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BCSep 14, 2020

Flames rip through waterfront park, damage boardwalk in New Westminster, B.C.

A waterfront park along the Fraser River in New Westminster, B.C., has been extensively damaged by a major fire. New Westminster Mayor Jonathan Cote called the situation at Pier Park ``devastating'' in a social media message posted late Sunday night. The park was built in 2009 and includes a lengthy boardwalk along a reclaimed pier just west of a SkyTrain bridge linking Surrey and New Westminster. Cote's Twitter message says it is likely the old pier has been destroyed, while fire officials say the blaze has worked into the creosote pilings beneath the boardwalk and could burn for days. Crews
b-c-announces-early-lung-cancer-screening-program-touted-as-first-in-canada
BCSep 14, 2020

B.C. announces early lung cancer screening program touted as first in Canada

The British Columbia government has announced a new lung cancer screening program it says is the first of its kind in Canada aimed at early diagnosis of the deadliest form of the disease. Premier John Horgan says 70 per cent of all lung cancers are diagnosed at an advanced stage, but the program expected to begin by the spring of 2022 would improve survival rates.Horgan says the target population includes heavy smokers or those who have smoked heavily in the past and are between the ages of 55 and 74.Dr. Kim Chi, CEO of BC Cancer, says six British Columbians die every day of lung cancer and ea
BCSep 14, 2020

20 cars derail near Hope, no dangerous goods involved and nothing burned: CN Rail

The Environment Ministry confirms a CN Rail derailment has occurred at Hunter Creek, near Hope in the eastern Fraser Valley, but the ministry says no cargo is in the water. A statement from CN says at least 20 rail cars carrying potash jumped the rails today as the train crossed a bridge. The company says no one was hurt, no dangerous goods are involved and nothing burned. A cause of the derailment is under investigation and the Transportation Safety Board says it will send a team to the site in order to determine what happened.
cable-of-sea-to-sky-gondola-near-squamish-b-c-cut-again-causing-major-damage
BCSep 14, 2020

Cable of Sea to Sky Gondola near Squamish, B.C., cut again, causing major damage

The operators of a popular tourist gondola near Squamish, B.C., say the cable of the ride has been severed for the second time.Squamish RCMP say the damage to the Sea to Sky Gondola occurred at about 4 a.m. and no one was hurt.Police say they're working with the West Vancouver Police Department and Integrated Police Dog Services in the investigation and are asking people to stay out of the area, including climbers and hikers.Vandals were blamed for cutting the nearly six-centimetre thick cable in August 2019 while the ride was closed, sending about 30 gondolas smashing to the ground.Total dama
u-s-wildfire-smoke-blankets-b-c-wafts-east-to-alberta-affecting-air-quality
BCSep 14, 2020

U.S. wildfire smoke blankets B.C., wafts east to Alberta, affecting air quality

Environment Canada says air quality advisories posted across most of British Columbia since last week should spread east across Alberta due to wildfire smoke from the United States. Air quality statements have been issued for four regions of southwestern Alberta along the Rockies but the weather office says alerts will likely expand before smoke exits that province tonight. Relief will not come as quickly for B.C. residents, with the air quality index showing smoky conditions will improve only marginally by Tuesday. The index uses a scale of one to 10 to rank risk from stagnant or smoky air a
b-c-announces-132-new-covid-19-cases-one-additional-outbreak-at-care-home
BCSep 12, 2020

B.C. announces 132 new COVID-19 cases, one additional outbreak at care home

British Columbia is reporting an additional 132 cases of COVID-19 and one new outbreak at a health-care facility. Health Minister Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry say the outbreak at Evergreen Hamlets in Surrey is the 14th long-term care or assisted-living facility to have an active outbreak. Three acute-care facilities also have outbreaks. The Fraser Health Authority says a staff member at Evergreen Hamlets tested positive for the virus and is in self-isolation at home. In a joint statement, Dix and Henry say there were no additional deaths. There have been a total o
b-c-s-top-doctor-defends-shutting-down-banquet-halls-information-on-banquet-hall-closures-issued-by-ministry-of-health
BCSep 11, 2020

B.C.'s top doctor defends shutting down banquet halls, Information on Banquet Hall Closures issued by Ministry of health

Ministry of Health in B.C. has issued a statement in regards to the closure of Banquet Halls. The decision to close stand alone banquet halls and nightclubs was made by the Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry.Dr. Henry made the decision to take action to address the risks of COVID-19 transmission at a number of types of venues, including also closing nightclubs and limiting late night alcohol sales in all bars, pubs and restaurants.She made this decision because public health officials have seen exposure and transmission events happen repeatedly at standalone banquet halls, bars and ni
BCSep 11, 2020

