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Charlie Smith

@charliesmithvcr.bsky.social
1.5K followers 609 following 781 posts

Vancouver journalist who writes about film, arts and culture, and many other topics. Email: csmith@since1867.ca.

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Charlie Smith @charliesmithvcr.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
It was such a difference voting today compared with the last City of Vancouver by-election. Today, no lineups and lots of election workers.
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Charlie Smith @charliesmithvcr.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
It's probably a bit early to be talking about next BC NDP leadership race. Here's something to consider if it begins on October 25. About 30 percent of British Columbians were born outside of Canada and most live in areas where the BC NDP is competitive. Who is best suited to win over these voters?
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Charlie Smith @charliesmithvcr.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
The man who ordered this hit chose Mahatma Gandhi's birthday for this despicable deed. Meanwhile, in other news... www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/news...
pm.gc.ca
Prime Minister Carney deepens partnership with Saudi Arabia across trade, education, technology, and critical minerals
To deepen this partnership, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, travelled to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – the first visit to the country by a Canadian Prime Minister in 26 years.
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Charlie Smith @charliesmithvcr.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Here's the latest from the BC election campaign: cheknews.ca/former-chief...
cheknews.ca
Former chief coroner Lisa Lapointe to run for B.C. Greens in provincial vote
The British Columbia Green Party has named former chief coroner Lisa Lapointe as the party's candidate in the riding of Saanich South on Vancouver Island.
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Charlie Angus @charlieangus104.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
The National Post attack on NDP Leader Avi Lewis crosses the line into threat. They invoke the same religious code words used by extremists who assassinated Yitzhak Rabin. It is unacceptable to use religious intimidation to shut down debate on Gaza. charlieangus.substack.com/p/national-p...
charlieangus.substack.com
NATIONAL POST CROSSES LINE ON THREAT AGAINST LEWIS
A recent editorial on NDP leader Avi Lewis crossed the line into an extremist hate threat. It needs to be called out.
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Charlie Smith @charliesmithvcr.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
. @sethdklein.bsky.social wrote about Tikkun Olam in his most recent Substack post. It underscores important work progressive Jewish people, including Laura Robinson and Annie Ohana, are doing. Seth, Laura, and Annie all challenge us to move out of our comfort zone and try to repair the world.
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Charlie Smith @charliesmithvcr.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
If any social scientists are doing a study on mental health following a nearly two-year breakup from Twitter, I can report that I have never felt better.
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Charlie Smith @charliesmithvcr.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
I never signed up as a BC Conservative member but I still ended up on its email list. This was today's message: Our records show your Conservative Party of BC lawn sign request is still PENDING. The latest polls show us ahead, but David Eby and the NDP are pushing back hard. 1/2
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Charlie Smith @charliesmithvcr.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Trump describes Xi, a ruthless dictator, and his wife as spectacular people. Bill Gates says AI is powerful enough to cause a billion deaths. And it's possible that David Eby may lose a majority government and his political career due to hubris. What a week.
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Charlie Smith @charliesmithvcr.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
FYI: Richard Zussman has returned to X now that he is a BC NDP candidate in Saanich South @bushfield.ca
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Charlie Smith @charliesmithvcr.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
I'm getting tired of the jokes about Mitch McConnell's health, notwithstanding his disgusting legislative record and his long history of packing the courts with Federalist Society extremists. If he's sick or dying, show his family some respect and find someone else to lampoon, like Vance or Miller.
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Amir Attaran @amirattaran.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
How about the rest of the world put a travel ban on American Supreme Court judges? Turnabout is fair play. www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
reuters.com
Explainer: How US sanctions would undermine global war crimes court
US President Donald Trump's administration is preparing sanctions against the International Criminal Court as part of a campaign to dismantle the institution created to prosecute people accused of the...
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Charlie Smith @charliesmithvcr.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
I used to worry that the fossil fuel companies and their enablers would eventually cause the loss of hundreds of millions of lives on Earth. Now, it appears as though the tech bros might beat them to it.
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Charlie Smith @charliesmithvcr.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Trump will exit from the scene soon enough, but Blanche, Vance, Rubio, Bessent, and so many others will bear the ignominy of their service to him for decades. They'll never live this down. Meanwhile, hardcore extremists like Miller or Vought, will continue along in their own twisted mental bubbles.
