BC-Hydro says recent record-breaking temperatures drove electricity demand to an all-time high for the month of May.
The record for the highest May peak hourly demand was set last night, as temperatures soared across much of the province.
BC-Hydro says preliminary analysis found consumption reached almost 76-hundred megawatts as residents turned to air conditioners and fans in an attempt to cool off.
Demand for power is expected to remain higher-than-average this week
The B-C Greens want the provincial government to create paid practicums for nursing students. Leader Sonia Furstenau says that unlike tradespeople who, justifiably, receive paid apprenticeships and subsidized tools, nurses often come out of school with significant debt.
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly said she would speak Tuesday afternoon with Shanghai consul Jennifer Lynn Lalonde. Joly described her in French as "a very respected career diplomat." Earlier Tuesday, Beijing declared it would expel Lalonde in retaliation for Canada's de sending a Chinese envoy packing.
Ma says the unusual heat also elevates the risks of wildfires burning in B.C. There are more than 50 fires burning in B.C., most of them in the north and central part of the province, and three wildfires have prompted evacuation orders or alerts for nearby residents.
Evacuation orders or alerts remain in place for much of the areas surrounding the Red Creek and Boundary Lake fires, about 1,300 kilometres northeast of Vancouver. In its latest update, the B.C. Wildfire Service reported the Boundary Lake fire was an estimated 5,900 hectares. The fire at Red Creek sits at 2,800 hectares.
Police say they received a call on Monday morning about a break-and-enter at a residential development, and arrested the male suspect after a brief search of the building. Police say the suspect is a newcomer to Victoria and had 44 prior contacts with police this year, in addition to having been arrested a dozen times.
A one-million dollar upgrade is being supplied through the Destination Development Fund, which will go toward making the site of the Cloverdale Rodeo more accessible and versatile.