Lauren Collins

B.C’s Health Minister Adrian Dix, right, and Fraser Health CEO Dr. Victoria Lee at a health care announcement at Surrey Memorial Hospital in Surrey on Wednesday, June 7, 2023. (Photo: Anna Burns)

Dix plans summer tour as B.C. hospitals, health care facing ‘crises’

Health minister says challenges different in each region, but broad issue of healthcare is a B.C.-wide problem

B.C’s Health Minister Adrian Dix, right, and Fraser Health CEO Dr. Victoria Lee at a health care announcement at Surrey Memorial Hospital in Surrey on Wednesday, June 7, 2023. (Photo: Anna Burns)
ICBC is implementing a new discount for vehicles driven less than 10,000 kilometres in a year. (ICBC)

ICBC rolls out new discount for vehicles driven under 10,000 km a year

Insurance corporation says savings could be between 10 and 15%

ICBC is implementing a new discount for vehicles driven less than 10,000 kilometres in a year. (ICBC)
A person holds up an intrauterine device, IUD, outside of the B.C. legislature. B.C. made several types of contraception free to residents with Medical Services Plans April 1, and healthcare workers are seeing an increase in requests for IUDs or information about them. (AccessBC)

Healthcare workers see rise in IUD interest 2 months into B.C. making contraception free

Waits for IUD insertion double since April 1; still calls for better access in rural B.C.

A person holds up an intrauterine device, IUD, outside of the B.C. legislature. B.C. made several types of contraception free to residents with Medical Services Plans April 1, and healthcare workers are seeing an increase in requests for IUDs or information about them. (AccessBC)
ICBC is implementing a new discount for vehicles driven less than 10,000 kilometres in a year. (ICBC)

ICBC rolls out new discount for vehicles driven under 10,000 km a year

Insurance corporation says savings could be between 10 and 15%

ICBC is implementing a new discount for vehicles driven less than 10,000 kilometres in a year. (ICBC)
Minister of Public Safety Mike Farnworth speaks to media during a press conference in the press gallery at Legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Monday February 5, 2018.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

B.C. group gets $5.5M to help end violence against Indigenous women, girls

B.C. releases update on its response to the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls

Minister of Public Safety Mike Farnworth speaks to media during a press conference in the press gallery at Legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Monday February 5, 2018.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
The provincial government announced June 1, 2023 that it’s giving $1.1 million to expand counselling services at Looking Glass Foundation that helps people with eating disorders. Anorexia nervosa is the leading cause of death for young women between the ages of 15 and 24. (Unsplash)

B.C. group gets $1.1M to expand counselling services for people with eating disorders

Looking Glass Foundation offers in-person, online services for people throughout the province

The provincial government announced June 1, 2023 that it’s giving $1.1 million to expand counselling services at Looking Glass Foundation that helps people with eating disorders. Anorexia nervosa is the leading cause of death for young women between the ages of 15 and 24. (Unsplash)
Hundreds of nurses in Vancouver for a B.C. Nurses Union conference marched along the streets of Vancouver Wednesday (May 31, 2023) calling for safer staffing levels. (Lauren Collins)

PHOTOS: Protest highlights B.C.’s ‘dire’ nurse staffing shortage

Hundreds of nurses took to the streets of Vancouver urging that ‘safe staffing saves lives’

Hundreds of nurses in Vancouver for a B.C. Nurses Union conference marched along the streets of Vancouver Wednesday (May 31, 2023) calling for safer staffing levels. (Lauren Collins)
Child and Family Development Minister Mitzi Dean during an announcement on Feb. 2, 2023. Dean was part of an announcement Tuesday (May 30) for the newly named Strengthening Abilities and Journeys of Empowerment program that was first announced in the 2022 budget (Dillon White file photo)

B.C. to waive education tuition for former youth in care

First announced in 2022 budget, program gets updated name for 2023 youth in care week

