Lauren Collins

Rick Hansen speaks Thursday (July 27, 2023) at the BC SPCA Richmond Animal Shelter after the provincial government announced $5 million in funding for the Rick Hansen Foundation BC Accessibility Grants Program. Eight communities had already received grants, and now two Indigenous communiities and five additional municipalities will also be selected. (Lauren Collins)

Rick Hansen Foundation gets $5M boost from B.C.

2 Indigenous communities, 5 more municipalities will be selected to improve accessibility

Rick Hansen speaks Thursday (July 27, 2023) at the BC SPCA Richmond Animal Shelter after the provincial government announced $5 million in funding for the Rick Hansen Foundation BC Accessibility Grants Program. Eight communities had already received grants, and now two Indigenous communiities and five additional municipalities will also be selected. (Lauren Collins)
Yuko Suda, the owner of Brave Child Farms, has used the B.C. Land Matching Program which connects new and young farmers with farmland. The province announced Wednesday (July 26, 2023) that it would be getting a $480,000-boost for the next year. (B.C. government/YouTube)

$480K to help connect new, young B.C. farmers with land

The provincial government is boosting its land-matching program with $480,000 for the…

Yuko Suda, the owner of Brave Child Farms, has used the B.C. Land Matching Program which connects new and young farmers with farmland. The province announced Wednesday (July 26, 2023) that it would be getting a $480,000-boost for the next year. (B.C. government/YouTube)
A woman walks in Chinatown in Vancouver, Friday, February 5, 2021. The provincial government has announced up to $10.5 million for small businesses to apply for grants for repairs for vandalism or prevention. The announcement was in Chinatown on Wednesday (July 26, 2023) which has been hard hit by vandalism in recent years. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

B.C. announces $10.5M for small businesses impacted by vandalism

Owners can apply for up to $2K for cost of repairs or up to $1K for prevention

A woman walks in Chinatown in Vancouver, Friday, February 5, 2021. The provincial government has announced up to $10.5 million for small businesses to apply for grants for repairs for vandalism or prevention. The announcement was in Chinatown on Wednesday (July 26, 2023) which has been hard hit by vandalism in recent years. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Joshuah, 10, and his sister Aurora Bolton, 8, have been the subject of an Amber Alert since July 19 when they failed to return to their primary caregiver, their stepfather, after a planned vacation with their mom 45-year-old Verity Bolton. (Surrey RCMP)

Day 8: Search continues for missing B.C. children

Joshuah, 10, and Aurora, 8, have not been seen since July 7 in Merritt

Joshuah, 10, and his sister Aurora Bolton, 8, have been the subject of an Amber Alert since July 19 when they failed to return to their primary caregiver, their stepfather, after a planned vacation with their mom 45-year-old Verity Bolton. (Surrey RCMP)
Cows grazing at W Diamond Ranch. B.C.’s agriculture minister says the province is working to get hay for farmers and ranchers who need it immediately. (W Diamond Ranch).

B.C. working to source hay, feed for farmers in need immediately

Federal program to also provide advance payments for those facing cash-flow challenges

Cows grazing at W Diamond Ranch. B.C.’s agriculture minister says the province is working to get hay for farmers and ranchers who need it immediately. (W Diamond Ranch).
Michael Pickup appears at the legislature in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017. Pickup, now British Columbia’s auditor general, released the Office of the Auditor General’s first annual review Tuesday (July 25, 2023), looking at the status of 112 recommendations to 18 organizations. Only 42 per cent between 2019 and 2021 were complete. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

42% complete: Auditor general releases 1st progress report on recommendations

Between 2019 and 2021, there were 18 performance audits with 112 recommendations

Michael Pickup appears at the legislature in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017. Pickup, now British Columbia’s auditor general, released the Office of the Auditor General’s first annual review Tuesday (July 25, 2023), looking at the status of 112 recommendations to 18 organizations. Only 42 per cent between 2019 and 2021 were complete. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan
The British Columbia Institute of Technology, which launched its mass-timber program in 2022, will be home to a training hub after the provincial government announced $3.3 million for it Tuesday, July 25, 2023. (BCIT)

Mass-timber training hub gets $3.3M from B.C.

