News

In Vancouver, Emergency Management Minister Bowinn Ma, left, looks on as BC Wildfire Service operations director Cliff Chapman speaks over Zoom June 8, 2023 in an update about the province’s wildfire situation. (Lauren Collins)

B.C. might need to ‘dig deep’ into its own resources for fighting wildfires this year

Province has multiple requests in for support already

A combination of dried-out forests, potentially strong winds and lightning could make for a “very challenging” fire season in 2023, which has already turned to be unprecedented in many ways, provincial officials said Thursday (June 8) during a news conference. (Black Press Media file photo)

Officials warn of ‘very challenging’ fire season ahead in B.C.

Large ‘chunks’ of B.C.’s interior already find themselves in ‘desert-like conditions’

Last year, Hope Air was able to facilitate 10,251 travel arrangements for Canadians in medical need. (Hope Air/Special to The News)

Give Hope Wings fundraiser cleared for takeoff at B.C. regional airports

Western leg of Hope Air fundraising campaign starts at Pitt Meadows airport on June 10

The Hugh Keenleyside Dam near Castlegar was one of three built as part of the Columbia River Treaty. It has had a huge impact on the Columbia River valley all the way to Revelstoke. Photo: Contributed

Agreement reached to share Columbia River Treaty revenues with First Nations

The Ktunaxa, Secwépemc and Syilx Okanagan Nations will each receive 5% of the revenue generated

The Hugh Keenleyside Dam near Castlegar was one of three built as part of the Columbia River Treaty. It has had a huge impact on the Columbia River valley all the way to Revelstoke. Photo: Contributed
Three-year-old Deerat Kaur Chahal enjoys some time at Skaha Park. Her family and her are being deported if a reprieve isn’t given. (Mark Brett / Local Journalism Initiative Reporter)

Okanagan MP, community rallies to keep young family from being deported

Hardeep Singh Chahal, his pregnant wife Kamaldeep Kaur and daughter want to stay in Penticton

Three-year-old Deerat Kaur Chahal enjoys some time at Skaha Park. Her family and her are being deported if a reprieve isn’t given. (Mark Brett / Local Journalism Initiative Reporter)
12,000 BC Hydro customers without power north of Kamloops. (BC Hydro)

More than 12K BC Hydro customers without power in Kamloops, Clearwater, Valemount

Transmission circuit failure is to blame for the outage

12,000 BC Hydro customers without power north of Kamloops. (BC Hydro)
An evacuation order has been issued for the northern community of Tumbler Ridge due to wildfires. (BC Wildfire Service)

UPDATE: Evacuation order issued for Tumbler Ridge due to wildfire

Evacuees are to report to the reception centre in Dawson Creek Ovintiv Events Centre.

An evacuation order has been issued for the northern community of Tumbler Ridge due to wildfires. (BC Wildfire Service)
Hope RCMP are looking into a serious spate of alleged hate crimes in Hope, just days into the community’s first Pride festival. (Kemone Moodley/Hope Standard/Megan te Boekhorst)

PHOTOS: Pride flag set on fire during night of alleged hate crime in Hope

Hope RCMP extend support to local LGBTQIA2S community following rash of crime

Hope RCMP are looking into a serious spate of alleged hate crimes in Hope, just days into the community’s first Pride festival. (Kemone Moodley/Hope Standard/Megan te Boekhorst)
WildsafeBC Kimberley/Cranbrook will be tagging garbage bins put out too early. WildsafeBC file

WildSafeBC will be tagging garbage put out too early in Kimberley

Wildsafe BC Kimberley Cranbrook coordinator Danica Lisk is now at work for…

WildsafeBC Kimberley/Cranbrook will be tagging garbage bins put out too early. WildsafeBC file
Smoke billowing from the Soards Creek Wildfire on Monday (June 5). (Photo by Laura Dempsey)

Soards Creek Wildfire grows to over 1,100 hectares north of Revelstoke

The fire was discovered on June 3

Smoke billowing from the Soards Creek Wildfire on Monday (June 5). (Photo by Laura Dempsey)
Nanaimo RCMP have reported a man has died on June 7 after going into medical distress while swimming at Westwood Lake. (Black Press Media file photo)