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Charlie Smith @charliesmithvcr.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Someone in my building leaves great books in the laundry room for others to enjoy. Right now, I'm enjoying The Scheme by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. @whitehouse.senate.gov
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Crawford Kilian @crof.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
www.theguardian.com/books/2026/s...
theguardian.com
Naomi Klein: ‘Extreme wealth has a deranging effect. It turns you into a supremacist’
She’s tackled neoliberalism and the digital world, now the writer and activist is taking on tech billionaires. She explains how the super-rich are capitalising on climate and financial chaos in pursui...
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Earle Boxer @earleboxer.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
What a stark and appropriate reminder of what our relationship with Canada means ... @charlieangus104.bsky.social highlights the humanitu and altruism of the people of Gander in Newfoundland on 9-11. #GanderHeros #CanadaRocks #ElbowsUp charlieangus.substack.com/p/thoughts-o...
charlieangus.substack.com
THOUGHTS ON THE GANDER COMMEMORATION
On this 25th anniversary of 9/11, I choose to celebrate the Gander spirit in every Canadian.
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Vancouver Writers Fest @writersfest.bc.ca · 09/09/2026
We are excited to introduce this next line of guest authors at #VWF2026 from October 18-25! Visit writersfest.bc.ca to browse the full list now. Tickets on sale Thursday, September 17! 🎟️
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Charlie Smith @charliesmithvcr.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Interesting that VPD did not seek external investigation of Kal Dosanjh. RCMP may have done it with a member based on its policy: www.canada.ca/en/news/arch... VPD regulations & procedures manual is silent on when to seek external investigations vpd.ca/wp-content/u... @nikisharma.bsky.social
canada.ca
RCMP Announces New Policy on External Investigations - Canada.ca
The RCMP today announced new policy to ensure independent and impartial investigations of RCMP employees.
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Class War Cody @etherealcody.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
@charliesmithvcr.bsky.social @solomonxyk.bsky.social Hey Charlie - our platform is unreleased but COPE council candidate Solomon proposed “COPE will rename Dunsmuir Street to Ginger Goodwin Street” and the membership passed it at our 2026 policy conference.
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Charlie Smith @charliesmithvcr.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
15 years after I wrote this column, Dunsmuir's name remains on a major downtown Vancouver street. I wonder if anyone running in this election will consider renaming it. @fabulavancouver.bsky.social @seanorr.bsky.social @ptfry.bsky.social www.straight.com/news/lets-ch...
straight.com
Let's change the name of Dunsmuir Street to Milton Wong Boulevard
If Martin Luther King can get streets named after him, why shouldn't we extend the same courtesy to Milton Wong?
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Charlie Smith @charliesmithvcr.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Pete Hegseth shows his low regard for US tourism industry by mocking a Canadian teenage cadet and her instructor just after Scott Bessent demonstrated his disregard for US tourism industry by mocking the Canadian military. #tourismboycott @governor.ca.gov @govpritzker.illinois.gov @mayor.nyc.gov
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Stars and Stripes @starsandstripes.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
A civilian geography professor was fired from West Point for pushing back after department officials barred faculty from teaching that humans contribute to climate change.
stripes.com
West Point professor fired after pushing back on limitations to teaching climate change, lawsuit says
Adam Kalkstein pushed back after department officials barred faculty from teaching that humans contribute to climate change, the lawsuit says.
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Charlie Smith @charliesmithvcr.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Jays fans are learning with Guerrero what it's been like for Canucks fans over the past couple of years with Elias Pettersson. Each signed the biggest contract in their respective franchise's history, only to see their offensive production decline in the two following years. Will Celebrini be next?
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Charlie Smith @charliesmithvcr.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
This is fun—check out the Official Music Video for "Trade War" from the Canadian Resistance Army. @velshi.com youtu.be/6SUAdxU9CDE?...
youtu.be
Canadian Resistance Army - Trade War (Official Music Video)
YouTube video by demonflyingfox
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Charlie Smith @charliesmithvcr.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
I ran as an independent in Richmond-Bridgeport in 2024 because I was disgusted by Teresa Wat crossing the floor to join BC Conservatives. The party was built, in part, by opponents of mRNA vaccines (see below). Thankfully, she came to her senses. charliesmithvancouver.substack.com/p/random-tho...
charliesmithvancouver.substack.com
Random thoughts on John Rustad, Nuremberg 2.0, and Teresa Wat’s decision to join the B.C. Conservatives
Richmond-Bridgeport independent candidate Charlie Smith wonders how Rustad could have misunderstood "Nuremberg 2.0", given all the publicity in recent years
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Charlie Smith @charliesmithvcr.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Firing of Karen Attiah warranted far more media coverage than it received. We saw a sexist and racist double standard in the response to the suspension of Kimmel vs. Bezos's firing of Attiah. Maybe MLK was right when he declared: "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice."
