a-lot-of-bureaucracy:-kitsilano-homeowner-blames-city-for-renovation-delays-–-global-news-toronto
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A lot of bureaucracy Kitsilano homeowner blames city for renovation delays

Bymichael

A Kitsilano homeowner, criticized for allowing a garage at the back of his home to collapse, says he has wanted to do a massive renovation but the slow pace of Vancouver’s City Hall is frustrating matters. The house is located on Arbutus Street, valued just under $4 million and across from Kitsilano Beach. Aaron Chan, who currently lives in Taiwan, grew up in Vancouver, got his MBA in New York, then worked in Hong Kong and India before Taipei. But Vancouver has always been home. “We still have a lot of family in Vancouver and we typically bring our kids to to Vancouver in the summertime, you know, except for the pandemic years,” Chan told Global News. He and his wife purchased the house in 2021. Chan said the house is 100 years old and they always planned to renovate it. Story continues below advertisement They started communicating with the City of Vancouver in early 2022 and Chan said they hired an architect. “We were given a list of things that we need to do,” he said. “And we were very patient and we tried to be cooperative and comply with whatever the city wanted. And every time we submitted what was requested and we always ask the question, ‘Is this the list? Is that it?’ And I think the reply has always been, ‘Yes, this is if you do ABCD, this is what we need from you.’” Chan said that despite following what the city requested, they would continue to get emails asking them to do more. 1:33 Buckled garage across from Kitsilano Beach creates safety hazard “I have been doing skyscrapers in New York, in Hong Kong, Taipei, Tokyo,” Chan said. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. “You know, I’m comparing (this) to some developed country, some major city in the world. And so I thought to myself, if I could handle doing major development in those cities, and the codes and regulations are very, very stringent, this is a wooden structure, this is a house, a small house, actually. I thought I could easily handle that, but I guess I was very wrong about it.” Story continues below advertisement Chan said they only received the demolition permit for the garage this week from the City of Vancouver — two years after starting the process. “This is a house in dire need of some loving and caring,” he said. “And I’m an experienced real estate developer. We’re talking about a three-storey wooden structure. I never expected this to be this difficult by any global standards.” Chan said they still don’t have the permits in place to fix the house. ‘When we started that process, there were still a lot of COVID protocols,” he said. “The responses were not quick. You know, the hurdle that we had to go through was a lot. So, yeah, we’re happy to respond to any request from the city. But there is simply a lot of bureaucracy.” 0:34 Collapsing garage at multi-million dollar home in Vancouver’s Kitsilano In a statement to Global News, the City of Vancouver said that in 2022 the homeowner for the house submitted a pre-submittal application for proposed interior and exterior alterations. Story continues below advertisement The development permit application was submitted on Dec. 7, 2023, according to the city, with fees paid on Dec. 19, 2023. Once the fees were paid, the city initiated the review process. “On April 16, 2024, City staff issued a deficiency list to the applicant, outlining required revisions and providing comments from our Building Review Branch (BRB),” the city said. Trending Now “These revisions are necessary to meet the City’s requirements. Since then, staff have been in regular communication with the applicant to provide support and answer questions. However, the applicant has not yet submitted the revised plans addressing the identified deficiencies.” The city said the delays in this case appear to be related to incomplete revisions and outstanding requirements on the part of the applicant. In June 2023, the City of Vancouver adopted the 3-3-3-1 permit approval framework to fast-track applications. Targets include three days to approve home renovation permits, three weeks to approve single-family home and townhouse permits, three months to approve permits for professionally designed multi-family and mid-rise projects where existing zoning is in place and one year to approve permits for a high-rise or large-scale project. “As you know, this is a big organization and it takes a little bit of time,” Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim said on Thursday. Story continues below advertisement “What I can tell you is we have amazing people and they have been working diligently, so we have a lot of anecdotal evidence of our permitting process being sped up.” Sim said while there is more work to do, the program has been successful. 2:21 City of Vancouver to crack down on illegal Hastings street market Chan said he understands his house is 100 years old but his experience has been far from successful. “I wish I was given a list of things that we need to comply and do,” he said. “And when we were given that list, it could be given to us in one request rather than piecemeal.” Chan said it does not stop his family’s desire to move to Vancouver. “However, when

hundreds-rally-at-vancouver-city-hall-calling-for-‘pause’-to-broadway-plan-–-ctv-news-vancouver
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Hundreds rally at Vancouver city hall calling for ‘pause’ to Broadway Plan

