Surrey RCMP closed off the intersection of 150th Street and 101 Ave after a pedestrian was hit by a car yesterday. It happened just before 5:30 and Mounties say that the pedestrian involved was been sent to hospital with serious injuries. The area was closed off for quite some time. Anyone who saw the crash or has dashcam footage is asked to call the RCMP.
A man has been arrested after police say he anchored himself to a barrel full of concrete on Highway 1 in Burnaby Wednesday morning. This was the latest in a string of demonstrations staged by the group “Save Old Growth.” Demonstrators walked onto the highway shortly before 8 a.m., bringing traffic to a crawl through the Burnaby Lake stretch for about an hour. RCMP say when they arrived at the scene, most of the demonstrators left, but one man who had locked his ankle to a barrel filled with concrete stayed on the highway. Police say the 69 year old protester was arrested for mischief.
The operator of a now-defunct drywall company in Surrey who knowingly exposed more than a dozen workers to asbestos-containing material has been fined and issued a ban under the Workers Compensation Act. According to WorkSafeBC, the owner defied a stop-work order in 2019, which was issued after asbestos was detected at one of AVR Drywall Recycling Ltd.’s worksites. WorkSafeBC’s investigation determined that he had failed to ensure the health and safety of between 13 and 15 workers, by knowingly exposing them to asbestos. He has been handed a $20,000 fine, plus a victim charge.
Pfizer wants to expand its COVID-19 booster shots to healthy five to 11-year-olds. The drugmaker says new data shows its kid-sized booster could help healthy elementary-aged children rev up virus-fighting antibodies. A closer look at 30 of the 140 children studied found a 36-fold increase in virus-fighting antibodies — high enough to fight the highly contagious Omicron variant.
Charges have been laid against two anti-vaccine protesters in Kelowna after two high-profile incidents last year, including one in which a Remembrance Day ceremony was disrupted. Video of the Nov. 11 incident showed a woman standing in front of a microphone at the cenotaph in Kelowna’s City Park. A criminal charge of “Disturbing Certain Meetings” has been approved against a 56-year-old woman from Kelowna. In another incident last year, a security guard at one of Kelowna’s COVID-19 vaccine clinics was subject to a racist tirade. A 60 year old Kelowna man is now facing charges in that incident.
B-C’s municipal affairs minister says the province is working with the United Way to provide Ukrainian refugees with a 24-hour-a-day hotline. Nathan Cullen says they will also provide supports like kindergarten-to-Grade 12 education, domestic tuition rates for post-secondary students as well as mental health services. He says residents are offering their vacation rentals and suites through settlement agencies, but housing remains a big challenge in B-C. The Canadian Red Cross has been providing arrival services at the Toronto and Edmonton international airports since April 1st and in Vancouver’s airport since April 8th.
Members of the Canadian Armed Forces will leave C-F-B Trenton, Ontario, this morning for Poland, where they will help Ukrainian refugees. The Canadian Press has learned the troops will help with the care and co-ordination of some of the more than 2.6-million Ukrainians who have crossed into Poland since the Russia invasion began. Part of their duties will include helping refugees leave for other countries, including Canada.
Experts in public health say easier access to COVID-19 vaccine boosters could be a way of addressing plateauing rates of Canadians getting the shot. Suggestions include setting up mobile clinics again during outdoor events this summer. Matthew Miller, a McMaster University professor, says the easiest solution is to make vaccines more convenient for people. Canada’s chief public health officer is urging all adults to get boosted because of a recent surge of the more transmissible B-A-2 variant.
The B-C government has announced 53.6-million dollars in funding to help speed recovery efforts in 10 communities still impacted by record flooding last November. Municipal Affairs Minister Nathan Cullen says the funding will help set up immediate temporary housing for evacuees while permanent homes are rebuilt. The funding is going to communities including Merritt, Princeton, Abbotsford and Chilliwack. Merritt Mayor Linda Brown says she believes the financial support will build homes for about half of the 740 residents who have still not been able to return home.
The latest release of COVID-19 statistics shows there are 364 people with the virus in hospital as of today — an increase of 40 from the last update a week ago. Data from the B-C Centre for Disease Control shows the number of patients in intensive care has dropped by two to 36. The number of hospitalizations is up more than 40 per cent from the low of 254 recorded on March 22nd. The report also shows there were 23 new fatalities in the week of April 3rd to 9th. (The Canadian Press, Global)
A trial is scheduled to begin on October 31st for Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum on a charge of public mischief. McCallum was charged last December following an investigation into claims that his foot was run over during an altercation with opponents of the city’s police transition last September at a grocery store parking lot. Seven days have been set aside for the trial. It will be held after the civic election on October 15th.
B-C Ferries is offering some advice about Easter long weekend travel as it deals with mechanical issues on one ferry and ongoing concerns about pandemic-related staffing problems on other ships. Travellers are advised to make reservations, check frequently for schedule changes and take advantage of off-peak hours if they hope to avoid long waits. Numerous sailings between Nanaimo and Horseshoe Bay were cancelled today after the Queen of Oak Bay had trouble with its steering gear last night. The ship had to be pushed to the dock in Nanaimo by tugs and the 8 P-M sailing from the Mainland to the Island took five hours — but the more than 400 passengers aboard eventually reached their Destinations.
Harry styles’ song “As it Was” just debuted at Number One on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. It’s his second Number One, after “Watermelon Sugar,” and Billboard points out it’s the first song this year to debut in top spot. The song is the first single from Styles’ upcoming album, “Harry’s House,” due out May 20th.