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Heavy equipment at work at Coastal GasLink pipeline crossing at the Lho Kwa (Clore River) in northwestern B.C. (David Suzuki Foundation photo)

Feds quietly backed off while Coastal GasLink pipeline work killed fish in B.C.

Fisheries officers cited safety concerns, but critics say none existed

  • Feb 8, 2023
Bernie Pauly, a professor in the UVic School of Nursing and a scientist with the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, said decriminalization of certain amounts of drugs for personal use can improve access to harm reduction and other services without fear of criminalization for personal possession. But other aspects still need to be worked out. (Photo courtesy University of Victoria)

As drug decriminalization rolls out, expert largely praises what B.C. is trying to do

But University of Victoria professor Bernie Pauly also points to still-unresolved issues

Victoria seniors are struggling to afford food due to rising costs. (Pexels photo)

B.C. seniors – and parents – skipping meals as ‘sticker shock’ from food inflation hits

Greater Victoria residents open up about financial struggles and their sacrifices

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This photo made available by NASA shows the planet Jupiter, captured by the Hubble Space Telescope, on June 27, 2019. On Friday, Feb. 3, 2023, scientists said they have discovered 12 new moons around the gas giant, putting the total count at a record-breaking 92. That's more than any other planet in our solar system. (NASA, ESA, A. Simon/Goddard Space Flight Center, M.H. Wong/University of California, Berkeley via AP)
Jupiter’s moon count jumps to 92, most in solar system
(Black Press Media Creative)
Google is getting its ChatGPT competitor ready for prime time.
(Black Press Media Creative)
Choosing safe Valentine’s flowers, plants for pet parents
FILE - Spanish fashion designer Paco Rabanne poses with a model wearing a white dress with a metallic headpiece after presenting his 1992/93 fall-winter haute couture collection in Paris, France, on July 29, 1992. The Spanish-born pace-setting designer known for perfumes sold worldwide and his metallic, space-age fashions, has died, the group that owns his fashion house announced on its website Friday Feb.3, 2023. He was 88. (AP Photo/Laurent Rebours, File)
Lauded rebel fashion designer Paco Rabanne dies at age 88
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Protesters and advocates brought painted rocks in memory of friends and family they have lost to eating disorders. (Hollie Ferguson/News Staff)

VIDEO: ‘Huge gaps’ in care for adults with eating disorders says protest at B.C. capital

Protesters at the B.C. Legislature called for better care for adults with eating disorders

Protesters and advocates brought painted rocks in memory of friends and family they have lost to eating disorders. (Hollie Ferguson/News Staff)
Canfor President and Chief Executive Don Kayne said the lack of fibre supply led to the closure of its sawmill and pallet plant in Chetwynd, whose mayor says that the community will have to digest the closure for a while. But Allen Courtoreille also tried to strike a positive note. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Mayor says mill closure is ‘devastating’ for small community of Chetwynd, B.C.

Canfor’s closure eliminates 120 jobs in a community of 2,500

Canfor President and Chief Executive Don Kayne said the lack of fibre supply led to the closure of its sawmill and pallet plant in Chetwynd, whose mayor says that the community will have to digest the closure for a while. But Allen Courtoreille also tried to strike a positive note. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Rowena Rizzotti. (Submitted photo)

Surrey’s $312M Legion Veterans Village first of its kind in Canada

‘We just made what people thought would be impossible, possible,’ says project lead Rowena Rizzotti

