Time to butt out on BC Ferries, smoking ban starts Monday

by Bridgette Watson

As of January 22, there will be no smoking allowed on B.C. Ferries or in any terminals. The ban includes cigarettes, e-cigarettes and marijuana.

4 Campbell River properties evacuated after mudslide

The City of Campbell River has issued an evacuation order for four homes in north Campbell River after heavy rain caused a slope to give way.

'Archaic' liquor laws in B.C. hurt consumers, whisky distributor says

by Linda Givetash

An Alberta-based whisky distributor says liquor policies in British Columbia are limiting the range of products consumers can access. 'The taxes are being paid on these things,' says Robert Carpenter, co-founder of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. 'Lots of places do this because they want to provide selection to their patrons.'

Central Saanich farm for homeless forced to close

by Anna Dimoff

A farm in Central Saanich intended to rehabilitate the homeless now faces imminent closure.

Another pedestrian hit along Burnaby's Cariboo Road

by Chad Pawson

Three people have been involved in accidents in four days, with one being fatal. In the latest — a hit and run — police are asking for tips to locate a black Dodge Charger.

Heavy snowfall shuts Mount Washington ski resort

by Bridgette Watson

Mt. Washington was hit with over 100 centimetres of snow in the past 24 hours, forcing the resort to close for business Sunday due to dangerous conditions.

Wind wreaks havoc, leaves thousands without power in B.C.

BC Hydro crews are working to restore electricity for thousands of customers on the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island, while BC Ferries sailings also impacted, along with some mountain resort operations.

'Kiss my asana': why this yoga instructor believes peace comes from profanity

by Andrew Kurjata

A new yoga course in Prince George teaches that the path to inner peace is through outward profanity.

Insurers say Canadian weather getting weirder

An index compiled by the insurance industry indicates extreme weather in Canada is falling outside the range of normal variability more frequently.

Declutter your garden with a good pruning before spring

Winter can be a prime time for pruning and Master Gardener Brian Minter has tips to help you cut through some of the damage that the season may have caused.

Abandoned Nanaimo coal mine finds second life as heat source for university buildings

by Deborah Wilson

Flooded mine shafts under Nanaimo university campus will be used for heat exchange in the first phase of a geoexchange project that has attracted interest from as far away as Scotland.

Home on wheels: how one Vancouver man is trying to survive homelessness

by Karin Larsen

He's slept in a tree house, under trees and in tents. But now John Fredericks has fashioned himself a new home he hopes won't be destroyed by the city.

'I feel lucky:' driver escapes unharmed after wind knocks lamp post onto car

by Gian-Paolo Mendoza

A large lamp post just missed Jasmine Olson's windshield, when a gust of wind knocked it down on top of her car while she was stopped at a red light.

Slocan Valley hospital gets last-minute ER extension amid expected cutbacks

by Jaimie Kehler

A hospital in the small community of New Denver, B.C., will continue to have 24-hour emergency room care after Interior Health delayed cutbacks.

As Vancouver copes with death of teen bystander, reality of gang violence reaches public eye

by Michelle Ghoussoub

Many people in the Lower Mainland are desensitized to gang-related violence that operates in relative obscurity. But when that violence is pushed into the public eye, residents are reminded of the deadly toll it can have.

B.C. logger gets human rights tribunal hearing after province rescinds job offer

by Chad Pawson

A B.C. logger who claims that the provincial government contravened the Human Rights Code after revoking a job offer will have his case heard at the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal.

Man shot and killed in Abbotsford, B.C., identified

The victim is a 24-year-old from Abbotsford.

Safety group preaches planning, training, proper tools for avalanche safety

Adventure Smart B.C. says its surprised by how few people actually check conditions before heading into the backcountry.

Premier Horgan wants to repair relations between B.C. forestry industry and communities

Curbing raw log exports to boost jobs in B.C.’s forestry industry has been a focus of previous provincial governments and continues to be an issue of focus for Premier John Horgan during his first year in power.

Blues legend Jim Byrnes shares his deep connection with jazz

by Anna Dimoff

Legendary blues musician Jim Byrnes takes a little musical detour with Hot Air host Margaret Gallagher to share some of his jazz favourites.

Vancouverite Georgia Simmerling's Olympic dream broken after World Cup crash

A series of crashes left Canada off the podium in the last ski cross World Cup before the Pyeongchang Games, and one ended one athlete's Olympic dreams completely.

Recap Jesse Puljujarvi powers Oilers past Canucks in return from bye

Jesse Puljujarvi had a goal and two assists and Patrick Maroon scored twice as the Edmonton Oilers had a strong showing in their return from a week-long break, defeating the Vancouver Canucks 5-2 on Saturday.

Thousands gather in Vancouver for women's march

by Bridgette Watson

The March On Vancouver drew large crowds to downtown Vancouver to rally for women's rights.

New software helps Surrey Fire Service tackle opioid crisis

by Bridgette Watson

Surrey firefighters are turning to technology in an effort to reduce opioid overdose deaths.

P.E.I. snowboarder now shredding for Team B.C.

by Sara Fraser

Competitive snowboarder Mark Morrison of P.E.I. is now racing with Team British Columbia.

RECIPE Local chef at Vancouver International Boat Show spices up her seafood

Tammy Wood is an avid hunter and fisher. The Agassiz mother of six has competed on MasterChef Canada and has her own cooking show. She's bringing her seafood recipes to the 2018 Vancouver International Boat Show.

