Peter Waldkirch
@pwaldkirch.bsky.social
Likes: Star Trek, the accordion
Hates: the housing crisis
Abundant Housing Vancouver: ahvan.org
My website: pwaldkirch.ca
Hates: the housing crisis
Abundant Housing Vancouver: ahvan.org
My website: pwaldkirch.ca
Reposted by Peter Waldkirch
I wrote a paper during my masters about the dawn of automobile-centric outdoor leisure travel. British Columbia, with far more parks and a far smaller population, has just the same problems with overcrowding and availability.
A thread on why this goes way deeper than campsite availability. 🧵
A thread on why this goes way deeper than campsite availability. 🧵
We're so lucky to have Ontario Parks. It's a fantastic public infrastructure. But since the pandemic, it has become a victim of its own success.
Tackling these issues (plus better quality firewood pls.) more effectively is also important to keep money in Canada.
www.thestar.com/news/gta/fin...
Tackling these issues (plus better quality firewood pls.) more effectively is also important to keep money in Canada.
www.thestar.com/news/gta/fin...
She tried to book an Ontario Parks campsite at 7 a.m. and got nothing. Here is why campers say the system is 'broken'
With construction, a new campground delayed and demand rising, Ontarians are frustrated by a system they call unfair — and trying workarounds.
www.thestar.com
February 16, 2026 at 4:44 PM
I wrote a paper during my masters about the dawn of automobile-centric outdoor leisure travel. British Columbia, with far more parks and a far smaller population, has just the same problems with overcrowding and availability.
A thread on why this goes way deeper than campsite availability. 🧵
A thread on why this goes way deeper than campsite availability. 🧵
Reposted by Peter Waldkirch
ICYMI: The Problem with Public Hearings
The Problem with Public Hearings
Are public hearings a cornerstone of democracy or mostly theatre? We dive into the pros, cons, and pitfalls of this public forum, exploring how we can better involve the public in decision-making and share Canada’s first-of-it’s kind alternative to Public Hearings, the Residents Assembly model tied
www.youtube.com
February 14, 2026 at 1:56 AM
ICYMI: The Problem with Public Hearings
Reposted by Peter Waldkirch
UPDATE: after four hours of hearing from the public last night, it got past midnight, and council decided to delay their vote until the end of February.
because when you’ve been waiting 19 years to build a school, what’s another two weeks?
because when you’ve been waiting 19 years to build a school, what’s another two weeks?
Tonight, Vancouver council will have a public hearing for a school 19 years in the making
There's some community opposition to the project — but there's also the bigger question of why it takes the provincial and municipal governments 19 years to approve a single school
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
There's some community opposition to the project — but there's also the bigger question of why it takes the provincial and municipal governments 19 years to approve a single school
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
February 13, 2026 at 7:41 PM
UPDATE: after four hours of hearing from the public last night, it got past midnight, and council decided to delay their vote until the end of February.
because when you’ve been waiting 19 years to build a school, what’s another two weeks?
because when you’ve been waiting 19 years to build a school, what’s another two weeks?
Reposted by Peter Waldkirch
There’s something deeply sociopathic about making citizens beg for basic services in the middle of the night
I just spoke in favour of the school...at almost 12:30 am.
Seriously: wtf are we doing as a city? How did our planning system become so dysfunctional that this is what it takes to approve a public elementary school?
This is the sort of thing that should cause some real soul-searching at city hall.
Seriously: wtf are we doing as a city? How did our planning system become so dysfunctional that this is what it takes to approve a public elementary school?
This is the sort of thing that should cause some real soul-searching at city hall.
