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55-critically-ill-people-in-the-north-transferred-to-icus-in-other-parts-of-b-c-adrian-dix
BCOct 13, 2021

55 critically ill people in the north transferred to ICU's in other parts of B.C.: Adrian Dix

BC health officials say they're considering implementing more COVID-19 restrictions in the Northern Health Region amid a surge in new cases. Dr. Bonnie Henry says public health officials are working with the Northern Health authority to determine what added measures are needed to break the chains of transmission across many communities. Dr. Henry says the rapid spread of COVID-19 in the north has left hospitals in the region ``pushed to the limit.'' Health Minister Adrian Dix says 55 critically ill people in the north have been transferred to intensive care units in other parts of the provinc
covid-19-mask-mandate-now-includes-children-aged-five-and-older
BCOct 13, 2021

COVID-19 mask mandate now includes children aged five and older

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry is expanding the COVID-19 mask mandate to include children aged five and older. Dr. Henry has been under pressure from some teachers and parents to include all children instead of just those aged 12 and up in the order to wear masks in public spaces. She also announced today that BC is planning to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to about 340-thousand children aged 5 to 11 as early as November, pending approval by Health Canada. Dr. Henry says the start of the campaign will be prioritized in the northern region, where COVID-19 transmission rates are hig
vpd-appeals-for-witnesses-to-serious-hit-and-run
BCOct 12, 2021

VPD appeals for witnesses to serious hit-and-run

Vancouver Police are investigating a serious hit-and-run that sent one man to hospital with life-threatening injuries, and are asking witnesses to come forward. The victim, 30, was crossing East 41st Avenue at Fraser Street at 6:25 a.m. this morning when he was struck by a vehicle that was travelling west, causing serious head injuries. The driver fled west without stopping."Although it’s early in the investigation, we believe the suspect’s vehicle is either a black pick-up truck or black SUV," says Constable Tania Visintin. "We need anyone with information or dash cam footage to call poli
BCOct 12, 2021

Police in central B.C. investigating a deadly crash

Mounties in central BC say they are investigating a deadly crash yesterday. RCMP say a 37 year old man was killed in a single vehicle crash on Highway 27 near Blue Mountain, roughly 20 kilometres from Vanderhoof. Police say they are investigating the cause of the crash and nothing has been ruled out. Mounties are asking for anyone who may have witnessed the crash, or has dash cam video of the incident, to contact them.
vancouver-police-seize-174-guns-from-a-seniors-home
BCOct 12, 2021

Vancouver police seize 174 guns from a senior's home

Vancouver police say they seized 174 guns from a senior's home, after being asked to check on the man by his doctor. Police spokeswoman Const. Tania Visintin says in a statement many of the weapons are from the Second World War. She says the weapons were seized as they allegedly weren't being stored properly. Visintin says the owner suffers from dementia and physical health issues, and officers took him to a local hospital for urgent care.
bc-woman-nearly-hit-by-a-meteorite-while-at-home
BCOct 12, 2021

BC woman nearly hit by a meteorite while at home

A BC woman was nearly hit by a meteorite last week. Ruth Hamilton of Golden, BC, says she was fast asleep last Monday when a piece of rock crashed through her ceiling. She says an officer was dispatched to the scene and he though he thought it was from a nearby construction site, it was soon determined the rock was a fragment from a meteorite that shot through the night sky earlier that night. Hamilton says she was not injured and she plans to keep the rock, but that she is now focused on getting her roof fixed.
bc-emergency-operators-experience-delays-in-answering-and-processing-emergency-calls
BCOct 12, 2021

BC emergency operators experience delays in answering and processing emergency calls

BC emergency operators have again experienced delays in answering and processing emergency calls. A spokesperson from the E-Comms 9-1-1 says the extended wait period for calls over the Thanksgiving weekend was the result of delays transferring the calls to the BC Ambulance Service. The agency says, when this happens, people should not hang up but stay on the line until they can be helped. Paramedics in B-C have been speaking out about staffing shortages and burnout since the heat wave in June. In July, Health Minister Adrian Dix said the province would be adding more paramedics, dispatchers a
vpd-investigates-fatal-collision
BCOct 12, 2021

