News

Lisa Lapointe says her third term as B.C.’s chief coroner – ending in February – will be her final after 13 years in the role and three decades in public service, she announced Dec. 6, 2023. Lapointe provides an update on illicit drug toxicity deaths in the province during a press conference at B.C. Legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Monday, February 24, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

B.C.’s chief coroner stepping down after 13 years in the role

Lisa Lapointe’s 3rd term ends in February 2024; Public Safety Ministry will start recruitment process

Health Minister Adrian Dix, here seen at the Surrey Memorial Hospital in Surrey in September, said his government’s plan to increase staffing in the health care system, has made differences in many areas, but added that more needs to be done. (Anna Burns/Surrey Now-Leader)

Minister says B.C. making significant progress toward good health

Dix touts multiple initiatives and hires, acknowledges more needed, particularly in cancer care

Half a million dollars worth of equipment has been recovered by Burnaby RCMP after a local business was broken into twice in less than 24 hours, police say. The break ins and theft happened Nov. 13 and 14, 2023. (Burnaby RCMP handout)

$500K in equipment recovered after B.C. business robbed twice in 24 hours

Burnaby RCMP say the equipment was found after 3 properties were searched in Mission

Paul Zwingé is one of many Langley seniors facing a move – and potentially higher rents – soon because of redevelopment. (Matthew Claxton/Langley Advance Times)

B.C. seniors facing housing crunch, risk homelessness

Langley’s Paul Zwingé is one of many seniors facing an enforced move soon

Paul Zwingé is one of many Langley seniors facing a move – and potentially higher rents – soon because of redevelopment. (Matthew Claxton/Langley Advance Times)
British Columbia is moving to reduce the export of raw logs harvested in the province by requiring that certain types of lumber from the Interior undergo manufacturing. Logs are seen in an aerial view stacked at the Interfor sawmill, in Grand Forks, B.C., on May 12, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. to restrict export of unprocessed Interior cedar and cypress

Raw log export of each species will be banned in February unless exemption obtained

British Columbia is moving to reduce the export of raw logs harvested in the province by requiring that certain types of lumber from the Interior undergo manufacturing. Logs are seen in an aerial view stacked at the Interfor sawmill, in Grand Forks, B.C., on May 12, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A sheen of pollution can be seen on the surface of Vancouver’s False Creek on Dec. 5. The Canadian Coast Guard says it’s trying to identify the source of the sheen and a diesel smell that was reported Monday evening. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ian Young

Oily sheen across Vancouver’s False Creek sparks Coast Guard investigation

Probe looking at possibility pollution came from land-based source during heavy rain

A sheen of pollution can be seen on the surface of Vancouver’s False Creek on Dec. 5. The Canadian Coast Guard says it’s trying to identify the source of the sheen and a diesel smell that was reported Monday evening. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ian Young
The BBC’s Planet Earth spent 2 summers filming humpback whales off the B.C. coast for an episode that appeared Dec. 3. Shannon Lough photo

Planet Earth dives deep into Vancouver Island whale poo

Legendary BBC program focuses on whale behaviour and their value as a carbon sink

The BBC’s Planet Earth spent 2 summers filming humpback whales off the B.C. coast for an episode that appeared Dec. 3. Shannon Lough photo
By mid October the road to Nitinat Lake was flooded by heavy rain (pictured), but the atmospheric river event in early December is heightening the need for a better land passage to the community. (Brian Tate photo)

Another atmospheric river renews calls for a real road into Nitinat Lake

Road floods multiple times every winter disrupting access to small, remote community

By mid October the road to Nitinat Lake was flooded by heavy rain (pictured), but the atmospheric river event in early December is heightening the need for a better land passage to the community. (Brian Tate photo)
Water, Land and Resource Stewardship Minister Nathan Cullen Nathan Cullen, North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice, Chief Marilyn Slett, Premier David Eby, Nanwakolas President Dallas Smith and Coast Funds CEO Eddy Adra were in Vancouver Tuesday to announce $60M in funding to support marine conservation in the Great Bear Sea. (Photo courtesy of Caitlin Thompson/Nanwakolas Council)

Indigenous-led conservation in B.C.’s Great Bear Sea gets $60 million injection

Provincial funds will be used for sustainable development off B.C.’s central and north coast

Water, Land and Resource Stewardship Minister Nathan Cullen Nathan Cullen, North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice, Chief Marilyn Slett, Premier David Eby, Nanwakolas President Dallas Smith and Coast Funds CEO Eddy Adra were in Vancouver Tuesday to announce $60M in funding to support marine conservation in the Great Bear Sea. (Photo courtesy of Caitlin Thompson/Nanwakolas Council)
A new report from Statistics Canada says child care was more affordable across the country in 2023, but more parents are having difficulty finding it. Children play at a daycare in Coquitlam, B.C., on Wednesday March 28, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Childcare cost less in 2023, but it was harder to find: Statistics Canada

