My uneasy stomach, and what I know to be true about substance use and mental health, led me to talk about the BC Premier's recent announcement that beds are being allocated for involuntary treatment in BC. I feel that it's wrong for many reasons, but mostly, I feel like this has more to do with the public's discomfort with seeing people unwell and doing drugs on Vancouver streets, than on truly supporting those who will be "helped" against their will.
Rachel Thexton sits down with Howard Chai, one of British Columbia's most respected real estate journalists, to talk about what it's like covering Vancouver's number one news beat. Howard shares the story behind his transition from computer science at SFU to journalism — eventually landing at Storeys.com, where he spent three years establishing himself as a go-to voice on BC's housing market. When Storeys paused operations, he created Substack real estate content, and media outlets started calling. Howard now writes for The Globe and Mail, RENX, Western Investor, The Tyee, and Storeys.com (now under Site Media).
Venezuela is more than just the headlines." To launch our new season, I am privileged to welcome Meriely Arias to the podcast. While the capture of Nicolas Maduro has the world talking, Meriely born in Puerto Cabello, joins me to share the story of a people who remain joyful and resilient despite decades of turmoil.
From the "production line" of the traditional Christmas Hallaca to the struggle of families sending money home, Meriely gives us an intimate look at the Venezuelan experience. We also talk about her journey to Canada, the vibrant Venezuelan community right here in British Columbia, and how we can support local businesses—from Port Moody's hidden gems to the best tequeños in the Lower Mainland.
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