Columbia River Treaty talks move forward after constructive Seattle session
On Aug. 10 and 11, 2023, Canada and the United States held the 18th round of negotiations toward a modernized Columbia River Treaty. The U.S. delegation hosted the meeting in Seattle, welcoming the Canadian negotiating team, which included representatives of the governments of Canada and B.C., and the Ktunaxa, Secwepemc and...
BC cop wins gold at 2023 World Police & Fire Games
A Vancouver Island RCMP officer is coming home with a suitcase a little heavier after winning the gold medal in Cross Country Mountain Bike in the scope of the 2023 World Police & Fire Games which was held in Winnipeg. Forty-two-year-old Sgt. David Vunic, who is currently posted at the West Shore RCMP, has been an avid ...
BC Coroners Service issues public safety bulletin about wildfire smoke
As confirmed by his parents, the BC Coroners Service is investigating the death of nine-year-old Carter Vigh of 100 Mile House, related to an existing medical condition aggravated by wildfire smoke. The sudden and unexpected death of this young boy is a heartbreaking loss for his family and community. As the province experiences...
RCMP seek info after fatal plane crash in northern BC
Police are looking to speak with additional witnesses after a small plane crash killed one man near Simpson Lake on Sunday afternoon. On June 25, 2023 at 5:41 p.m., the Chetwynd RCMP received a report of a plane crash at Simpson Lake in the Mount Lemoray area. Police attended the crash site and confirmed that the pilot and ...
More than 1,000 lives lost to toxic unregulated drugs in first five months of 2023
Though the risk of death posed by the unregulated drug supply remains extremely high, the number of deaths in British Columbia due to drug toxicity decreased from near-record levels in April to 176 lives lost in the month of May. “BC Coroners Service findings confirm that this public-health emergency continues to be driven ...
FortisBC reminds customers to prepare ahead to minimize summer energy bills
With B.C.’s southern interior expected to experience extremely hot summer weather, FortisBC Inc. (FortisBC) would like to remind its customers that taking proactive measures to reduce energy use can help minimize higher bills during periods of extreme heat, while still keeping you and your household safe and comfortable....
Man dies in Quesnel crash
On June 14 at approximately 1:40 p.m. on Hwy 97 near Lansdowne Road in Quesnel, BC, Quesnel RCMP and BCHP – Williams Lake responded to a report of a fatal collision between a commercial Ford F-150 pickup truck and a Dodge Ram pickup truck that had been hauling a trailer. One male driver is deceased and a female passenger was...
Province expands access to opioid agonist treatment medications
British Columbia is taking action on the toxic drug crisis by being the first province in Canada to provide universal coverage for eligible medications used for the treatment of opioid-use disorder. “Improving access to medication is an important part of strengthening the public health-care system,” said Adrian Dix, Minister...
Agreements address Columbia River Treaty impacts on Indigenous Nations
The Ktunaxa, Secwépemc and Syilx Okanagan Nations and their members will benefit from new interim agreements that share revenue generated from the Columbia River Treaty. Through the three separate interim agreements, the Ktunaxa Nation, Secwépemc Nation and Syilx Okanagan Nation will each receive 5% of the revenue generated...
Op/Ed:Outdated forest practices the blame for high-intensity wildfires
A long, destructive summer is coming to B.C. forests British Columbia is poised to suffer a historically ruinous fire season and we have only ourselves to blame. Warm, dry weather early in the season is part of the problem, to be sure. Climate change is likely making things worse. But B.C.’s history of fire suppression and...
