British Columbia’s unemployment rate rose by 0.3 percentage points to 6.5% in August, while the province recorded a net loss of about 5,500 jobs, according to Statistics Canada. The province lost approximately 26,000 full-time jobs during the month. However, this was partly offset by an increase of about 20,600 part-time positions, bringing the overall net job loss to roughly 5,500. B.C. Conservatives blamed the job losses directly on the NDP government, saying the province continues to lose full-time jobs and accusing the government of failing to protect traditional industries such as fores

Vancouver Police Officer Kal Dosanjh has been suspended with immediate effect after being charged with multiple counts of fraud and theft. Vancouver Police Chief Steve Rai announced the suspension during a news conference on Friday. He said the 50-year-old officer has been charged with four counts each of fraud over $5,000 and theft over $5,000, along with one count of breach of trust. Rai said the investigation began in December 2023. So far, 19 victims have come forward, although police believe there may be additional victims. A 51-year-old Surrey man, Sarabjit Singh Gill, has also been char

A 23-year-old woman has been sentenced to seven years in prison for her role in the 2023 killing of 19-year-old Ryan Nagy during a home invasion in Burnaby, B.C. Rhoda Diabikulu, the fourth and final accused in the case, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in March. She was sentenced Tuesday and also received a lifetime ban on possessing firearms. The sentence takes into account the 18 months Diabikulu had already spent in custody, leaving her with about five and a half years to serve. The incident happened on June 29, 2023, when four people entered Nagy’s home on 17th Avenue in Burnaby around 7

A 49-year-old man was seriously injured in a stabbing at a gas station parking lot in Abbotsford on Thursday evening. According to Abbotsford Police, the incident occurred around 5:30 p.m. in the 1900 block of McCallum Road. First responders attended the scene and provided medical assistance to the victim before he was taken to hospital in serious condition. Police later said the man’s injuries were not considered life-threatening. A 28-year-old suspect was arrested near the scene. Police said the suspect has a previous criminal history and is known to authorities. The motive behind the atta

A 29-year-old man has been arrested in connection with three suspected fires reported along Highway 99 between Whistler and Squamish in B.C.’s Sea-to-Sky region. According to Sea-to-Sky RCMP, the incidents occurred on August 22. During their investigation, officers received information from witnesses about a person believed to be involved in the incidents. Police then located and arrested the suspect on arson-related charges. RCMP officers worked with the B.C. Wildfire Service, B.C. Conservation Officer Service and Natural Resource Officers as part of the investigation. Investigators say thr

Vancouver Police Department officer Kalwinder “Kal” Dosanjh has been charged with nine serious offences, including fraud, theft and breach of trust, following an investigation conducted by his own department. Dosanjh is also the founder and CEO of KidsPlay Youth Foundation, a Surrey-based non-profit organization that works to keep young people away from drugs and gang involvement. Another individual, Sarbjit Singh Gill, has also been charged as a co-accused in the case. According to the B.C. Prosecution Service, the nine charges against Dosanjh relate to incidents spanning several years. T

A woman was robbed in Vancouver’s Marpole neighbourhood, and police are asking witnesses to come forward as the investigation continues. According to police, the incident happened around 1:30 a.m. on August 27. The woman was walking along the west lane of the 8600-block of Granville Street near Southwest Marine Drive when a suspect allegedly punched her in the face, stole her purse and fled the scene. Police searched the surrounding area but were unable to locate the suspect. The victim’s phone was later recovered nearby. Paramedics treated the woman at the scene for injuries to her nose.

A mysterious floating island spotted on B.C.’s Williston Lake has prompted authorities to issue a warning to boaters. According to BC Hydro spokesperson Bob Gammer, the floating island is about one hectare in size and is covered entirely with trees and lush vegetation. It was first spotted by satellite in mid-August but later suddenly disappeared. The island was spotted again on Monday, and appears to have travelled about 30 kilometres from its previous location over the past two weeks. Gammer believes the formation is not solid land, but rather a highly unstable mass of tree roots, logs and

Surrey residents and business owners have received some encouraging news, with the Surrey Police Service (SPS) reporting that no new extortion threats or extortion-related shootings were recorded in the city throughout August. According to the latest update from SPS, the improvement is being attributed to ongoing joint efforts involving police, local businesses and the wider community. Police say these collaborative efforts are now producing positive results on the ground. SPS emphasized, however, that officers continue to actively investigate previous extortion cases, pursue legal action and