27.3°C Vancouver

News

b-c-s-lowest-paid-workers-to-get-a-pay-boost
BCMay 31, 2021

B.C.'s lowest paid workers to get a pay boost

On June 1, 2021, B.C.'s lowest paid workers will get a pay boost, with the general minimum wage increasing to $15.20 an hour and the lower discriminatory minimum wage for liquor servers ending.Over the past four years, B.C.'s general minimum wage has increased from $11.35 to $15.20 per hour. It has benefited close to 400,000 British Columbians over those years - the majority of whom are women, immigrants and youth."In 2017, our government made a commitment to increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour by June 2021, through regular, measured and predictable increases," said Harry Bains, Minister
two-people-in-hospital-after-a-boat-fire-in-pitt-lake
BCMay 31, 2021

Two people in hospital after a boat fire in Pitt Lake

Two people are in hospital after a fire on a boat in Pitt Lake. One of the injured is in critical condition. Emergency Health Services says crews were called to the Grand Narrows boat launch yesterday afternoon after reports of an explosion. One person was airlifted to hospital while the other was transported by ambulance. Video from the scene shows a small motorboat engulfed in flames and thick black smoke pouring out.
b-c-health-officials-report-outbreak-of-covid-19-at-long-term-care-in-surrey
BCMay 29, 2021

B.C. health officials report outbreak of COVID-19 at long-term care in Surrey

British Columbia health officials say COVID-19 is still spreading with new cases and clusters as the province begins to reopen in a four-step plan. In a news release, they say it is important to get vaccinated while maintaining social distance and using masks to stay safe during this period of transition. Officials say there has been a COVID-19 outbreak at a long-term care facility, Brookside Lodge in Surrey, where one resident and a staff member have tested positive. The province reported 317 new cases of the infection for a total of 143,581. They also reported two more deaths, brining the n
male-and-female-linked-to-gangs-arrested-while-in-possession-of-a-loaded-handgun
BCMay 28, 2021

Male and female linked to gangs arrested while in possession of a loaded handgun

A Male and female were arrested in the Richmond area when a loaded firearm was seized by officers with the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit’s (CFSEU-BC’s) Uniform Gang Enforcement Team (UGET). On the evening of May 21, 2021, CFSEU-BC’s Uniform Gang Enforcement Team were conducting proactive enforcement patrols in the Richmond area when they noticed a male and female exiting a local establishment. UGET officers quickly recognized the male as being an individual involved in the ongoing Lower Mainland Gang Conflict. UGET officers approached the male and female who were detained for
additional-10-million-funding-to-support-sexual-assault-survivors
BCMay 28, 2021

Additional $10 million funding to support sexual assault survivors

The Ending Violence Association of BC (EVA BC) is receiving an additional $10 million to assist more community-based sexual assault response service programs throughout the Province."Sexual assault and other forms of gender-based violence have devastating impacts on survivors, and that's why government is committed to prioritizing services and supports for those impacted," said Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. "The success of the first round of this grant program was exceptional, and I'm happy we're able to provide further support for EVA BC to administer more g
first-nations-toxic-drug-deaths-doubled-during-the-pandemic-in-2020
BCMay 28, 2021

First Nations toxic drug deaths doubled during the pandemic in 2020

BC's First Nations Health Authority says Indigenous people accounted for nearly 15 per cent of all toxic drug deaths last year although they represent only 3.3 per cent of the province's total population. Deputy chief medical officer Doctor Nel Wieman says 254 Indigenous people died from toxic drugs last year, a nearly 120 per cent increase from 2019. She says the death rate began to rise after the COVID-19 pandemic was declared a public health emergency. The pandemic has led to the closure of the border with the US, which officials say disrupted the usual flow of illicit drugs, prompting the
BCMay 28, 2021

Remains of 215 children found at former residential school in British Columbia

The remains of 215 children have been found buried on the site of a former residential school in Kamloops, B.C. Chief Rosanne Casimir of the Tk'emlups te Secwepemc First Nation says in a news release that the remains were confirmed last weekend with the help of a ground-penetrating radar specialist.Casimir calls the discovery an ``unthinkable loss that was spoken about but never documented at the Kamloops Indian Residential School.''She says it's believed the deaths are undocumented, although a local museum archivist is working with the Royal British Columbia Museum to see if any records of t
b-c-reports-378-new-covid-19-cases-and-7-deaths-as-active-cases-continue-to-dip
BCMay 28, 2021

