Vancouver Rundown

Thousands of people marched through downtown Vancouver Sunday in support of Iranian protestors. Police say close to 15,000 people gathered around the Vancouver Art Galley - their main demand is an end to Iran’s current Islamic regime. This latest rally comes as people across Canada and around the world show support for those in Iran, many of whom are being persecuted for showing opposition to the government.

B.C. Premier David Eby says Albertan separatists who went to Washington D.C. are ‘engaging in treason.’ That statement is being blasted by many politicians including Alberta Premier Daniel Smith who says she won’t demonize the nearly one million people in her province who are open to separation. Eby is backing up his treason remark saying the group is going to a foreign country to ask for help in breaking up Canada which is treasonous activity and needs to be called-out and stopped. The group Stay Free Alberta is trying to get 178,000 signatures to force a vote on separation.

Much of the B.C. South Coast is under a rainfall warning as a warm, wet front hits the province. Yellow alerts are posted and areas including Vancouver, the North Shore, Burnaby, Coquitlam and Maple Ridge. They could be hit by 120mm of rain by Friday. High winds are also expected with gusts of up to 90 km/h possible. The warning comes at the end of a month that was far dryer and warmer than usual.

BC Green Party Leader Emily Lowan is among those calling for a boycott of Save-On-Foods and other Pattison companies over a possible U.S. real estate deal with ICE. Word of a boycott is spreading on social media after stories surfaced on the weekend reporting a Pattison-owned real estate company may sell a warehouse in Virginia to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. ICE says it hopes to use that warehouse as a processing facility for its operations. Lowan’s boycott call is mixed with an unrelated statement about food prices including those at other Canadian grocery chains.

The basement of a home in Kitsilano has exploded. Vancouver Fire Rescue was called to reports of a building collapse at Macdonald Street and West 6 Avenue just before 6:00 Monday evening - what they found was a fire started by an explosion in the basement of a house. Two people are displaced but there’s no indication of any injuries. The suspected cause is not being reported.

Slow, expensive and not sustainable - those are some of the words being used to describe the workarounds with the ongoing closure of the only bridge linking Westham Island to the rest of Delta and the Lower Mainland. TransLink, which owns the bridge, says damage from a barge strike last week is worse than earlier thought. There is still no word on when the bridge will re-open. Meantime, farmers continue to scramble to get produce to market. The City of Delta has arranged barge service to get some vehicles and farm equipment across the water. Delta is also applying to have the province declare the situation a local state of emergency.

Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke is calling on the federal government to appoint an ‘extortion czar’ do deal with her city’s rapid increase in shootings. She says there’s a need for a full-scale national initiative to stop the violence. The call comes as Surrey and other communities continue to deal with an escalation in extortion cases aimed at the South Asian business community and linked to organized crime. Locke says the system is broader than just policing - any mandate should examine weak links in Canada’s criminal, immigration and citizenship systems.

An RCMP remark saying the extortion related violence in Surrey is ‘not a crisis’ has come under fire by Premier David Eby and city leaders. Eby, Mayor Brenda Locke and Councillor Mandeep Nagra are expressing concern after Assistant Commissioner John Brewer denied the issue is a crisis and said those suggestions undermine public confidence amid escalating gun violence. Eby says Brewer might not be the right person to head the extortion task force if he feels that way. Homes and businesses in Surrey are now being hit by extortion-connected gunfire several times a week. On Saturday, those inside a home near Bear Creek Park returned gunfire during an attack.

Premier David Eby says B.C. will revise its Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act - or DRIPA - to reduce the power of the courts. Eby has told those attending a Tuesday evening conference in Prince George recent court decisions have caused confusion over the act. He says reconciliation is the business of government to government negotiations and not for the courts to take over. The NDP government has been under pressure from the BC Conservatives to completely repeal the act.

Vancouver International has experienced numerous delays and some cancellations due to the heavy fog that’s blanketed the Lower Mainland. Travelers are being advised to check their flights - both arrivals and departures have been impacted. Periods of fog are expected through Wednesday.

Expect more dense fog around the Lower Mainland and Southern Vancouver Island - a fog advisory remains in place for Monday and Tuesday. A high pressure system is holding moisture near the ground, a continued problem for many drivers in areas like Delta, Surrey, Langley, Abbotsford and Richmond. Weather conditions are expected to change by Wednesday.

