Teen brawl leaves 2 injured in Victoria An argument over a stolen cellphone appears to have triggered a brawl involving more than two dozen Victoria-area teenagers that resulted in two youths requiring hospital treatment early Saturday morning, police say. Officers were called to the grounds of Victoria High School about 12:30 a.m. 3/10/2010 5:55:53 AM
Tofino aims to ban the likes of Starbucks, Tim Hortons, McDonalds District of Tofino council wants to keep its unique charm by keeping out franchises like the golden arches, Starbucks and Tim Hortons. Council made a motion Tuesday directing staff to draft a bylaw that would ban franchises in Tofino. 3/9/2010 8:50:27 PM
Get ready to be spun dry on looming HST Another day, another attempt to soft-sell the HST to suspicious B.C. taxpayers. First up was last week's lame effort to convince people that revenue from the harmonized sales tax will be devoted to health-care spending. A lot of people think they were lied to by the government during the election campaign. (Ed: They were). 3/9/2010 6:35:25 PM
Impaired RCMP driver Monte Robinson skips court again When RCMP officer Cpl. Benjamin “Monty” Robinson finally appears in Surrey provincial court, it won’t just be lawyers and a judge on hand. A group of angry, leather-clad motorcyclists will be in the gallery, to vent over his alleged involvement in the death of one of their own. 3/9/2010 6:10:06 PM
Anglicans closing seven Vancouver Island churches The Anglican church is closing or consolidating 11 churches on southern Vancouver Island because of declining attendance and revenues. Seven of the churches will be closed outright and the properties sold or leased. 3/9/2010 11:44:34 AM
Police in Surrey, Chilliwack seeking help with two missing-women cases Police in Surrey and Chilliwack are asking for the public's help in locating two missing women in unrelated cases. Sonia Thomas, 41, of Surrey was last seen March 3. Meanwhile, police in the Chilliwack area are trying to track down 23-year-old Erica Dawson, a young woman with a "transient lifestyle." 3/9/2010 11:32:37 AM
Teen girl killed in Pitt Meadows car crash A 19-year-old Maple Ridge girl was killed in a car crash on the Lougheed Highway early Monday morning, marking the third fatality reported on the route in so many days. Ridge Meadows RCMP say alcohol and speed may have been factors when a car slammed into a power pole. 3/9/2010 6:12:51 AM
B.C. gangsters shun murder, turn to kidnappings, beatings British Columbia gangsters are turning away from murder, now solving their disputes with beatings, kidnappings and threats, the head of the Gang Task Force said. Supt. Dan Malo said the rampant out-of-control shootings of 2009 may seem like a distant memory, but gangsters remain a threat . 3/9/2010 5:21:50 AM
The continuing story of 'No Justice' in Air India trial The perjury trial of Air India bombing convict Inderjit Singh Reyat has been delayed due to the dismissal of the jury. The trial had been scheduled to begin this morning. A publication ban has been placed on the revealing the reasons. (Ed: And the bombers responsible continue to laugh at our 'justice system') 3/8/2010 6:40:57 PM
Copper wire theft leaves hundreds in Surrey without 911 service Rising copper prices have led to a resurgence in copper thefts in Metro Vancouver, with one this morning that left hundreds of Surrey residents without 911-service. Telus spokesman Shawn Hall said Telus was working to restore phone service to 400 customers and Internet service to another 500. 3/8/2010 4:53:29 PM
Mounties bust suspected smugglers' sailboat Heavily armed RCMP officers intercepted a sailboat at a Port Hardy dock Sunday, and are investigating a possible case of smuggling. The crew aboard the 40-foot sailboat - believed to be from Panama - failed to properly identify themselves as they were entering Canadian waters. 3/8/2010 2:11:44 PM
Fans snap up Paralympic tickets The momentum of the Olympic Games is pushing Paralympic tickets sales higher as Friday’s opening ceremony inches closer. The hottest Paralympic events are the closing ceremony, the Canadian sledge hockey games and the gold medal sledge hockey game, which are all sold out. 3/8/2010 1:38:28 PM
Scaled-down Paralympics security benefits spectators Officials say spectators at the Vancouver Paralympic Games won't have to deal with the kind of heavy security and lineups. Only 750 RCMP officers, 500 Canadian Armed Forces personnel and a handful of private security screeners will be needed for the 10-day Paralympics. 3/8/2010 7:47:44 AM
Iraqi expats cast their votes in B.C. Iraqi expatriates living in British Columbia were given the chance to participate in a landmark election that took place in their home country over the weekend, which saw violence erupt at polling stations and dozens killed. Thirty-two people were killed by the time polls closed on Sunday night. 3/8/2010 7:04:05 AM
Female bus driver assaulted in Maple Ridge An attack on a female bus driver in Maple Ridge Friday night has other drivers calling for action. "Our understanding is she was gripped around the neck," spokesman Derek Zabel said. "She had marks on her neck, and the person tried to pull the operator out of the seat by the neck." 3/8/2010 7:01:45 AM
Disgraced Thow shows no remorse, upset he must submit DNA A B.C. provincial court judge has tossed out a plea bargain and instead handed down a stiffer nine-year sentence to notorious fraudster Ian Thow. With double credit for the year he’s been in jail awaiting trial, Thow is now sentenced to seven years, with eligibility for full parole in only 24 months. 3/8/2010 6:03:45 AM
Royal BC Museum faces $491,000 deficit The Royal B.C. Museum will end one of its worst financial years this month, after slumping attendance, government cuts and lacklustre response to an expensive British exhibit pushed the organization into a rare deficit. As a Crown corporation, the museum is not allowed to run a deficit but received special permission to do that this year. 3/8/2010 5:59:49 AM
Update: Dead body found behind Port Alberni church Police have identified the man found dead behind a Port Alberni Church on Thursday but aren’t saying who he is just yet, Staff Sgt. Lee Omilusik said. A passerby who noticed something out of the ordinary found the body at 11 a.m. in the wooded area behind the Gateway Community Church. 3/7/2010 7:04:48 AM
RCMP: Two killed in crash on Lougheed Highway Ridge Meadows RCMP are investigating the cause of a motorcycle-involved crash that killed two people on Lougheed Highway Saturday afternoon. The crash happened at around 2 p.m. when a motorcycle heading west toward Kennedy Road slammed into the drivers-side door of a pickup truck. 3/6/2010 5:33:39 PM
Where the heck did winter go? It's still more than two weeks away from the official start of spring, but Mount Seymour already has spring skiing conditions. "Now that it's warm out, we are competing with other spring sports," said Jonathan Mosley, Seymour's ski and snowboard school director. 3/6/2010 7:45:14 AM
B.C. woman blames Toyota for terrifying crash A B.C. woman is one of at least 156 British Columbians who have joined a class action lawsuit against Toyota, claiming faulty design. Port Coquitlam resident Shirley MacDonald, 76, wants compensation after her 2004 Toyota Echo suddenly accelerated when she was out for a drive last summer. 3/6/2010 5:50:40 AM
B.C. transit police release video of Taser incidents Metro Vancouver's Transit Police Service on Friday released video of nine incidents in which its officers deployed Tasers. The release came in response to a CBC freedom of information request. CBC originally requested videos of 10 incidents from 2007 and 2008 in which transit police used stun guns. 3/6/2010 5:43:55 AM
Vancouver resident sues police for mistaken beating A Vancouver resident mistakenly beaten by police at his home earlier this year has filed a lawsuit against the city, two officers and the municipality of Delta, B.C. Yao Wei Wu alleges he was the victim of "assault and battery" as well as "wrongful arrest" and "false imprisonment." 3/6/2010 4:51:13 AM
B.C.'s drink-driving laws to be toughened up B.C.'s solicitor general says the province will move to get more drunks off the road with legislation that includes immediate sanctions. Kash Heed would not discuss details. (Ed: Hypocrisy. One of Campbell's MLA's (pictured) was charged with Impaired driving during the Olympics. It's a money grab.) 3/6/2010 4:38:36 AM
Shipwrecked American arrested as he leaves B.C. hospital A shipwrecked American sailor has been arrested and detained for being in Canada illegally, RCMP say. The man, identified in news reports as 56-year-old Keith Carver, was rescued by a helicopter pilot Wayne Goodridge who spotted him waving his arms on a rocky outcropping. 3/5/2010 8:05:20 PM
Vancouver girls' deaths a cautionary tale, devastated parents say The grief-stricken parents of 17-year-old Martha Jackson Hernandez are desperate for answers about their daughter's death. "It's a nightmare. It's every parent's worst nightmare," said stepmother Connie Hernandez. Martha died Tuesday morning after she was rushed to hospital from a house in Richmond. 3/5/2010 3:31:10 PM
Friends buy Surrey dad with 'terminal' throat cancer another chance In July, cancer patient Rick Sidoni sat down with his two sons and told them he had eight months to live. At Christmas, he told them the cancer was gone. "Those were sad tears, these were happy ones," says Sidoni. "My boys were so brave through all of this. I'm so proud of them." 3/5/2010 2:56:32 PM
Public hearing for B.C. cop who beat up paper carrier B.C.'s Police Complaint Commissioner has ordered a public hearing into the conduct of a West Vancouver constable convicted of assaulting a newspaper delivery man while off-duty. The allegations against Const. Griffin Gillan constitute a "significant breach of the public trust." 3/5/2010 1:24:23 PM
Kamloops: Decision expected for man who set mom, dog on fire Sentencing is expected today for a 52-year-old B.C. man convicted of burning his elderly mother to death. Clearwater resident Parker Matthias is expected to appear in B.C. Supreme Court in Kamloops this morning. Matthias was originally charged with second degree murder. 3/5/2010 1:22:24 PM
B.C. government shouldn't be taxing by stealth When is a tax grab not a tax grab? When it’s taxation by stealth, that’s when. When you get gouged with inflated rates charged by a government monopoly. Buried in the fine print of Tuesday’s budget was the Liberals’ stealthy new plan to shake you down for hundreds of millions of dollars in new revenue. 3/5/2010 12:16:04 PM
Shipwrecked sailor ate lichen to survive Vancouver Island wilderness A shipwrecked American sailor was plucked off the rugged shores of the west coast of Vancouver Island Wednesday ending a five-day wilderness ordeal eating nothing but lichen. Keith Carver, 56, of Tucson, Ariz., said he doesn’t think he would have lasted much more than one more day. 3/5/2010 5:53:13 AM
Party drug blamed for teens' deaths Comments Friends of two Metro Vancouver teenagers who died within hours of each other early Tuesday blame the popular recreational drug ecstasy for their deaths. Sixteen-year-old Kayla Lalonde of Vancouver died in hospital after she was found lying on Rumble Street in south Burnaby just before 1 a.m. 3/5/2010 4:53:02 AM
BC Government taking $778 million from ICBC surplus The B.C. provincial government will reap the benefits of an estimated $778 million in surplus income from the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia in the next three years, money that some critics say should go back into drivers' pockets. 3/5/2010 4:47:05 AM
16 charges laid in B.C. Health Ministry probe A former assistant deputy minister, his adviser and a manager are facing a total of 16 criminal charges following a lengthy investigation into contracting practices at B.C.'s Ministry of Health. The charges were laid against Ronald Danderfer, Dr. Jonathan Burns and James Roy Taylor. 3/4/2010 3:06:28 PM
Gelato shop sues governments, VANOC over disruptions The owner of a popular gelato shop located a stone's throw from Vancouver's athletes' village is suing Olympic organizers and three levels of government for disrupting his business during the international sporting event and with pre-Games road construction. 3/4/2010 12:36:30 PM
Friends identify two teen girls whose suspicious deaths are linked Friends identified on a Facebook memorial site two teen girls whose deaths are being linked to alcohol, drugs or a deadly mix of both. According to the page, the victims are Martha Jackson Hernandez and Kayla LaLonde. 3/4/2010 12:25:43 PM
Crooked investment adviser Ian Thow gets 9 years in jail Former Victoria investment adviser Ian Thow has been sentenced to nine years for 20 counts of fraud totalling $8 million. Thow will spend seven years in prison, getting double time off for the year he’s already served behind bars. But it was a tougher sentence than most were expecting. 3/4/2010 12:10:55 PM
Investigators believe missing Squamish teen Jodi Henrickson is dead Police are treating the 2009 disappearance of a 17-year-old girl on Bowen Island as a homicide. Jodi Henrickson went missing early on June 20, between 4 and 6:30 a.m., after leaving a house party. She was on the island for the weekend to visit friends. 3/4/2010 6:20:00 AM
Paralympic opening ceremony: More performers than at Olympics When the 2010 Paralympic opening ceremony takes place March 12 at B.C. Place Stadium, it will feature 5,000 performers, more than at either the Olympic opening or closing ceremonies. "We want to show the Paralympians that Canada's ready to welcome them like no other country has." 3/4/2010 4:50:45 AM
Province's raid on ICBC piggy bank 'disgusting' Motorists hoping for deeper cuts to ICBC auto insurance premiums may be out of luck. Victoria is raiding the public auto insurer's cash reserves, withdrawing $487 million this year to help reduce the provincial government deficit. "It's like stealing half a billion dollars from the motorists of B.C." 3/3/2010 5:20:32 PM
Campbell gov't rip-off thru BC Hydro, to go up 33% in 4 years BC Hydro rates could rise by 33 per cent over the next four years, according to figures released in Tuesday's provincial budget. The Crown corporation has already asked the B.C. Utilities Commission to approve an increase in electricity rates of more than nine per cent this year. 3/3/2010 5:10:43 PM
Crews find plane wreckage near Courtenay, B.C. The victim of a fatal plane crash on Vancouver Island Wednesday morning has been identified as a retired Courtenay man. Bert Smit built the two-seater Jodel wood aircraft himself, said Smit's friend and business partner Dan Annand. Annand said three witnesses saw a wing come off the plane in mid-flight. 3/3/2010 4:33:23 PM
Deaths of two Metro Vancouver teenage girls linked The woman who died after being found in the 4000 block of Rumble Street in Burnaby on Tuesday was actually a 16-year-old girl from Vancouver, Burnaby RCMP said Wednesday. Her death has been linked to the death of a 17-year-old girl in Richmond on the same day. The girls were friends. 3/3/2010 4:00:23 PM
Small plane crashes on Vancouver Island A four-seater aircraft crashed near Comox, B.C., on Wednesday morning, with witnesses saying it broke up mid-air. The wreckage has been spotted west of Courtenay. A Cormorant helicopter from Canadian Forces Base Comox was en route to the crash scene at Forbidden Plateau, outside Comox 3/3/2010 11:11:36 AM
Michael Smyth: The Liberals's HST spin gets faster and faster The HST doublecross inflicted on B.C. voters after last year's election triggered some of the lamest excuses and spin-jobs I've ever seen from government. Premier Gordon Campbell gave us one of the classics. 3/3/2010 7:06:47 AM
Report into Dziekanski death to be released this summer The inquiry into the death of a Polish immigrant after he was tasered by an RCMP officer will make its final report public this summer. The report in the controversial death, which was filmed by a bystander and made headlines across the world, will be made public in June or July. 3/3/2010 6:44:20 AM
Goverment still 'pretending' in case of Air India bombing Jury selection begins Wednesday for next week's perjury trial of Inderjit Singh Reyat, the only man convicted in the deadly bombing of Air India Flight 182 in 1985. Reyat served 20 years in prison for his part in two bombings. (Ed: This charade continues by a government embarassed by not convicting the real bombers.) 3/3/2010 5:03:02 AM
Critics blast B.C. health, education funding B.C. NDP Leader Carole James says the new B.C. budget shows the Liberals have no real strategy for economic recovery and have let families down. She's particularly upset over the promise to use money from the HST, Harmonized Sales Tax, to pay for increases in health-care spending. 3/3/2010 4:41:03 AM
Vancouver: Got the post-Olympic blues? You're not alone Feeling a little mopey? You're not alone. Turns out, a lot of us are feeling the post-Olympic blues. For two weeks, the downtown core was packed day and night with Games revellers decked out in red and white. Millions more tuned in to watch the Olympic coverage on CTV. 3/3/2010 4:30:53 AM
BC Hydro proposes 9.11-per-cent rate hike BC Hydro is proposing to increase electricity rates by a total of 9.11 per cent this year to upgrade its system, as well as increase the profit the provincial government collects from Hydro operations. Hydro will apply this month to the British Columbia Utilities Commission. 3/2/2010 5:15:43 PM
U.S. sports writer likens our patriotism to Nazi Germany Sure, Canadians seem multicultural, friendly and good-natured on the surface. But that's just what they want you to think. Dig a little deeper and you'll find that they're plotting to crush the world under their jackboots. Or snowshoes. Whatever. 3/2/2010 5:04:00 PM
Luongo brings gold medal on the road -- and shows it to Kesler Just in case Ryan Kesler never got a glance at it on Sunday, Roberto Luongo brought his gold medal along on this road trip. "I've shown it to Ryan already," Luongo said. Daniel Sedin, meanwhile, was bursting with pride. "If we wanted 20 Swedes [on the Canucks] we could easily get them, they couldn't say enough about the city." 3/2/2010 4:56:17 PM
Former Reform MP Chuck Strahl pension starts at $155,000. Former Reform MPs like Chuck Strahl are taking the political heat for the “gold-plated” pensions they are getting, but they were never the intended target. Chilliwack-Fraser Canyon MP Chuck Strahl, because of the cabinet posts he has held since 1993 and the length of his government service, would get the most, $155,733 a year. 3/2/2010 4:45:01 PM
B.C. Liberals budget offers few surprises B.C. Finance Minister Colin Hansen unveiled his post-Olympic budget in the legislature on Tuesday afternoon in Victoria, but there were few surprises contained in the economic blueprint intended to pull B.C. out of the recent economic recession. 3/2/2010 3:02:06 PM
Public asked to help ID woman found dead in Burnaby Mounties in Burnaby are asking the public to help identify a young woman who died in the city early Tuesday morning. She was found unconscious, bearing no obvious injuries. Police say two good Samaritans saw her lying in the road, called 911 and tried to provide assistance. 3/2/2010 12:48:53 PM
Sounds like more taxes coming from Campbell gov't The record-breaking warm weather that made a soggy mess of Cypress Mountain, forcing Olympic organizers to truck snow to the slopes, was caused by climate change, B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell says. And it has convinced Mr. Campbell he must accelerate his campaign against global warming. 3/2/2010 7:22:24 AM
Rescuers at fatal house-fire hailed as heroes Vancouver firefighters praised the “extremely heroic” actions of a next-door neighbour and three out-of-town Olympic visitors who rushed into a two-story burning house and led a 94-year-old woman to safety. Three of the four also tried to rescue the woman’s 38-year-old grand-daughter. 3/2/2010 5:06:26 AM
Abbotsford police officer charged with assault Const. Doug Lemna is accused of using excessive force on a mischief suspect in September 2009. Abbotsford Police Chief Constable Bob Rich ordered an investigation after "an issue with the use for force" used by Lemna was brought to the department's attention by a member reviewing the case file. 3/2/2010 4:34:24 AM
Surrey couple hits $25 million jackpot A husband and wife couple of postal workers from Surrey won $25 million, the biggest lottery prize in B.C. history in Friday’s Lotto Max. Derek and Frances Bird had just returned from a 30th anniversary cruise in Mexico when Frances bought the lottery ticket that will change their lives. 3/1/2010 5:12:09 PM
Disgraced B.C. investment consultant pleads guilty A B.C. investment consultant who lived a lavish lifestyle fuelled by money taken from friends, clients in fraudulent investment schemes pleaded guilty to multiple fraud counts Monday. Ian Thow pleaded guilty to at least 20 fraud charges totalling almost $8 million. 3/1/2010 2:37:21 PM
Proponents, critics seek 'clarity' from Victoria on clean power The province and BC Hydro have selectively and secretly rewritten in the recent month the terms of two electricity purchase deals that were accepted in a competitive bidding process in 2006, likely raising the ire of rival independent power producers. 3/1/2010 2:34:55 PM
Toyota accidents under investigation in B.C. B.C.'s auto insurance company is reviewing accident claims involving Toyota vehicles to see whether some of the problems that led to widespread recalls are to blame. 20 customers so far have contacted the insurer, saying they believe the Toyota defect was responsible. 3/1/2010 2:02:09 PM
What a great time we all have had Didn't it feel good, Vancouver? To wave the flag, to sing the anthem, to see your beautiful sunlit city swell with pride for all the world to see? Didn't it feel just great? Wasn't it wonderful to see that slumbering Canadian patriotism jolted wide awake? 3/1/2010 8:47:42 AM
B.C. tables reality budget amid post-Olympics afterglow The Olympics party is over and now it's time to get down to business for the B.C. government as it prepares to table the provincial budget. Tuesday's budget is forecast to contain a deficit of about $1.7 billion. 3/1/2010 8:29:24 AM
Thousands leave Vancouver as Games end With the 2010 Vancouver Olympics officially ending Sunday night, the region is ready for a mass exodus of athletes and spectators. At Vancouver International Airport, lineups started earlier in the day as thousands headed home from the Games. The airport expects record traffic on Monday, spokeswoman Rebecca Catley said. 3/1/2010 5:13:43 AM
Vancouver bids a reluctant farewell When Canada's Olympic athletes pranced and danced into the stadium last night, they mugged for the cameras and happily waved Canadian paraphernalia, with some sporting gold medals around their necks. Their relief at a job well done could not have been more evident. 3/1/2010 4:17:09 AM
$25 million lotto ticket sold in B.C. still unclaimed Someone in British Columbia is $25 million richer – but they may not even know it. One of two winning tickets for Friday night's $50 million Lotto Max draw was sold in Surrey but has yet to be claimed. Friday's draw sets a new record in British Columbia for the richest-ever jackpot won in the province. 2/28/2010 10:26:51 AM
Ice from jet slams into Richmond neighbourhood (Video) Huge chunks of ice seemingly materialized out of thin air and hurtled down on a Bridgeport residential neighbourhood Sunday around noon, narrowly missing two families. Sarj Sethi and his son Ty, 7, were working on his sports car when he heard a loud smash. 2/28/2010 7:36:29 AM
Municipalities fret over effect of HST on everything The cost of everything from parking your car to swimming in the local pool is about to increase as municipalities grapple with introduction of the harmonized sales tax in July. "It's something that municipalities are quite nervous about and working hard to investigate all of the impacts." 2/28/2010 5:24:03 AM
Kitimat taxes to rise by 20 per cent: council After three straight days of cost-cutting and budget deliberations, Kitimat municipal council voted to raise taxes by 19.99 per cent in 2010. District manager Trafford Hall recommended the instant budget-balancing tax hike, calling it "a simple, elegant way" to deal with the community's fiscal situation. 2/28/2010 5:21:53 AM
University of Victoria expedites degree for student dying in Vancouver hospital There are a lot of things Eva Markvoort wants to do before she dies. Despite her failing health, the University of Victoria student, who has cystic fibrosis, wanted to finish her bachelor’s degree. In the end, it proved physically impossible. 2/28/2010 4:39:05 AM
2 tickets (one in BC) win $50M lottery jackpot The holders of two tickets will be able to split the $50-million jackpot prize offered in Friday night's Lotto Max draw. Each ticket is worth $25 million. One ticket was bought in Quebec, and the other in British Columbia. The odds of anyone holding a winning ticket were one in 29 million. 2/27/2010 2:34:30 PM
Alcohol a factor in double fatal crash: RCMP Two young people are dead and three others are suffering from life-threatening injuries. Burnaby RCMP were called to the Grandview Highway onramp on Willingdon Avenue at 12:45 a.m. after a five-seat sedan carrying seven youths struck a light standard, flipped in the air and rolled over. 2/27/2010 2:31:45 PM
B.C. coast under tsunami warning after massive Chilean earthquake Coastal British Columbia was put under a tsunami advisory following the massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Chile. The quake struck Chile early Saturday, killing at least 122 people, knocking down homes and hospitals and triggering a tsunami that rolled menacingly across the Pacific. 2/27/2010 7:32:40 AM
Suspect sought in Coquitlam sex assault The Coquitlam RCMP is searching for a suspect after a 20-year-old woman was sexually assaulted late Wednesday night. Investigators say the attack happened in the 1600-block of Prairie Avenue near Shaughnessy Street at about 11:40 p.m. 2/27/2010 5:08:55 AM
Binners cash in on Olympic bottle bonanza Vancouver's binners are cashing in on an Olympic bottle bonanza. With all the partying -- and especially when Canadians celebrate a gold medal win -- binners say they're picking up more than twice the bottles and cans they usually do. 2/27/2010 5:07:48 AM
B.C. student dies after leaving Whistler jail Vancouver Police are investigating the sudden death of a 20-year-old University of British Columbia student who was found unconscious less than two days after he was released from jail in Whistler. While in the RCMP lockup he fell several times (?), but he was released Wednesday morning. 2/27/2010 4:37:31 AM
Avalanche warning expands, includes Whistler The Canadian Avalanche Centre issued a special avalanche warning Thursday for a widespread area of the province's backcountry. The warning is similar to one issued last week but now affects a broader area, including Whistler. 2/26/2010 7:20:15 AM
Violent crimes jump during Olympic period Since the 2010 Olympic Winter Olympic Games began Feb. 12, violent crime in Vancouver has climbed 17 per cent compared to the same period last year. But Vancouver police say the jump is "almost entirely" related to violent anti-Olympic protests that took place in downtown Vancouver during the first weekend of the Games. 2/26/2010 7:18:40 AM
Vancouver diners annoyed by gratuitous gratuities For hungry Olympic tourists heading out to Vancouver restaurants to nosh as the Games wind to a close, here's a helpful tip: take a close look at your bill, or risk being charged a gratuitous gratuity. Restaurants around Vancouver have been automatically adding tips -- ranging from 15-20 per cent. 2/25/2010 9:50:41 AM
Impaired: B.C. MLA rebuffs calls to step down B.C. Liberal Jane Thornthwaite has no plans to step down while she faces impaired driving charges and Premier Gordon Campbell agrees. Campbell, who was convicted of impaired driving in Hawaii in 2003, said he would not ask Thornthwaite to step aside as an MLA. 2/25/2010 7:01:59 AM
West Vancouver house fire kills 2 Comments Two elderly West Vancouver residents died in a house fire early Thursday morning. One woman was quickly pulled from the home and provided with emergency medical treatment. However, the 81-year-old succumbed to her injuries. 2/25/2010 6:52:24 AM
Church awarded $2.3 million for roofer's negligence An Abbotsford, B.C., church has been awarded $2.3 million in damages after a roofing company's negligence caused the structure to burn down. A B.C. Supreme Court judge ruled that a 2004 blaze at the Mennonite Church was connected to the use of a propane torch to adhere the first layer of the new roof. 2/25/2010 6:12:27 AM
Detained man says customs officer wouldn't call relatives A Polish man detained at Vancouver International Airport Sunday said he asked a customs officer several times to tell his waiting aunt and uncle what happened to him. But Pawel Marach said each time the officer told him it wasn't her problem. It was several hours before his aunt and uncle found out he was being detained. 2/25/2010 5:03:02 AM
Drunk driving BC Liberal MLA ‘really sorry' B.C. Liberal MLA Jane Thornthwaite says her toughest apology for drunk driving was to her children. In an interview today, the backbench government MLA refused to say how much she had to drink when she visited two Olympic pavilion receptions on Monday night. 2/24/2010 4:51:10 PM
It's finally snowing on Cypress Mountain Timing is everything. With just a few days to go before the Vancouver Olympics wrap, it started to snow on Cypress Mountain yesterday -- finally. But it's too little, too late. Whistler is also expecting snow mixed with rain for the remainder of the week. (Ed: That's Kelowna's Kelsey Serwa riding the chair.) 2/24/2010 9:28:36 AM
B.C. Ferries fares will go up on April Fool's Day BC Ferry fares are going up April 1 by an extra $1.75 on the major routes between Vancouver Island and the mainland and by $3.30 on the roundtrip between Horseshoe Bay and the Sunshine Coast. BC Ferries gave no specific reason,and referred to them only as an "annual fare adjustment." 2/24/2010 5:48:06 AM
Vancouver Liberal MLA faces drunk-driving charges Jane Thornthwaite, the Liberal MLA for North Vancouver-Seymour, is facing charges for drinking and driving. In a statement, Thornthwaite said she was stopped at an RCMP roadcheck Monday night in North Vancouver and is now facing charges for impaired driving. 2/23/2010 4:38:39 PM
Tofino, B.C. named surfer dude heaven An influential U.S. magazine has named Tofino the number one surf town in North America. Outside Magazine has published its first annual editors' choice awardsIn the editors' words, "the best surf town in North America is in Canada. Who knew?" 2/23/2010 3:19:38 PM
Man struck by SkyTrain in Vancouver The man who was hit by a SkyTrain early Tuesday morning in downtown Vancouver has undergone surgery for his injuries. The victim was standing on the platform at the Burrard Station when he was hit in the arm by the train and seriously injured. 2/23/2010 2:46:59 PM
Star Trek actor to help search for missing son in Vancouver Walter Koenig, an actor from the original Star Trek TV series, is set to arrive in Vancouver Tuesday to assist in the search for his missing son. According to a blog post, Koenig and his wife, Judy, will both fly to Vancouver to search for Andrew, who was last seen on Feb. 14. 2/23/2010 5:00:51 AM
Ex-premier, bid backer Glen Clark loving every moment He's a man who suffered a dizzying fall during a brutal political scandal, only to rise to new heights as a top executive with one of the richest men in Canada. Now Glen Clark's incredible odyssey marks yet another milestone, as Vancouver's Olympic Games -- a "crazy dream." 2/22/2010 4:24:58 PM
Passenger halts bus after driver dies suddenly B.C. Mounties and the Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee are crediting the quick actions of passengers aboard a Vanoc shuttle bus for bringing it under control after its driver suffered a massive heart attack and died suddenly early Monday morning. 2/22/2010 2:20:00 PM
Young B.C. heroes honoured with bravery awards Just before the Olympic medals were awarded on Sunday night, BC Place was host to another, more personal honour ceremony. Two young men from Surrey received Vital Link awards for courage under fire -- and for saving a father's life. 2/22/2010 5:00:41 AM
Late night crowds ask 'How do we get home?' With the last Canada Line SkyTrain leaving Waterfront Station almost two hours before downtown bars close at 3 a.m., hundreds upon hundreds of Olympic revelers – many of them angry – found themselves without a reliable way to get home Saturday night. 2/22/2010 4:59:24 AM
Suspect arrested in fatal hit and run Mounties have arrested a suspect in connection with an alleged hit and run that claimed two lives on Vancouver Island on Saturday afternoon. The suspect, a North Vancouver resident in his mid-20s who is known to police, faces nine charges including dangerous driving causing death. 2/22/2010 4:57:32 AM
Two dead; Malahat reopens after crash involving motorcycle A province-wide manhunt is underway for the driver who allegedly caused a head-on crash with a motorcycle on Victoria's Malahat that left both riders dead Saturday. The male driver was pronounced dead at the scene and the critically injured woman was rushed to Victoria General Hospital, where she later died. 2/21/2010 5:59:16 AM
Police force downtown liquor stores to close early Vancouver Police closed downtown liquor stores at 7 p.m. Friday in a bid to curb the open consumption of liquor as huge crowds congregate in the city's core to celebrate the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. "The Olympic fans aren't a problem for us, it's those who are coming into the city exclusively to get drunk." 2/21/2010 5:53:32 AM
Vancouver police, Olympic security to step up patrols as crowds get boozier The city police department is reporting "unprecedented numbers of people in the downtown core" last night, which would not be a problem except that too many of them are drinking booze and getting drunk. "There were significant numbers of intoxicated people on the streets, many openly consuming liquor." 2/20/2010 5:31:09 PM
Two men drown off Port Hardy after boat hits rock Two B.C. men drowned off the north end of Vancouver Island early Saturday morning. According to RCMP, four men and one woman had left Port Hardy to collect some crab traps. As they were returning home, their aluminum-hulled fishing vessel struck a rock.
