21.62°C Vancouver

News

surrey-mayor-brenda-locke-slams-release-of-high-risk-offenders
BCSep 16, 2026

Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke Slams Release of High-Risk Offenders

Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke has expressed strong concern after two high-risk offenders were released into the city within just two days. Following a public warning issued by the Surrey Police Service, Locke said violent offenders such as Jonathan Muzichka and Skyler Pelletier should not be released to live in Surrey. She said Surrey is home to more than 700,000 people and allowing high-risk offenders to repeatedly settle in the community raises serious concerns about public safety. Locke said she supports rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders, but the responsibility of managing high-risk
poilievre-calls-on-carney-to-clarify-canada-eu-talks
BCSep 16, 2026

Poilievre Calls on Carney to Clarify Canada-EU Talks

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has called on Prime Minister Mark Carney to clarify discussions surrounding Canada’s potential associate membership, special alliance or any other proposed arrangement with the European Union. Poilievre said the Conservative Party’s position is clear: it fully supports Canada’s decades-old free trade relationship and NATO alliance with Europe, but strongly opposes imposing any European taxes, laws or open-border immigration policies on Canadians. He said Canada is an independent, sovereign country and that these principles cannot be compromised. Meanw
BCSep 16, 2026

North Island College Campus Attack Leaves Two Injured

An attack at North Island College’s Comox Valley campus in British Columbia has left two people injured. Police said they received multiple reports of an attack involving a sharp weapon inside a college residence building at around 12:53 a.m. Front-line officers who arrived at the scene found two young people injured and arrested a suspect after identifying him. Comox Valley RCMP Constable Monica Terragni said the suspect is a 21-year-old man from Burnaby who remains in custody. The two injured victims were taken to hospital and are reportedly in stable condition. Police said the motive behi
BCSep 16, 2026

Man Stabbed During Fight Outside Downtown Vancouver Gas Station

A man was stabbed during a fight outside a gas station in downtown Vancouver on Tuesday night, police said. According to police, officers were called to the Esso gas station near Davie Street and Burrard Street at around 8:45 p.m. after receiving reports of a fight involving several people. The altercation escalated, and one man allegedly stabbed another. Sgt. Adam Donaldson said both men involved in the incident were still at the scene when officers arrived. One of them was found injured and was taken to hospital. Police said the victim’s injuries were not life-threatening. The suspect was
BCSep 16, 2026

Harbour Air to Acquire Pacific Coastal Airlines, Expanding B.C. Network

Harbour Air is set to expand its network in British Columbia after announcing an agreement to acquire Pacific Coastal Airlines. Under the deal, both airlines will continue to operate under their own brands and maintain separate identities. However, their combined fleet will grow to 59 aircraft. The newly formed regional airline group will connect 25 communities across B.C., operating nearly 300 flights a day and providing passengers with improved connectivity. According to reports, the two airlines together employ around 900 people in British Columbia. The companies will also remain Canadian-o
BCSep 15, 2026

Surrey’s $310M Newton Community Centre Construction Officially Begins

Construction has officially begun on the new Newton Community Centre in Surrey, marking one of the largest investment projects in the city’s history. According to the City of Surrey, construction crews are currently removing the old structures and preparing and levelling the site. Mayor Brenda Locke said the 175,000-square-foot modern community hub will bring a major transformation to Newton by bringing recreation, cultural and library services together under one roof. The $310-million project near King George Boulevard will feature a 50-metre swimming pool, a leisure pool, two gymnasiums, a
high-risk-offender-jonathan-muzichka-set-for-release-surrey-police-issue-warning
BCSep 15, 2026

High-Risk Offender Jonathan Muzichka Set for Release, Surrey Police Issue Warning

Surrey police have issued a public warning as another high-risk offender, 49-year-old Jonathan Anders Muzichka, is set to be released. The Surrey Police Service said Tuesday that Muzichka has a history of violent attacks against people and property-related offences. He will be subject to several strict court-ordered conditions and will also be monitored through an ankle monitor. Police are urging the public to call 911 immediately if they see Muzichka violating any of his court conditions. The warning comes just a day after Surrey police issued a similar alert regarding the release of 26-year-
BCSep 15, 2026

