New rules will allow property owners in the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) increased housing flexibility, helping farmers and non-farmers support their families and businesses in their communities.Options for an additional small secondary home have been added to regulations, allowing farmers and ALR landowners to have both a principal residence and small secondary residence on their property with a streamlined approval process. Only permissions from local government or First Nations government will be required, and there will be no application to the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC).The add

A state of local emergency has been issued by the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen as one of the newest wildfires in BC threatens 77 homes near the south Okanagan community of Okanagan Falls at the south end of Skaha Lake. Flames broke out yesterday just east of Skaha Lake and the B-C Wildfire Service says about 600 properties in the same area are on evacuation alert as the out-of-control blaze is now estimated at five square kilometres. The wildfire service says more than 300 active fires are currently burning, including one that has prompted an evacuation alert for the resort munic

A crane has collapsed at a construction site in downtown Kelowna, B.C., injuring at least three people. B.C. Emergency Health Services says in a news release that it received word around 11 a.m. that a crane had fallen onto an adjacent building. It says three patients have been taken to hospital with one in critical condition, another seriously hurt and the third with minor injuries. Twelve ground ambulances were sent to the scene along with two critical care teams. RCMP say the industrial accident has knocked out power for most of Kelowna's downtown core and traffic is being rerouted around

A traffic stop by the Surrey Gang Enforcement Team (SGET) has led to the arrest of a man with gang connections and the seizure of a loaded handgun. On June 29, 2021 at 10:20 pm, SGET officers conducted a traffic stop under the BC Motor Vehicle Act (MVA) with a rental vehicle in the area of 6500-block of 152 Street. During their interaction with the driver, officers noted signs of alcohol impairment, and arrested him. During a further investigation of the vehicle, officers located a loaded handgun, gloves, and an empty jerrycan inside the vehicle.The driver, a 21-year-old Surrey man, was issued

Police in Nanaimo say a quote, ``marginalized person'' who was run over by a vehicle and then pepper-sprayed suffered serious injuries. RCMP Constable Gary O'Brien says various witness accounts suggest the man was targeted on Saturday night as he walked down the street with his belongings in a shopping cart. He says a black vehicle with several occupants stopped next to the man, spoke with him, sped up and then drove over him before someone got out and pepper-sprayed the 45 year old as he lay on the ground. O'Brien says the vehicle sped away and witnesses were not able to get a licence plate

Squamish RCMP and search and rescue teams are looking for a missing hiker in Garibaldi Provincial Park. 33 year old Daniel Ring was dropped off at the Elfin Lakes trailhead on July 7th and had planned to camp at the Rampart Ponds. Police say Ring failed to return to the pickup site two days later and that people on the trails should keep an eye out for him. Ring, who is white, 33 years old, and has a medium build, was last seen wearing a grey T-shirt, black shorts, a camouflage vest and a camouflage backpack. Squamish RCMP on Twitter: BC RCMP - Missing Person: Squamish RCMP and Squamish SAR s

B.C. is reporting 45 new cases of COVID-19, for a total of 148,031 cases in the province. This includes a data correction from yesterday, as well as reconciliation of records for cases followed up by the Federal Quarantine Program between March and April 2021.There are currently 661 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 145,594 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 73 individuals are currently in hospital and 19 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.In the last 24 hours, no new deaths have been reported, for an ov

After an extensive joint investigation with several other police agencies throughout Metro Vancouver, Vancouver Police today announced convictions against numerous gang members."In response to the increasing gang violence in 2017, Vancouver Police launched Taskforce Tourniquet. The VPD-led taskforce included officers from Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of BC (CFSEU-BC), the RCMP, the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT), and local municipal police departments," says Constable Tania Visintin, VPD. "Together, the team launched several projects under the Tourniquet umbrella, in

Vancouver City Council has voted unanimously to rename a west side street named after Joseph Trutch, BC's first lieutenant governor, who enacted racist programs and policies against Indigenous people. The street in the city's Kitsilano neighbourhood lies on the unceded territories of the Musqueam First Nation and Mayor Kennedy Stewart says the city is responding to the band's request to change the name. Members of the First Nation will select a new name. Stewart's motion also says council will consider similar renaming requests submitted by the Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.