Author: Caleb Nguyen

The City of Williams Lake has expressed condolences to the family, friends, and communities affected by the death of Surrance Myers in an RCMP holding cell in October 2022. Myers died on October 1, 2022, following a traffic stop that led to his custody. The Independent Investigator’s Office (IIO) released a detailed report examining the events leading up to Myers’ arrest and the circumstances surrounding his death. Mayor Surinderpal Rathor acknowledged the tragedy and its profound impact on the community. “On behalf of council, I extend heartfelt condolences to the loved ones of the individual and recognize the significant impact…

Power has been restored for 1,804 BC Hydro customers in parts of Williams Lake and areas south to Dog Creek following a midday outage on Monday, August 11, 2025. BC Hydro crews were dispatched immediately and worked on-site to restore electricity. Power was expected to return by 2:30 p.m. Williams Lake Fire Chief Evan Dean reported that a delivery truck had struck communication lines, causing the disconnects on a power pole on Wotzke Drive to trip. The incident temporarily cut electricity to homes and businesses in the affected area. BC Hydro crews confirmed that all affected customers were safely reconnected.…

Williams Lake is preparing to receive more evacuees after a new evacuation order was issued on September 7 for communities threatened by wildfire in the Cariboo region. The order, issued at 1 p.m. by the Cariboo Regional District, affects 85 parcels and 42 structures in the Smokey Lake Fire Area. Covering 67,537 hectares, the evacuation zone includes parts of the Tatla Lake community in the West Chilcotin. Tatla Lake lies about 220 kilometers west of Williams Lake on the Chilcotin Plateau. Officials warned that the order was necessary due to an immediate risk to life and safety. Residents were instructed…

The Prince George Courthouse has returned to normal after a police investigation found that Thursday morning’s bomb threat was a hoax. Prince George RCMP media relations officer Cpl. Jennifer Cooper said the public can now return to downtown, the courthouse, and nearby businesses. She thanked everyone for staying clear during the investigation. The courthouse in Williams Lake was also evacuated following a similar threat. Police and the Prince George Airport Authority confirmed there was no threat or police activity at the airport despite social media rumors. The Prince George threat was reported to the BC Sheriff Service at about 9:50…

Williams Lake RCMP are alerting the public about a rising social media scam in the community. Residents have been targeted by fraudsters posing as friends and demanding gift card payments. The warning follows an incident reported on August 19. A local resident said they received a message on Facebook from someone in their contact list claiming to be held hostage. The scammer asked for a specific amount of money in gift cards to secure their release. Police said the messages included a fake image of a severed finger to make the threat appear real. When officers arrived at the supposed…

A recent crash in Williams Lake shows why wearing seatbelts and driving sober can save lives. The incident involved a rear-end collision that could have been fatal at highway speed. On Sunday, July 20, a BC Highway Patrol officer noticed two vehicles on Mackenzie Avenue South whose drivers were not wearing seatbelts. As the officer moved to pull them over, a Toyota Camry slammed into the back of a Ford F250. Corporal Michael McLaughlin of the BC Highway Patrol explained that the Camry driver did not see the police lights and failed to react to the truck in front. “At…

Electricity has been restored to 1,804 homes and businesses in Williams Lake and the nearby Dog Creek area after an unexpected outage disrupted service for just over two hours on Monday, August 11, 2025. The outage, which began late in the morning, affected both residential and commercial customers. According to BC Hydro, the incident started when a delivery truck traveling on Wotzke Drive accidentally pulled down communication lines. This action tripped the disconnects on a nearby power pole, cutting electricity to a wide section of the local grid. The utility company quickly dispatched crews to assess the damage and begin…

The 67th Annual Williams Lake 4-H Show and Sale once again celebrated the dedication and achievements of young people across the Cariboo region. From July 31 to August 4, more than 160 youth from nine 4-H clubs came together at the Williams Lake Stockyards to present the results of months of hard work. The event ended with a standing-room-only sale and over 50 buyers joining online. At the opening ceremony of the sale, Chief Willie Sellars of the Williams Lake First Nation spoke to the crowd. He expressed pride in the strong representation from local communities and praised the program…

The Williams Lake RCMP are requesting help from the public to locate Andrew Barber. He was reported missing on July 31, 2025, after last being seen on July 28 in the Riske Creek area of British Columbia. Police say they are deeply concerned about his well-being. Andrew Barber is 39 years old. He is a Caucasian man with brown hair and hazel eyes. He stands about six feet three inches tall and weighs roughly 190 pounds. His appearance includes several unique tattoos that could help identify him. He has the phrase “I am still here” inked on his left arm…