Striking public service workers in British Columbia have expanded pickets at provincial liquor and cannabis stores again, adding 20 more locations to the list. The B.C. General Employees’ Union says the escalation also includes job action by front-line staff at several ministry offices. It says more than 17,000 public service workers are now taking job action across the province, which is half the 34,000 workers represented by the union. Union president Paul Finch says in a statement that every day the government delays, pressure on public services will grow, and it will continue to step up

Kap's Cafe, which was the target of two shootings in Surrey, has reopened again. The cafe was closed for about 10 days after the first shooting on July 10. Kapil Sharma had initially shared a post about the cafe's reopening, but within weeks of reopening in July, the cafe was again the target of a shooting in early August. The cafe reopened again on October 1, the Connect FM team reached the cafe on Thursday (Oct. 2nd) and tried to get comments from the cafe manager. The manager denied any comment on camera and said that the management had refused to provide any official information. At aroun

The British Columbia government says more than half of 20 communities surveyed saw an increase in homelessness since the last count in 2023. The Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs says in a statement that the count provides a snapshot of a community's homeless population during a 24-hour period. It says the latest count found 12 of the 20 communities they looked at had an increase in those who were homeless, while eight saw a drop. Many of the cities reporting higher numbers are in the Interior, including Williams Lake, Cranbrook, Merritt, Quesnel, Penticton and Salmon Arm. But the coun

Garry Begg, MLA for Surrey-Guildford, has been selected as the new chair of the BC NDP caucus. Begg was first elected MLA in 2017, and re-elected in 2020 and 2024. Before entering politics, he served as an RCMP officer for more than 38 years. Premier David Eby said: “Garry Begg brings with him a lifetime of experience serving the people of British Columbia. Garry will be a great caucus chair, keeping us focused on the needs of the people across the province who sent us here to get results on their behalf. I want to thank Stephanie Higginson for her diligent work, guiding us through the la

Premier David Eby has issued the following statement marking Dussehra: “Hindu communities in British Columbia will join others around the world today in celebrating Dussehra. The festival commemorates the victory of Lord Rama over the demon Ravana, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil.“This is a time of joy and hope for Hindus, who will gather with loved ones. Dussehra, which coincides with the culmination of the nine-day Navratri festival, is a time for prayers, togetherness and the eating of special meals, as well as the display of colourful decorations embracing strength, knowledge

Coquitlam RCMP remind the public to protect themselves against cryptocurrency fraud. Coquitlam RCMP has received multiple reports of individuals losing significant amounts of money after investing in fraudulent cryptocurrency apps. Scammers typically reach out through text messages, emails, or social media, claiming they’ve made thousands of dollars through cryptocurrency investments. They then convince victims to deposit money into a fake investment app. Once the money is deposited, the app displays fictitious profits to create the illusion of a successful investment. The scammers use th

A Winnipeg man convicted of arson and firing a weapon at the British Columbia home of Indo-Canadian pop star AP Dhillon last year has been sentenced to six years in prison. RCMP say in a release that 26-year-old Abjeet Kingra has a noted connection to the India-based Bishnoi gang, and a judge concluded that the attack on Dhillon's Vancouver Island home last year was not isolated. The Bishnoi gang, based in India, has been linked to a number of investigations into violent crimes across Canada, and was classified as a terrorist entity by the federal government this week. The Mounties say Kingra

On June 2, 2025 Richmond RCMP received a report of an alleged theft in the 8700 block of Lansdowne Road. The complainant alleged his camera equipment, including two lenses had been stolen. Through video surveillance, Richmond RCMP frontline was ablet to identify a suspect. The man is described as: Middle Eastern; 25 to 30 years; 5’8; Medium build; Curly black hair; Black facial hair. He was wearing a taupe or tan coloured hoodie, blue skinny jeans, black shoes with a black bag. The man left the area on foot towards Lansdowne Road. Anyone able to identify, or who has information regarding th

The Saskatchewan government is officially saying sorry to survivors and families for its role in the historical abuse and trauma that occurred at a boarding school for Metis and First Nations children. Premier Scott Moe says the province has also agreed to pay $40 million to former students of the Ile-a-la-Crosse Boarding School and their families. The school, northwest of Saskatoon, operated from the 1820s until it burned down in the 1970s. School survivors have said they were banned from speaking their language and were frequently beaten if they did, resulting in the loss of their