Two men are facing charges after a fire in downtown Nanaimo.
R-C-M-P say it happened on Saturday night when a patrol officer saw smoke and flames coming from a commercial building.
Fire crews were able to put out the blaze and while no injuries were reported, the building suffered significant damage.
Two men were arrested nearby a short time later
Mounties say officers seized a firearm as well as 1.5 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine from a home while executing a search warrant last Friday.
The man allegedly berated drive-thru staff in early February. Mounties say the man was arrested on May 24th and was charged with assault and causing a disturbance.
Health Minister Adrian Dix says the funding will go toward structural repairs, enhancing patient care rooms, improving ventilation and making it more accessible. The minister says construction is expected to be complete by 2025.
Witnesses called 9-1-1 reporting shots fired near East Hastings and Columbia just before 4:30 p.m. VPD flooded the area and located a victim with gunshot wounds, while several people were seen fleeing the area on foot. Eight people were arrested and have since been released pending further investigation.
B-C Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau says it's time youth up to the age of 18 were allowed to ride free on transit. A statement from Furstenau says the B-C Green caucus wants the New Democrat government to expand free transit to youth.
A new text alert system to warn about batches of toxic drugs is being implemented in the Vancouver Coastal Health authority. Those who want the alerts can text JOIN to the number 2-5-3-7-8-7, while those who were already signed up on Radar will be added automatically.