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CTV News
2 days ago
- CTV News
‘It's chaotic': B.C. community plagued by public disorder gets help
A promise of help for a B.C. community plagued by public safety issues has the city council holding off on imposing a local state of emergency, at least for now. A promise of help for a B.C. community plagued by public safety issues has the city council holding off on imposing a local state of emergency, at least for now. But will more police officers be enough to tackle the public disorder the community is facing? 'It's chaotic, it's (a) crisis and its fearful,' said Williams Lake Coun. Scott Nelson. 'The province and the feds have just downloaded, really, the crazies onto our streets and made the communities look after them, and we just don't have the resources.' Resident Brenda Weekes has seen her share of problems in the community, including people passed out on her front lawn and even the road. Williams Lake passed out Brenda Weekes shared this photo of a person passed out on her front law in Williams Lake, B.C. She's also dealt with break-ins. 'They've broken into our shop multiple times, into the house,' she said. 'We've seen them start fires. We've found numerous stuff they've stolen in the yard.' Weekes added that she once feared she'd be assaulted. 'Two girls approached the truck with a stick and a broom, so I wasn't going to get out of the truck,' she said. 'Every other day you're calling the RCMP about something.' Williams Lake Mayor Surinderpal Rathor said council considered imposing a local state of emergency until Victoria responded to its cries for help. 'I can not thank enough to the provincial government. They took our request very seriously and considered it and provided us the help,' the mayor said. In a letter sent to council, the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General wrote that it had reviewed the situation. 'The Provincial Director of Police Services directly contacted RCMP E-Division senior leadership to request that they take immediate (action) to supplement the local RCMP detachment's crime-fighting efforts,' the letter reads. 'The RCMP committed to deploying the Cariboo-Chilcotin Crime Reduction Unit to Williams Lake to assess the situation and develop operational plans as required.' The mayor said that hardly a day passes that his office doesn't get a complaint from a concerned resident. 'People are getting broken into, fires (are) being started,' he said. Part of the problem he sees is that even when arrests are made, the accused are often back on the street the next day. But he also said the difficulties Williams Lake is facing are not unique. '(The) issue is not only Williams Lake, as you know. It's not only B.C. It's all over Canada,' Rathor said. Rudy Wassenaar, a dentist in Williams Lake, said the area near his office is plagued with problems. 'I have people next to my office lighting fires, congregating, smoking crack. So, we call police and they come and disperse them. They don't really arrest them, I don't think,' he said. 'One time, (police) confiscated an axe, a machete, and just yesterday, the neighbouring business, they tried to light a fire,' Wassenaar said. 'I think it is an emergency if it affects people's lives every day.' Nelson felt a local state of emergency would have seen faster action on the problems. 'It would do a clean sweep of the city and three things: One, you go to a shelter, two, you go to jail, or you go to involuntary treatment,' he said. Council will review the effectiveness of the promised measures from the province in a couple of months to see if they are working.
CBC
29-05-2025
- Health
- CBC
Williams Lake, B.C., wants to enact state of emergency over public disorder
Social Sharing City council in Williams Lake, B.C., is looking to impose a state of local emergency over an increase in street disorder and violence — but the proposal has received pushback, and it's unclear if the B.C. government would fully support it. Coun. Scott Nelson put forward a motion on Tuesday to ask staff for options regarding a state of local emergency in response to "increased threats to public safety" in the city of around 20,000 people located 324 kilometres northeast of Vancouver. Nelson and the city's mayor, Surinderpal Rathor, say that there has been a sharp increase in public drug use, mental health challenges and fires in the city's downtown core, and the motion gives the city options to deal with it. But civil libertarians and a local First Nation have expressed opposition to the motion, and the province has not said if it would support it. "If they are a person who the RCMP feels may need to go to the hospital because of mental illnesses, they're going to go to the hospital and we're asking that they be looked at, put into involuntary treatment," said Nelson, describing his motion on CBC's Daybreak South. The councillor says that multiple B.C. municipalities are struggling with crime and mental health issues, and the province hasn't stepped up to the plate. He's calling for a "clean sweep" of the city to deal with repeat offenders. "The municipalities don't have the wraparound services, don't have the resources, and yet these people are laying fires to buildings," he said. "These people are threatening their own lives. "It's becoming chaotic, and the province has downloaded this. We need to upload this back into provincial hands so that the appropriate resources can be put in place to help people with mental health issues." Rathor supported the motion, and said he sympathized with people who needed help, but there was a need to protect the business community in the B.C. Interior city. "It