2/20/2010 4:55:34 PM
Olympics: Two RCMP officers investigated for sexual assault Two former members of the 2010 Olympic security force are being investigated for sexual assault, CTV News has confirmed. The two alleged assaults happened aboard a cruise ship where out-of-town security force members are residing. The suspects are RCMP officers. The alleged victims are also police officers. 2/20/2010 6:00:03 AM
Wrong-way driver kills self and two others in Delta collision Three people have died after a minivan driving the wrong way on Highway 17 in Delta crashed into another vehicle Friday night. The minivan was driving southbound in the northbound lanes on Highway 17, when it collided head-on with another car at about 7:45 p.m. 2/20/2010 5:54:15 AM
B.C. chiefs deny cursing Norwegian Olympic team A shaman in Norway has suggested aboriginal people in B.C. might have cursed the Nordic country's Olympic athletes because of their opposition to Norwegian-owned fish farming operations in B.C., but West Coast native leaders deny any mystic influence. 2/20/2010 5:24:31 AM
Olympic RCMP officer charged An RCMP officer assigned to security duties for the Winter Olympics has been charged with theft under $5,000 in connection with an alleged shoplifting incident in Burnaby. Charged was Staff Sgt. Suzanne Martel, a 19-year RCMP veteran stationed in Ottawa. 2/19/2010 5:32:46 PM
Hard to match the Brits' scathing criticism of the Games The British media's portrayal of the 2010 Winter Olympics as the "worst Games ever" and the "Calamity Games" isn't getting much traction in the rest of Europe. There has naturally been widespread coverage of the death of young Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili, and the postponement of events due to warm weather. 2/19/2010 10:30:00 AM
VPD investigating Olympic security force members Vancouver police confirmed that they are conducting two investigations into members of the 2010 Integrated Security Unit, the RCMP-led joint police, military and security force. Representatives told CTV News that seven police officers have been sent home for code-of-conduct issues. 2/19/2010 5:17:04 AM
Surrey Memorial Hospital ER construction start delayed, again The start of construction on a massive expansion of Surrey Memorial Hospital will not begin this year as previously planned. A more modest ER expansion was originally to have opened this year, but in 2009 the opening was pushed back to 2013 when the province announced a dramatic increase in the size of the project. 2/18/2010 5:53:32 PM
Cypress bus driver jams mountain traffic after attempting U-turn Traffic to the Cypress Mountain Olympic venues was jammed Thursday morning when a bus driver drove into a ditch. Const. Jeff Palmer of the West Vancouver police department said the driver was attempting a U-turn "and ended up with his wheels hanging off the road." 2/18/2010 4:40:14 PM
Border Security: Arrests cross line, say couple A casual walk to the beach turned into anything but a walk in the park for a couple visiting family near the U.S. border this week. Tatyana Danylyshyn and Scott Macpherson said they were ordered face-down, then handcuffed on the beach near the Peace Arch Wednesday. 2/18/2010 4:27:35 PM
Second security breach at BC Place A person thought to possibly have a suspicious item in a bag was allowed to roam BC Place during a Victory Ceremony on Sunday night while police scrambled to find them, CTV News has learned. Thousands were in the stadium at the time, cheering as moguls skier Jenn Heil was presented with her silver medal. 2/18/2010 4:21:43 PM
Whistler: Olympic ski site to be auctioned Friday? At the height of its Olympic glory, Whistler — the ski resort hosting glamorous Alpine events at the Winter Games — may be headed for the auction block. It’s owned by a New York hedge fund that is reportedly behind on a $524 million loan payment. The backstory is a parable of our economic times. 2/18/2010 7:21:19 AM
Olympic flame visitors win fight for view Olympic spectators in Vancouver can finally get an unobstructed look at the Olympic flame, after organizers changed the fences around the site and opened a rooftop viewing area to the public. The flame has been a 24-hour a day attraction in downtown Vancouver since last Friday. 2/18/2010 5:22:23 AM
Security breach puts 'infatuated' man within metres of U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden A mentally ill man carrying fake credentials managed to get within 12 rows of U.S. vice-president Joe Biden at the Winter Olympic opening ceremonies last week. But despite the incident, the Vancouver Organizing Committee insists that venue security is working well. 2/18/2010 4:41:05 AM
Public gets a little cozier with Olympic cauldron Vancouver Games officials have opened a rooftop viewing platform to give the public a great look at the Olympic cauldron, stemming controversy over its location behind a chain-link fence. About 150 people at a time can go up to the platform beside the waterfront plaza that is home to the 2010 cauldron. 2/17/2010 2:24:13 PM
Fraser Valley man found guilty in murder of runaway teen A 24-year-old B.C. man has been found guilty of first-degree murder in the death of a 14-year-old runaway foster child — a crime he was accused of committing with his father. Dustin Moir was sentenced Tuesday night to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years for the 2005 death of Chelsey Acorn. 2/17/2010 10:16:57 AM
Man dies at Delta shipping terminal A man died Tuesday evening after he plunged into the Fraser River following the collapse of a Delta marine terminal ramp. The operator was working at the Seaspan Coastal Intermodal’s Tilbury Terminal when the ramp gave away shortly before 7 p.m. 2/17/2010 5:55:22 AM
Telus says phone scam is targeting Olympic visitors Telus says Olympic visitors are being duped in a pay phone scam that is targeting key tourist hubs. A technician discovered stickers advertising a 1-866 international calling number posted on their phones around the airport Monday night. 2/17/2010 5:52:13 AM
Workers toil through night as officials try to douse flame flap Work has begun to try to douse the Olympic flame flap. There was a beehive of activity near the Olympic cauldron early Wednesday as construction workers were making modifications to the fenced-in plaza that hosts the flame. 2/17/2010 5:31:31 AM
Concert cancelled after crowd surge topples barricades A free concert by Alexisonfire at Vancouver's LiveCity Yaletown in David Lam Park came to an abrupt halt Tuesday night when a mass of spectators surged forward, causing barricades near the stage to collapse and sending people tumbling to the ground. Ten people were taken to local hospitals. 2/17/2010 4:17:20 AM
VANOC cancels second round of Cypress tickets Warm weather and rain that has plagued Cypress mountain since before the start of the Vancouver Olympics has forced a second cancellation of tickets for all remaining snowboard and ski cross events. Weather conditions have washed away more than a foot of snow. 2/16/2010 11:58:22 AM
Justice? Deal sees couple save home by ditching appeal The B.C. Court of Appeal has approved a settlement in which a North Vancouver couple agreed to abandon an appeal in a medical malpractice suit in exchange for being excused from paying the costs of the original trial. Catherine and Daniel Lotocky filed a damage suit after their son Michael suffered brain injuries shortly before his birth. 2/16/2010 9:24:02 AM
B.C. school board bans hoodies with violent message A Surrey school board has banned students from wearing two sweatshirt hoodies on school grounds because they were deemed to carry violent messages. The hoodies feature the words Stompdown and Killaz on the fronts, and have images of a balaclava and two baseball bats on the backs. 2/16/2010 6:40:21 AM
Get rid of fence around cauldron, IOC urges The International Olympic Committee says it's hoping Games organizers can find a way to get rid of a fence in front of the Olympic cauldron. René Fasel, IOC member overseeing the 2010 Olympics, says he doesn't like it any more than the public that a chain-link fence sits in front of the icon. 2/16/2010 6:37:02 AM
Some Vancouver restaurants putting automatic 20% gratuity on bills A number of downtown Vancouver restaurants that are busy with Olympic business have begun adding service charges to customers' bills. Nancy Celetti, VP marketing for Earls, said the charge was put on to protect servers and staff who rely on tips to make up their wages. (Ed: Baloney!!) 2/16/2010 6:29:05 AM
Kidnapper, gangland slaying target has parole revoked Convicted kidnapper Randy Naicker had his day parole revoked Monday, five months after he was targeted in a gangland slaying at a Vancouver halfway house. Naicker pleaded with parole board members Vicki Cattermole and Pat Pitsula to simply terminate rather than revoke the day parole. 2/16/2010 5:41:49 AM
Keep-it, dump-it advice for VANOC Day 5 of the Olympics and it's time to keep the stuff that's great and dump the stuff that ain't. - In the "keep-it" category, how about we make a commitment right now to keep the Robson Square skating rink and zip line going long after the Games are done? - The chain-link fence around the cauldron falls clearly into the "dump-it" category. 2/16/2010 5:23:31 AM
B.C. Securities Commission going to court to recover $600,000 The B.C. Securities Commission is going to court in a bid to recover $600,000 in penalties it imposed nearly 10 years ago against the two men jailed in the Eron Mortgage collapse. 2/15/2010 6:00:02 PM
BC Civil Liberties group 'screwed up' BC Civil Liberties Association Executive Director David Eby said there were signs beforehand that the protest could turn violent but they didn't go because the Olympic Resistance Network requested legal observers stay clear of the march. 2/15/2010 5:57:28 PM
U.S. anti-Olympic protester maligned: parents The parents of a U.S. man arrested in Vancouver during an Olympics protest that turned violent on Saturday say their son is being unfairly vilified in the media and was guilty only of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. 2/15/2010 5:18:37 PM
'Incompetent' Gordon Campbell gov't messing with northern Ferry service We haven’t heard the last of the proposal by BC Ferries to cut sailings from the Inside Passage so that they can operate the Northern Expedition between Port Hardy and Tsawwassen and eliminate northern jobs by crewing the ship from the south. 2/15/2010 9:06:20 AM
Man rams SUV into home he shared with estranged girlfriend A Saanich man was arrested Thursday evening after wielding an axe and causing extensive damage to a home and two vehicles. The incident began in Mount Doug Park, when a woman was sideswiped by a black Cadillac Escalade when it crossed into her lane and hit her vehicle. 2/15/2010 6:59:00 AM
Vice-president Joe Biden's motorcade in accident A three-car crash involving a motorcade transporting United States vice-president Joe Biden between Olympic venues on Sunday is being investigated by the RCMP. The vehicle Biden was in was not involved and did not remain at the site of the crash and Biden arrived safely at his destination. 2/15/2010 6:14:58 AM
Canada's Olympic image is taking a beating in media reports Death, destruction, police with assault rifles. This was not the face Olympics organizers had hoped to present to the world. Athletic accomplishments are sharing space with questions over the death of Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili and reports of riot police quelling masked protesters. 2/15/2010 6:12:49 AM
VANOC must fix problems at Cypress Mountain venue immediately Three-hour lineups. Desperate shortages of food and drink. Nowhere to escape the lashing wind and rain. For North Vancouver’s Sally Roth, her “Olympic experience” on Cypress Mountain left much to be desired. “Woefully inadequate,” is how the personnel-agency owner described her weekend visit. 2/14/2010 5:40:42 PM
Natives plan Olympic fish-farm protest First Nations chiefs are planning a 29-hour hunger strike leading up to the Olympic hockey game between Canada and Norway Tuesday, to protest Norwegian-owned fish farms. Members of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs are fasting to support the Musgamagw Tsawataineuk Tribal Council. 2/14/2010 2:34:56 PM
Vanoc aims to make Olympic cauldron more accessible to public The grey chain-link fence that surrounds the Olympic cauldron on Vancouver’s waterfront appears headed for a make-over. Faced with complaints about flame’s jail-like setting, Vancouver Winter Games organizers are considering altering the fence or replacing it with something less austere. 2/14/2010 2:02:40 PM
Ski jump specators feathers ruffled at Whistler Some spectators at an Olympic weekend ski jumping event had less than a gold medal experience. They found themselves waiting for up to two hours to get on buses to take them to Whistler where they wanted to watch the Opening Ceremonies at the resort celebrations. 2/14/2010 1:49:43 PM
Anti-Olympics rioters smash Vancouver store windows More than 200 masked protesters smashed windows, vandalized cars and newspaper boxes and intimidated pedestrians in downtown Vancouver Saturday morning before being confronted and dispersed by police in riot gear. 2/14/2010 4:23:38 AM
Head-on collision kills two in Surrey Two people were killed Saturday night in a head-on collision in Surrey, B.C., and a third person was critically injured. According to RCMP, a 1991 Honda CRX was going south on Highway 99 between Highway 91 and King George Highway when it crossed the centre line. 2/14/2010 3:56:09 AM
Two officers injured in protest; one arrested Upwards of 1,500 protest marchers opposed to the Vancouver Winter Olympics were stopped short of reaching the site of the Games' opening ceremonies Friday evening by a three-deep line of police. The protest was largely peaceful, with only one arrest. 2/13/2010 6:15:14 AM
B.C., 3 western states sign accords British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and California have signed two agreements aimed at boosting the West Coast economy and protecting the environment. B.C. and the three states promised to work together on issues such as energy conservation and a high-speed rail service from San Diego to Vancouver. 2/13/2010 5:31:15 AM
Gretzky lights up Vancouver Olympics (Video) The Olympic flame kissed the dark Vancouver sky, a bright symbol of hope on a day of shocking loss. After months of speculation, it was hockey great Wayne Gretzky who lit the outdoor cauldron and officially launched the Vancouver Olympics on Friday night. 2/13/2010 4:58:04 AM
Torch relay rerouted after protest Organizers rerouted the Olympic torch relay Friday morning after protesters stopped its convoy as it passed through Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. Just after 9 a.m. PT, organizers were forced to pause the large convoy. By 9:40 a.m., organizers had rerouted the torch around the roadblock. 2/12/2010 11:34:51 AM
Vancouver cop reassigned after drinking before work A Vancouver Police officer has been reassigned after showing up to work under the influence of alcohol. Const. Jana McGuinness said the male officer, who has been with the department for 19 years, smelled of alcohol when he arrived at work on Friday. 2/12/2010 11:30:09 AM
The toils are behind us, let the Games begin After seven years, after billions of dollars, Canada's Olympic dreams take shape tonight. The lighting of the Olympic cauldron is the start of the 21st Winter Olympics and the beginning of a 17-day odyssey for Vancouver, British Columbia and the country, which will change them all. 2/12/2010 11:17:10 AM
Whistler fog worries skiers and organizers alike The Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee says event postponements may be inevitable if the pea soup fog hanging over Whistler does not dissipate. Poor visibility delayed men's downhill training in Whistler again Thursday – the second day weather wrecked havoc on Olympic preparations. 2/12/2010 5:29:44 AM
The Olympic Security Emergeny at Seabus was a fishing rod Concerns about a suspicious object found in the Lonsdale Quay area of North Vancouver on Thursday proved unfounded after police detonated a fishing rod. The discovery led to a police lockdown of the area and a halt to SeaBus. 2/12/2010 5:12:13 AM
Canada Pavilion isn't just ugly, it's also 'illegal' Canada Pavilion, the house that nobody likes, got another scolding Wednesday. Already maligned for being ugly and built by Americans, the federal structure was chastised for breaking the law. The building is operated by Heritage Canada, which passed off the latest criticisms as a difference of "opinion." 2/12/2010 4:56:35 AM
Two hurt by Olympic-related vehicles during torch run Two people were injured by Olympic-related vehicles during Thursday’s torch run. The first incident occurred in Burnaby just before noon when a woman was struck by a police motorcycle on Canada Way. Both the woman and the police officer were injured. 2/12/2010 4:44:30 AM
Metro Vancouver residents remain ambivalent on eve of Olympics: poll The Angus Reid poll, released Thursday, found that a majority of those interviewed — 63 per cent — expect the Vancouver Games to run a deficit, and 83 per cent believe the Games are planned to benefit elite members of society. 2/11/2010 5:06:29 PM
Package that shut down Seabus 'harmless' A suspicious package that shut down the biggest transportation hub in Vancouver's North Shore community Thursday afternoon appears to be harmless. The North Vancouver bomb squad attended and safely detonated the package, Const. Michael McLaughlin told CTV News. 2/11/2010 4:45:00 PM
'Devastated' family demand answers after car thief dies in custody A woman who survived several gunshot wounds after police fired at her as she fled in a stolen SUV, her second such run-in in five years, has died in police custody. Her family is now demanding answers about her death and the medical treatment she received in jail. 2/11/2010 4:42:09 PM
BC Rail finally kaput — but BC Rail corruption trial goes on B.C. Rail is finally, officially dead. But its legacy will live on. In an ironic twist to the B.C. Rail saga, the government announced Wednesday it will finally shut down the Crown corporation to save money — on the very day a judge ordered the long-awaited corruption trial to start on May 3. 2/11/2010 4:29:20 PM
Protesters to mass at legislature as PM speaks Prime Minister Stephen Harper will address B.C.'s legislature today, but it's unlikely he'll be anywhere near the numerous protesters expected to gather outside. Harper is scheduled to address the legislative assembly at 1:30 p.m. 2/11/2010 12:03:33 PM
Daring torchbearers take ride on top of Grouse Mountain's gondola The Olympic torch relay took a daring turn Wednesday evening as two torchbearers tram-surfed with the flame on top of a Grouse Mountain Skyride gondola. Strapped in a harness and attached to the gondola with bungee cords, snowboarder Justin Lamoureux took the torch up the mountain. 2/11/2010 11:33:03 AM
Logging makes forests more flammable: study Commercial logging of moist native forests creates conditions that increase the severity and frequency of bushfires, an international study claims. The finding by Australian, Canadian and U.S. researchers is based on a review of previous studies. 2/11/2010 10:06:49 AM
Bus Breakdowns, lost drivers add to transport woes More than two dozen imported bus drivers have quit, others have lost their way and local organizers have been scrambling to bring in an entirely new fleet of motor coaches after aging transit buses from sunny California proved no match for the steep highway leading to Cypress Mountain. 2/11/2010 7:04:49 AM
Forecast calls for wet start to 2010 Games It looks like a soggy start is in store for the 2010 Winter Olympics. Environment Canada is forecasting 30 millimetres of rain in Vancouver Thursday and continued wet weather for the 2010 Games opening ceremonies Friday. "Right through Sunday it will be one system after another." 2/11/2010 6:51:08 AM
B.C. unhappy, Ont. happy with federal government: Poll A newly devised "Canadian Grievance Index" — which quantifies the level of griping about the federal government by people across the country — shows British Columbians are currently the nation's most aggrieved citizens while Ontarians are most satisfied that Confederation is functioning fairly. 2/10/2010 5:31:03 PM
Vancouver poet laureate blasts VANOC, bows out of Games Charging VANOC with misrepresenting Vancouver and suppressing political activism and free speech, Vancouver’s poet laureate has announced that he will not participate in the Olympic celebrations. On his website, Brad Cran outlines the reasons he has declined an invitation to read poems during the Olympic Games. 2/10/2010 5:22:19 PM
BC Rail Corruption: Basi-Virk trial by jury set for April The three former government aides accused in the Basi-Virk corruption case have re-elected to be tried by a jury. In January 2006, David Basi, Bobby Virk and Aneal Basi indicated they wanted to be tried by a judge alone. David Basi and Bobby Virk made a rare appearance in court for their re-election. 2/10/2010 5:07:13 PM
Vancouver protesters force Harper to scrap appearance Prime Minister Stephen Harper was unable to enter a Vancouver Chinese community centre to make a scheduled appearance Wednesday because protesters had surrounded the building and sealed its doors. Harper was to have visited the centre to see a rehearsal for Chinese new year festivities/ 2/10/2010 5:01:19 PM
Vancouver Olympics get an ‘F’ for failing to curb sex trafficking: group The Citizens Summit Against Sex Slavery, a coalition of women’s groups, academics and politicians, gave VANOC, the B.C. government and the federal government an “F” for “failing to make sure women and youth are secure against human trafficking during the 2010 Olympics.” 2/10/2010 7:01:59 AM
Olympic spirit will launch B.C. reforms: throne speech The B.C. government says it will use the Olympics momentum to drive changes that include tax breaks for families with children, and education reform. Carole James, the leader of the New Democratic Party, said the throne speech offered little hope for British Columbians. 2/10/2010 5:23:17 AM
Man in Motion lights up crowd in Richmond Wheelchair marathoner Rick Hansen — known to millions as the Man in Motion from his worldwide fundraising tour — lit the Olympic cauldron in Richmond, B.C., in front of a crowd of thousands Tuesday night. 2/10/2010 5:09:45 AM
Steroids? Vancouver defends Schwarzenegger invite Winter Olympics organizers defended their decision to invite Arnold Schwarzenegger to run in the torch relay despite the former movie star's admission that he used drugs in his bodybuilding career. Schwarzenegger, who will be a torch bearer on Friday, confessed in 2005 that he had used steroids. 2/9/2010 12:04:37 PM
Polish newspaper: 'Pedobear' is 2010 Vancouver Olympic mascot The Gazeta Olsztynska published an image showing the bear alongside genuine Olympic mascots Quatchi, Sumi, Miga and Mukmuk to illustrate a feature about the Games. It appears that the newspaper lifted the picture from Google Images, unaware that it had been created as a prank by a Canadian artist. 2/9/2010 8:30:59 AM
B.C. legislature resumes for quick session B.C.'s politicians return from a lengthy Christmas break to start work at the legislature Tuesday — but only for three days. Lt.-Gov. Steven Point will deliver the Liberal government's speech from the throne to mark the opening. Thursday, Stephen Harper will become the first prime minister in history to address the B.C. legislature. 2/9/2010 5:47:04 AM
VANOC in fine fiscal shape, says Rogge The International Olympic Committee no longer expects to have to throw local Olympic organizers a multimillion-dollar fiscal lifeline. Just days before the opening of the 2010 Winter Games, IOC president Jacques Rogge said VANOC is now so financially flush he is confident the organization can balance its operating budget. 2/9/2010 5:11:00 AM
Surrey looks for recognition on the world stage No Olympians will compete for gold in the second largest city in B.C., but Surrey, an official Olympic partner, is finding a way to bring the Olympic spirit south of the Fraser River. A 24-acre, live celebration site set up at Holland Park could draw large audiences to Surrey. 2/9/2010 4:49:53 AM
Taxi companies struggling amid Olympic hype Vancouver taxi companies say the 2010 Winter Games are set to drive them out of business. Black Top Cabs president Amrik Mahil says the last few weeks have been the slowest his company has seen in 15 years. 2/9/2010 4:47:29 AM
U.S. Olympic critic denied entry into Canada An American freelance journalist and Olympic critic was denied entry into Canada on Saturday, according to the Olympic Resistance Network. Martin Macias, Jr. was detained by border officials at Vancouver International Airport on Saturday morning and questioned for several hours. 2/8/2010 7:07:04 PM
'Targets of interest' close down YVR Vancouver International Airport was closed to takeoffs and landings for 20 minutes while two CF-18 military fighter jets scrambled to intercept an unknown “target of interest,” a Transport Canada incident report shows. The incident occurred on Jan. 31 at 1:15 p.m. north of Boundary Bay Airport. 2/8/2010 9:21:29 AM
Richmond RCMP 'horrified' to find newborn's body in Burns Bog landfill Richmond RCMP say a 20-year-old woman is facing charges of infanticide after the body of a newborn boy was discovered in a landfill Sunday. Police were notified that a woman may have delivered, then abandoned a baby boy last month. 2/8/2010 9:09:42 AM
Bus runs over man lying on highway near Squamish An unidentified man died after being hit by a transit bus while he was lying on the Sea to Sky Highway in Squamish early Sunday. The bus "was unable to stop or avoid a collision and subsequently ran over the person," Squamish RCMP Cpl. Dave Ritchie said. 2/8/2010 9:00:36 AM
IOC will allow Australians' boxing kangaroo flag to stay The Aussie "boxing kangaroo" has won a TKO over the International Olympic Committee. And the cheeky flag will keep flying proudly from the team's balcony at the Vancouver 2010 athletes village. But IOC spokesman Mark Adams insisted Sunday night the flag flap was never a real fight. 2/8/2010 8:58:10 AM
Olympics: A new way to harden Cypress's snow Organizers for the 2010 Winter Olympics are pulling out all stops at troubled Cypress Mountain, including a snow-hardening technique designed to battle the unseasonably warm temperatures. Two fields of play at Cypress Mountain are being artificially frozen by the new technique. 2/8/2010 5:23:16 AM
