This is Vancouver

The provincial government has announced that Surrey and Prince George will be getting 100 new involuntary care beds. Premier David Eby says there's a huge urgency to expand access to beds close to communities. We hear from Surrey city councillor and mayoral candidate Linda Annis, and Prince George councillor Trudy Klassen who have been calling for involuntary beds for their communities. D.J. Larkin and Kora Debeck question its effectiveness and B.C. Health Minister Josie Osborne give us an idea of what the plan will be to expand this service.

Vancouver councillor Rebecca Bligh is officially running for mayor, while fellow councillor Pete Fry is weighing his own political future. Host Stephen Quinn talks with CBC’s Justin McElroy about what these early moves say about the race, the stakes, and the political chatter coming out of the UBCM conference. 

B.C. MLA Elenore Sturko was abruptly removed from the Conservative caucus just hours after party members voted to keep John Rustad as leader. We hear from Sturko herself and fellow MLA Linda Hepner about Rustad’s leadership — and what this all means for the party’s future.

A proposed 27-storey tower in the West End is stirring debate among neighbours worried about traffic and high-rises. City councillor Sarah Kirby-Yung joins us to talk about balancing the concerns of residents with the need for more hotel rooms.

Stanley Park’s future is back in the spotlight with a new mobility study. The plan looks at ways to improve access while reducing congestion. We hear from critics and supporters about what it all means for Vancouver’s most iconic park.

Vancouver Police say District 5 is coming to the Downtown Eastside. Stephen Quinn speaks with Superintendent Gary Hiar about what this change means as a major crime-reduction project comes to an end.

The Stanley Park miniature train is shut down this year and the Bright Nights fundraiser won’t be returning. Instead, the Park Board has approved a Harry Potter–themed trail walk. But not everyone is happy about it. We look at what the event means for the park, the fundraiser, and the community.

As more than 600,000 students return to class in B.C., teachers face fresh challenges. From managing cell phones to navigating new AI tools like ChatGPT, they share how they’re preparing for the year ahead.

Surrey schools are packed with more than 83,000 students enrolled this fall. The district is testing hybrid learning and staggered schedules to manage the crowding, but parents and teachers have questions about how it will affect students. 

Nearly 10 million sockeye are returning to the Fraser River this year — the biggest run since 2018. But while anglers celebrate expanded openings, commercial and Indigenous fishers say low quotas are hurting their livelihoods. Gloria Macarenko hears from voices on all sides of the debate.

Two Vancouver drop-in centres that supported sex workers have shut their doors, leaving people without 24-hour help. We hear from sex workers about what these closures mean, and from community advocates on why funding has fallen short despite earlier promises.

The federal government has promised 500,000 new homes a year, led by former Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson. But will more supply actually make housing affordable? Stephen Quinn and Gurpreet Kambo dig into the debate with renters, experts, and developers.

The B.C. Supreme Court has ruled that the Quw'utsun Nation has Aboriginal title to a stretch of land in Richmond as well as the right to fish in the south arm of the Fraser River. The province of B.C. has said they will be appealing that decision. We speak with B.C.’s Attorney General, a Richmond City Councillor, the Cowichan Tribes, the Musqueum Indian Band and a former B.C. Green Party MLA who served as the lead negotiator for a First Nation in B.C.

Developers are pushing to loosen Canada’s foreign buyer restrictions - but the province says it’s not going to happen. Meanwhile, a new supportive housing project in Nanaimo could become a sober facility, sparking debate over how recovery housing should work. 

Delta’s ER shut down again this week - the third closure this year - and Mission’s followed soon after. Stephen Quinn talks with Delta’s mayor and Fraser Health about why these closures keep happening and what’s being done to prevent future shutdowns. 

The latest homeless count shows more than 5,200 people are unhoused across Metro Vancouver – a nine percent increase since 2023. What’s behind the rise, and what can be done about it? Host Stephen Quinn speaks with Vancouver city councillor Lucy Maloney, as well as advocates Amanda Burrows from First United and Upkar Singh Tatlay from Engaged Communities Canada.

