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Peace Arch Hospital (File photo)

Peace Arch Hospital maternity ward closure jeopardizes safety, advocate says

Fraser Health said ward to be closed for three months

Peace Arch Hospital (File photo)
A health care worker is seen outside the Emergency dept. of the Vancouver General Hospital in Vancouver on March 30, 2020. Hospital emergency rooms in Alberta are likely to assess complaints from First Nations people as less urgent than those from other patients even when their problems are the same, says a new study that looked at millions of such visits. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Study suggests Alberta First Nations people tend to get lower level of emergency care

More than 11 million emergency room visits between 2012 and 2017 from across Alberta analyzed

A health care worker is seen outside the Emergency dept. of the Vancouver General Hospital in Vancouver on March 30, 2020. Hospital emergency rooms in Alberta are likely to assess complaints from First Nations people as less urgent than those from other patients even when their problems are the same, says a new study that looked at millions of such visits. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Workers transport a cargo shipment containing the first batches of Pfizer’s antiviral COVID-19 pill, Paxlovid, at a cargo terminal at the Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, South Korea, on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022. Jung Yeon-je/Pool photo via AP)

VIDEO: Health Canada approves Pfizer COVID-19 antiviral treatment

Greenlit for adults with mild or moderate COVID-19 at high risk of becoming more seriously ill

Workers transport a cargo shipment containing the first batches of Pfizer’s antiviral COVID-19 pill, Paxlovid, at a cargo terminal at the Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, South Korea, on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022. Jung Yeon-je/Pool photo via AP)
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Dozens of signs were held at the Willow Inn in Quesnel on Thursday, Jan. 20 where the body of 33-year-old Carmelita Abraham was recently found. A Quesnel man is facing charges of murder and indignity to human remains. (Rebecca Dyok photo)
VIDEO: ‘No woman should go through this’ — Community gathers to honour murdered B.C. woman
Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux waits to appear before the Commons Finance committee on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on March 10, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
PBO report questions need for Liberals’ planned stimulus spending
A kitten interacts with a human as folks take part in Yoga with Cats on Mats at the Chilliwack Animal Safe Haven, 2019. Indoor yoga, gyms and dance studios have been shut down since before Christmas by a COVID-19 public health order. (Jenna Hauck/Chilliwack Progress)
B.C. reopening gyms, fitness on Thursday with COVID-19 precautions
The Canada Post logo is seen on the outside the company’s Pacific Processing Centre, in Richmond, B.C., on June 1, 2017. A claim by Chinese health authorities that the Omicron variant was introduced to a resident of Beijing through a piece of regular mail from Canada is being dismissed as ludicrous. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
China’s claim that Omicron came from Canadian mail dismissed as ‘ludicrous’
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Residents walk through the streets of the hamlet of Pangnirtung, Nvt., on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2009. The community is fighting both tuberculosis and COVID-19 cases. Adrian Wyld/TCPI/The Canadian Press

‘We’re getting through this’: Nunavut hamlet fighting COVID-19 and TB at same time

Average annual tuberculosis rate among Inuit is 290 times higher than Canadian-born, non-Indigenous people

Residents walk through the streets of the hamlet of Pangnirtung, Nvt., on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2009. The community is fighting both tuberculosis and COVID-19 cases. Adrian Wyld/TCPI/The Canadian Press
FILE - A shipment of COVID-19 vaccines distributed by the COVAX Facility arrives in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Friday Feb. 25, 2021. The World Health Organization says a U.N.-backed program shipping coronavirus vaccines to many poor countries has now delivered 1 billion doses, but that milestone “is only a reminder of the work that remains” after hoarding and stockpiling in rich countries. The U.N. health agency said Sunday, Jan. 16, 2022 that a shipment of 1.1 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to Rwanda this weekend included the billionth dose supplied via the COVAX program. (AP Photo/Diomande Ble Blonde, File)

