Abbotsford news

• B.C. teachers’ union to ask for higher salaries to help with shortages

  19-03-2018 14:30 via abbynews.com
  
  B.C. starting teacher salaries are $10,000 to $15,000 lower than Ontario or Alberta says B.C. Teachers’ Federation president.The post B.C. teachers’ union to ask for higher salaries to help with shortages appeared first on Abbotsford News.
  
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• Little library turns Island street into a creative community exchange

  23-08-2026 16:30 via abbynews.com
  
  A little library on the 400 block of Nelson Street in Esquimalt is inviting the community to become more creative.
  The community-led art and zine library was created by Sonya Gracey one year ago and has since then acted as a creative hub for art lovers.Gracey was a registered nurse for 23 years, a two-term Victoria city councillor, and a current art therapist and registered clinical counsellor.
  Speaking to Victoria News, Gracey said the idea to create the art and zine library stemmed from her li
  
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• PHOTOS: Anglican church ‘family’ celebrates 130 years in Agassiz

  23-08-2026 14:30 via abbynews.com
  
  The oldest church in Agassiz marked its 130th anniversary on Saturday.
  Dozens of people came out to the All Saints Anglican Church on Aug. 22 to mark the milestone event.
  “The great thing about this church is the sense of family,” said Rev. Philip Barker, who’s been with the church for six years.
  The celebration included a Victorian tea party with many women dressed in old-fashioned frocks and bonnets, plus a detailed display of the church’s history.
  The church currently
  
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• Wildfire sparks in Kelowna’s Black Mountain

  23-08-2026 04:39 via abbynews.com
  
  UPDATE 7:45 p.m.
  A wildfire the sparked in Kelowna’s Black Mountain area is now being held.The blaze is estimated at under one hectare in size and is not expected to grow.A lightening strike caused the wildfire.ORIGINAL
  A wildfire has started in the Black Mountain neighbourhood, on the east side of Kelowna, just south of Tower Ranch Drive.The fire started from a lightening strike and is estimated at less than one hectare in size.BC Wildfire Service reports the blaze to be rank one, meaning
  
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• BREAKING: Wildfire sparks in Kelowna’s Black Mountain

  23-08-2026 04:39 via abbynews.com
  
  A wildfire has started in the Black Mountain neighbourhood, on the east side of Kelowna, just south of Tower Ranch Drive.The fire started from a lightening strike and is estimated at less than one hectare in size.BC Wildfire Service reports the blaze to be rank one, meaning it is a smouldering ground fire and spreading slowly.Firefighters are actioning the blaze.
  
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• Multiple small wildfires spark between Tulameen and Coquihalla

  23-08-2026 03:10 via abbynews.com
  
  A series of small wildfires have sparked east of the Coquihalla Highway and west of the community of Tulameen on Aug. 22.According to the BC Wildfire Service, four of the fires are only an estimated 0.3 hectares at the moment, with the one closest to Tulameen currently listed as 10 hectares in size.The causes of the fires are currently listed as under investigation, with one listed as being caused by lightning.Lightning also sparked a wildfire near Kamloops the same day, which has since grown to
  
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• Abbotsford-Mission MLA to step down, making way for new Conservative leader to seek seat

  23-08-2026 02:35 via abbynews.com
  
  Reann Gasper will step down as Abbotsford-Mission MLA, making way for Conservative Party leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay to run for the seat in a byelection.
  The Conservative Party announced Gasper’s resignation and Findlay’s intention to run for the seat in a news release on Saturday (Aug. 22)
  Gasper, who has also been serving as the party’s deputy whip since October 2025, said the decision came after careful consideration.
  “I believe it is the right decision for me, for our
  
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• VIDEO: A rough eight-day stretch ends with another loss for Vancouver FC

  23-08-2026 02:34 via abbynews.com
  
  History repeated itself Saturday, and not in a good way for Vancouver FC, as the Eagles fell 1-0 to Halifax Wanderers at Wanderers Grounds, the third time they have lost to that team by that score this season.Halifax forward Jason Bahamboula got what turned out to be the winner 18 minutes in to snap a five-game losing streak.It was a week VFC will want to forget, as they lost two and drew one game in a span of eight days, after a run of five straight wins.They played to a frustrating 1-1 draw at
  
