Justin McElroy 🇨🇦
@jmcelroy.bsky.social
Vancouver journalist. Currently decompressing after going to 52 countries in 52 weeks. Strives to tell unique stories.
http://moremcbarges.ca
http://instagram.com/justindmcelroy
http://moremcbarges.ca
http://instagram.com/justindmcelroy
doing some journalism
January 14, 2026 at 11:55 PM
doing some journalism
Reposted by Justin McElroy 🇨🇦
New: B.C. ends drug decriminalization pilot. "The pilot hasn't delivered the results that we hoped for," says BC Health Minister Josie Osborne. Current exemption expires at the end of the month.
January 14, 2026 at 9:04 PM
New: B.C. ends drug decriminalization pilot. "The pilot hasn't delivered the results that we hoped for," says BC Health Minister Josie Osborne. Current exemption expires at the end of the month.
A silly data story I did with @ianhanomansing.bsky.social yesterday: the tyranny of the Braydens in Canadian junior hockey will soon come to an end.
Here's data showing that a very particular style of name clearly peaked about 15 years ago.
Here's data showing that a very particular style of name clearly peaked about 15 years ago.
January 14, 2026 at 8:52 PM
A silly data story I did with @ianhanomansing.bsky.social yesterday: the tyranny of the Braydens in Canadian junior hockey will soon come to an end.
Here's data showing that a very particular style of name clearly peaked about 15 years ago.
Here's data showing that a very particular style of name clearly peaked about 15 years ago.
Fun little programming note for Vancouver political nerds: @cbcstephenquinn.bsky.social and I will be hosting a live OneCity mayoral debate between Will Azaroff and Amanda Burrows tomorrow on the Early Edition.
Tune in around 8:10!
(we'll have a podcast version as well)
Tune in around 8:10!
(we'll have a podcast version as well)
January 14, 2026 at 6:20 PM
Fun little programming note for Vancouver political nerds: @cbcstephenquinn.bsky.social and I will be hosting a live OneCity mayoral debate between Will Azaroff and Amanda Burrows tomorrow on the Early Edition.
Tune in around 8:10!
(we'll have a podcast version as well)
Tune in around 8:10!
(we'll have a podcast version as well)
Reposted by Justin McElroy 🇨🇦
I’m really happy to say that #portmoody council voted last night to get off X. Governments should not be participating in a platform that makes and distributes CSAM and NCII.
thetyee.ca/Opinion/2026...
thetyee.ca/Opinion/2026...
Musk’s Grok Is Abusing Women and Children. Our Government Needs to Act | The Tyee
Where are Canadian lawmakers? Oh, they’re on X.
thetyee.ca
January 14, 2026 at 5:57 PM
I’m really happy to say that #portmoody council voted last night to get off X. Governments should not be participating in a platform that makes and distributes CSAM and NCII.
thetyee.ca/Opinion/2026...
thetyee.ca/Opinion/2026...
Reposted by Justin McElroy 🇨🇦
As they say, *ahem*, some personal news:
After 20 years in journalism, including a decade at CBC News, I'm moving on to something different.
I’m launching my own independent practice as a Data & Storytelling Strategist.
Yes, I'm giving up a stable job in order to hang up my own shingle.
Why?
🧵👇
After 20 years in journalism, including a decade at CBC News, I'm moving on to something different.
I’m launching my own independent practice as a Data & Storytelling Strategist.
Yes, I'm giving up a stable job in order to hang up my own shingle.
Why?
🧵👇
January 14, 2026 at 5:37 PM
Reposted by Justin McElroy 🇨🇦
Big day! CBC News will add 33 local journalists and create 11 new bureaus this year, adding to last year's expansion of 30 journalists in 22 communities across Canada. Many of the new positions are based in Central and Western Canada. My editor's blog: www.cbc.ca/news/editors...
CBC News further expands local journalism, bureaus | CBC News
This year, CBC News will add 33 local journalists and create 11 new bureaus, increasing its Canadian footprint from 66 to 77 locations.
www.cbc.ca
January 14, 2026 at 4:29 PM
Big day! CBC News will add 33 local journalists and create 11 new bureaus this year, adding to last year's expansion of 30 journalists in 22 communities across Canada. Many of the new positions are based in Central and Western Canada. My editor's blog: www.cbc.ca/news/editors...
Reposted by Justin McElroy 🇨🇦
I'm very proud to part of an organization that is expanding local coverage and remaining true to its mandate.
Covering local news means accountability, community engagement, reflecting culture, giving a voice to people often not heard, and combatting disinformation.
It's vital to democracy.
Covering local news means accountability, community engagement, reflecting culture, giving a voice to people often not heard, and combatting disinformation.
It's vital to democracy.
January 14, 2026 at 4:44 PM
I'm very proud to part of an organization that is expanding local coverage and remaining true to its mandate.