COVID program delivers 1 billion doses to poorer countries

The program has made deliveries to 144 countries so far

FILE - A shipment of COVID-19 vaccines distributed by the COVAX Facility arrives in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Friday Feb. 25, 2021. The World Health Organization says a U.N.-backed program shipping coronavirus vaccines to many poor countries has now delivered 1 billion doses, but that milestone “is only a reminder of the work that remains” after hoarding and stockpiling in rich countries. The U.N. health agency said Sunday, Jan. 16, 2022 that a shipment of 1.1 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to Rwanda this weekend included the billionth dose supplied via the COVAX program. (AP Photo/Diomande Ble Blonde, File)
Children stand at the front of a rally against Quebec’s Bill 21, which prohibits some public sector workers from wearing religious symbols at work, after a teacher was removed from her position because she wears a hijab, in Chelsea, Que., on Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Poll suggests support for Bill 21 provision may have dropped in Quebec; 55% in favour

Across Canada, the average was 33% in favour of the ban, 55% against and 12% undecided

Children stand at the front of a rally against Quebec’s Bill 21, which prohibits some public sector workers from wearing religious symbols at work, after a teacher was removed from her position because she wears a hijab, in Chelsea, Que., on Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
The dashboard of the Tesla Model X car is shown at the company’s headquarters Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2015, in Fremont, Calif. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Marcio Jose Sanchez

Onboard vehicle tech becoming a safety issue, advocates say

Tesla recently drew criticism for allowing video games to be played on the console while vehicle is in motion

The dashboard of the Tesla Model X car is shown at the company’s headquarters Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2015, in Fremont, Calif. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Marcio Jose Sanchez
Dr. Supriya Sharma, chief medical adviser at Health Canada, holds a press conference in Ottawa on Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, to provide an update on the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccine rollout in Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Omicron-specific vaccine likely to come too late to help in this wave: Sharma

Pfizer and Moderna are working on new versions of their vaccines that specifically target the Omicron variant

Dr. Supriya Sharma, chief medical adviser at Health Canada, holds a press conference in Ottawa on Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, to provide an update on the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccine rollout in Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Russian soldiers take part in drills at the Kadamovskiy firing range in the Rostov region in southern Russia, Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022. Russia has rejected Western complaints about its troop buildup near Ukraine, saying it deploys them wherever it deems necessary on its own territory. (AP Photo)

Canada advises against non-essential travel to Ukraine, cites Russian aggression

The change in risk level comes amid fears of a Russian invasion

Russian soldiers take part in drills at the Kadamovskiy firing range in the Rostov region in southern Russia, Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022. Russia has rejected Western complaints about its troop buildup near Ukraine, saying it deploys them wherever it deems necessary on its own territory. (AP Photo)
A police canine unit searched the scene. (Shane MacKichan/Special to The News)

Stabbing in Pitt Meadows on Sunday morning

Man taken to hospital in serious condition

A police canine unit searched the scene. (Shane MacKichan/Special to The News)
The semi-truck crashed onto the concrete meridian by Immel Street and Old Clayburn Road just before noon, and the suspect fled to allegedly try and steal another vehicle, police said. Photo courtesy of Abbotsford Police.

Man arrested after allegedly stealing semi-truck, driving erratically across Abbotsford, crashing

Two citizens wrestled suspect to stop alleged theft of another vehicle after crash, police say

The semi-truck crashed onto the concrete meridian by Immel Street and Old Clayburn Road just before noon, and the suspect fled to allegedly try and steal another vehicle, police said. Photo courtesy of Abbotsford Police.
Colleyville police Chief Michael Miller addresses reporters in a nearby parking lot after the conclusion of a SWAT operation at Congregation Beth Israel synagogue on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, in Colleyville, Texas. All four people taken hostage inside the synagogue during a morning service were safe Saturday night after an hours-long standoff, authorities said. (Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News via AP)

British man identified as hostage-taker at Texas synagogue

Malik Faisal Akram was killed after the hostages got out at around 9 p.m. at Congregation Beth Israel

Colleyville police Chief Michael Miller addresses reporters in a nearby parking lot after the conclusion of a SWAT operation at Congregation Beth Israel synagogue on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, in Colleyville, Texas. All four people taken hostage inside the synagogue during a morning service were safe Saturday night after an hours-long standoff, authorities said. (Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News via AP)
Environment Canada’s seven-day weather forecast has rain and showers setting in until Friday. Patrick Davies photo.

