Vancouver rundown for Friday, September 5, 2025.
Pickets are expanding as the BCGEU ramps up the
province's public service strike. The Vancouver
office of the Ministry of Finance is now behind
a picket line. Workers in Surrey, Victoria and
Prince George remain off the job. The union says
there's no indication the government is prepared
to return to the bargaining table. with an improved
offer. Premier David Eby says the government
is not in a position to offer the wage hikes
being sought by the BCGEU. He says union members
already got a substantial wage increase in the
last contract. Other news. The Coquihalla Highway
remains closed between hope and merit. Evacuation
alerts are now in effect, and one evacuation
order has been issued as crews struggle to control
the rapidly growing Mine Creek wildfire. That
blaze is now close to 2 ,000 hectares. The wildfire
was likely started by lightning on Monday. Surrey's
new fire chief is the youngest the city's ever
had. 48 -year -old Jason Kearney has been tapped
to replace Larry Thomas, who retired on September
1st. The Surrey Fire Service has close to 500
employees and 15 halls. The City of Vancouver
is recommending a substantial increase in safety
measures for public events after the Lapu -Lapu
tragedy. A joint report by the Vancouver Police
Department and the City includes eight recommendations
centered on better planning requirements. increased
training, and a renewed push for provincial and
federal support. On April 26, the driver of an
SUV hit a crowd attending a Filipino street festival.
Eleven people died and scores of others were
hurt. Wildfire smoke for Friday, inland highs
in the mid -20s, a mix of sun and cloud for Saturday,
clouds and possible showers on Sunday. For all
the details on these local Vancouver area stories,
Along with those links, go to VancouverRundown
.substack .com.