In this edition: a scandal at a Vancouver school, where a teacher crossed professional boundaries with a seventh-grade student and was suspended; a cooling housing market in British Columbia, where sales are falling, prices are sliding and construction is rising amid economic uncertainty that could last until 2027; and a roundup of family-friendly Halloween events across Greater Vancouver from immigrant services organization ISSofBC, with six ideas ranging from a “pumpkin train” and a glowing forest to fireworks.
Vancouver teacher suspended over “special connection” with seventh-grader
A story from a Vancouver school sounds almost like the plot of a psychological thriller, except that it unfolds inside a school, involving an adult who is supposed to be a source of support and protection for children. Teacher Nathaniel Hyde agreed to a two-day suspension after British Columbia’s education regulator found that his interactions with a seventh-grade student crossed professional boundaries. The issue was not a romantic relationship as such, but the way the teacher allowed himself to draw a teenager into his personal, almost intimate emotional concerns, turning the learning environment into a source of discomfort and fear.
According to an agreement published by the Commissioner for Teacher Regulation of British Columbia, the incident took place in January this year. Hyde gave the student a sticky note, but the student dropped it on the floor. It may seem trivial, but the teacher’s reaction was far from professional: later that day, he spoke with the student about what had happened and, according to the regulator, made it clear that he was upset and that the incident had hurt him. When the student said he had not meant to drop the note, Hyde reportedly said the words that became the starting point for the investigation: “I feel like we have a special connection, don’t we?”
That was not the end of it. The following week, the teacher directly asked the seventh-grader whether he had a crush on him, “or something like that.” The question shocked the teenager—the regulator noted that the student was upset and trembling. Hyde’s subsequent actions only made matters worse: he approached the student twice, first to apologize and say he had not meant to make things awkward, and then to admit that he “didn’t want to get fired.” That last detail is particularly telling: an adult was placing the burden of his own fears and career risks on a child, making the student feel trapped in the situation.
The student’s parents emailed the teacher to request a meeting. At that point, according to the regulator, Hyde acknowledged that his question had been inappropriate and had frightened the student. The student later said he saw the teacher as someone who would be upset if he “acted like he didn’t care.” Hyde had also compared him to his wife, according to the student. This was more than a breach of professional conduct: it was an intrusion into a child’s personal space, using an adult role model in a way that psychology describes as fostering emotional dependence.
The Vancouver School Board suspended Hyde for five days in June this year. The regulator added a further two days and required him to take a course on professional boundaries. In an official statement, the commissioner said: “Hyde abused his privileged position of power and trust as a teacher by failing to respect appropriate boundaries between teacher and student.” The wording matters because it identifies not merely an isolated lapse, but a systemic problem: a power imbalance in which a child cannot stand on equal footing with an adult in a position of authority.
Put simply, a breach of boundaries in professional teaching ethics occurs when a teacher uses their position to meet their own emotional needs at a student’s expense. In this case, Hyde did not simply make a joke or say something tactless—he established a pattern of behaviour: the note, the conversation about feelings, the question about a crush, and the apologies that mentioned the possibility of being fired. Each action might seem minor in isolation, but together they create a toxic dynamic in which a child feels guilty and indebted to an adult. That is why the regulator decided not only to discipline the teacher, but also to require further training.
The key takeaway is clear: even a brief, seemingly innocent interaction with a student can have serious consequences if it goes beyond the educational context. A teacher who asks a seventh-grader whether he has a crush on him puts the child in a position with no comfortable way out: saying yes means disclosing something personal, while saying no risks upsetting an adult on whom he depends. Comparing a student to one’s spouse crosses a line beyond which teaching ends and unhealthy closeness begins. And Hyde’s comments about being afraid of losing his job only confirm that he knew his actions were wrong, yet continued to draw the child into his emotional orbit. As CBC reports, the regulator decided to make the case public to help prevent similar incidents in other classrooms and schools.
British Columbia’s housing market: sales fall, construction rises, but optimism remains scarce
September brought no good news for British Columbia’s real estate market: the brief uptick in August proved short-lived. According to estimates from the Canadian Real Estate Association, seasonally adjusted resale transactions fell 5.7 percent from August to 5,428 units. Sales were down 7.7 percent year over year and 5.9 percent year to date. Brian Yu, chief economist at credit union Central 1, attributes the slowdown to several factors in his analysis for Business in Vancouver: escalating trade tensions between Canada and the United States, which are undermining buyer confidence; expectations that the Bank of Canada will raise its policy rate further; and rising mortgage rates. In other words, buyers are holding back—not just because mortgages are expensive, but because of broader economic uncertainty.
