The Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine has declared a state of local emergency as the Skeena River bursts its banks after days of heavy rain and rapid snowmelt. The communities of Old Remo and New Remo, southwest of Terrace, have been ordered evacuated, high water threatens about 100 properties and some roads have been washed out, while evacuation alerts are posted for other nearby areas. Flood warnings are in effect for several northwestern BC rivers, including sections of the Skeena, Stikine and Tuya and the River Forecast Centre has also issued flood watches and high streamflow advisorie

Jobs Minister Ravi Kahlon says although Statistics Canada data shows BC lost roughly 23-thousand part-time jobs in May, 21,000 full-time jobs were created. Kahlon says that's what kept BC's unemployment rate almost static last month at 7 per cent, a dip of one basis point since April. Kahlon says the May figures reflect the difficulties many businesses faced last month during restrictions aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19. He says BC's restart plan is now rolling out and he hopes it cuts into unemployment that has disproportionately affected workers between the ages of 15 and 24, as wel

Mounties say they have opened a file into the possible remains of 215 children found at a former residential school site in Kamloops. Staff Sergeant Bill Wallace, the detachment commander with the Tk'emlups Rural RCMP, says officers have been to the site and are working with community members to discuss the next steps. He says police are looking for the best way to be involved in the investigation, while also being culturally sensitive and respectful of the community. Retired senator Murray Sinclair, who chaired the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, told a House of Common committee yesterd

British Columbia residents who received the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine will be able to choose if they want to stay with the same shot or take one of the other options. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says those who received the AstraZeneca vaccine earlier this year made ``the right choice'' in getting vaccinated, and helped to ease the COVID-19 caseload in the province. She says research has shown that it is safe and effective to mix and match the COVID-19 vaccine options. Dr. Henry also said the province is having issues maintaining a steady supply of the Moderna vaccine, meaning

Police in New Westminster say they've have made an arrest in a stabbing last Saturday at the Columbia SkyTrain station. A man was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries. Police say they tracked down their suspect two days later and he remains in custody. 26 year old Murid Ghulam of New Westminster is now charged with one count of attempted murder. New Westminster Police on Twitter: Suspect associated to Lower Mainland gangs arrested and charged with attempted murder following stabbing outside Columbia SkyTrain Station. #NewWest https://nwpolice.org/blog/2021/06/03/suspect-arrested-a

Vancouver Police are investigating the death of a homeless man, who was run over by a car last week after falling asleep in a Downtown Eastside laneway. "This is tragic and heartbreaking on many levels," says Sergeant Steve Addison, VPD. "While this was an awful and avoidable set of circumstances, we don’t believe foul play or dangerous driving were factors in this collision." VPD investigators believe the man, a 39-year-old with no fixed address, was using drugs in a lane near Gore Street and Union Avenue on May 26 when he fell asleep in front of a parkade gate around 3:30 p.m. A driver, w

Hundreds of people turned out last night in East Vancouver to honour the discovery of what are believed to be the remains of 215 students buried at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School. The ``Remember the Children'' event was organized to support the Tk'emlups te Secwepemc First Nation whose members are leading the investigation of the school grounds, which are on their lands. A statement released this morning by the BC Assembly of First Nations says the Tk'emlups First Nation wants supporters to hold memorials and healing events in their local communities, rather than travelling to

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he has spoken with Premier John Horgan about the discovery of the remains of 215 children at a former Indian residential school site in Kamloops as well as potential next steps. A release from the Prime Minister's Office says they spoke yesterday about the work both governments are doing in relation to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's calls for action as well as new federal funding. Horgan said Tuesday that BC has an obligation to ensure the 94 calls to action by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission are realized. However, he stopped short of offe

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