Tom Fletcher

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B.C.’s ambulance service has been stretched thin with COVID-19 and many calls to deal with drug overdoses, on top of the demands of an aging population. (Black Press Media)

B.C. adds paramedics, dispatchers, increasing treatment options

Firefighters can take blood pressure, prepare for transport

B.C.’s ambulance service has been stretched thin with COVID-19 and many calls to deal with drug overdoses, on top of the demands of an aging population. (Black Press Media)
Floor markers at Island Health COVID-19 testing clinic in Nanaimo. (Nanaimo News Bulletin)

B.C. COVID-19 infection rate holds steady, 368 for Thursday

Hospitalization declining, 5 more deaths recorded

Floor markers at Island Health COVID-19 testing clinic in Nanaimo. (Nanaimo News Bulletin)
An ambulance paramedic in full protective gear works outside Lion’s Gate Hospital, March 23, 2020. Lion’s Gate Hospital and Lynn Valley Care Centre in North Vancouver were the first sites of major COVID-19 outbreaks in B.C. (The Canadian Press)

COVID-19 outbreaks in steep decline at B.C. hospitals, care homes

Mandatory vaccination for health staff, visitors paying off

An ambulance paramedic in full protective gear works outside Lion’s Gate Hospital, March 23, 2020. Lion’s Gate Hospital and Lynn Valley Care Centre in North Vancouver were the first sites of major COVID-19 outbreaks in B.C. (The Canadian Press)
Kids aged 5 to 11 are getting COVID-19 vaccines at community clinics around B.C., like this one in Victoria, Nov. 29, 2021. (B.C. government photo)

B.C. counts 375 more COVID-19 cases Wednesday, 7 more deaths

Serious illness cases in hospital remain steady

Kids aged 5 to 11 are getting COVID-19 vaccines at community clinics around B.C., like this one in Victoria, Nov. 29, 2021. (B.C. government photo)
Postcard image of Powell River B.C. from the 1960s, when it was one of the world’s largest newsprint producers. (Wikimedia Commons)

Owners look for new industrial opportunities at B.C. paper mill site

Powell River mill shutting down indefinitely after 109 years

Postcard image of Powell River B.C. from the 1960s, when it was one of the world’s largest newsprint producers. (Wikimedia Commons)
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry meets with some of the first children to receive COVID-19 vaccines at a clinic in Victoria, Nov. 29, 2021. (B.C. government photo)

B.C. calls on retired medical staff to help with COVID-19 vaccinations

Booster doses for adults ramping up as 350,000 children eligible

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry meets with some of the first children to receive COVID-19 vaccines at a clinic in Victoria, Nov. 29, 2021. (B.C. government photo)
Daily new cases of COVID-19 reported to B.C. public health, to Nov. 28, 2021. (B.C. Centre for Disease Control)

B.C. sees 358 more COVID-19 cases Tuesday, 300 in hospital

No deaths or health care outbreaks in past 24 hours

Daily new cases of COVID-19 reported to B.C. public health, to Nov. 28, 2021. (B.C. Centre for Disease Control)
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix update B.C.’s COVID-19 situation from the Vancouver cabinet offices, Sept. 17, 2020. (B.C. government)

COVID-19 gathering rules being eased for Interior Health region

Restaurants returning to 100% capacity with vaccine card

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix update B.C.’s COVID-19 situation from the Vancouver cabinet offices, Sept. 17, 2020. (B.C. government)
B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry update the COVID-19 situation, B.C. legislature, July 20, 2020. (B.C. government)

B.C. reports first case of COVID-19 Omicron variant, in isolation

204 recent travellers to Africa being tested in B.C.

B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry update the COVID-19 situation, B.C. legislature, July 20, 2020. (B.C. government)
B.C. flood alert map for the morning of Nov. 30, 2021. Yellow indicates high stream flow advisory, with minor local flooding possible. Orange is flood watch, where rivers are rising and may exceed bank full. Red is flood warning, where rivers have exceeded bank full or will do so imminently. Red area shown is east of Hope. (B.C. River Forecast Centre)

Snow-melt, rain to increase B.C. flood risk as 3rd storm moves in

Flood watch across southern B.C., Nooksack River in U.S.

