• Record temperatures expected for Abbotsford

    Record temperatures expected for Abbotsford
    Forecast calls for highs of 22 degrees this week
  • B.C. man charged after someone tried to set sleeping SkyTrain passenger on fire

    A 37-year-old Surrey resident has been charged in connection with a December 2025 alleged “unprovoked assault” on a man who was sleeping on the SkyTrain.
    On Dec. 16, a man was asleep on a SkyTrain that was travelling from Vancouver to Burnaby when the suspect “allegedly poured a liquid on the victim’s clothing and attempted to ignite it,” noted a Metro Vancouver Transit Police news release Wednesday (Jan. 14). “Several bystanders intervened, removed the suspec
  • Jail for recording minor in Penticton Community Centre changeroom

    ~Warning: This story contains references to child sexual abuse that may be upsetting to some readers.
    A Penticton man will spend 45 days in jail and 10 years on the sexual offenders registry for recording a video of a minor showering at the Penticton Community Centre in 2024.
    Zachary Nicholas Sarault, 24, appeared in Penticton Provincial Court on Jan. 14 to hear his fate after having previously pleaded guilty to the charges of secretly recording nudity in a private place and possession of child
  • Reece Howden breaks records, makes ski cross racing history

    The World Cup ski cross season has started, and Cultus Lake’s Reece Howden is already dominating the slopes.
    There were five races in December and he won three of them consecutively, and breaking world records in the process.
    Howden’s first win this season was in Arosa, Switzerland. He earned his 19th gold medal there, surpassing Jean-Frederic Chapuis (France) with 18.
    Howden was dominate, winning each of his heats.
    “That’s 19, right?” said a smiling Howden at the f
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  • 17-year-old charged with manslaughter over 2024 teen overdose death in Prince George

    Prince George RCMP’s Serious Crime Unit has arrested a 17-year-old youth in relation to the fentanyl overdose death of a 16-year-old teen that happened over a year-and-a-half ago.
    On Jan. 13, 2026, members of the Prince George RCMP arrested the 17-year-old on a search warrant. The BC Prosecution Service has approved one charge of manslaughter in relation to the investigation.
    The 17-year-old was taken to court and was released on the conditions.
    “This is a tragedy, and our thoughts c
  • Abbotsford Canucks defender Kirill Kudryavtsev named to AHL All-Star Classic

    Abbotsford Canucks defenceman Kirill Kudryavtsev has been named an American Hockey League all-star.
    The Russian product is the fourth player in franchise history to participate in the all-star game and joins Christian Wolanin (2023), Arshdeep Bains (2024) and Ty Mueller (2025) in the history books.
    This year’s AHL All-Star Classic occurs on Feb. 10 and 11 in Rockford, Ill.MAJOR STAR POWER
    Details on the 2026 #AHLAllStar rosters: https://t.co/uTnPeYQ6QW: https://t.co/NSA3PfTnvU pic.twitter.
  • Woman pleads guilty to 3 child sexual abuse charges in Abbotsford

    A woman who faced 13 charges in Abbotsford – including for sexual offences against a child and the possession of child sexual abuse material – recently pleaded guilty to three of the offences.
    Siobhan Kirby, 35, pleaded guilty in December to making, publishing or possessing child sexual abuse material; sexual exploitation; and telecommunication to lure a child under the age of 18.
    The other 10 charges, which are expected to be stayed at sentencing, included sexual assault, invitation
  • B.C. equestrian charged with sexual exploitation

    A Langley man has been charged with two counts of sexual exploitation of two victims, and the police are asking the public to come forward if there’s any additional information.
    Isauro Antonino Flores, a Langley resident, has been charged with two counts of sexual exploitation, in relation to two victims. Investigators believe there may be additional individuals within the equestrian community who have information but have not yet come forward.
    Langley RCMP are seeking additional informati
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  • Mercedes-Benz enters the Abbotsford EV charging market

    There are now more local electric vehicle charging options than ever before, with Mercedes-Benz recently opening its first three Lower Mainland stations, including one right here in Abbotsford.
    These new charging hubs all have 400 kW Alpitronic chargers, which are the first of their kind in Canada, and are able to provide a vehicle with more than 300 km of range in only 10 minutes.
    This is good news for not just Mercedes-Benz customers, but for all EV drivers, since the charging stations use a f
  • Recall petition planned against Okanagan MLA despite ‘very challenging’ goal

    An upcoming petition is aiming to recall Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream MLA Tara Armstrong from her seat in Victoria.
    Armstrong, who was voted into the Legislative Assembly in the 2024 provincial elections, has stirred B.C. politics, switching from a Conservative to an Independent before helping find the OneBC party, which she was removed from in December 2025.
    Armstrong and OneBC have proposed numerous controversial bills in Victoria, some of which propose that the National Day for Truth and R
  • City doing ‘everything within our authority’ for public safety: Surrey mayor

