Charmaine de Silva
- Senior Account Director, Hill & Knowlton
Communications, Issues + Advisory. Recovering journalist. 🇱🇰 born, 🇨🇦 raised. She/Her 🌈 chardesil.bsky.social
Articles by Charmaine de Silva
Langley, Chilliwack elect first-ever NDP MLAs
(Courtesy Elections BC, Twitter) Summary Four socially conservative candidates in long-time BC Liberal strongholds faced serious challenges from progressives CHILLIWACK/LANGLEY (NEWS 1130) — Three ridings in Langley and Chilliwack elected their first-ever NDP MLAs Saturday. In all, four socially conservative candidates in long-time BC Liberal strongholds in the Fraser Valley faced serious challenges from progressives.
BC Liberal candidate under fire for supporting JK Rowlig anti-trans blog
FILE - In a Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019 file photo, author and Lumos Foundation founder J.K. Rowling attends the HBO Documentary Films premiere of "Finding the Way Home" at 30 Hudson Yards, in New York.
Police safely detonate 'improvised explosive device' in downtown Vancouver
by Charmaine de Silva Posted Jun 16, 2020 4:52 pm PDT Last Updated Jun 16, 2020 at 4:55 pm PDT (Lasia Kretzel/NEWS 1130 Photo) Summary Vancouver Police say an improvised explosive device was found, safely detonated in downtown Vancouver Officers found the device after they caught two men apparently trying to break into a vehicle A 39-year-old man was arrested VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — Police say they have safely detonated an improvised explosive device in downtown Vancouver.
Vancouver family lawyer suspended by Law Society for actions a B.C. judge called 'blackmail'
B.C. Judge (Courtesy: Cliff MacArthur/provincialcourt.bc.ca) Summary Jack Hittrich was disciplined for his actions during an adoption case involving a Métis toddler He has been suspended by the Law Society of B.C., and ordered to pay almost $19,000 dollars in court costs. The Law Society says Hittrich must serve a three-month suspension beginning July 1st and start making payments Oct.
A message to our readers: We’re here for and with you
by Charmaine de Silva, Kyle Donaldson, and Tamara Slobogean Posted Mar 18, 2020 12:40 pm PDT Last Updated Mar 18, 2020 at 1:14 pm PDT In the coming weeks, our coverage of the coronavirus pandemic may feel overwhelming for some of you. As journalists covering this crisis, we are feeling it too. It is unlike anything we have experienced in our lifetimes, but, it has never been more important to stay informed.
Former Green Party leader to leave caucus, sit as independent
Former B.C. Green Party Leader Andrew Weaver (Lasia Kretzel, NEWS 1130 Photo) Summary Former Green leader Andrew Weaver says he's leaving the caucus to sit as an independent Weaver stepped down as party leader earlier this month after announcing he wouldn't seek re-election in the fall Weaver says he needs to lessen his workload to help support a family member facing health challenges VICTORIA (NEWS 1130) – He has been the longest serving Green Party MLA in B.C. history, but now, former party...
Maple Ridge mom calls for kindness, after strangers make families feel unwelcome in public spaces
A mom in Maple Ridge has taken to social media with a call to kindness after she says her young family found itself the target of rude and judgemental comments from total strangers.
Still fighting: What Pride means to the community, and why it's still needed
(Source: Vancouver Pride Parade Facebook) VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – As Pride Week in Vancouver nears its end, this year marks 50 years since the beginning of the modern movement after Stonewall. So many human rights advancements have been made in that half-a-century, so, we are asking members of our community — why do we still need pride? Like many, B.C. Liberal leader Andrew Wilkinson says it’s personal.
Cooling B.C. real estate market may not be catastrophic for province's coffers
FILE: Condos and apartment buildings are seen in downtown Vancouver, B.C., on Thursday February 2, 2017.
