Welcome back to the Vancouver Group Chat, our weekly check-in where we go over some of the city’s biggest updates.
It’s officially the last week of summer, and there’s plenty to do both indoors and outdoors to savour the tail end of the season. We’ve got you covered on that front, as well as a couple of bigger news bits that you’ll want to send to your friends, stat — especially if you’re planning to visit a couple of B.C.’s stunning provincial parks this fall!
What’s new, Vancouver?
BC Parks updates its day pass registration system
On Tuesday, Sept. 15, BC Parks took to Instagram to announce that they’ve updated their day-use pass registration system.
“We’ve heard your concerns,” they start. “Everyone deserves the same opportunity to secure a day-use pass, no matter how fast you are with a computer.”
To improve fair distribution of the passes, the new system will require everyone to create a verified account before booking.
“This updated system helps ensure passes are reserved by real people and distributed more fairly during periods of high demand. Accounts also make it easier for people to view, manage, and cancel their reservations.”
While it seems like a step in the right direction, some commenters are concerned that this is not enough to deter people from making reservations in bulk.
Someone asked: “Will this prevent people from selling them for profit later on (as has been happening already)?”
We sure hope so.
BC Parks’ updated booking system will launch on Sept. 22. People are encouraged to use their BC Services Card account to create their new BC Parks account, but you can also just sign up using your email and create a password.
Stay tuned for more updates on this new system to come.
A letter to window smashers
In other news, someone shared this makeshift sign addressing car window smashers, and Redditors are having an absolute field day.
As valiant as the original author’s efforts might have been, commenters are skeptical that anyone attempting this type of crime would stop to read a sign on a post, much less change their minds. Many are sharing their own experiences with having their vehicles broken into:
“Back in the early 1990s, my car was broken into so much, I just started leaving the doors unlocked to avoid all the damage to the car,” says one person in the comments. “Had to stop when someone started sleeping in it.”
“Had my car window smashed last week. They stole a bag that had my pickleball paddles and disc golf discs in it. They took it into the alley, opened it and left it there. $350 for a new window. Could’ve at least tried to sell my shit, you know? I’m almost offended,” shares another.
“It would be more effective to just put a sign in your OWN car windows that says NOTHING VALUABLE TO STEAL IN HERE. I’ve actually seen signs like these in cars,” another person adds.
Summer 2026 captured on film
Let’s switch gears. There’s something truly magical about memories captured on film versus digital. Maybe it’s because it’s a process to develop them, or maybe it’s because of our collective yearning for the past. You don’t have to be a pro photographer to appreciate these beauties, which capture Vancouver in mid to late August 2026.
The Reddit post has blown up, with over 1.6 thousand upvotes in just 19 hours.
A new weekly print club
If you’re looking for something cool and free to check out this fall that gets you in the artist seat, so to speak, there’s a new weekly print club coming to the Beaumont in Mount Pleasant that you’ll want to keep your eye out for!
Starting this Thursday, Sept. 17, Little Sun Studios will bring drop-in-friendly printing workshops to the Beaumont Boutique, allowing attendees to print their own clothes (or choose something from the boutique to print on) from 3 to 7 p.m. every Thursday.
Consider this your sign to try live printing at this low-pressure, fun, accessible workshop. Gather your denim and totes!
Your sign to do something random
Recent posts:
Metro Vancouver’s $2 outdoor pool sits on the forest edge and it’s open through September
B.C.’s ‘missing island’ spotted after drifting 30 km, but the mystery deepens
