YVR at risk from rising sea levels

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Good morning,

While running on the Seawall on Saturday I ran into two people I knew. Very random! But in some ways, it makes sense; it’s still the best run in the downtown area.  

After my run, I stopped by International Village before catching a movie. I don’t want to give away a secret, but the food court there is punching well above its weight in high-quality, affordable food. I will be writing some reviews of these places in the coming weeks over at Vancity Lookout Eats.

Today, we’ve got a story on how rising sea levels will pose challenges to YVR and how other areas around there could be impacted.

Let’s get to it!

— 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

Monday: 6 🌡️ 2 | ☁️

Tuesday: 7 🌡️ 3 | 🌤️

Wednesday: 7 🌡️ 4 | ☁️

ENVIRONMENT

YVR at risk from rising sea levels

What happened: A new report by the Senate of Canada is raising questions about the long-term challenges of Vancouver International Airport as climate change causes sea levels to rise in the area, according to The Narhwal.

The numbers: Over the next 75 years, sea levels will rise by an estimated 1 metre. The area already has 22 kilometres of dikes that prevent the river and seawater from getting too high. But that system will be put under pressure in the decades ahead.

Background: Richmond itself is only 1 metre above sea level, which poses huge challenges as seas continue to rise, according to CBC. The city is built on the floodplain of the Fraser River Delta.

YVR and the city, along with Delta, are the primary areas that would be impacted by any soft of rising sea levels in the region, according to CBC. Mapping from the US-based research group Climate Central illustrates how an increase in the next 100 years would put the entire area under water.

• Delta has over 67 kilometres of dikes, but they say getting them up to standard will be around $2 billion, which the mayor says they don’t have the money to upgrade.

Planning: YVR is well aware of the issue, and they say they are taking proactive steps to fix it. They are upgrading the dike and drainage system near the eastern end of the Sea Island Conservation Area, and increasing the dikes by approximately 1 metre, which would bring their total height to 4.7 metres. The Sea Island is protected by 15 kilometres of dikes.

• They expect the upgrades to be completed by fall 2026. They’re also planning to spend $25 million to upgrade their pump station.

Recommendation: The committee report calls on the federal government to begin consultations about protecting YVR’s Sea Island in the years ahead.

What it means: One piece that stood out in the report is that while all areas are doing their part, there is a real lack of coordination between all the different levels and layers of government and regional authorities. It’s an example of a big problem when it comes to long-running, slow crises — without a sense of urgency, acting on huge issues can be a real challenge.

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VANCOUVER NUMBERS

🏒 3: The number of goals scored by Jake DeBrusk. The hat trick helped the Canucks, as they won in overtime 5-4 against the Red Wings. Canucks goalie Kein Lankinen became the first goalie in NHL history to win the first 10 road appearances in a season. [NHL]

🚢 40: The number of problems that Transport Canada found in Nordic Malmoe, a bulk carrier that docked in Vancouver, including an allegation of sexual assault against a female cadet. [Vancouver Sun]

🏞️ 44: The number of hectares for a new regional park in South Langley, preserving forests and wetlands. The Township of Langley donated the land for $1. [CBC]

THE AGENDA

🗳️ Green Party Vancouver city Coun. Adriane Carr says she is considering resigning her seat. One of the main reasons she cited is that the ABC-majority council voted to strip non-ABC councillors of their extra roles in local governance, such as being a director at Metro Vancouver and other committees. If she were to quit, she said she’d do so in January, allowing the city to hold only the by-election on one date rather than two, as one needs to be held for outgoing Coun. Christine Boyle who was elected MLA in the event provincial election. [Vancouver Sun]

👮 The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. has been called in to investigate a police shooting on Sunday. A carjacker was brandishing weapons, and police opened fire on the suspect. They’re in hospital under police guard. [CTV]

🪧 A realtor who advertised his services in Yaletown with the slogan “Making Yaletown Unaffordable since 2005” has gotten threats over the sign. He says it was done in an ironic attempt to point out the problems with the housing market in the area. [CityNews]

🎤 It’s spreading… Slowly but surely, it’s going to force the city to change. No, I’m not speaking of climate change or the cripplingly expensive housing market. I’m referring to the Taylor Swift concerts on Dec. 6-8. TransLink is adding extra transit service each night of the concert, roads around the area will be closed. And don’t even try to score tickets outside BC Place, the city has shut down the area. [Global, Vancouver Sun]

Outside Vancouver

✈️ Metro Vancouver will no longer allow staff to travel for professional development, due to budget tightening. It comes after it was disclosed staff travelled to Lisbon for an internet conference. The organization is facing public pressure over spending and staff travel. [Vancouver Sun]

👂️ A public consultation was held for the Surrey-Langley SkyTrain project, the first expansion of the SkyTrain south of the Fraser in 30 years, at a cost of $6 billion. It will include eight stations, with the final stop at 203rd Street in Langley. [CityNews]

⚖️ The Supreme Court of Canada has ruled that BC can sue opioid providers to recover the costs of the epidemic on behalf of other provinces. Once the class action is certified, the federal government has said they will join. It’s modelled off the previous BC legislation that targeted tobacco companies to recover health care costs. The companies targeted in this lawsuit include Santis Health, Shoppers Drug Mart, McKesson Canada and others. [CBC]

EXCLUSIVE

Why residents are outraged over FIFA’s Memorial South Park shutdown

We published this exclusive story on Saturday. Thank you to all our members who make this journalism possible. 

