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Tumbler Ridge shooting: a coroner’s inquest has been called into the Feb. 10 massacre that killed eight people; OpenAI has agreed to tighten police-referral practices and its CEO told B.C. leaders he’s prepared to apologize, while families recover and a 12‑year‑old survivor (Maya Gebala) recently had her breathing tube removed.
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Lapu Lapu festival: AJ Sico, who was severely injured when an SUV drove into the crowd on Apr. 26, remains mostly non‑verbal and unable to walk, and his family says bureaucratic red tape and distribution of donations are delaying essential supports.
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Penticton murder delays: Tracey Savage says the trial over her son Taig Savage’s Sept. 5, 2021 death has been repeatedly delayed; accused remain free and the main trial was moved to Kelowna, adding long commutes for the family.
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Abbotsford double murder: closing arguments heard at the judge‑alone trial of three men accused of killing Arnold and Joanne De Jong in May 2022; Crown says over $10,000 was taken and DNA, cellphone and bank records link the accused.
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Myles Gray inquest: a paramedic described severe facial and throat bruising in the 2015 police‑involved death; toxicology and forensic testimony are expected next week as the inquiry continues.
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Maple Ridge sentence: Mylie Andre Barron got 21 months (with credit) after pleading guilty to indignity to human remains in Jessica Cunningham’s case; IHIT has recommended a second‑degree murder charge based on further evidence.
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Trina Hunt case delay: the trial of Iain Hunt in the 2021 Port Moody disappearance of Trina Hunt won’t start until October 2027, leaving the family waiting more than five years for answers.
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Police training boost: two new Justice Institute satellite police training sites will open in Vancouver and Victoria this year to speed up recruit training amid rising municipal demand.
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Teachers’ deal ratified: 52,000 B.C. teachers voted 91% in favour of a four‑year agreement giving 3% raises per year (12% total) and promises more counsellors and special‑education supports.
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Permanent time change: B.C. will stop switching clocks after this weekend and adopt year‑round daylight saving time — Premier David Eby wants U.S. west‑coast partners to follow, but cross‑border businesses warn of confusion.
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Gas prices jump: oil‑price spikes linked to fighting in the Middle East pushed pump prices up, leaving B.C. among the most expensive provinces (GasBuddy showed roughly $1.62/L recently).
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Canadians stranded abroad: tens of thousands of Canadians registered in the Gulf region faced grounded flights and travel disruption after the Iran conflict; Ottawa was working to find seats home for many travellers.
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Small business slump: a Xero report says B.C. small‑business sales fell 8.2% in Q4 2025 — about double the national average — worrying owners already facing higher costs and safety concerns.
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Estrogen patch shortage: health providers warn of limited supplies of popular Estradot patches even as menopausal hormone therapy became fully covered under MSP on March 1, 2026.
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FIFA World Cup plans: Vancouver’s official Fan Zone at the PNE (Hastings Park) will offer free entry, big screens, family events and a premium amphitheatre; TransLink says SkyTrain and extra buses will run extended service for matches.
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Meteor over South Coast: bright flashes and two booms on the night of March 3 were confirmed as a bolide (fireball meteor) that registered on regional seismographs.
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Granisle water lawsuit: a proposed class action alleges the Village of Granisle supplied aluminium‑tainted drinking water (a test showed 8.99 mg/L in Oct. 2024) and residents remain under a “do not consume” advisory.
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Drug‑supply alert: public‑health officials report the veterinary sedative medetomidine is increasingly found mixed with fentanyl in B.C. and Ontario, driving more non‑fatal overdoses and complicating overdose response.
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Sea lions at Deep Bay: hundreds of California sea lions have taken over Deep Bay beach on Vancouver Island for the pre‑herring run months; officials remind people and dogs to stay 100 m away.
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Kelowna rescue pauses intakes: Paws It Forward has stopped taking new animals because rising medical and care costs pushed it into deficit — it needs at least $30,000 to resume intakes.
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Avalanche fatality: a 23‑year‑old snowmobiler died after a size‑2.5 avalanche at Kootenay Pass; emergency responders were guided to the scene by an SOS device.
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Uber cleaning fee warning: a Vancouver rider was charged a $60 cleaning fee over tiny pet hair and later refunded after disputing it — she warns users to check receipts and press for evidence metadata if needed.
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AI tax‑scams rising: cybersecurity experts warn AI makes CRA‑style email and voice scams more convincing this tax season; CRA won’t demand e‑transfers or threaten arrest — use official CRA channels and multi‑factor authentication.
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Musqueam agreements stir debate: three federal agreements recognizing Musqueam Aboriginal rights in Metro Vancouver were released without broad provincial briefings, prompting political pushback and calls for clarity about private property impacts.
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Sechelt labour risk: Sunshine Coast leaders warn a federal 10% cap on low‑wage temporary foreign workers could force up to 300 workers and families to leave this year, threatening care, tourism and businesses.
