Chilliwack news

• Raptors’ VanVleet declines player option, set to become free agent

  13-06-2023 20:13 via fraservalleytoday.ca
  
  Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet is set to become a free agent this summer.
  General manager Bobby Webster confirmed Tuesday that the 29-year-old declined his US$22.8 million player option for next season. ESPN first reported the news Monday.
  The option year was slated to be the last of a four-year, $85 million contract he signed in 2020.
  VanVleet has spent his entire seven-year career with the Raptors after going undrafted in 2016.He was a key contributor on the 2018-19 championship team and
  
  Read more

• Man arrested in connection with three armed robberies in Burnaby, B.C.

  07-01-2026 19:39 via fraservalleytoday.ca
  BURNABY — Police say a man linked to a string of armed robberies in Metro Vancouver late last year has been arrested during a raid at a local home.
  Burnaby RCMP say the 35-year-old man was taken into custody on Dec. 10 after Mounties and Vancouver police emergency teams served a search warrant on a home in Vancouver.
  The man has since been released, and police say the investigation is ongoing.
  Police say the man is suspected in three armed robberies in October and November.The first crime
  
  Read more

• Former envoy says Ottawa is ‘parroting’ Trump’s anti-democratic approach to Venezuela

  07-01-2026 19:27 via fraservalleytoday.ca
  OTTAWA — Canada's former ambassador to Venezuela says Ottawa is "parroting" Washington's anti-democratic line by giving air to the idea of fresh elections in Venezuela.
  Ben Rowswell, who served as Canada's envoy to Caracas, says Canada should instead be working toward helping install the leaders voters chose in the stolen 2024 election.
  Rowswell is reacting to a statement issued Tuesday by Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand which said U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio believes Venezuel
  
  Read more

• Veteran winger Derrick Etienne Jr. signs new contract with Toronto FC

  07-01-2026 19:25 via fraservalleytoday.ca
  TORONTO — Toronto FC has signed veteran winger Derrick Etienne Jr. to a new contract through 2026 with club options for 2027 and 2027-28 (when Major League Soccer switches to a summer-to-spring schedule).The 29-year-old Haiti international, who made US$745,566 last season, was one of eight players whose 2026 contract options were declined by TFC in late October.
  Etienne appeared in 25 league games last season with 10 starts, including four of TFC's last five outings. He is a versatile atta
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Ex-Listuguj police officer faces charges after Quebec police watchdog investigation

  07-01-2026 19:16 via fraservalleytoday.ca
  MONTREAL — A former officer with the Listuguj Police Department is facing criminal charges following an investigation by Quebec's police watchdog.
  Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes says Cass Barnaby is facing charges of extortion, non-consensual publication of intimate images, and harassing communications.The charges are related to alleged offences in 2024 in the Mi'kmaq community of Listuguj, a First Nation on the Gaspé Peninsula near the border with New Brunswick.
  The
  
  Read more

• Big streamers challenging financial disclosure rules in CRTC Cancon decision

  07-01-2026 19:09 via fraservalleytoday.ca
  OTTAWA — Large foreign streaming companies are fighting a decision by the federal broadcast regulator to modernize its definition of Canadian content.
  They are challenging a portion of the CRTC’s November decision that would require them to disclose financial information.
  A group of streamers, including Netflix and Amazon, filed the challenge in the Federal Court of Appeal in December.
  The new disclosure requirements would see the regulator publish information on each large streamer&
  
  Read more

• ICE agent shoots and kills a woman during the Minneapolis immigration crackdown

  07-01-2026 19:05 via fraservalleytoday.ca
  MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A federal agent shot and killed a Minneapolis motorist when she allegedly tried to run over law enforcement officers during an immigration crackdown in the city, authorities said Wednesday.The Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shot the woman in her vehicle in a residential neighborhood in Minneapolis, Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement.The shooting marks a dramatic escalation of the latest in a series of immigratio
  
  Read more

• NDP leadership candidates sprint to final fundraising, membership deadlines

  07-01-2026 19:02 via fraservalleytoday.ca
  OTTAWA — NDP leadership candidates are entering the final sprint to sign up members and raise the last of four $25,000 payments required to be on the ballot.
  The membership cutoff for voting eligibility and the final fundraising deadline both land on Jan. 28.
  A spokesperson for the Avi Lewis campaign claims he has raised over $751,000 since the campaign began in the fall, while other candidates declined to share preliminary fundraising data.
  Individual candidate fundraising data will be re
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• No one injured in extortion-related shooting in Delta, B.C.: police