77-Year-Old Man Dies in Suspected Homicide in Fort St. James

A 77-year-old man has died under suspicious circumstances in Fort St. James, B.C., with RCMP’s Major Crime Unit investigating the death as a possible homicide. Police said officers were called to a home in the 800-block of Spruce Road at around 2:40 a.m. Monday. They found the elderly man seriously injured at the scene and rushed him to hospital, where he later died despite medical efforts. The suspected attackers had fled before police arrived. RCMP Major Crime investigators have since taken over the case. Staff Sgt. Chris Clarke said the preliminary investigation indicates the incident was
BCSep 15, 2026

7 Vancouver Island Mayors Elected Unopposed Ahead of B.C. Municipal Elections

Seven mayors have already been elected unopposed in cities across Vancouver Island, nearly a month before general voting in British Columbia’s municipal elections. The municipalities include Sidney, Duncan, Lantzville, Cumberland, Comox, Port McNeill and Port Hardy. In each community, only one candidate filed a nomination for mayor, resulting in an automatic victory without a contested election. Political experts and local leaders say the trend may reflect today’s increasingly toxic political environment, personal attacks on social media and growing mental-health pressures. They believe th

Just In

CanadaSep 17, 2026

Canada Must Focus on Value-Added Products Instead of Raw Materials: EDC

Amid the federal government’s efforts to open up new markets, Export Development Canada (EDC) said in a report released Thursday that Canada needs to invest in processing raw materials domestically and turning them into higher-value products instead of exporting them in their raw form. EDC CEO Alison Nankivell said such investments could add nearly $100 billion to Canada’s GDP over the next decade. The report used yellow peas as an example. While exporting raw peas may generate about $30 per tonne, processing them into flour can raise the value to $300 per tonne. Turning them into products
16-arrested-in-abbotsford-retail-theft-operation-project-pumpkin-spice
BCSep 17, 2026

16 Arrested in Abbotsford Retail Theft Operation ‘Project Pumpkin Spice’

Abbotsford Police have arrested 16 people accused of shoplifting as part of Project Pumpkin Spice, a retail crime enforcement operation conducted on Sept. 11 as part of a nationwide campaign. According to police, 11 officers from the Abbotsford Police Department’s Street Outreach Response Team worked with 20 local businesses during the 10-hour operation. Sgt. Paul Walker said several of those arrested had previous criminal records and outstanding warrants. Police recovered more than $1,600 worth of stolen merchandise during the operation. A vehicle allegedly used in the offences was also sei
b-c-municipalities-urge-eby-to-hold-provincial-election-after-local-vote
BCSep 17, 2026

B.C. Municipalities Urge Eby to Hold Provincial Election After Local Vote

British Columbia’s political scene is heating up amid signals from Premier David Eby that an early provincial election could be called. Amid the uncertainty, Union of B.C. Municipalities president Cory Ramsay is calling for any potential mid-term provincial election to be held only after the municipal elections are completed. Ramsay noted that local elections are scheduled for Oct. 17, with campaigning beginning Sept. 19 across 188 communities. He warned that calling a provincial election during the municipal campaign could distract more than 3,500 local candidates and residents from key iss
police-take-major-action-in-burnaby-hospital-fire-case-after-six-year-investigation
BCSep 17, 2026

Police Take Major Action in Burnaby Hospital Fire Case After Six-Year Investigation

Police have charged a 29-year-old Alberta man in connection with a fire at Burnaby Hospital in 2020, following an investigation that lasted nearly six years. Burnaby RCMP said the B.C. Prosecution Service approved charges against Yu Yun Wang on September 8, including arson and endangering human life. The fire broke out on November 15, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, in the hospital’s mental health services wing. The blaze caused millions of dollars in damage, forced the emergency department to close and led to the evacuation of patients. Police said the suspect was identified in 2023 aft
AlbertaSep 17, 2026

Alberta Man Sentenced to 12 Years for Sexual Assaults on Vulnerable Women

An Alberta man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for a series of sexual assaults against vulnerable women at a rural property near Calgary. Richard Robert Mantha, 62, was convicted of six offences, including drugging one of his victims, in incidents that occurred between 2019 and 2023. He was also found guilty of uttering threats against another woman. The court heard that most of the victims worked in the sex trade. Justice Judith Shriar said Mantha showed “callous disrespect” when he laughed as one terrified victim fled his rural property, fearing for her life. Mantha received cre