Covering local news means accountability, community engagement, reflecting culture, giving a voice to people often not heard, and combatting disinformation.
It's vital to democracy.
Covering local news means accountability, community engagement, reflecting culture, giving a voice to people often not heard, and combatting disinformation.
It's vital to democracy.
and all of those designers get hired by bc municipalities to redesign their town logos
January 14, 2026 at 6:45 AM
and all of those designers get hired by bc municipalities to redesign their town logos
Another example from today of "we have a framework where Vancouver is getting worse all the time".
You'd never guess which city ranked 4th in Canada, and which one ranked 8th.
You'd never guess which city ranked 4th in Canada, and which one ranked 8th.
January 13, 2026 at 9:53 PM
Another example from today of "we have a framework where Vancouver is getting worse all the time".
You'd never guess which city ranked 4th in Canada, and which one ranked 8th.
You'd never guess which city ranked 4th in Canada, and which one ranked 8th.
Reposted by Justin McElroy 🇨🇦
gotta question who is throwing money into an nyc memecoin from the corrupt former mayor. that said, this is all part of the crisis of impunity we've got going on. far from the most important example but it's a death by 1000 cuts thing when everything is just grift & it feels like ppl get away w/ it
January 13, 2026 at 5:11 PM
gotta question who is throwing money into an nyc memecoin from the corrupt former mayor. that said, this is all part of the crisis of impunity we've got going on. far from the most important example but it's a death by 1000 cuts thing when everything is just grift & it feels like ppl get away w/ it
this website can add a poll option AT ANY TIME
The children yearn for brackets
in desperate need of a website that’s Actually Fun again
January 13, 2026 at 1:07 AM
this website can add a poll option AT ANY TIME
folks, if I show a chart showing less people are dying and a table showing that a media story was flawed, and you say "I won't believe you until you inspire me with a custom research paper", then I'm gonna block because the pandemic showed me that playing the "do this chart" game isn't worth my time
January 12, 2026 at 8:42 PM
folks, if I show a chart showing less people are dying and a table showing that a media story was flawed, and you say "I won't believe you until you inspire me with a custom research paper", then I'm gonna block because the pandemic showed me that playing the "do this chart" game isn't worth my time
I have a book coming out this year that's literally about seeing the entire world and thinking about Vancouver in that context.
But also, so much of our social media algorithm complex is dedicated to being angry that things aren't better.
I'm comfortable doing the context and comparing thing.
But also, so much of our social media algorithm complex is dedicated to being angry that things aren't better.
I'm comfortable doing the context and comparing thing.
Am I the only person that feels like we should dream bigger than comparing with other Canadian cities?
For example, Toronto has been dealing with an embarrassing political climate pitting cyclists against drivers for years. Feels like we're patting ourselves on the back for getting a C+.
For example, Toronto has been dealing with an embarrassing political climate pitting cyclists against drivers for years. Feels like we're patting ourselves on the back for getting a C+.
January 12, 2026 at 7:39 PM
I have a book coming out this year that's literally about seeing the entire world and thinking about Vancouver in that context.
But also, so much of our social media algorithm complex is dedicated to being angry that things aren't better.
I'm comfortable doing the context and comparing thing.
But also, so much of our social media algorithm complex is dedicated to being angry that things aren't better.
I'm comfortable doing the context and comparing thing.
Gonna highlight another example of how you can think things are bad or getting worse when the opposite is probably true.
Here's a story framed a certain way last year while I was still on vacation.
Takeaway: "the province is a dangerous place for pedestrians and cyclists."
But is it true?
Here's a story framed a certain way last year while I was still on vacation.
Takeaway: "the province is a dangerous place for pedestrians and cyclists."
But is it true?
January 12, 2026 at 7:01 PM
Gonna highlight another example of how you can think things are bad or getting worse when the opposite is probably true.
Here's a story framed a certain way last year while I was still on vacation.
Takeaway: "the province is a dangerous place for pedestrians and cyclists."
But is it true?
Here's a story framed a certain way last year while I was still on vacation.
Takeaway: "the province is a dangerous place for pedestrians and cyclists."
But is it true?
Reposted by Justin McElroy 🇨🇦
Introducing CanViz, my little side project over the break to make StatCan tables more accessible.
CanViz - Canadian Data Visualization Tool
Interactive data visualization tool for exploring and analyzing Statistics Canada data tables. Browse thousands of Canadian statistics, create custom plots, and download data in multiple formats.
canviz.mountainmath.ca
January 12, 2026 at 4:31 PM
Introducing CanViz, my little side project over the break to make StatCan tables more accessible.
