Sign In Subscribe Now Highway 97 has reopened north of Williams Lake Highway 97 north of Williams Lake is closed to all traffic in both directions as of the afternoon of Sunday DriveBC is reporting that a vehicle incident has occurred between Pinnell Road and Lynes Creek Road A detour is available via Beaver Creek Road via Likely Highway no commercial vehicles are allowed on this detour route The next update is expected at 8 p.m. on Sunday (May 4), and the highway is expected to reopen at 8:30 p.m., although this is subject to change. For the latest information, go to www.drivebc.ca Dialogue and debate are integral to a free society and we welcome and encourage you to share your views on the issues of the day. We ask that you be respectful of others and their points of view, refrain from personal attacks and stay on topic. To learn about our commenting policies and how our community-based moderation works, please read our Community Guidelines. The BC Wildfire Service issued an evacuation order for five properties north of Hixon, a small community 60 kilometres north of Quesnel. The Regional District of Fraser-Fort George says five other properties have also been placed on alert. Those under the evacuation order are told to leave immediately and head south towards the community of Hixon. The BC Wildfire Service says the Hixon Wildfire is about 70 hectares in size and north of Naver Creek. The fire has been burning since Friday evening. Karley Desrosiers, public information officer at the BC Wildfire Service, says the fire has seen no significant growth due to overnight rain. “With cooler temperatures today, we are not anticipating a significant increase in wildfire activity,” Desrosiers said. At the same time, the Wildfire Service notices stronger, gusty winds today. These could have the potential to cause a bit of an uptick in fire behavior. Desrosiers says there is no imminent threat to properties as of now. There are currently 40 wildfires in B.C., most of them in the Prince George Fire Centre district of the province. Eleven of those fires are classified as “out of control,” while 29 are either under control or not expected to grow. Jendhel May Sico is described as a person who lived her life to the fullest. On Saturday, April 26, she was celebrating the Lapu-Lapu Day festival with those she loved most -- her cousin, AJ Sico, and... U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest trade threat has the Canadian film industry bracing for impact, but nobody is quite sure what that impact would be. Advocates in Vancouver are demanding answers and justice for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls on the national day of action and awareness. Vancouver Canucks officials say the team's X (formerly Twitter) account was compromised Monday. Jendhel May Sico is described as a person who lived her life to the fullest. Killed in a car-ramming attack on Saturday, April 26, she was celebrating the Lapu-Lapu Day festival with those she loved most -- her cousin, AJ Sico, and her boyfriend. AJ's partner, Vanessa, speaks to reporter Kier Junos about the day their lives changed forever. Huge crowds lined the streets of Vancouver to cheer on 25,000 runners making their way around the city for the 53rd annual BMO Marathon on Sunday. Jack Rabb has the story. The accused person in the deadly car attack at the Lapu-Lapu Day block party in Vancouver on April 26th appeared at the provincial Court of British Columbia. 30-year-old Kai Ji Adam Lo appeared via video in court. Kier Junos reports. Four people remain in critical condition in hospital and another two remain in serious condition, five days after the deadly attack at the Lapu-Lapu Day festival in Vancouver on April 26. Jack Rabb has more on the efforts to support the victims. Juror illness led to an early adjournment Thursday with NHL player Taylor Raddysh expected to continue his witness testimony Friday. Michelle Mackey has the latest in the sex assault trial of five ex-world junior hockey players. Now New and Improved! Listen to NewsRadio Vancouver live anytime and get up-to-the-minute breaking-news alerts, traffic, weather and video from CityNews Vancouver anywhere you are – across all Android and iOS devices. Join the conversation You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account Homebuyers in B.C.’s Cariboo have been forced to live in their garage after an engineer they hired found structural defects in their recently purchased home Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentJillian Werk and Peter Martin said that had been assured in 2021 by the sellers and a licensed home inspector that the house was structurally sound but said the floor was so unstable “items on countertops vibrated when anyone walked through the kitchen,” according to a lawsuit filed in B.C The lawsuit alleges negligence by the sellers plus the inspector who gave the all clear to buy the $549,000 house in Quesnel and city officials who failed to keep records of the property over decades Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Almost a year after they moved in, they paid more than $13,000 to bring the kitchen floor and basement ceiling below it up to code and a city inspector issued a “receipt of final inspection,” according to the lawsuit. But then the couple was told it would cost up to $100,000 to bring the basement foundation up to code after an insufficient foundation wall was found. That’s when they learned the house, built in 1991, was actually on a foundation of an older house. They also learned the city couldn’t find the plans or building permits for the original house. Before closing the deal to buy the house, they were assured by inspector Erin Reed that there were no structural problems and provided them with a 102-page report for a $572 fee, the lawsuit alleged. The lawsuit said a contractor later pointed out a gap above the beam that ran over openings such as doors and windows and discovered the insufficient foundation wall in the basement below. “The section of insufficient foundation wall would have been in clear view for Reed during” her inspection, the couple alleges in the lawsuit. The couple hired their own engineer and his report in March 2023, listed “various building code violations in the structures of the residence,” it said. A copy of his report was sent to city and on June 22, 2023, almost two years after the buyers moved in, the city sent them a letter advising them to demolish the residential buildings on their property, according to the lawsuit. The next day, the city issued an order to vacate and an order to demolish, but granted the couple an occupancy permit so they could live in their garage, it said. The couple says they need the money from the lawsuit to pay for demolition and reconstruction. The couple is seeking damages for their losses, alleging negligence by Reed for failing to adequately inspect the property or to advise the couple to hire an engineer to investigate, it said. They also allege the city of Quesnel is negligent because its employees and contractors failed to enforce the building code and permitting process for the property from 1965 to 2008. The lawsuit also alleged that their real-estate agent, William Lacy, was negligent in failing to disclose the year the residential building was established on the property and for acting for both the buyers and sellers. They are suing the Sankeys for their negligence in failing to disclose and in concealing defects including the foundation built in 1967, in not following the city’s approved plans for the addition to the building and not disclosing the structural defects, it said. None of the allegations have been proven in court. Requests for comment were sent to all parties but none had immediately responded. transmission or republication strictly prohibited This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy You can manage saved articles in your account and identified as belonging to missing Maple