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Is your will up to date? Are your retirement savings protected? Is there a tax hike on the horizon? Did you know there is an easier way to plan your estate? Planning to leave the family cottage to the children?

MacMillan Estate Planning invites you to join them for an upcoming event hosted by their estate planning experts. Please note that all events are now taking place virtually until further notice.

If you wish to learn more about safeguarding your estate, please join us at one of the upcoming estate planning seminars. Discuss the core elements of estate and business planning vital to a proactively planned estate, focusing on protecting your estate’s value and benefit from the ‘silver linings’ the current market presents.

To join MacMillan Estate Planning for their next complimentary virtual seminar, call 1-833-266-6464 or visit macmillanestate.com

© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Firefighters descended on the heart of Chinatown around 5:30 p.m. Sunday evening where crews say a suspicious fire was started at the Chinese Cultural Centre.

The building takes up almost an entire block along Pender Street between Carrall and Columbia Streets according to Vancouver Assistant Fire Chief Ken Gemmill.

“There’s a smell of smoke and a dark haze coming from the rear alley of the south side of the building. They are able to gain access. One of the buildings is vacant just beside the Chinese Cultural Center. That’s where they thought the fire was because that’s where the heaviest smoke was,” Gemmill explained.

“It has a lot of store fronts, lots of E-S-L student centers. There doesn’t appear to be anyone injured, as far as occupants because it’s not a habitable building. It’s more of a commercial kind of access building.”

However, Gemmill says one firefighter was taken to hospital after he injured his hand trying to break into the building to find the source of the thick, black smoke.

The entire operation consisted of around 40 firefighters which closed the surrounding area for hours while fire and police officers investigate the suspected cause of the fire.

“They’ve got some footage and perhaps some people, some witnesses in the back that saw somebody lighting a fire in the back,” Gemmill added.

However, he says there was more smoke than fire and so crews use a minimal amount of water in order to minimize damage to the iconic building.

“If there is a fire, we don’t want to lose this building. It’s mainly concrete but the ceiling and the wall structure inside is wood and metal.”

Gemmill says this fire marks the third 2nd alarm fire in the area in just over a day.

© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Easton Cowan scored once and added two assists as the London Knights completed the regular season with a 5-1 win over the Kitchener Rangers on March 26 at Budweiser Gardens.

That win by London combined with a 6-4 Owen Sound victory over the Saginaw Spirit means the Knights will play the Owen Sound Attack in the first round of the playoffs. It will be the eighth meeting between the two clubs in the post-season.

The series will open in London, Ont., on Friday, March 31 at 7 p.m. at Budweiser Gardens. Game 2 will be Sunday, Apr. 2 at 2 p.m., also at Budweiser Gardens.

The win over the Rangers gave the Knights a 45-21-2 record on the year and the Midwest Division championship. They enter the playoffs as the second seed in the Western Conference.

After a ceremony to honour London’s overage players, the Knights got off to a very fast start.

It took Cowan one minute and 51 seconds to hit the 20-goal mark in his rookie season in the Ontario Hockey League. That made it 1-0 for the Knights.

London went up 2-0 on a header by George Diaco. Diaco’s father Rocco is known for being an excellent soccer player so maybe George comes by it naturally but a deflected puck hit Diaco on the visor and bounced past Rangers goalie Marcus Vandenburg.

Kitchener forward Reid Valade scored his sixth goal in six games against the Knights this season on a second period power play to chop London’s lead in half.

Logan Mailloux’s 25th on a pass from Easton Cowan restored a three-goal advantage for the Knights and then Landon Sim took a long pass from Ruslan Gazizov and scored his first goal since returning from a lower-body injury that cost Sim 11 games in February and March and London was up 4-1 after 40 minutes.

Denver Barkey finished the scoring with his 22nd goal at 12:48 of the third period.

London held the Rangers to 19 shots and Brett Brochu stopped 18 of them for his 89th career victory.

Dorchester, Ont., native Marcus Vandenburg faced 36 shots in goal for Kitchener.

