British Columbia Archives - National Times

10 Jul

Parks Canada and British Columbia invest more than $8 M to improve ecological connectivity

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaBritish Columbia

British Columbia (Richa Walia): Today, the Honourable Stephen Fuhr, Secretary of State for Defense procurement, on behalf of the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister responsible for Parks Canada, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture, and Minister responsible for Official Languages, announced $5.3 million in federal funding to support an agreement to advance ecological corridor projects, nature conservation and Indigenous stewardship in British Columbia. The Honourable Randene Neill, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, announced that the Province of British Columbia is contributing an additional $3 million, further strengthening this collaborative effort to improve ecological connectivity. Many animals need to reach…

09 Jul

Smoke from U.S. Wildfire Drifts into B.C., No Threat to Residents: Officials

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaBritish Columbia

Trail, B.C (Richa Walia) Residents across Greater Trail and the Columbia Basin witnessed hazy skies Tuesday afternoon as smoke from a wildfire burning in Washington State drifted across the border into southern British Columbia. The Regional District of Kootenay Boundary (RDKB) confirmed in a Facebook update that the smoke is originating from a wildfire located approximately 12 kilometres south of the U.S.-Canada border. “There is no threat to RDKB residents,” the statement read. The district added that BC Wildfire Service is fully aware of the situation, and the RDKB’s Emergency Management team is actively monitoring developments. While the smoke may…

08 Jul

British Columbia Increases Tax Credit to Boost Video Game and VR Development Industry

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaBritish Columbia

Vancouver (Richa Walia): In a move to strengthen British Columbia’s position as a hub for interactive digital media, the provincial government has announced a significant increase in tax incentives for developers of video games, virtual reality simulators, and related technologies. Premier David Eby revealed that starting September 1, the Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit will rise from 17.5% to 25%, providing additional support for companies like Electronic Arts and others operating in B.C. The credit, which was previously temporary, will also be made permanent, giving long-term financial clarity to businesses in the sector. “This is about future-proofing British Columbia’s economy,”…

07 Jul

Evacuation Order Issued as Whelan Creek Wildfire Threatens Homes Near Kelowna

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, TrendingBritish Columbia

Kelowna (National Times) A fast-moving wildfire near Kelowna has prompted emergency officials to issue an evacuation order for several homes threatened by the Whelan Creek wildfire burning in the Ellison area, east of Kelowna International Airport. The Regional District of Central Okanagan confirmed that seven properties along Rockface Road and Dead Pine Drive are under immediate evacuation orders. Residents of these homes are expected to remain displaced overnight as firefighting efforts continue. In addition, an evacuation alert has been issued for 106 nearby addresses, with authorities urging residents to stay ready to leave at a moment’s notice. The wildfire, first…

05 Jul

BC Man Rescued from Wildfire Cliff, Arrested Moments Later in Shocking Turn of Events

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaBritish Columbia

British Columbia (Richa Walia): A high-stakes helicopter rescue near the Silver Creek wildfire took an unexpected twist when the man plucked from a dangerous cliffside was immediately arrested by police on outstanding criminal charges. The man, identified as 27-year-old Cayden Blackwell, was spotted stranded on a rocky ledge above the wildfire, which was burning in rugged terrain near the popular Serpent’s Back Trail in BC’s Fraser Valley. As firefighting crews battled the 0.6-hectare blaze, they heard someone calling for help from high above the fire line. Search and rescue teams from Hope and Chilliwack, along with Valley Helicopters, quickly coordinated…

04 Jul

Colorado to Reevaluate Wolf Relocation Protocols Amid High Mortality Rate, Plans for Second Translocation from British Columbia

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaBritish Columbia, Colorado

Denver, Colorado (Richa Walia): Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is reconsidering its wolf translocation procedures as it looks to import a second group of gray wolves from British Columbia, following the deaths of five of the 15 wolves introduced earlier this year. Speaking before the Water Resources and Agriculture Review Committee on Monday, CPW Deputy Director Reid Dewalt announced the agency’s plans to assess its current translocation methods to determine whether modifications could enhance wolf survival rates. “Out of an abundance of caution, CPW will assess the mortalities of wolves translocated in 2025 to determine if any translocation protocols should…

03 Jul

British Columbia Launches Publicly Funded IVF Program to Support Families on Path to Parenthood

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaBritish Columbia

Victoria, B.C (Richa Walia): In a landmark move to expand reproductive healthcare access and support aspiring parents, the Province of British Columbia has launched its first-ever publicly funded in-vitro fertilization (IVF) program, offering up to $19,000 in financial assistance for eligible residents. The program, which officially began on Wednesday, July 2, is aimed at making IVF care more affordable and accessible for families across the province. “For people needing to access IVF care to start a family, the costs can make it simply out of reach,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “Being able to have a child shouldn’t depend…

01 Jul

Massive Fire in Langley, B.C. Destroys Two Barns, Kills 27,000 Chickens

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaBritish Columbia, Canada, Langley

Langley, B.C. (Richa Walia): A devastating fire early Sunday morning at a farm in the Township of Langley, British Columbia, has destroyed two large poultry barns and resulted in the death of approximately 27,000 chickens, according to local fire officials. Deputy Fire Chief Cory Parker of the Township of Langley Fire Department said emergency crews were dispatched around 2:00 a.m., and upon arrival, found the blaze already well underway. The two barns, each stretching roughly 365 metres in length, were fully engulfed in flames. A third barn on the property was successfully saved by firefighters. To bring the fire under…

01 Jul

Wildfire Near Chase Triggers Evacuation Order from B.C. First Nation

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaBritish Columbia, Chase

Chase, B.C. (Richa Walia): A fast-moving wildfire near the Village of Chase in British Columbia’s Interior has prompted an evacuation order from the nearby Neskonlith Indian Band, as the fire continues to burn out of control. The Village of Chase has activated its emergency operations centre in response to the threat. The wildfire, discovered Monday, led Neskonlith Chief Irwin Wai to issue an evacuation order affecting approximately 40 properties within the band’s territory. While no structures were believed to be immediately at risk, Chief Wai expressed hope that BC Wildfire Service crews — both aerial and ground teams — would…

30 Jun

Expanding Rural Surgeries Could Ease BC’s Wait Times, New Study Suggests

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, Health, TrendingBritish Columbia

Vancouver, BC (Richa Walia): A new study has found that increasing the number of low-risk surgeries performed in rural hospitals could significantly reduce British Columbia’s growing surgical wait times, without compromising on patient safety or care quality. Published in the Canadian Journal of Surgery, the study compared outcomes of patients undergoing minor procedures at rural facilities such as Creston Valley Hospital, with those treated at larger urban hospitals in Kelowna, Kamloops, Cranbrook, and Prince George. The research found no difference in patient outcomes, regardless of whether surgeries were performed by general practitioners with enhanced surgical training or by specialist surgeons.…