Ridge woman Rebecca Harbowy The Ridge Meadows RCMP reported Friday morning The 36-year-old left Ridge Meadows Hospital on Nov early into detoxing from drug use. Her family has been critical of the hospital letting her leave the facility on her own She was last seen walking east on the Haney Bypass at Burnett Street in Maple Ridge at approximately 2:05 a.m Police released few details about the discovery of the remains The family told The News it was in a forested area Distraught mother Debbie Harbowy is hopeful that an intense search of the area will lead to Rebecca Police have searched the area since the remains were discovered in early April The family is unsure where a search would be but plan to appeal to police for more information "I always felt in my heart she had passed away because she hadn't contacted me," said Debbie Rebecca's sister Rachel Bertoia posted videos on social media informing those who have tried to assist in finding Rebecca and those who have been following the missing woman's case She said there is a memorial at the 7-Eleven at the corner of Lougheed Highway and Haney Bypass where there is a missing person sign the family posted I think it would be really lovely for my mom to have people drop off flowers to her sign there," said Bertoia.  "I would love for my mom to be able to see the love and support that I know that we have felt." "I can't imagine being a mom losing a kid." Rebecca was about eight hours into what doctors advised would be a three-day stay but early the next morning she walked away Her family believes she was confused and disoriented She lived with her parents in the Yennadon area Debbie had been sitting with her daughter until midnight she got a call from the hospital that her daughter had left driving the streets of Maple Ridge for hours the family canvassed people in the hospital neighbourhood and searched the area They obtained video showing Rebecca walking down River Road eastbound near the Port Haney West Coast Express station at 1:46 a.m A tipster saw a woman matching Rebecca’s description walking on the Haney Bypass at approximately 2 a.m Another video showed her on the Haney Bypass at Burnett Street at 2:05 a.m. A man said he almost hit a woman walking on Lougheed Highway near 240 Street but the description of the woman having her hair up in a bun matched they have learned nothing more about Rebecca's movements Police and searchers combed roadsides and the edge of the Fraser River Police say this continues to be an active investigation and anyone with information which could help the Ridge Meadows RCMP you are encouraged to call the Ridge Meadows RCMP at 604-463-6251 and refer to File # 2023-23402 The RCMP extended condolences to the family and friends of Rebecca Harbowy community partners and volunteers for their assistance with this investigation thus far Dialogue and debate are integral to a free society and we welcome and encourage you to share your views on the issues of the day. We ask that you be respectful of others and their points of view, refrain from personal attacks and stay on topic. To learn about our commenting policies and how our community-based moderation works, please read our Community Guidelines Government announced three Cariboo road recovery projects around Quesnel will be moving forward A contract for the Kersley-Dale Landing Road was awarded to West Horizon Contracting The road alignment will bypass landslide-prone areas to reduce future risks Construction will begin in the coming months There will be stabilizing and realignment on Quesnel-Hydraulic Road to meet modern design standards A contract will be issued this year and work will begin as early as spring 2026 Coming up in summer there will be improvements to Bastin Road at Bastin Hill Those improvements will include up-slope flattening to reduce risk of landslides upgrade drainage and realign the road away from the Quesnel River “Ensuring people can travel on safe and reliable roadways is our top priority,” said Mike Farnworth Minister of Transportation and Transit in the news release. “Our transportation investments in the Cariboo go beyond road repairs We’re building back better to ensure resilient infrastructure which will improve the quality of life for residents just south of town, was affected by two major landslides in 2021 The ministry said the affected portion of that road will not reopen and will be naturalized and turnaround spots added, alternate routes are available Both sides of the slide area provide access to the highway In 2020 and 2021 hundreds of landslides affected roads across the Cariboo Four recovery projects have been funded so far including: Highway 97 at Cottonwood Hill Highway 97 at Cuisson Creek and Soda Creek-MacAlister Road The Quesnel Downtown Association (QDA) is hosting its annual Walk from May 1-3 where people will be able to pop into the local businesses downtown and enjoy all they all have to offer Parveen Pannu from the QDA and City Furniture said the event is a great way to get people exploring their local businesses "There's a lot of different things that are contributing to tough times at the moment so it's kind of just a way to showcase all of the diversity and the local businesses that we have," she said "We really feel like we have one of the best downtowns in all of the northern region." Around 80 per cent of businesses in the downtown area will be participating in Walk discounts and events to help bring the community together around supporting local businesses "We believe supporting local businesses is important because we feel that it really does keep our community thriving," Pannu said "Shopping local just keeps our community thriving." The QDA helps keep the city's downtown area thriving by supporting businesses encouraging art and murals in the downtown core organizing events like the Santa Extravaganza and Music Mix at Six at Spirit Square Small and medium businesses make up 99 per cent of Canada's businesses and employ 64 per cent of the workforce The Highway has re-opened following both vehicles involved in the collision being towed away Highway 97 has been closed both way north of Quesnel near Ten Mile Lake on Wednesday BCEHS and Barlow Creek Volunteer Fire Department are on scene.  Sign up for free account today and start receiving our exclusive newsletters Two boxers from 2 Rivers Boxing Club had their first matches of 2025 both faced defeat but said they learned a lot from their bouts Kevin Padillo had his first ever boxing match in April I didn't get the win that I wanted but I learned a lot," he said I caught a couple of good hooks from the other side Second round was a good battle as well him and I were both against the ropes on each other so it was good exchanges In the third round Padillo said he was catching some good hits from his opponent but listened to his coaches and got his opponent against the ropes For reasons Padillo and his coaches didn't entirely understand there was an eight count and the ref stopped the fight in favour of his opponent What he said he did best in that fight was continue moving forward and didn't give up.  