  07-01-2026 19:00 via fraservalleytoday.ca
  DELTA — Police in Delta, B.C., say they are looking into a shooting linked to an ongoing extortion case.
  It happened at a home early Wednesday near 84 Avenue and Brooke Road.
  Police say officers responded to reports of shots fired toward the home, but no further details about suspects or the circumstances have been released.
  There were people inside the home at the time, but police say no one was hurt.
  Police say the shooting is believed to be related to a current extortion investigation,
  
  Read more

• WHL’s Raiders acquire Braeden Cootes in blockbuster trade with Thunderbirds

  07-01-2026 18:51 via fraservalleytoday.ca
  PRINCE ALBERT — The Western Hockey League's Prince Albert Raiders have acquired forward Braeden Cootes, fresh off a bronze medal at the world junior championship, in a big trade with the Seattle Thunderbirds involving a dozen players and draft picks.
  Cootes was a first-round pick (15th overall) of the Vancouver Canucks in 2025 and played three games with the NHL club before he was returned to the WHL.The 18-year-old centre from Sherwood Park, Alta., had two goals in seven games for Canada
  
  Read more

• Gov. Ron DeSantis calls for special session in April to redraw Florida’s congressional districts

  07-01-2026 18:41 via fraservalleytoday.ca
  ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Wednesday he plans to call a special session in April for the Republican-dominated legislature to draw new congressional districts, joining a redistricting arms race among states that have redrawn districts mid-decade.Even though Florida’s 2026 legislative session starts next week, DeSantis said he wanted to wait for a possible ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court on a key provision of the Voting Rights Act. The ruling in Louisiana v.
  
  Read more

• IIO continues probe after man who was found laying on Lougheed Highway in distress later died

  07-01-2026 18:33 via fraservalleytoday.ca
  MAPLE RIDGE — B.C.’s civilian watchdog agency says it is continuing its investigation about an August 2025 incident in which a man was found laying on Lougheed Highway in Maple Ridge but later died in October.In a statement, the Independent Investigations Office (IIO) of B.C. says officers with the Ridge Meadows RCMP detachment responded to a call on August 30, 2025 at about 4:30 a.m. for the report of a man who was believed to be in distress and screaming in the 20900 block of Lough
  
  Read more

• Winnipeg Jets push back ski goggle giveaway after Swiss ski resort fire

  07-01-2026 18:23 via fraservalleytoday.ca
  WINNIPEG — The Winnipeg Jets are postponing a ski-related promotion in the wake of a deadly fire at a ski resort in Switzerland.
  The National Hockey League team was planning an "après-ski"-themed night for its home game against the Los Angeles Kings on Friday.
  The first 5,000 fans were to receive ski goggles.
  But the club says it is pushing back to event to March 10, in recognition of the people killed and injured in a bar fire at a New Year's party in Switzerland.
  Friday is a natio
  
  Read more

• Shooting is reported in Minneapolis, where the feds are conducting an immigration crackdown

  07-01-2026 18:19 via fraservalleytoday.ca
  MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Authorities reported a shooting Wednesday involving federal agents in Minneapolis, where immigration enforcement has been conducting a major crackdown.Live video posted online showed a large presence of federal and local officers, yellow police tape and cars that had been in a crash. Cmdr. Gregory Bovino of U.S. Customs and Border Protection was in the group.“We are aware of a shooting involving federal law enforcement near East 34th Street and Portland Avenue. Ple
  
  Read more

• Canada women to face the U.S., Argentina and Colombia at SheBelieves Cup in March

  07-01-2026 18:05 via fraservalleytoday.ca
  Canada is returning to the SheBelieves Cup, joining the host United States, Argentina and Colombia at the four-team women's tournament in March.
  The 10th-ranked Canadians will open March 1 against No. 20 Colombia​ in Nashville before facing the second-ranked U.S. on March 4 in Columbus and No. 30 Argentina on March 7 in Harrison, N.J.
  It will mark Canada's fourth appearance at the tournament after finishing second in 2024, fourth in 2023 and third in 2021.
  Japan won in 2025, snapping an Am
  
  Read more

• First Nations chiefs alarmed by feds’ lack of commitment to protecting source water