VPD investigates fatal collision

Vancouver police are investigating the cause of a fatal crash near Jericho Beach. They say it happened on Sunday night, after a man was reported to be driving erratically. They say the driver hit a tree, and after several unsuccessful attempts by Vancouver firefighters and paramedics to revive him, he died at the scene. Constable Tania Visintin says speed was a factor in the crash, but police are still investigating to determine if there were any other factors. This is Vancouver’s 14th motor vehicle fatality of 2021.
BCOct 12, 2021

COVID-19 vaccine mandate in place for B.C. long-term care, assisted living facilities

All long-term care and assisted living employees in British Columbia now need to have at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine.Those who have received one dose will have to undergo rapid testing daily and must receive a required second shot within 35 days of their first.B.C.'s health minister and top public health doctor are set to provide an update today on the COVID-19 situation.Adrian Dix and Dr. Bonnie Henry are scheduled to speak at noon.The province last reported daily case numbers on Friday, when there were 743 new COVID-19 infections and five added deaths.Nearly 89 per cent of eligible re

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blue-jays-playoff-run-drives-tourism-surge-and-business-gains-in-toronto
BCNov 06, 2025

Blue Jays’ playoff run drives tourism surge and business gains in Toronto

Toronto’s hospitality and tourism sectors saw a significant boost this fall, thanks to the Blue Jays’ extended post-season run and the World Series games held in the city. Destination Toronto reported that hotel demand during the four home games of the World Series rose by an average of 15 per cent compared to the same nights last year, adding more than 11,000 room nights. Across the team’s entire playoff run, hotel demand increased by an average of 11 per cent, accounting for over 20,000 additional room nights. Andrew Weir, President and CEO of Destination Toronto, said the surge in vis
BCNov 06, 2025

Audit finds gaps in B.C. livestock tracking system used for emergency response

British Columbia’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food needs stronger measures to ensure it can quickly locate farm animals during disease outbreaks or natural disasters, according to a new report from the Office of the Auditor General. The audit reviewed the ministry’s Premises ID program, which was created to help emergency officials identify where poultry and livestock are kept and who owns them. Acting Auditor General Sheila Dodds said the system could play a vital role in protecting animals and food supply chains during crises such as bird flu outbreaks, wildfires, or floods. However, th
record-number-of-shelter-spaces-opening-before-winter
BCNov 06, 2025

Record number of shelter spaces opening before winter

British Columbia is opening a record number of shelter spaces this winter to help people experiencing homelessness find warmth and safety as temperatures drop. The Province, through BC Housing, is funding 6,486 shelter spaces across 58 communities — the highest total to date. The expanded network includes 4,158 permanent shelters operating year-round, 1,154 temporary seasonal spaces, 771 extreme-weather response (EWR) beds activated during severe conditions, and 403 new Homeless Encampment Action Response Temporary Housing (HEARTH) spaces — nearly two and a half times more than last year.
CanadaNov 06, 2025

Ottawa man pleads guilty in mass stabbing that killed mother, four children, and family friend

A 20-year-old man has pleaded guilty to six counts of murder and one count of attempted murder in connection with a mass stabbing that shocked Ottawa last year. Febrio De-Zoysa entered guilty pleas today in an Ottawa courtroom to four charges of first-degree murder and two of second-degree murder, as well as one charge of attempted murder. The killings took place in 2024 at a rented townhouse in the Barrhaven area. The victims were 35-year-old Darshani Ekanayake, her four children aged between two months and seven years, and 40-year-old family friend Gamini Amarakoon. The children’s father,
quebec-lowers-permanent-immigration-target-to-45-000-per-year-focuses-on-french-language-integration
CanadaNov 06, 2025

Quebec lowers permanent immigration target to 45,000 per year, focuses on French-language integration

The Quebec government has announced it will reduce its annual target for new permanent residents to 45,000, marking a significant shift from the roughly 61,000 people expected to settle in the province this year. The revised plan outlines a more moderate approach than earlier proposals that would have lowered the figure to as few as 25,000 newcomers annually. The government’s new immigration framework emphasizes language integration, setting a goal for nearly 80 per cent of new immigrants to achieve at least intermediate-level French by 2029. In 2019, that figure was 50 per cent. Officials s