Bymichael

Hundreds of Vancouver residents gathered at city hall Saturday afternoon to urge councillors to “pause and rethink” the Broadway Plan. Adopted in 2022, the policy governs development along the Broadway corridor, aiming to create high-density homes for 50,000 more people along the under-construction Broadway Subway extension. A petition touted by the organizers of Saturday’s event has received more than 2,800 signatures. It describes the plan as “playing out in a way many residents never imagined,” with rezoning signs “popping up like mushrooms” and “18- and 20-storey tower proposals on quiet residential streets some distance from rapid transit.”  Towers were on the minds of protesters CTV News spoke to at the rally, including Gordon Yusko, who said one is under construction behind his Fairview apartment building. “The Broadway plan allows too many high-density towers in too small of an area and it’s going to make neighbourhoods unlivable,” Yusko said. Roni Jones said she’s been a renter in Kitsilano for decades, and has seen people lose their affordable homes in her neighbourhood so that new towers can be built. “For instance, across the street from me was a rental of all seniors, and they’ve all been evicted,” she said. The Broadway Plan includes protections for renters who are displaced by redevelopment. Developers must offer them units in the new building for the same rent they were paying, and displaced renters “may choose to receive a temporary rent top-up,” according to the city.  The forced relocation is still disruptive, however, and market rents are generally hundreds, if not thousands of dollars higher than what long-term tenants are used to paying. “I’m really concerned about that,” said Jones. “I’m concerned about, ‘Where do all these people go?'” Both Jones and Yusko insisted they’re not against increasing the density of the Broadway corridor, but argued that the Broadway Plan as it’s currently being implemented is not the right way to add density to the area. “Density is important,” said Yusko. “I’m not opposed to density, but it has to be livable density, like, six to eight storeys, maximum.” “Yes, density has to happen, but it can happen within consultation with the neighbourhoods to not lose that character,” said Jones.

bear-killed-after-attacking-man-walking-with-dog-on-metro-vancouver-trail-–-cbc.ca
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Bear killed after attacking man walking with dog on Metro Vancouver trail

Bymichael

British Columbia Bear killed after attacking man walking with dog on Metro Vancouver trail B.C. conservation officers say a man was injured earlier this week when he was attacked by a black bear while he was walking his dog on a Metro Vancouver trail. The bear died in the encounter. Conservation service says people should remain vigilant during cold months, as some bears remain active CBC News · Posted: Nov 23, 2024 8:26 PM EST | Last Updated: 11 hours ago The B.C. Conservation Officer Service says a man was injured earlier this week when he was attacked by a black bear while he was walking his dog on a Metro Vancouver trail. (Robson Fletcher/CBC) A man walking his dog on a Lower Mainland trail was injured earlier this week in a black bear attack, the B.C. Conservation Officer Service says.  The incident occurred Wednesday afternoon along an off-leash dog trail near 240th Street in Maple Ridge, according to a Saturday Facebook post by the service.  Conservation officer Jordan Ferguson told CBC News the man heard a commotion behind him and turned to see his dog confronting the bear.  “He tried to grab his dog and retreat from the area, and the bear then turned his attention on him,” Ferguson said. The man then “fought with the bear,” according to the service’s Facebook post. A group of nearby anglers came to his aid and the incident ended with the man injured and the black bear dead.  How exactly the bear was killed is still being determined, but Ferguson said an examination of the scene has shown them that it was done out of self-defence and that there will be no enforcement action against anyone involved.  He said the man was treated for minor injuries and has since been released from hospital, while the dog was unscathed. The bear is undergoing a necropsy at an Abbotsford lab to determine if it was dealing with anything that would have affected its behaviour and decision to attack.  Ferguson emphasized the importance of safety precautions while exploring the outdoors, pointing out that bears in the Lower Mainland don’t “fully hibernate” due to mild winters and food availability. “When you’re going out into these natural areas, you have to be prepared to run into bears all times a year down here,” he said.  “If you’re put in the situation, the best thing you can do is try to leave the area … make yourself look big and back out.” The B.C. Conservation Foundation says people can better prevent encounters with black bears by talking and singing to avoid surprising an animal, managing attractants such as garbage, keeping pets leashed and carrying bear spray. According to the the foundation, black bears account for up to 25,000 calls to provincial conservation officers every year and “can become more assertive or destructive when they have learned to associate humans and their activities with food.” B.C. has among the highest population of black bears in the world, with the foundation estimating up to 150,000 animals live in the province. With files from CBC’s Shaurya Kshatri and The Canadian Press

metro-vancouvers-living-wage-is-now-more-than-$27-an-hour
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Metro Vancouvers living wage is now more than $27 an hour

