Vancouver Rundown Thursday June 19, 2025

Jun 19, 2025

Summary

The David Eby government has pulled funding to cover a $1M drug for a nine-year-old girl with a rare, terminal disease. Charleigh Pollock has been taking Brineura to slow the progression of CLN2, also known as Batten disease, but is getting her last treatment this week. The B.C. government says it’s pulling the funding because the disease has hit the point where the Vancouver Island girl meets the discontinuation criteria. Pollock is the only person in the province with the disease. There is no cure.

Other news…

Vancouver City Council has joined the Park Board in approving funding for a controversial 25-metre pool in the West End. The final price tag for the pool is estimated at $175M - that’s 100 million less than a 50-metre pool that would have been preferred by many swim clubs and user groups. The pool is a replacement for the Vancouver Aquatic Centre which suffered a partial collapse of a wall back in March of 2022.

RCMP are trying to find those responsible for firing shots at a home in Maple Ridge. Police say the house on 226 Street has been hit by gunfire for the second time in less than a year. No injures have been reported in either shooting.

Abbotsford’s School District is claiming a success in its first year of a partial cell phone ban in high schools. That protocol is for students to only use electronic devices in classrooms if permitted by teachers - usually as part of the learning process. The District says it’s noticed a significant drop in device use over last year.

Mostly sunny Thursday. Clouds and showers Friday. Periods of rain for Saturday. Here are the latest conditions at our private weather station in Surrey.