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Daily Vancouver Aug 19 - Aug 19, 2026

Granville SRO loss, Maple Ridge shooting & Stranger-assault bail — Vancouver Wednesday

17 articles 1 week ago 142

🚑 Breaking & Incidents

  1. Summerland residents return to neighbourhoods devastated by the Bald Range wildfire. Rick and Nan Cogbill found four immediately neighbouring homes destroyed while their own survived; the province has committed to an after-action review of wildfire response and is seeking public feedback on prevention and large-scale evacuations.
  2. Man critically injured in targeted Maple Ridge shooting overnight. Maple Ridge RCMP say the 56-year-old victim was found in a vehicle outside a home in the 11400 block of 236 Street after shots around 10 p.m.; the Serious Crime Unit has taken over and the victim remains in hospital in critical condition.

🏛️ Government & Politics

  1. Urban planner says province faces multimillion-dollar loss on Granville SRO purchase. Michael Geller estimated the B.C. government may lose about half of the roughly $55 million paid for the 110-room Howard Johnson at 1176 Granville Street, noting the current combined assessed value is about $27.5 million; the site still houses tenants despite a pledge to close it.
  2. Vancouver Island farm family selling up, moving 6,000 km to Nova Scotia because land costs outstrip condo prices. Celina Knuff said a one-bedroom condo price on Vancouver Island would buy a 50-acre farm in Nova Scotia; Knuff plans to move her animals, pets and citrus trees this September and cited island farmland exceeding $100,000 an acre.
  3. Cell-phone delivery scam has cost Canadians millions; B.C. resident lost $4,000. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre says over $17 million in reported losses to service fraud in the first six months of 2026; B.C. resident Jeannie Moss says she owes Rogers more than $4,000 after impersonators convinced her to return a device using a prepaid label.

🚨 Crime & Public Safety

  1. Vancouver stranger-assault suspect Dylan Brandon Gaita, 29, denied bail. B.C. provincial court Judge Deanne Gaffar detained Gaita at a Tuesday hearing; he faces four counts of assault and two counts of assault causing bodily harm and has been in custody since his re-arrest in late June.
  2. Two B.C. pro‑Khalistan activists received police duty-to-warn notices about death threats. Manjinder Singh of Abbotsford and Narinder Singh Randhawa said RCMP and Surrey police warned them last week and on the weekend respectively; the RCMP would not confirm individual cases but said duty-to-warn notifications have been used nationally involving South Asian community members.

📰 Also Today

  • UNBC launches engineering PhD focused on northern environmental and resource management.
  • Sask. premier Scott Moe welcomes U.S. decision against 50% tariffs, says tariffs harmed a Saskatchewan sawmill.
  • Saskatchewan courts to allow eagle feathers for oaths at 13 courthouses, 14 feathers gifted.
  • Ladner pitcher Tugboat Wilkinson signed to begin major-league career, profile piece.
  • B.C. roadside-attraction contest reaches Interior finals, regional winners named.
  • Farmers give mixed reviews to proposed B.C. ALR food-processing changes, reactions vary.
  • Amsterdam police received 500+ tips about “Lucky,” a man with possible Canadian ties, found May 10, 2023.
  • Three major outages renew concerns about northwest B.C. communications network, local services interrupted.
  • Tumbler Ridge school demolition called a ‘new chapter’ after a shooting, residents react.
  • Coroner’s inquest hears witness testimony about RCMP shooting, details presented at inquest.

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Source Articles (17)

'Things could have gone way differently': Coroner's inquest into RCMP shooting hears testimony from witness

Late one evening in February 2021, a woman called the Tofino RCMP seeking help. She said she'd been confined and sexually assaulted by two men in a home in the remote Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation community of Opitsaht.

General Aug 19, 2026

Tumbler Ridge school demolition 'new chapter' in recovery after shooting, residents say

Residents in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., gathered for an emotional milestone this week as the site of February’s mass shooting is torn down and returned to grass.

