Close X
Friday, November 29, 2024
ADVT 
National

B.C. arson may have been hate: Ukraine congress

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 21 Apr, 2022 02:24 PM
  • B.C. arson may have been hate: Ukraine congress

VICTORIA - The Ukrainian Canadian Congress and its British Columbia council are calling on police in Victoria to investigate an arson fire as a hate crime.

The congress says in a statement that someone poured gasoline through the mail slot and set fire to the family home of the pastor of the St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church.

Victoria police have said five people were in the home early Wednesday when the fire broke out and all made it out alive, although one of the children was injured and a woman needed to be rescued from a window ledge by fire crews.

Victoria police Const. Cam MacIntyre says police have received new video evidence from the area and are reviewing it to try to discover why someone would light a fire in the home located near the church.

MacIntyre says police will investigate the possibility the arson was hate-motivated, but have not yet established a motive.

The council says the fire was an attack on Father Yuriy Vyshnevskyy, his wife and their three daughters, and it calls on police to thoroughly investigate the crime against innocent people.

"Given that Father Vyshnevskyy is a dedicated community leader, who through his work is strongly supporting the Ukrainian people and their defence of their homeland from Russia’s genocidal war, we call on local authorities to investigate this attack as a hate crime."

Premier John Horgan offered his sympathies to Vyshnevskyy and his family during a news conference Thursday.

"We don't know yet, as the investigation unfolds, whether it was directed at people's faith, people's ethnicity, we don't know," he said. "But, what we do know is that all British Columbians stand with the Vyshnevskyy family today, in unison, saying with one voice, we're with you and we're here to help."

MORE National ARTICLES

VPD recovers gun, drugs during East Van traffic stop

VPD recovers gun, drugs during East Van traffic stop
When the officers stopped to investigate, one of the men tried to walk away and stash a bag inside a second car that was parked nearby. Officers discovered a 9mm pistol, ammunition, and a variety of controlled substances in that man’s possession.

VPD recovers gun, drugs during East Van traffic stop

Second COVID-19 booster recommended for some: NACI

Second COVID-19 booster recommended for some: NACI
NACI also strongly recommends a second booster for people between 70 and 79 years of age. In general, the group says a second booster dose should be given 6 months after the patients got their first booster shots factoring in a recent COVID-19 infection.

Second COVID-19 booster recommended for some: NACI

Feds introduce law to boost news industry

Feds introduce law to boost news industry
The bill, designed to support Canada's independent media, is modelled on an Australian law making tech companies such as Google and Meta pay for news content on their platforms.

Feds introduce law to boost news industry

B.C. to give update on 4th COVID-19 vaccine doses

B.C. to give update on 4th COVID-19 vaccine doses
Health Minister Adrian Dix says the possibility of a second booster dose is on the agenda for today's COVID-19 briefing with provincial health officer Dr. Bonne Henry.

B.C. to give update on 4th COVID-19 vaccine doses

728 COVID19 cases over 3 days

728 COVID19 cases over 3 days
There are 321 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19 and 36 are in intensive care.  An update on number of deaths related to COVID-19 will be provided on Thursday, April 7, 2022.

728 COVID19 cases over 3 days

B.C. Liberal resigns seat, takes federal post

B.C. Liberal resigns seat, takes federal post
Stephanie Cadieux, who represents Surrey South, is the first woman with a disability to serve in the legislature and in cabinet, where she held a number of portfolios including children and family development, social development and labour.

B.C. Liberal resigns seat, takes federal post