The director of the Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre at the University of British Columbia says a lack of co-operation in accessing records and other data limits the ability to identify the remains of 215 children found at the former residential school in Kamloops. Mary Ellen-Turpel Lafond says churches and the federal government have fought for more than 20 years against making such school records available. She says the public has an obligation to help identify the remains. But a forensic human identification expert says the Tk'emlups te Secwepemc First Nation faces a d

Police say a suspect is in custody after customers in a bank in British Columbia refused to obey orders from a shotgun-brandishing robber and tackled him. A statement from Abbotsford police says a man entered the Scotiabank branch just before noon yesterday and ordered customers to the floor. As he threw bags onto a counter and demanded money, police say one customer confronted him and three more stepped up. The four tackled the man, disarmed him and held him until officers arrived minutes later. No one was hurt and Sgt. Judy Bird says a 46-year-old man is facing robbery and firearms-related

Victoria police say they're investigating several additional allegations of sexualized violence involving a masseur charged with sexual assault. Police say 35-year-old Ajesh Jacob has been charged in connection with an incident at a massage and reflexology business where he was employed. Jacob was arrested on May 13th and has since been released on several conditions including not to perform massage services on anyone. Detectives say additional survivors have come forward since that time and they are asking any others who have not yet spoken with police to contact them. Victoria Police on Twi

Health officials say British Columbia's COVID-19 restart plan will be a slow, cautious progression to normal life, but they acknowledge it may cause anxiety or fear in some people. In a news release Wednesday, Health Minister Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry say many others are excited about the transition and people will be able to progress along with the restart plan or in a slower, more gradual process. Dix and Henry say people must be mindful of communities that are assessing their own risks and take time to welcome back visitors. They also say businesses will be r

The super-heated housing market in Metro Vancouver cooled slightly in May but the Greater Vancouver Real Estate Board says sales still remained active. A statement from the board says 4,268 homes changed hands across the region last month, a 13 per cent drop compared with April. While May didn't match record-breaking activity seen earlier in the spring, the board says transactions were still 187.4 per cent higher than those recorded in May last year during the pandemic shutdown. Sales last month were 27.7 per cent above the 10-year sales average for May and the board says listing activity als

Summer is still nearly three weeks away but a heat wave is already bringing record temperatures to parts of BC. Environment Canada says records were broken in 10 places yesterday from 29 degrees in Fort Nelson just edging a record set in 1961 to 34.6 in Trail, and highs ranging from 27 degrees to the low 30s in Sechelt, Gibsons, Clinton, Merritt, Pemberton, Princeton and the Malahat on Vancouver Island. Lytton claimed the hot spot for all of Canada yesterday with a withering 35.2 degrees, two-tenths of a degree hotter than on the same day 60 years earlier. The weather office says more records

Quick response from Frontline officers lead to the arrest of a suspect with two imitation firearms in the Central City Shopping Centre in Surrey.On May 30, 2021 at 5:53 pm, Surrey RCMP Frontline officers responded to a report of a male with a gun inside the Central City Shopping Centre located at 10153 King George Blvd. The male suspect allegedly threatened staff and a customer at a business inside the mall with a weapon before fleeing. He was arrested a short time later by officers with two imitation firearms and a knife.Thirty-six-year-old Cody Doherty of Surrey is facing numerous charges in

A Surrey RCMP Frontline officer located a loaded handgun on the driver following a traffic stop in the Newton area.On May 28, 2021, at approximately 1:45am, a Surrey RCMP Frontline member was patrolling in Newton and observed a vehicle with inactive insurance. The officer initiated a traffic stop in the 7600-block of King George Boulevard and upon further investigation, a loaded firearm was located on the driver. The vehicle was towed, the driver was arrested and later released on an undertaking as the investigation continues.The driver has a non-restricted Possession and Acquisition License w

Abbotsford police are warning of a recent uptick in scams revolving around claims a relative has been jailed and needs money to be bailed. Police say victims were called by someone impersonating a criminal lawyer who stated they were calling on behalf of the victim's family member, asking for money. Police say alleged fraudsters are able to make their phone number appear to have originated from a legitimate source. Officers say those who are targeted need to resist the urge to send money right away and to check the story's accuracy with a family member first. Abbotsford Police Department on T