December 2017
COMMUNITY NEWS
RenfrewCollingwoodCommunityNews.com
Collingwood Artisans’ Village Market 2017 Saturday Dec. 9
11 am to 4 pm Free admission by Yoko Tomita The holiday gift season is here, and that means we’re all looking for something unique and special.
The Collingwood Artisans’ Village Market features original arts and crafts by 20 local artisans.
It’s a great time to check out the ninth annual Collingwood Artisans’ Village Market coming up on Saturday, Dec. 9 from 11 am to 4 pm at Collingwood Neighbourhood House. There will be 20 local artisans showcasing their original arts and crafts. Please come and enjoy a relaxing weekend afternoon with hot chocolate and home-baked cookies made by community chef Najia Elacel. Talented musician Clara Rose will sing seasonal songs and play violin for us. Don’t forget to buy raffle tickets for a chance to win a gorgeous food basket.
Melinda Broom makes unique felted works of adorable Christmas trees, snowmen and more.
Marianne’s felted crafts are very cute and reasonably priced.
Your purchase of local artisan crafts makes a difference in our community. We welcome you all with warm hearts. Free admission.
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December 2017 Come together right now with Freshslice Pizza
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RENFREW COLLINGWOOD COMMUNITY NEWS
RENFREW-COLLINGWOOD CULTURAL ACTIVITIES Nov. 8, 2017, to Jan. 15, 2018 In Ruins: Three Artists Explore the Decline and Fall of Civilization Italian Cultural Centre, Il Museo 3075 Slocan Street Tuesday to Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm Borrowing the concept of life cycles from the natural world, as well as Edward Gibbon’s narrative on the fall of Roman Empire, three artists: Catherine Nicholls, Ally Nichols and Elizabeth Harris engage in a multimedia exploration (textiles, photography and ceramics), on the nature of decline, in the environment and in civilization Free. Saturday, Dec. 2 & 16 Social Culture Club Collingwood Neighbourhood House Share your skills in sewing, knitting and craft making 10 am -12 pm Free. Drop-in Tuesday, Dec. 5 Community Conversation Café Collingwood Library 2985 Kingsway at Rupert Meet up with neighbours and make new friends. 7-8:30 pm Free. Everyone welcome!
Friday, Dec. 28 First Coffee House First Lutheran Church 5745 Wales Street Are you a closet singer, dancer, poet, story teller, ukulele player? Or an experienced performer wanting to try out new material? This is the place for you! A low key, supportive space to share your passion and join your community for a fun evening of diverse talents! FOURTH FRIDAY of every month, 7-9:00 pm Entrance and refreshments by donation. For more info call Shannon at 778-328-1874 or email singerso@ hotmail.com Saturday, Dec. 9 Artisans’ Village Market 5288 Joyce Street Collingwood Neighbourhood House Come and check out the work of local craftspeople and artisans at this annual winter market.
Holiday Special 20% off (Minimum 2 nights stay) This holiday season, stay at the 2400 motel between Dec 1, 2017 – Jan 15, 2018 and receive 20% off daily rates in our standard rooms (one bed or two beds only, kitchen units extra). This offer must be booked at least seven days in advance. A full, non-refundable prepayment is required at the time of booking (no changes are permitted and no refund will be issued for cancellations, no-shows or early departures). This offer is subject to availability at the time of reservation. Rates are per room, per night, vary by arrival date and/or length of stay, and do not include applicable taxes. Early departure fees apply. Rates are subject to change. (Valid picture ID for all guests and $200 deposit required at check in).
Tel : 604-434-2464 or toll free 1-888-833-2400
RENFREW COLLINGWOOD COMMUNITY NEWS
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December 2017
Cheese, mead and sweet treats at Hastings Park
There’s an exciting roster of new vendors on board this season at the Hastings Park Winter Market! Along with weekly appearances from popular farm vendors like Klippers Organics, Stein Mt. Farm, Golden West, Crisp Organics and Cropthorn Farm, some new growers to Hastings Park this season include Abundant Acre Family Farm, Salt & Harrow, Ice Cap Organics and Snowy Mt. Organics.
For something on the sweeter side, don’t miss Hella Puffs (Greek-style dessert dumplings) and Elephant Garden Creamery, whose collection of handcrafted ice creams include flavours like Vietnamese coffee, genmaicha matcha, and salted gula melaka (palm sugar).
Popular Agassiz-based organic dairy Farm House Natural Cheeses will also be adding dates at Hastings Park this year, along with a weekly spot from Golden Ears Cheesecrafters, who produce a range of grass-fed cheeses and butter.
To fuel your market shop, grab a quality brew from the folks at Kafka’s Coffee on Main St. who will be popping up at the market in their bright blue truck every other week starting Jan. 7.
Vancouver’s only meadery, Humblebee Mead are bringing their unique blend of honey-based libations to the market throughout the winter season. They’ll be joined by Sons of Vancouver Distillery, makers of small batch vodka and amaretto, and award-winning Vancouver Island winery Rocky Creek, who produce reds, whites and bubblies.
Other Hastings Park newbies to look out for this season include yummy baked goods vendor Le Bouledogue; gluten free and paleo friendly offerings from Virtue Natural Bakery; handcrafted ferments from lakehouse foods, natural and nutritious baby food options from Tiny Tummies; a selection of microgreens and sprouts from Nutrigreens, and November appearances from The Sharing Farm, BC’s only non-profit farm that grows food for the Food Bank and community meal programs.
New food carts at Hastings Park this season include yummy eats from Mandalay Burmese Kitchen, who serve up South Asian/Burmese favourites, and Beiju Foods, Vancouver’s first Brazilian food truck bringing savoury, gluten-free options to the market. Hastings Park Winter Market runs Sundays, 10 am – 2 pm until April 29 (closed Dec. 24 and 31)
at the PNE. There is free parking for market shoppers at Gate 2 off of Renfrew Street. More info on dates/times, location and vendors schedules on the Hastings Park page at eatlocal.org/markets/hastings-park/ Published with permission from Vancouver Farmers Markets. Source: eatlocal.org/new-vendors-
hastings-park/
Your REAL ESTATE resource for all listings and complex information SPECIFIC to your neighborhood … JOYCE COLLINGWOOD! CIRCA . NEXUS . BRIO . URBA . WALL CENTRE CENTRAL PARK ... and more!
