Home buyer demand continues to strengthen in November Home sales registered in the MLS® in the Metro Vancouver1 market rose 28 percent year-over-year in November, building on the momentum of the 30 percent year-over-year increase seen in October. Sales The Greater Vancouver REALTORS® (GVR)2 reports that residential sales in the region totalled 2,181 in November 2024, a…
What You Should Know Before you start looking for a home, it’s important to understand the current real estate market in Vancouver. This gives you an idea of how much a home would cost and how much you would need to save up for. Based on current home prices in Vancouver as of October 2024, the average…
Proposed Anti-Flipping Tax On April 7th, 2022, the federal budget plan proposed a new anti-flipping tax. The tax is imposed on people who own real estate for less than a year. You may lose your Principal Residence Exemption if you buy a primary residence and move for non-exempt reasons. Additionally, if you sell an investment…
Dance and sing your way into December with these Vancouver concerts! Here are 10 concerts around town to add to your calendar this month, including Taylor Swift, The Funk Hunters, and more. And for more fun things happening around town, be sure to visit our Listed section. Taylor Swift @taylorswift13/X What: The biggest music superstar in the world is finally in Vancouver! Taylor Swift brings The Eras Tour to BC Place for three dates in December, and there are plenty of events and activities for Swifties to enjoy before, during and after the sold-out shows. When: December 6 to 8, 2024 Time: 7 pm Where: BC Place — 777 Pacific Boulevard, Vancouver Elf in Concert What: Elf, one of the most beloved Christmas films of all time, is celebrating a milestone birthday this holiday season in Vancouver. The Will Ferrell comedy classic is getting the live concert treatment at the Orpheum Theatre. Vancouver Symphony Orchestra will bring John Debney’s heartwarming score to life while the film is projected onto a massive 40-foot movie screen. When: December 20 and 21, 2024 Time: 7 pm Where: Orpheum Theatre – 601 Smithe Street, Vancouver Cost: Various prices, purchase online Petunia and the Vipers: Calling Me Back Album Release What: Vancouver’s own Petunia and The Vipers are throwing a huge album release party at The Rio Theatre, and you’re invited. Get ready to party at the “hillbilly-flavoured-swing inflected-ragtime-goodtime-thunderously rolling-one-of-a-kind-you-don’t-want-to-miss-this-sort-of-a-show” while listening to their latest album, Calling Me Back. Featuring special guests. When: December 27, 2024 Time: Doors 6:30 pm, show 7 pm Where: Rio Theatre – 1660 East Broadway, Vancouver Tickets: $20 early bird plus fees, $26 general admission plus fees. Purchase online CP Holiday Train What: The CP Holiday Train rolls into BC this December, bringing lights, music, and holiday cheer to tons of communities across the province. It will be in Metro Vancouver on December 19 and 20. The 26th edition of the beloved holiday tradition will travel across Canada and the US this season to raise money, food, and awareness for local food banks. Attendees at each CP Holiday Train stop will also enjoy a free and festive concert by Juno winners Magic! and fast-rising star Sofia Camara. When: December 19 and 20, 2024 Time: Various times Where: Various locations Cost: Free; donations for the local food bank to help those in need are encouraged Billie Eilish — Hit Me Hard and Soft tour Billie Eilish Live at the O2 (Extended Cut)/Submitted What: Music superstar Billie Eilish is coming to Vancouver this fall on her new world tour, adding to the stacked lineup of artists coming to town. The nine-time Grammy winner will bring the new Hit Me Hard and Soft tour to Rogers Arena on Tuesday, December 3. Vancouver is just one of three Canadian stops on the highly anticipated tour. When: December 3, 2024 Time: 7 pm Where: Rogers Arena – 800 Griffiths Way, Vancouver Tickets: Various prices; purchase online Xmas in Skaville 21 – The Nightmare Before Skaville What: Xmas in Skaville is bringing high-energy holiday cheer to the Wise Hall in December. The lineup for the 21st edition includes Balkan Shmalkan, Brehdren, Mivule, The Wavebirds, and Bobbi-Jo Moore. The show promises to heat up the cold winter’s night, so make sure to bring your dancing shoes. When: December 13, 2024 Time: 7:30 pm Where: The Wise Hall – 1882 Adanac Street. Vancouver Tickets: $25 plus fees in advance, purchase online Vancouver Singing Christmas Tree What: Broadway Church’s 55th Singing Christmas tree is full of songs, drama, dance, and more. This year’s holiday production is themed “The Christmas Rocket” and will treat audiences to performances by singers, an orchestra, dancers, actors, and