The BC government says it's changing legislation to increase access to services for victims of crime.The province says the Crime Victims Assistance Act is currently too restrictive, leaving victims, family members and witnesses without adequate support.The provincial government says it's proposing amendments to allow family members such as grandparents and grandchildren to access benefits, eliminating the need to be financially dependent on a victim for eligibility under the law.It says the province also plans to provide funding for sexual assault support service centres in Vancouver, Victoria

The Parole Board of Canada has granted full parole to Mukhtiar Singh Panghali.In fact, in 2006, Panghali strangled his pregnant wife and burnt her body.Mukhtiar was sentenced to life in prison in 2011, with the possibility of non-parole for up to 15 years, for murdering his wife Manjit Panghali at their home in Surrey.In October 2006, Manjit was four months pregnant.Mukhtiar himself had reported her missing.Five days later, police found Manjit's decomposed body on a beach in B.C.'s Delta region, after which Mukhtiar was first arrested for the crime in 2007 and sentenced to life in prison in 20

Wind and rainfall warnings cover much of the British Columbia coast as a wave of stormy weather washes over western parts of the province this week.Environment Canada says winds gusting up to 110 kilometres per hour are expected over Haida Gwaii, the central coast and northern Vancouver Island.Heavy rain is also forecast for Kitimat on the north coast, as well as most of Vancouver Island and the Howe Sound region, north of Vancouver.Rainfall accumulations of 70 millimetres in Kitimat to more than 200 millimetres on western Vancouver Island are likely before the storm eases early Thursday and t

The City of Surrey says it is filing a petition in the B.C. Supreme Court challenging the province's order to convert the RCMP into a municipal police force.The move, announced in a statement on Friday, has been a long-running dispute."My team and I were elected to stop the proposed police change," Mayor Brenda Locke said in a statement.It is worth mentioning that on July 19, B.C. Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth directed the City of Surrey to replace its existing RCMP force with the Surrey Police Service.Farnworth said everyone has a right to be safe in their community and all British Co

British Columbia has launched its immunization campaign for this year's respiratory illness season, with influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations now available in pharmacies across the province.The immunization plan was announced late last month as B.C. Provincial Health Officer Bonnie Henry reintroduced mask mandates in the province's health-care settings with respiratory illnesses trending upward.In a written statement, drugstore chain Pharmasave says they are anticipating an increase in demand for vaccines administered by pharmacies this year, as patients have increasingly turned to pharmacists

While the number of people dying during the attack on Israel is increasing, there is also an unfortunate news for a family in Vancouver whose 22-year-old son also died in this terrible attack.A member of Parliament from Vancouver has given this information.Vancouver-Granville MP Taleeb Noormohamed expressed his condolences to the family in a post on X.Ben Mizrachi, 22, graduated from King David High School in Vancouver in 2018.The school posted on its Facebook page that he was shot dead while attending a concert.Mizrachi's funeral will be held Wednesday afternoon, according to the high school.

Health Minister Mark Holland announced today that British Columbia is the first province to sign the $196-billion Individual Health Agreement introduced by the Prime Minister.In February, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had announced that the federal government is ready to spend $196-billion dollars to revitalize Canada's health system, as a result of which all provinces except Quebec have agreed to this deal.BC will receive $1.2 billion over the next three years from the federal government.Federal Health Minister Mark Holland made the announcement Tuesday morning at Vancouver General Hospital.H

BC Ferries CEO and President Nicolas Jimenez said the company has realigned to focus on meeting customer needs and an affordable, safe and reliable future.As part of realignment, three new operating divisions have been created and four new vice presidents have been hired to oversee the same.The new divisions are engineering, marine operations and customer experience."I believe the company is now better positioned to address the short and longer term challenges we face," said Jimenez. The changes will be effective from October 16 to allow for the transition of duties.

An award-winning travel magazine says British Columbia's capital city tops its 2023 list of the world's best cities.Condé Nast Traveller, a luxury and lifestyle travel magazine, says Victoria captured top marks in its annual Readers' Choice Awards of top cities.Victoria and Mexico's San Miguel de Allende, which ranked sixth, were the only cities in North America to make the list.Condé Nast Traveller says Victoria's restaurant and nightlife scene is "something to be celebrated," while the city "embraces adventure," and "draws outdoorsy types."Readers gave Victoria, San Sebastián in Spain, an