Articles by Charlie Smith.

News Features

How global warming might transform Vancouver’s shoreline

Granville Island, Kitsilano and Jericho beaches, the Stanley Park seawall, the Downtown Eastside, and the port all help to define Vancouver in the eyes of the world. But try to imagine what this city would look like if all of these local landmarks were underwater.
Straight Issues

UN expert Gay McDougall cites racial inequality in Canada

According to a recent report by the UN’s independent expert on minority issues, Gay McDougall, Canada still has a long way to go before it can claim to have eliminated racial discrimination.
Straight Talk

Retired SFU sociologist and community leader Hari Sharma dies

Sharma was a dynamic activist who battled religious communalism and stood up for underdogs in society.
Straight Talk

Coquitlam prepares for an expensive by-election that it doesn't want to hold

Community and Rural Development Minister Bill Bennett has turned down the city's request not to fill a seat vacated by Fin Donnelly.
Straight Talk

RCMP update Revelstoke avalanche report: two dead, 30 injured

Nineteen people have been released from hospital.
Straight Talk

New Westminster staff recommend permanent meter parking on Sundays and holidays

The city's director of engineering services, Jim Lowrie, says it could generate $213,000 per year, including revenue from fines.
Straight Talk

West Vancouver council scheduled to vote on report on climate change

The district's Climate Change Working Group wants the municipal government to educate the public about the benefits of home energy audits and retrofits.
Straight Talk

Three dead after avalanche near Revelstoke during snowmobile competition

Four provincial search-and-rescue teams have been deployed to Boulder Mountain, where the snow slide occurred.
Blog - Sports

Vancouver Canucks defeat Senators 5-1 with help from Mikael Samuelsson

The Canucks took control in the second period with three unanswered goals.
Straight Talk

Canadian independent bicycle dealers post higher sales in 2009

The Bicycle Trade Association of Canada says this data can be used to help persuade governments to invest in cycling infrastructure.
Straight Talk

Dennis Skulsky resigns from Canwest "to spend more time with his family"

Skulsky will remain as a company adviser after he steps down as CEO on April 30.
Real Estate

Burnaby sees a drop in value of building permits in first two months of 2010

The first two months of 2010 saw a significant drop in the value of building permits in Burnaby compared with the previous three years.
Straight Issues

District of North Van council to vote on politicians getting legal advice on conflicts of interest

Staff have recommended that $5,000 be set aside from the legal services budget for independent advice for council members.
Straight Talk

North Vancouver, Poco, Langley Township, and White Rock prepare to turn off lights

Last year, B.C. residents curbed energy use by 1.1 percent during Earth Hour.
Blog - Politics

An easy way for TransLink CEO Ian Jarvis to enhance customer service

The boss should send a message to drivers that they won't be punished for showing a little more compassion.
Paralympics

B.C. Paralympic athletes get ready to soar on world stage

Here are the other B.C. residents competing in the Paralympic Games.
News Features

Gordon Campbell government shortchanges cyclists with introduction of HST

Cycling advocates worry that the B.C. government’s plan to extend the provincial sales tax to bikes will undermine alternative modes of transportation.
Sports

Dirty Duo running-and-cycling race lures B.C.’s toughest competitors

Scheduled for March 13, the event offers competitors a range of options.
Straight Talk

Veteran Vancity director Bob Williams decries board secrecy

Williams, a former NDP cabinet minister, blamed the Action Team—which he once headed—for increasing corporate secrecy.
Arts Notes

B.C. government withholds community gaming grants from adult arts and culture

The provincial budget promised $11.5 million in gaming grants for arts and culture, but now it appears that the focus will be on youths.
Straight Talk

Day after Harper government accused of turning back on world's poor, aid flows to Burmese refugees

The federal government has failed to meet the UN goal of contributing 0.7 percent of gross national income to foreign assistance.
Straight Talk

Bob Geldof prepares to file complaint against BBC over report on Ethiopian aid

The Irish musician described the BBC report a "disgrace" and claimed it has undermined people's willingness to give money in times of need.
Blog - Politics

Questions Justice Patrick Dohm's appointee should consider in police Const. Griffin Gillan public hearing

Will the hearing look into whether there are discrepancies in the way discipline is meted out to on-duty and off-duty officers?
Straight Talk

Black Press-owned Web site upsets Grand Chief David Harper with racist ad

The Manitoba First Nations leader expressed his disgust on the same day that news broke of Black Press's interest in Canwest newspapers.
Blog - Arts

Vancouver Art Gallery planned its move on city-owned parking lot on Georgia Street

Today, the Vancouver Sun has carried on its front page what looks like a news release from the Vancouver Art Gallery.
News Features | Olympics

Olympic hockey gold brings hormonal high

After Sidney Crosby scored the goal that won the gold medal for Canada in the Olympic men’s hockey final, people across the country went berserk.
Blog - Arts

Spencer Herbert and the Alliance for Arts and Culture exposed B.C. Liberal shell game

This sorry episode says something about the integrity of the premier and the finance minister.
Arts Notes

Arts alliance says B.C. budget cuts arts funding, but Liberals cover it up by including museum funds in total

NDP culture critic Spencer Herbert says today's B.C. budget won't restore arts funding to the amount allocated in 2008-09—even though this was recommended by a legislative committee.
Straight Talk

B.C. Civil Liberties Association files complaint after Jamie Graham allegedly silences Const. David Bratzer

Bratzer presented his views on harm reduction in an article on Straight.com, but the BCCLA claims he has since been muzzled.
Real Estate

Greater Vancouver real estate shows signs of life in the Olympic month

Prices are up, listings are up, and sales volumes have increased.
Olympics

Canada wins Olympic men's hockey gold medal in overtime in Vancouver

Sidney Crosby scored the game winner on a give-and-go with Jerome Iginla.
Olympics

American Zach Parise ties the game in final minute of third period in Olympic men's hockey final

It looked like Canada would win a gold medal in regulation time until Parise beat Roberto Luongo with 25 seconds left in the third period.
Olympics

American Ryan Kesler scores, making it 2-1 Canada in Olympic men's hockey final

It was Kesler's second goal of the tournament.
Olympics

Aggressive forechecking gives Canada the first goal against U.S. in Olympic hockey final

Mike Richards stole the puck deep in the U.S. zone, leading to a first-period goal by Jonathan Toews.
Olympics

Vancouver Olympics hockey final is good news for Gary Bettman

The game will attract a large U.S. television audience, helping the NHL in its weaker markets south of the border.
Olympics

Joannie Rochette chosen as Canada's flagbearer for closing ceremony at Vancouver Olympics

Rochette was also a cowinner of the Terry Fox Award at the 2010 Games.
Olympics

Five highlights and five low moments from the Vancouver Olympics

I never thought I would see a day when little-known women's bobsleigh teams would push millionaire hockey stars into second place in the hearts of Canadian sports fans.
Olympics

Angus Reid polls suggest high level of public satisfaction with Vancouver Olympics

More than three-quarters of Metro Vancouver and Sea to Sky corridor residents say that the Games made them proud to be Canadian.
Straight Talk

Tsunami estimated to reach B.C.-Washington border at 3:01; Tofino arrival set at 3:15

The tsunami was created by an earthquake in Chile measuring 8.8 on the Richter scale.
Straight Talk

Tsunamis create higher waves as they approach the coast; first wave hits Hawaii

In deeper waters, a tsunami may stretch for more than 100 miles.
Olympics

Joannie Rochette and Petra Majdic share Terry Fox Award at Vancouver Olympics

Vanoc and the Fox family created the award to honour athletes who pushed on in pain and who displayed humility and selflessness.
Straight Talk

Tsunami on its way to Hawaii following earthquake in Chile

Civil-defence officials have cleared the beaches.
Straight Talk

Huge earthquake hits Chile

The quake measured 8.3 on the Richter scale and was centred just north of Concepcion.
Olympics

Sweden wins a gold medal in Olympic women's curling

Canada won the silver, and China won the bronze medal.
Straight Talk

SeaWorld will resume whale shows three days after trainer killed

Pending an investigation, no one will be allowed in the water during the orca shows.
Blog - Sports | Olympics

Associated Press: IOC is investigating Canadian hockey celebration

Is the IOC also going to investigate skeleton gold medallist Jon Montgomery for taking a swig of beer on television?
Blog - Politics | Olympics

CTV Olympics coverage includes a message about investigating 9/11

The Vancouver 9/11 Truth Society has been trying to whip up interest in this issue for quite some time.
Olympics | Straight Talk

Olympic Resistance Network claims success

The anti-Olympic group says drunken pro-Olympic louts downtown are fighting in the streets, urinating in alleys, and committing vandalism.