The Chilliwack Progress

Two bears, including a young cub, wandered into a Hope pharmacy Sunday afternoon (Sept. 20) and the event was caught on camera. A large bear was videoed walking on all fours up and down the aisles, and also resting its head on a pharmacy counter. A small cub scrambled behind the larger bear in the video, which was shared on local Facebook groups. There is audio of someone starting to place a call to 911, explaining there are two bears in the Hope Pharmasave, as the bears activate the doors to leave.

Kerry-Lynne Findlay steps down as leader of B.C. Conservatives Published 1:48 pm Sunday, September 20, 2026 By Lauren Collins/Black Press Kerry-Lynne Findlay has announced she’s stepping down as leader of the B.C. Conservatives. She posted a statement to social media Sunday afternoon (Sept. 20). It came hours after another defection from her party when Surrey Serpentine MLA Linda Hepner quit caucus. More to come.

A piano duo will be returning to the Chilliwack Cultural Centre to bring together the music of Franz Schubert and George Gershwin this fall. The Bergmann Duo, featuring Marcel and Elizabeth Bergmann, will perform their matinee concert Fantasies for Two on Oct. 4. Combining the romantic depth of Schubert with the jazz-infused imagination of Gershwin, the duo will shine the spotlight on the magic of two pianos played together as they shift from the Romantic era to 20th-century America.

Surrey-Serpentine River MLA Linda Hepner has resigned from the B.C. Conservative caucus, stating a loss of confidence in the party’s leadership. In a message received by a reporter with the Surrey Now-Leader, Hepner said she had decided to resign from the B.C. Conservative caucus effective immediately. “I have decided to resign from the Conservative Party of British Columbia caucus effective immediately,” Hepner wrote.

An 80-year-old woman has died of her injuries following a hit-and-run collision on a residential street in Chilliwack. The woman was cycling on Portage Avenue and Woodbine Street at about 6 p.m. on Sept. 19 when she was hit by a truck that fled the scene. The driver has been located by police and the vehicle has been seized. RCMP issued information about the crash and the vehicle early the next morning, appealing to the public for any information including video footage in the area around that time.

A former Chilliwack man has been honour on a provincial level for his decades of work at two museums, including the Chilliwack Museum and Archives. Paul Ferguson was presented with an award for Exceptional Service in the Historical Sector by the British Columbia Historical Federation (BCHF). The awards are handed out to people who have given outstanding service in the preservation of B.C.’s history. “It’s very humbling,” Ferguson said.

Several members of the Hope Running Club (HRC) delivered a series of impressive performances across B.C. last weekend, a club representative said. Kristine Pérez de León, board director for the club said the local runners’ efforts showcased “athleticism, endurance, and community spirit ranging from local home trails to demanding provincial stage races.” There were local successes at the Hope Hustle, the annual trail race organized by the club during the Brigade Days weekend.

The United States and Canada are caught in an international trade dispute, with each country imposing tariffs on goods from the other. Trade agreements, treaties and other negotiations are part of international relations, and these agreements are often complex. At the same time, the effects of these negotiations are felt by all residents of the countries involved. How much do you know about the present trade war and about Canada’s economy? Put your knowledge to the test with these 10 questions.

A music venue in Chilliwack will be hosting five concerts this fall, kicking off a new season of live music. Bozzini’s Upstairs Lounge will be welcoming both new and returning musicians in October. Country musician Sean Burns will start off the month of music when he returns to Bozzini’s for the first time in eight years.

The Ministry of Health annouced Saturday (Sept. 19) that it would work with two Canadian universities to create a personalized gene-editing therapy for a young Surrey boy battling a rare, progressive neurodegenerative disease. Gurmoh is a joyful three-year-old boy from Surrey who dreams of becoming a firefighter one day and drives his toy truck around the house while “proudly wearing his fire hat,” but his parents say time is not on his side.