Daily Digest — British Columbia — 2026-02-24

Heartbreaking questions about Lapu Lapu donations — Ten months after the Lapu Lapu Day Block Party attack that killed 11 people, United Way BC raised over $2 million and put $1.57 million into the Kapwa Strong Fund, while $451,470 was designated to Filipino BC (which has only received $190,000 so far); relatives like Alejandro Samper are calling for more transparency and an audit as Filipino BC says an endowment fund (now $38,479) will not use victim-directed money. This means families want clearer records about 45 grants to 36 agencies and the $165,000 given to the United Filipino Canadian Association of BC, which so far has helped 77 people but still has many waiting for aid.

Early-morning armed-robbery response in Kelowna — Around 5 a.m. on Tuesday RCMP say two people robbed the One Stop on Rutland Road North at gunpoint, then officers and a K9 moved to 330 McCurdy Road where 10 people were taken into custody (four remain held; no charges yet). The house, partly owned by city councillor Mohini Singh, was served a 10-day eviction on Feb. 13 after a Feb. 12 police search and she is pursuing an emergency eviction through the Residential Tenancy Branch.

Paralyzed drummer finds rhythm again — Jeff Elwood, who was paralyzed from the chest down after an Oct. 28, 1989 motocross crash, is the focus of the documentary Rhythm of Resilience and was chosen by Pearl Drums for a new campaign; Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen praises him and Pearl shipped new kit to his Kelowna home. His message is simple and uplifting: adapt your setup, keep doing the thing you love, and inspire others facing adversity.

Vancouver councillor apologizes after harmful WeChat video — Councillor Lenny Zhou posted a Mandarin video opposing a supportive housing motion, calling such sites 'drug houses' and implying other councillors were drug users; he later retracted the remarks and apologized after colleagues including Pete Fry and Rebecca Bligh condemned the claims. The episode has councillors worried about misinformation, reputational damage, and possible code-of-conduct breaches, while Mayor Ken Sim thanked Zhou for taking responsibility.

Dozens of bus shelters vandalized across Metro Vancouver — Transit police say three dozen shelters in Burnaby, New Westminster, Surrey and elsewhere have been damaged in similar ways, including 14 shelters along 152nd Street (reported Feb. 2); repair costs can be high (Port Coquitlam cites about $6,000 per glass replacement) and Burnaby saw 126 incidents in 2025 costing roughly $100,000. Cities and contractors like Pattison Outdoor and Astral Media are testing sturdier materials and vinyl wraps, and police ask anyone with tips or video to call 604-515-8300 or text 87.77.77 (or Crime Stoppers).

B.C. business leaders critical of 2026 budget — Businesses say the Feb. 17 budget (effective October) will raise PST on services, hurt investment and contribute to an 'entrepreneurial drought' as some sectors pull back; critics including Bridgitte Anderson and Ryan Mitton warn of job losses and a drying pipeline of developers, while construction (over 240,000 workers) faces layoffs. Finance Minister Brenda Bailey defends the plan as needed to rein in public spending and protect services like health care and education.

OpenAI's handling of Tumbler Ridge case raises regulation questions — OpenAI says it banned an account linked to Jesse Van Rootselaar in June 2025 but did not alert police because it did not meet an 'imminent' threshold; police say Van Rootselaar later killed eight people and wounded 25 on Feb. 10 in Tumbler Ridge. Federal ministers including AI Minister Evan Solomon met the company as Canada weighs whether laws should require AI firms to report dangerous activity, balancing privacy rules (companies 'may' disclose) against public safety.

Boundary Bay Airshow cancelled for 2026 after nearly 20 years — The City of Delta says the long-running free July airshow will not return in 2026, ending a family summertime tradition; no official reason was given but the city hopes to explore future collaborations with Alpha Aviation, which leases the airport. For locals this means losing a popular, free community event that many families attend each summer.

Snowmobilers found after falling through ice — Anahim Lake RCMP say two snowmobilers likely fell through Charlotte Lake ice on Feb. 17 and, after the surface refroze, neighbours found them and the RCMP Underwater Recovery Team recovered both bodies on Feb. 22; the victims were a 65-year-old man and a 58-year-old woman from 100 Mile House and foul play is not suspected. Police warn that variable temperatures make travel on frozen lakes dangerous.

Hearing into Myles Gray death resumes after adjournment — A public hearing into the 2015 police-involved death of Myles Gray resumes after a four-week delay triggered by an obscene remark caught on Jan. 21 and the resignation of hearing counsel Brad Hickford; replacement counsel Brock Martland will proceed as the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner examines allegations against seven Vancouver officers. A coroner's jury in 2023 ruled Gray's death a homicide, and the hearing is expected to take about three weeks with more dates possible.

Sikh activist warned of credible threat ahead of Carney's India visit — Moninder Singh of the Sikh Federation of Canada says Vancouver Police warned him on Sunday of a 'credible threat' to him and his family as Prime Minister Mark Carney goes to India for trade talks; Singh links this to past patterns including the 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar and alleges agents tied to the Bishnoi gang. The case adds tension to Canada-India ties, with past steps including Canada's expulsion of six Indian diplomats in Oct. 2024 and ongoing inquiries into foreign interference.