35 minute read
COVER
HEALTH Race-based health data can mean better policies
by Charlie Smith
Advertisement
Earlier this year, Canada’s chief public health officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, made it clear that race matters when it comes to outcomes related to COVID-19. This was the case even though race-based data is not consistently made available across Canada.
“For example, surveillance data from Toronto and Ottawa indicates that COVID-19 cases are 1.5 to 5 times higher among racialized populations than nonracialized populations in these two cities,” Tam said in her statement, delivered on February 21. “Data from First Nations peoples living on reserve also point to higher rates of infection with SARSCoV-02 compared to the general population (currently 69% higher).”
Moreover, Tam stated that there are “troubling examples of anti-Black racism that continue to this day” within Canada’s health-care system, “particularly involving racial bias on the part of health professionals and systemic racism within institutional practices”.
“This is compounded by the low proportion of Black health-care practitioners in Canada,” she added. “This continued generational systemic racism and mistreatment within the health system has led to considerable wariness within racialized communities, and a significant lack of trust in these systems and institutions. This lack of trust has contributed to significant COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among the Black and Indigenous, as well as other racialized communities.”
Now a Vancouver-based Black community group, Hogan’s Alley Society, is leading a research project to delve more deeply into COVID-19 vaccination experiences in Black communities in B.C. Through a survey on its website, HAS is asking Black people about their intentions with regard to COVID-19 vaccines, as well as their thoughts about immunizations, vaccine hesitancy, and the B.C. Vaccine Card program.
HAS spokesperson Stephanie Allen told the Straight by phone that the survey takes about 10 minutes to complete and it’s available in English and French. It’s being funded by the B.C. immunization committee.
“I think one of the things that was very concerning to us, early days, were the anecdotes—more the qualitative kind of feedback we were getting from community members that were deeply distrustful about vaccination,” Allen said.
She pointed out that this distrust is related to people’s personal and family histories with health-care professionals, as well as the troubled relationship that Black communities have had in the past with public-health agencies. The most notorious example is the U.S. Public Health Service’s study in 1932 to record the natural history of syphilis. Working with the Alabama-based Tuskagee Institute, the study tracked 600 Black men, including 399 with syphilis. The research subjects were not told about the nature of the study, which meant that they did not offer their informed consent.
The Black men in the study did not receive penicillin to treat their syphilis, leading to a class-action suit, which was settled in 1974 with a $10-million award. In 1997, then president Bill Clinton formally apologized.
When the pandemic struck, Allen said that some people in her community were put on edge very quickly, in part due to this history.
“So we saw this rising discourse as well—among community groups, among families—of fear, of real distrust,” she said. “And yet we had enough evidence to know, especially from Ontario, that Black communities were getting disproportionately impacted by COVID.”
Allen added that the same is true in the U.S.: a significant distrust of vaccines yet a high impact from COVID-19. The dangers were elevated for those working in frontline jobs without adequate sick leave. “The socioeconomic marginalization that Black communities face has put them in higher risk,” she said.
Allen said that a town-hall meeting was held for the Black community with the Black Physicians of British Columbia to answer people’s questions. The goal was to convey credible information to the community from sources they could trust. That led HAS to form a partnership with the principal investigator for the study, Dr. Gina Ogilvie, a Black physician and senior public health scientist at the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, as well as a Canada Research Chair in Global Control of HPV at UBC.
Ogilvie is well aware of the Tuskagee study and other health-research projects that have sowed distrust in marginalized communities. She sees the partnership with HAS as a way for the Black community to help gather data that can shape, direct, and guide policies going forward.
“So I think we need to learn from history but I also think we need to take that history and allow it to shape our future,” Ogilvie said. “And so I’m excited about repositioning Black folks—Black health—at the front of the conversation, and maybe in the centre of the conversation. I think that’s what we’re trying to do here.”
She noted that there has been a “massive gap, particularly in Canada” in collecting race-based health data. And this has impaired the ability of policymakers and health leaders to address “co-embedded inequities” within the health-care system.
“I think what’s clear after this pandemic is that everyone now understands this as a critical issue,” Ogilvie said.
Allen said that the existence of disaggregated race-based data makes it possible for community-based organizations to made a case for better policies. But this isn’t as easy to do when this data hasn’t been collected, which is another good reason for HAS to lead this research.
