On behalf of City Council, I want to wish everyone a very happy and safe Diwali this year. Also known as the Festival of Lights, Diwali is a much-loved cultural tradition in Surrey that promotes the message of unity, warmth and joy. Like all big celebrations, Diwali is traditionally a time for family and friends to come together to enjoy food and each other’s company. This year, however, celebrations must be approached differently. With the recent sharp rise of new COVID-19 cases in Metro Vancouver a new Provincial Health Order was issued this past weekend and it is vital that Diwali celebra

RCMP say the City of Prince George has become the victim of a significant fraud. The city called police in September when staff sent two payments to a contractor for more than $700,000, but the cash was never received. Police say the money was fraudulently redirected. The Mounties say in a news release investigators worked with financial institutions to recover most of one payment, but $375,000 remains lost. They say officers are following several leads and working with international partners to identify those responsible for the sophisticated computer-based fraud. Cpl. Craig Douglass says th

A Vancouver biotech company is getting worldwide attention for its role in helping develop a potential COVID-19 vaccine that pharmaceutical giant Pfizer says the vaccine could be up to 90 per cent effective. Vancouver's Acuitas Therapeutics developed lipid nanoparticles that act as the so-called delivery system for the vaccine, moving it through the body and into cells before the body breaks it down. Pfizer's ongoing study involves more than 43-thousand participants from six countries and the vaccine requires two doses taken three weeks apart. Canada has ordered 20 million doses and Ottawa is

More than two-thirds of Canadians say they would support a curfew if the COVID-19 pandemic became serious enough, according to a new poll.The survey by Léger and the Association for Canadian Studies found that 67 per cent of Canadians would back a temporary nighttime curfew,10 p.m. to 5 a.m., to curb viral spread in dire circumstances.However, respondents' enthusiasm varied by age, with young people less disposed to the notion.Fifty-five per cent of respondents aged 18 to 34 said they would support a curfew, while three-quarters of those aged 55 and over endorsed it, including 80 per cent of

British Columbia's top doctor has clarified a public health order requiring people living in two health regions to cut back on their social interactions in order to slow the rising COVID-19 case count. The details of Dr. Bonnie Henry's latest directive on Saturday are now posted online and explain that people in the Vancouver Coastal and Fraser health regions may only socialize with those in their ``core bubble.'' The provincial webpage notes a person's core bubble consists of others who live in the same home and may also include a partner, co-parent, relative or friend who lives in a differe

Effective immediately, the Province is extending the freeze on rent increases until July 10, 2021, under the powers of the Emergency Program Act and COVID-19 Related Measures Act. This is an interim measure to provide stability and advance notice for renters and landlords while a new cabinet is sworn in. Increases set to happen on Dec. 1, 2020, are cancelled, along with all pending increases through to July. "We know many renters are still facing income loss and even the slightest increase in rent could be extremely challenging. For that reason, we are extending the freeze on rent increases to

The NDP is set to lead British Columbia with a strong majority that was confirmed last night when election officials wrapped up the final mail-in vote tally. Elections BC says the NDP won 57 seats, the Liberals 28 and the Greens two at final count. One Liberal seat will undergo an automatic judicial recount because the margin was so tight. West Vancouver-Sea to Sky was projected to go Green until incumbent Liberal candidate Jordan Sturdy pulled ahead by 41 votes this weekend.

The Health Ministry says going for a walk is not considered a social gathering but British Columbians under new restrictions need to be careful it doesn't turn into a group of people gathering outside. The Ministry is clarifying some of the new restrictions that came into effect this weekend for residents of the Vancouver Coastal and Fraser health regions. The restrictions include bans on social gatherings beyond members of your own household for the next two weeks, while non-essential travel to and from the regions is strongly discouraged. The Ministry says people who live alone can consider

Snowfall warnings have been issued for several regions of British Columbia, including parts of Metro Vancouver. The Environment Canada warnings cover the central Interior including the Cariboo, Prince George and Stewart-Nechako regions, as well as inland sections of the north coast and parts of Greater Vancouver. The weather office is calling for as much as 10 centimetres of snow at higher elevations of Vancouver's North Shore, along with parts of Coquitlam and Maple Ridge, while areas closer to sea level could see up to two centimetres. Inland sections of the north coast, including the Distri