Vancouver Rundown

Pedestrian zones are now in place as Vancouver heads into its first weekend of the FIFA World Cup. While not all downtown hotel rooms are sold-out, fans from across the country and around the world have been spotted with flags and jerseys in the Granville Entertainment District. City staff have set up viewing locations in some parks, including those on the Downtown Eastside. Ten community organizations have been funded by the City of Vancouver to provide outreach and support during the World Cup.

Recover balance for the City of Vancouver and slow the pace of housing development. That’s a central plank for Colleen Hardwick as the former councillor runs for mayor for a second time. Hardwick tells The Tyee she hopes to ‘course correct’ for future generations. In 2022, Hardwick placed third in the race for mayor.

Vancouver Police have shot and killed the suspect in a hostage taking Monday night. The VPD says officers arrived at a home on Commercial Street after getting reports of a home invasion - that’s when they found the suspect holding a resident hostage. Police say they were forced to shoot when de-escalation efforts failed. The IIO is looking into the case as per protocol.

An A&W restaurant in Burnaby has been badly damaged by a Monday afternoon fire. Part of the building went up in flames shortly after 3:00 p.m. - Kingsway was closed at Arcola Street during the afternoon rush. Burnaby Fire says it was a stubborn, deep-seated fire within the restaurant’s structural components. There’s no word yet on the cause.

Coastal areas of B.C. have avoided any tsunami alerts following a 7.8 earthquake in the southern Philippines. It happened early Monday - so far there is no confirmed information about damage or the number of fatalities. The quake had a depth of about 35 kilometres.

A B.C. MLA has been charged with sexual assault. Jordan Kealy, a former Conservative who now sits as an Independent, is charged following a sexual assault investigation into a 2024 incident in Fort St. John, before he was elected. A special prosecutor has been appointed. Kealy says he’s innocent of the allegation.

Breaking news…one person is clinging to life after being shot in Langley’s Brookswood neighbourhood. It happened at around 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, near 196 Street and 28 Avenue. The victim was airlifted to hospital - no other details have been released.

A massive wildfire has prompted an evacuation alert for an area in the North Cariboo. The Swede Creek Wildfire was close to 1,300 hectares and growing Tuesday afternoon. Aircraft and heavy machinery are being used as more than 70 firefighters try to contain the blaze. There are at least 18 wildfires burning in B.C. right now.

Surrey Police Chief Norm Lipinski has been fired. The Vancouver Sun reports Lipinski had been given until 4:00 p.m. Thursday to quit or be terminated without cause. He was placed on leave Monday morning. The Surrey Police Board has not made any initial comments to the public. Lipinski was the first chief of the transitioned Surrey Police Service.

“Faith. Family. Freedom. That’s what it’s all about.” Those are the words of newly chosen BC Conservative Leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay. The former federal Conservative MP says her first priority is to unite the party. Close to 25,000 Conservatives voted in the leadership race - most signed party memberships during the campaign. Findlay, who needs a seat in the Legislature, is married to BC Conservative MLA Brent Chapman who won his Surrey South seat despite describing Palestinian children as “inbred, walking, talking, breathing time bombs.”