Honouring the graduating overagers

The Knights held an on-ice tribute for their three overage players before the game against the Rangers. Co-captains Sean McGurn and George Diaco and goaltender Brett Brochu were presented with framed jerseys to continue a tradition begun by Mark and Dale Hunter years ago.

Brett Brochu

Brochu entered the OHL as a 17-year-old sixth round pick trying to win himself the backup job for the Knights in 2019-20. Not long into that season the Belle River, Ont, native had taken over the number one job in London’s crease.

Brochu set a record that year for most wins by a 16 or 17-year old rookie goaltender in the Ontario Hockey League and he did it even though the final six games of the Knights schedule were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

When OHL hockey returned Brochu continued his rise. He was named OHL Goaltender of the Year in 2021-22 and represented Canada at two World Junior Hockey Championships where he won gold both times. Brochu is second in all-time wins by a Knights goalie, fourth in all-time games played and second to only Steve Mason with nine career assists. Mason had 11.

Sean McGurn

McGurn was a third round pick by the Knights in 2018 and joined the team as a 17-year old for the 2019-20 season following an excellent season in the GOJHL with the St. Thomas Stars a year prior.

McGurn scored his first OHL goal on New Year’s Eve in 2019 against the Sarnia Sting and then followed that up after the cancelled 2020-21 year with two huge offensive seasons with the Knights.

The Ottawa, Ont., native had 20 goals and 73 points as a 19-year old and a career best 27 goals and 83 points as a co-captain with London this year. McGurn sits 48th all-time in London Knights OHL scoring despite only being able to play two full seasons of OHL hockey.

George Diaco

When Diaco took off his London Jr. Knights jersey after a loss to the Brantford 99ers in 2017-18 he figured he would never put on that logo again. Diaco was a draft pick of the Hamilton Bulldogs and signed with Hamilton during the 2018-19 season while playing for the London Nationals.

As a Bulldog Diaco had a breakout year at just the right time with 70 points in 68 games in 2021-22 to help Hamilton go on a run that would lead them to an OHL championship and to the Memorial Cup final. The Londoner was brought home on Oct. 11 when the Knights acquired him from the Bulldogs and after less than a month he was named a co-captain alongside McGurn.

Diaco posted career bests with 46 assists and 71 points in his year with London.

Up next

Game 1 of the playoffs will take place on Friday, March 31 at Budweiser Gardens against the Owen Sound Attack.

The @AttackOHL climb to seventh for a first round date with the @LondonKnights!#OHLPlayoffs | #LDNvsOS pic.twitter.com/OPxryJngkQ

— OntarioHockeyLeague (@OHLHockey) March 27, 2023

The teams have faced each other seven times in history. London has won five of those first seven series. The teams split the season series 3-3 in 2022-23.

Coverage of Game 1 will begin at 6:30 on 980 CFPL, at http://www.980cfpl.ca and on the Radioplayer Canada app.

© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

The Kelowna Rockets held their annual year-end awards ceremony on Sunday afternoon, with 11 awards for some of the team’s top performers throughout the 2022-23 campaign up for grabs.

Rockets forward Andrew Cristall had an electrifying season, racking up a team-high 95 points in 54 games, despite suffering a lower-body injury that forced him to miss 14 regular-season games, and the CHL/NHL Top Prospects game.

Cristall crossed the stage to accept three awards — recognized as the team’s top scorer, top plus minus rating and MVP.

“It’s definitely an honor, to get any award,” described Rockets forward, Andrew Cristall.

“Everybody on the team is deserving of the awards that I got, and I was lucky enough to get them, but yeah It was a really cool event to have all the fans come to the theatre and it was pretty special.”

Meanwhile, defenseman Caden Price earned the team’s top defenseman award after leading the Rockets defense core in points, and he joins some pretty impressive company, like Shea Weber, Tyson Barrie and Luke Schenn.