acrobats. When: December 6, 7, 8 and December 13, 14 and 15, 2024 Time: 7:30 pm (Fridays), 3 and 7 pm (Saturdays and Sundays) Where: Broadway Church – 2700 East Broadway, Vancouver Tickets: Free, register online Contact Winter Music Festival Contact Winter Music Festival What: Contact Winter Music Festival is returning to Vancouver, and some massive stars are coming for the party. Canada’s largest indoor winter music festival is taking over the Vancouver Convention Centre on December 27 and 28. This year’s headliners include multi-platinum and Grammy Award-nominated artist and producer deadmau5 and America’s Best DJ nominee Seven Lions. When: December 27 and 28, 2024 Where: Vancouver Convention Centre — 1055 Canada Place, Vancouver Tickets: Various prices, purchase online The 9th Annual Funk The Halls Featuring The Funk Hunters What: Canadian electronic duo The Funk Hunters are bringing their holiday extravaganza back to their home base of Vancouver. Multi-dimensional artists Nick Middleton and Duncan Smith will be taking to the stage at the Commodore Ballroom for two of the biggest parties of the season with Funk The Halls. When: December 20 and 21, 2024 Time: 8 pm Where: Commodore Ballroom — 868 Granville Street Tickets: Various prices, purchase online Christmas with Chor Leoni What: Chor Leoni is getting festive with its annual Christmas show. The holiday tradition is filled with folk music favourites, ancient chants and modern classics. The program is set to include songs like Silent Night, Joy to the World, Ron Sexsmith’s Maybe This Christmas, and more. When: December 19 to 21, 2024 Time: Various times Where: St. Andrew’s Wesley United Church – 1022 Nelson Street, Vancouver Tickets: Various prices, purchase online
Get tips on making your trip smoother…however you come to the city. Travellers headed to Vancouver for the Taylor Swift Eras Tour may want to plan for delays – regardless of how they are arriving. The American star will perform at three sold-out shows at BC Place on Dec. 6, 7, and 8, and thousands of people will be travelling to the city from other parts of the province, country, and around the world. BC Place can hold a whopping 54,500 people nightly so there will be a tremendous influx of people staying in hotels, driving on the roads, flying into airports, sailing on ferries, and taking public transportation in the Lower Mainland. Have a look at everything travellers headed to Vancouver should know about planning their trip to see the “You Belong to Me” singer’s final three shows of her massive world tour. Arriving and departing from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) Concert-goers flying into the city for one (or more) of the shows should brace for possible delays. Many travellers will also travel to the YVR on the same dates, increasing congestion. Travellers with friends in the city who can pick them up can enjoy 30-minute free parkade use. Once they’ve gotten through security, they can contact their friends to pick them up. While it might be tempting to do this the moment they land, parade stays extending over 30 minutes cost significantly more than they used to. Pick up from the parkade YVR implemented new rates for its parkade on Nov. 13, increasing costs for each additional 30 minutes from $5.50 to $14. Travellers have several other options to get from the airport to a hotel or another location in Metro Vancouver. Flate rate taxi fares to Vancouver and Richmond Taxi fares on flat rates to various areas across Vancouver and Richmond have also increased heading from the airport. The taxi stands are located on Level 2 of the Domestic and International Arrivals Area at YVR. Taxis can also take you to addresses in other Metro Vancouver areas, like Surrey, Delta, North Vancouver, or Burnaby. Related: Map: Here’s how much it costs to taxi home from YVR following price hikes If you’re headed straight to one of the shows from the airport – or if you’re simply feeling fancy – you can also book a luxury sedan, stretch SUV, or limo. Ride App Services at YVR Lyft, Uber, and KABU are authorized providers of Ride App services at YVR. You must download the app of any of the providers to request a ride. You can get picked up at one of the following designated pickup spots: International Arrivals, Level 2 Domestic Arrivals, Level 2 South Terminal Unlike taxis, ride app services do not use a flat rate or even a metered rate. They are based on the availability of drivers in the area and may vary dramatically as a result. Public transportation The Canada Line SkyTrain serves Vancouver’s YVR Airport in Richmond, and will get travellers to the city centre. Fans can use the Canada Line and exit at Vancouver City Centre or Yaletown-Roundhouse to walk to BC Place stadium on show