British Columbians living in long-term care and assisted living homes are due to start receiving COVID-19 booster shots this week. Health officials say they're offering boosters because of the risks of living in group settings, and also the weaker antibody response that older people have shown after their first two vaccine doses. Provincial health officer Doctor Bonnie Henry has said the latest data show that a third dose is most effective about six months after the second. Dr. Henry has already announced plans for a third vaccine dose for people who are most immunocompromised.

A BC First Nation says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has apologized for not responding to its invitations to attend a ceremony on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The Tk'emlups te Secwepemc says Chief Roseanne Casimir received a call from Trudeau on Saturday. PM Trudeau's office says he discussed the path forward and told the chief he hopes to visit her community soon. The prime minister has faced a deluge of criticism for spending Canada's first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on vacation with his family in Tofino rather than attending events marking the day.

Pandemic and economic recovery are expected to be front and centre as the fall sitting of the BC legislature is now underway. Most politicians have returned to the house many for the first time since a provincewide shutdown was declared last March in order to stop the spread of COVID-19. Economic Recovery Minister Ravi Kahlon says his focus is introducing a long-term recovery and economic strategy by early next year. Liberal house leader Peter Milobar says the Opposition intends to hammer Premier John Horgan's New Democrats on problems with the roll out of the child care program, staffing iss

The BC legislature is a busy place today and not just because the fall sitting has resumed and politicians are back in the house in numbers not seen since the pandemic hit. Protesters have also gathered on the legislation lawn to tell the government about their concerns. The group Pacific Wild is holding a rally and intends to pass a 500-thousand signature to Forests Minister Katrine Conroy today, urging her to halt the wolf cull. Demonstrators supporting Indigenous rights, climate justice and an end to old-growth logging started gathering at 8:30 this morning and say they will make a stateme

RCMP say a couple reported missing in BC's Okanagan region have been found dead after an apparent ATV rollover. The two were last seen Friday morning leaving their campsite near Summerland on their all-terrain vehicle. They were reported missing on Saturday morning, prompting a massive search effort on the ground and by air. The victims have been identified as a 66 year old man and a 56 year old female.

B.C. is reporting 714 new cases of COVID-19, for a total of 187,694 cases in the province.There are 6,317 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 178,980 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 328 individuals are in hospital and 138 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.In the past 24 hours, 11 new deaths have been reported, for an overall total of 1,973.The new deaths include:Fraser Health: fourInterior Health: sixVancouver Coastal Health: one From Sept. 23-29, people not fully vaccinated accounted for 71.3% of case

Burnaby RCMP is providing the following monthly arrest update for September, 2021 in relation to ongoing Trans Mountain pipeline demonstrations in Burnaby. Burnaby RCMP officers have responded to several calls for service in September related to an existing Injunction Order preventing Trans Mountain work and access from being impeded or obstructed.In September, five people were arrested for Criminal Contempt of Court in relation to the injunction.In addition, one other person was arrested on September 24, 2021 in relation to a safety incident that injured a worker. The incident remains under i

In 2019 the New Westminster Major Crime Unit began an investigation into child luring. During the course of this investigation, it was learned that a New Westminster resident had targeted children online for sexual exploitation. The New Westminster Police Department Major Crime Unit made an arrest in July 2020. Since his arrest and charge approval, 44-year-old, New Westminster resident, Daniel Blain has been convicted in court of: One count of Luring a Child contrary to section 172.1(1)a of the Criminal Code of CanadaOne count of Possessing Child Pornography contrary to section 163.1(4) of th

British Columbia's provincial health officer has mandated masks for all schoolchildren across the province after three school districts announced their own policies to include kindergarten to Grade 3 students. Dr. Bonnie Henry says she has heard the concerns of parents as COVID-19 cases have risen over the last couple of weeks among kids, especially those between the ages of five and 11, and in communities with lower vaccination rates. Dr. Henry says her school mask mandate will be in place until at least January, when it will be assessed based on whether vaccines would be available for child