“Just now I got to look at those guys on the trophy and seeing some of those guys, a lot of NHL guys, I think it’s really motivating and I think I’m just honored to be selected for the trophy,” said Rockets blueliner, Caden Price.

“I couldn’t thank my teammates, my defense core and my defense coach enough for getting me to the point I am today.”

In his third year with the Rockets, veteran defenseman John Babcock was the recipient of the humanitarian award, for his dedication to community work including his role as team ambassador for the Hockey Gives Blood initiative.

The Scholastic Player of the Year award goes to the player that demonstrates solid grades in the classroom, while also balancing the grind of being in the WHL, and this year, it went to 17-year-old Trae Johnson.

This year’s most improved goaltender was Jari Kykkanen, while the unsung hero award went to Rockets defenseman Carson Golder, and team captain Gabriel Szturc took home the top defensive forward title.

The rookie of the year award likely comes as no surprise for Rockets fan, as Ismail Abougouche solidified a spot on the team at just 16-years-old and became the only Kelowna Rocket in team history that’s ever been drafted in the 12^th round to make the team.

Last but certainly not least, was the most sportmanslike award. Former Calgary Hitmen forward Adam Kydd, playing in his final season in the WHL, earned the award after he tallied 37 penalty minutes in 50 games, ranking 15^th out of all active/inactive Rockets players this season.

The Kelowna Rockets wrapped up their regular season on home ice Saturday night, sending their fans home happy following a 5-4 victory over the Vancouver Giants. They’ll faceoff against the Western Conference regular season champion Seattle Thunderbirds in the first round of the WHL playoffs, starting Friday night in Seattle.

The first chance for fans to catch these two teams in action at Prospera Place is game three on Tuesday, April 4^th.

© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

In hopes of becoming a B.C. family doctor, Mahir Mohammed went to medical school in Ukraine.

He said his previous post-secondary credits were recognized and tuition was far lower than anywhere in Canada.

“Medicine’s always been sort of my lifelong dream,” he told Global News.

After graduating in 2018, the Maple Ridge man returned to B.C. and completed the Canadian Licensing Exams. Since 2021, he’s been trying to secure the two-year residency required to practice medicine in the country.

Mohammed said when he applied, around 3,000 residency spots were open for the year for aspiring family doctors. But only 10 per cent of them are reserved for foreign graduates.

“There’s approximately 3,000 of us right now who have done all the licensing exams and jumped through all the hoops and we’re perfectly qualified to start residency,” Mohammed said. “But the problem is there are only 300 seats a year for us.”

In the United States, foreign and local grads compete for the same residency spots. But even if Canada followed that model,  Mohammed said it is not enough to address Canada’s doctor shortage.

“That’s really not going to address the healthcare crisis we’re in right now,” he said, Sunday. “Because ultimately we’re still only going to get 3,000 people through residency each year.”

 

“Increasing the number of positions by a few hundred across the country over the next few years would help us manage the backlog,” said Dr. Geneviève Moineau, the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada’s president.

The backlog has contributed to long wait-times at B.C. hospitals and abrupt closures of emergency rooms in rural areas.

The B.C. government said its pouring millions into growing the province’s only medical school.

In a statement, government officials said, “we will see UBC increasing its medical school intake by 40 and its residency program by up to 88, adding 128 new annual seats.”

Meanwhile, after three years of uncertainty, Mohammed learned last week that he’s finally landed a residency in Prince George, where he and his family will move in a couple of months.

“I can’t tell you how difficult it’s been these last three years, not knowing what the future holds for you,” he said.

Mohammed said he’s one of the fortunate ones, but hopes changes are made so other qualified doctors don’t need luck on their side just to work.

© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

TORONTO – Despite some self-inflicted adversity, the Toronto Raptors got it together when it mattered most.

O.G. Anunoby scored a game-high 29 points, Fred VanVleet added 28 and the Toronto Raptors pulled out a 114-104 victory over the Washington Wizards on Sunday. After taking a 17-point lead into halftime, the Raptors saw their edge diminish to just one point late in the third quarter.

