British Columbia news - MSN CA

30,000 Canadians are homeless every night

2013-06-19T10:29:21

A new national report into homelessness in this country tells a grim story — at least 200,000 Canadians experience homelessness in any given year and least 30,000 Canadians are homeless on any given night.

Half of First Nations children live in poverty

2013-06-19T08:45:11

Half of status First Nations children in Canada live in poverty, a troubling figure that jumps to nearly two-thirds in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, says a newly released report.

B.C. teacher duct-taped students' mouths

2013-06-19T09:27:07

The B.C. Teacher Regulation Branch has reprimanded a Vancouver teacher after she duct-taped her students' mouths in an effort to keep them quiet.

Canadian border agents being impersonated in phone scam

2013-06-19T09:27:50

The Canada Border Services Agency is warning Canadians of a possible phone scam and fraud.

Wearing a mask at a riot becomes a crime today

2013-06-19T10:38:45

The bill that bans the wearing of masks or disguises during a riot or unlawful assembly is scheduled to become law today when it gets royal assent.

Alice Munro wins Ontario's Trillium Book Award

2013-06-19T09:59:40

Alice Munro has won this year's Trillium Book Award in English-language for Dear Life: Stories, a collection of tales set in the countryside and towns around Lake Huron.

Hundreds attend 'Change Brazil' protest in Vancouver

2013-06-19T10:18:21

Hundreds of Brazilians take to the street in Vancouver in a show of solidarity with a wave of anti-government protests in Brazil.

Police probe death of woman, 27, in Kelowna home

2013-06-18T23:07:05

The Kelowna RCMP is investigating the suspicious death of a 27-year-old woman at a home in the Glenmore area.

Senators call for 'zero tolerance' on harassment in RCMP

2013-06-18T21:24:31

The RCMP should amend its code of conduct to explicitly define and prohibit harassment, a Senate committee is recommending in a newly tabled report.

Cross Canada bike stolen from B.C. senior

2013-06-18T22:26:20

An 85-year-old Burnaby senior hopes a heartless thief returns a bicycle that has rolled 4,700 kilometres across Canada, and carries countless memories of a magnificent adventure.

Police probe Mohinder graffiti in East Vancouver

2013-06-18T20:34:30

While it's hard to establish if more than one person is responsible for the graffiti, police say their investigators are looking into it.

Skagit bridge to reopen Wednesday with temporary span

2013-06-18T19:50:44

The Skagit River bridge on I-5 will open on Wednesday with a temporary span replacing the collapsed section, Washington State Governor Jay Inslee announced on Tuesday.

BMO building re-opens after suspicious package scare

2013-06-18T20:00:59

A suspicious package that triggered a partial evacuation at the Bank of Montreal building on West Georgia Street in downtown Vancouver is not dangerous, emergency officials say.

Vancouver airport CEO takes aim at cross-border travellers

2013-06-18T20:39:59

The new CEO of the Vancouver International Airport says his biggest challenge is to stem the flow of B.C. travellers heading across the border for cheaper flights.

Police pepper-sprayed Abbotsford camp, says homeless woman

2013-06-18T22:45:53

A homeless woman in Abbotsford, B.C. has come forward to say she is behind allegations local police slashed and pepper-sprayed tents at a homeless camp.

4 Vancouver men aim to row the Northwest Passage

2013-06-18T20:56:49

Four Vancouver adventurers say they hope to spark discussion about climate change by attempting to become the first people to row the Northwest Passage this summer.

Failed condo pre-sale deal costs Vancouver buyer $750K

2013-06-18T21:36:21

A man who signed a pre-sale contract for a luxury condo in Vancouver has lost almost three quarters of a million dollars after he failed to complete the final sale on the unit.

Federal open data portal revamp aims to encourage apps

2013-06-18T15:58:08

The federal government has revamped its data portal in an effort to encourage the development of innovative apps that make use of the publicly accessible federal government data on topics ranging from housing to air quality.

UBC holds mock emergency drill

2013-06-18T20:59:45

Police are warning Vancouver residents not to be alarmed as the University of British Columbia holds a drill designed to test the response to an emerging threat on Tuesday.

Rain returns to Vancouver Wednesday to Friday

2013-06-18T20:02:35

Showers are back on tap for Vancouver starting Wednesday morning, as our spinning low pressure system moves inland, says CBC meteorologist Johanna Wagstaffe.

