Police across British Columbia are increasing enforcement this month as part of province-wide campaigns targeting distracted driving and seatbelt compliance. BC Highway Patrol says officers will be closely monitoring drivers who use electronic devices behind the wheel or fail to properly secure themselves and their passengers. The initiative coincides with Distracted Driving Month and the Occupant Restraint Campaign, both aimed at reducing serious injuries and fatalities on provincial roads. Inspector Brian Donaldson with BC Highway Patrol is urging motorists to eliminate distractions before s

Richmond RCMP say 14 people were taken into custody during a one day retail theft enforcement operation earlier this month, marking the first Boost and Bust initiative of 2026. The February 15 operation focused on businesses in the city’s downtown core and commercial areas. Police said 13 individuals were arrested in connection with alleged shoplifting incidents. Investigators plan to recommend charges in 10 of those cases. Two of those arrested were youths and will be referred to restorative justice programs. Officers also offered referrals to social services for everyone who was taken into

Police in Nanaimo are urging residents to remain cautious after a local resident lost about $24,000 in a fraud scheme involving suspects posing as bank officials. The Nanaimo RCMP say the victim believed they were communicating with representatives from the Royal Bank of Canada after receiving multiple phone calls and text messages that appeared to come from an official bank number. According to investigators, some of the messages included security verification codes. The victim, thinking the communication was legitimate, shared personal details with the caller. Police say that information was

Last Saturday, on International Mother Language Day, Punjabi (speaking and understanding) audience for the first time, got to hear commentary of a Major League Soccer match in Punjabi. Connect 91.5 FM aired the Vancouver Whitecaps game live in Punjabi. In addition to the game, there was a pre-game show and a post-game show. On this historic occasion, the commentary was handled by Connect FM's News Director Parvez Sandhu, and young commentators Jagraj Lali and Shubham Arora. This Punjabi commentary partnership between Connect FM and the Whitecaps was not limited to a single match, but rather th

A person is believed to have died following an early morning fire that destroyed the Fraser Lake Inn and a neighbouring commercial building in the community of Fraser Lake. The Fraser Lake RCMP said officers were called to the scene at approximately 3:06 a.m. on February 22 after reports of a structure fire at the Fraser Lake Inn. When police arrived, they learned that an individual had reportedly re-entered the building and had not been located. Officers attempted to search the structure but were forced to withdraw because of heavy smoke. The Fraser Lake Fire Department later extinguished the

The union representing more than 6,000 ambulance paramedics and emergency dispatchers across British Columbia says it has reached an agreement in principle on a new collective agreement, avoiding the possibility of job action. The Ambulance Paramedics of BC announced the tentative deal following what it described as extensive negotiations with the Health Employers Association of BC and the provincial government. Earlier this month, 97 per cent of participating members voted in favour of strike action, placing the union in a legal strike position pending an essential services order. Instead of

Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Connect FM 91.5 announced on Friday that the station will become the club’s Official Local Punjabi Radio Broadcast Partner for the 2026 season – a first of it’s kind in Major League Soccer (MLS). As part of the partnership, Connect FM will broadcast all 17 MLS regular season home matches live in Punjabi.Fans can tune in to Connect FM on 91.5 FM and 91.5 HD2 or stream the broadcast live via the Connect FM website, mobile app, or anywhere else the station is available.“Soccer is a universal sport, and we have always taken great pride in representing the diversi

Police in New Westminster say a targeted drug trafficking investigation has led to the seizure of a significant quantity of pills, other suspected drugs and cash from a property in the Queensborough neighbourhood. According to the New Westminster Police Department, its Street Crime Unit launched the investigation in January and worked alongside another regional policing agency. Officers later executed a search warrant at a residence in Queensborough as part of the ongoing probe. Sgt. Andrew Leaver said drug trafficking and related violence are not tolerated in the city. He noted that the depar

The British Columbia government says it will invest $50 million over the next two years to increase access to nasal naloxone kits as part of its response to the province’s ongoing overdose emergency. Health Minister Josie Osborne said the funding will allow nasal naloxone to account for roughly half of the more than 400,000 take home naloxone kits distributed each year in B.C. The province first declared the toxic drug crisis a public health emergency in April 2016, and officials say it continues to have widespread impacts on families and communities. According to the Health Ministry, inject