The latest numbers from British Columbia's coroner show suspected illicit drug toxicity deaths set new records in August and September, pushing total overdose deaths to another record for the first nine months of a calendar year. The BC Coroners Service says 181 people died in August and 152 in September, record figures for both months, and it brings the number of fatalities since the start of the year to 1,534. A coroner's statement says September marked the 12th consecutive month in which there were at least 150 deaths due to toxic illicit drugs. Chief coroner Lisa Lapointe says the toll is

Over a three-day period, B.C. is reporting 1,438 new cases of COVID-19, including two epi-linked cases, for a total of 209,703 cases in the province:Nov. 5-6: 553 new casesNov. 6-7: 462 new casesNov. 7-8: 423 new casesThere are 4,282 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 202,898 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 407 individuals are in hospital and 121 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation. In the past 72 hours, 17 new deaths have been reported, for an overall total of 2,218. The new deaths include:Fraser Healt

A man who pleaded guilty to setting three Masonic buildings on fire in North Vancouver and Vancouver last March has been sentenced to 40 months in prison. With time served, 43 year old Benjamin Kohlman's sentences equals about two and a half years. Both Crown and defence lawyers told the judge Kohlman has addictions and mental health troubles and that voices directed him to set the fires. Judge Laura Bakan says she accepted that Kohlman is sorry for his actions, and she hopes he'll be able to deal with his addiction issues while in prison.

On the evening of Saturday, November 6th, a tornado moved throughUBC. Environment Canada received reports of hail, wind, rain and atornado. Environment and Climate Change Canada, in collaboration with TheNorthern Tornadoes Project, facilitated an on-site storm damagesurvey. The results of this survey, including a rating of thetornado's strength, are preliminary and subject to change if moreinformation becomes available. Preliminary storm assessment: Time: 5:10 pm PDT Location: UBC near University Golf ClubImpacts Damage: broken trees/tree limbs, scattered tree debris, uprootedtrees, downed po

Strong winds are expected to hammer BC's coast, with gusts up to 110 kilometres per hour for Haida Gwaii, northern Vancouver Island and the central coast. Environment Canada says the strongest winds are expected late this afternoon and through tomorrow morning. Wind warnings or special weather statements are also up for the Sunshine Coast, Southern Gulf Islands, Vancouver Island, including Victoria, Howe Sound and most of Metro Vancouver. The source is an intense but slow moving Pacific front and the weather office warns that the worst of the winds could damage buildings and blow down trees o

Federal leaders are paying tribute to the sacrifices of Indigenous veterans as well as the discrimination they faced after returning from war. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says all flags on federal government buildings, including the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill, were lowered to acknowledge the service of Indigenous veterans. He told his Caucus this morning that Indigenous people who served across this country often faced systems and discrimination and barriers that were greater than they were for others. It is estimated that more than 12,000 Indigenous people joined the Canadian military

A coroner's jury examining the police-involved shootings of a mother and her adult son in northern British Columbia has made five recommendations aimed at preventing similar deaths. The jury released its recommendations Saturday after a weeklong inquest in Smithers examining the April 21, 2016 RCMP shootings of 39 year old Jovan Williams and his 73 year old mother Shirley Williams outside their home in Granisle, east of Smithers. The shootings, which the coroner's report shows happened within two minutes of each other, have been ruled homicides, a neutral term that does not imply criminal int

Police say a 48 year old man from Kamloops is dead after two pickup trucks collided on Highway 1 in Sicamus. The crash happened late Saturday. Police say the 52 year old Alberta resident who was driving the other vehicle suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries. They say it appears the eastbound pickup crossed into the path of the one heading west.

B.C. is reporting 549 new cases of COVID-19, including one epi-linked case, for a total of 208,265 cases in the province.There are 4,483 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 201,267 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 441 individuals are in hospital and 129 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.In the past 24 hours, one new death (Northern Health) has been reported, for an overall total of 2,201.There has been one new health-care facility outbreak at Bethshan Gardens (Fraser Health). The outbreak at West Shore