Jane Skrypnek

Amanda Zhao was studying English in B.C. in 2002 when she was murdered. Her boyfriend at the time, Ang Li, was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to seven year in prison. (Submitted photo)

Convicted murderer seeks refugee status in New Zealand 20 years after killing woman in B.C.

Victim’s mother and Vancouver East MP calling on Canada to intervene

Amanda Zhao was studying English in B.C. in 2002 when she was murdered. Her boyfriend at the time, Ang Li, was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to seven year in prison. (Submitted photo)
An image taken Saturday (March 4) at the Cayoosh Pass near Pemberton shows an avalanche that came down and buried one skier. They were dug out by companions and airlifted out. (Avalanche Canada)

UPDATE: 2 skiers recovered alive from separate weekend avalanches near Pemberton

Both men suffered ‘multiple traumas,’ had to be airlifted out

An image taken Saturday (March 4) at the Cayoosh Pass near Pemberton shows an avalanche that came down and buried one skier. They were dug out by companions and airlifted out. (Avalanche Canada)
Chrissie John (ḥakaƛ) and her partner are committed to teaching their two young children their First Nations language as they grow up. The family is part of an increasing number of First Nations people in B.C. who are working to reclaim their mother tongues. (Submitted photo)

Taking back identity: New learners fight to keep First Nations languages in B.C. alive

Number of fluent speakers declining, but new learners on the rise

Chrissie John (ḥakaƛ) and her partner are committed to teaching their two young children their First Nations language as they grow up. The family is part of an increasing number of First Nations people in B.C. who are working to reclaim their mother tongues. (Submitted photo)
A rental sign is seen outside a building in Ottawa, Thursday, April 30, 2020. B.C.’s NDP government followed through on a long-promised renters’ rebate on Feb. 28, 2023, in its provincial budget. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Long-awaited renters’ rebate among credits promised in B.C.’s 2023 budget

Other increases coming for families, lower-income earners

A rental sign is seen outside a building in Ottawa, Thursday, April 30, 2020. B.C.’s NDP government followed through on a long-promised renters’ rebate on Feb. 28, 2023, in its provincial budget. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
A new 16-bed mental health evaluation and treatment facility has three double- and 10 single-bed rooms. Heidi Sanders, the Mirror

‘Quite remarkable’: B.C. commits close to $1 billion for mental health, addictions

Investment standout piece from $6.4-billion health-care spending promise

A new 16-bed mental health evaluation and treatment facility has three double- and 10 single-bed rooms. Heidi Sanders, the Mirror
B.C. is making prescription contraception free for everyone under MSP beginning April 1. (AccessBC)

B.C. to become 1st in Canada to give free prescription contraception by spring

Change to coincide with pharmacists gaining power to prescribe

B.C. is making prescription contraception free for everyone under MSP beginning April 1. (AccessBC)
Premier David Eby announced $500 million for BC Ferries on Sunday (Feb. 26). (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. investing $500M to electrify BC Ferries fleet, keep fares steady

Money to offset increasing costs of fuel, inflation in coming years

Premier David Eby announced $500 million for BC Ferries on Sunday (Feb. 26). (Black Press Media file photo)
Surgical instruments are used during an organ transplant surgery at a hospital in Washington on Tuesday, June 28, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Molly Riley

233 people – living and dead – donated organs in B.C. in 2022

527 people were still waiting for a life-saving transplant at the end of the year

Surgical instruments are used during an organ transplant surgery at a hospital in Washington on Tuesday, June 28, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Molly Riley
People walk past carnival game stands below a ferris wheel during the Pacific National Exhibition Fair, in Vancouver, on Thursday, September 1, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. introduces $30M fund to support festivals, events over next 2 years

One-time grants come as event organizers cite increased costs, supply chain issues, trouble hiring

People walk past carnival game stands below a ferris wheel during the Pacific National Exhibition Fair, in Vancouver, on Thursday, September 1, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
FILE - Police cars are seen parked outside Vancouver Police Department headquarters in Vancouver, on Saturday, January 9, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

No charges for Vancouver cops accused of obstructing probe into fellow officer

Officers’ colleague James Fisher was under investigation for sexual exploitation at the time

FILE - Police cars are seen parked outside Vancouver Police Department headquarters in Vancouver, on Saturday, January 9, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A photo provided by Avalanche Canada shows the area near Tatla Lake, B.C. where two skiers were killed in an avalanche Feb. 11. (Avalanche Canada)

2 backcountry skiers killed in avalanche in B.C.’s Chilcotin

Both were fully buried near Tatla Lake on Saturday, says Avalanche Canada

A photo provided by Avalanche Canada shows the area near Tatla Lake, B.C. where two skiers were killed in an avalanche Feb. 11. (Avalanche Canada)
Jamiel Moore-Williams, 24, is shown in this undated handout photo. On Feb. 13, 2022, one of the officers who. arrested Moore-Williams, Const. Jarrod Sidhu, was convicted of assault with a weapon. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, Donna Turko

