Samwise Metro Vancouver Newsletter
Saturday, April 11, 2026
Politicians and Survivors Mark One Year Since Vancouver's Lapu-Lapu Day Attack
Survivors and relatives of the 11 people killed in Vancouver's Lapu-Lapu Day vehicle attack gathered at St. Andrew Parish church Friday for a memorial mass ahead of the one-year anniversary on April 26. Premier David Eby, federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, and Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim joined roughly 60 mourners. “You will not walk alone,” Eby said. “You will not mourn alone, and you will not sing alone.” Accused Adam Kai-Ji Lo faces 11 counts of second-degree murder and 31 counts of attempted murder. Filipino BC has scheduled a new Lapu-Lapu Day festival for April 19, which organizers say will focus on healing.
Sources: CBC News | Globe and Mail | CTV News
Source Dates: 2026/04/10
U.S. Cuts Softwood Lumber Duties on Paper — But B.C. Forests Still Face 35% Wall
The U.S. Department of Commerce posted a preliminary determination that anti-dumping duties on Canadian softwood lumber will fall from 20.53 per cent to 10.66 per cent, while countervailing duties drop slightly from 14.63 to 14.17 per cent. A 10 per cent tariff imposed last fall means total effective duties remain near 35 per cent, leaving B.C.'s forestry sector little relief. Premier David Eby called resolving the dispute mutually beneficial, while Forests Minister Ravi Parmar said Ottawa was disappointed the U.S. continues imposing unwarranted and unfair duties. Industry groups warn the final determination, expected in August, may not deliver a true reduction.
Sources: CBC News | Business in Vancouver | Lethbridge Herald (CP)
Source Dates: 2026/04/10
Original FIFA World Cup Trophy Lands in Vancouver to Open Canada-Wide Tour
The original FIFA World Cup trophy is on display at the Vancouver Art Gallery's North Plaza this weekend, launching a Canada-wide tour ahead of the 2026 tournament. Former Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro — who hoisted the 18-karat gold trophy in 2006 — unveiled it in a ceremony Friday morning; it returns to FIFA's Zurich museum after Saturday. Vancouver is one of seven Canadian host cities, with seven World Cup matches scheduled at BC Place. Tickets for most games remain scarce on official channels, while secondary-market resellers are asking tens of thousands of dollars per seat for premium fixtures.
Sources: CTV News | CBC Sports | North Shore News
Source Dates: 2026/04/10–11
300,000 Expected as Vancouver Hosts 47th Annual Vaisakhi Parade Today
Vancouver's 47th annual Vaisakhi Nagar Kirtan draws an expected 300,000 spectators to South Vancouver on Saturday, with road closures along Main Street, Fraser Street, and nearby corridors running from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. The parade departs the Khalsa Diwan Society Gurdwara at 8000 Ross Street at 11 a.m., covering roughly five kilometres before returning by 5 p.m. TransLink is urging attendees to use transit, with SkyTrain and bus service boosted for the event. Surrey's even-larger Khalsa Day parade — expected to draw 600,000 — follows one week later on April 18.
Sources: City of Vancouver | CTV News | TransLink Buzzer
Source Dates: 2026/04/11
Metro Vancouver Rents Post Steepest National Declines as Asking Prices Tumble
Canada's average asking rent fell to $2,008 per month in March — the largest year-over-year decline in five years — with British Columbia leading all provinces at 4.8 per cent below year-ago levels, Rentals.ca reported Thursday. Metro Vancouver communities dominate the national list of steepest three-year declines: Richmond is down 16.5 per cent, New Westminster 11.3, Coquitlam 11, and Burnaby 10.6. Vancouver's own average asking rent is $2,702 — down 4.3 per cent year-over-year and 14.1 per cent below its August 2023 peak. Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon welcomed the data as evidence provincial housing policy is working.
Sources: BNN Bloomberg | Business in Vancouver | BC Government
Source Dates: 2026/04/09
Metro Vancouver Board Edges Toward Smaller Structure After Governance Deadlock
Metro Vancouver's governance committee reached consensus Thursday on shrinking the region's 41-member board to 34 directors by moving to a model of one seat per 140,000 residents, a shift from the current one-per-100,000 formula. The change, still subject to formal approval and public consultation planned for May and June, stops short of the independent expert oversight recommended in last spring's Deloitte review, which described the board as large and unwieldy and proposed 41 reforms. Board members rejected independently appointed directors. The Deloitte review followed controversies over board travel expenses and meeting stipends of $1,094 for sessions exceeding four hours.
Sources: CBC News | Metro Vancouver (April 9 agenda)
Source Dates: 2026/04/09
Metro Pulse
Canucks: Off-season — missed playoffs for the second consecutive season (eliminated March 22)
Whitecaps FC: Next: vs. New York City FC — Sat Apr 11 at 4:30 PM PT, BC Place
Vancouver FC: Next: vs. Forge FC — Sun Apr 12 at 4:00 PM PT, Willoughby Community Park, Langley
Goldeneyes (PWHL): Next home: Tue Apr 14 at 7:00 PM PT, Pacific Coliseum
Curated by JD · samwise.agency