West Vancouver debates cellphone towers

2013-06-18T18:04:49

An open house will be held in West Vancouver Tuesday night, to allow residents to have their say on three new cell towers proposed for their community.

Prison guard files murder trauma claim

2013-06-18T15:08:29

WorkSafeBC has accepted a trauma claim filed by a prison guard who witnessed a notorious B.C. prison murder, documents show.

Pedestrian injured in parking spot row

2013-06-18T15:09:43

West Vancouver police are hunting for witnesses to an argument over a parking spot at Park Royal shopping mall, after a person was hit by a car while holding the spot for a friend.

Teen killed at mill near Vernon identified

2013-06-18T00:07:44

The teen who died in a workplace accident in the North Okanagan this weekend was an 18-year-old high school student working an overnight shift, officials said.

Northern Gateway in Canadians' interest, Enbridge tells review board

2013-06-18T01:07:11

Canada will be vulnerable to economic disaster should the Northern Gateway pipeline be rejected, the proponent told a federal review panel Monday as the final phase of public hearings got underway.

Police slashed homeless tents, say advocates in Abbotsford, B.C.

2013-06-17T22:08:37

The Abbotsford, B.C., police chief has ordered an investigation into allegations the city's officers destroyed tents belonging to homeless people, in a second controversy over how the city treats its homeless.

Death of boy in B.C. cancer ride 'heartbreaking'

2013-06-17T21:30:13

Family and friends are mourning the death of Xavier Pelletier, the Grade 10 student from Pacific Christian School in Victoria who was struck and killed while participating in B.C.'s Ride to Conquer Cancer on Sunday.

Wolf seen running along mountain highway again

2013-06-17T16:54:58

Motorists have spotted a seemingly-fearless wolf along the highway in Kootenay National Park in British Columbia for the second time in a week.

Cancer society urges tougher anti-smoking laws

2013-06-17T22:09:26

The Canadian Cancer Society is calling on the B.C. government to tighten its anti-smoking regulations, in an effort to cut the smoking rate from 14 to 9 per cent over the next five years.

Parents of son 'brutally beaten' playing hockey want charges

2013-06-17T21:11:18

EXCLUSIVE: The parents of a 16-year-old Ontario hockey player who was repeatedly punched in the face and head by another player are going public with their video evidence — because they want the aggressor held accountable.

Abbotsford homeless man rescued from fire

2013-06-17T21:49:43

A homeless man in Abbotsford is lucky to be alive after the mattress he was sleeping on caught fire on Sunday night.

5 Vancouver street festivals you don't want to miss!

2013-06-17T18:12:26

Car-free days in Vancouver may be over, but that doesn't mean it's the end of summer festival street closures. Check out this list to find a street festival close to you.

Whitecaps striker Kenny Miller named MLS player of week

2013-06-17T15:43:43

Vancouver Whitecaps striker Kenny Miller has been named Major League Soccer's player of the week after scoring two goals in the club's wild home win the past weekend.

Arson blamed for fatal Vancouver basement fire

2013-06-17T15:39:05

A fatal housefire in an East Vancouver basement suite on Saturday is being blamed on arson, and police say they are treating the death as suspicious.

Vernon heron rookery ruffling feathers

2013-06-17T17:37:32

A blue heron rookery is ruffling feathers in Vernon, B.C., after one of the herons' nesting trees fell on a neighbouring home.

Showers in Vancouver tonight, but sun returns Tuesday

2013-06-17T17:21:56

Evening showers and even the risk of a thunderstorm are in the forecast for B.C.'s South Coast, says CBC meteorologist Johanna Wagstaffe.

Cigarette butt deposits proposed for B.C.

2013-06-17T17:12:45

A group in Vancouver's West End is petitioning the province to implement a deposit on cigarette butts to encourage people to turn them in for proper disposal rather than tossing them away.

Private schools top Fraser Institute rankings

2013-06-17T15:14:07

Only two public schools appear in the Fraser Institute's top 20 secondary schools in B.C., as private schools continue to dominate the controversial School Report Card ranking system.

Aboriginal Peoples persistently disadvantaged

2013-06-17T15:14:13

Canada's Aboriginal Peoples still face barriers to equality of opportunity, in comparison to non-aboriginal people, according to a report by the Canadian Human Rights Commission.

