Jane Skrypnek

A courtroom sketch shows accused murderer Ibrahim Ali listening to court proceedings through a translator. Ali is charged with first degree murder in the 2017 death of a 13-year-old Burnaby girl. (Credit: Felicity Don)

Ibrahim Ali pleads not guilty in murder of 13-year-old B.C. girl

First-degree murder trial begins close to 6 years after death of Burnaby teen

A courtroom sketch shows accused murderer Ibrahim Ali listening to court proceedings through a translator. Ali is charged with first degree murder in the 2017 death of a 13-year-old Burnaby girl. (Credit: Felicity Don)
A February 2023 Telus Health survey indicates people with debt or financial uncertainty experience worse mental health than those with security. (Credit: Pixabay)

Debt, financial fears impacting Canadians’ mental health, survey finds

Those with financial uncertainty rated significantly lower on Telus Health’s mental health index

A February 2023 Telus Health survey indicates people with debt or financial uncertainty experience worse mental health than those with security. (Credit: Pixabay)
Tents line the sidewalk on East Hastings Street in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, on Thursday, July 28, 2022. A 2022-23 survey by Atira Women’s Resource Society suggests unhoused women living in the area have few safe housing options. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Sexual violence rampant amid lack of housing options for homeless Vancouver women: survey

50 Downtown Eastside respondents all reported enduring violence, sexual assault

Tents line the sidewalk on East Hastings Street in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, on Thursday, July 28, 2022. A 2022-23 survey by Atira Women’s Resource Society suggests unhoused women living in the area have few safe housing options. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A petition to the federal government aims to ban cephalopod farms in Canada. (Credit: Pixabay)

There are no octopus farms in Canada. BC SPCA, experts call on feds to keep it that way

Experts say practice not only morally questionable, but environmentally destructive too

A petition to the federal government aims to ban cephalopod farms in Canada. (Credit: Pixabay)
The B.C. Human Rights Tribunal awarded a B.C. man $6,000 after two of his colleagues used a derogatory slur against him during a physical fight. (The Canadian Press)
The B.C. Human Rights Tribunal awarded a B.C. man $6,000 after two of his colleagues used a derogatory slur against him during a physical fight. (The Canadian Press)
B.C. teacher Deborah Laurie Croft will be suspended for two days and must undergo anti-racism training, as a result of a regulatory college investigation into her treatment of two Indigenous students. (Credit: Pixabay)

B.C. teacher fired for mistreating Indigenous students must take anti-racism course

Deborah Laurie Croft admitted to pulling one student by the arm, hitting another with a book

B.C. teacher Deborah Laurie Croft will be suspended for two days and must undergo anti-racism training, as a result of a regulatory college investigation into her treatment of two Indigenous students. (Credit: Pixabay)
B.C. recorded 740 excess deaths during the heat dome heatwave that blanketed much of the Pacific Northwest at the end June 2021. New research from the B.C. Centre for Disease Control shows people with schizophrenia, in particular, had an increased risk of death during that period. (File photo)

People with schizophrenia had a higher risk of death during B.C.’s 2021 heat dome: study

Substance use, chronic kidney disease also increased people’s chances of dying, BCCDC finds

B.C. recorded 740 excess deaths during the heat dome heatwave that blanketed much of the Pacific Northwest at the end June 2021. New research from the B.C. Centre for Disease Control shows people with schizophrenia, in particular, had an increased risk of death during that period. (File photo)
A pouch containing crystalized methamphetamine and a homemade pipe are shown March 21, 2006. In December 2022, a dog was seized from its owner in Vancouver because of regular exposure to drugs, including crystal meth. (AP Photo/Matt York, File)

Dog left ‘woozy, coughing and vomiting’ from regular exposure to drugs at B.C. property

B.C. SPCA seized dog in December after 3 prior calls

A pouch containing crystalized methamphetamine and a homemade pipe are shown March 21, 2006. In December 2022, a dog was seized from its owner in Vancouver because of regular exposure to drugs, including crystal meth. (AP Photo/Matt York, File)
The Northern Lights is the first women’s professional paintball team in Canada. From top left clockwise: Hannah Urquhart, Kate Evingston, Erin Scott, Kenna Lozinski, Tessa Osterhage, Amanda Renardy, Ainslie Young, Heather Brown. (Credit: 4TL Media)

B.C. players dominate Canada’s first women’s pro paintball team

Fraser Valley women dead set on helping to grow the sport they love

The Northern Lights is the first women’s professional paintball team in Canada. From top left clockwise: Hannah Urquhart, Kate Evingston, Erin Scott, Kenna Lozinski, Tessa Osterhage, Amanda Renardy, Ainslie Young, Heather Brown. (Credit: 4TL Media)
The family of Julian Jones, who was shot and killed by a Tofino RCMP officer in February 2021, speak at a gathering on the International Day Against Police Brutality on March 15, 2022. (Jane Skrypnek/Black Press Media)

