Jane Skrypnek

Video captured near Foster Avenue and North Road in Coquitlam shows a construction site retaining wall cracking open and spilling dirt into the foundation on Nov. 29, 2023. (@ashsharma75/X)

VIDEO: Retaining wall collapses at under-construction B.C. highrise

No injuries reported and cause under investigation

Video captured near Foster Avenue and North Road in Coquitlam shows a construction site retaining wall cracking open and spilling dirt into the foundation on Nov. 29, 2023. (@ashsharma75/X)
B.C. Human Rights Commissioner Kasari Govender speaks in Vancouver, on Tuesday, March 7, 2023. On Nov. 30, 2023 she announced an inquiry into involuntary detainment under the Adult Guardianship Act. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. health agencies ordered to release data on forcibly detained adults

Human rights commissioner says inquiry will examine use of Adult Guardianship Act on vulnerable adults

B.C. Human Rights Commissioner Kasari Govender speaks in Vancouver, on Tuesday, March 7, 2023. On Nov. 30, 2023 she announced an inquiry into involuntary detainment under the Adult Guardianship Act. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Michael Pickup appears at the legislature in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017. Pickup, now British Columbia’s auditor general, says the provincial government had three accounting misstatements in its 2022/23 summary financial statement. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

B.C.’s latest financial statement under scrutiny by auditor-general

Michael Pickup says B.C. has failed to meet Canadian accounting standards for last 16 years

Michael Pickup appears at the legislature in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017. Pickup, now British Columbia’s auditor general, says the provincial government had three accounting misstatements in its 2022/23 summary financial statement. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan
North Shore Rescue members spent almost nine hours searching for and rescuing a hiker off of Pump Peak on Sunday, November 27, 2023. (North Shore Rescue/Facebook)

Hiker rescued off snowy B.C. peak after 9-hour overnight effort

Man fell down multiple 5-metre cliffbands and had no cell phone to call for help, SAR says

North Shore Rescue members spent almost nine hours searching for and rescuing a hiker off of Pump Peak on Sunday, November 27, 2023. (North Shore Rescue/Facebook)
Prescription pills containing oxycodone and acetaminophen are shown in this June 20, 2012 photo. The British Columbia government goes up against dozens of health care and pharmaceutical companies in court today in a bid get certification for a class-action lawsuit over the costs of the opioid crisis. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graeme Roy

B.C. opioid class action suit seeks certification in court today

Hearing expected to last a month, success would clear path to civil trial against drug firms

Prescription pills containing oxycodone and acetaminophen are shown in this June 20, 2012 photo. The British Columbia government goes up against dozens of health care and pharmaceutical companies in court today in a bid get certification for a class-action lawsuit over the costs of the opioid crisis. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graeme Roy
Sockeye salmon spawning in a clear groundwater channel. Location is in the Tulsequah subwatershed within the Taku watershed, B.C. (Credit: Jonathan Moore)

As glaciers retreat, mining claims threaten future B.C. salmon habitats: study

SFU researchers say environmental policies need to be more future-thinking as climate change progresses

Sockeye salmon spawning in a clear groundwater channel. Location is in the Tulsequah subwatershed within the Taku watershed, B.C. (Credit: Jonathan Moore)
The Law Society of B.C. tribunal hearing panel disbarred Richmond lawyer Hong Guo, in a decision issued on Nov. 17, 2023. It determined Guo’s long history of professional misconduct made her ‘ungovernable.’ (Unsplash)

B.C. lawyer disbarred following decade-long history of misconduct

Hong Guo is ‘ungovernable,’ according to Law Society of B.C. panel

The Law Society of B.C. tribunal hearing panel disbarred Richmond lawyer Hong Guo, in a decision issued on Nov. 17, 2023. It determined Guo’s long history of professional misconduct made her ‘ungovernable.’ (Unsplash)
Employees at an A&W in Kamloops have unionized. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Kamloops A&W workers unionize, a first in Canada: organizers

Union organizer says employees feeling mistreated, ignored by management

Employees at an A&W in Kamloops have unionized. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
North Shore Rescue members used a helicopter and night vision goggles to help hoist a lost hiker off of a steep incline near Squamish on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023. (North Shore Rescue)

Hiker rescued near Squamish after making 911 call moments before phone died

Man would have become ‘very hypothermic’ had he been stuck overnight, says North Shore Rescue

North Shore Rescue members used a helicopter and night vision goggles to help hoist a lost hiker off of a steep incline near Squamish on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023. (North Shore Rescue)
The B.C. government is closing the Prince George Youth Custody Centre as of the end of March 2024. Youth there will be transferred to the province’s only remaining youth custody centre, in Burnaby. (BC Corrections)

B.C. to have just 1 youth custody centre after Prince George site closes

Minister of Children says closure as a result of steady decline in incarcerated young offenders

The B.C. government is closing the Prince George Youth Custody Centre as of the end of March 2024. Youth there will be transferred to the province’s only remaining youth custody centre, in Burnaby. (BC Corrections)
A new database of emerging “designer drugs” is allowing B.C. labs to make more educated decisions about what clinical tests to invest in and how to confirm which drugs are currently circulating. (Mireille Raad/Unsplash)