I have a security company so this training prepares me for that so I'm very grateful for my time here." The other Quesnel boxer who had a match was Karter Mott even though I was told by my coaches to go harder it was still kind of a feel-out round He had a nasty jab overhand and so it was real fast," Karter said In the third round I could feel that he was tired and felt that I could get to him And I was also tired and I couldn't capitalize off his tiredness." Karter made it to the decision which was given in favour of his opponent despite it being a good match where both fighters went hard He said he learned to avoid that overhand well throughout the fight and being able to figure out his way around it is something he's proud of What he said he needs to work on is aggression and cardio It has been four months since his last fight and winter tends to be difficult for boxers' cardio and Tyler Olsen were the fighters' two coaches in their bouts It was Olsen's first time cornering for Two Rivers and he was excited to have the chance to help Karter and Padillo in their matches We gave our best instructions we could to our fighters in the heat of the moment," Olsen said "Both of them had awesome third rounds where they pushed hard they didn't let their opponents off their ropes at all." Olsen was happy to have been given the chance to learn from James and get experience cornering James said it's hard to prepare for a real fight as sparring doesn't usually live up to the real thing What James said said both fighters did well was listen to the coaches' instructions "I told (Padillo) to get his opponent in the corner and he did and right away I saw his opponent did not like that," James said "Karter's a counter-fighter He likes to fight and then step back." James said he told Karter to be more aggressive once Karter did he started coming back but it was too late to get the win He added that cardio is a big problem for fighters through winter and a lack of cardio means fighters run out of energy quicker and can't fight as hard for as long "This is a club that puts 100 into everything they do and we can only get better," James said While his party may not have won the federal election Cariboo-Prince George MP Todd Doherty will be heading back to Ottawa for another term.  Preliminary results for Monday night's federal election as of Tuesday equalling 60.3 per cent from 97.37 per cent of the polls.  "I'm relieved," Doherty told Black Press Media Monday evening from Prince George where he was gathered with his family and campaign team at the Marriott Hotel "It's obviously not the national result that we wanted but we've got more Conservatives elected than we had previously." he said he'll wait to see the final numbers but expects the Conservatives will gather as a national caucus in a couple of days to chart a course for action and go from there.  With the expansion of the riding this year Doherty said he continued to meet "incredible" people throughout the campaign.  "I just love this region and I've got connections throughout but only because of the extra mileage that we had to do."  "This is the greatest job and the greatest honour I've ever had I can't wait to get back to work and to fighting for our constituents A heartfelt thank you from my family to everyone."  He said being elected for a fourth term is overwhelming.  "I never would have ever guessed I'd be a member of parliament It's something that I never thought was even possible for a kid from the Cariboo." adding it is a team sport for him to succeed as an MP.  "We are looking forward to this next term and both feel like we are ready to go I could not do this without her and having her alongside me gives me strength."  Next in number of votes was the Liberal's Clinton Emslie who got 17,834 or 30 per cent.  while Green Party candidate Jodie Capling garnered 1,107 or 1.9 per cent.  People's Party of Canada candidate Rudy Sans received 412 votes or 0.7 per cent Thomson received 200 and Christian Heritage Party's Jake Wiens got 171 or 0.3 per cent.  Elections Canada's results show 59,380 of 92,834 registered voters cast their ballots The registered voter number does not include anyone who registered on voting day.  Mark Carney's Liberals emerged as the winners with preliminary results indicating they are leading in 168 ridings with 43.5 per cent of the vote he told supporters he has made mistakes but has learned from them and pledged to represent all of Canada.  I will always do my best to represent everyone.”  Carney said that while he started with humility now more than ever is a time for ambition.  to meet this crisis with overwhelming positive force of united in Canada are leading in 144 ridings with 41.4 per cent of the votes the Bloc Quebecois are leading in 23 ridings with 6.4 per cent of the votes and the NDP are leading in seven ridings with 6.3 per cent of the votes.  NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh announced Monday evening that he would be stepping down after losing his riding Conservative leader Pierre Pollivere also lost his long-held Ontario seat but indicated a desire to continue to fight for the millions of people who voted for the Conservative Party He echoed Doherty's words about there being much to celebrate noting the Conservatives were on track to gain 20 more seats than they did during the 2021 federal election.  “We got the highest share of votes our party has received since 1988 We denied the NDP and liberals enough seats to form a coalition government," Pollivere said “We are cognizant of the fact that we didn’t quite get over the finish line.”  He congratulated Carney on leading a minority government That comment was met with “boos” from the audience.  “We’ll have plenty of opportunity to debate and disagree we will do our job to hold the government to account we congratulate people from all political backgrounds of participating in the democratic process.”  The fire grew to 80 hectares but BCWS is classifying the fire as being held meaning it is not expected to spread further.  Fraser-Fort George has rescinded the evacuation order and alert put in place due to the fire The regional district of Fraser Fort George issued an evacuation alert for properties north of Hixon.  The fire's behaviour has subsided since sunset last night and with windy conditions there is still risk Wildfire crews are continuing to battle the fire and protect infrastructure While BCWS says there is no risk to the highway at this time they are asking that those travelling on the highway do not stop to look at the fire The wildfire near Hixon is now estimated to be 70 hectares Friday evening Prince George Fire Centre lists the fire as out of control and says it measures 45 hectares and was human-caused.  Black Press Media sent a list of questions to each of the candidates seeking the Member of Parliament seat in Cariboo-Prince George Each candidate was asked the same questions there are seven candidates total in the riding These are the answers received by Conservative incumbent Todd Doherty Advance polls for the election are open April 18 to April 21 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. People can register to vote, check their registration status and find more information about the electoral process at Elections.ca What qualities or experiences make you the best candidate for voters in Cariboo-Prince George to cast their ballot for My wife and I grew up in the Cariboo so many of you have known me for years I’m running again because Cariboo—Prince George deserves strong experienced representation that reflects the values of our region and stands up for our way of life we’ve stood together during trying times like wildfires safer communities and necessary infrastructure projects that provide well paying jobs There’s more work to be done and I’m committed to seeing that through is the biggest issue facing voters in Cariboo-Prince George life has become unaffordable after 10 years of Liberals We’ve never seen 2 million Canadians accessing food banks before We’ve never seen an entire generation watch the dream of home ownership slip away We’ve never seen so many job losses and mill closures in our region Conservatives will address affordability by lowering your income taxes by 15 per cent controlling inflation by balancing government spending cutting red tape and bureaucracy to build homes faster and unleashing our resource sector to bring home good paying jobs Does your party believe that human-caused climate change is real what concrete plans does your party have to tackle it Conservatives will reduce emissions through technology We will incentivize the private sector to do what it does best — innovate Through technological advances like carbon capture we will reduce emissions without punishing Canadians for driving their cars