B.C. Weekly Digest — Mar 2–8, 2026
Source Articles (50)
Alberta mulls ditching time switch — again — as B.C. moves to permanent daylight
Danielle Smith said along with Saskatchewan's use of year-round CST, B.C.'s shift raises questions about whether Alberta should aim for consistency across the western provinces.
3 foreign nationals charged after extortion shootings in B.C. and Alberta
Three foreign nationals are facing charges related to a series of South Asian extortions in Surrey and one of them is also wanted after a home near Edmonton was shot at last fall.
Danielle Smith says Iran war underscores need for new Alberta pipeline to the coast
Danielle Smith says any disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil choke point at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, underscores the need for a new Alberta pipeline to the Pacific.
B.C. to adopt permanent daylight saving time, after springing forward one more time
B.C. Premier David Eby said that following the upcoming time change on Sunday morning, when the clocks will “spring forward,” there will be no further time changes.
‘Blood moon’ visible across Canada overnight, early morning: NASA
A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth passes between the sun and the moon. When that happens, a gigantic shadow is cast across the lunar surface, creating the 'blood moon.'
Hundreds of sea lions have taken over a Vancouver Island beach
California sea lions have taken over the beach at Vancouver Island's Deep Bay. A marine biologist says they're at the end of their northern fishing tour and awaiting a herring run.
AI-generated CRA tax scams increasing, cybersecurity experts warn
“With AI, they can craft emails that are so believable compared to years past,” Kaseya cybersecurity expert Miles Walker told Consumer Matters.
Musqueam First Nation signs Aboriginal rights deal with Ottawa – read the full agreement
Chief Wayne Sparrow of the Musqueam Indian Band told Global News that the agreement signed with the federal government does not include private properties in that region.
Canadians stuck in Middle East say cities ‘very tense’ as Iran conflict escalates
Some Canadians vacationing in parts of the Middle East say they're now stuck with airspace closed and no word on when flights might resume.
Worker falls down 6-metre hole at Langley Events Centre construction site
Langley, B.C., RCMP said they were called to the 7800 block of 200th Street, along with first responders from the Township of Langley Fire Department.
Father of Tumbler Ridge victim says son returned to Zambia for ‘befitting funeral’
Christopher Bwalya, a close family friend, said the boy was a "respectful" and "responsible" person, whose death has left "everyone in tears."
Snowmobiler dead after avalanche in B.C.’s Kootenay Pass
The man was riding a snowmobile when the avalanche was triggered police said, adding they were notified of the incident around 12:10 p.m. on Feb. 28.
Inquest into Tumbler Ridge shooting will go ahead, B.C. chief coroner says
Jesse VanRootselaar shot dead her mother and 11-year-old half-brother at their home, before killing five pupils, a teacher's aide and then herself on Feb. 10.
Permanent B.C. time change concerns businesses on both sides of Canada-U.S. border
Guy Occhiogrosso with the Bellingham Chamber of Commerce said that he is concerned that people crossing the border won't remember or factor in the time difference.
Surrey jewelry store employee testifies she begged suspects not to kill her
The former employee told the court on Tuesday that she has been on long-term disability since the incident at Noor Design Studio in February 2024.
‘I don’t think the public are buying it’: Fallout from the Musqueam agreements
Late on Monday, the federal government released a copy of the Rights Recognition Agreement between them and the Musqueam Indian Band.
Gearing up for the FIFA World Cup — 100 days to go
The FIFA World Cup will kick off in 100 days and the City of Vancouver and TransLink announced plans on Tuesday to celebrate and help move people around.
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim says comments about councillor Sean Orr came from an unverified photo
Last week, Sim said he called Orr to apologize for telling a group of Chinese business leaders that the councillor was handing out illegal drugs on Christmas Day.
Kelowna-based rescue group pauses intake of new animals as financial stress grows
Rising costs have forced Kelowna's Paws It Forward animal rescue to pause in-takes. It's now seeking donations and volunteers to foster animals in need while it regroups.
Gas prices highest in B.C., P.E.I. with oil costs ‘supercharged’ due to Iran war
The five-day-old Iran war has 'supercharged' oil prices that Canadian motorists are already seeing reflected at the pumps, one analyst says.
Animal tranquilizers are being mixed with fentanyl in Canada
Opioid overdose deaths in Canada are falling, but there's growing concerns on a certain veterinary tranquilizer being cut into fentanyl and other opioids.
‘I’m on medication and running out’: Canadians scramble to leave Middle East
Global Affairs Canada says more than 100,000 Canadians are registered in the Gulf region, a number that has been growing since Sunday.
OpenAI agrees to strengthen safeguards following B.C. mass shooting: minister
Minister Evan Solomon says Sam Altman confirmed the company would apply its new safety standards retroactively and review previously flagged cases.
‘Everything has been a struggle’: More questions from Lapu Lapu victim about donations
The family of a young man severely injured in the Lapu Lapu Festival tragedy says they are not getting the help or the financial support they expected.
B.C. small businesses suffered worst sales decline in Canada, report states
The report by Xero Small Business Insights says that small business sales fell 8.2 per cent in B.C., which was double the national average of 4.1 per cent.