Concern about coal dust from passing trains prompts B.C. petition

by Jaimie Kehler

A Salmon Arm, B.C. woman is concerned about potential negative effects of coal dust on health and the environment and she has started a petition asking for additional safeguards from CP Rail.

Vancouver searches for ways to save Chinatown, including having it designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site

by Anna Dimoff

Half of the local food suppliers in the neighbourhood have been lost since 2009, according to a study by the Hua Foundation, and the city is reaching for new ways to sustain the community, including having it designated a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Food industry gets inventive in order to attract workers

by Tina Lovgreen

Shortage of kitchen staff has forced some restaurants to shut down, others to reduce hours

Video Tofino resort experiences 'perfect storm' during extreme wave warning event

by Cathy Kearney

​Samantha Hackett has seen a lot wild storms during her time working Long Beach Lodge Resort in Tofino — but the high waves that came with Thursday's extreme storm surges were a first.

In Depth $262 a day for B.C. woman's cancer drug, while friend with U.S. coverage gets it free

by Michelle Ghoussoub

The friends say their cases highlight the disparity in treatment options for women with metastatic breast cancer in the U.S. and Canada.

Wind warning issued for metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island

The winds will spread to metro Vancouver, the Gulf islands and Victoria overnight but are expected to ease Sunday morning.

More than 100 modular homes to be built in Kamloops for people in need

by Courtney Dickson

More than 100 modular homes for the homeless will be built in Kamloops, B.C., by next winter.

Analysis Retrofitting suburbia: Old shopping malls can be saved by their parking lots

by Tony Seskus

Aging shopping centres are gradually becoming relics on a sea of inner-city asphalt. But some retailers are seizing on the opportunity to do something dramatic with their biggest asset: land.

In Depth Behind scenes Vancouver Aquarium frustrations revealed in court battle

by Jason Proctor

The Vancouver Aquarium and the city's park board have been locked in a legal battle since last summer over a bylaw banning the display of cetaceans. Documents filed in the case provide fascinating detail into a fight that has strained relationships between the two organizations.

'We've kept the ball rolling': Canadians mark 1 year since Women's March

by Meagan Fitzpatrick

Thousands took to the streets in U.S. cities Saturday for the second Women's March, on the anniversary of U.S. President Donald Trump's inauguration. Canadians who marched in solidarity with Americans say this year their focus is on local and Canadian issues.

Man shot and killed in Abbotsford, B.C.

Police say they believe a man in his 20s who died at the scene of a Friday evening shooting was targeted.

Could you receive a missile text alert on your phone? In B.C., not yet

by Matt Meuse

In Canada, provinces are responsible for emergency management, and they determine who is authorized to use the system to send out alerts.

Traffic woes forcing North Vancouver businesses to relocate

by Bridgette Watson

North Vancouver Chamber of Commerce CEO Patrick Stafford-Smith says traffic issues are making it difficult for businesses in the region to attract employees and many are considering relocating as a result.

2 in custody after man allegedly beaten with a firearm at Richmond pub

Two men are in custody after police surrounded a Richmond pub Thursday night in response to a call of shots fired and a man brandishing a firearm, possibly with hostages.

Vancouver plans to roll out hundreds more free Wi-Fi hubs

Mayor Gregor Robertson said the City of Vancouver has partnered with Shaw to install more than 500 new free Wi-Fi locations in addition to dozens of hubs already installed since 2015.

Chilliwack school board asks trustee to resign over comments about transgender children

by Maryse Zeidler

The Chilliwack board of education is asking trustee Barry Neufeld to resign in the wake of comments he made last fall about transgender children. Neufeld says he has no plans to step down.

Fernie takes RCMP to court over records linked to fatal ammonia leak

by Bethany Lindsay

The city alleges that Mounties illegally obtained two log books after the death of three arena workers.

$10M in improvements announced for problem-plagued highway in B.C. premier's riding

by Deborah Wilson

New two-lane bridge, bus pullouts and safety signs announced for Highway 14 in the premier's riding of Langford-Juan de Fuca.

Fire contained, 3 workers treated at large sawmill blaze in south Vancouver

A fire that began just before 6 a.m. PT in a south Vancouver sawmill has been brought under control.

VPD makes urgent appeal in tragic shooting death of 15-year-old

Vancouver Police are once again appealing to the public for help solving the homicides of a 15-year-old Alfred Wong and 23-year-old Kevin Whiteside.

Body of missing Surrey teen found in trunk of car

The body of missing Surrey teen, Sachdeep Dhoot, was found in the trunk of a parked car on Fairmont Street near Vanness Avenue in Vancouver Thursday afternoon.

Residents call for crosswalk lights after 2 accidents in 24 hours on busy Burnaby road

A pedestrian was killed and cyclist was injured at the same intersection on Cariboo Road last week.

If Vancouver builds a bike lane and nobody seems to care, can it still be an election issue?

by Maryse Zeidler

Another year, and another proposal for a separated bike lane passes at Vancouver city council. But this isn't just any year: it's an election year, which means that routine matters that barely attract any attention can now prompt a political call to arms.

'Prohibition-style' raids on B.C. whisky joints mean double trouble for single malts

by Liam Britten

It wasn't exactly a scene from The Untouchables, but restaurateurs in B.C. say the confiscation of thousands of dollars worth of whisky by provincial agents on Thursday shows current liquor laws are outdated.