Mega Tower OK, HandyDART Denial & IIO Probe — Vancouver Monday

🚑 Breaking & Incidents

1. Man in his 60s dies while scuba diving off Whytecliff Park. West Vancouver police say officers and air ambulance paramedics responded just before 10:45 a.m. on Sunday and the man was declared dead at the scene; the BC Coroners Service is investigating.
2. Evacuation ordered for 70 Mile House as Pear Lake fire tops 63,000 hectares. Thompson-Nicola Regional District expanded the order at 10 a.m., covering about 650 properties after Pear Lake merged with the Fiftynine Creek fire and began moving northeast toward the community.

🏛️ Government & Politics

1. Vancouver council approves $2.8-billion Holborn mega-tower project. Council voted 7–3 to permit three towers on the old Hudson’s Bay parkade site, including a 315-metre, 920-room hotel (tallest in Western Canada), 1,546 market homes and a 25-storey, 200+ unit social-housing building donated to the city, plus retail and a rooftop observation deck.
2. Unite Here Local 40 president refuses to answer questions about out-of-town callers at July 22 council hearing. Union president Zailda Chan offered only “I’m taking those concerns seriously” after callers opposing a planning proposal admitted some were from California; Coun. Peter Meiszner said out-of-town callers can block Vancouver residents from speaking.
3. TransLink says HandyDART can no longer accommodate a 71-year-old Vancouver-area user. Tom Cretain, who has used HandyDART for almost 30 years, was told his mobility device exceeds available vehicle specifications; TransLink says future HandyDART vehicle specs will consider such needs after a recent review identified safety issues.

🚨 Crime & Public Safety

1. Independent Investigations Office called after Abbotsford officer discharged firearm in chase. Abbotsford police say officers confronted suspects at a Petro-Pass on Matsqui Place about 11:30 p.m.; an officer fired, a pursuit began on Highway 1 and a man was found dead in Langley at about 3:12 a.m.; the second suspect remains outstanding.
2. Abbotsford police release composite sketch after attempted abduction of two girls on July 22. The suspect is described as a man in his 50s, 5'5"–5'9" with a heavy build and may be linked to a light-coloured sedan; police ask anyone with information to call 604-859-5225.
3. Driver fined $2,000 for 2024 downtown Vancouver crash after pleading guilty to lesser offence. Soyoub Kim, 53, pleaded guilty July 16 to driving without due care for the May 31, 2024 Alberni Street collision that destroyed a tree and struck multiple vehicles; Kim received a $2,000 fine plus a $300 victim surcharge.

📰 Also Today

• Wildfire near Clinton expected to grow as dry conditions and stronger winds approach.
• City council approves trio of new tallest towers in Vancouver, council decision reported.
• TD report forecasts GDP boost from West Coast pipeline, report predicts "meaningful" gains.
• Some of B.C.'s biggest cities use AI, report examines municipal AI use.
• Cyclists warn hazardous mid-Vancouver Island highway stretch, cyclists call it a disaster waiting to happen.
• B.C. municipalities crack down on 'wishcycling', councils address recycling contamination.
• Vancouver man with 66 bank cards and $39K in cash linked to online drug sales network, RCMP investigation reported.
• Water shortages and vandalism hinder wildfire response in two B.C. communities, report details complications.
• Survey finds 1 in 10 emergency physicians leaving Canadian ERs, national survey suggests.
• New research maps Indigenous jade trade routes across the Rockies, study on stone celt artifacts published.