Child and Family Development Minister Mitzi Dean during an announcement on Feb. 2, 2023. Dean was part of an announcement Tuesday (May 30) for the newly named Strengthening Abilities and Journeys of Empowerment program that was first announced in the 2022 budget (Dillon White file photo)
Emergency crews put on a “mock crash” scenario at Handsworth Secondary School in North Vancouver Friday (May 26, 2023) to show students just how serious impaired driving and reckless driving can be. Students look on during the demonstration. (Lauren Collins)

Mock crash staged at B.C. high school serves as cautionary tale

Emergency crews, school district staged crash to highlight risks of speeding, impaired, reckless driving

Emergency crews put on a “mock crash” scenario at Handsworth Secondary School in North Vancouver Friday (May 26, 2023) to show students just how serious impaired driving and reckless driving can be. Students look on during the demonstration. (Lauren Collins)
B.C. Premier David Eby talks with the media in Langford on May 25 alongside NDP candidate for the Langford-Juan de Fuca byelection Ravi Parmar. Eby will lead a trade delegation to Asia starting May 27. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)

Eby says Asia trade mission a way to ‘protect’ B.C. from geopolitical tensions

Stops on trade tour include Japan, South Korea and Singapore

B.C. Premier David Eby talks with the media in Langford on May 25 alongside NDP candidate for the Langford-Juan de Fuca byelection Ravi Parmar. Eby will lead a trade delegation to Asia starting May 27. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)
Premier David Eby called two byelections, one for Vancouver-Mount Pleasand and one for Langford-Juan de Fuca, on Saturday, May 27. 2023. Voters go to the polls June 24. (File Photo)

Byelections called for 2 B.C. ridings

Eby sets date for the Vancouver-Mount Pleasant and Langford-Juan de Fuca byelections

Premier David Eby called two byelections, one for Vancouver-Mount Pleasand and one for Langford-Juan de Fuca, on Saturday, May 27. 2023. Voters go to the polls June 24. (File Photo)
A woman places one of 215 pairs of children’s shoes on the steps of the Vancouver Art Gallery as a memorial to the 215 children whose remains have been found buried at the site of a former residential school in Kamloops, in Vancouver, B.C., Friday, May 28, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Vancouver brings temporary residential schools memorial to a close after 2 years

City plans to ‘reactivate’ the plaza, including supporting Indigenous weekend markets

A woman places one of 215 pairs of children’s shoes on the steps of the Vancouver Art Gallery as a memorial to the 215 children whose remains have been found buried at the site of a former residential school in Kamloops, in Vancouver, B.C., Friday, May 28, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
FILE - Released May 25, 2023, “Food Costing in BC 2022,” looks at the affordability of eating healthy for people in B.C. and according to the latest data – from May and June 2022 – the average monthly costs of a nutritious diet for a family of four in B.C. was $1,263 per month. (Phil McLachlan - Capital News/FILE)

Average B.C. family pays $1,263 per month for a healthy diet: BCCDC report

Released for the first time since 2017, report shows high costs for families and individuals

FILE - Released May 25, 2023, “Food Costing in BC 2022,” looks at the affordability of eating healthy for people in B.C. and according to the latest data – from May and June 2022 – the average monthly costs of a nutritious diet for a family of four in B.C. was $1,263 per month. (Phil McLachlan - Capital News/FILE)
Police cars are seen parked outside Vancouver Police Department headquarters in Vancouver, on Saturday, January 9, 2021. The second phase of a year-long Vancouver Police investigation has led to $13 million worth of drugs, guns and cash being seized. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. police seize $13M worth of drugs, guns, cash

Year-long investigation into crime group includes 14 kg of fentanyl, 73 kg of MDMA

Police cars are seen parked outside Vancouver Police Department headquarters in Vancouver, on Saturday, January 9, 2021. The second phase of a year-long Vancouver Police investigation has led to $13 million worth of drugs, guns and cash being seized. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Surgical instruments are used during an organ transplant surgery at a hospital in Washington on Tuesday, June 28, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Molly Riley

