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vancouver-island-community-without-water-after-barge-damages-underwater-line
BCJan 19, 2022

Vancouver Island community without water after barge damages underwater line

A First Nation on Vancouver Island has declared a state of emergency and banned the use of water for everything except flushing toilets after a barge severed a water supply line. A message posted by the District of Ucluelet says the underwater line in the inlet between Ucluelet and the Indigenous community of Hitacu was damaged Monday, leaving the community without water for showers, drinking, cooking or fire suppression. A statement from the Ucluelet First Nation says water is being delivered to the roughly 275 affected residents and trucks have been filling the community's water tower to pr
bars-and-other-b-c-businesses-affected-by-pandemic-closures-to-receive-more-help
BCJan 19, 2022

Bars and other B.C. businesses affected by pandemic closures to receive more help

More financial help is on the way for British Columbia businesses forced to stay closed for at least another month as the province tries to contain the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19. A statement from the Ministry of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation says businesses including event venues, bars, nightclubs and lounges that don't serve full meals are eligible for grants of up to $20,000, based on staffing levels. The funds, which double the amount available to those businesses, can be claimed through the provincial COVID-19 Closure Relief Grant. Businesses ordered by the provin
inflation-in-b-c-climbed-three-basis-points-as-inflation-in-canada-hits-4-8
BCJan 19, 2022

Inflation in B.C. climbed three basis points as inflation in Canada hits 4.8%

Statistics Canada confirms the cost of living in Canada just keeps climbing, as the national inflation rate hit 4.8 per cent last month, the highest in two decades. Analysts say the December setting was one-tenth of a point above November's with food, housing and gasoline among the reasons for the higher costs. Inflation in BC climbed three basis points to 3.9 per cent in December, while Vancouver's rate leaped more than half a per cent to 3.8 per cent and the cost of living in Victoria edged up to 3.4 per cent last month from 3.2 in November. An announcement is planned next week by the Bank
over-200-afghan-refugees-safely-reach-vancouver
BCJan 19, 2022

Over 200 Afghan refugees safely reach Vancouver

Just over 200 Afghan refugees are now safe in Vancouver after arriving on a charter plane from Pakistan last night. Federal officials say 209 people were on the flight, most of them workers and their families who assisted the Canadian government in Afghanistan in the months and years before the Taliban took power in August. The group is the largest so far to arrive in B-C and it's expected that all but about 50 will stay in Vancouver, while the rest will join family in other parts of the country. Immigration Minister Sean Fraser says more than seven-thousand refugees have now reached safety i
trudeau-calls-russian-aggression-in-ukraine-absolutely-unacceptable
CanadaJan 19, 2022

Trudeau calls Russian aggression in Ukraine "absolutely unacceptable"

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirms that new Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly has met with leaders in Ukraine to assure them Canada stands with its international allies in defending the country. Trudeau calls Russian aggression in the region ``absolutely unacceptable.'' He says he's spoken to cabinet ministers and the chief of the defence staff about Canada's strategy in Ukraine. Joly says Canada has not decided whether it will help arm Ukraine's forces with military hardware after NATO ally Britain said it would supply anti-tank weapons.
BCJan 19, 2022

Two people injured after shooting in Surrey

Two people have been slightly injured in what police say was an early morning targeted shooting in Surrey. RCMP say it happened just after 3 a.m. inside a warming centre in the Whalley neighbourhood. The police statement says a 24 year old man who is known to them is believed to have been the target but a 57 year old woman was also hurt, and both were treated in hospital and released. Investigators say the attack is not believed to be linked to the Lower Mainland gang conflict.
two-schools-in-abbotsford-closed-until-monday-due-to-operational-limitations-related-to-the-spread-of-covid-19
BCJan 19, 2022

Two schools in Abbotsford closed until Monday due to "operational limitations" related to the spread of COVID-19

Two more schools have been added to the handful of elementary and secondary schools affected by functional closures linked to the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19. The Abbotsford School District says in a social media message that WJ Mouat Secondary and Yale Secondary will be closed until Monday due to ``operational limitations'' related to the spread of the virus. Lack of staff forced closure of Mission's Heritage Park Middle School on Friday but it's expected to reopen tomorrow; Armstrong Elementary was shuttered last week and planned to open yesterday but will now stay closed unti
pandemic-towards-its-peak-in-ontario-and-quebec
CanadaJan 19, 2022

