Free BC Ferries travel offered for all first responders attending slain RCMP constable's funeral
First responders travelling by ferry to a slain RCMP constable's funeral next week will be able to take their trip for free, BC Ferries announced Friday.
The funeral for Const. Shaelyn Yang, who was killed in the line of duty on Oct. 18, is scheduled for Nov. 2 at the Olympic Oval in Richmond.
"We want to show our support and appreciation for all officers and first responders in B.C. who work incredibly hard to keep our communities safe," said Corrine Storey, BC Ferries’ vice president and chief operating officer, in a news release.
"We work closely with all police services in B.C. through our terminals and vessels. This is a small gesture to show we are thankful for their service."
Free return travel to and from the funeral is available for first responders on any route on Nov. 1, 2 and 3. Officers and first responders will need to show their ID or uniform to a ticketing agent.
Mounties said the funeral will not be open to the public, with seating reserved for family, invited guests, designated officials and uniformed members participating in the funeral march, but it will be broadcast live. CTV News will be airing the service on TV and online.
Yang joined the RCMP in 2019 and was working as a member of the Burnaby detachment's mental health and homeless outreach team when she was fatally stabbed last week.
Officials have said she was called to a park, along with a city bylaw officer, and the pair were engaged with someone living in a tent when an altercation erupted. Yang succumbed to her injuries after being rushed to the hospital.
In a statement Thursday, Yang's family said the 31-year-old moved to Canada from Taiwan at a young age, and was raised in the Vancouver area. Her family said she was "fond of the land where she grew up," and "very involved in her community."
"Shaelyn was gentle yet brave, compassionate yet courageous," the family's statement said. "Shaelyn loved her career with the RCMP. In hindsight, she was preparing for this role her entire life."
With files from CTV News Vancouver's Andrew Weichel and Lisa Steacy
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Air quality advisories issued in 5 provinces, 1 territory
Air quality advisories are in effect across Western Canada as smoky conditions plague some areas, according to the latest forecasts. Here's where.
Just how bad are ultraprocessed foods? Here are 5 things to know
Many foods fall under the category of ultraprocessed foods, depending on their exact ingredients. This type of food has been studied a lot lately, and the results aren’t great.
No refund for travellers who cancelled flight already scrapped by airline: regulator
Four years on, the controversy over whether airlines owed refunds to passengers after cancelling hundreds of thousands of flights during the pandemic continues to simmer, aggravated by a sluggish, opaque complaints process.
opinion Harry and Meghan's Nigerian adventure: traditional attire to warm welcomes
For her latest column on CTVNews.ca, royal commentator Afua Hagan writes about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's recent visit to Nigeria, calling it a 'deeply meaningful campaign' that was about aligning their ongoing efforts to foster mental-health awareness and promoting the Invictus Games.
Ontario's need for nurses, PSWs to top 33K and 50K by 2032: document
Ontario will need 33,200 more nurses and 50,853 more personal support workers by 2032, the government projects — figures it tried to keep secret but were obtained by The Canadian Press.
'Oh my God, you're my brother': Man in his 70s discovers 6 unknown siblings
After receiving a DNA kit one Christmas from his son-in-law, Hugh McCormick soon discovered that he had six unknown siblings, with whom he shared the same birth parents.
'It happened so fast': Evacuees describe fleeing Fort Nelson, B.C., wildfire
Thousands have been forced to flee a wildfire burning near Fort Nelson. Meanwhile, some experienced volunteers are staying behind to fight the fire.
What new projections show about cancer rates, deaths in Canada
A new study projecting declining rates of cancer cases and deaths in Canada demonstrates the success of prevention and early detection programs, but also highlights areas where more work is needed to save and prolong lives, researchers say.
U.S. schools turn to artificial intelligence to spot guns as companies press lawmakers for state funds
Kansas could soon offer up to US$5 million in grants for schools to outfit surveillance cameras with artificial intelligence systems that can spot people carrying guns. But the governor needs to approve the expenditures and the schools must meet some very specific criteria.