Hey, Downtown Van!

Join hosts Sofia Laratta and Claire Leonard as they chat with Rebecca Bollwitt, the visionary behind Vancouver's top blog, "Miss604." In this episode, they delve into her journey from web developer to Vancouver's top blogger, explore her favourite spots in downtown Vancouver, and much more!

Hosts Sofia Laratta and Claire Leonard chat with Uytae Lee, Creator and Producer of About Here , a YouTube channel and creative studio that makes urban planning accessible and engaging. Since 2018, Uytae has produced educational videos on key urban planning topics with partners such as the CBC, the City of Vancouver, the City of Toronto, and more.

In this episode of the podcast, host Sofia Laratta is joined by Jane Talbot, President and CEO of Downtown Van, and Scott Moore, CEO of the 2025 Invictus Games. They delve into Scott's path from a journalist at CBC, his tenure as President of Sportsnet, to his current role as leader of the Vancouver-Whistler Invictus Games. 

Join host Sofia Laratta as she engages in a compelling discussion with Jane Talbot, President and CEO of Downtown Van, and Vancouver City Councillor Peter Meiszner. In this episode, they explore a wide range of topics, from housing affordability to E-Scooters, diving deep into issues that shape Vancouver's landscape.

Join your host Sofia Laratta as she sits down with Jane Talbot, President & CEO of Downtown Van, and Inspector Marco Veronesi from the Vancouver Police Department in this insightful episode. Delve into the VPD's proactive strategies for ensuring safety in downtown Vancouver, and tune in for an engaging discussion on safeguarding our city's downtown core.

Join host Sofia Laratta as she sits down with the esteemed team from RIDE CYCLE CLUB, renowned as Vancouver and Toronto's premier indoor cycling studio. Tune in for an insightful discussion on the hurdles faced while navigating the pandemic within the fitness industry, the compelling reasons to give spin classes a try, and much more!

Join host Sofia Laratta on today's episode as she welcomes Downtown Van Placemaker, Claire Leonard, along with special guests James Ong and Eduardo Ottoni from EventLAB. Tune in for an engaging discussion on the inception of their business, navigating the unique challenges of event planning in downtown Vancouver, insights into this year's Granville Block Party, and much more!

Join host Sofia Laratta as she engages in an enlightening conversation with Jane Talbot, President & CEO of Downtown Van, alongside the esteemed International Speaker, Guy Felicella. Together, they delve into the realms of recovery, combating the stigmas surrounding addiction, addressing issues concerning the downtown core, and much more. Warning: This episode may contain content that is trigg...

Host Sofia Laratta is joined by Downtown Van Placemaker, Claire Leonard, for an enthralling conversation with Will Woods, Founder and Operator of Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours. Together, they delve into one of the city's most intriguing scandals and explore Will's fascinating journey to becoming perhaps Vancouver's biggest history buff.

Welcome to the inaugural episode of 'Hey, Downtown Van!' In this exciting debut, your hosts Sofia Laratta and Claire Leonard delve into an engaging conversation with none other than Jeff Martin, the creative genius behind the iconic Vancity Original® Brand. Together, they explore the intricacies of managing a small business in downtown Vancouver and reminisce about Jeff's humble beginn...

Welcome to the Downtown Van podcast! Stay tuned for a new episode every month.