Halloween mega displays on the rise in B.C. neighbourhoods
New research from BC Hydro finds festive lights and blow up decorations are no longer limited to just the holiday season as more British Columbians are putting up Halloween ‘mega displays.’ The survey finds almost a quarter of British Columbians now decorate about the same amount for both Halloween and Christmas – with almost...
Here2Talk: Free counselling services for post-secondary students
In advance of reading week at B.C.’s colleges and universities, students throughout the Province are reminded that mental health support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week via Here2Talk, a free online and virtual counselling service. “Studying for mid-term exams, finding housing and employment during the pandemic...
OP/ED: BC needs to drastically change post-fire logging
As autumn rains extinguish the last of this summer’s fires, the final accounting for a brutal B.C. wildfire season is becoming clear. Nearly one million hectares of forest has been burnt and more than $500 million spent containing the carnage. We are no strangers to the impacts of wildfires here in the Kootenays as we have ...
Toxic illicit drug supply claims lives of 184 British Columbians in July
More than 1,200 people have died as a result of toxic drugs in the first seven months of 2021, according to the latest preliminary reporting from the BC Coroners Service. “The deaths of another 184 of our community members in July is a stark reminder of the tragic and unrelenting trajectory of this public health emergency,”...
Options for B.C.’s permanent paid sick leave available for comment
British Columbians are invited to have their say on three proposed options for permanent paid sick leave shaped by their responses to the first phase of consultation. “Over the past several weeks, thousands of workers and employers have completed surveys to give us valuable information on their current sick-leave benefits, ...
PPC Candidate called to withdraw after "harmful and repugnant" comparison of residential schools with vaccine passports
(Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Territories/Vancouver, B.C.) — People’s Party of Canada Candidate Renate Siekmann distributed a pamphlet yesterday that equates the genocide of Indigenous peoples with vaccine mandates. The brochure shows an image of a group of Indigenous...
Maximum allowable rent increase capped at 1.5% for 2022
B.C.’s maximum allowable rent increase amount for 2022 is being set at 1.5%, based on inflation. This increase cannot take effect prior to Jan. 1, 2022. If landlords choose to increase rent, they must provide a full three months’ notice to tenants using the correct notice of rent increase form. To support British Columbians,...
Fatal Motor Vehicle incident closes Hwy 1 between Golden and Revelstoke
A collision between four vehicles has left one driver dead, four others injured and closed the highway between Golden and Revelstoke this morning. Just after 8 a.m. Sunday morning, frontline officers from the Golden RCMP were called to assist BC Emergency Health Services in 1000-block of the Trans Canada Highway for a report...
RCMP investigating death of child in Creston
On Aug. 30, 2021, shortly after 6 p.m. Creston RCMP Frontline members and BC Ambulance received a report of an unresponsive child at a campground east of Creston. When members arrived, they found a child in serious medical distress. First aid measures were conducted and the child was transported to Calgary Children's Hospital...
Lake Cowichan RCMP warns detachment telephone line is being spoofed
The Lake Cowichan RCMP is warning the public that there appears to be someone using the Lake Cowichan RCMP’s non-emergency number to make unsolicited calls. For the last 24-hours the Lake Cowichan RCMP has received a number of reports that someone has called them from the non-emergency line of the Lake Cowichan RCMP. The...
