Vancouver rundown for Friday, January 16, 2026.
A Maple Ridge City Councilor is charged with
four counts of sexual assault. A special prosecutor
has laid the counts against Ahmed Youssef, who
was first elected to council in 2018. Youssef
was forced to step down in May after being charged
with other offenses. including assault and firearms
counts. In recent months, Yusuf has been active
on social media promoting men's rights in the
areas of family law. He's also active with the
Canadian Centre for Men and Families. In the
2021 federal election, Yusuf ran for the Liberals
in Pitt Meadows Maple Ridge, but placed a distant
third. Other news. RCMP and Langley are looking
for more possible victims in their investigation
into complaints of sexual assault involving a
well -known member of the Fraser Valley's equestrian
community. Azaro Antonio Flores is before the
courts on two charges of sexual exploitation
involving two victims. The investigation spans
three years between 2000 and 2003 in Delta and
Langley. Flores was kicked out of Equestrian
Canada in 2024 with the organization claiming
a breach of its code of conduct in grooming and
sexual maltreatment. There are no injuries in
another extortion -related shooting in Surrey.
The latest happened early Thursday morning at
a home near 134th Street and 56th Avenue in the
Panorama Ridge area. A vehicle had been hit by
the gunfire. The BC Paramedics Union is preparing
for a possible strike vote to push its contract
talks with the provincial government. QP 873
warns a strong strike mandate could seriously
cripple BC's already fragile health care system.
Contract talks broke down last month. Paramedics
say the system is now relying on overtime. The
union is pushing for double time for any OT.
Forecast calling for sunshine for Friday and
Saturday, a mix of sun and cloud for Sunday.
For all the details on these local Vancouver
area stories, along with the links, go to VancouverRundown
.substack .com.