“We lost some urgency in the third quarter, slipped up a little bit, but we picked it up and finished strong,” Anunoby said. “That’s how games go, you know, (it’s a) game of runs, (the) other team’s not going to lay down, they’re going to keep fighting.”

Adjustments made entering the fourth turned out to be a difference-maker, however.

“We got to ’em and at least made ’em pump fake and sidestep and got ’em out of rhythm a little bit more,” said Raptors head coach Nick Nurse. “We just weren’t pressing up on shooters enough in the third like we had been or like we wanted to.”

Anunoby scored 18 of his points in the first quarter, setting a new career-high for points in a single frame.

Pascal Siakam had 19 points and 11 rebounds, while Jakob Poeltl contributed a 12-point, 12-rebound double-double for Toronto (37-38). The Raptors took the season series 2-1 with the victory and have won five of their last seven games.

The win also allowed the Raptors to hold on to ninth spot in the Eastern Conference with Chicago being half a game behind after beating the Los Angeles Lakers 118-108 earlier Sunday.

“I’m most concerned that we can get healthier,” Nurse said. “I think that we need to get our guys together and certainly, there’s been some moments of really, really good basketball.

“And some stretches where we’ve looked like we’ve really got it clicking on both ends, where we’re making them take tough shots and we’re moving and finding open shots at the other end. And that’s really, if we’re gonna do that, we’re gonna have a great chance.”

Kristaps Porzingis led the way with 26 points for Washington (33-42), which was missing starters Bradley Beal, Monte Morris and Kyle Kuzma due to injury.

The Wizards have lost five of their last six and sit 3 1/2 games back of Chicago for the 10th seed — and final play-in spot — in the East.

“We allowed their strengths to beat us,” said Wizards head coach Wes Unseld Jr. “We missed some shots and, obviously, that allows them to get out in transition. We had a couple of turnovers, and then second-chance points early in the quarter, I thought that hurt us.”

Anunoby started out hot, scoring 13 points in the opening six minutes, and the Raptors took a quick 20-9 edge in the first quarter. But it was Scottie Barnes who made his presence felt early with a steal, followed by a crowd-pleasing 360 dunk.

VanVleet’s three-pointer with 4.1 seconds left helped the Raptors take a 37-21 advantage entering the second.

Porzingis scored five straight in a 9-0 run to make it a 43-35 game with 6:43 left. However, Siakam took the reins for Toronto, scoring his first 11 points of the game in the frame to keep Washington at bay.

Up 49-40 with 3:55 left, the Raptors went on a 12-0 run, including eight straight points from VanVleet, and a double-pump reverse dunk by Anunoby. Toronto went into halftime up 63-46.

“I think the first quarter, it was more deflections and steals and trying to get us out of transition,” said VanVleet, who had 18 first-half points. “And then the second quarter … shook loose for a couple of buckets and a transition three there.”

The Wizards started the third quarter strong, outscoring the Raptors 16-4 in the first 3:37 of the frame. With 2:16 remaining, Johnny Davis hit a three-pointer for Washington to make it an 80-79 game.

But VanVleet struck again with a personal 7-2 run to make it a six-point game. Another Davis three, though, with 14.1 seconds remaining left Toronto with a 87-84 edge with one quarter to go.

Barnes gave the Raptors an 11-point lead with a layup and a free throw to follow 2:48 into the fourth quarter. Anunoby’s layup with 5:33 left capped a 12-3 run to put Toronto ahead 108-90 — its largest lead since the second quarter.

The Wizards failed to close within 10 the remainder of the way.

RETURNS

Raptors forwards Precious Achiuwa (right hamstring tightness) and Barnes (left wrist soreness) made their returns to the lineup after missing the previous two games.

Guards Gary Trent Jr. (right elbow stiffness), Dalano Banton (left thumb sprain) and forward Joe Wieksamp (right hamstring strain) were out. Will Barton exited the game in the first quarter with a left ankle sprain and was ruled out for the remainder of the game.