Vancouver is buzzing amid news that German legend Thomas Muller is joining the Vancouver Whitecaps. But what might Muller bring to the team? What can fans expect? We hear from Peter Czimmermann of the Vancouver Southsiders and longtime Whitecaps commentator Peter Schaad.

A city motion meant to support Vancouver’s arts scene has been watered down, according to some local artists. We speak to a local comedy venue owner and an architect about the hurdles artists face and what real support would look like.

Vancouver’s deal to host seven World Cup matches comes with more than just global attention. From rules around branding to beautification, we look at what the city agreed to and what it might mean for locals. Stephen Quinn speaks to the CBC’s Laurence Watt and SFU urbanist, Meg Holden.

Your connection to the issues and stories facing people across Vancouver. Host Stephen Quinn is your guide. Episodes drop Tuesdays and Thursdays.

A string of deadly intimate partner violence cases in B.C. has sparked urgent calls for change. Stephen Quinn speaks with a city councillor and a UBC researcher about why the system is failing and what change could look like. 

One year after the “Don’t Look Away” report called for an overhaul of B.C.’s child welfare system, questions remain about whether enough has changed. We speak to B.C. Conservative critic Amelia Boultbee about what her party would do differently.

Despite the federal promise of $10-a-day childcare, Surrey families are struggling to find spaces. Longtime advocate Rhea Hubbard talks about what's making the system harder to access and what needs to change.

David Suzuki says the fight against climate change may already be lost. If that's true, what comes next for Canada and the world? Stephen Quinn explores those questions with Suzuki and climate policy expert Seth Klein.

The chief justice of the British Columbia Supreme Court has written a notice to let people know about upcoming disruption.Chief Justice Ron Skolrood says all criminal trials that were to take place in Vancouver, Abbotsford, Chilliwack and New Westminster during the FIFA World Cup next year will have to be rescheduled.Premier Eby says disruption can be expected with an event that will bring millions of people to B.C. But others feel the province should be better prepared.For more we are speaking with the B.C. Conservatives Attorney General Critic, Steve Kooner on this episode of This is Vancouver.

After more than four decades of learning and sharing the stories of the Stó:lō people in the Fraser Valley, Sonny McHalsie is retiring. But the places remain, and the field work continues by others who work at the Stó:lō Research and Resource Management Centre.And although he's retiring, in this episode we learn that Sonny McHalsie still has a lot of stories left to learn and share.

Industrial land may not be a flashy issue, but it’s central to B.C.’s economy. It's so important that some companies are moving operations due to a shortage of that land in Metro Vancouver. The CBC's Caroline Chan explores the extent of the issue and what it means for local jobs.

Son of Air India Flight 182 victim and RCMP counter-terrorism specialist Susheel Gupta talks about the bombing of 40 years ago and how it influenced his mission at the RCMP.

It's been 35 years since the landmark Sparrow Decision — a legal case that reshaped how Canada recognizes Indigenous fishing rights. Lawyer Aaron Wilson, a relative of Bud Sparrow, joins Stephen Quinn to reflect on its lasting impact in the Lower Mainland and beyond.

Surrey businesses say extortion threats are on the rise. But what’s driving the crime and what will it take to effectively address the problem? Stephen Quinn hears from Police Chief Norm Lipinski, food-bank founder and entrepreneur Jay Minhas, and former public-safety minister Kash Heed.

From discounted train tickets to dumpling trails and Shakespeare in the park, we're exploring how tourism leaders are inviting locals to experience the Lower Mainland. We hear from Tourism Richmond, Tourism Squamish, and Bard on the Beach. 

It was a plan that was supposed to meet the needs of West Vancouver residents' growing interest in pickleball. But the redevelopment plans of a skate park in Gleneagles have pitted the needs of pickleball players and skateboarders against one another, leading to a failed motion at a West Vancouver council meeting this week. Our CBC News story producer Alan Regan joins us with more.

An emergency room doctor is suing Fraser Health, alleging unsafe conditions and efforts to silence staff at Eagle Ridge Hospital. CBC investigative reporter Michelle Ghoussoub explains why Dr. Kaitlin Stockton is speaking out. Plus, we hear reaction from the president of Doctors of B.C.

