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interior-health-testing-virtual-emergency-care-to-support-rural-hospitals
BCOct 23, 2025

Interior Health testing virtual emergency care to support rural hospitals

Interior Health is planning a pilot project that would use virtual emergency care to help keep small hospitals in British Columbia’s Interior open during staffing shortages. The proposal would link hospitals in Clearwater, Nakusp, Lillooet, and Princeton, allowing physicians to share responsibilities through a combination of on-site and remote support. Interior Health says the four facilities face similar challenges, with low overnight patient volumes but frequent service interruptions due to limited staffing. The health authority says it is consulting with local doctors and staff to determi
officials-warn-against-misinformation-as-b-c-rolls-out-influenza-covid-19-vaccines
BCOct 23, 2025

Officials warn against misinformation as B.C. rolls out influenza, COVID-19 vaccines

British Columbia's health minister says she is concerned about a "growing amount of misinformation and disinformation" related to vaccines as the province rolls out its campaign for the respiratory illness season. Josie Osborne says much of the false and misleading information is coming from outside Canada, particularly the United States. She told a news conference on Wednesday that false claims about vaccines undermine confidence in proven public health measures in B.C., where officials base their decisions on strong scientific evidence and expert medical advice. Osborne says the false inform
storms-to-bring-heavy-rain-strong-winds-and-flood-risk-across-coastal-and-central-b-c
BCOct 23, 2025

Storms to bring heavy rain, strong winds and flood risk across coastal and central B.C.

Communities across coastal and central British Columbia are being warned to brace for a series of storms expected to bring powerful winds, heavy rainfall and rising river levels through the end of the week. The province’s Ministry of Emergency Management said the weather system is forecast to begin Thursday, with residents urged to prepare for possible power outages, travel disruptions and localized flooding. Environment Canada has issued wind warnings for northern Vancouver Island, Haida Gwaii, and much of the central and northern coast, with gusts expected to reach between 90 and 110 kilom
b-c-conservative-leader-john-rustad-rejects-calls-to-resign-amid-party-turmoil
BCOct 22, 2025

B.C. Conservative leader John Rustad rejects calls to resign amid party turmoil

B.C. Conservative leader John Rustad says he intends to stay on as party leader despite growing internal pressure from the party’s executive to step down. Members of the party’s management committee have sent Rustad a letter calling for his resignation, citing what they describe as “chaos” and a loss of cohesion under his leadership. The letter, signed by seven committee members including party president Aisha Estey, accuses Rustad of failing to unite the party behind a shared vision and claims his leadership has “ceased to serve that purpose.” The group urged him to immediately re
BCOct 22, 2025

Brampton homicide suspect killed in police shooting near Niagara Falls

A man wanted in connection with a fatal shooting in Brampton was killed in an officer-involved shooting in Niagara Falls late Tuesday, police say. Niagara Regional Police confirmed that 38-year-old Anthony Deschepper died following an encounter with officers at a gas station near Thorold Stone Road and Montrose Road. Authorities said the incident occurred hours after Deschepper was identified as the suspect in a deadly shooting outside a Brampton strip mall. Peel Regional Police reported they were called to the parking lot near Queen Street East and Airport Road around 2 p.m. Tuesday, where of
firefighters-join-widening-b-c-public-service-strike-as-mediated-talks-continue
BCOct 22, 2025

Firefighters join widening B.C. public service strike as mediated talks continue

The labour dispute between the British Columbia government and its public service workers has intensified as more members of the B.C. General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) join ongoing strike action. The union confirmed that employees from the BC Wildfire Service and the Ministry of Forests have joined the picket lines, even as mediated discussions with the province continue. The BC Wildfire Service reports 94 active fires across the province, most of which are under control, and essential operations remain in place to protect public safety. With the latest escalation, more than 25,000 of the BCG
vehicle-recovered-from-squamish-river-passenger-remains-unaccounted-for
BCOct 22, 2025

Vehicle recovered from Squamish river, Navdeep Singh remains unaccounted for

A car that plunged into the Squamish river near Squamish B.C. with four people inside earlier this year has been recovered, yet one of its occupants (Navdeep Singh Sidhu) remains missing, say police. According to a Squamish RCMP release, on October 18, 2025, the vehicle involved in a single-vehicle collision that entered the Squamish River in the early morning hours of June 14, 2025 was recovered. Police say, the recovery marks a significant step in the ongoing investigation. At the time of the incident, four individuals were reported to be in the vehicle. Three of the occupants have been a
vancouver-police-seize-336-000-in-drugs-arrest-three-in-downtown-eastside-investigation
BCOct 22, 2025