Canucks sign Swedish netminder Joacim Eriksson

2013-06-17T13:38:58

Vancouver Canucks have signed goaltender Joacim Eriksson, who recently helped his Swedish club to the championship.

B.C. teen dies on 200-km bike ride for charity

2013-06-16T16:24:51

A 16-year-old cyclist from Victoria, B.C. has died en route from Vancouver to Seattle after he was hit by a car during a 200-kilometre bike ride for charity, Arlington police said.

Federal panel to hear final pitch for, against Northern Gateway

2013-06-16T20:59:16

The proponent and opponents of the Northern Gateway pipeline will make their final pitches to a federal review panel starting Monday, at the last stage of public hearings before the panel issues its decision later this year.

Investigators probe fire at house of charter bus fall victim

2013-06-16T21:11:36

Fire officials are investigating a deadly blaze that broke out at the Vancouver home of a 75-year-old bus fall accident victim as her family gathered to mourn her.

Police suspect arson in Abbotsford fire

2013-06-16T21:03:05

Abbotsford police are asking the public for information on a suspected arson.

4 injured in Abbotsford crash

2013-06-16T21:01:06

One person was airlifted to a Vancouver hospital on Sunday, after two vehicles collided on Highway 11 in Abbotsford.

The class photo that made a father cry

2013-06-17T11:17:37

A father in New Westminster, B.C., says a Grade 2 class photo, in which his wheelchair-bound son is sitting separately from the rest of the class, is dismissive and harmful.

CBC B.C. wins 4 national awards for coverage

2013-06-16T20:02:36

CBC in British Columbia has won four national awards from the Radio Television Digital News Association.

Port Coquitlam used chicken fertilizer to drive away homeless man

2013-06-16T17:02:59

The city of Port Coquitlam says its bylaw enforcement officers were out of line when they spread chicken feritlizer where a homeless man typically camped in an effort to drive him away.

Dozens gather in Vancouver to support Turkish protesters

2013-06-15T21:40:25

Dozens gathered at a Vancouver park to show their support for protestors in Turkey who were driven out of an Istanbul square on Saturday after riot police fired water cannons and tear gas on the crowds.

75-year-old woman dies boarding Vancouver charter bus

2013-06-16T20:04:06

A 75-year-old woman is dead after she fell while boarding a charter bus in Vancouver.

Teen killed in mill accident near Vernon, B.C.

2013-06-15T21:29:59

A teenager has been killed in an industrial accident at a planer mill east of Vernon, B.C.

2,600 cyclists ride from Surrey to Seattle for cancer

2013-06-16T14:01:58

More than 2,600 cyclists left Surrey this morning on a 200-kilometre bike ride to Seattle for the fifth annual Ride to Conquer cancer.

Petition calls for safer bike path in Stanley Park causeway

2013-06-15T16:54:59

Cycling advocates in Vancouver have started a petition calling for a safer bike path connecting the city with the North Shore, after the recent death of a cyclist along the Stanley Park causeway.

1 man dead in rollover near Terrace, B.C.

2013-06-15T21:29:35

RCMP are investigating a fatal rollover at the north end of Lava Lake near Terrace, B.C.

Delta police seek teen suspect in sexual assaults

2013-06-15T21:28:42

Delta Police are looking for a man suspected to be involved in a series of sexual assaults in Tsawwassen.

1 dead after crash in Victoria

2013-06-15T20:13:35

One person is dead after a crash in Victoria early Saturday morning.

Quebec Soccer Federation reverses turban ban

2013-06-15T22:40:02

The Quebec Soccer Federation has lifted its ban on turbans after FIFA, the world soccer body, ruled that head coverings are allowed on a trial basis.

1 dead, 2 ill in possible Creutzfeldt-Jakob cases in B.C.

2013-06-15T13:26:24

One person has died and two others are in hospital with possible cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease east of Vancouver, the Fraser Health authority has confirmed.

Judge disagrees video proves Mounties colluded in Taser case

2013-06-15T01:33:17

Inaccurate statements made by RCMP officers after the Taser shooting of a Polish immigrant at the Vancouver airport does not necessarily mean the officers colluded with each other, a B.C. Supreme Court judge said Friday.

Killer whales spotted near Vancouver's Stanley Park

2013-06-15T00:37:26

A pod of killer whales swam past Stanley Park and under the Lions Gate Bridge and into Vancouver Harbour on Friday, sparking a flurry of photos on Twitter.