Most Canadians think Vancouver Olympics will go over budget 84 per cent of Canadians believe the Vancouver Olympic and Paralympic Games will finish in the red. The highest percentage was in British Columbia, where 90 per cent felt the Games will cost more than expected. And for many, winning hockey gold will make the Games worth it. 2/7/2010 6:39:01 PM
Premier Campbell's cheesy PR stunt is good politics With Gordon Campbell soaking up more Olympic photo-ops than Quatchi, Miga and Sumi combined, I'm starting to wonder if the premier might put on one of those fuzzy mascot suits and start stealing their TV face-time, too. Campbell's ride on the Olympic zip line over Robson Square.....(more) 2/7/2010 9:57:52 AM
Mother of Saanich teen who stabbed his father to death sought psychiatric help A 17-year-old charged with murdering his father was suffering from paranoid thoughts in the days leading up to the stabbing, says his mother. The Grade 11 student at Spectrum Community School is charged with second-degree murder. 2/7/2010 6:00:25 AM
Surrey: Two in hospital after shooting Surrey RCMP are investigating a Saturday shooting that put two men in hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The men, both known to police, were allegedly shot in their vehicle. "We believe [the shooting] was targeted," said Insp. Randall Marquardt. 2/7/2010 3:50:16 AM
B.C. to give 3,400 Olympic tickets to VIPs The B.C. government plans to give away nearly 3,400 Olympic tickets to visiting business leaders, investors and dignitaries as part of a strategy to promote the province during the 2010 Winter Games, the province announced Friday. 2/6/2010 4:22:04 AM
Gordon Campbell hangs from a wire It was Gordon Campbell as British Columbians have never seen him. To launch the zip line ride above downtown Robson Square, the B.C. premier was strapped in four storeys up and rode 170 metres across the downtown core like a feisty sock pulled along a clothesline. 2/5/2010 5:45:31 PM
Torch touches down in Whistler, culmination of five-decades of Olympic dreaming From the sun over Greece to the snow-covered mountains of Whistler, the Olympic flame arrived Friday in the small resort community that will soon welcome the world to the Winter Games. The torch stopped at Olympic venues for the first time since the 2010 relay began more than three months ago. 2/5/2010 5:30:11 PM
It's Vander Zalm vs. B.C.'s unwinnable repeal rules By Michael Smyth: Bill Vander Zalm got his anti-HST petition drive officially certified by Elections B.C. Thursday, but I'd still book that home renovation or buy that new bike before the Hated Sales Tax kicks in July 1. The Zalm's petition campaign against it has about as much chance to succeed as the Jamaican bobsled team. 2/5/2010 4:06:39 PM
Police 'rescue' seven kids after Surrey child-pornography raid A 36-year-old Surrey man is facing a raft of sexual-assault and child-porn charges after the "rescue" of seven children aged five to 11 by an integrated RCMP sex-predator squad. A search warrant at a Surrey residence turned up evidence on electronic devices and computers. 2/5/2010 3:00:35 PM
'Ugly girl' system in operation at B.C. docks Frustrated by what it says is a lack of progress in tackling discrimination and harassment on the waterfront, the BC Maritime Employers Association has filed a complaint against the longshoremans' union with the Canadian Human Rights Commission. 2/5/2010 2:55:56 PM
Is Vancouver ready for its Olympic-sized close-up? Final touches of plaster and paint are being applied. Volunteers wearing Games-approved smiles have hit the streets; police officers are at the barricades, waiting. Almost a decade in the making, Vancouver's multi-billion-dollar party is one week from launch. Is this city ready for its close-up? 2/5/2010 10:58:19 AM
Victoria-area teen arrested in stabbing death A 17-year-old Saanich, B.C., boy has been arrested following the stabbing death of a 53-year-old man late Wednesday night. Officers were called to a residence on Wilkinson Road, in the suburb north of Victoria, just after 11 p.m. 2/5/2010 10:45:34 AM
N.Y. Times: Homeless cast a shadow on Olympic glow At the corner of Main and Hastings, one man lighted a crack pipe, inhaling deeply. Another urinated on a wall. That scene unfolded five blocks from the site of the opening ceremony for the Winter Olympics, scheduled for next Friday, and a five-minute drive from the athletes’ village. 2/5/2010 5:52:20 AM
Squamish hopeful for 2010 windfall after broken promises Squamish, B.C., restaurant owner Colin Bush hopes to sell a lot of grilled cheese sandwiches during the Olympics. But just who, and how many customers he'll be serving at the Grilled Fromage, he can't say for sure. A lack of information about the city's involvement in the Olympics is a source of frustration for many. 2/5/2010 5:21:38 AM
Australian Olympic team defies order to take down flag Members of the Australian Olympic team say they will defy an order to take down a giant flag they've hung on the side of a condominium building at the Olympic Village in downtown Vancouver. The green and gold flag, measuring about 50 square metres, shows a golden kangaroo wearing red boxing gloves. 2/5/2010 4:51:40 AM
Olympic protesters converging on Vancouver The Olympic Resistance Network, which represents a coalition of social-activist groups in B.C., says it will do whatever it can to disrupt the journey of the torch when it reaches Vancouver and inconvenience supporters of the 2010 Winter Games. 2/5/2010 4:48:39 AM
Bill Vander Zalm approved to fight Campbell/Harper HST Starting April 6th, the race will be on to collect enough signatures on a petition to derail the BC government's plan to harmonize the provincial sales tax with the federal GST. BC's Chief Electoral Officer has given former premier and anti-HST crusader Bill Vander Zalm approval in principal. (Ed: I'd be happy to sign it.) 2/4/2010 6:31:55 PM
VANOC finally 'gets it' and pulls video with Nazi footage VANOC is "retiring" its controversial promotional video for the Olympic Torch Relay. As reported by the Globe, the video uses footage from the 1938 film Olympia, directed by Leni Riefenstahl, who made propaganda films for Adolf Hitler. Olympia documents the 1936 Berlin Olympics, hosted by Nazi Germany. 2/4/2010 5:29:15 PM
B.C. government blasted over delays, fees for information The B.C. government (Gordon Campbell) is being accused of breaking its promise to be open and accountable because there are so many barriers to getting government information. A report points to long delays in answering information requests, high fees and rampant censorship of documents. 2/4/2010 4:13:16 PM
Discipline recommended for cop who beat newspaper man A West Vancouver police constable who assaulted a newspaper delivery man after a night of drinking last year should have his rank reduced to probationary constable, be suspended without pay for 120 hours and attend alcohol counselling, a police report released Thursday recommends. (Ed: Fire him! Break the law, lose your job.) 2/4/2010 4:08:50 PM
PM Harper to politic in BC legislature prior to Olympics Why does he want to speak to British Columbians? According to a new EKOS poll, the Conservatives are still leading in British Columbia but by a much smaller margin. Pollster Frank Graves says this is “a big shift for the worse for Tories.” Previous EKOS surveys had shown a “surprising negativity” about Olympic spending. 2/4/2010 10:44:54 AM
Vanoc brings out big guns to ready Cypress Olympic officials are bringing in the big guns in a desperate bid to help prepare the snow-challenged Cypress Mountain. On Wednesday, Vanoc officials enlisted the world's second largest helicopter -- the Sikorsky S64 Skycrane -- to help harvest snow from upper reaches of the mountain and drop it onto the snowboard and freestyle skiing courses. 2/4/2010 5:47:09 AM
Vancouver restaurants hiking prices for Olympics Some Vancouver restaurants are raising their prices during the two weeks of the 2010 Games, a CTV News investigation has found. At Bean around the World in Yaletown, regular visitors were being offered a customer card they were told would help them avoid higher prices during the Olympics. 2/4/2010 5:42:52 AM
Girl, 17, drowns in Chilliwack River A 17-year-old girl drowned in the Chilliwack River in B.C. Wednesday night, police said. The girl was in an inflatable boat around 6:45 p.m. when she fell into the river, Chilliwack RCMP said Thursday. 2/4/2010 5:22:11 AM
$900-million Olympic security tab to rise if threat level increases The Games' $900-million security tab could jump if the threat level rises above "medium," says the RCMP's head of 2010 security. "Obviously, if the threat level changed, we'd have to regroup and put Plan B in place," said Assistant Commissioner Bud Mercer. (Ed: Can you say a Billion?) 2/3/2010 4:06:30 PM
Vancouver police make massive gang arrests Mayor Gregor Robertson says timing is not Olympics-related. (Yeah, sure!) The announcement comes a day after police held a briefing to tout successes in their war on gangs – an issue that has drawn the attention of international media gathering in the city for the games. 2/3/2010 11:43:57 AM
Two Small Men with Big Hearts moving company faces charges, upset customers Canada's largest network of independent moving companies is coming under fire from some customers for its business practices. "I've moved a number of times and it was probably the worst move in 20 years," said customer Shelagh Bruhn. "They have no hearts, as far as I'm concerned." 2/3/2010 10:56:50 AM
Olympic floating-hotel scheme sinks A cruise ship that was to serve as a floating hotel in the port of Vancouver during the Olympics will not be showing up, leaving hundreds of tourists high and dry. Among those now forced to find last-minute accommodation were representatives for 13 terminally ill children. 2/3/2010 5:09:53 AM
Cop car slams into Surrey house An RCMP vehicle crashed into a home in the Cedar Hills neighbourhood of Surrey, B.C., late Tuesday afternoon. Images from CTV's Chopper 9 show the marked cruiser hit the front part of a single-family home on 122nd Street, near 96th Avenue. There was no immediate word of any injuries. 2/3/2010 4:56:00 AM
President Obama will not attend Olympics U.S. President Barack Obama will not be attending the Vancouver Olympics, an official confirmed Tuesday. An official at the U.S. consulate in Vancouver said Tuesday that U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden will head the American delegation to the opening ceremonies. 2/2/2010 5:34:13 PM
Gunman gets nine years for Surrey shooting A man who wounded an innocent woman when he fired through a closed door has been sentenced to nine years by a Surrey Provincial Court judge. Police said Stacy Baetz arrived with an accomplice and tried to force his way in. (Ed: No problem with sentence, but murderers in BC have gotten less time.) 2/2/2010 4:26:45 PM
Poverty Olympics Protestors doled out poverty message for lunch The Poverty Olympics protestors had a few people yelling "Get a job!" from passing vehicles on Monday at Five Corners. But the noontime event — complete with 10-foot torch on a hospital gurney — was meant to show there are people deeply worried about the poverty levels in B.C., said event organizer Trish Garner. 2/2/2010 4:20:26 PM
Family offers $100,000 to find killer of Victoria real estate agent The family of slain real estate agent Lindsay Buziak is posting a $100,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the two-year-old case. Buziak, 24, was stabbed to death on Feb. 2, 2008, in a home she was showing to prospective clients. 2/2/2010 3:49:16 PM
Faster! Higher! Stronger! Pricier! Why they're called 'fleece' jackets On the fifth floor of The Bay downtown, amid the household goods and tableware department, members of the public can now experience first-hand the true meaning of the Olympics, which is, of course, merchandising. (Ed: Much of the clothing was made in China and the far east.) 2/2/2010 3:40:18 PM
Campbell Government paid for privacy-breaching civil servant's grad school The civil servant at the centre of a major privacy breach in the B.C. government received thousands of taxpayer dollars to help pay for his post-secondary education before he was fired. The money came from a program intended to help the best and brightest civil servants upgrade their education. 2/2/2010 6:02:58 AM
Victoria-area teen abducted, bound and raped A 16-year-old View Royal girl was abducted and raped early Saturday morning after getting into a stranger’s car. “This is a very serious offence. This is a young girl’s and parent’s worst nightmare,” said Cpl. Gerry Sutherland. “It is very high on the scale of trauma for the victim. We hate to see this for sure.” 2/2/2010 5:46:06 AM
Poverty: B.C.’s PR nightmare scenario Welfare-cheque lineups and tent cities were identified months ago by the B.C. government as potential public-relations disasters during the Winter Olympics, according to a confidential risk-management plan. In February, Welfare Wednesday will fall on Feb. 17, five days after the 2010 Winter Games start. 2/2/2010 5:27:04 AM
Trucks hauling extra snow to Cypress Mountain Vancouver Olympic organizers will spend the next two to three days trucking in extra snow to Cypress Mountain, CTV News has learned. The snow is from the Allison Pass area near Manning Park. VANOC officials said they currently have sufficient snow but decided to bring in 150 truckloads of extra snow as a precaution. 2/2/2010 5:20:55 AM
Fatal crash shuts Massey Tunnel in both directions A two-vehicle crash claimed one life and sparked a fire that shut down both directions of Highway 99 at the George Massey Tunnel Monday night. Police said the northbound lanes were expected to be closed for several hours. 2/2/2010 5:11:06 AM
Olympics spectators told to expect airport style security Spectators should arrive two hours early for city events, three hours early for mountain events, and four hours for the open and closing ceremonies. Expect the sort of security screening procedures in place at airports rather than typical sporting matches. 2/1/2010 3:35:40 PM
Whistler owner wants Ottawa to pay $90Million The New York Post reported Monday that the company which owns one of the venues for the Vancouver Winter Olympics, wants the Canadian government to put up $90 million US before the Games start or it will sue. Fortress wants to get paid before the Games start or it will start legal proceedings. 2/1/2010 2:15:18 PM
Child dead after car rear-ends transit bus A child is dead following a collision between a transit bus and a small vehicle in Burnaby, B.C., Sunday night. Mounties say the car rear-ended a TransLink bus just after 10 p.m. at Production Way and Lougheed Highway. 2/1/2010 9:30:26 AM
Show of Hearts telethon raises $7 million The Show of Hearts telethon didn’t beat last year’s total but still raised more than $7 million for children with special needs. The 44th annual televised event raised more than $8 million last year. (Ed: Penticton's Ciara Walls and mom Jackie pictured on stage). 1/31/2010 8:54:33 PM
Michael Smyth: Politician says no to 2010 Olympic goodies With the Olympics just 12 days away -- and over $3 million worth of taxpayer-financed tickets up for grabs for well-connected fat cats and freeloaders -- the five-ring freebiefest is about to kick into high gear. But not every politician in BC is hopping aboard the Olympic gravy train. 1/31/2010 3:11:44 PM
Port Alberni: Lady Rose becomes floating restaurant The MV Lady Rose will be leaving Port Alberni in the spring of 2011, but she won't be going far. On Friday, owner Mike Surrell announced the sale of the historic pocket steamer to Jamie's Whaling Station. Company president Jamie Bray said the Lady Rose would take up station in Tofino harbour. 1/31/2010 3:09:05 PM
B.C. government officials botched handling of privacy breach Mistakes, missed opportunities and bureaucratic bungling led more than two dozen officials to botch the B.C. government’s response to a major privacy breach. But nobody will be fired, because the failure was so widespread across so many officials. (Ed: So fire them all, no wonder B.C. is in the mess it's in.) 1/31/2010 3:06:16 PM
Apologies not enough, Wu's lawyer says The lawyer for a Vancouver man beaten at his home by city police who went to the wrong address to respond to a domestic-dispute call says apologies by the city’s police chief do not go far enough. Yao Wei Wu, a 44-year-old contractor, was beaten by two plainclothes officers who came to his home last week. 1/31/2010 5:44:58 AM
Guilty plea expected from disgraced financial adviser Disgraced investment adviser Ian Thow is expected to plead guilty to two charges of fraud on March 1 in a Vancouver court, according to several potential Crown witnesses in the case. Thow, a former Victoria-based vice-president of Berkshire Investment Group, is accused of bilking former clients of more than $32 million. 1/31/2010 5:07:11 AM
Vancouver sex trade expects to boom during Olympics Olympic fever is taking hold in Metro Vancouver’s sex industry, with businesses and workers preparing to welcome a deluge of visitors. Vancouver’s most prominent strip club is planning Olympic-themed decorations, but keeping them secret for fear of a clampdown by Olympics authorities. 1/31/2010 5:00:47 AM
Woman facing charges after allegedly leaving baby in her SUV at casino A Surrey mom is in court this week for allegedly leaving her baby alone in a Vancouver casino parking lot while she went gambling. Someone in the parkade last Sunday afternoon heard the baby’s cries from the back seat of an SUV at Edgewater Casino, at the Plaza of Nations. 1/30/2010 4:09:39 PM
Delta Police to probe mistaken assault The Vancouver Police Department has handed off its investigation into a mistaken identity assault case involving two of its officers. Yao Wei Wu, 44, was badly injured by two plain-clothed officers responding to a domestic violence call. The pair didn't know there were two suites in the residence. (Ed: Although it was obvious looking at photographs). 1/30/2010 5:37:41 AM
B.C.'s solicitor general calls for civilian oversight of scandal-sick RCMP Furious over the latest RCMP scandals, B.C.'s solicitor general says the national police service may have to submit to civilian oversight — or face the consequences. Kash Heed told the Vancouver Province he wasn't pleased he had to learn about one of the latest RCMP scandals through the media. 1/30/2010 5:06:24 AM
Google camera appears to catch illegal tree-cutting Three people have been charged with violating Vancouver's tree-cutting bylaw after trees were illegally removed from a property on the city's West Side – in an incident apparently caught on a camera operated by the internet giant, Google. 1/30/2010 4:40:25 AM
Ex-B.C. councillor, sons found not guilty of slaying A former Vancouver Island city councillor and his two sons have been found not guilty in connection with the 2008 beating death of Colwood resident Keith Taylor. Ex-Highlands councillor Ken Brotherston, along with his two adult sons, were cleared of charges Friday 1/29/2010 3:02:58 PM
Climate change blamed for Olympic snow shortage The David Suzuki Foundation says global warming and climate change are in part responsible for what's happening. Olympic organizers are working around the clock to ensure there's enough snow on Cypress Mountain, home to freestyle ski and snowboard events for the Games. 1/29/2010 3:00:04 PM
Our glorious province: a land of security outrages and second-rate wages The Lower Mainland's armed transit police had an idea. Let's get all those businesses near SkyTrain stations to act as snitches in the good fight for "safety and security" during the Olympics. They handed out circulars asking these business folk to report anything suspicious. 1/29/2010 9:23:26 AM
Probe into float plane crash that killed 6 finds two jammed doors An ongoing investigation by the federal Transportation Safety Board into a float plane crash off British Columbia's Saturna Island that killed six passengers is shedding light on long-standing unresolved safety issues, a board official said Thursday. 1/29/2010 4:45:10 AM
Man beaten by Vancouver police sues city The man who suffered a beating at the hands of police in a case of mistaken identity is now suing the city of Vancouver for damages. Yao Wei Wu, 44, suffered cuts and bruises to his face. Police have continued to contact Wu, trying to dissuade the man from hiring a lawyer, Gabriel Yiu said. 1/29/2010 4:40:54 AM
RCMP officer's alleged girlfriend pregnant: sources The woman with whom an RCMP officer in the Surrey Six murder investigation was allegedly having an affair is pregnant with the officer's child, CBC News has learned. On Thursday, the officer was not at his White Rock home, which he shares with his wife, who is also a police officer. 1/29/2010 4:36:47 AM
2nd Surrey Six investigator charged, fraud this times A five-year member of the RCMP assigned to the Surrey Six murder investigation has been charged with fraud in connection with two overtime claims. The revelation comes on the same week that the force acknowledged that it is investigating another officer over an inappropriate relationship with a witness 1/28/2010 11:50:06 AM
IOC president says optimism prevails for 2010 Games, despite weather woes The president of the International Olympic Committee says he's very optimistic that the 2010 Winter Games will be a success, even if the weather isn't cooperating. Olympic organizers are holding a news conference later today to provide an update on the state of the venues at Cypress Mountain 1/28/2010 9:44:20 AM
Surrey 6 Sex allegation lowers RCMP morale The officer, a member of the regional homicide investigation team, was assigned to desk duty after an allegation came to light in December that he was carrying on an inappropriate relationship with a potential witness in the case. 1/28/2010 5:45:23 AM
Scammed U.S. family gets free Olympic home U.S. Olympic bobsledder Steve Mesler says his parents have secured places to stay to watch him compete in Whistler, B.C., after they lost $8,000 in an Olympic rental scam. Ben and Lois Mesler posted an ad looking for accommodation in Whistler so they could watch their son Steve compete. 1/28/2010 5:39:32 AM
Man shot dead driving in East Vancouver A man was shot and killed Wednesday while driving in East Vancouver. The victim — described as an Asian male in his early 20s — was shot in the torso shortly after 1 p.m. PT while driving in the 1500 block of East 10th Avenue, police said. 1/28/2010 5:37:22 AM
Olympic freebies for politicians soar to new heights Swifter. Higher. Stronger. No, I’m not talking about the official Olympic motto. I’m talking about the Olympic ticket freebie-fest — especially the “higher” part of it. The total amount of taxpayers’ money spent on Olympic tickets for politicians, bureaucrats and their guests seems to soar by the day. 1/28/2010 5:28:37 AM
14 Anglican churches could close in B.C. The Anglican Church of Canada may close up to 14 churches in British Columbia because of declining attendance. Bishop James Cowan of the Anglican Diocese of B.C. says its community numbers are dwindling because churchgoers are aging and no new members are taking their place. 1/27/2010 12:43:09 PM
'Inappropriate' free Olympic tickets turned down Two Vancouver city councillors say it was a mistake for the city to spend $377,000 on Olympic event tickets at a time when workers are being laid off, programs cut and taxes raised due to a budget deficit. Opening ceremonies tickets in the seats made available to the city cost about $3,700 each, Councillor David Cadman said. 1/27/2010 5:44:58 AM
56 kilos of opium found inside tombstone Four people in Metro Vancouver are in grave trouble with the law after an imported tombstone was found packed with what police call an unprecedented amount of opium. The 550-kilogram stone was shipped to B.C. from Iran. Police call it the biggest opium seizure ever made in the province. 1/27/2010 5:40:49 AM
Taxi drivers get crash course on Olympic venues Vancouver taxi companies and tourism officials are promising action after a CTV News investigation found many taxi drivers were unaware of the names of key Olympic venues or how to get to them. Taxi companies are giving their drivers crash courses on Olympic venues. 1/27/2010 4:40:47 AM
Surrey Six Sex Scandal, Cop reassigned A key investigator in the Surrey Six case has been reassigned because of his relationship with a main witness in the mass murder case. The investigation into the RCMP officer's conduct has been going on for several weeks, the Vancouver Sun has learned. 1/26/2010 9:09:10 PM
Brother of B.C. cabinet minister investigated for assault while monitoring jail cells A veteran Victoria police officer has been suspended with pay and is the subject of criminal and Police Act investigations after a man was assaulted in police cells, Chief Jamie Graham announced Monday. 1/26/2010 5:06:47 PM
Man ejected from speeding car after woman crashes A man suffered only minor injuries after being ejected from the rear window of a car in a single-vehicle accident early Tuesday morning in New Westminster. The female driver and female passenger fled the scene but were later located by police several blocks away. 1/26/2010 4:51:01 PM
Burnaby angler goes over Vancouver Island's Stamp Falls and lives Swift current and high waters probably saved the life of a Burnaby angler who went over Stamp Falls on Sunday. He is the only person to survive such a tumble as far as local fishermen can recall, said Roland Haider and Ian Barker. Stamp Falls cascades downwards from a height of approximately 20 metres. 1/26/2010 4:41:27 PM
B.C. town braces for mill shutdown After years of shutdowns and layoffs in B.C.'s forest industry, Kitimat is bracing for a major economic blow, but there is a glimmer of hope for another mill town. More than 500 people will be out of work when the West Fraser Eurocan paper mill in Kitimat closes permanently on Sunday. 1/26/2010 3:11:16 PM
2010 won't change relaxed approach to B.C. bud That sweet smell in the air during next month's Olympic Games might be the smell of success. Then again, it could just be the pot. Both police and marijuana advocates say Vancouver's relaxed attitude won't change during the 2010 Games. It's not unusual to catch a whiff of weed on the streets of Vancouver. 1/26/2010 11:05:03 AM
More sneaky Olympic stuff: Truck schools cry foul Truck-driving schools will lose thousands of dollars because ICBC has shut down commercial driving tests during the Winter Olympics. "ICBC has promised VANOC it will keep all these vehicles off the road. It's not fair," said Mary Baker, owner of Bestway Driver Training in Coquitlam. 1/26/2010 10:43:45 AM
Slushy weather gives new meaning to 'green' Olympics The host of the 2010 Winter Olympics is anything but wintry these days, and weather wags are out in force.
