Rapid tests and the option for a new vaccine will be available soon for British Columbia residents. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says one rapid test box containing five tests will be available at pharmacies at no cost starting Friday for those 70 years and older. She says the tests should be picked up when people are asymptomatic and be used one test at a time when they have symptoms. Dr. Henry says the tests will be made available to all age groups over the next month as additional shipments of 12 million tests are sent to the province. Dr. Henry says Novavax, the new protein-b

Patrol officers are asking for your help to locate high-risk missing youth Lia Barker.Lia is described as a 16-year-old Caucasian girl standing five feet, seven inches tall, with a slim build. Lia has shoulder-length dyed blonde hair. She was last seen wearing a black jacket, black sweater, black sweatpants, and grey boots. Recent photographs of Lia are below.Lia was last seen in Victoria on the morning of February 1st, and investigators are concerned about the length of time that Lia has been missing. Lia may have travelled to Vancouver. Patrol officers are working to locate Lia and ensure th

Two Vancouver Island New Democrat members of Parliament report their constituency offices have been vandalized. A photo from North Island-Powell River MP Rachel Blaney's office shows graffiti scrawled on windows while RCMP confirm the glass front door and two exterior windows of Courtenay-Alberni MP Gord John's Parksville office were smashed early yesterday but no one entered the office. Blaney calls the incident Sunday night at her Campbell River office ``scary'' and ``illegal,'' saying it's not how Canadians express differences of opinion over policy issues while Johns says his staff should

A Calgary man faces fraud charges in that city for running romance scams that trapped several BC women. Police in Calgary say 36-year-old Bryan Syryda faces more than a dozen fraud and theft charges related to complaints from Langley, Surrey, Delta, Calgary and Cochrane, Alberta. Scams identified in 2020 found unwary purchasers had ordered discounted electronics but never received them while further investigation found women who met a man online were treated to lavish outings that helped them decide to order items, and convince family and friends to order, as well. None of the electronics mat

Vancouver police has shared information about some of the 60 attacks during the long weekend. Following is the information shared through various tweets by VPD: The #VPD has made significant progress with investigations into the large number of unprovoked stranger attacks. Still, violence remains a problem. #VPD is investigating 60 assaults over the #FamilyDay long weekend with 22 cases being investigated as possible stranger assaults.On Saturday night, a staff member of a West Hastings hotel asked an unruly guest to leave, who responded by punching him in the face, and then became confrontati

A 6 year old girl has been honoured by RCMP in Kamloops, B.C., after she managed to get out of a crashed car, cross a busy highway and summon help for her injured grandmother. A post on the City of Kamloops Facebook page says Jane Deelstra received a certificate from Kamloops RCMP Supt. Syd Lecky on Tuesday, recognizing her ``great bravery and perseverance.'' The social media post says Deelstra's grandmother suffered a medical emergency while driving on the weekend and crashed at an exit along Highway 1, east of Kamloops. Deelstra was not hurt but her grandmother needed help, so the post says

Over a four-day period, B.C. is reporting 2,103 new cases of COVID-19, for a total of 345,734 cases in the province:Feb. 18-19: 631 new casesFeb. 19-20: 571 new casesFeb. 20-21: 424 new casesFeb. 21-22: 477 new casesThere are 688 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19 and 108 are in intensive care.In the past 96 hours, 44 new deaths have been reported, for an overall total of 2,830.The new deaths include:Fraser Health: 11Vancouver Coastal Health: 17Interior Health: sevenNorthern Health: fourIsland Health: fiveThere have been four new health-care facility outbreaks at Hillside Village, Polson L

Here are highlights from the B.C. budget tabled Tuesday:— The government is earmarking $2.1 billion to fund disaster recovery efforts and future response to the threats from wildfires, floods and heat waves.— The deficit is forecast to be $5.5 billion for the 2022-23 fiscal year.— Average child-care fees will drop to about $20 per day after the NDP promised $10-a-day child care.— $22 million will be spent to support survivors and restore funding for 50 sexual assault centres.— A new Declaration Act Secretariat will ensure legislation is consistent with United Nations Declaration on t

Surrey RCMP is informing the public of an assault with a weapon that has left two teens with injuries at Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary. The suspect, also a teen, has been taken into custody. On February 22, 2022 at 2:39 p.m., Surrey RCMP Frontline officers responded to a report of a stabbing at the school grounds of Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary school located in the 6100-block of 180 Street. Two victims were located and taken to hospital in stable condition with non-life threatening injuries. The suspect remained on scene and was taken into custody. Early indications are that this incident stemmed fr