A no messing around guide to the coolest things to eat, drink and do in Vancouver and beyond. Community. Not clickbait.

David Fairey and Anelyse Weiler Discuss the Migrant Worker Piece Rate System


Welcome to the Track & Food podcast. Host Jamie Mah is a writer, bartender and sommelier in beautiful Vancouver, BC. With co-host Mickey McLeod, they take regular deep dives into everything food and culture in the city and around the globe.

While reading The Tyee back in late January, a story by labour economist, David Fairey (who is also research associate of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives) and Associate Professor of Sociology at UVic, Anelyse Weiler, caught my eye… In “It’s 2023. BC Farm Workers Deserve Basic Minimum Wage Guarantees”, the authors reveal how our current piece rate system for agricultural workers is fraught with low wages, exploitation, classism and racism. I decided to bring the duo on the Track & Food podcast in order to gain a better understanding of the topic and narrative, and to share their candid perspectives and insightful solutions with our listeners.

Demythologizing Poverty with Local Expert, Tracy Smith-Carrier

Will poverty always be a systemic issue? This is the question at the heart of an article published in The Conversation last December, written by today's guest and Jamie Mah's most recent Track & Food Podcast episode.

An Inside Look at the Controversial Mount Pleasant BIA Expansion

In this episode, we hear from Mount Pleasant BIA Executive Director, Neil Wyles, on why he's pushed so hard for this expansion and what that process has entailed so far, as well as from those in opposition, including three Main Street business owners.

Is the BC Restaurant Industry in a Crisis?

In the wake of the CEBA Loan Repayment extended deadline (Jan. 18th, 2024), host Jamie Mah and guests Shira Blustein, Shaun Layton, and James Iranzad debate where restaurants are headed in 2024 and what can be done to help an industry on the brink.

What’s Going On with the BC Craft Beer Industry?

To gain a better comprehension of the situation from the inside, Jamie has rounded up three friends and prominent brewery owners to share their knowledge and personal narratives, and discuss the state of the craft brewery market today, how they see it evolving, and the challenges ahead…