or heating their homes by exporting our cleaner LNG and oil to European and Asian markets we will reduce the world’s dependence on Chinese coal or dirty oil from Russia and the Middle East which will have the net effect of reducing global emission levels Given the riding's size and centralization of Prince George how will you ensure all of your constituents are represented I’ve worked tirelessly to ensure that all my constituents feel represented and heard arrive late on Friday night and then head out into the region early Saturday morning Our office deals with dozens of constituents every day helping them with issues ranging from immigration to taxes I’m committed to continuing our regional meetings and being as accessible as possible I want you to feel like you can reach me anytime No matter where you live in Cariboo—Prince George and no matter who you vote for in this election How is your party planning to deal with the trade threats coming from the U.S and/or the president’s talk of annexing Canada A Conservative government will not back down to President Trump We will fight back with reciprocal tariffs if necessary — on goods that we can either make here at home or purchase elsewhere Every dollar generated from reciprocal tariffs will be used to support Canadian workers and businesses we will break down interprovincial trade barriers in Canada to get our goods to market here at home About the Author: Quesnel Cariboo Observer Staff These are the answers received by Liberal candidate Clinton Emslie Advance polls for the election are open April 18 to April 21 from 9 a.m check their registration status and find more information about the electoral process at Elections.ca With over two decades of experience in business operations alongside a decade in the corporate sector I bring a wealth of knowledge and strategic insight to the table I’ve had the privilege of helping thousands of individuals launch and grow their businesses through tailored coaching Holding two business degrees and honoured with a Community Leadership Award by the Prime Minister of Canada I am deeply committed to community empowerment This sector is the backbone of our regional economy and the ongoing trade war threatens not just businesses but the livelihoods of thousands of families My priority will be to fight for our forestry jobs and advocate for protections that keep our industry strong and competitive We are facing a shortage of healthcare professionals compounded by over regulation that makes it incredibly difficult to recruit and retain talent in our region This directly impacts access to care and worsens our mental health and addiction crisis Climate change is real and we witness its effects more each year and the snowcaps on the Rockies are melting earlier—resulting in reduced natural water flow throughout the summer We've also seen a troubling rise in wildfires across northern B.C. While there’s no single solution to reverse the damage already done, the Liberal Party has laid out a plan to address the crisis and work toward a cleaner, more sustainable future. Our focus is on practical, incremental action that makes a difference. You can read more about the plan at: Liberal.ca/climate As a proud resident of Quesnel—right in the heart of the Cariboo—I’m centrally located within the riding which allows me to stay connected and accessible to communities across the region To ensure all constituents are represented and supported we will establish a primary constituency office in Prince George This dual-office approach ensures residents across the riding have easier access to resources In response to the escalating trade tensions initiated by the U.S. the Canadian government has implemented several strategic measures to safeguard its economy and workforce Eliminating the federal consumer carbon tax: The government has ceased the fuel charge and the associated Canada Carbon Rebate for individuals with final rebate payments commencing on April 22 Reducing middle-class taxes: Efforts have been made to alleviate the financial burden on middle-income Canadians through targeted tax reductions Investing in skilled trades: The administration is channelling resources into vocational training programs to bolster the skilled labour force Dismantling interprovincial trade barriers: Aiming to enhance domestic trade the government plans to remove federal exceptions in the Canadian Free Trade Agreement by July 1 facilitating freer movement of goods and services across provinces Cariboo students matched their parents and voted for Todd Doherty in the student vote for the 2025 federal election The student vote is held each federal election by CIVIX and is put on in collaboration with Elections Canada his percentage was stronger in the general election where he received 60 per cent of the vote compared to the 46 per cent he won in the student vote his closest opponent was around 30 per cent behind him Here's how the Quesnel and area schools voted: the results showed a convincing win for Doherty though not by as much of a margin as he achieved by the adult voters The results of the student vote Canada-wide did not match the results of the general election the Conservatives would have won 162 seats based on student vote numbers 13 for the NDP and two for the Green Party Over 900,000 votes were cast in the CIVIX student vote across the country CIVIX is a non-partisan organization dedicated to boosting engagement in democracy through education They create resources for classrooms and offer training to educators Students from participating schools across Canada asked questions of the leaders five questions were selected by CIVIX and the leaders answered each of them in short videos for the students The Quesnel Volunteer Fire Department responded to a structure fire on Two Mile Flat Saturday (April 19) night Firefighters quickly worked to clear the area of bystanders and put the fire under control One part of the building continued to burn after the rest appeared to be extinguished due to a compromised gas line. FortisBC arrived on the scene shortly after the fire was controlled and helped firefighters shut off the gas so the section of the building could be safely extinguished The fire took over a small building across Hilborn Road from the Canco gas station There was no obvious impact to the gas station seen by The Observer RCMP and an ambulance were also on the scene More information will be added to this story if it becomes available Sign up below for unlimited digital access for 30 days receive our daily news alerts & breaking news VancouverNewsQuesnel RCMP seize 220,000 contraband cigarettes, marijuana, mushrooms, guns and cashBy Ian HollidayPublished: April 03, 2025 at 7:13PM EDT Twitter feed ©2025 BellMedia All Rights Reserved British Columbia will be testing it's Emergency Alert System on Wednesday an alert tone and message will be broadcast to radio and television stations as well as compatible cell phones The test takes place to make sure the province is ready when or if a large-scale disaster or emergency does strike This is an example of the message that will appear on Wednesday: "This is a TEST of the Emergency Alert system this message would tell you what to do to stay safe This information could save your life. This is ONLY a TEST The public is asked to not call 911 in response to the alert or for information about the test as it could delay help for people in crisis This is the first of two tests the province conducts every year The second will is scheduled for Wednesday the event has to follow the following criteria: Alerts can be send out by different agencies depending on the emergency.  More information about Wednesday's test or about the Emergency Alert System in general can be found on the Government of B.C.'s website.  