British Columbia's top doctor says she's confident more COVID-19 restrictions can be lifted next week as planned due to dramatic declines in cases and because the person-to-person transmission rate has dropped. Dr. Bonnie Henry says fewer infections reflect the power of vaccines, with nearly 73 per cent of eligible residents aged 12 and up having had their first shot. However, only about eight per cent of those 18 and over have received both doses of a vaccine as the province pushes for more people to register for a second shot. B.C. is expected to move to the second of its four-step reopenin

A bulk quantity of suspected fentanyl and methamphetamine has been seized by the Surrey RCMP Gang Enforcement Team (SGET) as the result of a traffic stop in Cloverdale.On June 8, 2021 at 6:50 pm, SGET conducted a traffic stop with a vehicle for a motor vehicle infraction in the area of 176 Street and Fraser Highway. As they interacted with the driver, officers saw evidence of weapons possession, and the driver was arrested.Further investigation led to the seizure of a holster, two starter pistols, a large canister of bear mace, multiple knives, and $1200 in cash. Officers also located and seiz

Surrey RCMP frontline officers seized seven imitation firearms and large amount of suspected fentanyl following a recent traffic stop in Whalley.On June 4, 2021 at 4:40 pm, Surrey RCMP frontline officers conducted a traffic stop with a vehicle for a motor vehicle act investigation, in the area of 94 Avenue and King George Boulevard. During their interaction with the driver, the officers observed items consistent with drug trafficking and arrested the driver and passenger.Further investigation led to the seizure of seven imitation firearms, a pistol magazine with live ammunition, a sword, and a

After a months-long investigation into a drug organization associated to Lower Mainland gangs, Burnaby RCMP’s Drug Section has made a significant seizure of drugs, weapons and cash. With the assistance of Strike Force and the Community Response Team, Burnaby RCMP’s Drug Section executed a residential search warrant, which led to the arrest of a Coquitlam resident and numerous seizures. Some of the items seized were multiple ounces of suspected cocaine and fentanyl likely bound for street-level trafficking, as well as approximately $15,000 in cash, a high-end vehicle, several weapons, and

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 that 74.5% of all adults in B.C. and 72.4% of those 12 and older have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. In total, 3,749,758 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in B.C., 390,264 of which are second doses."We have had 148 new cases of COVID-19, for a total of 145,843 cases in British Columbia."Of the new cases, 23 are in

BC's independent police watchdog says an investigation has determined the death of a man after his release from RCMP cells in Mission had no connection to his involvement with police. The Independent Investigations Office says the man was arrested in the early hours of March 21st last year and released from cells about nine hours later. The office says the man was reported missing six days later and a review of available evidence confirms a thorough search was done, including canvassing of the area, patrols and missing-person bulletins. Human remains found this past April in a forested area a

The chief medical officer of health for the southern interior of British Columbia has been arrested on sex charges. Alberta RCMP say Albert de Villiers, who is 52, faces one count of sexual assault and one count of sexual interference. Cpl. Curtis Peters says de Villiers was arrested in Kelowna Tuesday based on a warrant issued in Grande Prairie, Alta. Grande Prairie RCMP say in a release that the charges follow allegations that occurred between 2018 and 2020 involving a child that were investigated by its Special Investigative Unit. Police say he remains in custody awaiting a judicial hearin

Health officials in British Columbia say it's encouraging to see a steady increase in the number of people who are protected with a COVID-19 vaccine as cases decline. However, of the nearly 3.7 million doses of vaccine that have been administered, less than 346,000 are second doses. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix say the province has recorded 165 new infections and no additional deaths as part of its exit out of the pandemic. There are currently 2,051 active cases of COVID-19 in B.C., and of the 203 people in hospital, 57 are in intensive care. Peopl

The Provincial Health Services Authority and BC Centre for Disease Control say more than one-million naloxone kits have been shipped across BC since 2012, more than a quarter of them last year, alone. The kits are used to reverse opioid overdoses and a statement from the province says mathematical modelling shows naloxone averted more than three-thousand potentially fatal overdoses between January 2015 and March of this year. But users and those working to reduce the deadly toll from the ongoing illicit drug crisis say naloxone is not enough as BC endures the highest-ever rate of overdoses, r