Sign treaties, jubilant chief urges natives

Basking in the joyous aftermath of her band's historic ratification of the country's first modern urban treaty and the first under British Columbia's beleaguered, 14-year treaty process, Tsawwassen First Nation Chief Kim Baird urged other natives yesterday to get on board the treaty train.

Premier may have found his legacy

It was an ebullient B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell who met with reporters yesterday to talk about the success of the Tsawwassen treaty vote.As a key player in the province's first modern urban treaty, Mr. Campbell had every reason to be smiling: The approval of the treaty by the band helped prevent the collapse of land claims negotiations across the province.

Natives apply for review of Skeena fishing policy

The Gitanyow First Nation applied to Vancouver Federal Court yesterday for a judicial review of the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans's Skeena River fishing plan.Glen Williams, chief negotiator for the Gitanyow, said the government-operated commercial fishery has caused historic declines in salmon stocks in the Kitwanga River, a tributary of the Skeena.

Vancouver can offer five-year contracts

A major roadblock to ending Vancouver's inside workers' strike has been cleared, as the city's negotiators will be able to offer a five-year contract to the union when they resume negotiations this morning.

One worker, 53, dead after blast at Delta plant

A Coquitlam man has died of his injuries from a fiery explosion at a manufacturing plant in Delta.The blast tore through the Chemcraft Sadolin plant on Annacis Island early Tuesday morning, leaving the 53-year-old worker with severe burns and blast injuries. Police say the man, whose name has not been released, died yesterday. Five others who were injured are recovering at home.

Two high-risk Canadian newborns finally at home

Two premature babies born in the United States when there was no room for them in Canada have returned to British Columbia hospitals.One of them, Kelsey James, was sent by air ambulance to Matsqui-Sumas-Abbotsford General Hospital on Wednesday evening, her mother, Michelle James, said in a telephone interview. ''We're stuck [in Abbotsford] but we're doing our best to get into B.C. Women's'' Hospital and Health Centre, Ms. James said.

Cleanup crew battles thick black goo

Officials grappling with the cleanup of a surprise gusher of oil in a quiet neighbourhood yesterday put a measure on the task ahead, declaring that 1,400 barrels of crude sprayed over homes and into Burrard Inlet east of Vancouver, before they were able to cut off a pipeline broken by routine roadwork.

Drunk driver sentenced after Crown appeal

A repeat drunk driver has been sentenced to 18 -months behind bars after the Crown successfully appealed the B.C. man's original sentence.In a unanimous ruling from the B.C. Court of Appeal, the conditional sentence of 23-year-old James Howey was increased to jail time and a five-year driving prohibition for a high-speed, drunken crash last October in New Westminster that injured three people, including a passenger in an oncoming vehicle.

Former judge says arrest renewed his outlook on life

A former Provincial Court judge who stepped down after he was arrested in a drunken incident at a Vancouver hotel says it's been a life changing experience.An investigation found that William Sundhu was drunk and made offensive remarks to staff and guests at a Vancouver hotel bar in February of 2006. Charges of causing a disturbance were stayed after he agreed to enter a diversion program. He says he's come out of the ordeal with strength and wisdom and his faith in people restored.

Potential strike savings will go to taxpayers

If the City of Vancouver does save any money as a result of the current municipal workers strike, the profits will return to taxpayers. City council passed a motion Tuesday night by Vision Vancouver Councillor Raymond Louie to pass on strike savings to residents. The last garbage strike, which lasted for six weeks in 2000, saved the city $1.3-million.

Bus driver assaulted

A Coast Mountain Bus Company driver was sent to hospital Thursday after being attacked by a passenger.

CUPE and Delta to meet Monday

Labour trouble could be coming to Delta next.

City and Vancouver's inside workers return to bargaining table

Contract talks between the City of Vancouver and its striking inside workers will resume Friday morning at an undisclosed location.

Restaurant Soundtrack No.36

From the dishwasher?s iPod?word. Black Sheep | Whodat?

Kamloops to Vancouver

We travelled from Kamloops to Vancouver and the scenary was as spectacular as was described yesterday. Even though the whole trip was good I think we were all a little disappointed at how little wildlife we were able to see we only ...

Vancouver needs more of this:

I know this has been around for a while, and I?d heard about the campaign, but I never saw the video. Maybe it?s just me being overtired from a very short sleep last night, and a very long work week, but this brought a tear to my eye. ...

Multiplication Tables in Gastown

Gastown has grown in restaurant girth again, beginning with Cobre at 52 Powell St. In terms of looks and despite the above video which just doesn?t do the room justice, it?sa great improvement from its predecessor Curious. ...

Illuminares Lantern Festival, Vancouver

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A Vancouver Tradition - Summer Fireworks

If you are a visitor to Vancouver on July 28, August 1 or August 4th, make a point of joining the rest of the city in this incredible display that has countries competing for best of show honours. But also, please note: ...

Terror in English Town

I thought we had problems because of frequent visits by black bears in our back yard in North Vancouver. And then I read this:. A spokesman for Durham Police said: ?We cannot stress too highly how dangerous this animal is. ...

friday free for all!

Its that time of the week again! This is your open topic discussion post for Friday July 27th. Here's a few stories I've noticed this week: - City addressing affordability crisis. - It "sounded like a good investment at the time" ...

Vancouver housing bubble: Will it burst or deflate?

A blog posting by Vancouver Home Mortgage :. With the Bank of Canada raising interest rates and Canadian Banks offering more attractive saving rates to consumers, investors will be tempted to move their real estate investments to safer ...