Nate Lewis

How do community amenity contributions work, what’s the benefit, and why is the city making big changes to it?

Jun 12, 2026

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6 min read

How do community amenity contributions work, what’s the benefit, and why is the city making big changes to it?

We explain the history, benefits, and drawbacks of the often-referenced but complicated tool, and examine why the city is now moving away from it.

Jun 11, 2026

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11 min read

City Hall Insider: June 11, 2026

In this issue of our City Hall Insider, we go deep on community amenity contributions, explaining the history, benefits, and drawbacks of the often-referenced but little-understood mechanism, and exploring why the city is now moving away from it.

Canada's World Cup preview: injuries, a favourable draw, and a chance at history

Jun 10, 2026

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3 min read

Canada's World Cup preview: injuries, a favourable draw, and a chance at history

The men’s national team has never won a World Cup game, but that could change on home soil. Plus, we look at the team’s chances in the tournament and its many connections to the Whitecaps.

The problems with Vancouver’s pools are just getting worse

Jun 5, 2026

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7 min read

The problems with Vancouver’s pools are just getting worse

Lookout readers have their say on the state of the city’s pools.

Jun 3, 2026

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6 min read

Vancouver’s marine safety mess

A splashy effort to ban motorized personal watercrafts, like Sea-Doos, from Burrard Inlet was sunk by the park board, while a less dramatic plan to review marine safety measures was narrowly passed at the same meeting. The debate shows how overlapping jurisdictions in the ocean complicate reform and obscure accountability.

Colleen Hardwick wants to empower neighbourhoods and fight back on rezonings

May 29, 2026

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6 min read

Colleen Hardwick wants to empower neighbourhoods and fight back on rezonings

TEAM mayoral candidate Colleen Hardwick wants to change the city's reliance on rezonings, strengthen local democracy, and step back from the city's focus on reconciliation.

How is Vancouver's FIFA human rights plan helping vulnerable people in the Downtown Eastside?

May 27, 2026

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4 min read

How is Vancouver's FIFA human rights plan helping vulnerable people in the Downtown Eastside?

The city has signed 10 contracts with local organizations to provide extra services, mostly during the seven match days.

May 26, 2026

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8 min read

City Hall Insider: May 26, 2026

In this issue of our City Hall Insider, we break down the city's human rights plan for FIFA, particularly the temporary programs aimed to support vulnerable people in the Downtown Eastside. Plus, a vote at city hall to remove below-market housing requirements and the supply-side idea that supports it.

ABC plunges forward on major changes to city building policies, despite widespread opposition

May 22, 2026

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7 min read

ABC plunges forward on major changes to city building policies, despite widespread opposition

Mayor Ken Sim and the ABC majority asked for a major overhaul of the city's building code, while rolling back climate policies in the name of affordability.

“Everything has its life”: The end of the Stanley Park Train

May 15, 2026

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3 min read

“Everything has its life”: The end of the Stanley Park Train

Reflections from a theatre company's decades of creating spooky Halloween magic at a beloved Vancouver attraction.

May 12, 2026

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14 min read

City Hall Insider: May 12, 2026

In this issue of our City Hall Insider, we profile TEAM mayoral candidate Colleen Hardwick, take a first look at the city's consultation process for taller buildings, and break down what happened at city council and park board last week.

FIFA one month out: Details on transit, policing, fan festival and more

May 7, 2026

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6 min read

FIFA one month out: Details on transit, policing, fan festival and more

Officials provided important details on transit service, road closures, policing and surveillance, and the PNE fan festival.

The affordable housing model gaining momentum in Vancouver

May 6, 2026

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5 min read

The affordable housing model gaining momentum in Vancouver

Community land trusts are a secure, affordable housing model gaining momentum in several neighbourhoods across Vancouver with help from national organizers and groups in other cities.

Apr 29, 2026

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3 min read

What is a capital plan?

And why does it matter for the city?

Selection process and jurisdictional issues complicate $400 million community centre investment

Apr 29, 2026

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5 min read

Selection process and jurisdictional issues complicate $400 million community centre investment

ABC selected five community centres for renewal based on deficient criteria, a park board commissioner argues. There's also a question of whether the city has the jurisdiction to unilaterally direct which facilities to fund.

