Salal Sexual Violence Support Centre (Salal) and the Indian Residential School Survivor Society (IRSSS) have received new federal funding to enhance their crisis lines, which provide 24/7 provincewide, comprehensive, specialized gender-based violence supports.These services include risk assessment, immediate safety planning, and addressing the unique needs of Indigenous victims. The two organizations will receive a total of $2.75 million in funding over four years as part of Women and Gender Equality Canada’s National Action Plan to End Gender Based-Violence.During the pandemic, organization

Environment Canada says smoke from wildfires in the B.C. Interior is expected to worsen in the coming days, bringing poor air quality and associated health risks.In a special air quality statement, Environment Canada and the B.C. Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy say several Interior communities are likely to see worsening wildfire smoke conditions over the next 24 to 48 hours.The statement says smoke is already widespread in the province's southeast toward the Rocky Mountains.Observed conditions in Prince George, Williams Lake, Fort St. John and Quesnel show high risk or ver

Vancouver police say a suspect sexually assaulted a woman in English Bay while claiming to be a massage therapist.The woman called 911 to report the incident and the suspect was arrested.Police say that the suspect may have contacted other people as well on the beach.The suspect is described as a 30-year-old South Asian male.No charges have yet been filed against the suspect and the case is under investigation.

B.C. health minister says some breast and prostate cancer patients will be referred to two clinics in Washington in an effort to reduce wait times for radiation therapy.Starting May 29th, Adrian Dix says B.C. Cancer will offer eligible patients the opportunity to undergo treatment at one of two partner clinics in Bellingham, with costs related to treatment, travel, accommodation and meals fully covered.Dix says the province is making the move because B.C. hasn't been meeting its target for ensuring cancer patients receive radiation therapy in a timely manner.He says the delays are due to facto

The North Vancouver Mounties say a child has written a letter of apology to them after calling 911 by mistake.RCMP say the child, possibly an elementary age, arrived with his parents on Saturday and left an apology note, along with a Starbucks gift card.The letter, shared by the detachment on social media, said the boy, named Aedan, is sorry for calling the emergency line when he didn't need to.Aedan also apologized that when the officers came to his door, he should have told the truth.He wrote in the letter, "I am sorry that I lied. I should have told my mom or dad. I know I have wasted your

The C.E.O of the Atira Women's Resource Society is stepping down after an audit commissioned by the B.C. government found a conflict of interest related to her marriage to the former head of Crown social housing provider B.C. Housing.The society says Janice Abbott is resigning immediately. That's after the board of the society stood by Abbott last week in the fallout from release of the report that uncovered efforts to cover up violations of B.C. Housing's conflict of interest rules.A statement from the society says the focus for its board is working with the province and restoring the public

Environment Canada has blanketed most of the province in special heat advisories as daytime temperatures are expected to soar up to 15 degrees above normal over the next several days.Unseasonably hot weather is expected to begin tomorrow before the daytime temperatures peak in the high 20s to low 30s Sunday and Monday.Forecasters say freezing levels will rise, leading to increased snow melt on the mountains and more possible flooding in some areas.The B.C. River Forecast Centre continues to list much of the province under flood watches, warnings or advisories.

The risk of flooding has prompted more evacuation orders for residents in the Village of Cache Creek, B.C., as higher temperatures quickly melt of mountain snowpacks.In his latest order, Mayor John Ranta says about two dozen more properties have to evacuate due to the immediate danger caused by flooding of the Bonaparte River.Cache Creek, about 350 kilometres northeast of Vancouver, remains under a flood warning.Last week the community dealt with rising creek waters that flowed through its firehall, flooding several homes and businesses, and temporarily closing both highways 1 and 97.The vill

The British Columbia government is restricting new funding to a major non-profit housing provider after an independent review found mismanagement by a former top executive at the province's housing corporation.The forensic investigation by Ernst and Young says the probe uncovered significant risks to public funds and lack of government oversight at BC Housing, the Crown corporation that develops, manages and administers subsidized housing. The report found mismanagement related to a conflict of interest between the former CEO, Shayne Ramsay, and his spouse, Janice Abbott, the CEO of Atira Wome