Abbotsford police are examining an overnight shooting they believe is connected to a continuing extortion case affecting residents in the Fraser Valley. Officers were called to the 2500 block of Janzen Street shortly before 4 a.m. after reports of gunfire in a residential neighbourhood. Police say two vehicles parked in a driveway were hit by several rounds, but no one inside the home was injured. Investigators believe the property was intentionally targeted, reflecting a pattern seen in recent extortion-related incidents reported in parts of the Lower Mainland. Local police and community advo

A new analysis from the Institute for Canadian Citizenship suggests Canada continues to face long-term challenges retaining the newcomers it admits each year. The study reports that roughly one in five immigrants leaves the country within 25 years of arrival, with most departures occurring during the first five years. The findings echo concerns raised in recent years by settlement agencies and provincial governments that have been working to improve support for newcomers. The annual “Leaky Bucket” report indicates that departures are most common among highly educated immigrants, including

British Columbia Premier David Eby has introduced a long-term economic strategy that aims to draw up to $200 billion in new investments over the next decade, positioning the province as a key driver of national growth. The initiative, called the Look West plan, outlines how B.C. intends to expand its resource, technology and advanced manufacturing sectors while reducing reliance on U.S. markets. The provincial roadmap highlights several projects already under review by the federal government, including the North Coast Transmission Line, which is intended to support future mining and clean-ener

A technical failure at Cloudflare caused widespread service interruptions on Tuesday, affecting access to ChatGPT, social media platform X and several online gaming services. The company, which provides security and traffic management tools used across the internet, said it was working to identify the source of the disruption. Users across Canada, including in Metro Vancouver and parts of Alberta, reported repeated 500 error messages and an inability to load web-based tools that rely on Cloudflare’s infrastructure. The outage also limited access to Cloudflare’s own dashboard and API, which

Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia are in Ottawa today as they begin a three-day state visit that includes meetings with federal leaders, military commemorations, and discussions on international security. The visit is the royal couple’s first trip to Canada in nearly two decades and comes at a time when both countries are deepening co-operation through NATO and shared support for Ukraine. The King and Queen were formally welcomed at Rideau Hall this morning by a Canadian delegation that included Chief Justice Richard Wagner. Their program in the capital also features a wreath-

Alberta has introduced legislation that would require citizenship status and provincial health numbers to be displayed on all driver’s licences and government ID cards. The proposal formalizes a plan the province first signalled earlier this year, prompting debate about how much personal information should appear on identification used for everyday transactions. Privacy advocates previously warned that the change could expose a person’s citizenship status in routine situations such as age verification at stores or restaurants. Government officials argue the measure will make it easier for

Calgary’s executive committee has endorsed a motion from Mayor Jeromy Farkas to roll back the city’s blanket rezoning bylaw, setting the stage for a final decision by full council on December 15. The move begins the formal process to undo a housing policy approved earlier this year under former mayor Jyoti Gondek. The bylaw, adopted in April 2024, allowed fourplexes and rowhouses on all residential lots without requiring individual public hearings or neighbourhood-level consultation. Council approved the changes despite strong opposition from residents who argued the citywide approach w

Alberta cabinet minister Tanya Fir has issued a public apology after a voicemail she left for a Calgary constituent captured her using an expletive once she believed the call had ended. Fir, who serves as minister of arts, culture and Status of Women, acknowledged the remark in a written statement and described it as a lapse in judgment. The voicemail, released over the weekend by Alberta columnist Doug Firby, begins with Fir returning a constituent’s call and referencing feedback she had received. After offering a goodbye, the line remains open as she turns to speak with someone nearby. In

Australian para-cyclist Paige Greco, a gold medalist from the Tokyo Paralympics, has died following what officials described as a sudden medical episode at her home in Adelaide on Sunday. She was 28. Greco, who lived with cerebral palsy, captured international attention in 2021 when she won the first gold medal awarded at the Tokyo Paralympic Games, breaking her own world record on the track. She went on to earn two bronze medals in the road race and individual time trial. Paralympics Australia and the national cycling federation said her family is grieving the unexpected loss, remembering her