UP NEXT

Raptors: Close out their four-game homestand against the Miami Heat on Tuesday.

Wizards: Return home to host the Boston Celtics on Tuesday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 26, 2023.

© 2023 The Canadian Press

Two people have been seriously injured in a shooting in Chilliwack, B.C., say the RCMP.

They said multiple reports came in of gunshots around 8:15 p.m. Saturday, near the Veddar Rotary Loop Trail parking lot.

When officers arrived, they found two victims with multiple gunshot wounds.

“Police immediately applied first aid until BC Emergency Health Services arrived,” a BC RCMP spokesperson said in an email.

“While the investigation is in the early stages, the Chilliwack RCMP believe the incident was targeted and may be linked to the ongoing Lower Mainland Gang conflict.”

Police are looking for anyone with information on a white Dodge Ram pickup truck seen travelling to and from the area around the time of the shooting.

Anyone with possible information, including CCTV or dash cam footage from the area, is asked to contact Chilliwack RCMP at 604-792-4611.

© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

It’s been an exciting weekend in the North Okanagan, as hundreds of athletes have been competing in multiple sports at venues across the city during the 2023 BC Winter Games.

In the grand finale of the games, a nail-biting gold medal ringette game was held.

Thompson Okanagan took on Greater Vancouver in front of a jam-packed home crowd at Kal Tire Place – North where both teams defended their undefeated title.

“I feel like everyone is like super in it to win it and everyone wants to win and everyone’s super competitive, so it makes it fun,” said Poppy O’Brien of team Thompson-Okanagan.

But in the end, it was Greater Vancouver going home with a gold medal around their necks.

The exciting game wrapped up an electric weekend in the North Okanagan.

One that organizers, athletes and fans will remember for years to come.

“It’s been a fabulous games. These games had faced over the years so much adversity and they’ve just risen above it all,” said Alison Noble BC Winter Games president.

Organizers say they couldn’t have pulled off without the 1,500 volunteers who dedicated their time to the games.

“I’m actually a certified athletic therapist. I usually work with hockey but it’s fun to venture out and work different sports,” said volunteer Tara Boyd.

As the players make their way home, many with medals around their necks, they will leave with memories that will last a lifetime and new friends to stand by their side.

The next BC Winter Games will be held in Quesnel in 2024.

© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

An update by the B.C. government on housing in the Downtown Eastside. A foreign medical student talks about his experience waiting for a residency spot in B.C. A spider expert gives his thoughts on Vancouver’s spider public art piece.

Click here to view more Global BC videos.

© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

At its annual general meeting in Winnipeg on Sunday, the Green Party announced Janine G. Gibson as the winner of ranked ballot voting that took place online from March 13 to 26.

Gibson, an agriculture consultant, has run four times for the provincial legislature and the party says she plans to run again in La Verendrye in southeastern Manitoba.

Former leader James Beddome announced last year he was stepping down after leading the party for 13 years.

The party has never won a seat in the Manitoba legislature, but has increased its share of the popular vote in every provincial election under Beddome’s leadership, from 1 per cent the year before his first term to 6 per cent in 2019.

The party says Gibson has announced her intention to appoint her three leadership competitors to offices as deputy leaders and shadow ministers.

“I am excited and humbled at the confidence expressed in my leadership during these challenging times,” Gibson said in a news release. “I have much gratitude to James for his dedication and perseverance as a model for us all.”

The Green Party of Manitoba said turnout for the leadership election was 54 per cent.

In 2011, Beddome was the first Green leader invited to participate in televised debates.

He used the platform to advocate ideas, including a universal basic income to fight poverty, first to New Democrat Greg Selinger and then to Progressive Conservative Brian Pallister when they were premiers.

In 2013 after graduating from law school, Beddome was replaced on an interim basis. But he had a change of heart and ran for leadership again the following year and won.

The Greens came within 400 votes of winning a seat in the 2016 election.

The AGM also involved an election of a new council for the party, with Dennis Bayomi as president.

© 2023 The Canadian Press