Vancouver police officer guilty of assault with weapon in arrest of jaywalking man

24-year-old was crossing Granville Street in 2018 when multiple officers took him down

Jamiel Moore-Williams, 24, is shown in this undated handout photo. On Feb. 13, 2022, one of the officers who. arrested Moore-Williams, Const. Jarrod Sidhu, was convicted of assault with a weapon. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, Donna Turko
Police cars are seen parked outside Vancouver Police Department headquarters in Vancouver, on Saturday, January 9, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

No charges for Vancouver officer believed to have broken suspect’s jaw during arrest

Police watchdog recommended criminal charges, but prosecution service declined them

Police cars are seen parked outside Vancouver Police Department headquarters in Vancouver, on Saturday, January 9, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Makhan “Mak” Parhar speaks at an anti-mask rally outside the Vancouver Art Gallery on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020. Parhar died on Nov. 4, 2021 from a fatal combination of illicit drugs, according to the BC Coroners’ Service. (Flat Earth Focker/YouTube.com screenshot)

B.C. COVID-denier Mak Parhar died from toxic drugs, not virus: coroner

Parhar was infected with virus when he died, but it wasn’t what killed him

Makhan “Mak” Parhar speaks at an anti-mask rally outside the Vancouver Art Gallery on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020. Parhar died on Nov. 4, 2021 from a fatal combination of illicit drugs, according to the BC Coroners’ Service. (Flat Earth Focker/YouTube.com screenshot)
Eggs are sorted at an egg farm in West Lincoln, Ont., on Monday, March 7, 2016. Canada’s supply managed egg industry is quietly emerging as a boon for Canadian consumers as other countries grapple with massive egg shortages, rationing and spiking prices. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Peter Power

‘Made-in-Canada system’ keeps egg supply stable. But is it also keeping prices high?

Egg prices climbed 16.5 per cent from December 2021 to 2022

Eggs are sorted at an egg farm in West Lincoln, Ont., on Monday, March 7, 2016. Canada’s supply managed egg industry is quietly emerging as a boon for Canadian consumers as other countries grapple with massive egg shortages, rationing and spiking prices. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Peter Power
People working in long-term care have filed the most approved COVID-19 compensation claims to WorkSafeBC since 2020, out of all the different work sectors in B.C. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

More than 15,000 COVID compensation claims approved for B.C. workers since 2020

Vast majority of claims to WorkSafeBC come from health-care sector

People working in long-term care have filed the most approved COVID-19 compensation claims to WorkSafeBC since 2020, out of all the different work sectors in B.C. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The B.C. Supreme Court dismissed a lawsuit Feb. 1, which was filed by a Vancouver woman who sought damages over a 2017 dog biting incident. (Black Press Media file photo)

Pet owners not responsible for dinner party dog bite, B.C. Supreme Court rules

Guest sought damages after being bit on forehead and cheek by friends’ rescue dog

The B.C. Supreme Court dismissed a lawsuit Feb. 1, which was filed by a Vancouver woman who sought damages over a 2017 dog biting incident. (Black Press Media file photo)
The B.C. Supreme Court ruled a Sunshine Coast man is not guilty of aggravated assault because he was ‘effectively asleep’ when he stabbed his wife in the back in 2017. (Credit: Pixabay)

Justice says B.C. man who stabbed wife in back was ‘effectively asleep’, not guilty

Man was taking huge dosages of prescription pills to control pain, insomnia

The B.C. Supreme Court ruled a Sunshine Coast man is not guilty of aggravated assault because he was ‘effectively asleep’ when he stabbed his wife in the back in 2017. (Credit: Pixabay)
Two Prince George RCMP officers have been charged with manslaughter and another three have been charged with obstructing justice, in connection with the fatal arrest of an Indigenous man in 2017. (Black Press Media file photo)

Manslaughter charges laid against 2 Prince George RCMP officers in death of Indigenous man

3 others accused of attempting to obstruct justice

Two Prince George RCMP officers have been charged with manslaughter and another three have been charged with obstructing justice, in connection with the fatal arrest of an Indigenous man in 2017. (Black Press Media file photo)
A B.C. woman who had to have her heart replaced is sharing her story to draw attention to the impact heart disease has on women in Canada. In this file photo a surgery is performed in the operating room in Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children on November 30, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

B.C. woman whose heart stopped at 19 looks to spread awareness to others

Heart disease and strokes are the leading cause of premature death for women, but few know it

A B.C. woman who had to have her heart replaced is sharing her story to draw attention to the impact heart disease has on women in Canada. In this file photo a surgery is performed in the operating room in Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children on November 30, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young