Hugh O'Neill kicks Lions past Stampeders in pre-season play

2013-06-15T01:31:22

Hugh O'Neill kicked five field goals as the B.C. Lions downed the Calgary Stampeders 29-27 in CFL pre-season action on Friday.

Metro Vancouver opposes Fraser Surrey Docks coal expansion

2013-06-15T12:59:39

Metro Vancouver directors approved a motion calling for a halt to new coal shipments on Friday, after hearing from more than 40 people about a proposal to build a coal transfer facility at the Fraser Surrey Docks.

B.C., Alberta premiers display united front

2013-06-15T00:47:48

B.C. Premier Christy Clark held a "friendly, respectful" meeting with Alberta Premier Alison Redford in Kelowna Friday morning.

Stanley Cup riot lawsuit filed by B.C. auto insurer

2013-06-15T01:02:52

ICBC has launched a civil lawsuit against 46 people charged or convicted in the Stanley Cup riot, seeking damages for 77 vehicles damaged or destroyed.

Man shot in targeted attack in Surrey

2013-06-14T23:45:46

Police are investigating after a 27-year-old man arrived at a Surrey hospital Friday afternoon, suffering from apparent gunshot wounds.

Vancouver cabs granted injunction to block suburban taxis

2013-06-15T01:37:52

A B.C. Supreme Court Justice has granted an injunction to Vancouver cab companies that would stop suburban cabs from operating in downtown Vancouver on Friday and Saturday nights.

1 dead, 5 injured in bus crash in Burnaby

2013-06-14T23:46:47

A woman in her 70s has been killed and at least five others have been injured in a crash involving a car and a transit bus in Burnaby on Friday morning.

Child porn charges laid against Vernon RCMP officer

2013-06-14T22:05:22

An RCMP officer in Vernon, B.C., has been charged with the possession of child pornography, breaching conditions and obstructing a police investigation.

Canucks' AHL affiliate officially confirmed as Utica Comets

2013-06-14T14:36:35

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the AHL announced Friday that the Utica Memorial Auditorium will be the new home of the Comets, the top minor league affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks.

Medical marijuana lets B.C. growers earn thousands on streets

2013-06-14T18:13:55

A B.C. pot grower says he and many others are making thousands of dollars every month growing licensed medical marijuana and selling it for illegal distribution on the streets, and there is little police can do to stop it.

Gorgeous, sunny Saturday for B.C.'s South Coast

2013-06-14T18:01:38

Clearing should begin late Friday in Vancouver after a grey and showery start to the day, says CBC meteorologist Johanna Wagstaffe.

Coquitlam shooting leaves 2 injured

2013-06-14T18:30:15

A man and woman have been seriously injured in a double shooting at a house in Coquitlam, B.C. Thursday night.

Lululemon posts quirky job ad for next CEO

2013-06-14T15:46:52

Not even a week after the sudden departure of its CEO, Lululemon raised eyebrows with a quirky job posting on its website seeking applicants for a new 'head boss person' on Friday.

Cyclist killed near Kamloops

2013-06-14T13:59:41

A 58-year-old man was killed Thursday night, after being hit by a box truck while riding his bike near Kamloops.

Bear tries to break in to car

2013-06-14T13:59:48

West Vancouver Police are warning residents to be bear aware, after a car was seriously damaged by a bear trying to pry open the doors.

Via Rail strike averted, union says

2013-06-14T03:52:36

Via Rail and the union representing some of its workers reached a tentative deal ahead of a midnight strike deadline, the Canadian Auto Workers said.

Soccer turban dispute affecting players of all ages

2013-06-13T22:13:32

The Canadian Soccer Association's suspension of the Quebec Soccer Federation over its refusal to allow turban-wearing players is having an impact on soccer players of all ages.

Woman rescued after SUV crashes off BC Ferries dock

2013-06-14T07:33:01

An elderly woman has been rescued after she drove her SUV off a BC Ferries dock and landed upside-down on some rocks at the Village Bay ferry terminal on Mayne Island just west of Vancouver.

Fish farming tops beef production in race to the plate

2013-06-14T08:57:46

The human diet appears to have reached an important milestone, as world farmed fish production has surpassed beef production for the first time in the modern era.

