How bad was the weather in Vancouver?

Good morning,

Greetings from Japan! As mentioned last week I’ll be in and out of reporting as I’m on vacation. Thanks to Dustin for his great work while I’ve been away!

Two key takeaways from my trip so far are the vibrancy of major cities, part of which has to do with very liberal zoning laws, and the accessibility of transit. I’ll be exploring these topics more, and what Vancouver can learn from Japan, in the next Insider newsletter later this week. 

Today we of course are covering what fallout from the weather, as well as some recommendations from yours truly about where to go for Dine Out Vancouver.

Let’s get to it!

— Geoff Sharpe, Vancity Lookout editor

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WEATHER

Monday: 1 🌡️ -3 | ☁️

Tuesday: 2 🌡️ -1 | ☁️

Wednesday: 0 🌡️ -1 | ❄️

ENVIRONMENT

How bad was the weather in Vancouver?

Cold. Snow. More cold. Really really cold. That’s about how best to describe the last few days in Vancouver, as freezing cold weather and snow wreaked havoc with just about everything in the city. How bad was it? Let’s break it down.

What happened: Ice conditions and car crashes led to massive delays on the roads. Car crashes were a big issue, tying up traffic and creating huge delays. Crashes occurred at Burnaby’s Nelson Street, while a stalled bus held up traffic on Highway 99 and the Trans Canada Highway, according to the Vancouver Sun.

• Davie Street was shut down, while trucks got stuck on the Queensborough Bridge. Hills were a real problem and police had warned drivers not to drive unless vitally important according to CBC. 

Record-breaking?: Though it got as cold as -13.7 degrees on Saturday morning, it was colder back in 1950 at -17.8 degrees, according to Vancouver is Awesome. This didn’t include wind chill, which made it feel like around -20. 

• Abandon ship: In what feels like a very West Coast activity, many drivers abandoned their vehicles on the road rather than brave the conditions — or continue braving them since many tried and failed — leading to many calls to tow truck operators.

The good news: Most infrastructure, and our energy system, held up well during the storm, at least in Vancouver itself. But be happy you aren’t in Alberta. The energy regulator issued a warning calling on people to reduce energy consumption to avoid potential blackouts throughout the weekend, according to the Edmonton Journal. 

TransLink had shared numerous strategies they planned to deploy to deal with the snow. Trolley wheels had anti-icing solutions, tire socks were deployed for heavy snowed-in routes, articulated buses were replaced with conventional buses, and they tested new winter tires for one-third of the fleet, according to Vancouver is Awesome. 

Looking ahead: Oh, you thought it was over? A new weather warning has been issued, with cold weather and snow set to last until Wednesday morning, according to the Vancouver Sun. Snow is expected on Tuesday evening, with freezing overnight and then rain on Wednesday. Heavy snow is possible. Luckily it’s only getting down to around -3 degrees.

VANCOUVER NUMBERS

🏒 0: The number of goals scored against Thatcher Demko in the Canucks game on Saturday against the Buffalo Sabers, winning by a score of 1-0. It’s his fourth shutout of the season and seventh of his career. [Global]

🔢 6,740: The number of refugee claims in Vancouver from January to November, up from 3,895 during the same time last year. [Vancouver Sun]

MEMBER-ONLY

A trip back in time with Mount Pleasant Vintage and Provisions

This is a preview story for paying Insider members. Insiders unlock the best of the city, getting access to early food reviews, deep dive city hall issues and restaurant maps. Join today to support local media in Vancouver

As you age, house parties become less of a thing, at least in my life. Spending time in a random home, meeting different people, the sounds and noises surrounded by heavily worn couches, shag carpet, the music blaring just a little too loud… It was a period of time that people in my age cohort have aged out of. Finding that experience is darn near impossible on a Friday night in Vancouver. 

That is unless you visit Mount Pleasant Vintage and Provisions, located at 67 W 6th Ave, in December. Opened in the fall of 2022, the 120-year-old historical house is now a bar and grill, and it’s kept the homely feel, with a big dash of fun.

