Latest news with #DarrylDyck
CTV News
a day ago
- CTV News
Violent crime in Vancouver reaches 20-year low, according to VPD report
A Vancouver Police Department patch is seen on an officer's uniform in Vancouver, on Jan. 9, 2021. (Darryl Dyck / The Canadian Press) Vancouver has recorded its lowest number of violent crimes in more than 20 years, according to a new report going before the Vancouver Police Board Thursday afternoon. The VPD's quarterly Public Safety Indicators report tracks a number of trends, including violent crime, property crime, and apprehensions under the Mental Health Act. According to data collected in the first three months of 2025, total crime decreased by nearly one per cent. Violent crime declined by 11.2 per cent compared to the first quarter of 2024, with the number of cases dropping from 1,342 to 1,192. It marks the lowest number of violent crimes on record in Vancouver since the implementation of the Police Records Information Management Environment in 2002, a system used for managing police records. 'This decrease is driven by record low quarterly assaults and robberies. Violent crime declined across all patrol districts except District 4, and decreased in 15 of the 24 Vancouver neighbourhoods,' reads the report. District four covers a large area of Vancouver, including Point Grey, Kitsilano, Fairview, Dunbar-Southlands, Arbutus Ridge, Shaughnessy, South Cambie, Riley Park, Musqueam, Kerrisdale, Oakridge, and Marpole. The drop in violent crime presented in the data is in stark contrast to what many residents and business owners have reported anecdotally in recent months, including a series of high-profile stranger attacks. Robberies decreased by more than 23 per cent, according to the report. 'This decrease was driven by a 39.5 per cent reduction specifically in the Downtown Eastside,' it reads. Assaults decreased 12.6 per cent, but assaults on peace officers increased 28 per cent. Sexual offences increased by more than 7 per cent, rising from 168 incidents in the first quarter of 2024 to 180 in the first quarter of 2025. This includes a 6.5 per cent increase in historical reports of sexual offences. Vancouver recorded two culpable homicides and there were three attempted murders in the first three months of 2025. Property crime dropped by 4 per cent, continuing a sustained post-Covid decline. Mental Health Act apprehensions increased by 7 per cent. Calls for service increased slightly by 2.4 per cent, with 56,698 calls made between January and March in 2025 compared to 55,393 across the same three months in 2024. The average response time to emergency priority one calls increased by nine seconds compared to the same period the previous year. There was a significant increase in on-view calls, which occur when an officer witnesses an incident. According to the VPD, that was driven by District 2 which saw a 94.0 per cent increase from 3,372 to 6,540 on-view calls. 'This increase in on-view calls is likely attributable to Task Force Barrage and Project Brighthaven, which involved the deployment of additional officers in the Downtown Eastside,' reads the report. The VPD launched Task Force Barrage in February of this year. The initiative was intended to focus on targeting organized crime, violent offenders, and street disorder, particularly in the Downtown Eastside. The task force has been controversial. Critics have argued it disproportionately affects vulnerable populations in the Downtown Eastside. Advocates are concerned the increased enforcement could push these people into other parts of the city, which could disrupt their access to resources and support systems. Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim has also sidestepped questions on how the budget for the $5 million task force was approved. A presentation on Task Force Barrage is also on the agenda for Thursday's police board meeting.
CTV News
3 days ago
- CTV News
Crash involving pedestrian closes section of Manitoba highway
An RCMP patch is seen on the shoulder of an assistant commissioner in Surrey, B.C., on Friday, April 28, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck A section of a Manitoba highway is closed on Tuesday morning following a car crash involving a pedestrian. Highway 1 westbound from McGuckin Road to Manitoba Street in Headingley is closed. Mounties confirmed a collision in this area but would not provide any further information. More details are expected later on Tuesday.
CTV News
5 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Permanent paid parking recommended for Spanish Banks Beach
A group of men play volleyball at Spanish Banks Beach in Vancouver B.C., on Monday, May 20, 2013. (Darryl Dyck / THE CANADIAN PRESS) A recommendation to make paid parking at Vancouver's popular Spanish Banks Beach permanent – with a 'marginal increase' in price – is coming to the Vancouver Park Board Monday. The board launched a pilot program last year, charging $1 per hour to those parking in 744 stalls at the popular destination. A report from staff says it has generated an estimated $168,000 in revenue in 10 months – surpassing the board's initial estimate of $121,000 over 12 months. 'These revenue figures suggest that paid parking has not been a deterrent to parking lot use, while significantly improving capacity for funding service improvements,' the report says. Before the pilot, the beach was the only one in the city with free parking. The pilot prompted a petition opposing the move that gathered around 8,500 signatures. 'No paid parking implementation project is without some level of negative public sentiment. The Spanish Banks Beach pilot was not an exception,' the report says, noting that there were some 'minor incidents of vandalism and service interruption' when the program began. The latest proposal, if approved, would see the fee increase to $1.50 per hour year-round, a rate the report says reflects inflation and matches the city's minimum rates for on-street parking. 'Free parking is increasingly rare in Vancouver – the city is densifying, demand for parking is increasing, and operating costs are impacted by inflation. Parking comes at a cost for municipalities, who subsidize free parking at the expense of core service delivery for all residents and visitors, whether they drive or not,' the report says. 'Establishing reasonable fees for the individual use of parking spaces connects the cost of that service to the user that directly benefits while providing indirect benefits for all residents.' The report says the increased rate will generate and estimated $255,000 in revenue per year. A potential increase to $2 per hour in 2026 would bring in $340,000 per year. The benefits of paid parking cited in the report include collecting money from visitors who don't pay taxes in the city and enabling bylaw officers to enforce rules against overnight parking.
CTV News
12-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
City of Burnaby, B.C., to apologize to Chinese-Canadians for past discrimination
A plane passes behind condo towers in the Metrotown area of Burnaby, B.C., on Sunday, May 30, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
CTV News
12-06-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
B.C. forecasters issue high water advisories for numerous Interior rivers
A woman wears a plastic poncho as rain falls in Vancouver, on Monday, September 25, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck British Columbia's River Forecast Centre has issued a high streamflow advisories for a large swath of waterways in the province. The advisory covers Interior rivers and tributaries stretching as far north as the border with Alaska and south to the Canada-U.S. border and along part of the boundary with Alberta. Forecasters say rivers are expected to rise rapidly on Thursday and Friday because of rain, with high flows potentially extending through to Sunday. The advisory says low-pressure off the Alaska and B. C. coast is expected to lead to wraparound rainfall across the Interior. It says the amount of rain expected through the weekend remains uncertain, but flows seen only every five to 20 years are possible. The centre says areas with snow remaining, in particular the Upper Fraser and Upper Columbia rivers, are already dealing with high flows due to the recent hot weather melting the snow. Much of the province is at the tail end of what Environment Canada called an 'early season heat event' that saw temperatures soar for several days, breaking records in many communities. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June, 11, 2025