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Charlie Smith @charliesmithvcr.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
Elbows up! @charlieangus104.bsky.social www.wsj.com/business/ret...
wsj.com
Heirs to the Jack Daniel’s Fortune Are Fending Off a Takeover—and a Rogue Cousin
A scathing letter from two members of family that controls Brown-Forman accuses the board of “rewarding failure.” A crosstown rival is lurking.
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Gerald Butts @gmbutts.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
My read as someone who has dealt with Trumpland? They were headed to a deal. Someone (probably Lutnick) poison pilled for commercial reasons. Trump may not have been aware of the consequences. Possible he TACOs before market open. There will be moments like this as long as Trump is president.
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Charlie Smith @charliesmithvcr.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
@lawrenceodonnell.bsky.social You might want to shine a spotlight on Howard Lutnick on Monday. Once again, he torpedoes any chance of Canadian tourists returning to your country in any great numbers. www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
cbc.ca
One of Trump's top deputies has been unsatisfied with the deal on the table for Canada, sources say | CBC News
One of U.S. President Donald Trump's most influential cabinet members has expressed dissatisfaction with the state of the trade deal on the table with Canada and is pushing for changes to be made as t...
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Charlie Smith @charliesmithvcr.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
For our friends in the USA, check out Mark Carney's masterclass today in speaking to Canadians about trade: @lawrenceodonnell.bsky.social @maddow.bsky.social @pkrugman.bsky.social @velshi.com @camanpour.bsky.social @peterbakernyt.bsky.social www.youtube.com/live/Dx9Exdj...
youtube.com
LIVE: Canada’s response to U.S. tariffs • EN DIRECT : Notre réponse aux droits de douane américains
YouTube video by Mark Carney
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Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 19/08/2026
"Disney asked Judge Loren AliKhan, a Biden appointee, to issue a declaratory ruling that Carr and the FCC are retaliating against them for exercising their First Amendment right — something the president and Carr have effectively shouted from the rooftops." — @lizdye.bsky.social
publicnotice.co
Disney runs out of patience with Brendan Carr’s bullsh*t
Mickey Mouse hits back after a year of fascist harassment.
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Charlie Smith @charliesmithvcr.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
Bill Chu, Kiyoko Judy Hanazawa, and Rita Wong have posted an online petition calling on City of New Westminster to provide equitable treatement for racialized and marginalized groups within the Douglas Cemetery. form.jotform.com/262185344331...
form.jotform.com
[NEW] Petition to protect the Cemetery—Ensure Equitable Treatment in New West’s Memorial Cemetery Park
Please click the link to complete this form.
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Seth Klein @sethdklein.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Excellent piece by @andreawoo.bsky.social on the many costs of wildfire, particular to our health: www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...
theglobeandmail.com
The metrics that reveal the human cost of a wildfire season
Calculations should include health effects and socioeconomic costs, researchers say
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Charlie Smith @charliesmithvcr.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
The latest episode of Wendy Yuan Unfiltered begins with an undisclosed story from 18 years ago regarding provincial politics. Wendy also shares what it was like being a candidate on Michael Ignatieff's Liberal team in 2011 as Jack Layton's Orange Wave swept across Canada. youtu.be/swCiHx7zOW4?...
youtu.be
Devastating Defeat & Politics 101
YouTube video by Wendy Yuan Unfiltered Podcast
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Charlie Smith @charliesmithvcr.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
michaeldsellers.substack.com/p/what-is-it...
michaeldsellers.substack.com
What Is It With Trump and Dictators? Here’s What Psychologists Say
Yesterday’s announcement offered a familiar pattern.
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Charlie Smith @charliesmithvcr.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
Odissi dance performance coming to Trout Lake this afternoon. Learn more @pancouver.bsky.social pancouver.ca/odissi-dance...
pancouver.ca
Odissi dancer Sudhesna Mohapatra will perform Songs of the Evening Sky by Trout Lake - Pancouver
Mohapatra trained at the Odissi Research Centre in Bhubaneswar, which is the capital of the Indian state of Odisha.
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Charlie Smith @charliesmithvcr.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
The Island’s Gaze: How Mata reframes a 19th-century encounter between a Siraya boy and a Scottish photographer. pancouver.ca/the-islands-...
pancouver.ca
The Island’s Gaze: How Mata reframes a 19th-century encounter between a Siraya boy and a Scottish photographer - Pancouver
Vancouver TAIWANfest will screen Mata – The Island’s Gaze for free at 4:30 p.m. on September 6 in the 700 block of Granville Street.