nights. Lindsay William-Ross/V.I.A. Vancouverites can travel from the heart of downtown to the airport on the Canada Line in under half an hour. There are 16 stops along the way and the train takes passengers right to the airport. The elevator from the train brings travellers right between the International and Domestic Terminals. From there, you can turn left for flights within Canada and right for everything else. All transit users travelling on the Canada Line leaving YVR are subject to a $5 Canada Line YVR AddFare, in addition to the regular zone fare. AddFare is automatically added when a user purchases a fare ticket. Travellers may also wish to rent a car. How to navigate Vancouver International Airport Save time with Advance Declaration The CBSA advises travellers to save time passing through customs by making an advance declaration in the ArriveCan app. The advance declaration is admissible at the following airports: Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Winnipeg, Halifax, Quebec City, Ottawa, Billy Bishop, Calgary and Edmonton. Using the ArriveCan app cuts a traveller’s time at a kiosk or eGate by up to 50 per cent, according to CBSA data. Travellers should also check in with their airline before heading to the airport. This will speed up the process of checking in once they arrive. Pack smart Follow the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) baggage requirements. Remember: liquids, gels and aerosols still need to be in containers that are less than 100 millilitres, and be packaged into one transparent, closed, and resealable plastic bag under one litre. Avoid wrapping holiday gifts since contents may need to be inspected during the screening process for carry-on and checked baggage. Use YVR’s ‘Journeys’ tool YVR offers a tool that allows passengers to view a step-by-step guide through the airport based on their specific flight information. Use your smartphone to speed up your time in line Locals who plan to fly to the U.S. from Canada can submit their passport and customs declaration information through a free, secure app on their smartphone before they leave for a trip. It’s called the U.S. Customer Customs Mobile Passport Control (MPC) app. YVR also offers several tips to help travellers save time at the airport. Arriving and departing from Abbotsford International Airport (YXX) The Valley Airporter Shuttle provides service to and from the airport to anywhere within a 120km radius, including locations in Downtown Vancouver. The Abbotsford Airport Shuttle through Ace Charters offers transportation between the airport and King George Station in Surrey as well
So you’re coming to Vancouver for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. Or maybe you’re a local who didn’t cop tickets but still wants to partake in the fun. The night doesn’t end when Swift sings her final note. No, the weekend of December 6, 7, and 8 is set to be lively well past Midnight(s). Several bars, clubs, and restaurants have Swiftie-themed afterparties planned. Downtown’s Granville Entertainment District is sure to be bumping. And those looking for a genre change could also pick up tickets to see one of two electronic artists who are in town that weekend. Are you ready for it? Taylor Swift Welcome to Vancouver Party Our first item isn’t technically an afterparty — it’s a night to kick off your weekend in Vancouver. Named after a spin on the opening song of Swift’s 1989 album, this party at Gastown’s resident Irish pub promises its DJ will play Taylor’s songs all night long. The pub will have Eras Tour drink specials and prizes for the best costumes. Where: The Blarney Stone — 216 Carall Street When: Thursday, December 5 Time: 9:30 pm to 2 am How much: Tickets $10 End of an Era Tribute Enso Event Centre Swifties United is hosting what it bills as the ultimate Eras Tour afterparty at the Enso Event Centre on Saturday, December 7. The night celebrates the conclusion of the Eras Tour with Swift’s greatest hits, EDM tracks, top 40, and an immersive music video experience. Where: Enso Event Centre — 750 Pacific Boulevard When: Saturday, December 7 Time: 10 pm to 3 am How much: $47.27 via Eventbrite Cabana Lounge’s Eras Tour Un-Official Afterparty A hallmark of nightlife on the Granville Strip is hosting a Taylor-themed night on Saturday, December 7. Purchasing a ticket guarantees entrance without a cover charge. Where: Cabana Lounge — 1159 Granville Street When: Saturday, December 7 Time: 10:30 pm to 3 am How much: $12 tickets via Eventbrite Levels Nightclub The End of an Era This downtown clubbing staple is hosting a party to mark the true end of the Eras Tour on Sunday. “We will be playing the entire show, plus a few extra favourites that didn’t make the cut (some more Speak Now perhaps!),” the