It's currently 11:30 PM on a Thursday night and there are people in Vancouver City Hall trying to NIMBY a highschool that's like 15 years overdue
February 13, 2026 at 2:18 PM
There’s something deeply sociopathic about making citizens beg for basic services in the middle of the night
Reposted by Peter Waldkirch
it's incredible to contemplate the volume of civic funding and effort spent appeasing:
- people who find the sight of poverty more offensive than evidence-based public health policy
- drivers who think bad traffic is a human rights violation
- residents who recoil from shadows like reverse-vampires
- people who find the sight of poverty more offensive than evidence-based public health policy
- drivers who think bad traffic is a human rights violation
- residents who recoil from shadows like reverse-vampires
February 13, 2026 at 4:53 AM
it's incredible to contemplate the volume of civic funding and effort spent appeasing:
- people who find the sight of poverty more offensive than evidence-based public health policy
- drivers who think bad traffic is a human rights violation
- residents who recoil from shadows like reverse-vampires
- people who find the sight of poverty more offensive than evidence-based public health policy
- drivers who think bad traffic is a human rights violation
- residents who recoil from shadows like reverse-vampires
I just spoke in favour of the school...at almost 12:30 am.
Seriously: wtf are we doing as a city? How did our planning system become so dysfunctional that this is what it takes to approve a public elementary school?
This is the sort of thing that should cause some real soul-searching at city hall.
Seriously: wtf are we doing as a city? How did our planning system become so dysfunctional that this is what it takes to approve a public elementary school?
This is the sort of thing that should cause some real soul-searching at city hall.
It's currently 11:30 PM on a Thursday night and there are people in Vancouver City Hall trying to NIMBY a highschool that's like 15 years overdue
February 13, 2026 at 8:32 AM
I just spoke in favour of the school...at almost 12:30 am.
Seriously: wtf are we doing as a city? How did our planning system become so dysfunctional that this is what it takes to approve a public elementary school?
This is the sort of thing that should cause some real soul-searching at city hall.
Seriously: wtf are we doing as a city? How did our planning system become so dysfunctional that this is what it takes to approve a public elementary school?
This is the sort of thing that should cause some real soul-searching at city hall.
Reposted by Peter Waldkirch
Only a special type of person would nimby a school
February 13, 2026 at 7:29 AM
Only a special type of person would nimby a school
Reposted by Peter Waldkirch
From the people that brought you "Where are the schools for all these new homes?"
Coming soon to a public hearing near you
"We should build less school"
Coming soon to a public hearing near you
"We should build less school"
Tonight, Vancouver council will have a public hearing for a school 19 years in the making
There's some community opposition to the project — but there's also the bigger question of why it takes the provincial and municipal governments 19 years to approve a single school
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
There's some community opposition to the project — but there's also the bigger question of why it takes the provincial and municipal governments 19 years to approve a single school
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
February 12, 2026 at 7:32 PM
From the people that brought you "Where are the schools for all these new homes?"
Coming soon to a public hearing near you
"We should build less school"
Coming soon to a public hearing near you
"We should build less school"
Reposted by Peter Waldkirch
Tonight, Vancouver council will have a public hearing for a school 19 years in the making
There's some community opposition to the project — but there's also the bigger question of why it takes the provincial and municipal governments 19 years to approve a single school
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
There's some community opposition to the project — but there's also the bigger question of why it takes the provincial and municipal governments 19 years to approve a single school
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
February 12, 2026 at 4:59 PM
Tonight, Vancouver council will have a public hearing for a school 19 years in the making
There's some community opposition to the project — but there's also the bigger question of why it takes the provincial and municipal governments 19 years to approve a single school
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
There's some community opposition to the project — but there's also the bigger question of why it takes the provincial and municipal governments 19 years to approve a single school
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Reposted by Peter Waldkirch
William Azaroff has won the OneCity mayoral nomination.
He defeated Amanda Burrows by about 150 votes.
He defeated Amanda Burrows by about 150 votes.
February 12, 2026 at 4:35 AM
William Azaroff has won the OneCity mayoral nomination.
He defeated Amanda Burrows by about 150 votes.
He defeated Amanda Burrows by about 150 votes.
👀
I'll have some more to say about this soon 😉🤭
I'll have some more to say about this soon 😉🤭
Also, @pwaldkirch.bsky.social for council? Yes please.
