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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A 53-year-old woman has been charged with aggravated assault after a stabbing at the Vancouver Law Courts this week. Sgt. Steve Addison of Vancouver police says in an email statement that the accused and the victim were at the court for a civil matter that was scheduled for a hearing on Tuesday. Addison says the stabbing occurred before the court session began. He says the 53-year-old victim was seriously hurt and taken to hospital. Addison says sheriffs held the suspect until police arrived. Catherine Shen is scheduled to appear in court on Friday.

Police have named the victim of Vancouver's seventh homicide of 2021. They say 59-year-old Richard Hooper was stabbed numerous times and died in hospital on Monday. He was attacked in a home in east Vancouver on May 22. Rajesh Narayan, who police say is known to the victim, was arrested nearby. The 38-year-old is charged with second-degree murder. Narayan remains in custody and documents show his next court appearance is scheduled for June 18.