Jane Skrypnek

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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)
A Florida Department of Health employee processes a urine sample on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016. In B.C., residents in eight communities have the option of ordering their own lab requisitions for STI tests, instead of having to wait for a doctor’s appointment. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

B.C. online STI testing service seeing 3,000 people a month

Get Checked Online allows people to order their own lab requisitions, instead of waiting on a doctor

A Florida Department of Health employee processes a urine sample on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016. In B.C., residents in eight communities have the option of ordering their own lab requisitions for STI tests, instead of having to wait for a doctor’s appointment. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Homewood Ravensview in North Saanich is one of four facilities on Vancouver Island opening new publicly-funded substance-use treatment beds. In total, 40 new beds are available. (Courtesy of Homewood Ravensview)

40 new publicly-funded treatment beds now available on Vancouver Island

Beds opened in North Saanich, Cobble Hill, Nanaimo and Port Alberni

Homewood Ravensview in North Saanich is one of four facilities on Vancouver Island opening new publicly-funded substance-use treatment beds. In total, 40 new beds are available. (Courtesy of Homewood Ravensview)
Sara Johnston was 39 years old when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in April 2021. Here, she celebrates the completion of her eighth and final round of chemotherapy. (Photo courtesy of Sara Johnston)

Diagnosed at 39, B.C. breast cancer survivor pushes for lower screening age

Had she waited until she was 40, Sara Johnston’s cancer likely would have been Stage 4

Sara Johnston was 39 years old when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in April 2021. Here, she celebrates the completion of her eighth and final round of chemotherapy. (Photo courtesy of Sara Johnston)
A young boy had a close encounter with a black bear in a residential Port Coquitlam neighbourhood earlier this month. (Screenshot/YouTube/jrmynet)

Black bear comes within feet of B.C. child before getting scared off

WildSafeBC emphasizing importance of having zero wildlife attractants in residential neighbourhoods

A young boy had a close encounter with a black bear in a residential Port Coquitlam neighbourhood earlier this month. (Screenshot/YouTube/jrmynet)
Health-care workers talk with a man in a COVID-19 infected ward at Idola Saint-Jean long-term care home in Laval, Que., Friday, February 25, 2022. In B.C., a September 2023 survey of health care assistants shows half of them are considering quitting in the next two years. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Half of B.C.’s care aides say they’ll likely quit amid shortages: survey

Close to 1,500 care aide job vacancies listed in B.C. as of the end of June, according to StatsCan

Health-care workers talk with a man in a COVID-19 infected ward at Idola Saint-Jean long-term care home in Laval, Que., Friday, February 25, 2022. In B.C., a September 2023 survey of health care assistants shows half of them are considering quitting in the next two years. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
B.C. sexual assault survivors now have access to up to three hours of free legal advice, thanks to a new service from the Community Legal Assistance Society. (Pixabay)

B.C. sexual assault survivors can receive free legal advice with new service

Reported sexual assaults reached highest number in 25 years in 2021, according to Statistics Canada

B.C. sexual assault survivors now have access to up to three hours of free legal advice, thanks to a new service from the Community Legal Assistance Society. (Pixabay)
A screenshot taken from a pedestrian safety video by Richmond RCMP shows a woman putting in ear buds before pulling up the hood of her hoodie. In the posting of the video, the detachment said pedestrian safety is “a two-way street,” drawing online ire. (Screenshot/@RichmondRCMP/X)

B.C. irked after RCMP video partially blames pedestrians for car crashes

People quick to call out apparent false equivalency online

A screenshot taken from a pedestrian safety video by Richmond RCMP shows a woman putting in ear buds before pulling up the hood of her hoodie. In the posting of the video, the detachment said pedestrian safety is “a two-way street,” drawing online ire. (Screenshot/@RichmondRCMP/X)
Premier David Eby announced Monday (Oct. 16), that flushing toilets will soon be a requirement on B.C. construction sites with 25 workers or more. (Pixabay)

Flush toilets to be required on large B.C. construction sites

Announcement from Eby comes in midst of campaign from construction union

Premier David Eby announced Monday (Oct. 16), that flushing toilets will soon be a requirement on B.C. construction sites with 25 workers or more. (Pixabay)
An elevator button panel is shown in Toronto on Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Kat McCallum

B.C. elevator workers threaten strike as lockout notice looms

Union says contract negotiations fell apart Thursday when employers offered a lower wage than hoped

An elevator button panel is shown in Toronto on Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Kat McCallum
Unionized B.C. construction workers are calling for flushing toilets at work sites, saying portable ones are disgusting and dehumanizing. (Unsplash)