Fraser Valley forecast: Rain, showers for most of week, a bit of sun by weekend

Mix of sun and clouds to arrive of Friday; Saturday high temperature of plus nine degrees Celsius

Environment Canada’s seven-day weather forecast has rain and showers setting in until Friday. Patrick Davies photo.
Alberta students board a school bus, as they return to school today for the first time since their holiday break was extended due to surging COVID-19 cases, near Cremona, Alta., Monday, Jan. 10, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

For some Canadian students, school disruptions have become routine

Students have spent nearly two years dealing with COVID restrictions

Alberta students board a school bus, as they return to school today for the first time since their holiday break was extended due to surging COVID-19 cases, near Cremona, Alta., Monday, Jan. 10, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
An image of some the damage to the second floor ceiling of the TRIM building. Submitted photo.

COVID testing centre at Mission Memorial Hospital closed due to extensive flooding damage

Burst pipe at The Residence in Mission caused portion of 2nd floor ceiling to collapse on Jan. 2

An image of some the damage to the second floor ceiling of the TRIM building. Submitted photo.
Paramedics are seen outside a Toronto Hospital on Wednesday, January 5, 2022.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

Omicron may seem unavoidable, but experts say ‘let it rip’ isn’t the solution

Emerging evidence suggests Omicron is less likely to cause severe illness than previous COVID-19 strains

Paramedics are seen outside a Toronto Hospital on Wednesday, January 5, 2022.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
FILE - In this Aug. 3, 2007, file photo, psilocybin mushrooms are seen in a grow room at the Procare farm in Hazerswoude, central Netherlands. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, File)

Update on psychedelic therapy drugs a positive step in mental-health care: experts

Move will allow physicians to request restricted psychedelic drugs for patients as part of psychotherapy

FILE - In this Aug. 3, 2007, file photo, psilocybin mushrooms are seen in a grow room at the Procare farm in Hazerswoude, central Netherlands. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, File)
Scott Bridge (top) and Dan Coulter jumped into action after this dump truck left Highway 1, went down the offramp going about 90 kilometres an hour, drove across Young Road and plunged into Chilliwack Creek on Friday, Jan. 14, 2022. (Main photo: Cheryl Calhoun; Top photo: Laura Bridge; Bottom photo: Erin Coulter)

UPDATE: 2 men dive into frigid water to rescue driver of crashed dump truck in Chilliwack

Good Samaritans Scott Bridge and Dan Coulter were helped by an off-duty RCMP officer

Scott Bridge (top) and Dan Coulter jumped into action after this dump truck left Highway 1, went down the offramp going about 90 kilometres an hour, drove across Young Road and plunged into Chilliwack Creek on Friday, Jan. 14, 2022. (Main photo: Cheryl Calhoun; Top photo: Laura Bridge; Bottom photo: Erin Coulter)
The first train crosses the new controlled, temporary at-grade level crossing of Highway 1 at Tank Hill north of Lytton on Jan. 14. (Photo credit: MOTI)

Highway 1 reopened to traffic between Lytton and Spences Bridge

Highway still closed between Lytton and Hope, due to record snowfall and avalanche risk

The first train crosses the new controlled, temporary at-grade level crossing of Highway 1 at Tank Hill north of Lytton on Jan. 14. (Photo credit: MOTI)
Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson, left, receives his astronaut wings pin from Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, after a space flight in 2021. Hadfield says privatized space flight has its benefits to life on earth. (AP Photo/Andres Leighton)

Space travel can improve everyone’s lives, says Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield

Improvements in space technology accelerating, having major impact on life on Earth

Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson, left, receives his astronaut wings pin from Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, after a space flight in 2021. Hadfield says privatized space flight has its benefits to life on earth. (AP Photo/Andres Leighton)