Apr 28, 2026

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9 min read

City Hall Insider: April 28 2026

Our very first City Hall Insider breaks down the capital plan process, cuts into the lifeguard funding debate, and much more.

City cracked down on Vancouver venues after lobbying by bar and club groups, emails reveal

Apr 24, 2026

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7 min read

City cracked down on Vancouver venues after lobbying by bar and club groups, emails reveal

Independent operators say nightlife ‘monopoly’ threatens to once again make Vancouver ‘No Fun City’

The legend of Nigel grows in Grandview-Woodland

Apr 24, 2026

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1 min read

The legend of Nigel grows in Grandview-Woodland

The friendly neighbourhood cat has an unbelievable list of accomplishments.

“It would be a travesty”: Whitecaps supporters launch Save the Caps campaign amid relocation threat

Apr 22, 2026

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3 min read

“It would be a travesty”: Whitecaps supporters launch Save the Caps campaign amid relocation threat

With the club for sale and without a long-term stadium agreement, the threat of the club leaving Vancouver is real, supporters say.

ABC promises funding for five community centres, Sunset pool, while Renfrew is left behind

Apr 17, 2026

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2 min read

ABC promises funding for five community centres, Sunset pool, while Renfrew is left behind

The upcoming capital plan could see big investments in community centres, including the long-awaited Britannia renewal, but a much-needed replacement of Renfrew wasn't included.

Progressive parties finally ink unity agreement, but questions around mayors persist

Apr 17, 2026

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2 min read

Progressive parties finally ink unity agreement, but questions around mayors persist

The Greens, OneCity, and COPE will limit themselves to 13 candidates each across city council, park and school boards in October's election

After 15 years, Vancouver’s fieldhouse residencies are building a legacy

Apr 15, 2026

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6 min read

After 15 years, Vancouver’s fieldhouse residencies are building a legacy

The program is a creative solution to activate underused spaces and respond to the lack of affordable studio space.

Park board, city council eye big investments for Vancouver community facilities

Apr 10, 2026

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10 min read

Park board, city council eye big investments for Vancouver community facilities

Commissioners and the Mayor have put forward ambitious promises to invest in aging public buildings, but there are many important details we don't know yet

Mount Pleasant developer offered to pay tenant to pressure neighbours out of Broadway Plan site

Mar 5, 2026

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11 min read

Mount Pleasant developer offered to pay tenant to pressure neighbours out of Broadway Plan site

A new rental tower is proceeding in Mount Pleasant, while former tenants share their concerns about the eviction process.

Councillors accuse colleague of defamation, code of conduct violation over social media video

Feb 25, 2026

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7 min read

Councillors accuse colleague of defamation, code of conduct violation over social media video

Councillor Lenny Zhou apologized on Tuesday for calling opposition councillors drug users and drug distributors in a political organizing video he posted on WeChat

Nate Lewis

How do community amenity contributions work, what’s the benefit, and why is the city making big changes to it?

City Hall Insider: June 11, 2026

Canada's World Cup preview: injuries, a favourable draw, and a chance at history

The problems with Vancouver’s pools are just getting worse

Vancouver’s marine safety mess

Colleen Hardwick wants to empower neighbourhoods and fight back on rezonings

How is Vancouver's FIFA human rights plan helping vulnerable people in the Downtown Eastside?

City Hall Insider: May 26, 2026

ABC plunges forward on major changes to city building policies, despite widespread opposition

“Everything has its life”: The end of the Stanley Park Train

City Hall Insider: May 12, 2026

FIFA one month out: Details on transit, policing, fan festival and more

The affordable housing model gaining momentum in Vancouver

What is a capital plan?

Selection process and jurisdictional issues complicate $400 million community centre investment

City Hall Insider: April 28 2026

City cracked down on Vancouver venues after lobbying by bar and club groups, emails reveal

The legend of Nigel grows in Grandview-Woodland

“It would be a travesty”: Whitecaps supporters launch Save the Caps campaign amid relocation threat

ABC promises funding for five community centres, Sunset pool, while Renfrew is left behind

Progressive parties finally ink unity agreement, but questions around mayors persist

After 15 years, Vancouver’s fieldhouse residencies are building a legacy

Park board, city council eye big investments for Vancouver community facilities

Mount Pleasant developer offered to pay tenant to pressure neighbours out of Broadway Plan site

Councillors accuse colleague of defamation, code of conduct violation over social media video

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