Hey there. If you voted in the provincial election this weekend, congratulations for being in the minority! 

It feels pretty wild that B.C. is set to have its first nominally Conservative government in a century (albeit one half-comprised of the carcass of the BC Liberals), and only time will tell which wing of the party will win out with its policy objectives: will it be the reasonable-sounding fiscal conservatives or the culture war kooks?

But elsewhere in the world, elections have had the opposite leanings: students in Serbia overthrew authoritarian leader Aleksandar Vučić, while Brazilian voters denied Flavio Bolsonaro a chance to continue his father's hard-right legacy.

— V.
Senior editor

Choose your sports metaphor. Was calling a snap election an unforced error, dropping the ball, or a spectacular own goal? Either way, it didn't work out well for Premier David Eby, who turned his narrow majority in Victoria into the BC NDP's worst electoral performance for decades. Nathan Caddell has more on the fallout from the province's unnecessary yet highly consequential election.  

Our journalism is only possible because of the Straight Insiders. 

In a time when technology is taking over jobs, the Straight remains what it has always been: a small team of scrappy journalists, doing our best to cover the stories that matter to the city we all love.

For just $8.25 per month—the cost of one fancy latte—you can help support the 60-year legacy of the Georgia Straight.

In exchange for your hard-earned money, we've got a huge range of deals, discounts, and free tickets up for grabs—but only for Insiders.

Sign up today to help keep local media alive.

Mateína’s new Zero Sugar line delivers smooth, organic energy from yerba mate — no crash, no weird ingredients. With clean caffeine and theobromine, it supports lasting focus and mental clarity. It’s plant-powered fuel that helps you stay sharp, alert, and energized — without the sugar. Try it out today.

Ken Sim might have thought losing the Vancouver mayoral election was scary enough. But one East Vancouver resident isn't quite finished putting the final nails in his political coffin. Check out the tongue-in-cheek display on Victoria Drive.

Immerse yourself in the stunning albums of My Bloody Valentine (Loveless), Solange (A seat at the table) and Joni Mitchell (Hejira) on our powerful planetarium sound system. Put on recycled cotton Pitchblack Playback eye mask for extra darkness! No phones; no singing; no distractions; just you and the music.

Thought that this was a Halloween newsletter? Think again! Seasons are colliding, which means it’s basically almost Christmas already, which means that festive musicals are fast approaching… which means there are only a few weeks to go until you can see the Arts Club’s whimsical production of Elf: The Musical.

What's scarier than Halloween? Missing out on all the limited-time goodies. H Tasting Lounge is getting into the scary spirit with some very scary spirits—flavoured with things like elderflower, Thai basil, and Scotch bonnets for a spooky surprise.

PERFORMING ARTS: Vancouver Opera's Tosca tells a story of beauty and betrayal. (To November 1 @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre)

MUSIC: Australia's Julia Jacklin tours her new record, and it's a gem—sorry, The Gem. (October 27 @ Commodore Ballroom)

THEATRE: The family-friendly Water Words follows two friends: one in Canada, and one in Senegal. (October 27 @ Presentation House Theatre, North Vancouver)

COMEDY: Buds and Suds bring the laughs—and brewskis—to one of the city's favourite breweries. (October 28 @ Main Street Brewing)

BOOKS: Author and poet Shani Mootoo kicks off her term as SFU's writer in residence with a reading. (October 29 @ SFU Vancouver Campus)

BOOKS: Zoé Jusseret discusses her work on comic books and graphic novels. (October 29 @ VPL Central Branch)

Want to know what else is happening in Vancouver? Check out our events listings.

You made it all the way to the bottom, and we love you for it! Readers like you are what keep us going. If you want to support free arts and culture journalism, send this newsletter to a friend.

And before you go, let us know:

• Did a friend share this with you? Sign up for free.

• Want to advertise to locals? Contact our team.

• Have a cool story to share? Drop us an email.