Vancouver Rundown

The hunt continues for three grizzlies believed responsible for a brutal attack on a group, including elementary school students, in Bella Coola on Thursday. Three students and a teacher were injured when the bears attacked 11 people on a trail just outside the community. No decision has been made on what to do with the bears once they’re tracked down.

An instructor at Langara College who was fired after praising the pro-Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel two years ago has won her job back. An arbitrator has reinstated Natalie Knight and told the college she should be ‘made whole’ for the loss of compensation. Three weeks after the Oct. 7, 2023 assault, Knight told anti-Israeli demonstrators at the Vancouver Art Gallery the attacks were '“an amaz...

Ten people have been arrested by authorities in Canada and the U.S. in an effort to find and prosecute a former Olympic snowboarder turned alleged drug kingpin who grew up in Coquitlam. The FBI has placed Ryan Wedding on its Top 10 Most Wanted list saying the Canadian fugitive runs a violent, international drug ring. Wedding is hiding in Mexico - there’s a multimillion dollar reward for his captur...

Single Room Occupancy hotels on Granville Street are a failed experiment - that’s the word from the Hospitality Vancouver Association after a man was stabbed to death on Monday. The HVA says the so-called SROs are dangerous and unstable and the group is again calling for the 300 low cost rental units to be permanently closed. A man died in hospital after being stabbed on Granville at Helmcken - no...

The cash-strapped City of Vancouver is considering digital billboards at key locations to generate revenue. The proposed idea comes as Mayor Ken Sim promises a zero per cent property tax increase. Suggested locations for the largest billboards include the Oak Street and Ironworkers Memorial bridges, Southeast Marine Drive near Knight Street, Expo Boulevard and McGill Street. The City is seeking in...

David Eby has a been given a strong endorsement from his party to continue as leader of the NDP. Members who cast a ballot have voted over 82 per cent against holding a leadership review. The premier admits his party has to do a better job of supporting grassroots members. He also promises his party will always support collective bargaining. Eby used his appearance at the NDP’s convention to promi...

BCGEU members have voted 89 per cent in favour of ratifying their contract deal with the provincial government. The four year agreement ended a public service strike that lasted eight weeks. Workers will get a 12 per cent wage increase over the life of the deal as well as improvements to vision care and counselling benefits. The B.C. government remains in negotiations with nurses and teachers who...

Police now confirm it was an eight year old girl who fell to her death from a balcony in Vancouver’s Yaletown on Tuesday afternoon. It happened at the luxury high rise, known as the Arc, at about 2:30. The young girl died at the scene. Police are still trying to figure out the circumstances.

At least 19 birds have now died at an Okanagan sanctuary hit by Avian flu. Critteraid, which adopts birds, pets and farm animals, says those deaths include a rooster, ten chickens, ducks and other birds. Avian flu was first confirmed on Oct. 29 and the farm has been closed to the public ever since. The operators continue to cooperate with the CFIA, Interior Health and other authorities.

An animal rescue sanctuary in the Okanagan has been hit by Avian flu. Summerland-based Critteraid says its been facing one of the most heartbreaking experiences in its history that needs immediate action from regulatory authorities, Interior Health and epidemiologists. Details on the number of animals infected have not been released. Critteraid cares for birds, pets and other animals with 54 liste...

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s cull of hundreds of Ostriches on an eastern B.C. hobby farm has begun. Protesters and advocacy reporters, many bolstered by U.S. right-wing bloggers and podcasters, reported hearing gun shots early Thursday evening after the Supreme Court of Canada decided against reviewing lower court decisions that relied on experts and science. The cull was first ordered a...

Brace for more stormy weather. Coastal areas of the Lower Mainland, Sunshine Coast and Vancouver and Gulf Islands are expected to be hit with several bands of heavy rainfall and strong wind starting Thursday morning and continuing into the weekend. A rainfall warning is in effect for the North Shore, Port Moody and Coquitlam. A second system is expected to ramp up late Sunday night and into Monday...

Metro Vancouver plans to bolster its campsite roster to meet growing demand. Those with the regional district have put forth a proposal four three wilderness type campgrounds, a dozen group sites and four multi-type sites. Four of those in Aldergrove, Belcarra and Derby Reach would be suitable for tents, trailers or RVs. A report finds campsite occupancy rates have increased from 65 to 86 per cent...