Pandemic towards its peak in Ontario and Quebec

The fifth wave of the pandemic appears to be peaking in hard-hit provinces like Ontario and Quebec, but Saskatchewan is bracing for a wave of COVID-19 hospitalizations and workers off the job until the middle of next month. Alberta's hospitalization rates are rising to levels not seen since mid-October and P-E-I is bringing in restrictions on gathering limits and shutting down gyms and restaurant dining rooms. B-C provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry is going to let gyms and other fitness facilities re-open tomorrow -- a move she calls a cautious step in lifting COVID-19 restrictions.
CanadaJan 19, 2022

Inflation hit 4.8 mark once again after three decades

Inflation hit 4.8 per cent in December. The last time it was that high was December, 1991 when the number-one hits on the radio included Michael Bolton's ``When a Man Loves a Woman'' and Michael Jackson's ``Black or White.'' The main drivers for price growth were higher year-over-year prices for food, passenger vehicles and housing. Prices at the gas pumps shot up 33.3 per cent from December 2020, but that was lower than November's 43.6 per cent annual increase.

Just In

peel-police-announce-17-arrests-in-alleged-extortion-network-targeting-punjabi-business-owners
BCMay 25, 2026

Peel police announce 17 arrests in alleged extortion network targeting Punjabi business owners

Peel Regional Police say 17 people have been arrested following a joint investigation into an alleged extortion network that targeted members of the Punjabi business community in Ontario and British Columbia. Police announced the arrests during a Monday press conference, describing the investigation as a coordinated operation involving Peel Regional Police, Surrey Police Service, the Canada Border Services Agency and the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation. According to police, investigators identified a criminal network known as the “Brothers Keepers” gang, which officers allege was link
surrey-home-targeted-in-second-shooting-in-six-weeks-police-investigating-possible-extortion-link
BCMay 25, 2026

Surrey home targeted in second shooting in six weeks, police investigating possible extortion link

A home near 94 Avenue and 127 Street in Surrey was struck by gunfire early Sunday morning in what police say may be connected to an ongoing extortion investigation. According to Surrey Police Service, officers responded to reports of shots fired at about 1:40 a.m. Residents were inside the home at the time of the shooting, but no injuries were reported. Police said the same property had previously been targeted in a shooting on April 13. Following that incident, investigators arrested 27-year-old Jaskaran Singh Saroe in connection with the case. The latest investigation remains in its early st
AlbertaMay 25, 2026

Dog owner showed “wanton disregard” in fatal Edmonton dog attack, judge says

An Edmonton judge says a dog owner convicted of criminal negligence causing death demonstrated a “wanton disregard” for the life of an 11-year-old boy who was fatally attacked by her dogs in 2024. Court heard that Kache Grist was attacked by two dogs belonging to Crystal MacDonald in April 2024 at an Edmonton home where the boy was visiting his father, who was living with MacDonald at the time. According to the court ruling, MacDonald testified she did not approve of the child staying at the home. The judge said there were several steps she could have taken to reduce the risk, including ke
langley-rcmp-investigating-fatal-single-vehicle-crash-on-48-avenue
BCMay 25, 2026

Langley RCMP investigating fatal single-vehicle crash on 48 Avenue

Langley RCMP say one person has died following a single-vehicle collision early Saturday in the Township of Langley. Police said officers responded at approximately 1:57 a.m. on May 24 to reports of a crash in the 20200 block of 48 Avenue. Emergency crews from the Township of Langley Fire Department, BC Emergency Health Services and Langley RCMP attended the scene. “Sadly, despite the rapid response and efforts of first responders, one individual was pronounced deceased at the scene,” Sgt. Zynal Sharoom said in a statement released Sunday. According to Langley RCMP, the circumstances surro
IndiaMay 25, 2026

Punjab civic elections Tuesday to cover 103 urban local bodies across state

Voting for Punjab’s urban local body elections will take place Tuesday across eight municipal corporations, 75 municipal councils and 20 nagar panchayats, according to the Punjab State Election Commission. The commission said 3,545,567 voters are eligible to cast ballots in the elections, which will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. A total of 7,555 candidates are contesting the polls across the state. According to information released by the commission, 1,613 candidates are contesting municipal corporation seats, while 5,142 candidates are in the fray for municipal councils and 800 candidates a