A longtime labour and human rights leader in British Columbia has died. The family of Charan Gill say he died in hospital on Feb. 2, following a battle with cancer. Gill was 84. Born in Hong Kong and raised in India, Gill moved to Canada in 1967, settling in Surrey, where he co-founded the Canadian Farmworkers Union and the British Columbia Organization to Fight Racism. The farm workers union led to improved pay, benefits and working conditions for farm and ranch workers across Canada while the organization to fight racism was instrumental in stemming the growth of racist groups in B.C. Gill

British Columbia health officials say there's an encouraging trend in the COVID-19 curve in the province with the efforts of residents making a difference. It comes as the state of emergency was extended again in B.C. on Tuesday, allowing officials to use its extraordinary powers to respond to the pandemic. In a joint statement, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix reported 429 new cases and eight deaths, bringing to 1,218 the number of fatalities liked to COVID-19. The statement says with people in B.C. following the restrictions, the COVID-19 spread is s

A man convicted of second-degree murder and interfering with a body in the death of a Japanese student in Vancouver will receive a new trial. The British Columbia Court of Appeal ruled in a split decision Tuesday to allow an appeal filed by William Schneider, who was convicted of killing 30 year old Natsumi Kogawa. Schneider pleaded guilty to interfering with her body, admitting that he disposed of her remains in the city's West End in 2016, but denying that he killed her. He was convicted on both counts following a jury trial and filed an appeal, arguing the judge erred in admitting an overhe

One worker is believed to have died and two others have been hurt at a mine just west of Kamloops, B.C. A statement from Toronto-based New Gold says the three were at working at the New Afton gold and copper mine around 1:40 a.m. when they were hit by what the company describes as a mud rush. The statement says one contract driller is presumed dead while the two New Gold employees have non-life-threatening injuries. New Gold says RCMP and provincial safety authorities have been notified and are at the scene. All activities at the mine have been suspended while an investigation is underway. Th

An RCMP dive team will be back in the North Thompson River in Kamloops today. Team is looking for a man who disappeared last week. Witnesses saw a man go into the river last Thursday around 7:30 pm and he apparently tried to swim across before disappearing. Constable Crystal Evelyn says crews are still looking after a weekend search with a K-9 unit, a dive team and police helicopter. She says police do not have an identity of the person who went in the water. Man has been described as white, slender and possibly in his 30s.

BC is reporting 1,158 new cases of COVID-19 over the past three days as well as 21 additional deaths. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says 18 cases of new COVID-19 variants have now been confirmed in the province, four of the South Africa variant and 14 of the fast-spreading virus first found in the UK. Dr. Henry says the province has stepped up testing for the new variants in outbreaks and among international travellers. She says cases of the new variants show why it's important to avoid social gatherings and she's urging people not to hold Super Bowl parties next weekend. British

Police say a Vancouver senior is "clinging to life" after being attacked by two men she believed were police officers.Sgt. Steve Addison says the 78-year-old lives alone in her home and was attacked early Sunday when she opened her door to the men.Addison says the victim likely lay injured in the home for several hours until police found her in response to a friend's request for a wellness check.The woman remains in hospital with what are described as life-threatening injuries.Police say the first suspect is white, six feet tall, with a long brown beard and a medium build, while the second man

A union representing employees of the Canada Line is expected to continue talks until at least 4 p.m. today in an effort to avert a strike. Stephanie Smith, president of the BC Government and Service Employees' Union, says negotiations with Protrans BC are proceeding with the help of a negotiator after 72 hours' strike notice was served. She says employees of the Canada Line, which runs between Richmond and Vancouver and to and from the airport, are paid three per cent less than those doing the same jobs on the SkyTrain. About 180 workers including attendants, control room operators and admini

Investigators from the United States have joined a new team taking a fresh look at the unsolved homicide of Victoria real estate agent Lindsey Buziak and police say there's movement in the 13 year old case. Buziak was 24 years old when she was fatally stabbed while showing a property in Saanich on Feb. 2, 2008. Saanich police Const. Markus Anastasiades says the new team includes representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as well as continued support from RCMP. In a statement released Sunday, he says technology developed since Buziak's death has highlighted additional leads and