Vancouver mayor supports smoking crackdown

Mayor Sam Sullivan is backing a municipal smoking crackdown that would include the elimination of smoking on all restaurant patios and near entryways to buildings as well as at transit shelters.

Liberals challenge B.C.'s outdated mental-health policy

The B.C. government, preparing to rewrite the province's decade-old strategy on mental health, is taking aim at the policy of discharging the mentally ill into the community - an approach that has turned the streets of Vancouver's Downtown Eastside into a human warehouse for those with serious psychiatric disorders.

Treaty ratification dividing New Democrats

B.C. politicians will return to Victoria next month to ratify a native treaty that has divided the opposition New Democratic Party.The centrepiece of the fall session, set to begin Oct. 15, will be a vote on the proposed Tsawwassen treaty.

Increase in 'open-air violence' powered by province's drug trade

The litany of gang-related gunplay on Vancouver's streets - and the danger to innocent bystanders - is being fuelled by the province's rich drug trade and the rise of new gangs looking to cash in, police say.

WHAT'S ON AT FRINGE

Just five days left of the Vancouver International Fringe Festival, and here are this year's best bets.Get Off The Cross, Mary***1/2It is amazing what puppets can get away with. Bruthe is a once-famous gay puppet who is making his big comeback by creating and starring in a queer disco version of The Passion of the Christ along with two other questionably stellar puppets. As one character says, ''I'll see you tomorrow at noon. God will have to find his own way there.'' If you're not averse to sacrilege or raunchy humour - seriously, this stuff would land Pat Robertson in the hospital - it's one of the laugh-out-loud funniest shows at this year's Fringe. Sept. 13,14,15, various times. $10. Performance Works, 1218 Cartwright St., 604-981-3764

Cutting edge appeals to Pelley

Bringing the Vancouver Olympics into Canadian homes in 2010 will be the largest broadcasting initiative ever in this country, and the most challenging. For Keith Pelley, the opportunity to run the operation was too good to turn down.

Band asks for help to stem suicide attempts

Members of a Tofino native band are searching for help and answers after two attempted suicides this past weekend and one suicide in early August.The most recent attempts took place in the Tla-o-qui-aht communities of Opitsaht and Esowista on the west coast of Vancouver Island, and Sergeant Dave Lucas of the Tofino RCMP said the community is hurting.

Surrey leads charge against grow ops

Surrey is pushing for provincewide controls on the sale of hydroponics equipment as part of a drive to head off grow ops that present a risk of fire and other damage to neighbouring properties.

Diving into the life of a binner

Armed with a notepad and a tape recorder, Crystal Tremblay headed into the wilds to study exotic peoples.In her case, the wilds consisted of the untamed streets and alleys of Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. The subjects of her research were those citizens engaged in ''informal resource recovery.'' That's academic jargon for binners, who are also known as scavengers, garbage pickers or dumpster divers.

Masked men shoot 2 in Kitsilano diner

A targeted shooting by two masked gunmen through the window of an upscale Vancouver restaurant is the latest in a barrage of gang crime, police said, and they warned the public to be on alert.

Bumbershoot 2007 - Starbucks Stage

Ian Ball Photo Hosted at Buzznet I was really looking forward to Ian Ball, as I really like his work in Gomez. Pretty low key, and mellow performance. He was followed by an incredible performance by Andrew Bird, who could whistle, ...

Canon S5 IS - the Canon Powershot S series is still my favorite

James and I originally set out on Saturday to both buy a Canon S5 IS at Future Shop, but they were out and gave us rain checks. Here's a link to Flickr's page about the S5 IS -- there are some amazing photos there. More product shots ...

Download Ramadan Calendar & Prayer Times for Toronto & Vancouver ...

This ZIP contains Ramadan prayer timings and calendar for Toronto & Vancouver. You will need Acrobat Reader to open the PDFs Click here to >> DOWNLOAD LOCATION 1 DISCLAIMER: Although all care has been taken care in providing salaat ...

Vancouver Canucks

My favorite NHL team is the Vancouver Canucks simply because they were the closest to where I grew up and because I loved their logo. Growing up in the Pacific Northwest (near the Canadian Southwest) Orca whales are a big part of our ...

Vancouver Comix Jam: Cancelled

From Ed Brisson, organizer in chief of the Vancouver Comic Jam:. Hey folks, Sorry for the late notice on this, but the venue for the jam has been COMPLETELY booked for this saturday and is not available the following Saturday due to UFC ...

An Olympic accomodation plan

We're learning more about what could be in store for Vancouver during the 2010 Olympic Games.

A great way to wind down an Olympic day

Imagine watching the 2010 Games on giant video screens with 13-thousand people in the middle of downtown Vancouver.

Vancouver Hotel Strike Update by the Left-ish Tyee

?A rowdy, energetic crowd of over a hundred unionized hotel workers streamed up the stairs into the luxury lobby of the Hyatt Regency in Vancouver Tuesday afternoon, chanting slogans, demanding an immediate meeting with the hotel?s new ...

NDP doesn't like fee hikes for ambulance service

The Provincial Opposition is questioning why the Liberal Government has seen fit to increase the fee most British Columbians pay for ambulance service.

The Rougemont scene of turmoil

One of the last low-rent apartment buildings in Vancouver's west end could soon give way to the City's booming housing market.

Forests obviously still dry

Fire investigators in Nanaimo are trying to determine what or who is responsible for a rash of forest fires, all sparked in the same area Wednesday afternoon.

Donations and Tax-Exempt Organizations: US version

Taxpayers who make donations to tax-exempt organizations, such as charities and churches, have some new rules to follow regarding the deductibility of their donations. And, tax-exempt organizations themselves are faced with sweeping ...