

This is Vancouver
CBC
Your connection to the issues and stories shaping life in Metro Vancouver. Hosted by Stephen Quinn, with new episodes every Tuesday and Wednesday, plus a Thursday dive into city politics with Justin McElroy.
Episodes
Mentioned books

May 12, 2025 • 8min
Where will North Vancouver seniors go after second apartment fire?
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.

May 9, 2025 • 8min
What does a new pope mean to Catholics in Vancouver?
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.

May 8, 2025 • 13min
What's the province doing to protect people living in supportive housing and complex care?
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.

May 7, 2025 • 10min
Death in complex 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.

May 6, 2025 • 8min
How are community festivals changing their security plans, in light of the Lapu Lapu Day festival tragedy?
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.

May 5, 2025 • 15min
How is the recent dry weather affecting our water and wildfire forecast?
Water restrictions are in effect in Metro Vancouver as climate change is making dry and wet periods less predictable. Linda Parkinson with Metro Vancouver Water Services talks about what they're forecasting. Meanwhile, there's been increased wildfire activity across B.C.'s northeast with several new incidences popping up near Prince George. Chair of UBC Centre for Wildfire Coexistence, Lori Daniels talks about why we're seeing so many active fires at this time of year.

May 2, 2025 • 17min
How is the community coming together to mark the provincial day of remembrance and mourning in light of the Lapu-Lapu festival tragedy?
MLA Mable Elmore was one of the first people on the scene after a driver allegedly drove his vehicle into a crowd last Saturday at the Lapu-Lapu Festival in Vancouver. 11 people were killed and more were injured. She reflects on the events and how the community is coming together. Stephen Quinn also talks to registered clinical counsellor Devine Calanog about dealing with grief especially in light of such a big tragedy.

May 1, 2025 • 16min
Can mandatory care and bail reform prevent future violence?
In the aftermath of the fatal incident at the Lapu-Lapu Day festival, Mayor Ken Sim is pushing for changes to mental health care and bail laws. Stephen Quinn talks to Jonny Morris of the Canadian Mental Health Association and Adam Dalrymple of the BC Crown Counsel Association about what those changes might bring.

Apr 30, 2025 • 22min
How can tragedies like the Lapu Lapu Day ramming be prevented in the future?
Questions are being asked to officials about how a 30-year-old Vancouver man fell through the cracks in the mental health system to allegedly commit a deadly act of violence, killing 11 people with his vehicle at the Lapu Lapu Day Festival in Vancouver on Saturday. Stephen Quinn talks to B.C. Conservative mental health critic and former RCMP officer, Eleanor Sturko. We also go to a press conference with Vancouver mayor Ken Sim who provided some new details about the attack and said he city needs to find a way to keep people safe when a mental heath issue becomes a public safety issue and wrapped things up with CBC reporter Chad Pawson.

Apr 29, 2025 • 7min
Who were some of the people killed in the Lapu Lapu Day tragedy?
CBC reporter Jon Hernandez speaks to friends of some of the people who were killed on Saturday at the Lapu Lapu Day festival in Vancouver. So far, a school counsellor in New Westminster and a family-of-three have been identified when a vehicle drove into a crowd at the festival, killing 11 people and sending dozens to hospital.