Burrard St. Bridge bike lane turns ten years old
The Burrard Street Bridge at dusk on July 12, 2019. (Source: Espe Currie/NEWS 1130) VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – It’s a project most of Vancouver loved to bash. The Burrard Street Bridge bike lane turns 10 this weekend, and despite its detractors is now the envy of North America. If you lived in Vancouver in 2009, you may have been one of the many people who thought it was a bad idea: replacing a lane for cars with a dedicated bike lane.
White Rock shredding company investigated by privacy watchdog, claims it was set up by disgruntled employee
18 of 44 bins owned by Shredwise were discovered to contain in-tact, confidential documents when NEWS 1130 visited the storage site this week. (Lauren Boothby, NEWS 1130) WHITE ROCK (NEWS 1130) — A White Rock-based shredding company accused of improperly storing unshredded private documents — like bank records and medical tests — and even casino playing cards, is now being investigated by B.C.’s privacy watchdog.
City of Vancouver takes action against owners of hundreds of illegal short-term rentals
(iStock Photo) VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – The owners of 820 illegal short-term rental units listed on Airbnb and other sites are facing tough action from the City of Vancouver, including big fines. New rules aimed at cracking down on short-term rental units came into effect in September. The city says since then, more than 2,000 files have been opened. In one case, a company running 35 short-term rental listings has been hit with a $20,000 fine.
Mother, uncle to be extradited to India on charges in 'honour killing' of Maple Ridge woman
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – A mother and uncle accused of orchestrating the murder of a Maple Ridge woman in India 18 years ago have lost a last-ditch effort to avoid extradition to that country. Jaswinder “Jassi” Sidhu’s so-called “honour killing” shocked the Lower Mainland. It’s been more than a year since Canada’s top court ordered Malkit Sidhu and Surjit Badesha to go to India and face justice. They are accused of setting up the murder of their daughter because she married a poor rickshaw driver.
Syrian refugee stranded in airport for months coming to Vancouver
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – A Syrian man who garnered international attention after living in a Malaysian airport for more than six months is on his way to Vancouver. “Today, I’m in Taiwan International Airport, tomorrow, I will be reaching my final destination, Vancouver, Canada,” Hassal Al Kontar said in a Twitter video on Monday. “For the last eight years, it’s been a hard, long journey. The last 10 months it was really hard, cold,” Al Kontar added.
B.C.’s top court orders mom to pay for trial costs in alarming family justice case
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — A Vancouver father at the centre of one of the most disturbing family justice cases in Canadian history is going to get some of his legal costs covered. But the BC Court of Appeal has rejected the dad’s bid to get his ex-wife’s lawyer to pay special costs himself. The original case garnered national attention back in 2012 after a lower court ruled the father had sexually abused his four kids and that B.C. government social workers had allowed it to happen.
NEWS 1130 welcomes Michael Kuss to the team!
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Your weather coverage on NEWS 1130 is about to get even better. Michael Kuss is joining our team as our full-time afternoon meteorologist. “As one of the most recognized and respected meteorologists in our market, Michael will join Russ Lacate as a powerful weather duo on NEWS 1130,” says NEWS 1130 News Director Charmaine de Silva.
"The B.C. Judge Who ‘Ignored Evidence,’ ‘Erred in Law’ and Put a Minist" by Charmaine de Silva, Simon Little et al.
Title The B.C. Judge Who ‘Ignored Evidence,’ ‘Erred in Law’ and Put a Ministry under Fire Document Type Media Mention Publication Date 11-27-2017 Source Publication Global News Description The stunning reversal of a shocking B.C. Supreme Court decision is raising questions about a judge’s ability to do his job.
Surrey Creep Catcher pleads guilty to assault charges
SURREY (NEWS 1130) – He spends his time trying to catch creeps online, but now the head of a vigilante group has pleaded guilty to two counts of assault, after a pair of stings gone wrong last year. Surrey Creep Catchers President Ryan Laforge is best known for his brazen take downs of people he claims have tried to lure children into sexual activity. He’ll now have to deal with his own criminal record for several years.