club says in its event description. Where: Levels Nightclub — 560 Seymour Street When: Sunday, December 8 Time: 9 pm to 1 am How much: Tickets for $23 via Eventbrite Yale Saloon Eras Tour Unofficial Afterparty This country-themed Granville bar is hosting a sendoff for Swift’s mega-popular tour every night she plays. It promises to let attendees Shake it Off one last time with the chance to win Taylor Swift merchandise. Plus, the bar has a mechanical bull. Where: Yale Saloon — 1300 Granville Street When: December 6, 7, and 8 Time: 8 pm to late How much: Tickets from $15 to $110 D6 The Wrap Up The bar and lounge inside the Parq casino in Yaletown offers stunning skyline views. It’s hosting afterparties every night of the Eras Tour. Encore Rewards members can receive a free cowboy hat if they stop by Guest Services. “The scene will be decked out with pop-icon decor and swag giveaways. We’re bringing in the best local female DJs spinning all the hits you love. Step into the Hidden Lounge for House/Remix Swift songs all weekend,” it says of the event. Where: D6 Bar and Lounge inside JW Marriott Parq Vancouver — 39 Smithe Street When: December 6, 7, and 8 When: Evening until late How much: We’ve asked D6 for more details K Motionz at Village Studios This UK drum and bass artist is playing in the West End on Friday, December 6. Where: Village Studios — 1024 Davie Street When: December 6 Time: 10 pm to 2 am How much: $40 via TicketWeb Of the Trees at Hollywood Theatre Blueprint Events Bass artist Of the Trees is visiting a historic Kitsilano theatre on Saturday, December 7. Openers start sometime after doors open at 9, but Of the Trees likely won’t play until well after the Taylor Swift concert wraps up. Where: Hollywood Theatre — 3123 West Broadway When: December 7 Time: Doors at 9 pm How much: Tickets start at $45
The federal NDP has some “Bad Blood” with Ticketmaster and is calling for an investigation into the company after bots and scalpers drove up the prices of Taylor Swift concert tickets. In a news release, the party said that its critic for Innovation, Science & Economic Development Brian Masse wrote to federal minister François-Philippe Champagne outlining the reasoning for the investigation, noting that scalpers and bots were quick to purchase the tickets, selling them for excessively high prices. “Moms who have saved up for a gift for their kids and hard-working young people struggling to get ahead have been heartbroken to find out they cannot afford tickets,” wrote Masse. “Instead, scalpers and bots have been allowed to scoop up these highly sought after tickets and resold them for thousands of dollars each – far out of reach for ordinary people.” Masse noted that Ticketmaster dominates the ticketing and event industry, and uses dynamic pricing, which results in high ticket costs. The company also has its own resale platform, giving little incentive for it to crack down on resellers and bots. He added that the US has taken action, as an anti-trust lawsuit was recently launched, seeking to restore competition by breaking up Ticketmaster and its parent company, Live Nation. Masse argued that not enough has been done to stop these practices in Canada. “The Competition Bureau last looked into Ticketmaster in 2019. At the time I warned your government that failing to go after Ticketmaster bots and resale practices was giving them a free pass to continue their predatory practices against consumers,” he wrote. “As Minister you have the power to launch an investigation into Ticketmaster and ticketing industry practices, yet you have stood by and done nothing.” He pointed to the Liberal Party’s promise made in Budget 2024 to work with provinces and territories to adopt ticket sale best practices and crack down on fraudulent resellers and reseller practices. “Anyone who has tried to buy a concert ticket recently can tell you this has been a failure,” Masse wrote. The NDP added that price gouging hasn’t ended with tickets, as hotel prices in Vancouver and Toronto have skyrocketed during the time Swift will be playing in those cities. “At the same time, these hotels are gouging fans they are failing to give their workers a fair deal.” In Canada, class-action lawsuits have been filed against Ticketmaster Canada over delays in refunding customers for tickets they bought to shows affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Canadian Taylor Swift fans have also tried to take action against the ticket seller, launching a petition demanding that Ticketmaster change its policies surrounding resellers and its Verified Fan registration process.
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 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.
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