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Murray Rankin, Minister for Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, is all smiles as he shakes hands with Chief Roxanne Harris, from Stz’uminus First Nation upon their signing of the Reconciliation Agreement between the province and the Stz’uminus First Nation. The agreement will help the community economically along with negotiations on Crown land transfers and future remediation in key Crown land areas of Ladysmith harbour amongst other aspects to improve the economy of the community. Duck Paterson photo

Stz’uminus neighbours sign agreement with province

Commitment to working on land transfers, economic development and remediation of Ladysmith Harbour

  • Aug 7, 2022
BC Wildfire Service firefighters set hand ignitions along the edge of the Keremeos Creek Wildfire to control burn-off fuel. (BCWS)

No structure damage overnight as crews continue to battle Keremeos Creek wildfire

BC Wildfire Service says crews were challenged overnight in fighting the blaze north of Olalla

A woman uses her computer keyboard to type while surfing the internet in North Vancouver, B.C., on December 19, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Sextortion boom coincides with pandemic’s online shift, as experts raise alarm

More police resources and education around the issue needed

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An elephant and her calf are rescued from a deep pit in Thailand. (Associated Press/screenshot)
VIDEO: Thai elephant calf, mother rescued from deep pit
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Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools seeks input related to Ladysmith Intermediate School, as part of the public consultation process in the long-range facilities plan. The school was built in 1955. (Duck Paterson photo)

Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools shifts focus to schools in Ladysmith area

School District 68 asking for feedback this month about schools in Ladysmith and North Oyster

Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools seeks input related to Ladysmith Intermediate School, as part of the public consultation process in the long-range facilities plan. The school was built in 1955. (Duck Paterson photo)
A health-care worker prepares monkeypox vaccine. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes)

UPDATE: Island Health opening more monkeypox vaccine appointments Friday

Island Health asking residents to check back as more vaccine supply is received

A health-care worker prepares monkeypox vaccine. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes)
The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. (Black Press file photo)

Evidence for charges after man injured by police dog in Ladysmith traffic stop: IIO

Incident happened on Trans-Canada Highway in Ladysmith in April 2021

The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. (Black Press file photo)
Video
Activists with Save Old Growth block traffic on the Trans-Canada Highway in Metro Vancouver in May 2022, calling for an end to old-growth logging in British Columbia. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Save Old Growth)
‘They alienate British Columbians’: Environment minister blasts latest protests, demonstrations
An Ottawa Police Service (OPS) office, Ministry of Transportation (MTO) officer and employees from Lady Dive Tour look at the aftermath of a single-vehicle accident involving an amphibious Lady Dive Tour vehicle which crashed into the 24 Sussex Dr. in Ottawa, Ont. on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby
VIDEO: Tour bus crashes into gates of 24 Sussex, PM’s vacant official residence
Kim Phuc Phan Thi poses with Ukrainians leaving Warsaw, Poland, for Canada in this recent handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - KIM Foundation International
VIDEO: Ontario woman who was known as ‘napalm girl’ helping Ukrainians settle in Canada
The dual sunroofs were completely destroyed in the hailstorm. Photo supplied
VIDEO: B.C. mayor, family shaken after hail the size of grapefruits falls in Alberta
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The Cowichan Valley Regional District will write a letter of support for the revitalization of the Island rail corridor, but some directors have reservations. (File photo)

CVRD votes to support the restoration of Island rail

But some directors have concerns

The Cowichan Valley Regional District will write a letter of support for the revitalization of the Island rail corridor, but some directors have reservations. (File photo)
Judi Hills tied a ribbon to a tree in the Puntledge Park neighbourhood in memory of her son and of all the people who have struggled in silence. Photo supplied

B.C. mom uses ribbons to honour late son, shed light on mental illness

Judi Hills says we need to do more to end the stigma associated with mental illness

Judi Hills tied a ribbon to a tree in the Puntledge Park neighbourhood in memory of her son and of all the people who have struggled in silence. Photo supplied
Hours have been reduced at the Urgent Care Centre in Chemainus. (File photo by Don Bodger)

