Officials say there were no working smoke alarms in a Hamilton townhouse where a fire killed four people, including two children, last week. Ontario Fire Marshal Jon Pegg says the on-scene portion of his office's investigation is complete and confirmed the fire's origin as an upholstered sofa on the house's ground floor, though its cause is still being investigated. Pegg says the location of the fire and layout of the house blocked the victims' ability to descend down the stairwell from the second floor. Police have said they were called to help with the townhouse fire in southeast Hamilton l

The BC Court of Appeal has refused to reverse a ministerial extradition order for a BC man facing drug charges in the United States. In a reserved decision released today, a three-justice panel of the province's highest court rejects Gurpreet Singh Sandhu's request for a judicial review of the extradition that will send him to the US to face charges including conspiracy to distribute cocaine and heroin in Washington state. Sandhu is one of five people charged in the case, which allegedly occurred over several months in 2014. The Appeal Court rejects Sandhu's arguments that the extradition ord

New Brunswick RCMP say a 29 year old man has been charged with second-degree murder following the death of a well-known journalist in the province. The RCMP said in a news release that Philippe Hebert, who was arrested Dec. 29 after fleeing from police, was charged Tuesday with the killing of Rejean Hebert. Police say Philippe Hebert also faces charges of resisting arrest, dangerous driving, flight from police and indecently interfering with human remains. Donald Noel, the general manager of the radio station where Rejean Hebert worked, confirmed the accused is Hebert's son. The 60 year old j

Surrey RCMP in partnership with the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia (CFSEU-BC) is issuing a public warning due to an increased threat to public safety posed by two individuals involved in gang activity and the violence associated with it. Due to a significant threat to the public posed by these individuals through their connection to criminal activity and high levels of violence, police believe that anyone connected to or in proximity to them may be putting themselves at risk.Police are issuing a public warning and identifying them in order for family, friends, ass

Noah is the front-runner for the most popular name for babies born this year in British Columbia.Noah is followed by Olivia, Oliver, Liam, Theodore, Jack, Emma, Lucas, Leo and Sofia, according to the Vital Statistics Agency's preliminary figures for 2022.In 2021, the top names for babies born in B.C. were Olivia, Liam, Noah, Emma, Jack, Theodore, Benjamin, Charlotte, Oliver and Ava.Only names that occur five or more times are listed.From Jan. 1 to Dec. 8, 2022, 37,801 babies were born in B.C.In 2021, 44,073 babies were born in B.C.

Richmond RCMP is asking for public assistance in locating a missing 34-year old woman. Sarah Peck of Quebec was reported missing on December 29, 2022. She had traveled to BC to visit family and was overdue in returning home. Sarah was last seen on December 18, 2022 in the South Arm area of Richmond. Sarah is described as:34 years of ageCaucasian178 cm (5’ 10") tallMedium buildBlonde hairBlue eyes The police and family are concerned for Sarah’s safety and well-being. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Sarah Peck is urged to contact their local police.

Farm workers and producers are reminded that the minimum wage for agricultural piece rates will increase by 2.8% on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023.The increase applies to 15 agricultural crops that are harvested by hand, as specified in the employment standards regulation, including peaches, apricots, Brussels sprouts, daffodils, mushrooms, apples, beans, blueberries, cherries, grapes, pears, peas, prune plums, raspberries and strawberries.The increase is based on B.C.'s average annual inflation rate in 2021 and is consistent with the 2.8% increase to the minimum hourly wage that came into effect on Jun

"As we say goodbye to 2022 and hello to a brand-new year, the City of Surrey continues to go through transformative changes. Though my time in the Mayor’s chair has only just begun, the new City Council and I have taken significant action to re-establish openness, transparency and citizen participation. The Ethics Commissioner will be restored and strengthened by having more independence. The Surrey City Development Corporation (SCDC) will also resume operations. A valuable asset to our City since 2007, SCDC will once again be advancing new and strategic investments in Surrey. "Policing in S

Pele, Brazil's mighty king of soccer, has died. He was 82. Since 2021, he had been undergoing treatment for colon cancer discovered during a routine medical exam. Pele was one of the most commanding sports figures of the last century. He won a record three World Cups with Brazil and was the standard-bearer of ``the beautiful game'' with the national team and his club Santos. His exuberance and mesmerizing moves transfixed generations of fans around the globe. His flair personified his country's samba-style elegance. Late in his career, he helped popularize soccer in North America by joining t