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Alleged members of an Indian gang and its leader have been sending shivers down the spines of members of the South Asian diaspora in Canada for years, says a city councillor in Richmond, B.C.

Kash Heed said the Bishnoi gang, led by Lawrence Bishnoi, gained notoriety and instilled fear among Indian Canadians well before the RCMP accused the syndicate this week of orchestrating violent crimes on Canadian soil.

There was no clear winner in Saturday's British Columbia election, but the leader of the B.C. Conservatives says the province's political landscape has "changed forever," after his party pushed the incumbent New Democrats to the brink.

Neither party won enough seats to claim a majority, and vote counting was set to continue Sunday, with Premier David Eby's NDP in striking range of a minority government if he gets the co-operation of the Greens, who won two seats.

Potential recounts mean it could be next week before the winner is decided.

The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS) responded to two separate fires in vacant buildings on Saturday evening.

Fire on Logan Avenue

Crews were called to a fire in the 900 block of Logan Avenue at 6:09 p.m. on October 19, 2024.

The industrial structure, which had been previously damaged by fires in May 2024 and August 2023, was found emitting smoke when firefighters arrived. Due to the extent of prior damage, it was unsafe for crews to enter, prompting a defensive fire attack from the outside.

King Charles III, Patron of the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO), attended a special concert on October 16, 2024, marking a significant celebration of cultural relations between London and Genoa, as well as commemorating the LSO’s 120th anniversary.

The event, held in collaboration with the prestigious Premio Paganini competition, showcased an hour of classical music led by LSO's Chief Conductor, Sir Antonio Pappano.

The executive team from the Assembly of First Nations will meet in the coming days to discuss how to proceed with new negotiations for a child welfare reform deal after chiefs voted against the government's proposed $47.8 billion agreement at a meeting in Calgary Thursday.

AFN National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, who had helped negotiate the deal and pushed for it to be approved, was blunt in her assessment of the outcome in her closing remarks to the special chiefs assembly Friday.

Here's a look at some of this week's top news photos as selected by editors.

B.C. NDP Leader David Eby is seen through a bus windshield as he arrives for a campaign stop in Nanaimo, B.C., Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Manitoba is the second province to sign a deal with the federal Liberals to expand school food programs across the province. 

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew announced the agreement during a press conference at a kindergarten-to-Grade 8 school in Winnipeg on Friday. 

The province is to receive about $17.2 million over the next three years under the National School Food Program. 

Kinew called the program one of the "most consequential public policy interventions" seen in recent Canadian history. 

Canada announced the details of a $64.8 million military aid package to Ukraine Friday as National Defence Minister Bill Blair attended a NATO defence ministers meeting in Brussels.

Ukraine's ongoing war with Russia was a key topic at the meeting, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the ministers during the meeting.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, chairing his first NATO defence ministers' meeting since taking the role earlier in October, said the alliance's members are on track to deliver almost $60 billion in security assistance to Ukraine.

The Desautels Concert Hall at the University of Manitoba will officially become a part of the musical fabric of Winnipeg with a slew of performances by community ensembles in the coming weeks. 

The hall, long anticipated by music lovers in the city, first opened its doors back in September with a gala concert featuring beloved local sopranos Tracy Dahl and Andriana Chuchman, the Borealis Piano Trio and the Desautels Jazz Faculty Quartet.  

The investigation continues for a missing female dating back to October 2023. 

On October 19, 2023, Piney, Manitoba native Ywanna (Jean) Backman was reported missing to RCMP after last making contact with a friend on October 15.

Since she was last seen, an extensive ground search was conducted near her residence, but Jean was not located.

Investigators believe she was wearing a green jacket at the time of her disappearance. 

The year-long search remains very much ongoing, RCMP says in a press release.