“We’re hopeful that we can use these findings to have very specific and targeted policy conversations at the provincial level, at the regional level, and with health authorities, and really start to see policies change and adapt,” Allen said. “You know, the First Nations Health Authority is a great model for how the needs of Indigenous peoples are being centred and addressed in health care. We’re just hopeful that we can start to build similar capacities for Black communities in B.C.” g
Data from Ontario showed that a higher incidence of COVID-19 cases in Black and Indigenous communities may have bolstered distrust in the health system. Photo by Getty Images.
“Many seniors in my riding have been asking for urgent help because they can no longer afford food or are facing eviction due to the loss or drastic reduction of their Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS). It is heartless and unconscionable for the Liberal government to treat low-income seniors this way. Seniors who applied for CERB or other pandemic benefi ts under the Service Canada stream can submit an urgent request to adjust the amount of their GIS based on their estimated income. However, seniors who applied under the Canada Revenue Agency stream have no process available to address this urgent situation. If you are an impacted senior, bring your concerns to your local Member of Parliament. The Liberal government should treat all seniors equally, no matter under which Ministry stream they applied for CERB. I, along with other NDP MPs, are calling on the government to exempt CERB or pandemic benefi ts as income when calculating GIS eligibility for low income vulnerable seniors.”
Jenny Kwan, Member of Parliament for Vancouver East
Many low-income seniors recently found that their monthly old age pension (including OAS, CPP and GIS) have been sharply reduced by several hundred dollars, and this situation would continue in the following months. With a few hundred dollars less in monthly income, these seniors fi nd themselves left in dire situation, struggling to make ends meet.
More than 80,000 low-income seniors across Canada who applied for CERB during the pandemic, have been hit by the sudden loss or drastic cut of the GIS because the government considers the pandemic benefits as income for GIS purposes. As a result, some seniors also lost other low-income benefits such as annual bus passes. When the federal government launched the CERB program, it never warned the applicants that collecting CERB would affect their GIS and other low-income benefi ts in the future, nor did the government provide any universal appeal process for the affected applicants.
GIS recipients are supposed to be able to earn up to $5,000 before their GIS is reduced. In addition, 50% of the next $10,000 of income will also be exempt. That means seniors should be able to earn up to $10,000 while still receiving benefi ts under the GIS. Yet somehow this exemption does not apply to CERB or EI-CRB income. The federal government calculates the amount of GIS for the coming year in July each year, so the reduced amount of GIS will remain for one year. It will not be adjusted until the government makes another evaluation and calculation in July next year.
Seniors facing GIS loss or reduction can seek help from MP in their riding, asking the MP offi ce to submit an urgent request to recalculate their 2020 income, as well as urge the government to fi x the fl awed policies.
Appeal the GIS decision if you applied for CERB through Service Canada
Seniors who applied for CERB through Service Canada can request an urgent reassessment of their income for 2020 through their MP’s office. It takes two to three weeks to get results. The seniors’ GIS can be restored or increased for most cases.
Seniors who applied for CERB through CRA have no way to appeal
For seniors who applied for CERB under the Canada Revenue Agency stream, at this time there is sadly no way for them to appeal the GIS decisions, or recalculate their income for 2020. This reduced GIS will continue for one year, unless the government changes the related policies. Seniors can share their concerns regarding this systemic injustice with their MP, and urge the government to correct the unfair policies.
Jenny Kwan, MP Constituency Offi ce
2572 E Hastings St, Vancouver (appointments mandatory during pandemic) | Email: Jenny.Kwan@parl.gc.ca | Tel: 604-775-5800 Find your MP and their contact information by your postal code: https://www.ourcommons.ca/members/en
GIFT GUIDE Ornaments provide a miniature look at Vancouver
by Charlie Smith
East Vancouver resident Rhonda Nowak has some very good reasons to be looking forward to the holiday season this year. And it’s not only because this is an especially busy time for her small business, Vancouver Christmas Ornaments, which offers a collection of blown-glass, miniature statues of Vancouver landmarks.
She can also celebrate her dramatically improved health after being diagnosed with cancer in 2020.
“It was a really tough, tough year, but people have been so kind,” Nowak told the Straight by phone. “And I think I got a few sympathy purchases last year, but now people are buying them because they actually love them!”
