British Columbia Archives - National Times

16 Jul

Surrey Mayor Faces Fresh Pressure Over Police Chief’s Exit, Calls Grow for Full Disclosure

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, TrendingSurrey

Surrey, British Columbia (Rajeev Sharma): The controversy surrounding the dismissal of former Surrey Police Chief Norm Lipinski has intensified, with Surrey First councillor and mayoral candidate Linda Annis demanding complete transparency and opposing any confidentiality agreement linked to the chief's departure. Annis has written to Mayor Brenda Locke and the chair of the Surrey Police Board, urging them not to approve a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) that could prevent the public from learning the circumstances surrounding Lipinski's dismissal and the financial details of his severance package. According to Annis, Surrey residents have a right to know how much public money is…

10 Jul

Metro Vancouver Governance Reform Moves Ahead as Committee Backs Board Size Cap

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, Trending

Vancouver (Rajeev Sharma): A proposal to reduce the size of Metro Vancouver’s Board of Directors has cleared a key hurdle after the regional district’s Governance Committee endorsed a recommendation to limit the number of directors each municipality can appoint. The proposal, initiated by Delta Councillor Dylan Kruger, will now be placed before the full Metro Vancouver Board for consideration. If adopted, municipalities would be restricted to appointing a maximum of three directors, while the existing weighted voting system based on population would remain unchanged. The recommendation is part of a broader governance reform effort launched last year, when Kruger introduced…

08 Jul

Foreign Crime Networks Face U.S. Crackdown as B.C. Communities Demand Stronger Action Against Extortion Gangs

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, TrendingBritish Columbia

British Columbia (Rajeev Sharma): A major law enforcement crackdown in the United States targeting alleged international organized crime networks has reignited concerns over the growing threat of extortion, intimidation and targeted violence affecting communities in British Columbia, especially in Surrey and the Lower Mainland. The latest action by U.S. authorities against individuals accused of involvement in transnational criminal activities has drawn strong reactions from B.C. opposition leaders, who say the move highlights the need for a more aggressive approach to organized crime investigations and prosecutions within the province. For years, South Asian communities and local business owners in parts of…

04 Jul

Mayor Locke Paid $114 Million For Arena Site Worth $86 Million

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, TrendingMayor Locke

Surrey, B.C. (Rajeev Sharma): Surrey First councillor and candidate for mayor Linda Annis, says Brenda Locke paid $114 million for the site of her proposed 10,000-seat arena, $28 million more than the assessed value. “The mayor brushed off questions and said it was a simple land swap, but when you look at the assessed value of the city property and the value of the Wesgroup Properties site, taxpayers got the short end of the stick and ended up paying $28 million more than the assessed value of the arena site,” said Annis. “The mayor needs to buy a calculator because…

26 Jun

Surrey Shooting Investigation Deepens as Two Punjabi-Origin Men Face Firearm Charges

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, TrendingSurrey

Surrey (Rajeev Sharma): Canadian investigators have intensified their probe into a suspected targeted shooting in Surrey after two men of Punjabi origin were formally charged in connection with the incident, while authorities continue to examine possible links to a wider criminal network. The Surrey Police Service (SPS) confirmed that 21-year-old Arman Singh and 22-year-old Simarjeet Singh have each been charged with reckless discharge of a firearm under the Criminal Code of Canada. The duo has been remanded in custody and is expected to appear before a court on June 29. The case stems from a shooting reported during the early…

19 Jun

Happyness Wellness Community Society, in Partnership with Consulate General of India, Vancouver, Celebrates International Day of Yoga in Surrey

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, CanadaVancouver

Surrey ( Richa Walia): Happyness Wellness Community Society, in partnership with the Consulate General of India, Vancouver, celebrated the 12th International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2026 at Unwin Park in Surrey, bringing together community members for a day focused on wellness, mindfulness, and unity. The event was held under the global theme “Yoga for Wellness, Wisdom, and World Peace.” Residents of all ages participated in a guided yoga session led by Tarana Kaur, followed by a community potluck picnic that encouraged social interaction and cultural harmony. The celebration highlighted yoga’s role in promoting physical fitness, mental well-being, and inner peace.…

18 Jun

Delta Councillor Jennifer Johal Blames Mayor Harvie for Massey Tunnel Delays After Procurement Collapse

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, TrendingDelta

Delta (Rajeev Sharma): The cancellation of the procurement process for the long-awaited Massey Tunnel replacement project has sparked renewed political criticism in Delta, with Councillor Jennifer Johal accusing Mayor George Harvie of inconsistent leadership that she says contributed to years of uncertainty surrounding the project. Reacting to the Province's decision to terminate negotiations with the selected contractor and restart the procurement process, Johal argued that repeated shifts in the mayor's position on the crossing weakened Delta's voice and allowed delays to continue without sufficient opposition. According to Johal, Harvie initially supported the construction of a new bridge following the cancellation…

16 Jun

School Field Trip Turns into Nightmare: 12 Students Injured in Shocking Incident at B.C. Waterpark

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, TrendingBritish Columbia

Cultus Lake ( Rajeev Sharma): What was meant to be a routine school field trip turned into a frightening emergency after 12 students were injured during an incident at Cultus Lake Waterpark on Monday. Emergency responders rushed to the scene after reports of an unexpected incident at the facility involving a group of middle school students. Several students required immediate medical attention, and multiple ambulances were deployed to transport the injured to nearby hospitals. Authorities confirmed that the injuries were serious but not considered life-threatening. Early assessments suggest the incident may be linked to an electrical issue within the waterpark…

12 Jun

Landmark Convictions in Canada’s Extortion Cases Signal Tougher Action Against Criminal Networks

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, TrendingCanada

Surrey (Rajeev Sharma): Canadian authorities have secured convictions against three Punjabi-origin men in an extortion case, a development being viewed as a major breakthrough in the fight against organised crime targeting businesses and community members. The convicted individuals—Harjot Singh, Taranveer Singh and Dayajeet Singh Billing—pleaded guilty to their roles in the extortion-related offences, making this one of the first successful prosecutions of its kind in the region. Law enforcement officials described the verdict as an important milestone in ongoing efforts to dismantle extortion networks that have become a growing concern across parts of British Columbia. Investigators believe the convictions will…

03 Jun

SPS and RCMP Request Public Assistance in Locating Two Missing Teenagers in Surrey

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, TrendingRCMP, SPS, Surrey

Surrey (Rajeev Sharma): Surrey Police Service (SPS), in partnership with the RCMP Surrey Provincial Operations Support Unit (SPOSU), is seeking public assistance in locating two missing teenage girls reported missing from Surrey. Authorities confirm that 16-year-old Kallie Manson and 15-year-old Brooklyn Avender were last seen at approximately 7:00 p.m. on June 1, 2026, in the 15900 block of 88 Avenue in Surrey. Police believe the two girls are together and have not been seen or heard from since. Kallie Manson is described as an Indigenous female, 5’0” tall and approximately 125 lbs, with brown eyes and short buzzed hair. She…