ByAmy Judd

Posted November 20, 2024 6:10 pm Updated November 20, 2024 8:42 pm 2 min read 2:02 BC’s living wage rises More evidence today of just how expensive it is to live in B.C. – even if you have a full-time job. As Travis Prasad reports, a study has found Metro Vancouver residents need to earn almost $10 dollars an hour more than minimum wage – just to cover essentials like food and housing. A new report has found that residents of Metro Vancouver need to make $27.05 an hour to earn a living wage, a 5.3-per cent increase from last year. The wage, calculated by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, BC Office and Living Wage BC, is the hourly rate that each of two parents working full-time must earn to support a family of four based on the cost of living in a particular community. B.C.’s current minimum wage is $17.40 per hour. The report found that nearly half a million workers — 37 per cent of all paid employees in Metro Vancouver — earn less than the living wage. Anastasia French, provincial manager at Living Wage BC, told Global News that the living wage is what a worker needs to pay for basic essentials like food and rent. Story continues below advertisement “What we found this year is that the living wage really varies depending on where you live,” she said. “All the way from Grand Forks with the lowest living wage in B.C. at $20.81, all the way up to $28 in Whistler. But it’s Metro Vancouver, which is where the vast majority of people in B.C. live.” 2:08 Living wage climbs above $25 per hour French said factors such as housing costs and food keep going up at a rate that is unaffordable for many workers. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Government’s financial relief measures, such as affordable childcare programs, were intended to help offset those rising costs. However, the report found that those measures are outpaced by rising rents. “Rent has been the most expensive item in the Metro Vancouver living wage family budget since the calculation was first produced in 2008 and this year is no exception,” Iglika Ivanova, senior economist at the B.C. office of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and the report’s lead author, said in a statement. Trending Now Story continues below advertisement Shelter costs for a family in Metro Vancouver increased 9.5 per cent this year, which is roughly an additional $276 a month. 4:07 B.C.’s minimum wage jumping from $16.75 to $17.40 an hour Metro Vancouver’s living wage is the third highest in the province, behind Whistler at $28.89 per hour and Clayoquot Sound at $27.42 per hour. “We recognize that $27 is a really high wage, for many employers it might be out of reach,” French said. “It’s worth factoring in any benefits that you offer because that might make you a living wage more manageable.” In the Interior, the living wage in Kelowna is now $25.77, which is an increase of 4.76 per cent from 2023. &copy 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc. Sponsored content

how-to-send-letters-to-santa-during-canada-post-strike
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How to send letters to Santa during Canada Post strike

ByStephanie Ip

Even though Canada Post mail carriers are on strike, parents can breathe a sigh of relief knowing Santa is still accepting letters. Published Nov 22, 2024  •  Last updated 4 hours ago  •  2 minute read Don’t worry: Santa will still see your letter – as soon as the strike is over. Photo by JOUNI PORSANGER/Lehtikuva /AFP via Getty Images With Canada Post employees on strike, parents may be wondering whether Santa is still accepting letters this year. Each year, Canada Post collects letters from kids across Canada and delivers them to — ahem — the North Pole for Santa to read. And though mail service has been suspended while the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) are on strike, parents can rest assured knowing that Canada Post is accepting letters on behalf of the jolly man himself. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Vancouver Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Vancouver Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Sign In or Create an Account or Article content “As you know, CUPW has shut down the postal service with a national strike, and as a result, we are unable to get mail to and from Santa in the North Pole,” said spokesperson Valérie Chartrand in an email. “It is our hope that postal operations can resume as quickly as possible at this critical time for customers. When operations do resume, we will help Santa by delivering a response to every letter sent to him this year.” According to Chartrand, Canada Post usually receives Santa letters starting in November. Last year, 1.4 million replies from Santa were sent. The program has been running for 40 years,  during which Chartrand estimates 45 million letters to Santa have been delivered by Canada Post. When can I send a letter to Santa? Canada Post accepts letters to Santa between Nov. 1 to the end of January each season. This gives Santa time after delivering all his presents to catch up on his mail. How should I address the envelope to Santa? You can put your letter in an envelope and address it to: Santa Claus North Pole H0H 0H0 Canada Don’t forget to include your return address as well! Do I need a stamp for my letter to Santa? No stamp is needed for your letter. Can I combine several letters in the same envelope? Yes, you can — and it’s encouraged  — include all letters from the same household or family into one envelope. When can I expect a response from Santa? Replies from Santa will be sent as soon as the labour disruption is resolved. Expect them a little later this year than in previous years. sip@postmedia.com Article content

