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Province to conduct random inspections as businesses re-open

Inspections will take place across sectors, and penalties could be issued if re-opening rules are not followed

Businesses across sectors should expect random inspections as they prepare to re-open under the province’s restart plan. “The inspections are for all businesses that are re-opening,” said B.C. Minister of Labour Harry Bains.…

B.C.’s minimum wage increase of 75 cents will go ahead as planned

‘The lowest paid workers in B.C. need help as well,’ says minister Harry Bains

There are no plans to defer a June 1 increase in British Columbia’s minimum wage because of COVID-19, said Harry Bains, the province’s labour minister Bains said Thursday, May 21, he understands the economic threat the novel coronavirus poses to businesses in B.C., but the province plans to increase the minimum wage to $14.60 per hour from $13.85.…

Feds will fund COVID-19 testing, tracing and data-sharing, Trudeau promises

The federal government will fund provinces’ efforts to test people for COVID-19, track the contacts of those who test positive, and help different jurisdictions share data, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Friday. The measures are essential because COVID-19 remains a serious health threat and the economy can’t fully recover until Canadians are confident that the novel coronavirus will be contained anywhere new it breaks out, he said.…

Air travel might not return to normal until 2023: Report

A recent study looking at the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global air travel projects the industry will not recover until 2023

A recent study looking at the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global air travel projects the industry will not recover until 2023. The study, conducted by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in conjunction with Tourism Economics, looked at how global economic activity and the air transport business will recover over the next five years.…

Vancouver man arrested for firing pellet gun in Meadow Park

Police Briefs: RCMP nabs half dozen impaired drivers

A Vancouver man was arrested last week after he was caught firing a pellet gun in Meadow Park, police said in a release.
Whistler RCMP attended the scene at approximately 8:15 a.m. on Saturday, May 16, and spoke with several witnesses, who said they observed a group of individuals drinking alcohol and shooting what appeared to be a rifle at signs in the area.…

COVID-19 pandemic adds risk to wildfire season: B.C. forests minister

B.C. forest firefighting budget hits $136 million

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the danger of British Columbia’s wildfire season, and the province’s forests’ minister said public help is crucial to reducing fires. Wildfires caused by humans are preventable and divert valuable resources away from naturally occurring fires while exposing firefighters to unnecessary risks, Minister Doug Donaldson said Thursday.…

Boys to damaged men

Gentlemen, we have a problem. As the recent mass shooting in Nova Scotia once again demonstrates all too painfully, there’s an inherent flaw in the male psyche that goes beyond nurture into our very nature.…

RBC GranFondo Whistler cancelled

Riders can defer entry until 2021 or 2022

After holding out hope for as long as possible, organizers of the RBC GranFondo Whistler announced the 2020 event’s cancellation on May 21. Citing the provincial government’s recent four-phase reopening plan in which events larger than 50 people would not be allowed until “a vaccine or successful medical treatment is widely available,” organizers reasoned that as a mass event, the Sept. 12 race would not go ahead this year.…

More than 40,000 travellers arriving by land or air screened for COVID-19 so far

Latest community outbreak of virus is at Matsqui Institution.

At her daily briefing B.C.’s provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said screening of travellers is continuing. “We’ve now screened over 40,000 travellers who have come into B.C. from air or land,” said Henry, adding that125 people have also been provided accommodation for self-isolation when people come into the province.…

Walk for Alzheimer’s moves online

Fundraiser event set for May 31

The annual Walk for Alzheimer’s is still set to take place on May 31, but it will look a little different than usual. The Alzheimer Society of B.C., along with Alzheimer societies across the country, has decided to move the event online in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.…

BC Parks’ camping facilities are reopening on June 1

The Discover Camping website and call centre will begin taking reservations on Monday, May 25

Like B.C. society in general, BC Parks is taking a phased approach to its reopening plans. Following the re-opening of most provincial parks for day use on May 14, BC Parks has released plans to once again allow overnight camping this summer.…

Vail Resorts CEO discusses reopening plan in email to employees

Company aims to start up lifts in late June or early July

Vail Resorts CEO Rob Katz updated the company’s roughly 15,000 employees on reopening plans in a May 21 email. Emphasizing that safety and caution when considering how best to ramp up operations after shutting down in mid-March because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Katz said that the target start date is in late June or early July.…

BC Transit outlines safety measures to align with B.C.’s Restart Plan

Fare collection and front-door loading resume June 1

BC Transit has outlined the precautions it is putting in place to align with B.C.’s Restart Plan and ensure the safety of its passengers and staff during the COVID-19 crisis. In a release today, the transit operator said it would continue with many of the safety measures already in place to respond to the pandemic, as well as implementing additional procedures following the guidance of B.C.’s provincial health officer and drawing on best practices from the global transit industry.…

Feds pledge $75m to Indigenous people living in cities, off-reserve

Latest funding comes on top of $15m announced in March

The federal government is pledging $75 million to organizations helping Indigenous people living in urban areas and off-reserve amidst the pandemic. The new funding unveiled Thursday (May 21) comes on top of $15 million previously announced in March for the Indigenous Community Support Fund.…

Paint night moves online

Whistler artist Andrea Mueller launches classes for kids and adults

Let’s be honest: there’s only so much Netflix you can watch. If you’re ready to expand your pandemic hobbies beyond binging, Whistler artist Andrea Mueller just might have the solution for you.…