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!

Chelsea Novak

Chelsea Novak is a freelance writer and editor working in Vancouver. She also blogs for Paper Droids.

Confusion surrounds the city's Regional Context Statement

On Tuesday, Vancouver city council voted to refer the Regional Context Statement Development Plan to a public hearing on June 11th. Following the public hearing, council will vote again on whether or...

Vancouver city council talks Digital Strategy and snow removal

The regular Vancouver city council meeting of Tuesday, April 9, 2013 came to order at 9:36am.  Councillor Tony Tang gave the welcome and read a poem by A.E. Housman about cherry blossoms. He...

City council remembers Stompin' Tom Connors and votes on Chinatown development

The regular Vancouver city council meeting of March 12, 2013 came to order at 9:37 pm. Councillor Geoff Meggs gave the welcome and read Vancouver Poet Laureate Evelyn Lau’s poem “Living Under Plastic...

City council votes on fireworks and West End development

The regular Vancouver city council meeting of February 26, 2013 came to order at 9:35am. Councillor Andrea Reimer gave the welcome and began by acknowledging the Coast Salish peoples, whose unceded...

Vancouver city council gets report card on housing and homelessness

The regular meeting of the Vancouver city council meeting on February 12, 2013 came to order at 9:40am. Councillor Tim Stevenson gave the welcome. He outlined the history of Chinese-Canadians and...

City Council discusses missing women and food strategy

Vancouver city council’s regular meeting of January 29, 2013 came to order at 9:36am. Councillor Heather Deal gave the welcome and talked about the “doldrums” that tend to hit people this time of...

City council protects the Waldorf and gets a visit from Port Metro Vancouver

The regular Vancouver city council meeting of January 15, 2013 came to order at 9:35 am. Councillor Kerry Jang gave the welcome and wished everyone a happy new year. He talked about New Year’s...

Vancouver City Council votes on 2013 budget and talks bullying

The regular Vancouver City Council meeting of Tuesday, November 11, 2012 came to order at 9:37 am. Councillor Raymond Louie gave the welcome and acknowledged that Monday, November 10, 2012 was the...

City Hall updates: utility rate increases, Vancouver's Olympians and Paralympians

The regular Vancouver city council meeting of November 27, 2012 came to order at 9:45am. Councillor Adriane Carr gave the welcome and acknowledged that it would have been Amanda Todd’s sixteenth...

Council discusses rezoning of the Old Stock Exchange Building

The regular Vancouver city council meeting of November 13, 2012 came to order at 9:38am. Councillor George Affleck gave the greeting. He spoke about Remembrance Day and community service. He then...