would give extra power to the RCMP, if there's people wandering aimlessly here and there ... they can take them to the hospital or wherever the support is needed," he said. WATCH | Rathor expresses support for state of emergency: 10 hours ago Duration 7:42 The city council of Williams Lake, B.C., is considering a curfew from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. and escorting people displaying public intoxication or severe mental health issues to the hospital. Mayor Surinderpal Rathor says he hopes this will help the city's reputation and discipline repeat offenders. Nelson's motion passed 4-3 in council on Tuesday night. While it doesn't provide an exact timeline for when the state of emergency could happen, the councillor said Wednesday it could be imposed within the next two days. Increase in fires Nelson's motion cites ongoing instances of assaults, open drug use and public indecency, among other things, as being behind the proposed state of emergency. It further alleges that there was an arson that caused a loss of four businesses, and park washrooms vandalized numerous times, in the last few months. The councillor says the city approved $100,000 to police last month in order to provide them more resources to deal with the issue, but the state of local emergency would potentially empower them to do more. "We know that we've got some serious issues with people who have got mental health issues walking our streets right now that should not be on the streets," Nelson said. RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Madonna Saunderson said there were ongoing discussions regarding the councillor's concerns, but no decisions had been made yet. "The Williams Lake RCMP continue to meet with city council to work collaboratively on identifying viable options to address ongoing and/or emerging public safety issues," she said. Nelson added that city staff were now working to ensure police, emergency services, and the Interior Health Authority were prepared for the state of emergency. Proposal receives blowback Nelson's motion is not without its critics. The Xatsull First Nation, whose reserve is just north of the city, sent a letter to council expressing strong opposition to the motion. "We stand firmly against these measures — not only because of the disproportionate harm they pose to Indigenous people, but because they risk further marginalizing and criminalizing all people in our city who are struggling," the letter from Chief Rhonda Williams read. "These proposed actions would do nothing to address the root causes of the challenges faced in our community," the letter adds. The B.C. Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA) says the motion is simply a "non-starter" in its eyes, especially regarding the direction for police to transport people to hospitals for involuntary treatment. "The Mental Health Act already exists and already has mechanisms ... where [authorities] do have very extreme powers to detain people," said BCCLA policy director Meghan McDermott. "So to suggest that something even more than that is needed, and something as broad as this, is just really dangerous and not the way that our Constitution contemplates life in Canada," she added. While any local government in B.C. can declare a local state of emergency for up to 14 days, if they establish what additional powers they need, it is up to the province to consider extending it. And so far, the province hasn't indicated whether it supports Williams Lake council's bid to declare a state of emergency. Terry Yung, the minister of state for community safety and integrated services, told CBC News that public safety was important to his government and that more concrete plans would be released after talking to Williams Lake council. "In July, in two months, we're going to add 40 emergency shelter beds in Williams Lake," he said. "So we have programs ongoing, but I look forward to actually understanding more challenges on the ground for Williams Lake after consultation."
Global News
29-05-2025
- Global News
B.C. city considers state of emergency to deal with rising crime, but not nightly curfew
A city in B.C.'s Central Interior is taking the unprecedented step of considering a local state of emergency due to public safety and crime concerns. Williams Lake, which has a population of just over 11,000 people, has been struggling to deal with rising crime and helping those in the community with robust support and treatment services. At a meeting on May 27, council voted to direct staff to investigate what the city can do in a state of emergency, including putting people into involuntary care if needed. While law enforcement plays a vital role in public safety, lasting community wellness depends on collaboration from social services, health care, educators and community organizations, council heard in a report from staff. The six most common risk factors in the community are suspected, unmanaged mental health concerns, lack of appropriate housing, the inability of residents to have their basic needs met, drug abuse or misuse, financial hardship and residents associating with negative peers the report found. Story continues below advertisement Coun. Scott Nelson, who proposed the motion for the local state of emergency, said change has to happen now. 'There is a theme that is out there and that theme is obviously one that … there's lots of thefts, there's assaults on the public, there's open drug use, there's fires in the downtown core regularly,' he said. 'There's public indecency, there's intoxication, they're crapping all over the sidewalks, they're wiping it all over businesses in the downtown core. We've had a break-in at the shelter, I think three times now, in the back at the existing Hamilton Inn. 