Rowena Rizzotti. (Submitted photo)
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A man searches for people in a destroyed building in Adana, Turkey, Monday, Feb. 6, 2023. A powerful quake has knocked down multiple buildings in southeast Turkey and Syria and many casualties are feared. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
VIDEO: Race to find survivors as quake aid pours into Turkey, Syria
B.C.’s Lt. Governor Janet Austin at the B.C. Legislature ahead of the annual Throne Speech on Monday, Feb. 6, 2023. (Wolfgang Depner/Black Press Media)
B.C. government to make heavy use of spending surplus: Throne Speech
(Black Press Media Creative)
Hawaii whale dies with fishing nets, plastic bags in stomach
Rescue dog Hope waits for departure at Cologne/Bonn Airport, in Cologne, Germany, Monday, Feb. 6, 2023. To help the victims of the severe earthquakes in Turkey, rescue workers from ISAR Germany in North Rhine-Westphalia headed to the crisis areas. Rescuers in Turkey and war-ravaged Syria searched through the frigid night into Tuesday, hoping to pull more survivors from the rubble after an earthquake killed and injured thousands of people and toppled thousands of buildings across a wide region. (Federico Gambarini/dpa via AP)
Engineers, search dogs sent to Turkey, Syria after quake
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Hinatinyis Coté and Larry Johnson drum and sing with Donna Samuel at Spirit Square, Harbour Quay prior to the opening ceremonies for the Orange Shirt Day walk on National Truth and Reconciliation Day, Sept. 30, 2022. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News) Hinatinyis Coté and Larry Johnson drum and sing with Donna Samuel at Spirit Square, Harbour Quay prior to the opening ceremonies for the Orange Shirt Day walk on National Truth and Reconciliation Day, Sept. 30, 2022. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

How Truth and Reconciliation Day is marked across Canada

B.C. would become the 6th province or territory to designate Sept. 30 as a holiday.

Hinatinyis Coté and Larry Johnson drum and sing with Donna Samuel at Spirit Square, Harbour Quay prior to the opening ceremonies for the Orange Shirt Day walk on National Truth and Reconciliation Day, Sept. 30, 2022. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News) Hinatinyis Coté and Larry Johnson drum and sing with Donna Samuel at Spirit Square, Harbour Quay prior to the opening ceremonies for the Orange Shirt Day walk on National Truth and Reconciliation Day, Sept. 30, 2022. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
A woman sits on the rubble as emergency rescue teams search for people under the remains of destroyed buildings in Nurdagi town on the outskirts of Osmaniye city southern Turkey, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023. Ottawa says Canada will contribute $10 million to earthquake relief efforts in Turkey and Syria as part of an initial aid package. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Khalil Hamra

‘It was a chaotic situation’: Canadian stuck in Turkey recounts earthquake

Zein Almoghraby ran outside his hotel room in southeast Turkey when the…

A woman sits on the rubble as emergency rescue teams search for people under the remains of destroyed buildings in Nurdagi town on the outskirts of Osmaniye city southern Turkey, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023. Ottawa says Canada will contribute $10 million to earthquake relief efforts in Turkey and Syria as part of an initial aid package. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Khalil Hamra
A new poll suggests a majority of Canadians still see the United States as their country’s closest ally, even in an age of isolationism and protectionist policies. President Joe Biden delivers his first state of the union address to a joint session of Congress at the Capitol, March 1, 2022, in Washington. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jim Lo Scalzo-Pool via AP

The state of the union? Unapologetically pro-American, to hear Joe Biden tell it

President didn’t just defend Buy American, he doubled down on it

A new poll suggests a majority of Canadians still see the United States as their country’s closest ally, even in an age of isolationism and protectionist policies. President Joe Biden delivers his first state of the union address to a joint session of Congress at the Capitol, March 1, 2022, in Washington. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jim Lo Scalzo-Pool via AP
Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Jennifer Whiteside promises more action on dealing with toxic drug deaths while also blaming past governments and COVID-19 for undoing previous progress. Photo by Myriam Zilles on Unsplash

Toxic drug death figures ‘distressing’ minister says as critics accuse NDP of failure

Jennifer Whiteside promises more action, but also blames B.C. Liberals and COVID

Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Jennifer Whiteside promises more action on dealing with toxic drug deaths while also blaming past governments and COVID-19 for undoing previous progress. Photo by Myriam Zilles on Unsplash
B.C. Representative for Children and Youth Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond listens during a news conference in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday Nov. 13, 2015. A statement from Royal Roads University says it has accepted the return of an honorary doctorate from Turpel-Lafond, who was the subject of a CBC investigation about her claims of Indigenous heritage last fall. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Turpel-Lafond returns second honorary degree after being told of identity review

Royal Roads University says it initiated a review in response to public concerns

B.C. Representative for Children and Youth Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond listens during a news conference in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday Nov. 13, 2015. A statement from Royal Roads University says it has accepted the return of an honorary doctorate from Turpel-Lafond, who was the subject of a CBC investigation about her claims of Indigenous heritage last fall. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Dr. David Suzuki. (David Suzuki Foundation photo)