Sobeys takes aim at big box stores with Safeway takeover

2013-06-13T23:37:45

A Vancouver-based retail analyst says Sobeys' acquisition of more than 200 Safeway stores in Western Canada is an attempt to compete with the growth of big box stores.

Vacation rental scam hits home for Vancouver woman

2013-06-13T23:36:41

A Vancouver woman says internet fraudsters are using photos and information about her condo to scam vacationers, and the police say there isn't much they can do.

Historic B.C. fishing boat pulled from Ottawa museum

2013-06-13T20:00:02

A historic B.C. fishing boat has been removed from an Ottawa museum's permanent display, prompting the museum's former curator to question the decision.

Killer bear likely dead in Surrey

2013-06-13T23:33:39

A B.C. conservation officer says a problem black bear shot by a farmer after it attacked a llama and killed a goat in Surrey last week is likely dead.

B.C.'s drunk driving law means fewer deaths

2013-06-13T23:32:46

The number of fatal crashes involving alcohol has decreased by more than 40 per cent since B.C. passed a series of tough impaired driving laws in 2010.

Will you breathe it in? Coal dust health fears

2013-06-13T23:31:23

The controversial plan to build a new coal terminal at Surrey Fraser Docks has the region's chief medical health officer raising health concerns.

British Columbians heading south to shed excess pounds

2013-06-13T18:16:18

Long wait lists are prompting an increasing number of British Columbians to head south to the U.S. and Mexico to pay for weight loss surgery.

Check out Stanley Park's first boardwalk

2013-06-13T23:31:31

Stanley Park unveils its first boardwalk today, aimed at restoring the area's ecological health.

Merritt pipeline spill raises maintenance concerns say B.C. premier

2013-06-13T22:26:34

Kinder Morgan says a crude oil spill on the TransMountain pipeline southwest of Merritt has been contained.

Risk of showers until Friday morning before a nice weekend

2013-06-13T18:17:00

Showers may pop up across B.C.'s South Coast Thursday night and again Friday morning, says CBC meteorologist Johanna Wagstaffe.

B.C. due for mega-earthquake along coast

2013-06-13T12:28:16

The last massive earthquake that shook the south coast of British Columbia took place on Jan. 26, 1700, say researchers who have been able to use sediment samples taken from the sea floor off the coast of Vancouver Island to reveal the Pacific coast's seismic history.

1 dead in West Kootenay plane crash

2013-06-13T14:26:12

One man is dead after a plane crash near Crawford Bay in the West Kootenay.

Drug trafficking suspect takes wiretap case to Supreme Court

2013-06-13T14:11:51

The Supreme Court of Canada will hear an appeal from a British Columbia man who says his rights were violated when the Mounties handed over the results of wiretaps to American authorities.

Balancing B.C.'s energy prospects, environmental protection

2013-06-13T13:21:08

Reform Party of Canada founder Preston Manning says opposition to energy development is balanced by the huge demand for oil and energy.

Vancouver aims to help renters keep their pets

2013-06-13T13:21:01

The City of Vancouver approved a motion late yesterday afternoon to help renters keep their pets — but it might not have the authority to affect such a change.

Brothels' legal status pondered by Supreme Court

2013-06-13T11:33:38

The Supreme Court of Canada has been asked to uphold the constitutionality of Canada's prostitution law.

Car-tracking devices spark privacy concerns

2013-06-13T12:27:39

Privacy advocates are sounding alarm bells over a new device that can record certain driving habits of Canadian motorists, but one of the auto insurance companies offering the product says those fears are misplaced.

Runaway semi truck ignites Osoyoos hillside wildfire

2013-06-12T23:16:29

An Osoyoos RCMP officer witnessed the start of the fire, as a semi-trailer hauling lumber sped off the road into a runaway lane, overturned, and then caught fire.

Man declared missing after campsite found abandoned

2013-06-13T00:52:41

Police in the Fraser Valley are asking the public to help them find a Vancouver man who appears to have gone missing from a remote campsite off Harrison Lake.

Pipeline company and farmer butt heads over land access

2013-06-12T23:57:45

Retired Chilliwack farmer Gord Mitchell wants oil and gas company Spectra Energy to sign an agreement before it comes back onto his land. The Houston, Texas-based company has no intentions of renegotiating rights of access to the pipeline that runs diagonally across Mitchell's property.