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BCJan 21, 2022

Man convicted of lesser charge in 2020 shooting death in Surrey, B.C.

The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says a B.C. Supreme Court judge has convicted a man in the shooting death of Pritpal Singh in Surrey, B.C. Robert Tomljenovic was charged with second-degree murder and robbery with a firearm after Singh's death in April 2020. The homicide team says in a news release that Tomljenovic was convicted by the court on Thursday of robbery and a lesser charge of manslaughter. Police said at the time when charges were laid they believed the shooting was targeted, but RCMP later said it was a random shooting. Singh was 21 years old. The man will be sentenced a
24-inmates-at-pacific-institution-in-abbotsford-test-positive-for-covid-19
BCJan 21, 2022

24 inmates at Pacific Institution in Abbotsford test positive for COVID-19

Correctional Service Canada says 24 inmates at Pacific Institution in Abbotsford, BC have tested positive for COVID-19 in an outbreak that began Monday. There were 116 active cases across all correctional facilities in BC as of Wednesday. That includes 62 cases in an ongoing outbreak at the maximum-security Kent Institution in Agassiz. The correctional service says it is monitoring the situation and staff are required to perform rapid tests to minimize the spread of the virus.
education-ministry-distributing-200-000-covid-19-test-kits-to-schools-in-b-c
BCJan 21, 2022

Education Ministry distributing 200,000 COVID-19 test kits to schools in B.C.

The BC Education Ministry is distributing 200,000 COVID-19 test kits to elementary and high schools in an effort to keep them open. The ministry says the number of teaching and non-teaching staff will determine how many tests a school gets. It says the rapid antigen tests are to be used by staff, teachers and administrators with symptoms of COVID-19 to help limit transmission. The tests are being sent to school districts as well as independent and First Nation schools.
b-c-reports-2-150-new-covid-19-cases-and-15-deaths
BCJan 21, 2022

B.C. reports 2,150 new COVID-19 cases and 15 deaths

B.C. is reporting 2,150 new cases of COVID-19, for a total of 305,715 cases in the province.There are 34,835 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 265,765 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 891 COVID-positive individuals are in hospital and 119 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.The new/active cases include:576 new cases in Fraser HealthTotal active cases: 16,516454 new cases in Vancouver Coastal HealthTotal active cases: 8,553563 new cases in Interior HealthTotal active cases: 6,067203 new cases in Northern
surrey-rcmp-requesting-publics-assistance-with-information-that-could-help-police-arrest-amardip-singh-rai
BCJan 21, 2022

Surrey RCMP requesting public’s assistance with information that could help police arrest Amardip Singh Rai

Surrey RCMP is requesting the public’s assistance with information that could help police locate and arrest Amardip Singh Rai.Surrey RCMP is actively looking for 42-year old Amardip Singh Rai who is wanted on 17 charges stemming from an investigation that began in August 2019.On April 28, 2021, Amardip Singh Rai was arrested by Surrey RCMP Strike Force Target Team (SFTT) for an outstanding warrant pertaining to the August 2019 investigation. He was released by the courts on May 7, 2021 with conditions.It is alleged that Amardip Singh Rai failed to appear for a subsequent court date and there
robbery-suspect-arrested-minutes-after-911-call-surrey-rcmp
BCJan 20, 2022

Robbery suspect arrested minutes after 911 call: Surrey RCMP

Surrey RCMP is advising the public of the arrest of a suspect who allegedly committed a personal robbery inside the ATM area of a bank in Newton.On January 16, 2022, at 8:54 p.m., Surrey RCMP received the report of a personal robbery inside a bank in the 13600-block of 72 Avenue. The victim was depositing cash into the ATM when they were approached and allegedly robbed. Police arrived on scene and quickly located a man nearby who matched the suspect description. The man was arrested and transported to Surrey RCMP cells.On January 17, a charge of robbery was laid against 31-year old Mahamed Osm
vpd-investigates-string-of-downtown-eastside-stabbings
BCJan 20, 2022

VPD investigates string of Downtown Eastside stabbings

Vancouver Police are investigating after four people were hospitalized in three separate stabbings on the Downtown Eastside yesterday.The stabbings were among nine violent incidents VPD responded to in the neighborhood Wednesday."We’re reviewing evidence to determine if any of these incidents are connected," says Constable Tania Visintin. "We’re troubled by this level of violence, and we’re concerned it could escalate."The first stabbing occurred Wednesday morning, just after 4:30 a.m. A 29-year-old man stumbled into a convenience store near Main and East Hastings streets bleeding from a
avalanche-danger-posted-for-b-c-and-alberta-backcountry-users
BCJan 20, 2022

