Daily Digest — British Columbia, April 1, 2026

A former Canada’s-most-wanted fugitive expresses regret as he’s sentenced: Conor D’Monte, 47, who pleaded guilty to conspiring to kill the Bacon brothers more than 15 years ago, was given a 15-year sentence on April 1 but will serve less than eight years after credits for time in U.S. and Canadian custody. He escaped arrest in 2011, spent 11 years hiding in Puerto Rico under an assumed name (there was once a $100,000 bounty for him), and told the court “I am genuinely sorry”; the judge noted the long community harm from the UN Gang–Red Scorpions conflict and the related murder charge was stayed after sentencing.

A Maple Ridge community mourns after a helping friend is killed: Sean Spring, 49, died at a home on 238th Street and 110th Avenue on March 16; 45-year-old Darcy Robb was arrested March 17 and charged with assault causing bodily harm, later upgraded to manslaughter. Family and friends say Spring went to help Robb’s wife, left two children (13 and 11) and a 78-year-old mother, and a GoFundMe has been set up to support them as friends describe Spring as “a firecracker with a beautiful soul.”

Local policing shifts in Cloverdale — expect new uniforms on your street: on April 1 the Surrey Police Service (SPS) took over front-line duties in Cloverdale, making SPS responsible for four of Surrey’s five districts (Whalley/City Centre, Newton, South Surrey and now Cloverdale) while the RCMP continues in Guildford/Fleetwood. RCMP first policed Cloverdale in May 1951 with 18 members; Sgt. Lindsey Houghton says 911 calls from eastern Surrey will now be answered by SPS officers and the service is still adding personnel amid the city’s extortion concerns.

Big changes to minimum wages — but many say it’s still not enough: as the fiscal year turns, provinces are raising rates (Nova Scotia to $16.75 on April 1 and $17 in October; Newfoundland $16.35; PEI $17; New Brunswick $15.90; Quebec $16.60 in May; B.C. to $18.25 in June; Ontario up 35¢ to $17.95 in October) while federally regulated workers move to $18.15 on April 1. Advocates point out these increases fall short of livable wage estimates (e.g., Nova Scotia $27.60, Winnipeg $19.77), and workers say rising grocery, gas and rent costs still outpace pay.

A convicted hitman gets life plus more for a contract killing: Brandon Teixeira was sentenced to life in prison plus 14 years after being convicted last August of first-degree murder in the October 2017 killing of Nicholas Khabra in Surrey and related attempted murder. Court heard Teixeira took a $160,000 contract, fled to the U.S. after charges in 2018 and was arrested in Oroville, Calif., on Dec. 1, 2019, then extradited in April 2020; a key witness ("Person X") admitted involvement but had credibility issues due to prior deals and payments.

Screening age for colorectal cancer is being lowered in parts of Canada — why that matters: Prince Edward Island and Nunavut have moved to start screening at 45, and BC Cancer is studying the change (Canada’s guideline has been 50–75); experts note people under 50 are now 2 to 2.5 times more likely to be diagnosed than earlier generations. Survivor-advocate Barry Stein (diagnosed at 41 in 1995) and doctors say earlier screening with at-home FIT tests could catch cancers before symptoms like bleeding, weight loss or bowel changes appear, potentially saving lives.