British Columbia Archives - National Times

13 Dec

Abbotsford Declares State of Emergency as Atmospheric River Hits Southern B.C.

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, TrendingAbbotsford

Abbotsford ( Richa Walia): Southern British Columbia is grappling with severe weather as an atmospheric river swept across the region on Wednesday, prompting Abbotsford officials to declare a state of local emergency. The extreme rainfall has forced authorities to issue evacuation orders for hundreds of homes as flooding, landslides, and other hazards threaten communities. The B.C. government has closed major highways between the Lower Mainland and the Interior due to rising waters, falling rocks, debris, and high avalanche risks in mountain areas. Travelers are urged to avoid non-essential trips and adhere to all official road closures. Rivers and streams in…

13 Dec

Surrey Mayor Outraged as Extortion Suspects Seek Refugee Status to Avoid Deportation

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, TrendingSurrey

Surrey, (Rajeev Sharma): A mounting controversy surrounding public safety and immigration protocols has erupted in British Columbia, following the submission of refugee claims by fifteen individuals implicated in a widespread extortion investigation. This development has prompted Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke to express vehement criticism, stating that she is “appalled” by the exploitation of Canada's asylum system by individuals accused of serious criminal offenses. The suspects in question, identified by the B.C. Extortion Task Force, are allegedly linked to a series of violent incidents that have plagued Surrey throughout the year. Law enforcement agencies have documented over one hundred extortion-related cases,…

12 Dec

Fresh Name From Punjab Surfaces in Kap’s Café Shootings in Canada

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, Entertainment, Punjab, TrendingCanada, Kapil Sharma

LUDHIANA (Gurpreet Singh/Rajeev Sharma): Investigators probing the three shootings at Kapil Sharma’s Kap’s Café in Canada have identified another youth from Punjab as a central figure in the conspiracy, deepening the cross-border trail of the case. Authorities in Canada, supported by Indian central agencies, have named Sukhwinder “Seepu” of Brahampur village in Raikot as a key planner behind the attacks. His name emerged soon after the Delhi Police Crime Branch arrested Bandhu Maan Singh Sekhon — linked to the Goldy Dhillon gang — from Jawaddi village on November 28. Police sources in Raikot say they have been quietly instructed to…

11 Dec

Indian-Origin Man Flees Canada After Torching AP Dhillon’s Vehicle, Court Reveals

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, Entertainment, TrendingAP Dhillon

British Columbia (Rajeev Sharma): Details emerged in a recent court hearing about Vikram Sharma, the 23-year-old Indian-origin man accused of setting fire to Punjabi musician AP Dhillon’s vehicles at his home in British Columbia. Prosecutors revealed that Sharma, who fled to India after the incident, was living in Canada illegally at the time. His student visa had expired in April 2024, and he committed the arson in September 2024. According to court documents, Sharma had previously attempted to renew his student visa using fraudulent documents submitted to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Authorities flagged the documents, requiring him to…

10 Dec

Experts Warn B.C. Is Falling Behind on Insomnia Care as Thousands Struggle Without Treatment

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, TrendingInsomnia

Vancouver (Rajeev Sharma): Health professionals are sounding the alarm over what they describe as a widening gap in support for British Columbians living with chronic insomnia — a condition affecting hundreds of thousands across the province and significantly straining both personal well-being and the broader economy. Chronic insomnia is recognized as a neurological disorder that can intensify risks for heart disease, obesity, depression, anxiety and even suicide. While up to 15 per cent of adults in Canada are estimated to experience persistent sleep problems, clinicians say access to effective, evidence-based treatment in B.C. remains limited. High Personal and Economic Toll…

02 Dec

India–Canada Diplomacy Gains Momentum as High Commissioner Dinesh Patnaik Meets Stakeholders in Vancouver

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, TrendingVancuover

VANCOUVER ( Rajeev Sharma): India’s High Commissioner to Canada, Dinesh Patnaik, joined the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada (APF Canada) on Thursday for a closed-door roundtable focused on the ongoing diplomatic reset between Canada and India. Hosted at APF Canada’s Vancouver office, the discussion brought together senior policy experts to examine opportunities and challenges emerging from renewed bilateral engagement. The dialogue comes shortly after Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Indira Anand’s visit to New Delhi, during which both countries issued a joint statement outlining a path forward in rebuilding trust and cooperation. Participants also reflected on next steps for trade and…

01 Dec

Indian High Commissioner Strengthens Engagement with Diaspora During First Official Visit to Vancouver

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, TrendingIndian High Commissioner, Surrey, Vancouver

Surrey (Rajeev Sharma): High Commissioner of India to Canada Shri Dinesh K. Patnaik, accompanied by Mrs. Poonam Patnaik and Shri Masakui Rungsung, Consul General of India, undertook a series of community outreach engagements during his inaugural visit to Vancouver, reinforcing India’s commitment to its diaspora in Canada. The delegation commenced the visit by paying obeisance at the Laxmi Narayan Temple in Surrey, where they were received with a traditional welcome by the temple management. In his remarks, High Commissioner Patnaik acknowledged the Indian diaspora’s valuable contributions to Canadian society and to India–Canada relations. He urged community members to continue serving…

25 Nov

B.C. Woman Gets 18-Month Jail Term in Notable Money-Laundering Case

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, CanadaAlexandra Joie Chow sentence, B.C. money laundering case, CFSEU-BC investigation

Vancouver (Rajeev Sharma)— A Richmond woman has been sentenced to 18 months in jail after admitting to laundering criminal proceeds, marking one of the most significant convictions of its kind in British Columbia in more than a decade.Alexandra Joie Chow, 37, was arrested in 2021 following an extensive CFSEU-BC investigation into loan-sharking and underground financial networks. The probe began in 2019 and traced more than $800,000 in transactions linked to illegal activity. Police also seized cash, luxury vehicles, and bank drafts worth roughly $50,000 during the operation.Chow pleaded guilty earlier this year to a single count of laundering proceeds of…