7.84°C Vancouver

News

b-c-fugitive-gangland-killer-arrested-in-qatar-police
BCSep 25, 2025

B.C. fugitive, gangland killer arrested in Qatar: police

A gangland killer who escaped from a British Columbia jail in 2022 has been captured in Qatar. Police say Rabih Alkhalil is in custody, three years after he escaped from the North Fraser Pretrial Centre in Port Coquitlam, B.C. At the time, Alkhalil had been on trial for the 2012 shooting death of a rival gang member in a busy Vancouver restaurant. He was later convicted in absentia for first-degree murder. He was previously convicted in 2017 for the murder of a man at a Toronto coffee shop. Authorities in Canada say they're working with Interpol and other agencies to bring Alkhalil back to Can
b-c-green-party-votes-in-climate-activist-emily-lowan-as-new-leader
BCSep 24, 2025

B.C. Green Party votes in climate activist Emily Lowan as new leader

Emily Lowan, a 25-year-old climate activist, is the new leader of the British Columbia Green Party. Lowan won on the first ballot with 3,189 votes, ahead of second-place Jonathan Kerr with 1,908 votes, while Adam Bremner-Akins finished third with 128 votes. She doesn't have a seat in the legislature but says she plans to run in the next ``viable'' byelection or in the next general election. Lowan says the Greens will become a ``force of nature'' and promises that it will be a ``bold and critical'' opposition party. She says her decisive mandate is a ``clear message'' that the party nee
public-service-workers-pickets-expand-to-b-c-liquor-stores
BCSep 24, 2025

Public service workers' pickets expand to B.C. liquor stores

Striking public service workers in British Columbia have expanded their picket lines to 25 Liquor Distribution Branch retail stores in the latest escalation of job action. The B.C. General Employees’ Union says more than 600 workers at the liquor stores have walked of the job across the province in an effort to push the government back to the negotiating table. The union says the store locations were chosen because they are a "significant source of government revenue."
eighteen-charges-approved-against-55-year-old-man-after-residential-break-and-enter-series-investigation
BCSep 24, 2025

Eighteen charges approved against 55-year-old man after residential break and enter series investigation

Burnaby RCMP’s Strike Force Unit investigated a series of residential break and enters that occurred between September 2023 and June 2024. After an extensive investigation, on May 21, 2025, the BC Prosecution Service approved 18 charges against Shane Conrad Takakenew. On August 27, 2025, Burnaby RCMP’s Strike Force Unit arrested Takakenew on 14 warrants. Takakenew now faces the following charges: 7 counts of break and enter9 counts of possession of stolen property2 counts of breaching a release orderAs a result of the investigation, 34-year-old Burnaby resident Fabiola Diaz is also fac
the-supreme-court-of-canada-grants-stay-on-ostrich-cull-farms-lawyer-says
BCSep 24, 2025

The Supreme Court of Canada grants stay on ostrich cull, farm's lawyer says

The Supreme Court of Canada has granted a last-minute stay over the destruction of a flock of ostriches until the court mulls an application for leave to appeal. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has been on the farm in northeastern B.C. for days preparing for the cull of nearly 400 birds. The high court's document, supplied by the farm's lawyer Umar Sheikh, says the order stays the enforcement of the CFIA's ``stamping-out policy'' until the application for leave to appeal is dismissed or, if leave to appeal is granted, until the case is disposed of. The news came on the farm
BCSep 24, 2025

Illicit drug operation disrupted; drugs and gun recovered

A coordinated investigation led by the RCMP Federal Policing – Pacific Region (FPPR) Integrated Border Enforcement Team (IBET) with the assistance of partner law enforcement agencies, has resulted in the dismantling of a clandestine drug lab and the seizure of illicit drugs and a firearm. On September 17, 2025, IBET officers with assistance from the Island District Emergency Response Team (ERT), Victoria Police Department’s Strike Force Unit, Sooke RCMP and the FPPR Clandestine Laboratory Enforcement and Response (CLEAR) team executed a search warrant at a property in the 3800 area of T
b-c-advances-new-mass-timber-demonstration-projects
BCSep 23, 2025

B.C. advances new mass-timber demonstration projects

Four new buildings in B.C. are each receiving $500,000 — totalling $2 million — to demonstrate and showcase the benefits of mass-timber construction. “Mass timber represents a transformative, locally sourced solution that’s generating significant employment opportunities, spurring cutting-edge innovation, and revitalizing rural economies across British Columbia,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs and Economic Growth. “Through our continued strategic investments in projects throughout the province, we’re positioning B.C. as a leader in mass-timber construction, while building the
frauds-frauds-and-more-frauds
BCSep 23, 2025

