The Tk'emlups te Secwepemc First Nation says it would be ``deeply meaningful'' to welcome Pope Francis to Kamloops when the pontiff visits Canada on yet-to-be-determined dates. The Vatican announced yesterday that the pope will willing to visit this country as part of the process of reconciliation with Indigenous people. But Tk'emlups Chief Rosanne Casimir says in a statement issued this morning that if the only objective is reconciliation, and there's no concrete action associated with the visit, the visit will miss the ``hard truths'' First Nations are confronting as they recover from the g

B.C. is reporting 609 new cases of COVID-19, for a total of 203,582 cases in the province.Note: The numbers of total and new cases are provisional due to a delayed data refresh and will be verified once confirmed.There are currently 4,748 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 196,342 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 422 individuals are currently in hospital and 157 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.In the past 24 hours, six new deaths have been reported, for a total of 2,137.The new deaths include:Fraser

An independent group of researchers analyzing the course of COVID-19 in British Columbia says cases are declining at about two per cent a day but children under 10 could now be more at risk of contracting the virus because they are unvaccinated. The experts in epidemiology, mathematics and data analysis from three universities in B.C. and the private sector say that age group had half the case rate earlier this year relative to those who are older, but that risk may rise. They say in a new report that the use of masks indoors and regional measures in areas with high case counts helped to stabi

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has given his cabinet a major overhaul, dropping Harjit Sajjan from defence, Carolyn Bennett from Crown-Indigenous relations, Marc Garneau from global affairs and Patty Hajdu from health. Sajjan was heavily criticized for his handling of sexual misconduct allegations in the military, and is moving to a new post in international development, making way for former procurement minister Anita Anand. She becomes just the second woman to serve as the country's defence minister. Just days before a crucial UN climate summit, Steven Guilbeault is taking over as environmen

In addition, 90.0% (3,893,775) of all eligible adults in B.C. have received their first dose and 85.0% (3,676,200) have received their second dose.Over a three-day period, B.C. is reporting 1,618 new cases of COVID-19, including 21 epi-linked cases, for a total of 202,516 cases in the province:Oct. 22-23: 613 new casesOct. 23-24: 529 new casesOct. 24-25: 476 new casesThere are 4,966 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 195,055 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 366 individuals are in hospital and 149 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recoveri

Capacity limits have been lifted in BC as of today for organized events like sports games and movie theatres as well as gatherings like weddings. But 50 per cent capacity limits will remain at venues and gatherings in some areas of the province where vaccination rates remain low, including parts of the Fraser, Interior and Northern regions. Masks must still be worn and anyone attending an event will be required to show their BC Vaccine card, at least until January. Meanwhile, all health-care workers in the province will have to be fully vaccinated by tomorrow as a condition of their employmen

B.C. is reporting 649 new cases of COVID-19, for a total of 200,898 cases in the province.There are 5,106 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 193,325 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 365 individuals are currently in hospital and 143 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.In the last 24 hours, 13 new deaths have been reported, for an overall total of 2,109. The new deaths include:Fraser Health: twoVancouver Coastal Health: threeInterior Health: threeNorthern Health: threeIsland Health: two There have been no

In addition, 89.8% (3,884,354) of all eligible adults in B.C. have received their first dose and 84.4% (3,652,493) received their second dose.B.C. is reporting 715 new cases of COVID-19, for a total of 200,249 cases in the province.There are 4,965 active cases of COVID-19 in the province and 192,819 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 377 individuals are in hospital and 136 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.In the past 24 hours, four new deaths (Northern Health) have been reported, for an overall total of 2,096.Ther

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says provinces and the federal government have agreed on a new national vaccine passport for domestic and international travel. Several provinces have already begun to roll out the new proofs of vaccination. He announced this morning that several jurisdictions have already begun to roll out the new proofs of vaccination, including Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario, Nunavut, Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories and Yukon. Government officials say all provinces plan to have their version of the Canadian document available by the end of next mont