BC Coroners Service News
Last updated on April 8, 2024News Releases & Information Bulletins
To view current data reports associated with the below releases, please visit BC Coroners Service Statistical Reports.
- 177 lives lost to toxic drugs in February 2024: BC Coroners Service - Apr. 5, 2024
- Nearly 200 British Columbians lost to toxic drugs in January 2024 - Feb. 29, 2024
- Dates confirmed for coroner's inquest into the death of Nicholas Goulding - Feb. 28, 2024
- More than 2,500 lives lost to toxic drugs in 2023 - Jan. 24, 2024
Release Archive
2023
- Sharp rise in deaths among people experiencing homelessness continues in 2022 - Dec. 14, 2023
- Update from BC Coroners Service about increasing deaths from unregulated drugs - Dec. 13, 2023
- Chief coroner's statement on future with BC Coroners Service - Dec. 6, 2023
- More than 2,000 British Columbians lost to toxic, unregulated drugs for third consecutive year - Nov. 30, 2023
- Dates confirmed for inquest into the deaths of Mary Ann Garlow and Dennis James Guay - Nov. 29, 2023
- BC Coroners Service death review panel urges expanded access to safer supply - Nov. 1, 2023
- BC Coroners Service investigating 174 deaths from toxic-drug supply in August - Sep. 25, 2023
- At least 198 lost to toxic drugs in July as public health emergency continues - Aug. 29, 2023
- Dates confirmed for inquest into death of Heather Louise Cote - Jul. 28, 2023
- Unregulated drug supply claims 184 British Columbians in June 2023 - Jul. 18, 2023
- BC Coroners Service issues public safety bulletin about wildfire smoke - Jul. 17, 2023
- BC Coroners Service announces inquest into the death of Waylon Jesse Edey - Jul. 7, 2023
- Dates confirmed for coroner’s inquest into death of Samantha Nicole Patrick - Jun. 23, 2023
- More than 1,000 lives lost to toxic unregulated drugs in first five months of 2023 - Jun. 19, 2023
- Inquest into the death of Howard Barry Shantz to begin in July - Jun. 16, 2023
- Dates scheduled for coroner’s inquest into death of Edward James Waddell - May 26, 2023
- Unregulated drugs claim lives of 206 British Columbians in April 2023 - May 18, 2023
- Nearly 600 lives lost to unregulated drugs in first three months of 2023 - Apr. 17, 2023
- Dates confirmed for inquest into death of Nadine Solonas - Mar. 14, 2023
- Toxic-drug supply claims nearly 2,300 lives in 2022: BC Coroners Service - Jan. 31, 2023
- ​Inquest into the death of Myles Gray begins in April - Jan. 19, 2023
2022
- At least 179 lives lost to toxic drugs in B.C. in October 2022 - Nov. 30, 2022
- Coroner's inquest into the death of Nicole Chan begins in January 2023 - Nov. 24, 2022
- More than 1,600 lives lost to illicit drugs in first nine months of 2022 - Nov. 7, 2022
- Rapid increase in deaths among people experiencing homelessness in B.C. in 2021 - Oct. 12, 2022
- Nearly 1,500 lost to illicit drugs in first eight months of 2022 - Sep. 28, 2022
- Toxic drugs claim lives of 192 British Columbians in July 2022 - Sep. 15, 2022
- Inquest into the death of Daniel Peter Rintoul will begin in October - Aug. 26, 2022
- Ten thousand lives lost to illicit drugs since declaration of public health emergency - Aug. 16, 2022
- Dates confirmed for inquest into the death of Robert Andrew Blundell - Jul. 22, 2022
- Almost 200 British Columbians lost to illicit drugs in May - Jul. 14 2022
- Toxic drug supply continues to devastate communities throughout B.C. - Jun. 9, 2022
- Enhanced alert system, risk mitigation needed for resilience in future heat events - Jun. 7, 2022
- BC Coroners Service schedules inquest into death of Jeffrey Richard Maxwell - May 6, 2022
- 165 British Columbians lost to toxic drug supply in March 2022 - May 3, 2022
- Dates scheduled for inquest into the death of Traevon Desjarlais - Apr. 29, 2022
- Chief coroner's statement on anniversary of public health emergency - Apr. 14, 2022
- More than 9,400 British Columbians lost to toxic illicit drugs since 2016 - Apr. 12, 2022
- Toxic drug supply continues to claim record numbers of British Columbians - Mar. 11, 2022
- Expert panel urges safer supply, evidence-based system of care to reduce deaths from illicit drugs - Mar. 9, 2022
- More than 2,200 British Columbians lost to illicit drugs in 2021 - Feb. 9, 2022