The downturn is uneven geographically, but the weakest markets overall are in the Lower Mainland and on Vancouver Island. Sales in Greater Vancouver fell 6.2 percent over the month, while the Fraser Valley saw a 2.9 percent decline. The drop was especially steep in Victoria, at nearly a quarter (24.5 percent), while sales elsewhere on Vancouver Island were down 10 percent. Kamloops and Kootenay fell 6.5 and 5 percent, respectively, while Chilliwack was unchanged. The only bright spot was the Okanagan: after a significant drop the previous month, local markets rebounded. New listings also declined, by 2.9 percent, reflecting the overall weakening in demand. The sales-to-new-listings ratio fell from 45.2 to 43.9 percent, an important indicator that the market is shifting further in buyers’ favour: supply is starting to outstrip demand, giving buyers more negotiating power.
Prices continue to edge down. The average home price in the province fell 1.2 percent to $941,171, putting it 2.4 percent below its level a year ago. However, the average price can be misleading because it is affected by the mix of properties sold: if more lower-priced homes are sold, the average falls even without an actual decline in property values. The more reliable composite benchmark price index fell 0.1 percent over the month and 4.7 percent year over year, confirming sustained downward pressure. The average price is now 12.7 percent below its early-2022 peak, and the benchmark is down 15 percent. Regional trends vary: the average price plunged 14.3 percent in the South Okanagan, 8 percent in Kamloops and 5.8 percent in Kootenay, while the decline in Greater Vancouver was negligible, at just 0.1 percent. Prices rose 5.5 percent on Vancouver Island, 1.8 percent in most of the Okanagan, and 1.4 percent in the Fraser Valley.
Brian Yu’s forecast is bleak: the market will remain weak through the end of 2026 and possibly into early 2027. Weak economic conditions will weigh on buyer confidence, while high mortgage rates and further monetary tightening will put additional pressure on housing affordability, especially in the province’s most expensive markets. To clarify, economists use “affordability” to mean the relationship between household income and housing costs. When rates rise, monthly mortgage payments increase even if home prices do not, making housing less affordable and demand weaker.
Interestingly, construction is moving in the opposite direction from falling sales. According to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, urban housing starts rose 16.6 percent in September to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 51,120 units, following an even larger increase of 31.9 percent in August. The growth was driven by the multi-family segment—apartments, townhouses and duplexes—where starts rose 18.2 percent, while single-detached home construction fell 1.3 percent. Yu cautions against jumping to conclusions, however: monthly housing-starts data are highly volatile, and the six-month moving average remains low. Year to date, urban starts in the province were down 1.9 percent, with declines in both the multi-family segment (1.1 percent) and the single-family segment (9.2 percent). Within multi-family construction, the annual decline was driven by apartments, down 5 percent, even though they make up the bulk of new housing construction in the province. By contrast, duplex and row-house construction rose 32.9 and 12.1 percent, respectively.
The picture varies sharply by city. Year to date, starts plunged in Abbotsford-Mission (49.4 percent), Kelowna (32.5 percent) and Victoria (21.2 percent), while Vancouver saw a modest decline of 2.9 percent. Meanwhile, starts rose 37.1 percent in Chilliwack and 68.1 percent in Nanaimo, and activity in Kamloops more than tripled compared with last year.
In summary, several key points stand out. First, British Columbia’s resale housing market is cooling, and August’s uptick was a temporary spike rather than a reversal of the trend. Second, the balance of power has shifted in favour of buyers: the sales-to-new-listings ratio is falling, prices are 12.7–15 percent below their 2022 peaks, and downward pressure continues. Third, the construction sector is technically growing, but that growth is fragile and largely driven by multi-family projects rather than a sustained expansion in the construction cycle. Finally, the main risk to the market is not interest rates alone, but the combination of expensive mortgages, trade uncertainty and a weak economy, which is likely to delay the return of buyers until at least 2027. Yu’s forecast that market weakness will continue “through the end of 2026 and into 2027” is essentially the central message of his analysis: a quick recovery is unlikely, and everyone from developers to buyers will have to adapt to a prolonged period of sluggish activity.