February 12, 2026 at 6:44 AM
👀
I'll have some more to say about this soon 😉🤭
I'll have some more to say about this soon 😉🤭
Reposted by Peter Waldkirch
I’ve spoken with hundreds of @onecityvancouver.bsky.social members over the last few months. One sentiment comes up again and again:
Somewhere in the last ten years, people stopped believing Vancouver could actually build anything anymore. 🧵
Somewhere in the last ten years, people stopped believing Vancouver could actually build anything anymore. 🧵
February 11, 2026 at 4:22 PM
I’ve spoken with hundreds of @onecityvancouver.bsky.social members over the last few months. One sentiment comes up again and again:
Somewhere in the last ten years, people stopped believing Vancouver could actually build anything anymore. 🧵
Somewhere in the last ten years, people stopped believing Vancouver could actually build anything anymore. 🧵
Reposted by Peter Waldkirch
Our monthly happy hour is tomorrow, Thursday February 12! Starting at 5 pm at Rogue in Waterfront Station.
Whether you're a regular or a first-timer, this is a great way to meet some pro-housing friends and neighbours. Hope to see you there!
Whether you're a regular or a first-timer, this is a great way to meet some pro-housing friends and neighbours. Hope to see you there!
Abundant Housing Vancouver Happy Hour Tickets, Thu, Feb 12, 2026 at 5:00 PM | Eventbrite
Eventbrite - Abundant Housing Vancouver presents Abundant Housing Vancouver Happy Hour - Thursday, February 12, 2026 at Rogue Kitchen & Wetbar, Vancouver, BC. Find event and ticket information.
www.eventbrite.ca
February 11, 2026 at 6:14 PM
Our monthly happy hour is tomorrow, Thursday February 12! Starting at 5 pm at Rogue in Waterfront Station.
Whether you're a regular or a first-timer, this is a great way to meet some pro-housing friends and neighbours. Hope to see you there!
Whether you're a regular or a first-timer, this is a great way to meet some pro-housing friends and neighbours. Hope to see you there!
Reposted by Peter Waldkirch
Seven people in the high school, not including the shooter, are now confirmed dead.
Two additional people have been found dead at a location believed to be connected to the shooting.
Just unspeakably awful.
Two additional people have been found dead at a location believed to be connected to the shooting.
Just unspeakably awful.
Terrible situation out of Tumbler Ridge, a town of 2500 people in northeastern B.C., where an active shooter at a high school is now dead.
We'll be updating this page with information as we confirm it.
We'll be updating this page with information as we confirm it.
1 shooter dead after alert at secondary school in Tumbler Ridge, B.C.: RCMP | CBC
www.cbc.ca
February 11, 2026 at 2:10 AM
Seven people in the high school, not including the shooter, are now confirmed dead.
Two additional people have been found dead at a location believed to be connected to the shooting.
Just unspeakably awful.
Two additional people have been found dead at a location believed to be connected to the shooting.
Just unspeakably awful.
Reposted by Peter Waldkirch
It's such a sad comment on the state of our city that NIMBYs are organizing to fight against an ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
So please take 2 minutes to write in *by Thursday, Feb 12* and say YES to the Olympic Village school!
I have easy step by step instructions on my blog:
pwaldkirch.ca/2026/02/10/o...
So please take 2 minutes to write in *by Thursday, Feb 12* and say YES to the Olympic Village school!
I have easy step by step instructions on my blog:
pwaldkirch.ca/2026/02/10/o...
Fight NIMBYs and support an elementary school! - Peter Waldkirch Webzone
The Olympic Village elementary school is up for a public hearing on February 12. NIMBYs hate it, so here's an easy guide to support it!
pwaldkirch.ca
February 10, 2026 at 2:02 AM
It's such a sad comment on the state of our city that NIMBYs are organizing to fight against an ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
So please take 2 minutes to write in *by Thursday, Feb 12* and say YES to the Olympic Village school!
I have easy step by step instructions on my blog:
pwaldkirch.ca/2026/02/10/o...
So please take 2 minutes to write in *by Thursday, Feb 12* and say YES to the Olympic Village school!
I have easy step by step instructions on my blog:
pwaldkirch.ca/2026/02/10/o...