Welcome to the 2010 Spring Olympics Is this what they mean by a "green" Olympics? Mild enough for you? A local columnist suggested the Games' official drink should be The Slushie. And so on. 1/26/2010 6:04:11 AM
Victoria police suspend officer after incident The Vancouver Police Department was called into investigate after a 28-year police veteran in Victoria allegedly assaulted a man in custody. A 33-year-old man was taken to hospital with facial injuries Jan. 15 after an incident in the jail at Victoria police headquarters. 1/26/2010 4:52:39 AM
Micro-lofts promise Vancouver renters a break A Vancouver development company thinks they may have a solution to the high rents many downtown residents are paying — 270-square-foot micro-lofts that will rent for about $300 less than the average bachelor suite. 1/25/2010 5:05:46 PM
Dirty Campbell tricks: BC Freedom of Information office decapitated The independent Freedom of Information Commission has suspended operations after the government appointed commissioner David Loukidelis to a new job, but failed to name a replacement. Here is the entire "extremely urgent" letter sent Friday by FOI executive director Mary Carlson to Speaker Bill Barisoff pleading for help and direction. 1/25/2010 4:36:36 PM
Whistler: Business plummets as Olympic tent blocks storefronts Owner-operators of the village location of Subway Sandwiches and Salads and Daily Slice pizza have seen their business drop by up to 65 per cent, thanks to the construction of a two-storey tent for the Olympic media that is blocking their storefronts from view and obstructing pedestrian access. 1/25/2010 3:46:01 PM
Vancouver police urge sexual predator to turn himself in Police in Metro Vancouver are urging a sexual predator who may have attacked as many as eight young girls dating back to the late 1980s, to turn himself in. At a news conference, retired police officer and psychologist Matt Logan made a direct plea. 1/25/2010 3:20:59 PM
Vancouver is World's most unaffordable housing market A report says urban land use policies are making homes almost unaffordable in markets around the world including Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal. The Demographia International report looked at 272 metropolitan markets in Canada, the U.S., the U.K., Australia, New Zealand and Ireland. 1/25/2010 3:14:39 PM
Much-needed snow falls on Cypress Mountain After some warm, problematic weather on Cypress Mountain, which will host the Olympic snowboarding, freestyle and ski-cross events next month, Mother Nature lent VANOC a helping hand on Sunday in the form of some freshly fallen snow. But is it enough? 1/25/2010 4:52:04 AM
72-year-old woman dead after hit-and-run An elderly woman who was critically injured last week in a hit-and-run in Burnaby, B.C., has died. Police say 72-year-old Virginia Itubay was crossing the intersection of Willingdon Avenue and Kitchener Street at about 3:30 p.m. on Thursday when she was struck by a vehicle. 1/25/2010 4:11:50 AM
Defendant in teen stabbing case acquitted (Video) Two Surrey mothers are outraged after the teenager accused of stabbing their sons last March was acquitted. "I was sick to my stomach," one of the boys' mothers said. "I can't believe this kid would get off free for stabbing two kids. He had a concealed weapon." 1/24/2010 7:38:42 AM
Vancouver officers 'should be fired': lawyer A Vancouver lawyer says the violent, wrongful arrest of a Chinese man this week means the city's police must act decisively in dealing with the officers involved and will have to do more to regain trust in the Chinese community. 1/24/2010 5:27:16 AM
Campbell neuters B.C. government watchdog For a government that's run roughshod over access-to-information rights in this province, you can call this one the sour cherry on top of a very foul-tasting cake. Now the Freedom of Information Commission, an independent watchdog office in place to protect B.C. citizens, has suspended operations. 1/24/2010 5:16:14 AM
Thousands turn out at rallies to protest proroguing of Parliament Frustration with and anger at Stephen Harper’s decision to prorogue Parliament spilled from the Internet onto the streets Saturday, as tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered at rallies across Canada. Calling it a rally in support of democracy, more than 3,500 people gathered on Parliament Hill. 1/24/2010 4:33:47 AM
Vancouver: The green mayor goes for gold It's an easy 10-minute pedal to the day's first appointment. On an overcast morning, on a warm January day, Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson tucks his grey suit pants into his blue dress socks, dons a helmet and sets off from his two-storey home near City Hall. 1/23/2010 2:32:44 PM
Development 'couild' help pay for BC Place roof replacement British Columbia was still in mid-recession last March when the BC Pavilion Corp. put out a call for interest in developing land around BC Place Stadium as a way to help finance the building's $458-million roof replacement. The value for the 700,000 square feet put up for lease could reach $60 million to $100 million. 1/23/2010 10:35:36 AM
Visa approval gives Burnaby leukemia patient new hope Just when things couldn’t look any bleaker for leukemia patient Azeem Ahmed Khan of Burnaby, he finally got some good news. Khan’s sister and potential stem-cell donor, Zahida Haroon, in Pakistan was notified that her long-awaited visitor’s visa to Canada had finally been approved. 1/23/2010 10:32:59 AM
Jamie Bacon's defence lawyer wants Karbovanec as witness A lawyer for Jamie Bacon wants to call convicted killer Dennis Karbovanec as a possible defence witness in Bacon’s Surrey gun trial. Ken Westlake suggested Friday that Karbovanec might have been the real owner of four loaded handguns linked to Jamie and his brother Jarrod. 1/23/2010 10:20:30 AM
Pre-Olympic: Victoria playing 'dirty tricks' with Privacy Commissioner's office Work at the office of B.C.'s Information and Privacy Commission in Victoria is reported to have ground to a halt after the commissioner resigned suddenly this week. Privacy Commissioner David Loukidelis resigned unexpectedly Wednesday to take a job as deputy attorney general. 1/23/2010 4:47:06 AM
Adoptive families anxious for arrival of Haiti orphans Jennifer Whims and her husband Travis have waited for more than three years to adopt brothers Steevenson and Sterling from Haiti. After last week's devastating earthquake, the Canadian government confirmed the boys' adoption is being fast-tracked, but the Burnaby couple has no idea when the boys will arrive in Canada. 1/23/2010 4:34:18 AM
Van. Police now changing story on attack on innocent man According to an initial police media release, Wu's injuries came because he "resisted by striking out at police and trying to slam the door." Now, Vancouver Police Chief Jim Chu says, "I want to make it perfectly clear that we do not stand by those statements." 1/22/2010 3:47:08 PM
Vancouver police officer to be sentenced for incest A veteran Vancouver police officer will be sentenced April 14 after pleading guilty to incest, Crown counsel confirmed yesterday. The charges stem from an incident at a house party in Burnaby Aug. 1, 2009, reportedly involving the officer's sister. 1/22/2010 11:53:17 AM
Squamish-based brewery launches Olympics-hooked Three Beavers beer They're cute furry Canadian icons proudly sporting gold, silver and bronze medals on a podium made of tree stumps. They look like medal winners at some kind of wildlife hinterland Olympics but the Three Beavers are actually a clever marketing image. 1/22/2010 11:51:24 AM
Former sex worker challenges prostitution laws Sheri Kiselbach was seeking to overturn a December 2008 B.C. Supreme Court decision that she could not challenge the laws because she was not an active worker in the sex trade and was not facing criminal charges for prostitution. 1/22/2010 11:17:58 AM
$6 Billion and counting: Are games worth the cost? With the torch run about to hit the communities of the South Okanagan next week, it might not be the most prudent idea to speak negatively about the Olympics. We certainly wish the best for all the athletes and torch runners who will be participating in this event. 1/22/2010 9:36:50 AM
Outlook brighter, coast loggers told B.C.'s coastal logging contractors wrapped up their smallest convention in recent memory Thursday, with a few glimmers of hope for the future. Forests Minister Pat Bell told delegates at a morning panel discussion that accelerating lumber sales to China represent an unprecedented opportunity for B.C. 1/22/2010 5:55:25 AM
Vancouver police apologize after man beaten The Vancouver Police Department has issued an apology after a man said he was beaten by officers who knocked on the wrong door while investigating a report of a violent domestic dispute. Yao Wei Wu told CBC News that as soon as he opened the door the officers pulled him out of the house and beat him. 1/22/2010 4:34:40 AM
Olympics being used as excuse to cut surgeries: NDP The NDP says the Liberal government is using the Olympics as an excuse to cut medically-necessary surgeries. He says the government calls it an "Olympic slowdown", but Dix says there's no lack of patients needing surgeries and the delays mean longer wait times, leaving patients open to a higher risk of complications and pain. 1/21/2010 1:40:50 PM
Surrey pastor says controversial Haiti comments 'taken right out of context' A Surrey pastor has found himself in hot water over comments he made on the weekend about Haiti. “Haiti is infamous for its voodoo spiritual darkness,” he said in comments tape-recorded by a parishioner. “I can’t help think that maybe God has shaken them, shaken them against the kingdom of darkness.” 1/21/2010 11:02:10 AM
The Cecil's brass pole to be replaced by glass tower When the Cecil Hotel is demolished later this year, a vestige of the strip club’s lively history will survive. The brass pole used by a cavalcade of exotic dancers in their acts over the years will be auctioned off next week in what the developers of the condo project that will replace the Cecil have dubbed, “The Last Dance.” 1/21/2010 10:55:47 AM
Olympics no longer 'smoke-free' The so-called smoke-free Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics have gone up in smoke, officials were forced to admit. VANOC and Vancouver Coastal Health Authority have been boasting on their websites that the 2010 Games would be "smoke-free Games." 1/21/2010 5:39:48 AM
B.C. government spends nearly $1 million on Olympic tickets I'm afraid the latest news on the taxpayer-financed Olympic freebiefest won't exactly make your day. Newly revealed government documents show that all the fat cats and freeloaders attending the Games on your tab have snapped up some of the best and most expensive seats available. 1/21/2010 5:37:00 AM
Vancouver violent crime drops Violent crime was down in Vancouver in 2009 but sex offences went against the trend. Murders, attempted murders, assaults, robberies and property crime all fell, according to figures released Wednesday by the Vancouver Police Department (VPD). 1/21/2010 5:12:30 AM
Modern day hunters look to seize 2010 opportunities Standing in the kitchen of a new $950,000 home, Justin Sky George looks more like a realtor than the chief of a prosperous First Nation. But George, the new chief of the Tsleil-Waututh First Nation in North Vancouver, has helped spearhead the 1,200 unit development for the small band with big ambitions. 1/21/2010 4:51:14 AM
Budget challenges forces 233 government layoffs The B.C. government is laying off 233 people in the forests and citizens' service ministries, citing budget challenges in the coming year. It's the second round of provincial government job cuts since the Liberal government announced a record budget deficit last fall. 1/20/2010 1:25:55 PM
Whistler Blackcomb to be sold at auction during Olympics Banks have seized Intrawest Holdings, the owner of the Whistler ski resort that's hosting the Olympic downhill races next month, after the resort operator missed a big debt payment, and now plan to auction the company off right in the middle of the Games. In the meantime "it's business as usual." 1/20/2010 1:18:57 PM
Maple Ridge: Sex offender deemed dangerous offender A man who grabbed the breast of a paramedic in Maple Ridge more than two years ago has been designated a dangerous offender. Ryan Glen Ziegler received the designation Thursday, two years after he was convicted of sexual assault. 1/20/2010 7:13:30 AM
Expect airport-style security during the Olympics The venues at the Vancouver Winter Olympics next month may be a lot like the airport at Christmas, with long lineups snaking slowly through security screening. Games organizers are advising ticket holders to arrive three hours before the start of outdoor mountain sports and two hours early for indoor events. 1/20/2010 5:15:03 AM
Hidden-camera video prompts two drug kickback investigations The B.C. Health Ministry and the B.C. College of Pharmacists say they will start an investigation into an Abbotsford pharmacy after watching hidden camera video of what appeared to be an offer to pay cash to a drug recovery house in return for methadone referrals. 1/20/2010 5:12:20 AM
Student charged with making hit list given conditional sentence A former Templeton high-school student accused of making an online hit list was handed a two-year conditional sentence Tuesday. The 18-year-old’s sentence focuses on supervision instead of jail time. He cannot be named because he was a youth at the time of the offence. 1/20/2010 4:57:52 AM
Man convicted after sex with 12-year-old A 26-year-old Victoria man has been convicted of making child pornography, touching with a sexual purpose and obstruction of justice following his months-long relationship with a 12-year-old Vancouver girl. But the jury found Albert Quinones not guilty of internet luring. 1/19/2010 7:37:42 PM
Store owner dodges bullets during armed robbery A West Vancouver jewelry store owner says he dodged two bullets while pursuing three men who had robbed him Tuesday afternoon. Police later arrested four people in connection with the armed robbery. 1/19/2010 7:35:24 PM
MacLeans on B.C. Police: Justice undone When it comes to closing cases and getting serious offenders into court, the statistics for police in British Columbia are the worst in the country. While there are many explanations for this, one significant cause, some police privately complain, is that they are handcuffed by a provincial law. 1/19/2010 7:31:47 PM
Log exports no solution, minister says The Truck Loggers Association is bringing its convention to B.C.'s capital for the first time in 67 years. When coastal logging contractors come to Victoria's conference centre Jan. 20-21 they will renew a request for the B.C. government to ease restrictions on log exports from Crown land. 1/19/2010 5:35:10 PM
Michael Smyth: Budget stink bomb to bust up Olympic party With the Olympics just over three weeks away, the Lower Mainland is getting set for one heckuva party. B.C. taxpayers better get ready for a four-Advil hangover. Finance Minister Colin Hansen will bring down his 2010 budget just two days after the Olympic flame is snuffed. 1/19/2010 3:50:49 PM
Twelve per cent to leave town during Olympics, poll says A recent poll of Lower Mainlanders suggests 12 per cent plan to leave town for all or part of the Olympic Games. Most will stay in town and catch the sports action from the comfort of their own homes. 22 per cent (or one in five) plan to attend some events or activities. 1/19/2010 1:34:05 PM
Man's body recovered after fishing vessel sinks in storm Search and rescue crews recovered the body of a 48-year-old man Monday afternoon off the eastern shore of Salt Spring Island's Fulford Harbour. The man was the operator of a 40-foot fishing trawler that sank overnight, police said. No one else was believed to have been onboard. 1/19/2010 5:54:05 AM
Generator noise blasts residents near B.C. Place Living near B.C. Place has become a big pain in the ears for Ray and Lesley Appel. They used to enjoy living in their downtown apartment, but that was before three huge gas-powered generators appeared outside the downtown stadium that is the site for the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics Feb. 12. 1/19/2010 5:10:14 AM
B.C. man finally hears from family in Haiti Almost a week after a devastating quake rocked his native Haiti, Garry Auguste finally got the call he'd been waiting for. "It was my brother." The Surrey man had previously learned that his sister and her husband died in the quake. 1/19/2010 4:21:15 AM
Crown seeks 16 years in jail for Hells Angels' Punko Prosecutors are seeking a sentence of 16 years in jail for a full-patch member of the Hells Angels who pleaded guilty to trafficking in methamphetamines and cocaine. Junko Punko is caught at one point on police wiretaps gloating about the drug enterprise. 1/18/2010 4:55:24 PM
Apparent BC pharmacy kickback scheme caught on tape A CTV News hidden-camera investigation has uncovered what appears to be a kickback scheme involving pharmacists and drug-recovery houses in B.C. Jim O'Rourke said he's been approached by several pharmacies offering him money to send his addicts to them. Provincial regulations outlaw kickback schemes. 1/18/2010 4:45:35 PM
High winds batter Lower Mainland Early-morning winds gusting up to 90 km/h knock down trees and cause ferry sailings to be cancelled. BC Ferries has cancelled all Monday morning routes leaving from the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal. The Lions Gate Bridge remains closed as crews clear up fallen trees. (Ed: This report came at 8am.) 1/18/2010 8:05:00 AM
Arrest made in Abbotsford kidnapping investigation Details are sparse, but Const. Ian MacDonald said the investigation began on Saturday night after police were approached by a 23-year-old man who said he feared for his safety. On Sunday morning, members of the Abbotsford Police Patrol Division and the Emergency Response Team stormed two houses. 1/17/2010 6:41:39 PM
Victoria: Empty police cars parked to slow traffic Police are making the most of their fleet by putting cars to work even when no officers are available to operate them. Sgt. Ross Elliott of the Integrated Road Safety Unit surveyed the number of marked police cars that sit idle and realized they could do traffic enforcement even when empty. 1/17/2010 11:11:40 AM
Luxury buses will take Fraser Valley residents to SkyTrain during Olympics Fraser Valley residents don’t have a lot of rapid transit options, but during February they can take a luxury bus to rapid transit, specifically the King George SkyTrain station. International Trailways announced Friday it will run bathroom- and Wi-Fi-equipped motorcoaches between park-and-ride locations. 1/17/2010 9:21:42 AM
Greenpeace protest interrupts Ignatieff’s town hall in Vancouver A group of Greenpeace activists interrupted a speech by Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff in Vancouver on Friday when several protesters stood up and began chanting loudly against his stance on Canada’s oilsands. Ignatieff was speaking in front of a capacity crowd of about 400 people at the University of British Columbia. 1/17/2010 4:47:05 AM
Vancouver police report first homicide of 2010 Police say the male body found in front of an East Vancouver home on Saturday morning appears to have been shot, marking the city's first homicide of 2010. Const. Jana McGuinness said neighbourhood residents told investigators they had heard shots fired overnight. 1/16/2010 7:58:39 PM
B.C. government playing game with proposed HST rebates The B.C. government is offering schools and hospitals a break on the harmonized sales tax, which takes effect July 1. The rebates will apply to qualified schools, universities, public colleges and hospital authorities, which were facing higher costs because of the HST. 1/16/2010 5:11:43 AM
Remaining Tamil migrants to be freed The federal government is prepared to release the remaining 25 Tamil migrants held in Vancouver on suspicion of links to terrorism since they arrived in Canada three months ago. The men were among the 76 passengers and crew of a ship seized off Vancouver Island Oct. 17. 1/16/2010 5:07:56 AM
B.C. government releases star-studded new tourism ad It's only 30 seconds long, but a new tourism promotion features a pretty impressive array of local celebrities. Singer Sarah McLachlan, actors Michael J. Fox, Ryan Reynolds, Eric McCormack (of Will & Grace fame) and Kim Cattrall, and basketball star Steve Nash all make an appearance. 1/15/2010 4:20:10 PM
Mass murderer Nathan Fry seeks 'upbeat' pen pal Hey, ladies: Have I ever got a man for you! He's single, fit, artistic, interested in history and devoted to his family. Plus, he's a Capricorn — said to be practical, funny and patient. Just don't expect long walks in the moonlight. He's serving a life sentence for first-degree mass murder. 1/15/2010 4:16:12 PM
Man charged with Internet luring tells court he didn't know girl was just 12 A 26-year-old man told a B.C. Supreme Court jury Friday he had no idea the Vancouver girl he met on the Internet two years ago and made a sex tape with was just 12 at the time. "Honestly, I had no clue that she was that young," said Albert Quinones. He said he believed the girl was 16. 1/15/2010 3:48:00 PM
New flood warning issued for Cowichan Valley, wind warning for Victoria A flood warning was issued Friday morning for the Cowichan and Koksilah rivers in the Cowichan Valley, while the flood watch has ended for several other Vancouver Island rivers. Heavy rain has soaked much of Vancouver Island with 150 to 200 millimetres measured at some west island locations. 1/15/2010 3:44:43 PM
70-year-old B.C man sentenced in Ecstasy case A 70-year-old Surrey, B.C., man whose lawyer says he was looking for "a little excitement" and had always dreamed of being financially successful has been sentenced to two years in prison for conspiracy to distribute Ecstasy. 1/15/2010 3:02:05 PM
B.C. gives $500K for earthquake relief The B.C. government is contributing $500,000 to the Red Cross to support victims of Tuesday's earthquake in Haiti. The province will also work with the federal government to offer assistance to help Haiti rebuild, Premier Gordon Campbell announced Thursday night. 1/15/2010 5:34:15 AM
Bacon brothers' mom respects judge’s rule The judge’s decision to allow weapons to be included as evidence in the trial against her two sons came as no surprise to Susan Bacon, but she believes James and Jarrod are getting fair treatment by the court. “I respect the ruling,” Susan Bacon said Thursday. 1/15/2010 4:50:06 AM
Olympic organizers accuse Scotiabank of ambush marketing A campaign by Scotiabank encouraging Canadians to "Show Your Colours'' has prompted the Vancouver Olympic Committee to accuse the bank of ambush marketing. The committee, known as VANOC, criticized the campaign, saying it misleads consumers into believing it's linked with the Games. 1/14/2010 2:48:58 PM
South Coast getting walloped with more rain Environment Canada has issued a rainfall warning for Metro Vancouver and surrounding areas. The agency says 60 to 80 millimetres of rain is expected to fall across Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, Howe Sound, the Sunshine Coast and sections of east Vancouver Island through Friday morning. 1/14/2010 2:43:54 PM
Canadians split in opinion of Olympic spending: Highest disapproval in B.C Canadians are split almost right down the middle when it comes to the amount of money the country is spending on the Winter Olympics, an EKOS poll suggests. Forty-eight per cent said it's too high while 45 per cent said it's just right. In B.C., 69 per cent said too much money is being spent 1/14/2010 2:32:17 PM
Foster home worker charged in teen sex assaults A former foster home care worker has been charged in connection with two sex assaults against teenaged boys. Richmond RCMP received information that the man was engaging in "inappropriate behaviour" with several children in his care. 1/14/2010 6:37:06 AM
Two B.C. (crooked?) vehicle inspection sites shut down Authorities shut down two provincial vehicle inspection facilities Wednesday, alleging that the facilities were issuing inspection certificates without doing proper inspections. Ccommercial vehicles that had passed inspections at Sharma Truck Repair failed subsequent safety inspections at an "alarming rate." 1/14/2010 6:36:01 AM
B.C. families wait to hear from loved ones in Haiti As the death toll climbs from earthquake-ravaged Haiti, many B.C. residents are anxiously waiting for word on friends and loved ones from the Caribbean nation. In the meantime, Immacula Renaud is throwing herself into fundraising efforts and praying for her cousins. 1/14/2010 4:49:59 AM
Family wants apology from B.C. for hanging of ancestor in front yard of his home In 1869 a First Nations man was hanged in the front yard of his home by the province of British Columbia for a crime his descendants say he did not commit. The family is not giving up. The Amos family have approached the B.C. Union of Chiefs for political support. Stewart Phillip, Grand Chief, said the family has it. 1/13/2010 8:01:13 PM
13 from B.C., Newfoundland facing drug charges At least 13 people in British Columbia and Newfoundland are facing charges in a major drug investigation on Canada's East Coast dubbed Operation Razorback, nvolving more than $1 million in cocaine and marijuana. Five of the 13 people facing charges are from the St. John's area. The rest are Victoria residents. 1/13/2010 6:41:45 PM
Teachers win days off for crowded classes Teachers must be compensated with paid days off for forcing them to work in overcrowded classrooms, in violation of the B.C. government's legislated class-size and composition standards, an arbitrator has ruled. Arbitrator James Dorsey said school districts ignored the law in allowing classes with more than 30 students. 1/13/2010 5:59:25 PM
Internet He/She: Both lied about their ages, child-luring trial hears A Vancouver girl told her boyfriend she was 16, while he told her he was 17 or 18, a courtroom heard this week. The truth was the girl was just 12, while the Victoria man she met on the Internet was 24. Albert Quinones is now on trial before a B.C. Supreme Court jury. 1/13/2010 4:51:55 PM
Province cites economy in cancelling funds for maritime centre The B.C. government, citing a “difficult time” for the economy, has pulled its financial support for the National Maritime Centre in North Vancouver, prompting the city to scuttle the ambitious mix of museum and community centre that would have celebrated the province's maritime history. 1/13/2010 4:43:14 PM
Police put 'cunning, clever, conniving' thief on Olympic radar He's been dubbed a sophisticated super-thief and a chameleon who stole millions of dollars in cash, credit cards and valuables, including a priceless Viennese diamond. Gerald Blanchard, 37, traded in a tip about the diamond and sold some Vancouver condos in return for a shorter sentence. 1/13/2010 11:59:33 AM
Gaping hole found in YVR perimeter fencing In the wake of a failed attempt to blow up a Northwest Airlines flight on Dec. 25, airports across North America ramped up their security measures. Yet, on a visit to Vancouver International Airport on Tuesday, CTV News found what appears to be a security gap. 1/13/2010 11:05:10 AM
Officials confident despite Cypress Mountain losing a metre of snow base About a metre of the snow base on the Cypress Mountain competition runs has been washed away by the Pineapple Express, say Olympic officials. But Tim Gayda, 2010's vice-president of sport said Wednesday officials are still confident the event will run smoothly. 1/13/2010 10:59:25 AM
B.C.'s child poverty worst in Canada B.C. children are more likely to load up on cheap, unhealthy food and go without warm winter clothes than children in any other province, says a child advocacy group. Child poverty in a family of four is defined as having less than $40,000 annual income before taxes. 1/13/2010 6:16:25 AM
Library asked to cover up non-sponsors' logos during Games Librarians in Vancouver are being warned to solicit only official Olympic sponsors for any Games-themed events they organize next month, and to cover up the names of any competitors - even slapping tape on offending logos on audiovisual equipment. 1/13/2010 4:47:02 AM
Flood emergency declared in Courtenay Mayor Greg Phelps has declared a state of emergency in Courtenay, B.C., because of flooding. A reception centre has also been opened for evacuated residents. A number of roads through Courtenay have also been closed and drivers are being urged to avoid the city's downtown core. 1/12/2010 3:14:24 PM
RCMP not recommending charges in ICBC probe The probe began in April 2008 after it came to light that almost 100 "written-off" vehicles had been repaired and sold at ICBC's Burnaby research and training facility without proper documentation --many of them to ICBC's own employees and some for far less than they were worth. (Ed: What a rip-off of B.C. citizens. It smells.) 1/12/2010 5:29:34 AM
