Jane Skrypnek

Co-first author Jimena Pérez-Vargas works in the UBC Facility for Infectious Disease and Epidemic Research, studying natural compounds that can be used to fight COVID-19. (Credit: Paul Joseph)

Bacteria harvested from B.C.’s coastline fight COVID-19 in a new and exciting way

UBC researchers have identified 3 compounds with long-term promise

Co-first author Jimena Pérez-Vargas works in the UBC Facility for Infectious Disease and Epidemic Research, studying natural compounds that can be used to fight COVID-19. (Credit: Paul Joseph)
An Avalanche Canada forecaster is warning of deeply buried weak layers of snow in many of B.C.’s snow packs, greatly heightening the risk of avalanches. (Credit: Jen Coulter)

B.C.’s avalanche conditions highly risky, haven’t been seen in 2 decades

Early winter cold and dry spells created deeply buried weak layers of snow, say forecasters

An Avalanche Canada forecaster is warning of deeply buried weak layers of snow in many of B.C.’s snow packs, greatly heightening the risk of avalanches. (Credit: Jen Coulter)
B.C. says it will expedite the registration time for internationally-trained nurses to get practising. (Credit: Pixabay/Antonio-Corigliano)

B.C. cutting costs for retired nurses to return, internationally-educated ones to start

Announcement comes amid about 5,200 nursing vacancies

B.C. says it will expedite the registration time for internationally-trained nurses to get practising. (Credit: Pixabay/Antonio-Corigliano)
A B.C. Ambulance Service paramedic moves a stretcher outside an ambulance at Royal Columbia Hospital, in New Westminster on Nov. 29, 2020. The paramedics union has reached a tentative new agreement with BCEHS and the province as of Jan. 6, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. paramedics union, province agree on tentative new contract

Members will decide whether to ratify it or not over coming weeks

A B.C. Ambulance Service paramedic moves a stretcher outside an ambulance at Royal Columbia Hospital, in New Westminster on Nov. 29, 2020. The paramedics union has reached a tentative new agreement with BCEHS and the province as of Jan. 6, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Renee Merrifield, MLA for the Kelowna-Mission riding and gender equity critic for the BC Liberal Party, is under fire for transphobic Twitter activity. (Black Press Media file photo)

BC Liberals’ gender equity critic called out for promoting transphobic content on Twitter

Renee Merrifield liked a post about transgender bathroom bans, retweeted a post from Jordan Peterson

Renee Merrifield, MLA for the Kelowna-Mission riding and gender equity critic for the BC Liberal Party, is under fire for transphobic Twitter activity. (Black Press Media file photo)
E-Comm dispatcher Rachelle Carlow at the new South Island 9-1-1 E-Comm Centre in Saanich. (Black Press Media file photo)

Kids drawing with chalk among B.C.’s most ridiculous 911 calls of 2022

Dispatchers also heard from callers with car troubles and someone who got their phone stuck in a bench

E-Comm dispatcher Rachelle Carlow at the new South Island 9-1-1 E-Comm Centre in Saanich. (Black Press Media file photo)
Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, former B.C. Representative for Children and Youth, speaks to a reporter in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday, Nov. 13, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond no longer employed with UBC

Cutting of ties follows questions into scholar’s claims of Indigenous ancestry

Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, former B.C. Representative for Children and Youth, speaks to a reporter in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday, Nov. 13, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A passenger checks her phone as an Air China passenger jet taxi past at the Beijing Capital International airport in Beijing, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022. China will drop a COVID-19 quarantine requirement for passengers arriving from abroad starting Jan. 8. The National Health Commission announced the change Monday, Dec. 26, 2022 as part of the latest easing of China’s once strict virus control measures. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Wastewater off flights from China to Vancouver will soon be tested for COVID-19

Pilot project coming into effect alongside new federal mandate for COVID tests

A passenger checks her phone as an Air China passenger jet taxi past at the Beijing Capital International airport in Beijing, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022. China will drop a COVID-19 quarantine requirement for passengers arriving from abroad starting Jan. 8. The National Health Commission announced the change Monday, Dec. 26, 2022 as part of the latest easing of China’s once strict virus control measures. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Olive doesn’t mind the snow if there are treats involved (Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)

A snow-loving pig, a Ferrari-riding snake: Some of B.C.’s top animal stories of 2022

These animal encounters had people smiling all year long

Olive doesn’t mind the snow if there are treats involved (Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)
B.C. Minister of Housing and Government House Leader Ravi Kahlon speaks during an announcement in Vancouver on December 14, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. doubling staffing of unit that resolves landlord-tenant disputes

