Strata Corporation insurance rates have jumped about 40% across BC since last year, with deductibles sometimes leaping to triple-digit increases.

Among key findings, bases on a survey of 6,000 condo and townhouse properties are:

-an average increase of 40% year-over-year to strata premiums province-wide;

-a 50% increase in Metro Vancouver;

-54% of strata properties experienced a premium increase of less than 30% compared to premiums the previous year;

-31% of strata properties saw increases in the 30%-50% range;

-9% faced year-over-year increases of 50%-100%; and

-6% saw increases in excess of 100% compared to the previous year.

And price pressures will continue with buildings that are considered to be higher risk expected to face the most significant increases as well as the possibility of not being able to obtain full, or in rare cases any, insurance coverage.

BC's finance minister, Carole James, told CTV News that legislation is on the way to address the skyrocketing strata insurance costs, but did not offer any details as to what exactly that will entail.

"It's clear there is no quick fix for this problem," James said. "It's important to recognize that the dynamics driving these increases are playing out in the private insurance industry-government does not set insurance rates or regulate pricing.

The new legislation is expected this summer as a first step to tackle the problem.

B.C. homes sales dropped more than 45% in May compared to the same time last year but home prices continue to rise.

The average residential sales price in May was $728,898, which is 3.2% higher than last years average of $706.394.

In Greater Vancouver, the average sales price was up 2.9% ($1.012 million to $1.041 million) compared with the same time last year, while Fraser Valley home prices climbed 2.6% ($725,292 to $744,322)

Vancouver Island had the biggest price jump with a 9.5 rise over May 2019 ($494,380 to $541,485), while the largest drop was recorded in Powell River where home prices plummeted 19.4% (366,933 to $295,748)

There were 4,518 homes sold in B.C. last May, compared with 8,244 sales in May of 2019, which illustrates the drastic impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on B.C. real estate activity.

A hairstylist was left in tears after a customer tipped her $2,500 before leaving another $3,300 for salon staff who were just returning to work after closure due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Ilisia Novotny wasn't even supposed to work on Saturday, the first day this barbershop was reopened.

At the end of the busy day, she got a walk-in customer who had just moved into the area.

After his hair cut, he walked out to the barbershop, looked back at Ilisia and said, "Just so you know, it's not a mistake".

Ilisia was confused by what the man meant before her coworkers rushed over and informed her that the stranger had left a $2,500 tip.

'I cried" said Ilisia. "I'm a single mother. It's been rough the last few months not knowing what's going to happen, not knowing when we might reopen so I could go back to work".

In addition to the large tip, the anonymous client also left $500 for the receptionist and another $1,000 for the general manager. He also left another $1,800 for the rest of the employees.

In total, he gave $5,800.

Ilisia said Saturday's tip allowed her to pay June's rent in advance. Money was tight during the 2 months away from work, and she had to work out deals with her landlord and utility company so she could keep the lights on.

Now, things are looking up.

"Coming back and having clients, even people you don't know, show so much love, it felt great" Ilisia said.

Costco says free samples will likely return by mid-month, but the COVID-19 pandemic will affect how they're handed out.

It's been a while since Costco shoppers have been able to snack on as many free samples as their hearts desired while browsing the retailer's massive aisles, but it looks like some of those tasty treats are about to make a comeback.

After suspending food sampling over coronavirus concerns back in March, Costco stores are now planning to reintroduce the popular shopping perk soon, however, the typical grab-and-go experience customers have grown accustomed to will likely be replaced by a more orderly process.

Costco CFO Richard Galanti announced that the mid-June rollout will start slowly and it's not going to be where you go and just pick up an open sample in your fingers.

Fans of the store are already speaking out and they seem to have pretty mixed opinions about the news.

Some consider the return of samples a cause for celebration.

Others aren't looking forward to wading through sample crowds.