A man serving a second-degree murder sentence has died in an Abbotsford prison.
Correctional Service of Canada says in a statement that Eugene Raymond Benoit died while in custody at the Abbotsford Regional Treatment Centre.
C-S-C officials say the 69-year-old man died of apparent natural causes on July 13th, and at the time of death, the inmate had been serving an indeterminate sentence.
They also say the police and coroner have been notified, with a review of the death pending.
In the heart of Surrey's bustling business district, a sense of unease has settled following a series of alarming incidents that have gripped the community. The seemingly business-as-usual surroundings of the Payal Business Centre, home to a myriad of South Asian businesses, have been marred by a recent surge in criminal activities, raising concerns among residents and entrepreneurs alike.
Public Safety has been an ongoing topic in the news with the recent spate of gun violence South of the Fraser. In Darpan 10, Public Safety Minister and Solicitor General for BC, The Honourable Mike Farnworth sheds light on crime, Surrey RCMP vs SPS saga, and the future of policing in Surrey.
Earlier this year, there were an unprecedented 1.9 million visits to food banks in Canada. This is a 32% increase from 2022 and a 78% increase since before the pandemic. Unsurprisingly, food banks are approaching 2024 with growing concerns as the sustained increase in demand places additional strain on their resources and capacities.
Police in eastern British Columbia are warning backcountry users to be ready for emergencies after a snowmobiler was killed and two skiers had to be rescued this week in separate incidents. RCMP in the Golden-Field detachment say the death happened on Jan. 21 when a snowmobile driven by a 24-year-old man left the trail down a steep embankment and hit some trees.
Homes sales in the province are forecast to increase this year by 7.8 per cent, in what the B-C Real Estate Association says will be a delicate balance for the market. The association’s Brian Ogmundson says headwinds slowed last year’s sales with elevated mortgage rates, but the recent decline in fixed mortgage rates and the potential for Bank of Canada rate cuts make it a more optimistic year.
The manager of a Vancouver rooming house that was the site of a fatal fire in 2022 broke down in tears at an inquest, telling the jury that staff needed better training in fire safety. Gina Vanemberg testified that a "red book" with fire safety procedures was given to her when she became manager of the Winters Hotel in 2020, but no one from her employer, Atira Property Management, went over the paperwork or confirmed that she read it.