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b-c-ranks-among-highest-in-world-in-covid-19-first-dose-shots-say-health-officials
BCJun 17, 2021

B.C. ranks among highest in world in COVID-19 first-dose shots, say health officials

British Columbia health officials say the province ranks among the highest in the world in the number of people who have their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. In a news release, they say more than 76 per cent of eligible people have received their first shot while 710,847 people have had their second. Health officials say a number of locations are offering extended hours and mobile clinics so more people can get immunized. The province reported 113 new cases of COVID-19 for a total of 146,674. It also recorded four COVID-19-related deaths for a total of 1,738 fatalities. British Columbia en
first-nations-group-wants-to-intervene-in-human-rights-case-against-vancouver-police
BCJun 16, 2021

First Nations group wants to intervene in human rights case against Vancouver police

The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs has launched an effort to gain intervener status in a human rights case involving an Indigenous man and his granddaughter over their treatment by Vancouver police while attempting to open a bank account. Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, a former judge who represents the union, says the organization wants to have a voice in Maxwell Johnson's case to highlight what it alleges is a history of systemic racism against Indigenous people by Vancouver's police force. Johnson, who is from the Heiltsuk Nation on B.C.'s central coast, says both he and his 12-year-old granddaught
discovery-of-body-in-downtown-nanaimo-being-treated-as-a-homicide
BCJun 16, 2021

Discovery of body in downtown Nanaimo being treated as a homicide

The death of 27 year old Amy Watts, whose body was discovered in downtown Nanaimo, is being treated as a homicide. The deceased was discovered on Thursday June 3, 2021, in a small wooded steep ravine near the intersection of Albert St and Victoria Crescent. The Nanaimo RCMP Serious Crime Unit has overall responsibility for the investigation. Police spoke with the family of the deceased last week and informed them on the status of the investigation. Police are fully engaged and are actively pursuing all investigative steps, said Constable Gary O’Brien of the Nanaimo RCMP. To date, no arrests
british-columbia-police-watchdog-clears-terrace-rcmp-officers-of-wrongdoing-in-crash
BCJun 16, 2021

British Columbia police watchdog clears Terrace RCMP officers of wrongdoing in crash

Two RCMP officers have been cleared of wrongdoing related to the fatal crash of an all-terrain vehicle in northwestern B.C. The Independent Investigations Office, which examines all cases of death or serious harm involving police, says its review has determined two officers from the Terrace RCMP detachment did not commit any offences related to the May 23 crash. The officers had attempted to pull over the ATV on a forest service road near Terrace because none of the three riders had helmets. The ATV did not stop and continued about 10 kilometres north before crashing, injuring a woman who ev
b-c-reports-no-new-covid-19-deaths-as-it-begins-second-step-of-reopening-plan
BCJun 16, 2021

B.C. reports no new COVID-19 deaths as it begins second step of reopening plan

British Columbia health officials are reporting 108 new cases of COVID-19 as the province begins step two of its reopening plan. They say in a statement B.C. has 1,496 active cases and 143,299 people have recovered from the infection. There have been no new deaths and the total number of fatalities is 1,734. Officials say more than 76 per cent of eligible adults have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, while 657,491 have had their second shot. Step two of the reopening plan means indoor seated gatherings with up to 50 people are permitted at venues such as movie theatres and banque
vpd-fears-warm-weather-easing-restrictions-could-cause-spike-in-jewelry-scams
BCJun 16, 2021

VPD fears warm weather, easing restrictions could cause spike in jewelry scams

Vancouver Police are reminding east-side residents to be wary of jewelry scammers, after a Collingwood man was bilked out of thousands of dollars yesterday."With Covid restrictions easing and more people heading outside to enjoy the warm weather, these scammers will prey on people’s good will and naivety," says Sergeant Steve Addison, VPD. "We need people to know how they work and to be assertive if they are approached."VPD is investigating two incidents that occurred Monday afternoon in East Vancouver, and suspect there might be links between the cases.A 51-year-old man was walking alone ne
home-sales-fell-7-4-per-cent-in-may-buyers-are-increasingly-frustrated-by-volatile-home-sales-crea
BCJun 15, 2021

Home sales fell 7.4 per cent in May; Buyers are increasingly frustrated by volatile home sales: CREA

The Canadian Real Estate Association says buyers are increasingly frustrated by volatile home sales in this country and an expected decline in transactions could underscore their irritation with hot markets like those in Metro Vancouver. The association says home sales fell 7.4 per cent in May compared with the month earlier, and the month-over-month skid affected about 80 per cent of markets across Canada. But the association also predicts sales will hit a new, overall record by the end of the year, leaping nearly 24 per cent compared with 2020 before slipping about 13 per cent next year. As
BCJun 15, 2021

No tickets handed out as a result of road checks put for restrictions on non-essential travel within B.C.