  07-01-2026 17:54 via fraservalleytoday.ca
  OTTAWA — Some First Nations chiefs say Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty's recent refusal to commit to source water protections in a promised clean water bill shows the government is sidelining the health of Indigenous communities in its push to build up the economy.
  Two provinces — Alberta and Ontario — objected to clean water legislation introduced by former prime minister Justin Trudeau's government that failed to pass before Parliament was prorogued last year. G
  
  Read more

• Mission Memorial Hospital reinstates full ER coverage after a rough 2025 that saw 6 ER closures

  07-01-2026 17:41 via fraservalleytoday.ca
  MISSION — The Fraser Health Authority says full ER coverage has returned to Mission Memorial Hospital, following a year that saw repeated closures of its emergency department.In a statement released Wednesday morning, Fraser Health says there is now 24/7 emergency department coverage at the hospital.“We recognize how important consistent access to emergency care is for the Mission community and we continue to work with the physician group to actively address physician staffing gaps a
  
  Read more

• Statistics Canada now hiring for about 32,000 census jobs, with enumerator jobs paying over $25/hr.

  07-01-2026 16:51 via fraservalleytoday.ca
  CHILLIWACK — Statistics Canada says it is hiring for approximately 32,000 positions across Canada ahead of this spring’s 2026 census, including enumerator jobs that pay over $25/hour.In a statement released Monday, StatsCan says census workers will play an essential role as they collect high-quality demographic, social and economic data to help provide an accurate statistical portrait of the country. The data that enumerators receive from constituents will equip decision makers with
  
  Read more

• Chilliwack-Hope MP Strahl to participate in rare town hall meeting

  07-01-2026 16:15 via fraservalleytoday.ca
  CHILLIWACK — Chilliwack-Hope MP Mark Strahl is set to participate in a rare town hall meeting next week in Chilliwack.
  The nonpartisan event, known as “Civil Nights at The Grand Hall,” is described as a discussion forum meant to increase civic engagement between elections, and support a social form of political education within the general public.
  Strahl has been invited to participate in the next event slated for Tuesday, January 13 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Grand Hall, loc
  
  Read more

• Village of Harrison Hot Springs insists it doesn’t discharge untreated sewage into Harrison River, amid statements by former mayor

  07-01-2026 15:44 via fraservalleytoday.ca
  HARRISON HOT SPRINGS — The Village of Harrison Hot Springs has unequivocally denied a claim by its former mayor that it discharged untreated sewage into the Harrison River/Harrison Lake.
  But former HHS mayor Ed Wood has responded to the village’s statement by accusing its current mayor of defamation and demanding an immediate retraction to clear his name.
  The issue began after Wood wrote a letter to the editor of the Agassiz newspaper claiming Mayor Talen jeopardized the public healt
  
  Read more

• Carney heads to China next week for first visit by a prime minister in eight years

  07-01-2026 15:19 via fraservalleytoday.ca
  OTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney will travel to China next week to talk trade, energy, agriculture and international security.
  The Prime Minister's Office would not yet confirm if Carney will meet face-to-face with President Xi Jinping.Carney is scheduled to depart for China on Jan. 13 and leave the country on Jan. 17.Relations between Canada and China have been tense in recent years, with Canada imposing 100 per cent tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and a 25 per cent import tax on
  
  Read more

• Tim Hortons inks partnerships with Canadian Olympic, Paralympic committees

  07-01-2026 14:00 via fraservalleytoday.ca
  TORONTO — Tim Hortons might be synonymous with hockey but this year, it's clinching a new sporting title: Olympic sponsor.
  The café giant revealed Wednesday that it's backing Canada's national squad after signing its first ever partnership with the Canadian Olympic Committee.
  That the two national icons had never teamed up in this way before caught even Hope Bagozzi, Tims' chief marketing officer, off guard when the pair started plotting a union months ago.
  "It seems like sort of a
  
  Read more

• Troy Ryan: Sceptres not “completely snake-bitten yet” as scoring issues continue

  07-01-2026 11:00 via fraservalleytoday.ca
  TORONTO — Toronto Sceptres head coach Troy Ryan isn't concerned about the mood of his locker room.
  The Sceptres were shut out in a 2-0 loss to the New York Sirens on Tuesday night, with Ryan mentioning that his team's performance was "unacceptable." It was one of several games Toronto has outshot its opponent (30-23) but struggled to score, with players having answered questions about the team's hardship to do so often.
  "I don't think there's any real concern there," Ryan said. "I think th
  
