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wildfire-threat-eases-in-b-c-as-major-fires-drop-to-just-three
BCAug 25, 2026

Wildfire Threat Eases in B.C. as Major Fires Drop to Just Three

According to the B.C. Wildfire Service, the Brunswick Creek wildfire in the Fraser Canyon area is no longer considered a wildfire of note, after the threat posed by the blaze eased. The fire has now been removed from the province’s wildfire-of-note list, leaving just three major wildfires in B.C. The agency said, however, that firefighters are still working to fully contain the fire on the west side of the Fraser River. Meanwhile, the Ansley Creek wildfire on the east side of the river remains out of control and is one of the three remaining major wildfires in the province. The Bald Range wi
BCAug 25, 2026

Drug Toxicity Crisis in B.C.: 138 Deaths Reported in June 2026

Suspected unregulated drug toxicity claimed 138 lives in British Columbia in June 2026, according to preliminary data from the BC Coroners Service. That works out to approximately 4.6 deaths per day. During the first six months of 2026, people between the ages of 30 and 59 accounted for 68% of all drug-toxicity deaths in the province, while 75% of those who died were male. The Fraser and Vancouver Coastal health authorities recorded the highest numbers of unregulated drug deaths in 2026, with 206 and 200 deaths respectively. Together, they accounted for 52% of all such deaths in the province.
BCAug 25, 2026

Surrey Man Charged After Alleged Iron Rod Attack on Security Guard in Vancouver

A 41-year-old Surrey man has been charged after allegedly attacking a security guard with an iron rod at a downtown Vancouver parking garage. According to Vancouver police, the incident happened around 4:15 a.m. Saturday near Cambie and Dunsmuir streets. Police said the security guard was conducting a routine patrol when he found a man sleeping inside the parking garage and asked him to leave. The suspect allegedly pulled out a small iron rod and began swinging it at the guard. He also allegedly damaged the guard’s vehicle and later followed the guard while he was riding a bicycle. Police re
BCAug 25, 2026

B.C. Supreme Court Grants $700,000 Bail to Alleged International Drug Trafficking Ringleader

B.C. Supreme Court judge has granted bail to 57-year-old Ravinder Singh Dhanda, who is accused of being the alleged ringleader of an international drug trafficking operation. During a hearing Monday, Justice Allan Ross approved Dhanda’s release on $700,000 bail, with strict conditions including electronic ankle monitoring and 24-hour house arrest. Dhanda is accused of trafficking cocaine from Los Angeles into Canada using long-haul transport trucks. He was arrested in July as part of Operation Hard Ball, a joint investigation involving the FBI and the RCMP. Two other accused, Jaskaran Bagri
BCAug 25, 2026

18-Year-Old Dies in E-Scooter Crash in Kamloops, Safety Concerns Raised

An 18-year-old man has died following an e-scooter crash in Kamloops, raising renewed concerns about the safety of electric scooters in the city. According to police, the young man was found injured near an e-scooter around 4 a.m. on Aug. 16 near Battle Street and Lee Road. He was taken to hospital for treatment but died from his injuries on Aug. 20. The victim has been identified as 18-year-old Hunter Dennis. Police said the teenager was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. Following the death, a Kamloops resident has launched a petition calling on the city council to withdraw from
BCAug 24, 2026

Three Punjabi Youths Arrested After Illegal Gun Seized During Brampton Traffic Stop

Peel Regional Police have arrested three Punjabi youths in Brampton after a traffic stop led to the seizure of an illegal firearm. With this latest seizure, the total number of illegal firearms seized by Peel police this year has reached 112. According to police, at around 2:20 a.m. on August 10, officers stopped a suspicious vehicle in the area of Cedarbrook Road and Edgewater Court. Three people were inside the vehicle. During questioning, one of the occupants provided police with a false name and fled the scene. Officers searched the vehicle and recovered a handgun loaded with ammunition. T
hit-and-run-in-vancouver-leaves-23-year-old-woman-injured
BCAug 24, 2026

Hit-and-Run in Vancouver Leaves 23-Year-Old Woman Injured

A hit-and-run occurred in downtown Vancouver on Friday night, leaving a 23-year-old woman injured. According to police, the woman was crossing Davie Street and Pacific Boulevard at around 9:30 p.m. on August 21 when she was struck by a blue sedan. The driver fled the scene and was last seen travelling eastbound on Pacific Boulevard from Davie Street. The injured woman was taken to hospital for treatment. Police say her injuries are not considered life-threatening. Const. Darren Wong said several people were in the area at the time of the collision. Vancouver police are appealing to anyone who
b-c-ex-conservative-mlas-announce-plans-to-form-new-political-party
BCAug 24, 2026

