Brunswick Wildfires, Fishing Tragedy & Nurses Mediator — Vancouver Friday

🚑 Breaking & Incidents

1. Brunswick Complex wildfires continue to threaten Boston Bar area. The Ainslie Creek fire is estimated at more than 15,500 hectares and the Brunswick Creek fire at about 2,600 hectares, with two evacuation alerts and seven evacuation orders in place. Firefighting crews report multiple homes destroyed, including structures at Blue Lake Resort north of Boothroyd, and heavy resources remain assigned to the Fraser Canyon fires.
2. Crane truck snagged power lines on the Malahat, closing the Trans‑Canada for hours. The incident at about 3:40 p.m. broke or compromised five hydro poles after a northbound commercial truck turning onto Shawnigan Lake Road had its crane extended, sparking a small brush fire that was quickly contained and causing both lanes of the highway to close before reopening.

🚨 Crime & Public Safety

1. Kane Carter sentenced to life for the 2018 Vancouver shooting that killed a 15‑year‑old bystander. The court handed Carter a life sentence for the 2018 incident in Vancouver that resulted in the death of a 15‑year‑old; the case marks a major sentencing outcome in the city’s high‑profile youth‑victim homicide files.
2. Immigration tribunal orders deportation of Jashandeep Singh, linked to Bishnoi gang firearms. The Immigration and Refugee Board ruled Singh, described as a “bottom‑tier” Bishnoi associate, should be deported after police testified he was filmed holding a handgun used in a May 19, 2025 extortion shooting in Surrey, B.C.

🏛️ Government & Politics

1. Veteran mediators Vince Ready and Amanda Rogers appointed to B.C. nurses’ dispute for 10 days. Labour Minister Jennifer Whiteside named Ready and Rogers as special mediators who will work with parties for 10 days and may provide recommendations to the minister to end the dispute as nurses expand pickets and targeted job action across Surrey and Vancouver.
2. B.C. woman launches Commons petition to end federal funding for Stornoway residence. Carole Burman has opened an online petition, supported by Green leader Elizabeth May, calling on Ottawa to stop funding the 9,500 sq‑ft, 19‑room Stornoway mansion; a 2021 report estimated annual operating costs near $80,000 and $1.25 million of deferred maintenance over a decade.

🎨 Community & Culture

1. Tsleil‑Waututh Nation files judicial challenge against Port of Vancouver dredging permit. The Nation says the port’s permit to dredge near the Second Narrows Bridge would enable larger tankers to carry more oil to the Trans Mountain Burnaby terminal and alleges the decision ignored environmental impacts and breached Ottawa’s duty to consult, prompting a judicial review filed in B.C. court.

📰 Also Today

• Top Ocean sinking: six people missing, four rescued and one later died in hospital.
• Sister vessel of Top Ocean detained by Transport Canada, inspection ordered.
• StatsCan reports rising rates of gun‑related intimate partner violence in Canada.
• Salmon Arm asks province to address Highway 1 encampment; city says it has no authority.
• Passing truck driver found horse with head trapped under Lytton bridge; rescue underway.
• Cougar killed sheep on Bowen Island; animal evaded capture after incident.
• Bass Coast Festival warned attendees of Interior B.C. wildfire smoke affecting air quality.
• Four B.C. authors appear among Canada’s bestselling books of 2026 so far.
• SEC filings say StubHub marketplace is run by a large scalper operation, per documents.
• $8 million settlement proposed in beef price‑fixing class action.
• B.C. Conservative rebukes Poilievre, urging federal leader to ‘unite not divide’.
• Deportation order issued against Bishnoi associate tied to gun used in B.C. shootings.