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.

Vanishing point: how police forgot the women they couldn't see

A former Crown prosecutor familiar with police investigations, warrant applications and the criminal charge approval process explains why the Pickton investigation went horribly wrong.
Sandy GarossinoDec 21st, 2012

Dear Sheryl Sandberg: Stop child predators from using Facebook for cyberstalking

Amanda Todd's mother, Carol, along with children's singer Raffi and other concerned citizens urge Facebook's COO to fix systemic design defects to protect children from predators.
Sandy GarossinoNov 14th, 2012

The John Furlong defamation case and Canadian libel law

Why John Furlong has an uphill battle in the courts.
Sandy GarossinoOct 1st, 2012

Peter Lougheed: back to the future

You couldn't even say the word 'liberal' back then, but the changes made by Peter Lougheed were enlightened and forward-thinking.
Sandy GarossinoSep 15th, 2012

Alpha Liberals help Democrats roar back to life

Barack Obama, Michelle Obama and Bill Clinton stomp all over the stereotype of the "weak" and ineffective Democrat.
Sandy GarossinoSep 7th, 2012

Blunderdome: silence in the house

It didn’t come as much of a surprise last week when we learned of David Podmore's upcoming resignation as board chair of PavCo. No one represented PavCo’s face more than David Podmore, and he, more...
Sandy GarossinoAug 20th, 2012

"Truthiness" and the right's attack on Canada's charities

Canadian charities should employ "truthiness" to their own advantage, instead of letting the Harper government and Conservative pundits wield it against them.
Sandy GarossinoJul 4th, 2012

Canada upside down

A deep look at the strategy behind the Harper government's attack on the world's most respected foundations, organizations which a short time ago, the government regarded as important friends.
Sandy GarossinoJun 13th, 2012

Harper's no longer master of his own house

Forty-one years ago, as a young volunteer, this writer donned a freshly ironed blouse and home-made lavender pencil skirt to deliver leaflets in her tiny Alberta town for Peter Lougheed, taking part...
Sandy GarossinoApr 30th, 2012

View from the 2012 Cities Summit

Reflections on Vancouver's brain drain, Naheed Nenshi and the shifting power of cities to the east.
Sandy GarossinoFeb 7th, 2012