17.13°C Vancouver

News

BCMar 20, 2023

CUPE workers begin full-scale strike, halting bus service across B.C.'s Fraser Valley

Bus service across most of B.C.'s Fraser Valley, from Abbotsford to Hope, has been halted by a strike.More than 200 members of CUPE Local 561 walked off the job, affecting all bus service in Abbotsford, Mission, Agassiz-Harrison, Chilliwack and Hope, although essential HandiDart trips can still be booked. The union says its members, who work for a company that contracts service to BC Transit, have no pension and make 32 per cent less than bus drivers and other staff elsewhere in Metro Vancouver's transit system.Talks between the two sides collapsed last week and the union says BC Transit and i
b-c-man-arrested-for-allegedly-wielding-syringe-with-needle-attached-to-toy-arrow
BCMar 17, 2023

B.C. man arrested for allegedly wielding syringe with needle attached to toy arrow

Police say they have arrested a man in Nanaimo, B.C., who was allegedly threatening people with a toy bow and arrow that had a syringe with a needle attached to the arrow's tip.Mounties say they were called to the parking lot of the Port Place Mall in the Vancouver Island city on Monday after the man was reportedly threatening people with a stick and the toy bow and arrow.Police say the arrow "appeared to have" a hypodermic needle attached to the end, and the man was taken into custody after a brief foot chase and struggle with officers.RCMP say the 32-year-old man now faces charges of assault
drug-smuggling-guards-union-says-second-pigeon-with-a-backpack-found-in-b-c-prison
BCMar 17, 2023

Drug Smuggling: Guards union says second pigeon with a backpack found in B.C. prison

A pigeon wearing a tiny empty backpack has been captured inside a federal prison in British Columbia, in what a union official says was likely another plan by inmates to smuggle drugs.The discovery at the Matsqui prison in the Fraser Valley comes just a few months after another pigeon was captured carrying a bird-size backpack full of crystal methamphetamine at the Pacific Institution right next door.John Randle, the Pacific regional president at the Union of Canadian Correctional Officers, says the latest pigeon's pack was made of blue jeans and bedsheets, materials easily available to inmate
b-c-mounties-announce-results-of-organized-crime-drug
BCMar 17, 2023

B.C. Mounties announce results of organized crime drug

RCMP in British Columbia say they've disrupted major organized crime groups that are flooding the streets with toxic drugs in two separate investigations involving transnational drug production and distribution operations.Police in Surrey, B.C., announced the seizure of a massive cache of precursor chemicals used to make the powerful opioid fentanyl and MDMA, also known as ecstasy.Police say they executed several search warrants in late February across Metro Vancouver, leading to the arrests of a man and woman and the seizure of the chemicals in addition to luxury cars, electronics, watches an
17-wild-horses-shot-dead-near-kamloops-b-c-in-disheartening-act-rcmp
BCMar 15, 2023

17 wild horses shot dead near Kamloops, B.C., in 'disheartening' act: RCMP

Authorities in British Columbia are investigating after 17 wild horses were shot in what Mounties are calling a "disheartening act."The RCMP say in a news release that Tk’emlups Rural RCMP received a report of several dead horses found about 65 kilometres west of Kamloops, near Walhachin, B.C., on Friday.Police say the RCMP’s Forensic Identification Section carefully examined the scene, along with a veterinarian and a livestock investigator.They say the animals appear to have been from a herd of feral horses that frequent that area.RCMP say the motive has not yet been confirmed and the inv
b-c-to-lift-age-limit-for-free-tuition-for-those-who-lived-in-foster-care
BCMar 14, 2023

B.C to lift age limit for free tuition for those who lived in foster care

Anyone who has been in foster care in B.C. and is at least 19 years old, will soon be eligible for a post-secondary tuition waiver. The B.C. government says the 2017 program that waives tuition fees for foster care recipients aged 19 to 26 will be expanded next August to remove the upper age cap. To be eligible, students must be undergraduates studying full or part time at a B-C public, post-secondary institution, the Native Education College or with one of 10 approved trades-training providers. Just under 2000 people have had tuition fees waived since the program launched six years ago, an
bc-public-servants-no-longer-required-to-provide-proof-of-covid-19-vaccination
BCMar 10, 2023

BC public servants no longer required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination

As of April 3, 2023, BC Public Service employees will no longer be required to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19.The decision to rescind the policy was made based on the high level of vaccination among public-service employees and the current state of the pandemic.More than 98% of employees met the requirement, which helped keep everyone safe.Rescinding the vaccination policy means a small number of employees on administrative leave due to non-compliance will be provided the opportunity to return to the workplace.The Public Service Agency has provided direction to ministries and wi
supreme-court-of-canada-restores-voyeurism-conviction-against-b-c-hockey-coach
BCMar 10, 2023