As she approaches her fifth Christmas retail season, she has a new product that people can hang on their trees: one of the small ferries that take people across False Creek. She’s added this to a line of ornaments that includes the East Van cross, Science World, and the Gastown steam clock. For animal lovers, she’s created a statue of one of the lions that stands at the south end of the Lions Gate Bridge.
Vancouver Christmas Ornaments also sells statues of a spirit bear, a sockeye salmon, a dogwood flower, and a crow, which has become a de facto symbol of East Vancouver, thanks to the Eastside Culture Crawl. They sell for between $20 and $25 each and are available at vanchristmas.com.
The crow was Nowak’s homage to the dearly departed Canuck the crow. “Bless his soul,” she said.
Nowak worked for many years in communications but lost her job in a restructuring a couple of years ago. She was looking for a new job when she received the cancer diagnosis. Because she couldn’t sell her statues at Christmas markets last year, friends and former coworkers launched a Facebook campaign on her behalf. They even paid for the advertisements, enabling her to earn enough to offset any loss of income.
“I am just so thankful for everyone who supported me this last year or two,” Nowak said. “I get emotional about it.”
In creating her designs, she relies on reference photos, prepares the drawings, and scales the models to size. She then chooses the finishes and the colours and has them manufactured elsewhere.
Making blown-glass statues of Vancouver landmarks is quite a leap for someone who used to make their living working for a large company. So where did she come up with the idea?
“I was actually in counselling and my counsellor said, ‘If you can do anything you wanted to do, what would it be?’” Nowak recalled.
She replied that she would create a business of blown-glass ornaments showing off aspects of Vancouver and B.C.
“He said, ‘Don’t tell anyone.’ I kind of was taken aback. He said, ‘That’s a fantastic idea. Don’t tell anyone. You should just go do it because someone else will do it,’” she said. “And then I thought, ‘Okay, I am going to.’ Life is short. You’ve got to be doing something you love.
“Especially after I had my diagnosis,” Nowak added. “It was just like a wake-up call. You know, you can’t be in a job that brings no joy. I’m now in a job that brings a lot of joy.” g
Science World and a False Creek ferry are just two of the small blown-glass statues created by East Van resident Rhonda Nowak and marketed by her company, Vancouver Christmas Ornaments.
We Still Have Christmas Trees!
We Carry Trees, Wreaths, Holiday Plants & Decor
Noble Fir
3 & 4 feet tall
Christmas Tree Ornaments
$49.99 each 50% off
2560 West Broadway Tel. 604-733-1534
HuntersGardenCentre.com
Store Hours: 9 am to 5:30 pm Seven Days a Week Holidays: 9 am to 5 pm
Palette Skills creates pathways for Canadians to gain employment in the fast-growing tech industry
Palette Skills can create new pathways for mid-career workers, university graduates with some work experience, newcomers, women reentering the workforce, and people facing barriers to work.
( is story is sponsored by Palette Skills.)
Despite having one of the most educated and diverse workforces in the world, an overwhelming number of Canadian companies struggle to nd highly skilled talent.
In order for our country to succeed in building an innovation economy, this employment gap must be closed by connecting trailblazing companies with suitable talent. Even though Canada’s unemployment rate remains high, companies are having a di cult time recruiting the team members required for growth.
Longtime social entrepreneur and computer scientist Arvind Gupta recognized the need to address this gap, sparking the idea for Palette Skills, a nonpro t that provides rapid training and upskilling programs to Canadians. Each program is designed to help participants gain employment in the fastest growing industries, like tech and cybersecurity.
“We just aren’t getting the right people into these innovative companies—and the right talent is crucial if companies want to succeed,” says Gupta, CEO and cofounder of Palette Skills.
When establishing the nonpro t, funded in part by the Government of Canada, he started with the question: why are we relying on new postsecondary programs and skilled foreign workers to meet talent demands when we live in a country with such a highly educated population?
In response to this question, Gupta re ected upon the measures it would take to move Canadians into these innovative industries and the minimum intervention required.
“We found a way to customize training for several groups of people, providing them with the knowledge and experience that hiring companies are looking for. In one week, someone who wasn’t considered ‘hireable’ can become the hottest talent these companies have seen. We show companies that these people can do the job, they just require a little extra training,” says Gupta.
