Compiled by Sara Harowitz, Mike Usinger, Stephen Smysnuik, and V. S. Wells

Let’s be real: we already know it’s going to be a bit of a dumpster fire of a year. Things are hard, and expensive, and sad, and horrific—both abroad and right here at home.

But there is also lightness, and beauty, and even hope—and that’s what we’re choosing to kick off 2024 with.

So we asked some notable people around town (as well as ourselves) to answer a simple question: What’s on the right track? Here’s what everyone had to say.

“People like me want to be actors in Vancouver. It can be hard to memorize lines but Vancouver has great acting people and beautiful filming locations. Plus, Ryan Reynolds was born here and people—me included—love him a lot.”

-Aaron Waddingham, Leo award-winning actor, disability advocate, and member of the Canucks Hype Team

“A ‘don’t go changing this, Vancouver…’ thing that I can think of—which may land me in hot waters—is the tacit acceptance of smaller DIY venues by various authorities who are supposed to be policing compliance to city bylaws. These DIY venues function an important piece in the live music ecosystem and the growth and evolution of a musician. Unless a DIY venue is run irresponsibly (e.g. allowing underage liquor consumption, etc.), I say, let the kids play.”

-Mo Tarmohamed, owner of the Rickshaw Theatre

“Times are hard right now for small businesses. Keep small businesses alive in Vancouver and keep shopping local!”

-Hollie Fraser, owner of Punk Rock Pastries in Burnaby

“Against the odds, Vancouver has kept live music alive and thriving. Thanks to the folks at venues like Fox Cabaret, Rickshaw Theatre, Hollywood Theatre, and more.“

-Jason Corbett, singer-guitarist in Actors and head honcho at Jacknife Sound

“How do you pick what’s ‘on the right track’ in the middle of the apocalypse? One thing I hope Vancouver never loses is our incredible creative class, which deserves way more flowers than our city gives them. From film directors Tyler Funk (Anything for Fame) and Kathleen Jayme (I’m Just Here for the Riot; The Grizzlie Truth), to public muralist Ola Volo, to musician David Vertesi, to content creator Derek Gerard (That Library Show), to textile artist Debra Sparrow, to YouTuber J.J. McCullough, to author Danny Ramadan, to Daddy Seabus of Seabus Memes, to Sonic Radio’s Angela Valiant, to the wide array of talented comics (Ivan Decker, Sophie Buddle, Dino Archie, Jacob Samuel, Andrea Jin, Darcy & Jer)... Vancouver really boasts too many incredible, inspiring creatives to name all at once. Check them out. Support them. Find others like them.”

-Mo Amir, host of This is VANCOLOUR

“If there’s one thing I’ve learned heading into 2024, it’s that being open to asking for help is something I want to keep on doing. We may be in the shits right now (and a lot of shit is probably going to go down, especially for local businesses in the months ahead), but I know that we’re hella good at rallying around each other to help where we can.”

-Ria Renouf, writer and host of The Sarap Sessions

“I guess I thought that because I am a rabbit according to Chinese astrology (born in 1975), and 2023 was the year of the rabbit, free fame and fortune was about to come my way. I could not have been more wrong. Yes, it was a fantastic year, but I had to work my butt off to make it all happen. Between a full-time job teaching at Emily Carr University, preparing eight new works for my first major exhibition in NYC (at Gallery C24), and a new gig starring on a reality TV show, the year of the rabbit had this rabbit run off my feet. So in 2024, I plan to sit on my ass, play more TTRPGs [tabletop roleplaying games], and binge-watch TV. I also plan to keep smoking one damn cigarette a day.”

-Brendan Tang, ceramicist and judge of The Great Canadian Pottery Throw Down

“A rich protest culture is a sign that there are a lot of things worth protesting about—but also that there are a lot of people paying attention. We’ve seen huge turnouts for all kinds of demonstrations, from the return of mass climate rallies, to anti-war marches, to teaching assistants on the picket lines demanding fair compensation. While organizing can also be used by bigots, on the whole, it’s heartening to see so many people coming together to care hard when it’s so easy to not care at all.”