Reposted by Peter Waldkirch
So it’s broadly recognized that Vancouver needs more hotel rooms, that high room rates driven by high occupancy are a drag on the local economy, that the city needs to facilitate the construction of more hotels. All of this is true
I want speak to the human importance of hotels
I want speak to the human importance of hotels
February 4, 2026 at 1:36 AM
So it’s broadly recognized that Vancouver needs more hotel rooms, that high room rates driven by high occupancy are a drag on the local economy, that the city needs to facilitate the construction of more hotels. All of this is true
I want speak to the human importance of hotels
I want speak to the human importance of hotels
Reposted by Peter Waldkirch
Parents can’t wait.
It’s time for Childcare By Right.
It’s time for Childcare By Right.
I did some digging through my development permit data for Vancouver, and... nearly 9 months to get a decision on whether to allow a daycare, cool cool cool cool cool gist.github.com/rgwood/38570...
February 6, 2026 at 6:51 PM
Parents can’t wait.
It’s time for Childcare By Right.
It’s time for Childcare By Right.
Reposted by Peter Waldkirch
Reposted by Peter Waldkirch
“We are disappointed. This motion was simple, it aimed to ensure that everyone, not just frequent transit riders but also snow-day transit users (like drivers who want to keep their car parked during a storm) have reliable transit access during harsh winters“ - Aman Chandi movementyvr.ca/vanco...
February 5, 2026 at 12:11 AM
“We are disappointed. This motion was simple, it aimed to ensure that everyone, not just frequent transit riders but also snow-day transit users (like drivers who want to keep their car parked during a storm) have reliable transit access during harsh winters“ - Aman Chandi movementyvr.ca/vanco...
Reposted by Peter Waldkirch
In 1977 the local misanthropes opposed the hospital because "There’s talk of hotels being built there for out-of-town patients’ relatives and that means beer parlors and lounges and office buildings and the next thing you know they’ll want a hamburger stand..." but then we never allowed the hotels!
February 4, 2026 at 2:47 AM
In 1977 the local misanthropes opposed the hospital because "There’s talk of hotels being built there for out-of-town patients’ relatives and that means beer parlors and lounges and office buildings and the next thing you know they’ll want a hamburger stand..." but then we never allowed the hotels!
Reposted by Peter Waldkirch
This is unironically what I want to spend a year trying to change when I retire. It is egregious that Vancouver forbids hotels near a specialty hospital for the entire province and I think some sympathetic news coverage could fix that
In a big city where people live in apartments it’s not a frivolity that people can come visit and have a place to stay. As my friend @grids.reillywood.com has previously pointed out, an exceptionally egregious example is B.C. Women’s and Children’s Hospital
February 4, 2026 at 2:32 AM
This is unironically what I want to spend a year trying to change when I retire. It is egregious that Vancouver forbids hotels near a specialty hospital for the entire province and I think some sympathetic news coverage could fix that
Reposted by Peter Waldkirch
I think this op-ed mostly misses some big points: Vancouver is a medium-sized city where lots of companies want to be but it's difficult to grow, both because there's no housing for employees & it takes a long time to get office/industrial space built.
www.theglobeandmail....
1/2
www.theglobeandmail....
1/2
Opinion: What Vancouver can teach us about why Canada has too few big companies
A nuanced navigation of local-autonomy implications would seem to be a central Canadian policy challenge across key sectors
www.theglobeandmail.com
February 4, 2026 at 8:01 PM
I think this op-ed mostly misses some big points: Vancouver is a medium-sized city where lots of companies want to be but it's difficult to grow, both because there's no housing for employees & it takes a long time to get office/industrial space built.
www.theglobeandmail....
1/2
www.theglobeandmail....
1/2
Reposted by Peter Waldkirch
"the biggest problem is likely increasingly strict land use regulation in the West. Peng estimates that this has gobbled up almost all meagre technological gains, and accounts for about 40 per cent of the productivity dearth."
You can see the computer age everywhere but in the construction industry
Making less with more
www.ft.com
February 3, 2026 at 7:46 PM
"the biggest problem is likely increasingly strict land use regulation in the West. Peng estimates that this has gobbled up almost all meagre technological gains, and accounts for about 40 per cent of the productivity dearth."