NEW JOBS

Find your new dream job in Vancouver:

• Communications strategist at UBC

• District sales manager at Red Bull

• Account director, new business, marketing and agency operations at Edelman

• Vice president of marketing at Martyn Bassett Associates

• Senior advisor, labour relations at Vancouver School Board

Local jobs are selected by the Lookout team and are not paid ads, unless specifically noted.

THE AGENDA

🛑 Not that you’ll want to spend much time outside this week, but the Seawall between Prospect Point and Third Beach will be closed for slope repair this week. [CityNews]

🪧 Cold weather isn’t stopping Palestinian protesters, who took to the streets on Friday to demonstrate against the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the Middle East. [CityNews]

👮 A judge ruled that three police officers had acted reasonably to detain a suspect in an arrest in 2017 that left a man with multiple broken ribs. The officers had been charged with assault. The judge noted less force could’ve been used, but that wasn’t an “applicable legal standard” for the decision. [CBC]

❌ Sounds like you may want to avoid the Bay store downtown. Shoppers have complained about broken escalators, elevators and just the general problems with the store. [Vancouver Sun]

EVENT

Our recommendations for Dine Out Vancouver

What happened: Dine Out Vancouver is back! The popular event, where restaurants feature discounted fixed-price meals, as well as other food-specific events, is back from Jan. 17 to Feb. 4. Prices range from $20-35, $35-50 and $50-65. According to Vancouver is Awesome, there are 389 restaurants participating this year. 

Where to go: Here are a few recommendations based on places I’ve visited and heard from my friends. These are places that you might not otherwise visit — think hidden gems, and not-so-much Michelin spots. 

• Addah: A hidden gem in Chinatown, serving up beautiful cuts of meat and Nepalese food. It doesn’t get enough attention for the quality of their food. 

• Bar Gobo: A popular wine bar in Chinatown. 

• Bufala: They have few spots around town, I’ve heard great things from my food friends. 

• Delara: The best Persian food in the city? If it’s not, it’s certainly up there. I had a memorable meal there last summer. Anything with pistachios is great. 

• Jungle Room: A new spot serving elevated Indonesian and Japanese food. Think matcha French toast, pork rendang omelet and cumin and miso mussels. My friends loved it and it’s on my list of places to try. 

• The Mackenzie Room: Always a great meal here, especially if you can save some money. Trust them for recommendations. 

• Pepino’s Spaghetti House: An under-rated Italian spot in town serving creative pasta dishes. Absolutely in the three pasta restaurants I’ve visited in Vancouver. 

• Say Mercy!: Italian and Southern food. What’s not to love?

• Zarak by Afghan Kitchen: A memorable meal that everyone should experience. This place will, I truly believe, get a Michelin star at some point. 

Many of these are in our guide How to Have the Perfect Night Out in Chinatown. Check it out!

Like these recommendations? Insiders get deep-dive restaurant reviews and recommendations like this. Learn more about becoming an Insider today.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• Asahi isn’t just a beer, it’s now an official day in Vancouver to celebrate the Asahi Baseball Association which started in 1914 but was disbanded in the 40s during the Second World War. [CBC] 

• It turns out the California Roll may not have been invented in Vancouver… [Reddit]

• The man, the myth, the legend that is SeaBusMemes sat down for an interview with the Georgia Straight. [Straight]

• Damn, Vancouver, well done. Four Canucks players were voted into the NHL All Star Game — Boeser, Miller, Demko and Pettersson will all join Hughes at the game. [Vancouver is Awesome]

• Who’s got the best cocktail in Vancouver? Local Reddit users say Keefer Bar, L’Abottoire, Grapes and Soda, Laowai and many others. [Reddit]

• An 11-year-old has raised $500 worth of sandwich tokens for those on the Downtown Westside. 

• Want to have your announcement featured? Learn how here.

PHOTO OF THE DAY

So how about that weather eh? Here’s someone playing hockey over at Victoria and Pender.

QUIZ TIME