Long weekend travel round-up: What to expect this B.C. Day

Good morning, 

Nate with you today. The sun is blessedly out again after a few unseasonal days of rain. The bright, cheery sunshine makes it easy to forget that much of our year is grey and misty. Even just in the few wet days this week I found myself shifting back into the pattern of other seasons. 

Personally, my favourite activity when it’s overcast or raining is walking in the woods. There’s nothing like the cozy feeling of bundling up and going for a stroll, where the trees insulate you from the mist and clouds, and the delicious smell of the wet forest envelops you. 

For readers, what’s your favourite activity on a less-than-clear day? Let us know in a reply to this email. 

With that, let’s get to important travel information and a Pride-filled events section for your sunny long weekend!

— Nate Lewis, Vancity Lookout

PS - If you find this newsletter valuable, please consider forwarding it to your friends. New to the Lookout? Sign-up for free.

WEATHER

Friday: 29 🌡️ 17 | 🌤️

Saturday: 27 🌡️ 17 | ☀️

Sunday: 27 🌡️ 18 | ☀️

Monday: 27 🌡️ 17 | ☀️

TRAVEL

Long weekend travel round-up: What to expect this B.C. Day

What happened: B.C.’s major highways are sure to be packed this weekend as many people take off to enjoy the three-day weekend, with B.C. Day falling on Monday, August 5. We’ve got a roundup of travel advice from the key players to help you navigate the busy weekend.

On the road: With that in mind, the province is suggesting drivers plan ahead for their weekend travel arrangements, while exercising extra caution on the road. 

• “People travelling B.C.’s most popular routes should expect heavy traffic and congestion during peak travel times and should plan for extra travel time, or travel at off-peak hours when possible.”

“Extra traffic volume is expected on Vancouver Island highways (including the Malahat and Highway 4 to Tofino), on Highway 1 through the Fraser Valley and between Kamloops and Alberta, on the Sea to Sky (Highway 99), and on routes to BC Ferries’ terminals and to all major Canada/U.S. border crossings,” according to the provincial government. 

• They added that highways may close with limited notice due to wildfires. You can find road updates here. 

On the water: BC Ferries is providing travel tips as well, on what they say is historically the busiest weekend of the year. The ferry operator says they’re expecting over 600,000 passengers and 215,000 vehicles over a six-day period. 

• Friday and Saturday morning will be particularly busy, with many travellers departing from Tsawwassen and Horseshoe Bay, while Monday and Tuesday morning will be the busiest days for people to return from Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast. 

While waits should be expected for those travelling by car without a reservation, BC Ferries says that considering alternative ferry routes such as taking a Tsawwassen-Duke Point sailing rather than going the Horseshoe Bay — Departure Bay route for folks going to or through Naniamo — can save time.

• They also recommend foot passengers take public transit or get dropped off at the terminal, as parking lots at major terminals will fill up quickly.

Check out their social media for the most up-to-date travel information, including sailing waits, delays, cancellations, and parking lot status. 

At the border: Canada Border Services (CBSA) is also warning travellers to expect delays when crossing the border, noting the holiday Monday tends to be the busiest day of the long weekend for folks entering Canada. 

• However, people heading to the States may also encounter long waits to leave Canada on Friday and Saturday mornings. 

Early mornings are the best time to avoid wait times at border crossings, according to CBSA. If you’re planning to enter the US with your dog, there are new entry requirements that took effect yesterday to be aware of.

Parade weekend: With the Vancouver Pride Parade this Sunday, expect certain roads to be shut down. The parade takes place on Beach Avenue, not Denman Street as it’s usually been. You can see the map here. The event goes from 12 pm-3 pm. There are many sections of roads closed from 7 am-3 pm, including Denman St from Haro St to Burnaby St, Davie St from Thurlow St to Denman St and more.

SPONSORED BY REAL ESTATE RECAP

What does Canada’s interest rate change mean for housing?

This is the kind of question that Real Estate Recap answers.

They’re a newsletter focused on Canada’s real estate and housing market, to help you make sense of exactly what’s going on in Canadian housing. Mortgate rates, rental prices, housing trends, they’ve got you covered.

Try out their newsletter for free today.