grouse-and-cypress-set-to-open-this-weekend
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Grouse and Cypress set to open this weekend

ByCheryl Chan

The two ski areas open on the heels of Whistler’s Blackcomb Mountain, which opened on Thursday Published Nov 21, 2024  •  Last updated 1 hour ago  •  1 minute read Whistler Blackcomb opened Blackcomb Mountain on Nov. 21, a day earlier than scheduled, due to plentiful snow. Photo by Whistler Blackcomb/Handout Get ready for ski and snowboard season. Two North Shore ski resorts are set to open this weekend, joining Whistler Blackcomb, which kicked off the season with the opening of Blackcomb Mountain on Thursday, a day earlier than expected. Cypress will open on Friday with two ski lifts, Eagle Chair and Easy Rider “with more to come soon after,” said the resort on its website. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Vancouver Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Vancouver Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Sign In or Create an Account or Article content Five runs will be open, including PGS, Panorama, Windjammer, Fork and Runway. The resort tempered expectations, advising visitors coming this weekend to be ready for early season snow conditions. Grouse Mountain is scheduled to open Saturday, although its annual Peak of Christmas event, which includes Christmas movies, a light walk, and outdoor skating pond, opens on Friday. Grouse’s Paradise and Paradise Jib park will be open on Saturday via the Greenway Chair and Heaven’s Sake and Peak via the Peak Chair. Its new state-of-the-art gondola is set to open this season, but an opening date has not yet been announced. Cypress has received 125 centimetres of snow so far, while Grouse has accumulated 106 cm — a hopeful sign for winter sports enthusiasts after a disappointing season last year marked by warm temperatures and lack of snow. Environment Canada is predicting a La Nina later this year, which favours a colder than normal winter for the B.C. South Coast. Both resorts are opening about two weeks earlier than in 2023, when Cypress opened on Dec. 7 and Grouse on Dec. 8. Mount Seymour, which opened Dec. 2 last season, has not announced an opening day. Its website lists an estimated date as Dec. 13. Seymour’s tobogganing and tubing area opens for the season on Saturday. In Whistler, Whistler Mountain will open as scheduled on Friday. chchan@postmedia.com Recommended from Editorial PSA: Metro Vancouver ski hills just received the first snow of the season Whistler Blackcomb set to open one ski hill a day early Article content

metro-vancouver-eyes-standardized-six-storey-wood-apartments
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Metro Vancouver eyes standardized six-storey wood apartments