MARKET SNAPSHOT* ACTIVE LISTINGS SOLDS AVERAGE SOLD PRICE
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FEB 2017 AUG SEP 2017 2017 MAR JUN MAY JUL JUN 2017 2017 2017 2017 APR 2017
MAR 2017 OCT SEP 2017 2017 APR JUL JUN JUL AUG 2017 2017 2017 2017 MAY 2017
6484 110 92 74 60 108 78 2825 59 44 17 4745 46 $531,714 $522,001 $518,152 $502,196 $489,516 $456,693 $478,707 $501,845
92 71 74 78 64 60 110 108 25 44 28 17 47 45 59 46 $601,748 $531,714 $518,152 $522,001 $502,196 $501,845 $456,693 $489,516
What is your home worth? Visit us at JOYCECONDO.COM and ask for a TO ALL OUR CLIENTS OLD AND NEW, FREE MARKET EVALUATION from your local neighborhood expert!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR BUSINESS. WISHING YOU A HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON! #203 - 3855 Henning Drive, Burnaby. This communication is not intended to breach an existing agency relationship. This representation is based in whole or in part on data generated by the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver, assumes no responsibility #203 - 3855which Henning Drive, Burnabyfor its accuracy.
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December 2017
COMMUNITY NEWS The mission of this non-profit publication is to provide the residents, businesses and organizations of Renfrew/Collingwood with a medium for community communication. Paul Reid: staff writer and layout coordinator Lisa Symons: sales and distribution coordinator Julie Cheng: editorial coordinator
Contributors: Bert Monterona, Brenda Krivuzoff, Elise Barber, Julie Cheng, Maya Cindrich, Paul Reid, Sandra Medina, Stephen Elliott-Buckley, Tony Wanless, Veronica Kong, Yoko Tomita
We want to hear from you! Yes, You! Send comments, community events, press releases by regular post, fax or e-mail. Suggestions for improving the paper are welcome. We welcome appropriate, unsolicited editorial submissions if accompanied by the author’s real name, address and telephone number. The author should retain the original as we cannot return submissions without prior agreement nor does submission guarantee publication. We reserve the right to make editorial changes.
Next submission deadline: Dec. 5 The Renfrew-Collingwood Community News is an initiative of the Collingwood Neighbourhood House (CNH).
Yo u C a n F i n d t h e RC Community News @ Libraries, Collingwood Neighbourhood House, Renfrew Park Community Centre, The Italian Cultural Centre, Collingwood Policing Office, other organizations, religious institutions, schools, laundromats, Starbucks, Rona, Superstore, Canadian Tire, Walmart, London Drugs and Safeway coffee shops, restaurants, markets, corner stores, other businesses, and coffee tables all over Renfrew-Collingwood.
RENFREW COLLINGWOOD COMMUNITY NEWS
Got leaves? What you need to know about city leaf collection With the stormy weather, chances are you’ll be raking leaves in your front and back yards for the rest of the year. Why not, it’s great exercise! And aside from keeping your yard and garden clean and neat, raking up leaves helps prevent flooding by keeping the leaves from clogging the storm drains in front of your home. Just remember to clear the leaves from the sidewalk and boulevard as well. But what to do with the overabundance of the leaves? If you can’t use it in your garden or compost bin, you can put the leaves in your Green Bin for regular collection by City of Vancouver crews.
Clear leaves that are clogging storm drains in front of your home to prevent flooding on the street. Photo by Julie Cheng
Have extra leaves that won’t fit in your Green Bin? Leaves that don’t fit in your Green Bin will be collected by City crews over designated weekends. • Put extra leaves into store-bought bins or biodegradable paper yard waste bags. • Don’t put other yard waste and food scraps into these bins and bags. Extra leaves get composted at a different facility. • Don’t use plastic bags. City crews won’t pick up leaves in plastic bags. 2017 collection schedule for extra leaves Upcoming designated weekends for leaf collection are: • Dec. 9 to 10, 2017 • Jan. 13 to 14, 2018 (Christmas trees will also be collected) Green Bins will not be collected on extra
leaf collection days. Check your calendar for your next Green Bin collection day.
Piles of wet leaves create slippery road conditions, block visibility and flood drains.
Your leaves may be collected on either Saturday or Sunday (not both days). To avoid a missed pick up, please set your leaves out for collection before 7 am on the scheduled Saturday.
Source: http://vancouver.ca/ home-property-development/ seasonal-leaf-collection.aspx
Keep streets clean City crews remove leaves from streets on a regular basis from November to January. Please move your vehicle during street cleaning. Raking or blowing leaves into the street is a safety hazard – and it’s illegal.
Contact the RCCNews Phone: 604-435-0323 extension 261 Fax: 604-451-1191 Editorial: rccnews-editorial@cnh.bc.ca Advertising: Phone Lisa Symons at 604.435.0323 email: rccnews-sales@cnh.bc.ca Renfrew/Collingwood Community News Collingwood Neighbourhood House 5288 Joyce Street Vancouver, BC V5R 6C9
"A Candy Coated Christmas Carol" (musical & drama) December 17 at 10:30 am
Christmas Eve Service - December 24 at 6:30 pm
Celebrating good news of great joy at Christmas
Remember • Do not rake or blow leaves into the street. • Move your vehicle off the street if the City’s leaf removal crews post temporary no-parking signs on your block. • Fill up your Green Bin with leaves first. Additional leaves can be placed in a store-bought garbage can or biodegradable paper bag. • Store extra leaves in a dry or covered area before setting them out for pickup. • Do not put your leaves in your garbage cart. • Do not put your leaves in plastic bags. They will not be collected.
RENFREW COLLINGWOOD COMMUNITY NEWS
The social enterprises among us Social enterprises are more than just empty jargon. While people talk a lot about “disruption,” “growth hacking” and this nebulous “sharing economy,” social enterprises are far easier to actually define. Last month I wrote about Grain, Meatme, ChopValue and Nada. All these local businesses are social enterprises in more than one way. When I first heard about social enterprises, the definition was pretty strict. They were revenuegenerating businesses owned by a charity, like cafes and thrift stores.
