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BCNov 04, 2021

Teacher in Kitimat under fire after allegedly mocking an Indigenous student for wearing traditional Haisla regalia

A teacher at Mount Elizabeth Secondary in Kitimat, BC, is under fire after allegedly mocking an Indigenous student for wearing traditional Haisla regalia to school for picture day. Students organized a walkout on Tuesday to demand accountability from education officials. School District 82 has not named the teacher alleged to have made the comments and has not confirmed whether the teacher is still working at the school or what type of investigation they may be facing. The Haisla Nation says it is aware of what happened and it serves as a reminder of the work that still needs to be done to ac
victoria-police-issue-covid-19-vaccine-mandate-for-all-staff
BCNov 04, 2021

Victoria police issue COVID-19 vaccine mandate for all staff

Victoria police have issued a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for all staff including front-line officers, civilian staff, special municipal constables, volunteers and contractors. Police say they will require staff to submit proof of full vaccination or begin regular COVID-19 antigen testing by November 15th. Police Chief Del Manak says he believes most of his staff are fully vaccinated, but this will be an added precaution to confirm the safety of staff members and the public. BC health officials reported six deaths and 430 new cases of the virus yesterday, bringing the active case count to 4,373.
uk-becomes-first-country-to-approve-antiviral-covid-19-pill
WorldNov 04, 2021

UK becomes first country to approve antiviral COVID-19 pill

Britain is the first country to grant a conditional authorization to pharmaceutical giant Merck's coronavirus antiviral, the first pill shown to successfully treat COVID-19. It's intended to be taken at home twice a day for five days by people with mild to moderate COVID-19.An antiviral pill that reduces symptoms and speeds recovery could prove groundbreaking, easing caseloads on hospitals and helping to curb outbreaks in poorer countries with fragile health systems.The pill is also pending review by regulators in the United States and the European Union.
b-c-reports-430-new-covid-19-cases-and-6-deaths
BCNov 04, 2021

B.C. reports 430 new COVID-19 cases and 6 deaths

B.C. is reporting 430 new cases of COVID-19, including two epi-linked cases, for a total of 207,120 cases in the province.There are currently 4,373 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 200,220 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 137 individuals are currently in intensive care.In the past 24 hours, six new deaths have been reported, for an overall total of 2,192.The new deaths include:Fraser Health: fourInterior Health: oneIsland Health: oneThere has been one new health-care facility outbreak at Hallmark on the Park (Fraser Health). The outbreaks at Heritage
suspicious-vehicle-check-yields-100k-liquor-seizure
BCNov 03, 2021

Suspicious vehicle check yields $100K liquor seizure

On October 27, 2021 at approximately 11:50 PM, members of BC Highway Patrol’s Traffic Safety Unit - Police Dog Service (TSU-PDS) checked a suspicious vehicle parked in an overnight parking area reserved for commercial vehicles near Revelstoke, BC. Police observed that the seats behind the driver were removed and the vehicle, a Toyota minivan, was filled from floor to ceiling with boxes and concealed by a blanket. The van’s occupants, a man and woman from Calgary, were queried on police databases and were found to be the subjects of prior criminal activity in the Lower Mainland.Based on the
ravi-kahlon-issues-statement-in-honour-of-the-proclamation-declaring-november-as-sikh-nation-blood-donation-month
BCNov 03, 2021

Ravi Kahlon issues statement in honour of the proclamation declaring November as Sikh Nation Blood Donation Month

Ravi Kahlon, MLA for Delta North and Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation, has issued the following statement in honour of the proclamation declaring November as Sikh Nation Blood Donation Month:"In November 1999, the Sikh Nation organized its first blood donation campaign in Surrey with the belief that all humans should live a safe and happy life. Powered by that belief and the dedication of a few hard-working volunteers, this grassroots campaign became an annual event, growing in size and impact with every year."Now in its 22nd year, the campaign has dozens of clinics across Ca
williams-lake-mayor-apologises-for-sharing-an-article-that-suggested-there-are-two-sides-to-the-history-of-residential-schools
BCNov 03, 2021

Williams Lake Mayor apologises for sharing an article that suggested there are two sides to the history of residential schools

Williams Lake Mayor Walt Cobb has apologized for reposting an article on his personal Facebook page that suggested there are two sides to the history of residential schools. Speaking at a council meeting last night, Cobb says he is ``seriously sorry'' for the repost and says he did not endorse it, but he also called the complaint from Williams Lake First Nation Chief Willie Sellars a ``personal attack'' because the post was on Cobb's personal page, not on the page he uses as mayor. Sellars could be immediately reached for comment but Charlene Belleau, who attended the meeting and spoke for th
saanich-police-promising-to-crackdown-on-unlawful-weekend-parties-at-uvic
BCNov 03, 2021