Urgent Care hours reduced at Chemainus Health Care Centre in August

Six days targeted for temporary closures

Hours have been reduced at the Urgent Care Centre in Chemainus. (File photo by Don Bodger)
A Cultus Lake Fire Department engine tries to thread the needle through traffic and parked cars on a busy day last weekend. (Cultus Lake FD screenshot)

VIDEO: Illegal parking at Cultus Lake causes problems for first responders

Cultus Lake Fire Department has to creep through traffic on Columbia Valley Highway

A Cultus Lake Fire Department engine tries to thread the needle through traffic and parked cars on a busy day last weekend. (Cultus Lake FD screenshot)
A campfire ban will go into effect Aug. 4 in the Coastal Fire Centre, with the except of Haida Gwaii. (BCWS map)

Campfire ban ordered for Vancouver Island, Lower Mainland

Ban comes into effect Thursday (Aug. 4)

  • Aug 3, 2022
A campfire ban will go into effect Aug. 4 in the Coastal Fire Centre, with the except of Haida Gwaii. (BCWS map)
Marchers proceed from the bottom of Oak Street. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Hundreds gather for Penelakut March For The Children

Occasion honours residential school survivors and those who never made it home

Marchers proceed from the bottom of Oak Street. (Photo by Don Bodger)
Hours have been reduced at the Urgent Care Centre in Chemainus. (File photo by Don Bodger)

Urgent Care hours reduced at Chemainus Health Care Centre in August

Six days targeted for temporary closures

Hours have been reduced at the Urgent Care Centre in Chemainus. (File photo by Don Bodger)
Crews work at the Othello Bridge on the Coquihalla on Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. (B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure)

Permanent repairs coming for Othello stretch of Coquihalla Highway

Work is expected to begin in early August and be completed sometime in the fall

Crews work at the Othello Bridge on the Coquihalla on Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. (B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure)
Classroom chairs. (Photo: Pixabay)

Chilliwack teacher suspended after ‘crossing personal boundaries‘ with students

Sheldon Lyle Nickel admitted to inappropriate conduct, including sending personal text messages

Classroom chairs. (Photo: Pixabay)
Sign that greeted residents upon entry into the Crofton Community Centre last Wednesday. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Mapping of Chemainus River floodplain to aid in future flooding risks

Magnitude and complexity of the problem clear, but there’s no quick and easy solution

Sign that greeted residents upon entry into the Crofton Community Centre last Wednesday. (Photo by Don Bodger)
Environment Canada is warning about a heat wave this week, with temperatures to reach into the 30 C range. (Andrea Rondeau/Gazette)

Heat wave coming to Cowichan this week

daytime highs of 31 C to 35 C

Environment Canada is warning about a heat wave this week, with temperatures to reach into the 30 C range. (Andrea Rondeau/Gazette)
The Vancouver Port Authority says it wants to help deal with problems related to anchored cargo ships off of Cowichan, but has limited authority. (File photo)

Vancouver Port Authority says it wants to deal with anchorage issues

But delegation tells CVRD that VPA has limited jurisdiction to do so

The Vancouver Port Authority says it wants to help deal with problems related to anchored cargo ships off of Cowichan, but has limited authority. (File photo)
Stz’uminus First Nation and the Province of B.C. announced a reconciliation agreement which includes money for remediation at Ladysmith harbour. Pictured here, Stz’uminus Chief Roxanne Harris and Ladysmith Mayor Aaron Stone at a reconciliation event last September. (Black Press file photo)

Ladysmith harbour remediation part of reconciliation agreement between Stz’uminus and province

First Nation and B.C. government announce agreement, signed this week

Stz’uminus First Nation and the Province of B.C. announced a reconciliation agreement which includes money for remediation at Ladysmith harbour. Pictured here, Stz’uminus Chief Roxanne Harris and Ladysmith Mayor Aaron Stone at a reconciliation event last September. (Black Press file photo)
Paramedics responded to an accident Tuesday night outside of Crofton. (File photo by Don Bodger)

One person critically injured in Tuesday night accident near Crofton

Osborne Bay Road closed in both directions until scene cleared

Paramedics responded to an accident Tuesday night outside of Crofton. (File photo by Don Bodger)