Man dies after going into medical distress while swimming in Vancouver Island lake

Rescue attempt by friends, emergency services successful, but victim died later in Nanaimo hospital

Nanaimo RCMP have reported a man has died on June 7 after going into medical distress while swimming at Westwood Lake. (Black Press Media file photo)
Sekyiwa “Set” Shakur poses atop her late brother Tupac Shakur’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame during a posthumous ceremony in his honor on Wednesday, June 7, 2023, in Los Angeles. The late rapper and actor is pictured at right. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Tupac Shakur receives Walk of Fame star honor in the same month as birthday

Shakur was given the 2,758th star on the Walk of Fame

Sekyiwa “Set” Shakur poses atop her late brother Tupac Shakur’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame during a posthumous ceremony in his honor on Wednesday, June 7, 2023, in Los Angeles. The late rapper and actor is pictured at right. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Kasari Govender, B.C. Human Rights commissioner, speaks after releasing the final report on her inquiry into hate during the COVID-19 pandemic, in Vancouver, on Tuesday, March 7, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

BC Human Rights Commissioner talks battling hate during Okanagan visit

The Commissioner sat down for a one-on-one interview with Black Press

Kasari Govender, B.C. Human Rights commissioner, speaks after releasing the final report on her inquiry into hate during the COVID-19 pandemic, in Vancouver, on Tuesday, March 7, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
BC Wildfire air skimmers over Okanagan Lake on June 5. (Steve Tidder)
BC Wildfire air skimmers over Okanagan Lake on June 5. (Steve Tidder)
Vancouver Island Ferry Company’s Hullo vessels at the Damen Group facility in Vietnam. (CNW Group/Vancouver Island Ferry Company photo)

Nanaimo to Vancouver Hullo Ferries announces fare prices, service to begin in August

Pets and bikes allowed on ferries, says ferry operator

Vancouver Island Ferry Company’s Hullo vessels at the Damen Group facility in Vietnam. (CNW Group/Vancouver Island Ferry Company photo)
The Chehalis River wildfire has razed about 800 hectares since Saturday and remains classified as “out of control” and as a wildfire of note as of Thursday (photo/B.C. Wildfire Service)
The Chehalis River wildfire has razed about 800 hectares since Saturday and remains classified as “out of control” and as a wildfire of note as of Thursday (photo/B.C. Wildfire Service)
Teck Resources Ltd. says it is listening to market proposals on the company’s steelmaking coal operations. File Photo.

Teck listening to market interest on Elk Valley steel-making coal business

After a plan to spin off the steelmaking coal business to a…

Teck Resources Ltd. says it is listening to market proposals on the company’s steelmaking coal operations. File Photo.
The Lifley Farm was purchased by FortisBC for the construction of a substation. Photo: Submitted

FortisBC takes possession of rural Kootenay land for substation

Invitation-only meeting saw about 50 residents attend

The Lifley Farm was purchased by FortisBC for the construction of a substation. Photo: Submitted
A Chilkat blanket, created in a Tlingit community in the 1800s, is seen in an undated handout photo. A man who is helping return the 140-year-old robe to the British Columbia First Nation where it was created says it’s as if the regalia called out to its people and they are bringing it home. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Taku River Tinglit First Nation

B.C. First Nation buys back 140-year-old robe, paying almost $40,000 to bring it home

The intricately woven Chilkat robe was purchased by the Taku River Tlingit First Nation

A Chilkat blanket, created in a Tlingit community in the 1800s, is seen in an undated handout photo. A man who is helping return the 140-year-old robe to the British Columbia First Nation where it was created says it’s as if the regalia called out to its people and they are bringing it home. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Taku River Tinglit First Nation
Two people were swimming in the Goat River near Creston, June 7, and got swept away in the high, swift water into rapids. RCMP assisted in their rescue. (Photo courtesy RCMP)

Swimmers rescued from Goat River

On June 7, 2023, Creston RCMP assisted in a swift water rescue…

Two people were swimming in the Goat River near Creston, June 7, and got swept away in the high, swift water into rapids. RCMP assisted in their rescue. (Photo courtesy RCMP)