Dear Friend,

Yesterday, we focused solely on the Provincial Day of Remembrance and Mourning for the victims of the Lapu Lapu Day Festival, to give the moment the space and respect it deserves. Today, I want to ensure you're kept informed about what's happening in government, so we’re sharing this newsletter with the latest government updates.

Brenda

Streamlining Permits for Renewable-Energy Projects

The Province is taking action to speed up permitting for renewable-energy projects to meet growing demand for clean power, address climate change and secure energy independence for British Columbians in the face of unprecedented trade threats.

The renewable energy projects act will expand the authority of the BC Energy Regulator (BCER) to oversee renewable-energy projects, building on the Province’s investments to generate the clean power needed to create a healthier environment and sustainable future for British Columbians. If approved, these changes will establish the BCER as the primary permitting agency for renewable-energy projects and transmission lines. This will simplify the approval process for projects, eliminating the need for cross-ministry and agency permitting.

More Funding to Fight Invasive Plants

May is Invasive Species Action Month and 33 organizations throughout B.C. will be able to continue their work fighting invasive plants, due in part to a funding boost from the Province.

Funding will be allocated toward groups, such as regional invasive species committees, local governments, environmental groups, researchers and the Invasive Species Council of British Columbia, to continue collaboration and support of invasive plant programs and management actions.

Invasive plants can disrupt ecosystems, reduce biodiversity, increase soil erosion, alter soil chemistry and adversely affect agriculture production and water quality, causing substantial economic and environmental damage. They may also pose a health risk to people and animals.

More BC Parks Supported Through BC Parks License Plates Sales

Sales of the BC Parks licence plates continue to grow, helping to protect unique species and ecosystems, and improving visitors’ experiences in provincial parks. More than 84,000 BC Parks license plates were bought since April 2023, a 7% increase since last year.

The licence-plate sales generated approximately $11 million in net revenue, supporting more than 250 projects and programs in parks throughout B.C. This includes a wide range of initiatives, such as the Student Ranger Program, wildlife inventories, partnerships with First Nations on educational programs and signs, wildfire-fuel mitigation, invasive-species management, ecosystem restoration, and educational programs for children and families.

Update on the Short-Term Rental Registration

In response to requests from STR platforms to allow for additional time to complete technical work on platforms’ validation systems, the minister of housing and municipal affairs is moving to have the timeline extended for when platforms are legally required to validate provincial registration numbers and automatically remove illegal listings as follows:

• As of June 2, 2025, if a short-term rental listing does not have a valid registration number, platforms must stop advertising the listing and prevent new bookings from that host or face a possible investigation and potential monetary penalty. This date was previously May 1.  
• As of June 23, 2025, platforms must cancel all future bookings from hosts without a valid provincial registration number or face a possible investigation and potential monetary penalty. This date was previously June 1.

During this period, the province will continue working with platforms to ensure any technical challenges or concerns are addressed. Hosts were still expected to register their listings by May 1.

To date, more than 20,000 listings have been registered. When the STR legislation was introduced in 2023, there were an estimated 28,000 individual STR listings in B.C., indicating more of these units are being converted to long-term homes that people need.

More Home-Care Supports Available for Seniors

The Province is investing $304 million over five years in United Way BC to deliver and expand community-based seniors’ services. These services will be delivered by non-profit agencies throughout the province to help seniors live more independently. Community-based seniors’ services include non-medical home supports and programming that help older adults stay physically active, socially connected and engaged, and to be as resilient and independent as possible.

The new funding will go toward building upon successful programs, such as the Better at Home program, connecting seniors to more support and expanding program staffing and co-ordination.

Support Local Youth

BC Youth Week is a provincial celebration of youth held annually during the first week of May. It is a week of fun filled interaction and a celebration intended to build a strong connection between youth and their communities. This event is intended to highlight the interests, accomplishments, and diversity of youth across the province.