Three new judges appointed to B.C. Supreme Court
Three new judges appointed to B.C. Supreme Court socastcmsRssStartCharmaine de SilvasocastcmsRssEnd The six new judge appointments this year satisfy the federal government’s push to diversify the bench.
Three new judges appointed to B.C. Supreme Court
Canada’s justice minister has taken a step towards addressing vacancies on the B.C. Supreme Court, appointing three new judges.Jody Wilson-Raybould has appointed Barbara Norell, Wendy Baker and Sharon Matthews to the bench.It comes two weeks after B.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice Christopher Hinkson took the unusual step of speaking out – saying appointments weren’t coming fast enough, which meant cases weren’t being heard.
BC Liberals questioning who knew about NDP’s Trans Mountain plans ahead of time
BC Liberals questioning who knew about NDP’s Trans Mountain plans ahead of time socastcmsRssStartCharmaine de SilvasocastcmsRssEnd Environment critic Peter Milobar says Kinder Morgan lost $800 million in stock value ahead of the release of the government’s intentions late last month.
BC Liberals questioning who knew about NDP’s Trans Mountain plans ahead of time
Did information shared by B.C.’s Environment Minister ahead of a public announcement late last month around the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion lead to unusual stock market activity? That’s the question being raised by the BC Liberals. The party wants to know what information minister George Heyman shared about government plans to fight Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain pipeline expansion and with whom.
One person in custody after threats made to Delta’s Sands Secondary
Delta Police say one male is in custody and Sands Secondary School remains under lockdown after some threats were received on Thursday morning. There are few details at this point, and it is unclear if the male is an adult or a student. READ MORE: What happened before a Langley school was locked down, possibly over a man with a gun The lockdown, otherwise known as a”Code Yellow,” forbids activity outside the school or unnecessary movement between rooms within the school.
Unredacted 2014 ICBC report says decisive government action was needed
Unredacted 2014 ICBC report says decisive government action was needed socastcmsRssStartCharmaine de SilvasocastcmsRssEnd The 2014 report, which was redacted by the former BC Liberal government, recommended implementing a cap on minor injury payouts.
Unredacted 2014 ICBC report says decisive government action was needed
The former BC Liberal government didn’t want you to see it, but now the Vancouver Sun has released a 2014 report warning ICBC of big financial problems ahead.Eight different pages from the report by Ernst and Young had redactions, with recommendations former Transportation Minister Todd Stone says he didn’t even get to see.Even current Attorney General David Eby couldn’t see them because of cabinet confidentiality rules, which former Finance Minister Mike de Jong has yet to waive.
One person in custody after threats made to Delta’s Sands Secondary
One person in custody after threats made to Delta’s Sands Secondary socastcmsRssStartCharmaine de SilvasocastcmsRssEnd The school has been placed under lockdown.
WestJet flight to Vancouver diverted after fire warning
WestJet flight to Vancouver diverted after fire warning socastcmsRssStartCharmaine de SilvasocastcmsRssEnd Passengers on a WestJet Encore flight from Fort St. John to Vancouver had a bit of a scare Wednesday morning.
B.C. the worst province for drug affordability due to cost of living: report
B.C. the worst province for drug affordability due to cost of living: report socastcmsRssStartCharmaine de SilvasocastcmsRssEnd People across the country are having trouble affording their medications, and the problem is worse in B.C.
WestJet flight to Vancouver diverted after fire warning - BC | Globalnews.ca
There was a bit of a scare for WestJet passengers on an Encore flight from Fort St. John to Vancouver Wednesday morning when it needed to make an emergency stop in Prince George. The airline says passengers on flight 3205 had to be diverted when the aircraft’s fire detection warning light came on.