B.C. reports 378 new COVID-19 cases and 7 deaths as active cases continue to dip

Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer, and Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, have issued a joint statement regarding updates on the COVID-19 response in British Columbia. "Today, we are reporting 378 new cases, for a total of 143,264 cases in British Columbia."There are 3,543 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and a further 137,929 people who tested positive have recovered."Of the active cases, 286 individuals are currently hospitalized with COVID-19, 88 of whom are in intensive care. The remaining people with COVID-19 are recovering at home in self-isolation. There have be
time-between-covid-19-vaccinations-is-being-reduced-to-eight-weeks-from-the-former-maximum-of-16-weeks-dr-bonnie-henry
BCMay 28, 2021

Time between COVID-19 vaccinations is being reduced to eight weeks from the former maximum of 16 weeks: Dr. Bonnie Henry

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says the time between COVID-19 vaccinations is being reduced to eight weeks from the former maximum of 16 weeks. Dr. Henry says the province has sufficient supplies of Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines to make the change. She says everyone who is eligible should have their second dose of vaccine by the end of the summer. Dr. Henry says the province will try to provide people with the same vaccine for their booster shot, but a shortage of Moderna may mean some people will have to get a Pfizer shot instead. Adrian Dix on Twitter: With the large numb

Just In

provincial-forest-advisory-council-launches-website-engagement-process
BCSep 02, 2025

Provincial Forest Advisory Council launches website, engagement process

The Provincial Forest Advisory Council (PFAC or the council) has launched a new website where people in British Columbia can learn about the council's work and share their input about the future of forestry in B.C. Announced in May 2025 by the Ministry of Forests, the council is an independent group of forestry experts tasked with developing recommendations for how to build a stronger, more stable forestry system that works for communities, the economy and the environment. The council's work will focus on understanding and articulating the underlying issues facing the forestry sector and the
alberta-government-pauses-ban-on-school-library-books-with-sex-content
AlbertaSep 02, 2025

Alberta government pauses ban on school library books with sex content

Alberta's education minister is directing school boards to pause a government order to remove books with explicit sexual content from libraries. Demetrios Nicolaides says in an email to school divisions and officials that they should pause any development or distribution of lists of books that are to be removed. He says the pause is in effect until further notice. A draft list from Edmonton Public Schools of books to be removed from libraries was leaked online last week. It contains more than 200 titles, including Margaret Atwood's ``The Handmaid's Tale,'' which prompted the au
female-arrested-after-stabbing-in-fort-st-john
BCSep 02, 2025

Female arrested after stabbing in Fort St John

28-year-old Kayla Breeze Trudeau has been taken into custody after a male was stabbed in a parking lot in Fort St John. On August 28, 2025, at approximately 1:46 p.m. Fort St John RCMP members responded to a report that a male had been stabbed in the chest in a parking lot near 99 Avenue and 100 Street in Fort St John, BC. Responding officers blocked 99 Avenue, investigated, and identified the female suspect who was arrested within 10 minutes of the initial call to the RCMP. The male victim was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Kayla Breeze Trudeau, who is known t
bc-rcmp-notifies-iio-of-incident-in-burnaby
BCSep 02, 2025

BC RCMP notifies IIO of incident in Burnaby

The BC RCMP has notified the Independent Investigations Office of British Columbia (IIO BC) of an incident in Burnaby which has resulted in one person being taken to hospital after an officer involved shooting. On Monday, September 1, 2025, at approximately 2:51 p.m. Burnaby RCMP received a call regarding a domestic dispute at a residence in the 4300 block of Dundas Street. When the responding officer arrived, they located a suspect with an edged weapon. An interaction occurred and shots were fired by police. The victim was taken to hospital with gunshot wounds. They are in serious condition.
BCSep 02, 2025

One person arrested after assault in Cranberry area

In the early morning of September 2, 2025, Powell River RCMP responded to an assault in progress on Irvine St. The male suspect fled on foot and a search involving Powell River RCMP, the Emergency Response Team, Police Dog Services and Air Services was initiated. Mowat Bay access was temporarily restricted to the public and the area was contained. The suspect was located in the area and he was arrested and taken into custody and will be held to appear in front of a Judge. There is no risk to public safety. All public areas in Cranberry are now open.