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December 2017 by Stephen Elliott-Buckley
4. Recognize, seek out and enhance community, arts, rich ethnic diversity, and culture. If you’ve ever read more than one issue of this paper, you can see this criteria in action. (Editor’s note: The RenfrewCollingwood Community News is Collingwood Neighbourhood House’s first social enterprise.)
5. Pursue food security by having a positive environmental footprint, But as I tracked the evolution of the phrase, I and promote organics, local noticed something. Companies were increasand sustainable food options, ingly getting behind charitable pursuits, sometimes really nasty companies. These nasties were including anything that diwhitewashing their bad behaviour with quick-win rectly or indirectly supports the at-risk bumble bee popugimmicks like charitable giving, corporate social responsibility and triple bottom-line accounting. lation. People grew quite cynical, for good reason. And to avoid being lumped in with these horrible companies who just write cheques to charities—and received intense branding and public relations in return—people figured that there needs to be rich context behind the authentic social enterprises. So, here is the secret. There ARE many criteria that allow an organization to qualify as an enterprise that actually improves our community and world in social, economic, environmental, cultural or political ways. Here are the criteria I’ve been compiling through academic and popular research, as well as by observing good and bad behaviour in and around the Pacific Northwest. Social enterprises should do at least one of the following, in no particular order:
6. Pursue the post-carbon energy infrastrucStephen Elliott-Buckley encourages us to support the social enterture by helping us move prises around us. off fossil fuels like oil, gas and coal and onto renewable helps us know who is worthy of our business. energy production and distribution like solar, wind, tidal, geothermal, including fancy new So with this list of criteria, go find the social things like solar roofs, solar roadways and the mind-blowing Hyperloop transportation system. enterprises all around us! Look it up! 7. Embrace superior organizational democracy by, for instance, being structured as a society with a democratically elected board, or a worker co-operative where all members hold one share in the co-op so they have equal power.
8. Seek certification as a B Corp, which you can read about at BCorpora1. Promote economic empowerment of tion.net. In some traditionally economically marginalized populations. Companies and non-profits owned ways, much of this or run by or employing women, people of colour, list culminates in this organization, whose immigrants, people with barriers to traditional mandate is to create employment including people with visible and a robust certification invisible disabilities, and others who don’t share the typical economic headstarts that many male, system so we can see which companies white, English-speaking, Canadian-born people want to be accountenjoy, sometimes unwittingly. able. 2. Actively and successfully pursue a proCertified B Corps gressive ecological and environmental must meet “rigorous footprint. This means they recycle, minimize standards of social waste and dispose of it responsibly, maximize and environmental high environmental standards in their supply performance, acchain and operations, and support fair trade countability, and products that don’t exploit others. transparency.” Much 3. Have exceptional staff relations, with rich like organic or fair trade certification, a culture of health and wellness; being unionized B Corp designation helps with this.
Stephen Elliott-Buckley is an organizational design consultant helping companies and nonprofits enrich employee and stakeholder engagement. A trainer and teacher since 1986, he is a professor at Simon Fraser University, the author of Modern Labour Activism, a poet and a fan of civic bike lanes in the rainy season.
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December 2017
Thank you for supporting the RCC News Many thanks to our many writers, photographers, advertisers and distributors who have helped make 2017 yet another successful year. By helping to share the stories of the wonderful people, events, activities and history of our great little neighbourhood, you build our community and bring people together. Best wishes for a successful and prosperous new year. — The RCC News team
Contributors Alicia Tiffin Alyssa Yan Amanda Hunter Ana Mateescu Andrea Berneckas Angela Clarke
Angelina Lam Anjula Joshi Art Institute of Vancouver Azin Kalantari Ben Rosen-Purcell Bert Monterona Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver Big Sisters BCLM
Bill Chan Billy Hopeless Bo Del Valle Garcia Brenda Krivuzoff Bryden Fergusson Cassandra Ly Cecilia Federizon Chitha Manoranjan
RENFREW COLLINGWOOD COMMUNITY NEWS Chloe Boyle Chris Owen Christal Do Cindy Chen Coastal City Ballet Collingwood Library Crecien Bencio Danni Favaro Don Davies, MP Donna Lee Dustin Ahjz Elise Barber Emily Chan Emily Doyle-Yamaguchi Emma Warner Chee Evergreen Canada Gary Derksen Green Thumb Theatre Harkarn Kaler Harlow Family Helen Yeung Jennifer Gray-Grant Jerry Chen Jessica Sun John Mendoza Jomar Santos Julie Cheng June Lam June Lam Jussein Alidina Kat Wadel Kathy Romses Katie Frain Ken Shymka Kristin Kowalko Liz Kendler Loretta Houben Luxi Lin Lynn Nguyen Maria Flores Mary Anne Purdy Maya Cindrich Meghan Kinnarny Melanie Cheng Mohini Takhar MOSAIC Nik West Norman Hill Olivia Lee-Chun Pardeep Singh Paul Reid Penny Lim Peter Greenwell Pietro Sammarco Ricardo Arturo Cerna Rivas Richard Berwick Robert F. Edwards Robin Lough Roma Mehta Rosanne Lambert Sami Omar Sandra Medina Sangito Bigelow Shannon Ingersoll Shawn Macdonald Stephanie Lim Stephen Elliott-Buckley Suzanne Liddle Suzanne Liddle Taya Lawton Tiffany Tu Tony Wanless Vancouver Northeast WorkBC Employment Services Vancouver Police Department Veronica Kong Windermere Leadership Program Yoko Tomita
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2400 Motel 1st Ave Dental Group Adrian Dix Alexander Income Tax Ananda Bhavan Dosa & Tandoori Banana Grove Better At Home Boundary Animal Hospital Broadway Church Dias Notaries Public Don Davies MP City Reach Society Collingwood Artisans’ Village Market Collingwood Baptist Church Collingwood Business Improvement Association Colllingwood Days Collingwood Insurance Collingwood Law Office Collingwood Neighbourhood House Don Davies European Festival Famous Foods Fresh Slice Pizza Grandview-Collingwood Legion Branch #179 Green Thumb Theatre HM Tax and Accounting Il Museo- Italian Cultural Centre JE’s Dry Cleaners Joyce Hair Design Kingsway Tax Service Kore Realty Knight & Day Restaurant Mezbaan Fine Indian Fusion MOSAIC - WorkBC Next Generation Education Center Pacific Dance Arts Papa Johns Pizza Pho 99 Restaurant Praise International Church Renfrew Park Community Center Save On Foods See Rite Optical Spectrum Society Stephen Elliott - Buckley Still Moon Arts Festival St. Mary’s School Strive Living Society Sushi Taku The Tipper Restaurant Trocadero Pizza & Steakhouse Vancouver Aboriginal Family & Child Service Vancouver Coastal City Ballet Vancouver Greek Summer Festival ViVO Media Arts Centre
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Collingwood Neighbourhood House Renfrew Park Community Centre Rona Hardware Save On Foods Canadian Superstore London Drugs Safeway Canadian Tire Shoppers Drug Mart And all of the local schools, community centres, libraries, and places of worship
Thank You!