    Surrey’s mayor issued a statement regarding ongoing violence Thursday, saying the city is doing everything within its power to help ensure public safety.
    Mayor Brenda Locke noted her deep concern about the ongoing extortions and gang-related violence happening throughout the city in the Thursday (Jan. 15) statement, saying that extortions and more recent gang-related violence have impacted far too many in the community for more than a year.
    “Everyone deserves to feel safe in their ne
  • Abbotsford wrestlers shine at Miri Piri Wrestling Championship Tournament

    Hundreds of wrestlers from all across British Columbia and Alberta congregated at Abbotsford’s Ag-Rec Centre for the 19th annual Miri Piri Wrestling Championship Tournament on Sunday (Jan. 11).
    The familiar settings seemed to provide a bit of an edge for local wrestlers, as hosts Miri Piri Wrestling Club placed first for all teams with 22 points. The Abbotsford-based club has been training local grapplers since 1996.
    View this post on InstagramA post shared by North Wrestle (@northwrestle)
  • Former B.C. Liberal minister Iain Black enters B.C. Conservative leadership race

    Iain Black is entering the race to be the next B.C. Conservative leader, looking to leverage his experience working for “transformative change” in business to help him fix what ails the province.
    “I’m the guy they call when things are not going well,” he told Black Press Media in an interview. “Almost every company is highly dysfunctional and is in a state of financial distress.”
    Black served as a minister under former Premier Gordon Campbell in several
  • Four-term B.C. councillor with focus on finances dies

    His own family gave a glimpse into how headstrong Vernon councillor Barry Beardsell was.
    Beardsell – who served four terms on council between 1997 and 2008, fighting to keep the city’s finances in great shape – died Jan. 9 in Vernon at the age of 85.
    “Diagnosed with cancer in 2012, his doctors gave him five years to live,” wrote the family in Beardsell’s obituary. “In his characteristic stubborn English way, he went on to prove them wrong by bringing joy
  • Tip of the ol’ cap to National Hat Day

    Hats off to National Hat Day!
    Yes, don your favourite chapeau today, Jan. 15, for its National Hat Day, celebrated each year on this date. It can be a baseball hat, sun hat, top hat, derby, fedora, hard hat, or a toque (qualifies as winter headwear in Canada).
    “We wear hats for numerous reasons,” says nationaldaycalendar.com. “Many hats protect us from elements or harm. Others are worn for ceremonial or religious reasons. Some hats just make us look good or cover up what we thi
  • B.C. newspaper hit by coconut caper over spare change

    In the thick of winter, the Revelstoke Review was in for a more tropical surprise after someone used a coconut to smash into the newspaper’s cash box – possibly nabbing enough money for a coffee.
    Black Press Media discovered the fruity phenomenon the morning of Jan. 12. Shards of coconut littered the newsstand, and white watery residue blemished the window outside the Review’s office door.
    The small metal cash box, used by non-subscribers to pay for their weekly newspaper and e
  • 2 Okanagan towns named finalists for Canada’s kindest community

    Two Okanagan communities daily acts of kindness have landed them a spot in the nationwide competition.
    Conducted by Coca-Cola, the title for ‘Canada’s Kindest Community’ comes with a $100,000 prize awarded to a local charity and a stop on the Coca-Cola Holiday Caravan 2026 tour.
    Some of the acts that Peachland and Lower Similkameen performed were:A local quilt guild donated more than 297 handmade quilts this year to the Kelowna NICU, recovery homes, women’s shelters, and
  • Shoppers customers report faulty gift cards

    Aldergrove’s Shoppers Drug Mart customers or recipients say faulty gift cards have left them without money or answers.
    Cards purchased and activated at the store showed zero balance or appeared to have already been redeemed.
    Mission resident Dan Frederick said the problem surfaced after October 2025, when he and his brother each received $100 Amazon gift cards purchased by their mother at the Aldergrove Shoppers Drug Mart location.
    “When I went to redeem it, it said the card had alre
  • Toys R Us latest major retailer to vanish from Lower Mainland shopping landscape

    The abrupt closure of Langley’s Toys R Us is the latest in a string of closures and bankruptcies that have seen once-profitable retailers vacate malls in Langley and across Canada.
    A notice posted on the store’s doors on Tuesday, Jan. 13 by Willowbrook Shopping Centre owner QuadReal Property Group said the store was in default of its lease and owed $898,337.59 in rent, operating costs, taxes, and interest. Inside, merchandise was still on shelves next to a statue of chain mascot Geof
  • Raccoons trapped in Maple Ridge yard were maimed, euthanized

    Two raccoons maimed by traps in Maple Ridge on New Year’s Eve had to be put down.
    The Fur-Bearers wildlife protection group said young raccoons were “languishing in cuff-style traps in a Maple Ridge yard” before they were humanely euthanized. The animals had been assessed by qualified wildlife rehabilitators, so the severity of their injuries could be determined.
    A volunteer from the Langley-based Critter Care Wildlife Society attended the residential property to rescue and tra
  • Now 3 concerts for Bruno Mars at BC Place Stadium in October

