Jane Skrypnek

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Moms Stop the Harm advocates and supporters march from Centennial Square to the Ministry of Health building in Victoria on April 14, 2022, the sixth anniversary of B.C. declaring the opioid crisis a public health emergency. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

2,272 people died from poisoned drug supply in B.C. in 2022: coroner

More than 11,000 deaths since public health emergency was declared in April 2016

Moms Stop the Harm advocates and supporters march from Centennial Square to the Ministry of Health building in Victoria on April 14, 2022, the sixth anniversary of B.C. declaring the opioid crisis a public health emergency. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Vancouver police constable Nicole Chan died by suicide on Jan. 27, 2019. A coroners’ inquest into her death is seeking to determine the facts around what happened. (Photo courtesy of Jennifer Chan)

VPD officer urged hospital to keep Const. Nicole Chan on night she died: inquiry

Officer said he was concerned Chan would harm herself if she was returned home

Vancouver police constable Nicole Chan died by suicide on Jan. 27, 2019. A coroners’ inquest into her death is seeking to determine the facts around what happened. (Photo courtesy of Jennifer Chan)
Vancouver police constable Nicole Chan died by suicide on Jan. 27, 2019. A coroners’ inquest into her death is seeking to determine the facts around what happened. (Photo courtesy of Jennifer Chan)

Inquiry hears details on Vancouver Const. Nicole Chan’s final day from eyes of her boyfriend

Chan’s former boyfriend testified at the coroners’ inquest Wednesday

Vancouver police constable Nicole Chan died by suicide on Jan. 27, 2019. A coroners’ inquest into her death is seeking to determine the facts around what happened. (Photo courtesy of Jennifer Chan)
Vancouver police constable Nicole Chan died by suicide on Jan. 27, 2019. A coroners’ inquest into her death is seeking to determine the facts around what happened. (Photo courtesy of Jennifer Chan)

Const. Nicole Chan had history with suicide prior to VPD hiring her, inquest hears

Applicants with suicidal history almost never hired, Vancouver police psychologist testifies

Vancouver police constable Nicole Chan died by suicide on Jan. 27, 2019. A coroners’ inquest into her death is seeking to determine the facts around what happened. (Photo courtesy of Jennifer Chan)
Vancouver police constable Nicole Chan died by suicide on Jan. 27, 2019. A coroners’ inquest into her death is seeking to determine the facts around what happened. (Photo courtesy of Jennifer Chan)

Vancouver Const. Nicole Chan was blackmailed into sex, coroners’ inquest hears

Sister testified Chan was feeling hopeless about outcome of sexual assault complaint before death

Vancouver police constable Nicole Chan died by suicide on Jan. 27, 2019. A coroners’ inquest into her death is seeking to determine the facts around what happened. (Photo courtesy of Jennifer Chan)
A photo from Avalanche Canada shows the snowpack conditions near Valemount, B.C. on Jan. 21, when two snowmobilers were caught in an avalanche. One of them died. (Avalanche Canada/Twitter)

1 snowmobiler dead in avalanche near Valemount, B.C.

Second snowmobiler managed to get away Saturday

A photo from Avalanche Canada shows the snowpack conditions near Valemount, B.C. on Jan. 21, when two snowmobilers were caught in an avalanche. One of them died. (Avalanche Canada/Twitter)
A new UBC speaker series aims to answer questions around what people can do to live long, happy lives. (Credit: Pixabay/Pasja1000)

UBC promises to go beyond eating well and exercising in healthy aging speaker series

First lecture kicks off Jan. 23, with a discussion around daily stressors

A new UBC speaker series aims to answer questions around what people can do to live long, happy lives. (Credit: Pixabay/Pasja1000)
An ex-principal of Britannia Community Elementary School in Vancouver is facing a lawsuit from the school district, which claims she stole more than $170,000 from the school. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Former B.C. principal stole $170K from Vancouver elementary school, lawsuit claims

Tricia Low accused of stealing gift cards from families in need, using school funds for herself

An ex-principal of Britannia Community Elementary School in Vancouver is facing a lawsuit from the school district, which claims she stole more than $170,000 from the school. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
A thin blue line Canada patch. (Thinbluelinecanada.ca)

Thin blue line cannot be worn by on-duty Vancouver police officers, department decides

Report prompted by complaint of officer wearing controversial patch at land back rally in 2021

A thin blue line Canada patch. (Thinbluelinecanada.ca)
Vancouver Folk Music Festival organizers say they don’t have the funds to run the annual event in 2023. They’ll ask their membership on Feb. 1 to vote on whether to end the festival forever. (Vancouver Folk Music Festival/Instagram)

Short $500K, the Vancouver Folk Music Festival calls it quits, possibly forever

Organizers say they don’t have the funding or staff to get the annual event off the ground

