The Canadian retailer London Drugs is cutting 80 jobs, a Burnaby resident has won $2 million and plans to buy a house, and a campfire ban is returning to the South Coast of British Columbia due to hot weather.
A wave of layoffs at London Drugs: what lies behind the cut of 80 jobs
In early July 2026, the Canadian chain of pharmacies and everyday goods London Drugs announced a major restructuring that will affect nearly all of its stores in British Columbia. According to an internal memo obtained by Daily Hive, in the change to the store-level management model, about 80 positions were “reduced.” The roles in question are full- and part-time supervisor positions—key staff responsible for day-to-day operations on the ground.
As one long-time employee told the outlet (who asked to remain anonymous), staff learned about the decisions in real time: someone would be called to a meeting right as they arrived for their shift, while others were contacted by phone or sent a Teams video-conference invitation. In addition, the company circulated an internal memo explaining that the restructuring is necessary to adapt to intense competition and shifting expectations among shoppers.
In a message to staff, CEO Nick Curalli and COO highlighted that the measures were not easy for the company to take, but they are meant to protect long-term competitiveness. The letter says that previously London Drugs had been able to maintain a higher-than-industry-average employment level and the related costs, but the current economic situation forces a rethink. That acknowledgement comes at a particularly worrying time, following recent shocks: in just the past six months, the company faced a serious cyberattack that led to supply disruptions, the closure of a major store in the Renfrew-Collingwood area after 40 years, and the shutdown of a location in the famous Woodwards building—explained as the result of “ongoing security incidents.” Those events have further eroded the already fragile trust of employees, who now have questions about the future of the chain itself.
One source compared the current situation to the fate of Sears Canada and Hudson’s Bay—two giants that once seemed unshakeable, but ultimately ended up closing stores and carrying out large-scale layoffs. While London Drugs remains a family business with an 81-year history, its market position is becoming increasingly vulnerable. Company spokesperson Naomi Perks assured that leadership is focused on supporting the laid-off employees, but she did not share details on severance or employment plans. To understand the scale: the chain has 50 locations in British Columbia, and cutting 80 supervisors means that, on average, each store has lost between one and two key staff members. That will inevitably affect the workload of the remaining employees and the quality of service—potentially hitting customer loyalty in the long run.
It’s also worth noting that London Drugs is not the first Canadian retail chain to resort to restructuring of this kind. Similar trends are seen across the country: rising rent, inflation, shoppers moving online, and tougher competition from American giants (for example, Costco and Walmart) are pushing traditional chains to find ways to cut costs. However, the cyberattack mentioned by employees became an additional catalyst—it effectively paralyzed IT systems, delayed deliveries and damaged the company’s reputation as a reliable supplier. As a result, London Drugs finds itself in a position where layoffs are not just a precautionary measure, but a condition for survival.
Morale in the workplace, according to one source, is “at a low level.” Employees are having to answer customer questions for which they themselves don’t have answers. Uncertainty fuels rumors, and the departure of colleagues with whom almost family-like relationships had formed only heightens the sense of crisis. The company has already said that these steps are not typical for it, and further clarifications from leadership should be expected soon. For now, it remains to be seen whether the province’s oldest retailer can withstand pressure from the modern market without repeating the path taken by giants that have gone out of business.
A Burnaby lottery winner used a $2 million payout to buy a new home
A Metro Vancouver resident who won $2 million in the lottery plans to spend the money on purchasing a more spacious home for his family. As reported on the Vancouver Is Awesome website, Wing Wah C. from Burnaby is the winner of a major prize in the BC/49 draw held on July 4. He says he didn’t believe what he saw at first when he checked the ticket using the BCLC Lotto! mobile app on his tablet. “Normally I see $1 or $10, so seeing $2 million was new to me,” he shared. The first person he told about his win was his wife, and, according to him, she was very excited.
The winning ticket was purchased at the PriceSmart Foods store on Austin Road in Burnaby. The winner says he still can’t believe it happened: “It still feels like I’m dreaming. It doesn’t feel real.” With the money, he plans to buy a new home so the family has more space. According to BCLC (the British Columbia Lottery Corporation), in 2026 players in the province have already won more than $9 million in BC/49 draws. The story again highlights how significant lottery luck can be for residents in a region with one of Canada’s most expensive housing markets. With the average home price in Vancouver and its suburbs staying extremely high, such sudden, large wins offer a rare opportunity to solve a housing need without mortgage pressure. However, experts remind people that the odds of winning the lottery are extremely low, and you shouldn’t plan a budget based on those expectations. Wing Wah, based on his comments, doesn’t seem to have grand plans—he’s simply happy for the chance to improve his family’s situation.
A campfire ban returns to the South Coast of British Columbia and Vancouver Island
A ban on campfires is being reintroduced in British Columbia’s coastal areas due to approaching hot and dry weather. The province’s Fire Service says that starting at noon on Thursday, July 16, all fires of the first category will be prohibited across most of the Coastal Fire Centre’s territory. The only exceptions are certain areas in the north of Vancouver Island and along the Sunshine Coast.
The decision responds to deteriorating weather conditions and increased fire risk, though just a few weeks ago a similar ban had been lifted.
The restrictions apply to all lands outside municipal boundaries, including most provincial parks, campgrounds, recreation areas and Crown land. Notably, the original ban on campfires and other first-category fires was put in place in early May—the earliest point on record since statistics began in 2003. But it was lifted right before the May long weekend. Now the ban is returning, and according to Fire Service spokesperson Emily Farzad, decisions like these are not easy to make: “They take a lot of time and consideration of many factors. Weather is very dynamic, and as we’re seeing right now, we re-evaluate bans daily.”
At the same time, a wet June in the North Island and Mid-Coast area allowed campfires there to remain possible. A similar relaxation applies to the Sunshine Coast zone. That means the Coastal Fire Centre has joined the Kamloops Fire Centre as the second region in the province with active restrictions. Local firefighters say that after last year’s wildfires, residents have become much more serious about the bans. Steve Ternes, Chief of Fire Services for Errington, says he has never seen such unanimous compliance: “People are paying attention now. There used to be a lot of resistance. Last year, we finally had smoke in the air, people were scared, and it increased awareness of the danger.”
The Fire Service reminds people that those in permitted zones must take precautions: always have at least eight litres of water on hand, never leave a fire unattended, and fully extinguish it—making sure the embers are cool enough to touch. The ban will last until October 31 or until it is lifted depending on weather conditions. As reported by CBC News, the decision reflects a growing readiness from both authorities and the public to respond to climate change and minimize the risk of catastrophic fires that have become a harsh reality for Canada’s west coast in recent years.