There have been no emergency alerts in B.C BC SPCA animal protection officers have rescued 59 dogs four French bulldogs and 43 Cane Corsos plus 14 birds from an irresponsible breeder in Quesnel after receiving concerns of several injured adult dogs on the property with 18 of the Cane Corso pups born within the last month they were hit with an overwhelming ammonia odor which burned their noses urine and old feces was stuck to the floor dogs had access to injurious objects as well as medications,” describes Eileen Drever the BC SPCA’s senior officer protection and stakeholder relations there were large portions of drywall that had been chewed through around an electrical socket.” Drever adds that the condition of these poor animals was devastating were extremely thin with their ribs clearly visible “The dogs are extremely fearful and under socialized Some of the puppies were observed shivering in the yard and hiding behind a ripped-up couch amongst pieces of foam from other furniture One of the dogs would only approach our officer for food and then would run away cowering in fear.” In addition to the dirty and unsafe living conditions was observed with castration bands meant for docking on their tails These puppies have been examined by a veterinarian who confirmed they are in severe pain with spinal cord and nerve exposure and infection The puppies will need to have immediate surgical removal of their tails to relieve this distress was also on the property housing various parrots and lovebirds Several birds were loose in the home with the dogs were missing a large number of feathers indicating either illness or emotional stress “It’s just horrible to think about how long these animals have suffered They were all used and abused all to make money,” says Drever Once removed from the property, the animals requiring immediate medical attention were brought to a veterinarian for appropriate treatment. To help manage the large number of animals, the BC SPCA’s Drive for Lives program will assist in transporting the dogs and birds to several BC SPCA animal centres across the province these dogs are not available for adoption at this time The BC SPCA will be recommending charges to Crown Counsel Older animals like Layla need a little extra special care and attention sometimes Check out our online database of adoptable animals and find a fuzzy buddy today Join our team of more than 5,000 dedicated volunteers across the province Our mission is protecting vulnerable animals and mobilizing communities so animals and people thrive together The BC SPCA respectfully acknowledges that we live work and play on the unceded traditional territories of the numerous and diverse First Nations within British Columbia We express our gratitude to all Indigenous communities - First Nations Métis and Inuit for stewarding and sharing this land and there are often circumstances outside of our control that mean we have to restrict access to our animal centres we appreciate your understanding if we need to reschedule your volunteer day at short notice We also kindly request at least 48 hours notice if your group is no longer able to attend your scheduled volunteer day Please Note: We request a minimum donation of $3,000 from your company to cover arranging the day In consideration of being permitted to participate in the Volunteer Programs of the BC SPCA agree to assume all risk of loss or injury to myself or damage to my property while on any of the premises of the BC SPCA including its Shelters and elsewhere while participating in any Volunteer Programs and hereby release and waive any rights of action I presently have or may in the future acquire against the British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals agents or volunteers for any such loss or injury even though such loss or injury is caused by the negligence or default of the BCSPCA whether acting in the scope of employment or not I acknowledge that the animals of the BC SPCA are not trained by the BC SPCA and that they can be unpredictable and dangerous I also acknowledge the BC SPCA strongly recommends I keep current with my tetanus and rabies immunizations and to consult my physician about this and any other concerns relating to working with animals If I have any reason to suspect I am pregnant BCSPCA recommends I may wish to ask my physician about working with cats I hereby waive for my personal representatives and dependents all such claims or rights of action aforementioned that the undersigned or my personal representative and dependents may herein have against the British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals I also acknowledge that the Senior Staff person present is in full and total charge of the facility GENERAL PHOTO & VIDEO RELEASE AND AGREEMENT or volunteer of The British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BC SPCA) I hereby authorize the use and reproduction by the BC SPCA of any and all photographs sound recordings and any other audiovisual materials taken of me for promotional material or for any other use for the benefit of the BC SPCA I understand that cameras and video recorders including phone cameras and video recorders are not permitted to be used within any BC SPCA facility or site unless authorized by the facility or site manager or dispose of audiovisual materials without authority I understand that my legal obligation does not end with my employment contractor or volunteer activities with the BC SPCA but continues in perpetuity and that failure on my part to adhere to these standards is grounds for legal action GENERAL PHOTO & VIDEO RELEASE AND AGREEMENTAs an employee or for any other use for the benefit of the BC SPCA.I understand that cameras and video recorders including phone cameras and video recorders are not permitted to be used within any BC SPCA facility or site unless authorized by the facility or site manager.I understand that discipline or sanctions or dispose of audiovisual materials without authority.I understand that my legal obligation does not end with my employment contractor or volunteer activities with the BC SPCA but continues in perpetuity and that failure on my part to adhere to these standards is grounds for legal action.I acknowledge that I have read We also kindly request at least 48 hours notice if your group is no longer able to attend your scheduled volunteer day.Please Note: We request a minimum donation of $3,000 from your company to cover arranging the day Quesnel City Council met April 22 where they approved the tax rate for 2025 approved a brief review of some city policies and received information from the Foundry a health and wellness facility for youth expected to open in 2028 The meeting started by council going over the policy and bylaw committee report The report had a review of several policies including flags the little people fire hydrants and banners around the city Several of the policies did not have any changes to them A change was made to the flagpole policy for group flags to be flown at LeBourdais Park The previous guideline had a maximum of two weeks for a flags to be flown but for events and awareness months that last a whole month This was seen recently when council approved the extension of the MS awareness flag to be flown for the month of May rather than just two weeks The addition was made to the policy so the city's director of community services can approve a flag to be flown longer than two weeks Martin Runge gave the report from the accessibility committee's last meeting The committee discussed the city's snow removal policy Members of the committee asked the city consider prioritizing high-traffic areas early morning services to the downtown area clearing ramps from the marked disability parking spots and ramp-to-sidewalk ramp pathways An accessibility week event is coming up at the end of the month the committee will have a presence at Spirit Square during accessibility week and will begin to collect responses on the new accessibility survey Runge asked that any council members who have suggestions for changes to the committee's survey let him know The Quesnel Self Advocates will