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BCOct 22, 2021

Date set for inquest into deaths of Jovan Williams and Shirley Williams

The BC Coroners Service says it will hold an inquest into the deaths of two people shot just over five years ago during a confrontation with police in the tiny northern Interior village of Granisle, on the shore of Babine Lake, east of Smithers. 39 year old Jovan Williams and his 73 year old mother Shirley Williams were shot as RCMP responded to what they described as a ``neighbour dispute involving a handgun.'' The officer who fired the shots was cleared of any wrongdoing by the Independent Investigations Office with the IIO report finding Jovan Williams ran from a home, pointed a rifle and
major-crimes-investigators-searching-for-clues-related-to-a-homicide-in-100-mile-house
BCOct 22, 2021

Major crimes investigators searching for clues related to a homicide in 100 Mile House

Major crimes investigators are in 100 Mile House searching for clues related to a homicide. Corporal Madonna Saunderson says police were called Tuesday evening about a report of what sounded like gunshots in an industrial area of the south Cariboo community. She says the victim, who has not been named, was found dead when officers reached the scene. Saunderson says RCMP are trying to determine what led up to the shooting and they want to talk to anyone who might have information about the homicide.
vpd-arrests-man-seen-with-a-gun-in-downtown
BCOct 22, 2021

VPD arrests man seen with a gun in downtown

A man seen on surveillance footage carrying and pointing what appears to be a gun in downtown Vancouver Tuesday has been arrested by Vancouver Police."We are very thankful for the heads-up person who recognized the suspect and called our tip line immediately, "says Constable Tania Visintin.A 54 year old Vancouver man was arrested last night and was in possession of a replica handgun and other weapons.Firearm-related charges have been recommended to Crown counsel.The suspect remains in custody.
700-per-cent-spike-in-violent-shoplifting-across-vancouver-chief-adam-palmer
BCOct 22, 2021

700 per cent spike in violent shoplifting across Vancouver: Chief Adam Palmer

Vancouver's top cop is reporting a 700 per cent spike in violent shoplifting across the city compared to pre-pandemic stats for 2019. Chief Adam Palmer says 844 cases have been recorded so far this year and he expects that number to top a thousand by January. He says the force has increased foot and bike patrols in an effort to respond faster to calls. Palmer adds that many officers are working a lot of overtime monitoring protests and handling pandemic-related complaints.
CanadaOct 22, 2021

Data shows a continued decline in the COVID-19 case count in most of Canada

Canada's chief public health officer says the latest data shows a continued decline in the COVID-19 case count in most jurisdictions.Dr. Theresa Tam says Canada is approaching the level of 90 per cent of the population having at least one dose of vaccine.But she notes no vaccine is perfect and there will continue to be breakthrough cases.Tam says over the past week, a total of 28-hundred cases were reported daily across the country and the numbers of severe illness are stabilizing.
CanadaOct 22, 2021

Kapawe'no First Nation completes ground-penetrating radar search

A northern Alberta First Nation says it has completed the first phase of ground-penetrating radar in its search for children'sremains at a former residential school site. Kapawe'no First Nation northwest of Edmonton says that finding any unmarked graves at Grouard Indian Residential School, also known as St. Bernard Mission School, is imperative to the community's collective healing.The school was opened by the Roman Catholic Church in 1894 and closed about 60 years ago. The First Nation says the archeology department at the University of Alberta is leading the project and a report on its find
CanadaOct 22, 2021

Inuiry find environmental groups did nothing wrong

Alberta's public inquiry into the role of foreign funding of campaigns opposing oilsands development has found environmental groups have done nothing wrong.Inquiry commissioner Steve Allan says the groups behind those campaigns were within their free speech rights. Allan also says the campaigns have not been unlawful or dishonest.But Allan recommends a series of reforms to improve transparency in the charitable sector, as well as an industry-led campaign to rebrand Canadian energy.
CanadaOct 22, 2021

