British Columbia

In this May 13, 2022 file photo, MLA Kelli Paddon speaks during the ribbon cutting ceremony of the new Primary Care Centre in Chilliwack. On Dec. 10, 2023, the Parliamentary Secretary for Gender Equity presented B.C.’s action plan on gender-based violence. (Jenna Hauck/ Black Press Media)

B.C. releases action plan on gender-based violence, backed by $62M from feds

3-year plan promises to reduce waitlists on existing services, invest more in Indigenous-led solutions

 

Conservative Party of BC Leader John Rustad at a town hall on Dec. 5, 2023. (John Rustad/X)

Kelowna MLA condemns ‘third world crime’ comment by B.C. Conservative leader

Renee Merrifield calls John Rustad’s comment ‘despicable’

 

The ‘Light Up the Province’ initiative put on by BC Highway Patrol took 222 impaired drivers off the streets on Saturday, Dec. 2. (Jordy Cunningham/Capital News)

222 impaired drivers taken off B.C. streets in 1 night

‘Light Up The Province’ initiative stopped 55,000 vehicles on Dec. 2

 

Parliamentary secretary for gender equity Kelli Paddon (left) and Victoria-Beacon Hill MLA Grace Lore (right) speak at a candlelight memorial Wednesday (Dec. 6) at the B.C. legislature. The event was held to commemorate the 14 women killed during the Montreal massacre. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)

Victoria honours women murdered in Montreal massacre

The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women is Dec. 6

Parliamentary secretary for gender equity Kelli Paddon (left) and Victoria-Beacon Hill MLA Grace Lore (right) speak at a candlelight memorial Wednesday (Dec. 6) at the B.C. legislature. The event was held to commemorate the 14 women killed during the Montreal massacre. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)
Cougars are the focus of some research taking place in the Chilcotin to look at large predator-prey dynamics. This cougar was photographed in the Williams Lake area, near a home by a resident, not as part of the study. (Jim Hilton photo)

Prowling B.C.’s Chilcotin: researcher tracks cougar/caribou relationship

Senior wildlife biologist has followed fascination for large predators from Ireland to the Cariboo

Cougars are the focus of some research taking place in the Chilcotin to look at large predator-prey dynamics. This cougar was photographed in the Williams Lake area, near a home by a resident, not as part of the study. (Jim Hilton photo)
A physician and addictions specialist says being equipped to administer naloxone is one way Canadians can play an active part in responding to the opioid epidemic. A Naloxone anti-overdose kit is held in downtown Vancouver, Friday, Feb. 10, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Naloxone: What to know about the overdose-reversing drug, free across Canada

Since 2016, Health Canada has recorded 38,514 opioid-related overdose deaths

A physician and addictions specialist says being equipped to administer naloxone is one way Canadians can play an active part in responding to the opioid epidemic. A Naloxone anti-overdose kit is held in downtown Vancouver, Friday, Feb. 10, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
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
Morgan Jackson, 17, and her team secured the bronze medal at the 2023 Nationals Women’s U18 Hockey Championship held in Dawson Creek on Nov. 11. (Photo courtesy of Morgan Jackson)

Islander named top forward at women’s U18 national hockey championship

Courtenay’s Morgan Jackson finished as the second-highest scorer on her way to a bronze medal

Morgan Jackson, 17, and her team secured the bronze medal at the 2023 Nationals Women’s U18 Hockey Championship held in Dawson Creek on Nov. 11. (Photo courtesy of Morgan Jackson)
According to Stats Can 69.5 per cent of children under the age of 15 experience some form of physical or non-physical abuse. (Pexels photo)

Greater Victoria housing insecurity helps lead to child abuse: UVic expert

B.C. has the highest rate of child abuse in Canada, according to Stats Canada

According to Stats Can 69.5 per cent of children under the age of 15 experience some form of physical or non-physical abuse. (Pexels photo)
FILE - In this image taken from San Francisco Police Department body-camera video, the husband of former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Paul Pelosi, right, fights for control of a hammer with his assailant David DePape during a brutal attack in the couple’s San Francisco home on Oct. 28, 2022. Opening statements are scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 8, 2023, in the federal trial of the man accused of breaking into former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s San Francisco home seeking to kidnap her and bludgeoning her husband with a hammer. (San Francisco Police Department via AP, File)

B.C. man who attacked Nancy Pelosi’s husband convicted of federal assault

David DePape, who grew up in B.C., broke into former U.S. House Speaker’s home in October 2022

