Vancouver 2024 year in review

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Good morning,

A brief correction right at the top of the newsletter. Congrats to all the eagle-eyed viewers who correctly determined I myself did not know the Vancouver Guesser answer, and did not provide the correct guessable option, which was Gore and E Cordova. 

Today is the last newsletter of the year. We always like to end the year with what I call a year in review, looking at the top stories of 2024, to reflect and highlight important issues that we collectively may have forgotten.

On a personal note, I wanted to thank all of you for being on this journey with us in 2024. Thanks to all your emails, reader feedback and responses to our newsletters, we’re pushing more and more into exclusive stories, and doubling down on becoming Vancouver’s best hyper-local publication. Here’s to 2025 and continuing on this journey with you all.

— Geoff Sharpe, Lookout managing editor

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

WEATHER

Friday: 11 🌡️ 7 | 🌧️

Saturday: 8 🌡️ 6 | 🌧️

Sunday: 8 🌡️ 5 |  🌧️

Monday: 9 🌡️ 5 |  🌧️

REVIEW

Vancouver 2024 year in review

In our year-end review, we try to take a different approach to the biggest stories of the year. Rather than the most important, we’ve got some fun categories which encompass some interesting stories, as well as one we’re keeping an eye on for 2025.

The most unnecessary vote of the year

What happened: In an issue that was on no one’s radar, Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim, out of the blue, introduced a motion in the fall to bring back natural gas heating and hot water in new construction builds

The result: It was one of the most highly followed and protested issues council faced this year, with people turning up to protest and allegations of intimidation over children’s drawings (yes, this is real). In the end, some ABC councillors joined with opposition councillors for a 5-5 vote, killing the proposal. 

• Dig deeper: Nate did a deep dive for the Lookout on the issue, looking at different lobbying that took place around it. You can read it here. 

An issue that deserves more attention

The city’s vibrant art scene is facing challenges as it seeks to re-assert itself post-COVID, especially when it comes to events.

• Funding from different levels of government has gotten smaller, and council has been reticent on recent issues, like the Firehall Arts Centre, which requested $7 million in accessibility upgrades, a decision was punted to 2025.

Facility challenges: Our exclusive coverage of WISE, a music venue in the city, shows how venues are facing financial challenges. In another example, the executive director of the popular Beaumont Studios has had to lay off staff over the last years in an attempt to stay open, according to Business in Vancouver.  

Some good news: Our exclusive interview with artists and the Eastside Cultural Crawl organization shows that the city is moving towards the creation of an Eastside Arts District, which could be a boon for the high concentration of artists in the area. 

My favourite story idea

We bring on many freelancers with incredible story ideas. While I have many ideas, I tend to defer to journalists like Nate and Dustin who are a bit closer to the action than I am, since I tend to be more focused on running the publication.

But one story idea I did think up was our deep dive into independent grocers, and why they’re struggling in the city. It’s a topic I’ve wondered about lately, along with many of you who emailed about it.

The answer: It’s not a simple conclusion, though, as with many issues, housing plays a key role. Rather, it’s also about the tangled relationship between independent grocers and larger chains and how they rely on their competitors. I recommend you read the entire story. 

An issue that could dominate 2025

The park board? Metro Vancouver’s trust issues? Nope, I believe it may be TransLink funding. 

The issue: TransLink needs to find $2.9 billion in order to maintain service levels. It’s dealing with a $500 million operating deficit. Without it, huge cuts could be on the horizon.

• How big?: Very big. The transit operator says that 50 per cent of existing bus routes could be cut, eliminating the West Coast Express and cutting some SkyTrain and SeaBus services. 

Yes, but: With the BC NDP securing a provincial majority rather than a minority, and Surrey being a key battleground they’ll need to win again, it’s unlikely they would allow that level of service cuts. 

• Dig deeper: Here’s a breakdown of the different service cuts that could happen. 

The most under-appreciated housing change

It didn’t get the attention of, say, the province’s transit-oriented-development plans, which will dramatically increase housing on transit routes, but I think the city’s approach to enabling more social housing is a good step that could yield dividends.

What is it: Council approved a plan back in September to simplify the process of creating more non-market housing, by reducing lengthy development applications in major neighbourhoods. On average, only 12 of these types of developments are approved each year. 

• It was also an example of council working together, with ABC councillors congratulating former councillor Christine Boyle on her motion. 

One debate that summarizes all the issues facing Vancouver

This was a bit of a silly one, but I believe the Spanish Banks parking debate brings together almost every issue facing the city.

What happened: The city will be testing out paid parking at Spanish Banks next summer, in order to help alleviate traffic in the area. Here are just a few of the city issues it touches:

• Cars versus public transit: Many pointed out that the area isn’t accessible by bus, so cars are the only way to get to it. Yet those same cars take up huge amounts of space, and people cannot regularly visit due to over-parking. 

• Cost of living: Costs to live in the city are only getting bigger, and opponents of the parking say this just adds to it.

• Public amenities: Tied to the cost of living, most public amenities in the city require paying, which is very different than if you lived in a smaller town.

• Slow changes: The policy was debated in 2018, but eventually shelved after public outcry. It’s a good example of how these types of changes can take a long time to implement. 

What other issues did we miss? Reply and let us know!