Cities and organizations all across the province are busy planning for BC Youth Week 2025!  Please check the website below  to find out what is going on in Vancouver and the surrounding areas! They will be updating the website with all the details as the information becomes available.

BC Youth Week is May 1 – 7 #AreYouReady ?

Events in Vancouver-South Granville

Our Last Tree – Some Assembly Theatre

• When: May 3rd 7:30PM
• Where: Roundhouse Community Centre (181 Roundhouse Mews)
• Admission:  Free (registration required)

Some Assembly Theatre Company celebrates its 25th anniversary season with its NEW and ORIGINAL theatre production, OUR LAST TREE.

Written and directed by Valerie Methot with a creative team of diverse youth and artists, OUR LAST TREE stands in a world where youth bring us the news, alerting us to the urgency to save our planet and each other. A stunning interconnection of artistry, humanity and care, this apocalyptic theatre production symbolizes the fate of this world with one special tree whose branches entwine with lifelines of countless hands.

OUR LAST TREE brings brilliance of life where the future of the planet is the people.

Matriarch Market at Museum of Vancouver

• When: May 3rd 11AM – 4PM
• Where: Museum of Vancouver (1100 Chestnut St.)
• Admission:  Free (and visiting the Museum that day is Pay What You Can!)

Celebrate the artistry, culture and resilience of Indigenous women, femme, queer and/or Two-Spirit makers at our Matriarch Market on May 3!

Support Indigenous creatives and engage in a meaningful space by shopping, learning, or simply showing up in solidarity! Your presence matters and everyone is welcome. (Plus, the MOV will be Pay What You Can that day!)

Featuring handmade crafts, art and other goods from talented local Indigenous vendors, the Matriarch Market comes just in time for Mother’s Day gift shopping while also recognizing National MMIWG2S Awareness Day (also known as Red Dress Day) a few days later, on May 5th.

Chor Leoni - The Big Roar

• When: May 3rd 4PM
• Where: The Chan Centre for the Performing Arts (6265 Crescent Rd.)
• Admission:  $5 Community Roar Tickets

Witness a world transformed through the power of choral singing at Chor Leoni’s signature community choral festival, The Big Roar. Chor Leoni is joined by its MYVoice educational choirs, the young singers of its PRÉLUDE program, its Emerging Choral Artist Program, and the amazing Leonids in this dynamic and uplifting concert by and for the community. Come hear the bright future of choral music at the glorious Chan Centre for the Performing Arts in this one-of-a-kind singing extravaganza.

May the Fourth Be With You: Family Day

• When: May 4th 1PM – 5PM
• Where: H.R. MacMillan Space Centre (1100 Chestnut St.)
• Admission:  $29-$32 (registration required)

Join us in a galaxy not so far away as we celebrate May the Fourth Be With You at the HR MacMillan Space Centre! It’s a family-friendly filled with sci-fi fun, galactic art, and space science.

Come dressed as your favourite character from the galaxy’s Rebels or Empire and snap a photo with members of the 501st Legion Outer Rim Garrison—featuring Stormtroopers, Darth Vader, and more!

NEW this year! Vancouver’s very own Styrogirls are celebrating 10 years of Star Wars-inspired guerrilla art! Their iconic styrofoam creations will be scattered throughout the Space Centre for a special scavenger hunt—find them all to win prizes! You’ll also get a chance to meet Tarrin and Sorrel (aka the Styrogirls), hear their story about blending art with science fiction, and even make your own Star Wars characters and badges!

Top it all off with live science demos exploring how scientists are discovering real-life "Star Wars" planets and a planetarium show of your choice: Out There, Exploring Extremes, or Stars

Witches Bloom – Magical Symposium and Artisan Market

• When: May 3rd to May 4th
• Where: The Ironworks (235 Alexander St.)
• Admission: $7 for artisan market, gallery, community alter, tarot corner and refreshment bar; workshop admission prices vary and require separate registration

Join us for the first ever WITCHES BLOOM, a magical symposium of botanical art, plant medicine workshops and community artisan market!