Hey there. Have you seen that Canada is pushing for a "unique alliance" with the EU?

Obviously, Canada can't become a member of the EU, but this hasn't stopped some commentators, conservative politicians, and other people who spend too much time on X from railing that Canada should no more become the EU's 20-something member as it should become America's 51st state.

Ignoring the fact membership of an economic coalition is an entirely different beast than becoming part of a single nation state… Canada can't join the EU. We're not in Europe. Being in Eurovision isn't the same thing!

— V.
Senior editor

Let's face it: this year was hardly the kind of scorching summer that a lot of us have come to expect from Vancouver's mid-year weather. But was it actually that much of a meteorological bummer? The past few years have primed us to expect blisteringly hot shorts seasons. "We’ve kind of gotten used to that as being more normal," explains forecaster Morgen Shull, "which, if you're looking at statistics, is not the normal."

Our journalism is only possible because of Straight Insiders. 

In a time when technology is taking 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. 

Right now that includes free tickets to see our September comedy cover stars in action (Emily Woods, Mark Thomson, Jess Lupini, and Sean McDonnell), as well as our ongoing dining deals with restaurants like Minami, Pourhouse, Dovetail, and Prophecy.

Sign up today to help keep Vancouver weird.

Interior Design Show (IDS) Vancouver returns to the Vancouver Convention Centre from September 24–27, 2026, reaffirming its position as the Pacific Northwest’s most important gathering for contemporary design.

For four days, IDS Vancouver will become a hub for the ideas, innovations, and conversations shaping the future of design. It is where industry leaders, creative thinkers, and emerging voices come together to share perspectives, challenge conventions, and explore what's on the horizon.

Discover immersive installations, groundbreaking products, and inspiring talks from leading voices in design, architecture, business, and culture. Gain firsthand insight into the trends influencing the market, the innovations redefining how we live and work, and the ideas that will shape the next generation of design.

Tickets and registration are available now.

With the municipal election fast approaching, organizations around Vancouver are thinking about how to increase turnout and civic engagement. For Women Transforming Cities advocacy lead Clara Prager, it's a marathon, not a sprint: "We've been at this for the past 12 months," she tells the Straight. "A lot of people didn’t feel like council’s positions represented them."

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Little ones are colouring outside the lines in Tombolo Gallery's latest project. Kids are taking over Kingsgate Mall with more than 250 pieces of artwork, imagining the kinds of shops that adults have failed to produce—like kite stores and places to buy glitter diamond robot kittens.

Now that August has slipped away like a bottle of wine, it's time to make the most of all those light tipples before the cold weather ushers in a season of full-bodied reds and pumpkin spice everything. Mike Usinger gives his take on what to drink in summer's closing scenes.

MUSIC: Grammy-winning country veteran Lyle Lovett swings by with his Small Large Band. (September 15 @ Vogue Theatre)

TALKS: Megaphone editor Paula Carlson and peer newsroom the Shift discuss human-centred reporting from the DTES. (September 15 @ VPL Central Branch)

MUSIC: Swedish musician José González brings his broken heart to the main stage. (September 15 @ Orpheum Theatre)

FOOD & DRINK: Dames Dine Around are special dining experiences across B.C. that raise money for Les Dames BC Chapter's scholarships. (September 15-16 @ various locations)

TALKS: Uytae Lee of About Here meets with urbanist experts to discuss how policies have impacted the late-night economy. (September 16 @ VPL Central Branch)

BOOKS: Join the Straight's own William Johnson as he talks to author Colson Whitehead about his new book Cool Machine. (September 16 @ Djavad Mowafaghian Cinema)

DANCE: Duet rhymes with rain explores how stories and memories change as we recall them. (September 16-27 @ Morrow)

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

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