Avalanche danger posted for B.C. and Alberta backcountry users

A special avalanche warning has been posted for recreational backcountry users in several regions of B.C. and Alberta as warm temperatures make the snowpack unstable. Avalanche Canada and Parks Canada have issued the advisory to take effect immediately and last through to Monday. The warning applies to the North and South Columbias, Purcells, Kootenay Boundary, and Glacier, Banff, Yoho and Kootenay National Parks. It also applies to B.C.'s Sea-to-Sky region and South Coast Inland area from Squamish to Pemberton. James Floyer, the forecasting program supervisor for Avalanche Canada, says there
drivers-told-not-to-stop-for-photos-along-flood-damaged-b-c-highway
BCJan 20, 2022

Drivers told not to stop for photos along flood-damaged B.C. highway

A key British Columbia highway has reopened to all traffic after being torn apart by disastrous flooding in November but it only took hours for the Transportation Ministry to issue a safety reminder. In a post on social media, the ministry says it has received reports of people stopping ``in unsafe ways'' to take pictures along the Coquihalla Highway corridor, also known as Highway 5. A roughly 130-kilometre stretch of the multi-lane, high-speed link between the Lower Mainland and the Interior was ripped up by floods or slides that also collapsed or washed out seven bridges during a series of

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threat-prompts-brief-lockdown-at-nanaimo-high-school
BCDec 11, 2025

Threat prompts brief lockdown at Nanaimo high school

A Nanaimo high school was placed under a precautionary lockdown Wednesday afternoon after school staff were alerted to a threat directed at a student. The incident at Nanaimo District Secondary School began around 2:30 p.m., prompting administrators to activate established safety procedures. Nanaimo RCMP officers responded immediately and remained on site while classrooms were secured. Police and school officials said the lockdown lasted roughly 30 minutes, and students and staff were released shortly after 3 p.m. once officers determined there was no ongoing risk. The district says students w
vancouver-police-seize-loaded-rifle-and-drugs-during-downtown-eastside-arrest
BCDec 11, 2025

Vancouver Police seize loaded rifle and drugs during Downtown Eastside arrest

Vancouver Police say a loaded rifle and several other weapons were taken off the street this week after officers arrested a man suspected of trafficking drugs in the Downtown Eastside. The incident took place Tuesday afternoon near East Hastings and Columbia Street, an area where frontline police and community workers have long raised concerns about violence linked to the drug trade. According to the Vancouver Police Department, members of the Beat Enforcement Team were on routine patrol around 2:35 p.m. on December 9 when they arrested a 32-year-old Surrey resident outside a residential build
donald-trump-unveils-new-gold-card-immigration-program
WorldDec 11, 2025

Donald Trump unveils new ‘Gold Card’ immigration program

Former United States president Donald Trump announced on Thursday the launch of a new immigration initiative he calls the Gold Card, opening the application process for the program. Under the plan, individuals can apply for the Gold Card at a fee of US$1 million, while companies wishing to secure a card for executives or employees would pay US$2 million. Trump’s campaign says cardholders would receive a U.S. passport, full voting rights and the same benefits enjoyed by other American citizens. Trump framed the Gold Card as part of his broader “America First” policy agenda, asserting the
flooding-prompts-wider-evacuations-and-highway-closures-across-southern-b-c
BCDec 11, 2025

Flooding prompts wider evacuations and highway closures across southern B.C.

Communities across southern British Columbia are facing new evacuation orders and travel disruptions after heavy rainfall triggered flooding and landslides that severed key routes between the Lower Mainland and the Interior. Provincial officials say multiple highways, including the Coquihalla and Highways 1, 3, 5 and 11, remain shut as crews assess washouts and unstable slopes. The closure of Highway 11 has also halted access to the Sumas border crossing. In Abbotsford, 371 properties on the Sumas Prairie were ordered evacuated overnight as waters linked to the overflowing Nooksack River conti
cra-plans-major-hiring-push-to-boost-call-centre-capacity-ahead-of-tax-season
CanadaDec 11, 2025

CRA plans major hiring push to boost call centre capacity ahead of tax season

The Canada Revenue Agency says it plans to bring on roughly 1,700 additional call centre staff in the coming months as it prepares for a surge in taxpayer inquiries during the upcoming filing season. Agency officials say the goal is to expand the workforce to about 4,500 agents, citing internal forecasts that anticipate heavy call volumes. Melanie Serjak, an assistant commissioner with the CRA, told reporters that it is routine for the agency to scale up its operations for tax season, when daily call volumes can exceed 300,000. She said last year’s peak staffing level reached about 3,300 age