Alberta's top doctor says COVID-19 cases receding but vigilance

Alberta's chief medical officer of health says COVID-19 case numbers in the province continue to recede. But Dr. Deena Hinshaw cautions that the hospital situation remains precarious given the high number of patients. And she says Albertans can't afford to let up on health restrictions, particularly with Halloween coming up. There were 770 new cases of COVID-19 Thursday for a new total of 10,434 active cases. There were eight more deaths, bringing that total to 3,014. Alberta Health Services says there are 912 people in hospital with COVID-19, and that 201 of them are in intensive care.
b-c-crosses-grim-milestone-of-200-000-covid-19-cases
BCOct 22, 2021

B.C. crosses grim milestone of 200,000 COVID-19 cases

In addition, 89.8% (3,884,354) of all eligible adults in B.C. have received their first dose and 84.4% (3,652,493) received their second dose.B.C. is reporting 715 new cases of COVID-19, for a total of 200,249 cases in the province.There are 4,965 active cases of COVID-19 in the province and 192,819 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 377 individuals are in hospital and 136 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.In the past 24 hours, four new deaths (Northern Health) have been reported, for an overall total of 2,096.Ther

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CanadaSep 17, 2026

Canada Must Focus on Value-Added Products Instead of Raw Materials: EDC

Amid the federal government’s efforts to open up new markets, Export Development Canada (EDC) said in a report released Thursday that Canada needs to invest in processing raw materials domestically and turning them into higher-value products instead of exporting them in their raw form. EDC CEO Alison Nankivell said such investments could add nearly $100 billion to Canada’s GDP over the next decade. The report used yellow peas as an example. While exporting raw peas may generate about $30 per tonne, processing them into flour can raise the value to $300 per tonne. Turning them into products
16-arrested-in-abbotsford-retail-theft-operation-project-pumpkin-spice
BCSep 17, 2026

16 Arrested in Abbotsford Retail Theft Operation ‘Project Pumpkin Spice’

Abbotsford Police have arrested 16 people accused of shoplifting as part of Project Pumpkin Spice, a retail crime enforcement operation conducted on Sept. 11 as part of a nationwide campaign. According to police, 11 officers from the Abbotsford Police Department’s Street Outreach Response Team worked with 20 local businesses during the 10-hour operation. Sgt. Paul Walker said several of those arrested had previous criminal records and outstanding warrants. Police recovered more than $1,600 worth of stolen merchandise during the operation. A vehicle allegedly used in the offences was also sei
b-c-municipalities-urge-eby-to-hold-provincial-election-after-local-vote
BCSep 17, 2026

B.C. Municipalities Urge Eby to Hold Provincial Election After Local Vote

British Columbia’s political scene is heating up amid signals from Premier David Eby that an early provincial election could be called. Amid the uncertainty, Union of B.C. Municipalities president Cory Ramsay is calling for any potential mid-term provincial election to be held only after the municipal elections are completed. Ramsay noted that local elections are scheduled for Oct. 17, with campaigning beginning Sept. 19 across 188 communities. He warned that calling a provincial election during the municipal campaign could distract more than 3,500 local candidates and residents from key iss
police-take-major-action-in-burnaby-hospital-fire-case-after-six-year-investigation
BCSep 17, 2026

Police Take Major Action in Burnaby Hospital Fire Case After Six-Year Investigation

Police have charged a 29-year-old Alberta man in connection with a fire at Burnaby Hospital in 2020, following an investigation that lasted nearly six years. Burnaby RCMP said the B.C. Prosecution Service approved charges against Yu Yun Wang on September 8, including arson and endangering human life. The fire broke out on November 15, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, in the hospital’s mental health services wing. The blaze caused millions of dollars in damage, forced the emergency department to close and led to the evacuation of patients. Police said the suspect was identified in 2023 aft
AlbertaSep 17, 2026

Alberta Man Sentenced to 12 Years for Sexual Assaults on Vulnerable Women

An Alberta man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for a series of sexual assaults against vulnerable women at a rural property near Calgary. Richard Robert Mantha, 62, was convicted of six offences, including drugging one of his victims, in incidents that occurred between 2019 and 2023. He was also found guilty of uttering threats against another woman. The court heard that most of the victims worked in the sex trade. Justice Judith Shriar said Mantha showed “callous disrespect” when he laughed as one terrified victim fled his rural property, fearing for her life. Mantha received cre