Frances Bula - Page 9 - The Globe and Mail

Frances Bula

FreelanceUrban affairs contributor

francesbula@gmail.com

Frances Bula has written about urban issues and city politics in B.C.’s Vancouver region, covering everything from Downtown Eastside drug addiction to billion-dollar development projects, since 1994.

Latest articles

June 19, 2023

Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke holds a redacted police transition report from the provincial government during a news conference, in Surrey, B.C., on Friday, April 28, 2023. The British Columbia government is recommending the City of Surrey continue its transition to the Surrey Police Service, despite the wishes of the new council to revert to the RCMP. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke holds a redacted police transition report from the provincial government during a news conference, in Surrey, B.C., on Friday, April 28, 2023. The British Columbia government is recommending the City of Surrey continue its transition to the Surrey Police Service, despite the wishes of the new council to revert to the RCMP. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. solicitor general demands Surrey council be transparent about RCMP decision

3 min read

June 19, 2023

An artists’ rendering of the future neighbourhood at ʔəya҆ lməxʷ/Iy҆álmexw/Jericho Lands – final design of buildings,
parks and open spaces to be determined in future phases of the planning process following the Policy Statement.

An artists’ rendering of the future neighbourhood at ʔəya҆ lməxʷ/Iy҆álmexw/Jericho Lands – final design of buildings,
parks and open spaces to be determined in future phases of the planning process following the Policy Statement.

New Jericho Lands development polarizes Vancouver’s west side community

4 min read

June 16, 2023

Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth speaks during a news conference in the press theatre at legislature in Victoria on April 28.

Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth speaks during a news conference in the press theatre at legislature in Victoria on April 28.

Surrey votes to stick with RCMP despite provincial push for municipal force

4 min read

June 16, 2023

Site Concepts
Credit: Hariri Pontarini Architects with Urban Strategies NW-BC-

"A development by three Vancouver-area first nations will dramatically alter the landscape of a seaside park on the city’s west side. The site calls for three towers of more than 30 storeys each. The land was turned over to the bands as part of a land claim settlement and the development plans were released late Monday."

Site Concepts
Credit: Hariri Pontarini Architects with Urban Strategies NW-BC-

"A development by three Vancouver-area first nations will dramatically alter the landscape of a seaside park on the city’s west side. The site calls for three towers of more than 30 storeys each. The land was turned over to the bands as part of a land claim settlement and the development plans were released late Monday."

Massive Vancouver land development unveiled for Jericho area

3 min read

May 14, 2023

B.C. Premier David Eby speaks in Vancouver, on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022. A B.C. First Nation and the provincial government have signed what's being called a historic agreement towards jointly managing land, water and resource development. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. Premier David Eby speaks in Vancouver, on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022. A B.C. First Nation and the provincial government have signed what's being called a historic agreement towards jointly managing land, water and resource development. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Former BC Housing board members challenge Premier Eby’s dismissal

4 min read

May 11, 2023

Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation Ravi Kahlon answers questions from members of the media following the throne speech at the legislature in Victoria, Monday, Feb. 6, 2023. A non-profit British Columbia housing provider says an independent report that saw the New Democrat government place financial clamps on the organization found no evidence of financial improprieties. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation Ravi Kahlon answers questions from members of the media following the throne speech at the legislature in Victoria, Monday, Feb. 6, 2023. A non-profit British Columbia housing provider says an independent report that saw the New Democrat government place financial clamps on the organization found no evidence of financial improprieties. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

B.C. Housing Minister says each contract won by a controversial non-profit agency will be scrutinized

4 min read

May 9, 2023

Janice Abbott, CEO of Atira Property Management and Atira Women's Resource Society, speaks after giving Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland a tour of a supportive housing project for at risk women under construction that will be operated by Atira, in Surrey, B.C., on Wednesday, April 13, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Janice Abbott, CEO of Atira Property Management and Atira Women's Resource Society, speaks after giving Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland a tour of a supportive housing project for at risk women under construction that will be operated by Atira, in Surrey, B.C., on Wednesday, April 13, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. non-profit housing board refuses to fire its CEO, despite discrepancies found in audit

3 min read

May 8, 2023

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland, left, applauds Janice Abbott, CEO of Atira Property Management and Atira Women's Resource Society, who spoke after touring a supportive housing project for at risk women under construction that will be operated by Atira, in Surrey, B.C., on Wednesday, April 13, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland, left, applauds Janice Abbott, CEO of Atira Property Management and Atira Women's Resource Society, who spoke after touring a supportive housing project for at risk women under construction that will be operated by Atira, in Surrey, B.C., on Wednesday, April 13, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Report finds conflict-of-interest violations with B.C. non-profit housing provider

4 min read

May 8, 2023

A sign announcing new social housing and a community healthcare centre hangs atop scaffolding across the street from 53 West Hastings Street, which is near the intersection at Abbott Street in the Gastown neighbourhood of Vancouver, B.C. on Monday, March 27, 2023. Brock Worobel, who lives at 53 West Hastings, said he is fed up with the crime and filth in Gastown and wants to move, but can’t sell his condo at a reasonable price. (Kayla Isomura/The Globe and Mail)

A sign announcing new social housing and a community healthcare centre hangs atop scaffolding across the street from 53 West Hastings Street, which is near the intersection at Abbott Street in the Gastown neighbourhood of Vancouver, B.C. on Monday, March 27, 2023. Brock Worobel, who lives at 53 West Hastings, said he is fed up with the crime and filth in Gastown and wants to move, but can’t sell his condo at a reasonable price. (Kayla Isomura/The Globe and Mail)

