Vancouver rundown for Friday, January 23, 2026.
Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke is calling on the federal
government to appoint an extortion czar to deal
with her city's rapid increase in shootings.
She says there is a need for full -scale national
initiatives to stop the violence. The call comes
as Surrey and other communities continue to deal
with an escalation in extortion cases aimed at
the South Asian business community and linked
to organized crime. Locke says the system is
broader than just policing. Any mandate should
examine weak links in Canada's criminal, immigration,
and citizenship systems. Other news, people have
been told to stay clear of a Burnaby neighborhood.
as RCMP deal with some sort of police situation
near Canada Way and Boundary Road. The Mounties
would only say their Thursday evening presence
is for an active investigation. Photos shared
online show yellow crime scene tape. Angry protesters
have confronted 1BC leader Dallas Brody during
an anti -racism demonstration at UBC. Brody was
unable to keep her planned speech outside the
Indian Residential School History and Dialogue
Center. Brody continues to deny the deaths of
children at residential schools while calling
the reconciliation process an industry. Several
Vancouver community centers will introduce new
pay parking starting next month. Daily Hive reports
staff have been working toward a February 16th
start date. for lots at Hillcrest, Carisdale,
and Trout Lake. The park board has said the first
three hours of parking could be free, and then
$3 .50 per hour after that. Forecasts calling
for clearing for Friday morning, sunny by the
afternoon, windy at times, sunny for Saturday
and Sunday. For all the details on these local
Vancouver area stories, along with those links,
go to VancouverRundown .substack. dot com