General Aug 19, 2026

3 major outages renew concerns about northwest B.C.'s communications network

Three large-scale telecommunications outages since May have exposed vulnerabilities in Northwest B.C.'s communications network. Politicians are calling for tougher penalties for copper theft and greater network redundancy, warning repeated disruptions could put businesses, health-care services and emergency response at risk.

General Aug 19, 2026

B.C.'s proposed changes to food processing on ALR get mixed reviews from farmers

Some farmers say the changes could invite large corporations onto the little farmland the province has available and drive up speculation, while others say the update could help small-scale farmers cut through red tape and more easily access local markets.

General Aug 19, 2026

Search for B.C.'s best roadside attraction: Interior finals

Voters will determine whether the Enchanted Forest or Keremeos fruit stands will represent B.C.’s Interior as the search for best roadside attraction heads towards the semifinals

General Aug 19, 2026

Ladner pitcher Tugboat Wilkinson ready to set sail on major league career

San Francisco Giants pitching prospect brings a notable nickname and "burning desire to beat you," according to his former coach.

General Aug 19, 2026

UNBC launches engineering PhD to advance research in environmental and resource management in the north

The program is expected to advance research opportunities in areas of direct concern to northern B.C. and the province as a whole, particularly when it comes to resource development and environmental management.

General Aug 19, 2026
Who is ‘Lucky’? Dutch police believe mystery man may have ties to Canada

Who is ‘Lucky’? Dutch police believe mystery man may have ties to Canada

The man collapsed in Amsterdam in 2023 from a hemorrhage or stroke but police in the city have been unable to identify him for three years.

Canada Aug 19, 2026
Moe optimistic about Canada-U.S. trade deal

Moe optimistic about Canada-U.S. trade deal

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says a decision by U.S. President Donald Trump to not impose 50 per cent tariffs on an array of Canadian goods is positive for his province.

Canada Aug 19, 2026
Vancouver stranger assault suspect denied bail

Vancouver stranger assault suspect denied bail

A publication ban prevents us from reporting on the evidence and submissions at the bail hearing, and the reasons behind the judge’s decision to detain the accused.

Crime Aug 19, 2026
Saskatchewan courts to allow use of eagle feathers

Saskatchewan courts to allow use of eagle feathers

Those swearing oaths or making affirmations in Saskatchewan provincial courts can now do so with an eagle feather. 

Canada Aug 19, 2026
Urban planner says B.C. government will lose millions on purchase of notorious Granville SRO

Urban planner says B.C. government will lose millions on purchase of notorious Granville SRO

The province, through BC Housing, paid well above the assessed value for the 110-room Howard Johnson Hotel at 1176 Granville Street, as part of a long-term plan.

Politics Aug 19, 2026
Man critically injured in targeted Maple Ridge shooting

Man critically injured in targeted Maple Ridge shooting

Police are asking anyone who witnessed the shooting or has dashcam footage of the area around the time of the attack to contact investigators.

Crime Aug 19, 2026
Cell phone delivery scam continues to defraud Canadians

Cell phone delivery scam continues to defraud Canadians

B.C. resident Jeannie Moss says she owes Rogers over $4,000 after being scammed. “They had my phone number, my address, everything,” Moss told Consumer Matters.

Consumer Aug 19, 2026
Farmers moving to Nova Scotia where farm costs same as 1-bedroom condo in B.C.

Farmers moving to Nova Scotia where farm costs same as 1-bedroom condo in B.C.

Celina and her partner, Nick, have been farming the land since 2022, producing blueberries, citrus fruits and a place for some animals to call home.

Economy Aug 19, 2026
Two B.C. men receive duty-to-warn notices about threats to their lives

Two B.C. men receive duty-to-warn notices about threats to their lives

Manjinder Singh from Abbotsford organizes a monthly rally outside of Vancouver's Indian consulate and said RCMP issued him a duty-to-warn notice last week.

Crime Aug 19, 2026
Summerland residents return to neighbourhoods forever changed by the Bald Range wildfire

Summerland residents return to neighbourhoods forever changed by the Bald Range wildfire

For many Summerland residents returning home after the Bald Range wildfire, the relief of getting back to their community is being met with a difficult new reality

Fire Aug 19, 2026