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December 2017
RENFREW COLLINGWOOD COMMUNITY NEWS
Jan. 26, show your support for an offleash dog park in Collingwood Please take a few minutes on Thursday, January 26th to stop by the Carleton Park open house at the Collingwood Baptist Church between 5:30-7:30pm to ask the park board for an off-leash dog park for Collingwood. You don’t have to stay for the entire open house (5:30-7:30pm), you just need to take 5 minutes to hop inside, and talk to someone about the parks board to tell them that you’d like an off-leash dog park in Collingwood. The open house is going to be held at the Collingwood Baptist Church (4847 Joyce Street, enter through the doors that face Monmouth Ave). IF YOU ARE NOT ABLE to attend the Carleton Park open house meeting on January 26th please send a short email to debra.barnes@vancouver.ca and let her know you support the creation of an off-leash dog park in Collingwood. E
Renfrew / Collingwood
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J.E.’s Alteration and Dry Cleaning Drop Off #4 3490 Kingswsay Ph:604.434.9677
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Ananda Bhavan Dosa Restaurant 2269 Kingsway Ph.604-336-5666 Web:anandabhavan.ca
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First Avenue Dental 604.254.5040
#116 - 2800 E1st Ave.
Joyce Hair Design Ph: 604.451.7680
5156 Joyce St.
Papa John’s Pizza Ph: 604.310.PAPA
#300-3340 Kingsway
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December 2017
Read On!
RENFREW COLLINGWOOD COMMUNITY NEWS
A news section for Renfrew-Collingwood learners
Vibrant Collingwood mural depicts the neighbourhood’s past, present and future by Tony Wanless Anyone who walks, bikes or drives regularly near the transit line on Vanness Avenue in Collingwood East of Rupert Street and toward the Joyce-Collingwood Skytrain station is familiar with the dreary and uninspiring cement wall that extends along the south side of the street beside the transit tracks.
Read On!
has a web page. You can:
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Reading levels on this page Level 1
For a long time the dispiriting, 26-metre-long wall had been a neglected, colourless strip of banality. Over time, the wall became covered with graffiti. Today, there is a wildly colourful mural extending along the whole length of the wall. A brightly There is a colourful new mural on McHardy St. and Vanness Avpainted kaleidoscope of swirls and enue in the neighbourhood of Renfrew-Collingwood. Photos by Bert drawings and affirmative words, Monterona the Collingwood Wall embraces the neighbourhood with its multicoloured hues and swirls and whirls and drawings. In the process, it also provides passersby with a tableau of the area’s history, from its beginnings as a wilderness with rivers teeming with salmon and other fish, of Indigenous people’s lives and of the migrations of people from around the world who now make Collingwood the varied, multicultural neighbourhood it is. In a sense, it is a 26-metre story about how we came to be. These depictions of history and historical life enliven the entire street and Skytrain track – passengers commuting to or from the suburbs are inevitably drawn to train windows as the riot of colours flash by – and refreshes the views so much that walkers often stop in their tracks so they can study the mural more closely. Designed by noted Filipino, and, of late, Vancouver, muralist Norberto “Bert” Monterona, the mural was painted over the summer by members of the Collingwood Neighbourhood House (CNH) youth group. It wasn’t an easy task. At first, the wall had to be repainted a basic white to cover over the grafitti that marred its entire length. Then outlines of the myriad forms and scenes in the mural – Monterona’s designs are known for their intricate, almost abstract, forms that often tell stories about the people who live there – had to be carefully outlined. This outlining took some time, and for several weeks, passersby would stop and study it all, twisting their necks as they clearly tried to make out what was going on with “that wall.” Now they know. It’s a storyboard about where they live, a pictoral history of what the area once was, now is and what it is rapidly becoming – a rapid-growing, vibrant neighbourhood that often has the feeling of a small town but is, in fact, becoming a modern-city multicultural centre.
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December 2017
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St. Mary’s students remember veterans through No Stone Left Alone ceremony by Brenda Krivuzoff, Principal, St. Mary’s School On Nov. 7, more than 100 St. Mary’s students observed the Remembrance Day ceremonies for No Stone Left Alone (NSLA) at Mountain View Cemetery in Vancouver. St. Mary’s students, accompanied by soldiers from the 39th Brigade, placed stone poppies at veterans’ grave sites in the Jones 45 section at Mountain View Cemetery. Grade 2 teacher Catherine Moffatt coordinated the event. No Stone Left Alone is an initiative involving school students who honour and recognize the sacrifices that Canadian military men and women made while serving Canada (www.nostoneleftalone.com).
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December 2017
RENFREW COLLINGWOOD COMMUNITY NEWS
The Seniors Connection
The following is a paid advertisement by Adrian Dix, MLA for Vancouver/Kingsway
Better at Home shuttle service
by Sandra Medina
Following our first legislative session as the BC New Democrat government, it is a delight to be back in the constituency to celebrate our achievements with friends, neighbours, and community members. Together, we were able to take big money out of local elections, give a boost to tenants by closing the fixed term lease loophole, and pass legislation to improve nursing in BC. As we know, it will take time to clean up years of bad choices and neglect, but my colleagues and I are proud of the progress we have made to make life more affordable, deliver services people count on, and create a strong, sustainable economy.
