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Whistler resident wins $500,000 Lotto Max prize—one day before his birthday

Francis Masculino plans to use his winnings to pay off his vehicle, purchase a home and spend more time with his family

A Whistler man received a once-in-a-lifetime birthday present this year. The night before his big day, Francis Masculino found out he’d $500,000 from the March 3 Lotto Max draw.…

‘Careless’ motorcyclist escapes police after veering into Spruce Grove Park

Police Briefs: Cyclist injured in collision; Richmond motorcyclist airlifted to hospital

Whistler RCMP is on the lookout for a motorcyclist who managed to evade police, who were pursuing the man after he was seen driving without a licence plate. At about 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 23, police observed the motorcycle without a licence plate on Mons Road.…

Despite hiccup, record reservations for B.C. campgrounds

Despite an opening day marked by technical issues for B.C.’s camping reservation system, a record 50,479 bookings were made. The Ministry of Environment repeated its apology to people who had trouble with the Discover Camping system due to huge demand on Monday.…

Oceans away

With the past seven days representing National Biodiversity Week in many countries—the reason the last column in this space focused on biodiversity—let’s stick with that theme. On the heels of #EndangeredSpeciesDay, #WorldTurtleDay and #InternationalDayForBiodiversity, we’ll look at a region of Canada that isn’t often mentioned when we think of biodiversity—the Arctic.…

Conversations ‘need to be had’ over long-term care but PM won’t commit to inquiry

Military reports detail conditions of long-term care facilities in Quebec and Ontario

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says conversation with the provinces “need to be had” following a second military report detailing disturbing conditions in long-term care facilities. From lack of personnel to disregard for physical distancing and personal protective equipment, the prime minister said the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) report on the state of 25 facilities in Quebec was “troubling.”…

B.C. teacher suspended after kids told to ‘go back to working on rice farms’

Vancouver teacher suspended for three days for multiple incidents

A Vancouver teacher who suggested students whose families were from other countries should go back where they came from will be suspended for three days, B.C.’s Commissioner for Teacher Regulation ordered May 26. Klaus Hardy Breslauer had been a high school teacher in the 2018-19 academic year when the district reported him to the commissioner.…

North Shore provincial parks reopening June 1

After months of closure thanks to COVID-19, the North Shore’s parks and playgrounds are set to reopen. The gates on the roads leading to Mount Seymour and Cypress provincial parks will be opened on June 1, the province has confirmed.…

Federal deficit likely now at $260 billion due to COVID-19, PBO says

$40.33 billion going to 8.21 million people through the Canada Emergency Response Benefit

Parliament’s spending watchdog said the estimated deficit for the year has likely risen to about $260 billion, leaving the government with little fiscal firepower to stimulate an economic rebound. Budget officer Yves Giroux previously estimated the federal deficit at $252.1 billion this fiscal year on account of a sharp increase in spending on emergency aid and a subsequent drop in economic activity related to the COVID-19 pandemic.…

Children low risk to contract or spread COVID-19, says provincial health officer

Studies point to low risks as B.C. classrooms get set to reopen

As B.C. schools gear up renewed classroom teaching in June, medical health officers said there appears to be very little risk of children contracting COVID-19, getting sick from the virus or transmitting it to others. “It’s clear around the world that [children] are less likely to be infected with COVID-19 than adults,” said provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry on Monday, May 25, adding that’s proved true for B.C. as well.…

UBC scanners could accelerate COVID-19 diagnoses

50 Burnaby-made scanners to be deployed in “rural” B.C

Clarius pocket ultrasound scanner | Photo: Submitted UBC researchers said rural B.C. doctors will be among the first to use a network of 50 portable, handheld ultrasound scanners that could help accelerate COVID-19 diagnosis.…

Military reports ‘shocking’ conditions in Ontario nursing homes

Report reveals extreme neglect and ugly conditions at five long-term care facilities

A new report from the military helping battle COVID-19 in five long-term care facilities in Ontario has revealed extreme neglect and exposed the extent of the ugly conditions facing residents, prompting Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to offer help for what he called an infuriating situation. The report found people left in filth for weeks, others left on the floor where they had fallen, cockroach infestations, people choking while being improperly fed, patients with brutal pressure sores, and seniors pleading for help for hours to no avail.…

Protect restaurant patrons’ private information: Commissioner

Eateries ordered to collect diners data for COVID tracing

B.C. restaurants must protect personal information collected from customers as ordered by provincial health officer (PHO) Dr. Bonnie Henry May 22. Henry’s May 22 order tells food and drink establishment operators they “must collect the first and last name and telephone number or email address of one member of every party of patrons and retain this information for 30 days, in the event that there is a need for contact tracing on the part of the medical health officer.” The date of the restaurant visit is also recorded.…

B.C. tourism readies for a staycationing summer

Destination British Columbia negotiating partnership deals in province-wide campaign

After months of living under government travel restrictions, British Columbians will likely get the green light soon to explore their province as long as they take precautions to limit potential exposure to the COVID-19 virus. “We need to think about later on in the summer, if things keep going the way they’re going, then yeah, let’s look at how we can go to our second homes or go to some of the tourist areas and experience it here in B.C.,” B.C.’s provincial health officer, Bonnie Henry, told media earlier this month.…

Ottawa signs deal with GM to produce 10M face masks

The prime minister also reveals government contract to produce 10,000 made-in-Canada ventilators

The federal government is tapping General Motors Co. to produce 10 million face masks. “They will help keep people safe and slow the spread of COVID-19,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday (May 26) during his daily media briefing outside his home in Ottawa.…

Crankworx Whistler cancelled

Innsbruck festival still on tap

Crankworx Whistler will not run in 2020. The Crankworx World Tour announced on Tuesday morning (May 26) that provincial restrictions on event sizes will prevent the festival from running as planned this August, while later dates were not feasible, according to Crankworx World Tour general manager Darren Kinnaird.…