You may have heard, Vancouver is set to be a host city for the FIFA Men’s World Cup taking place across North America in the summer of 2026. An on-and-off relationship between FIFA and the provincial government led to Vancouver dropping out of the united bid in 2018, only to rejoin the bid and be selected in 2022.

As part of Vancouver’s bid to host the tournament, the city, through the park board, is required to “provide venue specific training sites” near BC Place and team accommodations. A seemingly minor facet of a global billion-dollar event, the proposed placement of FIFA training venues in neighbourhood parks in South Vancouver will have a significant impact on some local residents and park users for the next two years, particularly at one of those sites. 

Looking deeper into the situation at Memorial South Park, a lack of transparency around the selection of these sites, highly limited public engagement, belated sharing of information about the project, and a dubious legacy of improvements, has left neighbours and civic officials demanding answers and accountability. 

Neighbours’ concerns about a FIFA venue in their local park

In July 2024, the city announced that Memorial South Park and Killarney Park had been chosen as training sites. 

The park spaces being used to host the training sites at both locations will be closed to the public for a minimum of 20 months, “from January 2025 until late 2026,” according to a park board memo in October. 

Read the story

DREAM JOB

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• Executive chef at L’Abattoir

• Executive director at Gordon Neighbourhood House

• Manager of development and fundraising at St. John Ambulance BC/Yukon

• Director of curatorial programs at the Chinese Canadian Museum Society of BC

• Social impact specialist at Vancouver Airport Authority

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EVENTS GUIDE

Vancouver Christmas Market | Jack Poole Plaza | Now until Dec. 24 | Enjoy live entertainment, holiday vendors, a Christmas carousel, and German-inspired food and drinks like Glühwein and pancakes | Tickets $19

The Jingle Bar | Hotel Le Soleil | Multiple dates in December | A festive pop-up bar with themed cocktails, holiday games, entertainment, and prizes for best outfits | Tickets $15

Soiree & Slide Show: Great Bike Journeys of the World | Studio 16, 1555 W 7th Ave. | Dec. 4,  6:30 pm | Robbin McKinney shares photography, videos, and stories from global cycling adventures. Includes wine, cheese, and hors d'oeuvres. Proceeds benefit the Vancouver Food Bank | Tickets $15

Sound of the City: A Christmas Concert for the Good of Vancouver | Strathcona Church| Dec. 4, 7 pm–8:30 pm | Celebrate the holiday season with local artists performing Christmas carols and original songs | Tickets $22

Mezcal Workshop | Alimentaria Mexicana, 1596 Johnston St | Dec 5, 2024, 6 pm | Discover the world of mezcal with a guided tasting of five varieties, exploring flavours and traditions of Mexico's agave spirits | Tickets $55

The Girl With the Needle | VIFF Centre, 1181 Seymour St | From Dec 6, 8 pm | Nightmarish expressionist cinema set in post-WWI Copenhagen. Magnus von Horn's VIFF 2024 film returns to the big screen | Learn more [Sponsored]

Assembly Cookies Holiday Pop-ups | Dec. 7 and Dec. 14, 11 am–2 pm | Pick up classic and holiday cookies; proceeds benefit the Greater Vancouver Food Bank | Free

Pies & Poetry | The Crossing, 130 W Hastings | Dec 6, 2024, 8 pm | A free sober arts pop-up featuring local pastries, poetry, collaborative art-making, and live music | Free

Taylor Swift Eras Tour Un-Official Afterparty | Cabana Lounge | Dec. 7, 10:30 pm | Celebrate Taylor Swift's iconic eras with a night of her biggest hits | Tickets $12

Jingle Jam | The Centre - Westside Church | Dec. 7, 10 am-1 pm  | Live Christmas musical, hot chocolate, free gifts, games, and more | Tickets $4

An Intimate Conversation with Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim | Paradox Hotel Vancouver | Dec. 4, 6  pm | Townhall with Mayor Ken Sim discussing real estate, development, rezoning, housing supply, and Vancouver's future | Tickets $95

GOOD NEWS MONDAY

The Make Change Market in Vancouver took place over the weekend. It was run by the non-profit Employ to Empower, where entrepreneurs and artists who have difficult social barriers were trained for a few months and then given space to sell their own goods. They had hundreds of people stop by the market and purchase goods. [CBC]

VANCOUVER QUIZ

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• The Union Gospel Mission is offering free portraits for those who can’t afford them. [CBC]

• Congrats to Quinn Hughes, who is now the Canucks defenceman with the most assists. 

• One of the most highly visible art installations in Vancouver has been decked out in Taylor Swift attire. [Vancouver is Awesome]

• Dead salmon hats are a thing orcas did in the 1980s. But suddenly, it’s now back in “style.” [Vancouver Sun]

• A Vancouver parrot is internet famous for his abstract art. He certainly paints better than me! [CTV]

• Here’s a video of a bunch of sea lions spotted at Jericho Beach. [Reddit]

PHOTO OF THE DAY

This is a wild shot from someone paddleboarding. I’ve never seen a flying seal before, but now I wish they would do this all the time.