Author: Andrew Rogers

A fishing team from Chilliwack has made headlines after catching a legendary white sturgeon known as “Ghost.” The fish, which had eluded anglers for over 15 years, was finally landed on July 7 near Lillooet. It weighed about 700 pounds and measured 10 feet 2 inches in length. Jeff Grimolfson, owner of River Monster Adventures, and his deckhand Wynn Davy, were on the river guiding two longtime clients from Edmonton, Alberta—Glen Wood and Ian Touw—when they made the record-breaking catch. The moment was filled with both excitement and pressure. Grimolfson said he had seen Ghost on sonar many times over…

A man in Prince George, British Columbia, was arrested on Saturday night after allegedly pointing a fake gun at a taxi driver. Police later discovered a real gun and ammunition during the investigation, leading to several criminal charges. The incident happened around 10:30 p.m. when the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) received a report of someone threatening a taxi driver with a firearm. Officers were quick to respond and found a suspect near the intersection of Fourth Avenue and Quinn Street. Police say they approached the man based on the description provided by the victim. He was arrested without incident,…

BC Transit has introduced a new policy for summer bus operations in Greater Victoria. The move has triggered strong criticism from the local transit workers’ union. The new guideline, in place since July 14, 2025, changes how buses with broken air conditioning systems are handled. Before, buses with faulty ACs could be replaced during hot weather. But now, that option may not be guaranteed, especially during peak travel hours. The union, Unifor Local 333-BC, which represents nearly 1,000 workers in road transport services such as BC Transit, handyDART, and Medi-Van Canada, is calling the decision the “Hot Bus” policy. In…

Firefighters are working to contain a small wildfire that broke out near the Nanaimo River, just south of the city. Smoke and flames were reported on Monday, July 21, shortly before 3:30 p.m. The fire is located west of the South Forks Road intersection, on the north side of the river. Local fire departments responded quickly. The Extension Volunteer Fire Department was one of the first teams to arrive. They were soon joined by firefighters from the Cranberry area and staff from the Coastal Fire Centre. Provincial crews included initial attack teams, officers, and a water tender to help bring…

A new mobile and community-led crisis response program is now available in Kamloops. The initiative, called CRCL (pronounced “circle”), officially launched on Monday, July 21. It offers support to people aged 13 and older who are facing mental health or substance use challenges. The CRCL program replaces the earlier ‘Peer Assisted Care Teams’ concept. It focuses on meeting people with empathy, reducing the need for police or emergency room services during a crisis. The goal is to de-escalate high-stress situations while ensuring the person’s safety and connecting them to longer-term care. The team behind CRCL is made up of trained…

North Vancouver firefighters faced a busy Sunday as they responded to five rescue calls in just one day. The increase in outdoor activities, thanks to warm and sunny weather, kept emergency crews active throughout the day. The first call came at 11:45 a.m. from the Baden Powell Trail near the Grouse Grind. Firefighters found a 67-year-old man struggling to breathe on the trail. The team helped him walk out to the parking lot, where paramedics met him. The man declined medical treatment and left the scene, according to Assistant Fire Chief Dennis Cappellini. By 1:30 p.m., the crew was called…

The annual Hawaii Heritage Festival was held on July 12 and 13 at Fort Langley National Historic Site. This event celebrates the strong ties between Hawaiians and British Columbia. It honors the long history and traditions of Hawaii and Polynesia. Hawaiians were among the first non-Indigenous settlers in British Columbia. Many came to the region in the late 1700s and early 1800s. They worked for the Hudson’s Bay Company during the fur trade era. Their skills in sailing and swimming earned them respect among local communities. As the fur trade slowed down in the mid-1800s, many Hawaiians chose to stay…

Delta North MLA Ravi Kahlon has praised his government’s support for the arts, saying it helps make Delta a more lively and welcoming community. In 2025, the B.C. Arts Council granted over $37 million to more than 1,300 artists and arts groups across British Columbia. This funding helps local arts thrive and brings diverse voices to the public. One local group that benefited is Sher Vancouver. The organization received $25,000 for the 2024/25 period. Sher Vancouver works to support LGBTQ South Asians and their families in the area. Kahlon said, “Sher is a vital voice in our community, celebrating diversity…

West Kelowna’s construction activity has sharply dropped this year. In the second quarter of 2025, the total value of building permits reached just $18 million. This is only 15 percent of the $123 million recorded in the same period last year. It is also far below the five-year average of $63 million for this quarter. From April to June, the city issued 149 building permits. This number is lower than the 183 permits in Q2 2024 and well below the five-year average of 205 permits. So far in 2025, total building permit values stand at $47 million. Last year at…

A recent council meeting in Saanich turned tense as debate around the Quadra McKenzie Plan (QMP) stirred strong emotions. The meeting, held on July 7, aimed to gather feedback on the revised housing and transportation proposal. However, the event left some participants feeling unsafe — especially those in favor of the plan. The QMP proposes denser housing, better public transit, and more walkable neighborhoods. It also aims to reduce traffic congestion and rethink urban design. While the plan has gained support from housing advocates, it has also sparked concern among residents worried about neighborhood changes and traffic flow. Before the…