British Columbia's top doctor says the first dose of a vaccine for COVID-19 gives "amazing" immunity, so the government's decision to allow for a 35-day gap before the second dose is administered is rooted in science. Dr. Bonnie Henry's statements come as B.C. recorded a grim milestone Monday, reaching 1,000 COVID-19 related deaths. She says the decision to delay the second shot is about maximizing the vaccines' distribution, while balancing the supply and making sure the province has a safe and effective immunization program. Dr. Henry says the first dose primes the immune system while the s

Members of the Vancouver Canucks were back on the ice this morning after concerns about a possible COVID-19 exposure halted practice yesterday. The team says practice resumed at 11 a.m., and a media availability will be held later in the day. Team officials said in a social media post yesterday that practice had been cancelled "due to an abundance of caution" bud didn't say if the possible exposure involved a player or member of the coaching staff. The Canucks and the rest of the NHL launch a COVID-19-shortened 2021 season starting Wednesday. Vancouver would be in Edmonton to take on the Oile

A Vancouver police officer has been suspended and is facing charges of theft, breach of trust and drug possession linked to alleged on-duty activities. A statement from the VPD says Constable Neil Logan, who is in his early 40s, is no longer an active member of the department. It says the charges are linked to offences alleged to have occurred in Vancouver between May and October of last year. While a 20 year old associate of Logan also faces trafficking and possession charges. Police say an additional charge of theft and a charge of possession of a controlled substance have also been approve

Indigenous leaders are encouraging people to roll up their sleeves and start getting COVID-19 vaccines. The encouragement comes as First Nations across Canada start receiving doses of COVID-19 vaccines. Six of 14 Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations on Vancouver Island were priority recipients of doses of Moderna's vaccine last week. Mariah Charleson, vice-president of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, says the council employs nurses who are among those administering vaccinations so people see a familiar face they know and trust. She says health officials need to work with communities to ensure the

Officials at St. Paul's Hospital in downtown Vancouver confirm a COVID-19 outbreak has spread to two more units at its cardiac centre. In a memo to staff, the director of the St. Paul's Hospital Heart Centre says the outbreak declared last week on one unit has spread to a second unit and an intensive care unit. The memo, issued late Sunday on behalf of centre directors Amanda Harvey and Dr. Sean Virani, says the outbreak is on units 5A, 5B and the Cardiac Care Intensive Care Unit. The memo does not say how many patients, staff or visitors may be involved and a spokesman for Providence Health,

Police say one man is dead and another injured after two separate overnight shootings in the Metro Vancouver area.Richmond RCMP say they were called to a home at about 11:50 p.m. on Saturday where a man had reportedly suffered multiple gunshot wounds, and later died.Police have identified the deceased as 28-year-old Dilraj Johal.The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says Johal was known to police and they believe he was targeted for murder. Sgt. Frank Jang of IHIT noted in an email statement that Johal's death is the third homicide in the past four days related to an ongoing Lower Mainlan

British Columbia health officials say they understand the frustration directed at people who defy COVID-19 restrictions, but urged residents to continue following the guidelines to prevent infection. B.C. reported 617 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday and 18 more deaths, bringing the provincial toll to 988. Health Minister Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry say in a joint statement they know it can be frustrating to hear of people not following the guidelines, such as those travelling for non-essential reasons. But they say those who are making the effort to stick to the

BC's Minister of Jobs, Economy Recovery and Innovation says this province is resisting the pandemic-linked trend to higher unemployment, but Ravi Kahlon says we are "not out of the woods," yet. In a statement issued following release of Statistics Canada's monthly employment data, Kahlon says total employment has bounced back to nearly 99 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, but he says sectors like tourism and hospitality are still struggling. He also says people of colour, both business owners and employees, continue to bear the disproportionate impacts of the COVID-19 slowdown. Kahlon says BC

A snowboarder has died in an accident at the Whistler Blackcomb resort. RCMP confirm the man, in his mid-20s, fell about 20 metres from a cliff at one of the highest points of the resort, Thursday morning. Ski patrollers provided first aid and the man was airlifted to the clinic in Whistler but could not be saved. Sgt. Sascha Banks says in a statement that the BC Coroners Service, RCMP and Whistler Blackcomb resort are all investigating. This is the fourth death involving snow sports in the Sea-to-Sky region since Dec. 29 when two snowbikers were engulfed by an avalanche near Pemberton. A ski