Latest news with #SteveAddison
CTV News
02-08-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
As Vancouver Pride begins, security, finances in focus
The Davie Village Pride Fest is returning this year after a six-year hiatus. (CTV News) Setup is underway in the Davie Village, with Pride events taking place throughout the weekend. And while many are excited, security and financial considerations are top of mind. 'This is supposed to be a safe, festive, fun celebration of diversity in our community and we will do everything that we can to make sure that it continues to be that way,' said Sgt. Steve Addison of the Vancouver Police Department Friday. 'That means uniformed officers, VPD personnel, traffic closures where needed, barricades to block streets.' While many in the community are grateful for the security preparations, which include concrete barriers to protect against vehicles entering the heart of the party – the costs associated with that bring their own challenges. The Vancouver Pride Society has been vocal about wanting the City of Vancouver to contribute more to the event. 'It's a little galling that basically the way the city has been funding the Vancouver Pride Society is they charge us this huge bill for security and clean up costs, and then they discount us a little bit and they call that sponsoring,' Vancouver Pride Society secretary Morgane Oger told CTV News on Friday. The City of Vancouver has said it is contributing $75,000 in in-kind support to the society for this weekend's events, and has contributed nearly $100,000 in grants since 2020. Adding to the challenges for organizers, there's been a major drop-off in corporate sponsorship for the event in recent years. But there are changes this year that many are welcoming. The route is going back to an east-west path, ending closer to the heart of the West End. That change is coinciding with the return of the Davie Village Pride Fest after a six-year hiatus. 'It's huge,' said Teri Smith with the West End Business Improvement Association, of the change in trajectory of the route. 'We heard very loud and clear from our community, both our businesses and our residents, that when the parade relocated and the festival along with it, there was a huge sense of loss.' Celebrations began Friday, running through the weekend, with the main event on Sunday with the parade and the Pride Fest in Davie Village.
CTV News
26-07-2025
- CTV News
Vancouver senior seriously injured in hit-and-run speaks from hospital
Seventy-one-year-old Loreen English lives in East Vancouver and walks everywhere. On July 11, she was crossing Grandview Highway at Slocan Street with the walk signal activated when she heard a vehicle accelerating behind her. 'And I just turned my head, all I could see, I knew it was an SUV, a grey SUV. And I got nailed with the driver's bumper,' said English. She was knocked to the pavement, and knew right away she had serious injuries. 'I was in a lot of pain. Witnesses came up right away,' said English. 'Then I heard a man's voice go, 'OK, he's pulled over.' And then all of a sudden, I heard somebody – a couple of guys – yell, 'No, no, he's taking off!'' The driver of the SUV left the scene. English was rushed to hospital with a broken hip and pelvis, a broken collar bone, broken nose and other injuries. 'For two days in the hospital, I just kept having nightmares of this accident reoccurring,' she said. Police investigating the hit-and-run canvassed the area, but could not find surveillance video of the collision or the SUV taking off. 'We still don't know who was driving that vehicle, and we don't have a license plate on the car,' said Vancouver Police Department Sgt. Steve Addison. Police are appealing for witnesses with information or dash cam video, and they want the SUV driver to come forward. 'We are asking you to do the right thing. Come forward and speak to our investigators so we can get some answers here,' said Addison. 'I'd like him to come forward,' said English. 'I don't hold hope for that. For many reasons, this person decided not to stay.' Two weeks into her stay at UBC Hospital, English became concerned ICBC wasn't committing to covering expenses she will incur when she's sent home to continue her recovery. 'I live alone, I'm in subsidized seniors housing. They want to get me set up so that when I do go home, I can pretty much take care of myself,' English said. 'ICBC seemed to be dragging their butts and not giving me or the hospital any kind of reassurance that they would step up to the plate and provide for me.' After CTV News reached out to ICBC on English's behalf, the insurance corporation confirmed it would be covering her recovery expenses. 'We know that this is a very challenging time for Ms. English. What happened to her is awful, and we want to ensure that she is going to be taken care of,' said Greg Harper with ICBC. 'That may mean she'll need help with her day-to-day activities at her household. Perhaps some modifications will need to be made to her home. These are some of the things that we're going to make sure are taken care of,' Harper added. English is relieved, but wonders if confirmation of coverage only came quickly because she spoke to CTV News. 'Imagine that, I contact the media, ruffle a few feathers, and get the ball rolling,' English said. She hopes she can be released from hospital next week to continue her recovery at home. 'My biggest hope, and I pray, is that I'll be able to walk again,' English said. 'I'm not a very religious person, but I pray for that.'
