A roundup of top news from Vancouver and British Columbia: a lineup for the May long weekend, a large-scale securities fraud, and new measures to combat armed violence in the province.
Weekend ideas in Vancouver: things to do April 27–May 3
A new month begins, bringing a host of vibrant events in Vancouver. From April 27 to May 3 the city offers dozens of options for entertaining activities — from documentary films and live music to craft markets and unique culinary experiences. In this overview we’ve collected the week’s most notable events to add to your calendar.
One of the week’s main events is the DOXA documentary film festival, opening April 30 and running through May 10. It’s the largest documentary festival in Western Canada, featuring premieres, panel discussions and educational programs. The Canadian premiere of Saigon Story: Two Shootings in the Forest Kingdom, presented by the National Film Board of Canada, deserves special attention. Oscar-winning director Kim Nguyen will personally introduce the film, which explores the tangled connection between two families and an iconic photograph.
Live-music fans can look forward to Karan Aujla’s concert. A former Vancouver resident and now a star of the Punjabi pop scene, he performs May 2 at Rogers Arena as part of his Canada tour. His latest album, P-Pop Culture, set a record with 12.4 million streams and became the most successful debut for a Punjabi-language album in Canadian history.
On April 29, International Dance Day, the Scotiabank Dance Centre is staging free outdoor performances on the plaza in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery and an unusual choreographic walk through the neighbourhood. Also worth visiting is the Got Craft Spring Market, which on May 2–3 will bring together a hundred Canadian makers at the Croatian Cultural Centre. You’ll find handmade goods, street food, and on Saturday you can support young entrepreneurs.
Those seeking unusual leisure options will enjoy a free open day at Vancouver’s oldest lawn bowling club, founded in 1912. On May 2 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Queen Elizabeth Park you can try this elegant sport for free — just bring flat-soled shoes. Fans of the Vancouver Canadians can catch baseball at Nat Bailey Stadium from April 28 to May 3, when the team hosts the Hillsboro Hops.
Food lovers should note the congee pop-up on May 3. Chef Dez Lo, a Top Chef Canada finalist, in collaboration with seafood supplier EatFish and the Holy Duck Chili Oil brand, will offer two types of congee-jok: a seafood version in halibut broth and an umami option with mushrooms and XO sauce. Each serving costs just $10. That same day North Vancouver hosts the Hong Kong Fair — the largest cultural event of the Hong Kong diaspora in Canada — and Richmond holds the Ships to Shore festival, where the legendary training tall ship Kaiwo Maru will be on display alongside Japanese arts and cuisine.
May long-weekend highlights also include the Jane’s Walk festival of walking tours (April 30–May 3), the start of the West End farmers’ market season, and the opening of the container market on Granville Street. On Grouse Mountain a vegan six-course tasting menu priced at $89 starts April 30, including the gondola ride. In North Vancouver’s Shipyards on May 1 the Brewhalla beer and music festival will feature local breweries and live music.
The full event list and ticketing information are available at Daily Hive. The week promises to be busy, and there’s something for everyone.
Major fraudster nicknamed "Wires" faces lifetime ban from British Columbia's financial markets
The British Columbia Securities Commission (BCSC) has launched proceedings seeking a lifetime ban from participation in the province’s financial markets against a Vancouver resident who for nearly a decade helped organize a large-scale penny-stock fraud scheme in the U.S. The woman is Zhiin Yvonne Gazarh, known among associates by the nickname "Wires." BCSC director of enforcement Doug Muir filed an application for a comprehensive market ban on February 5, giving Gazarh until April 20 to respond. A hearing date has not yet been set.
The basis for such severe measures is a Massachusetts jury decision handed down in September 2023 in a civil suit brought by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in August 2021. In June 2024 a judge ordered Gazarh to return more than $2.5 million in ill-gotten gains and to pay an additional civil penalty of nearly $270,000. She is already barred from U.S. markets. In his filing, Muir points to the seriousness of Gazarh’s misconduct and stresses the public interest in removing her from the markets. He notes that the American judge described Gazarh’s involvement in the scheme as “egregious and repeated, spanning a decade,” and found there is a “reasonable likelihood, not merely a possibility, that she will commit future violations.”
