A major employer on Vancouver Island is preparing to wind down permanently, with Domtar confirming that its pulp mill in Crofton will close and leave about 350 workers without jobs. The company says weak global pulp prices and rising challenges in securing affordable fibre in British Columbia made continued operations unsustainable. Domtar says it is reviewing potential future uses for the mill site, though no decisions have been made. The shutdown adds to a series of closures across the province’s forestry communities, a sector that has faced years of instability linked to supply shortages,

B.C. Health Minister Josie Osborne says a recent security breach inside Surrey Memorial Hospital’s neonatal unit has raised serious concerns about patient safety across the Fraser Health region. She told the legislature the incident was “extremely distressing” for families and staff, and confirmed that Fraser Health has implemented additional safety procedures in response. Surrey RCMP allege that a woman entered the specialized care unit without authorization and made skin-to-skin contact with three newborns. Investigators say 35-year-old Lindsey Hirtreiter is now facing three counts of

Investigators with the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team have released the name of the man fatally shot in Surrey late Friday night, hoping the disclosure will generate new leads in the case. Police identified the victim as 26-year-old Jaskaran Birring of Chilliwack, noting he had previous police contacts and was believed to have ties to the drug trade. Officers were called to a residential area shortly before midnight, where they found Birring suffering from critical injuries. Despite emergency medical efforts at the scene, police say he did not survive. IHIT says early evidence indicate

Police in Nanaimo say officers will be stationed throughout the day at three secondary schools after an unspecified threat prompted a precautionary response from local RCMP. The increased presence affects Dover Bay Secondary, Wellington Secondary and Nanaimo District Secondary. According to RCMP, the schools will remain open and classes are expected to continue as scheduled. Officers say the additional patrols are intended to reassure students, staff and families while the nature of the threat continues to be assessed. The Mounties say school liaison officers will be visible on campus througho

Residents across British Columbia’s central Interior are being advised to prepare for challenging weather as a strong Pacific system collides with cold Arctic air over the region. Environment Canada has issued multiple alerts, warning of heavy snowfall, pockets of freezing rain, and hazardous travel conditions lasting into Monday evening. Snowfall of up to 15 centimetres is expected in areas surrounding Williams Lake, with advisories also covering stretches of Highway 97 between Clinton and 100 Mile House. Emergency officials are urging motorists to allow extra travel time and be ready for r

BC Premier David Eby says his government is prepared to consider discussions around a proposed northern pipeline, as long as the long standing ban on crude oil tankers along the province’s northern coast remains intact. Eby described the ban as a key public assurance that has helped support major investments in B-C’s economy. The premier has recently reiterated his opposition to a northern crude export route after Alberta and the federal government signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at reviving interest in a pipeline corridor to the B-C coast. Coastal First Nations have also warned

B.C. Premier David Eby and the federal government have committed 500,000 dollars each to support people affected by a rising number of extortion cases in the province. The announcement followed a roundtable meeting in Surrey on Friday, where officials discussed ongoing threats that have targeted residents and business owners in several communities. The meeting brought together Premier Eby, Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke and federal Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree, along with senior law enforcement representatives. Participants reviewed current investigations and explored ways to improve

Provincial conservation officers have captured two additional grizzly bears on British Columbia’s central coast as the search continues for the animal responsible for last week’s attack on a group of schoolchildren and their teachers near Bella Coola. The B.C. Conservation Officer Service says the bears are being held for assessment while forensic evidence from the attack site undergoes analysis. The incident left three students and a teacher with serious injuries during a field trip involving about 20 participants. Authorities believe a grizzly sow and two cubs may have been involved, and

RCMP on Vancouver Island say no one survived an early morning plane crash discovered in a rural area southwest of Nanaimo. Officers were called around 3 a.m. to a site near Twilight Way, a forested neighbourhood on the edge of the city, after receiving reports of an aircraft down. Mounties say the wreckage was found scattered across a large debris field, indicating a significant impact. Police have not released information about the type of aircraft involved or how many people were on board. Specialized units remain at the scene to secure the area and begin documenting evidence. Investigators