begin bringing awareness at city events for an event set for October called "The Amazing Race to Inclusion." Northern Health also informed the committee the elevators at G.R Baker are currently being repaired and there may be challenges and service interruptions for the elevators in the hospital while repairs are being done The last CRD board meeting was held in late March The CRD is considering changes to carriage home bylaws loosening the restrictions to allow more housing to build on existing lots A $9.9 million community works fund is going to be spent around the CRD All community works funds received before Jan 2025 must be spent by the end of 2029 so the board is considering the best projects to put that money towards What has been determined is $500,000 from the community works fund will go towards the Red Bluff fire hall replacement The funds will reduce the expected tax increase from $59.96 per $100,000 in assessed value to $48.35 per $100,000 in assessed value Electoral area "D" has had $5,000 allocated to survey the constituents regarding dog control services in the area If the surveys find people would like dog control services Mayor Ron Paull attended the Council of Forest Industries (COFI) convention in March and listed some of his key takeaways One of them is regarding Quesnel's sister city Paull said after hearing several speakers at the convention bring up broadening forestry exports beyond the U.S. Paull and several members of the city will be going to Shiraoi in July and Paull said he believes it would be a good opportunity to discuss lumber needs in Japan to help open up the Asian marketplace to B.C timber while Canada is facing economic threats from our southern neighbours He also said looking into potential of vacant land might be a good use of city time for modular homes tiny homes or pre-fab accessory dwelling units Paull added that the COFI convention is a great resource for local governments to connect with industry and find places they can work together The municipal tax portion of property taxes are 45 per cent of total property tax paid by residences Another 28 per cent is from the school tax the regional hospital tax is nine per cent and the rest is from other taxing authorities including the regional district municipal finance authority and BC Assessment Residential buildings will see an approximate increase of $24.67 per $100,000 in assessed value Businesses will see an increase of $125.16 per $100,000 of assessed value The city's report on taxes and the five year financial plan acknowledges the city's tax on major industry is in the top quarter of the province and represents 53 per cent of total taxation in the city Business and other tax rates are above average compared to the rest of B.C the municipal tax rate increased by 6.7 per cent from 2024 for the average single family home that comes to around $87.98 the city calculates the average home will be paying an additional $149.56 in 2025 in property taxes They also calculate an additional $53.14 per year in utilities increases for the average home The water main under Baker Creek that provides water to the Healy Street booster station has been exposed after creek channel movement and erosion of the creek bank An exposed water main is vulnerable to breaking or failure Some of the work ahead of repairing the main has been done including archeology and geotechnical investigation and tree and brush clearing The project was approved for 2024 but missed the construction window The lowest bid on the project by contractors exceeds what has been budgeted for and council approved an additional $97,000 to complete the repair The project already had a remaining budget of $323,500 after the preliminary work had been finished last year The Foundry is a network of health and wellness locations around B.C. giving young people access to mental health care youth and family peer supports and social services The Foundry entered into an agreement with the YMCA to bring a location to Quesnel and provided council with an update An expected operational date will be 2028 as they continue to plan ahead As part of that planning they are looking for community members to give input on the facility The first committee is for youth aged 12 to 24 for input on what the Foundry in Quesnel will look like Youth will meet with the youth and family engagement leader and other youth for an hour each month to discuss a variety of topics around Foundry's development The other committee is for family and caregivers who support youth Both committees will help Foundry bridge any gaps and ensure Quesnel's youth can be comfortable and truly benefit from all of the services they have to offer.  People interested in taking part in either committee can email foundryquesnel@bc.ymca.ca The next council meeting is set for May 6 Enjoying Reading The Quesnel Cariboo Observer Enter your email to connect to 30 more days worth of stories by journalists living & working in Quesnel A wildfire west of Quesnel near Tsacha Lake is being held reports the BC Wildfire Service website Friday The fire is estimated to be 9.5 hectares A six-hectare wildfire was discovered Thursday April 24 west of Quesnel near Tsacha Lake BC Wildfire lists the fire as out of control.  Infrastructure Minister Bowinn Ma says new legislation will speed up approvals for infrastructure projects the Infrastructure Projects Act is meant to enable the provincial government to expand work already underway "to reduce redundancy but redundancy," Ma said in Victoria.  "We'll be able to prioritize and accelerate approval for projects that will need to support for people in their communities The environmental assessment office will be developing an expedited environmental assessment process so that designated provincially significant projects we go through a faster review while continuing to uphold high environmental standards." Ma said B.C.'s population has "exploded" by 188,000 people between June 2023 and June 2024 "For everyone 10,000 people that are added to the population we need an additional 18 hospital beds and 4,000 additional homes and we saw 188,000 people join us in a single 12-month period." the legislation will speed up approvals for priority provincial infrastructure projects It would also allow for an expedited environmental assessment process so designated projects can be reviewed "more quickly without compromising B.C.'s high environmental standards." The legislation would also allow the Infrastructure Ministry to work with school districts health authorities and post-secondary institutions to deliver some projects on their behalf.  Ma said the projects could be delivered by Crown corporations First Nations and the private sector.  "They would need to create significant economic social or environmental benefits for people in B.C. and are projects that contribute to the priorities of British Columbians Construction of Phase 1 at Blackwater Mine is complete and commenced milling operations in the first quarter of 2025 with plans to enter commercial production this quarter the response was given that gold is sold via international markets so to the mine's knowledge tariffs are not applicable and most of the mine's supply chain can be sourced from outside of the U.S.  