Canadian Blood Services is calling on people to roll up their sleeves in a final summer push for donations ahead of the long weekend.
"In B.C., we need probably about 220-250 people to come in and book an appointment. If we can get at least that many people, I think it would go a long way to meeting our needs for that particular weekend."
The organization's Ed Yee says a car accident victim may need the equivalent of 50 donations.
You can book an appointment either by phone or online.
The RCMP have executed a search warrant at the home of someone connected to a blog criticizing the force.
The Re-Sergeance Alliance blog went up earlier this month, calling for change within the RCMP.
Over the weekend, the home of someone involved with it was searched and computers were seized. The person wishes to remain anonymous.
In an e-mail to CKNW, however, Sgt. Rob Vermeulen of RCMP’s E Division denies the blog had anything to do with it.
He says the warrant for the raid – for “defamatory libel” – was for a separate criminal investigation, and the Re-Sergeance connection was purely coincidence.
Vermeulen adds Mounties are currently assessing the information obtained in the search, and that will dictate their next step.
Furthermore, a police psychologist known for speaking out against the force says he's been contacted by the target of the search.
Dr. Mike Webster says the person insists it’s indeed all about comments made on the blog.
“He mentioned to me he was directly accused of being part of the Re-Sergeance alliance, which he's really not."
Webster says that person told him he only helped get the blog online.
Despite the blog being shut down, those connected to it are using other means to contact the media.
Webster says they have asked him to distribute a letter.
The document calls on supporters to use social media to get their message across, because it’s difficult to use a blog.
Webster has a long and tumultuous history with the RCMP. The force recently cut ties with him, questioning his ability to provide effective treatment for patients while commenting public on the force.
The executive director of the BC Civil Liberties Association, meanwhile, says the seaches and subsequent RCMP comment doesn't add up.
“Usually if someone's been defamed by someone else, they go to court and they sue them for defamation. They don't get the police involved executing search warrants, seizing computers and so on, because police powers are reserved for serious criminal matters," David Eby says.
A 35-year old man is dead after falling from his motor scooter in Surrey this morning.
It happened about 2:30 in a construction zone near 176 Street and the Fraser Highway.
The driver lost control of his bike.
"He fell to the pavement and sometime after a vehicle also travelling eastbound on the Fraser Highway struck the man," says RCMP Staff Sgt. Bob Pinkewycz. "As a result of that, the driver of the motor scooter passed away."
Alcohol is not being considered as a factor, but speed could be involved.
Police say it's too early to discuss any possible charges.
There are two winning tickets for the $50-million jackpot in last night's Lotto Max draw.
And one of them was purchased locally.
BC Lottery Corporation reports a ticket purchased in Burnaby is worth $25-million.
The other winner was sold in Ontario.
The (unofficial) winning numbers are: 02 03 05 22 23 32 33.
Bonus 08.
The association representing seniors care providers is reacting to the province's new influenza control policy.
That policy will require health care workers to get the yearly flu shot.
The BC Care Providers Association says it will comply with the new policy, but still has concerns over how it was implemented.
Spokesperson David Hurford says there was little consultation, echoing a similar concern from the BC Nurses' Union.
"Should front line care providers decide for whatever reason not to get the shot, there's a very clear rule that they would have to wear a mask. That has been one of the issues -- access to masks after H1N1."
A meeting is set for Monday between the union and the employer, where more specifics are set to be discussed.
The province's medical health officer says just about half of health care workers actually get the vaccine.
Five people have been hurt in a serious crash just north of Lions Bay.
Fire Chief Martin Oliver says the collision closed the Sea-to-Sky in both directions.
"They had a head-on just outside Brunswick Beach about a kilometre past Lions Bay, north. And a big truck with a van hit a little Ford Explorer, spun it around and pushed it into the rock face."
Two people had to be extracted from the SUV.
It's not believed any of the injuries are life threatening.
A 28-year-old man has been arrested by transit police in Vancouver.
Jordan Dale Lucas had been wanted by local police for robbery and weapons offences.
He was nabbed Thursday at the Richmond Brighouse Canada Line station.
This is the same man charged with animal cruelty this week after an investigation by the BC SPCA.
Lucas is accused of torturing a kitten and capturing it on his cellphone.
An update on gunfire in Surrey this morning.
RCMP say were called to a house near 101st Avenue and 137A Street.
They say it looks like at least one bullet was shot at the home's garage and went through the building.
A woman at home was not hit. She is not known to police.