B.C. the worst province for drug affordability due to cost of living: report
Deciding to pay for either prescription drugs or food and housing is a choice many Canadians are forced to make, according to a new study out today.But the problem is worse in B.C.While 5.5 per cent of Canadians couldn’t afford one or more of their prescriptions, approximately 8.1 per cent of British Columbians weren’t able to.
Vancouver Aquarium ruled exempt from cetacean ban, but they’re phasing them out anyway - BC | Globalnews.ca
The Vancouver Park Board’s bylaw banning the keeping of cetaceans in captivity is not enforceable because of a contract between the body and the Vancouver Aquarium, the B.C. Supreme Court has ruled.However, the decision will have little effect; the aquarium announced in January that it will no longer house cetaceans, with the exception of emergency rescue animals and Helen, the Pacific white-sided dolphin.
Chief Justice defends judge who approved parental visit of murdered Oak Bay girls
Chief Justice defends judge who approved parental visit of murdered Oak Bay girls socastcmsRssStartCharmaine de SilvasocastcmsRssEnd “The evidence before Judge Gray wouldn’t have suggested, I don’t think to anybody, that this fellow was likely — if he did murder his children — to do that.”
Chief Justice defends judge who approved parental visit of murdered Oak Bay girls | Globalnews.ca
The Chief Justice of BC Supreme Court is coming to the defense of one of his judges.It comes after Justice Victoria Gray approved a Christmas Eve visit for two little girls with their dad — who were then found dead the following day.
Vancouver Aquarium ruled exempt from cetacean ban, but they’re phasing them out anyway
Vancouver Aquarium ruled exempt from cetacean ban, but they’re phasing them out anyway socastcmsRssStartCharmaine de SilvasocastcmsRssEnd The aquarium announced in January that it will no longer house cetaceans.
B.C. Supreme Court chief justice frustrated with court vacancies - BC | Globalnews.ca
B.C.’s Supreme Court Chief Justice Christopher Hinkson says he’s frustrated by Canada’s justice minister, who has failed to fill all of the judicial vacancies in his court.
B.C. Supreme Court chief justice frustrated with court vacancies
B.C. Supreme Court chief justice frustrated with court vacancies socastcmsRssStartCharmaine de SilvasocastcmsRssEnd B.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice Christopher Hinkson says he’s given up on softer approaches to address court vacancies.
The BC Liberals sold gobs of land for $493M. Three years later, they were worth $860M
The BC Liberals sold gobs of land for $493M. Three years later, they were worth $860M socastcmsRssStartCharmaine de SilvasocastcmsRssEnd And those sales happened at a time when property prices were climbing ever higher.
Todd Stone’s campaign admits email addresses were missing from membership applications | Globalnews.ca
One of the contenders vying to lead the BC Liberal party won’t have the backing of 1,349 prospective members who were disqualified from voting because of incomplete applications.A spokesman for Todd Stone’s campaign said email addresses were missing on membership applications for people whose first language is not English.LISTEN: Membership allegations surrounding Todd Stone’s campaign In a statement, Peter Fassbender said the issue came to light on Jan.
A BC lawyer is suing an expert it used in court over fake credentials
A BC lawyer is suing an expert it used in court over fake credentials socastcmsRssStartCharmaine de SilvasocastcmsRssEnd A B.C. lawyer behind two overturned family justice cases by the B.C. Court of Appeal is suing an expert, after the courts found she had bogus credentials.
B.C. Court of Appeal approves lawsuit against the Crime Victim Assistance Program
B.C. Court of Appeal approves lawsuit against the Crime Victim Assistance Program socastcmsRssStartCharmaine de SilvasocastcmsRssEnd A man left quadraplegic after an axe-attack in 2006 has had his lawsuit against B.C.’s Crime Victim Assistance Program approved.