Nature drops wet blanket on 2010 Games planning Olympic planners found themselves scurrying to adapt to torrents of rain and near-record mild temperatures that hit not only Vancouver, but far up Cypress Mountain, the North Shore peak overlooking the city where snowboarding and freestyle skiing events will be staged. 1/12/2010 5:08:29 AM
Pre-trial motions not likely in much-delayed Basi-Virk trial Pre-trial motions in the Basi-Virk case are not expected to go forward, paving the way for the much-delayed trial to finally get under way. Bobby Virk and David Basi, both former government aides, are charged with fraud and breach of trust in the controversial $1-billion sale of B.C. Rail. 1/11/2010 5:58:13 PM
Funeral held for Canadian reporter killed in Afghanistan Reporter Michelle Lang's brother sobbed today as he told his sister's funeral in Vancouver that their mother had warned Lang not to take on the dangerous Afghanistan assignment. Cameron Lang says he feels guilty that he didn't talk her out of it, but he says she was where she wanted to be. 1/11/2010 3:02:48 PM
About one-third of Vancouver shelter residents French-speaking When Vancouver opened its first emergency winter homeless shelter last month, French-language skills proved surprisingly useful for staff. On opening day, more than half the residents of the 40-bed shelter were francophone. Most of the francophones are from Eastern Canada, he said. 1/11/2010 2:43:55 PM
Man shot by RCMP officer dies after surgery A man shot by an RCMP officer in North Vancouver on Saturday afternoon has died from his injuries. Police say Matthew John Wilcox died in hospital while recovering from surgery on Sunday night. Wilcox was shot in the torso by a Mountie responding to a 911 call about a vehicle suspected in a crime. 1/11/2010 2:35:39 PM
B.C. ski resorts close as rain pounds south coast Warm and wet weather forced the shutdown of three B.C. ski resorts Monday, including Cypress Mountain, which will host freestyle and snowboard Olympic events. West Vancouver's Cypress closed Alpine and Nordic areas for at least a day, with mountain staff promising to reassess on Tuesday. 1/11/2010 2:32:52 PM
Victoria cop retires, avoids hearing for leaking details about former police chief A Victoria police officer accused of leaking information to the media about the former chief has retired, avoiding a disciplinary hearing. The Victoria Police Department received a complaint in September 2008 regarding then-sergeant Jim Simpson. 1/11/2010 7:15:18 AM
Red Tape Awareness Week: Small firms suffer In a new survey for the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, which represents 10,000 B.C. businesses, almost two-thirds of small firms say that government rules and the paperwork associated with them is the most troublesome issue facing them today. 1/11/2010 6:01:19 AM
Mounties pull plug on Nanaimo grow-ops RCMP have brought down marijuana grow-ops in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island and Vavenby in the southern B.C. Interior. In Nanaimo, the RCMP's "green team" hit five residences Friday morning that police believe were linked to grow-ops. More than 40 officers were involved in the raids. 1/11/2010 4:54:00 AM
25-year-old pedestrian killed in East Vancouver Police are investigating after a 25-year-old woman was struck and killed by a car early Sunday morning in East Vancouver. Officers were called at around 12:30 a.m. to the intersection of Kerr Street and 49th Avenue, where an Asian woman was hit while crossing the road. 1/11/2010 4:49:00 AM
Gangs recruit women as men sent to prison With more and more trusted foot soldiers being arrested and imprisoned, criminal gangs are increasingly turning to women to fill the void, says Const. Ian MacDonald with the Abbotsford Police Department. "These gangs have to ensure that feeder stream," he said. 1/10/2010 7:12:19 AM
VPD investigating RCMP shooting of motorist near Deep Cove The Vancouver Police Department has been called in to take the lead investigating a police-involved shooting that injured a man near Deep Cove Saturday afternoon. RCMP public relations officer, Sgt. Peter Thiessen, said the circumstances surrounding the shooting were unclear. 1/10/2010 5:01:40 AM
B.C. town's Olympic dreams dashed Many people in the B.C. community of Squamish say they don't expect to see the benefits they hoped for from the 2010 Games, despite the town's prime location halfway between the two Olympic centres of Vancouver and Whistler. "Squamish isn't very enthusiastic right now about the Olympics," said Sylvie Paillard. 1/9/2010 6:51:54 PM
'I called for hours,' says boy rescued from B.C. mountain A 14-year-old British Columbia boy who became lost during a school field trip on Sumas Mountain on Thursday says he was calling for help for hours before he was found. Sebastian Barrette was brought off the mountain by a search and rescue team late Thursday. 1/9/2010 11:13:46 AM
Whistler's homeless 'relocated' ahead of Olympics Whistler's homeless usually live in their cars or find shelter in the village's parkades and parking lots. But with the Games around the corner, Olympic organizers are taking over roads and parking lots, displacing them. 1/9/2010 5:13:22 AM
RCMP Officer caught driving drunk twice charged A Vancouver-area RCMP officer caught drinking and driving twice in just over a month has now been charged with six offences. Vernon James Wilson is charged with two counts of dangerous driving, impaired driving causing bodily harm, causing an accident and driving over .08. 1/9/2010 4:24:39 AM
Prison Lawyer's B.S. over phone taping of Jamie Bacon A lawyer for the Surrey Pre-Trial Services Centre says prison officials are making “urgent efforts” to improve a phone system that allowed accused killer Jamie Bacon’s calls with his lawyer to be illegally taped and listened to. (Ed: It was the Deputy Warden doing the taping) 1/8/2010 5:49:50 PM
Vancouver restaurant robbed by armed, well-dressed robbers Police want the public's help to catch two well-dressed men who pulled off an armed robbery of a restaurant that police characterized as "takeover-style." The thieves bound and gagged the two employees, making off with a substantial amount of cash and jewelry. 1/8/2010 3:54:57 PM
Langley: 'Bizarre' attack nets jail A Langley man has been sentenced to nine months in jail for an assault on his estranged wife that was described by the judge as "bizarre and ominous." On New Year's Day 2008, Thomas Matsos, 35, knocked his wife to the ground in their Langley home when she arrived to take care of the dog. 1/8/2010 3:51:15 PM
Paramedics seek to oust (biased?) adjudicator B.C.’s paramedics are seeking to quash the appointment of longtime bureaucrat Chris Trumpy to investigate their lengthy and bitter labour dispute. The province’s 3,400 ambulance paramedics went on strike in April and remained off the job until they were ordered back to work. 1/8/2010 3:44:32 PM
Mountie drunk-driver finally charged in Vancouver Vancouver police announced Friday charges have been approved against a Vancouver-area RCMP officer for impaired driving. Vernon James Wilson, 55, was arrested in two separate incidents: a crash on Oct. 3, 2008, at one end of the Second Narrows Bridge, and another on Nov. 7. 1/8/2010 3:10:53 PM
Almost 1,000 complaints against B.C. police last year There were 960 allegations of police misconduct against B.C. municipal police officers last year, says the Office of the Police Complaints Commissioner. A report by the commissioner says 97 of those complaints were substantiated by investigators 1/8/2010 11:09:17 AM
Expect waits up to two hours for transit during the Olympics The unexpectedly long lineups that greeted the opening of Canada Line has TransLink now warning commuters and Olympic visitors to brace for waits of up to two hours at some transit stations next month during the 2010 Games. 1/8/2010 8:57:04 AM
B.C.'s unemployment rate creeps up in December British Columbia's unemployment rate edged up slightly in December, from 8.3 per cent the previous month to 8.4 per cent, Statistics Canada reported Friday. The westernmost province shed mostly part-time jobs while full-time employment increased by 6.9 per cent. 1/8/2010 7:49:35 AM
Man sentenced to 10 years for killing his 'pervert' cousin It was supposed to be a scar intended to scare, but it wound up severing familial ties forever. New Westminster Supreme Court heard James Curtis Bristol only planned to stab distant cousin Zachary John Douglas in the face to "make him ugly" and scare him into stopping sexually assaulting others. 1/8/2010 6:25:23 AM
Impaired mom passes out with kids in backseat A Vancouver Island mother got behind the wheel so drunk she ended up passing out with two of her children in the backseat, police said Thursday. The 31-year-old Esquimalt woman was found slumped over the steering wheel of a Toyota van. The woman had been driving. 1/8/2010 5:26:11 AM
More B.C. businesses test Olympic trademark rules With tens of thousands of potential customers coming to town, every Vancouver business wants to be associated with the Olympics. The challenge? How to associate without breaking strict trademark rules. Some stores have found some creative ways to get around them. 1/8/2010 5:23:32 AM
Marc Emery could be extradited to U.S. Friday Vancouver marijuana activist Marc Emery is taking his last puff of freedom — as the clock counts down on an extradition order that will send him to a U.S. jail for five years. "I've been enjoying every moment of it out with my wife. We are just living day to day," he said. 1/8/2010 5:12:43 AM
Housing market 'unusually strong': Royal LePage A new Royal LePage survey predicts Canada's residential real estate market will remain "unusually strong" through the first half of 2010. The stimulus effect of low borrowing costs has contributed to a sharp rise in demand that has driven activity to new highs, he says. 1/7/2010 4:39:19 PM
UVic can finally evict ex-student still living in residence 14 years later The University of Victoria says a recent court decision means it can finally evict a man still living in student residences 14 years after he graduated. Alkis Gerd'son moved into residence in 1991, completing a bachelor of arts degree in 1993 and a bachelor of education degree in 1997. He never moved out. 1/7/2010 12:52:17 PM
Captain Condom a part of SafeGames 2010 Don’t be shocked to find Captain Condom and the Always-Protected Crusader handing out condoms and lubricant at downtown street corners during the Olympic Games. More than 200 outreach workers will distribute condoms, lube, lip balm, hand heaters, glow sticks, and other safety-related stuff. 1/7/2010 11:47:15 AM
Vancouver businesses launch attack on parking tax A slickly organized protest against the tripling of the provincial sales tax on parking is hitting the streets this morning. Signs. Brochures. Anti-tax advocates manning the entrance to pay parkades throughout Metro Vancouver. 1/7/2010 11:44:15 AM
Surprised? Video doesn't match police version of cop assaulting man Former bar manager Sarah Penman says a run-in between a Vancouver police sergeant and a customer outside the Regal Beagle last summer was so distressful she had to quit her job. Penman said the victim, a 27-year-old Vancouver man named Justin, was using his cellphone when the sergeant knocked him down. 1/7/2010 5:10:31 AM
Surrey husband charged in wife's death A Surrey man has been charged after police responding to a missing-person report discovered the body of his wife at the couple's home early Wednesday. A family member reported to RCMP early Tuesday that the woman was missing, said Cpl. Dale Carr of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team . 1/7/2010 4:26:51 AM
Explosive fertilizer accounted for, company says A clerical error appears to be the reason why two tonnes of an explosive chemical compound could not be accounted for. "This is our understanding right now as a result of our review. We are confirming and re-confirming this right now," said Lexa Hobenshield. 1/7/2010 4:24:05 AM
BC Political quotes of the decade, by Michael Smyth Some examples: - "He's a Liberal. But he's a conservative. If you know what I mean." - Then-Alberta Premier Ralph Klein, describing B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell......"Sober." - Liberal whip Kevin Krueger, describing the mood in the government caucus after Campbell's drunk-driving arrest. 1/6/2010 6:29:20 PM
Bike rescue program operator arrested North Vancouver RCMP have arrested and charged a man who ran a program that claimed to return stolen bikes back to their rightful owners. Gordon Sinclaire Blackwell, 41, has been charged with 36 counts of possession of stolen property and one count of theft. He was arrested in Surrey. 1/6/2010 5:11:13 PM
Lawyer son of acquitted Air India suspect suspended, fined The lawyer son of a man accused — then acquitted — of taking part in the Air India bombing has been suspended for a month and fined for misleading a B.C. court about his family's finances before the high-profile trial. Jaspreet Singh Malik has been ordered to pay $2,520 to the Law Society of B.C. 1/6/2010 11:35:05 AM
Aboriginal groups to press economic issues at Games The chief of one of four B.C. aboriginal groups with a seat at the planning table for the 2010 Olympics says he supports any First Nation that wants to use the Games as a stage to tell the world about inadequate government support for pressing economic issues. 1/6/2010 7:48:52 AM
B.C. community 'doctor' charged with fraud over fake degrees A well-known Victoria man who operated a counselling clinic in Saanich and taught courses at the University of Victoria has been charged with fraud, accused of falsely claiming to hold two doctoral degrees. Jason Matthew Walker, 31, was arrested Dec. 31 after Saanich police searched the offices of Health Point Consulting. 1/6/2010 6:24:51 AM
Power outage stops Olympic countdown clock Busy organizers of the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver may be wishing time would stand still with just over one month remaining until the opening ceremonies. But, despite appearances, that wish did not come true on Monday evening. the Olympic countdown clock in front of the city's art gallery suddenly went dark, just after 6 p.m. PT Monday. 1/5/2010 3:18:16 PM
RCMP seek man who lit spouse on fire Mounties in North Vancouver are seeking a fugitive who set his spouse's wife on fire nearly six years ago. In April 2004, Jeffery Paul Emery doused his wife with hairspray and set her on fire. She suffered third-degree burns as a result. 1/5/2010 10:40:15 AM
Final flurry of Olympic preparations underway There was plenty of evidence Monday that the 2010 Olympic Games are quickly approaching, from the start of street closures to the installation of security fencing. Almost 50 kilometres of security fencing is going up. 1/5/2010 5:03:29 AM
Body found in Coquitlam mobile home park Homicide investigators are probing a suspicious death at a trailer park in Coquitlam. Neighbors say the man who lived in the unit had an ongoing dispute with an ex-girlfriend, which had resulted in police being called to the scene in previous months. 1/5/2010 4:56:30 AM
Americans frustrated over Olympic hotel bookings Two families from Minnesota who put down a $900 deposit for reservations at a Squamish hotel for the 2010 Olympic Games are worried they've lost their accommodations -- and their money -- after the hotel's owners changed and no one will answer their calls. 1/4/2010 4:43:00 AM
Three men missing in Surrey Surrey RCMP are asking for the public’s help in finding three Newton men - two of whom may be suicidal - who went missing between Dec. 31 and New Year’s Day. All three men were reported missing by their families. The cases are not related. 1/4/2010 4:26:03 AM
Young victims of Port Hardy fire remembered A young hockey player and two siblings known for their athletic ability and good humour were identified as the victims of the fire in Port Hardy on New Year's Day. Chief Paddy Walkus, who was related to all three of the deceased, said they were inspirations to young people in the community. 1/3/2010 5:06:20 AM
Pedestrian killed in Abbotsford crash A 55-year-old man is dead after being hit by a car on Friday night in Abbotsford. He was struck while crossing the street. Investigators say there was limited visibility due to heavy rain, and that the victim was wearing dark clothing. 1/3/2010 4:36:02 AM
What's really going on with the cops and this guy? Charges were stayed Thursday against a Vancouver man who was the subject of a police manhunt for two days after he was suspected of trying to bomb his mother's apartment. Mark Emile Trube, 37, was charged Tuesday with uttering threats and possessing explosives with intent to cause bodily harm. 1/2/2010 6:41:38 PM
B.C. landlord facing multiple fraud charges A landlord in Saanich is facing multiple fraud charges after police say she received thousands of dollars in deposits -- all for the same suite. Charmaine Roy has left at least 25 people stranded and homeless after cancelling their tenancy days before they were supposed to move in. 1/2/2010 6:33:01 PM
Teen killed after 'playing chicken' on B.C. highway A 17-year-old girl was struck and killed as she and a male companion were "playing chicken" with cars near Nanaimo on Friday night. The pair were crossing the highway near the Nanoose First Nation, when they were hit by a pickup truck. Cynthia Bernice Williams, 17, was pronounced dead at the scene. 1/2/2010 10:49:11 AM
Public funeral to be held for Lt. Andrew Nuttall Victoria: A public funeral service for Lt. Andrew Nuttall will be held at Christ Church Cathedral at 1 p.m. Monday. Along with a soldier from the Afghan National Army, 30-year-old Nuttall was killed Dec. 23 by an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan. Nuttall was born in Prince Rupert. 1/2/2010 9:01:56 AM
Searchers called out in the hope of a river rescue It was only a few hours into the New Year when it appears that a tragedy occurred along Highway 1 on the Hope-Fraser Bridge. Hope RCMP alerted Hope Search and Rescue volunteers at 3:30 a.m., January 1, 2010, that a young man may have accidentally gone over the side. 1/2/2010 8:55:39 AM
One man killed, another stabbed in Surrey Surrey RCMP spent the early hours of New Year's Day investigating after a man was stabbed at a late-night house party, and another was killed in a fatal car accident. The man, who was in his early 50s, sustained massive head trauma in the crash. 1/2/2010 5:17:36 AM
Port Hardy apartment fire kills 3 on New Year's Day A New Year's Day apartment fire in the small British Columbia community of Port Hardy has claimed three lives. RCMP Cpl. Darren Lagan says police were called to an apartment complex on Highland Drive just after noon Friday. Four people were inside the suite when the fire broke out. 1/1/2010 5:21:08 PM
Enhanced security to remain at airports until Jan. 4 The strict security measures introduced in the wake of a failed terrorist attack on an American airplane last week will remain in effect until at least Jan. 4, U.S. officials announced Wednesday. Travellers were advised to arrive at airports at least three hours before their scheduled departure times. 1/1/2010 5:16:21 PM
Man killed, woman injured after two accidents in Abbotsford One man was killed in an accident early Thursday, and a woman suffered several fractures after two separate accidents. A crash early Thursday morning involved a pickup truck that crashed into a ditch. The driver did not survive. And, a 27-year-old Abbotsford woman went into a water-filled ditch. 12/31/2009 12:37:02 PM
Mounties should just take their punishment When it comes to evading responsibility for an innocent man's death, some of our guardians of law and order are leaving no legal loophole unexplored. Officers involved in the killing of Robert Dziekanski have been desperately seeking a way to avoid being found to have acted with misconduct. 12/31/2009 11:27:41 AM
B.C. Assessments expected to take a jump The nearly two million property-assessment notices landing in B.C. mailboxes next week will reflect a catch-up in value. If you don't want to wait for the mail, B.C. Assessment's website, www.bcassessment.bc.ca, will have information online as of Monday. 12/31/2009 11:21:21 AM
UBC frathouses evict students to cash in on Vancouver Olympics More than 200 students at the University of British Columbia are being forced out of their rooms by their own fraternities — which have decided to cash in. At Psi Upsilon, 30 fraternity members who pay $730 for monthly room and board have been ordered to leave their rooms. 12/31/2009 5:38:56 AM
Public warned about machete-wielding robbers Vancouver police issued a public warning on Wednesday after linking two violent robberies committed in the city over the past week. The first robbery happened at 11:35 p.m. on Dec. 26, when a group of teenagers were pepper sprayed and robbed by a group of Asian men 12/31/2009 5:12:38 AM
Pickup crashes on icy road, kills elderly woman A 92-year-old woman was killed Wednesday when a pickup she was in went off the road and rolled over in the Fraser Valley. Two others in the pickup were not hurt. The accident happened about 4:30 p.m. on Highway 1 east of Chilliwack, near Bridal Falls. 12/31/2009 5:10:37 AM
DUI charge could keep Olympics tourists out You're an American who's arrived at the border, or perhaps landed at the airport, on the eve of the Olympics. Those pricey tickets to the opening ceremonies and medal round hockey suddenly have become worthless - to you, anyway - when the Canada Border Services agent orders you to turn around. 12/31/2009 5:05:47 AM
Campbell says he has no plans to retire B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell says he has no plans to leave office until his job is done. Campbell told CBC News in a year-end interview that he has no intention to retire before the next provincial election in 2013. Some Liberals have expressed doubts that Campbell will be around. 12/30/2009 5:20:28 PM
Lt.-Gov. helps to carve canoe for people of B.C. The lieutenant-governor of British Columbia has turned the shed behind Government House into a carving studio so he can work on a special project. Steven Point is putting the finishing touches on a handmade dugout canoe, just like those his First Nations ancestors used for generations. 12/30/2009 5:48:19 AM
Vancouver: Three injured in foiled carjacking attempt Four people were rushed to hospital and four cars were damaged on Tuesday morning after a carjacking attempt in downtown Vancouver went horribly awry. The incident began shortly after 10:30 a.m. when witnesses say a pedestrian jumped on to the hood of a black BMW 12/29/2009 1:14:48 PM
Braidwood can find RCMP misconduct: B.C. court The former judge conducting a provincial inquiry into the death of Robert Dziekanski can find misconduct against the RCMP officers involved. The B.C. Court of Appeal upheld a lower court ruling today rejecting the RCMP's argument that Thomas Braidwood had no jurisdiction. 12/29/2009 9:24:02 AM
Suspicious package forces evacuation of homes Several homes were evacuated late Monday in Vancouver as police investigated a suspicious package. The affected homes were in the 2000-block of East 45th Avenue. Police got a 911 call at about 3:30 p.m. 12/29/2009 7:46:07 AM
Man killed in fiery crash on TransCanada near Abbotsford A man was killed after losing control of his vehicle on Highway 1 early Monday and crashing near Bradner Road in Abbotsford. Lower Mainland District Upper Fraser Valley Traffic Services were called to the single vehicle accident at 4:10 a.m. 12/29/2009 5:56:00 AM
Manitoba makes mockery of case for HST Why is Gordon Campbell breaking his election promise and inflicting a $2-billion HST on B.C. consumers? While Campbell is embracing the HST, the government of Manitoba is outright rejecting it--and for reasons that cast doubt on Campbell's tax-whacking logic. 12/29/2009 4:57:00 AM
B.C. man gets licence for record number of marijuana plants A B.C. resident has received a Health Canada licence to possess 60 grams of marijuana for daily medical use, allowing him to legally grow as many as 292 marijuana plants. The licence provides for possibly the largest quantity ever to be legalized in Canada. 12/29/2009 4:44:58 AM
Giant statue of Lenin and Mao the talk of Richmond A public art installation depicting Russian Communist leader Vladimir Lenin and a feminized Chairman Mao Zedong in the heart of Richmond's business district has the whole town talking. “When I went to the gym at 5:30 this morning it’s all people were talking about,” said Richmond city Coun. Derek Dang. 12/28/2009 4:56:57 PM
New security measures continue to delay flights Travellers looking to take to the skies received little relief on Monday after a weekend of lineups, delays, cancellations, and security concerns at Canadian airports. Dozens of flights, particularly those headed to the U.S., had been cancelled or delayed by early Monday. 12/28/2009 4:45:37 AM
Chilliwack woman allegedly killed by spouse on Boxing Day A woman was stabbed to death in a high-end Chilliwack home Boxing Day. Cpl. Dale Carr, of the Integrated Homicide Investigative Team, said police were called at 5 p.m. Dec. 26 by someone stating a person had been stabbed in the home. A 51-year-old man was detained at the scene. 12/27/2009 7:11:16 PM
Tamil migrants to be released Eight Sri Lankan Tamil migrants who were among 76 men taken into custody off B.C.'s West Coast in October were ordered released from detention Wednesday, clearing the way for them to settle in cities across Canada and pursue their claims as refugees. 12/27/2009 8:24:46 AM
Mountie recovering after being hit by car on Christmas An RCMP officer is recovering in hospital after police say a robbery suspect plowed into his car at a Burnaby road block. According to police, the female suspect was fleeing the scene of an armed gas station robbery in Chilliwack when police spotted her car. 12/27/2009 5:32:17 AM
Serious multi-vehicle crash clogs up Port Mann Bridge on Saturday Traffic has finally been cleared after a massive multi-vehicle crash Saturday morning on an icy Port Mann Bridge. RCMP Sgt. Peter Thiessen said over a dozen vehicles, including a bus, were involved in the pileup in the eastbound lanes. Police believe foggy conditions and ice caused the accident. 12/26/2009 5:39:07 PM
Two bodies recovered from the Fraser River The lives of two men were lost when their vehicle plunged into the Fraser River Friday night. Richmond RCMP Sgt. Mike Bhatti says the incident occurred just before 8 p.m. "A vehicle was submerged in the water and two bodies were recovered from the vehicle." 12/26/2009 9:37:07 AM
Native artisan raps VANOC's 'authentic' aboriginal art A North Vancouver artisan has launched a petition to get Olympic organizers to remove the term "authentic" from some of its aboriginal line of Games merchandise. A lot of what is being sold with the Olympic logo is anything but authentic, Shain Jackson said. 12/26/2009 5:18:19 AM
Christmas morning fire hits Vancouver’s fashionable Mount Pleasant A three-alarm fire on Christmas Day gutted several stores, restaurants and artist spaces at the Main-and-Broadway hipster hub of Vancouver’s fashionable Mount Pleasant neighborhood. The fire came just six weeks after another fire similarly destroyed cafes and restaurants near the busy intersection. 12/25/2009 12:07:04 PM
Legally blind Surrey man missing since Tuesday Surrey RCMP are asking the public's help in finding a high risk resident who has been missing for two days. John Paull, 66, has not been seen since his doctor's appointment near 134th Street and 104th Avenue on Tuesday morning. 12/25/2009 8:13:26 AM
Computer glitch delays rescue of trapped man An injured Langley man lay trapped in his car for an hour because firefighters didn't get the call. Authorities have blamed a rare computer glitch because the two-vehicle crash was, in effect, too close to the U.S. border. 12/25/2009 5:58:29 AM
Single present saved in North Vancouver house fire A North Vancouver family has lost all of their belongings in a massive fire the day before Christmas, save for one particularly precious gift Jamie Poole bought for his wife-to-be. One of the most valuable items in the house was a diamond engagement ring, which Poole had stored in a box within the family's Christmas Tree. 12/25/2009 5:46:10 AM
Downtown Vancouver rocked by underground blast Three BC Hydro workers were sent to hospital Wednesday following an underground explosion. Two workers suffered burns. The third suffered smoke inhalation. "It was quite loud, and there was a lot of black smoke coming out of there," said witness Barry Holme. 12/24/2009 5:33:07 AM
Victoria soldier killed in Afghanistan A Victoria soldier who surprised friends when he joined the military in order to go help people in Afghanistan was killed by a landmine Wednesday. Lieut. Andrew Richard Nuttall was on a foot patrol near the village of Nakhonay, about 25 kilometres southwest of Kandahar City.