B.C. exhibit honours Indigenous and Black lives lost to police violence

March 15 marks the International Day Against Police Brutality

The family of Julian Jones, who was shot and killed by a Tofino RCMP officer in February 2021, speak at a gathering on the International Day Against Police Brutality on March 15, 2022. (Jane Skrypnek/Black Press Media)
Dale Culver was 35 years old and had a newborn daughter in July 2017, when he died after being pepper-sprayed and arrested by Prince George Mounties. Two of those officers are now charged with manslaughter, while another three are charged with obstruction of justice. (Photo courtesy of British Columbia Civil Liberties Association )

Family calls for change ahead of trial for B.C. cops accused of killing Indigenous man

Dale Culver died in Prince George in 2017 after police pepper-sprayed and arrested him

Dale Culver was 35 years old and had a newborn daughter in July 2017, when he died after being pepper-sprayed and arrested by Prince George Mounties. Two of those officers are now charged with manslaughter, while another three are charged with obstruction of justice. (Photo courtesy of British Columbia Civil Liberties Association )
The Prince George RCMP detachment is under investigation by Alberta’s police watchdog over findings it failed to investigate sexual abuse claims against its own officers. (Black Press Media file photo)

Watchdog probing allegations Prince George cops abused underage Indigenous sex workers

B.C. RCMP detachment failed to properly investigate claims against their officers made back in 2004

The Prince George RCMP detachment is under investigation by Alberta’s police watchdog over findings it failed to investigate sexual abuse claims against its own officers. (Black Press Media file photo)
A man pauses at an empty coffin after carrying it to Oppenheimer Park during a memorial march to remember victims of overdose deaths in Vancouver on Saturday, August 15, 2020. In January 2023, at least 211 British Columbians died from toxic drugs, according to the BC Coroners Service. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Nearly 7 British Columbians died a day from toxic drugs in January

Death rate now more than double what it was when emergency was declared in 2016

A man pauses at an empty coffin after carrying it to Oppenheimer Park during a memorial march to remember victims of overdose deaths in Vancouver on Saturday, August 15, 2020. In January 2023, at least 211 British Columbians died from toxic drugs, according to the BC Coroners Service. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Amanda Zhao was studying English in B.C. in 2002 when she was murdered. Her boyfriend at the time, Ang Li, was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to seven year in prison. (Submitted photo)

Convicted murderer seeks refugee status in New Zealand 20 years after killing woman in B.C.

Victim’s mother and Vancouver East MP calling on Canada to intervene

Amanda Zhao was studying English in B.C. in 2002 when she was murdered. Her boyfriend at the time, Ang Li, was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to seven year in prison. (Submitted photo)
An image taken Saturday (March 4) at the Cayoosh Pass near Pemberton shows an avalanche that came down and buried one skier. They were dug out by companions and airlifted out. (Avalanche Canada)

UPDATE: 2 skiers recovered alive from separate weekend avalanches near Pemberton

Both men suffered ‘multiple traumas,’ had to be airlifted out

An image taken Saturday (March 4) at the Cayoosh Pass near Pemberton shows an avalanche that came down and buried one skier. They were dug out by companions and airlifted out. (Avalanche Canada)
Chrissie John (ḥakaƛ) and her partner are committed to teaching their two young children their First Nations language as they grow up. The family is part of an increasing number of First Nations people in B.C. who are working to reclaim their mother tongues. (Submitted photo)

Taking back identity: New learners fight to keep First Nations languages in B.C. alive

Number of fluent speakers declining, but new learners on the rise

Chrissie John (ḥakaƛ) and her partner are committed to teaching their two young children their First Nations language as they grow up. The family is part of an increasing number of First Nations people in B.C. who are working to reclaim their mother tongues. (Submitted photo)
A rental sign is seen outside a building in Ottawa, Thursday, April 30, 2020. B.C.’s NDP government followed through on a long-promised renters’ rebate on Feb. 28, 2023, in its provincial budget. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Long-awaited renters’ rebate among credits promised in B.C.’s 2023 budget

Other increases coming for families, lower-income earners

A rental sign is seen outside a building in Ottawa, Thursday, April 30, 2020. B.C.’s NDP government followed through on a long-promised renters’ rebate on Feb. 28, 2023, in its provincial budget. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
A new 16-bed mental health evaluation and treatment facility has three double- and 10 single-bed rooms. Heidi Sanders, the Mirror

‘Quite remarkable’: B.C. commits close to $1 billion for mental health, addictions

Investment standout piece from $6.4-billion health-care spending promise

A new 16-bed mental health evaluation and treatment facility has three double- and 10 single-bed rooms. Heidi Sanders, the Mirror
B.C. is making prescription contraception free for everyone under MSP beginning April 1. (AccessBC)

B.C. to become 1st in Canada to give free prescription contraception by spring

Change to coincide with pharmacists gaining power to prescribe

B.C. is making prescription contraception free for everyone under MSP beginning April 1. (AccessBC)
Premier David Eby announced $500 million for BC Ferries on Sunday (Feb. 26). (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. investing $500M to electrify BC Ferries fleet, keep fares steady

Money to offset increasing costs of fuel, inflation in coming years

Premier David Eby announced $500 million for BC Ferries on Sunday (Feb. 26). (Black Press Media file photo)