Supreme Court of Canada restores voyeurism conviction against B.C. hockey coach

The Supreme Court of Canada has overturned a British Columbia court ruling and restored two voyeurism convictions against a former Metro Vancouver minor hockey coach.Randy Downes had coached minor hockey and children's baseball in Burnaby and Coquitlam for 30 years when he was charged in 2016 after border agents found images on his phone as he returned to Canada from Washington state.All the images involved youths who were clothed and none were deemed pornographic, but Downes was convicted of two counts of voyeurism in 2019 for separate events where surreptitious cellphone photos were taken of
bc-revokes-civil-liberties-award-granted-to-mary-ellen-turpel-lafond
BCMar 09, 2023

BC revokes civil liberties award granted to Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond

The B.C Civil Liberties Association is the latest to strip an award from a once powerful advocate and educator whose claims of Indigenous ancestry have been discredited.The association says it has rescinded the Reg Robson civil liberties award granted to Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond in 2020.A statement from the association says Turpel-Lafond, B.C's former representative for children and youth has not explained allegations about her claim to Cree heritage and remains quiet about professional accomplishments that are now being questioned, such as her reported designation as a Queen's Counsel in Sask

Just In

canadas-dabrowski-and-partner-routliffe-win-u-s-open-womens-doubles-title
EnglishSep 05, 2025

Canada's Dabrowski and partner Routliffe win U.S. Open women's doubles title

Canadian tennis player Gabriela Dabrowski has won the US Open Grand Slam title with her New Zealand partner Erin Rutliff. The Canadian player won the women's doubles title in straight sets with her partner. Together, the two defeated the pair of Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova 6-4, 6-4. Earlier, Gabriela Dabrowski also won the US Open title in 2023. Pawan Sahni, of Newton Tennis Club in Surrey, says “the win is a boost for Canadian tennis.” He added, on one hand, just a few weeks ago, young player Victoria Mboko won the Canadian Open title, and now, with Canada's senior player win
BCSep 05, 2025

Coquihalla Highway reopened following wildfire closure

The Coquihalla Highway (Highway 5) between Hope and Merritt has reopened in both directions following a closure caused by the Mine Creek wildfire. Due to the proximity of the fire, drivers should be prepared for the Coquihalla Highway to be closed with minimal notice. Drivers are advised to not stop in the fire zone. Intermittent lane closures can be expected as crews continue to assess and repair roadside damage, and visibility is reduced due to wildfire smoke. Drivers should also be prepared for an increased risk of wildlife presence due to fire damage to wildlife-exclusion fencing on this s
police-investigate-early-morning-shots-fired-in-south-surrey
CanadaSep 05, 2025

Police Investigate Early Morning Shots Fired in South Surrey

Surrey Police Service (SPS) is investigating an early morning shooting that occurred in South Surrey. On September 5, 2025, at approximately 3:50 am, SPS responded to reports of shots fired in the 14300 block of 28 Avenue, Surrey. Upon arrival, members located numerous shell casings on 28 Avenue. It does not appear that any residences were damaged and nobody was injured. SPS Frontline Investigation Support (FLIS) Team are attending and have taken conduct of the investigation. Investigators believe this incident is related to an ongoing extortion investigation.
ministers-statement-on-the-cowichan-valley-transit-labour-dispute
BCSep 05, 2025

Special mediator appointed to resolve Cowichan Valley transit labour dispute

Jennifer Whiteside, Minister of Labour, has issued the following statement on the Cowichan Valley transit labour dispute: “This strike has been deeply disruptive to people living in the Cowichan Valley, who rely on transit to get to work, go to school, attend medical appointments and access everyday services. “This dispute has gone on for far too long. There’s a real urgency for the parties to get back to the table, find a fair resolution and get transit services back on the road. “To help the parties resolve the ongoing labour dispute, I have appointed Vince Ready as a special mediato
elon-musks-neuralink-brain-chip-implanted-into-two-quadriplegic-canadian-patients
CanadaSep 05, 2025

Elon Musk's Neuralink brain chip implanted into two quadriplegic Canadian patients

Two Canadian patients with spinal cord injuries have received Neuralink brain implants that have allowed them to control a computer with their thoughts. They are part of the first clinical trial outside of the United States to test the safety and effectiveness of Elon Musk's Neuralink wireless brain chip, which he introduced to the public in 2020, and was first implanted in a paralyzed American in 2024. The Canadian men, both around 30 years old – one from Ontario, the other from Alberta – have limited or no ability to use their hands. Dr. Andres Lozano, a neurosurgeon at University Health