-V. S. Wells, Straight associate editor

“Vancouver has chewed up and spit out so many creative folks—and understandably, given the cost of living here. But I’m starting to see new communities formed by people who are determined to stay, to make it work, to improve life here for themselves and the rest of us. Low-barrier music-makers, accessible art festivals for under-represented voices, ghost-kitchen collabs between indie culinary minds, underground spots you hear about only through word of mouth or by-chance Instagram rabbit holes—this city’s next-gen creative class is grinding hard, and it does not go unnoticed.”

-Sara Harowitz, Straight editor-in-chief

“I love how cozy my home feels, full of people. I love rainy days in Vancouver because I miss those most when I haven’t smelled that cool, forest-scented air in a long time. I love that with each year that passes, I can see how far I’ve come, how much more comfortable I am in my skin, and it makes me proud of the person I’ve uncovered.”

-Jackie Kai Ellis, author of The Measure of My Powers and the forthcoming To You, Who Wonders

“Vancouver audiences are so curious and receptive—I feel inspired by this more than ever. It reinforces my conviction that art is a meaningful experience that continues to amaze and transform. Audiences are responding well, and they give us a sense of meaning and purpose.”

-Mirna Zagar, executive director of The Dance Centre

“There is lots this city needs to work on, but for us, we love the community we’re in. They give us so much support, like at our most recent five-year birthday. People came out to congratulate and celebrate with us over food and tasty beverages. It’s incredible to see this neighbourhood show up over these last few (weird) years and to feel like some of this hard work is paying off. It’s also positive to see new restaurants popping up around the city.”

-Miki Ellis, co-owner of Dachi

“We are very grateful that for the first time, all levels of government are aligned in their support for revitalizing Chinatown. What is working is fusing the collective vision between nonprofits, community groups, and businesses with government to make meaningful strides in addressing the challenges that our community faces. We’ve seen that first-hand with our community housing project, 58 West Hastings, which is redefining how we approach affordable housing to serve the needs of the wider community. Together, we are creating positive change and restoring the vibrancy of our wonderful city.”

-Carol Lee, chair of the ​​Vancouver Chinatown Foundation

“I think this year is going to be a great year for the film industry. It’s lining up as a good year for us as a company, and that’s typically indicative of what it’s going to be like in the city. We’re one small company in a huge film centre, so if we’re doing well, the city is doing much better. We now have some labour stability, and all that does is make Vancouver a more viable option for all kinds of people looking to shoot. We have ongoing, stable labour agreements. We have a great labour pool here. Now that the primary issues have been dealt with in the United States—with the directors, the writers, and the actors—this gives us tons of opportunity here now. I don’t think we’re ever going to have the ‘gold rush’ years that we’ve had in the past few years here. I think that the one thing that the strikes have shown us is that the studios are really looking at carefully considering the shows they green light. And we may see an overall decrease, not just in Vancouver but internationally. But we’re still set up as a major film centre to shoot.”

-Shawn Williamson, founder and chairman of Brightlight Pictures

“Considering what the rest of the world is experiencing, everything seems pretty good here.”

-John Wayne MacEachern, Straight reader

“The local music and open mic scene are thriving!”

-Erica Gibbons, Straight reader

“The Arbutus Greenway. I use it to commute and also to peacefully ride or walk to Kerrisdale from Fairview or Kits. This year we were lucky enough to get one of the garden plots near West 4th and have met new people we never would have otherwise. It lowers my stress and I see happy families out there strolling and able to hear themselves away from the noisy traffic. I’m so encouraged by the fact that there is more greatness to come with a connection to the Granville Bridge deck and apparently new amenities on the Greenway for further public use. If you have not taken a bike from Pine to Southwest Marine drive or at least walked from Quichena park to Kerrisdale, go do it!”

-Steve VanderWoerd, Straight reader