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  Advance polls open in the B.C. election

  The 2024 B.C. election officially kicks off Thursday morning as advance voting locations open their doors.

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  UVic PhD candidate working to bring first ever portable microplastics test kit to market

  Abbas Motalebizadeh is a PhD candidate at the University of Victoria’s Mechanical Engineering Department and on Wednesday he was at the Victoria International Marina to test the Inner Harbour for microplastics.

• Did John Rustad witness an overdose death on his way to the B.C. leaders' debate?

  During the campaign, BC Conservative Leader John Rustad has repeatedly said people are "dying on the streets" in the province – and on Tuesday he claimed to have witnessed that very thing in downtown Vancouver while he was on his way to the leaders' debate.

• Hollywood star Mark Ruffalo lauds B.C. Green Party in leadup to election

  American actor and environmental activist Mark Ruffalo is weighing in on British Columbia politics, lauding the B.C. Green Party's stance on fossil fuels ahead of the Oct. 19 election.

• B.C. wildlife group offers $1,000 reward after dead black bears found without paws

  The British Columbia Conservation Officer Service says it is investigating after the bodies of two black bears with their paws removed were found in a Fraser Valley river.

• Eby says he'll focus on NDP's record in B.C., but can't resist more digs at Rustad

  British Columbia New Democrat Leader David Eby says he was "wired" and had trouble falling asleep after the televised election debate, adding that he would see his performance as successful if those watching at home felt he was focused on their priorities.

• B.C. protester who praised Hamas allowed to attend rallies again

  A B.C. woman who was recorded praising Hamas as 'heroic and brave' can return to protest rallies, authorities confirmed this week.

• Man suffers serious injuries in assault in Nanaimo, B.C.

  A suspect remains at large after an assault sent a man to hospital with serious injuries in Nanaimo, B.C.

• B.C. party leaders square off in campaign's only televised debate

  The leaders of B.C.'s main political parties sparred over health care, housing, and affordability Tuesday, pitching competing visions for how to address the most urgent issues facing the province in a debate punctuated by a few feisty exchanges.

• 'I'm going to cry': B.C. teacher inspires student's meaningful tattoo

  While the high school hallways were empty of students, Alison Calder was full of questions about her teaching career.

• Man charged in hit-and-run crash that killed Vancouver Island teen

  A Vancouver Island man has been charged in connection with a hit-and-run crash that killed a teenager near Duncan, B.C., earlier this year.

• 5 memorable moments from the B.C. leaders' debate

  Some sparks flew during Tuesday night’s televised leaders’ debate between David Eby, John Rustad and Sonia Furstenau, as the trio had impassioned conversations about the issues that are on many British Columbians’ minds ahead of election night, including housing, health care, the cost of living and public safety.

• Sooke district urges funding for new high school after once again leading B.C. in growth

  It was all hands of deck at David Cameron Elementary School on Tuesday as staff prepared for students to move into eight new prefabricated classrooms at the end of the week.

• Free website alerts BC Ferries passengers when spots open up on full sailings

  Over the summer, Victoria software engineer Vedran Budimcic watched his wife spend a week trying to get a coveted BC Ferries reservation, refreshing the website hundreds of times a day hoping for a cancellation on sold out sailings.

• Retrial date set for man accused in murders of B.C. gang member, innocent teen

  A retrial date has been set for a man accused of fatally shooting a rival gang member and an innocent teen passerby in Vancouver in 2018.

• Hertz tells B.C. tribunal online reservations do not 'guarantee' an available car

  A man who showed up at a rental car company only to be told his online reservation would not be honoured is entitled to compensation, B.C.'s small claims tribunal has ruled.

• B.C. Conservative leader reveals plans to address toxic drug crisis

  B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad has laid out his solutions for the toxic drug crisis in the province, which include cutting wait times for voluntary treatment, a virtual program to connect people with addiction specialists and building "regional recovery communities" that would allow for 12-month live-in treatment.

• B.C. man convicted of killing neighbour's chihuahua to protect his chickens

  A British Columbia provincial court judge says a Boston Bar man who shot a teacup Chihuahua named Bear claiming it was menacing his chickens was not justified in killing the animal.

• Vancouver Police probe Oct. 7 rally where 'death to Canada' cry went up

  Vancouver police say they are conducting an investigation into a pro-Palestinian protest where they say speakers expressed "solidarity with terrorist groups."

• Hundreds of B.C. 'where to vote' cards sent out with wrong address, Elections BC says

  Elections BC is reissuing new 'where to vote' cards to some residents after an administrative error mistakenly recommended voting places that were farther from homes than necessary.