No One Covers Quesnel Like The Quesnel Cariboo Observer Don’t miss out on reading the latest local Join our community and receive daily news alerts & breaking news About the Author: Williams Lake Tribune Staff Supreme Court judge has quashed sanctions imposed on the Quesnel mayor by city council over the mayor’s involvement with a controversial book about Canada’s residential school legacy We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentMayor Ron Paull requested a judicial review of the unanimous council sanctions which included banning him from regional government meetings and denying him travel expenses according to a judgment by Justice William Veenstra said the council resolutions didn’t follow proper procedures and were unreasonable Veenstra agreed and said in his judgment after hearing from both sides in a two-day hearing in September that the “censure and sanction of Mayor Paull are quashed on grounds of procedural fairness.” Councillors were investigating their options when they asked staff to prepare a report after Paull’s wife distributed a book questioning the possible graves reported at residential schools across Canada, a book the Lhtako Dene Nation in Quesnel considered hateful, according to the judgment. Chief Clifford Lebrun said at the time he would refuse to meet with the mayor. Council and staff were concerned the city’s relationship with the Lhtako Dene would be harmed and wanted to protect it, the court heard. Paull told council he hadn’t read the book and didn’t support his wife’s actions, but there were later allegations of him offering the book to two politicians at a Cariboo Regional District meeting, according to the judgment. But Veenstra agreed with Paull’s position that procedure hadn’t been followed because the city failed to provide the mayor with sufficient notice of proceedings, passed the resolutions based on an unclear and confusing staff report, and censured and sanctioned the mayor based on “alleged misconduct” that was different from the “events” outlined in staff the report. Staff in the report said they were providing information regarding the mayor’s “potential censure and sanction,” Veenstra said. Paull argued the report didn’t include the specific misconduct he was alleged to have done, the evidence used to justify censure or sanction, or how the city’s code of conduct was breached. That, he said, “denied him a meaningful opportunity to provide a reasoned and structured response,” according to the judgment. Paull, reading from a prepared statement over the phone on Tuesday before heading to a council meeting, said he was relieved by the judgment but wouldn’t be commenting with more detail until he and his lawyer have had a chance to go over the ruling. “I’m happy this is all coming to an end and how I look forward to getting back to the pressing work that I was elected to do,” said Paull, 74. “My health has been impacted by this too-long of a nightmare.” He said after lawyers for both sides go over the judgment, “Council will be moving ahead, hopefully, to reinstate me,” he said, adding council needs to make motions to remove the alternates it appointed to replace him at meetings he was barred from attending, such as the Cariboo Regional District meetings. Requests for comment left for the councillors through the city administrator weren’t immediately returned and the Lhtako Dene’s administration said Chief Lebrun would have to meet with council before commenting. The Confederacy of Treaty 6 First Nations issued a statement Thursday evening accusing Premier Danielle Smith of comments and actions that promote the idea of a referendum on Alberta's separation from Canada calling it reckless and a violation of a treaty agreement The statement affirmed that a referendum on separation would be a violation of the treaty relationship between First Nations and the Crown Join thousands of other like-minded readers and sign up below to gain immediate & unlimited access to our news for the next 30 days – plus start receiving our newsletters A Penticton Secondary School graduate will lead Canada's men's basketball team starting in the summer of 2026 Gordie Herbert has been named the next head coach for the national program The 66-year-old was born in the South Okanagan community and played basketball as a Pen-Hi Laker from 1976 to 1977 He most recently served as the head coach for EuroLeague club Bayern Munich “I’m incredibly honoured and excited for the opportunity to coach my home country,” said Herbert The Alberta government is taking the federal Liberal government to court.  Minister of Environment and Protected Areas Rebecca Schulz and Minister of Affordability and Utilities Nathan Neudorf jointly announced that Alberta was taking the federal government to Alberta's Court of Appeal over matters of constitutionality where it came to Ottawa's net-zero emissions by 2035 plan Beloved Quesnel restaurant Craig's Table will be shutting down at the end of March owners Craig and Rebecca Sherstan announced in a Facebook post "It's a combination of many factors," Craig told The Observer Economic pressures are the biggest factor with the cost of food rent and utilities going up as well as the pressure of running the restaurant "It's a lot of work running this place and a lot of stress These are the answers received by Independent Kenneth Thomson I have had four separate careers: large retail store management; software developer/systems engineer; subcontractor; and lawyer travelled and acquired three university degrees I have also been attentive to political and social developments and am reasonably well read Probably the two most important qualities that I believe that make me an exceptionally good candidate is that I relate well to people regardless of who they are and I am generally able to come up with creative solutions for whatever challenge I am confronted with We are not all the same and we should have the opportunity to choose a lifestyle and vocation that suits who we are we are being squeezed as a result of poor governance by successive governments who lost their way along time ago The primary focus of government needs to be on public interest not private interest We need to have an effective program for low-cost housing We need to have youth training programs which give our youth an opportunity to fill skilled labour positions We need to support the production of local products Do you believe that human-caused climate change is real what concrete plans do you have to tackle it The question isn’t whether human activity is causing climate change The question is: to what degree is human activity contributing to climate change Through out history there have been climate changes which were unrelated to human activity but at the same time there is evidence that human activity is contributing to climate change Perhaps the more important issue is: how are we going to reduce various forms of pollution which are making our planet uninhabitable how will you ensure all of your constituents are represented?  I show up and I am willing to converse with anyone who is willing to express their opinion Besides having an intention to provide a toll-free number for callers within the constituency I intend to travel within the constituency when I am not required to be in Ottawa Being a member of parliament is a job and it has its responsibilities which include making oneself available to one’s constituents How are you planning to deal with the trade threats coming from the U.S considered responses which are actually implemented We need to calm down and be realistic about the circumstances we find ourselves in and take a broader perspective there has been an emphasis on strengthening our national economy Initiatives such as reducing interprovincial trial barriers are important first steps but they are only a first step We have to go a great deal farther if we want to assert our sovereignty We have to become more self-reliant and not just claim that we are an independent nation why do we have 100 per cent tariffs on Chinese EVs Maybe we should be building Chinese EVs in Canada The 100 per cent tariffs have hurt Canadian agricultural exports and how have we benefited?  