Family-friendly Halloween in Greater Vancouver: six ideas from BC’s immigrant services agency
Immigrant Services Society of BC (ISSofBC) has published a roundup of family-friendly Halloween events across Greater Vancouver. The guide is aimed especially at families who may be new to local holiday traditions: the authors say community events are a convenient way to get to know neighbouring communities, spend time together and establish family traditions of their own. The list features six activities—from daytime rides on a “pumpkin train” to walks through a glowing forest and a grand finale of fireworks—and includes practical details such as dates, prices and reminders that some events take place rain or shine, while tickets are often sold on a first-come, first-served basis.
The longest-running event is Canyon Frights at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park in North Vancouver. Visitors can walk through a glowing forest featuring Halloween displays, pumpkins, games and a family scavenger hunt. The event runs through November 1, admission is included with regular park admission or an annual pass, and the park is open until 9 p.m. from October 30 to November 1. The organizers warn that capacity may be limited during peak hours, so visitors should plan ahead.
In Surrey, the daytime Pumpkin Train runs daily through October 31, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It travels through a decorated forest in Bear Creek Park. Tickets cost $12 plus tax; children under two are free, while children aged 2 to 12 receive a treat and a pumpkin. Craft activities are also included. Tickets are sold at the park on a first-come, first-served basis. One detail parents should know: the route includes a short dark tunnel with moving Halloween figures, so adults are advised to consider in advance whether their child will be comfortable with it.
The third idea is “Strange Things on the Fraser” at the Fraser River Discovery Centre in New Westminster, on October 31 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event offers playful explanations of how bats navigate in the dark, why some animals’ eyes glow, and what happens to salmon during spawning. Admission is included with regular entry; a family ticket costs $20, and children under two get in free. An accompanying adult must remain with the child at all times.
In Richmond, Halloween Hoot runs through November 1, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event features a decorated walk along the Pond Trail at Richmond Nature Park, with more than 35 inflatable figures, nature-inspired art and a “tickle tunnel.” Admission is by donation. The event is suitable for all ages, takes place rain or shine and is held at an accessible site, though parking is limited.
In Coquitlam, Heritage Halloween will take place at Mackin House Museum on October 31, from noon to 3 p.m. The event features crafts, candy, curious exhibits and a walk through a “ghostly travelling circus” train car. Admission is free and registration is not required, but the organizers would appreciate advance notice.
The evening will conclude with Richmond’s 40th annual Minoru Halloween Fireworks Festival at Minoru Park on October 31. This year’s theme is “Alien Invasion.” The program includes live performances, costumes, carnival games, pumpkin carving and food trucks. The event runs from 6:30 to 9:15 p.m., with the fireworks at 9 p.m. Admission is free, costumes are encouraged, and the venue is accessible to visitors with limited mobility.
The practical takeaway is simple: check the organizers’ websites before heading out, since schedules, prices, registration requirements and availability may change. Some events take place rain or shine, so dress for the weather. ISSofBC’s main advice is to choose activities suited to children’s ages and comfort levels, so that everyone can enjoy the celebration. The full list, with links to the organizers, is available on the ISSofBC website.
A few details may help visitors plan. Greater Vancouver is a metropolitan area encompassing Vancouver and neighbouring cities such as North Vancouver, Surrey, Richmond, New Westminster and Coquitlam. The six events are therefore spread across the region and require different routes. “Admission by donation” means there is no fixed price; visitors decide how much to pay. An “accessible site” is one adapted for people with limited mobility, including wheelchair users. And “first-come, first-served” for the Pumpkin Train means tickets cannot be booked in advance, so it is best to arrive when the park opens.
The main insight is that Greater Vancouver’s Halloween program offers different levels of “scariness”: from daytime, low-key events such as a nature-park walk or science activities to a tunnel with moving figures and evening fireworks. For families still getting used to local traditions, this offers an easy progression into the holiday. The fact that an immigrant services organization published the roundup also shows that such guides are seen as a tool for integration, not just an entertainment listing. The details speak for themselves: prices range from free admission in Coquitlam and Richmond to $12 for the train and $20 for a family museum ticket, while the events span five cities across the region, making Halloween activities accessible regardless of where families live.