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• ‘Indefensible’: B.C. Premier Eby responds to collapsed Canada-U.S. trade talks

  22-08-2026 21:16 via abbynews.com
  
  B.C. Premier David Eby worked to reassure British Columbians that Canada will stand strong against U.S. tariffs after a potential trade deal collapsed.
  Eby held a press conference Saturday (Aug. 22) in Vancouver to address the collapsed Canada-U.S. trade talks. He called the incoming U.S. tariffs “inexplicable and indefensible.”
  He said many British Columbians woke up to the news Saturday of the latest in the Canada-U.S. trade war. The premier said he hesitated to call the talks a ne
  
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• UPDATE: Crews expect ‘erratic, gusty winds,’ as Summerland wildfire continues to grow

  22-08-2026 21:00 via abbynews.com
  
  UPDATE (12 P.M.)
  The Bald Range wildfire continues to grow, with the out-of-control blaze now 24,820 hectares in size.
  BC Wildfire Service says the growth comes as it expects “erratic, gusty winds” on Saturday.
  “Our crews, aviation and heavy equipment resources have been bolstering containment in preparation for today’s unpredictable winds,” it added.
  It hasn’t rained in the area for 49 days, the provincial service noted.
  Close to 40 structure protection perso
  
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• UPDATE: Bald Range wildfire continues to grow west of Summerland

  22-08-2026 21:00 via abbynews.com
  
  UPDATE (12 P.M.)
  The Bald Range wildfire continues to grow, with the out-of-control blaze now 24,820 hectares in size.
  BC Wildfire Service says the growth comes as it expects “erratic, gusty winds” on Saturday.
  “Our crews, aviation and heavy equipment resources have been bolstering containment in preparation for today’s unpredictable winds,” it added.
  It’s also been 49 days since there’s been rain in the area, the provincial service noted.
  Close to 40 st
  
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• Victoria police chief recognized nationally for leadership

  22-08-2026 20:30 via abbynews.com
  
  After one year of her historic appointment as Victoria’s first female police chief, Fiona Wilson has received a national award recognizing her leadership and contributions to policing across Canada.
  Wilson received the 2026 CACP Recognition Award at the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police Annual Summit in Edmonton, presented by CACP President Commissioner Thomas Carrique.
  Wilson was one of the two police leaders selected to receive the national recognition of exceptional involvement,
  
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• More evacuation orders, alerts issued in response to Pear Lake fire near Clinton

  22-08-2026 18:56 via abbynews.com
  
  The Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD) and Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) have both issued new evacuation orders and alerts in the area of Highway 99/Pavilion Lake west of Cache Creek in response to the Pear Lake wildfire.
  The orders and alerts were issued as of 8 a.m. on Saturday (Aug. 22).
  Highway 99 remains open, but drivers are not allowed to stop along the highway. However, the threat of wildfire means that the highway could close suddenly, with little or no notice. Driver
  
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• Large, out-of-control wildfire quickly extinguished by Hope Fire Department

  22-08-2026 18:05 via abbynews.com
  
  Members of the Hope Fire Department prevented a large wildfire from spreading further on Friday.
  The out-of-control blaze happened around 3 p.m. on Aug. 21 along Flood-Hope Road, above Exit 170.
  “Twelve members responded on three apparatus, and thanks to the quick, co-ordinated work of our crews, the fire was rapidly knocked down and contained to an area of roughly 50-by-50 feet,” Hope Fire Department stated in a social media post later that same day.
  The cause of the fire remains un
  
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• UPDATE: French Bar Creek wildfire grows to almost 60K hectares as evacuation orders expand

  22-08-2026 18:00 via abbynews.com
  
  UPDATE: (6:30 p.m.)
  The BC Wildfire Service has increased the estimated size of the French Bar Creek wildfire west of Clinton by over over 4,600 hectares.The latest update for the fire did not contain any other new information beyond the new size estimate of 59,507.6 hectares.
  The cause of the fire remains under investigation.ORIGINAL STORY:The Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD) has expanded an evacuation order in response to the French Bar Creek wildfire, burning out of control west of Cl
  