'They're throwing needles into peoples' yards where children live, by Hamilton Inn. We opened up the Boitanio Park washrooms here approximately 18 days ago and it's been burnt three times, it's been smashed and vandalized on the outside. 'It's just simply not normal.' 2:00 ER closures in Williams Lake prompt calls for internal audit Nelson said the homeless camps in the city have become more dangerous. Story continues below advertisement 'It's just simply bizarre what's happening out there and I say this sincerely, I believe in my heart, that these people need a helping hand,' he said. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'When these types of activities are occurring and they're starting to endanger the lives of other people, and they're starting to harm the environment that we live in, that puts fear into a community, we can list off all the rights and all the freedoms but those rights, those freedoms, come with duties.' Nelson said other people need to enjoy those rights and freedoms as well and the city is facing 'record numbers' of overdoses and criminal incidents. 'There are people on our streets right now that really don't care about the laws, that really don't care about Williams Lake, that really don't care about what we say and will, quite frankly, burn the city down,' he added. Nelson said they need to take steps to protect the residents while ensuring that the people who need help get that help. He advocated for a curfew to be put in place from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m., however, that was voted down by council. The vote for possibly declaring a state of emergency was not unanimous with some councillors saying it is too extreme and damaging to Williams Lake's image. Story continues below advertisement 'Do I want to be the municipality that declares a state of emergency for public safety?' Coun. Joan Flaspohler said. 'What is that gonna do for people who want to move here, seniors that see we're number 17 on the list for retirement community, for people who wanna develop here for economic benefits? That kind of media, I don't want.' 1:36 Williams Lake biomass plant saved from closure Coun. Angie Delainey called the motion a reactionary measure and said she would like to see increased patrols or more data-driven examples before enacting a local state of emergency due to crime. City staff are now investigating what a sweep would look like and what can be implemented based on what the provincial government will allow. B.C.'s community safety minister says he spoke with Surinderpal Rathor, mayor of Williams Lake on Wednesday morning. Story continues below advertisement 'We're going to do as much as we can, we're going to have more concrete plans once we have more direct conversations and the pressing challenges they face,' Minister Terry Yung said. Williams Lake's chief administration officer, Gary Muraca, provided details at the council meeting on some recent incidents in the city. He pointed out that on May 26, two people broke into a business in the downtown area, causing 'considerable damage.' 'They were arrested, they were part of the unhoused population,' he said. 'They did have ties to Williams Lake, they are from the area.' Muraca said city staff also dismantled an encampment in the river valley where people were lighting fires and there was a lot of drug activity. He said two people were arrested and six knives were found. Muraca added that on May 22 and 23, Williams Lake RCMP and emergency health services responded to a record number of calls, including 20 overdose calls and 18 calls for assistance from paramedics. 'This doesn't include the proactive work that (RCMP) are doing,' he said. Earlier in the week, he said a man attempted to rob Walmart with a knife and when officers chased the man, they found a stash of stolen goods from the store, spanning weeks. Story continues below advertisement Muraca also said bylaw officers are spending about 50 per cent of their time dealing with the unhoused population and firefighters are attending to numerous dumpster fires or fires being set at encampments. 'We continue to see way worse vandalism in our parks,' he added. 'In our washrooms.' He said that the public works department spent $14,000 in May just dealing with vandalism and clean-up costs. Muraca said some student employees have also had to be moved out of the parks to another site due to encounters with members of the unhoused community. 'It's not all of them, it's a small percentage of the unhoused population,' he said, 'but the unhoused population that are doing this sort of stuff are more violent than in years prior.' The city was one of only 10 selected across Canada to take part in the Canadian Centre for Safer Communities pilot project. This project aims to inspire local action to foster community safety and well-being through education, knowledge and collaboration. The survey wrapped up at the end of April and the city will look at the six biggest risk factors facing residents that will inform the next five-year plan. 'We all need to work together,' Rathor said at the meeting. Story continues below advertisement 'We have come a long way but we have a long way to go.' A local state of emergency gives local authorities the ability to exercise the emergency response powers listed in the Emergency and Disaster Management Act. They are most often used during emergencies such as wildfires but were also used during the COVID-19 pandemic. Council can declare a local state of emergency but the provincial government still decides whether or not it meets the criteria.
