As 2024 winds down, we’re looking back at some of the most captivating news stories we covered in Vancouver this year.
From a post-apocalyptic film set cropping up on a city street to atmospheric river flooding leading locals to commute by kayak, this year has been full of surprises.
We've rounded up the top 10 stories, highlighting everything from a major grocery store opening in downtown Vancouver to a solar eclipse that didn’t quite live up to expectations (plus a couple of famous faces).
Here’s a look at the stories that kept us talking throughout the year, starting with number 10 and working our way down to the (overwhelmingly read) number one.
10. Photos: Downtown Vancouver’s massive grocery store ready to open for business
Sure, we talked about grocery prices this year, but our sneak peek inside the new Loblaws City Market in downtown Vancouver's The Post building seemed to have folks captivated.
The shiny new store opened on February 2, 2024, at 658 Homer St. The 40,000-square-foot City Market is home to a wide variety of fresh, prepared foods, with nearly half of its 170 employees working in food preparation.
We shared details of the franchised store's house-made items like tortilla chips, rotisserie turkeys, kebabs, and sausages, as well as a seating area for ready-to-eat meals.
Despite public criticism over pricing, co-owner Dave Sherwood emphasized offering value through deals like $5 smoked salmon dip and $10 pasta bowls.
9. New direct flights from Vancouver: 2 top destinations for $350 round-trip
We love Vancouver, but, let's be honest, we also love getting away.
This year we covered a broad range of travel stories, from changes in how things work for passengers (and their rides) at YVR to tales of our own adventures exploring the globe, from Montreal to Havana and New York City to Mazatlan.
Always on the lookout to share details about flight or cruise deals, dreamy B.C. destinations, tropical getaways, or good old logistics (like getting all your travel documents in order), our travel stories are among the most popular.
But none sparked interest quite as much as when we shared details about WestJet's two new roundtrip routes linking Vancouver with Tampa and Boston.
8. Downtown Vancouver restaurant quietly closes just weeks after opening
Seraphina, a modern European restaurant that officially opened in August 2024 at 905 Dunsmuir St, appears to have closed in the fall, possibly in early October.
Diners reported making reservations in October, only to find the restaurant unexpectedly closed.
The space, which houses the Vesper Lounge on the upper level, currently displays signage for Vesper, but a sign for what could be the new concept for the ex-Seraphina space, "Dolce Vita," has appeared by the front door.
Chef Rory Byrne, who helped launch Seraphina, left in October, citing internal disagreements over the direction of the business.
The Vesper Lounge continues to operate, with the OpenTable reservation system now exclusively listing the lounge's offerings.
7. 'The Last of Us' transforms Vancouver street into wasteland
In May 2024, Vancouver's Alexander Street was transformed into an apocalyptic wasteland for the filming of the second season of The Last of Us, under the code name Mega Sword.
The set featured overgrown vegetation, dusty vehicles, and debris to create a post-apocalyptic atmosphere.
The HBO series, based on the popular video game, is considered the largest production ever filmed in Canada, with filming spanning from February to August 2024 in Vancouver, Port Moody, and Nanaimo.
6. Metro Vancouver buses will run again starting Wednesday. But will the union expand the strike?
A Metro Vancouver transit strike disrupted bus and SeaBus services starting on January 22, 2024, as CUPE 4500, representing over 180 transit supervisors, walked off the job.
The job action forced thousands to scramble for alternative transportation, with many turning to expensive ride-hailing services. However, services returned to near-normal on January 24, with buses and SeaBus resuming regular schedules.
Despite this temporary resolution, the union warned of expanding the strike to include the SkyTrain on January 29, which would lead to a region-wide transportation shutdown.
On February 1, the union representing transit supervisors accepted the recommendations of special mediator Vince Ready, allowing all transit services, including buses, SeaBus, SkyTrain, and the Canada Line, to resume operations the following day. The agreement came after weeks of bargaining and prevented further disruptions, including the expansion of picket lines to the SkyTrain.
5. Vancouver restaurant closed temporarily after allowing guests to dance
Tocador, a Latin-themed bar and restaurant on Vancouver's Main Street, closed its doors from February 25 to 27 after a liquor license suspension stemming from its New Year's Eve celebration on December 31, 2023.
The penalty followed provincial liquor inspectors observing patrons dancing—a violation under the restaurant’s license—and the venue being over capacity.
Tocador expressed frustration over what they described as "archaic laws" and the lack of empathy toward small businesses in their Instagram post.
While the suspension drew criticism, the City of Vancouver clarified that liquor regulation enforcement is a provincial matter.
4. Prince Harry and Meghan dine at a legendary Vancouver restaurant during visit
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle brought a touch of royalty to Vancouver in mid-February 15, dining at the iconic Vij’s restaurant alongside Canadian music legend Michael Bublé and his wife, Luisana Lopilato.
The group enjoyed Vij’s signature lamb popsicles, among other dishes from the 30-year-old Vancouver restaurant's menu. They also took time to pose for snaps with Vij's chef/owner Vikram Vij.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were in town to meet with Invictus Games athletes at a curling rink, following a training camp in Whistler.
3. So you say there's going to be a solar eclipse...
Metro Vancouver's view of the much-anticipated solar eclipse was a bit of a washout, with heavy rain and clouds obscuring the sky on April 8, 2024.
While 17 per cent of the sun was set to be covered during the partial eclipse, local sky-watchers had to rely on livestreams like NASA’s to catch the event. Social media lit up with jokes about the hype clashing with Vancouver’s predictable weather.
@vancouverisawesome We went out to see the solar eclipse in Vancouver… #vancouver #vancouverisawesome #eclipse #solareclipse #solareclipse2024 #vancouverbc ♬ Total Eclipse of the Heart - Bonnie Tyler
In contrast, those in the path of totality—from Texas to Maine—enjoyed a breathtaking display.
Vancouverites will have another chance for a closer eclipse in 2044, when totality will grace Western Canada.
2. Flooding in Metro Vancouver: Videos show huge floods, street kayaking
On October 19, 2024, an atmospheric river drenched Metro Vancouver with over 150 mm of rain, causing widespread flooding, road closures, and power outages.
While creeks overflowed in West Vancouver and Still Creek flooded streets in Burnaby, some locals found a silver lining—breaking out their kayaks to paddle through submerged neighbourhoods.
Authorities urged caution as the rain continued into the next day, with up to 60 mm more expected in some areas, but that didn’t stop Vancouverites from sharing dramatic (and occasionally amusing) scenes of the storm's impact.
1. Legendary rocker Daryl Hall leaves Vancouver stage mid-performance
On August 21, 2024, Hall of Fame rocker Daryl Hall cut his Vancouver performance short after only three songs during his PNE Summer Night Concerts at the Pacific Coliseum.
Hall, 77, apologized on stage, citing illness as the reason he could not continue. The PNE announced full refunds for ticket holders and shared Hall's message of regret and hope to return to Vancouver soon.
