British Columbia is celebrating the contributions of the Punjabi Canadian community to its economy, history and culture through the development of new educational supports, exhibits and online resources. The project is part of the Province’s commitment to creating a welcoming and inclusive society. “The Punjabi community has a long and unique history that has contributed significantly to the strength and success of our province,” said Premier John Horgan. “The Punjabi Canadian Legacy Project will share these stories with future generations, while honouring the resilience and diversity

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says British Columbia is at a precipice when it comes to a potential surge of COVID-19 infections. But Henry says reducing the number of cases is still within reach as long as people work together and follow public health protocols. She urged people to avoid activities that are considered high-risk, such as spending time with groups of people that they may not know. B.C. announced 89 new cases of COVID-19 as well as one additional death today, bringing the province's total number of COVID-19 cases to 6,041 and 210 deaths. Dr. Henry's warning comes af

A recent search warrant executed by the Surrey RCMP Drug Unit at a residence in Whalley has resulted in a significant seizure of illegal drugs, cash, and a firearm.On August 20, 2020, as part of their proactive enforcement, Surrey RCMP Drug Unit observed two individuals involved in suspicious activity consistent with drug trafficking, outside a residence in the 9400-block of 129 Street. Both individuals were detained and found to be in possession of cash and street level drugs. The investigation continued and officers obtained a search warrant for the residence. The search warrant was executed

A COVID-19 outbreak has been declared in the nephrology unit at a hospital in Surrey, B.C. Fraser Health's interim chief medical health officer says a patient tested positive for the virus on Tuesday. Dr. Elizabeth Brodkin says the unit at Surrey Memorial Hospital has fewer than a dozen patients, and staff are being monitored and screened. She says the nephrology unit is closed to new patients and it is not expecting visitors. Brodkin says an outbreak is defined as a transmission at a hospital site. The new outbreak comes as B.C.'s health minister and provincial health officer announced 104 n

Police say alcohol may have been a factor in a head-on crash in the George Massey Tunnel that killed one person and injured two others. Richmond RCMP say a vehicle travelling south on Highway 99 early Wednesday crossed the centre line, hitting an oncoming vehicle. A 61 year old woman from Richmond who was travelling northbound died in the crash, while a passenger in her vehicle was hurt. The driver of the vehicle that veered into the other lane also has serious injuries. Staff Sgt. Quentin Frewing, with Lower Mainland traffic services, says all possible factors of the crash are being investig

A man who was hiking in Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park in the Okanagan has a warning for other park users. Andrew Nydam says he was taking photos Monday when he came within a metre of stepping on an unexploded World War II mortar. The area was used for military training decades ago. Police say the device wasn't on a public trail and a Canadian Forces disposal unit will collect and dispose of the mortar.

Schools in British Columbia are getting an extra $2 million for mental health programs from the provincial government. Judy Darcy, the minister of mental health and addictions, says the province is spending more on mental health programs this year because children are facing an unprecedented return to school. She says a total of $3.75 million will be spent in the 2020-21 school year to promote mental wellness and provide additional support for students, families and educators.The province says school districts will determine how the funds are used based on their needs. The government says surv

Metro Vancouver home sales hit 3,047 in August at a benchmark price of $1.04 million, as the housing market continued its recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver says the number of homes sold last month was nearly 20 per cent higher than the 10-year average for August, although there was a slight decrease from the 3,128 homes sold in July. The benchmark price in August was 5.3 per cent higher than August 2019 and 0.7 per cent higher than July. Board chairwoman Colette Gerber says the higher-than-average sales were driven by people who put their plans on

An outbreak of COVID-19 in British Columbia's Nass Valley has prompted an alert from the Northern and First Nations health authorities. The warning goes out to anyone who attended gatherings between Aug. 21 and 25 in the valley. A statement from the Nisga'a government says all those who attended a memorial, a funeral or settlement feast need to contact their community clinic. A joint statement Tuesday from Health Minister Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says there have been 58 new cases of COVID-19 for a total of 5,848 cases. There has been one additional death, whil