B.C. Ex-Conservative MLAs Announce Plans to Form New Political Party

Two former British Columbia Conservative MLAs have announced plans to form a new political party, saying they want to provide an alternative for voters who feel politically homeless. Delta South MLA Ian Paton and Peter Milobar, who left the Conservative Party earlier this month, say they plan to register the new party with Elections BC before the fall legislative session. Paton said the direction of the Conservatives under new leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay no longer aligns with his beliefs. He said the new party would provide “a home” for people who feel politically homeless in B.C. Speaking
more-than-60-new-wildfires-sparked-by-lightning-in-b-c-50-flights-cancelled-at-vancouver-airport
BCAug 24, 2026

More Than 60 New Wildfires Sparked by Lightning in B.C.; 50 Flights Cancelled at Vancouver Airport

More than 7,000 lightning strikes across British Columbia over the weekend sparked more than 60 new wildfires across the province. According to the B.C. Wildfire Service, around 67 new fires were reported over the past 24 hours. However, rainfall brought by the thunderstorms helped prevent the fires from spreading, and most of the new blazes have been brought under control. The severe thunderstorms also disrupted operations at Vancouver International Airport. For safety reasons, airport operations were suspended from 9:30 p.m. Saturday until 2:55 a.m. Sunday. The disruption left thousands of p

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trump-orders-lake-ontario-renamed-lake-america-amid-canada-u-s-trade-war
WorldAug 27, 2026

Trump Orders Lake Ontario Renamed ‘Lake America’ Amid Canada-U.S. Trade War

U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order seeking to rename Lake Ontario “Lake America” with immediate effect, amid escalating tensions between Canada and the United States over trade. The lake, which lies along the Canada-U.S. border, has become the latest target of Trump’s symbolic naming campaign after trade talks between Washington and Ottawa broke down completely. Trump had threatened in recent days to take the symbolic step, although it was initially unclear whether the U.S. president was serious about actually changing the name. Canadian officials, however, have al
two-killed-in-early-morning-crash-on-highway-19-near-lantzville
BCAug 27, 2026

Two Killed in Crash Near Lantzville; 16-Year-Old Driver Charged

Two people were killed in a serious crash involving a Volkswagen Jetta and a Kia Sedona minivan on Highway 19 near Lantzville on Vancouver Island early Friday morning. According to B.C. Highway Patrol, the collision occurred around 3 a.m. near the intersection of Ware Road, involving two vehicles travelling in the southbound lanes. Police said two occupants of the Volkswagen died at the scene. The 16-year-old girl driving the Kia minivan was also injured and remains in hospital for treatment. The teenage driver has been charged with impaired driving causing death and dangerous operation of a m
BCAug 27, 2026

Vancouver Eases Water Restrictions, Lawns Can Be Watered Once a Week From Sept. 1

Metro Vancouver is set to ease its water restrictions from Stage 2 to Stage 1 starting Sept. 1, allowing residents and businesses to water their lawns once a week. Under Stage 1, residential properties with even-numbered addresses can water their lawns on Saturdays, while odd-numbered addresses can do so on Sundays. Automatic watering is permitted from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m., while manual watering is allowed from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. For commercial properties, lawn watering will be allowed on Mondays for even-numbered addresses and Tuesdays for odd-numbered addresses. Trees, shrubs and flowers can als
anita-anand-confirms-30-canadians-missing-after-nepal-tibet-floods
CanadaAug 27, 2026

Anita Anand Confirms 30 Canadians Missing After Nepal-Tibet Floods

Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand has confirmed that 30 Canadian citizens and permanent residents are among the hundreds of people reported missing following severe flooding and landslides in the border region between Nepal and Tibet. In a statement issued Thursday, Anand said Canadian officials are in continuous contact with local authorities and international partners to support the safe return of Canadians in the affected areas and assist their families. However, the minister said there is currently no confirmed information about the whereabouts or well-being of the missing Ca
man-sentenced-to-3-years-in-2023-vancouver-homicide-case
BCAug 27, 2026

Man Sentenced to 3 Years in 2023 Vancouver Homicide Case

A 43-year-old man, Dustin Gastel, has been sentenced to three years in prison for desecrating human remains in connection with a 2023 homicide in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. The case came to light on January 3, 2023, when Vancouver Fire Rescue Services discovered burned human remains while extinguishing a suspicious outdoor fire near Powell Street and Raymur Avenue. Police later identified the victim as 34-year-old Jeff Genty, who was the first homicide victim recorded in Vancouver that year. According to Vancouver police, Gastel was sentenced by the court on August 10. His three-year sen