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• Evacuation order expanded for French Bar Creek fire west of Clinton

  22-08-2026 18:00 via abbynews.com
  
  The Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD) has expanded an evacuation order in response to the French Bar Creek wildfire, burning out of control west of Clinton.
  The expanded evacuation order was issued on Saturday morning (Aug. 22). It covers two properties, at 7633 and 7780 Watson Bar Road, bringing to 12 the total number of properties on evacuation order.The French Bar Creek fire was estimated at 54,892 hectares as of Saturday morning.
  The BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) says that convective act
  
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• Bald Range wildfire sits at 24,622 hectares west of Summerland

  22-08-2026 17:14 via abbynews.com
  
  The Bald Range wildfire west of Summerland continues to burn out of control more than two weeks after its discovery.
  ​According to the latest update from the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS), the blaze has grown to 24,622 hectares, with 13 evacuation alerts and eight evacuation orders still in place.
  ​Despite the large number of evacuation orders, many residents have been able to return home, with just 32 properties still under evacuation.
  ​BCWS says its priorities are to maintain th
  
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• ONC joins the hunt for cosmic particles in the ocean

  22-08-2026 15:30 via abbynews.com
  
  University of Victoria’s Ocean Networks Canada (ONC) is part of a major project that will give scientists a glimpse into the universe from under the sea.In this multi-partner Pacific Ocean Neutrino Experiment (P-ONE), ONC is co-engineering key infrastructure to create a deep-sea neutrino telescope that will transform vast stretches of the deep Pacific Ocean into a massive neutrino detector.
  Research has shown that the pitch-black depths of the deep ocean are an ideal environment for studyi
  
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• Police search for fraud suspect after incidents at Mission, Abbotsford banks

  22-08-2026 14:30 via abbynews.com
  
  A man attempted to open bank accounts using forged identification documents in Mission and Abbotsford earlier this month.
  Mission RCMP said in a news release that staff at a Mission bank contacted police on Aug. 5 after denying a man looking to open an account.Per the release, the man produced a Canadian passport and Certificate of Indian Status card with his photo on them, in the name of “Donald Chjarboneau”. Staff noted the passport had mismatched pages, along with missing security
  
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• UPDATE: Bald Range wildfire grows to 24,536 hectares, as Summerland residents continue to return home

  22-08-2026 04:31 via abbynews.com
  
  UPDATE (7:25 P.M.)
  The Bald Range wildfire continues to grow in size, according to the latest report from BCWS.
  The provincial agency said in an update at 7:04 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 21, that the fire is currently 24,536 hectares in size and continues to be classified as out of control.
  Earlier this Friday, BCWS reported that both fire behaviour and activity have been dampened over the last several days as smoke from the Bald Range wildfire and fires to the west and south have been impacting the r
  
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• Montréal minor arrested, allegedly used AI to plan school attack

  22-08-2026 02:35 via abbynews.com
  
  A Montréal youth was arrested Friday (Aug. 21) on terrorism allegations.
  RCMP’s Federal Policing Eastern Region arrested the “young man” from Montréal as part of an investigation by the Integrated National Security Enforcement Team. Police did not specify the suspect’s age, but also referred to him as a minor.Police say the investigators had “reasonable grounds” to fear he might commit crimes related to violent extremism.The investigation began a
  
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• Less than half expected sockeye returning to B.C.’s Fraser River this year

  22-08-2026 01:58 via abbynews.com
  
  The Pacific Salmon Commission has slashed estimates for this year’s Fraser River Sockeye run by more than 50 per cent.
  The initial prediction of 7,743,390 sockeye salmon returning to the Fraser River has now been downgraded to 3,496,000 fish.Experts warn this appears to be part of a 16-year downward spiral for the Fraser River’s dominant sockeye salmon run.
  “The trend for this four-year cycle in the Fraser is very concerning,” said Jason Hwang, vice-president of the Pacif
  
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• B.C. man sentenced to 22 years in jail for sex offences

