Latest news with #AdamPalmer
CBC
23-05-2025
- CBC
Steve Rai named new Vancouver police chief after filling job in interim role
The Vancouver Police Board has appointed interim police chief Steve Rai to be the Vancouver Police Department's new chief constable. Rai has more than three decades of experience with the Vancouver Police Department, the city said in a statement, having worked through the ranks to lead major operations, including the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics and the 2011 Stanley Cup riot. Mayor Ken Sim said Rai was chosen to be new police chief following a thorough selection process. "With Chief Rai at the helm, Vancouver is in strong hands as we work to build a safer, more connected, and more resilient city," Sim said. Rai had recently received a national profile fronting briefings about the Lapu-Lapu Day tragedy that claimed 11 lives in Vancouver last month. The mayor called Rai — who was born in India's Punjab region, and grew up in Vancouver — "a powerful reflection of our city that's diverse, driven and rooted in service." His appointment as the department's 32nd chief constable comes after former chief Adam Palmer stepped down from the position he had held for 10 years.
Global News
11-05-2025
- Global News
Police incident closes Waterfront Station, stops SeaBus and Expo Line service
See more sharing options Send this page to someone via email Share this item on Twitter Share this item via WhatsApp Share this item on Facebook A police incident at Vancouver's Waterfront Station caused major transit disruptions on Sunday. TransLink said the station was shuttered around 10:40 a.m. due to the incident. There were also several related bus detours in the area. Metro Vancouver Transit Police said the shutdown was 'out of an abundance of caution' after a threat was reported to the station. Transit police deployed explosive detection dogs and Vancouver police deployed drones to assist the investigation. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Photos showed Cordova Street in front of the station blocked by police tape, while social media users reported a 'massive police presence' on site. 34:55 Outgoing Vancouver police chief Adam Palmer on safety in the city Transit Police urged people to avoid the area. Story continues below advertisement 'Transit Police is working hard with our partners to resolve the situation quickly and safely,' the agency said in a social media post. TransLink said Expo Line trains were terminating their route at Burrard Station and that SeaBus service had been suspended. It said bus bridges were being put in place. The Canada Line and Millennium Line were not affected.
Arabian Post
27-04-2025
- Arabian Post
Crowd Mowed Down At Vancouver Festival Leaves Several Dead
Several people were killed and many others injured after a car drove into a crowd attending a street festival in Vancouver on Saturday evening, according to authorities. Emergency services responded swiftly to the scene following distress calls reporting a vehicle travelling at high speed into a densely populated area. Police officials stated that the driver, a 29-year-old man, was taken into custody without incident shortly after the crash. No information has yet been released regarding any potential motive, but investigators confirmed that the incident is being treated as a criminal investigation rather than a traffic accident. Vancouver Police Chief Adam Palmer said that the case was still in the early stages of evidence gathering and that specialists from the Major Crime Section were leading the inquiry. Witnesses described scenes of panic and horror as the vehicle, a dark-coloured SUV, mounted the pavement and struck festival-goers. According to accounts from bystanders, some individuals were thrown several metres through the air upon impact. Several festival tents and stalls were destroyed in the aftermath, and personal belongings were scattered across the road. Medical teams were on the scene within minutes. Vancouver Coastal Health confirmed that hospitals across the city had activated mass casualty protocols. Dr. Sara Turner, Chief of Emergency Medicine at Vancouver General Hospital, stated that at least 14 people were brought in for treatment, with injuries ranging from fractures and internal bleeding to critical head trauma. She noted that several patients required emergency surgery overnight. The Vancouver International Street Festival, an annual event drawing thousands of attendees, had been underway for most of the day without incident. Organisers had coordinated with municipal authorities for road closures and pedestrian-only zones. Following the attack, the remainder of the festival was immediately cancelled, and authorities urged residents to stay clear of the downtown area while investigations continued. See also Bayo Ojulari Appointed as NNPC's New Group CEO Mayor Ken Sim addressed the city late on Saturday night, expressing condolences to the victims and their families. 'Vancouver is mourning tonight,' he said. 'We are a city known for its kindness and inclusivity. Acts of violence like this do not represent who we are.' He confirmed that flags at all municipal buildings would be lowered to half-mast in memory of those who lost their lives. Law enforcement officials confirmed that there is no ongoing threat to public safety. They reassured citizens that the driver acted alone and that there was no evidence at this stage suggesting ties to organised extremist groups. Chief Palmer said, 'While we are keeping all possibilities open, preliminary information suggests this was an isolated act.' The identity of the suspect has not yet been released, pending charges and formal identification processes. Police disclosed that the suspect has a known history of mental health issues and past minor offences but no record of violent crime. Officials have ordered a comprehensive psychological assessment as part of their ongoing probe. The area around Granville Street, where the festival was being held, remained cordoned off overnight as forensic teams conducted a detailed sweep. Investigators were seen marking tire tracks and collecting debris, while drone footage was utilised to document the broader layout of the scene. Specialists are also reviewing extensive CCTV footage from businesses along the route. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a statement expressing shock and sadness over the incident, noting that his thoughts were with everyone affected. He praised the swift response of first responders, saying, 'Their courage and professionalism undoubtedly prevented further loss of life.' See also Libyan Dinar Plunges Amid Mounting Fiscal Turmoil The Canadian Red Cross has set up an emergency contact centre to assist families searching for loved ones. Authorities have encouraged those who attended the festival and may have witnessed the crash to come forward, particularly anyone with mobile phone recordings that could assist the investigation. Psychologists have warned of the psychological toll such public tragedies can have, not only on direct victims but also on witnesses and the wider community. Dr. Kevin Moreau, a trauma specialist at the University of British Columbia, stressed the importance of providing mental health support, highlighting that mass casualty events often leave long-lasting emotional scars. Social media platforms have been flooded with messages of sympathy and solidarity, with residents sharing information about counselling services and blood donation centres. Public gatherings to honour the victims are being planned for Sunday evening, with a vigil scheduled to be held at Jack Poole Plaza. While Vancouver has generally been regarded as one of the safest cities in North America, this incident has reignited conversations about pedestrian safety measures during large-scale events. City officials indicated that an internal review would examine whether additional protective infrastructure, such as bollards or mobile barriers, could have mitigated the impact of such an attack.
CBC
16-04-2025
- Business
- CBC
6 charts that break down the City of Vancouver's finances for last year
Every year, it's the biggest disclosure of every municipality in British Columbia. The City of Vancouver is expected to approve its 2024 Statement of Financial Information on Wednesday, a 165-page document that outlines exactly how money was spent in the city last year and how much money virtually every politician and employee made. The yearly disclosure is required by provincial law, and every municipality in B.C. must publicly release their financial statements by June 30. Aside from city hall's budget, it must include the remuneration for every employee, the amount given to different companies for services over $25,000, and the remuneration for every elected official and staff member over $75,000. As such, there are plenty of stories that come out of the annual statements — not just when they're released but in the weeks and months afterward. But here are four immediate stories from Vancouver's statement that caught our eye. A $3 billion city It was just 20 years ago that Vancouver's revenues eclipsed $1 billion for the first time, and since then, they have steadily risen, with the exception of a one-time pandemic in 2020. But last year, they went up at a rate never seen before. For the first time, Vancouver's revenues eclipsed $3 billion in 2024, a $548.5 million increase from 2023. According to the city, the majority of that increase was due to a $333.3 million increase in developer contributions, which the city attributed to "phased community amenities [and] development cost levies." Because most of that increase was unplanned, the city recorded an $860,634 annual surplus, continuing a long line of large surpluses that the city reinvests into various contingency funds and capital projects. Overall, the city's operating expenditures remained similar year over year, with the highest line item going to police protection ($474 million), followed by utilities, parks and recreation, and engineering. Highest paid employees Every year, plenty of attention is paid to the city's highest paid employees, but the list is generally quite stable, with the top managers in various departments generally receiving steady increases in their base pay. So it was again in 2024 in Vancouver, as retiring police Chief Adam Palmer received $487,224, once again the highest in the city. That was a five per cent increase from his 2023 salary, and his three deputy chiefs were the third to fifth highest paid employees in the city, with city manager Paul Mochrie second at $387,110. The top 10 paid employees with the city all made more than $300,000, just the second time that has happened. 6-figure councillors For the first time in Vancouver's history, all sitting councillors received over $100,000 in base compensation for their year in office. The 10 elected councillors made between $102,674 and $119,749 for their roles, with their base rate of $101,937.68 being augmented by various stints as deputy mayor or acting mayor. (Those salaries do not include additional compensation for sitting on various Metro Vancouver boards.) Mayor Ken Sim made $207,958, with $22,756 in local expenses and $28,034 charged for travel and various conferences. There have been several stories about Sim's travel as mayor, and while the amount he's expensed the city is significantly higher than his predecessor Kennedy Stewart, it's comparable with that of Gregor Robertson, Vancouver's mayor from 2008 to 2018, who re-entered political life this month as a federal candidate for Parliament with the Liberal Party. A reminder that what goes around in politics often comes around.
CBC
14-02-2025
- CBC
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim lays out new policing plan for Downtown Eastside
Vancouver's mayor and police Chief Adam Palmer jointly announced on Thursday a long-term operation to dismantle organized drug crime and target predatory criminals in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. As CBC's Chad Pawson reports, it's part of Ken Sim's vision for the future of the DTES.