12/24/2009 5:24:52 AM
Downtown Vancouver SkyTrain malfunction resolved After hours of delays for thousands of commuters heading to work in Vancouver on Wednesday morning SkyTrain service has resumed. TransLink officials are blaming a "switch problem" for the massive waits that began shortly after 6 a.m. when SkyTrain service halted at the Commercial-Broadway station. 12/23/2009 2:14:27 PM
Island salmon trollers come up empty Doug Kimoto just wants to fish. But as a result of the Pacific Salmon Treaty between Canada and the U.S. that was signed in December 2008 to conserve salmon stocks, the third-generation troller from Ucluelet was only able to fish a few days in June and August. 12/23/2009 6:31:43 AM
Grinch steals Burnaby family's Christmas For the Lavin family, who immigrated to Burnaby from Ireland six months ago, Monday seemed just like any other day. In the afternoon, Karen Lavin loaded her two young children, aged four and six, into the car and drove off to pick up their father Daragh from work. 12/23/2009 5:55:36 AM
Speeding car cartwheels into ditch, injuring two A speeding car in Cloverdale did a cartwheel in the air before crashing into a water-filled ditch Tuesday night, authorities said. The driver and passenger were seriously injured. "For a car to cartwheel, you have to have excessive speed," said Surrey RCMP Insp. Randall William Marquardt. 12/23/2009 5:49:35 AM
Customer raps bank on debit card fraud A Richmond man is sharply critical of the way his bank handled an investigation after thieves emptied his bank account twice in two weeks. No one from Scott Belway's local Richmond TD Bank branch would speak to the media. 12/23/2009 5:36:01 AM
Vancouver School Board employees suspended for viewing porn at workplace Amid allegations that up to 15 employees have been caught looking at porn on workplace computers, the Vancouver School Board will say only that an ongoing investigation has led to the suspension of several employees. 12/23/2009 5:17:49 AM
Staggering prices demanded on Vancouver 2010 ticket-selling site Would you shell out $33,000 for a pair of tickets in Row 20 behind the goal at the gold-medal hockey game? That’s the kind of wishful thinking being displayed by greedy ticket holders scalping their ducats on the new Vancouver 2010 “fan-to-fan marketplace” website. 12/22/2009 9:40:18 PM
RCMP support in B.C. plunges after Tasering, death: Poll The Tasering and death of Polish immigrant Robert Dziekanski in 2007 has led more British Columbians to lose confidence in the RCMP than residents of any other province. Confidence in police internal operations and leadership has dropped by 61 per cent over the past two years. 12/22/2009 9:29:11 PM
Bacon brother charges stayed, he walks The most recent charges faced by the eldest Bacon brother were stayed Dec. 16 in Port Coquitlam provincial court. Jonathon Bacon, 28, was arrested in March of this year in Abbotsford and faced charges of fraud and possession of property obtained by fraudulent means. 12/22/2009 5:38:07 PM
Demand for Olympic RV parking lower than expected One of two Vancouver beaches approved for RV parking during the Olympic Games might not be needed anymore. The Vancouver Park Board approved three lots (or 110 spaces) at Jericho Beach and five lots (or about 200 spaces) at Spanish Banks. 12/22/2009 4:44:10 AM
One-month grace before cell ban kicks in: Heed Drivers will have a one-month grace period after a sweeping cell phone ban takes effect January 1, the B.C.'s solicitor general announced at a busy Vancouver intersection Monday. In just 11 days, drivers will only be allowed to use hands-free cell phones and devices that require only one touch to activate. 12/21/2009 6:01:53 PM
Vancouver man arrested in spat with phone company A Vancouver man who accidentally overpaid his phone bill by $700 finally got his money back — but not before being arrested in Burnaby. "Everybody apparently has a Telus horror story," said Kerry Morris. The difference is, "Their story is amusing — and I'm arrested." 12/21/2009 4:55:08 PM
New resale marketplace offers 2010 tickets A wide-open "scalpers" marketplace to re-sell tickets for the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver at prices set by the seller was opened Monday morning at the official website of the Vancouver organizing committee for the Winter Games. 12/21/2009 12:20:12 PM
HST on the horizon, 'we are certainly at the tax-fatigue level' How much tax is too much tax? British Colombians may be getting near their limit of being taxed to the max. "We are actually worse off now than serfs were under the monarchy," Maureen Bader, B.C. director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, said Sunday. 12/21/2009 11:33:57 AM
Gangster Clay Roueche liked 'living on the edge' Like son, like father, the evidence suggested. Wiretap recordings introduced in U.S. court implicated gangster Clay Roueche's father, Rupert "Rip" Roueche, in drug dealing. In one call, the younger Roueche was talking about his prolific pot dealing and added that his father "started hustling too." 12/21/2009 5:01:34 AM
Trio accused in BC Rail corruption case wants charges stayed Three former government aides accused in the Basi-Virk corruption case are applying to have their criminal charges stayed on the grounds of an unreasonable delay in getting to trial. The application before B.C. Supreme Court Justice Anne MacKenzie is expected to be heard when court resumes Jan. 11. 12/20/2009 4:09:38 PM
Sea-to-Sky $600-million upgrade fails to prevent latest fatality The death of a Whistler man Thursday night on the Sea-to-Sky Highway occurred despite a costly upgrade of the road intended to help prevent such accidents. The highway was shut down for three hours following a head-on collision that cost the life of Christopher Hauserman. 12/20/2009 5:03:47 AM
Man stabbed at UBC campus early Saturday morning A young man is recovering in hospital after being stabbed at the University of British Columbia early Saturday morning. The RCMP university detachment was called at 5:15 a.m. with a report that a fight was taking place near the McDonalds on University Boulevard and Allison Road. 12/20/2009 4:48:02 AM
Woman’s kidney donation not your typical Christmas gift Requiring months of physical tests, a psychological assessment and finally, surgery followed by weeks of recovery, it was not your everyday gift to the boss. But Kimberly Jensen, 44, never thought twice about donating her kidney when she learned her boss was in need of one. 12/19/2009 6:46:42 PM
Chilliwack Seniors pulled from freezing ditch An elderly couple in their 80s was rescued Friday morning from a vehicle overturned in a water-filled ditch by police and firefighters - but their survival was likely due to the fact a passing motorist took the time to get involved. "A Korean gentleman saw the vehicle overturned in the ditch," RCMP Const. Roberto Ojeda said. 12/19/2009 7:13:40 AM
Federal court sides with gangsters against tax man Members of the notorious United Nations gang might still be reeling from the 30-year-sentence handed to founder Clay Roueche this week, but at least they don’t have to worry about the tax man coming after any proceeds of crime. The Federal Court of Canada has sided with several UN gang members over the Canada Revenue Agency. 12/19/2009 6:15:13 AM
Lee inquest jury calls for domestic violence unit B.C. Solicitor General Kash Heed says he's committed to fighting domestic violence, but couldn't guarantee if or when his government would accept and implement recommendations from a coroner's inquest into a horrific murder-suicide case near Victoria. 12/19/2009 4:26:28 AM
Mayor defends firefighters' boozing on the job The mayor of the B.C. community of Squamish defended volunteer firefighters' on-the-job boozing, saying it's part of their "debriefing" process. Former Squamish Fire Rescue chief Ray Saurette said he was fired because district councillors did not agree with his no-alcohol policy. 12/18/2009 5:39:11 PM
B.C. ranks high and low in Canada: report The B.C. Progress Board issued a report Thursday ranking British Columbia against other provinces in everything from cancer mortality to economic growth, and the results were mixed. On the positive side, British Columbians were found to live longer than other Canadians. 12/18/2009 5:10:56 AM
Witnesses were drug-addled: defence lawyer The lawyer representing a former Vancouver Island politician charged with murder says the witnesses against his client are liars addicted to crack-cocaine. Ken Brotherston and his sons Ken Jr. and Gregory are on trial in B.C. Supreme Court in Victoria. 12/18/2009 5:01:53 AM
Fire hall drinking: Tradition or risky behaviour? A day after the former Squamish fire chief raised alarm bells about drinking in that district's fire halls, there appears to be little consensus within the rest of B.C.'s firefighting community about whether the practice should be allowed. 12/18/2009 4:49:42 AM
Avalanche warning issued for B.C.'s south coast The Canadian Avalanche Centre has issued a special avalanche warning for mountainous backcountry areas of B.C.'s south coast. The warning is in effect from Friday through Monday. Snow from recent storms is resting on an unusually weak layer within the snowpack. 12/18/2009 4:47:49 AM
The Zalm loves every minute of HST fight Ex-premier Bill Vander Zalm is in his glory these days, soaking up the most positive press he's enjoyed in years with his robust and spirited crusade against the HST. He pleaded with Premier Gordon Campbell's MLAs to rise up against the tax. He appealed to federal MPs, too. 12/17/2009 5:06:47 PM
Coquitlam home evacuated after nearby mudslide A Coquitlam family remains out of their home after a mudslide swept through their property Wednesday night, causing the rear of their yard to collapse and cascade down a steep hill. A neighbour estimated the depth of the slide to be about 80 to 100 feet. 12/17/2009 12:48:23 PM
Dad, son charged in Canucks game assault A Burnaby father and son have been charged after allegedly assaulting a female security guard at a Vancouver Canucks hockey game Wednesday night. Vancouver police Const. Anne Longley said security staff at GM Place were first alerted to the duo because of their "disruptive" behaviour. 12/17/2009 12:40:34 PM
Money laundering allegations untrue, Basi's lawyer says A secret informant told police in 2003 that Dave Basi – one of the central figures in a political corruption trial – was laundering drug money through the Liberal Party, the Supreme Court of British Columbia has heard. 12/17/2009 5:46:04 AM
'Do the right thing' and ignore Woodlands settlement cutoff Former residents of Woodlands School and their advocates are calling on B.C. Attorney General Mike de Jong to lift an “arbitrary cutoff date” that will see more than 500 victims of abuse not eligible for compensation. “Premier Gordon Campbell should do the right thing." 12/17/2009 5:21:52 AM
Fired chief says stand against alcohol cost him job The chief of District of Squamish Fire Rescue has been terminated from his position, and he says it's because of a dispute between him and municipal officials over the consumption of alcohol at the district's two fire halls. 12/17/2009 4:57:22 AM
UN gang leader sentenced to 30 years in prison Clayton Roueche, the leader of British Columbia's notorious United Nations gang, has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for his role in a cross-border drug smuggling ring. Roueche is the operational leader as well as the public face of the UN gang. 12/17/2009 4:55:03 AM
VANOC fashion gestapo take umbrage at Lululemon You remember those justifications about the Olympic Games being good for business and commerce, right? Well, as it turns out, they meant it will be good for the business and commerce of registered Olympic partners and their corporate trademarks. 12/16/2009 5:13:11 PM
Lululemon scolded for linking clothing line to Olympics Organizers of the 2010 Olympics have publicly scolded Vancouver retailer Lululemon Athletica for selling a special edition of clothing that celebrates a "cool sporting event" taking place in British Columbia. "They have done a lot of homework to avoid strict repercussions under the letter of the law." 12/16/2009 12:52:44 PM
B.C. must do more to stop domestic violence: officer The B.C. government needs to make fighting domestic violence a greater priority, a Victoria police officer said Tuesday after testifying at a coroner's inquest into the murder-suicide of five members of a Victoria-area family. Insp. Clark Russell said too many people are dying as a result of domestic violence. 12/16/2009 12:48:12 PM
Man who accused hockey coach of abuse has died A 28-year-old man who accused a North Vancouver, B.C., hockey trainer and coach of sexual abuse dating back to the early 1990s has died, CTV News has learned. The cause of death is not known but foul play is not suspected, North Vancouver RCMP officials said. (Ed: It certainly seems like a strong coincidence.) 12/16/2009 5:09:51 AM
Infrastructure spending pure politics: Kennedy Infrastructure spending in B.C. has swung wildly from Conservative to opposition ridings as the federal government reacts to criticisms of unfairness. "Conservatives had to be forced to be fair," Ontario Liberal MP Gerard Kennedy as he unveiled his report. 12/16/2009 5:01:49 AM
Terasen Gas price jumps about $60 per year Annual natural-gas costs will increase by about $60 for customers of Terasen Gas as a result of higher transportation and storage charges, the utility announced on Monday. Those charges which will take effect January 1, 2010. (Ed: The price of natural gas is way down so they want to pick your pocket this way.) 12/15/2009 12:23:14 PM
B.C. rejects plea to aid municipalities in tax dispute B.C. Finance Minister Colin Hansen is ruling out assistance for municipalities who are facing a tax revolt by struggling forestry companies, saying it would mean taxpayers throughout the province would be subsidizing low residential taxes in a handful of communities. 12/15/2009 9:57:56 AM
Woodlands School abuse victim misses compensation cutoff by 10 days To the B.C. government, it doesn't matter that Bill McArthur was "beaten to a pudding on a regular basis" or locked outside naked at the age of six at Woodlands School — he will not get a cent of government compensation. He is among about 500 school survivors who will get nothing for their pain. 12/15/2009 9:08:50 AM
Kin of man shot dead by police filling complaint The family of a homeless man shot to death by Vancouver police last March has filed a complaint. An email sent to all police department staff suggested there was clear surveillance video evidence that the officers fired in self-defence. 12/15/2009 9:01:33 AM
Better Business Bureau releases year's top scams Online health-care ads for bogus health-care products, including "breakthrough" cures for cancer and H1N1 flu remedies, topped the Better Business Bureau's annual list of Top Ten Scams. The bureau also cautioned the public against "free trials," such as acne creams or teeth whiteners. 12/15/2009 5:22:50 AM
Ex-B.C. RBC exec probed in alleged tax-haven scheme Canada's Revenue Agency says that some of the firm's advisers helped clients dodge taxes. The CRA has filed court documents indicating the agency is conducting audits involving Colin Ross, a B.C. former vice-president of RBC Dominion Securities Inc. and other investment advisers at the firm. 12/14/2009 1:32:26 PM
Clay Roueche's phone conversations implicate his father in drug trafficking Convicted United Nations gang leader Clay Roueche says in a bugged conversation that his own father was also involved in drug trafficking for years, according to tapes and documents filed in U.S. District Court. Rupert Roueche, now 66, was making drug deals with his son and others. 12/14/2009 7:39:54 AM
Everything is political for the Conservatives, now it's Olympic flights The federal government is playing politics over airplane flights during the upcoming Olympic Games, small airlines and regional airports. The one exception is Salt Spring Island, part of the Gulf Islands, represented by Conservative MP Gary Lunn, the minister of sport. 12/14/2009 5:32:48 AM
Severe weather warning out for the Lower Mainland Vancouver is bracing for its first major snowfall of the season, and the city says it's prepared for whatever Mother Nature brings now and during the Olympics in two months. Flurries were being reported across Metro Vancouver on Sunday. But Sunday's light snow is nothing compared with what's coming. 12/14/2009 5:27:58 AM
Fire reduces Squamish apartment complex to ashes An entire apartment block was lost on Saturday morning in a fire that left several Squamish residents homeless just weeks before Christmas. Police and fire fighters were called at about 5:00 a.m. with reports that a two-storey complex was on fire. 12/14/2009 5:20:43 AM
B.C. hopes for Olympic afterglow What should be the Olympic dream season at Whistler, B.C., is turning into a bust for hoteliers in the tony ski village. International and corporate travellers are shying away from the ski resort this year out of fears their plans will be overrun by the 2010 Games. 12/13/2009 8:50:51 PM
20-centimetre snowfall predicted in Vancouver Vancouver is bracing for its first major snowfall of the season and the city says it's prepared for whatever Mother Nature brings now, and during the Olympics in February. Flurries are being reported across Metro Vancouver, and Environment Canada. 12/13/2009 8:26:43 PM
B.C.'s old-growth forests being systematically cut down The old-growth forests of Vancouver Island and the British Columbia coast are Canada's most valuable weapon in the battle against climate change, but they are being systematically destroyed, says a new report from Sierra Club B.C., to be released Sunday. 12/13/2009 9:39:08 AM
Thousands fed in annual Christmas dinner A small army of volunteers dished out nearly one tonne of turkey, 50 gallons of gravy and half a tonne of potatoes for Vancouver's neediest citizens today. Roughly 3,000 people were fed at the Union Gospel Mission's Downtown Eastside location. 12/13/2009 5:49:53 AM
Copenhagen protesters stage nude rally in Vancouver As thousands of protesters gathered outside the UN climate change conference in Copenhagen on Saturday, activists in Vancouver did their own part to draw attention to global warming -- by marching in the nude. The event was just one of thousands of events held worldwide. 12/13/2009 5:48:52 AM
Three years jail for 'immature' driver who killed couple A young driver will serve three years in jail for killing a newly engaged couple in Vancouver earlier this year, a judge ruled Friday. Aneez Mohamed, 31, a cardiologist, and Chanelle Morgan, 25, a UBC student, were in a marked crosswalk just outside Granville Island when they were struck by an SUV in February. 12/12/2009 5:33:50 AM
Vancouver orders removal of anti-Olympic mural The city of Vancouver has ordered the removal of a mural hanging outside a Downtown Eastside gallery depicting the Olympic rings as four sad faces and one smiley face. The gallery says in 10 years, it has never before been asked to remove any work. 12/12/2009 5:00:50 AM
Suspects in BC Rail case may ask for trial to go to jury Three accused men in a political corruption case that has been before a judge at the Supreme Court of British Columbia for five years may seek a change of venue and ask to be tried by a jury. The three accused men, Mr. Basi, Bob Virk and Aneal Basi, all live in Victoria. 12/12/2009 4:37:45 AM
How did our 'criminal justice system' get so dumb? Secret recordings jeopardize notorious murder case Murder charges against alleged B.C. gangster Jamie Bacon could be thrown out following a revelation that jail authorities recorded telephone conversations between Bacon and his lawyer for seven months. Bacon is one of the accused in the Surrey Six murder case. 12/11/2009 7:56:14 PM
Queen Charlotte Islands renamed Haida Gwaii in historic deal B.C.'s Queen Charlotte Islands have officially been renamed Haida Gwaii as part of a historic reconciliation agreement between the province and the Haida Nation, Premier Gordon Campbell announced Friday in Vancouver. The archipelago was first named after one of the ships of British Captain George Dixon in 1778. 12/11/2009 4:51:28 PM
Campbell on HST, deficit: What he knew, when he knew it Premier Gordon Campbell's Liberals said during the May election they were opposed to the HST. And Campbell had a read-my-lips moment during the campaign when he personally guaranteed the deficit would be "$495 million maximum." We all know what happened within days of the Liberals returning to power. 12/11/2009 4:39:43 PM
Keith Martin: House of Commons 'warped, twisted and undemocratic' The House of Commons has become a "warped, twisted and undemocratic" place where MPs act like mindless "lemmings" forced to do the bidding of their parties instead of the people. That's the bitter view of Liberal MP Keith Martin, a day after he boycotted a Parliament Hill vote on the HST. 12/11/2009 3:44:09 PM
Reprimanding Dona Cadman (wife of Chuck Cadman) According to North Surrey MP Dona Cadman [widow of former Conservative Chuck Cadman], she was “reprimanded” by the Conservative whip, Gordon O’Connor, for speaking out against the HST. And in our little democracy here, the HST is as popular in British Columbia as the bubonic plague. 12/11/2009 10:26:08 AM
Native Development deal stirs controversy in B.C. Controversial development plans are in the works after the signing of two historic agreements between First Nations people and the federal and provincial governments. Chief Bill Williams has big changes in mind for Squamish lands, and hopes to develop "maybe three or four 25- to 30-storey townhouse condominiums. 12/11/2009 10:04:26 AM
Headed for Vancouver? Snow predicted There is snow in the forecast for Vancouver but the city's road crews say they are ready for the first dump of the white stuff this year. Last year Vancouver was caught unprepared when a series of major snowstorms filled the city streets faster than crews could clear them. 12/11/2009 5:30:50 AM
Man lights himself on fire outside Victoria hospital A man turned himself into a human torch Thursday, lighting himself on fire outside a Victoria hospital. Saanich police Const. Paul Lamoureux said the 23-year-old set himself ablaze in a parking lot in front of the entrance to the Royal Jubilee Hospital parkade in the afternoon. 12/11/2009 4:39:08 AM
Bomb-sniffing dogs on Vancouver transit worry Muslim leader Specially trained bomb-sniffing dogs might soon be patrolling Metro Vancouver's buses and SkyTrains just in time for the Olympics, but that has some Muslims concerned. But the idea of being sniffed up and down by a slobbery pooch — no matter how well trained — has already raised concerns. 12/11/2009 4:21:51 AM
Inquest jury calls for more rigorous van inspections Large passenger vans should be classified as high-risk vehicles and should be subject to random roadside checks, the jury at a B.C. coroner's inquest has found. The inquest was looking into the deaths of three farm workers in a van crash in 2007. 12/11/2009 4:19:12 AM
Something stinks in our provincial parks, and it isn't just the toilets Piles of human excrement and used toilet paper in campsites. Hiking trails closed because there's no money or staff to maintain them. Camping season cut short at dozens of sites across the province. B.C.'s crown jewel — our provincial park system — has fallen into a disgraceful state. 12/10/2009 7:22:48 PM
Former Iran security agent arrested in Vancouver Canadian immigration authorities have arrested a former member of Iran's state security apparatus who arrived in Vancouver under a false name. The man had been a member of SAVAK and was complicit in crimes against humanity. SAVAK was a security agency that spied on, tortured and murdered opponents of the Shah. 12/10/2009 3:50:36 PM
Police seize ecstasy pills stamped with Olympic rings Vancouver police say they've made one of their biggest-ever drug hauls with the seizure of more than 100,000 ecstasy pills, some of them stamped with the Olympic rings. While some of the multicoloured pills were stamped with the Olympic rings, others were imprinted with peace signs. 12/10/2009 3:28:33 PM
* Female pedestrian killed in Burnaby hit-and-run A pedestrian is dead after being hit Thursday morning by a white van near the intersection of Imperial Avenue and Marlborough Street in the Metrotown area. Just before 8 a.m., a woman was walking in the area when she was struck by the white van. 12/10/2009 12:41:31 PM
Where on (or under) earth is Prince Rupert capsule? Prince Rupert is planning to celebrate its 100th birthday in March by unearthing a time capsule that was buried 40 years ago. But there's a problem: Officials in the north coast B.C. city don't know where it is. 12/10/2009 7:16:05 AM
B.C. restaurants launch anti-HST campaign B.C. restaurant patrons are being asked to sign an online petition against the planned harmonized sales tax. The B.C. Restaurant and Foodservices Association has launched the new campaign in the wake of the House of Commons passing the harmonized sales tax (HST) bill Wednesday. 12/10/2009 5:36:20 AM
Dona Cadman rapped by Conservatives for HST rebuke Dona Cadman says she was reprimanded by the Conservative whip for speaking out against the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST). The Conservative MP for Surrey-North said she would not vote in favour of enabling legislation allowing the new tax to proceed. (Ed: She ended up not voting.) 12/10/2009 5:10:41 AM
