Author: Andrew Rogers

Vancouver’s top administrative official, Paul Mochrie, is stepping down after more than a decade of service with the city. Mayor Ken Sim confirmed the news on Tuesday, marking the end of Mochrie’s four-year tenure as city manager and his 14-year career in senior leadership roles within Vancouver. Sim said the decision came after mutual discussions. “Paul and I mutually agreed that it was the right time for a leadership change,” the mayor stated. “We thank Paul for his 14 years of dedicated service, including the last four as city manager, and wish him nothing but success in the future.” Mochrie…

56 volunteers came together to clear 123 pounds of litter from White Rock’s waterfront. The cleanup event, the first of two this summer, was organized by the Lower Mainland Green Team in partnership with Green Teams Canada and the City of White Rock. Together, the volunteers dedicated 171 hours to cleaning the beach area. Volunteers of all ages met at the intersection of Oxford Street and Marine Drive. They split into three groups to cover the foreshore, promenade, and sidewalks, working carefully to remove trash and debris. The team collected more than 2,500 pieces of litter, including butts, bits of…

Courtenay cheese from Natural Pastures Cheese Company has been recalled due to possible Listeria contamination. The recall involves the Mount Becher Buffalo Medium Cheese, batch number 854 179. This action follows test results from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), although no illnesses have been reported so far. The CFIA warns consumers not to eat, serve, sell, or share the recalled cheese. Instead, they should throw it away or return it to the store where it was bought. Anyone who suspects they have fallen ill after eating the product should contact a healthcare provider immediately. Listeria monocytogenes, the bacteria involved…

More than 135 staff members working in three local governments in the Cowichan Valley earned over $100,000 in 2024. This shows a clear increase compared to 2022, when just 85 employees were paid above that amount. The 2024 figures come from newly released financial records. They show 66 employees in the Cowichan Valley Regional District, 51 in the Municipality of North Cowichan, and 9 in the City of Duncan receiving six-figure salaries. The highest-paid staff member in the region last year was North Cowichan’s Chief Administrative Officer Ted Swabey. He earned a total of $265,590. The second highest was Cowichan…

Bailey McCourt, a mother of two from Kelowna, was killed on July 4, just hours after her former partner was convicted of previous violent acts. Her death has sparked deep concern about the justice system’s ability to protect women from intimate partner violence. James Plover, her ex-partner, had been found guilty of assault and threats related to a June 23 incident. However, instead of being taken into custody, he remained free as the court waited for a psychiatric evaluation. This delay left McCourt vulnerable, and just hours later, she was murdered. Plover is now charged with second-degree murder. The court…

The Homalco First Nation has filed for a judicial review in British Columbia’s Supreme Court. They say the provincial government failed to consult them after ancient human remains were found last December at a construction site in Campbell River. The remains, believed to be between 1,230 and 1,650 years old, were found during groundwork by C.R. Horizon. The company is building an apartment complex in the Willow Point area of South Island Highway. According to the Nation, the provincial government did not inform or involve them after the discovery. Instead, they learned about the burial site from a local newspaper…

Cherry Lane Mall, a long-standing retail hub in Penticton, British Columbia, has officially been listed for sale. The shopping center, built in 1975, covers 21.5 acres and has served the South Okanagan and Similkameen Valley communities for decades. It is now seeking a new owner following the recent closure of its former flagship tenant, Hudson’s Bay. The former department store, which occupied the largest unit in the mall at 94,643 square feet, closed its doors after reportedly failing to meet payment obligations. Its departure has opened the door for new investment and possible redevelopment. Despite the closure of Hudson’s Bay,…

Police in Port Moody arrested four young people after a replica gun was found during a call involving a firearm threat. The incident happened on the evening of July 21 at the Port Moody Recreation Complex. At around 8 p.m., officers received a report that someone had seen a youth showing what appeared to be a gun. The youth was part of a group near the complex. Responding quickly, police located and stopped four teens who were leaving the area. All four were taken into custody without incident. During a search, officers discovered a replica firearm and bear spray in…

A man accused in the death of a young mother from Mission, British Columbia, has been found guilty of manslaughter nearly eight years after the crime. Though the victim’s family sees the verdict as a step toward justice, the man remains free on bail until sentencing. Gary Losch, now in his 60s, was originally charged with second-degree murder in the death of 22-year-old Chelsey Gauthier. On Tuesday, a judge in Abbotsford downgraded the charge, convicting him instead of manslaughter and interfering with a dead body. Justice Dev Dley explained that while Losch did try to hide Gauthier’s body and lied…

The Brokenagan Backyard Ultra, held at Vernon’s Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre, has gained national recognition as a key endurance event in Canada. Scheduled for Saturday, July 26, this 24-hour trail run is now officially a Bronze Ticket event in the Backyard Ultra World Championships series. This new status guarantees the winner a spot on the Canadian National Leaderboard. Top performers will also be considered for Team Canada in the Big Dog’s Backyard Ultra World Team Championship. The Brokenagan is among just nine Canadian events awarded this prestigious Bronze Ticket status. The race challenges participants to complete as many 4.17-mile loops…