Emerging ‘designer drugs’ can be ID’d faster in B.C. with new urinalysis method

Researchers say identification of drugs key for harm reduction

A new database of emerging “designer drugs” is allowing B.C. labs to make more educated decisions about what clinical tests to invest in and how to confirm which drugs are currently circulating. (Mireille Raad/Unsplash)
Moms Stop the Harm advocates and supporters gather in Victoria on April 14, 2022 to mark the sixth anniversary of the toxic drug death public health emergency. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

‘Unconstitutional’: Harm reduction nurses suing B.C. over public drug use ban

Nurses association says new restrictions are putting drug user’s lives at further risk

Moms Stop the Harm advocates and supporters gather in Victoria on April 14, 2022 to mark the sixth anniversary of the toxic drug death public health emergency. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Paramedics debrief after responding to a drug overdose in Vancouver on Wednesday, June 23, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

New paramedic staffing models aim to up service in rural and remote B.C.

BCEHS says it will add 271 full-time positions to support new models rolling out in 60 communities

Paramedics debrief after responding to a drug overdose in Vancouver on Wednesday, June 23, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
UBCIC President Grand Chief Stewart Phillip speaks in Vancover on Nov. 7, 2023, as one of 550 signatories of a report calling on B.C. to take greater action on climate change. (Jane Skrypnek/Black Press Media)

B.C. failing to treat climate change like an emergency, says action group

Report says B.C. making ‘minor progress’ in some areas, failing in others

UBCIC President Grand Chief Stewart Phillip speaks in Vancover on Nov. 7, 2023, as one of 550 signatories of a report calling on B.C. to take greater action on climate change. (Jane Skrypnek/Black Press Media)
B.C. Human Rights Commissioner Kasari Govender speaks in Vancouver, on March 7, 2023. On Nov. 6, 2023 she released a statement calling on the province to take action on hate, amid a rise in anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Action needed to combat rising anti-Semitism, Islamophobia in B.C.: advocate

Human Rights Commissioner says anti-hate recommendations she made 1 year ago have yet to be enacted

B.C. Human Rights Commissioner Kasari Govender speaks in Vancouver, on March 7, 2023. On Nov. 6, 2023 she released a statement calling on the province to take action on hate, amid a rise in anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
North Shore SAR rescued a hiker off a cliffside near Mount Fromme late on Saturday afternoon (Nov. 5), after the man followed a Google Maps trail that doesn’t exist. Google removed the trail off its maps app on Nov. 6, 2023. (North Shore Search and Rescue)

Hiker rescued off B.C. cliffside after taking non-existent Google Maps trail

North Shore SAR says no path exists from Mount Fromme to Kennedy Falls

North Shore SAR rescued a hiker off a cliffside near Mount Fromme late on Saturday afternoon (Nov. 5), after the man followed a Google Maps trail that doesn’t exist. Google removed the trail off its maps app on Nov. 6, 2023. (North Shore Search and Rescue)
A criminal investigation into the conduct of 19 B.C. municipal police officers at an undercover police training event in Vancouver in 2022 has been completed. The Ministry of Public Safety is not releasing the results publicly yet. (Black Press Media file photo)

Criminal investigation of B.C. police training event complete

Ministry of Public Safety reviewing findings, but not releasing them publicly yet

A criminal investigation into the conduct of 19 B.C. municipal police officers at an undercover police training event in Vancouver in 2022 has been completed. The Ministry of Public Safety is not releasing the results publicly yet. (Black Press Media file photo)
Andrew Leavens, front left, and Carl Gladue, right, carry an empty coffin during a march organized by the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users (VANDU) to mark International Overdose Awareness Day, in Vancouver, on Thursday, August 31, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

UPDATED: B.C. rejects experts call for non-prescription access to safer drug supply

Coroner’s death review panel says expanded safer supply fastest way to save lives, but B.C. says ‘no’

Andrew Leavens, front left, and Carl Gladue, right, carry an empty coffin during a march organized by the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users (VANDU) to mark International Overdose Awareness Day, in Vancouver, on Thursday, August 31, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
London Drugs President Clint Mahlman announced the creation of a new coalition aimed at addressing crime in B.C., speaking in Vancouver on Oct. 30, 2023. (Jane Skrypnek/Black Press Media)

‘Crisis point’: B.C. coalition calls for more government action on crime

Save Our Streets group says municipal, provincial and federal leaders need to act together

London Drugs President Clint Mahlman announced the creation of a new coalition aimed at addressing crime in B.C., speaking in Vancouver on Oct. 30, 2023. (Jane Skrypnek/Black Press Media)
A robotic hand with UBC-developed sensor skin on its fingertips is capable of grasping delicate items, such as a champagne flute, without breaking them. (UBC/Paul Joseph)

UBC-developed ‘skin’ giving prosthetics and robots a delicate touch

Sensor skin capable of grasping a champagne flute or egg without damaging them

A robotic hand with UBC-developed sensor skin on its fingertips is capable of grasping delicate items, such as a champagne flute, without breaking them. (UBC/Paul Joseph)