British Columbia has launched the country's first provincewide lung cancer screening program. Health Minister Adrian Dix says the innovative program will both save lives and improve their quality. Screening will be available at 36 centres across all health authorities using existing CT scans for those who are between 55 and 74, currently smoking or have previously smoked, and have a smoking history of 20 years or more. Adrian Dix says the program is the first of its kind in Canada and an estimated 10,000 patients are expected to be screened in the first year. The medical director of the prog

Metro Vancouver's transportation authority says its recovery of ridership that plummeted during the pandemic has been stronger than many other North American transit networks, but still hasn't rebounded entirely. A statement from TransLink says ridership across its system has rebounded to 70 per cent of pre-pandemic levels after reaching 59 per cent last year. The 2021 transit service performance review released Wednesday says Metro Vancouver's recovery rates exceeded those of transit systems in Toronto, Montreal, Washington, Chicago and San Francisco. It says bus ridership led the way at 62

Police say the man who was carrying luggage with suspicious contents that led to the closure of Victoria International Airport has been released from custody with an upcoming court date, although details on any charges haven't been provided. RCMP say members of their explosives disposal unit were called to examine items flagged by airport security yesterday and shut down the airport after determining two bags contained ``inert military surplus explosives.'' A statement from Corporal Andy Sanchez says the Mounties were called by a security employee who spotted what appeared to be ``incendiary

The sentencing of former Canadian Football League wide receiver Joshua Boden for the murder of a woman in 2009 has been rescheduled to June 16. Justice Arne Silverman read a memorandum in B.C. Supreme Court from Associate Chief Justice Heather Holmes, saying Justice Barry Davies was unable to continue with the matter and Silverman has been tasked with the proceedings. Silverman says he will hear submissions from both counsel on June 16 and then ``may or may not'' be ready to deliver the decision the same day. Boden was found guilty of second-degree murder in B.C. Supreme Court last fall for t

BC health officials say an investigation has determined there are no known cases of monkeypox in the province. Canada's chief public health officer said earlier today that a couple dozen people were under investigation for the viral disease, including a few contacts in BC. But a statement from Provincial Health Services Authority and the BC Centre for Disease Control says officials interviewed two possible contacts in B-C and determined they had not been exposed. Monkeypox is typically milder but similar to the now-eradicated smallpox virus, and can cause fever, headache, muscle aches, exhaus

Surrey RCMP is advising the public that charges have been laid after a man allegedly inappropriately touched a child in a store on Sunday evening. On May 15, 2022, at 8:30 p.m., Surrey RCMP received a report that a man had groped a 3-year-old child in a store located in the 12400-block of 88 Avenue. The child’s father along with other bystanders kept the suspect on scene until police arrived.Upon arrival, police spoke with witnesses, reviewed CCTV from the store and arrested the suspect. The man was later released with a court date while the investigation continued.Surrey RCMP Special Victim

Richmond RCMP is saddened to report that missing 64 year old Nedunchellian Vasse Pushparaj has been found deceased. The man was found dead on May 19, 2022 in the 6800 block of Miller Rd. This incident is not considered suspicious.The Richmond RCMP would like to thank the public and media for their assistance.

Canada's top public health officials say the risk posed by monkeypox is low, but nearly everyone in the country is susceptible because routine vaccination against smallpox ended decades ago. The first two cases of the virus in Canada were confirmed in Quebec on Thursday, but chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam says a couple dozen possible cases are being investigated and the federal public health agency still does not know how widespread it might be. Monkeypox is typically milder but in the same family of viruses as the now-eradicated smallpox, and can cause fever, headache, muscle ac

The latest figures on COVID-19 show 540 people in British Columbia are currently hospitalized with the virus, 49 of them in critical care. The BC Centre for Disease Control says 59 people have died in the last week, for a total of 3,398 fatalities as of May 14. The centre says 1,645 new cases were reported as of that date and some of its numbers may change as data is updated. It says the Omicron variant is still the most prominent and that people can spread the virus to others even if they have been vaccinated and don't have symptoms. Breakthrough infections from new variants can occur in peo