  22-08-2026 01:30 via abbynews.com
  
  A Port Alberni man in his late 40s has been sentenced to 22 years in jail after being convicted of several sexual offences.
  On Aug. 11, 2026, Shaun Pater was convicted of sexual offences, including one count of sexual interference involving a person under the age of 14, two counts of sexual interference involving persons under the age of 16, and one count of sexual assault.
  “The care, sensitivity, and professionalism demonstrated by Port Alberni RCMP investigators throughout these complex
  
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• Tumbler Ridge shooting documents detail confusion around number of shooters

  22-08-2026 01:15 via abbynews.com
  
  Recently released court documents are providing more insight into the events and subsequent investigation into the mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge in February.
  Hundreds of pages of information to obtain documents were released after a media consortium sought to have them released. Black Press Media obtained the documents through the Dawson Creek court registry as a result.
  While heavily redacted, the pages of documents detail the confusion regarding how many shooters there could have been, search
  
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• Grace Elaine Paquette

  22-08-2026 00:30 via abbynews.com
  
  In Loving Memory ~
  Grace Elaine Paquette passed away peacefully in Abbotsford with family at her side on August 13, 2026 at the age of 92. She was pre-deceased by her husband, Don Leonard Paquette, her parents, Lloyd and Dorothy Wright, her sister Norma and her brother Jerry.
  Grace leaves behind her children, Darryl (Linda, Megan and Julia), Wendy, grandsons, Bryce (Melissa), Jerrdon (Kristal) and Mitchell, great-grandchildren, Robert, Genevieve, Cohan, Rylee and Cali, her sister Norma’s c
  
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• UPDATE: More Summerland residents head home as staged re-entry moves ahead

  22-08-2026 00:13 via abbynews.com
  
  UPDATE (3:20 P.M.)
  More Summerland residents are heading home.
  The entire community, except for 32 properties, is no longer under evacuation order.
  Properties located in Electoral Area F (Greater West Bench and Faulder) within the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen remain evacuated, with the exception of 23000 Gallaugher Street.
  See here for properties still evacuated.
  Properties with downgraded orders are now on evacuation alert.
  People on alert are urged to prepare to evacuate their pre
  
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• State of emergency extended in B.C. due to wildfire risk

  22-08-2026 00:04 via abbynews.com
  
  The provincial government is extending it’s state of emergency for one more week due to the ongoing wildfire risk.The state of emergency, which was first declared two weeks, is now extended until Saturday, Aug. 29, the government announced Friday (Aug. 21).The province says the extension follows advice from emergency-management officials. It allows the province to have access to emergency powers under the Emergency and Disaster Management Act if they are required.
  So far, the provincial go
  
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• Greater Vancouver Zoo reveals name of zebra foal

  22-08-2026 00:00 via abbynews.com
  
  A zebra foal at the Greater Vancouver Zoo has officially been named after a surprise reveal by zoo staff.Zoo visitors gathered at the zebra enclosure for the reveal, where guests were selected to choose a number from one to 10. A staff member then turned a box corresponding to the selected number, revealing the name Zuri.
  The zoo revealed the young zebra’s name during a special event on Aug. 20, after about 1,500 of the zoo’s social media followers voted on the options presented by t
  
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• IIO investigating Williams Lake incident that left woman seriously injured

  21-08-2026 23:56 via abbynews.com
  
  The Independent Investigations Office of BC (IIO) is investigating an incident in Williams Lake after a woman sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
  In a press release, the IIO said the incident occurred May 8, 2026, in a municipal park.
  The IIO reported that initial information states the woman had an interaction with bylaw officers and city staff. RCMP officers were called to the area and advised her that she needed to leave the park.
  At one point during an interaction between th
  
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• Kelowna Events Centre, community volunteers make a big difference for wildfire evacuees

  21-08-2026 23:15 via abbynews.com
  
  A steady stream of wildfire evacuees lined up outside the Kelowna Events Centre (KEC) on Friday, Aug. 21, with some arriving well before the doors opened, seeking clothes, diapers, toiletries and other essentials after spending weeks away from home.
  ​The recovery event at 2041 Harvey Ave., organized by Susanne Soranno with support from the KEC, local partners and community members, marked the second push to distribute a large volume of donated goods. It aimed to support those displaced by
  
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