Saanich Police promising to crackdown on unlawful weekend parties at UVic

Saanich Police are promising to crackdown on unlawful weekend parties at the University of Victoria. Police say in a release there have been parties every weekend since the semester started in September, with crowds of up to one thousand people drinking alcohol, committing assaults, along with disorderly conduct that borders on rioting. On the Halloween weekend, police say people discharged fireworks into the crowd, officers in a police car were surrounded by a mob and several intoxicated and underage youth needed medical attention. Police say they'll be putting up roadblocks, increasing foot
sophisticated-crypto-scams-targeting-b-c-residents-through-social-media-and-dating-sites
BCNov 03, 2021

Sophisticated crypto scams targeting B.C. residents through social media and dating sites

The B.C. RCMP, British Columbia Securities Commission (BCSC), Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) and municipal police are warning the public about an emerging trend of fraudsters using social media and online dating sites to lure B.C. residents into crypto-asset scams.In the first eight months of 2021, British Columbians reported losses of $3.5 million from crypto investment scams – more than triple the amount lost last year, which was just over $1 million, according to CAFC data. On average, only five per cent of fraud victims report such incidents to authorities. Fraudsters are adapting the

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fifteen-people-accused-in-b-c-extortion-cases-file-refugee-claims-cbsa-confirms
CanadaDec 12, 2025

Fifteen people accused in B.C. extortion cases file refugee claims, CBSA confirms

Canada’s border agency says 15 foreign nationals linked to ongoing extortion investigations have submitted refugee claims, a move that has drawn concern from local officials in Surrey as the region continues to grapple with a surge in extortion-related crime. The Canada Border Services Agency says each claimant will be assessed under federal asylum rules, but did not disclose the individuals’ nationalities or details of their applications. Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke says she is troubled by the development and argues that the public expects federal systems to prevent criminal suspects from u
worksafebc-issues-more-than-1-3-million-dollars-in-penalties-after-fatal-crane-incident-at-oakridge-park
BCDec 12, 2025

WorkSafeBC issues more than 1.3 million dollars in penalties after fatal crane incident at Oakridge Park

WorkSafeBC has levied more than 1.3 million dollars in fines against EllisDon Corporation and Newway Concrete Forming following a series of crane-related safety violations, including the February 2024 incident at Vancouver’s Oakridge Park development that killed construction worker Yuridia Flores. The penalties stem from multiple investigations involving highrise projects in Vancouver and Victoria. Flores died when a large concrete form mould – measuring nearly 10 metres by six metres – fell 26 storeys after accelerating out of the side of the building while being moved between floors. E
alberta-ends-fall-sitting-after-sweeping-use-of-notwithstanding-clause-draws-scrutiny
AlbertaDec 12, 2025

Alberta ends fall sitting after sweeping use of notwithstanding clause draws scrutiny

Alberta’s fall legislative session closed this week with Premier Danielle Smith’s government advancing two major bills that relied heavily on the Charter’s notwithstanding clause, a move that has renewed debate over the limits of provincial authority and the protection of individual rights. The clause was applied four times in the sitting, shielding the legislation from certain court challenges for up to five years. The government first invoked the clause when it passed a law ordering more than 51 thousand public school teachers back to work following a three-week provincewide strike. Th
AlbertaDec 12, 2025

Advocacy groups shift legal strategy in bid to challenge Alberta’s gender care law

Two national advocacy organizations say they are pivoting their legal strategy as they continue efforts to challenge Alberta’s restrictions on gender-affirming care for youth. Egale Canada and the Calgary-based Skipping Stone Foundation launched a constitutional challenge last year after the province passed legislation prohibiting doctors from prescribing puberty blockers or hormone therapy to people under 16, and from performing gender-affirming top surgery on anyone under 18. The groups say the path through the Charter of Rights and Freedoms has become significantly more difficult since th
IndiaDec 12, 2025

Threatening email targets multiple schools in Amritsar, prompting closures and police response

Authorities in Amritsar ordered an immediate shutdown of several private schools after administrators reported receiving an email threatening bomb attacks on campus. The message, sent to multiple institutions early Tuesday, triggered evacuations and a large-scale police deployment. Local officials said at least 15 well-known private schools were identified in the threat. Police teams, including the bomb squad and fire services, secured school grounds while investigators worked to verify the credibility of the email. The Deputy Commissioner directed schools to release students for the day as a