Complainants sometimes waiting months for decisions to be made

B.C. Minister of Housing and Government House Leader Ravi Kahlon speaks during an announcement in Vancouver on December 14, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
B.C. athletes shot for the stars in 2022. Clockwise from top left: Melanie Vogal, Rio Crystal, Teagan Dunnett, Kimberly Newell. (Photos submitted)

From cross-Arctic treks to Olympic dreams, B.C. athletes made 2022 one for the books

Athletes didn’t shy away from adventure this year

B.C. athletes shot for the stars in 2022. Clockwise from top left: Melanie Vogal, Rio Crystal, Teagan Dunnett, Kimberly Newell. (Photos submitted)
The scene of the Christmas Eve bus crash along the Okanagan Connector, which sent dozens of people to hospital and killed four of them. (Skilled Truckers Canada/Facebook)

Questions of B.C. road conditions surround Christmas Eve bus crash blame

Transport minister says highway was plowed and salted; RCMP say bus faced ‘adverse road conditions’

The scene of the Christmas Eve bus crash along the Okanagan Connector, which sent dozens of people to hospital and killed four of them. (Skilled Truckers Canada/Facebook)
A woman spreads salt on a sidewalk as snow falls in Vancouver, on Sunday, December 18, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. warns against travel as south coast preps for onslaught of snow, freezing rain

Conditions expected to be worst from Thursday night until Saturday

A woman spreads salt on a sidewalk as snow falls in Vancouver, on Sunday, December 18, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A person crosses a snow and ice covered road in Burnaby, B.C., on Wednesday, December 21, 2022. A snowstorm dumped more than 30 centimetres of snow in Metro Vancouver this week. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Dozens more daily low temperature records set across B.C.

Extreme cold, arctic outflow warnings in place throughout province

A person crosses a snow and ice covered road in Burnaby, B.C., on Wednesday, December 21, 2022. A snowstorm dumped more than 30 centimetres of snow in Metro Vancouver this week. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
British Columbians once again topped the province’s power consumption record on Wednesday evening (Dec. 21), for the second time in one week. The above-normal use comes amidst a severe cold snap. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

Electricity-use record broken for 2nd time in 1 week as B.C tries to stay warm

Consumption around dinner time Wednesday (Dec. 21) hit over 10,900 megawatts

British Columbians once again topped the province’s power consumption record on Wednesday evening (Dec. 21), for the second time in one week. The above-normal use comes amidst a severe cold snap. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)
B.C. pre-Christmas storm is expected to turn icy beginning Thursday (Dec. 22) as remaining snow hardens and freezing rain falls. (Sergey Gorbachev/ Pixabay)

‘Potentially dangerous’: Arctic front bringing icy winds, freezing rain to much of B.C.

Travel conditions expected to worsen in Fraser Valley as rain falls, roads ice over

B.C. pre-Christmas storm is expected to turn icy beginning Thursday (Dec. 22) as remaining snow hardens and freezing rain falls. (Sergey Gorbachev/ Pixabay)
A January 1, 2022 file photo show the fountain at the B.C. legislature frozen over. It similarly froze on Dec. 20, as at least 15 B.C. communities set daily low temperature records. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

B.C. communities shatter at least 15 record temperature lows amid stormy weather

Far more records expected to be made as arctic front sweeps province Dec. 20

A January 1, 2022 file photo show the fountain at the B.C. legislature frozen over. It similarly froze on Dec. 20, as at least 15 B.C. communities set daily low temperature records. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
A man rests on his luggage at Vancouver International Airport after a snowstorm crippled operations leading to cancellations and major delays, in Richmond, B.C., on Tuesday, December 20, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A man rests on his luggage at Vancouver International Airport after a snowstorm crippled operations leading to cancellations and major delays, in Richmond, B.C., on Tuesday, December 20, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
FILE - British Columbia Privacy Commissioner Michael McEvoy speaks during a news conference in Ottawa on April 25, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

‘Major breach’ of B.C. health-care data could happen without anyone noticing: report

Vulnerabilities at PHSA have existed uncorrected since 2019, says info and privacy commissioner

FILE - British Columbia Privacy Commissioner Michael McEvoy speaks during a news conference in Ottawa on April 25, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Name-changing rules in B.C. have been eased slightly, following a report from the Ombudsperson that showed the requirements were, at times, too stringent. (Credit: Pixabay/ Sabinevanerp)

B.C. name-changing rules eased following finding of discrimination against senior

Woman in 70s faced barriers when trying to correct misspelled name on birth certificate

Name-changing rules in B.C. have been eased slightly, following a report from the Ombudsperson that showed the requirements were, at times, too stringent. (Credit: Pixabay/ Sabinevanerp)