B.C. construction workers demanding flushing toilets at work sites

Tradespeople say porta-potties often so filthy they won’t go to washroom all day

Unionized B.C. construction workers are calling for flushing toilets at work sites, saying portable ones are disgusting and dehumanizing. (Unsplash)
Ben Mizrachi, 22, was killed while attending a music festival in southern Israel on Saturday, Oct. 7. He is one of more than 260 festival-goers believed to be killed by Hamas militants. (Ben Mizrachi/ Facebook)

B.C. man among hundreds killed at music festival in Israel

Attack on festival part of sudden weekend strike by Hamas militants

Ben Mizrachi, 22, was killed while attending a music festival in southern Israel on Saturday, Oct. 7. He is one of more than 260 festival-goers believed to be killed by Hamas militants. (Ben Mizrachi/ Facebook)
A doll sits in a neonatal intensive care incubator during a tour showcasing the technology used in the William Osler Health Centre, on Oct. 11, 2007. A 2023 Canadian study shows infants under the age of six months make up almost 50 per cent of all RSV-related pediatric hospital admissions. THE CANADIAN PRESS/J.P. Moczulski

New medicines promising for fighting RSV in infants, say B.C. researchers

Recent study shows respiratory illness continues to target children under 6 months the most

A doll sits in a neonatal intensive care incubator during a tour showcasing the technology used in the William Osler Health Centre, on Oct. 11, 2007. A 2023 Canadian study shows infants under the age of six months make up almost 50 per cent of all RSV-related pediatric hospital admissions. THE CANADIAN PRESS/J.P. Moczulski
Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users (VANDU) board member Martin Steward speaks in MacLean Park in Vancouver on Oct. 4. The group says new provincial restrictions on public drug consumption will have deadly effects on the community. (Jane Skrypnek/Black Press Media)

B.C. drug users group says new consumption rules stigmatizing them further

Province introduced restrictions last month, promises further public drug use legislation soon

Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users (VANDU) board member Martin Steward speaks in MacLean Park in Vancouver on Oct. 4. The group says new provincial restrictions on public drug consumption will have deadly effects on the community. (Jane Skrypnek/Black Press Media)
The Squamish Nation has filed a request to the BC Geographical Names Office to change the name of Mount Garibaldi. (Unsplash/Ashwini Chaudhary)

Squamish Nation requests return to traditional name for B.C. mountain peak

Mount Garibaldi known as Nch’ḵay̓ prior to colonization

The Squamish Nation has filed a request to the BC Geographical Names Office to change the name of Mount Garibaldi. (Unsplash/Ashwini Chaudhary)
Conservative Party of BC leader John Rustad speaks at a meet-and-greet in Vernon on Friday, July 7, 2023. Rustad is being criticized for making a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation that compared gender education to residential schools. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. Conservative leader compares gender education to residential schools

Rustad criticized for pushing parental rights movement on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Conservative Party of BC leader John Rustad speaks at a meet-and-greet in Vernon on Friday, July 7, 2023. Rustad is being criticized for making a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation that compared gender education to residential schools. (Black Press Media file photo)
The Peace Tower is pictured on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on January 31, 2023. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has yet to issue mandate letters for his cabinet ministers, two months after announcing an overhaul to his front bench. Last Thursday, Defence Minister Bill Blair said he hadn’t received a new mandate letter and is acting on commitments assigned to his predecessor in December 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Federal ministers still lack mandate letters, 2 months after major shuffle

30 ministers in updated roles or brand-new postings since end of July

The Peace Tower is pictured on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on January 31, 2023. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has yet to issue mandate letters for his cabinet ministers, two months after announcing an overhaul to his front bench. Last Thursday, Defence Minister Bill Blair said he hadn’t received a new mandate letter and is acting on commitments assigned to his predecessor in December 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
A registered nurse pulls on an N-95 mask in a COVID Acute Care Unit in Seattle, Washington. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Masking returning to B.C. hospitals, clinics as respiratory illnesses rise

COVID-19, influenza vaccines to begin rolling out in early October

A registered nurse pulls on an N-95 mask in a COVID Acute Care Unit in Seattle, Washington. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
B.C’s Health Minister Adrian Dix speaks at a health care announcement at Surrey Memorial Hospital on Wednesday, June 7, 2023. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. says $20 million will reduce travel costs for cancer patients

New funds especially important for patients in rural, remote areas, health minister says

B.C’s Health Minister Adrian Dix speaks at a health care announcement at Surrey Memorial Hospital on Wednesday, June 7, 2023. (Black Press Media file photo)
A now closed fish farm within B.C.’s Discovery Islands region. (Photo courtesy Sheri Beaulieu/Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance)

123 First Nations renew call to close B.C. salmon farms as DFO weakens promise

Recent federal documents appear to walk back 2019 commitment to fully phase out open net fish farms

A now closed fish farm within B.C.’s Discovery Islands region. (Photo courtesy Sheri Beaulieu/Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance)