Vancouver Magazine November 2025

How Stratford Hall Uses AI to Foster Critical Thinking and Global Citizenship

Future Ready

Give a gift that gives back.

This season, spread joy – and impact. Purchase a TELUS critter plushie for someone you love or plant a tree in their honour.

For every critter plushie sold, 100% of the proceeds go to the TELUS Friendly Future Foundation®, supporting Canadian youth. By planting a tree through TELUS Environmental Solutions, you help strengthen ecosystems and restore forests affected by wildfires, including areas in British Columbia.

Whichever you choose, your thoughtful gift will make a meaningful difference this holiday season.

Shop our collection at telus.com/Merch

CANADA'S LARGEST CELEBRATION OF FOOD & DRINK

Contents

PERSONAL SPACE

Mon Pitou’s Jesse Hawes and Triet Duong bring us home for the holidays.

SHOP HOP

We’re dishing on where to get the most stylish tableware in town.

SO FUN CITY

Mahjong is having a moment. Try your hand at the classic game with Lucky Tile’s beginner nights.

ON THE RISE

Culture 20 28 24 30 18 26 15

Dunne Cliff’s pieces are woven with a sense of play.

THE HAUL Photographer Donnel Garcia’s favourite things.

THE DISRUPTOR

312 Main brings together social enterprise and commu nity under one roof.

KNOW-IT-ALL

Not everything makes it through airport security—where do those goods go?

Photography by Clinton Hussey

Styling by Kristin Morawski

Clothing by Holt Renfrew Hair and makeup by Katie Elwood

Sharla wears Acne Studios jacket and shorts, Oscar de la Renta earrings and pearl cuff, Ben-Amun gold cuff and Alexis Bittar bangles and necklace.

Rachel wears Sau Lee dress, Anine Bing cardigan, Anderson’s belt, Oscar de la Renta earrings and Casio watch.

Ricardo wears Canali shirt, Our Legacy jacket, Dion tie, Roxanne Assoulin earrings and Emanuele Bicocchi bracelet.

Sandeep wears Chloe jacket and Pamela Card earrings and necklace. 18

Spin It! If K-Pop Thursdays at Celebrities isn’t your jam, our Nightlife Guide (page 49) has a plethora of other party-hardy suggestions.

THE 2025 VANMAG WISH BOOK

June brings new life to Cambie Village (and delicious carbs, too).

BEST THING I ATE

This salted-caramel pudding is the kind of dessert dreams are made of.

WINE LIST

The perfect bottles for gifting holiday cheer. THE

You want to go camping? In the

? If you insist...

This holiday season, we’re embracing all things local, and our wish list shows it: find best buys from Vancouver brands, makers, shops and tastemakers in our supersized gift guide. 49 LET’S GO OUT!

We’ve got you covered with plans for your next Big Night Out, including the best spots to grab drinks, hit the dance floor or crush that karaoke stage.

Bula, Melissa Edwards, Alyssa Hirose, Matt O’Grady

interns Vivian Chong, Irene Chuang, Ashley Kim, Orchid Solang email mail@vanmag.com

copywriter Sandrine Jacquot design creative director Jenny Reed

directors Stesha Ho ( Vancouver ), Edwin Pabellon ( BCBusiness )

advisory council

Angus An, Maenam; Patrick Barron, Telus; TC Carling, Covenant House; Victoria Emslie, Nicola Wealth; Peter Jackman, Terminal City Club; Carol Lee, Vancouver Chinatown Foundation; Carol Liao, UBC Peter Allard School of Law; Matt McClenaghan, Edgar Developments; Jennifer Murtagh, Maturn; Gary Pooni, Pooni Group; Audrey Plaskacz, Bosa Properties; Greg Zayadi, Rennie Group

sales representation

vice president , sales Anna Lee

senior media specialists Brianne Harper, Mira Hershcovitch, Cathy Huynh, Sheri Stubel (on leave)

program lead and sales coordinator Victoria Nwaeze mail sales@canadawide.com

u . s . sales specialist Hayes Media Sales tel 602-432-4868 email lesley@hayesmediasales.com

production / administration

group vp , education and administration Jane Griffiths group director of operations Devin Steinberg director of circulation Tracy McRitchie

manager , hr and administration Fiona Cochrane executive assistant + event producer Julie Fisher

events and office manager Julia Jarman

production manager Kim McLane

production associate Natasha Jayawardena

production support technician Ina Bowerbank customer service Kelly Kalirai

finance

group vp , finance Conroy Ing, CPA, CMA vp of finance Sonia Roxburgh, CPA, CGA accounting Terri Mason, Eileen Gajowski

tel 604-299-7311 fax 604-299-9188 web vanmag.com email sales@canadawide.com

A trio of alpine experiences: familyfriendly ski trips, high-altitude runs and a

fondue adventure.

SHOP THE CITY

Though we do a lot of research for our annual gift guide through conversations and email exchanges with buyers and store owners, you can’t really beat the experience of wandering into a store to explore. Which is how I found myself in the unique position of Christmas shopping on a 29-degree day in July.

We start working on our November issue in the thick of summer, so even though I was sweating up a storm, I had the holiday spirit in my heart as I scouted out the goods in our favourite Main Street stores. And even though I was just browsing—okay, I did treat myself to one graphic tee at Collage Collage—it was such a great reminder of how much fun it is to shop IRL. So many treasures to discover, so many friendly strangers to chit-chat with, so many excuses to stop for a coffee and a little treat. (If our endorsements read as a little overly caffeinated, blame the Coco et Olive cortados.)

Anyone with an internet connection and a credit card knows how tempting it can be to search-and-click your way through your shopping list when the holidays roll around. You can order everything you need on your laptop while you’re half-watching A Christmas Story for the 400th time; a few days later, all your tasteful purchases are delivered right to your door. You have not had to put on pants through the entire experience. I’ll agree: there’s a lot to love about the ecommerce lifestyle.

But we’re also missing out on so much when we shop from home—and I’m not just talking about savings on shipping fees. Yes, that hunter-gatherer pleasure centre of your brain will light up as you peruse the bounty of Vancouver’s best local boutiques in person, but even if you’re buying less this holiday season, the simple act of leaving your house to participate in city life brings vibrancy to our neighbourhoods. Whether you’re window shopping or shoppingshopping, leaving your house matters. Actually meeting with people in your community matters. Supporting your favourite small businesses and local brands matters.

Consider our guide to best-bet gifts (starting on page 32) your inspiration not just for any giving you’re doing this season, but also for getting out and interacting with your city. Put on your pants. Get out there and look around. My own little summertime stroll led me to beautifully curated spaces, friendly new faces and—even though I was in shorts and slamming my second iced coffee of the day—a big-time feeling of that holiday spirit. Where might it lead you?

STACEY McLACHLAN

editor - in - chief

smclachlan @ canadawide . com | @ stacey mclachlan

Coming Up Next Issue

25 Things to Eat Next

These are the dishes, drinks, desserts and put-on-everything sauces we can’t stop thinking about: our editors’ must-try meals and essential groceries that we absolutely insist you taste-test too.

9 Ideas to Change Vancouver We love this city—but no place is perfect. We’re exploring some big ideas from sources far and near that could be the key to tackling Vancouver’s most persistent problems.

behind the scenes

Christmas Countdown

It took some Photoshop magic to get everybody into the advent calendar you see on the cover, but the foundation for the final image involved a good old-fashioned practical effect: a real door frame for each cover star to peek through, crafted by our ever-patient photographer Clinton Hussey.

SAVOUR THE SEASON SAVOUR THE SEASON

For every holiday occasion, celebrate with us. Casual elegance at Hawksworth, social dining at Nightingale, and seasonal delights at Bel Café.

CULTURE

Home for the Holidays

At home with Mon Pitou’s Jesse Hawes and Triet Duong—and, yes, there’s garland galore.

by Stacey McLachlan

photographs by Tanya Goehring

We really didn’t need to rush to capture the holiday decor on display in Jesse Hawes and Triet Duong’s chic Olympic Village condo: Hawes likes to keep the Christmas vibe going for nearly three months of the year. “I am a Christmas Gay. I love it and always have,” laughs Hawes, who decorates the day after Remembrance Day and keeps it all up until the end of January. “I’m like, why not?” he adds. “Most people, especially around our age, don’t decorate for Christmas, which I think is crazy.”

The couple has been living in their apartment for nine years (or nine Christmases, if you, too, are a Christmas Gay), originally picked for its easy commute for Duong, who used to work at a biotech firm across the street. At the time, Hawes was working as a flight attendant. Things have changed a lot since they moved in, though: their French food store, Mon Pitou, celebrated its fifth anniversary in February and is a neighbourhood favourite for its Parisian-inspired baked goods and charming, European-style interiors. (And it’s always decked out for the holidays, of course.)

As their professional lives have changed, so too has their condo, with the input of friend and interior designer Alanna Dunn, who’s based in Calgary. “We didn’t want to break the bank, but we slapped some lipstick on so it didn’t just feel like a builder-grade Vancouver condo, and now it feels warm and cozy,” says Hawes. A sliding door was knocked out to connect the living room to the den. Dunn recommended key pieces, like a 120-year-old round dining table and an 80-pound mirror from CB2, that unify Hawes’s penchant for classic, East Coast interiors

Holiday Cheer

The couple collects ornaments from European Christmas markets. You’ll find quite a few nutcrackers and bulldogs on the branches here.

The Throne Hawes bought the Eames chair to commemorate his 30th birthday a few years ago.

Cool Canvas

The painting is from an artist friend, Diana Brambila. “The more we look at it, the more we find different interpretations,” says Hawes. It also has the benefit of bridging the couple’s aesthetic tastes.

Frame the Moment

In the office, a gallery wall showcases moments from Hawes’s and Duong’s families. “You’re going to see a lot of pictures of my immigrant parents,” says Duong, pointing to one of his mom and dad in front of the Kingsway grocery store they ran through all of Duong’s childhood. Hawes’s family vacations to Newfoundland and childhood in Nova Scotia are well documented here, too. Even the more modern pics are printed in black and white to blend in with the vintage photos.

Cut A Rug The sofa, from Bunny Williams, sits on a custom wool rug. It’s actually wall-to-wall carpet that’s been cut to size and bound, so it saved the couple a few bucks (and ensured they got the right size for the long, skinny space). Dunn recommended the choice of wool, so that it could stand up to the dogs. “She explained to us that it was the only material that would be durable enough. She was like, ‘If you spill wine on a sheep, you’re going to be able to wash it out,’” says Hawes.

Travel Treasures

Little French caramels and matchboxes from New York sit on the coffee table in a tray that was also procured in NYC. “There are a few destinations in the world we hit on repeat,” says Duong. The Hamptons are a fave, too, which explains some of the East Coast design nods you’ll find around the space.

Pretty and Practical The Restoration Hardware chairs that are placed around the antique zebrawood table were selected not just for their style, but also for their comfort… and dog-proof nature. “English bulldogs drool everywhere, and get stains everywhere. These have a performance fabric that’s easy to wash,” says Hawes.

Going Green The couple picked up the artichoke sculpture in Italy—which happened to be the beginning of an elaborate international journey. “He carried that thing to Egypt, I went to France, and the whole time I didn’t care for his safety, I just wanted to make sure the artichoke was going to make it back in one piece,” laughs Duong.

(the couple travels to New York and the Hamptons frequently) with Duong’s more modern tastes. Hawes and Duong aren’t the only residents of the cozy, festive apartment. The duo share a pair of bulldogs named Jellybean and Ru—yes, that’s Ru as in RuPaul. (“We were young gays,” says Duong. “We used to be fun,” deadpans Hawes.)

And in addition to the Christmas tree, you’ll find one other prominent plant: in the study lives a towering fig tree, adopted from a couple down the street who were moving away.

“They said, ‘This is our baby, his name is Mr. Fig.’ So we still call him Mr. Fig,” says Duong. “He was too big for the car so we had to bring a wagon and walk it down Main Street. We send them updates about how he’s doing.”

Let’s Dish

Hosting isn’t just about the food—it’s about creating a memorable moment at the dining table. Here’s where to source dishware as satisfying as the meal. by Xiao Qing Wan

Fable

2871 Granville St., fable.com

Source simple and timeless designs that will always match with the current vibe—no matter how many times you change the aesthetic of your home.

The speckled white, semi-matte dinner plate ($104 for four) is the original, though colourways also include millennial pink and trendy ice blue.

THE STORE GO FOR THE ESSENTIAL PLATE j

CB2 1277 Robson St., cb2.ca

Go for pieces that won’t clash with your carefully curated collection of mid-century modern furniture.

The stoneware Prado plate in tan ($67 for a set of four) is finished with a reactive glaze that makes each piece subtly shift in colour through different angles.

Obakki 1638 W 3rd Ave., obakki.com

Proceeds from purchases of the beautifully handcrafted products here go back to the Obakki Foundation, which is used to provide humanitarian assistance and educational grants to over 15 countries. Find your feel-good investment piece here.

The wobbly-edged Japanese-designed Glass Haze plate in Mist Grey ($165 each) brings a dreamy, hypnotic mood to the table.

Atkinson’s 1501 W 6th Ave., atkinsonsofvancouver.com

Love the fine art of hosting? From specialty dinnerware to colourful crystal and glass accessories, the pieces at Atkinson’s offer a surefire way to level up your tablescape game.

Ginori’s ornate and colourful Oriente Italiano dinner plate ($253 each) is a day-glo twist on your grandmother’s china.

Gourmet Warehouse

1340 E Hastings St., gourmetwarehouse.ca

Find tableware essentials sourced from across the globe, including quality brands like Meyers and Le Creuset. A mandatory pilgrimage for serious hosts and foodies.

Casafina’s Portuguesemade dinner plate in Pacifica Artichoke ($20 each) is sleek, chic and always ready to serve.

All In

One of the world’s most ancient games is suddenly so hot right now.

by Darcy Matheson

The Chinese game of mahjong is having a moment.

Meghan Markle loves it (she and her “Maj Squad” play at girls’ nights). Julia Roberts plays weekly with actress niece Emma Roberts. The classic four-person parlour game is currently a must-have amenity for luxury hotels.

Here in Vancouver, the renaissance has arrived. Newly launched Lucky Tile Mahjong Events is introducing (or re-introducing) people to the game in a fun, pressure-free environment, with monthly learn-to-play seminars and practice socials at rotating spots around the city. So far, demand is crazy: events are selling out quickly and are frequently waitlisted.

“It’s been amazing to see how many people will come and frankly not be good at something,” says co-founder Vivian McCormick, a secondgeneration Chinese-Canadian. While the game was a fixture in her childhood (her family immigrated from China to Canada in the ’70s), she was never invited to play at the table with the adults, so she’s made both age and cultural inclusion front and centre to building Lucky Tile. (They’ve taught a 100-yearold woman at one session and

had three generations of one family at another.)

A recent sold-out two-hour learn-to-play session drew dozens of people of all ages and skill levels (even folks marked as “green”—a.k.a. never touched a tile), all coming together to learn the Hong Kong style of play. Each table is assigned an “auntie” (really, just an experienced coach—you’re just as likely to

get a man in his 20s as you are an elderly female guide) who explains rules and strategy. The game is fast paced— think: the card game rummy —with the goal of forming

sets of three or four matching or sequential tiles.

Like McCormick, event participant Cindy Yu grew up around the game but hadn’t played for years before she was re-introduced at a threehour session. “I literally begged to keep playing. I was so hooked. I’ve gotten all my friends hooked, too. I think this is a moment—and it’s just going to explode.”

