Vancouver Rundown Tuesday December 5, 2023
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Summary
Heavy rains continued to pound parts of the south coast as emergency crews tried to keep up with traffic crashes across the Lower Mainland on Monday evening. Some low lying areas experienced localized flooding while people got soaked in many parking lots. That rain is part of an ‘atmospheric river’ which stretches down to Hawaii. Several weather statements and advisories remain in effect.
Other stories…
Vancouver firefighters are sounding the alarm over the alarm being sounded far too often. Vancouver Fire and Rescue Chief Karen Fry says firefighters are at even greater risk of burning out due to the rising number of emergency calls. She says too many people are dying on the streets due to the opioid crisis. Last year, the department responded to 70-thousand calls…about 4,500 were fires.
Just ask your favourite family baker - have you had problems getting sugar this year? The Rogers Sugar Refinery is struggling to keep up with demand as a small group of managers run the old building on the Vancouver Waterfront during the ongoing strike. Unionized workers have been on strike for 10 weeks in a dispute centered on instituting 12-hour shifts. The union has filed an application for the right to picket some of Rogers biggest commercial customers as the labour action drags on.
For now, there may be a bit more competition in the skies as Porter Airlines launches direct daily service between Vancouver and Montreal. Porter is flying with 132-seat Embraer E195-E2 plains. They have those cramped two by two configurations. One way tickets may cost as low as $200.
The heavy rain is expected to ease through Tuesday. Here are the latest conditions from our private weather station in Surrey.
Top five stories to know
Vancouver Sun: Atmospheric river brings localized flooding across Metro Vancouver
Global News: ‘We’re in a crisis’: Vancouver firefighters warn of burnout among record calls
Daily Hive: 27-year-old snowmobiler who went missing on a B.C. mountain has died
Vancouver Is Awesome: Porter Airlines launches new direct route between Vancouver and Montreal
Business stories to know
Vancouver Sun: B.C. farmers face third year of crop loss as Trans Mountain pipeline project drags on
Opinion
Vancouver Sun: Vaughn Palmer: Latest opinion poll likely to exacerbate troubles for B.C. United
Journalism matters
That’s cool
Daily Hive: The Vegan Holiday Night Market returns for festive fun in Vancouver this week
Of note
Globe & Mail: CBC to lay off hundreds, cut production costs as it faces financial strain
