This is Vancouver

<p>Your connection to the issues and stories facing people across Vancouver. Host Stephen Quinn is your guide. Episodes drop weekly.</p>

The Pitch, Episode 1: How an aging B.C. Place is preparing to host seven games at the 2026 World Cup

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is coming to Vancouver, bringing seven games, major upgrades, and big expectations. CBC’s Laurence Watt and Zameer Karim join Stephen Quinn to launch The Pitch: Vancouver’s Road to the 2026 World Cup and explore what it will take to get the city ready — from BC Place renovations to the broader challenges of hosting a global event.

10-09
20:30

Why Are Vancouver Police Overtime Costs Soaring?

Overtime pay for Vancouver police has jumped more than 50% in three years, with some officers making six figures on top of their salary. Reporter Liam Britten joins host Stephen Quinn to break down the numbers, the political pressure on Mayor Ken Sim, and what it could mean for the city’s budget.

10-07
23:45

Mayor Ken Sim wants a zero per cent tax increase - but at what cost to city services?

Vancouver’s mayor wants a zero per cent property tax increase in 2026, but that means cutting $100 million from the city’s budget. We hear from councillors and our municipal affairs reporter about the proposal.

10-02
25:00

How effective will the province's plan to implement involuntary care be to alleviate crime and get people unable to care from themselves off the street?

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.

10-01
28:51

Who will challenge Ken Sim in Vancouver’s next mayoral race?

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. 

09-25
11:38

Why was Elenore Sturko kicked out of the B.C. Conservatives — and where does the party go from here?

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.

09-23
20:15

Can Vancouver solve its hotel crunch without upsetting residents?

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.

09-18
11:04

How should Vancouver balance access and preservation in Stanley Park?

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.

09-16
12:54

What will a new policing district mean for the Downtown Eastside?

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.

09-11
15:25

What led the Park Board to replace a holiday fundraiser with a Harry Potter attraction?

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.

09-09
22:23

How are teachers preparing to handle cell phones and AI this school year?

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.

09-02
27:05

Will staggered schedules and hybrid classes be enough to fix Surrey’s overcrowding problem?

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. 

08-28
33:08

How can there be so many Sockeye — and so much frustration?

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.

08-26
27:49

Sex workers face uncertainty after closure of support centres

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.

08-21
22:13

Can Canada really build its way out of the housing crisis?

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.

08-19
28:48

Cowichan Tribes v Canada ruling

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.

08-14
23:18

Housing in the news -- Debating foreign buyer bans and turning a supportive housing project into a sober facility.

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. 

08-12
20:46

What’s behind the Emergency Room closures in Delta and Mission?

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. 

08-07
16:46

Why is homelessness rising in Metro Vancouver?

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.

08-05
18:37

What will Thomas Muller bring to the Vancouver Whitecaps?

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.

07-31
08:36

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