VANCOUVER NUMBERS

🏗️ 300: The number of units in the new Harbour Light project, aimed at supporting DTES residents. BC Housing — along with all levels of government — are partnering on the project, which will be completed in 2026. [BC Gov News]

💰 $1.5 million: The amount of money West Vancouver city council accepted to sell off a strip of land currently used for public beach access. [CBC] 

🏞️ 40: The number of people who have died cliff jumping at Lynn Canyon Park over the past 50 years. Officials are warning the crowds of summer visitors about potentially dangerous conditions at the river. [CTV]

OCEANS

Canada isn’t prepared for marine emergencies, regulator warns

What happened: Canada’s Transportation Safety Board (TSB) is warning Canada isn’t fully prepared for marine emergencies, due to gaps in emergency response and marine salvage plans. 

• TSB is concerned these gaps “pose a risk to vessels, the environment, and the health and safety of the general public.” 

A 2021 incident, where a ship lost containers and caught fire off Vancouver Island, prompted the investigation. Ninety seven per cent of those containers’ contents are still lost at sea, according to Victoria News. 

Important quote: “The emergency response that followed was initiated mainly due to incidental, but fortunate, circumstances. It is important not to mistake this luck for emergency preparedness, as the next time, we might not be as lucky,” said TSB Chair Kathy Fox. “There needs to be more urgent and effective action to address marine emergencies in Canadian waters,” Fox added.

• TSB noted that, unlike the United States, Canada doesn’t currently require pre-arranged plans for emergency response or marine salvage. 

What it means here: In Vancouver, where we see a significant amount of shipping and tanker traffic coming through Burrard Inlet every day, the Port Authority runs yearly emergency exercises with multiple local and federal agencies. 

• The newly completed expansion of the Trans Mountain Pipeline, with its marine export terminal in Vancouver’s inner harbour, means an increase in tanker traffic from five to 34 vessels per month, according to Ha-Shilth-Sa. That also accounts for a 14% overall increase in marine traffic at the Port of Vancouver. 

The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority says they receive three to four reports of water pollution each year, and the “vast majority prove to be of little concern.”

Context: Marine spills are a federal government responsibility, with oil spills in particular being regulated under a national regime where “industry bears the responsibility to respond to a spill and is always liable for spill response costs,” according to the Western Canada Marine Response Corporation (WCMRC). They’re an industry-funded organization, with mandatory membership for large vessels and oil-handling facilities. 

• Founded in 1976, WCMRC was Canada’s first spill response organization, according to Capital Daily, and the only group certified on the west coast. They’re contracted by the Canadian Coast Guard to conduct spill clean-up in B.C., with boats positioned in Vancouver’s harbour. 

Case study: However, a 2015 fuel spill in English Bay raised concerns about clean up response times,  communication, and harm to animals and sea life. 

An independent review of the 2015 spill, initiated by the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG), found there was a nearly two hour response delay due to miscommunications, and uncertainties between CCG and their partners, such as WCMRC.

In early 2023, there was another smaller fuel spill from a ship in English Bay. On the whole, CCG receives approximately 600 pollution reports per year in B.C., with roughly 40 of those occurring in port, according to statistics in the 2015 review. 

WEEKEND GUIDE

Fruit Forward Queer Wine Social | August 2, 5 p.m. | Granville Island Lounge | Kick off your Pride weekend with a fruity glass of natural wine, and connect with friends old and new. | Tickets $17

Summer Movie Nights | šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl'e7énḵ Square (Vancouver Art Gallery North Plaza) | August 8, 5 PM | Join us this Thursday for Knives Out! Activations begin at 5 PM and the movie will start around 9 PM (sundown) | Learn more [Sponsored]

Hotlatch | August 2, 10 p.m. | Granville Island Lounge | Bringing together the hottest queer Indigenous artists for a night of dancing and drag. | Tickets $14

Harmony Arts Festival | August 2-5, 11 a.m. | Ambleside off Argyle Avenue (West Vancouver waterfront) | Free live music, plus visual and culinary arts highlight this 34 year old festival. | Free

Black Parade | August 3, 7 p.m. | Celebrities Night Club | This showcase of Black Pride and artistry will leave you stunned, organizers say. | Tickets $54

Vancouver Farmers Markets | August 3 & 4, various times and locations | Get your local crops this weekend at Riley Park, Trout Lake, Mt. Pleasant, Kits, and West End markets. | Free entry

VanPride Fest | August 3 & 4, noon | Concord Pacific Place (east end of False Creek) | Featuring live music, fierce drag performances, and upbeat DJ sets. | Free