Vancouver City Council has rejected a motion to revive the city's renter office — a service once dedicated to helping tenants navigate their rights. Councillor Lucy Maloney explains why she pushed to bring it back and what’s at stake for renters now. 

The province announced a new initiative that will help fund more resources for police around B.C. to tackle street crime and disorder. Guest host Lyndsay Duncombe speaks to Landon Hoyt, the executive director of Hastings Crossing Business Improvement Association which covers the Downtown Eastside. He says this is only part of the solution.

As Vancouver hosts the Web Summit, Indigenous leaders are pushing the boundaries of innovation. Stephen Quinn speaks with three changemakers bringing Indigenous wisdom into the world of AI, infrastructure, and startups.

Metro Vancouver’s regional government is facing growing scrutiny after a $3.86 billion wastewater project went off the rails. So what would it take to make the system work better? Stephen Quinn speaks with Metro Board Chair Mike Hurley and former B.C. Premier Mike Harcourt about the calls for change.

Vancouver has a new top cop. Chief Constable Steve Rai steps into the role with decades of experience — and big challenges ahead. Sergeant Steve Addison of the VPD joins Stephen Quinn to talk about what’s next for the city’s police force.

It's the time of year that school districts are approving their budgets for next year. But many are seeing a shortfall. Story producer Caroline Chan spoke with stakeholders about why that is.

UBC graduate Brendan Liaw talks to Stephen Quinn about competing on Jeopardy and what it meant to him.

Vancouver city councillor Peter Meiszner put forward a motion to put up a permanent sign at Canada Place that bore the city's name. City of Vancouver staff released a report detailing the costs to install and maintain, which adds up to more than $300,000 and $50,000 per year to maintain. Along with contributions from private partners, the overall cost of the sign is between $550,000 to $1 million.

B.C Ferries is ramping up for another busy long weekend and summer to follow. We hear from ferry goers at the Horseshoe Bay terminal in West Vancouver. Then, we speak with Gibsons Mayor Silas White about a meeting with Premier Eby over ferries. Lastly, Stephen speaks with Diana Mumford, a Sechelt resident and former Southern Sunshine Coast Ferry Advisory Committee chair, about the new summer schedule.

A former Ontario attorney general has been appointed to help fix issues in the Downtown Eastside. But his role as a consultant is raising questions. He was installed in the position in February with little public announcement and a six-month contract worth $150,000. We speak to Conservative MLA Trevor Halford and First United’s Amanda Burrows about his appointment.

Former Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson is back in the spotlight — this time as Canada’s new federal housing minister. But critics say he helped drive up housing costs in Vancouver. So can Robertson help fix the crisis on a national scale? Urban design professor Patrick Condon weighs in.

With 28 new residents arriving every day, Surrey is on track to become B.C.'s largest city. However, its school board is warning of deep cuts and overcrowding. We talk to the board chair about budget shortfalls, the impact on students, and what's being done in response. 

A second fire at Silverlynn Apartments has displaced dozens of North Vancouver seniors, just as some were preparing to return after a previous blaze. Host Stephen Quinn speaks with District of North Vancouver Mayor Mike Little about what comes next — and why the need for affordable seniors housing has never been more urgent.

For the first time in history, the Catholic Church has elected a pope from the United States. Pope Leo XIV, born in Chicago and shaped by missionary work in Latin America, now steps into a global role. Archbishop J. Michael Miller of Vancouver joins Stephen Quinn to discuss what it means for the Church.

We hear more about a CBC News investigation into an overdose death at a supportive housing facility in Surrey, where the woman's body was not discovered for 11 days. And the family was only informed of that weeks later. Stephen talks to Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon about the case and and what steps the province is taking to stop people from dying in care.

Jodie Martinson from CBC BC's Investigative Unit details a series of overdose deaths at the Foxglove building complex care site in Surrey, where a woman was found 11 days after her death.

Stephen talks to vice president Melissa De Genova about what considerations the Italian Day Festival is taking security-wise after the tragedy at the Lapu-Lapu Festival last month.