Anne Gauchi has used the Better at Home shuttle service since the program started at Collingwood Neighbourhood House. “I can go from A to B and BE sure to get there,” she says. Anne thinks this service has a positive impact in her life as it keeps her healthy, independent and integrated with the community. With the shuttle bus service, Anne can go to medical appointments and grocery shopping every other Wednesday. Anne Gauchi with her Better at Home service When Anne’s husband had shuttle driver, Lund. a hip surgery, she was very Photos by Sandra Medina concerned about his situation as they used to go everywhere together. Once, when Lund,” she says, addthey went grocery shopping, ing that Lund is “very she kind, responsible and on time.” was worried about his walking around the store as they would Lund says the service spend over an hour shopping. is a great transportation option for seniors and he feels he is doing someThe shuttle driver, Lund, told thing good for them. Some of them them that he would have him struggle with their personal and social stay in the bus as a “co-pilot” commitments when they do not have while Anne did her shoprelatives or friends who are able to ping. “He was very happy with transport them around or if they’ve
Dear Neighbours:
Holiday Open House
had to stop driving due to their age or health condition. Lund and the Gauchis have a very nice relationship and are grateful to have each other.
Public hearing for Joyce-Collingwood Station Precinct Plan On Nov. 14, 2017, Vancouver city council referred proposed policy and zoning changes for the Joyce-Collingwood Station Precinct Area to public hearing. PUBLIC HEARING DATE AND LOCATION Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017 6 pm City Hall Council Chambers (3rd Floor) 453 West 12th Avenue (at Cambie Street) WHAT’S BEING PROPOSED? The public hearing will consider two amendments to the Station Precinct Plan. The first involves the creation of a new J4 sub-area to connect the existing Precinct Plan area to Kingsway. The second involves the expansion of the existing T2 sub-area. Both areas are marked with a dashed line on the map below. HAVE YOUR SAY A Council report outlining the staff recommendations can be found on the City’s website (vancouver.ca/ joycestation). At the upcoming Dec. 6 public hearing, staff will present an overview of the recommendations, including a summary of technical analysis and input from the public.
The holiday season has arrived! I wish you and your family a safe and happy holidays. I hope you’ll join me and my staff for our annual Open House at the MLA Community Office. Drop in for lunch, festive treats, and caroling. We will be celebrating a year of achievements! Date: Saturday, December 16th, 11am – 2pm Location: Adrian Dix Community Office, 5022 Joyce Street, Vancouver BC Collingwood Winter Carnival This year’s Winter Carnival was again a wonderful success. I hope everyone stayed warm and toasty with lots of hot cocoa and holiday treats. I want to express how grateful I am to the organizers, and all of the volunteers, performs and artists who contribute to such a magical event. Events at Army Navy Airforce Club 100 Good news! After a brief hiatus, I am pleased to share with you that the ANAF 100 will be having their regular Meat Draws on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday with tickets on sale starting at 3:30pm along with a “Special Event” draw at 5:30pm. I had the pleasure of attending one of the special event draws in November and highly recommend it. For more information about the club, visit http://anavets68.com/about-unit-100 Our regular office hours are: Monday to Thursday 9am-4pm. On Fridays the office is closed and we are open by appointment only. If you cannot make these regular hours, contact us and we’ll a0rrange a special appointment that fits your schedule!
RENFREW COLLINGWOOD COMMUNITY NEWS
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December 2017
CNH staff take on the Welfare Food Challenge Have you ever spent $19 buying a meal at a restaurant? Early November 2017, Collingwood Neighbourhood House’s chef Najia Elacel and food security coordinator Elise Barber took on the Welfare Food Challenge.
ment we will get the comprehensive poverty reduction plan that this province desperately needs. But until then, we’ve got to keep the pressure on.
For this challenge, they fed themselves for one week on just $19, the amount that is left after those living on welfare pay other expenses such as rent and bus fare. Total welfare payments for a month are $710.
Take action with Raise the Rates (https:// raisetherates.org/take-action/).
The following are excerpts from Elise Barber’s blog of her experiences taking the Welfare Food Challenge.
I woke up this morning and I wasn’t sure I could make it through to the end of the challenge. The thought of more beans with margarine and rice made me feel queasy, and my stomach pains from yesterday had left their mark. I could feel my body trying desperately to catch up with the sharp curveball I’ve thrown it. Things were feeling pretty dismal. Then I saw the can of tomatoes that I had yet to open, and things seemed more hopeful. I am so desperate for veggies … for flavour, for nutrition.
Day 1 – Impossible choices For the last few days, my mind has wandered worriedly to this challenge. What should I buy? How will I make it through? Will I be hungry? How can I stretch my $19 for the week? Should I value protein? Carbs? Flavour? It was an exhausting mental loop that I thought might subside once the purchases had been made, but no. Now I’ve moved on to … how will I make this meagre amount of food last until next Wednesday!?
Day 5 – The day hope came in the form of canned tomatoes
I made the most delicious thing I’ve made yet on this challenge.
