Latest news with #Vancouver
CTV News
an hour ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Flight cancellations and delays at YVR
Vancouver Watch More than 20 flights at YVR were cancelled and others faced delays after crews were forced to keep one of the airport's runways closed Friday.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Vancouver city council to vote on a car-free future for Granville Street
If Vancouver city council gives the go-ahead on Wednesday, Granville Street could one day resemble a mix of car-free Las Ramblas in Barcelona, with the live music of Nashville's Broadway, plus a touch of the bright lights of Tokyo's Shibuya pedestrian crossing. That is the 20-year vision for a striking new plan to revitalize the city's once-neon-lit grand old dame of a street, which has fallen on hard times. The plan, which envisions all of Granville eventually being car-free from the bridge over False Creek to Waterfront Station, could cost up to $140 million in 2025 dollars, according preliminary estimates in the report, which was two years in the making. 'Currently, the area faces challenges with vacant storefronts, lack of daytime activity, and rising health, safety and street-disorder concerns, contributing to a negative perception of the Granville Entertainment District,' the report states. The plan keys on three areas: The city centre (between Georgia and Smithe streets) with mixed-use residential developments including some of the city's tallest towers; the entertainment core (between Smithe and Davie streets), a hub of live music, theatres and restaurants; and the bridgehead (between Davie and Drake Streets) with a quieter mix of residential, local shops and cultural spaces. If approved, the plan eventually envisions the creation of a 'world-class destination public space gradually working toward a year-round shore-to-shore pedestrian zone.' Built around the time the city was founded, Granville soon became known as Theatre Row, and welcomed trolleys heading up and down. By the 1950s, it glowed with endless neon signs, and today is still home to icons such as the Orpheum Theatre and Commodore Ballroom. The plan's goal is to transform Granville into an arts, entertainment and cultural destination, with more restaurants and patios. That includes improving safety, live music, expanded hotel space, mixed-use residential (including tall towers 200 and 400 feet high, taller than previously allowed, near the Canada Line Station at Georgia), and single-room occupancy social housing. There are eight single-room accommodation buildings on Granville, the report states, containing about 600 rooms, many of them privately owned, which the city plans to replace with self-contained social housing. The preliminary estimated cost is between $90 million and $140 million. There is a proposed new plaza at Granville and Robson streets, which would be home giant digital billboards, like Manhattan's Times Square or Piccadilly Circus in London's West End, showing visual art and live-event screenings along with advertisements. At the moment, about 1,100 TransLink buses ply the corridor daily, carrying 21,000 passengers. Those would be shifted to adjacent Seymour and Howe streets, after those roads are upgraded. 'Granville Street, part of Vancouver's historic streetcar network, remains a busy transit corridor connecting key areas,' the report reads. 'The 2010 Winter Olympics marked a peak of activity, with significant changes including the introduction of the Canada Line and public realm improvements,' it says. 'Despite (today's) challenges, Granville Street has significant opportunities. 'The Granville Street plan will enhance the area's future for businesses, venues, visitors, and residents. The plan's vision aligns efforts across city departments, private property owners, and business and venue operators to transform Granville into a dynamic destination for culture, performance, and entertainment.' There will be regular reviews and updates to ensure the plan adapts to changing contexts, the report says. Before presenting the plan to council, the city held a dozen public workshops, held youth roundtables and public walking tours, received 5,700 completed surveys and heard 11,000 comments. The city also met with business and hospitality associations, arts and cultural organizations, social service providers, and public agencies such as B.C. Housing and TransLink. After the final round of engagement this past February, support for the vision was 76 per cent, the report says. gordmcintyre@ Farce in legislature as B.C. Conservatives seek a provincial election over a blurred Zoom call Vancouver teacher suspended after pup fetish identity, adult content discovered online If Vancouver city council gives the go-ahead on Wednesday, Granville Street could one day resemble a mix of car-free Las Ramblas in Barcelona, with the live music of Nashville's Broadway, plus a touch of the bright lights of Tokyo's Shibuya pedestrian crossing. That is the 20-year vision for a striking new plan to revitalize the city's once-neon-lit grand old dame of a street, which has fallen on hard times. The plan, which envisions all of Granville eventually being car-free from the bridge over False Creek to Waterfront Station, could cost up to $140 million in 2025 dollars, according preliminary estimates in the report, which was two years in the making. 'Currently, the area faces challenges with vacant storefronts, lack of daytime activity, and rising health, safety and street-disorder concerns, contributing to a negative perception of the Granville Entertainment District,' the report states. The plan keys on three areas: The city centre (between Georgia and Smithe streets) with mixed-use residential developments including some of the city's tallest towers; the entertainment core (between Smithe and Davie streets), a hub of live music, theatres and restaurants; and the bridgehead (between Davie and Drake Streets) with a quieter mix of residential, local shops and cultural spaces. If approved, the plan eventually envisions the creation of a 'world-class destination public space gradually working toward a year-round shore-to-shore pedestrian zone.' Built around the time the city was founded, Granville soon became known as Theatre Row, and welcomed trolleys heading up and down. By the 1950s, it glowed with endless neon signs, and today is still home to icons such as the Orpheum Theatre and Commodore Ballroom. The plan's goal is to transform Granville into an arts, entertainment and cultural destination, with more restaurants and patios. That includes improving safety, live music, expanded hotel space, mixed-use residential (including tall towers 200 and 400 feet high, taller than previously allowed, near the Canada Line Station at Georgia), and single-room occupancy social housing. There are eight single-room accommodation buildings on Granville, the report states, containing about 600 rooms, many of them privately owned, which the city plans to replace with self-contained social housing. The preliminary estimated cost is between $90 million and $140 million. There is a proposed new plaza at Granville and Robson streets, which would be home giant digital billboards, like Manhattan's Times Square or Piccadilly Circus in London's West End, showing visual art and live-event screenings along with advertisements. At the moment, about 1,100 TransLink buses ply the corridor daily, carrying 21,000 passengers. Those would be shifted to adjacent Seymour and Howe streets, after those roads are upgraded. 'Granville Street, part of Vancouver's historic streetcar network, remains a busy transit corridor connecting key areas,' the report reads. 'The 2010 Winter Olympics marked a peak of activity, with significant changes including the introduction of the Canada Line and public realm improvements,' it says. 'Despite (today's) challenges, Granville Street has significant opportunities. 'The Granville Street plan will enhance the area's future for businesses, venues, visitors, and residents. The plan's vision aligns efforts across city departments, private property owners, and business and venue operators to transform Granville into a dynamic destination for culture, performance, and entertainment.' There will be regular reviews and updates to ensure the plan adapts to changing contexts, the report says. Before presenting the plan to council, the city held a dozen public workshops, held youth roundtables and public walking tours, received 5,700 completed surveys and heard 11,000 comments. The city also met with business and hospitality associations, arts and cultural organizations, social service providers, and public agencies such as B.C. Housing and TransLink. After the final round of engagement this past February, support for the vision was 76 per cent, the report says.
Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Inside billionaire Taylor Swift's surprisingly lowkey celebration after buying back her music empire
Taylor Swift sent fans into a frenzy with a major announcement on Friday as she proudly revealed that she officially bought back her entire music empire. The Grammy winner, 35, penned a lengthy letter on her website to share the big news - after purchasing her music catalog from Shamrock Capital, which had acquired the rights from Scooter Braun one year earlier. The songstress had the chance to celebrate with longtime pal and music collaborator, Jack Antonoff. However, the pair surprisingly stayed lowkey and enjoyed a night in - which was shown in a reel that the record producer uploaded to X. In the 14-second clip, both Swift and Antonoff could be seen inside what appeared to be a spacious kitchen as they sang lyrics to the track Getaway Car from her 2017 Reputation album. Taylor Swift, 35, sent fans into a frenzy with a major announcement on Friday as she proudly revealed that she officially bought back her entire music empire; seen in 2024 in Vancouver The pair seemingly recreated a past viral BTS moment when they recorded the process of them working together on the song. Taylor was filmed opting for little to no makeup in the latest video while her blonde locks were easily swept up into a simple ponytail. She dressed down in a long-sleeved, gray sweatshirt as well as a pair of comfy shorts. At the beginning, Swift was also seen sweetly holding her cat Meredith as they sang, 'I'm in a getaway car...' The songstress then gently set her pet onto the floor to jump up and down as they both belted out, 'I left you in a motel bar/Put the money in a bag and I stole the keys/That was the last time you ever saw me.' Jack shared the singer's happy energy and sported a black jacket that had the name of his rock band Bleachers embroidered on the front. In the caption of the clip, Jack wrote to his followers on X, 'rep forever guilt free listening!' Swift and Antonoff began working together over a decade earlier when they collaborated on the song Sweeter Than Fiction in 2013 for the movie One Chance. In the 14-second clip, both Swift and Antonoff could be seen inside what appeared to be a spacious kitchen as they sang lyrics to the track Getaway Car from her 2017 Reputation album The pair seemingly recreated a past viral BTS moment when they recorded the process of them working together on the song Jack then helped with Taylor's 2014 album 1989 and co-wrote and produced three songs, such as Out Of The Woods. Aside from Getaway Car, other tracks from her Reputation album that he also co-wrote and produced included New Year's Day and Call It What You Want. Antonoff was involved with Taylor's other albums over the years such as Lover, Folklore and Evermore. He also worked with the award-winning music artist on her re-recorded albums and co-produced a majority of her From the Vault tracks. Jack earned two Grammys for Taylor's 2022 LP Midnights - which won Best Pop Vocal Album and Album of the Year. Swift shared a letter to her fans on her official website - which was also teased on her main Instagram page on Friday as she posed with her first six studio albums. She acquired those six albums and associated visuals from their most recent owner, Shamrock Capital, for an undisclosed nine-figure sum. However, sources close to the contract negotiations claim the recent figure touted for the buy-back deal of 'between $600million-$1billion' is 'highly inaccurate.' Scooter Braun told 'I am happy for her.' 'To say this is my greatest dream come true is actually being pretty reserved about it,' the star began. She said the fact she now owns the rights to all the music she has ever made has brought so much joy to her life she's been bursting into tears. Taylor wrote in her letter: 'I'm trying to gather my thoughts into something coherent, but right now my mind is just a flashback sequence of all the times I daydreamed about, wished for, and pined away for a chance to get to tell you this news. 'All the times I was thiiiiis close, reaching out for it, only for it to fall through. I almost stopped thinking it could ever happen, after 20 years of having the carrot dangled and then yanked away. 'But that's all in the past now. I've been bursting into tears of joy at random intervals ever since I found out that this is really happening. I really get say to say these words: 'All of the music I've ever made… now belongs… to me.' 'And all my music videos. All the concert films. The album art and photography. The unreleased. songs. The memories. The magic. The madness. Every single era. My entire life's work.' Swift also added: 'I know, I know. What about Rep TV? Full transparency. I haven't even re-recorded a quarter of it. 'The Reputation album was so specific to that time in my life, and I kept hitting a stopping point when I tried to remake it. 'All that defiance, that longing to be understood while Feeling purposely misunderstood, that desperate hope, that shame-born snarl and mischief. To be perfectly honest, it's the one album in those first 6 that I thought couldn't be improved upon by redoing it. 'Not the music, or photos, or videos. So I kept putting it off. There will be a time (if you're into the idea) for the unreleased Vault tracks from that album to hatch. I've already completely re-recorded my album, and I really love how it sounds now. 'Those two albums can still have their moments to re-emerge when the time is right, if that would be something you guys would be excited about. 'But if it happens, it won't be from a place of sadness and longing for what I wish I could have. It will just be a celebration now.' Justin Bieber's old manager Scooter Braun's company Ithaca Holdings bought the catalog in 2019 before Shamrock acquired it from him a year later. Braun does not profit from the sale. And he was not involved in Shamrock's decision to sell the music. Taylor will be reissuing her old Big Machine albums. Those albums were first sold by Big Machine in 2019, something she was not happy with. There will be two fully authorized versions of each of those albums in the marketplace, since she's saying the re-recorded Taylor's Versions will continue to be available alongside the originals. Two of those bonus-filled editions have yet to come out, including the long-awaited Reputation (Taylor's Version). Her letter explained that this new arrangement will not prevent the remaining pair of redo albums from being released. Sources close to the contract negotiations claimed to MailOnline that the recent figure touted for the buy-back deal 'between $600million-$1billion' is 'highly inaccurate'. A different source told Billboard that Shamrock sold Swift's catalog back to her for a figure reportedly close to what they paid - around $360 million. Selena Gomez congratulated Swift by reposting the singer's post to her own Instagram stories. The Only Murders In The Building actress then added the sweet message: 'YES YOU DID THAT YAY!!! SO proud!' The singer's boyfriend Travis Kelce also showed his subtle support for her milestone and liked the Instagram post she uploaded on Friday. Just one day earlier on Thursday, the songstress stepped out for a night out with a her A-list buddy Dakota Johnson. The pair were joined by Swift's brother Austin and also Johnson's sibling Jesse as they grabbed a bite to eat at the Italian restaurant Via Carota. Taylor has been mainly staying out of the spotlight in recent months, but was spotted on a romantic date night with Kelce last week in Florida.
CBC
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CBC
Chinese pop music's 'deeply local' Canadian story shines in Vancouver exhibition
A new exhibition on Cantopop and Mandopop music in Vancouver is a Canadian story, says curator Melissa Karmen Lee. The Dream Factory exhibit, which opened on May 28 at the Chinese Canadian Museum, pays tribute to the golden age of Chinese pop music "through the lens of Chinese Canadian identity, migration and memory." Its stories are anything but foreign, said Lee, who is also the museum's chief executive. "It is a deeply local story about how many of these Cantopop stars [and] Mandopop stars made Vancouver their home. They lived here, they worked here, they grew up here," she said. "They all deeply considered Canada a part of their identity, and we're so pleased to feature that in this exhibition." Cantopop and Mandopop refer to Chinese-language pop music in the two most widely spoken tongues in the community, Cantonese and Mandarin. The exhibit, running through May 2026, features a collection of music from the genres between 1980 and 2000, when stars such as Leslie Cheung and Anita Mui wowed fans globally. But Lee said many outside the community didn't realize that such giant stars were living among them in Canada. Lee pointed out that Cheung — a singer and actor who became known to Western audiences by starring in movies including Farewell My Concubine and Happy Together — lived in Vancouver in the early 1990s. A park bench that honours Cheung in the city's Stanley Park is a pilgrimage site for fans of the star, who died by suicide in 2003. Lee said singer and actress Sally Yeh grew up in Victoria before reaching stardom. The Cantopop and Mandopop genres are intrinsically connected to Canada's large Chinese communities, especially in neighbourhoods in Metro Vancouver and Toronto where their songs were ubiquitous at Chinese malls, restaurants and karaoke bars. Vancouver native Stephanie Kong, who designed a wedding dress at the exhibit that was inspired by Mui's 2003 farewell performance, said Cantopop music saturated many of her childhood memories. "Growing up here in Canada, that was definitely a part of my childhood," Kong said. "Going to Parker Place [a mall in Richmond, B.C.] and waiting while my parents were in those music stores buying LaserDiscs, and I would be like, 'What's taking so long?' "Because I didn't quite understand it … So it's funny that it comes kind of full circle, coming as an adult and getting a new appreciation for what I've always kind of — for the lack of a better word — just dismissed when I was a kid." In addition to costumes inspired by Cantopop and Mandopop in the exhibition's main room, there's a large screen blaring hit songs, a separate room featuring artwork using LaserDiscs, a stage set up for karaoke and listening stations for popular songs. On one wall, original sheet music for famous Cantonese movies from Hong Kong composer Joseph Koo are displayed. Koo lived in Richmond before his death in 2023. 'A preservation of culture' Lee said Cantopop culture seeped deep into many parts of Canada. She said Cheung's 1986 song Monica was anecdotally regarded as responsible for a large number of Chinese Canadian girls bearing the name. "They listened to Cantopop in Vancouver, in Toronto," Lee said of immigrant waves to Canada. "They made this very Asian music part of this global Chinese diaspora community. "So, part of the popularity of Cantopop and Mandopop across the globe was because of these overseas Chinese communities that made it really great. "Immigrants that came in the '60s and the '70s, they brought over their own culture and … made it a uniquely Canadian experience. And so, it's a preservation of culture, but it's also an evolution of something that is Asian into Asian Canadian."
CTV News
5 hours ago
- Business
- CTV News
Why summers are not built for working parents
While most children can't wait for the school year to end, the summer months can be a logistical and financial challenge for working parents. 'It's really tough for your typical working parent to take two months off in the summer,' Vancouver-based financial planner Kelly Ho told 'I'm also in the thick of it myself.' asked readers to share their stories about the challenges working parents face in the summer. They told us about spending thousands of dollars on camps, scrambling to register for affordable options, camp hours that are shorter than their work days, and needing to use vacation days to fill in gaps in their kids' summer schedules. 'Summer is such a stressful time for working parents,' Oshawa, Ont. mom Abbi Longo told 'We have four kids, three in school, and between co-ordinating camps, paying for them, and balancing work – it sometimes seems impossible.' With the summer holiday only a month away, available options right now could be limited. That's why Ho says it's important to talk to friends, family, neighbours and people in your community for help. 'I'm sure that everyone has the same issues and concerns,' Ho said. 'Don't tackle this alone and actually just let people know, here's what I'm struggling with, and you'd be surprised with the amount of suggestions and help that may arise by just vocalizing one's problems and one's issues with respect to the summer.' Campers Campers hang out before closing campfire, Thursday, June 20, 2024, at YMCA Camp Kern in Oregonia, Ohio. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel) 'Camps just don't align with the realities of working schedules' To many, it seems summers are simply not built for working parents. 'As a single mom living and working full time in a rural area, planning summer coverage for my two elementary-aged kids is incredibly difficult,' Christine Auchinleck told from Ontario's Oxford County. Auchinleck has her kids in camps for part of the summer and plans to use vacation days to look after them at other times. 'Large portions of the summer remain uncovered, and even on days with care, I don't actually have coverage for my actual work hours,' she said. 'This situation affects my job performance, my mental health and my kids' wellbeing.' Emily O'Riordan in Hamilton, Ont. says one of her biggest challenges is that many camps in her area end at 3 p.m. or 4 p.m. and that extended hour options are limited. 'Camps just don't align with the realities of working schedules,' she told 'We're lucky to be able to afford weekly camps for our older child—and soon for our younger one too—but it's a major financial strain.' Daria Kathnelson of Ottawa, Ont. says all of her vacation days and a large portion of her annual bonus go towards looking after her two kids and enrolling them in camps, which are costing her family more than $5,000 this summer. 'These funds would normally be saved for a family trip, which we can no longer afford to take,' Kathnelson told 'Affording summer camp each year for two children is extremely stressful. I have no idea how single parents do it. I am able to barely manage, but what about the rest?' Campers Campers swim in the pool, Thursday, June 20, 2024, at YMC Camp Kern in Oregonia, Ohio. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel) (Joshua A. Bickel/AP) Like many other parents, Alessandra McIntosh from Caledon, Ont. got up early one February morning to get her two kids into a more affordable municipal camp as soon as registration opened at 7 a.m. At about $300 per child per week, McIntosh said it's still a 'huge expense.' 'If you don't sign up within the first few minutes, the spots are gone and you have no option but to pay for more expensive camps,' McIntosh told 'With the cost of living going up, people are really going to struggle putting their kids in camp.' Perhaps their kids would cringe, but McIntosh and several other parents expressed a desire for schools to operate year-round with a shorter summer holiday. Others suggested that camps and childcare should be exempt from taxes to ease parents' financial burden. 'Personally I feel that primary school summer vacation is purely an outdated traditional practice to allow school-age children to help with seeding/harvest when we were a more agricultural based society,' Saskatoon dad Mark Petrisor told 'Obviously the times have changed so I think it's well overdue to re-evaluate this practice.' 'It's all about being very organized' The financial challenges summer brings to working parents regularly comes up in Ho's conversations with her clients. She said she begins planning summer activities for her 10- and eight-year-old at least one season in advance. 'That's how I've functioned and that's how I've been able to stay sane,' Ho said. 'A lot of parents think I'm crazy, but you need to know exactly when every registration date is for whatever camps you want to go to so that you don't miss the deadlines. So it's all about being very organized, setting calendar reminders, and browsing before so you actually know what's available.' In Canada, prices can range from about $200 per week for day camps run by municipalities or community centres to $1,000 or more per week for specialty and overnight camps. In many places, the more affordable options tend to fill up very quickly once registration opens. Some camps also offer scholarships and subsidies. campers Counselor Kendra Ashong, center, sings a song with other campers, Thursday, June 20, 2024, at YMCA Camp Kern in Oregonia, Ohio. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel) (Joshua A. Bickel/AP) Although day camps typically operate from about 9 a.m. to 3 or 4 p.m., many offer before and after care for an added fee. Ho says it's also a good idea to talk to other parents about registering your kids for the same camp or activity. 'That way if there are scheduling challenges, then you have the option of approaching them to help with pick-up and drop-off,' Ho said. 'And also the benefit for your kid is that they have a friend going into the program.' Parents who are still in a bind should talk to their employers about tweaking their work schedules. 'Even with my staff… if they need some flexibility for a particular period of time, I have no problem with that as long as the work is done,' Ho said. 'I think there's no issue in asking when the intentions are good.' Ho says the summer months are also a time to lean on grandparents, family members, neighbours, friends, student babysitters and the community for help. 'What do we do if people don't have those types of supports? That's when we have to turn to our social networks,' she said. 'It's really about getting creative if camps present a financial burden.' For example, Ho said you could also try to find other parents who are in a similar situation and take turns being off work to look after each other's kids. Ho also cautioned against scheduling too many activities for your kids during the summer months and advised giving them some downtime too. 'They like the ability to have some free unallocated time,' she said. 'If we think back to our own childhood, I remember lots of lazy summer days sitting at home, hanging out with my grandparents, and I thought it was the best thing in the world.'