Saw Blue Moon, thought “what a nice movie for adults under two hours that isn’t based on existing IP!” and yes, I am 80, why do you ask
January 11, 2026 at 1:12 AM
Saw Blue Moon, thought “what a nice movie for adults under two hours that isn’t based on existing IP!” and yes, I am 80, why do you ask
Like I don't want folks to pick on this person, but the number of homicides in Metro Vancouver was 1.19 per 100,000 last year.
That was the lowest number since at least 1980, and down by more than 75% from a generation ago.
That was the lowest number since at least 1980, and down by more than 75% from a generation ago.
January 10, 2026 at 9:38 PM
Like I don't want folks to pick on this person, but the number of homicides in Metro Vancouver was 1.19 per 100,000 last year.
That was the lowest number since at least 1980, and down by more than 75% from a generation ago.
That was the lowest number since at least 1980, and down by more than 75% from a generation ago.
again, fascinated at some of the hostile reaction of people reading the fairly straightforward sentence "compared to two years ago, housing is cheaper and less people are being assaulted or dying from drugs"
January 10, 2026 at 9:13 PM
again, fascinated at some of the hostile reaction of people reading the fairly straightforward sentence "compared to two years ago, housing is cheaper and less people are being assaulted or dying from drugs"
Reposted by Justin McElroy 🇨🇦
Beautiful, beautiful piece - what a love letter to local journalism and gorgeous meditation on the passage of time
Dan Zakreski has covered Saskatoon since 1981. Today he is retiring. In his own words he says farewell.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
A long, strange trip: Reporting the news, from rotary dial phones to Reddit | CBC News
Dan Zakreski began reporting in Saskatoon in 1981. Four decades later, he returns to his very first story and asks: What's up with wall calendars?
www.cbc.ca
January 9, 2026 at 8:59 PM
Beautiful, beautiful piece - what a love letter to local journalism and gorgeous meditation on the passage of time
For a decade, home prices, rent prices, assaults and overdose deaths generally went up in Vancouver, at a fairly rapid rate.
But that's no longer the case, and it's an overall trendline that's really worth monitoring.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
But that's no longer the case, and it's an overall trendline that's really worth monitoring.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
January 9, 2026 at 10:31 PM
For a decade, home prices, rent prices, assaults and overdose deaths generally went up in Vancouver, at a fairly rapid rate.
But that's no longer the case, and it's an overall trendline that's really worth monitoring.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
But that's no longer the case, and it's an overall trendline that's really worth monitoring.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
That’s not what “epicentre” means.
Vancouver is hosting 7 of the 104 games, none after the round of 16.
It will be a big thing.
There will likely be a lot of bigger things happening.
Vancouver is hosting 7 of the 104 games, none after the round of 16.
It will be a big thing.
There will likely be a lot of bigger things happening.
January 8, 2026 at 6:39 PM
That’s not what “epicentre” means.
Vancouver is hosting 7 of the 104 games, none after the round of 16.
It will be a big thing.
There will likely be a lot of bigger things happening.
Vancouver is hosting 7 of the 104 games, none after the round of 16.
It will be a big thing.
There will likely be a lot of bigger things happening.
Reposted by Justin McElroy 🇨🇦
In my effort to try as many Canadian chains as possible, I have now finally tried Pizza Pizza and I think it’s cool that there exists a pizza place that will deliver middle school cafeteria style pizza to you
January 7, 2026 at 8:37 PM
In my effort to try as many Canadian chains as possible, I have now finally tried Pizza Pizza and I think it’s cool that there exists a pizza place that will deliver middle school cafeteria style pizza to you
Reposted by Justin McElroy 🇨🇦
HuffPost has obtained a video of a physician trying to give medical care to the woman shot and killed by ICE agents today, and not being allowed to go near her.
The ICE agents claim there are medics on site, but witnesses scream that there are no medics present.
Full Story: bit.ly/3YwbaQR
The ICE agents claim there are medics on site, but witnesses scream that there are no medics present.
Full Story: bit.ly/3YwbaQR
January 7, 2026 at 10:04 PM
HuffPost has obtained a video of a physician trying to give medical care to the woman shot and killed by ICE agents today, and not being allowed to go near her.
The ICE agents claim there are medics on site, but witnesses scream that there are no medics present.
Full Story: bit.ly/3YwbaQR
The ICE agents claim there are medics on site, but witnesses scream that there are no medics present.
Full Story: bit.ly/3YwbaQR
sometimes i like to check in on the harrison hot springs facebook group that is ground zero for much of the small town's dysfunction
and i am pleased to say the folks on there are doing just as well as ever
and i am pleased to say the folks on there are doing just as well as ever
January 7, 2026 at 7:33 PM
sometimes i like to check in on the harrison hot springs facebook group that is ground zero for much of the small town's dysfunction
and i am pleased to say the folks on there are doing just as well as ever
and i am pleased to say the folks on there are doing just as well as ever