Playing for Keeps Vancouverites are falling in love with mahjong, and the explosion in growth is in part thanks to Vivian McCormick and Sandy Gunn (top photo, left to right), co-founders of Lucky Tile Events. The duo and a crew of mentors host fast-paced learnto-play mahjong sessions and practice socials.

THE DEETS

Your November Anti-Hibernation Guide

Cold

hands, warm plans. Brave the chill for the coolest happenings this side of sweater weather. by

TOUR DE ARTSY: EASTSIDE CULTURE CRAWL

WHEN November 20 to 23

WHERE East Van (various studios) COST Free (donations encouraged)

Wander industrial studios, perusing art, as you chat up the more than 500 local artists who all nod politely as you boldly misuse “juxtaposition” in casual convo.

MULL IT OVER: VANCOUVER CHRISTMAS MARKET

WHEN Opens November 13

WHERE Jack Poole Plaza

COST From $6

Sip hot glühwein (that’s mulled wine for you non-mullheads), snack on bratwurst, spin on a carousel, grab whimsical gifts and snap selfies with mascot duo Holly and Jolly. (Gingerbread siblings? Couple? Jury’s out.)

STAND BY ME: STAND FESTIVAL

WHEN November 1 to 10

WHERE The Annex, Scotiabank Dance Centre and Presentation House Theatre

COST From $18

FAR EAST FLICKS: Vancouver Asian Film Festival (VAFF)

WHEN November 6 to 16

WHERE Various cinemas

COST From $12 (festival passes available)

Groundbreaking Asian cinema?

Check. Everything from laughout-loud comedies to poignant dramas? You bet. Film fest street cred? For days.

HAUTE CULTURE: VANCOUVER INDIGENOUS FASHION WEEK

WHEN November 19 to 22

WHERE Queen Elizabeth Theatre

COST From $25

Indigenous designers take over the runway, serving looks and culture so fierce you’ll want to click “add to cart”—until you realize you’re not dopamine-shopping under the covers.

POINTE BREAK: BALLET BC TRILOGY

WHEN November 6 to 8

WHERE Queen Elizabeth Theatre COST From $19

’Tis the season... for ballet! Plié your way into Ballet BC’s triplethreat night of contemporary dance—high energy, higher kicks and peak wow-factor. The finale? A whopping 50 dancers on stage.

Kerri Donaldson

HANDMADE’S TALE: CIRCLE CRAFT HOLIDAY MARKET

WHEN November 11 to 16

WHERE Vancouver Convention Centre

COST From $8

Sleigh your holiday shopping early so you can free up precious time for the true meaning of the season: bingeing every single Hallmark holiday romcom starring Lacey Chabert.

CHILL SEEKERS: SCIENCE WORLD AFTER DARK: CHILLUSIONS

WHEN November 20

WHERE Science World

COST From $35

Adults-only nerd party: booze, science-y illusions and zero kids hogging the exhibits.

LET IT SHOW: DISNEY’S FROZEN: THE BROADWAY MUSICAL

WHEN October 30 to January 4

WHERE Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage

COST From $39

WHEN Until November 2

This heartfelt annual fest brings immigrant and refugee artists to the spotlight through theatre, dance and music performances guaranteed to hit your feels with Pixar-level precision. HIT THE HIGH NOTES: VANCOUVER OPERA: RIGOLETTO

Elsa, Anna, Olaf: names your kids know better than yours. Brace yourself for ice magic, sisterly love and endless “Let It Go” singalongs. (Good luck getting it out of your head before spring.)

WHERE Queen Elizabeth Theatre

COST From $35

Love, betrayal, murder, you know, opera stuff. Revel in juicy drama (not your own, for once) and powerhouse vocals in Italian with handy English surtitles (no, those aren’t karaoke prompts... apparently).

NIGHT LIGHT: LUMIÈRE FESTIVAL

WHEN November 13 to 16

WHERE Downtown Vancouver COST Free

Not a tribute to Beauty and the Beast’s candelabra “sex pest”— this Lumière fest lights up downtown Van with four glowing nights of dazzling installations, radiant performances and interactive light experiences. Like stepping into a giant Lite-Brite.

SMOOTH OPERATOR: GANAVYA

WHEN November 18

WHERE Chan Centre COST From $59

Dreamy jazz, soulful vocals, spiritual vibes. Prepare for goose pimples of the musical variety.

SKETCHY BEHAVIOUR:

AUNTY DONNA: DREM

WHEN November 10

WHERE The Orpheum COST From $51

Silly sketches, surreal shenanigans and pure comedic chaos. Let your phone rest while a trio of Aussie absurdists breaks your brain (in the best way possible).

PUP CULTURE: PUP WITH SNOTTY NOSE REZ KIDS

WHEN November 24

WHERE The Pearl COST From $53

Toronto punk meets Indigenous hip-hop. Prepare to sweat, mosh and lose your voice (and probably your keys, too, if we’re being honest: it might be that kind of night!).

CHAMPIONSHIP (CANADIAN GP)

WHEN November 15

WHERE BC Place COST From $60

Dirt bikes flying, gravity defying, crashes multiplying: the kind of adrenaline-fuelled stress people pay good money for (couldn’t be me!).

LOL CALL: THE COMEDY WEEKEND AT PT

WHEN November 14 to 15

WHERE Pacific Theatre COST $35

Local comedy vets Charlie Demers and Jacob Samuel (of CBC’s The Debaters) squeeze huge laughs into Pacific Theatre’s tiny basement. Expect punchlines, surprise guests and maybe some questionable life advice.

SIMPLY THE BETHS: THE BETHS

WHEN November 16

WHERE Commodore Ballroom COST $76

Kiwi indie-rockers with harmonies tighter than your jeans, hooks catchier than a cold... and, for the record, only one Beth.

THE PLAYLIST

Antonio Cayonne is director of operations for Collective Hospitality, but he’s also a Hallmark Channel leading man. Here’s what’s in his pop-culture diet this holiday season.

THE PODCAST

We’re Here to Help I mostly listen to podcasts these days. We’re Here to Help (with Jake Johnson and Gareth Reynolds) is nonstop dumb fun, while Otherworld (hosted by Jack Wagner) is packed with real-life paranormal stories, which is totally my jam. Bonus: Bramble Jam Studios’ The Diss List. They do a top ten of whatever they want, and it’s always a good time.

THE TV SHOW

The Pitt No moment wasted, no beat out of place. Profound storytelling. Close behind is The Rehearsal —wildly weird, unexpectedly heart-warming, funny and smart.

THE BOOK Conversations with God

Just got into Conversations with God by Neale Donald Walsch and I’m loving it. Feels like being reminded of things you already know about the universe.

THE HOLIDAY SOUNDTRACK

Boney M.’s Christmas Album I’ve been listening to this since I was a kid. Fun and festive. Boney M.’s cover of “Feliz Navidad” is a banger.

Geeking Out

Dunne Cliff’s collections weave academia and whimsy into must-wear pieces.

by Celine Simpson

When designer Allison Dunne’s knitwear collection first made an appearance in the Vancouver fashion scene in 2023, the remarkable merger of tradition and pertinent thematics opened a door that onlooking aesthetes hadn’t known was there: contemplative knitwear.

Her brand Dunne Cliff has since sent philosophical essays, art references, math equations and tongue-in-cheek political commentary down Canadian runways, with images and coded messages interlaced right into the materials. This goes beyond dark academia— it’s the whole library.

What began as a collection of one-of-one knitwear pieces made over 50 painstaking hours from specially sourced Shetland wool has evolved into a charismatic, eminently wearable collection. The Vancouver-based designer adorns her pieces with endearing names and chess piece charms— the Darling denim midi skirt, for instance, has a miniscule knight figurine secreted away in the pocket and a garden-green weft on the inside of the design. Truly, it’s all in the details. Expect to find Harris tweed, cotton and Canadian wool among the latest Dunne Cliff curated collection.

Informed by Dunne’s academic background in art and the humanities, the project has down-to-earth origins, taking its name from the family cabin her grandfather built on Shuswap

EDITORS’ PICK

Lake: “They’d enlist my brother and me to dig potatoes, but then it would turn into this other kind of task with all sorts of fantasy elements, imagining games and stories and characters digging up the potatoes. That’s what the brand is to me now; I want people to feel that sense of the traditional, but then there’s playing, and there’s humour, and there’s a dream realm.”

Dunne’s perceptive creativity was further fostered by a broad family tree, which just happens to include a strong lineage of knitters, an industrial illustrator and even a computer scientist. Hints of Python, a computer programming language, have appeared before in the patterns of her knitwear. Suddenly everything makes sense: Dunne is an avid learner with a good sense of

Weird and Wonderful

“I like operating on a smaller scale where things are personal,” says Dunne (inset). Top right: Underground Bug jeans ($198) and Uh Oh top ($128); bottom: the black Chopin coat ($298), Unclear capris ($178) and Unconscionable top ($98).

humour who simply transmutes the world around her into wearable art. “Maybe I’m just entertaining myself,” laughs the designer.

Pieces like the slouchy Comme des Oursons blazer ($228) are available at Front and Company on Main Street.

HOW ELEMENT EVENT SOLUTIONS IS POWERING VANCOUVER’S BIGGEST EVENTS

Meet the event equipment, furniture, decor and tent rental company behind events like TEDx and the Honda Celebration of Light.

Have you ever gone to an event in Vancouver, sat at a beautifully decorated tablescape and marvelled at the delicate dishware or the striking colour of the linens? Chances are, those tables, chairs, dishware, shelves—you name it—are supplied by Element Event Solutions.

Element Event Solutions, previously operating in B.C. as A&B Partytime Rentals and Loungeworks, is the amalgamation of nine leading event solutions companies that merged in 2024 under a new name. Now, Element Event Solutions is the largest full-service event solutions provider in B.C. and Canada, leading the industry with the most comprehensive inventory and service offerings you can find.

Element Event Solutions delivers to more than 35,000 events per year from Vancouver to Halifax, but it’s at the local level where clients see the success of this national reach.

Element Event Solutions has supported some of Vancouver’s largest events. Think: TEDx, the Invictus Games, Web Summit and the Honda Celebration of Light (a.k.a. Vancouver’s annual fireworks festival). The company also frequently supports thousands of industry events, like conferences, product launches and holiday parties.

But Element Event Solutions doesn’t just do large-scale or corporate events. It supplies intimate, at-home parties, weddings and milestone family celebrations for any occasion.

With a combined 110+ years of experience in the industry, Element Event Solutions is a planner’s, organizer’s or venue’s one-stop shop for gold standard solutions to create elevated experiences.

There’s an extensive product line consisting of dinnerware, glassware, flatware, linens, kitchen equipment, furniture, room decor and more to suit every style. Choose from popular aesthetics like the round, warm wooden tones of coastal chic, or the gold accents and elegant oak of golden hour. It’s also about much more than rentals: the company offers a full range of services and expertise with its Vancouver team, including design, project management, delivery and installation. Element Event Solutions can also collaborate with your favourite event planner, caterer or venue to create engaging spaces, remarkable connections and memorable moments.

To learn more and to work with Element Event Solutions for your next event, visit elementeventscanada.com/about/?region=west

Connect: NATIONAL: @element_event_solutions

WEST FURNITURE: @elementwest_furniture

WEST PARTY RENTALS: @elementwest_rentals

TENTS: @element_tents_and_structures

Photo Finish

Donnel Garcia is a multitalented Vancouverite, dabbling in art direction, visual communication, branding, editorial and graphic design—“but mainly,” he says, “photography.” We asked the artist to put down the camera and turn his keen eye to a different kind of project for this issue: telling us what goods he’s found in his shopping basket lately. Here are his pictureperfect picks.

1. Lloyd Oversized Sweatshirt

Who doesn’t have a favourite big grey sweater? This is mine. The fabric is deadstock and made in Italy, but the sweatshirt itself was locally made by a friend, creative director Kathy Hamagami. Maybe you’ve seen Lloyd beanies around town, too? $224, lloydclothing.com

2. MiiThaaii Cotton Teeya Zippered Bag

Everyone needs an essentials bag. Mine is this sturdy cotton-twill number that I found at Neighbour—I like the cube-like

shape. I usually carry lip balm, earphones, an external hard drive and sometimes an apple. $68, shopneighbour.com

3. Tokyo Style by Kyoichi Tsuzuki

This book offers an intimate look at people’s homes in Tokyo that come in all shapes, forms, themes and messes. I love books on interior design and spaces, but we don’t often get to see what spaces look like that are really lived in—they’re always well-manicured for documentation. This

is proof that the objects I choose to clutter and decorate my home with can also be seen as an extension of who I am. $127, oldfaithfulshop.com

4. Boundless Incense Boxset

This Tibetan incense is made in a monastery from a century-old recipe. I love the packaging, the names of the incense: you can burn “Courage,” “Wisdom” and “Purity.” And the scents are amazing. Courage, for instance, features frankincense, sandalwood and saffron. $85, cultivatetea.com

5. Rock-cense Burner

As you can tell by now: I’m an incense lover. These incense holders are handmade from stones found here in Vancouver, so each one is distinct. They’re a fun way to play with nature... and they’re made by the father of the owner of Alterior! $75, alterior.ca

6. Alterior Black Slub Wide Denim Trouser

These are the best pair of denim pants I’ve ever had. They are the perfect width, fit and overall style for everything I wear. This was the very first

pair of pants Alterior released and they’ve lasted me many years and will last me many more. (I also happen to share a studio with Alterior.) I love things that are well made, look better as they age and wear and tear. Quality made clothing that you don’t have to be too precious with. $600, alterior.ca

7. Breville the Barista Express Coffee Machine

8. Hasami Maruhiro Block Mug

These Japanese coffee cups are inspired by classic American restaurant tableware, and they’re my favourite mugs to use at home. I love the colours—cherry red! peach! teal!—and it’s so satisfying the way they’re designed to stack on top of each other. $40 each, sortdays.com

For coffee lovers who love a little bit more, this is the best way to take it to the next step with your caffeine romance. I still love going to coffee shops but now it’s better to be able to make some of the drinks I get at the shops, at home. $800, londondrugs.com

STAY INSPIRED

Love Design?

Sign up for a complimentary subscription to WL, and each issue you’ll receive...

• Inspiring new home designs, from the west’s best designers

• Smart tips on everything from renovation ideas to the best bathroom fixtures

• Insights into design trends for the coming year

• And so much more!

Ready to subscribe? Scan the QR code, or head to westernliving.ca/subscribe for more details

Making Space

At the heart of the Downtown East Side, 312 Main brings together a community of social equity orginizations under one roof.

by Sara Harowitz

Mara Mennicken wanted to secure affordable office and warehouse space—which is not an easy task in this city.

The CEO of the Good Chocolatier was ready to move her operation out of her home, but she had some specific requirements. The place needed lots of storage (to house her delicious chocolate products); it needed to have zero windows (in order to keep the chocolate at the right temperature with strong air conditioning); and it needed to be the right price (the Good Chocolatier is a social enterprise that employs people on the autism spectrum, so their margins are tight). Mennicken had toured a bunch of offices, and nothing was a fit. Then she found 312 Main.

“What I loved about it was that it was not, ‘Here’s the office space; here’s what’s available,’” she says of her initial site tour. “It was more a conversation both ways. They really wanted to see what our business was about, and if we would fit into the space and its community.”

Ensuring the right fit is a key part of how 312 Main operates. The building— located right in the heart of the Downtown Eastside at

Main and Cordova—provides low-cost, flexible office space for both organizations and individuals. The through line among all of its tenants is a commitment to social equity and grassroots change, be it Megaphone magazine (which publishes writers with lived or living experience with poverty in the DTES) for or La Boussole (which offers French-language support for vulnerable populations of French speakers in B.C.).

“There is a desperate need for affordable and suitable office and meeting space for nonprofit organizations,” says Sean Condon, director of social and economic innovation

at the Vancity Community Foundation, which manages 312 Main (the building itself is owned by the City of Vancouver). “When we talk about the affordability crisis in Vancouver, we’re not always reflecting on the fact that social service organizations are also getting priced out.”

The initial idea to operate the property as a community hub came from the Jim Green Foundation, which partnered with the Vancity Community Foundation to open 312 Main in the summer of 2018. “There was a real movement around social-purpose real estate, and saying Vancouver needs some of these kinds

of shared spaces that help support startups or nonprofit organizations by making space more affordable, but also by allowing for that space for important collaboration and community connection,” says Condon.

The building breaks down barriers to workspace access by making the individual options themselves cheaper (a private desk can go for as little as $350 per month), and by offering flexible short-term licence agreements to those who need them. There are traditional offices, co-working hot desks and artist studios, as well as bookable event spaces for workshops and big

meetings. Vancity Community Foundation also organizes its own events throughout the month, which helps foster collaboration and belonging among tenants.

It’s a radical transformation for a building that used to be the headquarters of the Vancouver Police Department. The interior was completely renovated before the team reopened its doors (the exterior, meanwhile, had to remain intact because it’s a heritage building). Sure, there’s still some classic cop

concrete, but there’s also a cheerful, welcoming air in the space thanks to large windows, white walls, natural light and warm wood tones.

“We’ve had comments from members who remember being hauled up to the third or fourth floor, where the holding cells were,” says Sean Miles, director of

Binners’ Project, an organization that destigmatizes and legitimizes people who collect bottles and cans for money and that operates out of 312 Main. “But they’ve really done, I think, about as good a job as you could do to try to make this feel like its own space and not be tied to the history of the building.”

All Together Now 312 Main is home to a variety of mission-driven entrepreneurs and not-for-profit groups, including HUB, Megaphone, Equitas and the Northwest Indigenous Council.

Still, Condon acknowledges that 312 Main hasn’t completely shed its past associations.

“There have been folks who have struggled to come into this space because of what it was, and that’s something that we take very, very seriously,” he says. “We have to continue to work to build that trust and show the community that we are working to find solutions that will help support this community.”

While there’s still some distance to go, the general feeling inside 312 Main is a positive one. It’s incredible what happens when vastly different people come together, united under a shared sense of purpose.

“There are so many different groups that work in this space, but it is constantly filled with joy and good feelings, because there’s some underlying care and values that many of these groups seek to focus on—and I think that really is so unique about a space like this,” says Miles. “I don’t think there’s another space like it.”

What Happens to Stuff That Gets Surrendered at the Airport?

How to carry on after your carry-on has caused you even more stress than usual.

Nothing can start a trip off on the wrong foot like having one of your travel essentials get confiscated by airport security. No matter how many times you fly, there’s always going to be that one trip where you accidentally toss the full-size

sunscreen into your carry-on, or forget to remove your biathlon rifle. After all, when you’re packing your bag, you’re not thinking about the security lineup; you’re thinking about all the fun you’re going to have on the beaches of Maui with your lithium battery collection.

If you’re in doubt about what you’re allowed to bring on a plane from Vancouver these days, the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority has a handy alphabetical guide. Pagers and portable CD players are absolutely welcome, for instance, so time travellers from the 1990s can rest easy as they head to their gate. Time travellers from the 1790s, though, will not be as happy: archery arrows are not welcome in your carry-on luggage.

particularly boring trip (funeral for a dullard late grandmother with flat hair?) I can see how you might be tempted to abandon (air)ship.

by Stacey McLachlan illustration

Ane Arzelus

Got a question for Know-It-All?

stacey.mclachlan@ vanmag.com

You don’t necessarily have to surrender your beloved pocketknife or treasured 351-millilitre container of powdered detergent to security, of course. If you’ve got time, you can mail it home, double back to check-in to check the bag or pass it off to a non-travelling friend or the will-they-won’t-they love interest who chased you through the airport to finally confess his affection. The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority also offers the option of “turning back from the screening checkpoint and not boarding your flight,” which seems like a dramatic reaction to packing too much shampoo, but maybe if it was a sentimental shampoo (inherited from a beloved late grandmother with great hair?) or you were embarking on a

But if you’re forced by circumstance to give up your most liquid and/or most violent belongings, don’t be too sad: they’re going to a better place. You might be shocked to learn that the YVR agents don’t get first dibs on all the tantalizing used aerosol deodorants or gun-shaped belt buckles that are abandoned at the security gate each day. Years ago, there was a nearby thrift store that specifically sold these airport leftovers, but today, surrendered goods and anything else that’s been accidentally left behind at the airport are donated to community partners like the Developmental Disabilities Association, the BC Technology for Learning Society and the Third World Eye Care Society. YVR’s Pharmasave safely disposes of any meds, and specialty items like forgotten CPAP machines are donated to appropriate charity partners. (Though perhaps these sorts of left-behind goods should inspire a different nonprofit organization: the Society for Sleep Apnea Sufferers Who Forget They Have Sleep Apnea.)

So, yes, you’ve had to say goodbye to your favourite scuba knife, but your loss will become a gain for someone else. Now go get on that plane and use the flight time not to dwell on what was left behind, but to consider what you’re going to say at flathaired grandma’s service.

THE VAN MaG WISH B O OK

What’s on our wish list this holiday season? A smorgasbord of delightful goods from our favourite local brands, shops and makers—and recommendations from the town’s top tastemakers, too.

BY THE EDITORS

Our gift to you this year

MELLOW YELLOW

The mustard-coloured Loft coat ($265) from Anian is made from recy cled wool here in Canada. anianmfg.com

It’s the return of our supersized, superlocal gift guide. We’ve scoured the city for the best bets from local brands and our fave neighbourhood shops so you can source delights for

KIDDING AROUND

Despite the name, Kid Sister’s Super Ego face oil ($85)—made with buriti fruit and hydrating tomato seed—is the ideal

WEST COAST WILLY WONKA

East Van’s Hype Chocolate is worth the, well, hype, with inventive (and aesthetically pleasing) concoctions like the Biscoff cookie butter bar ($30). hypechocolate.com

The silicone cup on the Springer Classic Flip dog travel bottle ($44) folds LAP IT UP

Do they take 20 extra minutes on each coffee run because they have to stop and pet every dog they meet along the way? They need this Tentree I Like Your Dog cap ($45). tentree.ca RUFF STUFF

YOU’RE A DOLL

Whimsical, femme, appropriate to wear if you’re cast as Clara in The Nutcracker: the Doll blouse from Vancouver brand Harly Jae ($245) covers all the bases. harlyjae.com

HIP CLIP

If you don’t look after your health, who will ?

Find out how to prevent diseases.

Remember, prevention is the cure.

illumi HEALTH

Get reliable information to help improve your life. Accurate information can change people’s lives for the better, and illumi.health is the place to find it. The content is engaging, easy to understand, and relevant to Canadians of all ages and backgrounds. Best of all, there’s no cost to join, and no personal information is collected. Let’s all work together so that we can have a long, happy, and healthy life.

Scan to watch the latest content.

sunjalink.com

LAUREN SUNDSTROM Content Creator

What’s on your wish list right now?

company’s new line 89 hooks ($95 each) will be next. livingspace.com

Good Beast’s Amber Crushed cups ($55) are made from ultra-durable amber glass and enhance the experience of drinking everything from agua fresca to whisky on the rocks. goodbeast.ca

Yeah, we put a lucky cat in the last edition of this gift guide, so maybe this Beams Japan ceramic kitten (from $95) is overkill. But who doesn’t want more luck? outnaboutboutique.com

“A good pair of loafers from G.H. Bass has been on my wish list for ages. They’re so classic, well-made and will be something I can envision myself wearing over and over again. In the scheme of things, they’re not even that expensive for a pair of shoes I would wear forever.”

Whitney Weejuns loafers, $270, gravitypope.com

What are you excited to give to someone else this year?

“I love The Garden Strathcona for gifts: it’s a coffee shop with a cute section of plants and various small gifts like candles, soaps and teas, all of which are from local and Indige nous-owned businesses. If you have a friend with a green thumb, I can’t recommend their Kelpy plant food enough—it has saved some of my saddest looking plants.” Kelpy, $44, thegardenstrathcona.com

What’s a great experience to give or receive here in Vancouver?

“It’s gotta be a facial, either with the Skin Girls or at Formula Fig. Dreamy and indulgent and you’ll glow afterwards.” Glow and Go, $169, theskingirls.ca; Hydrate and Glow, $99, formulafig.com

This Ina Seifart Brillenkette Big eyeglass holder ($65) is made from wooden beads; so BOSS BEADS

CORD ACCORD

RACHEL LEE Owner, Dear Gus Snack Bar

Add charms to Melanie Auld’s colourful new Cord bracelets (from $20) or just rock a stack of neon on your wrist. melanieauld.com

KID COUTURE

In these stylish five-panel hats ($30) from B.C.-based Feel Unified, your toddler will be the belle of the playground. feelunifed.ca

WATER WORLD

Owalas and Stanleys are fine and all, but if you want to stay hydrated without following the crowd, these insulated, 900-ml Asobu Cosmic water bottles ($35) are the way to go. welks.ca

BRINE TIME

Your favourite community gardener needs this beautiful guide to all things pickled and jammed from Jo Turner: The Preserving Garden ($40). oldfaithful shop.com

WHITE STRIPES

What’s on your wish list this year?

“Baina towels from Old Faithful. I love the contemporary designs and colours of all of their towels. I also would buy anything and everything in Old Faithful.” Baina Willis pool towel, $147, oldfaithfulshop.com

“I love the simple aesthetic and signature scent of the Frama hand soap and lotion from Provide. I’m a new fan of this lifestyle brand.” Frama Herbarium hand wash, $80, providehome.com

There’s something Mediterranean chic about the lowbacked, vertically striped Londre x Fairmont Pacific Minimalist one-piece ($179), but the swimsuit is designed right here in Van and made from recycled plastic bottles. shoppacrim.com

“This colourful Louis Poulsen lamp is the perfect cordless lamp for home.” Panthella 160 portable lamp, $330, livingspace.com

“A wine club membership from Dear Gus! It’s a shameless plug, but I swear it’s a great gift. You get two bottles of wine a month and bottle discounts in-restaurant. Who wouldn’t want that?” Monthly subscription, $105, deargus.com

CAROLINE BOQUIST

Co-Founder, Walrus; Co-Host, PechaKucha Vancouver

What’s on your wish list right now?

“It would be a dream to receive a painting by Vancouver artist Rubeena Ratcliffe. Not only do I love her work, I love supporting women.” Party at the Shore painting, $1,400, gallerymerrick.com

“Good design with whimsy is one of my favourite things, and the ceramic, retro-inspired Studio Arhoj Smoke Flower incense holder hits that sweet spot.” Daisy Smoke Flower, shop.walrushome.com

What are you excited to give to someone

“These artist-designed wool blankets by ZigZag are so cool (and cozy) and happen to be available at my store.” Konstructiv by Michelle shop. walrushome.com

What’s a great experience to give or receive here in Vancouver?

“A custom scent experience with local scent magician Josée Gordon from Reassembly.” Three visits that culminate in a unique perfume oil, $595, reassembly.ca

For the foodie friend who is always ruining your brunches by complaining about the Aunt Jemima, there’s organic, single-forest pure maple syrup from Cosman and Webb ($17). granvilleislandspice co.com

THESTUFFSWEET

MAKES SCENTS

This diffuser set offers Ollie and Co.’s bestselling Raincouver scent ($33; green leaves, moss, incense) in a minimalist, low-fire-hazard package. ollieand co.ca

The S.cab Mimosa planter holder (from $150) may look wiggly and wobbly, but the playful design holds steady. arkinteriors.ca

Canadian seaweed extract is the not-so-secret ingredient in this silky, hydrating Dear Lucy marine antioxidant serum ($140). dearlucyskincare.com

This iron-on Petra Boase snake patch ($9) is from kids’ art shop Collage Collage, but we assure you, it would look just as cool on a 40-year-old’s denim jacket. collage collage.ca

The popular Emi pants ($298) from Vancouver denim gurus Decade Studio now come in a cozy fern-coloured cotton corduroy. decade studio.com

All the soaps from Saturna Outdoor Research ($12.50 each) are inspired by colours discovered on wild and wonderful Saturna Island. thesoap dispensary.com

MARINE QUEEN

the perfect gift

NOURISH is here in time for the holidays!

This cookbook is a labour of love that celebrates the beauty of whole foods, the joy of cooking, and the nourishment that brings us together. After months of testing and tasting, Nourish is ready to make its way into kitchens—and hearts. The gift you’ll love to give (and crave to keep)!

Food, at its core, is beautifully simple. Good quality, whole ingredients can be transformed into something wild and magical when flavours collide. It awakens the senses, transports us through space and time, and turns the ordinary into the extraordinary. It taps into our deepest emotions and reminds us of who we are and how we love.

300+ PAGES I HARDCOVER I LARGE FORMAT

120 STUNNING WHOLE FOOD RECIPES

AVAILABLE AT NATURAL HEALTH RETAILERS NOVEMBER 2025

$64 98

If we’ve learned anything walking down the street past Kits High during lunchtime, it’s that teens love a grey hoodie. Gift this Vancity Originals Smiley UnDMC sweater ($75) and maybe earn a begrudging smile. getdipt.com

STICK ’EM UP

Stickers are the ideal stocking stuffer for recipients young and old; we like this bold Snack Pack ($6) of shiny vinyl designs from graphic artist Whitney Luu. shop makers.ca

All of Free Label’s garments run from XS to 5X, so the new Picante-coloured bambooand-spandex underwear and bra sets ($98 for bras; $48 for bottoms) are comfy, curve-hugging options for anyone. freelabel.com

NUTS TO YOU

REMEMBER THE SUN? THE YOUTH!

PRINTS CHARMING

Pleasant Shimo’s beautiful prints are each created by a local artist as a love letter to Vancouver’s neighbourhoods—available in either 6-by-9-inch or 18-by-24-inch sizes ($30, $100). pleasant shimo.com

Tiger nuts are high in fibre and naturally sweet—we’re predicting right now that this is the next big superfood. A jar of chocolate tiger nut butter

Winter will end eventu ally (right? RIGHT?) and then they’ll be happily burning at the beach. This Fern and Petal after-sun mist ($19) hydrates and mois fernandpetal.ca

SHARLA FARRELL PR Consultant and Content Creator

What’s on your wish list right now?

“I have been eyeing this crochet Givéh top ever since I first saw it. I love the open-tie sides and I think it’s the perfect piece to wear in the winter layered over a long-sleeve top or by itself in the summer.” Tie top, $236, shopmercurial.com

“I am all about wellness and staying healthy, so this Mornings reishi tincture—from a local female-owned brand!—is always a great stocking stuffer for me.” Organic Reishi extract, $40, yourmornings.com

What are you excited to give to someone else this year?

“Piecework Puzzles are so much fun to give because of how intricate and detailed they are. It’s also a great price point and a reliable last-minute gift for a Secret Santa. This one of the French Riviera gives me total vacation vibes.” L’Apero 1,000-piece puzzle, $60, siista.com

HECTOR LAGUNA

Executive Chef, Botanist

What’s on your wish list right now?

“This mushroom knife from France is great for cleaning mushrooms, especially for when I have time to forage. There is a blade on one side and a brush on the other.” Opinel mushroom knife, $40, leevalley.com

What are you excited to give to someone else this year?

“A tortilla press. People may not know how easy it is to make your own tortillas.” Fox Run aluminum tortilla press, $33, gourmet warehouse.ca

“I always like to gift aprons to people who enjoy cooking at home. We source our aprons from Chef and Co. Canada, based in Vancouver. The Vancouver 162 is a great one. Pockets are a must.” Pinstripe apron, $72, chefandco canada.ca

An oversized tongue and heel loops make these sneaks (from $60) from Native even easier to slip on for little speedsters. nativeshoes.com

($125). obakki.com

These colourful Hay chopsticks ($65) are a vast improvement over the splintery bamboo takeout utensils.

These Studio zipper pouches ($60) from This Gallery are made from repurposed studio dropcloths, so each bag is totally

These collaborative doodle books are available in options for Grandpa, Grandma, Mom and more. petiteforet.co

Tomatoes are the “it” fruit right now, and Oh Hello Leigh’s cheery handmade mugs (from $77) celebrate le tomate every time you pour a cuppa. ohhelloleigh.com

Ceamy, easy-glide Ooly

We’ve been chatting with our BC community, and here’s what we learned

DINING HABITS: DID YOU KNOW THAT 72% OF VANCOUVERITES DINE OUT 1-2 TIMES A WEEK ?

OUTDOOR ADVENTURES:

We love the great outdoors! WALKING is Vancouver's favorite outdoor activity ( 87% ), followed by HIKING ( 53% ) and PICNICKING ( 39% ).

WHAT MATTERS TO US: Vancouverites are passionate about the cost of living , healthcare , and affordable housing . Are these topics important to you too? Now we have a question for you! What generalizations or stereotypes do people make when they find out you're from British Columbia?

FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN 1 IN 5 $100 VISA GIFT CARDS

SUPERSIZED STYLE

It’s a super scrunchie! The silver Mercury hair tie from A Bronze Age ($32) is holiday-party ready. abronzeage.com

ARCHITECTURE TOUR

Artist Donna Seto’s beautifully illustrated history book, Chinatown Vancouver: An Illustrated History ($30), also features plenty of delicious food guides. massybooks.com

LOUD AND PROUD

What could be a more West Coast gift than a mismatched oyster-andpearl Elsa earring set ($198) from beloved Vancouver jewellery brand Wolf Circus? heyjudeshop.com

OCEAN PEARL

These Noshinku pocket sprayers ($17) are the prettiest little hand sanitizers we’ve ever seen. Bring it on, cold and flu season. frontandcompany.com

This handlebar mounted Bellbeats digital bicycle bell from Trek ($135) connects to Bluetooth to stream navigation alerts or their Cycle Jams 2025 playlist. west pointcycles.com

SO FRESH, SO CLEAN

So cooling, so hydrating and smells minty-vanilla enough to eat, the Canadian-made Om adaptogen and copper peptide Multitasking Radiance mask ($56) is a weekly must. omskin.com

SANDEEP JOHAL Visual Artist right now?

“After my recent humbling at a six-week ceramics class at Claymates, I’m so much more appreciative of ceramics. I’d love to add a couple more of Meg Hübert’s banana handle mugs to my collection because they bring me so much joy.” Woah Dude! mug, $55, meghubert.com

What’s the best gift you’ve ever received or given?

“When I had my son, I gifted myself a wild mother-child print by Toronto-based artist Rajni Perera. I look at it every morning when I wake up and every night when I go to bed.” Blip Thru print, $87, rajniperera.com

What’s a great experience to give or receive?

Tickets to Bard on the Beach We’ve been going for a decade or so now and the past three years with our son. It’s such a quintessential Vancouver experience, especially in the Mainstage theatre where you can see the ocean and mountains through the cut-out window.” Bard on the Beach tickets, from $35, bardonthe beach.org

RICARDO RODRIGUEZ

Creative

Director, Wallace Mercantile Shop

What’s on your wish list right now?

“I recently got engaged, so I want a new ring for myself from local designer Liam Ebeling at 97 Sins.” Everlasting Bloom ring, $400, 97sins.com

“A yakitori grill from Knifewear on Main Street is definitely on my wish list.” Kaginushi Konro yakitori grill, $385, knifewear.com

Your go-to spot for holiday shopping?

“There’s this shop in Mount Pleasant called Itsumo It’s lots of incense, incense holders, pottery, cutlery—little things like that, all from Japan. Going in there is so pleasant. It smells great and the staff is really nice; it’s just an overall really great experience. I’ll likely do a lot of my shopping there. I always find a good gift is little everyday household things.” itsumo.ca

SUGAR RUSH

You can build the perfect box of treats from the pickand-mix wall at Yum Sweet Shop, or you could just snag some of the jewel boxes of Foamy Shrooms or Prosecco gummi bears ($13 each)—a sweet gift either way. yumsweetshop.com

THINK SMALL

These scale mini accessories ($8.50 each) are supposed to be for Sam and Julia’s popular mouse dollhouses, but who among us wouldn’t be delighted to receive a teeny-tiny, 1:12 scale kitchen utensil set? Embrace whimsy! We dare you! dillydally kids.ca

CREATURE COMFORT

When you find an artfully illustrated Tide Pool garland ($28), West Coast Christmas Law says you have to include it in the gift guide. assemblyoftext.com

BUCKET LIST

Things we just learned existed: bucket hats specifically designed for running, as exemplified by this breathable,

What’s a great experience to give or receive here in Vancouver?

“My fiancé and I have made it a tradition to go to Brewery and the Beast every summer. To me, that’s one of the most fun experiences in the city, if you’re able to get tickets.” Main Event ticket, $179, breweryandthebeast.com

This green Castart Taichi cardigan ($210) is Christmassy, but bright enough to qualify as spring-y when the weather eventually turns.

The lightweight Green Life Shichirin Konro charcoal grill ($120) will be their BFF come beach season. knifewear.com

GREEN THUMB

‘EM THE BOOT

Vancouver law: you can never have too many plants in your apartment. Mimoko’s sculptural wall planters—like the Orbital

WALL FLOWER

Your friend had a new baby and the baby needs these made-in-B.C. Padraig booties made from super-soft New Zealand wool—and that’s just how it goes. hipbaby.com

GAME ON

This pocketsized Whale to Look game ($30) will keep your orca-watching skills sharp for your next ferry ride. strategies games.ca

Jewellery designer Adele Van Tonder was inspired by “summer night escapades” to create the interlocking yellow-gold Midnight Sun circle cuff ($750). zadeljewellerystudio.com

CUFFING SEASON

Like we said, tomatoes are hot right now: this hydrating liquid soap from Loewe ($110) will keep hands squeaky clean and on-trend. holtrenfrew.com

ALLIE ENTWISTLE

Comedian and Host of (Please Don’t Sue Us) Taskmaster

What’s on your wish list right now?

“I love the weird and wonderful face mugs by Objects and Feelings. Each mug is different but also bright and fun. I’ve drank from them at Annabel’s café but I also just recently spotted them at Gatley.” Objects and Feelings mug, $65, gatley.ca

Do you have any unique gifting traditions with family?

“Every year I buy my grandma a bundle of B.C.-made soap. Her favourite? The Noble Fir bar Her least favourite? Anything that has oatmeal chunks in it. I appreciate constructive feedback in my gift giving!”

Saltspring Soap works Noble Fir soap, $8, welks.ca

What’s a great experi ence to give or receive here in Vancouver?

Beach bums and surf-obsessives alike will appreciate the warm embrace of a Slowtide changing poncho ($95) in a winter-weight cotton terrycloth. thecoastgoods.ca

“I might be biased but I do think that tickets to a local comedy show are a really great gift. What’s better than reminding the person that you love that you live in a city full of people making weird, beautiful and funny art? My favourite places to see a show in Vancouver? Little Mountain Gallery and China Cloud!” littlemountain gallery.ca; @chinacloud studios

BY THE EDITORS

LET’S GO OUT

Whether you’re pre-gaming before the playoffs, tying one on for a friend’s birthday or pushing the limits of Vancouver’s newly extended 4 a.m. last call as you search for romance on the dance floor, we’ve got you covered with plans for your next Big Night Out.

Popping Off K-Pop Thursdays at Celebrities is just one opportunity for some good times— turn the page for more theme nights and dance parties.

WE’RE GETTING DRINKS

Sobriety may be trending, but there are still plenty of delicious ways to imbibe in this city.

BIG ON CRAFT BEER?

Snag one of the large wooden tables at The Magnet (309 W Pender St.) and start making your way through their 30 draft lines—including specialized pull taps for beer nerds who like a meringue-like pour—and the “good grub” selection that includes daily hand pies. If those aren’t enough options for you, then head to the Alibi Room (157 Alexander St.) instead, where a rotating list of 50 local and imported craft beers awaits in the low-ceilinged heritage room—Shaketown Prohibition pilsner and Begbie’s Dark Side of the Stoke nitro stout among them, plus several solid non-alc brews, too. If you’re more interested in shooting hoops than geeking out over hops, The American (926 Main St.) is your spot: Phillips, 33 Acres, Strange Fellows and plenty of other local heroes dominate the taps, but the lively, usually crowded “barcade” also features a pool table, pinball and arcade games (please, don’t spill). Alternatively, you

could head right to the source for your craft beer fix: Vancouver’s east-side taprooms are plentiful and welcoming.

CRAVING A COCKTAIL?

The 515 Bar (521 Seymour St.) is the spot to head if you’re out on the town with a foursome: it’s a little too cozy for a big gang, but the brickand-neon ambience is ideal for sipping an Exit Strategy—a bold, coffee-and-tequila-based negroni—and dissecting your larger friend group’s most intimate gossip. Keefer Bar (135 Keefer St.) is the obvious stop if you’re in cocktail-mode for the night: the Chinatown institution landed on North America’s 50 Best Bars list again this year. Nearby, find Arcana (238

Abbott St.) hidden behind a glowing “Pet Psychic” sign; each of the occult-inspired drinks—like the herbaceous, gin-based Magician—comes with a tarot card. Or, there’s Pourhouse (162 Water St.), which serves up expertly executed classics (hello, pisco punch!), often alongside danceable live music.

WANT SOME WINE?

During the summer months, the cool kids at Bar Tartare (54 Alexander St.) spill out onto the streetside patio with their by-the-glass natural wines, but come wintertime, the buzz continues within the bar’s brick walls. Another Gastown option for vino is Is That French (45 Blood Alley Sq.)—slip down the alleyway and up to the bar to peruse minimal-intervention B.C. wines and oysters aplenty. Or, if your timing is right, you could catch Vin Van’s lively wine-and-disco party Stompin’ Grapes (1024 Main St.), which pops up at the Ellis Building in Strathcona monthly-ish.

MAKE IT A MOCKTAIL?

These days, almost every bar or restaurant has something delicious and zero-proof on the menu. You can’t go wrong at DD Mau Chinatown (145 E Pender St.), where Friday night DJ sets turn the excellent Vietnamese room into a party—owner Kim Tran doesn’t drink and has made a point of adding interesting non-alc options to the menu, like the Passionfruit Nojito or the Tra Da iced tea, made with jasmine tea-infused Lumette gin. The mixologists at the moody, speakeasy-inspired Prophecy Bar (801 W Georgia St.) may be reverent about their booze, but just as much love—and showing off—has been put into the “free spirits” selection here: the Amor Fati 12 (a concoction of bergamot, makrut lime, pandan, mint and tonic) is described with a Nietzsche quote.

KEEFER BAR

STOMPIN’ GRAPES

ALIBI ROOM

THE BIG DINNER OUT

The right spot for a group dinner hits all the marks: shareable plates, a drinks list that caters to every personality at the table and music just loud enough that you can get animated about the conversation without being overheard at the next table. You don’t want to feel rushed—so a setting that encourages a leisurely dinner is a must. For some, that means sexy, low light; for others, the spot should be bright and unpretentious. In all, the big dinner out requires some lively discussion, but hopefully doesn’t start a fight in the group chat.

NEW IN TOWN

GIRLS NIGHT OUT

GIRLS NIGHT OUT

1 Jungle Room

961 Denman St., jungleroom.ca

$$

THE VIBE: Asian-Persian fusion dishes take centre stage at this Denman Street oasis. Bocci lights hang above lush, jungle-inspired interiors and cocktails here are transportive; there’s even something fun for the folks who prefer low- and no-alcohol options. You’ll often find drag shows on the calendar here, too.

PERFECT FOR: Kicking off the bachelor or bachelorette party.

2 Crab Hot Lau

2141 Kingsway, crabhotlau.ca

$

THE VIBE: Loud, lively and no-frills, this Northern Vietnamese restaurant is all about flavour-packed hot pots, standout bún riêu cua and spring rolls served up square (you definitely haven’t seen that elsewhere in the city). There’s a reason this spot has taken home gold for Best Vietnamese Restaurant in the Vanmag Restaurant Awards for two years running.

PERFECT FOR: A bubbly group dinner with friends who are (hopefully) not allergic to shellfish.

3 Sing Sing

2718 Main St., freehouse.co

$$

THE VIBE: Breezy, airy and drenched in light at any time of day (thanks to the roll-up garage doors that open the space right to Main Street), this easygoing spot has possibly the most “Vancouver” of all menus. Pho, pizza and dumplings pair well with a sharp lineup of local craft brews and inventive cocktails.

PERFECT FOR: Impressing out-of-town guests—without looking like you’re trying too hard.

4 Kozak

1 W Cordova St., kozakeatery.ca

$$

THE VIBE: A buzzing, cozy spot where homey Ukrainian classics get elevated. Think: boar

Gina’s quietly opened in Chinatown last spring, much to the joy of the city’s sapphic community: the last dedicated lesbian bar in town was Lick, and that shuttered in 2011. (One guess what “Gina” is short for.) Catering to queer, trans and genderdiverse folks, the vibe here at Gina’s is charmingly divey, with graffited walls and a haphazard menu (the “Chips Locas” must be seen to be believed), but a bustling event calendar proves there’s plenty of care here—find love or a butch bestie over a slushy margarita during karaoke, movie nights (But I’m a Cheerleader!) and WNBA games. 227 E Pender St., @houseofginas

JUNGLE ROOM

CRAB HOT LAU

Snag a Snack

Here’s where to snack downtown before showtime.

Homer Street Cafe and Bar

Parisian-inspired eats and a sophisticated glass of rosé, then a straight shot down Homer to get to the Queen E. 898 Homer St.

Pacifico Pizzeria and Ristorante

Find a long (and affordable) menu of pizzas and pasta to choose from to fill up on carbs before the big show, with plenty of gluten-free options. 970 Smithe St.

Tacofino Yaletown

Top-notch burritos, icy-cold margs and counter service mean you can dine well and then dash to make doors. 1025 Mainland St.

Japadog on Robson

Once novel, chowing down on a seaweed-covered sausage is now an essential Vancouver experience. How did we ever eat hot dogs before this? 530 Robson St.

Bartholomew

Time it so you hit their excellent happy hour: think $10 horchata sours and $18 cheese boards. Charcuterie and cocktails are totally acceptable for dinner: you heard it here. 1026 Mainland St.

Zaatar w Zeit

Crunched for time? This fresh, speedy Lebanese eatery is the ticket. And you get a wrap, and you get a wrap, and you get a wrap! 531 Granville St.

Patrón Tacos and Cantina

The Robson spot is walking distance to BC Place and Rogers Arena—an ideal (and super vibey) place to sit down with some authentic tacos to pre-game. 265 Robson St.

perogies, cabbage rolls (including vegan options) and 1½-oz cocktails, including the Kyiv Sunset and Malyna sour. You can even watch your drink come to life at the bar, perhaps using their housemade Ukrainian vodka to soak fruits and berries. Exposed brick, modern folk art and Ukrainian tapestries bring the ambiance together.

PERFECT FOR: Your sibling’s birthday dinner when they asked for a homecooked meal—but with better cocktails.

5 Moltaqa

1002 Mainland St., moltaqarestaurant.ca

$$

Party Animal Report

Preferred Night to Go Out

THE VIBE: Forget you’re in Vancouver for a moment and get transported to Morocco through sight, sound and smell. Rain will be a distant memory once you’re hit with the aroma of tagines opening to a group of diners, light spill-

ing out from Moroccan lamps, the sound of an Arabic harp being played and the jingle of belly dancing on weekends. Complementing it all are dishes that draw from Berber, Arab, Andalusian and Mediterranean influences. We gave it a gold star in our recent Restaurant Awards, but we’re not Moltaqa’s only fans: the spot is Michelin-recommended.

PERFECT FOR: When you want dinner and a show, but you’re not quite sure where the show is yet. Psst—it’s here.

Top Spots for Grabbing Drinks Cactus Club, Pourhouse, Botanist

Top Spots for a Big Dinner with Friends Glowbal, Joey, Cactus Club

Top Venues for Dancing Commodore Ballroom, Celebrities, The Roxy

Where Do You Love to Watch Live Music?

“Ask for cold tea at the Flamingo.”

“The Stock Room, the secret cocktail bar hidden behind Hundy Burger.”

“Lala, the vinyl lounge downstairs at June.”

MOLTAQA

KOZAK UKRAiNIAN RESTAURANT

SCAN TO LEARN MORE

VANCOUVER

NORTH VANCOUVER

SQUAMISH

RICHMOND

WHISTLER

LAUGH IT UP

Sometimes the funnest night out is a funny night out. Stay up late yukking it up at these comedy hot spots.

city’s best comedians (as seen on Netflix, CBC, Just for Laughs, Canada’s Got Talent and HBO) dropping in to perfect their sets.

MUST-SEE: Every Wednesday, Josh Romyn’s True Enough show gives comedians a new theme to unpack, like “Sex and Drugs and Stuff” or “It’s All in Your Head.” (Full disclosure: he’s married to our digital manager—but he’s funny, we promise!)

China Cloud Studios

524 Main St. @chinacloudstudios

A hidden gem—seriously, you’ve probably walked past it many times without realizing it—for indie comedy and experimental performances, China Cloud offers cozy charm and a laidback vibe (think cool indie living room with couches) for monthly comedy delights—look for the sidewalk sign outside the unmarked black door: if you’re climbing too many stairs, you’re in the right place!

Little Mountain Gallery

110 Water St. littlemountaingallery.ca

The iconic DIY comedy shack is back—all grown up and with 800 percent more working washrooms. Despite the new address in Gastown, the indie chaos and underground-clubhouse charm remain. Catch wonderfully bizarre, anything-goes shows like Bloodfeud! (stand-up vs. improv), Comedy Bingo!, WikiProv, Taskmaster-themed mayhem and the oddball Reddit-inspired “Am I the Asshole Gameshow,” to name a few.

MUST-SEE: Grad School

Improv’s monthly shows are joyful (highly topical) experiments in parody, spoofing shows like The Bachelor, The O.C. or Succession.

The Fox Cabaret

2321 Main St., foxcabaret.com

You’ve probably seen a lineup outside every Saturday: it is, after all, an excellent place to get your dance on (see page 59). But this beloved indie venue (and former adult theatre) is also the home of legendary weekly improv legends The Sunday Service (every Sunday, if that wasn’t

obvious) and, upstairs in the Fox Projection Room, you’ll find an eclectic mix of standup shows.

MUST-SEE: New Moon

Comedy rises monthly in the Projection Room to spotlight queer and feminist comedians in an intimate setting.

Underground Comedy Club

120 W Hastings St. ugcomedy.com

The dynamic Gastown club employs over 100 comedians, each night uniquely booked with rotating hosts and hilarious themes from Wednesday to Sunday. On any given night, you can catch the

MUST-SEE: The Hero Show, an always-weird night of solo sketch comedy, now in its 18th year.

604 Studios

795 E Cordova St. comedyhereoften.com

Did you know that the Chad Kroeger-owned 604 Records also has a comedy label? Follow Comedy Here Often on Instagram or visit the website to snag tickets to live monthly stand-up tapings at the vibrant (and hidden) 604 Studios in East Van. Clips from these sets often go viral; next time it happens, you can say “I was there!”

MUST-SEE: Monthly standup showcases from the city’s most promising rising stars.

(CHINA CLOUD STUDIOS) CHELSEY STUYT

CHINA CLOUD STUDIOS

Players Gonna Play

You don’t want to just sit around and watch other people do things on a stage? Weird... but follow your heart, jock.

Arcade Fun at Rec Room

Grab a wristband and get lost in gameplay—or blow all your tokens on the claw machine; you’re bound to hit the jackpot eventually. It’s a nostalgia-fuelled barcade perfect for settling longstanding scores with your most competitive friends. 855 Granville St., therecroom.com

Mini Golf at Par-Tee Putt

Glow-in-the-dark mini-golf meets quirky pop-culture nostalgia where the bar is the course. Swing through 18 holes that include a Pac-Man maze, Skee-Ball (but make it golf) and an array of tiny Vancouver landmarks. 670 Smithe St., parteeputt.com

Pinball at Slice of Life

The just-off-Commercial Drive indie art studio plays host to a weekly Thursday-night pinball tournament—one that’s friendly to first-timers and seasoned flippers alike. 1636 Venables St., slicevancouver.ca

Ping Pong at Back and Forth Bar

Rent a ping-pong table by the hour (from $10 to $25 on weekends) and expect nightly battles, happy-hour deals and plenty of good-natured smack talk. 303 Columbia St., backandforthbar.com

Roller Skating at Rolla Skate Club

Roll back to retro roller-skating vibes every weekend for public roller-rink sessions in the newly re-designed Rollerland building on the grounds of the PNE —think 20,000 square feet of neon-lit fun, DJs spinning all night and themed skate sessions. 2901 E Hastings St., rollaskateclub.com

Bowling at Grandview Lanes

You’ll never strike out on fun at this Commercial Drive treasure: play classic five- or 10-pin in the charmingly vintage space or brave the glow bowling space upstairs. 2195 Commercial Dr., grandviewbowling.com

Volunteer With Us

Become a volunteer with The Salvation ArmyIt's a great way to give back to your community.

-Serving meals

- Packing hampers

- Kettle campaign roles

- �omm�nity �o�ncils

For more information contact BCinfo@salvationarmy.ca Or apply online at salvationarmy.ca/volunteer

Pass the Mic

Where to find karaoke in Vancouver, any night of the week.

MONDAY

Malone’s Taphouse (Downtown)

Start your week with lively karaoke nights at Malone’s—grab a mic and join the fun downtown. 608 W Pender St., malones.bc.ca

TUESDAY

The Park (Downtown)

Sing your heart out at this Davie Street favourite overlooking English Bay. Laidback vibes, great company and a nearby beach (not karaoke-related but certainly a plus). 1755 Davie St., parkpub.ca

WEDNESDAY

Hero’s Welcome (Main Street)

Main stage karaoke hosted by Steph from 9 p.m. until late. Expect no cover, big screen sing-a-long action and plenty of drink specials to keep the courage liquid and the singing perfectly imperfect. 3917 Main St., heros-welcome.com

THURSDAY Princeton Pub (East Van)

Every Thursday from 9 p.m. onward, join the

THE BEAT GOES ON

party and sing along at one of Vancouver’s oldest neighbourhood pubs—with new host Sweet Neens. 901 Powell St., theprincetonpub.ca

FRIDAY

Charqui (Kitsilano)

The west-side karaoke and wing haven serves up both nightly from 9 p.m. until closing. Get some sun in at Kits Beach, then sing some songs at this resto-pub karaoke hot spot. 1955 Cornwall Ave., charqui.ca

SATURDAY

Funky Winker Beans (Gastown)

This gritty downtown spot (with a name that feels like a replacement for a swear) offers karaoke nightly with strong drinks and stronger community vibes. 37 W Hastings St., funkywinkerbeans.ca

SUNDAY

Numbers Cabaret (West End)

The oldest gay bar in town. Fill up on cocktails and get your song on in the West End. 1042 Davie St., numbers.ca

The Orpheum’s nice and all, but live music is alive and well in plenty of other dark rooms around town.

Eclectic programming—from emo throwbacks to cutting-edge electronic artists—thrives at the Hollywood Theatre. Recently revitalized, this art deco gem feels glamorous yet gritty, exactly as a concert hall should. 3123 W Broadway, hollywoodtheatre.ca

For alt-rock and indie favourites, the Biltmore Cabaret is your goto. Low ceilings, red velvet curtains and an iconic photobooth have captured legendary nights (with snapshots to prove it). 2755 Prince Edward St., biltmorecabaret.com

Once a dormant kung-fu cinema, the Rickshaw Theatre was revitalized into a gritty-yet-charming venue in 2009. Since then it has boasted top-notch sound, fiercely loyal crowds and possibly the best sightlines in the city for standing

or seated gigs. Its flexible capacity (200 to 600) ensures every show feels intimate. 254 E Hastings St., rickshawtheatre.com

The Pearl offers a refreshing twist on Granville’s usually rowdy club scene. This newer, uber stylish indie sanctuary hosts gritty-glam bands, comedians and avantgarde noisemakers. Its cozy capacity and wrap-around balcony ensure great views despite every tall guy in town standing directly in front of you. 881 Granville St., thepearlvancouver.com

Experimental sounds, indie popups and fresh DIY energy thrive at Red Gate. Community-driven and endlessly creative, it’s where you’ll find the bands your coolest friend already loves. 1965 Main St., redgate.tv

Intimate yet impactful shows spanning folk, indie-pop and alt-country define the Vogue Theatre Beautifully preserved interiors and exceptional acoustics mean you’ll catch every lyric—even with the guy behind you loudly confirming the band “sounds better live.” 918 Granville St., voguetheatre.com

The Grey Lab is the spot for all-ages, indie and underground vibes. Discover your new go-to band before they’re famous—then brag about it forever. It’s your underground band’s favourite underground venue. 438 W Pender St., @greylabyvr

HOLLYWOOD THEATRE

SEE YOU ON THE DANCE FLOOR

There’s a dance party out there for everyone. You just need to know where to look.

EMO NIGHT AT THE HOLLYWOOD THEATRE

Saves The Day, Taking Back Sunday and all your moody faves. For elder millennials who still have feelings (and are maybe even rocking an extreme side part).

3123 W Broadway, hollywood theatre.ca

GOLDEN

AT THE FOX CABARET

If you’ve gleaned that the name of this monthly dance party is a nod to Jurassic 5, this night is for you. Spanning hip hop tunes from the eighties to the oughties, this dance party belongs to anyone who’s ever vibed to OutKast,

VANMAG READERS RECOMMEND

DMX or De La Soul. 2321 Main St., foxcabaret.com

QUEERS AND BEERS AT THE BIRDHOUSE

This queer- and trans-run arts space gets a banging patio party vibe during Queers and Beers, which is often timed around unofficial—but very celebrated—holidays like Pride. Think DJs, dancing and drafts. 44 W 4th Ave., @birdhouseartspace

HOMECOMING THURSDAYS AT THE YALE SALOON

Whoever thought that line-dancing would be a thing of the past was definitely wrong. This

“Salsa night at Mangos on a Thursday.”

“Guilty Pleasures at The Fox.”

country-inspired bar serves up line-dancing lessons for (mostly) 20-somethings on Thursdays from 7 to 10 p.m., at which point the vibe turns decidedly club-like. 1300 Granville St., yalesaloon.com

HOME BY MIDNIGHT AT THE ANZA CLUB

Mom jeans abound at this club night—both because they’re fashionable now (everything truly comes back!) and because plenty of actual moms are busting a move here, too. This dance party started for parents who need both a break and their zzzs, but, really, it’s for any ready-to-boogie

“The empty dance floor at Bimini’s because you can ask the DJ to play whatever you want.”

folks who want to party and still look fresh for their meetings in the morning. 3 W 8th Ave., homebymidnight.ca

AFTER HOURS AT GORG-O-MISH

In contrast to those who want to be “home by midnight” (see above), Gorg-O-Mish is the spot for those who don’t want to go home until the sun is up. Every Friday and Saturday from 2 a.m. to 8 a.m., the dance party gets bangin’ with a state-of-the-art honeycomb sound system and some of the best DJs in town. Now that Downtown Vancouver’s liquor laws allow sales ’til 4 a.m., we think we might see a few more folks rushing through these doors. 695 Smithe St., gorgomish.com

WHERE YOU AT? AT FORTUNE SOUND CLUB

Known to have one of the best sound systems in the city, Chinatown’s Fortune Sound Club is the place to be if you like your music loud and throbbing and your dance floor intimate (tables, bottle service areas and a stage outline the sweaty bods). Bust a move to all decades of music, from ’80s hip hop to the latest dance-y jams with the help of DJ Seko, Clu and The Boy Jesse. 147 E Pender St., fortunesoundclub.com

K-POP THURSDAYS AT CELEBRITIES

Calling all Blinks! Start your weekend early at Vancouver’s only weekly K-pop night. DJs hype up the crowd to K-pop from multiple decades, plus $4 soju shots and $7 soju bombs abound. And if this is the first time you’ve heard the term “Blink,” consider this your required research. 1022 Davie St., celebritiesnightclub.com

“Hot Dyke Party at The Birdhouse.”

“Zap the Party for house and techno! Six DJs draw numbers from a hat for set times.”

“The World After Hours is Granville’s longestrunning underground nightclub.”

FOX CABARET

WIGGING OUT

Hit up the ATM for some cash and then: time for some drag.

1 Drag Me to Hell is hosted by the flame-broiled Miss Understood every Wednesday at the Junction, featuring a rotating cast of Vancouver’s finest drag performers—start here for an introduction to local characters like AndrogynAss and Saturn Return. 1138 Davie St., junctionpub.com

2 Drama Club is a sing-a-long drag show at Numbers (Vancouver’s

oldest gay club, if you recall) but no matter how good your voice is, it’ll be tough to steal focus from the well-dressed divas on stage. 1042 Davie St., numbers.ca

3 Drag is alive and well over on the west side, with special shows happening regularly at the Hollywood Theatre. Notable past events include a Wickedthemed show hosted by bearded

queen Alma Bitches, and DJ sets from Bob the Drag Queen. 3123 W Broadway, hollywoodtheatre.ca

4 The last Saturday of the month is Man Up at The Birdhouse, but don’t be fooled by the masculine name: the show is a “multi-gender spectacular” that features performers playfully, artfully challenging what drag can be. 44 W 4th Ave., @birdhouseartsspace

5 The stage at Celebrities is regularly graced by RuPaul’s Drag Race alumni, and it’s also the home to the annual search for Vancouver’s Next Drag Superstar (the current monarch is: Michelangela, the cello-wielding “Latina symphonic queen”). 1022 Davie St., celebritiesnightclub.com

Will you hit bingo—sorry, we mean “VANGO”—on your next Vancouver night out?

THE VANCOUVER NIGHTLIFE BINGO CARD

Blundstones on the dance floor

Request a song from a DJ only to be met with a dismissive stare

Late-night jogger

Carry your jacket while dancing to avoid coat check fees

Gang of raccoons looking guilty

Hear a rendition of Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here” from buskers on the Granville Strip

Giant rat almost runs into you

Walk through a berry-scented vape cloud Spill drink Night seagull

Frustrated bartender with giant line forced to make espresso martinis

Tall boy standing right at the front of the stage

Meet someone from Vancouver Island who insists you drink a Shaft together

Two people hugging and saying “I love you” who clearly just met earlier that night

A very chaotic McDonald’s

Abandoned by your Uber driver

Two people riding tandem on a Lime scooter

Meant to take out cash and then didn’t and now you have to use an overpriced ATM

Group of friends dressed like they’re all going to different occasions

Scream-sing along to some classic Can-Con (ideally Celine Dion)

Empty stretch limo

Have drink spilled on YOU

An Irish bartender

End your night with street meat

Kick off the holiday season with Lights of Hope

St. Paul’s Foundation welcomes you to this free, family-friendly celebration

Thursday, November 27th from 6pm – 8pm

St. Paul’s Hospital on Burrard Street

Watch the Lights of Hope display light up for the first time in 2025, ushered in with fireworks

Visit Fountain Square to take a family holiday photo with Santa and Mrs. Claus

Enjoy musical performances from the main stage

Celebrate with holiday crafts, treats from local food trucks, or complimentary hot chocolate

Scan here to learn more

CAT TRACKS AHEAD

BACKCOUNTRY BLISS

“It’s

Going off-piste on B.C.’s Powder Highway is the ticket to a thrilling backcountry alpine adventure.

By Claudia Laroye

just like an airline flight safety briefing.” I’ve buckled a seatbelt hundreds of times. But poking a long collapsible probe into deep snow at the urging of Andy Cole, guiding manager at Big Red Cats? This is new. Probing powder and learning how to operate my beacon are necessary parts of the avalanche training protocol I need to know before setting foot into the gleaming red snowcat that is our heated mobile home for the day.

The bluebird skies and plentiful powder snow conditions are perfect for my off-piste backcountry ski adventure with Big Red Cats, one of the largest cat ski operations in the world. Located about 30 minutes north of Rossland, B.C., the outfit has been ferrying intermediate to expert skiers and riders into this Kootenay Rockies powder paradise for more than 20 years.

Big Red Cats has spent the last 20 years taking intermediate and expert skiers to pristine backcountry spots in the Kootenay Rockies.

CLAWING DOWNHILL

Exploring 20,000 acres of untouched powder with Big Red Cats means trading comfort zones for adventure, and making sure you get down the mountain without faceplanting in the snow.

Big Red Cats covers some mighty big terrain: eight mountains with 700-plus named runs accessed by 220 kilometres of snowcat roads spread over 20,000 acres. Fun fact: it would take two years to ski it all.

My goal is to simply get down the mountain without faceplanting in (and digging my way out of) the deep snow. As a solid intermediate skier, I’m nervous, wondering if I’m up to the challenge. Powder skiing is different from the comfortable corduroy carving at Red Mountain Resort, just a few klicks south. I need to float above the powder and adjust my stance, speed and turns to glide through the snow-covered glades and down the mountain.

Fortunately, Big Red Cats welcomes skiers like me, and safety is always top of mind. With a full-time snow safety team and certified guides, like no-nonsense New Zealander Cole with Frenchwoman Charlotte

Poulin-Rodrigue bringing up the rear of our group, I’m in trusted hands.

Charlotte gives me a quick pep talk before following me down through the glades with gentle encouragement. I take up her challenge to carve my own line in the deep powder, feeling the exhilaration of floating above it all before completing the run (upright and grinning) to the cheers of the group.

In the heated cab, laughter rises above the cat’s rumble. We sip steaming cups of miso soup as driver Adam Whitehead slowly moves us further into the backcountry. The mountains have called and I’ve answered, impressed by the legendary terrain and the unforgettable alpine adventure.

Cat skiing adventures with Big Red Cats start at $659 per day during peak season. From YVR, fly into Trail or Castlegar.

PACK YOUR

come for the powder, stay for the lifestyle.

Smithers, BC — Where Ambition Meets Adventure.

Welcome to Smithers! Tucked in the heart of northwest British Columbia, our vibrant community pairs small-town charm with world-class winter adventure. Fresh tracks and friendly faces are part of everyday life here. Whether you’re chasing deep powder for a week or searching for the perfect place to put down roots, Smithers has what you need to live well and play hard.

Explore & Recharge • From skiing our mountain resort and nordic trails to backcountry powder, snowshoeing, sledding, skating, and sleigh rides, winter adventure is everywhere.

Eat & Live Well • Cozy cafés, local award-winning craft beer, farm-to-table dining, great schools, and strong community spirit make Smithers a place people love to call home.

Easy to Get Here, Hard to Leave • With daily flights and all the amenities you need, Smithers keeps you connected while giving you space to breathe.

Stay for a While... or a Lifetime • From endless snow and outdoor fun to a welcoming, family-friendly town, Smithers is a great place to visit, live, and thrive.

DISCOVER SMITHERS ! Come for a visit. Stay for a lifetime. Visit TOURISMSMITHERS.COM to plan your trip, and SMITHERS.CA to plan your future.

photographers: Northern BC Tourism & Andrew Strain, Mel McPherson, Abby Cooper; Snowseekers & Marty Clemens; omas Camus.

FONDUE AT ALTITUDE

A tantalizing taste of adventure at Whistler.

By Lucas Aykroyd

The excitement is inescapable as you prepare to climb aboard your Ski-Doo Expedition Sport snowmobile on a crisp winter night. Not only will you drive 6,000 feet up Blackcomb Mountain on a guided group tour, you’ll also celebrate your glamorous arrival at the Crystal Hut with a decadent fondue dinner.

Whether you imagine this four-hour round-trip excursion playing out to Wham’s “Last Christmas” or Starship’s

“Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now,” it is unquestionably cheesy—in a winning way.

A quintessential B.C. adventure, the Crystal Hut Fondue by Snowmobile experience has delighted thrill-chasing foodies for more than 20 years. It’s a perfect climax to your day of snow sports at Whistler Blackcomb, which is home to 8,171 acres of skiable terrain as Canada’s largest ski resort.

After absorbing a safety briefing and tutorial on snowmobile driving, you can

Top to bottom: Canadian Wilderness Adventures; top right: Destination BC/Rick Collins

FULL THROTTLE

Crystal Hut awaits after a 6,000 foot carve up the mountain (top); snowcats clear the path (left); equal parts adrenaline and indulgence, the four-hour snowmobile adventure’s big thrills culminate in a “cheesy” night of escape (below).

pop on your full-face helmet and get ready to rock. Breathing fresh air beneath a star-dotted sky, you’ll zoom up a forested trail at speeds of up to 40 kilometres per hour, catching magical glimpses of the Whistler Village lights flashing between powder-dusted pines.

Travelling with your group into the high alpine in a single-file parade, you’ll get the knack of navigating your snowmobile around tight bends and through heavy snowdrifts. The journey offers a fun way to forge bonds with friends and family, whether you all live for helicopter and jetski thrills or are adrenaline newbies. (Drivers must be 19 or over with a valid licence, but passengers on two-up snowmobiles can be as young as five.)

When you reach the Crystal Hut, a feast of food and music awaits. Relish the warmth in the rustic wood-panelled room as you dip fresh-baked crusty bread into a gooey, mouthwatering fondue that blends emmental and gruyere. Local charcuterie with cured meats and artisan cheeses augments the spread, along with pan-roasted chorizo sausage and IPA bratwurst with Dijon. For vegetarians, tempting alternatives like plant-based Italian sausage and vegan chili are available.

Meanwhile, local musicians enliven the vibe with acoustic guitar-driven tunes. You just might find yourself singing along to Neil Young’s “Heart of Gold.”

In between songs, check out the deck to admire the panorama of moonlit glaciers, and the sight of Fitzsimmons Creek twisting between Whistler and Blackcomb mountains.

If you feel a bit like a celebrity as you make your return descent, the sense is legitimate: by taking the tour, you’ve joined ski royalty Ashleigh McIvor, the 2010 Olympic women’s ski cross gold medalist; rock royalty in Kiss bassist Gene Simmons; and literal royalty in King Charles III. Few winter activities deliver both a heart-stirring adventure and a hearty feed. This one overdelivers—in a winning way.

LIFT, LODGE, LOUNGE

If you’re extending your Whistler Blackcomb stay for more than just a snowmobile, the Epic Pass has become the most affordable way to hit the hills as day passes have climbed in price (though the Epic is only available for purchase until late November). Here’s what’s new to the program this year.

FRIENDLY DISCOUNTS

Sure, a solo ski trip can be good for the soul, but so is sharing it with friends. This year, the pass includes six Epic Friend tickets, giving your fellow riders a half-price lift ticket for the day.

SWEET DIGS

You’ll get discounts on local stays: 20 percent off at Lodging Ovations properties including Legends Whistler, Evolution Whistler and First Tracks Lodge or 10 percent off Fairmont Chateau Whistler, Blackcomb Springs Suites and Pangea Pod Hotel.

A LITTLE MORE APRÈS

Get a post-snow discount at Crystal Hut, Glacier Creek Lodge, Rendezvous, Roundhouse, Chic Pea, Raven’s Nest, Garbo’s, Harmony Hut, Horstman Hut and Ollie’s Grilled Cheese.

FAMILY TRACKS

Nestled high in the Okanagan’s Monashee Mountains is a picture-perfect winter getaway for families, with a scrumptious ski in/ski out afternoon tea. By Darcy

Matheson

Whether it was the FOMO from hearing friends brag about fresh tracks or just the overwhelming feeling of “not taking advantage” of our West Coast winters if you aren’t hitting the slopes, I decided to learn to ski at age 40. And after bunny hill lessons, it was Silver Star in the Okanagan Valley where I did my first “real” ski trip. Hooked on the short lift lines, expansive terrain (with nearly 23 feet of natural snow each season) and downright charming European village vibes, I’m now taking my kids to this resort so they can learn to ski

too, and I have the feeling we’ll all be ski bumming here for years to come. Here’s why Silver Star should be on your B.C. winter-time bucket list.

SMALL TOWN FEEL

The tiny, vibrant and super charming village at Silver Star gives small, pioneertown vibes, with brightly painted businesses bursting with character and local products. Locals and visitors alike here brag that the storybook-feel village is what Whistler was like 30 years ago—a.k.a. before it was inundated with tourism and international chains. Instead of Starbucks, you’ll

find people in ski gear sipping coffee at Bugaboos, the Dutch-inspired bakery that’s been serving up house-roasted beans and picture-perfect cream puffs for the past 25 years. The pace is relaxed. Most eateries are family-friendly (don’t sleep on the ThaiIndonesian fare at the Bulldog Grand Cafe) and no trip is complete without a visit to the Goody Box, a tiny candy store packed with scrumptious sweets and throwback treats.

THRILLS FOR ALL AGES

Beyond lift access to 3,200-plus acres of terrain, the resort also offers outdoor ice skating, fat biking, expansive snowshoe trails, Tube Town—a downhill snow tube park—and 105 kilometres of Nordic skiing that make up the largest daily groomed cross-country trail network in the country. The biggest hit with our six-year-old was the mini sled experience, where kiddos rip around (safely) on Arctic Firecats on a kid-sized snowmobile track. He could not get the smile off his face—neither could I.

FAIRY TALE ACCOMMODATION

A full ski holiday with three generations of family (including five children under the age of seven, no less) can make it a challenge to put heads in beds, but we found paradise at the ski in/ski out Bookend Mountain Retreat. This private rental, which sleeps 20 and overlooks the mountains, has a sauna and two hot tubs to soak in after a day on the slopes, a kitted out chef’s kitchen, arcade games and foosball and a plethora of board games and books (although we never really found the time to sit still and read one). Most on-resort accommodation is walking distance to the village.

Top: Vanessa Garrison/Destination Silver Star; bottom left: Blake Jorgenson/Destination Silver Star

SNOW PLACE LIKE IT

Silver Star skiing (top) deserves a spot on any British Columbian’s local travel bucket list. You’ll find nary a Starbucks in Silver Star village (left), just warm lights and cool local businesses; Bookend Mountain Retreat (above) can sleep up to 20, plus has a sauna and two hot tubs, making it a shareable accommodation for a multi-family getaway.

HOW IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IMPACTING EDUCATION?

B.C.’s independent schools might just have the answer.

Technology has radically changed education in the 21st century. Now, artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming how students learn at a seemingly exponential pace. Some schools simply ban AI outright. Others, however, are embracing the digital change and what it means for innovating education.

At the forefront of this change are B.C.’s independent schools. Many of these institutions across the province are at the cutting edge of harnessing digital innovation. Here’s how they’re using the new technology.

STRATFORD HALL

Stratford Hall, an IB World School for K–12 students, is a welcoming, inclusive community where classrooms are buzzing with the hum of digital tools and students tackle challenges, test solutions and discover new possibilities.

Stratford Hall

“From digital tools that enhance research and presentation skills to creative applications in design and the arts, we see technology as a powerful tool for learning and expression,” says Smita Karam, Junior School principal at Stratford Hall. “We want our students to leave Stratford Hall as thinkers, doers, leaders and lifelong learners.”

Learning at Stratford Hall goes beyond content to include actively shaping the world in innovative ways. The Stratford Hall Idea Lab, for example, is a flexible, collaborative space designed to spark design thinking, innovation and entrepreneurship. “Here, students can experiment with emerging technologies, tackle real-world challenges and develop creative solutions that connect learning across disciplines,” Karam says.

That focus on creativity and innovation extends into the Senior School, where principal Andy Wong aims to prepare students to navigate an ever-changing digital landscape with confidence, creativity and ethics. “This includes not only developing technical proficiency but also emphasizing digital citizenship, media literacy and responsible innovation,” he says. “By blending

digital tools with critical inquiry, we ensure our students are equipped to thrive in a world where technology is constantly evolving.”

AI is embedded throughout the school experience to support both students’ learning and educators’ work—but Wong emphasizes that the school is being thoughtful of how it is integrated. “Our goal is to help students understand how AI can support creativity, research and problemsolving, while also fostering discernment and ethical awareness,” Wong explains. “Rather than replacing human insight, AI becomes part of the toolkit our students can use to innovate responsibly.”

Wong and Karam agree that the future of education lies in adaptability, inclusivity and relevance. They emphasize that education today goes beyond strong academics; it’s also about equipping students to navigate uncertainty, embrace diversity and collaborate across cultures and disciplines—all within a compassionate community that nurtures curiosity, empathy and lifelong learning.

“Independent schools, in particular, have the opportunity to be agile, integrating new technologies, strengthening community

connections and ensuring that learning remains both rigorous and deeply human,” says Karam.

GLENLYON NORFOLK SCHOOL

Change in education might be slow, but schools are adjusting the ways they accommodate students with different abilities, interests and pathways. “There’s definitely an increasing shift towards personalization for students and a slow but deliberate move away from this one-sizefits-all model,” says Jon Hamlin, director of technology, innovation and entrepreneurship at Glenlyon Norfolk School (GNS) in Victoria.

As students search for more personalized learning opportunities, new emerging technologies like AI tools can assist them. “The introduction of large language model AI tools was a pivotal moment in education because all of a sudden, these tools were incredibly accessible to everyone,” Hamlin notes. Now, schools are continuing to determine which tools are high-quality, safe and able to enhance learning.

“It’s all about augmentation and enhancement, not substitution,” says Hamlin.

Glenlyon Norfolk School

They came unsure. They left unstoppable .

What if school wasn’t just preparation for life, but part of it?

At Glenlyon Norfolk School, students from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 are seen, supported and empowered to lead with confidence and compassion. Through the International Baccalaureate continuum and a community of care, the GNS Effect begins early, and it lasts a lifetime.

Discover how personalized learning, leadership and belonging come together to shape extraordinary futures.

Register for a fall Open House at mygns.ca | 250-370-6800

HOW STRATFORD HALL IS HARNESSING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO GET STUDENTS FUTURE-READY

Asartificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly mainstream, debate continues about how the new technology should be used in schools. At Stratford Hall, a kindergarten to grade 12 independent school in Vancouver, AI is embraced as a tool to support students in becoming critical thinkers and global citizens.

A THINKING-FOCUSED APPROACH

“There have been many technological innovations that have impacted education over the course of time,” says Richard Kassissieh, head of school at Stratford Hall. “And AI is the latest one that promises to shake things up pretty significantly.”

As an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, Stratford Hall’s primary goal is to help students develop critical thinking skills. “We always want to use AI to promote thinking, active engagement, inquiry, investigating questions and connecting deeply with the real world,” Kassissieh says.

“The IB gives us such a great framework for developing critical thinking skills, so it’s a nice foundation for us to look at AI through that lens,” adds Andrea Ryan, the school’s Idea Lab and Ed Tech coordinator. The

Idea Lab at Stratford Hall is an innovative and collaborative space where students experiment with emerging technologies, tackle real-world challenges and develop creative solutions across disciplines. This theme of innovation and learning based on concrete examples extends across the school, including with AI.

“We invite students to grapple with legitimately complex questions,” says Kassissieh. As an example, Kassissieh notes that, while the school is committed to sustainability, it’s also committed to technology and innovation: two things that do not always reconcile very well. Kasissieh says, “Teaching kids to grapple with those inconsistencies or dilemmas that do not have easy answers is right at the heart of our inquiry-based and real-world approach.”

AI AS A COMPLEMENT, NOT A REPLACEMENT

Beyond being a rich topic of conversation, AI also has practical uses that are integrated throughout the school. “With teacher guidance, support and good prompting, it can have a meaningful difference in what students are learning,” Ryan says.

For instance, some teachers in the Senior School use Google Notebook LM to upload sources from class so students can engage with the material via an AI chatbot—in audio or video format. “It’s giving students that opportunity to engage deeply with the process and to help them build up domain expertise,” says Ryan. “It’s a complement and not a replacement for those beautiful relationships that can happen in a class.”

the school teaches students how to be on the right side of academic integrity. “The learning process is deeper; [it’s important to] recognize that sometimes it has to be hard, and it’s not about getting a quick, easy answer,” Ryan says.

EVOLVING AS AN INSTITUTION

Stratford Hall teachers are using AI to streamline their day-to-day tasks. For example, teachers in the Junior School rely on platforms like Toddle to assist in planning and rubric generation. AI is also pushing the school to continue to innovate as a modern educational institution.

“It’s not a question of whether the school should engage with AI, it’s that we’d rather the kids learn with the guidance of adults by their side than just by themselves,” says Kassissieh. “There’s a natural fit between grappling with the opportunities and

Kassissieh adds: “AI could really make education more easily accessible to people who learn in all sorts of different ways.”

Foundations on how to use AI, along with ethical considerations and digital literacy, are introduced early in the Junior School before kids begin to really dig into using the technology. Both Kassissieh and Ryan emphasize that AI technology is not a shortcut to getting answers, and that

challenges of AI, the mission and vision of our school, and the mission and design of the IB programme.”

PREPARING FUTURE-READY GRADUATES

In this context, Kassissieh and Ryan emphasize that Stratford Hall is preparing its students to be future-ready. “The more powerful technologies become in our world, the more important it will be to explicitly connect with the process of growing as humans,” Kassissieh says.

Stratford Hall is well-reputed for ensuring students successfully transition to their first year of university. Beyond post-secondary preparation, the school also focuses on shaping students as individuals ready for a future in a rapidly changing digital world.

“Our greatest objective is to prepare students to realize their full potential, to be inspired to passionately steward our changing world,” says Kassissieh. “That means we need to guide them to think and act the most productively for whatever technologies are around and whatever the world brings to us.”

That includes AI: “Those people who will be the most in demand in the working world in the future will be the people who can be creative, who can connect ideas, who can use good judgment,” Kassissieh explains. “This aligns with the work that we’ve always done at Stratford Hall. So, we are well-positioned to prepare students for an AI-centric future.”

“We’re not looking for tools to replace people, certainly, because that’s such a big part of our organization—the people and the connection that students have.”

In reading-heavy classes like social studies, teachers might use AI tools to help students who might otherwise struggle better understand the content. “We started using some AI tools to synthesize and scaffold traditional textbook content, increasing accessibility for diverse learners,” he says. “Kids can go for a jog and listen to their social studies chapter now in that podcast format.”

AI can also be used to assist in language learning, creating different scenarios at different levels in a hyper-personalized way.

There’s always some skepticism or fear with emerging technologies, but Hamlin says there are a lot of ways AI can enhance educators’ work. “For those innovative, outside-of-the-box-thinking educators, I think AI is a real asset to the work that they can do, because it really creates so many more opportunities,” he says. While GNS is open to these new tools, Hamlin emphasizes that the school is mindful and cautious about the impact on students, as well as ensuring data

protection. To ensure AI is used in a supported and controlled manner, GNS has created a set of AI use policies along with an “AI Traffic Light” system, which is displayed in every classroom. “This way, teachers can quickly see and communicate when and where AI use is appropriate,” explains Hamlin.

Crucially, it’s precisely because GNS is independent that it can try these new teaching tools. “You’re so much nimbler,” Hamlin says in reference to that independent school advantage. “When you’re dealing with 20,000 students compared to 800 students, it’s a lot more challenging to implement, innovate and adapt on the fly.”

The goal, says Hamlin, is for students to feel like they’re in the driver’s seat. “Education isn’t something that’s being done to them,” he explains. “Education is something that they’re in control of.”

SOUTHPOINTE ACADEMY

At Southpointe Academy in Delta, students use several different technologies to enhance their learning, including data analysis programs, multimedia tools, design software, coding and more. “We adopt a

‘technology-enriched’ pedagogy, where digital tools are used to deepen inquiry, foster creativity and personalize learning,” says Gordon MacIntyre, Southpointe’s head of school.

Southpointe includes a range of innovative digital technologies across its campus. “From virtual reality exploration in the Junior School to 3D modelling in science classes to AI-supported language learning, Southpointe is at the forefront of applying emerging technologies in pedagogically sound ways,” MacIntyre says.

MacIntyre emphasizes that Southpointe is also taking a proactive approach to integrating AI literacy into education, and recognizes how it’s changing education overall. “We regularly review and upgrade our digital infrastructure and curriculum to ensure alignment with both post-secondary expectations and critical skills for future success,” he says. “From understanding machine learning in science classes to using generative AI tools in creative writing and design, students are gaining hands-on experience with these transformative technologies, while enjoying a holistic, balanced education.”

Southpointe Academy

Southpointe works to continuously train its teachers on leveraging new educational technologies for collaboration, assessment and digital storytelling. “Digital learning is reshaping how students think, create and connect,” says MacIntyre. “At Southpointe, it empowers students to take ownership of their learning, explore interdisciplinary concepts and collaborate across cultures and time zones.” Digital learning at Southpointe could include AI-assisted research, digital portfolios and virtual labs—all helping students develop the agility, ethics and technological fluency to be future-ready.

Southpointe is also taking steps to ensure its students are learning how to be responsible digital citizens, critically assessing information and communicating ethically in online environments. “We also emphasize the ethics of AI, teaching students to question bias, understand data privacy and consider the societal impacts of automation,” MacIntyre says. “Our graduates will not only thrive in a world shaped by AI, they will shape that world thoughtfully.”

MacIntyre notes that education is no longer just about knowledge transfer. “It’s about humans flourishing in a complex, digital world, and being able to adapt and critically think to make decisions,” he says. “It’s about thriving as a human being and making a positive difference in the world.”

ASPENGROVE SCHOOL

Aspengrove School, too, is working to teach students how to navigate an increasingly complex world. The school, located north of Nanaimo, introduces technology early into everyday learning.

For example, educators at Aspengrove introduce robotics in grade 3 through the VEX GO and VEX IQ platforms, and students can progress through to grade 12.

“Robotics, coding and computer-assisted design (CAD) are built into our design curriculum, giving students hands-on experience with the same tools used in engineering, architecture and product development,” says Dustin Orser, STEM educator. “We see digital learning not as an

add-on, but as a core part of how students think, create and solve problems.”

The Aspengrove Robotics Club, for example, challenges students in grades 9 to 12 to team up and design, build and program robots to take on engineering challenges.

“Through robotics, coding and CAD, they develop critical thinking, problem-solving and teamwork skills, learning to test ideas and adapt when things don’t go as planned,” says David Riendl, science educator. With careers evolving, Riendl explains, it’s important to teach these technologically transferable skills to set students up for success.

Riendl adds that Aspengrove students are encouraged to be active creators with technology, and to use it to enhance rather than replace learning. “With AI now part of the learning process, students are guided to use it responsibly, understanding its strengths, its limits and how to apply it ethically in their work,” he says. “At the same time, Aspengrove believes in balance. Foundational skills remain central.”

Aspengrove School

Orser explains that Aspengrove students learn how to use AI as a tool for research and problem-solving, while also being guided in how to evaluate information critically and responsibly. “This balance of innovation and ethics ensures they are prepared not just to use technology, but to lead with it,” he says. Gary Kern, head of school at Aspengrove, notes that this approach to emerging technologies is one of the many reasons why the future of independent schools is strong. “We have the mandate to teach the whole child and to create a fair, just and empathetic community,” he says. “As the world changes and technology advances, embracing technology while returning to the foundation of learning and community will be the future of Aspengrove.”

URBAN ACADEMY

At Urban Academy in New Westminster, integration and conversation are important parts of bringing technology into education. Urban Academy integrates technology from kindergarten onward. For example, in kindergarten through grade 3, teachers use a platform called Seesaw to keep parents

connected to classroom activities and their child’s progress. As students move through the Junior School, they can post to Seesaw themselves, highlight their own learning and take advantage of additional tools and platforms. By grade 4, students are using Chromebooks and working in Google Classroom to keep track of lessons and

assignments. “This early exposure builds confidence and independence while keeping the focus squarely on learning,” says Mike Slinger, Urban Academy’s head of school.

For older grades, the school’s applied design, skills and technologies program (ADST), media arts opportunities and the integration of tech into many other subjects

Urban Academy

(from music to science), teach students about coding, research skills, leveraging apps and digital design. “They’re encouraged to experiment, build and problem-solve, seeing firsthand how technology can be used creatively to bring ideas to life,” he says.

But, increasingly, there are many conversations about AI and digital responsibility. “Our goal is to graduate students who aren’t just comfortable using technology,” Slinger says. “They’re innovators, ethical creators and critical thinkers, ready to navigate and shape a rapidly evolving world.”

Slinger notes that Urban Academy’s approach to AI combines technical fluency and human readiness. The school teaches students to understand AI, question how it’s used and explore how to responsibly use it to solve real-world problems. However, like anything “brand new,” it is also approached with a commitment to ensuring students are operating responsibly in this space.

“We see the rise of AI and emerging technologies not as a challenge to react to but as an opportunity to prepare students to lead in a rapidly evolving world,” says Slinger. “Equally important, we focus on the skills AI can’t replicate: critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, empathy and ethical decision-making.”

For Urban Academy, Slinger notes, adaptation isn’t enough. “We’re committed to equipping students to be future-ready,” he says. “The rapid pace of change in our world demands a model that combines technical knowledge with a resilient and adaptable character, and that’s exactly what we’re building.”

SOUTHRIDGE SCHOOL

“Southridge School in Surrey uses technology to enhance learning in ways that are purposeful and age-appropriate,” says Renee Lepp, the school's director of enrolment. Students are introduced to digital tools in Junior School, with all students from grades 5 to 12 equipped with school-provided devices. “We also maintain a cellphone-free school environment to support focus, connection and well-being,” Lepp adds. “Technology is used to enhance learning, not replace human interaction, keeping

relationships and community at the heart of the Southridge experience.”

That human interaction is a foundation of Southridge's philosophy. “Since 2008, Southridge has been a Canadian leader in Harkness learning, and we remain the only school in the country to fully implement this method across a Senior School curriculum,” says Laura Holland, Senior School principal. Every day, students and teachers gather at a large round table for student-led, discussionbased learning, with intentionally small class sizes that promote meaningful engagement.

“Education is moving from content delivery to skill development—critical thinking, problem-solving and adaptability,” says Holland, adding that, with Harkness learning, students are practicing thoughtful dialogue, collaboration and empathy, building skills that technology can’t replace.

In that sense, AI is both a tool and a topic to learn about at Southridge. “Students are taught to use emerging technologies thoughtfully and ethically, while also engaging in conversations about digital citizenship, critical thinking and taking personal responsibility,” says Lepp. “Our approach balances knowledge with character, preparing graduates who can navigate the future with kindness, intelligence and integrity.”

MULGRAVE SCHOOL

“Technologies such as AI have become a necessary skill for both students and teachers,” says Fareed Teja, director of information and learning technology at

Mulgrave School

Southridge School

Mulgrave School in West Vancouver. “While some may find it daunting or even a little unsettling, there are many opportunities to use AI to our advantage in support of learning and preparation for the world after Mulgrave.”

Teachers here are using AI to streamline their day-to-day workflows, such as lesson enhancements or developing resources for different learners. “Ultimately, AI is used to promote creative exploration and thoughtful application across all grade levels,” says Teja. AI in elementary school is teacher-driven, with educators creating interactive experiences, such as chatbots for younger students or a writing feedback tool for older students. AI use for middle and upper-year students emphasizes digital citizenship and ethics. Students might use AI for assignments, like a research project with a chatbot based on historical figures, or for independent tasks like brainstorming for essays or developing study materials.

Teja emphasizes that transparency and clear guidelines are essential with AI use at Mulgrave. “The goal is to ensure AI is used appropriately, mirroring expectations at the university or professional level,” he says. While AI can help students feel more confident in their knowledge, Teja notes that the goal is to use that confidence to participate in humancentred learning experiences.

“Young people today are faced with some of the most complex challenges in human history: the rise of artificial intelligence; a global climate crisis; and economic, social and political volatility on every continent. With the pace of change only accelerating, the world of work will look vastly different in the years ahead,” says Kailan Leung, Mulgrave’s Senior School vice principal. In this context, Mulgrave is one of four schools collaborating with the International Baccalaureate to develop an innovative, two-year course called Systems Transformation, where students engage in real-world problem-solving, which could include topics on AI. “We believe that educational innovation is the most powerful way in which we can equip students to become catalysts for change and leaders in crafting the world of tomorrow," Leung says.

Through Mulgrave’s broad IB programme, which encompasses the arts, athletics, outdoor education, service, and leadership, students can explore a wide range of interests and possibilities.

Apply by December 1st for the 2026-27 school year

be

LEARN MORE:

• Stratford Hall: stratfordhall.ca

• Glenlyon Norfolk School: mygns.ca

• Southpointe Academy: southpointe.ca

• Aspengrove School: aspengroveschool.ca

• Urban Academy: urbanacademy.ca

• Southridge School: southridge.ca

• Mulgrave School: mulgrave.com

TASTE

Salads? That’s for summer. November is a time for cozy spaces and comfort meals. Read on for a visit to the irresistibly warm and wonderful June, an ode to the city’s most perfect pudding, a guide to new and notable rooms and the best bottles to gift this holiday season: content that’ll feed you.

En Français

The buzzy French brasserie June has become a beacon for foodies (and cocktail hounds) in Cambie Village.

French Kiss

The team behind the Keefer Bar brings cocktail cool and some serious buzz to Cambie Village with new French brasserie June.

by Stacey McLachlan

Lucious—muscles wrapped in a crisp white suit—is waiting for us at the front door of June.

He introduces himself with a warm handshake. His smile is also warm, but his eyes? Unreadable behind sunglasses. He ushers us in to the host stand, where we’re led to our seat by a waiter dressed in a boxy, stylish blazer that I compliment before realizing it’s just the uniform. I settle into the plush banquette, which is wrapped around an oversized circular table. I ask my dining companion if Lucious is the owner. He doesn’t hear me because the music is too loud, so I ask again, more shout-y. No, my friend tells me: he’s the bouncer. (Well, “door maître d’,” technically speaking, but same diff.)

Who could have predicted that a restaurant in Cambie Village would need security? The neighbourhood has long been thoroughly gentrified, more notable for its leafy residential streets and heritage houses than for any buzzy nightlife. On this cozy commercial strip between 12th Avenue and King Edward, the wildest Saturday night plans have typically involved catching a Wes Anderson screening at the Park Theatre and then getting a naughty second scoop from Rain or Shine.

But the ’hood, it seems, is changing. June (the restaurant) opened in April (the month), bringing something buzzier and, to be frank, sexier than Cambie has offered before. It’s destination dining, joining the recently opened Elio Volpe and upscale-Indian stalwart Vij’s to lure foodies westward. And like these award-winning neighbours, June arrives with plenty of culinary bonafides to back up the hype:

June co-proprietors Cam Watt and Keenan Hood have been running the beloved Keefer Bar for 15 years; executive chef Connor Sperling comes from Published on Main; Grapes and Soda’s Satoshi Yonemori and Keefer’s Amber Bruce are handling the bar program; Leticia Castro (Como Taperia, the Diamond) is running front-of-house operations.

All of this to say, the hordes aren’t just coming for the moodily lit room—though, frankly, the space, designed by Mexico

City architecture firm Héctor Esrawe, is delicious—they’re here to eat, and drink, and drink some more.

Since opening, reservations have been slammed and lines have wrapped around the block. The recent introduction of Lala, the intimate record lounge downstairs (featuring select bites from the June menu and a full cocktail list), has helped alleviate the pressure somewhat—but Lucious is still needed to manage the flow. It’s so popular that I can only manage to snag reservations on the fringes of traditional dining hours: I

THE DEETS

3305 Cambie St. juneoncambie.com

daily, 5 p.m. to midnight

have one meal at an early-bird 5:30; a few weeks later I manage to squeeze in at a European-chic 8:45.

But no matter the hour, the food and drink at this brash brasserie is worthy of the added security. Sister establishment Keefer Bar made North America’s 50 Best Bars list this year, so it’s no surprise that Yonemori and Bruce bring the heat behind the June bar, too. The classics are executed with precision—the classic June martini is crisp and strong—but it’s the originals that really delight. The mushroom old fashioned

I order certainly isn’t for everyone, but it’s like nothing else: woodsy mushroom amaro plays off sweet-bitter cacao and smoky Reifel rye. The genmaicha clover club covers the other side of the flavour spectrum: the drink is punchy, bright and pleasantly toasty thanks to a mix of gin, genmaicha, horseradish and lemon.

As we sip, the hits keep spinning on our table’s Lazy Susan. Chef Sperling takes cues from French cuisine, but there’s a West Coast undertone here—a heavy seafood focus and familiar embrace of local produce. Hokkaido scallops are sliced into delicate medallions and doused in citrus beurre blanc. I can’t help but sop it up with our side of warm, perfectly plush brioche. It’s a warm-up for what might be the best house salad in town: a stack of Endswell Farm lettuce is dressed with perfect balance, every leaf bright and well seasoned.

Said salad is the idea foil for the spiced madeleines and crab dip, a prime contender for my dish of the night (well, nights, because I end up ordering it on both visits). Finally, I think, dragging the sweet and peppery pastries through the tangy, creamy seafood spread: a way to enjoy cake and crustaceans together. The meat-eaters at the table seem similarly

A Night in June

(Clockwise from top left) June’s moody interior was designed by Mexico City firm Héctor Esrawe; head downstairs to hear the vinyl at Lala, the attached cocktail bar; the mussels are served in a flavourful Fino sherry and chili sauce; scoop up every last drop of the crab dip with warm madelines; the compté-filled Pasta for Rachel is chef Connor Sperling’s carb-y love letter to his wife.

pleased with a classic beef tartare, glistening under a crown of peppered egg yolk; the house-made potato chips on the side disappear quickly.

Mussels arrive next, and I’m wowed here, too. They’ve been cooked in a poppy chili and Fino sherry sauce that highlights just how fresh and vibrant the mollusks are. I can tell that my dining companions are impressed, too—every time someone leans closer to hear a little better, they sneak another one of these little gems off the plate. (The sleek, wood-panelled surfaces that give the bistro such a cool vintage look unfortunately also amplify the many, many voices chattering away at the tables nearby... though June’s management has confirmed it’s a known issue that they’re working to resolve.)

Maybe it’s the fact I’m three cocktails deep, or maybe I’m just absorbing the celebratory spirit emanating from the dressed-to-the-nines, largely female clientele clinking martini glasses around me (the girls’-night-out vibes are electric in here)—but I’m crushing on June even before Chef Sperling himself arrives tableside. When he pulls out a shining bucket of Normandy butter to top our order of Pasta for Rachel, the butterflies only intensify. Then he tells us he took inspiration from the classic raviole du Dauphiné to create the unique, uncut comté-stuffed ravioli sheet in honour of his pasta-loving wife, which is the most romantic thing I have ever heard.

I bite into the buttery, nutty, perfectly al dente noodles and it’s official: love is in the air. No wonder Lucious has been brought aboard to keep the crowds at bay. This is the sort of food, the sort of space, the sort of night, the sort of carb-based declarations of romance that ignite a passion so fierce even the cool winds of Cambie Village couldn’t tame them.

BEST THING I ATE

by Stacey McLachlan

Budino al Caramello, $12

This Pudding Pops

My boss, Anicka Quin, showed up to our Monday morning editorial meeting a few months back with stars in her eyes, downright giddy. She’d visited the buzzy new Italian spot Folietta over the weekend, and, days later, the budino (a type of Italian caramel pudding) was still on her mind. This was a woman in love.

I was intrigued. Everything she was describing—chocolate toffee chunks, light-as-air whipped cream, a beautiful balance of salty and sweet—seemed right up my alley. Could this be the dish that turned around my opinion of pudding? I traditionally have not been a fan (chalk it up to an unfortunate meal as a teen that involved a warm custard and a head cold), but in the interest of normalizing being wrong, of opening myself up to new experiences, I had to try it for myself. Self-improvement, you know?

Putting myself out there—or, rather, up there on a stool at the busy bar in the jam-packed east-side space—proved to be as delicious as Anicka had promised. The budino al caramello features a pleasantly firm and creamy salted caramel base that is taken to new heights by fluffy Chantilly cream and the crunch of a generous sprinkle of almond roca. It’s the perfect, satisfying, textural treat to cap off a great meal... or for ordering a second helping to reward yourself for being such a brave dessert-sampler. 1480 Nanaimo St., folietta.com

REMARKS OPENING

Freshly Planted Ideas

A new concept in plant-based dining is marking a first both in Vancouver and across the country. Cofu in Chinatown is the first fully plant-based omakase in Canada, presenting an 18-course sushi menu “showcasing Japanese technique through seasonal vegetables,” headed up by chef Ko Tanimizu—with vegetable skewers, seven different types of nigiri and sushi rice risotto, plus seasonal sherbet for dessert. cofu.ca

Opened July 2025 | 488 Gore Ave.

Tapping In

The volume of items on this menu is certainly fit for a royal soiree—which makes the name King Taps all the more apt. Think: share plates like Bang Bang shrimp and handmade pizza with 48-hour-aged dough. Split among friends alongside the party-sized sangria or anything your heart desires from the 30 running taps in the North Van spot. kingtaps.com

Opened May 2025 | 141–123 Carrie Cates Ct.

Tour de Thai food

The prolific Angus An (our 2025 Chef of the Year) has added another eatery to his Thaifood empire: Sainam , a concept based on flavours of the Isaan region. Here, try fermented Isaan sausage before diving into a som tum “bar” featuring seven takes on the Thai dish, like the som tum Lao, a Laotian-style papaya salad with salt-cured crab. sainam.ca

Opened June 2025 | 1235 Davie St. A

Introducing Poplar Grove’s 2015 Library Collection

The Legacy, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc

INVEST IN QUALITY. HARVEST THE RETURNS.

#1 Small BC Winery from the 2025 WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada

THE WINE LIST

by Neal McLennan

Grape giving

When it comes to gifting wine, two things are true: a thoughtfully chosen bottle is among the best gifts one can receive, and a hastily chosen, mass-market label is among the worst. The key is to show it’s a present you’ve put real thought and care into, and the easiest way to achieve this is to pull something from your cellar that you’ve aged yourself. For those whose manor house didn’t come with a subterranean claret room, however, there’s a workaround—you’ll need to sleuth out the aged bottles that are hiding in in plain sight all around us. We’re here with a map of where to look.

THE READ

Poplar Grove Merlot 2014, $82.50

Most good Okanagan wineries sell all they make out of necessity, so finding aged bottles is rare. There are a few that sometimes have one-offs (Mission Hill and Quails’ Gate are good to check out) but no one has shown a commitment to building a cache of library wines like Naramata’s Poplar Grove. They’ve always made the sacrifice of holding back bottles of their flagship reds to release in their prime drinking windows, and have even given those aged bottles a special label. Here’s a gem that shows what you can do with merlot at the intersection of great grapes and plenty of patience.

Taylor Fladgate Vintage 2000, $116

1 2 3

The quality of port is at the best it’s ever been, but popularity has been waning for years. This inexplicable slide is your chance to open someone’s eyes to one of the greatest deals in all of vin-dom. Fifty years ago, a bottle of vintage port cost the same as Château Mouton Rothschild (the current vintage of that goes for roughly $1,500). Today you can enjoy this stellar vintage from a legendary port producer without having to sell a kidney. Your giftee will be able to drink a fully mature wonder of a wine—rich but still fresh and vibrant—that few other bottles can match at any price.

Chateau de Fieuzal Bordeaux Blanc 2016, $80 Aging whites is not for the faint of heart: when they turn, they turn hard. But Bordeaux whites—made from sauvignon blanc with some semillon for ballast—are built to last and to sing as they get older. And while the category can be wild, price-wise (Haut Brion Blanc costs $1,600), there are impressive aged wines for $100 and under—such as this readyto-drink-but-can-still-cellarfor-a-decade number, which has impressive mouthfeel and body, plus a touch of almost waxiness that’s unforgettable. If your giftee likes New Zealand sauv blanc, watch their horizons expand exponentially.

The Complete Bordeaux Vintage Guide from 1870 to 2024

Speaking of Bordeaux, no region seems more defined by “good” and “bad” vintages than this famed enclave of the coastal French elite. And while having a book called The Complete Bordeaux Vintage Guide from 1870 to 2024 seems anachronistic in these days of AI, when the writer is the insightful and wry Neal Martin it’s more guided journey than numerical output.

How to Go Winter Camping (and Actually Enjoy Yourself)

Fairweather adventurers, listen up: there’s more fun to be had beyond the fall season. by Alyssa Hirose

The cold, hard truth? Off-season camping can be a turn-off. There’s a lot more packing, prep and safety factors to consider when venturing into the wilderness in the rain (or snow), but we’ve assembled some outdoorsy experts to share their best advice for braving winter camping. Listen to locals Taryn Eyton, author of Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia and Backpacking on Vancouver Island, and Katherine Valentine, category merchandise manager at MEC: the cold never bothered them anyway.

rain and wind.” Skip cheapo finds from big-box stores.

Camp in the on-season first. No one’s saying that a snowy trek and high-stakes tenting should be your first great outdoor experience. “Start with spring or fall camping in moderate temperatures before working your way up to camping in the snow,” says Eyton.

Check (and recheck) your route conditions.

“In the lead-up to a trip, I regularly check the weather, avalanche bulletins and trail conditions,” says Valentine. She adds that she’ll change her plans if things aren’t looking good, and Eyton agrees: “You need to have a flexible mindset and be okay with ending your trip early—or not going at all—if the weather isn’t favourable.”

Invest in a winter tent. Your summer setup isn’t going to cut it in harsher conditions—Valentine shares that three-season tents aren’t built to withstand the high winds or heavy snow that winter can dish out. “They typically feature stronger poles, more robust fabrics and minimal mesh to help retain heat,” she explains.

Keep your fly down. When shopping for a tent, Eyton says, the main feature to look for is “a full-length rain fly that reaches all the way to the ground… tents with rain flies that just cover the top of the tent will not hold up to winter

Don’t count on a water source. Valentine points out that the rivers, lakes and streams that quench a summer thirst will often be frozen over or harder to access in the winter. “That means you’ll need to melt snow for drinking and cooking,” she notes, “and this requires significantly more fuel than a summer trip would—so make sure to pack extra.”

Layer up. “I always bring a warm down jacket, good base layers and waterproof outer layers—a toque and gloves are essential, too,” says Valentine. Layering also applies to your sleep situation: Eyton says that a well-insulated sleeping pad is a must (a sleeping bag alone is a recipe for the shivers).

Know a few warmup hacks. Eyton pours hot water into a Nalgene or insulated water container for a makeshift hot water bottle. (“It can boost the temperature inside your sleeping bag quickly,” she shares.) Valentine suggests that smaller campers pad out their sleeping bags with spare clothes: “You don’t need to waste your body heat warming empty air pockets.”

Get R-rated gear. Stay hot—literally—with sleeping pads that have an R-value, which measures resistance to heat flow. In other words, this number shows how well-insulated a product is. Both of our experts recommend getting an R-value of at least five if freezing temperatures are a possibility, and getting a sleeping bag with the highest temperature rating possible.

Pig out. “Eat lots of food,” stresses Valentine. “Your body is burning extra calories to keep you warm and needs the fuel.” One of Eyton’s favourite cozy (and communal) meals to make while winter camping is hot pot.

3 PLACES TO GO WINTER CAMPING NEAR VANCOUVER

Porteau Cove

Eyton says this destination is gorgeous year-round... and much easier to reserve in the winter.

Manning Park

Lone Duck campground is Eyton’s site of choice for snow camping. “It has a shared kitchen shelter, and you can cross-country ski or snowshoe right from your campsite.”

Mount Rohr

Valentine recommends this peak northwest of Pemberton for experienced winter campers only: “You do travel through avalanche terrain to get there, so make sure you have the training before heading out.”

Your next business move starts in Surrey.

Beedie’s new industrial strata units in Newton and Port Kells are designed for efficiency and ready for occupancy. With premium warehouse spaces from 6,700 to 14,800 SF across four developments, these ownership opportunities offer the flexibility and location today’s modern businesses need to grow.

Whether expanding, relocating, or investing, now’s the time to secure your space in one of Metro Vancouver’s most active industrial corridors.

Learn More

THE QUAD BY BEEDIE

7915 130TH STREET

ANVIL BY BEEDIE