Mounties in Nanaimo are investigating a parking-lot assault on a 70 year old South Asian who was punched so hard his turban was knocked from his head. Police say the dispute happened almost a month ago, on August 20th, when the man pulled into a handicap space because his spouse has physical disabilities. The RCMP say the attacker took offence, punched the man, shouted some profanities and then ran off. Police say there's no indication the attack was racially motivated and they're looking for a Caucasian man, five-foot-seven inches tall with a slim build and dark hair.

The BC Teachers Federation hopes the Labour Relations Board can resolve teachers' concerns about COVID-related health and safety issues in schools. The BCTF has filed a submission with the board asking it to propose solutions to what the union says are ``inadequate and inconsistent'' policies aimed at slowing the spread of the new coronavirus. Documents show the BCTF is seeking an ``expedited'' decision because union members feel ``pressured'' to work in unsafe situations and there's potential for job action by some teachers. Education Minister Rob Fleming says ``this is only week one'' and t

RCMP say they are investigating a targeted shooting in Surrey, B.C.A statement from the force says officers responded to reports of gunfire late Thursday in the Brookswood neighbourhood.A man was found suffering from gunshot wounds and remains in hospital.Staff Sgt. Joe Johal says the victim was likely the target.It's the third targeted attack this week in Metro Vancouver.Shots were fired at a man in Surrey's Newton neighbourhood on Monday but he was not hurt, and a man was fatally shot in one of three homicides in Vancouver on Wednesday.

BC is reporting a single-day record of 165 new cases of COVID-19. Provincial health officer Doctor Bonnie Henry says there has also been one death of a long-term care resident, bringing the total to 220 fatalities. Dr. Henry says there have been two new outbreaks at acute care units in the Fraser Health region. She is urging people to get ready for the coming respiratory season by keeping to their same ``safe six'' social circle and moving between different groups of six people.

Vancouver police say the latest statistics suggest an uptick in crime across the city. A report comparing numbers for the first six months of 2020 to the same period last year suggests an increase in violent crime by more than five per cent. Police noted increases in all areas of the city but they say areas including Strathcona, downtown and Yaletown recorded particularly high numbers. Deputy Chief Constable Howard Chow says police are, ``very concerned about the increase in the most serious crimes across the city.''

Three people have been killed in what Vancouver police say are two separate homicides in the city. Const. Tania Visintin says two people were found unresponsive in a hotel room in the Downtown Eastside at about 7 p.m. Wednesday. She says one died at the scene while the other died later in hospital. Officers were called to a southeast Vancouver neighbourhood about 30 minutes later for a report of shots fired. One person was found dead in front of a home. Visintin says the shooting and the two hotel deaths are not linked and the public is not believed to be at risk.

British Columbia's minister of mental health and addictions says she won't seek re-election, joining a string of senior cabinet ministers who are bowing out of provincial politics. Judy Darcy, who represents New Westminster in the legislature, says in a statement that it's been an ``enormous privilege'' to serve as B.C.'s first-ever minister of mental health and addictions. She added that she's proud of the way B.C. has worked to tackle both the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing overdose crisis. Before being elected as a New Democrat to represent New Westminster in 2013, Darcy worked for the C

Two hundred British Columbia firefighters are heading to Oregon to help with devastating wildfires in that state.A joint statement from the premier's office and the Ministry of Forests says the firefighters and related personnel are being sent to Redmond, Ore. 'It also says discussions are underway with officials in Oregon and Washington state regarding deployment of another 200-member contingent from B.C. All the firefighters are BC Wildfire Service employees and officials say they will work separately from U.S. crews given the challenge posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.Premier John Horgan says

The British Columbia government is expected to reveal how it plans to stimulate an economic rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic. Premier John Horgan and Finance Minister Carole James are scheduled to release details today of the $1.5-billion economic recovery plan.Last week, James announced the province's most recent financial numbers from April to June project an economic decline of 6.7 per cent for this year.She said the budget is forecast to post a deficit of almost $13 billion for the 2020-21 fiscal year.The Opposition Liberals have accused the NDP government of being too slow in respondin