BCJun 19, 2020
B.C. independent school suspends classes after staff member gets COVID-19
An independent school in B.C.'s Fraser Health region has suspended classes after a staff member tested positive for COVID-19. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says the person held a variety of roles at the school, including teaching. Henry says a positive COVID-19 case at a school isn't unexpected, adding that she spoke about such a possibility when schools first reopened. British Columbia announced eight new cases of COVID-19 and no new deaths on Thursday, bringing the total number of cases to 2,783. Health Minister Adrian Dix announced that staff at all 501 long term care homes in
BCJun 18, 2020
Premier John Horgan urging British Columbians to share opinion on how to spend 1.5 billion dollars for COVID-19 recovery
Premier John Horgan is urging British Columbians to provide feedback on how the province should spend 1.5-billion dollars earmarked for COVID-19 recovery. Horgan says the province has been meeting with businesses, labour, First Nations and not-for-profits to get their perspective and is taking action on their ideas. But he is also urging British Columbians to take part in an online survey, provide written input or take part in a virtual town hall to make sure the recovery works for them. Finance Minister Carol James says the province has lost 314,000 jobs since February and rebuilding the eco
BCJun 17, 2020
19 new COVID-19 cases in B.C., no new deaths reported
The province has announced 19 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total to 2,775. It says in a release that 185 cases remain active with 11 of those patients in hospital, including five in intensive care. There have been no new COVID-19 related deaths, leaving the total at 168. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says two new health-care facility outbreaks in the Fraser Health district are very concerning and public health teams are working hard to contain further spread.
BCJun 17, 2020
Surrey RCMP investigating suspicious death after woman dropped off at hospital
The RCMP are investigating the death of a woman who was dropped off at a hospital in Surrey, B.C., Wednesday morning with serious injuries. Police say they received a report earlier in the day of a seriously injured woman who died despite receiving medical treatment at the hospital. The Mounties say it's not clear how the woman was injured and they are trying to figure out her movements before her death. They say they are treating the death as suspicious. The RCMP say they are also looking into whether the woman's injuries connected to an earlier investigation in the 2700 block of 168 Street.
BCJun 17, 2020
Many arrests as Vancouver police enforce injunction against homeless camp
Police have made dozens of arrests after they say 46 people refused to obey a court injunction and leave a tent encampment on Vancouver's waterfront.An email from police says the arrests happened late Tuesday afternoon as demonstrators sat on the ground and refused to leave the site near CRAB Park on federal land operated by the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority.Police say the 46 were taken into custody for civil contempt of court, and one person was arrested for mischief and released without charges earlier in the day.They were among more than 100 people who had been living at the site since la
BCJun 17, 2020
Vancouver police detonate device found in backpack while investigating break-in
Vancouver police detonate device found in backpack while investigating break-in Vancouver police say they safely detonated an improvised explosive device in the city's downtown. Police say officers responding to a 911 call of a crime in progress at about 9 a.m. Tuesday saw two men allegedly trying to break into a vehicle near Thurlow and Bute streets. Police say after arresting one of the men, they found what appeared to be an explosive device in his backpack. The area was blocked off and specialists from the police department's emergency response section safely detonated the device. Const. T
BCJun 17, 2020
B.C.'s health officer says COVID-19 hikes elsewhere serve as cautionary tales
British Columbia's health minister says the province is working to set up a lab in Vancouver to determine if respirators and other equipment meet safety standards. Adrian Dix says B.C. is also rebuilding its reserve of personal protective equipment to prepare for a potential second wave of COVID-19 as it explores the possibility of locally made products. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says an increase in cases in some parts of the world suggest local measures to prevent the spread of the illness should not be relaxed too quickly. Henry says Beijing and the United States serve as c
BCJun 16, 2020
Prince Rupert: CN Rail conductor killed in an accident while working
The Teamsters Union says a CN Rail conductor has been killed in an accident just outside a rail yard in Prince Rupert. The union representing rail employees in BC says the man in his 30s died on the job while performing a switching operation yesterday. It's the second time in two weeks that a CN Rail worker has died on the job in BC. 31 year old Jas Riar was also killed during a switching incident at a rail yard in Surrey on June 1st.
BCJun 16, 2020
B.C. to cut retail liquor mark-up to help hospitality sector's COVID-19 recovery
British Columbia is planning to expand measures to support restaurants, bars and tourism operations hard hit by COVID-19 restrictions. The Ministry of Attorney General says a temporary wholesale pricing program will mean liquor licence holders can purchase beer, wine and spirits at reduced cost. The program is set to begin at the end of next month and be in place until March 31, when it will be reviewed. Restaurants, bars and pubs currently pay for liquor purchases at full retail price, which is the wholesale price, plus a retail markup set by the ministry's liquor distribution branch. The ne