The Vancouver Aquatic Centre will close permanently on Sunday - a BC Supreme Court judge has rejected a bid to save it. The Save Vancouver Aquatic Centre Society had sought an interim injunction to tank the closure. The Society had argued Vancouver voters approved borrowing money to upgrade the existing pool. The City plans to start construction on a new, downsized pool before the end of the year.

Switzerland has defeated Canada 2-1 in World Cup soccer action at Vancouver’s BC Place Stadium. Despite the loss before a sellout crowd, Canada is in the knockout round and will now play in Los Angeles on Sunday instead of returning to BC Place on July 2. Fans gathered in the Granville Entertainment District Wednesday afternoon to celebrate Canada advancing. Extra police were out in force but there are no early reports of any major incidents.

A massive fire in Harrison Hot Springs has destroyed half-a-dozen trailers in an RV park. The fire broke out at the Springs RV Resort early Tuesday afternoon. Those in the area reported hearing several propane tanks explode. At least one person has been injured. There’s no word on the cause.

Critics are slamming a plan by the federal and provincial governments to buy empty Metro Vancouver condos and sell them or rent them out at more affordable prices. That plan was announced by Prime Minister Mark Carney and B.C. Premier David Eby last week as part of a deal to boost the affordable housing supply. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says taxpayers will be left paying any difference in the price. SFU City Program director Andy Yan says it’s better to let market mechanisms determine prices rather than having governments set the floor. The $8B senior government partnership includes more money for B.C. infrastructure and a system to lower development charges on multi-unit housing.

Hundreds have fans have packed Vancouver area streets, parks and watch parties as Egypt claimed its first ever victory at a FIFA World Cup. Egypt fans gathered at Jonathan Rogers Park while New Zealand’s fans packed Gastown Sunday afternoon. Egypt defeated New Zealand 3-1 at BC Place Stadium. There are four World Cup matches left in Vancouver with Canada taking on Switzerland at noon on Wednesday.

Sports history has been made in Vancouver as Canada beat Qatar 6-0 in the FIFA World Cup. The win means Canada will face the Swiss on Wednesday - a match that will determine the Group B winner. Thursday’s win had fans packing both the Granville Entertainment District and various watch parties across the Lower Mainland.

Vancouver’s FIFA World Cup tickets are finally approaching sell-out levels. Only a handful of tickets are available for some of the games, a week after the event officially kicked off. Just over 52,000 people attended the city’s first game (Australia vs Turkey) last weekend. Canada vs Qatar and five other matches remain for Vancouver.

Some tense moments for those living in a waterfront community in the Okanagan. Several hundred people have returned to their homes in a West Kelowna neighbourhood after a wildfire came dangerously close to some houses Tuesday afternoon. More than 800 people had to evacuate from a hillside southwest of the Bill Bennett Bridge as flames quickly spread. Crews have managed to ‘hold’ the fire - it’s not expected to grow.

A dozen children, most from a Port Coquitlam middle school, are injured after something went wrong at the Cultus Lake Waterpark late Monday morning. Reports from the scene suggest the students from Minnekhada Middle School suffered electrical burns. At least two were airlifted to hospital. All have been reported to be in stable condition. Cultus Lake Water Park says it will be closed for 48 hours to investigate what happened noting the incident occurred in a queuing area near one of the rides.

All non-essential Metro Vancouver workers are making Monday their first day of a full scale strike. Close to 700 unionized outside workers who take care of regional parks, watersheds, drinking water and sewer services are now off the job. It’s unclear whether this will be a one-and-done walkout but the workers are backed by a 98 per cent strike mandate. They’ve been without a contract for close to 17 months.