Vancouver Rundown

BC Conservative Leader John Rustad says his party’s troubled fundraising campaign has been impacted by the last federal election. Rustad tells the Vancouver Sun a lot of people are just tapped out. The Conservatives only managed to raise $350,000 from April to the end of June. That’s half of what the NDP raised during that time period. The Conservatives are currently involved in a leadership revie...

Some people forced from their properties due to the Wesley Ridge wildfire on Vancouver Island are now allowed back home. The partial downgrade of the evacuation order comes as crews make progress fighting the fire, which is about 540 hectares and burning 50 kilometres northwest of Nanaimo. Meanwhile, BC Wildfire crews will be surveying areas around the B.C. Interior Thursday after a new round of t...

Those attending one of B.C.’s most notable music festivals continue to be targeted by RCMP. Numbers released by the Mounties show 800 violation tickets were handed out to drivers during multiple road checks along the mountain passes leading to the Shambhala festival near Salmo in the West Kootenay. Another 83 people got drug-impairment charges. Almost half the tickets were for speeding but nine we...

Hundreds of people have now been forced to evacuate as the Wesley Ridge wildfire on Vancouver Island continues to grow. It’s now well-over 500 hectares, out-of-control, and continuing to expand. Heavy equipment, planes and helicopters, specialists and more than 160 crew have been brought in. The area includes Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park and spots next to Highway 4. Drivers are being warn...

Crews continue to contend with a growing number of wildfires around B.C. An out-of-control Vancouver Island fire has prompted an evacuation order for some properties on the north side of Cameron Lake. Highway 4 remains open between Nanaimo and Port Alberni. Meanwhile, the Bear Creek wildfire next to Harrison Lake has grown to nearly 100 hectares. Some forestry roads in the area are closed to campe...

Hot, dry weather seems to be a turning point as B.C.’s wildfire season ramps up. The wildfire south of Lytton has more than tripled in size to about 500 hectares. Three helicopters and 45 ground crew are working to contain the blaze which is about 10 kilometres south of the village. Evacuation alerts are in place for a few properties. Crews remain concerned about ash that has been falling in parts...

Hot, dry weather seems to be a turning point as B.C.’s wildfire season ramps up. The wildfire south of Lytton has more than tripled in size to about 500 hectares. Three helicopters and 45 ground crew are working to contain the blaze which is about 10 kilometres south of the village. Evacuation alerts are in place for a few properties. Crews remain concerned about ash that has been falling in parts...

Wildfire crews are on edge, concerned ash from a nearby fire could rain down on Lytton. A 200 hectare wildfire is burning south of Lytton as the village deals with dry conditions and temperatures nearing 40C. Evacuation alerts remain in place for properties on the west side of the Fraser River, across from Lytton. More than 60 wildfires are currently burning in B.C.

Heat warnings are posted for many B.C. areas outside of the south coast as temperatures are expected to soar above 30C for most of this week. Warnings are up for the Fraser Canyon, Cariboo, Okanagan Valley and West Kootenay. Some are bracing for temperatures as high as 37C. The Interior Health authority is advising the very old, very young, pregnant and homeless to be extra careful.

Three women have been arrested following a weekend stabbing at North Vancouver’s Lonsdale Quay. RCMP say the three were involved in a fight near the bus loop early Saturday morning. Two of the women in their 20s, along with another woman, suffered injuries ranging from minor to serious. Police say they all knew each other and there is no risk to the public.

The three miners trapped underground in northern B.C. are reported to have access to the natural flow of air according to the company. Drones have been assisting in rescue efforts at the Red Chris gold and copper mine near Dease Lake. The miners, employed by Hy-Tech Drilling, are in a refuge area that has enough food and water to supply 16 people for two days. Cave-ins trapped the miners on Tuesda...

Business leaders and politicians from Washington state are asking British Columbians to not forget about their friends south of the border. Senator Patty Murray says Canada isn’t just a trading partner, it’s an ally and neighbour. Murray says her state imports close to $18B worth of Canadian goods each year. Donald Trump is promising to impose a 35 per cent tariff on many Canadian goods starting A...