Mounties adds a vehicle with two occupants was spotted fleeing the scene.
But they are not yet prepared to release descriptions.
Police also do not know the motive, but say it doesn't appear to be related to gangs.
A strong turn out this afternoon as upwards of 100 people kept up the fight to save the Kitsilano Coast Guard base.
The station is set to close next spring, as part of federal budget cuts.
Union supporters and elected officials largely made up the crowd.
Among the non-partisan group were Green Party leader Jane Sterk and NDP leader Adrian Dix.
"If the prime minister changes his mind – Prime Minister Harper, whoever they send out – I will be the first within five minutes to publicly praise him for doing it,” Dix told the demonstrators.
A statement from B.C. Attorney-General Shirley Bond was also released at the event.
It read that while the province understands that the current fiscal climate requires difficult budget decisions, public safety must be the guiding principle.
Jim Sinclair, president of the BC Federation of Labour, vows his members won't let the station close.
He says they'll keep up the political pressure for now, but expect an escalation.
"From the point of view of the labour movement, and all the people who work there for a living -- not just the people who go out there and have fun, which is great too -- people who work out there, they're not going to let it close.
"I don't know what we're going to do, but I'm just telling you here today that we're not going to let the government close this Coast Guard station down, okay? We're going to take actions to keep it open, and to fight this government, until it's impossible for them to close it."
Sinclair wouldn't say just what those actions could be.
He says another planned closure of the same base in 1992 was ultimately overturned, thanks to public pressure.
The Kits base responds to about 350 search and rescue calls each year.
B.C.’s chief medical health officer is firing back at critics of new flu shot rules.
Dr. Perry Kendall has announced healthcare workers must get immunized this flu season or else wear a mask to help protect patients.
Nurses and seniors' care providers have cried foul, claiming there has been no consultation.
Kendall says he suspects it might be somewhat of a knee-jerk reaction to what people may think is a mandatory vaccination.
“The policy is a mandatory one of protecting patients from influenza, but it isn't a mandatory influenza vaccination program because workers will have an opportunity to have the option of wearing a mask in patient care areas."
He adds the unions were informed two weeks ago about the new measures, with an offer to hear their concerns.
Police have released few details so far, but say a 30-year-old man is in hospital after he was shot this morning in Maple Ridge.
Police say it happened around 5 a.m. at an apartment complex on 225 Street near North Avenue, in the underground parking lot.
The man is in stable condition, but police have not commented on his injuries or a motive for the shooting.
So far no arrests have been made.
Anyone with information is asked to call Ridge Meadows RCMP.
Vancouver police say a woman's body has been found inside a West End apartment building following a fire.
Firefighters were called around 2 p.m. to the 1600-block of Haro Street.
They found the body of an elderly woman inside one of the units.
Investigators are still trying to figure out what caused the blaze, but say it does not appear suspicious.
The victim's name is not being released until her family can be informed.
Translink is reminding commuters to gear up for a busy week ahead on trains and buses.
Spokesperson Drew Snider says the first week of September is often one of the busiest of the year as kids return to class and others go back to work.
"We're using the same amount of resources and in the past year or so, we've been moving more people with the same resources. So if it looks like it's a lot more crowded than usual, that's because it is."
New fare evasion legislation also comes into effect on Tuesday.
Fines will rise from an initial cost of $173, to $273 if unpaid after a year.
ICBC can also choose not to renew car insurance, should fines not be paid.
As workers get set to commemorate Labour Day, the president of the BC Federation of Labour says th movement here is going strong.
"I think the labour movement today is up and fighting back as best we can on most days. In British Columbia today, we see in many cases workers getting collective agreements with 2.5-percent and 3-percent wage increases in them,” Jim Sinclair says.
With thousands of unionized workers ready to walk off the job on Wednesday for a one-day strike, Sinclair adds most British Columbians support the workers’ plight.
Labour minister Margaret MacDiarmid says she's happy with the government's collaboration with unions.
"The BC Federation of Labour is a very important partner, in particular for WorkSafe, and a critical part of many of the committees. … We came forward this year with a toolkit to work to prevent domestic violence because it does sometimes come into the workplace."
MacDiarmid also points to a drop in work-related deaths, though she says one death is still too many.
And when it comes to another possible rise in B.C.’s minimum wage, the Liberals and NDP give the same answer.
MacDiarmid says the government has committed to regularly review the wage.
"We're looking at how we will do that review. It will need to be widely consulted. We'll need to hear from lots of people."
