Jane Skrypnek

North Shore Rescue members used a helicopter and night vision goggles to help hoist a lost hiker off of a steep incline near Squamish on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023. (North Shore Rescue)

Hiker rescued near Squamish after making 911 call moments before phone died

Man would have become ‘very hypothermic’ had he been stuck overnight, says North Shore Rescue

North Shore Rescue members used a helicopter and night vision goggles to help hoist a lost hiker off of a steep incline near Squamish on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023. (North Shore Rescue)
The B.C. government is closing the Prince George Youth Custody Centre as of the end of March 2024. Youth there will be transferred to the province’s only remaining youth custody centre, in Burnaby. (BC Corrections)

B.C. to have just 1 youth custody centre after Prince George site closes

Minister of Children says closure as a result of steady decline in incarcerated young offenders

The B.C. government is closing the Prince George Youth Custody Centre as of the end of March 2024. Youth there will be transferred to the province’s only remaining youth custody centre, in Burnaby. (BC Corrections)
A new database of emerging “designer drugs” is allowing B.C. labs to make more educated decisions about what clinical tests to invest in and how to confirm which drugs are currently circulating. (Mireille Raad/Unsplash)

Emerging ‘designer drugs’ can be ID’d faster in B.C. with new urinalysis method

Researchers say identification of drugs key for harm reduction

A new database of emerging “designer drugs” is allowing B.C. labs to make more educated decisions about what clinical tests to invest in and how to confirm which drugs are currently circulating. (Mireille Raad/Unsplash)
Moms Stop the Harm advocates and supporters gather in Victoria on April 14, 2022 to mark the sixth anniversary of the toxic drug death public health emergency. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

‘Unconstitutional’: Harm reduction nurses suing B.C. over public drug use ban

Nurses association says new restrictions are putting drug user’s lives at further risk

Moms Stop the Harm advocates and supporters gather in Victoria on April 14, 2022 to mark the sixth anniversary of the toxic drug death public health emergency. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Paramedics debrief after responding to a drug overdose in Vancouver on Wednesday, June 23, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

New paramedic staffing models aim to up service in rural and remote B.C.

BCEHS says it will add 271 full-time positions to support new models rolling out in 60 communities

Paramedics debrief after responding to a drug overdose in Vancouver on Wednesday, June 23, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
UBCIC President Grand Chief Stewart Phillip speaks in Vancover on Nov. 7, 2023, as one of 550 signatories of a report calling on B.C. to take greater action on climate change. (Jane Skrypnek/Black Press Media)

B.C. failing to treat climate change like an emergency, says action group

Report says B.C. making ‘minor progress’ in some areas, failing in others

UBCIC President Grand Chief Stewart Phillip speaks in Vancover on Nov. 7, 2023, as one of 550 signatories of a report calling on B.C. to take greater action on climate change. (Jane Skrypnek/Black Press Media)
B.C. Human Rights Commissioner Kasari Govender speaks in Vancouver, on March 7, 2023. On Nov. 6, 2023 she released a statement calling on the province to take action on hate, amid a rise in anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Action needed to combat rising anti-Semitism, Islamophobia in B.C.: advocate

Human Rights Commissioner says anti-hate recommendations she made 1 year ago have yet to be enacted

B.C. Human Rights Commissioner Kasari Govender speaks in Vancouver, on March 7, 2023. On Nov. 6, 2023 she released a statement calling on the province to take action on hate, amid a rise in anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
North Shore SAR rescued a hiker off a cliffside near Mount Fromme late on Saturday afternoon (Nov. 5), after the man followed a Google Maps trail that doesn’t exist. Google removed the trail off its maps app on Nov. 6, 2023. (North Shore Search and Rescue)

Hiker rescued off B.C. cliffside after taking non-existent Google Maps trail

North Shore SAR says no path exists from Mount Fromme to Kennedy Falls

North Shore SAR rescued a hiker off a cliffside near Mount Fromme late on Saturday afternoon (Nov. 5), after the man followed a Google Maps trail that doesn’t exist. Google removed the trail off its maps app on Nov. 6, 2023. (North Shore Search and Rescue)
A criminal investigation into the conduct of 19 B.C. municipal police officers at an undercover police training event in Vancouver in 2022 has been completed. The Ministry of Public Safety is not releasing the results publicly yet. (Black Press Media file photo)

Criminal investigation of B.C. police training event complete

Ministry of Public Safety reviewing findings, but not releasing them publicly yet

A criminal investigation into the conduct of 19 B.C. municipal police officers at an undercover police training event in Vancouver in 2022 has been completed. The Ministry of Public Safety is not releasing the results publicly yet. (Black Press Media file photo)
Andrew Leavens, front left, and Carl Gladue, right, carry an empty coffin during a march organized by the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users (VANDU) to mark International Overdose Awareness Day, in Vancouver, on Thursday, August 31, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

UPDATED: B.C. rejects experts call for non-prescription access to safer drug supply

Coroner’s death review panel says expanded safer supply fastest way to save lives, but B.C. says ‘no’