Vancouver Police seize $336,000 in drugs, arrest three in Downtown Eastside investigation

Vancouver Police say three men have been arrested following a six-week investigation that uncovered an organized criminal network operating from a Downtown Eastside rooming house. Officers seized more than $330,000 worth of toxic drugs, stolen property, and weapons as part of the operation. The investigation, launched in August by VPD’s Task Force Barrage, focused on criminal activity around Carrall and East Hastings Street — one of the city’s most crime-affected intersections. Police allege the group used rooms in the West Hotel, a building intended for low-income tenants, to traffic dr
west-shore-rcmp-officers-begin-using-body-worn-cameras-to-enhance-transparency
BCOct 21, 2025

West Shore RCMP officers begin using body-worn cameras to enhance transparency

Frontline RCMP officers in the West Shore area are now equipped with body-worn cameras as part of a new initiative aimed at increasing transparency and accountability in policing. The detachment says the cameras will record officers’ interactions with the public in real time, helping gather evidence and document events more clearly. Officers have received training on the proper use of the technology, including how and when to activate the devices and how to securely store recorded footage. According to the RCMP, the program is governed by national privacy and data management standards to ens

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public-dialogue-on-memory-identity-and-institutions-convened-on-international-human-rights-day
British ColumbiaDec 12, 2025

Public Dialogue on Memory, Identity, and Institutions Convened on International Human Rights Day

On International Human Rights Day, 10 December 2025, Wanjara Nomad Collections, with participation from the Guru Nanak Jahaz Heritage Society, hosted a three-hour public dialogue titled “Let’s Talk” in Surrey, British Columbia. The program examined questions of memory, identity, and institutional responsibility within Sikh Canadian public life. Wanjara Nomad Collections organized the dialogue and brought together elders, representatives of gurdwara societies, human rights advocates, scholars, artists, and members of the public. The gathering functioned as a dialogue-based forum that emph
threat-prompts-brief-lockdown-at-nanaimo-high-school
BCDec 11, 2025

Threat prompts brief lockdown at Nanaimo high school

A Nanaimo high school was placed under a precautionary lockdown Wednesday afternoon after school staff were alerted to a threat directed at a student. The incident at Nanaimo District Secondary School began around 2:30 p.m., prompting administrators to activate established safety procedures. Nanaimo RCMP officers responded immediately and remained on site while classrooms were secured. Police and school officials said the lockdown lasted roughly 30 minutes, and students and staff were released shortly after 3 p.m. once officers determined there was no ongoing risk. The district says students w
vancouver-police-seize-loaded-rifle-and-drugs-during-downtown-eastside-arrest
BCDec 11, 2025

Vancouver Police seize loaded rifle and drugs during Downtown Eastside arrest

Vancouver Police say a loaded rifle and several other weapons were taken off the street this week after officers arrested a man suspected of trafficking drugs in the Downtown Eastside. The incident took place Tuesday afternoon near East Hastings and Columbia Street, an area where frontline police and community workers have long raised concerns about violence linked to the drug trade. According to the Vancouver Police Department, members of the Beat Enforcement Team were on routine patrol around 2:35 p.m. on December 9 when they arrested a 32-year-old Surrey resident outside a residential build
donald-trump-unveils-new-gold-card-immigration-program
WorldDec 11, 2025

Donald Trump unveils new ‘Gold Card’ immigration program

Former United States president Donald Trump announced on Thursday the launch of a new immigration initiative he calls the Gold Card, opening the application process for the program. Under the plan, individuals can apply for the Gold Card at a fee of US$1 million, while companies wishing to secure a card for executives or employees would pay US$2 million. Trump’s campaign says cardholders would receive a U.S. passport, full voting rights and the same benefits enjoyed by other American citizens. Trump framed the Gold Card as part of his broader “America First” policy agenda, asserting the
flooding-prompts-wider-evacuations-and-highway-closures-across-southern-b-c
BCDec 11, 2025

Flooding prompts wider evacuations and highway closures across southern B.C.

Communities across southern British Columbia are facing new evacuation orders and travel disruptions after heavy rainfall triggered flooding and landslides that severed key routes between the Lower Mainland and the Interior. Provincial officials say multiple highways, including the Coquihalla and Highways 1, 3, 5 and 11, remain shut as crews assess washouts and unstable slopes. The closure of Highway 11 has also halted access to the Sumas border crossing. In Abbotsford, 371 properties on the Sumas Prairie were ordered evacuated overnight as waters linked to the overflowing Nooksack River conti