NZ Herald
28-05-2025
- NZ Herald
Bribie Island escape: Beaches, wildlife and small-town Australian delights
10am: It might not be bougie, but small-town baking really is unbeatable. Kenilworth Country Bakery was established in 1924 in the namesake town west of the Sunshine Coast and now has outposts on Bribie and in Mooloolaba. It's told that people travel an hour from Brisbane just to nab their famed doughnuts and sausage rolls, some of which are offered in 1kg portions. Queuing, I eye up a cabinet of tempting flavours (caramel pistachio, biscoff, Tim Tam, mint slice). Someone ahead orders a coffee doughnut - a house specialty in which a freshly baked doughnut is hollowed out, lined with Nutella, then filled with a shot of espresso and frothed milk. I settle on a more classic lamington version and scoff the whole thing in five bites perched on a picnic table, watching kids on a treat-fuelled sugar rush zoom around the adjacent playground. 11am: My own sugar rush sets in, so to burn it off and get my bearings, I go for a shorefront walk, stopping frequently when greeted by chatty locals (most of whom are seabirds). For a crash course on local history, I pop in at the Bribie Island Seaside Museum, which offers a glimpse into the island's rich past, from the indigenous Ngunda or Jondoburri people who were Bribie's traditional owners to World War II history. Kangaroos are a regular sight on Bribie Island. Image / Scott Nelson. 12pm: I drive to the other side of the island, passing many kangaroo warning road signs, to meet Jason Brown, the friendly owner operator of G'day Adventure Tours. Brown's unforgettable beach experiences take you first down, and then off the beaten path, through the raw beauty of Bribie Island National Park, which opens up to an expanse of pristine surf beach stretching over 30km. Perfect for thrill-seekers and nature lovers alike, this guided tour offers a unique way to discover one of Queensland's best-kept coastal treasures. We climb into his custom 4x4 van, and Brown primes me to keep an eye out for wildlife. 'See there!' he soon says, pointing to a chiselled rock jutting out where the sand dunes meet the grassland. 'Uh, huh', I say quizzically, just as the stone moves and I realise it was the angular shoulders of a kangaroo nibbling on grass. Tyson Beckett got up close to multiple kangroos with G'day Adventure Tours on Bribie Island in Queensland. Image / Supplied. I spot and get up close to countless roos and wallabies over a 3.5-hour tour, which also takes in breathtaking views of the bushland and coastal flora. There's an option to swim or kayak through lagoons of tranquil water coloured like tea by tannins leached from the surrounding melaleuca forests. As we cruise north towards Caloundra, Brown shares local stories about the island's geography and ecology, and we park up close to what remains of some concrete World War II bunkers, now collapsing into the ocean. Driving back, Brown says humpback whales are spotted between August and November and dolphins are another frequent sighting year-round. We see the nesting areas of endangered loggerhead turtles that return to lay their eggs in the dunes. Bribie Island's On the Beach Resort. Image / Supplied. 3pm: In the afternoon, it's time to check into On the Beach Resort, located (you guessed it) right on the coastline. Guests can choose from spacious, self-contained apartments or two and three-bedroom ensuite units that have plenty of room to unfurl and rooftop decks with BBQS and spa pools. Lush tropical gardens surround an expansive 20m saltwater pool and a sundeck bordered by a family-friendly outdoor cooking area. On the Beach Resort's villa's have rooftop terraces with spa pools and bbq areas. Image / Supplied 6pm: No trip to the Queensland coastline is complete without a visit to a Surf Club, and Bribie's is one of Australia's oldest. Established in 1922, the beloved club is the heart of local social life, and on Friday night, I park up among tables of families, friends and colleagues unwinding over Queensland Classics. I'm tempted by the seafood tower for two, but my table of one opts instead for what seems like a local delicacy, oysters Kilpatrick - grilled with bacon, worcestershire, tabasco, BBQ and tomato sauce. I wash down the heavy-hitting flavours with a shandy. I'm full to bursting, but when a hunky slice of black forest cake is delivered to next table I hear in my head the Japanese phrase betsubara, which describes the second stomach your body finds, just for desserts. The unspoilt beachfront extends some 30km. Image / Supplied. 9am: My day starts at Annie Lane Cafe, a cafe specialising in all-day brunch items, many of which feature produce from the Moreton Bay area. I try to start on a healthy note, ordering a coconut and lemon myrtle chia pudding with local lychee honey and fresh fruits, but am immediately and willingly led astray by a Turkish delight cold brew coffee that arrives at the table topped with a decadent chocolate mousse and fairy floss. 10am: Small towns are often home to jacks of all trades. Take Bribie Beach Shack, a busy do-it-all shop frequented by locals and tourists since 1951. Here, you can hire kayaks and boats, grab fish and chips, a glass of wine or beer and enjoy the views of the Pumicestone Passage - a haven for boating, crabbing, and fishing. The quaint Bribie Beach Shack has been a go-to for locals and tourists since 1951. Image / Supplied 12pm: Squally weather means my plan to explore the Passage onboard a beautifully restored Venetian-style Gondola remain tethered to the dock. Instead, I happily potter around, taking in the charm of the local shops. I while away an hour at least perusing the gloriously retro covers at The Book Bucket, a book exchange shop packed to the rafters with second-hand holiday reads. My leisurely browse means I get to Robbie's Crystal Cauldron 15 minutes too late to get a reading in the Psychic Garden (guess they didn't see me coming), but I don't leave empty-handed - I get a good chuckle from psychic Annie's crystal of the day: Sunstone. 