Wastewater treatment facility costs to be born by Metro Vancouver residents

Good morning,

This isn’t our Vancouver restaurant and food newsletter — you can subscribe to it instantly here — but I have to admit I’ve become obsessed with this podcast called This is Taste. It’s 30 to 45 minute interviews with some of the best chefs, authors and food personalities in the world. If you like food, I cannot recommend it enough. 

Related, but apologies to Insider members, this weekend’s members-only restaurant reviews will be going out this afternoon as I went camping and forgot to schedule it! If you’d like to get a review about a new Northern Vietnamese spot and our inaugural Vancouver pizza rankings, you can subscribe here. 

Let’s dive in!

— Geoff Sharpe, Vancity Lookout editor

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

WEATHER

Monday: 14 🌡️ 10 | 🌧️

Tuesday: 17 🌡️ 9 | 🌧️

Wednesday: 18 🌡️ 9 | 🌤️

INFRASTRUCTURE

Wastewater treatment facility costs to be born by Metro Vancouver residents

What happened: Speculated about for a while, it’s now official — Metro Vancouver’s North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant will be paid for by the entire region, cost overruns and all, according to Global.

Backup: The wastewater plant’s original budget was set at $500 million. A lot you say? Well, that’s nothing compared to the current price tag of $4 billion.

• The project’s costs spiralled out of control due to the price of labour, materials and other costs all skyrocketing, according to North Shore News. More problematic was the number of problems with the project caused by the original contractor Acciona, who was subsequently replaced. 

The impact: Every household in Metro Vancouver will see their taxes increase by an additional $150 over a 15-year period to pay for the project. One silver lining? Most of you reading this likely live in Vancouver, which means you will pay significantly less than North Vancouver, which is on the hook for $590 per household over 30 years. 

Why oh why: If you live anywhere, you have to treat wastewater. The federal government’s new requirements, as well as the Lions Gate sewage treatment plant’s age, means it had to be replaced at some point. The project was originally conceived and started 13 years ago. 

Zoom out: Sure, $4 billion may seem like a lot, but it’s only a small part of the infrastructure deficit facing Metro Vancouver, according to the Vancouver Sun. There are $35 billion in capital expenses that are needed in the next 30 years to deal with problems like water, waste and parks. Paying for it can really only be done through taxes on residents (currently living here) or taxes on new developments (future people living here).

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VANCOUVER NUMBERS

⛽ $1.88: The price per litre of gas on Friday, a drop of four cents. One expert says gas may even get cheaper in the coming days. [Global]

🤢 25: The number of passengers who fell ill on a United flight between Vancouver and Houston on the weekend, due to their time on a cruise ship. [Vancouver is Awesome]

WEATHER

Rain, rain go away, fill up the rivers another day

What’s happening: If you’re waking up to reading this email — thank you trust us with your morning news! — you may be hearing about the potential issues from rising water levels due to heavy rain Sunday night, according to the Vancouver Sun.

• As of the time we wrote this newsletter, the most intense rain was on Sunday, with around 60 millimetres expected to have fallen by this morning. The worst is likely to take place last night. 

At risk: Capilano and Seymour rivers could be at risk, and Metro Vancouver is telling people to use caution when being near them, especially on trails, as these two rivers can see rapid rises in water levels from this type of weather, according to CTV.

• All of Metro Vancouver is at risk, as well as Fraser Valley, Chilliwack and Hope. 

The timing of this is unusual, according to Vancouver is Awesome. Normally atmospheric rivers like this occur more often in February and March. 

Good news: The worst is behind us as of this morning, as Sunday was expected to see most of the rain having fallen. Of course, predicting weather has known to sometimes be error prone…

• And bad news: While the worst will be done, there are potentially 10-25 milimetres that will fall on Tuesday as well. 

And good news again: Throw away those rain jackets because Friday and Saturday will be in the mid-20 degrees, and some places may get up to 29 degrees.

NEW JOBS

Discover your dream job in Vancouver:

• Director, mental wellness at YMCA BC

• Director, government and external affairs at ICBC

• Manager, new verticals — Canada growth, and strategy at DoorDash

• Manager, capital projects at Vancouver Community College

• Director, scheduling services at BC Ferries

THE AGENDA

👮 The driver of a car that crashed into another vehicle, jumped the curb and almost hit pedestrians on Comox Street last week, could face charges for dangerous and impaired driving. The man fled from his vehicle after the crash. [Castanet]

⛔️ West Pender from Burrard to Bute Street will have one lane until fall 2024 because of water main upgrades. [City of Vancouver]

🔥 A criminal investigation has been launched by the Vancouver police after a fire was set at the doorway of the Congregation Schara Tzedeck synagogue. The police say they have assigned additional officers to Jewish community centres and schools in the area. [CBC]

⚽️ The Whitecaps pulled off the win against the Colorado Rapids on Saturday in a 2-1 victory. The team is now 7-5-4 and the team now sits at fifth overall in the Western Conference. [Global]

👎️ Amazon has been accused of unfair labour practices as part of a unionization effort at a Delta, BC warehouse whose members are seeking to join Unifor. The case before the labour board accused the company of rapidly scaling up hiring to dilute potential union members. Amazo,n for its par,t says it’s part of their seasonal hiring efforts. [CBC]

EVENT GUIDE

Steveston Spot Prawn and Seafood Celebration | Steveston and Richmond restaurants | Now until June 16 | Try spot prawns around town, plus Spot Prawn Day on June 8 with food, live music and a kids play area | More info

Queer Arts Festival | Multiple locations | Now until June 30 | Theme of “The Ties That Bind” looking at the bonds that connect us all, with art, printmaking, dance and more all across town | Event list

Jean Batiste: Uneasy Tour | Queen Elizabeth Theatre | June 4, 8 pm | Still some tickets left for the popular singer’s show | Tickets $89

West Vancouver First Thursdays Art Walk | Multiple locations | June 6, 6 pm | Discover the art of the Ambleside and Dundarave neighbourhoods | Free

Task Conducts Mahler, Mozart & Chang | VSO | June 7, 8 | A perfect concert for anyone who loves classical music | Tickets starting at $26

World Ocean Day | June 8, 10 am | Vancouver Maritime Museum | Celebrate our oceans and Indigenous cultures with a special event by Canoe Cultures | Free

Italian Day on the Drive | Commerical Drive | June 9, 12 pm-9 pm | Food and entertainment, learn all about Italian culture | Free

Basho: Amateur Sumo Exhibition | June 9, 1 pm | Templeton Secondary School | This inaugural family-friendly event takes place ahead of the annual tournament at Powell Street Festival | Tickets $15

Art of Code: Micro:bit Virtual Pets | June 9, 10:30 am | Center of International and Contemporary Art | Learn about the fundamentals of coding and program your own virtual pet | Registration $45

Bard on the Beach | Starting June 11, various showtimes | Sen̓áḵw / Vanier Park |  The much-loved annual Shakespeare fest kicks off later this month, featuring adaptations of Twelfth Night and Hamlet, among others. | Tickets $30

SURVEY

Lookout readers want a North Shore SkyTrain

Last week I asked readers if they supported the idea of SkyTrain to and from the North Shore. Here’s the breakdown of support:

Here are some of the responses:

FOOD PREVIEW

I miss Spanish pinchos. So I visited this Vancouver restaurant

My trip to Barcelona a year before COVID was a haze. Gorgeous beaches, late nights out, feverish dream-like Gaudi architecture, an onslaught of food — once you visit the city you’ll forever be chasing that feeling

One of those remarkable local foods in Barcelona and the broader Basque region are pinchos. The conceit at these bars (let’s be honest, it was multiple bars) was simple — you pay for the drinks, but the food was free. 

And what a spread it was. Meat, cheeses, honey, olive oil, combinations of all types draped over a slice of crusty bread. Pinchos are a simple, but endlessly creative bite that go great with drinks, preferably a robust Spanish red or a light beer. 

Replicating that experience in Vancouver isn’t easy. The chances of finding free food with drinks is as likely as discovering an affordable home. Luckily this Vancouver restaurant is the closest experience you’re likely to get in the city

To read my review and discover a great place to explore Spanish tapas in Vancouver, subscribe to our free food newsletter instantly by clicking this link.

IMAGE OF THE DAY

Many people on the Vancouver subreddit were sharing photos of Lighthouse Park. Here’s one I thought was especially moving.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• Here’s why I’m a huge fan of this Middle Eastern and Mediterranean grocery store. [Vancity Lookout]

• This is quite a unique garden in Vancouver. [Maclean’s]

• Homeless artist An Dong has created over 100 portraits of Downtown Eastside residents. [Vancouver Sun]

• This wine bar has an innovative approach to food that will keep you guessing. [Vancity Lookout]

• Congrats to student Vancouver student Ann Wang at Prince of Wales Secondary School who won the best project award in the discovery category at the Canada-Wide Science Fair. [CTV]

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

VANCOUVER NEWS QUIZ