British Columbia's provincial health officer says she's optimistic the province is moving to a "better place" that could see more COVID-19 restrictions lifted by mid-March, before spring break.Dr. Bonnie Henry said Tuesday that a decline in hospitalizations, immunity from vaccination and the availability of at-home rapid tests point the way forward to normal activities like high school graduations, which youth in particular need to feel connected to others.However, she said not everyone will be ready or able to leave behind some pandemic measures like masks and physical distancing so it's impo

B.C. is reporting 466 new cases of COVID-19, including one epi-linked case, for a total of 348,771 cases in the province. There are 523 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19 and 83 are in intensive care.In the past 24 hours, no new deaths have been reported, for an overall total of 2,873.There have been no new health-care facility outbreaks, for a total of 28 facilities with ongoing outbreaks. From Feb. 21-27, people not fully vaccinated accounted for 19.4% of cases. From Feb. 14-27, they accounted for 34.7% of hospitalizations.Past week cases (Feb. 21-27) - Total 3,022Not vaccinated: 480 (15

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland says co-ordinated sanctions against Russia by G7 countries will go even further in the coming days, choking off President Vladimir Putin's ability to fund his war on Ukraine.Freeland says she spoke with her G7 counterparts this morning, joined by Ukraine's "tired but determined" finance minister, who assured them his country would win the war as he spoke from a windowless room furnished with a spartan cot and a blue and yellow flag taped to the wall.She says existing sanctions are the most serious and stringent ever imposed on a major economy and new measures

Ottawa has asked the International Criminal Court to speed up its investigation into Russia for possible war crimes and announced Canada is closing its ports to Russian ships.Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly says petitioning the court is important for Canada to show that it is steadfast in its support of Ukraine.The ban on Russian-owned or registered ships and fishing vessels in Canadian ports and internal waters will take effect later this week and is in co-ordination with G-7 partners and other countries. More than 100 diplomats from some 40 countries and allies on Tuesday walked out of

Today, the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada, announced additional humanitarian support to respond to immediate needs arising from the Ukraine crisis at the virtual joint launch of the Humanitarian Flash Appeal and the Regional Refugee Response Plan for Ukraine.Canada stands united with those affected by the conflict in Ukraine, which is why we’re announcing an additional $100 million in humanitarian assistance to help experienced partners address the most pressing humanitarian nee

February 28th, 2022, at 8:43 pm, Abbotsford Emergency Services responded to a serious collision within the westbound lanes of Highway 1 west of the Sumas exit.Upon arrival, emergency service workers located a pedestrian struck by a commercial vehicle suffering life-threatening injuries. The pedestrian was transported to hospital, but sadly has succumbed to his injuries. The vehicle driver was uninjured, remained on scene and is cooperating with police. Impaired driving is not a factor. AbbyPD Patrol Officers, with the assistance of the Integrated Collision Analysis Reconstruction Service (ICAR

The Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit (VIIMCU) is investigating a homicide that occurred in downtown Victoria early this morning. One man has died.Shortly before 1:30 a.m. this morning, Patrol officers were called to 500-block of Yates Street for a report that a man had been stabbed. Officers attended and located the man suffering from life-threatening injuries. Officers provided emergency first aid before B.C. Emergency Health Services paramedics arrived, took over care, and transported the man to hospital. Sadly, the man died from his injuries at hospital.Detectives with VicPD’s

The Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit (VIIMCU) continues the investigation into the homicide of Bree Gamble, also known as Bree Lozano, nearly one year ago.Shortly after 6 a.m. on Wednesday March 3, 2021, VicPD Patrol officers were called to the south side of Beacon Hill Park, along Dallas Road, for a report of an unresponsive woman. Officers attended, along with BC Emergency Health Services paramedics, and despite providing CPR to Bree Gamble, she was confirmed to be deceased. The BC Coroners Service attended and assisted with the investigation. VIIMCU assumed conduct of the invest

Over a three-day period, B.C. is reporting 974 new cases of COVID-19, for a total of 348,305 cases in the province:Feb. 25-26: 398 new casesFeb. 26-27: 297 new casesFeb. 27-28: 279 new casesThere are 549 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19 and 85 are in intensive care.In the past 72 hours, 22 new deaths have been reported, for an overall total of 2,873.The new deaths include:Fraser Health: fiveVancouver Coastal Health: twoInterior Health: fourNorthern Health: sixIsland Health: fiveThere have been two new health-care facility outbreaks at Sun Pointe Village and Fischer Place (Interior Health