British Columbia Archives - Page 5 of 7

03 Aug

‘Airborne’ Fish Causes Brush Fire and Power Outage in British Columbia

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, TrendingBritish Columbia

British Columbia (Richa Walia): In an unusual chain of events, a small brush fire and power outage in British Columbia on Wednesday (July 30) were caused by an unexpected culprit, a fish. Fire officials confirmed that the incident did not result from lightning strikes or human negligence but rather from a fish dropped from the sky by an osprey. The fire, which burned less than an acre, was swiftly brought under control thanks to the quick action of Ashcroft Fire Rescue, supported by local ranchers and workers from BC Hydro. After extinguishing the blaze, investigators traced the source of ignition…

02 Aug

B.C. Jobs Minister Kahlon Urges Ottawa to ‘Negotiate Hard’ Over US Tariffs

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, TrendingBritish Columbia, Ravi Kahlon

Victoria (Richa Walia): British Columbia’s Minister of Jobs and Economic Growth, Ravi Kahlon, has called on the federal government to “negotiate hard” in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to raise tariffs on Canadian goods to 35 per cent. Kahlon said Prime Minister Mark Carney and Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc must stay the course. “Keep your head down, stay at the table, and find solutions without getting distracted by the day-to-day swings of the U.S. president,” he urged. Premier David Eby’s office also released a statement emphasizing that his priority remains protecting BC workers and businesses from what he…

01 Aug

Toxic Drug Deaths in B.C. Fall Sharply, Down 40% from Peak Levels

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, TrendingBritish Columbia, Canada

Victoria (Richa Walia): British Columbia has recorded a significant drop in toxic drug deaths, with fatalities in May and June down about 40 per cent from their peak levels, according to new data released by the BC Coroners Service. The province reported 145 deaths in May, compared to 181 in the same month last year, and 147 deaths in June, down from 185 in June 2024. This marks a steep decline from the record high of 243 deaths reported in December 2023, reflecting a downward trend that is also being seen across much of North America. The BC Coroners Service…

31 Jul

BC Puts Tsunami Preparedness to the Test After Massive Quake Near Russia

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, TrendingBritish Columbia, Canada, Tsunami

British Columbia (Richa Walia): The anticipated tsunami that reached Tofino, B.C., late Tuesday turned out to be far milder than feared, rising only about 15 centimetres, roughly half the height of a school ruler. Instead of panic, the gentle waves brought relief and even curiosity to about 300 onlookers gathered at Mackenzie Beach just before midnight. Hours earlier, J.J. Belanger, general manager of Crystal Cove Beach Resort, sprang into action after news broke of a powerful 8.8-magnitude undersea earthquake off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula — one of the strongest quakes ever recorded. With several hours before any waves could reach Canada’s…

29 Jul

B.C. Premier Demands Equal Federal Support for Ferry Users After Ottawa Cuts Fares in Eastern Canada

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, TrendingBritish Columbia

Victoria (Richa Walia): Premier David Eby is calling on the federal government to increase its support for ferry users in British Columbia after Prime Minister Mark Carney fulfilled his promise to cut ferry fares by 50% in Eastern Canada. Eby pointed out a stark funding gap: while Ottawa provides approximately $300 per person in subsidies for East Coast ferry users, those in B.C. receive just $1 per person. “We need the federal government to take a serious look at this policy and ensure fair treatment for ferry users in British Columbia,” Eby said Monday. Eastern Canada Gets Big Cuts, B.C.…

28 Jul

B.C. Man Escapes Cougar Attack with Minor Injuries After Punching Predator

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, TrendingBritish Columbia, Canada

Smithers, B.C. (Richa Walia): A man in British Columbia’s northern Interior is recovering from minor injuries after a dramatic encounter with a cougar that he says ended when he punched the animal in the face. According to a statement from the B.C. Conservation Officer Service, the incident occurred around 11 a.m. on Saturday near Lake Kathlyn, close to Smithers, approximately 1,000 kilometres northwest of Vancouver. The man, who was working in the area at the time, reported that the cougar suddenly approached and struck him in the upper body. Acting quickly, he punched the wild cat in the face, causing…

27 Jul

Nanaimo Councillor Urges Province to Shut Down Overdose Prevention Site Near City Hall

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, TrendingBritish Columbia, Canada

Nanaimo, British Columbia (Richa Walia): A motion set to be introduced at Nanaimo City Council may escalate tensions between the municipality and provincial health officials over a supervised drug use facility located adjacent to city hall. According to the agenda for Monday’s meeting, Councillor Ian Thorpe plans to table a proposal requesting that Island Health formally shut down the overdose prevention site on Albert Street. Thorpe signaled his intent during the council's July 21 session, saying the city must tell the province it has “had enough” of the escalating disorder in the area. The call for closure follows a contentious…

25 Jul

Three Miners Rescued from Northern B.C. Mine After Hours Underground

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, TrendingBritish Columbia

British Columbia (Richa Walia): Three miners who were trapped underground in a remote northern B.C. mine have been successfully rescued, bringing relief to families and the broader mining community. The incident occurred at a mine site in northern British Columbia, where the trio became stranded after what officials described as an “unexpected ground fall” disrupted regular operations. Emergency protocols were activated immediately, and specialized rescue teams were deployed to bring the miners to safety. After hours of intense rescue efforts, all three miners were brought to the surface without serious injury. Medical staff were on-site to assess their condition, and…

24 Jul

Three Workers Trapped in BC’s Red Chris Mine Have Food, Water, and Air, Operator Confirms

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, TrendingBritish Columbia, Canada

British Columbia (Richa Walia): Three workers remain trapped underground at the Red Chris copper and gold mine in northwestern British Columbia, but are safe and have access to essential supplies, according to mine operator Newmont Corp. The incident occurred on Tuesday, following two separate “fall of ground” events that blocked access to the area where the workers were operating. The workers had moved to a designated refuge station after the first collapse, but a second fall later blocked their exit. Newmont said the refuge bays—designed to support up to 16 people for at least three days—are stocked with food, water,…

22 Jul

Ontario Signs New Trade Deals with B.C. and Northern Territories to Boost Internal Commerce

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, TrendingBritish Columbia, Canada, Ontario

Huntsville (Richa Walia): Ontario Premier Doug Ford signed new trade agreements on Monday with British Columbia and Canada’s three northern territories, aiming to strengthen interprovincial trade and improve labour mobility across the country. The two Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs), one with B.C., and another jointly with Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut, raise Ontario’s tally of trade agreements with provinces and territories to 10, reinforcing the province’s role as a national leader in fostering internal trade. “With global uncertainty and ongoing threats to our economy, there’s never been a more critical time to strengthen Canada from within,” said Premier Ford. “These…