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!

Zakir Suleman

Zakir is currently the Project Director at the Belonging Project. The Belonging Project aims to explore what it takes to belong in Vancouver by presenting the  stories, struggles, and strategies of six first and second generation immigrants to Vancouver through its video series, social media campaign, and final art show.

He has volunteered with the Vancouver Folk Music Festival, the Britannia Community Center Planning and Development Committee, and Our Community Our Plan (A citizen focused neighbourhood planning group.) He has previously worked as an intern at the Vancouver Observer. He has been a voice on CBC Radio's On the Coast with Stephen Quinn and well as The Early Edition with Rick Cluff.

Having watched the city grow and change with him, Zakir is deeply interested in the changing geographies of Vancouver, and how climate change, ideological change, and the economy continue to shape the environment which he calls his home.

The Belonging Project explores what it takes to belong in Vancouver

The Belonging Project explores what it takes to belong in Vancouver by introducing viewers to their neighbours.

Tahltan Council to meet Fortune Mining presidents after Elders serve eviction notice

The Tahltan Frist Nation Central Council President will meet the President of Fortune Minerals to discuss the future of the mining projects in the area.  "Our people have been opposed to...

Images from Wednesday's Celebration of Light fireworks display

Unobstructed view of Wednesday's Celebration of Light fireworks display from the top of Maddox by Cressey situated in North False Creek. Photo by Adam Heimer.

Rumble on the Drive: Broadway and Commercial towers workshop leaves no one happy

Three people are trapped in a room full of angry Commercial Drive residents: a homeless man, a drug addict, and a developer. Which one’s still alive come morning? Amidst worries about the...

Confused by oil sands industry ads? A few helpful facts from Pembina Institute

When BC-based internet users seek out YouTube videos about the oil sands, they're likely to be confronted with ads like this one by British Columbians for International Prosperity (BC4IP), a 'citizen...

Watch: Dr. Tzeporah Berman's "barn-burning" speech from UBC 2013 convocation

In his introduction before conferring an honorary doctorate upon her, UBC president Stephen Toope described Tzeporah Berman as "principled and pragmatic." "Ms. Berman has at times been besieged...

Residents evacuated after sour gas leak

A sour gas pipeline near Turner Valley, Alberta, ruptured today, as major flooding continues to affect the area.  The release from the sour gas pipeline, owned by Legacy Oil and Gas Ltd., caused...

A Toxic Environment for Hope: the Problem of Youth Voter Apathy

The other day I found myself struck by a strangely piercing question: what does a broken record sound like? My family never having never owned a record player, and me not being into the vinyl...
Kinder Morgan pipeline spill

"No such thing as a pipeline that doesn't leak," CRED spokesperson says

The pipeline oil leak near Merritt, B.C. comes at a sensitive time for Kinder Morgan, as they seek to expand the TransMountain Pipeline to carry diluted bitumen From Strathcona County, AB to Burnaby...

It's all about cities' infrastucture at Federation of Canadian Municipalities Conference

As one self-professed “infrastructure junkie” put it: “I see a [water filtration center] and get excited. The majority of the Canadian public is disconnected from that.” The fact that new waste...