After 11 years of bringing you local reporting, the team behind the Vancouver Observer has moved on to Canada's National Observer. You can follow Vancouver culture reporting over there from now on. Thank you for all your support over the years!

Danny Kresnyak

Recent prairie ex-pat Danny Kresnyak says journalism is a verb and as close as he gets to a religion. He writes about the bonds between human beings, the struggles they face and the innovations they create to overcome them. 

Medical marijuana, Marijuana businesses, Cannabis, Welfare recipients

Marijuana ads in Downtown Eastside spark online outrage

A controversy unfolding on the pages of Reddit added fuel to the debate about marijuana sales in Vancouver.  Dispensary chain Limelife Society, which operates four locations in Vancouver,...
Paul Dragan, Reckless Bicycles, Yaletown shooting, Retail Council of Canada

One year after near-fatal shooting, Paul Dragan to receive national honour

A year ago, Paul Dragan lay in a coma, fighting for his life. Shot outside of his bicycle store, Dragan lost almost 80 per cent of his blood volume and flat-lined twice as the ambulance rushed him to...
oil spill, Fraser River, Environment, Fisheries, Coast Guard, Marathassa

Capsized boat spills fuel into Fraser River

Early Tuesday, a fishing boat called The Western Crusader capsized while moored at Shelter Island Marina on the Fraser River near Annacis Island in South Vancouver. Although officials say...
Rueben George, Trans Mountain Pipeline, Tsleil-Waututh, Kinder Morgan

Rueben George blasts pipeline expansion proposal at Kinder Morgan AGM

Tsleil-Waututh First Nation representative Rueben George marched into the Kinder Morgan headquarters in Houston, Texas, with a strong message from his traditional territory near North Vancouver. "I...
Elizabeth May, Canadian politics, Bill C-51 Protest, Conservative, Liberal

Elizabeth May makes impassioned speech against Bill C-51

Federal Green Party leader Elizabeth May gave an impassioned speech against the controversial Bill C-51 yesterday, which passed third reading despite significant political opposition and public...
Alberta election, Bill C-51, Canadian politics, Conservative Party of Canada

Prentice's loss signals a tough time for Conservatives in Alberta

From the top down, Alberta's provincial election was tough for Conservatives. Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Calgary southwest federal riding is now represented provincially by three NDP MLAs, and...
Access to marijuana, Health Canada, Canadian marijuana laws

Lawyers cultivate final arguments in marijuana growth trial

"I could't even eat this morning," said medical marijuana patient Anne Genovy as she sat in the front row of audience seats in Vancouver's Federal Court on Thursday.  "My hands were shaking. The...
BC environment, Day of action, Fraser River, imperial metals, Mount Polley Mine

First Nation group launches protest to halt re-opening of Mount Polley mine

Under the hashtag #waterislife, the Secwepemc Woman's Warrior Society took to social media to call for protests across Canada against the re-opening of Imperial Metals' Mount Polley gold and copper...
Access to marijuana, Medical Marijuana, Dispensaries, City of Vancouver

Council seeks public's help to rein in Vancouver's "green rush"

In a move greeted with cheers and applause on Tuesday, Vancouver City Council voted 10 to 1 in favour of referring proposed guidelines for medical marijuana dispensaries to a public hearing....
Access to marijuana, City of Vancouver, dispensaries, medical marijuana, Vancouv

Council votes 10-1 to refer pot dispensary regulations to public hearing

Vancouver City Council voted 10 to 1 in favour of referring proposed guidelines for medical marijuana dispensaries to a public hearing.   The ruling was applauded on Tuesday by a crowd of people...