Eugene McCann

UDI posts photo of a swanky do full of business types under crystal chandeliers

So, last night the ruling ABC Vancouver party and mayor cut short a crucial public hearing by 4 hours so they could attend the Christmas party of the real estate developers' assn (UDI).

There was a motion to keep the hearing going, but they voted it down. #vanpoli. #vanre

speech to the Urban Development Institute, the asso‐ ciation representing the interests of the local develop‐ ment industry, noted developers’ worries about reduced opportunities for building lucrative residential condo towers in the central and western sectors of the down‐ town core. He laid out the City’s vision for facilitating simi‐ lar development in adjacent lower‐income historic neigh‐ bourhoods. “In simple terms, we’re looking to the east,” he proclaimed: We’re beginning to identify a different development potential….The areas of focus include: Gastown, Chinatown, even the Downtown Eastside, the False Creek Flats, and, of course, Southeast False Creek….Right now, we’re in the middle of framing a new Chinatown Plan….We’ve hired architects to generate different kinds of infill models in an historic setting—and this we will translate into new zoning and further incentives. We like to say we’re targeting 10,000 new people to live in a revitalized but well preserved Chinatown—including both market and non‐market housing. (Beasley, 2004, pp. 7–9) Beasley, L. (2004). Vancouver’s shift east: A new real‐ ity and new forms of development [Speech tran‐ script]. Price Tags. http://pricetags.files.wordpress. com/2012/05/price‐tags‐26.pdf Quoted in: Mahieus, L., & McCann, E. (2023). " Hot+ Noisy" Public Space: Conviviality," Unapologetic Asianness," and the Future of Vancouver’'s Chinatown. Urban Planning, 8(4), 77-88. https://www.cogitatiopress.com/urbanplanning/article/view/6527

ABC is the latest political face of Vancouver's growth machine (coalition of dvlpt interests). It's fitting that, back in 2004, a certain city planner chose a speech at a UDI event to direct developers eastward in the first place (quoted here: www.cogitatiopress.com/urbanplannin...) #vanpoli #vanre

ANALYSIS | How the City of Vancouver's deal with the Whitecaps could transform the Hastings Park area | CBC News The City of Vancouver’s history began with a land deal between a government desperate for a product and a private corporation with plenty of perceived leverage.

The focus of yesterday’s Whitecaps/City of Vancouver press conference was a new home for the team.

But if you looked closely, the real story was a big development play that could accelerate the transformation of Hastings Park.

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Reminds me of the #Vancouver #Chinatown otter rampage of 2018 (which is still an allegory for C'town & the Downtown Eastside's gentrification) ... www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/briti... #dtes #yvr

SFU Wants Only Non-Union Faculty at New Medical School Simon Fraser contends that the med school is so new and different that its existing collective agreement with university faculty doesn't apply

Western Canada is about to get its first new medical school in decades.

But if Simon Fraser gets its way, the school will be free of any unionized faculty.

pressprogress.ca/sfu-medical-...

but how many truthstorians?

SFU Wants Only Non-Union Faculty at New Medical School Simon Fraser contends that the med school is so new and different that its existing collective agreement with university faculty doesn't apply

Simon Fraser University wants only non-union faculty at its new medical school.

SFU contends that it's so new and different that the existing collective agreement with university faculty doesn't apply.

pressprogress.ca/sfu-medical-...

TIL #Vancouver City Council allows powerpoints as part of public hearing presentations. My god, this creates so many possibilities. I’ve got 100s of them! All 2 hours long though …

Anyway … don’t approve Staff’s #DEOD zoning recommendations. Explore other options to prevent #gentrification instead.

Add your name: Open letter opposing closure of Lethbridge’s overdose prevention site Dear colleagues, allies, and concerned members of the public, On December 2, Lethbridge City Council passed 6.4. “Social Advocacy” by a 7–2 vote, directing the Mayor to ask the Government of Alberta ...

Open letter opposing closure of Lethbridge’s overdose prevention site

Add your name

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

Hundreds of Academics Sign Letter Against City’s ‘Uplifting the DTES’ Plan Academics:

Hundreds of Academics Sign Letter Against City’s ‘Uplifting the DTES’ Plan

themainlander.com/2025/12/08/h...

Ill have plenty of time after the first round, I fear 😁😬

Congrats Mary!

Finally. Our book is on its way to the printer. Looking forward to seeing it in the flesh in early 2026.

Order online at www.wiley.com/en-ie/Migrat... or through your local bookshop.

Frank Gehry No Longer Allowed To Make Sandwiches For Grandkids

Frank Gehry No Longer Allowed To Make Sandwiches For Grandkids

How the World Cup Will Change Vancouver, for Better or Worse | The Tyee The world’s largest sporting event is coming to BC in 2026. Here’s what you need to know.

Worse

"How the World Cup Will Change Vancouver, for Better or Worse" via @thetyee.ca thetyee.ca/Culture/2025...

The Tyee is unrolling its AI policy today. 🤖

😬

Great question!

1) First and foremost, we evaluate a candidate based on the departmental guidelines and expectations provided. We don't hold the candidate to arbitrary standards, or even to those of our own institution unless asked to do so. We assess the materials against the guidelines provided.

YouTube video by BrianTheMan Monty Python - Life of Brian - PFJ Splitters

Splitters!
youtu.be/iS-0Az7dgRY?...

David Byrne: Tiny Desk Concert In matching, brilliant blue suits, David Byrne and his band squeeze behind the Desk to perform four songs, including Talking Heads' "Life During Wartime."

Sometimes things are just objectively great ...
www.npr.org/2025/12/01/g...

thebreaker.news/news/vancouv...

😆

Tapping the sign. Don't share.

In anticipation of tomorrow's world cup draw.

Glasgow lit

Spotify Wrapped is taking over our feeds, but you don’t have outsource your relationship with music to AI | Liz Pelly The streamer’s annual charts are just another version of the tech that’s alienating us from our inner lives. Hold on to your musical memories and reclaim ownership of your taste

"These are essentially meme-like advertising campaigns for companies that notoriously pay musicians penny fractions. ... Corporations take so much: let’s not let them have this too."
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/d...

Across the street.

joining the war on AI on the side of bong joon ho

Tell them I said hi

Been covering DULF's constitutional challenge for @thetyee.ca this week. Crown prosecutors have tried to poke lots of small holes in what founders Eris Nyx and Jeremy Kalicum were doing. Nyx and Kalicum have largely defended themselves saying they were doing the best they knew how at the time.