British Columbia Daily Digest — March 10, 2026

Penticton is saying 'Not in my community' — City of Penticton, the RCMP and local groups launched a one-year "Not In My Community" campaign to tackle an almost 20% rise in reported intimate partner violence in 2025 vs. 2024; the plan adds a dedicated intimate partner violence coordinator at the local detachment and expands school outreach to get support to victims sooner.

A Cranbrook family was badly hurt but buoyed by support — Three members of the Thorne family were seriously injured in a Jan. 3 head-on crash on icy Highway 3 near Moyie; after 32 days in hospital the family is home and a fundraiser that aimed for $10,000 brought in $180,000 from across the Kootenays while police await a collision analyst's report on possible charges.

The U.S. ambassador left 'still smiling' after meeting David Eby — B.C. Premier David Eby met U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra on Tuesday to discuss softwood lumber, stable U.S.-Canada trade, a push for permanent daylight saving time and B.C.'s ban on U.S. liquor; Hoekstra said they covered the expected issues and joked about getting states and provinces 'on one page.'

United Way BC defends how it used Lapu Lapu donations — CEO Michael McKnight says the Kapwa Strong Fund raised more than $2 million after the April 26 tragedy; about $1.5M was distributed in 45 grants (a quarter went to Filipino BC at donors' request), but 21 applications were denied and some victims have complained to the province, which is looking into distribution and accountability.

Pokémon cards are a hot target for thieves — An Abbotsford collectibles store was ransacked in a pre-dawn smash-and-grab that took roughly $30,000 in cards, part of a recent spike in similar thefts across Canada; shop owners now use bank safety boxes, extra cameras and appointment-only sales for high-value cards as the hobby becomes a serious investment market.

LNG Canada is ramping up exports as global tensions bite — Kitimat's Shell-led LNG plant, which started in June 2025, shipped five cargoes in the first 11 days of March (a sixth due soon) to Japan, South Korea and the Philippines and appears to be running close to its 14 million tonnes/year capacity as markets react to disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz.

Conservatives push to let Canada Post mail alcohol across provinces — B.C. MP Dan Albas introduced a private member's bill to remove Canada Post restrictions on interprovincial alcohol shipments, a move backed by Pierre Poilievre who says Canada still has more internal trade barriers than many countries; provinces signed a memorandum to ease rules and Nova Scotia and Ontario made a deal on March 2, while federal forums meet on March 30.

Vancouver councillor sues Mayor Ken Sim for defamation — Coun. Sean Orr launched legal action after Mayor Sim said, based on a photo, that Orr had handed out illegal drugs on Christmas Day; Sim apologized March 3, but Orr says the apology wasn't enough and the matter is now before the courts.

U.S. nurse registrations in B.C. surge after a fast-track push — The BC College of Nurses and Midwives approved 1,028 U.S. nurses between last April and January (vs. 112 in 2023 and 127 in 2024) after the province eased credentialing and ran a $5-million recruitment campaign targeting the U.S. West Coast; recruits cite safety, cost-of-living and health-care concerns, though unions say more training seats and retention are still needed.

Fire forces residents out of a Mission seniors' home — A large blaze erupted around 6 p.m. at Chartwell Carrington House, sending dozens of residents to the Mission Leisure Centre where emergency support services provided food and shelter; RCMP are confirming everyone got out safely and no donations are requested at this time.

Closing arguments in Abbotsford double homicide trial continue — In the trial over the May 9, 2022 killings of Arnold and Joanne De Jong, defence lawyer Andrew Cochrane says accused Abhijeet Singh may have supplied materials but cannot be proven to have been present (his phone was 57 km away); the Crown alleges all three suspects planned the home invasion, stole more than $10,000 and the court awaits a verdict after rebuttals.