Skip to Main content

14.56°^C Vancouver

News Entertainment Sports Videos Shows Podcast Contact Us

Sep 2, 2022 8:58 PM - The Canadian Press

Former Whitecaps women's coach to apologize in court for sex offences: Lawyer

Share On

A former coach of the Vancouver Whitecaps and Canadian national youth soccer teams is expected to make a public apology today in court for sex crimes.

Bob Birarda pleaded guilty in February to three counts of sexual assault and one count of sexual touching for offences involving four soccer players who were under 18 at the time of the incidents between 1988 and 2008.

His lawyer Bill Smart told a sentencing hearing in provincial court in North Vancouver that the former coach, who was dismissed by both the Whitecaps and Canada Soccer in 2008, will make a statement today.

Smart is arguing Birarda should face a total one-year sentence, consisting of eight months in jail and a four-month conditional sentence order, while the Crown has recommended two years less a day, a cumulative sentence for the offences, plus three years' probation.

Latest news

new-westminster-police-seize-multiple-weapons-during-sexual-exploitation-investigation

New Westminster police seize multiple weapons during sexual exploitation investigation

New Westminster police say an investigation into the alleged sexual exploitation of a youth led officers to seize multiple firearms and prohibited devices from a local residence. According to the New Westminster Police Department, the investigation began March 21 after a member of the public reported seeing an adult man behaving in what they believed was an inappropriate manner with a female youth in a public place. The witness provided police with a vehicle licence plate after the pair left the area. Officers later located the man and determined he had court-imposed conditions prohibiting him

abbotsford-police-seize-fentanyl-during-patrol-investigation-on-south-fraser-way

Abbotsford police seize fentanyl during patrol investigation on South Fraser Way

Abbotsford Police say a woman was arrested Wednesday afternoon after officers conducting proactive patrols observed suspected drug activity in the 32400 block of South Fraser Way. According to an Abbotsford Police Department release, patrol officers arrested a 48-year-old Abbotsford woman shortly before 3 p.m. on May 27 in connection with the investigation. Police said a search following the arrest resulted in the seizure of more than 100 grams of packaged drugs, including fentanyl, along with a small amount of cash. Investigators have not announced any charges as of publication time, and the

niagara-police-homicide-unit-investigating-womans-death-in-st-catharines

CanadaMay 29, 2026

Niagara police homicide unit investigating woman’s death in St. Catharines

Detectives with the Niagara Regional Police Service homicide unit are continuing to investigate the death of a 23-year-old woman in St. Catharines. According to Niagara Regional Police, uniform officers from 1 District responded to a residence near Lakeshore Road and Lake Street on Friday, May 15, after reports that two people were found without vital signs. Police said officers located 23-year-old Vidhi Kalpeshkumar Megha deceased inside the home. Investigators have not released further details about the circumstances surrounding the death. The victim’s family has been notified, police said

calgary-man-dies-after-being-struck-by-c-train-downtown

AlbertaMay 29, 2026

Calgary man dies after being struck by C-Train downtown

Calgary police say a man who was struck by a C-Train in downtown Calgary last week has died from his injuries. Police said the collision happened Thursday afternoon when a man in his 60s was walking in the downtown core and entered the path of an oncoming light-rail transit train. According to the Calgary Police Service, the man became pinned beneath the train and was taken to hospital in critical condition. Police confirmed this week that he later died. Investigators continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the collision. Police have not released the man’s identity and no further

trump-says-u-s-blockade-in-strait-of-hormuz-to-be-lifted

WorldMay 29, 2026

Trump says U.S. blockade in Strait of Hormuz to be lifted

U.S. President Donald Trump says a U.S. naval blockade affecting ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz will be lifted, following days of disruption in one of the world’s busiest oil transit routes. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said vessels delayed in the strait “may start the process of ‘heading home,’” adding that the blockade had been “amazing and unprecedented.” According to international energy agencies, roughly 20 per cent of global crude oil shipments move through the Strait of Hormuz during peacetime. The narrow waterway along Iran’s southern coast is considere

Related News

New Westminster police seize multiple weapons during sexual exploitation investigation

New Westminster police seize multiple weapons during sexual exploitation investigation

New Westminster police say an investigation into the alleged sexual exploitation of a youth led officers to seize multiple firearms and prohibited devices from a local residence. According to the New Westminster Police Department, the investigation began March 21 after a member of the public reported seeing an adult man behaving in what they believed was an inappropriate manner with a female youth in a public place. The witness provided police with a vehicle licence plate after the pair left the area. Officers later located the man and determined he had court-imposed conditions prohibiting him

Abbotsford police seize fentanyl during patrol investigation on South Fraser Way

Abbotsford police seize fentanyl during patrol investigation on South Fraser Way

Abbotsford Police say a woman was arrested Wednesday afternoon after officers conducting proactive patrols observed suspected drug activity in the 32400 block of South Fraser Way. According to an Abbotsford Police Department release, patrol officers arrested a 48-year-old Abbotsford woman shortly before 3 p.m. on May 27 in connection with the investigation. Police said a search following the arrest resulted in the seizure of more than 100 grams of packaged drugs, including fentanyl, along with a small amount of cash. Investigators have not announced any charges as of publication time, and the

B.C. Conservatives to choose new leader Saturday as party faces post-Rustad crossroads

B.C. Conservatives to choose new leader Saturday as party faces post-Rustad crossroads

The B.C. Conservatives are set to announce a new party leader on Saturday in Vancouver, concluding a six-month leadership race triggered by John Rustad’s resignation following internal disputes and caucus defections. The final candidates are former B.C. Liberal cabinet minister Iain Black, political commentator Caroline Elliott, former MP Kerry-Lynne Findlay, MLA Peter Milobar and entrepreneur Yuri Fulmer. The next leader will take over as Premier David Eby’s NDP government faces declining poll numbers, a development political analysts say could reshape British Columbia’s political lands

Legals

Journalism code of ethics

© 2021 AKASH Broadcasting Inc.

MANAGED BY STRATWIT

useful links

Accessibility Plan

BC Children's Hospital