Sechelt girl's false Facebook abduction story spreads like wildfire A young Sechelt girl's made-up story of being abducted spread like a cancer and spawned other, equally false stories of abduction on the Sunshine Coast. Sunshine Coast RCMP issued a notice Tuesday in an effort to squash the stories. 12/10/2009 4:49:02 AM
Nanaimo: Judge jails nightmare neighbour A family in a north Nanaimo neighbourhood harassed and tormented by a neighbour because of their religious beliefs are relieved the man is now in jail, but they still worry he may return. Justice Brian MacKenzie sentenced Leonard Smith to three months in jail and two years of probation. 12/9/2009 4:45:21 PM
Large trucks belong in slow lane Thank you, Cpl. Kurt Rosenberg, for saying what needs so badly to be said to make this province's highways safer during our rain-drenched winters. "If I could have my Christmas wish I would like to see commercial vehicles on multi-lane roadways restricted to the right lane of travel," Rosenberg said. 12/9/2009 12:56:25 PM
Gun was aimed at my face, trigger was pulled, Brotherston Sr. testifies Kenneth Brotherston Sr., testifying in B.C. Supreme Court, said he thought he was going to die when Keith Taylor pointed a gun at his face and pulled the trigger. “He’s three feet in front of me, he pulls the trigger, it goes clang right in my face,” said Brotherston. 12/9/2009 10:06:40 AM
B.C. pastor gets jail time for making explicit video A Surrey, B.C., pastor has been sentenced to jail time for making an explicit video of a young teenage girl and distributing it on the internet. Larry Robert Collins, 45, was convicted on child pornography charges Tuesday. 12/9/2009 7:37:17 AM
RCMP complaints commissioner skewers Taser officers A scathing report on the conduct of the four RCMP -- and their superiors-- surrounding the Taser-related death of Robert Dziekanski was released Tuesday. Commissioner Paul Kennedy said bluntly that the version of events given to investigators by the four RCMP officers involved “are not deemed credible.” 12/8/2009 4:43:25 PM
Natives vow fight in B.C., Ontario over HST A looming conflict with native communities over harmonized sales taxes in Ontario and British Columbia is the product of a "broken" relationship between Canada and First Nations, says the head of the country's most prominent native organization. 12/8/2009 3:47:14 PM
Motorcyclists rally against Mountie who killed motorcyclist About 150 motorcyclists protested outside the courthouse where an RCMP officer, Monty Robinson, was to face charges in connection with a 2008 crash that killed 21-year-old Orion Hutchinson. Robinson was scheduled to make a first appearance at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday. He did not show up. 12/8/2009 3:13:36 PM
Dead snowshoer was popular U.K. triathlon competitor The snowshoer who fell 400 metres to his death Saturday afternoon on the North Shore mountains was Peter Holmes, a 24-year-old distance runner who recently emigrated from the U.K. Holmes was hiking with friends on Goat Mountain on Saturday when he slipped and fell. 12/8/2009 7:35:49 AM
Closed-circuit TV: Public safety tool or prying eyes? About 100 closed-circuit cameras will be keeping an eye on high-traffic pedestrian areas throughout Vancouver during the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the city announced Monday. The city says the cameras will enhance public safety and will be deactivated once the Games are over. 12/8/2009 7:34:17 AM
Tenants cry foul over Olympic eviction Some East Vancouver tenants say they are being evicted so their landlord can make more money during the 2010 Winter Games. Susan Brown is one of eight tenants at a Mount Pleasant house who received eviction notices two weeks ago. 12/8/2009 4:50:35 AM
Driver blames ex-RCMP van in 3-death crash The driver of a van involved in a crash that killed three farm workers nearly three years ago on the Trans-Canada Highway near Abbotsford, B.C., pointed a finger at the RCMP on Monday when she explained the condition of the vehicle. The large van had been purchased from the Alberta RCMP. 12/8/2009 4:48:19 AM
Forecasts brighter for B.C. in 2010 B.C. is emerging from its economic slump with a small improvement in growth projections for 2010, according the latest report from the B.C. Economic Forecast Council. Finance Minister Colin Hansen says the average growth projection is 2.9 per cent for 2010. 12/7/2009 6:46:34 AM
Frank Paul remembered as 'martyr' at vigil Supporters of a man who froze to death in a Vancouver alley 11 years ago held a vigil in his memory on Sunday. Frank Paul, 48, died of hypothermia on Dec. 6, 1998 after a police officer left him in an alley after he was released from the city drunk tank. 12/7/2009 5:06:31 AM
Good Samaritan stabbed in downtown Vancouver Vancouver Police say a young Surrey man was stabbed repeatedly on Saturday night after he and his brother tried to save a woman who was being attacked. At around 11:30 p.m. police received multiple reports that a man was assaulting a woman in the 1300-block of Richards Street. 12/6/2009 6:49:12 PM
Strip club Christmas charity draws controversy The moment the first stripper walked onstage you got the sense that it wasn't your average fundraiser. All Sunday afternoon exotic dancers bared it all -- for free. The cover charge, the drink sales, and the money from raffles are all going to the Maple Ridge Christmas Hamper Society. 12/6/2009 6:45:10 PM
RCMP watchdog to release report on Dziekanski's death The independent body in charge of keeping watch over the RCMP will release its report this week into the death of Robert Dziekanski, assessing the conduct of the four officers who repeatedly stunned him with a Taser at Vancouver's airport. 12/6/2009 6:38:22 PM
Snowshoer falls 400 metres to his death A snowshoer fell 400 metres to his death, descending from the summit of Goat Mountain when he slipped and fell. A trio were snowshoeing in an area that requires crampons, ice axes and ropes. They had none of those things, search leader Tim Jones said. 12/6/2009 8:57:50 AM
Victoria marijuana 'bakery' raided A member of a medical marijuana group in Victoria has been arrested for allegedly making cookies, massage oil and other products from marijuana following a raid that could have implications for similar groups. Thursday's bust was sparked by a complaint about the smell coming from a makeshift bakery. 12/6/2009 4:43:55 AM
Totem pole stolen from Downtown Eastside hotel Thieves recently made off with a totem pole that was meant to bring hope and light to a hotel in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. The eight-foot tall totem pole was installed in the courtyard of the Stanley Hotel about a week ago. 12/6/2009 4:40:12 AM
B.C. government says no to most arts and culture funding requests The government has approved 350 applications made by arts and culture groups, totalling $8.9 million. Last year, the government gave out $18 million to 840 arts and culture groups through the same program. Minister of Housing and Social Development Rich Coleman was not available for comment. 12/5/2009 6:08:48 PM
Mourners remember float plane crash victims Hundreds of mourners attended a funeral Saturday for a woman and her baby who died aboard a float plane that crashed in the water off B.C.'s Gulf Islands. Dr. Kerry Margaret Morrissey and her six-month-old daughter Sarah were among six people who died last Sunday. 12/5/2009 5:47:38 PM
BC Government violated its privacy policy: watchdog The B.C. government failed to follow its own guidelines and notify the public following a privacy breach last spring. In April, the RCMP found files on 1,400 social assistance clients in the home of a government worker, but it took the government seven months to notify those whose confidential files were involved. 12/5/2009 5:40:09 AM
Fire department audit finds toxic work environment A scathing new report calling the work environment in the Esquimalt, B.C., fire department "toxic" and "dysfunctional." The report says problems began six years ago, when the positions of fire chief and deputy fire chief were given to former Esquimalt police officers. 12/5/2009 4:59:34 AM
Victoria: More dirty cop tricks from Chief Jamie Graham Olympic activists are challenging the Victoria police chief to a public debate about secret police tactics after the chief disclosed recently that an undercover officer was at the helm of a bus driving protesters to a torch-relay rally. 12/4/2009 8:21:11 PM
Majority in Ontario, B.C. think HST will be bad An overwhelming majority of people in Ontario and British Columbia oppose the HST, with most believing the biggest winners from the new tax will be the provincial and federal governments. Eighty-two per cent of British Columbians and 74 per cent of Ontarians oppose the tax. 12/4/2009 6:19:44 PM
B.C. privacy breach: Coverup or stunning government incompetence? His managers and co-workers in Victoria knew him as Richard Perran, a supervisor in a branch of the Children's Ministry that administered health benefits for disadvantaged kids and their families. But now police allege this mysterious government insider led a double life. 12/4/2009 5:58:49 PM
Men charged in 2 homicides a decade apart Vancouver Police have laid charges against two men in connection to two separate homicides dating back to 1999. Russell Wayne Mathers is accused in a fatal arson that killed two men in East Vancouver on April 12, 1999. 12/4/2009 4:50:57 PM
Woman claiming to be a nurse stealing from seniors A woman claiming to be a nurse has been going to the homes of seniors in Langley, B.C., telling them that she's there to check on their medication and then stealing from them when they're not looking, police say. Victims have lost purses and wallets. 12/4/2009 5:45:13 AM
Pemberton receives Olympic 'slap in the face' An Inukshuk stands at the entrance to the village of Pemberton, B.C. It's one of the few things "Olympic" you'll find there. "I don't know what the legacies for Pemberton are," said one resident, "There doesn't seem to be any." This from a community that is 30 minutes north of Whistler. 12/4/2009 5:09:58 AM
BC Government employee involved in ID fraud? The allegation is contained in a sworn statement that police used to get a search warrant for the Victoria home of Richard Ernest Wainwright. Police seized equipment for producing fake identity documents. Wainwright had been convicted of theft, and more, in Kamloops and Merritt. 12/4/2009 4:44:46 AM
Paramedics planning to picket Olympic sliding centre Ambulance paramedics in B.C. plan to set up picket lines Monday. The union argues that it's unfair to dedicate ambulances and paramedics to the Whistler Sliding Centre for three weeks of practice while many B.C. communities are forced to do without any ambulances. 12/3/2009 1:33:55 PM
Hearse robbed during Abbotsford funeral Police are never surprised to see a spike in the number of thefts from automobiles before the Christmas holidays. But veteran Abbotsford police officer Const. Ian MacDonald said even he raised an eyebrow after seeing a report of a thief who decided to rip off the contents of an unlocked hearse. 12/3/2009 11:31:53 AM
$750million in lost business, 10,000 layoffs As John Belushi once famously said: "Food fight!" That's what's raging behind the scenes right now between the B.C. government and the province's restaurant industry as they wage a brutal battle over the HST. All the big players are in on this one. 12/3/2009 10:14:19 AM
B.C. students rank among best in North America Secondary students in British Columbia writing post-secondary level exams placed among the very best in North America according to the latest Advanced Placement (AP) exam results, Advanced Education and Labour Market Development Minister Moira Stilwell announced Wednesday. 12/3/2009 7:30:20 AM
Vancouver fugitive thorny issue in Canada-China relations Improving trade relations and broaching the subject of human rights might be on Stephen Harper's agenda during his visit to China. But Chinese officials could have a sensitive issue of their own to raise — one of China's most wanted men is still finding refuge in Vancouver. 12/3/2009 7:17:22 AM
B.C. woman who stole food for grandkids gets probation A woman caught stealing food from a grocery store so she could give her grandchildren a solid meal has been placed on probation. Linda Marie Marlow, 54, stole $32 worth of meat to feed her grandchildren, Crown prosecutor Bruce Morrison told a courtroom in Comox this week. 12/3/2009 6:15:44 AM
Maple Ridge home features 40,000 Christmas lights Mike Czepak is putting the finishing touches on his Christmas light display -- that he started just before Halloween. Not a spot on his Maple Ridge, B.C., home isn't twinkling with lights. There are about 40,000 of them. And, of course, there's Santa on the roof. 12/3/2009 5:30:34 AM
Mountie left crash scene, drank alcohol, as man lay dying As Orion Hutchinson lay dying, Monty Robinson raced home and had two stiff drinks, but that’s not enough to penalize him with a stronger charge according to the BC Attorney General. Delta police recommended charges of impaired driving causing death. However, the attorney-general’s office said no. 12/3/2009 4:57:13 AM
B.C. hockey trainer denies sex allegations A North Vancouver hockey trainer and coach accused of numerous sex offences involving a young player denies the charges against him. RCMP Cpl. Marlene Morton said the alleged assaults took place at various locations, including hockey arenas and at the suspect's residence. 12/3/2009 4:48:14 AM
Mountie escapes charges, and no answers offered She could tell you about the pain she deals with – the excruciating reminders of her son Orion's too-short life that she confronts virtually every day. But for now, Judith Hutchinson prefers to keep it to herself. “Nothing can repair our pain or replace our loss.” 12/2/2009 6:03:34 PM
Olympic torch rekindles Olympic dreams in Quebec The Vancouver Games torch relay reignited Olympic hopes here Wednesday, nearly 15 years after the sour demise of the city’s bid to host the 2002 Winter Games — and British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell gave that dream a ringing endorsement. 12/2/2009 5:48:36 PM
North Van hockey coach charged with seven counts of sexual assault A North Vancouver minor-hockey coach and owner of a North Shore hockey training centre, Dusan Benicky, has been charged with seven counts of sexual assault involving a 10-year-old youth over a four-year period. 12/2/2009 1:36:23 PM
Decision to remove bus shelters in Surrey is all wet Surrey has removed all of its bus shelters during the worst weather of the year, leaving thousands of riders in the rain. The city says 230 new shelters will be upgraded, but they won't be ready until mid-February. "A lot of stupid things are done, but this is right up there." 12/2/2009 10:59:50 AM
Two NDP factions preparing to oust Carole James By Michael Smyth - Now that the NDP has cleared the way for a party leadership review in 2011, Carole James should watch more than just her back. There are actually two factions inside the party that would like to see the Opposition leader carved up and cut loose before the next election. 12/2/2009 4:57:53 AM
Trucker, son both strangled girl after sex, court hears A B.C. trucker and his son had sex with a 14-year-old runaway before they both strangled her to death, the Crown told the court Monday on the first day of their murder trial in this Fraser Valley city. 12/2/2009 4:42:52 AM
Vancouver airport workers threaten holiday strike Unionized workers who sort baggage at the Vancouver International Airport warned on Tuesday they may walk off the job during the busy Christmas holiday season. The 300 workers employed by Swissport have approved a strike mandate and talks over wages and job security are at an impasse. 12/2/2009 4:37:25 AM
Letter to the Province: Political 'garbage' During a commercial break in the exciting closing minutes of Sunday's Grey Cup Game, I switched to Global BC News . . . and almost choked on my perogy from laughing so hard. There was the Federal Minister for Sport, Gary Lunn, responding to The Province's story. 12/1/2009 6:49:03 PM
Mountie escapes impaired driving charge in B.C. death Overruling recommendations by a local police force, B.C.'s attorney general's office has refused to lay impaired driving charges after a fatal crash last year involving an RCMP officer who is also at the centre of the scandal over the tasering and death of Polish immigrant Robert Dziekanski. 12/1/2009 3:37:36 PM
Now Rogers sues Bell Mobility Proving that there's no better defence than a good offence, Rogers Communications says it has filed a suit in the British Columbia Supreme Court against BCE's Bell Mobility for claims the latter is making that its new high-speed service runs on “the largest, fastest, and most reliable network.” 12/1/2009 1:43:35 PM
Vancouver airport strike would hinder holiday travel Hundreds of unionized workers at Vancouver International Airport have voted 94 per cent in favour of strike action, just in time to use the busy holiday season to gain some leverage during contract talks. It is not yet clear how a potential strike might affect the 2010 Winter Olympics. 12/1/2009 1:36:30 PM
Trial begins for dad, son accused of killing girl The trial of a father and son accused of first-degree murder in the death of a 14-year-old girl began Monday in Chilliwack. Jessie Blue West, 56, expressed little emotion in Court Monday, sitting straight up before a jury of seven men and five women. 12/1/2009 6:00:49 AM
Missing Vancouver girls located by police Deanna Lloyd and Chloe Zhu have been found. The 10-year-old girls went missing on Monday afternoon after leaving Captain James Cook Elementary School in Vancouver's Champlain Heights neighbourhood. 12/1/2009 5:59:08 AM
Teachers forced to reshape pension plan The growing number of retired and elderly teachers is putting pressure on the B.C. Teachers’ Pension Plan. If teachers choose to maintain current benefits, they will have to persuade the province to cough up millions of dollars to cover employers’ contributions. 11/30/2009 5:22:48 PM
Ontario Tory MPPs suspended in HST protest Friction over Ontario's harmonized sales tax sparked a rancorous scene at Queen's Park on Monday. The fracas began after Tory MPP Bill Murdoch called Liberal Premier Dalton McGuinty a liar for not holding provincewide public consultations on tax harmonization. 11/30/2009 4:25:39 PM
Grow-op discovered after man found dead in yard The RCMP say a large marijuana grow operation was discovered in a Surrey house where a 27-year-old man was found dead in the backyard last Wednesday. They say the Richmond man was known to them but they are not releasing his name at the request of his family. 11/30/2009 3:56:08 PM
Maternity doctor and infant among B.C. crash victims A maternity doctor and her infant daughter, are among six victims of a plane crash off a B.C. gulf island. Kerry Margaret Morrissey (nee Telford), and her six-month-old daughter, Sarah, were killed when the float plane they were in crashed during takeoff. 11/30/2009 3:53:59 PM
One dead, six injured overnight in Vancouver MVAs One pedestrian was killed and six others were injured on Saturday night in a rash of motor vehicle accidents across Vancouver. The most severe crash occurred around 5:30 p.m. Saturday, as a 77-year-old man and a 72-year-old woman were struck by a vehicle heading eastbound. 11/30/2009 6:03:14 AM
Moe Sihota elected president of Opposition NDP British Columbia's New Democrats have elected Moe Sihota as president of the provincial Opposition party. Sihota, who has been a TV journalist and radio pundit since leaving politics in 2001, was elected at a weekend NDP convention in Vancouver. 11/30/2009 5:39:05 AM
Child among 6 victims of B.C. plane crash A rescue official said Monday that the bodies of six people have been recovered from the wreckage of a seaplane that crashed in British Columbia's Gulf Islands. A female passenger and the pilot were rescued Sunday shortly after the crash. 11/30/2009 5:23:44 AM
MP says last-minute Canada Pavilion contract is 'fishy' Canada's $9.2-million Olympic pavilion for the 2010 Games is being built by a U.S. firm from Chicago. And Joyce Murray, Liberal MP for Vancouver Quadra, is accusing the federal government of badly botching the contracting process by waiting too long to issue it. 11/30/2009 5:06:15 AM
Gold parties raise the eyebrows of established bullion dealers As gold prices soar into the stratosphere and other value benchmarks crash, it’s no wonder that gold parties are rapidly gaining in popularity. “Hostesses” invite friends over to sip wine while an appraiser sizes up their dated gold jewellry. 11/29/2009 7:52:59 AM
Huh? U.S. firm building Canada’s pavilion Canada’s $9.2-million, Olympic pavilion is being built by a U.S. firm from Chicago. "Think about it: these are Canada’s Games, taking place in Canada, and the project is for Canada’s pavilion and it’s being built by an American firm," Joyce Murray said. Minister of State for Sport Gary Lunn did not return calls. 11/29/2009 7:47:51 AM
Public asked to help find runaway Maple Ridge teens Mounties are hopeful that someone knows the whereabouts of two missing Maple Ridge teenage girls. Deborah Gardner and Amber Jorgensen, both 16, had left notes to their parents that afternoon indicating that they were going to run away. 11/29/2009 7:12:06 AM
Nanaimo: Firefighters to handle car crashes If you have a minor car accident in nanaimo, firefighters might turn up, but not police. Nanaimo RCMP announced yesterday that firefighters will handle crash scenes that don't involve death or injury for the RCMP as of Wednesday, citing a shortage of resources. 11/28/2009 8:21:15 PM
B.C. NDP building for next election B.C. New Democrat Leader Carole James says the economy and education will top her agenda for the next election. Speaking at the B.C. NDP biennial convention in Vancouver on Saturday, James received a rousing welcome as she delivered her keynote speech. 11/28/2009 7:45:25 PM
Judge stops Crown from proceeding against Hells Angels A B.C. Supreme Court judge dealt a devastating blow to police and prosecutors Friday, when he ruled the Crown is prohibited from proceeding on criminal-organization charges against two Hells Angels members. 11/28/2009 5:51:32 AM
Harper Tories set to introduce HST bill The federal Conservatives are set to introduce legislation next week that would allow provinces to harmonize the provincial sales tax and federal GST on products and services. The Liberal governments of B.C. and Ontario have moved ahead with plans to merge the taxes. 11/28/2009 5:22:09 AM
BC Bargain hunters give up sleep in search of sales Bargain-hunting British Columbians gave up sleep in search of sales Friday, flocking across the border to take advantage of one of the busiest shopping days of the year -- "Black Friday" Coquitlam resident David MacNeil waited for two days to get his hands on a cheap laptop and other electronics. 11/28/2009 5:16:05 AM
Sightseeing float-plane tours banned Two of Vancouver's biggest floatplane companies say hundreds of thousands of tourist dollars will be grounded by a ban on sightseeing charter flights during the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. Rick Antonson, president and CEO of Tourism Vancouver, said it means a lost opportunity, 11/27/2009 5:50:25 AM
Third body in three days found in Surrey Another man's body has been found in Surrey. Police were called to the 10300-block Scott Road at about 7:20 a.m. after the man's body was found on the side of the road. Investigators are trying to determine who the victim is and how he died. 11/27/2009 5:42:45 AM
More crooked civil servants in Victoria, another fired The B.C. government says two public servants have now been fired following a leak of the private information of 1,400 welfare recipients. The NDP claims the first person sacked was a man and the second was his wife, but Citizen Services Minister Ben Stewart would not confirm that. 11/27/2009 5:11:53 AM
Surrey Six suspect wants police to return poker winnings Sophon Sek does not believe his incarceration as a suspect in the Surrey Six gangland slayings of 2007 is reason for police to seize $364,000 he won in a championship poker game the day before he was arrested, his lawyer says. 11/26/2009 11:33:44 AM
Ferry dubbed "Vomit Comet" ill-suited to stormy Pacific NDP ferries critic Gary Coons is questioning whether the Northern Adventure is equipped for the harsh waters and weather of B.C.'s stormy North Coast. Coons said the ship was designed for the calmer Mediterranean waters it plied before B.C. Ferries bought her. (Ed: It was apparent at the beginning.) 11/26/2009 11:07:46 AM
Mystery surrounds man's body found in Surrey backyard Homicide investigators have yet to determine how a dead man ended up in a North Surrey backyard Wednesday morning. The unidentified Caucasian man, believed to be in his 20s, was found in the backyard of a house on 115th Avenue near Currie Drive. 11/26/2009 6:57:44 AM
Basi-Virk witness's evidence should be heard: Prosecutor The special prosecutor in the Basi-Virk corruption case on Wednesday defended an immunity deal he reached with a key Crown witness, denying a defence allegation that the witness’s evidence had been corrupted. 11/26/2009 6:40:26 AM
Two investigations launched into wild B.C. ferry ride The Transportation Safety Board and BC Ferries have launched separate investigations into a ferry that got thrashed around in violent seas. The marine forecast had called for 40 to 60 knots winds and waves at least five metres. "Peak waves probably reached 12 to 14 metres (40 to 45 ft)." 11/26/2009 5:20:29 AM
