A former commercial pilot has been charged with terrorism offences in the hijacking of a single-engine plane from Victoria. Shaheer Cassim, a long-time environmental activist, is the man arrested by police after a plane from the Victoria Flying Club touched down at YVR. Air traffic around Vancouver International was halted for a short time Tuesday afternoon as the Cessna 172 Skyhawk circled the airport. Cassim was arrested at gunpoint.

A security incident at YVR has been prompted by the theft of a single engine plane on Vancouver Island. Some flights had to be grounded and airspace had to be shutdown Tuesday afternoon after a Cessna 172S Skyhawk was taken from the Victoria Flying Club and flown to Vancouver. The suspect and lone occupant circled YVR for close to 20 minutes before landing the plane. He was promptly arrested. There’s no word on the motive.

Kelly Ellard’s day parole has been revoked. Reena Virk’s killer - who legally changed her name to Kerry Sim - has lost her day parole over positive drug tests and negative behaviour. She’s also been called an undue risk to society by the Parole Board. Ellard is serving a life sentence for second degree murder for her part in the savage 1997 killing of the 14-year-old in Victoria.

Dozens of properties, campsites and a popular golf course are included in a wildfire evacuation east of Princeton. The still-small August Lake wildfire is about 2 kilometres from the town and burning out of control. The fire, which broke out Saturday afternoon, is thought to be human caused. Meanwhile, BC Wildfire crews have been dealing with several other new fires that started over the weekend including ones in Manning Park, Keremeos and the Cowichan Valley.

B.C. now has over a hundred confirmed cases of the measles including 18 in the two health authorities that cover the Lower Mainland. The majority of cases are in those who are not fully vaccinated. Health experts continue to express concerns that summer events and travel will lead to a rapid expansion of measles. The provincial government is advising people to contact their family doctor or call 811 if they suspect they need an updated shot.

The B.C. government should mandate risk assessments for all public events - that is the key recommendation from the inquiry into the Lapu-Lapu Day attack. The Commission of Inquiry into the deadly Filipino street festival also calls for improved training and clearer definitions of udicial roles. The Eby government has stated it accepts the intent of the recommendations but there is no word on any path toward implementation. Eleven people died when the driver of an SUV plowed into pedestrians at the event on April 26.

A man has been shot dead by RCMP at a home in Surrey’s Clayton Heights where a woman’s body was found inside. It happened Monday evening when officers responded to a possible domestic violence call on 66A Avenue, just east of 195 Street. Neighbours say they heard several bangs and then saw victims removed from the home. It’s believed the two were a couple in their 60s. While the Surrey Police Service is the force of jurisdiction, the incident happened in an area where Surrey RCMP respond to most of the calls.

The federal government’s transportation committee is calling out the Eby government and demanding to know why the province has awarded a Chinese Communist Party owned, overseas shipyard the BC Ferries contract thanks to a $1B federal loan. The House of Commons committee has voted to investigate a deal which includes major financing from a federal Crown owned lender. The BC NDP government has been widely criticized for choosing China over any North American shipbuilder for the new ferries.

The Izman Creek wildfire, north of Lytton, is now 245 hectares and expected to grow over the next couple days. Temperatures on Monday and Tuesday will be in the low 30s in that area and then cool down with strong winds on Wednesday. Highway 12 between Lytton and Lillooet remains open even as crews fight the fire from the ground and air. The wildfire started back on Canada Day when sparks from an RCMP trailer ignited brush.

This week’s wildfire north of Lytton was caused by an RCMP vehicle. The Mounties now admit that an equipment failure on a trailer being towed by a police vehicle started the Izman Creek wildfire, 18 km north of Lytton. Three properties in the area have been evacuated while the Lytton First Nation has issued an evacuation alert for others. Meanwhile, BC Wildfire is dealing with several other small fires including one that broke out near Hope Thursday afternoon.