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Charlie Smith @charliesmithvcr.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
I wanted to get a couple of @tiffnet.bsky.social festival films reviewed on the Toronto Spark website but sadly, I missed the deadline for media accreditation. Such is life.
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Charlie Smith @charliesmithvcr.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
I'm getting prompts from Linkedin to read what Zuckerberg wrote about AI. After the Cambridge Analytica scandal and his refusal to share Canadian news, I'll offer him a deal. I'll read his "manifesto" the moment he starts allowing Canadian journalists' articles to be shared on his platforms.
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Charlie Smith @charliesmithvcr.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
For journos & politicos: Google Translate was terrible for translating Chinese. Now, a Zoom transcript with Mandarin answers translates very well into English through Google. Find a friend to translate questions and you get unfiltered responses. @fabulavancouver.bsky.social @mikeklassen.bsky.social
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John Ackermann @jackermann.bsky.social · 02/08/2026
This weekend marks the 50th anniversary of Vancouver’s Powell Street Festival, which honours and celebrates Japanese Canadian history, arts, and culture. Now, a new book, Return to Paueru Gai, chronicles that legacy and looks to the future as well. #Bookshelf open.substack.com/pub/johnacke...
open.substack.com
Return to Paueru Gai: Fifty Years of Vancouver's Powell Street Festival
A new book tells the story of one of Canada’s longest running community arts festivals
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Luke LeBrun @lukelebrun.ca · 27/07/2026
If anyone is interested in hiring this award-winning journalist, I'd be pleased to give a reference check extolling how talented and competent my former colleague and co-union steward @emmaarkell.bsky.social is to anyone interested Exhibit A:
pressprogress.ca
PressProgress Labour Reporter Emma Arkell Wins Silver Canadian Association of Journalists Award for Labour Reporting
Emma Arkell reported on anti-LGBTQ+ harassment targeting teachers and education workers for Xtra Magazine last year
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Charlie Smith @charliesmithvcr.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
Ng Weng Hoong identifies consequences of exaggerating extent of Chinese infiltration in Canada. It goes against grain of what @acoyne.bsky.social & others write, so you'll never see it in Globe and Mail. @warknsi.bsky.social @breachmedia.ca @taleeb.bsky.social wengcouver.substack.com/p/hong-kong-...
wengcouver.substack.com
Hong Kong Activism In The Age Of Trumpism
The anti-CCP movement risks boosting illiberalism in dismissing the threat of Sinophobia
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Charlie Smith @charliesmithvcr.bsky.social · 26/07/2026
Front page of the BC weekend edition of the Globe and Mail:
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Charlie Smith @charliesmithvcr.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
@schiff.senate.gov @governor.ca.gov We'll buy California wine in B.C. only after Donald Trump stops unfairly punishing our steel, aluminum, lumber, automobile, hockey stick, baking mix, molasses, honey, cement, and vinyl floor tile producers. There are too many others to mention in one Bluesky post.
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Charlie Smith @charliesmithvcr.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
In this episode of Wendy Yuan Unfiltered, Wendy reflects on her 2008 federal election campaign as the Liberal candidate for Vancouver Kingsway, sharing what it was like to run in one of Canada's most culturally diverse and closely watched ridings. youtu.be/vOFhyw36EKQ?...
youtu.be
On the Campaign Trail
YouTube video by Wendy Yuan Unfiltered Podcast
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Chanda Prescod-Weinstein 🌌 @chanda.blacksky.app · 17/07/2026
Ummmmm www.theguardian.com/film/2026/ju...
theguardian.com
Christopher Nolan’s Odyssey used occupied land as a film set. That feels like a betrayal | Mohamed Sleiman Labat
The decision to shoot in Moroccan-occupied Western Sahara, where the Indigenous people can’t tell their stories without fear of imprisonment, helps erase our own brutal journey
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Charlie Smith @charliesmithvcr.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
I have no idea why @cnn.com would put Congressman Mike Lawler on The Situation Room air to spout utter drivel about the International Criminal Court. His ignorance was breathtaking. @stephruhle.bsky.social @lawrenceodonnell.bsky.social @velshi.com
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Charlie Smith @charliesmithvcr.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Is any reporter, talk show host, business group moderator, or parliamentary committee member going to ask Amb. Pete Hoekstra who won the 2020 presidential election in a public forum with the camera on?
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