Today the KIJHL is pleased to announce Cash Anderson of the Quesnel River Rush as the Most Sportsmanlike Player it’s pretty minimal,” said River Rush head coach-general manager Logan Maxwell The 20-year-old not only led the River Rush in points he did so playing a disciplined style – spending 14 minutes in the penalty box The Armstrong native played an average of 21:33 a game and had a +21 rating Nearly half of Anderson’s offence came on the power-play with 20 points He plays a full 200-foot game and he respects his opponents.” Maxwell added that Anderson’s speed enables him to play and not take many penalties He was also a leader on and off-the-ice and brought pace to practice and games Subscribe to YouTube Channel. Quesnel's Lona Cole was found guilty of manslaughter in the shooting of Robert Douglas by Justice Marguerite Church at the Quesnel Law Court Friday in the home near Ten Mile Lake that Cole and Douglas  — who were in a relationship — had shared for about a year Church stated both Cole and Douglas had been drinking the day of the shooting A coroner's inquest has begun into the death of Sidney McIntyre-Starko an 18-year-old who died of fentanyl poisoning in a UVic dorm room in January 2024, A jury will hear from witnesses to determine the facts surrounding her death and make recommendations to prevent similar deaths in the future Records published by UVic revealed that on Jan McIntyre-Starko and another student collapsed onto their dorm floor after they were exposed to fentanyl A third student who was also impaired managed to call 911 and tell an operator they needed emergency help It took more than seven minutes to dispatch paramedics The first day of the inquest heard testimony from Dr the jury heard a recording of the 911 call one of the students made including Kyra Herriott, who was present at the scene whose name is protected by a publication ban that two of her friends were having seizures "They walked in and then they started just ... to pass out on the floor and I think they started seizing," the caller said Alfano asked the caller to do a breath diagnostic exercise to determine if there were any irregularities in their breathing before the phone was passed to a security guard who had just arrived at the scene almost 10 minutes after Alfano received the call The security guard told Alfano that he did not know if they had taken any drugs he was instructed to provide naloxone to the patients just before one of them who was named by the security guard as Sidney About one minute after they realized McIntyre-Starko stopped breathing and lost her pulse firefighters arrived on scene and the call was disconnected In her testimony, Herriott described eating dinner with other students in a dorm room a few doors down when they heard commotion in the hallway "When we started to hear laboured breathing, I went out into the hallway because I was closest to the door," she said "I went into the hallway and [a student] was holding [another student who had overdosed], by the arms and looked up at me That's where the laboured breathing was coming from and she was sort of shaking a little bit." After bringing the student to the dorm room where McIntyre-Starko was already lying on the ground other students called campus security and 911 "They had both started to turn blue before campus security got there "[The unnamed student] was sort of foaming at the mouth and [another student] had brought a pillow to put under her head at that point Her eyes were rolled back. I did check her pulse on her wrist at one point and didn't feel [it], and that was before campus security got there," she said She witnessed the unnamed student eventually regain consciousness and speak with paramedics after receiving a dose of Naloxone paramedics continued to do CPR on McIntyre-Starko before she was taken to hospital McIntyre-Starko was a first-year general sciences student who loved to play board games with family according to a website set up by her family Her loved ones say her death was a preventable incident while calling for a coroner's inquest saying their daughter died after a delay in administering naloxone and starting CPR The inquest is expected to come to an end in mid-May After Quesnel residents expressed concerns about gas prices in Quesnel being higher than neighbouring communities A report by the commission found that prices in Quesnel will, generally be higher than those in Prince George for a variety of reasons including: distance from refineries operating costs at individual gas stations and smaller markets for fuel sales The BCUC sent a letter to fuel retailers in Quesnel asking them to explain to them how prices are set and why prices were higher than in Prince George The provincial government released the total number of deaths from the toxic drug crisis in 2024 There were 2,253 people who died from unregulated drugs With as small of a population as Quesnel has those 18 deaths mark it as having the 10th highest number of deaths per capita in a local health authority (LHA) across B.C and tie it with 2020 as the most deadly year of the drug crisis in the city The April 28 federal election came with at least one shock to even veteran political observers: Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre lost his seat in the Ontario riding of Carleton a riding he has held for more than two decades As the results came down in the late hours of election night who has led the Conservative Party since 2022 would lose to Liberal newcomer Bruce Fanjoy who secured the seat with just over 50 per cent of the vote share Poilievre – buoyed by former prime minister Justin Trudeau's unpopularity – was riding a wave of approval According to polls from the Angus Reid Institute 45 per cent of Canadians intending to vote Conservative by the end of 2024 the Conservatives garnered 41.3 per cent of the vote  – a total that would often be accompanied by a majority government but this time fell short of the 43.7 per cent captured by a resurgent Liberal Party under Mark Carney "If you had asked me before the election, 'Will Poilievre keep the seat?' I would have told you except for the sort of anecdotal stuff that you saw online, that his seat would be in danger," said Justin Leifso an assistant professor of political sciences at the University of Victoria. Leifso said he thought it was "remarkable" to see him lose what was thought of as a safe seat for the party One question now on the minds of many Canadians who assumed the Conservative chain of command would stay relatively similar regardless of the election results: What's next for Pierre "They're kind of in a purgatory here," said Leifso "He lost the election after being up by over 20 points The inter-party dynamics of the House of Commons With the NDP's Jagmeet Singh losing his Burnaby riding as well, Canada's two main opposition parties will be working on Parliament Hill without a leader there could be a silver lining for both the Tories and Poilievre The Conservatives receive a higher popular vote total than Stephen Harper's majority government in 2011, and unofficial results show they gained 16 seats Leifso said the Conservatives will be asking themselves the same sort of question the New Democrats will: what vision for Canada are we offering the country one predicated on grievances, or a more broad coalition?  and not everybody is going to be satisfied with the answer," he said Poilievre has yet to tip his hand on his next move the newly minted Liberal government is gearing up for the 45th Parliament and figuring out how to work with the other parties over the next four years they're going to be addressing and confronting the United States but I'm going to be keeping a really close eye on economic priorities," said Leifso "And this government has already gotten rid of the retail carbon tax, they've already lowered the capital gains tax.  free-enterprise approach to economics going to be dominating in this government? That's what I'm going to be watching for." Quesnel Volunteer Fire Department responded to a call about a structure fire on Nason Street Firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze with several fire trucks and many first responders attending the scene They used hoses to put out the flames and equipment to dissipate the smoke so they could ensure the fire was fully extinguished This article will be updated if more information on the cause of the fire becomes available to The Observer