According to preliminary data, 109 people in British Columbia lost their lives to suspected unregulated drug toxicity in May 2026, equating to approximately 3.5 deaths per day. The preliminary data from May is the lowest number of monthly deaths due to suspected unregulated drug toxicity reported by the Coroners Service since February 2020 (79). During […]

 An Alberta school chat listed girls to assault. The response shows Canada still has a rape culture problem By Nicolette Little, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Media and Technology Studies, University of Alberta  Gender-based violence researchers, feminists and activists use the term “rape culture” to describe a society where violence against women, girls and gender-diverse people is normalized, […]

With warmer weather and an increase in the availability of electric transportation devices, the Castlegar RCMP are reminding users to familiarize themselves with local laws and regulations before operating these devices. Police have observed a rise in the use of electric transportation devices—including e‑bikes, e‑scooters, and more recently e‑dirt bikes—on sidewalks, bike lanes, roadways, and other public […]

Niki Sharma, Attorney General, and Jennifer Blatherwick, parliamentary secretary for gender equity, have released the following statements in response to federal bills C-16 (the Protecting Victims Act) and C-225 (an act to amend the Criminal Code) becoming law: Sharma said: “This week marks an important step forward in efforts to prevent gender-based and intimate-partner violence, […]

Five pets have now been reunited with their owners after a long journey that led them to the custody of BC Highway Patrol on Vancouver Island. On May 24, 2026, just after 2 p.m., a BC Highway Patrol officer was patrolling Hwy 1 (the Malahat Highway) near Goldstream Park when he saw the driver of […]

“On June 1, 2026, The Southeast District Major Crime Unit (SED MCU) executed a search warrant at 1381/1383 Hiwy 3B, Trail, as part of an ongoing investigation into the suspicious disappearance of Mark Konrad,” said RCMP Cpl. Brett Urano. “Highway 3B was temporarily closed in both directions while the warrant was executed to ensure the […]

Castlegar RCMP are investigating an assault that occurred on 6 Avenue on June 1, 2026, at approximately 4:07 p.m., according to Castlegar RCMP Sgt. Monty Taylor. Taylor said police received a report that a young woman was outside a residence loading items into a vehicle when she was approached by a group of youths. He said […]

BC New Democrat MLAs Brittny Anderson and Steve Morissette say that people in the Kootenays will benefit from provincial funding for community safety projects led by local organizations. “The projects that are being supported through these grants here in the Kootenays and across the province are life-changing,” said Steve Morissette, MLA for Kootenay-Monashee. “I’m incredibly grateful to those that dedicate their […]

A significant milestone in British Columbia’s coordinated approach to mental health crisis response has been reached with the near-complete rollout of HealthIM across the RCMP Southeast District, with final implementation expected in the coming weeks. HealthIM is now operational across the majority of the Southeast District, including detachments in the Central Okanagan, South Okanagan, North Okanagan and […]

Temperatures are increasing and so are highway speeds; BC Highway Patrol is reminding you that throughout the month of May police officers province-wide will be doing extra enforcement for the High-Risk Driving and Motorcycle Awareness Campaign. “There are two keys to keeping motorcyclists safer,” says Corporal Michael McLaughlin with BC Highway Patrol. “Number one, motorcyclists […]