British Columbia

Mark Pavesic reels in a small mouth bass from Elk Lake, near Victoria, BC. Kelsey Pavesic photo

Let Outdoors West be your guide to the great outdoors this summer!

Magazine shares the how-to and where-to of exploring Western Canada’s natural spaces

Mark Pavesic reels in a small mouth bass from Elk Lake, near Victoria, BC. Kelsey Pavesic photo
The River Forecast Centre is warning of incoming rainy weather, that will increase the risk of flooding in several parts of B.C. (TNRD photo)

Heavy rain in parts of B.C. a concern for flood-prone areas: River Forecast Centre

Rain could impact headwaters of the north and south Thompson rivers and the Cariboo mountains

The River Forecast Centre is warning of incoming rainy weather, that will increase the risk of flooding in several parts of B.C. (TNRD photo)
Canadian non-profit Informed Opinions is working to document the harassment and hate women and gender-diverse people are facing online at increasing rates. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward)

National campaign documenting online hate against women, pushing for change

Insults, slurs, physical and sexual threats pushing women out of online, public spaces

Canadian non-profit Informed Opinions is working to document the harassment and hate women and gender-diverse people are facing online at increasing rates. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward)
Residents and workers for the City of Fernie, B.C., fill sandbags in preparation for flooding along the Elk River, where heavy rain and spring snow melt threaten to push the river over its banks. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-City of Fernie

Flood risk remains elevated as B.C. enters ‘peak freshet’ over coming weeks

More rain is expected over the weekend

Residents and workers for the City of Fernie, B.C., fill sandbags in preparation for flooding along the Elk River, where heavy rain and spring snow melt threaten to push the river over its banks. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-City of Fernie
Commissioner Austin Cullen listens to a question while meeting with reporters after releasing his report from his Inquiry into Money Laundering in British Columbia in Vancouver, B.C., Wednesday, June 15, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Rich Lam

B.C. money laundering report calls for new law enforcement unit, provincial office

Commissioner estimates billions laundered in B.C. every year

Commissioner Austin Cullen listens to a question while meeting with reporters after releasing his report from his Inquiry into Money Laundering in British Columbia in Vancouver, B.C., Wednesday, June 15, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Rich Lam
Todd Maliteare, Bruce Cameron and Dr. David Suzuki. (Submitted/file photos)

PODCAST: David Suzuki gets charged up over electric vehicles

TODAY IN B.C.: Columnist Bruce Cameron and builder Todd Maliteare also talk EVs

Todd Maliteare, Bruce Cameron and Dr. David Suzuki. (Submitted/file photos)
Autumn Cooper, right, of the Stz’uminus First Nation speaks about her experiences learning her traditional language, at an event announcing provincial funding for Indigenous language, art, culture and heritage revitalization at the legislature June 14. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)

B.C. commits $35M to continue revitalization of Indigenous languages, arts, culture

First Peoples’ Cultural Council learning initiatives to be funded

Autumn Cooper, right, of the Stz’uminus First Nation speaks about her experiences learning her traditional language, at an event announcing provincial funding for Indigenous language, art, culture and heritage revitalization at the legislature June 14. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)
Save Old Growth announced the return of their highway blockades as of June 13 during the 2022 Thrifty Foods Victoria Day Parade. A new group, Clear The Road, which is frsutrated with the regular blockades is now pursuing a class-action lawsuit against Save Old Growth. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. commuters consider lawsuit over logging protest highway blockades by Save Old Growth

Drivers have missed appointments and work shifts, lost out on money, says Clear The Road group

Save Old Growth announced the return of their highway blockades as of June 13 during the 2022 Thrifty Foods Victoria Day Parade. A new group, Clear The Road, which is frsutrated with the regular blockades is now pursuing a class-action lawsuit against Save Old Growth. (Black Press Media file photo)
Honey bees flit in and out of their colony atop an apartment building in Vancouver’s West End. (Jane Skrypnek/Black Press Media)

VIDEO: Vancouver rooftops home to a new breed of honey bee: one made to survive

Ensure Hive Future breeding queen bees to be resistant to deadly mites

Honey bees flit in and out of their colony atop an apartment building in Vancouver’s West End. (Jane Skrypnek/Black Press Media)
Vehicles travel on Main Street as the burned-out remains of businesses and properties destroyed by last year’s devastating wildfire are seen in Lytton, B.C., Saturday, May 21, 2022. Rebuilding in the fire-ravaged village of Lytton, B.C., is likely to begin in September, according to the province’s minister of public safety. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Rebuild of Lytton, B.C., after devastating wildfire to begin by September: minister

Residents are still in temporary housing nearly a year after the June 30, 2021, fire

Vehicles travel on Main Street as the burned-out remains of businesses and properties destroyed by last year’s devastating wildfire are seen in Lytton, B.C., Saturday, May 21, 2022. Rebuilding in the fire-ravaged village of Lytton, B.C., is likely to begin in September, according to the province’s minister of public safety. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Kevin Falcon addresses the crowd after being elected leader of the British Columbia Liberal Party in Vancouver, on Saturday, February 5, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

BC Liberals vote to begin name change consultations at Penticton convention

Change part of new leader Kevin Falcon’s plans ahead of 2024 election

Kevin Falcon addresses the crowd after being elected leader of the British Columbia Liberal Party in Vancouver, on Saturday, February 5, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
(Photo - Third Space Charity/Contributed)

West Kelowna resident cycling across B.C. for mental health awareness

Biffart’s journey started on June 5 and he aims to be done on the 21st

(Photo - Third Space Charity/Contributed)
Advocates for decriminalization and safe supply of drugs stood outside Nelson’s city hall on April 14th. In the month of April, 161 British Columbians died from the toxic drug supply, according to the BC Coroners Service. (Bill Metcalfe/News Staff)

B.C. sees 161 people die to toxic drug crisis in April, amid calls for safer supply

April death rates highest in Northern Health and Vancouver Coastal Health

Advocates for decriminalization and safe supply of drugs stood outside Nelson’s city hall on April 14th. In the month of April, 161 British Columbians died from the toxic drug supply, according to the BC Coroners Service. (Bill Metcalfe/News Staff)
A wildfire burns in the mountains north of Lytton on July 1, 2021. According to a survey 2022 survey by BCAA, most British Columbians fear more extreme weather events. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP, File)

85% of British Columbians fear another extreme weather event, but few are prepared: survey

Almost half of survey respondents taking “wait-and-see” approach, BCAA found

A wildfire burns in the mountains north of Lytton on July 1, 2021. According to a survey 2022 survey by BCAA, most British Columbians fear more extreme weather events. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP, File)
A 2019 pilot program in Vancouver found take-home fentanyl tests have the potential to increase safer consumption of drugs. (Credit: Amy Romer/BC Centre on Substance Use)

Take-home fentanyl tests could increase safer drug consumption in B.C.: study

2019 Vancouver study found 30% of participants made safer choices after using take-home test

A 2019 pilot program in Vancouver found take-home fentanyl tests have the potential to increase safer consumption of drugs. (Credit: Amy Romer/BC Centre on Substance Use)
A motorist watches from a pullout on the Trans-Canada Highway as a wildfire burns on the side of a mountain in Lytton, B.C., July 1, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. piloting fire dashboard to help identify communities most at-risk of blazes

Online dashboard will launch in Coquitlam, Surrey, and Port Alberni in July

A motorist watches from a pullout on the Trans-Canada Highway as a wildfire burns on the side of a mountain in Lytton, B.C., July 1, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The B.C. Lottery Corp. says a system error caused more than 500 scratch and win tickets to incorrectly display as non-winners on June 6. (Black Press Media file photo)

503 winning scratch tickets missed in system error; B.C. lotto corp says check again

Players who bought $3 Roads to Riches tickets on June 6 can bring them back in

The B.C. Lottery Corp. says a system error caused more than 500 scratch and win tickets to incorrectly display as non-winners on June 6. (Black Press Media file photo)
Northwest B.C. communities were without Telus services June 7 due to a damaged cable. (Google Maps)

UPDATE: Leave it to beaver

A beaver felled the tree that caused a service outage in B.C.’s northwest June 7

Northwest B.C. communities were without Telus services June 7 due to a damaged cable. (Google Maps)
The Victoria Hospitals Foundation removed a tweet about Dr. Bonnie Henry winning a public lottery prize after it received hateful online comments. Their Facebook post (pictured) remains up. (Victoria Hospitals Foundation/Facebook) The Victoria Hospitals Foundation removed a tweet about Dr. Bonnie Henry winning a public lottery prize after it received hateful online comments. Their Facebook post (pictured) remains up. (Victoria Hospitals Foundation/Facebook)

Victoria charity receives backlash, removes tweet after Dr. Bonnie Henry wins e-bikes

Henry won the bikes in a randomly-selected public lottery fundraiser

The Victoria Hospitals Foundation removed a tweet about Dr. Bonnie Henry winning a public lottery prize after it received hateful online comments. Their Facebook post (pictured) remains up. (Victoria Hospitals Foundation/Facebook) The Victoria Hospitals Foundation removed a tweet about Dr. Bonnie Henry winning a public lottery prize after it received hateful online comments. Their Facebook post (pictured) remains up. (Victoria Hospitals Foundation/Facebook)
A B.C. high school teacher has been banned from practising in the province for life for having a sexual relationship with a student. (Credit: Pixabay)

B.C. high school teacher banned for life for sexual relationship with student

Teacher pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation in 2019

A B.C. high school teacher has been banned from practising in the province for life for having a sexual relationship with a student. (Credit: Pixabay)