ByJohn Mackie

The idea is to streamline design and draft common regulations to cut construction time by at least a third Published Nov 18, 2024  •  3 minute read Rendering of six storey design found in Metro Vancouver report on rental apartments made of wood. Credit: Iredale Architecture. Photo by Iredale Architecture When you think of new construction in Metro Vancouver, you think of concrete towers with glass facades. A Metro Vancouver report on rental housing is considering a different approach: Making it easier to build six-storey apartment buildings out of wood. The report’s name is a mouthful, “Streamlining the Delivery of Rental Housing Through Pre-Approved Plans and Off-Site Construction.” THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Vancouver Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Vancouver Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Sign In or Create an Account or Article content But it has a simple goal: making rental housing cheaper to build. Concrete buildings typically cost 20 to 24 per cent more to build than wooden ones. So the report, which will probably go to Metro in January, calls for low-rise wood frame buildings. The report also wants to make it easier to build. “We’re collaborating with B.C. Housing on (ways) to essentially speed up the delivery of six-story rental wood frame apartments,” said Michael Epp, director of housing, planning and development at Metro Vancouver. “One of the key ones is trying to harmonize some of the regulatory approaches for that type of building.” Building regulations vary from city to city. Going through the bureaucratic process can be time consuming — Epp said it usually takes five years from “conception to occupancy” to build a wood-frame apartment building in Metro Vancouver. “Our short-term goal is to try to bring that time down by at least 30 per cent,” he said. “But I think it’s possible, in an ideal state, to cut 50 per cent of that delivery time. So going from five years from start to finish to a 2½-year start to finish.” By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Article content Article content The idea is to draft regulations for these buildings that essentially pre-approve them, cutting out the need for time-consuming rezoning applications, and to also allow for some prefabrication of the buildings in factories. “Time is a really substantial component of (building) cost, whether or not you’ve got land carrying costs during that entirety of that time,” Epp said. “You’re paying your professional consultants, you’ve got insurance costs, you’ve got (construction) escalation (costs). So the shorter you can make that time, the more you’re saving. “On some projects, this could be hundreds of thousands of dollars a month that can be saved when you’re shaving time off.” Only one rendering of what the six-storey buildings might look like has been released so far. The illustration by Iredale Architecture looks like something you’d see in Vancouver’s West End, a basic apartment block with balconies. The goal is to make regulations that can be adapted to different designs. “The idea here is we’ve got a hybrid approach to building,” said Epp. “This is not a modular building where you ship a shipping container to the site and assemble them on site. It’s more like an Ikea approach to a building, where there would be many components that are flat packed. Article content “Now you’re not only shrinking the time on the approval side, which is huge, but you’re also cutting the time to actually get the project built on site, because you’re able to just bring these components in and assemble them on site.” Eleven municipalities in Metro have signed on as “interested partners” in the study, including Vancouver, Surrey, Burnaby, Richmond, the District of North Vancouver and New Westminster. The study is aimed at non-market rental buildings, but Epp said new regulations could be applied to market-rent buildings as well. Many low-rise market condo buildings are already built with a concrete base and foundation, with wood

20-stunning-christmas-lights-events-to-see-around-vancouver
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20 stunning Christmas lights events to see around Vancouver

