Sheila Malcolmson, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, has released the following statement regarding the BC Coroners Service report on illicit drug toxicity deaths in August 2022:"In August, we lost 169 people to the poisoned drug supply. These are devastating losses for families, friends, communities and loved ones. My heart is with everyone who had such a tragic loss. "We are working hard to build a system of mental-health and substance-use care where there wasn't one five years ago. We are offering innovative harm-reduction solutions, like prescribed safe supply - the only province i

Tomorrow morning, police across Delta, Surrey and Langley will be looking for distracted drivers during a one-day enforcement blitz as part of a provincial distracted driving education and enforcement campaign. Police will be joined by ICBC road safety & community coordinators and local Cell Watch volunteers, who will be reminding drivers of an important message: leave your phone alone while driving.Distracted driving is the second leading contributor in fatal crashes in B.C., behind speed and ahead of impaired driving, and is the top contributor in police-reported injury crashes. Who: Lan

Surrey RCMP is seeking additional information to further an ongoing sexual assault investigation. On July 18, 2022, Surrey RCMP received a report that a woman had been sexually assaulted while undergoing a physical exam by a doctor at a pain clinic located in the 6600-block of 152A Street.Surrey RCMP Special Victims Unit took conduct of the investigation and recently submitted a report to BC Prosecution Services recommending charges. On September 13, 2022, 54-year-old, Olumuyiwa Bamgbade was charged with one count of sexual assault. He later turned himself into the Surrey courthouse where he w

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday congratulated Giorgia Meloni, the leader of a right-wing coalition for winning the Italian general elections. The prime minister said he looks forward to working together to strengthen bilateral relations. "Congratulations @GiorgiaMeloni for leading your party @FratellidItalia to victory in the Italian general elections. We look forward to working together to strengthen our ties," PM Modi tweeted. The right-wing coalition scored an overall victory in the country's general election to form a new parliament. Party leader Giorgia Meloni will most likely

R-C-M-P say arrests have been made after a shooting in central Alberta. A man was shot outside the Leland Hotel in Ponoka a week ago. The Mounties say they, with the help of Calgary police, arrested two people at Cascade Ponds in Banff National Park on Monday. Eldon James Junior Saddleback of Maskwacis (mask-wah-CHEEZ') and Anthony Kelsey Lee Omeasoo of Wetaskiwin (weh-TAH'-ska-WIN') are both charged with attempted murder with a firearm and a number of other offences. Both Saddleback and Omeasoo have been remanded in custody with their next court appearance set for Sept. 29 in Wetaskiwin.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday questioned the Central government for not taking any decision so far on the mercy petition of Balwant Singh Rajoana, who was awarded the death sentence for the assassination of the then Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh in 1995. A bench of Justices Chief Justice UU Lalit, Justices S Ravindra Bhat and PS Narasimha was irked over the Centre not taking any clear stand on the mercy petition despite being given time by the court to do so, and now seeking adjournment in the case. Earlier in May, the apex court had directed the Centre to decide within two months mercy p

A motorist in southern Alberta has been convicted of distracted driving for the 13th time. The 40-year-old man appeared in Airdrie provincial court Tuesday after receiving a mandatory summons and was fined $2,000 in addition to the $300 ticket. Distracted driving became illegal in the province on Sept. 1, 2011, and the man received his first ticket for distracted driving on the same day. Since then, he has paid a total of $7,655 in fines for the 13 offences. Sgt. Darrin Turnbull says the RCMP wanted to bring attention to this case to make Albertans aware of how much these penalties can add up.

Vancouver Police are investigating the city’s eighth pedestrian fatality of the year, which occurred around 12:30 p.m. today on West Georgia Street. Police believe a woman was struck by a charter bus near West Georgia and Cardero Street.Officers from VPD’s Collision Investigation Unit are gathering evidence from the scene and speaking to witnesses to determine how the collision occurred.

A Coquitlam man who is now in his late 70s has been convicted of 11 counts of sexual assault. The convictions were entered yesterday in BC Supreme Court in New Westminster after Raymond Gaglardi was charged in 2020. Coquitlam RCMP say the charges relate to historical sexual assaults of young men or teenage boys whose parents met Gaglardi between 1993 and 2007 at several Coquitlam-area churches and arranged for him to counsel their children. Gaglardi is expected to return to court in New Westminster on December 8th for a pre-sentence report.