Andrew Leavens, front left, and Carl Gladue, right, carry an empty coffin during a march organized by the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users (VANDU) to mark International Overdose Awareness Day, in Vancouver, on Thursday, August 31, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
London Drugs President Clint Mahlman announced the creation of a new coalition aimed at addressing crime in B.C., speaking in Vancouver on Oct. 30, 2023. (Jane Skrypnek/Black Press Media)

‘Crisis point’: B.C. coalition calls for more government action on crime

Save Our Streets group says municipal, provincial and federal leaders need to act together

London Drugs President Clint Mahlman announced the creation of a new coalition aimed at addressing crime in B.C., speaking in Vancouver on Oct. 30, 2023. (Jane Skrypnek/Black Press Media)
A robotic hand with UBC-developed sensor skin on its fingertips is capable of grasping delicate items, such as a champagne flute, without breaking them. (UBC/Paul Joseph)

UBC-developed ‘skin’ giving prosthetics and robots a delicate touch

Sensor skin capable of grasping a champagne flute or egg without damaging them

A robotic hand with UBC-developed sensor skin on its fingertips is capable of grasping delicate items, such as a champagne flute, without breaking them. (UBC/Paul Joseph)
A Florida Department of Health employee processes a urine sample on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016. In B.C., residents in eight communities have the option of ordering their own lab requisitions for STI tests, instead of having to wait for a doctor’s appointment. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

B.C. online STI testing service seeing 3,000 people a month

Get Checked Online allows people to order their own lab requisitions, instead of waiting on a doctor

A Florida Department of Health employee processes a urine sample on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016. In B.C., residents in eight communities have the option of ordering their own lab requisitions for STI tests, instead of having to wait for a doctor’s appointment. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Sara Johnston was 39 years old when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in April 2021. Here, she celebrates the completion of her eighth and final round of chemotherapy. (Photo courtesy of Sara Johnston)

Diagnosed at 39, B.C. breast cancer survivor pushes for lower screening age

Had she waited until she was 40, Sara Johnston’s cancer likely would have been Stage 4

Sara Johnston was 39 years old when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in April 2021. Here, she celebrates the completion of her eighth and final round of chemotherapy. (Photo courtesy of Sara Johnston)
A young boy had a close encounter with a black bear in a residential Port Coquitlam neighbourhood earlier this month. (Screenshot/YouTube/jrmynet)

Black bear comes within feet of B.C. child before getting scared off

WildSafeBC emphasizing importance of having zero wildlife attractants in residential neighbourhoods

A young boy had a close encounter with a black bear in a residential Port Coquitlam neighbourhood earlier this month. (Screenshot/YouTube/jrmynet)
Health-care workers talk with a man in a COVID-19 infected ward at Idola Saint-Jean long-term care home in Laval, Que., Friday, February 25, 2022. In B.C., a September 2023 survey of health care assistants shows half of them are considering quitting in the next two years. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Half of B.C.’s care aides say they’ll likely quit amid shortages: survey

Close to 1,500 care aide job vacancies listed in B.C. as of the end of June, according to StatsCan

Health-care workers talk with a man in a COVID-19 infected ward at Idola Saint-Jean long-term care home in Laval, Que., Friday, February 25, 2022. In B.C., a September 2023 survey of health care assistants shows half of them are considering quitting in the next two years. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
B.C. sexual assault survivors now have access to up to three hours of free legal advice, thanks to a new service from the Community Legal Assistance Society. (Pixabay)

B.C. sexual assault survivors can receive free legal advice with new service

Reported sexual assaults reached highest number in 25 years in 2021, according to Statistics Canada

B.C. sexual assault survivors now have access to up to three hours of free legal advice, thanks to a new service from the Community Legal Assistance Society. (Pixabay)
A screenshot taken from a pedestrian safety video by Richmond RCMP shows a woman putting in ear buds before pulling up the hood of her hoodie. In the posting of the video, the detachment said pedestrian safety is “a two-way street,” drawing online ire. (Screenshot/@RichmondRCMP/X)

B.C. irked after RCMP video partially blames pedestrians for car crashes

People quick to call out apparent false equivalency online

A screenshot taken from a pedestrian safety video by Richmond RCMP shows a woman putting in ear buds before pulling up the hood of her hoodie. In the posting of the video, the detachment said pedestrian safety is “a two-way street,” drawing online ire. (Screenshot/@RichmondRCMP/X)
Premier David Eby announced Monday (Oct. 16), that flushing toilets will soon be a requirement on B.C. construction sites with 25 workers or more. (Pixabay)

Flush toilets to be required on large B.C. construction sites

Announcement from Eby comes in midst of campaign from construction union

Premier David Eby announced Monday (Oct. 16), that flushing toilets will soon be a requirement on B.C. construction sites with 25 workers or more. (Pixabay)
An elevator button panel is shown in Toronto on Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Kat McCallum

B.C. elevator workers threaten strike as lockout notice looms

Union says contract negotiations fell apart Thursday when employers offered a lower wage than hoped

An elevator button panel is shown in Toronto on Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Kat McCallum