At least for right now, the New Democrats have a good chance to form government next spring, and labour critic Shane Simpson was asked whether his party would hike the minimum wage.
"Maybe so you have smaller incremental increases, if that makes sense, that come into place over time, so that you're not doing this ‘nothing happens for five years, ten years,’ and then you give it a big whack."
But he says the party hasn't landed on a concrete solution.
B.C.’s minimum wage is now $10.25/hour.
Both MacDiarmid and Simpson were speaking on CKNW’s The World Today Weekend with Sean Leslie.
Coquitlam mounties are asking for your help in finding a missing teenage girl.
They say 14 year old Tyra-Faye Boyarski was last seen early Sunday before she walked away from her home, with some of her belongings.
Police say they want to know where she is, and have no reason to believe she's come to any harm.
Tyra-Faye is described as caucasian with a fair complexion and brown eyes.
She's 5'5" tall, 111 pounds, with a thin build.
She has dark hair with dyed green bangs.
When she went missing, she was wearing white skinny jeans and a yellow tank top.
If you know where Tyra-Faye is, call Coquitlam RCMP at 604-945-1550 and quote file number 2012-24422.
Environmental review hearings resume this week in Edmonton for the proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline.
And the company behind the project will finally have a chance to speak.
For the first time, Enbridge will be able to address the review panel on its controversial six billion dollar proposal to transport crude from Alberta to Kitimat.
The Calgary-based company says it has heard how people in the community, including first nations, are worried about a possible oil spill.
This, especially in the wake of a damning U-S report this summer into how Enbridge handled a spill into a Michigan river two years ago.
Final arguments for the proposal are set for next spring.
The Canadian Office and Professional Employees' Union local 378 is set for a one-day strike at 21 ICBC locations throughout BC, but it could signal further action.
President of COPE local 378 David Black hopes the job action will put pressure on the government to come to a deal with its employees.
"Unfortunately everything we've done has been unsuccessful, so we've been left with no option but to do this now and we hope this is successful and we can get a fair and reasonable settlement, but if not then we may have to look at doing something else."
Unionized ICBC workers have been working without a contract for two years.
Students are heading back to school, and people are heading back to work.
The transit system will be busier than ever, and Transit Police have some tips on how to stay safe.
Among the advice: resist the temptation to listen to your IPod while on transit.
Police say the distraction could make you a potential target.
Any electronic devices should be stored out of site, and keep your wits about you, especially if you're standing near doors.
Speaking of doors: don't block the doors on Skytrain.
Some people tend to do that.
And holding those doors open for too long could trigger a system wide shutdown.
BC fire fighting crews are finishing off their long weekend by dealing with yet another blaze.
Coastal Fire Centre Information oOfficer Marg Drysdale says the new blaze is near Squamish.
"Just South of Sqaumish we currently have a fire that is 20 metres by 100 metres we do have an initial attack crew on site with the Squamish Fire Department as well it is on reserve land just South of Squamish and there will be some bucketing going on so if people see that in the area they will know exactly whats going on."
Drysdale says fire crews province wide reported dealing with small grass fires.
She says drivers tossing cigarette butts out the window was generally to blame.
"There has been a number of issues with most fire departments over this long weekend the coastal fire centre was involved in helping out the Langford fire department with a situation this weekend as well we are just asking people to continue to be very careful please put your cigarettes out in your vehicle do not toss them out of your vehicle and continue to be very careful with your campfires."
Another fire is still burning in a remote area Northwest of Squamish
It has reached 29 hectares in size.
But it isn't threatening any homes or people so crews are just keeping an careful eye on it.
This is the last year for the troubled $100-million dollar provincial enrollment software known as BCeSIS.
The Ministry of Edcuation says they will likely seek a BCeSIS replacement this fall when they put the contract out for tender.
Vancouver School Board chair Patti Bacchus "It can't come too soon BCeSIS has really been a colossal headache and expense for school districts and we will be happy to see something as long as it is something that actually works and is more useful for schools than BCeSIS"
Bacchus says when it comes to replacing BCeSIS this time teachers need to be consulted.
"It is very important that the people who will be using it and that is primarily teachers, councillors, and school administrators have input in what will work and what will not work so we don't end up with another problem like BCeSIS has been."
The province decided to scrap the software last September after a report recomended it be replaced.
The move came after BCesSIS crashed province wide at the beginning of the 2010 school year.
The BC government pegs the BCeSIS price tag at $89 million.
But the NDP say the actual figure is $100-million or more.
