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CanadaOct 19, 2021

Alberta's two major cities are set to make history in their mayoral races

Alberta's two major cities are set to make history in their mayoral races after Monday's municipal elections across the province.Jyoti Gondek is set to become Calgary's first female mayor and in Edmonton, Amarjeet Sohi appears to have been elected as the capital city's first mayor of colour.Sohi is a Sikh immigrant from India who previously served as an Edmonton city councillor and a federal Liberal cabinet minister. Celebrating his victory, he thanked Edmontonians for making the impossible possible after dreaming as a young adult to "build a better life in a new home."Gondek will replace Nahe
CanadaOct 19, 2021

Kananaskis park pass reaps $10 million for improvements, says

Alberta's environment minister says a new pass for a popular Alberta mountain park has generated more than $10 million from users of Kananaskis Country.Jason Nixon says money from the pass has been used entirely on upgrades to the park, located just west of Calgary. He says the money has paid for trail and facility maintenance, visitor services, search and rescue and waste management. He also says revenues from the pass have allowed Alberta's government to hire 20 conservation officers.Parks visitors began paying the fee for the first time on June 1,with a yearly pass costing $90 for a private
b-c-reports-1-846-covid-19-cases-and-26-deaths
BCOct 19, 2021

B.C. reports 1,846 COVID-19 cases and 26 deaths

Over a three-day period, B.C. is reporting 1,846 new cases of COVID-19, including six epi-linked cases, for a total of 198,278 cases in the province:Oct. 15-16: 753 new casesOct. 16-17: 650 new casesOct. 17-18: 443 new cases There are currently 4,917 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 190,918 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 360 individuals are currently in hospital and 151 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation. In the past 72 hours, 26 new deaths have been reported, for an overall total of 2,081.The new d
bcs-police-watchdog-investigating-after-two-men-went-into-medical-distress-while-in-vancouver-police-holding-cells
BCOct 19, 2021

BC's police watchdog investigating after two men went into medical distress while in Vancouver police holding cells

BC's police watchdog is investigating after two men arrested separately last weekend went into medical distress while in Vancouver police holding cells. The Independent Investigations Office says one man was arrested on an outstanding warrant late Friday night and the other was taken into custody on an unrelated warrant early Saturday morning. It says both men were found in medical distress later Saturday morning and had to be taken to hospital for treatment. The IIO says its investigation will determine what role, if any, police action or inaction may have played in the men's conditions.
BCOct 19, 2021

Casino operators tell B.C. money laundering public inquiry they followed money rules

Lawyers for BC's largest gaming companies have told the provincial inquiry into money laundering that their clients consistently met obligations to report suspicious cash. The lawyers representing Great Canadian Casino Company and Gateway Casinos delivered their closing submissions today at the Cullen Commission. Both said that compliance with BC regulations to combat money laundering is and always has been a top priority at provincial casinos. Final submissions are to wrap up tomorrow at the inquiry launched by the province in 2019 with a final report due by mid-December.
pm-trudeau-regrests-his-decision-of-travel-during-his-visit-to-kamloops-first-nation-chief-says-visit-is-bittersweet-2
BCOct 19, 2021

PM Trudeau regrests his decision of travel during his visit to Kamloops First Nation; Chief says visit is 'bittersweet'

The chief of the BC First Nation that got no response when it invited Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to visit on the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation says his visit today was ``bittersweet.'' Tk'emlups te Secwepemc Chief Rosanne Casimir chided Trudeau for ignoring their earlier invitations but said his visit to Kamloops today is a chance to move forward. Trudeau says he regrets his decision not to visit the First Nation on September 30th where the remains of more than 200 Indigenous children are believed to have been found at a former residential school. He says that instead of
clearwater-rcmp-seek-public-assistance-in-locating-daniel-ritchie
BCOct 18, 2021

Clearwater RCMP seek public assistance in locating Daniel Ritchie

A 35 year old man from eastern BC was supposed to return to work in Valemount this morning, but there's still no sign of Daniel Ritchie, one day after RCMP appealed for help finding him. Clearwater Mounties issued a release yesterday confirming Ritchie was last heard from on October 13th. He rented a Ford pickup 10 days ago, while his regular vehicle was in for repairs in Kamloops, and the truck was due to be returned over the weekend, but instead was found abandoned on a forest service road in a remote area south of Clearwater. RCMP want to talk to anyone who has information about Ritchie, d
three-new-covid-19-outbreaks-declared-in-fraser-health-and-vancouver-coastal-health-area
BCOct 18, 2021

