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A British Columbia mother borrowed money to help her daughter buy a car but was owed money and the court battle turned out to be a dramatic affair.

A mother in British Columbia has taken legal action against her daughter and her boyfriend to recover $3,500 she lent them and has accused them of smashing a television set. According to the BC Civil Resolution Tribunal (CRT) ruling, the mother (the plaintiff) lent her daughter (the defendant) and her boyfriend $3,500.

The mother told the court that her daughter had not repaid the loan. During the court hearing, the daughter admitted that her mother had indeed lent her the money, but that she had already repaid part of it. Both parties agreed that the mother lent her daughter 3,500 to help her buy a car.

Since there was no written contract, the arbitration tribunal determined that there was an oral agreement between the parties. The mother said the young couple agreed to pay off the loan in monthly installments of 500 yuan, but she has only received 280 so far. However, the court ruling stated, “The defendant claimed that he had repaid 1,897 and provided a payment list recorded in the phone’s memo application.”

The arbitration tribunal had reservations about this document because the list “did not provide any transaction confirmation numbers, nor did the defendant provide other evidence, such as bank records, to prove that these payments actually occurred.” “In addition, the list also includes some items marked ‘A&W/Starbucks’ and ‘Mom owes me money.’ This indicates that not all items on the list are for paying off the $3,500 car loan.” The court stated that the evidence provided by the daughter in the memo app was insufficient to prove that she had paid the $1,897 loan.

The mother also accused her daughter of breaking a television set, for which the daughter and her boyfriend agreed to pay $1,300 but failed to do so. The arbitration tribunal dismissed the accusation due to insufficient evidence. Furthermore, the mother had another accusation, claiming that she lent her daughter 300 for her birthday party, but the daughter did not repay it, which was also dismissed by the court. The arbitral tribunal concluded: ”

Based on the above reasons, I rule that the defendant must pay the plaintiff 3,220 for the loan. This amount is 3,500, minus the 280 already paid.” After deducting the arbitration tribunal’s fees, the daughter must repay her mother 3,521.26 within 30 days of the ruling.

Vancouver has officially approved a one-day fireworks festival to be held this summer.

Vancouver Park Board members recently voted to approve a motion to proceed with preparations for a one-day fireworks event at English Bay Beach, with a budget cap of $2 million CAD.

The event was proposed by Mayor Ken Sim earlier this year as an alternative to the discontinued “Celebration of Light,” a traditional fireworks festival that was indefinitely cancelled last year due to insufficient funding. The new plan emphasizes that the event will be free to the public and is expected to attract millions of citizens and tourists.

However, at Monday’s meeting, the park authority pointed out that due to the upcoming FIFA World Cup preparations and the dense summer events, the overall preparation time is tight, and the execution pressure is high.

According to park officials, this year’s fireworks display will be smaller than in previous years. The viewing stands and private boxes previously set up at English Bay will no longer be available; only some food trucks will be on-site, and there will be no drone show or installations in the surrounding parks.

Since the city government is not directly responsible for the execution of large-scale events, and the preparation period has been shortened, the relevant organizational work will be outsourced to a third-party company, BrandLIVE.

Parks officials stated that this arrangement draws on decades of experience with fireworks events and they are confident in its successful implementation. The project is expected to require two days for on-site setup and two days for cleanup after the event.

Residents of the nearby West End community will be notified in advance during this period. The mayor emphasized that the $2 million grant was a one-time, dedicated allocation and pledged to continue seeking funding from the provincial and federal governments in the future to revive the “Celebration of Light.” Previously, the event received approximately $1.6 million annually in municipal service support.

In the recently released list of Canada’s best mixed-use work-commuter towns, many cities in the Greater Vancouver area are prominently featured.

The International Workplace Group (IWG), a leader in flexible workplace solutions operating in more than 120 countries, compiled this list. In IWG’s Commuting Towns Index, Burnaby received the highest honour for living in Canada for mixed-use workers, while Richmond ranked third.

IWG says that long commutes are “gradually being phased out,” and according to its research, only 4% of employees worldwide are willing to commute more than an hour each day. The report also points out that the younger generation is leading this shift, with 75% of millennials and 72% of Gen Z saying they would be willing to live further from the city centre if they had access to co-working spaces or good transportation connections.

Hamilton ranked second, Coquitlam ranked seventh, and Surrey and Port Moody tied for tenth. This means that five of the top ten cities are in Greater Vancouver.

IWG notes: “Burnaby scores so highly because of its excellent transport links, proximity to the city centre, numerous amenities, and flexible workspaces. The town’s excellent location, with SkyTrain connections to multiple rapid transit lines, a walkable core, strong digital infrastructure, and a thriving local economy, makes it particularly suitable for hybrid workers looking to balance work and life without sacrificing career development opportunities.”

According to IWG, in a report of 1,000 people working in hybrid environments, 52% reported an improvement in their overall mood, 53% reported improved sleep quality, and 45% reported more energy. Another Canadian study showed that 79% of employees working in hybrid work arrangements reported lower stress levels due to reduced daily commutes.