Palette Skills can create new pathways for mid-career workers, university graduates with some work experience, newcomers, women reentering the workforce, and people experiencing major barriers to nding work. It also seeks to help workers move from disrupted industries into faster growing and more stable sectors.
An impressive 96 percent of participants who complete the SalesCamp or Cybersecurity Training program through Palette Skills receive a job o er.
SALESCAMP Over the past decade, Canada has become one of the largest tech hubs in the world, which is why the nonpro t created the SalesCamp training program. rough public-private partnerships, Palette Skills designs industrydriven training and upskilling programs that expand the talent pool for companies competing in today’s digital economy.
Palette Skills has been running the B2B tech sales course in Ontario for the past two years but has recently expanded to B.C. e second cohort of the virtual bootcamp-style program will begin in January 2022, with two more programs happening in February and March.
A signi cant part of the program involves direct engagement with hiring managers and tech companies. “ ese experts provide hands-on exercises that cover the sales cycle, lead generation, and closing a deal,” says Gupta. “ ey get to see how well the participants can perform and fasttrack them through the hiring process. It’s a real win-win; participants get to learn from the best and hiring partners get to access outstanding talent.”
Palette’s hiring partners represent a diverse variety of industries, including nancial services, so ware as a service, education, and more. ey include companies that range in size from small startups with fewer than 10 sta to large corporations with more than 5,000 employees. e rst iteration of the B.C. program included participation from companies like Klue, Traction on Demand, Trulioo, and Visier.
In the program itself, participants receive four weeks of sales training. e rst six days o er full-time live and online instruction, followed by three weeks of part-time workshops. Topics covered include sales foundations, con dence building, career-development planning, and more. Participants also get access to ongoing networking events and job-search support to help them succeed a er graduating the program. is fast-paced, intensive program is funded by Innovate B.C.
Palette Skills is motivated by the strong belief that when equipped with the right tools, workers of all genders, ages, and backgrounds can develop the skills necessary to succeed in the future of work.
“We have to believe that Canadians can do these jobs,” says Gupta. “I know we always say that people are the best resource, but I’m not sure we always believe it. Canadians can be part of this knowledge economy that we’re building if we create opportunities for them to enter. Otherwise, we are sending the message that these new types of well-paying jobs aren’t for them, they are for somebody else. If you believe people can do great things when they put their mind to it, then we have to build a bridge.” g
Visit www.paletteskills.org/bcsalescamp/ to apply to the Palette Skills SalesCamp BC program. If you would like to become a hiring partner and access a growing talent pool of skilled, qualified, and diverse candidates to help your company grow and succeed, go to www.paletteskills.org/partners/.
GIFT GUIDE Flip the script with a rocking present to yourself
by Mike Usinger
Normally, gift guides help you pick out gifts for that person who has everything, including a lifetime’s supply of shoes, socks, and reasonably priced but-not-too-shitty cookware. Things get a little trickier where music is involved. Nothing says “You blew it” like watching an Adele fan gamely proclaim “Oh, I love this.....” after opening the life-size KISS casket you thought would be perfect. So you know what? Forget giving the gift of music to someone who probably won’t appreciate it. Instead, give yourself something this year, starting with offerings from the following fine local bands and music-oriented businesses. Go ahead—you’ve earned it.