3pm: Maybe the only thing better than small-town baking is the secondhand shopping. A Google search shows Bribe has at least eight op-shops and I duck showers by flitting between them, and the antique stores where I pick up some kitschy vintage tea towels and fabric badges as souvenirs. Sandstone Point Hotel is especially popular for family dining. Image / Supplied. 6pm: It seems like everyone from the local area is descending on the crowd-pleasing Sandstone Point Hotel, the award-winning venue is heaving with people celebrating birthdays, engagements, or simply welcoming the weekend. If the rain had lifted, you'd have found me farewelling the day al fresco at the venue's new Oyster Shed Beach Club, which offers a menu of fresh seafood, a cocktail bar, fire pits and day beds surrounded by palm trees and water views. Instead, I sit cosily indoors with a friend I've convinced to drive down from Brisbane to justify ordering the lavish frutti di mare platter. We crack into Moreton Bay Bugs and prawns, oysters, Mooloolaba spanner crab and crispy calamari while overlooking the waterfrontage just past the expansive lawn. The hotel is home to Australia's best outdoor entertainment venue, which has hosted the likes of Jimmy Barnes.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trimble Opens Registration for 2025 Insight Tech Conference
Trimble's Annual Event Showcases Latest Innovations in Transportation Industry WESTMINSTER, Colo., May 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Trimble® (Nasdaq: TRMB) has opened registration for its annual Trimble Insight Tech Conference running November 16-18, 2025 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans: Trimble Insight is back for its eighth year as a three-day festival-style event. Bringing together over 1,500 experts, carriers, shippers, logistics providers and leading tech innovators at the forefront of the transportation industry, the conference offers an unparalleled experience for education, innovation and collaboration. With over 200 educational sessions designed to help customers optimize their use of Trimble solutions and services, attendees will hear from industry experts on the latest in transportation, including AI-powered logistics, market challenges and opportunities, the evolution of operational management and more. With a greater focus on shippers, attendees will gain access to shipper-centric thought leaders and opportunities to learn how to win the market. Sessions will cover topics critical to shippers including procurement, freight audit, dock and yard management, and real-time visibility. "Trimble Insight provides a valuable opportunity to connect with peers across the transportation industry and engage directly with the Trimble team. It's a chance to gain perspective on where the industry is heading and how Trimble's technology can support your business," said Scott Nelson, vice president of IT client services for NFI. Keynote & What's NewInsight also welcomes keynote speaker Molly Fletcher, one of the first female agents to represent the biggest names in professional sports. Hailed as the "female Jerry Maguire," Fletcher negotiated over $500 million in contracts and represented more than 300 world renowned athletes, coaches and broadcasters during her fifteen-year career. In 2024, Insight hosted 200+ educational sessions and welcomed more than 1,400 attendees. This year's conference features an expanded podcast station, additional speaking customer and partner opportunities and new ways to network and explore "The Big Easy." Back for a second year by popular demand, the Insight Pavilion features sessions across six stages and offers space to meet sponsors, connect with peers or unwind. Join Us in New OrleansInsight is one of the largest gatherings of carriers, shippers, brokers, 3PLs and transportation technology providers in the industry and is open to anyone who is interested in learning more about transportation trends, technology and innovation. Attendees who purchase a ticket will have access to all sessions, the Insight Pavilion and evening events. "Insight is set to be our most innovative and impactful event yet. We're excited to bring together industry leaders, partners and our valued customers to explore the future of technology and its transformative potential," said Michael Kornhauser, sector vice president, transportation & logistics at Trimble. "This year's conference will focus on the expansion of our connected transportation ecosystem, with cutting-edge advancements and AI-power solutions — all aimed at driving efficiency and growth for our customers." To register for Trimble Insight Tech Conference or learn about sponsorship opportunities, visit: About TrimbleTrimble is a global technology company that connects the physical and digital worlds, transforming the ways work gets done. With relentless innovation in precise positioning, modeling and data analytics, Trimble enables essential industries including construction, geospatial and transportation. Whether it's helping customers build and maintain infrastructure, design and construct buildings, optimize global supply chains or map the world, Trimble is at the forefront, driving productivity and progress. For more information about Trimble (Nasdaq: TRMB), visit: GTRMB View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Trimble
