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BCAug 30, 2021

Man dead after shooting in Port Alberni

RCMP on Vancouver Island say one man is dead and a suspect is in custody after a shooting at a home in Port Alberni yesterday. Sergeant Peter Dionne says the people involved are known to each other. There is no connection to gangs or organized crime and there is no threat to the community. The Mounties say the investigation is in its early stages and Crown counsel would be briefed today before any potential charges are recommended.
BCAug 30, 2021

17 more people have tested positive for COVID-19 at a long term care facility in Victoria

Island Health says 17 more people have tested positive for COVID-19 in an ongoing outbreak at the Sunset Lodge long-term care home in Victoria. The health authority says testing over the weekend found 13 residents and four additional staff members were positive for the virus, up from 5 previously detected positive tests among staff. Island Health says most residents are not experiencing symptoms at this point, while staff and residents are being screened for the illness twice a day. It says admissions, transfers and social visits have been paused.
union-representing-rcmp-officers-concerned-by-premier-horgans-suggestion
BCAug 30, 2021

Union representing RCMP officers concerned by Premier Horgan's suggestion

The union representing RCMP officers says it's concerned by Premier John Horgan's suggestion that businesses should call police for help enforcing the province's vaccine card rules. The National Police Federation says its members will always respond professionally to businesses and individuals in need of support. However, the union says police are being called to do more without additional resources or funding and they're already stretched thin. This summer alone, it says more than 650 Mounties have been deployed to wildfire response and even more have been sent to enforce an injunction grant
number-of-b-c-evacuation-orders-and-wildfires-tick-down
BCAug 30, 2021

Number of B.C. evacuation orders and wildfires tick down

The wildfire situation is continually evolving, and the information below is current as of 7 p.m. (Pacific time) on Sunday, Aug. 29, 2021.Fires:Wildfires burning in B.C.: 232Since April 1, 2021:1,558 wildfires864,665 hectares of area burnedActive fires by fire centre:Cariboo: 25Coastal: 19Kamloops: 79Northwest: 5Prince George: 49Southeast: 55Resources:Firefighters and other personnel fighting the fires: 2,979Out-of-province firefighters: 443Helicopters and planes supporting ground crews: 110Evacuations:Evacuation orders: 28 (-1) Evacuation alerts: 77 (-2) Properties:Number of properties on ord
867-new-covid-19-cases-and-three-deaths-reported-in-b-c
BCAug 28, 2021

867 new COVID-19 cases and three deaths reported in B.C.

B.C. is reporting 867 new cases of COVID-19, including four epi-linked cases, for a total of 163,560 cases in the province. There are 5,657 active cases of COVID-19 in the province and 155,928 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 159 individuals are in hospital and 84 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.In the past 24 hours, three new deaths (Interior Health) have been reported, for an overall total of 1,807. From Aug. 12-25, people not fully vaccinated accounted for 82.0% of cases and 85.9% of hospitalizations.Past we
BCAug 27, 2021

Vancouver Police search for missing Hardeep Bassram

Vancouver Police are requesting help to locate a missing 40 year old man who disappeared more than a week ago.Hardeep (Dee) Bassram was last seen at his home near West 12th Avenue and Granville Street on August 19. Mr. Bassram is South Asian, six feet tall, 175 pounds, and has a muscular build. He also has short black hair that is receding and a short-cropped beard. He was last seen wearing a red hoody with the outline of a teddy bear on the left chest, a black baseball hat, red and black Nike runners, and was carrying a dark blue backpack.Mr. Bassram’s disappearance is out of character and
vpd-arrests-suspect-in-granville-island-groping
BCAug 27, 2021

VPD arrests suspect in Granville Island groping

A Vancouver Police investigation has led to sex charges against a man who allegedly groped a child at Granville Island earlier this month.VPD officers arrested Derek Sangris, 42, on Tuesday, after a 12-year-old girl reported that she had been groped and sexually assaulted while at the Granville Island Public Market on August 13. The victim contacted police after VPD released information about a series of gropings that occurred around False Creek on August 17. The BC Prosecution Service has approved charges of sexual assault and sexual interference against Sangris, related to an incident on Au
investigation-indicates-speed-as-a-factor-in-a-crash-that-killed-three-teenage-hockey-players-in-surrey
BCAug 27, 2021

Investigation indicates speed as a factor in a crash that killed three teenage hockey players in Surrey

Mounties say their initial investigation shows speed was a factor in a crash that killed three teenage hockey players in Surrey, B.C. In a news release, police say investigators have found that the car was travelling at a speed ``significantly greater'' than the posted limit. Emergency services personnel were called out early Saturday after a car hit a tree. Officials have said all three of the car's occupants died at the scene. The NHL and hockey teams, including the Humboldt Broncos, offered their condolences to the families of the three junior players. The league identified the players in
rain-brings-some-relief-as-wildfires-continue-to-burn-in-b-c
BCAug 27, 2021

Rain brings some relief as wildfires continue to burn in B.C.