It will be located at BCIT, which has seen more than 500 students complete the program in the last 2 years

The British Columbia Institute of Technology, which launched its mass-timber program in 2022, will be home to a training hub after the provincial government announced $3.3 million for it Tuesday, July 25, 2023. (BCIT)
Left: Robert Bolton from surveillance images at a gas station in Merritt and surveillance images of the dark blue 2012 Dodge 2500, BC Licence SJ2708, pulling a fifth-wheel after picking up Robert Bolton in Chilliwack on June 30. (Surrey RCMP)

TIMELINE: Amber Alert enters day 5 for missing B.C. children

Alert issued after mother failed to return Joshuah, 10 and Aurora, 8 to their primary caregive on July 17

Left: Robert Bolton from surveillance images at a gas station in Merritt and surveillance images of the dark blue 2012 Dodge 2500, BC Licence SJ2708, pulling a fifth-wheel after picking up Robert Bolton in Chilliwack on June 30. (Surrey RCMP)
Surrey RCMP display a board of images of 10-year-old Joshuah Bolton, his sister eight-year-old Aurora, their mother Verity and the vehicle they’re believed to be in. Police provided updated surveillance images of the vehicle and Verity being spotted leaving a grocery story in Kamloops on July 15. (Lauren Collins)

TIMELINE: Amber Alert enters day 4 for missing B.C. children

Alert issued after mother failed to return Joshuah, 10 and Aurora, 8 to their primary caregive on July 17

Surrey RCMP display a board of images of 10-year-old Joshuah Bolton, his sister eight-year-old Aurora, their mother Verity and the vehicle they’re believed to be in. Police provided updated surveillance images of the vehicle and Verity being spotted leaving a grocery story in Kamloops on July 15. (Lauren Collins)
Setting up a prototype drug tester at Shambhala Music Festival. University of British Columbia researchers from the chemistry department are bringing a portable drug-testing robot to Shambhala Music Festival in Salmo to give festival-goers a chance to have their drugs tested in about 15 minutes. (Hein Lab)

Portable drug-testing ‘robot’ heading to Shambhala Music Festival

The team’s prototype aims to identify, quantify expected substances, like fentanyl, in 15 minutes

Setting up a prototype drug tester at Shambhala Music Festival. University of British Columbia researchers from the chemistry department are bringing a portable drug-testing robot to Shambhala Music Festival in Salmo to give festival-goers a chance to have their drugs tested in about 15 minutes. (Hein Lab)
A fire on Chilliwack Lake Road, as it began Thursday afternoon. (Gena Phillips/Submitted)

BC Wildfire responding with air support to out-of-control fire in Chilliwack

Chilliwack Lake Road closed as crews battle blaze that started late Thursday afternoon

A fire on Chilliwack Lake Road, as it began Thursday afternoon. (Gena Phillips/Submitted)
A new ALS therapy medication is now being covered by B.C. PharmaCare, the Health Ministry announced Thursday (July 20, 2023). (Don Denton)

New ALS medication now covered in B.C.

Coverage is anticipated to benefit as many as 100 people in the first year

A new ALS therapy medication is now being covered by B.C. PharmaCare, the Health Ministry announced Thursday (July 20, 2023). (Don Denton)
Devyn Gale died while fighting a fire near Revelstoke July 13, 2023. B.C. Wildfire Service operations director says it’s dangerous work and crews are facing extreme conditions while they keep Gale, and her family, in their hearts. (Lisa Takkinen/BC Wildfire Service)

Wildfire crews face extreme conditions as they mourn B.C. firefighter

‘Dangerous work’: 3 people have died in the past week while helping to fight fires across the country

Devyn Gale died while fighting a fire near Revelstoke July 13, 2023. B.C. Wildfire Service operations director says it’s dangerous work and crews are facing extreme conditions while they keep Gale, and her family, in their hearts. (Lisa Takkinen/BC Wildfire Service)
The Bush Creek East wildfire burning west of Adams Lake was estimated to be 310 hectares as of Tuesday afternoon, July 18, 2023. (BC Wildfire Service photo)

Nearly a quarter of B.C.’s 34 water basins at highest drought levels

500 international firefighters helping to wildfire crews in the province

The Bush Creek East wildfire burning west of Adams Lake was estimated to be 310 hectares as of Tuesday afternoon, July 18, 2023. (BC Wildfire Service photo)
Surrey RCMP have issued an Amber Alert for eight-year-old Aurora Bolton and 10-year-old Joshuah Bolton.

