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Fifteen B.C. community groups will receive grants of up to $25,000 each to promote multiculturalism and anti-racism through art, Minister of Citizens’ Services Mary McNeil announced today.

“Tapping people’s creativity is a way to break down barriers and change thinking,” said McNeil. “These projects will use art to engage youth and adults on topics of multiculturalism and racism.”

The combined federal and provincial funding is being provided through EmbraceBC, a program that works to inspire residents, community members and sector leaders to welcome, accept and embrace difference within their communities.

On August 14th 2010 at approximately 3:00pm Prince George RCMP were called to a report of a shooting in the 2400 Block of Oak Street.

Members arrived on scene and located a deceased male on Oak Street. The area was secured and Police spoke to a number of witnesses.

Prince George RCMP Serious Crime Unit continue to investigate the murder and have not yet identified the victim. No suspects have been apprehended at this time and it is not known if the shooting is gang related.

Prince George RCMP are asking anyone with information in relation to this homicide to contact the Prince George Serious Crime Unit at (250) 561-3300 or to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) .

The B.C. government and Encorp Pacific Canada are celebrating a bear-smart recycling bin program in provincial parks that supports recycling and promotes the goal of keeping parks green and clean, said Environment Minister Barry Penner.

“The most natural and effective way to prevent potentially dangerous conflicts with bears is to put away any food attractants, such as garbage and used pop bottles or other containers,” said Penner. “The new program is a good example of a partnership between the B.C. government and the private sector. It enhances BC Parks, promotes proper waste management and encourages people to be ‘bear smart’ when visiting our parks.”

The Ministry of Environment contributed $8,000 toward the program, and Encorp Pacific Canada contributed $106,000 toward the recycling bins in some of the busiest parks in the province. The specially-designed metal bins keep bears out while helping park users be diligent about recycling their beverage containers.

“As British Columbians, we’re proud of our provincial parks and conscientious when it comes to recycling,” said Encorp Pacific Canada CEO Neil Hastie. “Encorp’s bear-smart recycling partnership with the provincial government will not only help keep our parks clean and conserve resources, it will further minimize impact on wildlife.”

Fifty-nine bear-proof recycle bins have been placed at four BC Parks: two at Cultus Lake Provincial Park near Chilliwack; 20 at Goldstream Provincial Park near Victoria; 26 at Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park near Parksville and 11 at Alice Lake Provincial Park near Squamish.

Since 2001, the B.C. government has established 65 new parks, 144 conservancies, two ecological reserves and nine protected areas, and expanded more than 60 parks and six ecological reserves, protecting over 1.9 million hectares of additional land.

Over the past five years, B.C. has invested approximately $107 million to improve park infrastructure and acquire additional parkland. Today in B.C., 13.5 million hectares or 14.27 per cent of the land base is protected, more than any other Canadian jurisdiction.

BC Parks will celebrate its 100th birthday on March 1, 2011. Leading up to the milestone date, a new Parks 100 initiative will be engaging communities, First Nations, youth and the arts, heritage and tourism sectors in events, competitions and conservation projects across the province. Parks 100 activities aim to promote accessible parks, healthy and green living, and strengthen shared stewardship of B.C.’s natural and cultural resources. To find out more about Parks 100, go to: www.bcparks100.ca.

To learn about how you and your community can be bear-smart, go to: www.env.gov.bc.ca/wld/bearsmart/bearsmintro.html.

To find out more about Encorp Pacific Canada, a product stewardship corporation mandated to develop and improve beverage containers recycling systems, go to: www.encorp.ca.

Camping reservations in BC Parks are up almost 10 per cent compared to last year, which is good news for the provincial economy as British Columbians and visitors from out of province head out to our parks going into the BC Day long weekend, said Environment Minister Barry Penner.

“BC Parks offer a tremendous value for people of all ages who want to get outdoors and experience our great parks system,” said Penner. “Since we launched the new and improved Discover Camping reservation service last April, people have noticed the improvements. The increased visits to our provincial parks help boost local economies across the province.”

**update**

DECLARATION OF STATE OF LOCAL EMERGENCY
EVACUATION ORDER for Electoral Areas "O"&"E"
(BONAPARTE LAKE WILDFIRE)

To view the evacuation orders click below:
for Area E
for Area O

Airtankers are currently working to protect homes affected by a wildfire burning at the south-east end of Bonaparte Lake, 22 kilometres north-west of Barriere. The cause is under investigation.

BC Cancer Agency scientists have identified a cancer-causing gene, BRF2, specific to squamous lung cell carcinoma. The gene could be used as an identification marker for this specific type of lung cancer and provide a new target for drug therapy. These findings come from a study by William Lockwood, PhD, and colleagues from the BC Cancer Agency, an agency of the Provincial Health Services Authority, published in this week’s PLoS Medicine.

Effective noon July 23, all open burning, including campfires and fireworks, will be prohibited across the Coastal Fire Centre to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public safety.

The new Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics (CCJS) report on 2009 incidents of police-reported crime show that B.C. has the largest decline in crime rates and crime severity of all the provinces and territories in Canada, but the Province acknowledges that continued, targeted policing is still needed in communities where combatting gangs and guns remains a priority, Solicitor General Mike de Jong, QC, announced today. 

The Province’s Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement (CVSE) branch, in co-operation with local law enforcement, will be out in strength this summer to ensure commercial vehicles operating in the Southern Interior are meeting safety standards, Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Shirley Bond announced today. 

B.C.'s cell phone law hits the six month mark: have we changed our habits behind the wheel?

BCAA asks: is our new distracted driving law working?