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!

Special Report: Tar Sands Reporting Project

Athabasca tar sands, photographed by Andrew S. Wright

Our award-winning team's crowd-funded series on the people, places and conflicts associated with Canada's tar sands.

Along the Pipeline - Energy East photos by Robert van Waarden

Energy East facing many foes: land owners, enviros, Aboriginals and politicians

TransCanada submitted its application to build the largest oil pipeline in North America, triggering reaction across Canada.
George Khossi under Kinder Morgan jeep on Burnaby Mountain - Mychaylo Prystupa

Kinder Morgan crews blocked by citizens on Burnaby Mountain (VIDEO)

Kinder Morgan crews were met by a group of citizens that blocked the company from conducting its oil pipeline survey work on Burnaby Mountain Wednesday morning.  One teenager even pinned himself...
Rick Verge's sign on his property

Landowner refuses to surrender property for Energy East pipeline

Rick Verge was shocked when a TransCanada land agent knocked on his door in Titusville, N.B., last year and offered him $1000 to conduct a land survey in exchange for his signature. He refused. He...
Aerial of Syncrude oil sands facilities near Fort McMurray -  Andrew S. Wright

Energy East to ignite pan-Canadian battle over Alberta’s oil sands

Oil analysts predict a smoother approval for the Energy East versus Northern Gateway or Keystone XL, even as protests over the $12-billion project heat up in Eastern Canada
National Observer newsroom

Independent journalism pays off with truth and results

I was delighted this week to see an e-mail from the people at Kickstarter saying,  “we really love your project!”  Staff at the crowdfunding website said they had chosen our Tar Sands...

In Hartley Bay, sunken B.C. ferry fuels distrust of Enbridge pipeline proposal

Hartley Bay, a tiny northern B.C. village, feels like a place from another era. In this village of under 200 people, no SUVs or highways are to be seen -- only boats and quads rolling gently on...
STOP KINDER MORGAN sign at Burnaby Mountain and Kennedy Stewart

Kinder Morgan’s pipeline crews met by angry Burnaby residents

Kinder Morgan’s attempts to continue its disputed Trans Mountain exploratory pipeline work at Burnaby Mountain faced another day of heated opposition -- this time by an impromptu gathering of 50...

Darren Aronofsky finds Biblical lessons in the tar sands

Canada's laissez-faire approach toward the tar sands reminded Darren Aronofsky of America's attitude toward Wall Street.
Leonardo DiCaprio ALS icebucket challenge Primer Minister Harper oil sands

Leonardo DiCaprio throws down health challenge to Harper and oil sands execs

Wolf of Wall Street star rides viral video ice bucket wave in attempt to see ice poured on the Prime Minister

Grimes rocks Tar Sands Reporting Project T-shirt at FYF fest concert

Acclaimed musician and visual artist Grimes was seen sporting the Vancouver Observer's Tar Sands Reporting Kickstarter Project at the FYF Fest in Los Angeles...