This is Vancouver

In a series of interviews, Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim has defended his city’s cuts to arts and culture while boosting the VPD budget by $50 million as necessary. The CBC’s Justin McElroy joins Stephen Quinn to talk about what he’s said in those interviews — and does a little fact checking. 

Zemir Karim, a CBC reporter known for his insights on sports and community impact, joins the discussion on soccer's surge in Metro Vancouver as the 2026 World Cup approaches. He highlights the impressive rise in youth participation and the pressing need for more playing fields. Challenges like turf shortages in North Vancouver and the growing demand in Surrey reveal a looming crisis for aspiring young athletes. The conversation dives into the potential legacy of the World Cup and how local governments can collaborate to enhance soccer infrastructure for future generations.

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim is defending a 23-page draft budget that’s drawing pushback. Councillor Pete Fry says the plan lacks key details while some residents are concerned about cuts to services. Stephen Quinn speaks to Mayor Sim about what’s in the budget and what's missing.

West Vancouver is falling short of its mandated housing targets — and the province is warning it might take action. The CBC’s Justin McElroy joins Gloria Macarenko to talk about what’s behind the standoff and what it means for housing supply in Metro Vancouver. 

Stephen looks forward to the upcoming Northern Super League final between the Vancouver Rise FC and AFC Toronto. He speaks to NSL founder Diana Matheson about about the innaugural season and what is needed for the popularity of the league to continue to grow. Stephen also talks to Mel Bostrom from the Vancouver Rise supporters group, the Crow Collective as they get ready to travel to Toronto for Saturday's final.

Tenants at a social housing building in Vancouver's Granville Entertainment District have been told they need to move out by June. We hear from a resident, the nonprofit that runs the building, and B.C. Housing Minister Christine Boyle about why the closure is happening and what it means for the people who live there. 

Vancouver’s draft budget comes with spending cuts, a tax freeze, and a major boost to police funding. Justin McElroy joins us to unpack his interview with Mayor Ken Sim, the pushback from councillors, and what this means for voters next year.

The 2025 federal budget is finally here - and it affirms support for a proposed Filipino cultural centre in Metro Vancouver and other local community projects. We talk to Vancouver MP Taleeb Noormohamed about the budget, how much funding is available, and what it means for Lower Mainland communities.

Surrey’s extortion problem is growing, and it’s not just a public safety issue — it’s affecting the local economy too. We speak with radio host Jinny Sims and longtime advocate Anita Huberman about how this is affecting daily life, whether police alone can fix it, and what real solutions might look like.

What is the easiest way to get from city to city without a car? Well, if you lived in Europe or much of Asia, the answer would be obvious: a train. But in Metro Vancouver, it’s not that simple, even with our single passenger train service, which this week is turning 30 years old. On the Thursday edition of This is Vancouver, we dive into Metro Vancouver politics with Justin McElroy. Today, our main theme is regional transportation: why is it so limited here? What are the challenges to make it better? And could you one day take a train to Abbotsford, Chilliwack or Squamish?