Gazarh is a key figure in the high-profile case centered on Fred Sharp, a former West Vancouver lawyer whom the U.S. court called the scheme’s “mastermind.” According to Business in Vancouver, Sharp built an extensive network of offshore shell companies to hide the true owners of low-priced stocks (penny stocks). The SEC’s complaint alleges Gazarh was his direct accomplice. Her primary role was organizing transfers of money obtained from illicit sales of those stocks to so-called clients of the “Sharp Group.” She also provided brokers with false disclosure information to conceal the actual beneficial owners. Gazarh used an encrypted network of mobile phones to communicate with clients about deals and payments, which is how she earned the operational nickname “Wires.”
This is the first case in which the BCSC is pursuing a reciprocal ban against one of Sharp’s associates. The regulator already banned Fred Sharp in February 2023. Muir’s statement highlights the growing integration of capital markets across North America and warns that reputational damage to U.S. markets could undermine Canadian investors’ confidence in the integrity of capital markets overall. Gazarh’s conduct is described as “flagrant disregard for securities laws,” and she is said to pose a “substantial ongoing risk to investors and British Columbia capital markets.” The regulator seeks a full ban on her engaging in any trading of securities and derivatives, and on serving as a director, officer, promoter or adviser of any issuer. Interestingly, despite these allegations, BCSC filings show that as of January 8, 2026 Gazarh remained listed as a director and officer of several British Columbia companies. She continues to challenge the SEC’s restitution order, and her lawyer, Greg DelBiaggio, declined to comment, saying the matter is before the tribunal.
British Columbia introduces tough new measures against armed violence: a law to close criminals' loopholes
The government of British Columbia has announced a new law aimed at combating organized crime and armed violence. The statute is called the Firearm Violence Prevention Act (FVPA). According to CityNews Vancouver, Attorney General Niki Sharma and Public Safety Minister Nina Krieger unveiled the bill at a Monday press conference. The law focuses on aspects of crime that federal legislation has left unaddressed, and on tactics used by organized groups — for example, drive-by shootings and the use of vehicles for fleeing the scene.
Officials say the FVPA will come into force on October 1, 2026. The delay is intentional: authorities are giving both lawful gun owners and police time to prepare for the new rules. The bill is built around the idea of “disrupting” criminal schemes by closing technical loopholes. “By focusing on vehicles, firearms and fleeing from police, the FVPA targets organized crime and closes loopholes,” Niki Sharma said. “It also reinforces an important message: public safety cannot be undermined by technicalities or intentional attempts to evade the law.”
Describing the problem, Public Safety Minister Nina Krieger emphasized that the law was developed in response to a recent spike in crimes, notably extortion incidents that have shaken communities south of the Fraser River. “This is about closing the loopholes exploited by organized crime, and in particular by extortionists who harm our communities,” Krieger explained. It’s important to note that although the law was drafted before the peak of the extortion crisis, its provisions directly apply to scenarios typical of those crimes: drive-by shootings, transporting weapons, and police chases.
Key changes the FVPA proposes include criminalizing shooting from a vehicle; criminal liability for operating a vehicle used to transport illegal firearms; and active measures to enable seizure of vehicles from drivers attempting to flee police. Krieger said the law was developed following “extensive consultations” with a “broad range” of stakeholders. Officials also insist the law will not affect the rights of lawful citizens who use firearms responsibly and in compliance with safety measures. “This is about stopping criminals who exploit gaps in federal laws… while maintaining balance and ensuring uninterrupted, safe access for those who use firearms legally,” Krieger summarized. The province is therefore betting on proactive, targeted measures to tackle the most dangerous forms of street violence without waiting for changes at the federal level.