Winnipeg Free Press
22-07-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
Teen arrested in fatal downtown Vancouver stabbing of 15-year-old boy
VANCOUVER – Police in Vancouver say they have arrested a 17-year-old suspect in the stabbing death of a 15-year-old boy near Robson Square over the weekend. Vancouver police say in a release that the suspect was arrested late Monday after surrendering to a patrol officer. Police say the suspect is a Surrey, B.C., resident and remains in custody, but charges have not been laid in the case and no further information on the arrested person was provided. The arrest comes after the boy was stabbed to death at around 11:40 p.m. Saturday just as tens of thousands of people were in the city for the Celebration of Light fireworks display. Police have said the stabbing is being investigated as a murder, and the victim was also from Surrey. Sgt. Steve Addison said previously that investigators believed there was a violent altercation near the Vancouver Law Courts at Smithe and Hornby streets, and a passerby found the injured boy who died in hospital early Sunday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 22, 2025.
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Yahoo
15-year-old boy stabbed to death near Vancouver law courts, police say
Vancouver police say they are investigating the murder of a 15-year-old boy who died after being stabbed Saturday night near the Vancouver Law Courts at Smithe and Hornby streets. "Vancouver police investigators have been working non-stop to secure evidence, identify witnesses, and find the person, or people, responsible for this murder," said Sgt. Steve Addison in a statement. Police said the victim, a Surrey resident, was stabbed sometime before 11:40 p.m. PT. A passerby called 911. Officers located the boy, who was treated by other first responders, on Hornby Street. The victim died in hospital early Sunday morning, said police. No arrests have been made, and police are asking anyone with information or dashcam footage from the area at the time to come forward. Police are not releasing the name of the victim at this time. Addison told reporters in a news conference on Monday that police may eventually choose to release surveillance footage of the area as they continue their investigation. He did not say if a suspect had been identified in the stabbing and urged anyone driving in the area between 11:25 p.m. and 11:40 p.m. to send dashcam video to told reporters Vancouver's downtown core was particularly busy on Saturday night, given the Celebration of Light fireworks event that had just wrapped up in the West End. "Lots of vehicle traffic in that block, it's downtown Vancouver, lots of cars driving around," he said. "And there may be people with dashcam video, who were passing through the area at the time, who perhaps unknowingly captured something that might be of use to our investigators." Addison said he wasn't aware of whether the victim had attended the Celebration of Light event, and there was an altercation prior to the stabbing. While the stabbing was not related to the Celebration of Light, he said that police would be changing their security plans for the next leg of the event on Wednesday after a few fights were reported as crowds were leaving on Saturday. "That may include additional officers, placing officers at more strategic locations so that we have that additional presence in places where we had some challenges ... so that we can address those and mitigate those concerns," he said.
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Yahoo
15-year-old boy stabbed to death near Vancouver law courts, police say
Vancouver police say they are investigating the murder of a 15-year-old boy who died after being stabbed Saturday night near the Vancouver Law Courts at Smithe and Hornby streets. "Vancouver police investigators have been working non-stop to secure evidence, identify witnesses, and find the person, or people, responsible for this murder," said Sgt. Steve Addison in a statement. Police said the victim, a Surrey resident, was stabbed sometime before 11:40 p.m. PT. A passerby called 911. Officers located the boy, who was treated by other first responders, on Hornby Street. The victim died in hospital early Sunday morning, said police. No arrests have been made, and police are asking anyone with information or dashcam footage from the area at the time to come forward. Police are not releasing the name of the victim at this time. Addison told reporters in a news conference on Monday that police may eventually choose to release surveillance footage of the area as they continue their investigation. He did not say if a suspect had been identified in the stabbing and urged anyone driving in the area between 11:25 p.m. and 11:40 p.m. to send dashcam video to told reporters Vancouver's downtown core was particularly busy on Saturday night, given the Celebration of Light fireworks event that had just wrapped up in the West End. "Lots of vehicle traffic in that block, it's downtown Vancouver, lots of cars driving around," he said. "And there may be people with dashcam video, who were passing through the area at the time, who perhaps unknowingly captured something that might be of use to our investigators." Addison said he wasn't aware of whether the victim had attended the Celebration of Light event, and there was an altercation prior to the stabbing. While the stabbing was not related to the Celebration of Light, he said that police would be changing their security plans for the next leg of the event on Wednesday after a few fights were reported as crowds were leaving on Saturday. "That may include additional officers, placing officers at more strategic locations so that we have that additional presence in places where we had some challenges ... so that we can address those and mitigate those concerns," he said.