- Inquest into the death of Craig Andrew Ford rescheduled - Feb. 4, 2022
- Date confirmed for inquest into the death of Kyaw Naing Maung - Jan. 25, 2022
2021
- B.C. experiences record loss of life due to drug toxicity - Dec. 9, 2021
- Chief coroner's statement on mudslide search efforts - Nov. 20, 2021
- More than 1,500 lives lost to toxic illicit drugs in first nine months of 2021 - Nov. 9, 2021
- Almost 600 lives lost to extreme heat in summer 2021 - Nov. 1, 2021
- Date set for inquest into deaths of Jovan Williams and Shirley Williams - Oct. 22, 2021
- Toxic illicit drug supply claims lives of 184 British Columbians in July - Sept. 29, 2021
- Date set for inquest into death of Peter John De Groot - Sept. 13, 2021
- More than 1,000 British Columbians lost to toxic illicit drugs in first half of 2021 - Aug. 31, 2021
- Inquest scheduled into the death of Nicolas Allan Jeppesen - Aug. 19, 2021
- Chief coroner's July 30 statement on public safety during high temperatures - July 30, 2021
- Inquest into the death of Alexander Charles Joseph to begin August 9 - July 12, 2021
- Chief coroner's July 2 statement on public safety during heat wave - July 2, 2021
- Chief coroner's June 30 statement on public safety during heat wave - June 30, 2021
- Chief coroner's statement on public safety during heat wave - June 29, 2021
- 851 British Columbians lost to toxic illicit drugs in first five months of 2021 - June 29, 2021
- Inquest into the death of Jocelyn Nynah Marsha George to begin June 21 - June 14, 2021
- Illicit drug supply claims lives of 176 British Columbians in April - June 1, 2021
- Chief coroner's statement on burial site at former Kamloops Indian Residential School - May 28, 2021
- No increase in suicide deaths during pandemic - May 18, 2021
- Nearly 500 British Columbians lost to toxic illicit drugs in first three months of 2021 - Apr. 29, 2021
- Toxic drug supply claims more than 7,000 British Columbians since 2016 - Apr. 14, 2021
- Deaths caused by toxic illicit drug supply continue to surge - Mar. 24, 2021
- Increased drug toxicity leads to record number of January deaths - Mar. 2, 2021
- More than 1,700 lives lost in 2020 due to toxic illicit drugs - Feb. 11, 2021
2020
- Drug toxicity deaths continue to surpass records in B.C. - Dec. 21, 2020
- More than five people a day dying from drug toxicity: BC Coroners Service - Nov. 25, 2020
- Updated Illicit Drug Death Report released - Oct. 20, 2020
- Illicit drug death count remains high in B.C. during dual health emergencies - Sept. 23, 2020
- Toxic supply continues to contribute to loss of lives in B.C. - Aug. 25, 2020
- B.C. reports another record-high monthly total of illicit drug deaths in June - July, 16, 2020
- BC Coroners Service reports increase in illicit drug toxicity deaths in March, April - May 27, 2020
- Updated Illicit Drug Death Report released - May 7, 2020
- Nearly three people a day died from illicit drugs in 2019 - Feb. 24, 2020
- BC Coroners Service engaged in skull reconstruction to help close cold cases - Jan. 13, 2020
- Inquest into death of Dylan Levi Judd cancelled - Jan. 13, 2020
2019
- Two males, one female identified as deceased in Gabriola plane crash - Dec. 13, 2019
- BC Coroners Service, Transportation Safety Board, RCMP continue investigation into fatal plane crash - Dec. 11, 2019
- Drug toxicity deaths decrease, risk of harm remains high in B.C. - Dec. 5, 2019
- Additional support, awareness needed to prevent infant sleep deaths - Nov. 19, 2019
- Updated illicit drug death reports released by BC Coroners Service - Oct. 16, 2019
- Illicit drug deaths show decline for first half of 2019 - Aug. 16, 2019
- Cautious optimism: illicit drug toxicity deaths down for first five months of 2019 - July 11, 2019
- Summer water safety tips - June 27, 2019
- Police de facto part of mental health system: death review panel - June 4, 2019
- BC Coroners Service data shows MVI fatalities preventable - May 16, 2019
- Coroners Service releases updated data on illicit drug deaths - May 15, 2019
- Interactive tool launched to help identify human remains - March 27, 2019
- BC Coroners releases updated data on homeless deaths - March 21, 2019
- BC Coroners Service releases updated data on illicit drug overdoses - March 19, 2019
