5 more COVID-19 related deaths in BC, total number rises to 48

The Alberta government says it will move ahead with 10 new school projects in Edmonton as part of efforts to address growing classroom shortages linked to rapid population growth. Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides announced the projects under the province’s 2026 budget. The announcement brings the total number of public school projects currently underway in Edmonton to 37. According to the Alberta Ministry of Education, the newly announced projects include eight new schools and two replacement schools. The facilities are planned primarily for fast-growing suburban areas of the city whe

Cranbrook RCMP say they are investigating a shooting that targeted a residence Sunday night in the city’s downtown area. Police said officers were called at about 9:22 p.m. on March 8 to a report of gunfire at a home in the 300 block of 3rd Avenue South. According to an RCMP news release, investigators located evidence consistent with gunshots and secured the area to allow forensic examination. No injuries were reported. Staff Sgt. Barry Graham of the Cranbrook RCMP said early indications suggest the incident was not random. “While the investigation is in its infancy, early indications are

The Surrey Police Service has launched a youth safety initiative aimed at helping students recognize and respond to risks such as online exploitation, substance use and unhealthy relationships. The program, called S.O.A.R. – Strength, Opportunity, Autonomy, Resilience – is an interactive presentation designed for students in Grades 6 to 10. Police say the initiative is being highlighted during Stop the Sexual Exploitation of Children and Youth Awareness Week, which runs from March 9 to 15. According to a Surrey Police Service news release, the program has reached more than 4,500 students s

A 44-year-old foreign national has been sentenced to four years in prison following a Canadian Border Services Agency investigation into firearms offences at a British Columbia port of entry. According to the Canadian Border Services Agency, Reuben Velasquez was sentenced on Feb. 3, 2026, in Williams Lake Provincial Court after being convicted of two offences under the Criminal Code: possession of a loaded, prohibited or restricted firearm without authorization or licence under section 95(1), and unauthorized possession of a firearm under section 91(1). The charges stem from an incident on Sep

A man is in custody after an ATM was stolen during a break and enter at a business in Abbotsford late Sunday night, according to the Abbotsford Police Department. Police say officers responded at about 9:09 p.m. to a report of a break-in at a business in the 36300 block of Auguston Parkway in the city’s McKee area. According to police, suspects had already fled by the time officers arrived. The business sustained damage during the incident and an ATM was reported stolen. At approximately 9:41 p.m., a resident contacted police to report a suspicious vehicle near Wells Gray Avenue and McKinley