Amber Alert issued for 2 Surrey children last seen in Kelowna, B.C.

The last known location of Aurora Bolton and Joshuah Bolton is Krafty’s Kitchen and Bar, on June 30

Surrey RCMP have issued an Amber Alert for eight-year-old Aurora Bolton and 10-year-old Joshuah Bolton.
A wildfire is currently burning on Mount Seymour, east of the Seymour River, in North Vancouver Wednesday (July 12, 2023). B.C. Wildfire Service currently lists the fire as out of control, and was 0.3 hectares. (Metro Vancouver Regional District Emergency Services/Twitter)

Human-caused wildfires down this year in B.C., especially recently

Officials says only 13 of the 235 starts in the past week were human caused

A wildfire is currently burning on Mount Seymour, east of the Seymour River, in North Vancouver Wednesday (July 12, 2023). B.C. Wildfire Service currently lists the fire as out of control, and was 0.3 hectares. (Metro Vancouver Regional District Emergency Services/Twitter)
The RCMP logo is seen outside the force’s ‘E’ division headquarters in Surrey, B.C., on Thursday, March 16, 2023. Prince George RCMP is investigating the deaths of two women in two separate incidents July 17 and 18, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Woman, 22, dead after northern B.C. home invasion, police say

Prince George RCMP also investigating separate suspicious death of woman

The RCMP logo is seen outside the force’s ‘E’ division headquarters in Surrey, B.C., on Thursday, March 16, 2023. Prince George RCMP is investigating the deaths of two women in two separate incidents July 17 and 18, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The RCMP logo is seen outside Royal Canadian Mounted Police “E” Division Headquarters, in Surrey, B.C., on Fri, April 13, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Man charged after Pride flag stolen, damaged in North Vancouver

Police say the incident was posted on social media

The RCMP logo is seen outside Royal Canadian Mounted Police “E” Division Headquarters, in Surrey, B.C., on Fri, April 13, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A map showing the location of a 2019 Canadian Pacific Railway freight train derailment in the Upper Spiral Tunnel, which is known for its steep grades and sharp curves, near Field, B.C. The Transportation Safety Board says an “undesired” release of air brakes led to the derailment of 15 empty cars. (Transportation Safety Board)

‘Undesired’ air brake release behind B.C. train derailment near Alberta: report

Investigation also found heavy cars loaded at the back ran into empty ones in the centre

A map showing the location of a 2019 Canadian Pacific Railway freight train derailment in the Upper Spiral Tunnel, which is known for its steep grades and sharp curves, near Field, B.C. The Transportation Safety Board says an “undesired” release of air brakes led to the derailment of 15 empty cars. (Transportation Safety Board)
B.C.’s ombudsperson says the province’s plan to apologize for the detention of Doukhobor children in the 1950s is a “momentous step,” but he’s calling out the attorney general for remaining vague about compensation. Approximately 200 children were apprehended and confined at a former tuberculosis sanatorium in New Denver between 1953 and 1959. (Office of the Ombudsperson BC)

Doukhobor kids taken from B.C. homes in 1950s deserve compensation: report

B.C.’s ombudsperson says apology later this year will be a ‘momentous step’

B.C.’s ombudsperson says the province’s plan to apologize for the detention of Doukhobor children in the 1950s is a “momentous step,” but he’s calling out the attorney general for remaining vague about compensation. Approximately 200 children were apprehended and confined at a former tuberculosis sanatorium in New Denver between 1953 and 1959. (Office of the Ombudsperson BC)