B.C. flood alert map for the morning of Nov. 30, 2021. Yellow indicates high stream flow advisory, with minor local flooding possible. Orange is flood watch, where rivers are rising and may exceed bank full. Red is flood warning, where rivers have exceeded bank full or will do so imminently. Red area shown is east of Hope. (B.C. River Forecast Centre)
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and B.C. Labour Minister Harry Bains speak on the introduction of five-day mandatory paid sick leave at the B.C. legislature, Nov. 22, 2021. (B.C. government photo)

B.C.’s daily COVID-19 infections fall below 300, but 11 deaths

Outbreaks in health care down to 6, 303 people in hospital

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and B.C. Labour Minister Harry Bains speak on the introduction of five-day mandatory paid sick leave at the B.C. legislature, Nov. 22, 2021. (B.C. government photo)
B.C. NDP house leader Mike Farnworth takes a question in the B.C. legislature as Citizens’ Services Minister Lisa Beare listens, June 16, 2021. (Hansard TV)

B.C. sets $10 fee for non-personal public information requests

Down from $25 originally hinted, pushed through legislature

B.C. NDP house leader Mike Farnworth takes a question in the B.C. legislature as Citizens’ Services Minister Lisa Beare listens, June 16, 2021. (Hansard TV)
Federal Public Safety Minister Bill Blair (left), Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and B.C. Premier John Horgan meet at the premier’s office in Victoria after touring flooding in the Fraser Valley, Nov. 26, 2021. (B.C. government photo)

B.C. local governments need help with flood control, Horgan says

Passing down responsibility for dike works ‘a bad call’

Federal Public Safety Minister Bill Blair (left), Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and B.C. Premier John Horgan meet at the premier’s office in Victoria after touring flooding in the Fraser Valley, Nov. 26, 2021. (B.C. government photo)
One of the flooded farms in Sumas Prairie from an aerial tour with provincial officials, Nov. 23, 2021. Some farms are recovering but more heavy rain is expected. (B.C. government photo)

B.C., Ottawa to match flood relief donations to Canadian Red Cross

Trudeau, Horgan tour flooded Abbotsford area to see damage

One of the flooded farms in Sumas Prairie from an aerial tour with provincial officials, Nov. 23, 2021. Some farms are recovering but more heavy rain is expected. (B.C. government photo)
B.C. Agriculture Minister Lana Popham, Delta South MLA Ian Paton and Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun meet with farmers from the Sumas Prairie, Nov. 23, 2021. (B.C. government photo)

Fraser Valley milk production returns, B.C. ranchers pitch in

Okanagan, Kootenay dairy farms shipping to Alberta

B.C. Agriculture Minister Lana Popham, Delta South MLA Ian Paton and Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun meet with farmers from the Sumas Prairie, Nov. 23, 2021. (B.C. government photo)
Reconstruction work at Tank Hill on Highway 1 in the Fraser Canyon, Nov. 22, 2021. (B.C. Ministry of Transportation photo)

CN close to Fraser Canyon reopening, Highway 1 access target mid-January

Work crews on standby for further slides, flooding this weekend

Reconstruction work at Tank Hill on Highway 1 in the Fraser Canyon, Nov. 22, 2021. (B.C. Ministry of Transportation photo)
B.C. Labour Minister Harry Bains takes questions about his decision to keep secret-ballot votes for union certification, as demanded by the B.C. Green Party, Nov. 20, 2019. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press)

Pandemic-battered B.C. small businesses say they can’t afford sick pay

Labour minister says 5 days reflects average usage of paid leave

B.C. Labour Minister Harry Bains takes questions about his decision to keep secret-ballot votes for union certification, as demanded by the B.C. Green Party, Nov. 20, 2019. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press)
Daily cases reported to B.C. public health to Nov. 21, 2021, seven-day rolling average in white. (B.C. Centre for Disease Control)

B.C. reports 424 more COVID-19 cases Thursday, 3 deaths

Two more hospital outbreaks, hospital cases decline

Daily cases reported to B.C. public health to Nov. 21, 2021, seven-day rolling average in white. (B.C. Centre for Disease Control)
One of multiple washout sections on Highway 8 between Merritt and Spences Bridge B.C., Nov. 17, 2021. (Ministry of Transportation photo)

B.C. Highway 8 may be worst hit, major routes highest priority

Crews move to Highway 1 Jackass Mountain in Fraser Canyon

One of multiple washout sections on Highway 8 between Merritt and Spences Bridge B.C., Nov. 17, 2021. (Ministry of Transportation photo)
Ralph Cole receives his first COVID-19 vaccination the South Cariboo Health Centre, March 2021. B.C. residents aged 70 and older are currently getting booster third doses, as their immunity is less than younger people. (Patrick Davies/100 Mile Free Press)

B.C. records 9 more deaths, 322 new COVID-19 infections Wednesday

Outbreaks in health care system continue to decline

Ralph Cole receives his first COVID-19 vaccination the South Cariboo Health Centre, March 2021. B.C. residents aged 70 and older are currently getting booster third doses, as their immunity is less than younger people. (Patrick Davies/100 Mile Free Press)