The British Columbia government says it will introduce mandatory crane-related licensing and permitting following a series of fatal workplace accidents over the past five years. In a statement Tuesday, the province said it plans to establish a new WorkSafeBC crane licensing and permitting program to ensure crane operations meet “consistent, high-quality safety requirements.” According to the government, there have been seven crane-related fatalities in B.C. during that period, with 373 cranes currently in operation across the province. The announcement follows a WorkSafeBC report into the

British Columbia Chief Coroner Jatinder Baidwan announced Tuesday that a formal investigation will be conducted into the mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge. Speaking at a press conference in Victoria, Baidwan said the purpose of the investigation is to establish the facts surrounding the incident and issue recommendations aimed at preventing similar tragedies in the future. He said the process is also intended to help restore public confidence in the system. According to the BC Coroners Service, the investigation will examine how individuals experiencing a mental health crisis are identified and w

The BC government has introduced Bill 7, in the legislature to provide education quality assurance, strengthen oversight, and crack down on bad actors. In this regard, in an exclusive interview with Connect FM today, BC's Minister of Post-Secondary education and Future Skills, Jessie Sooner, answered questions about the need for the bill, its timeline, identification of bad actors and penalties, and its alignment with federal laws. Minister Sunner said, “this legislation will provide more tools and will be useful in maintaining international education standards.” Minister Sunner said that

The Kelowna RCMP says provincial funding through British Columbia’s Special Investigations and Targeted Enforcement program has led to 121 arrests, the recommendation of 163 criminal charges and the seizure of firearms, drugs and cash over a seven-month period. According to a Kelowna RCMP news release, the detachment received funding from the Province of British Columbia and the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General to support additional intelligence-led enforcement between June 1, 2025, and Jan. 15, 2026. The initiative focused on violent crime, repeat offenders and organized crim

Two Langford residents were arrested after police seized more than 350 grams of suspected cocaine, cash and silver during a drug trafficking investigation in the West Shore area. According to a release from the Westshore RCMP Drugs and Organized Crime Unit, the investigation began in February 2026 into a suspected drug trafficker operating in the region. On February 20, officers arrested a 44-year-old man and a 39-year-old woman and executed two search warrants at a Langford residence. Police said investigators located evidence consistent with a drug trafficking operation, including packaging

Unseasonably warm weather has returned to British Columbia, with five communities setting new daily high temperature records this week, according to Environment Canada. In Pemberton, about 150 kilometres north of Vancouver, temperatures reached nearly 16 C on Monday, surpassing the previous daily record by almost 13 degrees. The earlier record had been set in 2025. In Trail, in the West Kootenay region, the temperature climbed to 14 C, breaking the previous record of 11 C set in 2021. Cranbrook, near the Alberta boundary, recorded 12.4 C, edging out the 12.1 C mark set in 1986. Environment Can

A 23-year-old man has died after an avalanche swept over two snowmobilers in British Columbia’s Kootenay Pass area on Saturday, according to police. Creston RCMP said officers were alerted through an SOS tracking device that someone was in distress in the backcountry. Shortly afterward, police were informed that an avalanche had occurred and that one of the buried riders was non-responsive after being dug out. Police said other snowmobilers in the area were able to rescue both individuals. The 23-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene. His name has not been released. According to Aval

Three foreign nationals have been charged with extortion and firearms offences following shootings at a Surrey home in November, according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The charges were announced Friday by the B.C. RCMP-led Extortion Task Force, which was established to investigate a series of threats, shootings and arsons across British Columbia. Police have said the incidents have largely targeted members of the South Asian business community. According to police, 22-year-old Avtar Singh, 28-year-old Sandeep Singh and 24-year-old Jagdeep Singh are charged with extortion and unlawfull

Police in Nanaimo are appealing for witnesses after a vehicle and several community mailboxes were vandalized overnight earlier this week. According to the Nanaimo RCMP, officers responded to reports of damage in the 900 block of Old Victoria Road on the morning of February 25. A newer model Tesla that had been parked on the roadway was found with deep scratches across the hood and side panels, along with a shattered windshield. Investigators also discovered several Canada Post community mailboxes located a short distance away had been torn from their concrete base. Police say it is not yet cl