  Read more

• Oilers snipers continue to feast on Predators

  07-01-2026 11:00 via fraservalleytoday.ca
  EDMONTON — Seeing the Nashville Predators on the calendar seems to always give the Edmonton Oilers and their star players some extra jump.
  Connor McDavid scored three goals, including one on a penalty shot, and Leon Draisaitl had a goal and two assists as the Oilers came away with a 6-2 victory over the Predators on Tuesday.
  In their last 16 games against Nashville dating back to the 2019-20 season, Edmonton has gone 14-1-1 and have outscored the Predators 72 to 36.
  “It was a good st
  
  Read more

• Matthews thrilled with Sundin’s special appearance to recognize goals record

  07-01-2026 11:00 via fraservalleytoday.ca
  TORONTO — The fact that Mats Sundin flew from Sweden to Toronto to help honour Auston Matthews' accomplishment of becoming the Maple Leafs franchise leader in goals scored tugged on the current captain’s heartstrings.
  Matthews passed the former captain with two goals on the road against the New York Islanders on Saturday and added another with Sundin watching live in the Maple Leafs 4-1 win against the defending Stanley Cup-champion Florida Panthers at Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday.
  Su
  
  Read more

• Jets remain confident they’ll pull out of nosedive as losing streak hits 10 games

  07-01-2026 11:00 via fraservalleytoday.ca
  WINNIPEG — Even though their losing streak has reached double digits, Winnipeg Jets head coach Scott Arniel and his players weren't throwing their arms up in despair.
  Instead, a 10th consecutive loss (0-6-4) after falling 4-3 to the Vegas Golden Knights in overtime on Tuesday will make the Jets dig in deeper and keep hoping there's light at the end of the tunnel.
  “You have to coach the games, you have to be in these games,” Arniel said. “You just can't say, 'OK, it's been
  
  Read more

• Yemen’s anti-Houthi council expels separatist leader and says he faces treason charges

  07-01-2026 10:53 via fraservalleytoday.ca
  ADEN, YEMEN (AP) — A council fighting against Yemen’s Houthi rebels said Wednesday that it had expelled the leader of a separatist movement and charged him with treason after he reportedly declined to travel to Saudi Arabia for talks. The statement, carried by the SABA news agency affiliated with the anti-Houthi forces, marks a new escalation between Saudi-backed forces and the Southern Transitional Council, or STC, which had been backed by the United Arab Emirates. The rift deepens
  
  Read more

• In the news: G7 discusses U.S. moves in Venezuela, RCAF growing despite challenges

  07-01-2026 10:15 via fraservalleytoday.ca
  Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed …
  Anand says Rubio wants elections in Venezuela
  Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand says her American counterpart finds it important that Venezuelans have a chance to elect their own leader, after the ouster of President Nicolas Maduro.
  Anand says U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio took part in a call with his G7 colleagues Tuesday, and spoke of the importance of democracy in Venezuela, as well as the
  
  Read more

• Novo Nordisk considers competing with generics through renamed lower-price Ozempic

  07-01-2026 10:00 via fraservalleytoday.ca
  TORONTO — Novo Nordisk Canada is considering competing with generic versions of its brand-name Ozempic and Wegovy drugs by introducing renamed, lower-priced copies of the medications.Health Canada approved the company's submissions for Plosbrio and Poviztra on Dec. 22.In an email, Health Canada spokesperson Mark Johnson said the diabetes and weight-loss drugs are identical to Ozempic and Wegovy, respectively.The only differences are the product names and packaging, "with no changes to the
  
  Read more

• How Canadian agencies are embracing AI tools to defend national security

  07-01-2026 10:00 via fraservalleytoday.ca
  OTTAWA — The national spy watchdog is reviewing the use and governance of artificial intelligence by Canada’s security agencies.
  The National Security and Intelligence Review Agency has written to key federal ministers and organizations to inform them of the study.
  Here’s a look at how some federal organizations are putting AI tools to work to support national security, intelligence and risk assessment operations.
  Canadian Security Intelligence Service
  CSIS works to protect Can
  
  Read more

Follow @NewsChilliwack on Twitter!