Additionally, 44% reported a decrease in their sick days. According to Daily Hive, IWG CEO and founder Mark Dixon said, “The idea of commuters getting up early every morning, hopping into polluting cars or crowded trains, and trekking miles to work will soon become a crazy thing that people used to do in the past.”

“The hybrid work model has improved our lives and benefited us greatly.”

According to a report to be submitted to the city council next week, the number of homeless people in Vancouver increased by 12% last year, reaching a “historic high”.

The 2025 homelessness count was conducted sometime in March of last year, lasting 24 hours. The results showed that the city had 2,715 homeless people, up from 2,420 in the previous count in 2023.The report points out that although the collected data contains up to 20% “underestimation”, the method is still described as a useful “overview for understanding current trends”.

Of the homeless people counted, 763 were “homeless,” meaning they slept on the streets or in makeshift shelters, in parks or alleyways, or in their cars. The report states: “Homelessness is devastating for individuals, damaging their physical and mental health, personal safety, and social and family relationships.”

“As homelessness persists, these harms worsen—health deteriorates, trauma accumulates, and relationships with support and service providers weaken, making the road to recovery increasingly difficult.”

In a survey conducted during the statistical process, a quarter of the respondents answered questions about why or how they became homeless. The report indicates that the number one reason was “insufficient income to cover housing costs,” accounting for 38% of all respondents; 19% of respondents reported addiction or substance abuse problems, and 17% cited “unsuitable/unsafe housing conditions.”

The 2025 survey included questions about eviction for the first time, with 42% of respondents saying that their most recent loss of home was due to eviction. The survey also collected demographic data from individuals and organizations who volunteered their data, and the results showed that women, Indigenous people, African Americans, and those who received government care during their adolescence faced a higher risk of homelessness.

The report indicates that the proportion of homeless women rose from 25% to 28%.The report stated: “Although this proportion has increased, it is worth noting that women are more difficult to include in the statistics because they are more likely to hide and stay temporarily with friends or family, making them difficult to find and investigate.”

Indigenous people make up about 2.5% of Vancouver’s population, but account for 42% of those surveyed, and they are more likely to receive asylum than non-Indigenous people. Of these homeless people, 9% identify as Black, while Black people make up only about 1% of Vancouver’s population.

The report shows that more than one-third of respondents (38%) said they received care from religious institutions during their adolescence. The report also noted that 40% of the older respondents said they first experienced homelessness at age 55 or older.

The report states: “The survey shows that insufficient income and eviction are the main causes of home loss.”

“The lack of affordable housing, problems left over from colonialism and boarding schools, racism, and deficiencies in the healthcare system and child protection are deeper systemic and structural issues that contribute to the continued homelessness in the region.”

According to the National Rent Report and Urban nation data, annual rents in Canada have declined for 18 months consecutively. Rents have fallen to their lowest level in 35 months, down 7.9% from two years ago.

Urban nation President Shaun Hildebrand stated, “The downturn in Canada’s rental market has intensified, with March seeing the fastest drop in rents since the COVID-19 pandemic began. This reflects in real time the impact of factors such as declining population, ongoing housing affordability issues, increased economic uncertainty, and record-high condo completions.”

At the provincial level, the rent declines are concentrated in some of Canada’s most populous territories, including British Columbia. Condominium rents in British Columbia fell by 4.8%. Despite recent rent increases, rents in Vancouver are still below levels seen in early 2022.

In March, the average asking price for shared accommodation in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec fell 6.3% year-over-year to $899, marking the first time in three years that it has dropped below $900. Rents for all types of properties continued to decline, with the largest drop in the secondary market.

Behind those softly lit, fragrant skincare and perfume counters, how many grievances and tears of working people are hidden? Recently, a beauty advisor who had worked at Shoppers Drug Mart, a Canadian drugstore giant, for five years posted on Reddit announcing her departure. Unexpectedly, this post resonated with countless retail workers.

The original poster mentioned that she brought her experience to the new store but instead encountered textbook-level workplace bullying:

“Today, I’ve finally had enough.” I was initially hired part-time because of my extensive experience at another branch.

Later, due to a relocation, I moved to this new Shoppers location. At first, I was swayed by its elegant decor and thought it was a better opportunity… until a few months later I realized it was a complete mess. After the original beauty manager resigned, the assistant manager took over. From then on, everything started to go awry… I was forced to take on the work that should have belonged to the manager, without receiving any training. I would even receive work text messages in the middle of the night, which put me under tremendous pressure. I often broke down and cried after getting off work.

Furthermore, the front desk manager began overstepping his bounds, even sending a front desk supervisor to monitor us. We were required to do all sorts of miscellaneous tasks unrelated to our job duties. Because the manager didn’t want to hire more people, he directly exploited the existing staff.

The most outrageous time was when the assistant manager demanded a $15 donation from me to receive a gratis, I’d earned through hard work. Don’t forget, I was only earning minimum wage. I felt exploited, even psychologically abused. When I tried to communicate with management, I didn’t get solutions, but rather the familiar routine: denying the problem, making me doubt myself (gaslighting), promising change but nothing happening.

