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!

Sandy Garossino

Sandy Garossino is a former Crown prosecutor and prominent media commentator, whose bold commentary is read by millions across North America. Her writing provides depth on topics where the media's analysis of controversial and urgent topics misses the mark. Winner of 'Best Column' in Canada in the 2017 Canadian Online Publishing Association's awards, Garossino's podcast, Judgment Call, launches soon on National Observer.

Reza Aslan on Islamic nationalism and the challenge of jihad

Reza Aslan explained ISIS and Islamic violent extremism to a packed audience at the Indian Summer Festival Thursday.
beluga baby, SeaWorld San Diego. Still from promotional video

Vancouver Aquarium: End your breeding partnership with SeaWorld today

On Tuesday The Guardian reported compelling evidence that a SeaWorld employee infiltrated the animal rights group PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), adding to pressure on the marine...
John Furlong, Laura Robinson and an archival residential school image

Furlong defence buries the big picture at slander trial

OPINION: No Truth and Reconciliation for Indigenous people in epic court standoff.

The lost tapes of the Air India investigation

Fate is a river that runs its own course.
Beluga whales in captivity

OPINION: Vancouver Aquarium's SeaWorld connection

Vancouver Aquarium's Nanuq was by far the most successful beluga breeding male in SeaWorld, with seven living offspring. Six other offspring did not survive birth or early infancy.
tweet, house of commons, ministers, Tim Hortons

OPINION: Conservative cabinet ministers shove Timmys around

Sitting cabinet ministers' tweets an attempt to force a coffee-and-doughnut emporium to host in-house advertising for oil pipelines.

Taxes are for the little people

St. George's School's tax-free lands are surrounded by some of the most valuable property in North America.
Vancouver housing, housing affordability, foreign ownership, speculation tax

Mayor's speculation tax is a set-up

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson’s call on Friday for the provincial government to impose a tax on housing speculation has all the look of a not-very-elaborate set-up. It's a sop thrown to a furious...

Remembering Yulanda Faris

On Friday morning Vancouver turns out to mourn and honour the stellar community builder, arts supporter and philanthropist Yulanda Faris, who died at age 77 on April 23.  They will...
Senate Scandal, Charity audits, CRA, Duffy Diaries, Duffy trial

Duffy connected charity critic to lucrative industry cash

Star witness attacking charities plays star role in Duffy's Diaries.  But what does it mean? Read the whole story on the National Observer