Today I started the Welfare Food Challenge, an awareness campaign aimed at building pressure for a long-overdue substantial increase in BC’s welfare rates. Currently, people living on welfare receive $710 to live on per month. I’m just going to give you a minute to let that one sink in … think about rent (period), then utilities, food, transit, clothes, cell phone, laundry, household supplies … for a month. $710/month is shameful and absurd, no matter how you slice it. Today at the Welfare Food Challenge launch I heard someone use the term “legislated poverty,” and I think the term is apt. We’ve got a social “safety” net that does not keep those caught in it safe. Rather, it exposes the most marginalized in our communities to inhumane living conditions and impossible choices. Our welfare, disability and minimum wage rates keep people in poverty. My choices today at the grocery store were challenging (see above for my selection), and I am expecting this week to be unpleasant and tough. But the end of the week I get to go back to eating good nutritious food, and living a comfortable, privileged life. Whereas folks living on welfare live this reality day in, day out. This challenge isn’t a challenge to be won. It’s more of an examination of what failure looks like. I’m most interested in using this challenge as a spark for dialogue within my community – at work, with friends and with family. I am hopeful with our new govern-
Elise Barber is one of two Collingwood Neighbourhood House staff who took the Welfare Food Challenge early November 2017. Photos source: elisewelfarefoodchallenge.wordpress.com
Big
Four whole ingredients, flavour from the onions, salt from the can of tomatoes. I gobbled up a watered-down bowl with much excitement. I will be trying to extend this meal through the next few days to keep me going. It’s been a tiny reminder of the pleasures of food – something that’s been nearly absent through the challenge. I have started to see food as an obstacle, as an item on the task list. I’m excited to get back to the pleasures of food. I’m also deeply saddened that our welfare rates deprive people of so much, including the simple pleasure of food. Take action and write our Premier and Minister of Social Development and Poverty reduction. A template letter, and instructions can be found at https://raisetherates.org/ take-action/. To read Elise Barber’s complete blog visit https:// elisewelfarefoodchallenge.wordpress.com/.
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12
December 2017
RENFREW COLLINGWOOD COMMUNITY NEWS
Windermere Secondary’s Housing Justice Conference 2017 by Maya Cindrich On Nov. 20, the Windermere Secondary Law 12 classes attended their very first school-organized Housing Conference of 2017. Key speakers, such as anti-poverty and social justice activist Jean Swanson, gave detailed presentations about Vancouver’s ever-rising homelessness epidemic and what the students as youth, could do to put an end to homeless. The conference began with a presentation by Jean Swanson, who covered a wide array of topics that tie into Vancouver’s massively increasing homelessness population, such as the $41,000 tax decrease on the wealthy since the 1970s, and the decrease in social housing and inadequate funding from the provincial and federal governments. Jean also pressed the importance of decisions that will affect our future with housing for the better, saying, “If we can get a man to the moon, why can’t we end homelessness?” Jeans stated simple facts that would inevitably end homeless such as bringing back higher taxes on the wealthy, providing more social housing opportunities and, of course, gaining rent control. The second part to the conference consisted of students picking their own presentations to attend, according to their own interests. Going with the housing theme, I was the most interested in the presentation about Tiny Homes and Co-op Housing, given by Samantha Gambling and Fiona Jackson. With the help of these two women, our group of students learned about all the possible aids to not just lower class homelessness as we see it, but our suffering middle class as well. Samantha gave a detailed presentation of her life as a woman owning and living in an affordable, sustainable and ecofriendly tiny home on wheels, and the challenges and the rewards. I got to learn about zoning –which is a term that basically means what can be built on a piece of land or lot – that I hadn’t known about before. I also got to learn about the eco-friendly alternatives that come with living in a tiny home, for example, “humanure.” Samantha showed us a photograph of her toilet that had been altered to spit up solid and liquid waste, where it could then be sterilized in a bin outside for farming purposes. For me, that piece of information was interesting but wasn’t the highlight of our time together. Fiona Jackson, however, gave a presentation on coop housing and the benefits that come with being a part of a non-profit organization. With her, we got a more thorough look into co-ops. We learned about the democratic and business approach to co-op housing, where everyone “aims to break even.” She spoke about the different co-ops in Vancouver, and the ones being built as I’m sitting here typing this. For a short moment she even indulged into the history of co-ops, letting us know that the very first recorded existence of one was in Rochdale England, 1849.
All this brings up the pressing question: is housing a commodity or a human right? Personally, I can give a definitive answer to this question. It would simply be facts against beliefs. I believe it should be seen as a basic human necessity. No one in this world should sleep without a roof over their head, or not have a place to come home to. Nevertheless, my eyes are still open to the fact that as of now housing is in fact a commodity. Until a real change occurs, whether that be in the form of higher taxes on the wealthy or gaining rent control, housing will continue to be a game of status. A show of sorts. A gamble for the poor, but a game for the wealthy. Maya Cindrich is a Grade 12 student attending Windermere Secondary School. She aims to better her knowledge of our justice system in future years and one day become someone that makes a change, however big or small.
Photo by Maya Cindrich
Homelessness at Windermere Housing Justice Conference by Veronica Kong The Vancouver Housing crisis has affected many individuals who are currently homeless in Vancouver. So how can we work towards ending homelessness?
rent and other housing factors are voted on between the members. This means that the members work together to keep their housing well-managed and affordable.
At the Windermere Housing Justice Conference held on Nov. 20, guest speaker and activist Jean Swanson proposed that the government introduce a mansion tax. With this progressive property tax, we could end homelessness in a year. The mansion tax would bring in an extra $174 million annually, which could be used to build 2,138 modular homes for each counted homeless person in Vancouver. The cost of building the modular homes would only cost $160 million, which will take less than one year of revenue from the mansion tax.
Another alternative housing option are tiny houses. These houses are fully functional, customizable and has the capacity to be moved to other locations. The tiny houses are designed and built on the principles of affordability, community and sustainability. The downside to tiny houses is that they are currently not legal in Vancouver.
There are other ways that we can deal with the housing crisis. Co-op housing and tiny houses can also contribute to ending homelessness. In co-op housing, the members own the co-op, but the co-op owns the housing. Therefore,
Homelessness affects many individuals in health and other factors. We should not treat housing as a game for the rich when it causes others to suffer. Housing is a human right and should not be taken away from us. Veronica Kong is a current Law 12 student at Windermere Secondary. She is currently trying to raise awareness on issues such as homelessness and housing justice.
