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
not a big “let’s do another conversation on why bluesky is dying” guy but these were these replies when longtime Popular Sports Poster @gourmetspud.bsky.social expressed his excitement that the Blue Jays got the best free agent pitcher
November 27, 2025 at 2:01 AM
not a big “let’s do another conversation on why bluesky is dying” guy but these were these replies when longtime Popular Sports Poster @gourmetspud.bsky.social expressed his excitement that the Blue Jays got the best free agent pitcher
Reposted by Justin McElroy 🇨🇦
Canada made weird tv shows because it was all being done with government funded art grant money so they fell in this wacky middle ground between “shoestring budget” and “no expectation to generate shareholder value” which is really the best way to make art
November 26, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Canada made weird tv shows because it was all being done with government funded art grant money so they fell in this wacky middle ground between “shoestring budget” and “no expectation to generate shareholder value” which is really the best way to make art
jon, that's a good statement
gives me a lot to think about, and saying so allows me to flatter the audience (you) without saying anything of substance while i delay, until i think of a way to link this to one of the five approved talking points that i've been instructed to repeat
gives me a lot to think about, and saying so allows me to flatter the audience (you) without saying anything of substance while i delay, until i think of a way to link this to one of the five approved talking points that i've been instructed to repeat
Justin, as someone who routinely interviews people, i'd love you to do a story/video/snippet or something about how PR education has taught EVERYONE to begin absolutely any response with, "That's a good question." Even five years ago we didn't hear that.
November 27, 2025 at 12:29 AM
jon, that's a good statement
gives me a lot to think about, and saying so allows me to flatter the audience (you) without saying anything of substance while i delay, until i think of a way to link this to one of the five approved talking points that i've been instructed to repeat
gives me a lot to think about, and saying so allows me to flatter the audience (you) without saying anything of substance while i delay, until i think of a way to link this to one of the five approved talking points that i've been instructed to repeat
We asked B.C.'s Minister of Tourism about the future of the Celebration of Light, and she said:
"My minister will continue to be working very closely with them to support solution-oriented conversations"
gotta love having a massive comms department that lobotomizes the english language
"My minister will continue to be working very closely with them to support solution-oriented conversations"
gotta love having a massive comms department that lobotomizes the english language
November 26, 2025 at 11:55 PM
We asked B.C.'s Minister of Tourism about the future of the Celebration of Light, and she said:
"My minister will continue to be working very closely with them to support solution-oriented conversations"
gotta love having a massive comms department that lobotomizes the english language
"My minister will continue to be working very closely with them to support solution-oriented conversations"
gotta love having a massive comms department that lobotomizes the english language
An underrated part of the discussion of how to fund Vancouver's Celebration of Light is that a generation ago, big businesses spent tons of money on local culture because it was an efficient form of advertising.
And today, when everything can be targeted through online algorithms, they don't.
And today, when everything can be targeted through online algorithms, they don't.
November 26, 2025 at 7:33 PM
An underrated part of the discussion of how to fund Vancouver's Celebration of Light is that a generation ago, big businesses spent tons of money on local culture because it was an efficient form of advertising.
And today, when everything can be targeted through online algorithms, they don't.
And today, when everything can be targeted through online algorithms, they don't.
You can like or dislike fireworks, enjoy the post-show exodus from downtown or abhor the crowds, but the Celebration of Light is probably the biggest event that celebrates Vancouver's Vancouverness.
Traditions die, but this one hits bigger than most.
Traditions die, but this one hits bigger than most.
Vancouver's Celebration of Light fireworks festival cancelled indefinitely | CBC News
Organizers of a public fireworks festival, which has brought millions of people to Vancouver's English Bay over the past three decades, says it can’t go ahead without long-term government and private-...
www.cbc.ca
November 26, 2025 at 6:22 PM
You can like or dislike fireworks, enjoy the post-show exodus from downtown or abhor the crowds, but the Celebration of Light is probably the biggest event that celebrates Vancouver's Vancouverness.
Traditions die, but this one hits bigger than most.
Traditions die, but this one hits bigger than most.
I like how the City of Vancouver’s response to the new PNE Amphitheatre being triple the original budget is to say “WORLD CLASS” like the phrase is a magical amulet that excuses any sins
November 26, 2025 at 4:09 PM
I like how the City of Vancouver’s response to the new PNE Amphitheatre being triple the original budget is to say “WORLD CLASS” like the phrase is a magical amulet that excuses any sins
this seems like a foolproof and universally beloved plan until ken sim puts in a salary cap freeze to keep ticket prices low and makes the fourth line full of cops "to keep the stars safe"
November 26, 2025 at 12:37 AM
this seems like a foolproof and universally beloved plan until ken sim puts in a salary cap freeze to keep ticket prices low and makes the fourth line full of cops "to keep the stars safe"
victoria is the latest city to debate the groundbreaking world class city innovation of "what if we put our name in big letters next to a prominent building"
November 26, 2025 at 12:05 AM
victoria is the latest city to debate the groundbreaking world class city innovation of "what if we put our name in big letters next to a prominent building"
Reposted by Justin McElroy 🇨🇦
"With this budget, we take the next step forward."