B.C. auditor general outlines costs of government's pandemic response so far

A new report from British Columbia's auditor general says the largest amount the provincial government had allocated by mid-August in its pandemic response was for individuals and households.Michael Pickup's report says of the $2.6 billion his office has identified as being allocated by the government as of Aug. 18, $1.9 billion was targeted at individuals and households. Another $642 million was for critical services, and $100 million was allocated for business and industry.The government has announced a $5-billion COVID-19 response and a $1-billion contribution to a federal cost-sharing prog
BCSep 11, 2020

Murky skies forecast as more smoke from U.S. wildfires drifts toward B.C.

Heat advisories have ended in British Columbia following several days of record breaking temperatures in some areas, but Environment Canada's advisories about wildfire smoke still stand.The weather office is maintaining smoky skies bulletins for most of Vancouver Island and all of the inner south coast and southern B.C., east to the Kootenay region. The advisory says forecast models over the next 24 to 48 hours show the potential for long-range transport of smoke from dozens of wildfires in the northwestern United States.Environment Canada's air quality health index lists air quality at moder

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poilievre-unveils-action-plan-to-combat-extortion-during-surrey-visit
BCAug 20, 2025

Poilievre unveils action plan to combat extortion during Surrey visit

Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre unveiled a three-point action plan to combat extortion-related crime during a press conference held today at the Royal King Banquet Hall in Surrey -the same location where a shooting incident took place on July 21, 2025. Flanked by Abbotsford–South Langley MP Sukhman Gill, and candidates Sukh Pandher and Jassie Sahota (a police officer), Poilievre said extortion-related crimes have surged by 330% under Liberal rule. He attributed this rise to the repeal of mandatory jail terms for gun-related extortion under Bills C-5 and C-75. “Extortion-related
police-say-man-charged-after-alberta-youth-launch-catch-a-predator-scheme
AlbertaAug 20, 2025

Police say man charged after Alberta youth launch 'catch a predator' scheme

Alberta RCMP say they have arrested and charged a Calgary man who, it was later determined, had been the focus of a ``catch a predator'' sting operation hatched by a group of youngsters. Mounties say the situation came to light in Airdrie on Monday night when a 12-year-old boy was abducted in a car only to escape at a stoplight and call police. The suspect, a 37-year-old, refused to stop for police and was later arrested at a Calgary residence. Subsequently, police said they learned the suspect had been targeted by at least seven youths in a ``catch a predator'' scheme. The you
some-evacuation-orders-alerts-linked-to-vancouver-island-wildfire-lifted
BCAug 20, 2025

Some evacuation orders, alerts linked to Vancouver Island wildfire lifted

Some of the evacuation orders and alerts linked to the Mount Underwood wildfire on Vancouver Island have been lifted or downgraded, as firefighters report "minimal" behaviour from the blaze. The Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District, the City of Port Alberni and the Tseshaht First Nation jointly issued an update at 8 a.m. saying evacuation orders are lifted for the China Creek Campground and Headquarters Bay, which remain on evacuation alert. The update also says that the City of Port Alberni and the Tseshaht First Nation's reserves are no longer under alert. The Cowichan Valley Regional Distric
police-watchdog-investigates-after-vancouver-officer-shoots-man-dead
BCAug 20, 2025

Police watchdog investigates after Vancouver officer shoots man dead

British Columbia's police watchdog is investigating after a man was shot dead in an alleged confrontation with officers in Vancouver. The Independent Investigations Office says the shooting took place Tuesday afternoon in an East Vancouver neighbourhood. It says there was a dispute between two people, and one man had a weapon when police arrived. The man was shot by police and died at the scene despite life-saving efforts by emergency responders. Vancouver police say the two people involved were neighbours involved in an argument. Police say no officers or other people were injured, and no fur
AlbertaAug 20, 2025

Costs of Manitoba’s extreme wildfire season start to take shape, evacuations ongoing

The Manitoba government has signed a 30-million-dollar contract with the Canadian Red Cross for evacuee support and other services related to this year's wildfires. The recently disclosed contract is the first glimpse into the cost of this year's wildfire season, which provincial officials say is the most severe in at least 30 years. Finance Minister Adrien Sala (SAH'-lah) says it's still too early to estimate a final cost, and the government is committed to supporting people who need help. The Red Cross contract alone is worth more than half of the 50-million dollars the N-D-P gover