Eating Out in RC:
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December 2017
RENFREW COLLINGWOOD COMMUNITY NEWS by Paul Reid
Pho 99 Broadway Tech Centre 2915 Hebb Avenue (at Renfrew) Phone (604) 255-3135
Greetings food fans. Let me tell you about one of the newer eateries in town, just opened on Easter of 2017. This is definitely the most modern Pho restaurant that I have ever encountered. When later talking with manager and franchise owner, Mr. Khanh Tran, he explained to me “There has been a ‘change in philosophy with our generation, compared to the baby boomers before us. They would just cook the food and not pay much attention to the dining area. Now, the new generation wants to create an ambience and the atmosphere, to give the customer a full dining exprience; one that is comfortable and relaxed. And that it was. My accomplice and I shared a Combo Roll plate ($7): one salad roll; a fried roll, and a grilled minced pork roll. It comes with two delicious sauces. Mmm. I also ordered a large Seafood Noodle in Hot and Sour Soup ($10): with vegetables, squid, prawns and crabmeat. My accomplice had a small pho with chicken meat ($9). The food arrived swiftly and I will just say that everything was oh-so delicious. Loved it!
with the soft noodles; the lime helps to cut through the fat; the basil goes well with the beef aroma; the hoisin sauce (that brown sauce on the table) can be added if you think the soup is too salty; the hot sauce and jalepenos are their for you to control the spiciness. Pho 99’s broth takes a full 18 hours to get ready, which adds to that irresistible flavour. Yum! Tran runs Pho 99 Broadway with his wife, his brotherin-law, Quy, and the full support of his entire family. “This is Pho 99’s 10th location”, says Tran, “11 if you count the U.S. location; Tran’s first restaurant. A local hit with the students and staff of Broadway Tech Centre, Tran hopes to bring the best service and food that they can to our community. “For us, the bottom line is the people. Did they have a great experience. In our culture, it is the honourable thing to give your guests the best that we can, to treat them as best as we can, and that is our philosophy here.” Helping out the local community is also very important to Tran and his family, who were among the The Vietnamese boat people forced to flee Vietnam. “We have begun working with a local nearby church, St. Jude’s, as well as to provide local high school graduates with ‘celebration vouchers’ for a job well done. We look forward to when the new business becomes more sustainable so that we will be better equipped to help our community even more.”
Tran explained more about the pho-losophy. This is a meal about balance. All of the ingredients that you put in to the pho soup are there to balance one another I suggest you visit Pho 99 and experience the new genout. The crunchiness of the bean sprouts balances eration of pho restauarants for yourself. Bon appetit!
RENFREW PARK COMMUNITY COMPLEX 2929 East 22nd Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5M 2Y3
604 257-8388 Centre: ext 1 Pool: ext 2 Fax: 604 257-8392 Website: www.vancouver.ca/renfrewrec or www.renfrewcc.com
Jointly operated by Renfrew Park Community Association and Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation.
Special Holiday Events
Workshops Red Cross Babysitting Training (11+yrs)
Christmas Luncheon (55+yrs)
Holiday Hours of Operation Pool
Fitness Ctr
Centre Area
Sat
Dec 23 8:30am-4:00pm 9:30am-4:00pm
Closed
Sun
Dec 24 1:00pm-5:00pm 1:00pm-5:00pm
Closed
Mon Dec 25 Tue
Closed
Dec 26 1:00pm-5:00pm 1:00pm-5:00pm
Closed
Wed Dec 27 6:00am-9:30pm 6:00am-9:30pm
Closed
Thu
Dec 28 6:00am-9:30pm 6:00am-9:30pm
Closed
Fri
Dec 29 6:00am-9:00pm 6:00am-9:00pm
Closed
Sat
Dec 30 8:30am-4:00pm 9:30am-4:00pm
Closed
Sun
Dec 31 1:00pm-5:00pm 1:00pm-5:00pm
Closed
Mon Jan 1
Closed
Happy Holidays! See you in 2018.
Wibit Inflatable Day in the pool
Saturday, December 23rd from 2:00pm–4:00pm
Come and join in the fun! *Regular admission rates apply
2018 Winter Swimming Lesson Registration starts Tuesday, December 12th at 9:00am
The entertainment will be "The Bell Ringers" playing all your favorite Christmas tunes. Menu: Roasted Turkey with Herb Gravy, White Cheddar Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Crip Brussel Sprouts and Cranberry Upside Down Cake & Christmas Cookies. 120519 We Dec 13 9:00am-2:30pm $11.43/person
Breakfast with Santa (2+yrs) Join us with your family and friends for a waffle breakfast. Fun crafts and games will complete your visit. All participants 2+yrs and adults must pay and register for this event. Breakfast seating: 11:00am-12:00pm. 126542 Sa Dec 16 9:30am-12:30pm $5/person Polar Express (55+yrs)
Enjoy Tour And Travel The one-hour train ride is filled with magic, music, stories and on board refreshments Polar Express style. Includes coach ticket, one mini train ride and entry to the "North Pole Workshop", the "Gingerbread Village" and lunch on the Squamish River at the Watershed Grill in Brackendale. 121458 Su Dec 17 9:45am-6:00pm $102.81/person
Christmas Cookies and Crafts (6-8yrs)
Join us for two days of holiday fun! Children will take part in creating holiday art pieces to display at home, and make delicious treats to take home. 130652 Sa Su Dec 16-17 3:00-4:30pm
$30/2 sess
First Aid Hero So you want to be a babysitter, or your parents want you to take this course so they feel confident leaving you at home alone? Babysitting with First Aid Hero emphasizes learning through real life scenarios. Covered in this course: Exploring the Business of Babysitting; Creating Safe Environments; Safely Caring for ages 0-12; First Aid Skills. Please bring a bag lunch (no nuts please), yoga mat, medium sized doll or stuffed animal, plenty of water and snacks.
128329
Su
Dec 17
10:30am-5:30pm
$60/person
2018 Winter Centre Programs
Registration Starts On-line and in person registration Tue, November 21 Register by phone (604 257-8388) Wed, November 22
Youth Out Trip Pro D Day Out Trip - Crash Crawlys (10-13yrs)
Come and join us for a day of fun on your Pro D Day. We will be heading out to Crash Crawlys. Price includes entrance & public transportation. Out Trip Waiver & Park Board Waiver Forms must be completed two days before the out trip. Forms are available at the centre office. 126540 Fr Dec 1 9:00am-3:00pm $15/person
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December 2017
RENFREW COLLINGWOOD COMMUNITY NEWS
Collingwood Neighbourhood House (CNH)
H IGHLIG H TS
As CNH grows, it embraces Reconciliation with Indigenous people CNH recently held its Annual General Meeting. Below is the President and Executive Director’s Report which was presented at the meeting. To see all the materials related to CNH’s 2016-2017 Annual Report, visit http://www.cnh. bc.ca/AnnualReport/2017/index.html President and Executive Director’s Report In their stocking feet, staff and Board Directors mingled on the blankets spread over much of the gym floor; they smiled at one another, greeted colleagues and quietly wondered what would come next.
