Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 28 Nov, 2023 11:40 AM
Members of the public attending council meetings and other public events at Vancouver City Hall will now go through an enhanced security screening process.
The city says in a statement that the change is responding to the evolving security environment and following in the footsteps of other Canadian cities that have adopted similar security measures.
However, the city released no further details on the nature of the potential security concerns.
It says city hall is remaining open and accessible to everyone and the new measures are aimed at creating a safe place.
An upward trend in flu and COVID-19 cases in British Columbia has prompted a renewed requirement to wear masks in all health-care facilities. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says the masks must be worn by all health-care workers, volunteers and visitors in patient-care areas starting Oct. 3.
A new report about policing of Metro Vancouver port terminal facilities says there's "literally no downside" for organized criminals to set up shop, and one British Columbia city is sounding the alarm. Delta Mayor George Harvie says the city commissioned the report about the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority’s Roberts Bank Terminal amid "rampant" criminal activity due to a lack of funds for policing.
Saanich Police are investigating a sexual assault in a campus washroom at the University of Victoria. A safety bulletin issued by the university says the victim was assaulted in a men’s washroom on the first floor of a campus building on Tuesday morning.
Sergeant Steve Addison says the unnamed victim was attacked (near Carrall Street and East Hastings Street) just after 5 a.m. The man was rushed to hospital but was pronounced dead.
Canada Border Services Agency says it seized nearly 200 kilograms of opium concealed in shipping containers arriving in B-C. A statement from the agency says a bust on August 15th at an examination facility in Burnaby turned up 150 kilograms of opium hidden in steel machinery.
Health Canada has authorized Pfizer-BioNTech's updated COVID-19 vaccine for people six months and older. The mRNA vaccine targets the Omicron XBB.1.5 subvariant that is circulating in Canada. This is the second vaccine targeting XBB.1.5 that will be available in this country.