh, parliamentary secretary for anti-racism initiatives, says a partner with the province's anti-racism network in Nanaimo and Ladysmith decided to cancel the car rally after organizers received threats of physical violence. She says the threats came ``from individuals'' whose behaviour will not be tolerated. Singh says in a statement the incident is further proof of why it's so important to oppose r

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new-westminster-police-officers-help-rescue-15-residents-from-apartment-fire
BCJul 31, 2026

New Westminster police officers help rescue 15 residents from apartment fire

New Westminster Police Department officers helped rescue 15 residents from a burning apartment building Thursday evening after spotting smoke while working nearby, according to the police department. Police said officers were in the 800 block of 5th Avenue at about 6 p.m. when they became aware of the fire. As they approached the building, they saw several older adults leaning out of windows to avoid the smoke. According to a New Westminster Police Department news release, officers entered the building alongside crews from New Westminster Fire and Rescue Service and assisted 15 residents to sa
BCJul 31, 2026

Coquitlam man faces six firearms charges following Surrey and Coquitlam searches

A 35-year-old Coquitlam man is facing six firearms-related charges after a joint investigation by B.C.'s anti-gang police and the Surrey RCMP Provincial Operations Support Unit. According to the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia (CFSEU-BC), the investigation began in June. On July 16, officers executed search warrants at two residences in the 11500 block of 141A Street in Surrey and the 4300 block of Quarry Road in Coquitlam. Police said investigators seized several firearms during the searches, including two Beretta handguns. Officers arrested Sadiq Azimali Daya at
man-dies-after-fleeing-surrey-traffic-stop-struck-by-vehicle-on-highway-10
BCJul 31, 2026

Man dies after fleeing Surrey traffic stop, struck by vehicle on Highway 10

A man died after being struck by a vehicle while fleeing on foot following a traffic stop in Surrey late Thursday night, according to the Surrey Police Service. Police said an officer stopped a westbound vehicle for a traffic enforcement check at about 11 p.m. in the 15600 block of 56 Avenue, along Highway 10. The driver then exited the vehicle and fled on foot. According to the Surrey Police Service, the man was crossing the roadway when he was struck by an eastbound vehicle. Surrey police officers, Surrey Fire Service crews and BC Emergency Health Services paramedics attempted life-saving me
suspect-arrested-after-firearm-reported-at-new-westminster-shopping-centre
BCJul 31, 2026

Suspect arrested after firearm reported at New Westminster shopping centre

A suspect is facing potential charges after allegedly brandishing a firearm at a patron outside a coffee shop in New Westminster on Wednesday morning, according to the New Westminster Police Department. Police said officers responded to a 9-1-1 call at about 6 a.m. on July 30 after receiving reports that a person had pointed a firearm at someone seated on the patio of a business in the Columbia Square shopping centre. Investigators determined the suspect fled across Columbia Street, passed through a hole in a fence and crossed nearby railway tracks. Officers searched the area with assistance f
b-c-supreme-court-strikes-down-parts-of-mental-health-act-allowing-treatment-without-consent
BCJul 31, 2026

B.C. Supreme Court strikes down parts of Mental Health Act allowing treatment without consent

The B.C. Supreme Court has ruled that portions of the province's Mental Health Act that allow patients to receive psychiatric treatment without their consent are unconstitutional, giving the provincial government six months to amend the legislation. Justice Lauren Blake found that British Columbia was the only province in Canada where patients could be subjected to psychiatric treatment without an assessment of their decision-making capacity. The court concluded that the provisions violate constitutional protections. The ruling comes as the B.C. government is pursuing plans to expand involunta