ByDaniel Chai

The days are getting shorter, which means there’s so much more time to see all the bright and colourful Christmas lights around Vancouver! Pull on your warmest toque and grab the hot chocolate because there are a bunch of holiday light displays and stunning festivals that you won’t want to miss this year. The good news is that many are running throughout December, and some even last into January! So you’ll have plenty of time to catch as many of these magical events as possible. VanDusen Festival of Lights VanDusen Festival of Lights/Submitted What: Get ready for a walk in a winter wonderland because one of Vancouver’s largest holiday light displays is officially returning for the season. VanDusen Festival of Lights will be delighting visitors at the botanical garden from Friday, November 29, to Sunday, January 5, 2025. Discover over one million lights across 15 acres, with new displays and returning favourites for all ages. When: November 29, 2024 to January 5, 2025 (closed on Christmas Day) Time: 4 to 10 pm (last entry time 8:30 to 9 pm) Where: VanDusen Botanical Garden — 5251 Oak Street, Vancouver Admission : $11-$28, free for children four years and under (must reserve a ticket). Purchase online Noel Holiday Light Festival & Market What: A new holiday festival is coming to Metro Vancouver, and it promises to be an enchanting time for the whole family. Noel Surrey will feature Santa’s castle, a Holly Jolly Hub with food trucks and beverages, bumper cars, and more. There will also be plenty of interactive light displays and photo ops, including a 1 km accessible outdoor holiday light walk filled with illuminated see-saws, a frosty forest, a 150-foot light tunnel, and more. When: November 28 to December 1, December 5 to 8, and December 12 to 23, 2024 Time: 4 to 10:30 pm Where: Cloverdale Fairgrounds, Surrey Tickets: $20 for adults, $15 for youth and seniors, and free for children ages 6 and under. Pre-sale online Bright Nights at Stanley Park What: The Christmas Train tickets may be sold out for the season, but there is plenty of family fun and holiday cheer in Stanley Park throughout December. Guests will be treated to stunning light displays during their visit, including returning favourites like the giant red reindeer, a vintage fire truck, and the tunnel of lights in the plaza. The event is also in support of the Burn Fund. When: November 29, 2024, to January 4, 2025 (closed on December 25) Time: 4 to 10 pm Where: Pipeline Road in Stanley Park, via the West Georgia Street park entrance Admission: Train tickets are sold out. Free to visit the holiday lights display and festive activities in the plaza Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park What: Cross the world-famous bridge, lit end-to-end with a changing multi-colour display, and sway high above the illuminated Capilano River. Journey into a glittering rainforest and walk high above the forest floor on a transformed Treetops Adventure. Finally, walk along the sparkling cliffside pathway of Cliffwalk.  Don’t forget to snap an Instagram-worthy photo, sip a decadent hot chocolate to the sound of live festive tunes, and get in on all the festive fun of the many kid’s activities around the Park. Tickets are on sale now and must be purchased in advance online. There are limited tickets available during peak event times, and visits are scheduled in 30-minute arrival increments. When: November 22, 2024, until January 19, 2025 (closed on December 25) Time: 11 am to 9 pm daily. Guests are allowed to stay in the park up to an hour after closing. Where: Capilano Suspension Bridge Park – 3735 Capilano Road, North Vancouver Tickets: Various prices, with annual passes (included with admission) available for BC residents. Purchase online St. Paul’s Hospital Lights of Hope kickoff and fireworks What: The holidays in Vancouver just wouldn’t be as bright without the Lights of Hope, and this year is kicking off with the return of the popular fireworks display. St. Paul’s Foundation’s massive light display outside of St. Paul’s Hospital has been an annual Christmastime tradition and fundraising campaign since 1998. More than 100,000 lights and hundreds of shining stars recognizing the support of generous donors will be officially switched on Wednesday, November 27. And fireworks will commemorate the occasion on opening night. When: November 27, 2024 (lights will be on display until January 3, 2025) Time: 6 to 8 pm for kickoff, nightly throughout the holiday season Where: St. Paul’s Hospital – 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver Squamish at Dusk What: Explore a winter wonderland of lights, art, magic, and stories. Squamish at Dusk is a stunning light experience at Rose Park with immersive installations for all ages to enjoy this holiday season. Bring the whole family and enjoy the mesmerizing tunnel of lights, a sparkling grotto, an enchanted forest, and more. When: Thursday, Friday and Saturday from November 28 until December 14, 2024 Time: 4:30 to 9:30 pm Where: Rose Park – 38550 Loggers Lane, Squamish Cost: $10-$15, plus fees; free for children four and under. Purchase online Vancouver Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration Amacon What: One of the city’s most beloved holiday traditions, the free outdoor celebration will take place at šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énḵ Square on Friday, November 29. Guests will enjoy live entertainment, colourful photo opportunities, and free cocoa at šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énḵ Square. Santa Claus is even rumoured to be making an appearance. When: November 29, 2024 Time: 6 pm Where: šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énḵ Square – 850 W Georgia Street, Vancouver Cost: Free PNE Winter Fair

canadian-spots-rank-among-top-100-best-cities-in-the-world
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Canadian spots rank among top 100 best cities in the world