Trina Hunt’s husband’s trial won’t start until October 2027
"I think at a certain point I stopped counting," Stephanie Ibbott, Trina Hunt's cousin-in-law, said on Wednesday, of Iain Hunt's court appearances.
B.C. premier urges western U.S. governors to end seasonal time change
On Monday, David Eby announced that this weekend will be the last time the province will spring forward, making daylight saving time permanent.
B.C.’s students falling behind in math skills, report finds
Anna Stokke said that some of the factors leading to a decline in math literacy in B.C. include the B.C. math curriculum, 'which has very vague outcomes for mathematics.'
OpenAI’s Sam Altman to meet AI minister, B.C. premier over safety changes
Evan Solomon sought the meeting after OpenAI said it would enhance its police referral threshold and other safety measures after fallout over the Tumbler Ridge mass shooting.
Meteor visible, booms heard across B.C.’s South Coast
Videos shared online from different areas of Metro Vancouver show two bright flashes around 9:08 p.m., followed by two booms minutes later.
Village of Granisle, B.C., faces lawsuit over aluminum-contaminated water
Granisle issued a "do not consume" order in December 2025, and residents have been relying on bottled water distributed with the help of volunteer firefighters since.
NHL players potentially moving ahead of deadline
NHL general managers have until 3 p.m. ET on Friday to make a splash, tweak the edges of their roster, or secure deals with an eye toward the future.
‘They did it in a very sneaky way’: Uber rider deletes app after cleaning fee dispute over pet
The Vancouver resident says the incident happened in January when she ordered an Uber to pick up her children from school and brought her five-pound dog along.
Lapu Lapu victim’s family says bureaucratic red tape prevents them from getting help
AJ Sico's mother, Jhosie, said her son used to help pay for the household and the family and his injury has left so much uncertainty.
Piper James’ official cause of death was drowning as a result of a dingo attack
Piper James was working on K’gari, formerly known as Fraser Island, when she went for an early morning swim on Jan. 19. Her body was found a short time later.
B.C. premier says OpenAI CEO is prepared to apologize to Tumbler Ridge
Premier David Eby had a call with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Anne O'Leary, vice president of Global Policy at OpenAI, on Thursday afternoon.
Hotel tower proposed near Stanley Park faces pushback from residents
The project, on Barclay Street near Lost Lagoon, would replace an existing four-storey hotel with a tower containing 248 hotel rooms.
Maple Ridge man sentenced in case of indignity to human remains in girlfriend’s death
Mylie Andre Barron, 48, was charged with second-degree murder on Tuesday, according to the BC Prosecution Service. The remains of Jessica Cunningham were found last August.
Shortage of estrogen patches in B.C. but officials say not to worry
B.C. recently announced that as of March 1, menopausal hormone therapy will be covered 100 per cent in the province for any resident enrolled in MSP.
B.C. teachers ratify new four-year agreement for 12% wage boost
British Columbia's teachers' union says its members have ratified a new four-year collective agreement, covering 52,000 educators in the province.
A search for mental health answers amid the trauma of Tumbler Ridge shootings
The superintendent of the Peace River South school district has said students were not expected to return to Tumbler Ridge Secondary School.
‘Can’t believe it’: Calmar family reunited with missing dog after nearly 3 months
After nearly three months, a Calmar family has finally been reunited with their dog. The 6-year-old dog got spooked and ran into the forest near Drayton Valley.
Where is Shelley-Anne Bacsu? $50K reward aims to uncover answers in Alberta cold case
For four decades, Alberta's Sandy and Muriel Bacsu have lived with a painful question no parent should have to endure: What happened to their 16-year-old daughter?
Penticton, B.C. murder victim’s mother frustrated as delays push trial
On Sept. 5, 2021, a young man was found critically injured on a field at Penticton Secondary School. He later died in hospital.
Mother of B.C. mass shooting survivor shares update, says breathing tube removed
Maya Gebala was struck in her neck and in the head, just above her left eye, when shooter Jesse Van Rootselaar opened fire at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School on Feb. 10.
‘Crippling’: Sechelt could lose 300 temporary foreign workers, mayor says
Sechelt resident Agnes Cabe said some temporary foreign workers are working in elder care as dental assistants and health care assistants.
Details about the FIFA World Cup Fan Zone in Vancouver released
"This is going to include the PNE site minus Playland, and so will be also the first large festival to take advantage of the new amphitheatre," Jessie Adcock said.
‘No reason to kill our parents’: Closing arguments heard in B.C. double murder trial
Bank records showed that just hours before the killings, items such as a baseball bat and disposable gloves were purchased by one of the accused from Home Depot and Canadian Tire.
Veteran paramedic testifies he couldn’t tell Myles Gray’s ethnicity due to bruising
On Thursday, defence counsel for Birzneck tried to point to other factors that may have caused the swelling in Myles Gray's head and neck.
2 new police training sites to open in Vancouver and Victoria
Last year, the B.C. government began accepting proposals from municipal police departments that were interested in establishing their own satellite training academies.