COMMUNITY LUNCH Collingwood Neighbourhood House invites you to lunch every Tuesday and Thursday. Full meal prices are $7 for adults, $6 for seniors, $5 for students and $3.25 for children under 12. Items can be purchased a la carte or “to go.”
December lunch menu Tuesday, December 5 Cream of mushroom soup Chicken salad or veggie sandwich Salad Lemon tart Thursday, December 7 Christmas lunch
Tuesday, December 12 Split pea soup This past year, CNH’s Board and staff Salmon or veggie quiche started to work on a process of Recon- CNH Executive Director Jennifer Gray-Grant & Board President Paula Lindner Salad ciliation. They read the Truth and RecCarrot cake onciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action, went The exercise, offered by Kairos Canada volunteers, as through several educational workshops and activities, well as other educational activities, have been an eyeThursday, December 14 helped to lead the Early Childhood Educators’ Cultural opener for so many of us who either grew up in Canada Lasagna (meat or veggie) Competency Film Project, brought an Indigenous focus but were not educated on our own colonial past, or who Salad to the annual Collingwood Days celebration and the grew up in other countries and never learned the hisGarlic bread CNH Management Team and Board President spent tory of Indigenous people in BC and Canada. Over the Shortbread cookies a day at Musqueam for a tour and some educational coming year we will continue to learn and seek ways activities. to embrace Reconciliation both within and beyond the walls of CNH. In approaching Reconciliation, we had decided that we needed to start by educating ourselves. And so, during And those walls will change over the coming year. the activity in the CNH gym, CNH’s full staff and some As we’ve discussed for years now, CNH will be Board Directors were walked through the history of coloopening an annex – an additional 10,250-squarenialism in British Columbia. feet of space – in the ground floor of a new residential tower at Boundary and Vanness. We will finally Some read parts of our history, all experienced it as the occupy the new space in 2018! land (represented by the blankets organizers folded, folded again and then removed) available for Indigenous This additional space will give us the opportunity habitation shrunk. As the exercise proceeded more and to reach out to more people in our neighbourhood, more people left the floor, representing the loss of so to further develop and deepen our approaches to many Indigenous people from smallpox, displacement building community and to have an arts and cultural and residential schools. focus in the facility, as well as additional opportunities around food preparation and learning. The annex will CNH is a place to belong and a place to grow. This year as we expand into include: a larger space we are also growing in • a purpose-built arts creour understanding and acceptance of ation space; our past and, we hope, into a better • a commercial-grade kitchen; future that embraces Reconciliation. As • a large multi-purpose always, we are deeply grateful to the space with a sprung floor, CNH staff, our Board Directors and all great acoustics and some volunteers for their hard work and deditheatrical lighting; cation to creating the sense of belong• a Children’s Room; and ing we strive to provide at Collingwood • additional office space Neighbourhood House. This page is sponsored by the Collingwood Neighbourhood House
RENFREW COLLINGWOOD COMMUNITY NEWS
15
December 2017
Collingwood Business Improvement Association Updates Thank you to everyone joining us at the annual Winter Carnival and Community Tree Lighting
Shop Collingwood
Our annual Winter Carnival and Community Tree Lighting event under the BIG tent in the Safeway parking lot at the the corner of Kingsway and Tyne was another great success. Hot cocoa, cookies, arts & crafts, photos with Santa, balloon artist, the Silver Belles Carollers, St. Mary’s Children’s choir, magic by Jangles the Magic Elf, Kellie Haines the ventriloquis with her Jouney to the North Pole, Peter Yap and to end our evening a holiday movie. Donations from the raffle prizes will go to the local Food Bank. The Collingwood BIA would like to thank everyone for coming out to kick off the holiday season. Thank you to our partners the Collingwood Community Policing Centre, Collingwood Jr BIA, Safeway and Starbucks. Thank you to the sponsors we couldn’t have this event without your support. (See the Thank You Ad in this issue)
Social Media and the Holidays
(this holiday season)
We have asked the businesses to decorate their store fronts and spread the festive cheer along Kingsway. We would love to see you post your favorite decorated store on our social media using the #hollyshopcollingwood and your post can win cash prizes. Winners will be selected December 31st. Enter as many photos as you’d like. If you are a business there is contest for you too. Post a photo and you can win! #hollyshopcolingwood
Upcoming Events:
shopcollingwood
@ /
shopcollingwoodvancouver
#hollyshopcollingwood
Chinese New Year Lion Dance February DATE to be confirmed Collingwood Days 2018 - May 26, 2017 @ GASTON PARK Follow us on Facebook Twitter & Instagram
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a Very Happy New Year
from the Collingwood BIA Board and Staff.
16
December 2017
RENFREW COLLINGWOOD COMMUNITY NEWS
Don Davies MP Vancouver Kingsway
You are warmly invited to our
HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE Friday, Dec. 15 5 pm to 7 pm
at 2951 Kingsway (just west of Rupert)
Community Office 2951 Kingsway, Vancouver, BC V5R 5J4 604-775-6263 | Don.Davies@parl.gc.ca
Performances Dates Dec 8,15 @ 7:30pm Dec 9, 10, 16, 17 @ 3:00pm and 7:00pm FREE Tickets become available online only starting Nov 12 at 3:00pm from www.singingchristmastree.ca
DonDavies.ca
Thank you to our amazing Winter Carnival sponsors & partners! Adrian Dix, MLA Central Park Business Centre Collingwood Community Policing Centre Collingwood Junior BIA MaxÕs Restaurant Mosaic BC Orijin Yoga Safeway Starbucks St. MaryÕs School
Happy Holidays!
- The Collingwood BIA
Broadway Church 2700 East Broadway, Vancouver