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VANCOUVER NUMBERS

4 million: Metro Vancouver’s expected population by 2045, with an average of 50,000 new people per year. That projection is 40 per cent higher than expected. [Vancouver Sun]

19: The number of freezing days Vancouver has lost per year, on average, from 2014 to 2023 due to climate change. Rain has recently shut down some of the local mountains on the North Shore. [Vancouver Sun]

154%: The increase in spending in Vancouver during Taylor Swift’s concert, calculated by payment provider Moneris, which said it was a greater increase than Black Friday in the city. [Business in Vancouver]

$127 million: The increase in cost of the Millennium Line’s Broadway extension, from $2.83 billion to $2.96 billion. [Urbanized]

THE AGENDA

🚄 High-speed rail to the US has always felt like a pipe dream. But that could change. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration announced almost $50 million to study a high-speed rail project connecting Vancouver to Seattle and Portland. Of course, that’s just a study, with the final project cost potentially being around $42 to $100 billion… [Global]

👮 The Vancouver Police Union president has called comments by the Vancouver police deputy chief overly charged that undermine and erode confidence in the police. The deputy’s comments were about a Vancouver police investigation into two Central Saanich police officers who are facing sexual assault charges and how the public One of the officers has subsequently committed suicide. [Vancouver is Awesome]

🏢 Council voted to demolish a 115-year-old heritage building on Dunsmuir Street that was left in disrepair by the owner, with council criticizing the owner Holborn Properties, for letting it get to that point. Heritage-listed buildings are not subject to the same requirements as actual heritage buildings.  [CBC]

⚠️ Third Beach to Prospect Point and Second to Third Beach were closed due to high tides yesterday. Check the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation’s Twitter account for when it will be open. 

🚆 Amtrak between Vancouver and Seattle was forced to stop for at least the next 48 hours starting yesterday after a landslide blocked the railway tracks near White Rock. [Business in Vancouver]

🚨 A Kerrisdale family is rightfully frustrated after someone stole $500 worth of Christmas decorations from their front yard. [CTV]

🚲️ In some good news, there’s a new cycling path open in Kits Beach Park, from Balsam St. to McNicoll Ave. 

🔥 Vancouver Fire Rescue Service put out a fire at an SRO at the 300 block of West Pender St. yesterday There were two injuries reported. [Twitter]

🏒 The Canucks lost their Wednesday game against the Utah Hockey Club (what a weird name) 3-1, and their game last night against the Vegas Golden Knights 3-1.

🏈 The BC Lions picked up a star defensive lineman this offseason, signing Mathieu Betts to a two-year contract extension on Thursday. He joins the team after playing for the Detroit Lions. He set a single-season record of sacks in 2023 with 18 in the CFL. [CTV]

Outside Vancouver

📃 Lions Bay village council decided six years ago to ignore the recommendations of experts to create a natural hazard assessment area for creek and slop areas. In 2018, council decided not to proceed, and is now facing criticism after the landslides in the area washed away the home of David and Barbara Enns, only one of whose bodies has been recovered. [Vancouver Sun]

EVENT GUIDE

CP Holiday Train | Various locations across Metro Vancouver | Dec. 20 | Celebrate the season with the CP Holiday Train, featuring dazzling lights and free festive concerts by Juno winners Magic! and rising star Sofia Camara

VanDusen Festival of Light | VanDusen Botanical Gardens | Now until Jan. 5 | Botanical wonderland with over 1 million lights | Tickets $31

Best of 2024 | VIFF Centre, 1181 Seymour St | Dec 26 - Jan 2 | VIFF's annual roundup is back! Watch these diverse, exciting, sexy, funny, challenging, transcendent, freaky, masterful movies on the big screen - the way nature intended | Learn more [Sponsored]

Festival of Lights | Nightly until Jan. 5 | VanDusen Garden | Explore 15 acres adorned with over 1 million twinkling lights, including exciting new displays | Tickets $31

Bright Nights | Nightly until Jan. 4 | Stanley Park (Children’s Farmyard and Railway) | Train tickets are sold out for the year, but you can still take in the extensive Bright Nights light display and support the Burn Fund | Admission by donation

Big Country Christmas | Dec. 20, 7 p.m. | The Wise Hall | Join the Vancouver Country Music family for a night of holiday celebration and support the Roll for Warmth charity campaign | Tickets $25

Outdoor Skating | Daily until Feb 28 | Robson Square | Enjoy some old-fashioned fun and celebrate winter in style with skating in the heart of downtown Vancouver. Skate rentals available | Free admission

Cirque NYE 2025 | Science World | Dec 31 9 | Celebrate the New Year with one of Vancouver’s most prestigious events featuring Cirque performers, aerialists, LED dancers, 10 DJs, 5 bars, and a breathtaking countdown | Tickets $80

NYE Comedy Classic Live | Newmont Stage at BMO Theatre Centre | Dec. 31, 8 pm | Some of Canada’s best comics performing at this late-night New Year’s event | Tickets $51

Polar Bear Swim | Jan. 1, noon | English Bay Beach | Jump into 2025 with a splash and take an invigorating dip at this park board event | Free

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COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• You can ride for free on TransLink on Dec. 31 starting at 5 pm, and most services will operate on extended weekday schedules. 

• Darth Vader (Hayden Christensen) will be joining Fan Expo Vancouver 2025, along with other famous stars. [Straight] 

• The new SkyTrain Capstan Station opens today. It’s situated between Bridgeport Station and Aberdeen Station. [Urbanized]

• Vancouver-born Ryan Reynolds was appointed to the Order of Canada. [Vancouver Sun]

VANCOUVER WORDLE

Think you can guess the Vancovuer Wordle word from one of our stories earlier this year? Play it now.