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!
Wes Regan is the Director of Simon Fraser University's Community Economic Development Programs. Wes has worked in local government, post-secondary and the non-profit sector in public policy, sustainable community economic development and community engagement since 2009. He was the incorporating Executive Director of the Hastings Crossing Business Improvement Association, Canada's first Social Innovation BIA and as a past Federal Candidate he serves on the Green Party of Canada's Federal Shadow Cabinet as the Party Critic for Urban Affairs and Housing. His thoughts on urban affairs, economic development, public policy and Canadian politics have appeared in the National Observer and Vancouver Observer, the Georgia Straight, the Province and other publications. Wes has provided commentary and analysis on radio and televised news broadcasts and speaks regularly in the U.S. and Canada on these and other issues.
He holds degrees in geography and urban geography from Langara College and Simon Fraser University where he also completed the SFU Certificate for CED Professionals before becoming an instructor, and eventually Director of the program. Wes is scheduled to defend his Graduate Thesis in Urban Studies at SFU in November of 2016. His thesis is titled Density and Diversity: Examining the impacts of mixed-use real estate development on the retail culture of Vancouver's Main Street 2007-2016
If the Province wants small businesses on-side for $15 minimum wage, it should take seriously the crisis of affordability facing small businesses caused by real estate speculation
In my opinion, Bill C-51 is not a response to terror. This bill is "fear itself." Across Canada on March 14, Canadians will come out to show courage and strength and protest Bill C-51.
Still undecided about who to vote for? Second guessing yourself? Who really influences and inspires those candidates who are running for a seat in Vancouver's City Hall?
"Yes, the long memory is the most radical idea in this country. It is the loss of that long memory which deprives our people of that connective flow of thoughts and events that clarifies our vision,...
Retail gentrification is causing tension and concern in Vancouver's communities as development continues to displace local serving, locally owned, independent businesses. What can the City do?
