Parksville Chamber unveils new initiatives to city council
Chamber partners with VIU
News — Parksville & Qualicum Beach
Local
Qualicum Beach adopts budget with 6 per cent hike in property taxes
Increase to focus on town’s essential services
Qualicum Beach doctor debunks misinformation about planned medical clinic
Fundraising underway for Primrose Medical Centre
Canada’s 7th Most Wanted Arrested in Surrey, B.C.
Chad Dandan was arrested in connection with a homicide in Manitoba
New B.C. legislation aims to reduce 2035 EV mandates to 75%
Province was first in the world with 100 per cent target, but is now abandoning that goal
Vancouver Island
Parksville company loses $400k in email scam
Police in Oceanside are warning the public about a particular scam after a local company was defrauded of nearly half a million dollars. The post Parksville company loses $400k in email scam appeared first on CHEK.
‘We rely on that’: Gulf Islands go 3-days without BC Ferries service
A long line-up of cars stretched across Penelakut Island Saturday, waiting for a ferry that hadn't docked in three days. The post ‘We rely on that’: Gulf Islands go 3-days without BC Ferries service appeared first on CHEK.
Texting with strangers curbs loneliness better than AI ‘friend’: researchers
New information out of the University of British Columbia says that texting with a stranger may be a better cure for loneliness than messaging a highly supportive AI chatbot that's specifically designed to be a caring, supportive friend. The post Texting with strangers curbs loneliness better than...
Nanaimo man pleads guilty to killing Roosevelt elk, to pay $7K to non-profit
Man’s legal counsel and Crown enter joint submission in B.C. provincial court
Air quality is being monitored after a barge fire in Surrey, B.C.
Officials say they are monitoring the air quality after a barge fire in Surrey, B.C., sent large plumes of smoke into the air. The post Air quality is being monitored after a barge fire in Surrey, B.C. appeared first on CHEK.
BC
B.C. premier is now proposing to temporarily suspend controversial First Nations DRIPA law, instead of making changes this spring
Following a December 2025 ruling by the B.C. Court of Appeal, which determined that the BC NDP-led provincial government’s 2019 Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA) has immediate legal effect on provincial law — effectively requiring the entire legal framework to be...
Fully autonomous store at UBC campus is the first in B.C. to use Amazon's Just Walk Out technology
Last year, the University of British Columbia (UBC) opened a fully autonomous convenience store at its Vancouver campus, offering a glimpse into the future of retail with no staff, no cashiers, no checkout lines, and no need for smartphone apps. Located inside the publicly accessible main lobby...
Major upgrades to busy Metro Vancouver bridge will close lanes until 2027
Major rehabilitation work aimed at improving safety, reliability and extending the lifespan of the Queensborough Bridge has begun, and drivers and commuters are being warned of some extended traffic disruptions in the area. The B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Transit announced that nighttime...
Harbour Air offering big discount for B.C. travellers this long weekend, with a catch
With B.C. Ferries down two vessels ahead of one of its busiest weekends, a local airline has stepped in to offer a potential solution for people wary of delays. Many people are expected to travel from the mainland to the island regions that BC Ferries services, but will have to do so without two...
U.S. tariffs and population decline could slow B.C.'s economic growth in 2026
B.C.’s economy is expected to grow by 1.2 per cent in 2026, according to an economic forecast report from Deloitte. This is down from B.C.’s real GDP growth in 2025, which was 1.7 per cent. “British Columbia is navigating a softer year, mainly because the forestry sector is still feeling the...
Canada
Town of Smithers extends private security contract at homeless encampment
In February, the town of Smithers said it was selected as one of the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs and BC Housing’s HEART and HEARTH communities.
Final suspect arrested in 2024 Winnipeg extortion and homicide
A 25-year-old man has been arrested in British Columbia and returned to Winnipeg in connection with the 2024 homicide of a 22-year-old Ontario man.
B.C. mineral claims processing time still falling short, industry says
B.C.'s Minister for Mining and Critical Minerals, Jagrup Brar, said the province is in the process of hiring 17 more staff to deal with exploration permits.
Once thought to be extinct, ancient cloud sponge seen in B.C. waters
Ancient cloud sponges were once thought to be extinct, but Ryan Swan from Be Sea Adventure captured them on video and shared the rare footage on his YouTube channel.
‘Absolute betrayal’: First Nations blast Eby in leaked transcript of DRIPA meeting
At least one leader expresses doubt about the wisdom of opposing the government, considering the Opposition B.C. Conservatives are "running on appealing DRIPA."
World
Rescue team in Iran face 'harrowing and dangerous' search for US crew member
A former US marine tells the BBC the priority of any recovery team would be to look for signs of life.
Trump leaves key questions unanswered as he seeks to calm nerves over Iran war
There were some glaring omissions in the president's primetime address, writes the BBC's Gary O'Donoghue.
Iranians Seek Respite in Nature Amid the War
Families gathered for picnics and games this week to mark the end of the Iranian new year holiday, seizing on a brief chance to celebrate.
Senegal bans ministers from foreign travel as oil price rise bites
The fuel cost is nearly double what the government budgeted for putting pressure on stretched finances.
Europe’s Options in the Strait of Hormuz: Few, and Risky
European leaders and other officials have ideas for bringing shipping back to the strait once the Iran war ends. But none of them are sure bets.