- Focus on evidence-based efforts needed to save lives - Feb. 7, 2019
2018
- Chief coroner's statement on sudden death of Barb McLintock - Dec. 29, 2018
- BC Coroners Service releases expanded findings into overdose deaths - Sept. 27, 2018
- Motorcycle deaths more than double through first seven months of 2018 - Aug. 29, 2018
- Driving safety tips for the summer - July 6, 2018
- Summer water safety tips - June 22, 2018
- Death review panel recommends prevention opportunities to help youth in care - May 28, 2018
- Illicit drug overdose death statistics to end of March, 2018 - May 10, 2018 - May 10, 2018
- Illicit drug overdose Death Review Panel releases recommendations - April 5, 2018 (Related Infographic on Illicit Drug Death Stats)
- Recommendations to Transport Canada following Capsizing of Leviathan II - Feb. 6, 2018
- Response Letter from Transport Canada - Feb. 8, 2018
- Follow up Response Letter from Transport Canada - April 27, 2018
- Remains found in Lake Cowichan in late December linked to missing person - Feb. 6, 2018
- Over 1400 B.C. residents died of illicit drug overdoses in 2017 - Jan. 31, 2018
2017
- Scare tactics less effective in overdose crisis - Dec. 2, 2017
- Recommendations released from Death Review Panel on First Nations youth - Nov. 15, 2017
- BC Coroners Service releases updated illicit drug overdose stats - Nov. 9, 2017
- Illicit drug deaths in first eight months of 2017 show deepening overdose crisis in BC. - Oct. 12, 2017
- Panel makes recommendations on medical assistance in dying - Oct. 3, 2017
- Fentanyl detected in 81 of illicit drug deaths in B.C. in 2017 - Sept. 7, 2017
- International Overdose Awareness Day (Statement from Lisa Lapointe, chief coroner with the BC Coroners Service) - Aug. 31, 2017
- Vancouver workplace fatality - Aug. 14, 2017
- June illicit drug-death numbers - Aug. 4, 2017
- Illicit drug death numbers through May 21, 2017 - June 30, 2017
- April illicit drug-death numbers - May 31, 2017
- BC Coroners Service investigating deaths from a capsized vessel - May 2, 2017
- March illicit drug death numbers - April 19, 2017
- January illicit drug death numbers - Feb. 17, 2017
- Year-End Illicit Drug Death Numbers - Jan, 18, 2017
2016
- Extra care needed in very cold weather - Dec. 16, 2016
- BC Coroners Service reminds boaters to wear PFDs - Aug. 31, 2016
- Extra care needed while swimming and boating - May 19, 2016
- BC Coroners Service and Avalanche Canada stress need for safety - Feb. 3, 2016
2015
- Extra care needed while swimming and boating - June 26, 2015
2014
- Pedestrian safety highlighted - Nov. 19, 2014
- BC Coroners Service releases report on child and youth drowning - June 26, 2014
- BC Coroners Service warns of deaths related to illicit fentanyl use - June 4, 2014
- Avalanche death prompts safety reminder - Jan. 24, 2014
2013
- Winter safety in the backcountry - Nov. 25, 2013
- BC Coroners Service releases report on youth suicide - Sept. 26, 2013
- BC Coroners Service urges water safety - July 5, 2013
- Coroners Service review of Prescription Opiate-Related Overdose Death - May 28, 2013
- BC Coroners Service Warns of High Water Dangers - May 17, 2013
- BC Coroners Service Urges Proper Preparation for Backcountry Outings - March 8, 2013
2012
- You are not Expecting Your Child to Drown Today - July 11, 2012
2009
- Faulty Computer Equipment Can Be Deadly - Aug. 26, 2009
2008
- Coroner Issues Carbon Monoxide Warning - Dec. 16, 2008
- Stats and Studies Show Too Many Kids Victims of Fatal Pedestrian Accidents - May 27, 2008
- Infant Deaths Linked to Unsafe Sleep Practices - March 7, 2008
2007
- Avalanche Deaths Prompt Seasonal Warning - Dec. 31, 2007
- Student Fire Safety Can Prevent Needless Deaths - Aug. 27, 2007
- Infant Dies After Recalled Playpen Collapses - Aug. 21, 2007
- Wild Mushrooms Can Be Deadly - May 30, 2007
- Avalanche Deaths Prompt Warning - Apr. 12, 2007
- Drugs Bought Online Can Be Deadly - Mar. 20, 2007
- Fatal Forestry Accidents Preventable - Jan. 25, 2007
2006
- B.C. Lakes and Rivers Pose Additional Risks for Tourists - Aug. 2, 2006
Media Contact
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- CoronerMedia@gov.bc.ca
- 236 478-1582
Coroners' Inquests
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