A man from Surrey has been charged with assault after a violent scene on a bus in Abbotsford over the weekend. Footage of the incident on a BC Transit bus shows a man shouting and swearing at passengers. In the 10-minute video, the man is heard yelling at someone off-camera about them calling the police. The bus was stopped on Highway 1 westbound at Whatcom Road when the events played out shortly before 4:30 p.m Sunday. According to Abbotsford police, the report they received was of an “intoxicated, aggressive passenger.” Apparently the man punched several passengers before some of the rider were able to hold him down till police arrived. 45 year old David Allen Lucas of Surrey is now facing charges.
Picket lines could tie up BC’s film industry later this week. The province’s district council for the Directors Guild of Canada says it has issued a strike notice. The guild says any production not covered by a “safe harbour agreement” may be subject to labour action 72 hours after the strike notice was issued on Tuesday. Key issues in its dispute include wage differences and payment terms for COVID-19 testing.
Despite holding a healthy lead over the Seattle Kraken at Rogers Arena last night the Canucks have been officially eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs. That’s because in Dallas, the Stars and Vegas Golden Knights went to a shootout, earning each team at least a point. That was enough to mathematically eliminate the Canucks, who can reach no higher than 93 points with three games left.
Six months after self-imposing guaranteed permitting timelines for its review protocols, the City of Surrey is seeing significant overall progress on its wait times for between applying and receiving a permit. A new city staff report provides data that suggests four of the five permitting categories have met or exceeded targeted timelines. Each year, the city sees an average of 120 new applications for all types of rezonings combined.
BC Ferries has cancelled multiple sailings on north coast routes, including Haida Gwaii, due to crew illness from COVID-19. Sailings on the Northern Adventure are affected until at least 12:30 a.m. on April 29. According to the corporation, customers affected by the cancellations will be contacted and reimbursed. COVID-19 illness is adding to staffing challenges at BC Ferries. The corporation has previously said it’s also dealing with an unexpected number of retirements.
The B-C government says it’s working with Ottawa to ensure the cost of required medical exams are covered for newcomers from Ukraine. Some Ukrainians fleeing Russia’s invasion have spent hundreds of dollars to get the health test, a condition of their federally-issued visas or work permits. B-C’s municipal affairs minister, says the issue should already have been resolved by the federal government. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada says Ukrainians admitted under the Canada-Ukraine authorization for emergency travel are not eligible for coverage under the Interim Federal Health Program, and B-C’s Medical Services Plan also does not cover federally required medical exams.
The latest data from the 2021 census shows the baby boom generation now makes up less than a quarter of Canada’s population. Seniors over the age of 85 are among the fastest growing age groups, with that cohort more than doubling since the 2001 census and expected to triple by 2046. Experts warn the country is headed to a crisis in care for the elderly, putting added pressure on the health and long-term care systems.
Vancouver police are appealing for help solving a violent robbery that occurred in early December. The department has released video of two masked men entering the Gucci store in the downtown core on December 9th, spraying a staff member with bear spray and making off with about 20-thousand dollars in merchandise. Police hope someone will recognize the two robbers — but they haven’t explained why they waited so long to release the video — even though they obtained it early in the investigation. The 33-year-old security guard who was hit with the bear spray managed to flee the store with three other employees and police paramedics treated all of them but no one was seriously hurt.
The Stanley Park seawall has finally reopened — almost four months after ultra high tides, extreme winds and a storm surge severely damaged the popular Vancouver walkway. The Vancouver park board says the 3.5 kilometre stretch of seawall between Second Beach and Lions Gate Bridge was damaged January 7th and reopened today. The board says lock blocks have been used to prevent further erosion and rebuild parts of the damaged walls along sections where the old structure collapsed. A statement from the board says stonemasons have been working to rebuild the stone work, crews have added new capstones along with reinforced concrete to strengthen the surface and other sections have been repaved with asphalt to ensure the entire route is accessible to everyone.
Abbotsford police say a 32-year-old man has been charged in the shooting of another man last October. Police say Michael Scott Dunlop was arrested yesterday and has been charged with aggravated assault, unlawfully discharging a firearm and two other firearms offences. Police say the charges relate to a shooting at a residence last October 22nd involving parties who appeared to know each other. They say the victim had left before officers arrived on scene but later went to hospital on his own with non-life-threatening injuries. (The Canadian Press)
The City of Surrey says it plans to increase tree planting on public property by 20 per cent this year. It says it will plant 12-thousand trees after it was recently recognized as a Tree City for the third straight year by the Tree Cities of the World Program. The international initiative is dedicated to recognizing cities that are committed to ensuring urban forests are properly maintained. Surrey Parks is also holding four trees sales at affordable prices this year — including one this month that was sold out — so residents can help increase tree canopy coverage across the city.
A forensic psychologist testifying in a civil lawsuit between Amber Heard and ex-husband Johnny Depp says that Heard suffers from borderline personality disorder. Psychologist Shannon Curry also denies Heard’s contention that she suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder after her relationship with Depp. Depp is suing Heard for libel in Fairfax, Virginia, after she wrote an op-ed piece in which she referred to herself as “a public figure representing domestic abuse.”
A high school student in Richmond has been injured in an assault at school, and R-C-M-P say a second student is under investigation. Police say the assault happened at Hugh Boyd Secondary last Thursday and a 14-year-old girl suffered serious but not life-threatening injuries. A 17-year-old male was arrested at the school and later released to his legal guardian while the investigation continues. Mounties say the Youth Criminal Justice Act prevents them from providing many other details, but they say the incident can affect the entire school community and they are working to ensure the safety and well-being of all those involved.