    Taylor Swift-level ticket demand means Bruno Mars will be playing three concerts at B.C.’s largest stadium this fall.
    His tour of North America and Europe was set to end in Vancouver on Oct. 15 at BC Place Stadium, Live Nation Entertainment announced Jan. 8.
    But strong ticket demand during an “artist presale” Wednesday led to the announcement of a second concert for Mars at the 54,000-seat stadium, quickly followed by a third. The additional dates at BC Place are Friday, Oct. 1
  • Police investigate extortion-related shooting at home in Surrey

    Police are investigating an overnight shooting at a home in Surrey’s Panorama Ridge neighbourhood that is believed to be extortion-related.
    Surrey Police responded to a call of a shooting in the 13400 block of 56 Ave around 12:50 a.m. Thursday (Jan. 15). Police found that a home and vehicle had been damaged by a shooting, but no one was injured.
    “While the motive for the shooting is still under investigation, it appears that this incident is related to the ongoing series of extortion
  • Woman alarmed after being asked to leave Conservative town hall over T-shirt

    Cowichan businesswoman Kristi Koons said she’s alarmed and concerned over the fact that she and another two women were asked to leave a town hall featuring federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre on June 10 because of the T-shirts they were wearing.
    Koons said she was quiet and respectful at the town hall, which was held at Mellor Hall at the Cowichan Exhibition grounds and attracted more than 1,000 people, before a group of men and RCMP officers approached her and said she was not we
  • For Freedom: Volunteers save injured eagle trapped in fishing net at B.C. dump

    An eagle was found caught in a fish net at a West Chilcotin dump this week and rescued by locals.
    “He really did go all out keeping this eagle alive and feeding it at the dump,” said Sue Burton, a wildlife volunteer local to Williams Lake who is helping to coordinate the eagle’s rescue from the Nimpo Lake landfill.
    Burton was referring to Edward Butler, who took care of the eagle his friend Trudi found tangled in the fish net.
    “She cut if free, but it must have been fight
  • What to expect in the 1st month after bringing a puppy home

    Bringing a puppy home is a big milestone. The house instantly feels louder, cuter, and a little more chaotic.
    One moment, everything is full of joy and love; the next, it’s a wonder how something so small can get into absolutely everything. Excitement, a feeling of being overwhelmed, and emotional attachment often come all at once – that mix of emotions is normal.
    For the puppy, this is a huge transition. Their entire world has changed overnight. New people, new smells, new sounds, a
  • Visits dip dramatically on historic Chilkoot Trail after Canada-U.S. closures

    The Canadian side of the Chilkoot Trail saw fewer visits in the past five years combined than it did in any one of the previous five years before the COVID-19 pandemic.
    That’s according to year-over-year data from the past 10 years obtained by the News ahead of Parks Canada opening reservations for the Chilkoot Trail National Historic Site’s 2026 hiking season.
    The international trail has faced closures amid a global pandemic, a natural disaster and strained relations between the Uni
  • Group of youth throw rocks at 45-year-old man in Mission

    A 45-year-old man was injured after a group of youth allegedly threw rocks at him in Mission last week.
    According to a news release from Mission RCMP, officers were called to Logan Avenue near Park Street just before 6 p.m. on Jan. 6 after the man suffered a head injury from the rocks.
    When police arrived, the youth were no longer there.
    Police said footage from a nearby business helped identify several youth – all between 16 and 18 years old.“The man told police that he had also had
  • ‘It feels threatening’: Crushed pickleball paddle debate hits B.C. courts

    The crack of a pickleball paddle echoing across B.C. courts might sound harmless. But according to Shawnigan Lake Pickleball Club director Leanne Schultz, that unusually loud pop could be a warning sign.
    Schultz is raising concerns about what are commonly referred to as “crushed” or delaminated paddles, equipment she believes threatens both the integrity and safety of the sport.
    “The amount of effort in the stroke gets a disproportionate response off the face,” Schultz sa
  • Police attend Abbotsford home Wednesday night due to breach of conditions - Fraser Valley Today

    Police attend Abbotsford home Wednesday night due to breach of conditions  Fraser Valley Today
  • Vancouver Island photographer captures global recognition for ancient tree shot

    A local photographer was awarded bronze in an international competition for a photo taken at Sooke Potholes.
    The Exposure One Awards celebrate the art of black-and-white photography. They recently announced the winners of their Nature Photography Contest for 2025, and among the talent was Sooke’s Pascale Navarro in the Earth’s Textures category for an image taken at Sooke Potholes.
    Captured on Christmas Eve in 2024, the long exposure shot was taken in monochrome mode, featuring the r

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