A woman’s been rushed to hospital in critical condition following a Monday evening pedestrian collision in Surrey. Police say it happened at around 6:00 at the intersection of King George Boulevard and 40 Avenue. The driver remained at the scene to talk with police. Some vehicles have been slightly damaged but there are no other injuries.

Drivers are being warned to expect heavy snow on the Coquihalla Highway through Monday morning. DriveBC has issued an alert saying commercial trucker are now required to ‘chain up’ at Box Canyon. Numerous truckers struggled on steep hills of the highway on Sunday morning. The snow is expected to ease by Monday afternoon.

B.C.’s police watchdog has ordered a new investigation into a disgraced Vancouver Police detective. CTV reports the OPCC’s probe follows a complaint from a former sex trafficking survivor. The woman claims she was lured into a seedy world and made to perform sex acts for money. Jim Fisher has never been criminally charged in connection with the allegations. Fisher, who worked with sex trafficking...

Vancouver will not lower its voting age to 16. A motion to change the Vancouver Charter to lower the age from 18 to 16 has been soundly defeated. Councillor Pete Fry says he’s disappointed noting those who are 16 and 17 are increasingly engaged in civic issues and should be able to participate in city life. He says the lower voting age exists in some cities in numerous countries around the world.

Vancouver will not lower its voting age to 16. A motion to change the Vancouver Charter to lower the age from 18 to 16 has been soundly defeated. Councillor Pete Fry says he’s disappointed noting those who are 16 and 17 are increasingly engaged in civic issues and should be able to participate in city life. He says the lower voting age exists in some cities in numerous countries around the world.

ICBC says it will not increase insurance premiums for BC drivers until 2027. The crown insurance company says its finances don’t require any change for next year. That announcement, along with an NDP claim that its keeping rates low and affordable, comes despite many drivers paying more for the same coverage even though they have clean driving records and the same vehicle. ICBC says it plans to ex...

Government liquor stores have reopened but those in the food and beverage industry say it may be a while before B.C.’s booze supply is back to normal. The end of the BCGEU strike is a major step toward restocking but restaurants, bars and private liquor stores may have to wait for supply to catch up to demand. Some expect that could take between two and six months. The tentative deal for the publi...

B.C.’s massive public service strike may be over. The BCGEU has reached a tentative deal with the provincial government, ending labour action that started back on Sept. 2. The Professional Employees Association has also announced it will end its pickets and return to talks with the province. BCGEU members will now vote on a deal that gives them a 12 per cent wage hike over four years - mediator Vi...

Breaking News… Donald Trump says he’s ending all trade negotiations with Canada. The announcement on social media comes as the U.S. president expresses outrage over the Ontario government’s recent TV ads protesting U.S. tariffs. Those ads feature old clips of Ronald Regan speaking negatively about tariffs. Trump says the ad campaign is designed to interfere with the U.S. Supreme Court and other co...

John Rustad won’t quit. The BC Conservative leader is rejecting the demands of his party’s president and the management committee to step down in light of what they call an ‘unprecedented level of turmoil’ over the past year. Rustad has rejected a letter signed by the party’s management committee saying the 39-member caucus is in a good place. Rustad says he has the support of membership after a v...

A B.C. gangster who spent many years as a fugitive has now pleaded guilty to plotting to kill the Bacon brothers. UN gangster Conor D’Monte has pleaded guilty to conspiring to kill Red Scorpions Jonathan, Jared and Jamie Bacon more than 15 years ago. A date for sentencing has not yet been set - it’s expected the Crown will drop D’Monte’s first degree murder charge in the 2009 Langley shooting deat...

Another MLA has quit the BC Conservatives becoming the fifth to do so in less than a year. Penticton-Summerland MLA Amelia Boultbee says she’s leaving the caucus because John Rustad’s failed leadership needs to end. Boultbee says Rustad invited her to “get the fuck out” and she’s taking him up on the offer. Rustad accuses Boultbee of leaking caucus information to the media, suffering mental health...