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!

English Bay

Ten charges laid in oil spill that fouled English Bay beaches in Vancouver

Charges have been laid against the owners of the MV Marathassa nearly two years after a leak of bunker fuel fouled the beaches of English Bay in Vancouver, but the company is trying to scuttle the...

Grey whale in English Bay

A grey whale that showed up in English Bay this week has Vancouverites buzzing. A Vancouver Observer reader shot a video of the cetacean swimming near Jericho Beach. "I actually stopped because I...
English Bay, English Bay spill, Canadian Coast Guard, WCMRC, Marine response

Canada's oil spill response needs a review, Master Mariner says

Editor's Note: Captain Mal Walsh is a Master Mariner from Comox, B.C. He has over 40 years of experience in the international oil exploration and shipping industry—both commanding...
English Bay oil spill, oil spill Vancouver,

As fuel spill pollutes beaches, destination of toxic material remains unclear

Nearly a full week after the toxic spill in English Bay, key details regarding the clean-up and disposal of contaminated articles remain unclear.  After the grain ship MV Marathassa ...

Mayor blames province and feds for slow response to English Bay spill

It took six hours for the Coast Guard to build a containment boom around a toxic spill at a deep-water anchorage off English Bay and 13 hours before City authorities were notified. Now the City of...

Mayor's statement on Vancouver fuel spill

Any spill of this nature is met with grave concern by all Vancouver residents, and underscores both the importance of robust oil spill response capacity in our local waters

Through the looking glass with the Dogwood Initiative

“The fate of these pipeline and oil tanker proposals is really up to us, the voters,” says Kai Nagata. 


Mustang Survival Corp partners with WorkSafeBC to improve high seas rescues

Mustang Survival Corp, embarked on a study to find ways to make the rescue process more effective.

Keep the "laughing statues", urges petition

Fourteen tall, bronze men glimmer in the Vancouver sun, overlooking the sea at English Bay. The statues, called "A-maze-ing Laughter", are one of the iconic sights in the city. You might have even...

Black history in Vancouver: Who was Joe Fortes?

February is Black History Month, and with it comes the tale of shipman, lifeguard and hero of the Bay, Seraphim "Joe" Fortes.