Search and rescue crews in Coquitlam, B.C., say they had to conduct a "non-urgent helicopter evacuation" of 17 campers. Messages posted on social media by the rescue team on Friday say the 17 were stranded at Widgeon Lake. The area is a popular hiking destination west of Pitt Lake, north of Coquitlam. The search team says the campers had chartered a float plane to carry them to an area at the lake that is difficult to access by foot. No one has been hurt but Coquitlam Search and Rescue says poor weather has prevented the plane from picking up the group. It says the campers made the "difficult

More flights have been added to the list alerting passengers who arrived at British Columbia airports of potential exposure to COVID-19. The BC Centre for Disease Control says passengers on a Delta flight on July 29 from Seattle to Vancouver and a flight from San Francisco to Vancouver on Aug. 1 may be at risk. All travellers from outside Canada must self-isolate for 14 days, which can limit the possible spread of the illness from international flights.But the centre says passengers on a WestJet flight from Calgary should also self-monitor for symptoms for the next 14 days.It says a person wi

Premier John Horgan says the decision by the US government to impose tariffs on Canadian aluminum is "disappointing for the people of BC". A statement from the premier's office says many people in BC earn their living from the province's aluminum industry and BC exports do no harm the US market. It says the 10-per cent tariff is "unfortunate" when countries should be helping each other recover from COVID-19 restrictions, and the Horgan government will fight for the industry and its workers. A newly modernized Rio Tinto aluminum smelter in Kitimat employs 1100 workers and contributed more th

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 47 new cases, including one epi-linked case, for a total of 3,881 cases in British Columbia. "There are 371 active cases of COVID-19 in the province and 3,315 people who tested positive have recovered. "There are 11 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19, five of whom are in intensive care. The remaining people with COVID-19 are recovering at home in self-isolation. "

Residents of about 80 homes in Penticton, B.C., were allowed to return to their properties just hours after being forced out by an aggressive grass fire. The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen says an order to evacuate a section of Penticton's West Bench region was lifted early Thursday afternoon. First responders began ordering people to leave the area at about 9 a.m. as the fire flared, briefly closing Highway 97, but limited traffic was moving again around noon. All affected residents have been allowed to return but only pedestrian access was available to 17 properties until fire ho

Vancouver Coastal Health is warning the public about a possible exposure to someone who tested positive for COVID-19 at Lions Bay Beach Park. The health authority says the possible exposure occurred on July 26, 27, 29, 30 and 31.A statement from Vancouver Coastal Health says the exposure is believed to be low risk, but anyone who was at the park on those days needs to self-monitor for symptoms.Fraser Health is also warning of a public exposure at the Hookah Lounge on King George Boulevard.It says in a statement that the potential exposure was over two early mornings, between midnight and 5 a.m

Premier John Horgan says B.C.'s plan to fully re-open primary and secondary schools in September will be an ``unprecedented challenge.'' But he says medical experts, who have provided dependable advice throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, believe the plan is workable. Speaking while announcing a new regional cancer centre in Surrey, Horgan says his government would not put children at risk if ``the danger was overwhelming.'' The BC Teachers' Association says in a statement that full re-opening of schools next month ``needs a lot more work'' to keep children and teachers safe.

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 47 new cases, including one epi-linked case, for a total of 3,834 cases in British Columbia. "There are 351 active cases of COVID-19 in the province and 3,288 people who tested positive have recovered. "Currently, nine individuals are hospitalized with COVID-19, six of whom are in intensive care. The remaining people with COVID-19 are recovering at home in self-isolatio

The British Columbia government is offering rebates of up to $50,000 to businesses, regional governments and non-profit groups buying electric passenger vehicles. Energy Minister Bruce Ralston and Environment Minister George Heyman announced Wednesday the money would come from $2 million in additional funding to the CleanBC program. The rebates range from $1,700 to $50,000, covering everything from electric motorcycles to cube trucks and shuttle buses.Heyman says it's the kind of innovation that creates jobs and makes every B.C. resident proud of what's being done to diversify the economy and