Vancouver Information and Newspaper

Archive for December, 2009

FREDERICTON – The ban on smoking in motor vehicles when children are present goes into effect on Friday in New Brunswick.

Health Minister Mary Schryer says the new law is aimed at protecting young people from the health risks associated with second-hand smoke.

Under the new law, smoking is prohibited when a person younger than 16 is present in a vehicle.

Similar laws exist in Ontario, British Columbia, Nova Scotia and Yukon.

Anyone caught breaking the law in New Brunswick face fines of $140 to $570.

HALIFAX, N.S. – Halifax police have charged two people in connection with a home invasion and stabbing.

A 28-year-old man suffered wounds to his arm and torso after three men and a woman forced their way into his apartment Wednesday.

The victim was taken to hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

Police say three people were picked up as they were leaving another Dartmouth apartment a few hours later.

A 22-year-old man and 22-year-old woman are scheduled to appear in Dartmouth provincial court today to face charges of aggravated assault, robbery, break and enter and possession of a weapon.

The other person was released without charge.

PETITCODIAC, N.B. – The RCMP have released the names of the two men killed in a collision Wednesday on Highway 1 in New Brunswick.

Thirty-one-year-old Gregory Banguay of Saint John and 29-year-old Michael McAloon of Fredericton were killed when their vehicle rear-ended a transport truck that was slowing down near Petitcodiac.

Road conditions were extremely slippery at the time of the crash.

RCMP are reminding motorists to slow down on the highways, as many areas are slippery.

PORT AUX BASQUES, N.L. – A long voyage for hundreds of passengers making the crossing from Nova Scotia to Newfoundland on a Marine Atlantic ferry has ended as the ship reached its destination today.

Marine Atlantic says the Atlantic Vision arrived in Port aux Basques at 9:15 a.m. after waiting out high winds at the port in Newfoundland for more than 24 hours.

The vessel arrived Thursday morning from North Sydney but was unable to dock because of the weather.

VANCOUVER, B.C. – A ten-week strike that stranded Metro Vancouver seniors and disabled residents in their homes is coming to an end.

A spokesman with Amalgamated Transit Union local 1724 says the union and employer have agreed to send the bitter HandyDART dispute to binding arbitration.

ATU vice-president Tim Johnston confirms picket lines began coming down Thursday morning following word that mediator Vince Ready will resolve the job action.

Johnston cautions it could be next week before full operations are restored at the specialized bus service that carries seniors and the disabled.

Private contractor MVT Canadian Bus took over HandyDART operations last year and a strike began Oct. 25 when workers feared they would be stripped of benefits and job security.

HandyDART only provided essential services during the strike, carrying passengers to cancer treatment or dialysis appointments.

VANCOUVER, B.C. – Vancouver actor Carly Pope and her brother are recovering with broken bones after a bizarre carjacking in downtown Vancouver that has led to charges against an Alberta man.

Kris Pope, also an actor, confirmed that he and his sister were injured in the incident on Tuesday, although he said he couldn’t say anything about what actually happened.

“We’re recovering, but we’re pretty banged up,” Kris Pope told The Canadian Press in a brief interview Wednesday.

“Carly’s got a couple of broken vertebrae, and I’ve got a broken wrist, possibly a broken ankle and a smashed up face.”

Vancouver police have said the altercation began when a screaming man ran up to a BMW at an intersection and jumped on the hood of the car. Police wouldn’t comment on the Popes’ involvement, saying only that the BMW was driven by a man with his sister as a passenger.

Police said when the driver got out, the suspect jumped inside, put the car in reverse and slammed into five other cars before crashing into the CBC building.

David Fomradas, 31, faces charges of kidnapping, aggravated assault, assault with a weapon and dangerous driving.

Pope said he and his sister were released from hospital later Tuesday evening.

The siblings were raised in Vancouver.

Carly Pope has appeared in several movies and television series, including “24,” “Californication” and “Robson Arms,” while her brother Kris has had brief appearances in TV shows such as “The L Word” and “Smallville.”

Kris Pope also works for Dexter Associates Realty.