ByNational Trending Staff

Several Canadian cities have been named among the best in the world, according to a new ranking. Resonance Consultancy and Ipsos Research’s list of the World’s Best Cities in 2025 has been released, ranking the top 100 global cities “shaping tomorrow.” The report looked at cities with over a million people, combining stats and user-generated data from platforms like Google, Tripadvisor, and Instagram. The ranking considers various factors, including affordability, education, and overall quality of life. Three Canadian cities cracked the top 50, with Toronto ranking the highest in 15th place. Ontario’s capital placed high for its tree cover, or the measure of an urban area’s land that’s covered with vegetation that’s at least 16 feet in height, and educational attainment. “The construction boom has reshaped downtown, from revitalized cultural landmarks like Massey Hall to the new Renzo Piano-designed Ontario Court of Justice,” reads the report. “The addition of Love Park, with its heart-shaped pond, adds greenery to the city’s core.” It also highlighted the upcoming Rogers Stadium, which will be the city’s largest outdoor concert venue, and the construction of Villiers Island, which is part of the Port Lands Flood Protection Project. Following closely behind is Vancouver in 22nd place. It also stood out for its tree cover and educational attainment. The reason for Vancouver’s ranking is based on a few factors. According to the list, “a panorama of ancient forests, totem poles, pan-Asian diaspora, and hockey-loving hipsters makes Vancouver a coveted destination.” The cons include an apparent lack of space in hotels and the ongoing ban on short-term rentals. “In the midst of rising real estate prices, the city is facing another challenge: fewer hotel rooms — a direct result of the government converting hundreds of rooms into social housing during the pandemic and cracking down on Airbnb-only rentals (ostensibly to free up rental housing).” The validity of that statement is highly debatable. City officials have been concerned about the hotel crunch for a long time, well before the pandemic. Rounding out the top 50 is Montreal in 35th place, getting accolades for its educational attainment and its low poverty rate. Resonance described it as Canada’s “laid-back second city (and North America’s most European).” Canada’s capital city Ottawa just missed the top 50, placing 52nd for its tree cover and educational attainment. “The cosmopolitan capital of Canada has a reputation for brainpower that’s attracting the world,” reads the report. Other major Canadian cities that made the list are Calgary in 54th place and Edmonton in 65th place. Do you agree with these rankings? Let us know in the comments. With files from Claire Fenton and Allison Stephen

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Become the Ultimate Holidays Host with These 3 Tips from an Event Planner

ByClaire Hoppe Norgaard

An important part of the holidays is who you share them with, and friends and family members from near and far typically travel to gather to celebrate the holidays. If it’s your year to host Christmas dinner or the New Year’s Eve party, chances are you’ll also be a host for overnight guests from out of town. Holiday hosting is unique because you get to experience this magical time of the year with your loved ones. But, in reality, hosting guests—even those you love dearly—can be stressful and overwhelming. To keep the holidays stress-free (and your guests happy), follow these three tips from an expert on how to be a courteous and welcoming host. 1. Give a Warm Welcome Schumacher says guests appreciate intentional touches that show the host prepared for their visit. This may include a small welcome basket for guests from out of town or a small, local gift to welcome them into your home. “A welcome basket placed in the guest’s room is always a gracious and lovely touch,” Schumacher says. “One of my favorite spins on a welcome basket is to include local items. This could be locally-sourced soaps, candles, snacks, or even a book about the area in which your guests are visiting.” If your guests are flying in to visit, Schumacher says to make sure your gift items align with the FAA security guidelines. “You don’t want them to have to leave them at the security line,” she says. 2. Wake Up Before Your Guests While the holidays are a time to rest and relax, if you’re hosting guests, Schumacher suggests it might be a good idea to skip sleeping in past your normal wake-up time. Even though getting out of bed can be difficult—especially during the cold, winter months—waking up before your house guests has many benefits. “[Waking up before guests] allows you to have coffee brewed for them, as well as guide them around your kitchen,” Schumacher says. “They won’t be fumbling through your cupboards to find a mug or a glass to have a drink of water or juice.” Not only does it give time to prep coffee and breakfast, but waking up before your guests allows time for tidying and prepping the house for the day’s holiday festivities. Plus, taking a quiet moment to yourself before the rest of the house wakes up is a great way to set yourself up for the day ahead. 3. Schedule Meals If you’re hosting guests for the holidays, it’s important to determine which meals you will be responsible for making. While dinners are often the host’s responsibility, who’s making breakfasts, lunches, and snacks can be more unclear. “While I don’t think it is necessary to prepare every meal for your guests, I do believe you should have a meal plan in place, ideally discussing this with your guests, prior to their arrival,” Schumacher says. Once you’ve communicated with your guests on which meals they will be eating with you, create a meal schedule and hang it in a common place where everyone can see what’s on the menu. That way, if guests would rather eat out or have other plans, they can let you know ahead of time. Even if you’re in charge of providing most meals, that doesn’t mean you need to cook every meal. Schumacher suggests bringing your guests to local restaurants so they can see more of your town. “Part of the fun of traveling is often dining at that area’s restaurants,” she says. “But there is also a joy in dining at home, lingering over the dinner table with good company and good conversation” When planning out your menu, make sure to ask guests if they have any food-related allergies and intolerances.