A Maple Ridge city councillor is charged with four counts of sexual assault. A special prosecutor has laid the counts against Ahmed Yousef who was first elected to council in 2018. Yousef was forced to step down in May after being charged with other offences including assault and firearms counts. In recent months, Yousef has been active on social media promoting men’s rights in areas of family law. He’s active with the Canadian Centre for Men and Families. In the 2021 federal election, Yousef ran for the Liberals in Pitt Meadows-Maple Ridge but placed a distant third.

B.C. is ending its public drug use pilot project which allowed users to consume small amounts of hard drugs without the fear of arrest. Health Minister Josie Osborne admits it’s clear the project wasn’t working. The provincial government introduced the approach, three years ago, as a way to reduce the stigma while encouraging drug users to get treatment. Critics have complained about an increase in needles found in public places such as school yards and beaches.

A man has been found shot dead on a rural property in South Surrey. Surrey Police say they were called to the property on 176 Street near 36 Avenue during the noon hour on Tuesday. A burned vehicle was later discovered a few blocks away. There are no obvious links between this shooting and other recent violence in the area.

It’s Science World meets the Vancouver Aquarium - that’s how some people are describing a newly announced 49M revamp of North Vancouver’s Capilano River Hatchery. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans is rebuilding the facility, originally built in 1971. The new hatchery will be brought to seismic standards while continuing to serve as the flagship of the Pacific salmon enhancement program. The hatchery has been an iconic tourist and education attraction for millions of visitors since its inception.

An evacuation alert has been issued by the Fraser Valley Regional District for parts of the Chilliwack River Valley. People have been told to by ready to leave the area due to concerns over possible flooding. The alert comes as much of the B.C. Lower Mainland and South Coast remain under a heavy rainfall warning - a yellow alert. Up to 150 mm of rain is expected in some areas by Monday night as the region continues to get hit by an atmospheric river.

B.C. faces the prospects of weak financial growth in 2026 according to a new report by Deloitte Canada. The forecast is for 1.6 GDP growth as the province’s forestry sector continues to struggle. That comes despite an expected increase in LNG exports tied to the new terminal project in Prince Rupert. Alberta and Saskatchewan are each expected to have 2.1 per cent GDP growth. Overall, Canada’s growth is expected to be 1.5 per cent as the country struggles with U.S. tariffs.

Say goodbye to the London Drugs location on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. The B.C. based chain says it’s closing the iconic Woodward’s location at the end of the month due to ongoing problems with crime and violence. President and CEO Clint Mahlman calls it a very difficult decision, noting the location continues to struggle. He says there’s a transition plan for staff. The location has lost more than $10M in its 15 years at the site of the old Woodward’s department store.

Refineries, not pipelines! That’s what B.C. Premier David Eby says should be the priority as the U.S. appears poised to takeover Venezuelan oil exports. Eby says if Canada has billions of dollars to spend it should go toward developing oil products for this country and for exports. The premier is holding firm on his opposition to building a new northern pipeline saying Trans Mountain to Burnaby is not at full capacity. Almost 90 per cent of Alberta’s oilsands exports currently go to the U.S.

Most of the South Coast is under a heavy rainfall warning as a system in the Gulf of Alaska heads south. As much as 50mm is expected to fall in some areas on Tuesday. Meanwhile, those on the North Shore mountains are bracing for snow. A snowfall warning is in effect for the Sea-to-Sky Highway for those heading between Squamish and Whistler. Drier weather is expected toward the end of the week.

My thanks to the many loyal readers and podcast listeners and a special thanks to those who have supported this effort through a paid subscription and/or donation. You’ve made Vancouver Rundown a huge success over the past year - reader and listener growth has more than doubled in 2025. Vancouver Rundown is now on a break but will resume publication Tuesday January 6, 2026. Happy Holidays. - Bruce

Boxing Day - that’s the new ‘best guess’ estimate as to when Highway 3 will reopen between Hope and Princeton. Flood-damage will take months to repair but the Ministry of Transportation expects to build a temporary detour in the area with a 30 km/h speed limit. Until Friday, drivers will still have to take Highway 5 to get to the Southern Interior.

