British Columbia health officials say they understand the frustration directed at people who defy COVID-19 restrictions, but urged residents to continue following the guidelines to prevent infection. B.C. reported 617 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday and 18 more deaths, bringing the provincial toll to 988. Health Minister Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry say in a joint statement they know it can be frustrating to hear of people not following the guidelines, such as those travelling for non-essential reasons. But they say those who are making the effort to stick to the

BC's Minister of Jobs, Economy Recovery and Innovation says this province is resisting the pandemic-linked trend to higher unemployment, but Ravi Kahlon says we are "not out of the woods," yet. In a statement issued following release of Statistics Canada's monthly employment data, Kahlon says total employment has bounced back to nearly 99 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, but he says sectors like tourism and hospitality are still struggling. He also says people of colour, both business owners and employees, continue to bear the disproportionate impacts of the COVID-19 slowdown. Kahlon says BC

A snowboarder has died in an accident at the Whistler Blackcomb resort. RCMP confirm the man, in his mid-20s, fell about 20 metres from a cliff at one of the highest points of the resort, Thursday morning. Ski patrollers provided first aid and the man was airlifted to the clinic in Whistler but could not be saved. Sgt. Sascha Banks says in a statement that the BC Coroners Service, RCMP and Whistler Blackcomb resort are all investigating. This is the fourth death involving snow sports in the Sea-to-Sky region since Dec. 29 when two snowbikers were engulfed by an avalanche near Pemberton. A ski

A man has died in a suspected targeted shooting in Richmond, B.C.RCMP say the victim was found in a park in the Steveston neighbourhood at around 8:30 p.m. Thursday.A statement from Richmond RCMP says the man died a short time later in hospital. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team has taken over the case.The deadly attack is the first in Richmond in 2021 and comes just two days after a targeted shooting in Surrey killed 24-year-old Gary Kang.Homicide investigators confirm Kang had known gang affiliations, but they are not linking his slaying with the latest violence in Richmond.

British Columbia's top doctor says COVID-19 restrictions that were set to expire Friday have been extended to Feb. 5. Dr. Bonnie Henry announced the extension while reporting eight more deaths and 761 new cases of COVID-19, saying the spike is partly related to changes in how the province is reporting cases each day. She says the curve of the outbreak is trending up again, so it's not the time to ease restrictions and if further action is required to limit the spread, it will be taken. The public health rules prohibit social gatherings among people from different households, as well as adult

A Transportation Safety Board report says a small plane that vanished in British Columbia's Fraser River last June hit a power line before sinking into the river. The Cessna 172M left Boundary Bay Airport on June 6 with two men aboard, an instructor and his student. The report says the plane was flying in Abbotsford, B.C., along the river at a low altitude and was just 38 metres above the water when it clipped a power line. Witnesses who called 911 reported seeing a low-flying plane, a splash and then the partially submerged plane on the river. When emergency responders arrived, the plane

A body has been found in a small community in southeastern British Columbia and RCMP are trying to determine if it is linked to a recent double homicide in the same area. An RCMP statement says a man's body was found in Salmo, near where a missing vehicle was located shortly after two people were fatally stabbed Wednesday evening west of Creston, B.C. A vehicle belonging to one of the victims was taken following the attack on the 40 year old Calgary man and 25 year old West Kootenay woman at a highway pullout. At the time the two victims were found, investigators said they believed the man an

Strategic targeted enforcement by the Surrey RCMP Gang Enforcement Team’s (SGET) has led to the seizure of drugs and cash, from a hidden compartment inside a vehicle. On January 1, 2021 at approximately 11 p.m., an SGET officer conducted a traffic stop with a Nissan Maxima, in the 9000-block of 156 Street. During the interaction with the driver, the officer observed a knife and bear spray inside the vehicle. As a result, the driver was arrested for possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose. As the investigation progressed, the officer observed signs that there may be a hidden compartmen

A woman walking in Nanaimo says money began falling from the sky after a car raced by her as she strolled in the city's north end. Nanaimo RCMP say the woman, who isn't being identified, noticed the floating cash as the vehicle disappeared down the street, so she gathered up the bills and called police. Investigators say the total value is significant and it's possible the owner may not know it wafted out the car window, or the money may be related to illegal activities and those involved may not want to report the loss. Constable Gary O'Brien says the money will be kept for 90 days and if