Report shows full-time centre-based child care decreased from $663 per month to $508

A new report from Statistics Canada says child care was more affordable across the country in 2023, but more parents are having difficulty finding it. Children play at a daycare in Coquitlam, B.C., on Wednesday March 28, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A salmon conservation group is raising concerns about reported increases in wild fish deaths, primarily herring, in British Columbia’s open-net fish farms. An Atlantic salmon is seen during a Department of Fisheries and Oceans fish health audit at a fish farm near Campbell River, B.C., Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS /Jonathan Hayward
A salmon conservation group is raising concerns about reported increases in wild fish deaths, primarily herring, in British Columbia’s open-net fish farms. An Atlantic salmon is seen during a Department of Fisheries and Oceans fish health audit at a fish farm near Campbell River, B.C., Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS /Jonathan Hayward
Parts of southwestern British Columbia remain under a rainfall warning as a potent atmospheric river made landfall along the province’s coast Monday. A pedestrian uses an umbrella to shield themselves from the rain while walking in downtown Vancouver, on Tuesday, February 7, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Flood watches up, driving cautions out as atmospheric river flows over B.C.

Some warnings remain as system passes coast, winter storm conditions persist in the southeast

Parts of southwestern British Columbia remain under a rainfall warning as a potent atmospheric river made landfall along the province’s coast Monday. A pedestrian uses an umbrella to shield themselves from the rain while walking in downtown Vancouver, on Tuesday, February 7, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
This Feb. 10, 2022 photo shows gamblers playing slot machines at the Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City N.J. The University of British Columbia’s Centre for Gambling Research plans to look into the psychological characteristics linked to personal risk factors for addictive behaviours – among other major programs – with renewed funding from the province announced Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry)

B.C. commits $1.4M to continue research into gambling addictions, policies

UBC’s researchers have been looking into the links between gambling, video gaming and loot boxes

This Feb. 10, 2022 photo shows gamblers playing slot machines at the Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City N.J. The University of British Columbia’s Centre for Gambling Research plans to look into the psychological characteristics linked to personal risk factors for addictive behaviours – among other major programs – with renewed funding from the province announced Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry)
The British Columbia government says it’s making progress on a $1 billion, multi-year plan to attract more health-care workers to the province. Health Minister Adrian Dix looks on during a press conference in Victoria, on Nov. 9. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

B.C. more than doubles number of foreign nurse registrations this year

578 internationally educated nurses became fully registered in the province in 2023

The British Columbia government says it’s making progress on a $1 billion, multi-year plan to attract more health-care workers to the province. Health Minister Adrian Dix looks on during a press conference in Victoria, on Nov. 9. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
B.C.’s Crown prosecutors are suffering high levels of burnout, according to a recent survey by the association representing them. (Pixabay)

More than half of B.C. Crown prosecutors suffering burnout: survey

Large caseloads, dimishing resources are compounding, says B.C. Crown Counsel Association president

B.C.’s Crown prosecutors are suffering high levels of burnout, according to a recent survey by the association representing them. (Pixabay)
Omar Peters was last seen by his family on Nov. 22 (Courtesy of West Shore RCMP)

West Shore RCMP continue to search for missing man

The family of Omar Peters is concerned for his well-being

Omar Peters was last seen by his family on Nov. 22 (Courtesy of West Shore RCMP)
The Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows School District has cancelled trips to Japan, Europe and New York because of the COVID-19 outbreak. (THE NEWS-files)

B.C. teacher’s artwork targeted by followers of far-right social media account

Teacher is now worried about their safety after being harassed and threatened

The Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows School District has cancelled trips to Japan, Europe and New York because of the COVID-19 outbreak. (THE NEWS-files)
B.C. wine growers are forecasting significant losses, with crop yields cut by as much as 56 per cent, due to a severe cold snap that gripped the province in December 2022. (Pixabay.com)

B.C. MLA sounds alarm for wine industry struggles

Ben Stewart seeking fiscal support for grape crop replanting

B.C. wine growers are forecasting significant losses, with crop yields cut by as much as 56 per cent, due to a severe cold snap that gripped the province in December 2022. (Pixabay.com)
The burnt out window at the Haida Way Motor Inn in Port McNeill. (Derek Koel photo)

1 person dies in early morning structure fire in Port McNeill

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation

The burnt out window at the Haida Way Motor Inn in Port McNeill. (Derek Koel photo)
FILE PHOTO, Kent Reporter

Oak Bay police bust driver travelling 100 km/hr in a 40 km zone

The vehicle was impounded and the driver was issued a fine

FILE PHOTO, Kent Reporter