BC Daily Digest — Jan 27, 2026

Big construction, small help. Broadway in Mount Pleasant is closed between Main and Quebec for four months while a subway station is built, and local businesses say they have been losing money for more than five years; B.C. Transportation and Transit Minister Mike Farnworth told owners on Tuesday there will be no compensation, only help with parking and messaging. This means shop owners like Doug Stewart of Colourstrings Music School are asking for grants or bridge loans now so they can survive the closure and future construction down to Arbutus.

The government says ICBC reforms are paying off. Attorney General Niki Sharma praised ICBCs switch to a no-fault model, saying about 96 per cent of claim costs now go to victims and the insurer has given rebates three years running, while its investment portfolio sits at about 18.2 billion dollars. Critics like BC Conservative Steve Kooner say small rebates such as a 110 dollar cheque dont help seriously injured people, and an independent review of the model is expected in the spring.

Disturbing video leads to an arrest at Vernon equestrian centre. RCMP say a man seen on camera allegedly violating a horse at Abigail Equestrian was arrested and later released pending further investigation, with no charges filed yet; owner Erica Van Meehan says the suspect fled before officers arrived and other horses may have been assaulted. For neighbours and animal lovers, this raises immediate worries about safety and evidence preservation.

A decades-old mystery gets a fresh look. West Vancouver police released a composite photo to identify a man found dead in the mountains in May 1999, believed to have died in 1998; he is estimated to be in his 40s to 70s, about 5ft 6in and 150 pounds, with short grey hair and distinctive teeth, and police ask anyone with information to call 604-925-7300 quoting file 99-6186. If you remember someone who disappeared years ago, this could bring answers to grieving families.

BC warns businesses about deals with US immigration agency partners. Attorney General Niki Sharma urged local business leaders to think twice about doing deals with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement after news about a Hanover, Virginia warehouse purchase and a BC Green Party boycott call aimed at the Jim Pattison Group. Her message on Tuesday linked concerns about ICE practices in the US to business reputations and ethics here in Canada.

Bad news for Canucks fans as Demko is out for the season. GM Patrik Allvin announced that 30-year-old goalie Thatcher Demko will have hip surgery next week and miss the rest of the 2025-26 season after leaving a Jan 10 game versus Toronto; Demko ends the year with eight wins, a .897 save percentage and a 2.90 goals against average in 20 games. The team, sitting 17-30-5 for 39 points and last in the NHL, will lean more on Kevin Lankinen and recalled goalie Nikita Tolopilo.

Surrey asks Ottawa for emergency powers over extortion violence. Surrey council unanimously approved a motion declaring the city in a state of emergency over extortion and related violence, with Mayor Brenda Locke asking the federal government to declare a national emergency and appoint a commissioner for extortion. The move aims to get extra temporary powers and a coordinated response, and city staff must report back within 30 days.

Another report on Demko highlights the wider team toll. The Canadian Press notes Demko will be shut down after hip surgery next week, with coach Adam Foote calling the decision a relief for the player and group; the story also lists other injured Canucks including centre Marco Rossi, winger Brock Boeser who is in concussion protocol, and defenceman Zeev Buium with a facial fracture. For Vancouver fans, it underlines why the club is struggling this season and why roster recovery will matter over the summer.

Myles Gray hearing delayed after courtroom uproar. A public hearing into the 2015 police-involved death of Myles Gray was adjourned for four weeks after an obscene remark was caught on a hot mic and counsel Brad Hickford resigned; seven Vancouver officers deny misconduct in a case the coroner called a homicide. The Law Society of BC is investigating and a replacement counsel is being appointed, so the process will take time to restart.

Two skulls unearthed in Kamloops expose legal and cultural tensions. Landscapers found two skulls last June on property owned by Park Place Seniors Living, and Tk'emlups te Secwépemc declared the spot sacred while an archaeologist later said the remains may have been in imported landfill; the First Nation reportedly asked the owner for about 80,000 dollars to cover security, archaeology and ceremonies, creating disputes over costs and responsibility. The case highlights gaps in the Heritage Conservation Act and why Premier David Eby and others say reforms are needed to balance private owners needs and Indigenous rights.

The Gray hearing tries to move forward after a resignation. After Brad Hickfords exit over an obscenity, the hearing into Myles Grays 2015 death was briefly adjourned and could face long delays if rescheduling is needed, with the adjudicator urging participants to press on and Grays family hoping the planned 10-week hearing can continue. It is a reminder that more than a decade after Gray was beaten by seven officers and a coroner ruled the death a homicide, families are still waiting for resolution.