Vancouver’s solution to the permitting backlog rankles frustrated developers

4 min read

May 5, 2023

A Surrey police patch is seen on an officer's jacket during the Vaisakhi parade in Surrey, B.C., on Saturday, April 22, 2023. The city is in the midst of a transition from the RCMP to a new municipal police force. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

A Surrey police patch is seen on an officer's jacket during the Vaisakhi parade in Surrey, B.C., on Saturday, April 22, 2023. The city is in the midst of a transition from the RCMP to a new municipal police force. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Push for municipal force in Surrey rankles other B.C. cities

5 min read

May 2, 2023

Vancouver's Gastown neighbourhood was a tourist hot spot, but has seen fewer tourists since the onset of the pandemic. Vancouver, B.C. January 14, 2022. Jackie Dives / The Globe and Mail

Vancouver's Gastown neighbourhood was a tourist hot spot, but has seen fewer tourists since the onset of the pandemic. Vancouver, B.C. January 14, 2022. Jackie Dives / The Globe and Mail

Vancouver to experiment with banning cars in historic Gastown neighbourhood

3 min read

May 1, 2023

The downtown skyline is seen at sunset in Vancouver, on Thursday, April 13, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

The downtown skyline is seen at sunset in Vancouver, on Thursday, April 13, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C.’s non-profit housing providers worry they may be in government crosshairs

3 min read

April 28, 2023

Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth speaks during a press conference in the press theatre at legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Friday, April 28, 2023. The British Columbia government is recommending the City of Surrey continue its transition to the Surrey Police Service, despite the wishes of the new council to revert to the RCMP. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth speaks during a press conference in the press theatre at legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Friday, April 28, 2023. The British Columbia government is recommending the City of Surrey continue its transition to the Surrey Police Service, despite the wishes of the new council to revert to the RCMP. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

B.C. urges Surrey to proceed with local police force and end city’s relationship with RCMP

4 min read

April 26, 2023

An Air Canada Express aircraft on approach to land at Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, B.C., travels past construction cranes at the Oakridge Centre mall redevelopment in Vancouver, Tuesday, April 11, 2023. Officials with Vancouver International Airport are promising new real-time weather monitoring equipment, gate protocols and better communication after releasing a review of the travel chaos caused by snow last December. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

An Air Canada Express aircraft on approach to land at Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, B.C., travels past construction cranes at the Oakridge Centre mall redevelopment in Vancouver, Tuesday, April 11, 2023. Officials with Vancouver International Airport are promising new real-time weather monitoring equipment, gate protocols and better communication after releasing a review of the travel chaos caused by snow last December. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Vancouver housing report shows new construction stuck because of skyrocketing costs

3 min read

April 22, 2023

Steve Davidson is photographed outside the building where his suite is located at the Nikao temporary modular complex in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Friday, April 21, 2023. Rafal Gerszak/The Globe and Mail

Steve Davidson is photographed outside the building where his suite is located at the Nikao temporary modular complex in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Friday, April 21, 2023. Rafal Gerszak/The Globe and Mail

B.C. scrambles to cope with housing the province’s most vulnerable

6 min read

April 19, 2023

Supporters listen to guests at a rally opposing a proposal for supportive housing to be built in the Kitsilano neighbourhood in Vancouver British Columbia, June 21, 2022. Jimmy Jeong/The Globe and Mail.

Supporters listen to guests at a rally opposing a proposal for supportive housing to be built in the Kitsilano neighbourhood in Vancouver British Columbia, June 21, 2022. Jimmy Jeong/The Globe and Mail.

B.C. legislation aiming to cut challenges to development shocks Kitsilano group

3 min read

April 14, 2023

Pat Docking at her building complex in Vancouver, B.C., on January 30, 2023. After their property management company Pat Docking and other members of the strata board have to take on the duties of upkeep including replacing the retaining wall, changing light bulbs and other repairs. Jimmy Jeong/The Globe and Mail.

Pat Docking at her building complex in Vancouver, B.C., on January 30, 2023. After their property management company Pat Docking and other members of the strata board have to take on the duties of upkeep including replacing the retaining wall, changing light bulbs and other repairs. Jimmy Jeong/The Globe and Mail.

Shortage of property managers spark fears of impending crisis

5 min read

April 12, 2023

Team behind Army & Navy project asks city to approve new development

3 min read

April 7, 2023

Steam rises from freshly laid asphalt as a person rides a bike in the rain, in Vancouver, B.C., Thursday, Nov. 26, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Steam rises from freshly laid asphalt as a person rides a bike in the rain, in Vancouver, B.C., Thursday, Nov. 26, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Vancouver bikelane transformation delay sparks intense debate over traffic balance

3 min read

April 6, 2023

A member of the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) stands next to an individual inside a tent along Hastings Street in Vancouver, B.C. on Wednesday, April 5, 2023, as city staff were seen removing encampments in the Downtown Eastside neighbourhood. (Kayla Isomura/The Globe and Mail)

A member of the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) stands next to an individual inside a tent along Hastings Street in Vancouver, B.C. on Wednesday, April 5, 2023, as city staff were seen removing encampments in the Downtown Eastside neighbourhood. (Kayla Isomura/The Globe and Mail)

Vancouver’s entrenched tent city remains despite clear-out a few blocks away

4 min read