Powell Street Festival | August 3 & 4, 11:30 a.m. | Oppenheimer Park | Hit the town for the 48th annual celebration of Japanese Canadian art and culture. | Free events 

Tsawwassen Sun Festival | August 3-5, various times | Winskill Park | Packed with friendly sports competitions, a classic car show, and an outdoor movie night, capped off by their annual Rotary Parade on Monday. | Free 

ENBY6 Pride Brunch | August 4, 10 a.m. | Pizza Coming Soon | Vancouver’s iconic trans supergroup will be serving up a delicious brunch performance this Sunday. | Tickets $32

Vancouver Pride Parade | August 4, noon | Davie and Denman | Take part in the fun as the city turns into a beautiful display of love, music, and art. | Free

THE AGENDA

🌧️ The rain and cooler temperatures of late have been a help to B.C. wildfire crews in their effort to manage existing fires. It’s also allowed them to shift some of their resources away from the active northeast part of the province. However, with temperatures expected to rise again this weekend the fire service is asking people to remain vigilant. [City News]

🪧 A union representing 730 workers at B.C. ports is planning to take a strike vote. They say one employer is refusing to bargain directly about issues related to automation. That union is also seeking a judicial review of a related regulatory decision that came down in favour of the same employer. [CBC] 

🦮 Visually impaired people with service dogs gathered outside the Cactus Club on Broadway and Ash, voicing their concerns about the restaurant’s requests for proof that they are legally blind. They say Cactus Club is the only major chain that has a policy of asking for proof that a service dog is required. The restaurant confirmed staff will no longer ask for ID. [CTV] 

🏢 A 90-unit supportive housing project proposed in Richmond is being opposed by some residents who say it would make the area unsafe. BC Housing is pushing back, saying “just because a person is experiencing homelessness and in need of supportive housing, does not mean they are more likely to commit a crime”. Opponents, who have gathered over 2,000 petition signatures. [CBC, Change.org] 

📊 An update to the province’s strategy for reducing poverty is “less of a strategy and more of a report card,” according to this opinion piece from subject matter experts. While it’s important to recognize meaningful changes that have been carried out, they say, the updated plan didn’t include concrete measures like raising social assistance and more. [The Tyee]

👀 In a move that reeks of desperation and acknowledges their branding failures, B.C. United is asking B.C. Elections to include the phrase “formerly known as the B.C. Liberals” on the ballot in the provincial election this October. “We’ve got 30% of the voters that don’t know who B.C. United is,” said leader Kevin Falcon, who pushed for the recent name change. [Vancouver Sun]

👋 In related news, another B.C. United MLA has defected to the B.C. Conservatives. This time it was Teresa Wat, a three-time MLA representing the riding of Richmond North Centre. Wat is the third B.C. United MLA to flip to John Rustad’s Conservatives in the lead-up to the fall election. [Vancouver Sun]

SPONSORED BY DOLLARWISE

Struggle with personal finance? This newsletter can help

Let's face it, everything in Canada is expensive. And while you can't control everything (hello interest rates) there are some things you can do to get you and your family's finances under control.

Enter Dollarwise. They're a free personal finance newsletter designed to help you get control of your money, with simple and easy tips, advice and strategies that makes it easy to spend less and spend smarter.

Try Dollarwise out for free today.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• Is freezer food your guilty pleasure? Well, TV Dinner, a café and specialty food store in Kits, may be right up your aisle. [Instagram]

• You’ll never believe how far this Translink employee was able to travel by public transit. [Vancouver Sun]

• If you’re looking to explore a different region of Chinese food, then this restaurant on Denman is worth a visit. [Vancity Lookout]

• Ever feel like walking your reactive dog is exhausting? The episodes of lunging, barking, and general mayhem may be slightly improved by this city project. [CTV]

• Speaking of dogs, Yaletown humans and canines can rejoice with the re-opening of a renewed off-leash dog area in their neighbourhood. [Park Board]

PHOTO OF THE DAY

A new rain garden, or swale as they’re called by urban design types, getting a first run through. These gardens are used to help manage water runoff and filter pollutants.

GAME TIME

Congratulations to Hector, Rohini, Rob, Wade, Randall, Heather, Joanne and Sean who correctly guessed the park in yesterday’s Vancouver Guesser which was Charleson Park.

Today’s Wordle is also the name of the big festivity happening in the city this weekend. You better work… out what it is.