British Columbia's Independent Investigations Office (IIO) has launched an investigation following the death of a man while in Vancouver Police Department custody. According to the police watchdog, the man was arrested by Vancouver police officers at approximately 3 p.m. Sunday and lodged in the Vancouver Police Department jail on Cordova Street. Jail staff found him unresponsive at about 8 a.m. Monday. BC Emergency Health Services personnel attended the scene and attempted life-saving measures, but the man was pronounced dead. The IIO said its initial investigation will focus on determining w

The British Columbia government is considering a new hydroelectric project in the province as electricity demand is expected to increase significantly over the coming decades. According to BC Hydro projections, electricity demand in the province could rise by about 20 per cent by 2030 and roughly 50 per cent by 2050. The utility says the trend reflects long-term growth in population and electrification across the province. Energy Minister Adrian Dix said while presenting the plan that rising electricity demand is a positive indicator for the province’s economic outlook, adding it reflects on

Burnaby Traffic Services caught up with 170 drivers over the month of May who were found to be speeding excessively, as part of a high-risk driving enforcement campaign. Enforcement was carried out at various locations and times of day. The drivers were all travelling over 40 kilometres above the posted speed limit, and had their vehicles impounded for seven days. They also received a $368 violation ticket. In one incident, a 19-year-old new driver was travelling at 146 kilometres an hour in a 50-kilometre zone. “When our officer indicated the driver needed to pull over, the vehicle was trav

One person has died following a collision involving a motorcycle and a truck in Maple Ridge on Saturday night. The crash occurred at approximately 8:45 p.m. at the intersection of Lougheed Highway and 287 Street. According to information provided by authorities, the collision caused significant damage to the motorcycle, while the truck's airbags deployed. Paramedics responded to the scene and provided emergency medical treatment to two people before transporting them to hospital in stable condition. Authorities later confirmed that one person died as a result of the crash. The collision prompt

British Columbia Premier David Eby says the federal government's proposed online harms legislation does not go far enough in addressing risks associated with artificial intelligence chatbots. Eby criticized the bill for not requiring technology companies to report dangerous or suspicious user activity to police. He said companies should be obligated to notify law enforcement if a user is believed to be using an AI chatbot to plan a violent crime. The premier pointed to the Tumbler Ridge mass shooting, stating that the suspect's chatbot account had been flagged before the attack. According to E

Patients in Mission continue to face disruptions to emergency care after Mission Memorial Hospital's emergency department was temporarily closed for a third consecutive Sunday. According to Fraser Health, the closure was caused by an ongoing shortage of physicians available to staff the department. The health authority said it is continuing recruitment efforts aimed at stabilizing services and addressing staffing challenges at the hospital. The emergency department closed at 5 p.m. Sunday and reopened at 8 a.m. Monday, according to hospital service notices. During the closure, patients requiri

A Surrey man is facing robbery charges following two alleged bank robberies reported in the city earlier this month, according to Surrey Police Service. Police said officers responded to a reported robbery near 104 Avenue and King George Boulevard on June 6 at about 10:50 a.m. Investigators allege a man threatened bank staff by claiming he had a weapon before leaving with money. No injuries were reported and the suspect was not located at the time. A second reported robbery occurred on June 8 at about 11 a.m. near 128 Street and 96 Avenue. According to Surrey Police Service, a man again allege

A 17-year-old boy from Prince George has been found dead after a boat capsized on Stony Lake near Quesnel over the weekend, according to RCMP. Quesnel RCMP said the youth's body was recovered by divers on Tuesday, three days after the incident was reported. Police said officers were called to the lake on Saturday following reports that a vessel carrying four people had overturned. Three occupants were able to reach shore safely. According to RCMP, the 17-year-old operator of the boat did not resurface after the capsize and could not be located at the time of the incident. No further details ab

Former Surrey mayor Doug McCallum is calling for an independent police investigation into the dismissal of Surrey Police Service Chief Norm Lipinski and the resignations of two Surrey Police Board directors. McCallum said no one is above the law, including councillors and mayors, and argued that if any rules were broken, those responsible should face appropriate legal consequences. He also said the investigation should not be conducted by the RCMP, citing concerns about perceived conflicts because current Surrey Police Board chair Rob Stutt is a former RCMP member. According to public statemen