JOE KEITHLEY THROBBLEHEAD Here’s how you know you’re more famous than the next Dennis Lyxzén or Jim “Pennywise” Lindberg: AGGRONAUTIX decides that one punk rock Throbblehead in your likeness is not enough. D.O.A. obsessives will recall Joe “Shithead” Keithley first being honoured with an AGGRONAUTIX figurine eight years ago, the 7-inch collector’s item capturing him in his circa-2010s glory with blonde hair and his signature jean jacket. The American Throbblehead makers are following that up with a new limited-edition figure paying tribute to the ’80s era version of the punk forefather. You know what that means: darker and spikier hair, grungier jeans, and Keithley’s famous Gibson SG. The new Throbblehead is something you’ll have to wait for, as it won’t technically be on shelves until early 2022. But pre-orders for the limited-edition figurine are now open, which means you’ll have a purchase-confirmation slip from AGGRONAUTIX to slip into your stocking. ($US39.95 from aggronautix.com)
RARE AMERICANS PLAYING CARDS Some bands are a little more skilled at the merch game than others. Why limit things to a basic T-shirt in white, bone white, and off-white when there’s a whole world of products to stamp your band’s name upon: tea towels, water bottles, mechanical pencils, and electric chainsaws. Vancouver breakout kings Rare Americans have become full-blown internet sensations since forming five years ago. For proof of that, hop on YouTube where 2019’s clip for “Brittle Bones Nicky” has a seemingly impossible 58 million views, and the new “Walkin’ n Talkin’” has clocked 3.5 million in just a month. The Rare Americans site is chock full of everything from hoodies, T-shirts, and coloured vinyl to playing cards, beach towels, and lunch boxes. Go with the playing cards, for no other reason than they’ll make your nightly solitaire games a little more colourful this holiday season. ($4.99 at rareamericans.com)
RICKSHAW THEATRE HOODIE Ever been hiking in Banff, a neon-emeraldgreen lake to the left, and signs warning of grizzly bear sightings dotting the majestic forest to your right. And despite such an abundance of natural beauty, you find yourself approached on three different occasions by folks who want to know what the Rickshaw Theatre is, and where they can buy the Rickshaw hoodie you happened to be wearing. No? That’s okay because trust us, it happened. Not only is the Rickshaw one of Vancouver’s most-loved rooms, it also has some of the greatest merch in the city—the venue’s virtual-store features trucker hats and toques, bandannas, jacket patches, and scarfs. The Rickshaw facemask is every bit as sensible a gift as socks in these most weird of times. But back to that hoodie, where Rickshaw Theatre is emblazoned on the front, and a punky-looking skeleton pulls an amp, guitar, and snare in an old-school rickshaw on the back. Who needs Banff’s Emerald Lake when they’ve got you and your hoodie to look at. ($35 at rickshawtheatre.com).
30 YEARS OF MINT RECORDS T-SHIRT Stop and think about all the homegrown gold Mint Records has given Vancouver since first arriving on the scene in 1991. Legitimate icons Neko Case and the New Pornographers released their first records on the plucky indie founded by CiTR vets Randy Iwata and Bill Baker. Mint’s been home to Nardwuar the Human Serviette’s Evaporators, garage legends the Smugglers, postpunk heros the Organ, and hardcorenoize agitators lié. Need a few more names? Start with the Buttless Chaps, Carolyn Mark, cub, Tankhog, Tennessee Twin, the Pack a.d., Supermoon, and the wildly underrated the Gay. For those reasons and more, Mint is pretty much cooler than you’ll ever be—and that’s saying something. Celebrate one of the Vancouver indie scene’s most enduring labels with a 30 Years of Mint Records T-shirt, featuring a design by Nada Hayek. ($14.99 at mintrecs.com)
LIGHT ORGAN T-SHIRT Lets stick with record labels for a second, because whether you’re talking Mint, SubPop, Epitaph, or SST, labels are sometimes every bit as rad as the bands that record for them. Vancouver’s Light Organ has no shortage of critical darlings, including, but not limited to, Fake Shark, Hotel Mira, the Zolas, Twin River, and Mauvey. Chances are you already own merch (hoodies, bucket hats, thongs) from each of the above, but, if you don’t, what are you waiting for: load up! And while you’re on the label’s site pick up a crazy cool Light Organ T-shirt, which you can put in your wardrobe rotation between the vintage Matador Records and 4AD Ts you heisted from your parents’ attic the last time you were home for Christmas. ($25 at 604shop.com) g
Gifts you’ll love to find under the tree this holiday season (mostly because you bought them) include a Joe Keithley Throbblehead, Rare Americans playing cards, and a Light Organ T-shirt.
GIFT GUIDE Last-minute gifts that can impress and amuse
Looking for last-minute gifts? You’ve come to the right place. Check out some recommendations below from Georgia Straight staffers.
SEXY CANDLE There is a shop in East Vancouver, Jackson’s General Store (1490 Kingsway), that continually stocks goods from makers all across Canada. Owner Mike Jackson delivers unique on many levels, whether it’s for foodies and bookworms in your family or if you’re looking for great ideas for the men on your list. Which one among them wouldn’t want a sexy candle under the tree?
by Janet McDonald
THE EVERYWHERE BELT BAG FROM LULULEMON You may wonder: “How much can this small bag add to my loved one’s life?”