FILE - In this image taken from San Francisco Police Department body-camera video, the husband of former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Paul Pelosi, right, fights for control of a hammer with his assailant David DePape during a brutal attack in the couple’s San Francisco home on Oct. 28, 2022. Opening statements are scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 8, 2023, in the federal trial of the man accused of breaking into former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s San Francisco home seeking to kidnap her and bludgeoning her husband with a hammer. (San Francisco Police Department via AP, File)
Calls for a last-minute moratorium are intensifying as the start of Pacific herring season in the Straight of Georgia (SoG) approaches on Nov.24. (Courtesy of Ian McAllister)

Two sides to a coin: Opening of the herring fisheries in BC

‘We should have a say, as Indigenous leaders, on what happens in our territory’: Chief Chickite

Calls for a last-minute moratorium are intensifying as the start of Pacific herring season in the Straight of Georgia (SoG) approaches on Nov.24. (Courtesy of Ian McAllister)
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
The Federation of BC Writers is offering a writing intensive, from Nov. 20-25.

Federation of BC Writers offering a series of writing workshops

After receiving enthusiastic feedback for its first online writing intensive in July,…

  • Nov 12, 2023
The Federation of BC Writers is offering a writing intensive, from Nov. 20-25.
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. high school teacher Douglas Andrew Barnim has been suspended for one month for unprofessional communication with a recent graduate student. (Pixabay)

B.C. high school teacher suspended over communication with recent grad

Teacher said they would be friends for life, gave student dating advice

B.C. high school teacher Douglas Andrew Barnim has been suspended for one month for unprofessional communication with a recent graduate student. (Pixabay)
Marcia Turner (left) and Erin Brillon, accompanied by her husband, Andy Everson, have each been awarded the distinction of Business of the Year for their respective ventures at the 2023 Indigenous Business Awards. (Photo courtesy of BC Achievement Foundation).

Two Comox Valley businesses earn Indigenous Business Awards

Comox’s Marcia Turner, Courtenay’s Erin Brillon among those honoured

Marcia Turner (left) and Erin Brillon, accompanied by her husband, Andy Everson, have each been awarded the distinction of Business of the Year for their respective ventures at the 2023 Indigenous Business Awards. (Photo courtesy of BC Achievement Foundation).
B.C. Premier David Eby’s government tabled legislation Monday, Oct. 23 that would make it easier for foreign-trained professionals in several fields to enter the provincial workforce. (Wolfgang Depner/Black Press Media)

B.C. tables legislation to attract more foreign-trained workers

Proposed legislation drops ‘unfair and unnecessary’ work requirements, minister says

B.C. Premier David Eby’s government tabled legislation Monday, Oct. 23 that would make it easier for foreign-trained professionals in several fields to enter the provincial workforce. (Wolfgang Depner/Black Press Media)
Snow is seen on the Coquihalla Highway in this March 31, 2023 file photo from DriveBC. Environment Canada has issued a snowfall alert for the Okanagan Connector beginning on Monday afternoon (Oct. 23). (DriveBC)

First snowfall of the season to hit parts of B.C.

Up to 10 centimetres expected along mountain passes, Environment Canada says

Snow is seen on the Coquihalla Highway in this March 31, 2023 file photo from DriveBC. Environment Canada has issued a snowfall alert for the Okanagan Connector beginning on Monday afternoon (Oct. 23). (DriveBC)
Old growth Douglas fir trees stand along the Salmon river Trail on the Mt. Hood National Forest outside Zigzag, Oregon. (AP Photo / Rick Bowmer)

Poor data hinders B.C. old-growth logging deferrals, advocates say

Outdated information leaving ancient forests open to logging

Old growth Douglas fir trees stand along the Salmon river Trail on the Mt. Hood National Forest outside Zigzag, Oregon. (AP Photo / Rick Bowmer)
One of this year’s grand prizes includes a 2,329 sq. ft. Crown Isle residence with 3 bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms, and two garages. (Photo supplied by SOMA Public Relations)

The 2023 Millionaire Lottery features Courtenay home as a grand prize option

Proceeds raised will go to the Vancouver General Hospital and UBC Hospital Foundation

One of this year’s grand prizes includes a 2,329 sq. ft. Crown Isle residence with 3 bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms, and two garages. (Photo supplied by SOMA Public Relations)