A recap of today’s budget debate, what amendments were passed, and what happens next.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
A recap of today’s budget debate, what amendments were passed, and what happens next.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Vancouver passes 2026 budget with property tax freeze | CBC News
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim's wish of a "zero means zero" budget has come true.
www.cbc.ca
November 25, 2025 at 11:06 PM
"With this budget, we take the next step forward."
A recap of today’s budget debate, what amendments were passed, and what happens next.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
A recap of today’s budget debate, what amendments were passed, and what happens next.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Vancouver's 2026 draft budget has PASSED.
Approved on a 7-4 vote on party lines, with ABC in favour and councillors Fry/Bligh/Orr/Maloney opposed.
Property tax freeze, $50 million more for VPD, and cuts to Arts, Culture, Planning and Sustainability departments, among others.
Full story to come.
Approved on a 7-4 vote on party lines, with ABC in favour and councillors Fry/Bligh/Orr/Maloney opposed.
Property tax freeze, $50 million more for VPD, and cuts to Arts, Culture, Planning and Sustainability departments, among others.
Full story to come.
November 25, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Vancouver's 2026 draft budget has PASSED.
Approved on a 7-4 vote on party lines, with ABC in favour and councillors Fry/Bligh/Orr/Maloney opposed.
Property tax freeze, $50 million more for VPD, and cuts to Arts, Culture, Planning and Sustainability departments, among others.
Full story to come.
Approved on a 7-4 vote on party lines, with ABC in favour and councillors Fry/Bligh/Orr/Maloney opposed.
Property tax freeze, $50 million more for VPD, and cuts to Arts, Culture, Planning and Sustainability departments, among others.
Full story to come.
Another Vancouver budget amendment from ABC (this one from Klassen), which would give $800,000 to the park board so they won't have to raise community centre fees/permits.
There's no note on what the city will cut by $800,000 to balance this; staff say they'll make it work, details TBD.
There's no note on what the city will cut by $800,000 to balance this; staff say they'll make it work, details TBD.
November 25, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Another Vancouver budget amendment from ABC (this one from Klassen), which would give $800,000 to the park board so they won't have to raise community centre fees/permits.
There's no note on what the city will cut by $800,000 to balance this; staff say they'll make it work, details TBD.
There's no note on what the city will cut by $800,000 to balance this; staff say they'll make it work, details TBD.
Budget amendment by ABC councillor Zhou would cut $8 million from capital budget for "Energy Retrofits for non-city buildings" and put it to filling potholes and other "core services".
Opposition councillors upset that it could cancel upgrades in buildings where people died in the 2021 heat dome.
Opposition councillors upset that it could cancel upgrades in buildings where people died in the 2021 heat dome.
November 25, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Budget amendment by ABC councillor Zhou would cut $8 million from capital budget for "Energy Retrofits for non-city buildings" and put it to filling potholes and other "core services".
Opposition councillors upset that it could cancel upgrades in buildings where people died in the 2021 heat dome.
Opposition councillors upset that it could cancel upgrades in buildings where people died in the 2021 heat dome.
An amendment by Lisa Dominato asks staff to prioritize the replacement of vandalized baby-change tables.
Ironically, during her amendment a baby in the council chambers began babbling very loudly.
No doubt they were trying to shout "point of order!" with a further amendment to the amendment.
Ironically, during her amendment a baby in the council chambers began babbling very loudly.
No doubt they were trying to shout "point of order!" with a further amendment to the amendment.
November 25, 2025 at 7:01 PM
An amendment by Lisa Dominato asks staff to prioritize the replacement of vandalized baby-change tables.
Ironically, during her amendment a baby in the council chambers began babbling very loudly.
No doubt they were trying to shout "point of order!" with a further amendment to the amendment.
Ironically, during her amendment a baby in the council chambers began babbling very loudly.
No doubt they were trying to shout "point of order!" with a further amendment to the amendment.
Reposted by Justin McElroy 🇨🇦
Possibly the first protest of its kind at City Hall this morning. A diaper change-in protesting budget cuts and fee increases to amenities for new parents, and many others. @womentcities.bsky.social
November 25, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Possibly the first protest of its kind at City Hall this morning. A diaper change-in protesting budget cuts and fee increases to amenities for new parents, and many others. @womentcities.bsky.social
Budget day for the City of Vancouver!
Debate has started on the $2.4 billion 2026 budget, which includes a property tax freeze on the local section, $50 million more for the VPD, and cuts to several other departments, including Arts, Culture, Planning and Sustainability.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Debate has started on the $2.4 billion 2026 budget, which includes a property tax freeze on the local section, $50 million more for the VPD, and cuts to several other departments, including Arts, Culture, Planning and Sustainability.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
'I'm proud of this one': Mayor Ken Sim talks budget with $50 million more for police amid property tax freeze | CBC News
In his final budget before facing voters next October, Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim is presenting a property tax freeze, and $50 million more for police, balanced by major cuts to arts, culture, community ...
www.cbc.ca
November 25, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Budget day for the City of Vancouver!
