*Minors OK! Must be 19+ w/ID bar service.
*Sorry, Rio Theatre Groupons and passes n/a for this event.
*We encourage guests to purchase tickets in advance at www.riotheatretickets.ca. Unless otherwise noted, tickets will be available for purchase at our box office on the day of the show, prior to showtime (subject to availability). Our box office will be open 30 minutes before showtime.
*Seating for this event is GA. We have a small lobby, and kindly encourage patrons to arrive at least 30-45 minutes prior to showtime to ensure time for entry, locating seats, and getting snacks at concession.
*All Rio Theatre tickets are final sale. No refunds, no exchanges.
Normal Tickets
7:00pm • Monday, Nov 9, 2026
Searching for the Best Place on Earth with Justin McElroy
Presented by Iron Dog Books
For years, Vancouver has topped global rankings as one of the world’s most livable cities, while British Columbia has marketed itself as a paradise of mountains, rainforests and ocean—a destination unlike any other.
In Searching for the Best Place on Earth, Vancouver journalist Justin McElroy embarks on an ambitious trip, visiting nearly every “world-class” city on the planet.
His personal mission was to see the world—as well as to rank as many things as he could, from cuisines to museums to national train systems. His professional mission was to see how Vancouver truly compares. Does BC’s celebrated identity hold up?
As a neurodivergent traveller, McElroy is also frank about sensory overload, but once on the road, he’s surprised by how comfortably he adapts to a new routine of being a tourist for a year.
With his signature wit and deep knowledge of his home province, McElroy offers a fresh perspective on what makes a city truly exceptional—and whether BC still deserves its reputation as the “best place on earth.”
The evening's event will be moderated by the Host of CBC Radio One's, 'The Early Edition,' Stephen Quinn.
“For British Columbians, Justin really needs no introduction. He is one of the best-known journalists in the province, and he’s gained an enormous cult following not only through his reporting or his penchant for ranking things, but because he has an almost uncanny ability to make people care about the things he cares about.”
–Arshy Mann, Journalist and Co-founder of The Hatchet (Substack)
“Truly a joy to read, Searching for the Best Place on Earth is as much an in-depth, world travel guide as it is a look into the curious life and mind of one of British Columbia’s finest reporters.”
–Bob Kronbauer (BC Bob), creator journalist
Monday, November 9
Doors 6:00 pm | Event 7:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.
General Admission - $16 + fees
Copies of Justin's book will be available for purchasing and signing at the event.