The wildfire situation is continually evolving, and the information below is current as of 7 p.m. (Pacific time) on Thursday, Aug. 26, 2021. Fires:Wildfires currently burning in B.C.: 238Since April 1, 2021: 1,552 wildfires 864,473 hectares of area burnedActive fires by fire centre: Cariboo: 26Coastal: 19Kamloops: 77Northwest: 5Prince George: 53Southeast: 58Resources:Firefighters and other personnel currently fighting the fires: 3,238Out-of-province firefighters: 466Helicopters and planes supporting ground crews: 124Evacuations:Evacuation orders: 35 (-11)Evacuation alerts: 83 (-7)Properties:Nu

Just In

sikh-organization-calls-for-hate-crime-probe-in-fatal-shooting-near-leduc-alta
BCMar 18, 2026

Sikh organization calls for hate crime probe in fatal shooting near Leduc, Alta.

A national Sikh advocacy group is urging police to examine whether a fatal shooting of a 22-year-old man near Leduc, Alta., was motivated by hate. In a statement, the World Sikh Organization of Canada said Birinder Singh was killed on March 14 while travelling on Highway 2, south of Edmonton. According to the organization, occupants of a pickup truck opened fire on Singh’s vehicle in what it described as a daytime, unprovoked attack. Singh died at the scene. The group is calling on the Alberta RCMP Major Crimes Unit to investigate the killing as a potential hate-motivated crime. Police have
canadas-population-declines-in-late-2025-amid-slowdown-in-non-permanent-residents-statcan
CanadaMar 18, 2026

Canada’s population declines in late 2025 amid slowdown in non-permanent residents: StatCan

Canada’s population declined in the final months of 2025, driven largely by a drop in non-permanent residents, according to new estimates from Statistics Canada. The agency reports the country’s population fell by approximately 102,000 people over the year. The decline coincides with a decrease of more than 171,000 non-permanent residents between Oct. 1, 2025 and Jan. 1, 2026, including international students and temporary workers. Statistics Canada cautioned that the figures should be interpreted carefully, noting that fluctuations in work and study permit renewals could result in larger-
montreal-building-owner-charged-in-2023-old-montreal-fire-that-killed-seven
CanadaMar 18, 2026

Montreal building owner charged in 2023 Old Montreal fire that killed seven

Montreal police say they have arrested a 63-year-old building owner in connection with a 2023 fire in Old Montreal that killed seven people. Police allege Emile Benamor faces 15 charges, including seven counts of manslaughter and eight counts of criminal negligence related to the March 16, 2023 blaze at a heritage property on Place D’Youville. The allegations have not been tested in court. According to a Montreal police service news conference, investigators had previously identified traces of an accelerant at the scene, prompting a criminal investigation into the fire. Chief-Insp. David Sha
ontario-urges-b-c-quebec-to-drop-ev-sales-targets-citing-competitiveness-concerns
CanadaMar 18, 2026

Ontario urges B.C., Quebec to drop EV sales targets, citing competitiveness concerns

Ontario Premier Doug Ford is calling on the governments of British Columbia and Quebec to eliminate their electric-vehicle sales targets, arguing the policies are undermining Canada’s economic competitiveness. According to letters sent Wednesday to the two premiers, Ford said Ontario’s auto sector employs nearly 100,000 people and remains a key economic driver. He warned that differing provincial mandates on zero-emission vehicles risk creating what he described as a “fragmented and uncompetitive” national environment. Ford’s request follows recent changes in both provinces. Quebec h
WorldMar 18, 2026

Israel claims senior Iranian intelligence officials killed in overnight strikes

Israeli authorities say a series of overnight airstrikes on Iran targeted senior intelligence leadership and key energy infrastructure, as hostilities continue between Israel and Iran. According to a statement from Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, the strikes killed Iran’s intelligence minister, Esmail Khatib, along with several senior officials from the ministry. The claim has not been independently verified, and Iranian authorities have not confirmed any casualties as of publication time. Israeli officials also said their aircraft struck gas infrastructure in southern Iran. The re