Heavy rain, strong winds and even some high elevation snow is expected to continue into the weekend as B.C.’s South Coast copes with more stormy weather. A wind advisory has been posted for eastern parts of the Fraser Valley. Isolated flooding is still possible in areas around the Chilliwack River. Meanwhile, those heading into the B.C. Interior could still find challenges - Highway 3 remains closed between Hope and Manning Park due to flood damage. Snow and blowing snow can be expected on the Coquihalla Highway and parts of Highway One through the Fraser Canyon.

Crews have restored power to tens of thousands of homes and businesses in the Lower Mainland. A windstorm that started Tuesday night and continued into Wednesday morning across southern B.C., knocked out power to close to 120,000 BC Hydro customers. Winds hit over 100 km/h in several areas causing trees and branches to come down on numerous roads and power lines from Vancouver Island through to the West Kootenay. Meanwhile, all remaining flood evacuation orders have been cancelled in Abbotsford. Those living on Sumas Prairie are now allowed to go home as flooding subsides. The BC River Forecast Centre has downgrading its flood warning to a high stream advisory.

Heavy rain that continued into early Wednesday morning is putting a damper on efforts to recover from flooding on the South Coast. Close to 1200 properties remain on evacuation alert - 100 are on evacuation order. While flood waters started to recede in most areas on Tuesday, downpours continued into Tuesday night. Highway 3 remains closed from Hope to Manning Park due to landslide damage. A few thousand BC Hydro customers remain without power after strong winds on Monday and Tuesday.Meanwhile, the rain swollen Coquihalla River has cut a new channel through the golf course in Hope. Those at the Hope Golf and Country Club estimate up to 15 per cent of the course has been washed away by recent flooding. Hole No.7 is an island. A dollar cost damage assessment has not yet been made.

Close to 90,000 BC Hydro customers were left without power at the height of Monday’s windstorm on the South Coast. About 50,0000 of those were on the Sunshine Coast and Lower Mainland - the rest on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. The hardest hit areas included parts of Hope, Chilliwack, Langley, Maple Ridge, Duncan, Victoria and Qualicum. At one point, downed tree limbs cut off vehicle access to Fraser Canyon Hospital in Hope.Meanwhile, a woman is dead after being hit by a falling tree near Chilliwack. RCMP say she was walking with two young children at Island 22 Monday afternoon when a wind gust brought down the tree. Victim Services has been called in to help the family.

More flooding is still possible and Fraser Valley residents are being told to prepare. The impact of a weather system that hit Sunday night is now triggering new concerns about creeks, rivers and low lying areas. Flood warnings remain in place for the Chilliwack and Sumas Rivers and up to 70mm or rain could fall in some areas by the end of Monday. That has police and local governments concerned as areas from Abbotsford east beyond Manning Park continue to recover from last week’s atmospheric river. The Ministry of Emergency Management says drivers and residents need to brace for the next round of stormy weather.

Highway One has been closed between Whatcom Road and Sumas Way as Abbotsford continues to deal with expanding flood waters from the Nooksack River, south of the border. Detours have been in effect. Even though the torrential rain eased-off on Thursday, new evacuation orders have been issued late Thursday for a few Abbotsford properties including the Clarion Hotel. Close to 1,500 properties on Sumas Prairie remain under an evacuation order.Meanwhile, two U.S. Coast Guard helicopters have been used to rescue stranded residents in Sumas, Washington, just south of Abbotsford. Those on a MH-60 Jayhawk and a MH-65 Dolphin conducted a long-line rescue for four people stranded near the Huntingdon-Sumas border late Thursday afternoon after flood waters reached chest-deep levels. Sumas Mayor Bruce Bosch says a Friday assessment will determine if this flood is worse than the one in 2021.

Thursday will be an assessment and recovery day after torrential rains caused Fraser Valley flooding and cut three highway routes between the B.C. Interior and the Lower Mainland. Heavy rains triggered a handful of evacuation orders in areas including the Chilliwack River Valley. Evacuation alerts had been issued for other areas including Abbotsford’s Clayburn Village and Sumas Prairie West. Access to the Huntingdon-Sumas border crossing remained closed except for local residents. Small slides, flooding and hazardous conditions are responsible for closing many of the main out-of-town highways. As of Wednesday night, Highway One had been closed heading east at Highway 9 and also between Hope and Lytton. Other closures included the Hope-Princeton Highway, the Coquihalla Highway between Hope and Merritt and even the Lougheed Highway west of Hope. Meanwhile, the flood siren at the City Hall in Sumas, Washington has been going off as Whatcom County deals with numerous problems relating to the overflowing Nooksack River. Water has been flowing over Main Street in Everson and Mount Baker Highway has been closed at Silver Lake. Close to 100,000 people in Western Washington are subject to evacuation alerts or orders.