B.C. Court of Appeal approves lawsuit against the Crime Victim Assistance Program | Globalnews.ca
B.C.’s top court says a lawsuit against the province’s Crime Victim Assistance Program (CVAP) can go ahead. It was filed by a man left quadriplegic after a 2006 axe-attack, who said CVAP breached its contract to help him. Michael Levy filed the lawsuit against the program in 2016, arguing it agreed to fund his care. Levy, who was injured after being surrounded by a group of teens outside a Surrey dance and attacked with an axe, said it hasn’t lived up to its obligations.
A BC lawyer is suing an expert it used in court over fake credentials - BC | Globalnews.ca
A lawyer behind two family justice cases overturned by the B.C. Court of Appeal is suing an expert he used that the courts later found had bogus credentials. Jack Hittrich claims the cases never would have been overturned if the high court didn’t find Claire Reeves had fraudulently misrepresented her expertise.
More vacancies on B.C. Supreme Court to start 2018 despite new appointment process - BC | Globalnews.ca
A full calendar year has come and gone since the federal Liberals announced a new process to appoint judges, but it hasn’t addressed vacancies on the bench. There are currently more vacancies on the B.C. Supreme Court now than there were at the beginning of 2017. As 2017 started there were nine judicial vacancies on the B.C. Supreme Court, and as the calendar turned over to 2018 there were 11.
More vacancies on B.C. Supreme Court to start 2018 despite new appointment process
More vacancies on B.C. Supreme Court to start 2018 despite new appointment process socastcmsRssStartCharmaine de SilvasocastcmsRssEnd There were more vacant seats on B.C. Supreme Court to start 2018 than there were at the beginning of 2017, despite a new appointment process.
$40,000 in whiskey seized from Vancouver restaurant in ‘Prohibition-style raid’
A Vancouver restaurant says it has been targeted by government agents in what it describes as “a prohibition-style raid.” Fets Whisky Kitchen on Commercial Drive describes itself as having Canada’s largest whisky selection. According to its website, that selection includes “some whiskies that no other bar in this country has,” and “even a few that you won’t [get] in any other bar in the world.” READ MORE: Think liquor taxes are too high?
New justice appointed to B.C. Supreme Court | Globalnews.ca
Canada’s Justice Minister has appointed a new justice to the BC Supreme Court, but the province is still short judges. Justice Minister Jody Wilson Raybould announced Jasvinder Bill Basran will take up one of the vacancies on the court. READ MORE: Shortage of B.C. Supreme Court judges forces chambers to shut down Basran was the regional director general and senior general counsel with the Department of Justice.
Former BC Liberal Leader Gordon Wilson endorses Todd Stone
Former BC Liberal Leader Gordon Wilson endorses Todd Stone socastcmsRssStartCharmaine de SilvasocastcmsRssEnd With the BC Liberal leadership vote just weeks away, more high profile endorsements are coming in.
B.C. woman who accused ex-husband of abusing their children says appeal court interfered with trial process - BC | Globalnews.ca
A B.C. woman who has accused her ex-husband of abusing their four children is taking aim at the B.C. Court of Appeal for “interfering in the trial process.” She wants the Supreme Court of Canada to restore lower court rulings that found the abuse took place and the Children’s Ministry allowed it to happen.
British police department honours fallen Abbotsford officer John Davidson - BC | Globalnews.ca
A British police department held a memorial to honour Const. John Davidson, who was killed in the line of duty last November. The Northumbria Police say the service was held on Dec. 29, adding that Davidson’s family travelled to see his name unveiled in the force’s memorial wall. Davidson started his career as an officer in the U.K. and worked with the Northumbria department between 2003 and 2006 before immigrating to Canada and taking a job with the Abbotsford Police Department.
B.C. homeowner grant threshold raised by $50K following assessment values | Globalnews.ca
The provincial government will be raising the threshold for the homeowner grant by $50,000 following the release of the annual property assessments. The figures, collected by B.C. Assessment, reflect home values as of July 2017, but since many properties saw an assessment increase, the government is now changing who can qualify for the grant.
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