Nanaimo RCMP warns about frauds

Frauds are increasingly woven into the fabric of our daily lives, through emails, phone calls and social media. As technology evolves, so do the tactics of deceit and their delivery. By staying informed and skeptical, we can better protect ourselves and our communities. Nanaimo file # 2025-29161 Grandson scam Caller told police she was scammed for $1700 after being led to believe her grandson needed money to get out of jail. Caller that that in September 2025, she received a phone call from a private number who said they were the RCMP and that her grandson had been arrested after being inv
BCSep 23, 2025

RCMP seeking public’s help following two suspicious residential fires

North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP is seeking the public’s assistance with information regarding two suspicious residential fires in North Cowichan and Duncan, B.C. On September 21, 2025 in the early hours of the morning, North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP responded to two separate house fires, on Vista Avenue and Alexander Street in North Cowichan/Duncan. Through the initial investigation it was determined that the fires were suspicious in nature. “We want to thank citizens who were instrumental in notifying the occupants of the homes, negating any possible injuries or death,” said Constable Tessa McD

Just In

surrey-man-charged-after-newton-area-shooting
CanadaJan 30, 2026

Surrey Man Charged After Newton-Area Shooting

Police have laid multiple criminal charges following a shooting at a Surrey home on New Year’s Day. Officers from the Surrey Police Service (SPS) responded around 11:45 p.m. on January 1, 2026, to reports of gunfire in the area of 140B Street and 59 Avenue in Newton. At the scene, they found an injured man who was taken to hospital with a gunshot wound. Officials said his condition was stable. A second man was arrested at the location. The SPS Serious Crime Unit took over the investigation. On January 28, the BC Prosecution Service approved charges against 49-year-old Chanchal Badwal. He fac
b-c-based-jim-pattison-developments-cancels-virginia-warehouse-sale-to-ice
BCJan 30, 2026

B.C.-based Jim Pattison Developments cancels Virginia warehouse sale to ICE

Vancouver-based Jim Pattison Developments has announced it will not proceed with the sale of a Virginia warehouse property to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which had planned to use the site as an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) processing facility. The 43.5-acre property in Hanover County, Virginia, faced public scrutiny after news emerged that it could be converted into a holding and processing centre amid a wider U.S. immigration crackdown. The company, owned by Canadian billionaire Jim Pattison, had previously stated it was unaware of the final purchaser or the intende
israel-to-reopen-gaza-egypt-border-crossing-after-nearly-two-years-of-closure
WorldJan 30, 2026

Israel to reopen Gaza–Egypt border crossing after nearly two years of closure

Israel says it will reopen Gaza’s Rafah border crossing with Egypt on Sunday, allowing limited movement of people in and out of the territory for the first time in nearly two years. The Israeli military agency COGAT, which oversees civilian coordination with Gaza, said the reopening will permit “limited movement of people only,” with both Israel and Egypt screening those seeking to cross. European Union border assistance personnel will supervise operations at the crossing, Gaza’s primary link to the outside world. The Rafah crossing has been largely closed since May 2024, following ren
federal-court-of-appeal-set-to-rule-on-ottawas-single-use-plastics-ban
CanadaJan 30, 2026

Federal Court of Appeal upholds Ottawa’s authority to maintain single-use plastic b

Canada’s Federal Court of Appeal has ruled that the federal government acted within its authority when it classified certain plastic products as toxic, clearing the way for Ottawa to maintain its ban on several single-use plastic items. In a unanimous decision released Friday, a three-judge panel overturned a 2023 lower court ruling that had found the federal government overreached by broadly labeling plastic manufactured items as toxic under environmental legislation. That earlier decision had cast uncertainty over the future of the single-use plastics ban. The appeal court concluded the go
cfia-says-threats-against-staff-escalated-during-b-c-ostrich-cull-forcing-family-relocation
BCJan 30, 2026

CFIA says threats against staff escalated during B.C. ostrich cull, forcing family relocation

A senior Canadian Food Inspection Agency official says agency employees faced escalating threats and harassment during preparations for the culling of hundreds of ostriches at a British Columbia farm, including incidents serious enough to force the relocation of a worker and their family. In an interview with The Canadian Press, the official said opposition to the cull intensified both online and in person, culminating in what they described as extreme cases of direct threats involving physical violence and sexual assault. One CFIA employee and their partner were relocated along with their chi