When Ron Handford, Yellowhead Mining Inc.'s executive vice-president of corporate development, was on the Premier's jobs and trade mission to Asia last fall, he spoke with executives connected with smelters, mining and trading companies in Japan, China and South Korea.

The Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia announced a public-private partnership to renovate and restore 13 provincially owned Single Room Occupancy hotels in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside to provide access to clean and safe social housing.

The Province is providing up to $1 million to keep the First United shelter open for an additional four months on Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.

As a result of federal and provincial investments in affordable housing, a new program is available to help low-income seniors and people with disabilities finance home modifications for accessible, safe and independent living.

The 2011 recipients of the Association for Mineral Exploration British Columbia (AME BC)'s annual awards include the Britannia Mine and renowned geoscientist Dave Lefebure, former chief geologist with the B.C. Geological Survey, who retired last fall.

Minister of Energy and Mines Rich Coleman announced B.C. experienced its second consecutive year of rising mineral exploration expenditures in 2011, as the mineral exploration and mining industry continued a dramatic upward trend.

The latest provincial safety statistics show the B.C. mining industry has not experienced a mine operations fatality since September 2009, the longest period of time without fatalities since 1898.

Forty-two interim shelter spaces open today at the Marble Arch Hotel, a provincially owned SRO. This shelter facility, using vacant commercial space at the Marble Arch, will operate 24 hours a day, offer a meal program and incorporate a unique couples-only component.

With the official opening of the Aboriginal Mother Centre, Aboriginal mothers and children at risk of homelessness now have access to transformational homes that are linked to cultural traditions.