Flooding expected as Vancouver Island rivers rage Widespread flooding is expected on parts of the west coast of Vancouver Island Wednesday due to heavy rain and melting snow. The River Forecast Centre in Victoria issued the notice after elevating a flood watch for the area to a flood warning. 11/25/2009 3:53:15 PM
B.C.'s NDP: A party in search of a new playbook As Carole James strode to the lectern that Saturday morning, her heart beat a little quicker than it normally did before a speech. But then, this wasn't your garden variety chamber of commerce address to a group of strangers stuffing themselves on rubber chicken. (Thanks to HDP photography for the pic.) 11/25/2009 3:44:58 PM
B.C. government knew of files breach seven months ago The B.C. government knew seven months ago about a serious security breach involving sensitive personal information from 1,400 income-assistance clients, yet only notified the affected people last week. RCMP officers found the missing documents inside the Victoria home of a government worker in April. 11/25/2009 12:31:15 PM
Gun was pointed at Ken Brotherston Jr., witness tells murder trial Former Highlands councillor Kenneth Brotherston Sr. told the man he’s accused of murdering to put down his gun, saying, “I’m not talking to you while you’re holding a gun at my kid,” a Crown witness testified Tuesday in B.C. Supreme Court. 11/25/2009 12:29:31 PM
BC Gov't cries budget crisis -- except for Olympics You've probably heard how the desperately broke B.C. government has cut a lot of spending to make ends meet since the May election: Surgeries have been cancelled. Programs for the disabled slashed. Even cash for the Special Olympics dried up and blew away. 11/24/2009 5:41:38 PM
Olympic committee turns up the heat over flaming logo It's a "t" that's been transformed into what looks like a lit match. But to the Canadian Olympic Committee it could be mistaken for an Olympic flame, and the committee says it will oppose its registration as a trademark. 11/24/2009 3:08:11 PM
Sixth gangster arrested for Surrey Six slaughter A 30-year-old Surrey man has been arrested and charged in the unprecedented Surrey Six slaughter of October 2007. Sophon Sek is the sixth gangster to face charges in the murder of six people, including two innocent bystanders. 11/24/2009 3:05:32 PM
City of Vancouver under fire for Olympic ticket buys Even while it faces a $60-million budget shortfall, the City of Vancouver snatched up more than $300,000 worth of tickets to the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games. Some say the mayor should ask for a refund. A report from city staff says there would be no problem for the city to return the tickets. 11/24/2009 6:57:16 AM
End of the line for B.C. Rail? Could it be that even the government has finally figured out it doesn't make a lot of sense to pay a guy half-a-million bucks to run a railroad with no trains? Transportation Minister Shirley Bond gave her clearest indication to date today that the government may shut down B.C. Rail. 11/24/2009 5:55:30 AM
Victim's ex-girlfriend tells trial of Brotherston attack A witness told a Victoria court Monday that she was kicked in the mouth and held at gunpoint as her ex-boyfriend was beaten to death by a former B.C. municipal politician and his two sons. Ken Brotherston Sr. and his sons Greg and Ken Jr. are on trial for the second-degree murder of Keith Taylor. 11/24/2009 5:53:55 AM
Storm tosses B.C. Ferry passengers BC Ferries passengers were thrown about a ship buffeted by high winds and waves seven to 10 metres high early Monday on a voyage from Prince Rupert to the Queen Charlotte Islands. There were no serious injuries to passengers, but the crew turned the ferry around. 11/24/2009 4:40:31 AM
B.C. company recalls more than 2.1 million cribs More than 2.1 million Canadian-made drop-side cribs have been recalled in Canada and the United States after more than 100 cases of injuries, including four deaths were reported. The recalled cribs were sold at major retailers in the United States and Canada. 11/23/2009 8:53:24 PM
Victoria insiders love this new website In Ontario, where the war of words over that province's version of the HST is getting nasty, three Opposition politicians were kicked out of the legislature for slinging the L-word at the Liberal government. The Conservative trio were perp-walked out of the assembly for saying the government "lied" about the HST. 11/23/2009 2:31:08 PM
B.C. flood victims say they’re hung out to dry Some flood victims on Vancouver Island learned Sunday they do not qualify for the provincial government’s disaster financial assistance after heavy flooding. “What does it matter who owns the house? If you have a natural disaster declared, surely everyone in the area should be covered.” 11/23/2009 4:59:26 AM
B.C. RCMP officer helps deliver neighbour's baby Steve and Heather Boey have always felt safe in their Vancouver-area home, having an RCMP officer living nearby. But they didn't realize what a great neighbour they had until the officer helped deliver their baby boy -- inside their Maple Ridge home. 11/23/2009 4:37:01 AM
Island communities chip in to help flood victims Crisis brings out the best in some people -- and it certainly did during the inundation of the Cowichan Valley this weekend. As the worst of the flooding in Duncan and North Cowichan passed, people started pitching in to help eachother rebuild. 11/23/2009 4:33:55 AM
Hundreds of seniors centre caregivers laid off Abbey Therapeutic Services has handed layoff notices to 200 workers in the Dufferin Care Centre in Coquitlam, the Beacon Hill Villa in Victoria and Nanaimo's Seniors Village. In a letter to employees last week, ATS said "there will be no paychecks forthcoming ... Benefits have been cancelled." 11/23/2009 4:32:40 AM
Games mittens lend Canadian Olympians a hand Those red Olympic mittens that have become all the rage for Christmas presents and have spawned a mitt-load of fans around the world were hardly ever knitted. What has become something of a runaway marketing success was once considered to be an idea not worth pursuing. 11/22/2009 5:37:33 AM
Man's body found in water-filled Abbotsford ditch A man’s body was found in a ditch in Abbotsford Saturday afternoon, but police are unsure whether the death is suspicious. Abbotsford police spokesman Const. Ian MacDonald said a witness spotted the body in a water-filled ditch and called it in to police. 11/22/2009 4:59:15 AM
Flood evacuees allowed to return home Floodwaters in Duncan and North Cowichan, B.C., receded Saturday, allowing hundreds of displaced residents to return to their water-damaged homes. The southern Vancouver Island communities were rocked by severe storm weather this week. 11/22/2009 4:43:40 AM
15-year-old Coquitlam girl viciously assaulted Coquitlam RCMP are searching for suspects after a teenage girl was sexually assaulted near a bus loop overnight. At about 1:00 a.m. Saturday, a 15-year-old girl was walking on the 2000-block of Kingsway Avenue when she was approached by an unidentified male. 11/21/2009 4:24:31 PM
Vancouver Island evacuation order lifted An evacuation order has been lifted for hundreds of south Vancouver Island residents forced from their homes by flooding. About 300 homes were evacuated Friday when a state of emergency was declared around parts of Duncan, B.C., about 60 kilometres north of Victoria. 11/21/2009 4:13:24 PM
Misconduct by B.C. auditor's staff alleged A former employee of the provincial auditor general is alleging professional misconduct by members of the auditor general's staff in connection with public reports issued from 2005 to 2007, which she claims involved manipulation and misrepresentation of findings. 11/21/2009 5:39:45 AM
Hornby Island death a homicide The death of a woman on B.C.'s Hornby Island on Wednesday is now being investigated as a homicide, police say. "As a result of the autopsy, foul play is suspected and this investigation is being treated as a homicide," RCMP Const. Tammy Douglas said. 11/21/2009 5:30:39 AM
B.C. approves disaster relief for flooded communities The B.C. government has approved disaster relief for the hundreds of Vancouver Island residents who were forced from their homes Friday due to extensive flooding in the cities of Duncan and North Cowichan. Numerous houses and streets in the area were underwater Friday morning. 11/21/2009 4:55:59 AM
Personal records of 1,400 residents found in B.C. government employee’s home The British Columbia government is investigating a major security breach after police discovered the personal records of 1,400 income-assistance clients in the home of a government employee, the Victoria Times Colonist has learned. 11/21/2009 4:29:06 AM
A new guard takes over in the B.C. Sikh community The lineup of thousands holding umbrellas and multi-coloured scarves to shelter themselves from the cold rain outside the Princess Margaret School in Surrey last Sunday marked a conspicuous beginning of what some are calling a new era for Sikhs in the province. 11/20/2009 7:41:45 PM
Voters shift away from Gordon Campbell's Liberals British Columbians are getting fed up with the governing Liberals, but they aren't exactly flocking to the opposition NDP. The provincial Greens and the B.C. Conservative Party are picking up support from disaffected Liberal voters, according to a poll by the Mustel Group. 11/20/2009 3:24:50 PM
Duncan and North Cowichan in state of emergency evacuation Heavy flooding hit the Cowichan Valley this morning, leading to evacuation notices affecting hundreds of residents and the declaration of a state of emergency by the municipalities of Duncan and North Cowichan, and the Cowichan Tribes. 11/20/2009 3:23:35 PM
Squeaky wheel gets the grease in HST fight Thursday's tax break for new-homebuyers shows there's an old saying that's highly applicable in B.C. politics these days: the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Or, in this case, a reduction in your HST bill. The real estate sector, normally very supportive of Campbell's Liberals, screamed long and loud. 11/20/2009 3:08:51 PM
Canadian bureaucrats strand B.C. parents in Nepal with adopted daughter A Surrey cardiologist is stranded in Nepal with her newly adopted child while she waits anxiously for Canada to issue documents so she can bring her daughter home and return to her busy practice. Dr. Salima Shariff appealed to Immigration Minister Jason Kenney for help this week 11/20/2009 7:51:48 AM
Surrey Mounties seize hundreds of pounds of doda, an opium-based drug Surrey Mounties have raided a business allegedly making "doda", a drug popular with Indo-Canadian truck and taxi drivers. Surrey Newton MLA Harry Bains said doda is a “highly addictive” opium-derived drug being openly sold throughout the Lower Mainland that "is tearing up the South Asian community". 11/20/2009 5:04:49 AM
'Excited delerium' cause of death? The death of a man in Chilliwack RCMP custody two years ago was accidental, but police and paramedics should get extra training to deal with people displaying "excited delirium," a coroner's inquest jury has found. It is the subject of fierce debate in the scientific community. 11/20/2009 4:45:37 AM
Whistler blows away November snowfall record The unrelenting series of storms pounding the West Coast has brought good news for skiers, dumping a record snowfall on at least one coastal ski resort. Today, Whistler-Blackcomb broke its previous record for all of November, 418 centimetres of snow, with 11 days still left in the month. 11/19/2009 5:47:37 PM
All of a sudden: H1N1 vaccine available to everyone in B.C., starting tomorrow All British Columbians who need and want to be immunized against the H1N1 flu virus will now be eligible to receive the vaccine starting tomorrow, the B.C. government announced today. B.C. expects to receive an additional 258,000 doses of vaccine today. 11/19/2009 4:06:41 PM
RCMP warn of fake drugs sold online RCMP are cautioning consumers about online ads offering swine flu treatments and cheap drugs, saying many of the products are phoney and could be dangerous to your health. Mounties say organized crime is believed to behind many of the false products. 11/19/2009 11:58:19 AM
BC Rail corruption trial: Supreme court rules for prosecution In a unanimous 7-0 decision Thursday that reverses a ruling by the judge in the case, the high court said that defence lawyers can be barred from in-camera hearings to determine whether information they seek is protected by privilege. Dave Basi and Bob Virk are former ministerial aides in the provincial Liberal government. 11/19/2009 11:54:24 AM
Jim Pattison is Canada's fourth richest person The Vancouver-based entrepreneur has just ranked fourth in Canadian Business magazine's Top 100 richest Canadians list. While it might be hard to believe for many Canadians still reeling from the market crash that saw many of us lose about a third of our investments, Canada's rich fared well last year. 11/19/2009 11:46:12 AM
Surrey turned a 'blind eye' to Indo-Canadian 'Monster homes' Surrey faces a “cultural divide” over monster homes, says Rick Hart. Hart said Wednesday that “agitation” has been evident at public meetings between Indo-Canadians, who support mega-houses, and other residents, including Caucasians. 11/19/2009 6:55:22 AM
Whaaat? Meet the Olympic Ticket King....from Bosnia The suitcases of cash and tickets he lugged around for shadowy Olympic accomplices in Bulgaria and Poland are long gone. The $131,000 in under-the-table donations made to leaders of Salt Lake's successful bid for the 2002 Winter Games is history, too. 11/19/2009 5:24:14 AM
Knipstrom called out 'I love my family' before dying Robert Knipstrom, handcuffed face-down in a hospital emergency room for 27 minutes, called out clearly, twice, before he stopped breathing. "I love my family, I love my family," he said. Knipstrom was Tasered six times, pepper-sprayed and struck with a police baton. 11/19/2009 5:02:43 AM
Eye-surgeon pleads not guilty in alleged murder plot A laser eye-surgeon charged with plotting to kill his business partner and a Canadian associate pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Seattle to two charges of criminal solicitation to commit murder. 11/19/2009 4:57:57 AM
Hit men shot and killed wrong gangster A convicted criminal shot to death outside a Vancouver halfway house earlier this fall was the victim of mistaken identity, Vancouver Police say. Raj Soomel, 35, was gunned down outside a home at Cambie Street and 19th Ave. September 29. He had recently been paroled. 11/19/2009 4:18:38 AM
South Coast pounded by more rain, wind Strong winds began slamming the South Coast Wednesday night -- the beginning of what forecasters are calling a powerful frontal system. As of 6:30 p.m. Wednesday night, BC Ferries said that there would be no more sailings out of the Tsawwassen or Horseshoe Bay terminals to the Island. 11/19/2009 4:16:49 AM
Hornby Island residents reeling over artist's death Police are investigating the death of a well-known artist and performer on Hornby Island. The body of 25-year-old Tempest Grace Gale was pulled Wednesday morning from the water at a local marina. Comox Valley RCMP said that they took a person of interest in for questioning. 11/19/2009 4:15:11 AM
Storm brings high winds, heavy rain and ferry cancellations Early winter storms are causing headaches for BC Ferries, as well as BC Hydro crews trying to restore power to customers across B.C. Southwestern B.C. is braced for a repeat of the winter storm that slammed the province Sunday night. 11/18/2009 5:39:16 PM
Five more H1N1 deaths in B.C., 2 in the Interior Five more British Columbians have died from the swine flu virus, the B.C. Health Ministry said Tuesday. The deaths — two in the Interior, one in Vancouver, one in the Fraser Valley and one on Vancouver Island — bring the total number in B.C. to 30. 11/18/2009 9:04:20 AM
Major B.C. quake could be worse than thought The moderate earthquakes off the Queen Charlotte Islands Tuesday have many people once again wondering when the "big one" will hit the West Coast. New research shows that a major quake — expected anytime in the next 200 years — could be much more devastating than previously thought. 11/18/2009 8:56:03 AM
Aircraft operators grounded by Olympic restrictions seek damages 2010 Olympics airspace security restrictions have put many of B.C.'s small aircraft operators in a holding pattern and the industry is demanding at least $3 million in compensation. The restrictions will go into effect two weeks before the Games begin and last until after the Paralympics. 11/18/2009 6:01:22 AM
Victoria eye surgeon target of murder-for-hire plot A laser eye surgeon with a clinic in Victoria was the target of an alleged murder-for-hire plot by his business partner. King’s business partner and ex-brother-in-law, Dr. Michael Mockovak, was charged Monday in Washington state with two counts of criminal solicitation to commit murder. 11/18/2009 5:35:09 AM
50%+ of B.C. Crown corp. CEOs earn above allowed limit Limits on pay and bonuses at B.C.’s government-run Crown corporations are good in theory, but more than half the CEOs still earn more than the allowed limits and will do so for the foreseeable future, says the province’s auditor general. 11/17/2009 3:07:35 PM
Tasered 6 times, 8 RCMP on him, inquest continues Robert Knipstrom Jr. was pepper sprayed, struck with batons and tasered at least six times by Chilliwack RCMP. At least eight RCMP officers were handling Knipstrom when his father responded to his son's telephone call for help. 11/17/2009 2:52:08 PM
UBC elite swimmers get flu vaccine Elite swimmers in good health have received the H1N1 flu vaccine, weeks before it will be available to the general public. The five healthy individuals were given the shot as part of a UBC-based inoculation to protect asthmatic swimmers, who are approved for the vaccine. 11/17/2009 2:41:43 PM
Body of Coquitlam skier found on Mt. Baker The body of a 54-year-old B.C. man was recovered from the wilderness of Washington State Monday evening, officials say. The Coquitlam resident was skiing with his wife at Mount Baker on Sunday when the couple decided to turn back because of bad weather. 11/17/2009 1:15:00 PM
9-year-old 'hero' rescues family from house fire A 9-year-old Mission girl is being credited with saving her family. "I woke up and I was really scared. There was so much smoke in Dad's room, I couldn't breathe," said Macey Finlay-Podnar. "I had to crawl on the ground and go upstairs and wake everybody up." 11/17/2009 8:16:07 AM
Pineapple Express brings more rain to Vancouver Island Residents on Vancouver Island are being warned about more heavy wind and rain, as a weather system called a Pineapple Express gradually moves across the island. Sub-tropical air from Hawaii caused extreme rain in the province Monday. Courtenay declared a local state of emergency. 11/17/2009 7:36:47 AM
Shocking arrest video shown at B.C. coroner's enquiry A disturbing video of a blood-covered, screaming man was screened in a coroner’s court Tuesday. The video of the RCMP arrest of Robert Thurston Knipstrom, who died in hospital five days after he was Tasered, pepper-sprayed and struck by police batons, was taken by the RCMP. 11/17/2009 5:50:38 AM
State of emergency declared in Courtenay, B.C. A city on the eastern shores of Vancouver Island declared a state of emergency Monday in response to major flooding. Courtenay Mayor Greg Phelps issued the warning because of high water levels in the Puntledge, Courtenay, Tsolum and Browns Rivers. 11/16/2009 3:15:57 PM
Schools keep spending on retreats despite cuts School trustees say public education budgets have been cut to the bone, yet several districts found money this year for staff retreats and private meetings in such places as Harrison Hot Springs, Whistler and Semiahmoo Resort. 11/16/2009 10:48:21 AM
Murder trial begins for Victoria-area councillor and two sons Opening arguments are expected today in the second-degree murder trial for a former Vancouver Island city councillor and his two adult children. Former Highlands councillor Ken Brotherston, along with his two sons -- Ken Jr. and Gregory -- will be tried by judge alone. 11/16/2009 10:30:53 AM
Tradition trumps reform in Surrey Sikh election Traditionalists are claiming victory over moderates following weekend elections at the Guru Nanak Sikh Temple in Surrey, B.C. But a release issued by the Sikh Youth Slate says members aren't sure when - or if - their opponents will surrender control at the temple. 11/16/2009 10:29:35 AM
Opinion: Let's face reality on alcohol use From Sooke to London to Victoria, our confused and destructive attitudes toward drugs and alcohol have been on display of late. In Sooke, a Councillor urged the RCMP detachment to be more relaxed about enforcing laws against drinking in public. He was concerned that officers had seized beer from hockey players. 11/16/2009 9:25:52 AM
Conservation officer fired, under investigation A decorated B.C. conservation officer has been fired and is under criminal investigation for alleged financial improprieties involving the use of government credit cards. Rick Grindrod, a former West Vancouver police officer, is under investigation by the Victoria RCMP’s commercial crime section. 11/16/2009 5:33:20 AM
Conditions ripe for major flood on south coast Heavy rains and melting snow are threatening a repeat of historic floods that caused widespread damage in the Fraser Valley in 2003 and 2007, Environment Minister Barry Penner warned Sunday. “This is a classic scenario, similar to 2003 when the Chilliwack River overflowed,” said Penner. 11/16/2009 5:28:30 AM
Burnaby man's neck slashed in Vancouver A Burnaby man was rushed to hospital Sunday morning after being stabbed in the neck in Vancouver's west side. The 36-year-old was on the 2800-block of West 4th Avenue when an unidentified assailant tried to steal his wallet. 11/16/2009 4:20:31 AM
Surrey: Police monitoring Sikh Temple election A power struggle between traditional and moderate Sikhs in Surrey, B.C., is coming to head Sunday as one of the largest temples in North America votes on new leadership. One of the most contentious issues has been the use of furniture in the Guru Nanak temple's communal dining area. 11/15/2009 4:54:29 PM
Search continues for missing East Vancouver man Volunteers continued their search Sunday for Pierre Parkinson, a local Vancouver businessman who has been missing for a week. A roughly 40-person search party comprised of family and friends spent the morning scouring Pacific Spirit Park, seeking any sign of Parkinson. 11/15/2009 4:48:30 PM
Two pedestrians killed on rainy Lower Mainland weekend Two pedestrians were killed in the Lower Mainland on the weekend and the rain may have contributed to both of their deaths. A man in his mid-20s was hit by a taxi in Maple Ridge around 1 a.m. Sunday. In Richmond, an elderly woman died after being struck by a car while jaywalking Saturday. 11/15/2009 4:34:53 PM
Richmond pedestrian hit and killed An elderly woman has died after being struck by a car in Richmond Saturday evening. Mounties say the woman, believed to be in her mid-70s, was crossing in the middle of the street at Gilbert and Mang roads at about 6 p.m. when she was hit. 11/15/2009 5:54:37 AM
Opulent Vancouver mansion could top $31 million A 25,000-square-foot mansion being built in the affluent Point Grey area is likely to be the most expensive home in Vancouver when completed. The buyer bought the property in October 2005 for $8.7 million — cash. The property provides unmatched views of the Strait of Georgia, Bowen Island and Vancouver. 11/14/2009 6:57:57 AM
Nanaimo hockey league accused of discrimination Bill Hardy, whose 12-year-old daughter, was part of the cancelled program, says the city is setting a bad example for the rest of the country especially when interest in Canadian female hockey athletes is high with the Olympics around the corner. 11/14/2009 4:16:30 AM
B.C. ferry crew rescues injured sailor A BC Ferries sailing took a turn for the heroic Friday morning after coming to the aid of a distressed and injured sailor. The Queen of Capilano was radioed for help by the Coast Guard to assist a windy rescue while it was sitting in its berth on Bowen Island. 11/13/2009 5:02:14 PM
BC Appeal Court dismisses appeal by women ski jumpers The B.C. Court of Appeal has dismissed a bid by women ski jumpers to force Vancouver 2010 organizers to let them compete in the Winter Games. The women were appealing a lower court ruling that allowed Games organizers to hold a men's ski jumping competition but not a women's event. 11/13/2009 4:21:41 PM
Man pulled from burning bed dies in hospital A bedridden Victoria man seriously burned in a fire in the bedroom of his apartment Wednesday night has died. It’s not the ending next-door neighbour Dennis Smith hoped for when he dragged 58-year-old Graham Bourns out of his burning bed. 11/13/2009 4:40:16 AM
Respect Khadr's rights, bring him home: B.C. Civil Liberties Assoc. The B.C. Civil Liberties Association will go to bat Friday for Guantanamo prisoner Omar Khadr. Khadr, 23, a Canadian citizen, Khadr was "subjected to torture and to cruel and degrading treatment, and the Canadian government knows that and has been complicit." 11/13/2009 4:30:35 AM
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Surrey: Car stolen with baby in back seat
Eight more child porn charges for B.C. man
Two Victoria cops facing assault charges
Agents seized heroin at Vancouver airport during Olympics: police 
