The health authority in northern British Columbia has issued an alert after more than a dozen people tested positive for COVID-19. The alert says the outbreak is linked to a religious gathering held between July 30 and Aug. 2 in Deadwood, Alta. Anyone who attended the It Is Time event is asked to monitor themselves, self-isolate and seek testing if any COVID-19 symptoms develop. Northern Health says 17 lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been identified so far, with 12 related to attendance at the event and the other five linked to secondary exposures. Most of the cases are in Fort St. John,

British Columbia's health minister and provincial health officer are urging people to follow physical distancing guidelines amid a rise in COVID-19 cases across the province. Adrian Dix and Dr. Bonnie Henry issued a joint statement on Friday urging residents to stick together and keep a safe distance from people they may not know or who aren't in their social bubble. They say the province has the ability to bend the pandemic curve back down, but only if everyone takes part in measures related to the fight against COVID-19. Dix and Henry warn that transmission of the virus has forced nightclub

Three hikers who set out on one of Vancouver's North Shore mountain trails late yesterday afternoon had to call for help when darkness fell and they got lost. North Shore Rescue was called in at about 10:30, located the trio overnight, and although the three men were not hurt, they were helicoptered out of the area this morning. The call was one of three the rescue group says it received in the last 24 hours. One involved a hiker on Mount Seymour who set out late in the day yesterday and ended up spending the night on the mountain but was able to hike out this morning, while the third involve

A toddler who wandered away from his family on Wednesday was found three hours later and five kilometres away. Kelowna RCMP say the two year-old boy went missing on Wednesday in the Clark Lake recreational area. A search and rescue group believes the boy walked logging roads and quad trails before being found by an uncle. The boy did not suffer any injuries from the ordeal.

The British Columbia government says it is committing $36 million over nearly three years to fund more addiction treatment space for youth. Mental Health and Addictions Minister Judy Darcy says the investment will add 123 new treatment beds and more than double the current number of spaces available for youth aged 12 to 24. The province and local health authorities are discussing where the spaces should be located, but Darcy says some could be available within the next few months. The beds will form part of a continuum of care that Darcy says will include withdrawal management and detox space

British Columbia's Health Minister warned those planning on holding large parties and events this upcoming weekend to expect visits from officials to ensure COVID-19 guidelines are being followed. Adrian Dix says parties may not be immediately shut down but there would be consequences for those found flaunting the rules. The pronouncement comes as COVID-19 cases continue to rise in B.C., particularly among young adults between the ages of 20 to 29. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says those infections have been seen after exposure events, such as parties where young adults have bee

A judge has found a man from Surrey, B.C., guilty of second-degree murder, ruling that Tejwant Danjou intended to kill his partner or at least knew his violent actions could lead to her death. Rama Gauravarapu was killed at a hotel in West Kelowna on July 22, 2018. Competing explanations of Danjou's state of mind were presented to Justice Allison Beames of the B.C. Supreme Court during closing arguments last month at his trial for second-degree murder. The Crown said Danjou was an abusive and violent man. The defence asked for a manslaughter conviction and described Danjou as suffering from d

The BC Conservation Office Service says a man is recovering after he was seriously hurt by a bear while camping in a remote area near Lillooet over the weekend. Deputy Chief Chris Doyle says the man and his hiking partner were camping on Mount McLean on Sunday, when the man was awoken by a noise outside his tent. The noise was a black bear, which attacked him, leaving the man with serious injuries to his arm. Doyle says the bear was surprised when the man came out of his tent and appeared to have attacked defensively. The man and his hiking partner were able to get away and were later airlift

A five-month investigation in B.C. has resulted in charges against a man in what Ridge Meadows RCMP say is the largest seizure of drugs, weapons and cash in the detachment's history. The RCMP say the drug investigation began in March with a focus on so-called blue fentanyl, which they say is believed to be linked to multiple overdose deaths in the Lower Mainland. On July 15, police say they executed search warrants at homes in Maple Ridge and Mission. The RCMP say more than $114,000 was seized, as well as about 3.5 kilograms of what was suspected to be fentanyl _ which police estimate is abou