Rain and flood advisories have been posted for much of the south coast as stormy weather is expected to continue through Wednesday. The heaviest downpours are expected in eastern parts of the Fraser Valley, Skagit Valley and Manning Park - orange rainfall warnings are in effect and localized flooding is expected. The atmospheric river should ease off by late Wednesday night.

stal̕əw̓asəm Bridge - that is the name for the Fraser River crossing that will replace the Pattullo Bridge. The B.C. government along with local indigenous leaders made the announcement saying the name has been bestowed by both the Musqueam and Kwantlen people. stal̕əw̓asəm means a space where you can view the river. The new $1.6B Pattullo replacement is expected to gradually open, starting Dec. 24.

Several parts of B.C. are being hit by stormy weather with more expected through late Monday night. Snowfall warnings are posted for much of the Peace Country with up to 20 cm expected. A winter storm warning is also in effect for parts of the Southern Interior with drivers being urged to avoid Highway 3 through Kootenay Pass. The Lower Mainland will be hit with very heavy rain with up to 70mm expected by Monday night. Environment Canada is warning people to avoid pooling water. Strong wind is also expected in many areas of Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley.

A day after defying those who fired him, John Rustad has resigned as the BC Conservative leader. Rustad says fighting for his title would only create a civil war within the party. The move comes after more than 20 Conservative MLAs reportedly signed a letter demanding his resignation - a move that prompted the party to tap MLA Trevor Halford as interim leader. Halford says he has no intention of seeking the job permanently.

John Rustad has been fired as leader of the BC Conservatives according to his own party. The party’s board has issued a statement saying Rustad has been removed as leader because he lost the confidence of the majority of caucus. Surrey-White Rock MLA Trevor Halford has been named by the party as the interim leader. Rustad remains defiant saying he is still the leader.

Vancouver Island’s Crofton pulp mill will permanently closed. Pulp and Paper company Domtar says the mill will shut down Dec. 15. Close to 350 jobs will be lost. The news comes after the recent closure of the nearby Western Forest Products Mill that resulted in 150 layoffs. North Cowichan Mayor Rob Douglas has a Wednesday meeting with Premier David Eby and two cabinet ministers to discuss next steps.

David Eby may be backing down on his hard stance, opposing another oil pipeline to the West Coast. Speaking on CTV’s Question Period, the B.C. Premier says his anxiety is centered on removing the north coast oil tanker ban. That comment paves the way for discussions about a southern route. The BC Conservatives accuse Eby of flip-flopping on the pipeline issue, demanding the premier make up his mind.

Indigenous groups remain split on whether to support Alberta’s Memorandum of Understanding with the feds on a new oil pipeline to the West Coast. The Confederacy of Treaty 6 First Nations says it’s disappointed it was not included at the decision-making table. The Confederacy’s Treaty covers a large portion of the proposed pipeline route. Meanwhile, the Coastal First Nations in B.C. says it remains opposed to any exemption for a tanker ban. The federal government says it has support from Indigenous groups which would see co-ownership and economic benefits.

A distraction from real projects - that’s how David Eby describes a Memorandum of Understanding between Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Prime Minister Mark Carney. The two leaders announced a deal that would pave the way for a new oil pipeline to the West Coast. Premier Eby remains opposed to any new bitumen pipeline or removal of a ban on oil tankers along the north coast. Eby also says there is no proponent, no route, no money and no First Nation support. B.C. was excluded from final talks between the PM and Alberta.

The Vancouver Celebration of Light fireworks competition has been permanently cancelled. Organizers announced the end of the long standing summer event blaming rising costs and declining government investment and private sponsorship. They say the decision is disappointing but the numbers just don’t add up. In 2000, the fireworks competition came close to being axed after Benson and Hedges pulled out due to changes in rules around tobacco advertising.

