National

Deaths of B.C. homeless people up by 75% in 2021

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 12 Oct, 2022 12:33 PM

VANCOUVER - The BC Coroners Service says deaths of homeless people in the province jumped 75 per cent in 2021 compared with the year before.

A preliminary report released by the service shows there were 247 deaths of people experiencing homelessness last year.

Chief coroner Lisa Lapointe says many homeless people are facing significant health concerns, including physical disabilities, mental-health challenges and substance-use issues.

The report says 93 per cent of all accidental deaths among people experiencing homelessness were caused by the illicit drug supply.

The coroners service says an average of 153 homeless people have died between 2016 and 2020.

The release of the report coincides with Homelessness Action Week in B.C.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

B.C. man on trial for murder escapes custody

A statement from police says Rabih Alkhalil, who also uses the first name of Robby, escaped from the North Fraser Pre-trial Centre in Port Coquitlam shortly before 7 p.m. Thursday. Alkhalil is one of three men charged with the murder of 36-year-old Sandip Duhre, who was shot while sitting in a busy downtown Vancouver restaurant in January 2012.

B.C. man on trial for murder escapes custody

Two dead, one injured in Chilliwack shooting

The RCMP's Upper Fraser Valley Regional Detachment says officers were called to the residence on McNaught Ave. near Yard Rd. at about 11 a.m. Thursday for reports of gunfire.When they arrived, they found the body of one woman, and a second woman with life-threatening gunshot wounds. She was airlifted to hospital, where she later died of her injuries.

Two dead, one injured in Chilliwack shooting

Surrey man charged with 17 criminal offences, gets 15 years imprisonment

Brandon Nandan has pleased guilty to various charges including possession of controlled substances (Fentanyl, Cocaine and Methamphetamine) for the  purpose of trafficking and counselling person A to commit the Indictable Offence of Discharging a Firearm with intent to  endanger life, and possession of a loaded 9mm caliber Beretta model 92FS Semi automatic pistol.

Surrey man charged with 17 criminal offences, gets 15 years imprisonment

Woman attacked in unprovoked stranger assault on a bus in June

As soon as the bus stopped, the suspect approached the victim as she was speaking with the bus operator. Then, without provocation, allegedly punched her in the head and face several times, causing her to fall to the ground. He was last seen exiting the bus at Main Street and 64thAvenue.

Woman attacked in unprovoked stranger assault on a bus in June

B.C. ending immigration detention deal with CBSA

The groups released a report in June 2021 saying immigrants with no criminal charges against them are detained in holding centres, federal prisons or provincial jails for "indeterminate amounts of time." They launched a campaign calling on B.C. to end its contract last October, and later expanded their push to Quebec and Nova Scotia.

B.C. ending immigration detention deal with CBSA

Highest court agrees B.C. man guilty of 1st-degre

The Supreme Court of Canada decision released Thursday agrees with a B.C. Court of Appeal ruling last year that raised the conviction of Darren Sundman from second-degree murder to first-degree and imposed a minimum 25-year prison term before being eligible for parole.