During this time, three more employees resigned. So, one day, I simply walked in and handed in my resignation letter after two weeks. This experience left me with psychological trauma and even made me disheartened to continue working in the beauty industry. I am now a full-time university student.”

A report by the Future of Sport in Canada Commission, which aims to promote “safe sports” and “improvement of Canada’s sports system,” was released on March 24. The commission reported that abuse in sports is widespread at all levels and in all sports, from the grassroots to the national level, and is structurally present.

One of the commissioners, Lise Maisonneuve, pointed out that “institutional flaws and widespread abuse are undermining participant safety and the health of the sports system. This situation is unacceptable.” Abuse in sports takes many forms, including sexual assault, physical and psychological abuse, neglect, racism, bullying, and harassment. The committee interviewed more than 1,000 people, 175 of whom were victims of abuse, and heard many “heartbreaking testimonies of severe abuse.”

Many of the victims were still children when they were abused, and the effects continue to be severe even into adulthood. The report points out that abuse is often overlooked due to power imbalances and a culture of silence, and that in the sports world, winning, reputation, and funding tend to take precedence over the safety of participants. The report states that such abusive behaviour not only affects individual athletes but also undermines the credibility of the sports world.

The report makes recommendations focusing on “effective responses to abuse,” “victim support,” and “strengthening preventative measures.” Specifically, it calls for the establishment of a nationwide safe sports agency responsible for investigating and reporting abuse in sports at all levels, the creation of safe sports education programs, the development of background check systems, and the placement of safeguarding officers.

The Canadian government announced the establishment of the “Future of Sport in Canada Commission” on December 11, 2023. The commission consists of one independent member and two special advisors. The commission has two tasks: to review the sport system and make recommendations for concrete and effective actions.

On May 9, 2024, former Chief Judge Maisonneuve of the Ontario Provincial Court was appointed as the independent member along with the two special advisors. The commission’s initial term was 18 months from May 9, 2024, with a deadline of November 9, 2025, for the publication of its final report, but this was extended to March 31 of this year.

The British Columbia (BC) provincial government has announced its intention to introduce the Provincial Sales Tax (PST) to certain professional services that were previously exempt from it, as part of its 2026 provincial budget.

According to the official notice “Notice 2026-001” updated by the state government on March 31, a tax of 7% will be levied on eligible services starting October 1, 2026. The PST will primarily apply to five areas under this system reform: accounting, architecture, engineering/geology, security, and non-residential real estate. Accounting services include a wide range of accounting-related services, such as bookkeeping, assurance services like audits and reviews, and tax accounting.

Construction services cover advice and services related to construction practice, although some exceptions apply. Security services include not only security services but also investigative services such as those provided by private detectives. Businesses providing taxable services will be required to register with the PST, indicate the tax on their invoices, and collect and pay the tax.

The state government allows registration up to six months before the tax implementation date, so for a tax implementation in October 2026, pre-registration will be possible from April 1st onwards. The British Columbia provincial government projected its largest-ever deficit in the 2026 budget, announced on February 17.

While the government explains the changes by stating that “BC’s PST tax scope is narrower than other provinces, and the tax on professional services will be updated to be on par with other provinces,” this will impose a 7% burden on small businesses and individuals using accounting services, at a time when residents and businesses are suffering from inflation and soaring gasoline prices.

TransLink, which operates Metro Vancouver’s public transport system, announced on March 31 that it will release a Compass Card in collaboration with Japan’s Sanrio.

Limited editions featuring designs of Hello Kitty, My Melody, Kuromi, Cinnamoroll, and others will be sold at Metrotown in Burnaby on April 4th. If any remain, they will be available for purchase on TransLink’s online store the following week.

There are four designs available. Each set includes a Compass Card and a bag tag, and purchases are limited to two sets per person. One set cost $44.99.

The Compass Card is for adult fares and includes a $6 deposit. This marks the first time TransLink has partnered with Sanrio for a limited-edition product. Sales will take place from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM on April 4th.

To protect people from the summer heatwaves, the New Westminster City Council, located near Vancouver, unanimously passed a new ordinance on March 30.

The ordinance now requires landlords of rental apartments to maintain an average room temperature of 26°C or below in at least one room within a unit from 8 PM to 8 AM the following morning. Speaking to the city council about the new ordinance, Nadine Nakagawa mentioned the 2021 heatwave (heat dome), stating that heat domes are possible again in the future, and that “the most dangerous places should not be people’s homes.”

At the end of June 2021, British Columbia (BC) was hit by an unprecedented heat dome. Temperatures of over 40 degrees Celsius were recorded in many areas, and high temperatures continued even at night. According to the BC Coroner’s Office, 619 people died in the heatwave, including 33 in the city.

According to City Councillor Nakagawa, many of the deceased in the city lived in older rental housing, and it was the area with the highest death toll per capita during the heat dome event. The new ordinance allows landlords to be fined up to $750 if they fail to maintain a safe room temperature. However, there is no deadline set for taking the necessary measures.