Job losses and cuts to programs are coming as the City of Vancouver pushes ahead with its zero per cent property tax increase. Mayor Ken Sim and his ABC councillors have voted as promised, after a series of sharp increases over the past three years. The tax freeze has the support of Greater Vancouver Board of Trade and several other business improvement and hospitality groups. Meanwhile,The price tag for a new amphitheatre at the PNE has almost tripled to $184M. The City blames the huge cost increase on rising construction prices, building materials and challenging ground and soil conditions. It’s hoped the outdoor theatre will be ready in time to host some events connected to Vancouver’s portion of the FIFA World Cup.

Two Surrey Police officers are hurt after crashing their cruiser and a suspect remains at large following an injury shooting west of Whalley Sunday evening. Police say the suspect fired multiple rounds at a home on 101B Avenue just after 9:00 p.m. A woman is expected to recover after being hit. Police admit two officers were hurt after their cruiser hit another vehicle while responding to the scene with lights and siren on. Police are not saying whether this latest incident is related to any ongoing extortion investigation.

The hunt continues for three grizzlies believed responsible for a brutal attack on a group, including elementary school students, in Bella Coola on Thursday. Three students and a teacher were injured when the bears attacked 11 people on a trail just outside the community. No decision has been made on what to do with the bears once they’re tracked down.

An instructor at Langara College who was fired after praising the pro-Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel two years ago has won her job back. An arbitrator has reinstated Natalie Knight and told the college she should be ‘made whole’ for the loss of compensation. Three weeks after the Oct. 7, 2023 assault, Knight told anti-Israeli demonstrators at the Vancouver Art Gallery the attacks were '“an amazing, brilliant offensive.” Her comments sparked outrage in the Vancouver Jewish community. Knight was put on paid leave and later fired after making more remarks in support of Hamas. The Langara Faculty Association backed Knight citing a tolerance for all views.

Ten people have been arrested by authorities in Canada and the U.S. in an effort to find and prosecute a former Olympic snowboarder turned alleged drug kingpin who grew up in Coquitlam. The FBI has placed Ryan Wedding on its Top 10 Most Wanted list saying the Canadian fugitive runs a violent, international drug ring. Wedding is hiding in Mexico - there’s a multimillion dollar reward for his capture and prosecution. FBI director Kash Patel calls him a modern day Pablo Escobar.

Single Room Occupancy hotels on Granville Street are a failed experiment - that’s the word from the Hospitality Vancouver Association after a man was stabbed to death on Monday. The HVA says the so-called SROs are dangerous and unstable and the group is again calling for the 300 low cost rental units to be permanently closed. A man died in hospital after being stabbed on Granville at Helmcken - no arrests have been made.

The cash-strapped City of Vancouver is considering digital billboards at key locations to generate revenue. The proposed idea comes as Mayor Ken Sim promises a zero per cent property tax increase. Suggested locations for the largest billboards include the Oak Street and Ironworkers Memorial bridges, Southeast Marine Drive near Knight Street, Expo Boulevard and McGill Street. The City is seeking interest from advertisers before pushing ahead with the idea.

David Eby has a been given a strong endorsement from his party to continue as leader of the NDP. Members who cast a ballot have voted over 82 per cent against holding a leadership review. The premier admits his party has to do a better job of supporting grassroots members. He also promises his party will always support collective bargaining. Eby used his appearance at the NDP’s convention to promise a better future for the province based on several high profile natural resource projects.

BCGEU members have voted 89 per cent in favour of ratifying their contract deal with the provincial government. The four year agreement ended a public service strike that lasted eight weeks. Workers will get a 12 per cent wage increase over the life of the deal as well as improvements to vision care and counselling benefits. The B.C. government remains in negotiations with nurses and teachers who are both working with expired contracts.

Police now confirm it was an eight year old girl who fell to her death from a balcony in Vancouver’s Yaletown on Tuesday afternoon. It happened at the luxury high rise, known as the Arc, at about 2:30. The young girl died at the scene. Police are still trying to figure out the circumstances.

At least 19 birds have now died at an Okanagan sanctuary hit by Avian flu. Critteraid, which adopts birds, pets and farm animals, says those deaths include a rooster, ten chickens, ducks and other birds. Avian flu was first confirmed on Oct. 29 and the farm has been closed to the public ever since. The operators continue to cooperate with the CFIA, Interior Health and other authorities.