UPDATED: Tentative deal reached in postal labour dispute
A tentative deal has been reach between Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers averting job action by the union. "We can't give details of the agreements at this time, but we're pleased that our members don't have to resort to taking job action," Mike Palecek, national president of CUPW said in a statement. The...
A few common sense tips for bear safety
Bear calls have been keeping Conservation Officers running for much of the past few weeks as a lackluster berry crop appears to have driven the annimals down to fruit trees in and around the communities of the West Kootenay. Bears everywhere are out searching for available food sources as they fuel up for the winter months....
ICBC applies for rate hike to deal with escalation of vehicle crashes
The Insurance Corporation of BC is seeking a rate increase of $3.50 per month for basic coverage due to an escalation in the number of crashes, the number of claims being filed and the cost of settling those claims. The increase was announced in a media release by ICBC Thursday. "“We certainly don’t like to have to ask our ...
Kelowna welcomes Duke and Duchess of Cambridge September 27
The unique beauty of Canada’s West Coast and the rugged wildness of the North will be front and centre during The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s second official Royal Tour to Canada. Their Royal Highnesses will visit five communities in British Columbia — Victoria, Vancouver, Haida Gwaii, Bella Bella, and Kelowna — and two...
More than 12K Dorel Juvenile Canada strollers get recalled
Dorel Juvenile Canada has issued a recall of more than 12,000 jogging strollers, said Health Canada. This recall involves single and double occupant swivel wheel jogging strollers that have a quick release mechanism for removing and re-attaching the front wheel. Health Canada said Instep, Instep Safari and Schwinn Grand Safari...
BC Wildfire Service reports vandals strike again near Bowser
The BC Wildfire Service has reported another act of vandalism, this time on Vancouver Island near Bowser. According to a BC Wildfire Service media release, someone broke into and vandalized the station last week by hopping a five-foot fence into the compound. The vandal broke into the cabinet by bending the door up and then...
Man facing charges in relation to arson-caused wildfires near Stave Lake/Mission
An investigation into a series of deliberately set fires near Stave Lake has resulted in arson charges against one Lower Mainland man. Christopher White, 35, has been charged with three counts of arson, damage to property under Section 434 of the Criminal Code of Canada. Mr. White is making his first court appearance today,...
IHA joins in expanding overdose prevention program
As part of Interior Health’s overdose emergency response, the Take Home Naloxone program has expanded to 70 sites which includes: all Interior Health emergency departments, public health centres, mental health and substance use offices as well as several community agencies. “Drug-related overdoses and deaths are a huge...
B.C. Human Rights Code to include explicit protection for gender identity, expression
Attorney General and Minister of Justice Suzanne Anton introduced legislation Monday to make B.C.'s Human Rights Code more explicit in the protections it affords transgender persons in British Columbia. Bill 27, Human Rights Code Amendment Act, 2016, was passed to include "gender identity or expression" among the protected ...
June overdose death numbers show increase
Updated statistics from the BC Coroners Service show the number of illicit drug overdose deaths among B.C. residents has increased. The total number of overdose deaths for June 2016 was 56, an increase from 43 in May 2016. A total of 371 overdose deaths have been reported from January to June 2016. The most recent fentanyl-related...