Vancouver Folk Music Festival organizers say they don’t have the funds to run the annual event in 2023. They’ll ask their membership on Feb. 1 to vote on whether to end the festival forever. (Vancouver Folk Music Festival/Instagram)
Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. universities reviewing identity policy for Indigenous scholars amid Turpel-Lafond controversy

UBC, VIU consulting to determine how to stop Indigenous identity fraud

Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The B.C. Human Rights Tribunal has ordered Whitewater Concrete Ltd. and one of its employees to pay damages to a former worker over racial slurs that were made against him. (The Canadian Press)

Employee’s racial slurs put B.C. concrete company on the line for discrimination damages

Whitewater Concrete and employee ordered to pay former worker for injury to dignity, self-respect

The B.C. Human Rights Tribunal has ordered Whitewater Concrete Ltd. and one of its employees to pay damages to a former worker over racial slurs that were made against him. (The Canadian Press)
A Langara Gardens apartment building near the intersection of Cambie Street and 57th Avenue where a tenant accidentally started a fire in 2017. Angela Chou has since been ordered to pay over $500,000 for the resulting damage. (Google Streetview/screenshot)

Vancouver woman ordered to pay over $500K for apartment fire started by floor lamp

Inspectors said unit was in ‘near hoarding state’ when fire began on Nov. 14, 2017

A Langara Gardens apartment building near the intersection of Cambie Street and 57th Avenue where a tenant accidentally started a fire in 2017. Angela Chou has since been ordered to pay over $500,000 for the resulting damage. (Google Streetview/screenshot)
FILE - B.C. announced a $500 million Rental Protection Fund on Jan. 12. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

Eby following through on $500M promise to put more rentals in hands of B.C. non-profits

Funds aim to take control away from speculators looking to bump up prices or evict tenants

FILE - B.C. announced a $500 million Rental Protection Fund on Jan. 12. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)
A UBC study examining orca bodies found between 2006 and 2018 has found a number of concerning chemicals inside them, including in endangered southern resident killer whales (pictured). (Credit: Paul Cottrell, DFO)

Toxic chemicals from B.C.’s sewage are making their way inside orcas, UBC study finds

Compound in toilet paper can influence cognitive function, say researchers

A UBC study examining orca bodies found between 2006 and 2018 has found a number of concerning chemicals inside them, including in endangered southern resident killer whales (pictured). (Credit: Paul Cottrell, DFO)
Co-first author Jimena Pérez-Vargas works in the UBC Facility for Infectious Disease and Epidemic Research, studying natural compounds that can be used to fight COVID-19. (Credit: Paul Joseph)

Bacteria harvested from B.C.’s coastline fight COVID-19 in a new and exciting way

UBC researchers have identified 3 compounds with long-term promise

Co-first author Jimena Pérez-Vargas works in the UBC Facility for Infectious Disease and Epidemic Research, studying natural compounds that can be used to fight COVID-19. (Credit: Paul Joseph)
An Avalanche Canada forecaster is warning of deeply buried weak layers of snow in many of B.C.’s snow packs, greatly heightening the risk of avalanches. (Credit: Jen Coulter)

B.C.’s avalanche conditions highly risky, haven’t been seen in 2 decades

Early winter cold and dry spells created deeply buried weak layers of snow, say forecasters

An Avalanche Canada forecaster is warning of deeply buried weak layers of snow in many of B.C.’s snow packs, greatly heightening the risk of avalanches. (Credit: Jen Coulter)
B.C. says it will expedite the registration time for internationally-trained nurses to get practising. (Credit: Pixabay/Antonio-Corigliano)

B.C. cutting costs for retired nurses to return, internationally-educated ones to start

Announcement comes amid about 5,200 nursing vacancies

B.C. says it will expedite the registration time for internationally-trained nurses to get practising. (Credit: Pixabay/Antonio-Corigliano)
A B.C. Ambulance Service paramedic moves a stretcher outside an ambulance at Royal Columbia Hospital, in New Westminster on Nov. 29, 2020. The paramedics union has reached a tentative new agreement with BCEHS and the province as of Jan. 6, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. paramedics union, province agree on tentative new contract

Members will decide whether to ratify it or not over coming weeks

A B.C. Ambulance Service paramedic moves a stretcher outside an ambulance at Royal Columbia Hospital, in New Westminster on Nov. 29, 2020. The paramedics union has reached a tentative new agreement with BCEHS and the province as of Jan. 6, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Renee Merrifield, MLA for the Kelowna-Mission riding and gender equity critic for the BC Liberal Party, is under fire for transphobic Twitter activity. (Black Press Media file photo)

BC Liberals’ gender equity critic called out for promoting transphobic content on Twitter

Renee Merrifield liked a post about transgender bathroom bans, retweeted a post from Jordan Peterson

Renee Merrifield, MLA for the Kelowna-Mission riding and gender equity critic for the BC Liberal Party, is under fire for transphobic Twitter activity. (Black Press Media file photo)