Business leaders and politicians from Washington state are asking British Columbians to not forget about their friends south of the border. Senator Patty Murray says Canada isn’t just a trading partner, it’s an ally and neighbour. Murray says her state imports close to $18B worth of Canadian goods each year. Donald Trump is promising to impose a 35 per cent tariff on many Canadian goods starting A...

Those going to bars, nightclubs and restaurants in downtown Vancouver will soon be able to drink until 4:00 a.m. City Council has unanimously voted to extend the hours for establishments in the downtown core that decide to opt-in. This means most bars will remain open after SkyTrain shuts down and all but a few buses end service. Vancouver Coast Health is opposed to the move noting alcohol consump...

Breaking news : The BC Wildfire Service has been notified of at least one new fire following a Monday evening thunderstorm in parts of the Lower Mainland. A blaze on Nicomen Mountain, east of Mission, was reported just after 10:00 p.m. Dozens of lightning strikes were recorded from Chilliwack through to Coquitlam.

Crews continue to fight a wildfire north of Harrison Hot Springs, on the east side of the lake. The fire broke out late Saturday - more than two dozen crew are now fighting the blaze. Two helicopters have been dropping water. The fire is believed to be human caused. Meanwhile, wildfire crews have gained the upper hand on a small fire burning in the Fraser Canyon between Hope and Boston Bar. The Al...

David Eby’s NDP government has finally backed down and will reinstate funding to cover an extremely expensive drug for a little girl who is dying of a rare disease. Ten-year-old Charleigh Pollock’s Brineura infusions cost close to $33,000 a dose - and the province will reverse its decision to end coverage following outrage from politicians, medical professionals and the general public. The Langfor...

A former commercial pilot has been charged with terrorism offences in the hijacking of a single-engine plane from Victoria. Shaheer Cassim, a long-time environmental activist, is the man arrested by police after a plane from the Victoria Flying Club touched down at YVR. Air traffic around Vancouver International was halted for a short time Tuesday afternoon as the Cessna 172 Skyhawk circled the ai...

A security incident at YVR has been prompted by the theft of a single engine plane on Vancouver Island. Some flights had to be grounded and airspace had to be shutdown Tuesday afternoon after a Cessna 172S Skyhawk was taken from the Victoria Flying Club and flown to Vancouver. The suspect and lone occupant circled YVR for close to 20 minutes before landing the plane. He was promptly arrested. Ther...

Kelly Ellard’s day parole has been revoked. Reena Virk’s killer - who legally changed her name to Kerry Sim - has lost her day parole over positive drug tests and negative behaviour. She’s also been called an undue risk to society by the Parole Board. Ellard is serving a life sentence for second degree murder for her part in the savage 1997 killing of the 14-year-old in Victoria.

Dozens of properties, campsites and a popular golf course are included in a wildfire evacuation east of Princeton. The still-small August Lake wildfire is about 2 kilometres from the town and burning out of control. The fire, which broke out Saturday afternoon, is thought to be human caused. Meanwhile, BC Wildfire crews have been dealing with several other new fires that started over the weekend i...

B.C. now has over a hundred confirmed cases of the measles including 18 in the two health authorities that cover the Lower Mainland. The majority of cases are in those who are not fully vaccinated. Health experts continue to express concerns that summer events and travel will lead to a rapid expansion of measles. The provincial government is advising people to contact their family doctor or call 8...

The B.C. government should mandate risk assessments for all public events - that is the key recommendation from the inquiry into the Lapu-Lapu Day attack. The Commission of Inquiry into the deadly Filipino street festival also calls for improved training and clearer definitions of udicial roles. The Eby government has stated it accepts the intent of the recommendations but there is no word on any...

A man has been shot dead by RCMP at a home in Surrey’s Clayton Heights where a woman’s body was found inside. It happened Monday evening when officers responded to a possible domestic violence call on 66A Avenue, just east of 195 Street. Neighbours say they heard several bangs and then saw victims removed from the home. It’s believed the two were a couple in their 60s. While the Surrey Police Serv...

The federal government’s transportation committee is calling out the Eby government and demanding to know why the province has awarded a Chinese Communist Party owned, overseas shipyard the BC Ferries contract thanks to a $1B federal loan. The House of Commons committee has voted to investigate a deal which includes major financing from a federal Crown owned lender. The BC NDP government has been...