Vancouver council has approved a pilot project that would allow alcohol at four public plazas in the city. Council voted in favour of the plan yesterday and the project is slated to begin August 10th and continue until mid-October. Approved plazas include three in downtown Vancouver, one on the north side of the Vancouver Art Gallery, another near the Vancouver Convention Centre and the third on a reclaimed side street at Bute and Robson. The fourth plaza is also part of a blocked off side street on 17th Avenue at Cambie Street, in the Cambie Village neighbourhood. A report on the proposal sa

Residents across much of southern Alberta, central and southeast Saskatchewan and British Columbia's southern Interior are sweltering through a hot spell. Environment Canada heat warnings or special weather statements are posted in those regions. The Fraser Canyon community of Lytton, B.C., which often claims the title of hottest place in the country, is forecast to reach a high of 40 C, while the city of Kamloops is expected to be just one degree cooler. Temperatures are lower in Alberta and Saskatchewan, but high humidity in many areas, including Lethbridge, Medicine Hat and Saskatoon, will

Homicide detectives are investigating the discovery of a body in a vehicle in Burnaby, B.C. RCMP say the region's Integrated Homicide Investigation Team has been called to an industrial area of southeast Burnaby after what is described as ``human remains'' were spotted in the vehicle. Based on the investigation so far, RCMP say the death does not appear random. They also say there is likely no risk to the public. No other details have been released. Officials with the homicide investigation team could provide more information later.

There are more COVID-19 infections from outbreaks at a British Columbia berry packing plant and on Haida Gwaii, contributing to the provincial total of 41 new cases announced Wednesday. A statement from provincial health officials says there are now 31 cases connected to Fraser Valley Packers Inc. in Abbotsford and there have been 20 positive tests on Haida Gwaii. It also says an alert has been issued about community exposure for anyone who was at the Liquid Zoo night club in Kelowna from July 15 to 18. A COVID-19 outbreak at the neonatal intensive care unit at St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouve

An outbreak of COVID-19 at the newborn intensive care nursery of a Vancouver hospital has been declared over. A statement from Providence Health Care, which manages St. Paul's Hospital, says Vancouver Coastal Health declared the outbreak over yesterday, 12 days after it was announced. The statement says all cases were promptly isolated, potential contacts were traced and the nursery was stringently disinfected. Parents visiting the nursery must still wear masks and sign a log book, but Providence Health says the ward has fully re-opened and the nearby maternity ward was never affected.

Community sport organizations in British Columbia will share $1.5 million in provincial government funding to help them survive the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. Lisa Beare, B.C.'s minister of tourism, arts and culture, says the funding will help many of the province's 4,100 local sports organizations facing financial hardship without their registration fees, event revenues and sponsorships. Beare says the pandemic has been difficult for community swimming, gymnastics, baseball and other local sports that rely largely on volunteer support but also have fixed costs. A Victoria-area baseb

Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, and Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer, have issued a joint statement regarding updates on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) response in British Columbia. "Today, we are announcing 23 new cases, for a total of 3,523 cases in British Columbia. "There are 253 active cases of COVID-19 in the province and 3,076 people who tested positive have recovered. "Of the total COVID-19 cases, nine individuals are hospitalized, three of whom are in intensive care. The remaining people with COVID-19 are recovering at home in self-isolation. "There has been

The RCMP say a 30 year old Surrey, B.C., man has been arrested and charged following an alleged sexual assault and robbery earlier this month. They say police received a report just after 11 p.m. on July 10 that a woman had been sexually assaulted near the King George SkyTrain station. Police say the victim was walking under the Expo line toward Fraser Highway when she was allegedly approached by a man with a weapon and robbed of her belongings. They say the man then pulled the woman into nearby bushes and sexually assaulted her, resulting in minor injuries that were treated in hospital. The

A berry packing plant in British Columbia's Fraser Valley is the newest site of a COVID-19 outbreak, where 15 cases have been linked. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says health authorities started the investigation Thursday and they're tracking down other potential contacts. She says 1,010 people have so far been told they must self-isolate because they've been exposed to others who have tested positive for the illness around the province. Changes to the rules around gatherings will limit the number of people in short-term vacation rentals, including hotel rooms and houseboats, to