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Aaron Chapman

@theaaronchapman.bsky.social

Vancouver BC Historian, Author, Musician, & even Voice Actor lately! 2 time BC Book Prize Winner. Elected to Royal Historical Society in 2020. Co-host of the Chat Room on Sportsnet 650am. Canadian/UK citizen . Ask around, my story checks out.

412 Posts1464 Follower558 Folgt
Anvil Press@anvilpress.bsky.social · last mo.

"There’s a lot to the story, not just for locals but also anyone interested in the Canadian music scene, the music industry in the '80s, or the creative process in general" vancouversun.com/entertainmen...

The man, the mystery, the slug: Real Enough revisits the life and legacy of Doug and the Slugs

How did a graphic designer from Toronto who couldn’t really play music convince 5 seasoned Vancouver musicians to build a band around him?

vancouversun.com

OneCity Vancouver@onecityvan.bsky.social · last wk.

To the people who still envision a walkable, vibrant Vancouver, it's still possible. ABC killed the plan today, but OneCity is committed to bringing more diverse, thriving neighbourhoods to every community. Be a part of it - donate or volunteer at the link in bio.

Brent Toderian@brenttoderian.bsky.social · last wk.

This Granville Street pedestrian zone won’t be an automatic success (“build it & they will come”) nor an automatic failure (“it can’t succeed because [fill in the blank]”). Its success requires real commitment and support from ALL of us. The COLLECTIVE “WE.” Do we WANT it to succeed, or not? 2/

People enjoying the Granville Street pedestrian zone in downtown Vancouver, after the World Cup ended and the zone was extended until the end of the summer.
Brent Toderian@brenttoderian.bsky.social · last wk.

Was Vancouver City Council’s decision to extend the Granville Street Pedestrian Zone beyond the World Cup a “mistake?” Despite its popularity with businesses, residents, etc, some in the media, and a city councillor, have suggested that. Here’s how I responded to a media post on the other site.

Post says: I’m on the public record supporting the pedestrian street extension, and I’ve since been providing advice to @downtownvan on their key part of the implementation. I’ve been working in downtown revitalization for 34 years across Canada and all over the world. To me it’s obvious why Granville Street wasn’t improving before the World Cup, and why businesses, building owners and potential developers NEED to have the confidence that the City is committed to the success of the street post-world cup. The market is showing unprecedented new interest in the street, but they need to know that it won’t go back to the way it was before… They need to know that this is a true turning point. That’s why this extension is so critical, and although costs should…”Post continues: “…definitely emphasize “bang for the buck,” it’s critical to understand how much this represents an important and necessary INVESTMENT with a significant opportunity for RETURN ON INVESTMENT. Just one or two new projects that occur or move faster because of the confidence that this extension provides would mean tens, even hundreds of millions of dollars in public revenue over years. We can’t afford to be paralyzed by focussing on the wrong definitions of success. We can’t afford to get this wrong, and doing nothing would’ve been the easiest and most obvious way to get it wrong.
Brent Toderian@brenttoderian.bsky.social · 2w ago

So was WEEK 1 of Vancouver’s Pedestrian Zone post-World Cup extension a SUCCESS? Absolutely! It was a week of transition/turn-over, setting realistic expectations for a sustainable people-street, and rolling out new ideas. And people came, especially kids! A strong start to build on, & more coming!

Joseph Planta@joeplanta.bsky.social · 4w ago

One of the losses coming from the shutting down of News 1130 is the showcase that @jackermann.bsky.social provided for authors. More than one author has told me a spot on his bookshelf segment, likely made their books bestsellers. He's also a keen reader, as you'll see from this interview I did:

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Anvil Press@anvilpress.bsky.social · last mo.

"... Some of the country’s best bands, such as the Tragically Hip and Payola$, barely registered in the lucrative market south of the border. Another example is Vancouver’s Doug and the Slugs ... They are the subject of this thoughtful and engaging history ..." tinyurl.com/46nafnr2

Despite success in Canada, Doug and the Slugs couldn’t break through in the U.S.

Regional musicians, often dismissed as one-hit wonders, provide some great music most people have never heard. Pittsburgh’s Iron City Houserockers and L.A.’s The Call and Warren Zevon, as examples, un...

winnipegfreepress.com

Aaron Chapman@theaaronchapman.bsky.social · 2mo ago

A handful of tickets left for this Saturday afternoon’s #VancouverVice tour hosted by Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours. Do you remember the West End sniper? The “Hookers on Davie” era? The shocking story behind the death of Errol Flynn? More info & tickets in the first comment below.

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Aaron Chapman@theaaronchapman.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Do you remember the West End sniper? The “Hookers on Davie” era? The shocking story behind the death of Errol Flynn? Join me on a #WestEnd Crime history walking tour June 13th & July 4th—from the pages of my book #VancouverVice. Tickets here: forbiddenvancouver.ca/vancouver-vi... #VancouverHistory

Vancouver Vice Tour | Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours

Uncover the dark criminal history of Vancouver's West End with acclaimed author and historian Aaron Chapman. Based on his book Vancouver Vice.

forbiddenvancouver.ca

Aaron Chapman@theaaronchapman.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Still getting over a sore throat and sinus thing that has persisted for this week. I only wish I had some voice over work to capitalize on the octave husk it’s left my voice in. I sound like actor Richard Basehart in those old Chrysler New Yorker TV commercials he did in the early 1970s.

John Ackermann@jackermann.bsky.social · 3mo ago

They were too polished to be punk and too smart to be corporate rock. Now, nearly 50 years after their formation, comes Real Enough: The Unlikely Story of Doug and the Slugs by Simon Kendall and Aaron Chapman. #NewsRadioBookshelf @citynewsvancouver.bsky.social vancouver.citynews.ca/2026/04/26/d...

Legendary Vancouver rockers Doug and The Slugs remembered in a 'real enough' new memoir

Real Enough: The Unlikely Story of Doug and The Slugs is published by Anvil Press.

vancouver.citynews.ca

Aaron Chapman@theaaronchapman.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Donald Trump doesn’t use the word “Cherish” in public address like most humans use it. When he speaks of a “cherished” 51st state, or a “cherished” place, he means a place that can be exploited, used, purely transactional. He does not care for the past, present or future of anything “cherished”.