Three new COVID-19 outbreaks declared in Fraser Health and Vancouver Coastal Health area

Fraser Health has declared two new COVID-19 outbreaks, one at Queen's Park Care Centre in New Westminster, where two residents tested positive, and the other at Heritage Villa in Chilliwack, where one resident and two staff were diagnosed. The health authority says enhanced infection control measures are in place. Vancouver Coastal Health has also declared a COVID-19 outbreak at Amica Lions Gate, a private care facility where two residents tested positive. There were 15 active COVID-19 outbreaks in long-term care and assisted living as of the province's latest update, as well as four in hospi
hong-kong-bans-air-canadas-direct-flights-from-vancouver-for-two-weeks-2
WorldOct 18, 2021

Hong Kong bans Air Canada's direct flights from Vancouver for two weeks

The Hong Kong Department of Health has banned direct flights from Vancouver operated by Air Canada for two weeks in response to COVID-19 cases. A statement posted to the department's website says health officials detected nearly 60 imported cases in the first two weeks of this month, including one passenger on an October 13th Air Canada flight from Vancouver. It says another passenger had failed to comply with disease prevention and control requirements, prompting officials to implement the ban, which will remain in effect until October 26th. Air Canada notes that its Toronto to Hong Kong fli

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threat-prompts-brief-lockdown-at-nanaimo-high-school
BCDec 11, 2025

Threat prompts brief lockdown at Nanaimo high school

A Nanaimo high school was placed under a precautionary lockdown Wednesday afternoon after school staff were alerted to a threat directed at a student. The incident at Nanaimo District Secondary School began around 2:30 p.m., prompting administrators to activate established safety procedures. Nanaimo RCMP officers responded immediately and remained on site while classrooms were secured. Police and school officials said the lockdown lasted roughly 30 minutes, and students and staff were released shortly after 3 p.m. once officers determined there was no ongoing risk. The district says students w
vancouver-police-seize-loaded-rifle-and-drugs-during-downtown-eastside-arrest
BCDec 11, 2025

Vancouver Police seize loaded rifle and drugs during Downtown Eastside arrest

Vancouver Police say a loaded rifle and several other weapons were taken off the street this week after officers arrested a man suspected of trafficking drugs in the Downtown Eastside. The incident took place Tuesday afternoon near East Hastings and Columbia Street, an area where frontline police and community workers have long raised concerns about violence linked to the drug trade. According to the Vancouver Police Department, members of the Beat Enforcement Team were on routine patrol around 2:35 p.m. on December 9 when they arrested a 32-year-old Surrey resident outside a residential build
donald-trump-unveils-new-gold-card-immigration-program
WorldDec 11, 2025

Donald Trump unveils new ‘Gold Card’ immigration program

Former United States president Donald Trump announced on Thursday the launch of a new immigration initiative he calls the Gold Card, opening the application process for the program. Under the plan, individuals can apply for the Gold Card at a fee of US$1 million, while companies wishing to secure a card for executives or employees would pay US$2 million. Trump’s campaign says cardholders would receive a U.S. passport, full voting rights and the same benefits enjoyed by other American citizens. Trump framed the Gold Card as part of his broader “America First” policy agenda, asserting the
flooding-prompts-wider-evacuations-and-highway-closures-across-southern-b-c
BCDec 11, 2025

Flooding prompts wider evacuations and highway closures across southern B.C.

Communities across southern British Columbia are facing new evacuation orders and travel disruptions after heavy rainfall triggered flooding and landslides that severed key routes between the Lower Mainland and the Interior. Provincial officials say multiple highways, including the Coquihalla and Highways 1, 3, 5 and 11, remain shut as crews assess washouts and unstable slopes. The closure of Highway 11 has also halted access to the Sumas border crossing. In Abbotsford, 371 properties on the Sumas Prairie were ordered evacuated overnight as waters linked to the overflowing Nooksack River conti
cra-plans-major-hiring-push-to-boost-call-centre-capacity-ahead-of-tax-season
CanadaDec 11, 2025

CRA plans major hiring push to boost call centre capacity ahead of tax season

The Canada Revenue Agency says it plans to bring on roughly 1,700 additional call centre staff in the coming months as it prepares for a surge in taxpayer inquiries during the upcoming filing season. Agency officials say the goal is to expand the workforce to about 4,500 agents, citing internal forecasts that anticipate heavy call volumes. Melanie Serjak, an assistant commissioner with the CRA, told reporters that it is routine for the agency to scale up its operations for tax season, when daily call volumes can exceed 300,000. She said last year’s peak staffing level reached about 3,300 age