PODCAST: Dr. David Suzuki will retire this year as host of The Nature of Things

TODAY IN B.C.: The environmentalist and science broadcaster a household name in Canada

Dr. David Suzuki. (David Suzuki Foundation photo)
An RCMP cruiser parked outside the Bennett’s home in October 2021. (Kelowna Capital News)

‘I killed my husband’: Trial starts for Kelowna woman charged with 2nd degree murder

Billie-Jo Bennett is charged with the second degree murder of her husband James

An RCMP cruiser parked outside the Bennett’s home in October 2021. (Kelowna Capital News)
Charlie Cragg and Troy Pearson lost their lives in the sinking of the tug boat Ingenika on Feb. 11, 2021. Wainwright Marine Service Ltd. and James Geoffery Bates have been jointly charged with eight counts in the Prince Rupert Court on Jan. 6, 2023. (Photo: supplied)

Wainwright Marine Service Ltd. faces 8 charges in Prince Rupert Court after 2 deaths in sinking of tugboat

The Ingenika sank near Kitimat, killing Troy Pearson and Charlie Cragg, a 3rd man was rescued

Charlie Cragg and Troy Pearson lost their lives in the sinking of the tug boat Ingenika on Feb. 11, 2021. Wainwright Marine Service Ltd. and James Geoffery Bates have been jointly charged with eight counts in the Prince Rupert Court on Jan. 6, 2023. (Photo: supplied)
Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills Selina Robinson (right) says she has cancer again. Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Lisa Beare (left) predicted that her cabinet colleague would beat cancer a second time. (Twitter)

B.C.’s post-secondary education minister diagnosed with cancer for the second time

Selina Robinson, who received her first diagnosis in 2006, said she plans to stay on

Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills Selina Robinson (right) says she has cancer again. Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Lisa Beare (left) predicted that her cabinet colleague would beat cancer a second time. (Twitter)
Carla Qualtrough, minister of employment, workforce development and disability inclusion, speaks during the second reading of the Canada Disability Benefit Act in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill on Tuesday, September 20, 2022 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

New disability benefit would make ‘major difference’ in many Canadians’ lives

The Canada Disability Benefit Act is awaiting Senate approval

  • Feb 7, 2023
Carla Qualtrough, minister of employment, workforce development and disability inclusion, speaks during the second reading of the Canada Disability Benefit Act in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill on Tuesday, September 20, 2022 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Dr. Alex Nataros works at the Port Hardy Hospital, which has been in the news for years now due to closures and rotating hospital diversions. (Island Health photo)

Doctors call for executive’s resignation due to Vancouver Island health struggles

Frustrated physicians say they have no confidence in health authority’s ability to address concerns

Dr. Alex Nataros works at the Port Hardy Hospital, which has been in the news for years now due to closures and rotating hospital diversions. (Island Health photo)
Known as ‘Hollywood North’, Vancouver is the third largest film and TV production centre in North America with approximately 65 movies and 55 TV series filmed here every year. (Photo: Brands&People on Unsplash)

1 million job openings predicted in B.C. over the next decade

Report makes 65 recommendations on how to fill the future void

  • Feb 7, 2023
Known as ‘Hollywood North’, Vancouver is the third largest film and TV production centre in North America with approximately 65 movies and 55 TV series filmed here every year. (Photo: Brands&People on Unsplash)
Kisses for the SPCA from puppies responsibly surrendered by a Quesnel dog breeder. (SPCA photo)

Almost 2 dozen golden retriever adults, puppies surrendered to SPCA in Quesnel

Dog breeder hands off to North Cariboo SPCA

Kisses for the SPCA from puppies responsibly surrendered by a Quesnel dog breeder. (SPCA photo)
Poppy the Labrador retriever cross puppy was abandoned in a planter box outside the BC SPCA in Port Alberni in 2022. (BC SPCA photo)

BC SPCA took in 1,000 more animals in 2022 than year prior

Non-profit seeing increase in surrenders as pandemic pet demand wanes

Poppy the Labrador retriever cross puppy was abandoned in a planter box outside the BC SPCA in Port Alberni in 2022. (BC SPCA photo)
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