1,000 donations: Canada-wide kidney donation program hits milestone

B.C. couple part of the program; husband receives a transplant, while wife donates anonymously

Surgical instruments are used during an organ transplant surgery at a hospital in Washington on Tuesday, June 28, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Molly Riley
The Chinese Canadian Museum is getting a $5.18 million boost from the federal government, through its economic development branch PacifiCan. The funding, announced May 23, 2023, to help with the building and space renewal at its new, permanent location at the historic Wing Sang Building at 51 East Pender St. in Vancouver’s Chinatown. (Chinese Canadian Museum)

Chinese Canadian Museum in Vancouver gets $5.18M from feds

Located at the historic Wing Sang Building, it’s set to open its doors July 1

The Chinese Canadian Museum is getting a $5.18 million boost from the federal government, through its economic development branch PacifiCan. The funding, announced May 23, 2023, to help with the building and space renewal at its new, permanent location at the historic Wing Sang Building at 51 East Pender St. in Vancouver’s Chinatown. (Chinese Canadian Museum)
Following an assessment of three bat species in Canada, one of North America’s leading experts says hoary bats could see their populations cut in half by 2028. A young Hoary Bat in care of Bat World Sanctuary, a conservation facility in Texas. (Contributed photo by the World Bat Sanctuary)

‘Not looking good’: Wind turbines a threat to Canadian bat populations

Expert notes population of hoary bats could be cut in half by 2028

Following an assessment of three bat species in Canada, one of North America’s leading experts says hoary bats could see their populations cut in half by 2028. A young Hoary Bat in care of Bat World Sanctuary, a conservation facility in Texas. (Contributed photo by the World Bat Sanctuary)
Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, right, talks to Infrastructures Minister Matteo Salvini after addressing the lower Chamber ahead of a confidence vote for her Cabinet, Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022. Giorgia Meloni, whose party with neo-fascist roots finished first in recent elections, is Italy’s first far-right premier since the end of World War II. She is also the first woman to serve as Italian premier. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Italy’s Meloni rejects criticism from Trudeau over LGBTQ+ rights at G7 Summit

Trudeau made the comment on TV right before they began private, bilateral talks

Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, right, talks to Infrastructures Minister Matteo Salvini after addressing the lower Chamber ahead of a confidence vote for her Cabinet, Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022. Giorgia Meloni, whose party with neo-fascist roots finished first in recent elections, is Italy’s first far-right premier since the end of World War II. She is also the first woman to serve as Italian premier. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Adventurers enjoy paddle rafting at Kumsheen Raft Resort In what is expected to be one of the biggest gatherings in the Lytton area since the 2021 wildfires, more than 200 former employees will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of Kumsheen Rafting Resort this long weekend. (Kumsheen Rafting Resort)

200 former employees to descend upon Lytton’s Kumsheen resort for 50th anniversary

A yearlong celebration set to kick off for the May long weekend

Adventurers enjoy paddle rafting at Kumsheen Raft Resort In what is expected to be one of the biggest gatherings in the Lytton area since the 2021 wildfires, more than 200 former employees will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of Kumsheen Rafting Resort this long weekend. (Kumsheen Rafting Resort)
Colourful spring flowers and trees bloom as people visit the arboretum in Ottawa on Wednesday, May 12, 2021. A Vancouver pharmacists says spring allergies are now in full force after a delay to the warmer weather in B.C. in 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

British Columbians seeing worsened allergy symptoms with quick start to hot weather

Pollens are out in ‘full force,’ says Vancouver pharmacist

Colourful spring flowers and trees bloom as people visit the arboretum in Ottawa on Wednesday, May 12, 2021. A Vancouver pharmacists says spring allergies are now in full force after a delay to the warmer weather in B.C. in 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick