Welcome back to the Vancouver Group Chat, a place where we funnel some of the city’s biggest updates and tidbits straight to your screen. Whether it’s the latest mayoral news or the best random neighbourhood streets to admire the fall colours, we’ve got you covered.

Here’s what’s worth sending to your Vancouver Group Chat this week (Oct. 20).

What’s new, Vancouver?

the vancouver group chat
Photo via Isabelle Vauclair

A Green sweep

Vancouver’s first-ever Green Party mayor, Pete Fry, has officially been elected, with a pretty significant lead over current ABC mayor Ken Sim.

“Thank you for believing in me, Vancouver,” Fry shares on Instagram. “Let’s build a city that works for you.”

He’s joined by four newly elected Green city councillors: Annette Reilly, Stephanie Smith, Camil Dumont, and Bridget Burns.

Fall colours are at their peak

It’s time. We’ve been blessed with multiple consecutive days of sunshine, so Vancouver’s changing fall foliage has been able to evolve without rain or wind interfering. Pick any direction to walk, and you’re guaranteed to see some truly incredible reds, oranges, and yellows that mark the season.

vancouver group chat
East 8th Avenue and Victoria Drive on Saturday, Oct. 17, via Isabelle Vauclair / Curiocity

We’ve got you covered with the quintessential spots to enjoy fall, like Stanley Park and Nitobe Memorial Garden. But if you’re looking for a path less travelled, here are some of our favourite random neighbourhood streets to bookmark:

  • East 8th Avenue and Victoria Drive
  • East 7th Avenue and Lakewood Drive
  • West 13th Avenue and Courtenay Street
  • West 15th Avenue and Highbury Street
  • Blenheim Street and West 20th to 24th Avenue
  • West 37th Avenue and Mackenzie Street
  • West 39th Avenue and Elm Street
  • West 36th Avenue and Larch Street
  • Carnarvon Street and West 27th to 30th Avenue
  • Stephens Street and West 5th to 8th Avenue
  • West 10th Avenue and Waterloo Street
  • Wycliffe Road and Queensland Road
  • West 15th Avenue and Sasamat Street

A shaky ski season

We hate to say it, but B.C. might be in for another lackluster ski season this year, at least in the beginning. According to a new report by The Weather Network, Canada’s winter season will be “complex,” with both a record El Niño and a “threat of the displacement of the lobe of the polar vortex” at play.

In Western Canada, this likely means a warmer-than-normal start to winter, punctuated by “quick shots of impactful cold” because the polar vortex is weaker than normal.

Skiers and snowboarders don’t have to completely lose hope, however. The Weather Network says alpine regions could still see significant snowfall (especially later in the season) if high elevations stay below freezing.

It all depends on when the “super” El Niño peaks and starts to wane this winter.

“A faster fade could mean a more wintry end to the season,” the report states.

To The Moon and back

The Moon is one of the newest additions to Vancouver’s food and drink scene, equal parts restaurant and martini bar. The two-room contemporary space officially opens this Friday, Oct. 23, with reservations opening shortly. So if you’ve been waiting for this anticipated opening, make sure you’re checking back to snag one of those early reservation spots!

Your sign to do something random

Recent posts:
10 quintessential spots to see Vancouver’s fall colours and where to grab a bite close by
Cozy Vancouver coffee shops and bakeries to visit depending on your fall vibe

Isabelle Vauclair

Staff Writer, Vancouver – Isabelle is a West Coast native with an appreciation for Vancouver’s natural landscape, patio scene, and community spaces. She loves to discover new hidden gems in her neighbourhood and share them with readers across the city.

Read articles