Debate has started on the $2.4 billion 2026 budget, which includes a property tax freeze on the local section, $50 million more for the VPD, and cuts to several other departments, including Arts, Culture, Planning and Sustainability.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Debate has started on the $2.4 billion 2026 budget, which includes a property tax freeze on the local section, $50 million more for the VPD, and cuts to several other departments, including Arts, Culture, Planning and Sustainability.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
if I ever have generational wealth and become internationally famous please take my phone away so I don’t go on Instagram late at night to shit on sports fans in my home town who are upset that a team that’s made the playoffs twice in the last decade is facing another rebuild
November 25, 2025 at 8:16 AM
if I ever have generational wealth and become internationally famous please take my phone away so I don’t go on Instagram late at night to shit on sports fans in my home town who are upset that a team that’s made the playoffs twice in the last decade is facing another rebuild
Reposted by Justin McElroy 🇨🇦
But can anything happen if you just get into playoffs? also no
November 24, 2025 at 4:56 AM
But can anything happen if you just get into playoffs? also no
Reposted by Justin McElroy 🇨🇦
But do they have their own practice facility like 31 other NHL teams and the Goldeneyes? Also no
November 24, 2025 at 5:01 AM
But do they have their own practice facility like 31 other NHL teams and the Goldeneyes? Also no
Reposted by Justin McElroy 🇨🇦
But are they the most popular hockey team in town? Uh oh
November 24, 2025 at 3:55 AM
But are they the most popular hockey team in town? Uh oh
the vancouver canucks are not good
but are they fun to watch? also no
but are they young and on the upswing? regretfully, no
but are they beloved in the community? increasingly not!
but do they have good ownership? so uh the thing is
but are they fun to watch? also no
but are they young and on the upswing? regretfully, no
but are they beloved in the community? increasingly not!
but do they have good ownership? so uh the thing is
November 24, 2025 at 3:49 AM
the vancouver canucks are not good
but are they fun to watch? also no
but are they young and on the upswing? regretfully, no
but are they beloved in the community? increasingly not!
but do they have good ownership? so uh the thing is
but are they fun to watch? also no
but are they young and on the upswing? regretfully, no
but are they beloved in the community? increasingly not!
but do they have good ownership? so uh the thing is
Thank you Mayor for this important question.
Cambie is worst.
- TimeOut is more reputable than “Locals Night Out”, which published the Fairview take, therefore more egregious
- Best night out in Canada is small potatoes, depends on person. 20th best street in whole world feels bigger/weightier
Cambie is worst.
- TimeOut is more reputable than “Locals Night Out”, which published the Fairview take, therefore more egregious
- Best night out in Canada is small potatoes, depends on person. 20th best street in whole world feels bigger/weightier
"Cool"Cambie or "best for a night out" Fairview, which take was worse?
November 22, 2025 at 12:50 AM
Thank you Mayor for this important question.
Cambie is worst.
- TimeOut is more reputable than “Locals Night Out”, which published the Fairview take, therefore more egregious
- Best night out in Canada is small potatoes, depends on person. 20th best street in whole world feels bigger/weightier
Cambie is worst.
- TimeOut is more reputable than “Locals Night Out”, which published the Fairview take, therefore more egregious
- Best night out in Canada is small potatoes, depends on person. 20th best street in whole world feels bigger/weightier
In an interview this week, Ken Sim said that he had a list of all the times he said no to the Vancouver Police Department, and said a lot of their budget increases were out of the city's control.
We got the list. We looked at the budget.
Here is a fact check.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
We got the list. We looked at the budget.
Here is a fact check.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
November 21, 2025 at 7:14 PM
In an interview this week, Ken Sim said that he had a list of all the times he said no to the Vancouver Police Department, and said a lot of their budget increases were out of the city's control.
We got the list. We looked at the budget.
Here is a fact check.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
We got the list. We looked at the budget.
Here is a fact check.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Reposted by Justin McElroy 🇨🇦
Hey, if you just can't get enough of me and @jmcelroy.bsky.social blabbing on about city budgets and the Vancouver mayor's race - then you need to hear our "This is Vancouver" podcast. This week's episode is epic.
Hear it here: podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/f...
Or wherever you get your pods...
Hear it here: podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/f...
Or wherever you get your pods...
November 21, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Hey, if you just can't get enough of me and @jmcelroy.bsky.social blabbing on about city budgets and the Vancouver mayor's race - then you need to hear our "This is Vancouver" podcast. This week's episode is epic.
Hear it here: podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/f...
Or wherever you get your pods...
Hear it here: podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/f...
Or wherever you get your pods...
vancouver’s chief planner has weighed in on the most important issue of the day
I live in Cambie Village area. It’s a great place to live, lots of awesome businesses. But “cool” is not how I’d describe it. I am not cool and live there, so can’t be that cool.
November 21, 2025 at 8:08 AM
vancouver’s chief planner has weighed in on the most important issue of the day