Vancouver Rundown Tuesday November 14, 2023

Local news that Facebook didn't post

Nov 14, 2023

Summary

How could a wellness check by the RCMP in Langley go so terribly wrong? That’s what the daughter of a distraught man wants to know after he died following a six-hour standoff near 232nd Street and 0 Avenue on Friday night. Police ERT members staked out the rural property for hours - eventually, there was some sort of explosion, a large fire and two burned-out cop cars. The apparent body of Don Bennett, 66, was found in the ruins Saturday afternoon. His daughter, Nicky McIntosh, is seeking information about how the situation escalated and whether any mental health professional was brought in to help. The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. is now gathering information about how the incident was handled - something that’s routine when there is a civilian death in a police matter.

Other stories…

The crashing sound could be heard blocks away. Saturday’s windstorm is believed responsible for the collapse of a building-under-construction on Fraser Highway, east of the Langley Bypass, at around 1:30 a.m. A concrete wall of the condo tower gave way, sending debris onto a pickup in the next door lot. The City of Langley and WorkSafeBC are now investigating.

Vancouver may be trying to revive its reputation as a fun city but some folks fear that fun is going too far. Those living near Rainbow Park, at Richards and Smythe, say overnight partying is affecting their quality of life. The park has become a noisy late night gathering spot for those leaving the Granville Entertainment District. Those who live in the ‘hood are waiting to hear back from the Vancouver Parks Board.

‘Inaccurate and exploitive’ - that’s how BC United MLA Elenore Sturko describes her appearance in a YouTube documentary video that discusses drug decriminalization. That video and Sturko’s words are being slammed by a number of harm-reduction proponents. But the Surrey South MLA says she was recorded without her permission and does not agree with the characterizations of B.C. that were made in the video. Sturko does say she stands by her comments but doesn’t like the way she was ‘ambushed.’

Sun, then rain, then sun, then rain. That’s what you can expect for the rest of the week. Tuesday kicks it off with sunshine…at least for most of the day. Here are the latest conditions from our private weather station in Surrey.