As COVID-19 restrictions on non-essential travel within BC are lifted today, police road checks established in the first week of May have also come to an end. RCMP Staff Sergeant Janelle Shoihet says more than 14,000 vehicles were stopped at the checkpoints set up along several highways on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays between May 6th and last weekend. She says just 26 vehicles were told to turn around by police and another 236 voluntarily turned around at the checks established to prevent people from travelling between three regional zones for non-essential reasons. No tickets were handed
cannabis-dispensary-in-vancouver-has-been-ordered-to-pay-40-000-dollars-to-subway
BCJun 15, 2021

Cannabis dispensary in Vancouver has been ordered to pay 40,000 dollars to Subway

The owner of the Budway cannabis dispensary in Vancouver has been ordered to pay 40,000 dollars to Subway for imitating the sandwich chain's branding. The Federal Court ruled the shop was both benefitting from and damaging Subway's brand by infringing on its trademark logo and using a mascot. Justice Nicholas McHaffie described it as ``a submarine sandwich filled with cannabis leaves.'' The pot shop has been ordered to pay 15,000 dollars in damages and 25,000 dollars to cover Subway's legal fees.

Just In

maninder-sidhu-announces-india-trade-mission-to-lead-team-canada-delegation
BCJul 10, 2026

Maninder Sidhu announces India trade mission, to lead Team Canada delegation

Canada's Minister of International Trade, Maninder Sidhu, has announced that he will lead a Team Canada Trade Mission to India from Oct. 12 to 17. According to the federal government, the mission is aimed at strengthening bilateral trade and economic ties while creating new opportunities for Canadian businesses in the Indian market. Sidhu said Canada and India currently share approximately $31 billion in two-way trade. He said the federal government's goal is to double that figure by 2030. He added that India remains one of the world's fastest-growing major economies, offering significant oppo
saskatchewan-man-sentenced-in-cbsa-immigration-fraud-investigation
BCJul 10, 2026

Saskatchewan man sentenced in CBSA immigration fraud investigation

A Saskatchewan man has been sentenced to a conditional sentence of two years less a day after a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) investigation into an immigration fraud scheme. According to a CBSA news release issued Friday, Balvir Singh was also ordered to pay a $10,000 fine. The agency said the investigation began in 2018 after border services officers across Canada noticed an unusually high number of immigration applications connected to a Saskatoon-based non-profit organization. The CBSA, working with the Government of Saskatchewan, said investigators identified foreign nationals who e
CanadaJul 10, 2026

West Vancouver's Gurinder Singh Deo arrested in France

West Vancouver resident Gurinder Singh Deo has been arrested in France, the RCMP's Pacific Region Federal Policing confirmed. Police said the 40-year-old is currently in custody in France while legal proceedings are underway to extradite him to the United States. According to the RCMP, Deo was identified in the recent joint FBI and RCMP investigation known as Operation Hard Ball. U.S. authorities have charged him in connection with a drug trafficking case, alleging he helped facilitate the movement of narcotics into Southern California through alleged links to the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang. U.S.
CanadaJul 10, 2026

Charges withdrawn against Ontario man in Canada's largest gold theft case

Criminal charges against an Ontario man accused in connection with what investigators have described as Canada's largest gold theft have been withdrawn. The Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General confirmed that charges against 46-year-old Ammad Chaudhry were withdrawn in a Brampton court. Chaudhry had been arrested in 2024 and charged with theft over $5,000 and accessory after the fact. The ministry did not provide a reason for the withdrawal of the charges. According to investigators, the case stems from the April 17, 2023 theft of approximately $20 million worth of gold from an Air Canada
BCJul 10, 2026

B.C. adds 7,800 jobs in June as unemployment rate falls to 6.5%

British Columbia's labour market added 7,800 jobs in June, while the province's unemployment rate fell by 0.3 percentage points to 6.5 per cent, according to Statistics Canada's Labour Force Survey released Friday. Statistics Canada reported that the health care sector led job growth with 8,500 new positions, followed by transportation and warehousing, which added approximately 7,300 jobs. At the same time, the accommodation and food services sector lost about 9,000 jobs, while professional, scientific and technical services shed 3,100 positions. The report also showed gains in both full-time