Well, the answer is incalculable. But we can assure you they’ll wear it while walking the seawall, to the brewery, and in every other scenario where they need to tote around their tiny belongings. The Everywhere Belt Bag is exceedingly convenient, unbelievably comfortable to wear, and was made for all genders.
In the fashion world, belt bags are really having a moment. The versatile pouch can be worn across your body or around your waist. If the lucky recipient of your gift is lacking the energy to sling it over their shoulder, it can also be carried by hand.
What makes the Everywhere Belt Bag even hotter is the variety of colours that it comes in. Think from eye-catching shades like warm coral, pink lychee, and yellow serpentine to the basics like asphalt grey and black. Made from a water-repellent fabric, the bag is perfect for those who have to commute or walk their dog in the pouring rain.
It’s also a great option for those working with a strict Secret Santa budget of $50, as it costs a very modest (for lululemon) $38.
A sexy candle from Jackson’s General Store, lululemon’s The Everywhere Belt Bag, a Michael Jackson jacket from Mintage Mall, and a funny book from Calendar Club will do the trick.
by Rachel Moore
MICHAEL JACKSON JACKET Vintage is hotter than ever for many reasons. Whether you like modern midcentury furniture or a beautiful silk scarf from the 1950s, one of these finds is always extra special. Typically, the materials and fabrics are of higher quality, made with natural fibres, are not treated with chemicals, and do not contain plastic. More importantly, you are doing the environment a favour by keeping these garments out of landfills. The Michael Jackson jacket is but one example of what’s available at Mintage Mall (245 East Broadway). Other vintage goods can be found at the Front Supply Co. (1641 Venables Street), BCSPCA Thrift Store (5239 Victoria Drive), and many other such stores across the region. by Janet McDonald
EFFIN’ BIRDS Science has proven that swearing is good for you, and Canadian artist and fellow bird lover Aaron Reynolds has created a calendar for the potty mouth in your family. The calendar contains a series of beautifully illustrated bird images with NSFW quotes. (This is something for your home office, not a backdrop for Zoom meetings.) It is raunchy and beautiful, and you will find plenty of expletives that reveal your true feelings. The calendars come in both wall and desktop styles and can be found at Calendar Club stores in local malls, plus big bad-boy retailer Amazon. Shop Canadian and have a fucking awesome holiday with your family.
by Janet McDonald
GET YOUR HANDS READY FOR BOXING WEEK
APPAREL, HOME GOODS, KIDS CLOTHING AND MUCH MORE
WWW.TREVDEELEY.COM
BOXING WEEK SHOPPING
OPEN REGULAR HOURS PLUS SUNDAY DEC 19TH 10:00-4:30 CLOSED DEC 25-27 & JAN 1-3
Made in Italy
FINANCE TD Economics: rate hike won’t halt price increases
by Carlito Pablo
Homebuyers might want to buckle up, because the Canadian housing market may be in for quite the ride in 2022.
Interest rates are widely expected to start increasing next year.
One might expect that higher interest rates would cause housing sales to go down, with lower prices following not far behind. However, a recent TD Economics report suggests otherwise.
“Only time will tell, but we are not convinced that higher rates will be enough to prevent another year of elevated sales activity and home price increases in 2022,” bank economist Rishi Sondhi has stated.
TD Economics released Sondhi’s paper online on December 8, the same day the Bank of Canada announced that it is holding its interest-setting overnight rate at 0.25 percent.
However, the central bank also indicated that it may move rates higher “sometime in the middle quarters of 2022”.
In his report, Sondhi noted, “Given the rapid increase in home prices we’ve seen during the pandemic (and the attendant erosion in affordability), it’s logical to wonder whether looming rate hikes will have a larger-than-normal impact on housing demand, and thus prices, moving forward.”
The economist stated that TD expects three rate hikes in 2022, followed by three more in 2023.
A sign of the times: this Vancouver home at 1592 Nanton Aveue sold on November 25 for $5.3 million, or almost a milllion bucks over its assessed value of $4,382,000 in 2021.
– TD economist Rishi Sondhi
These increases would bring the overnight rate to 1.75 percent from the current 0.25 percent level, which the Bank of Canada has maintained since March 27, 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Higher interest rates are likely on the way and our rate forecasts imply that they will exert a moderate drag on housing demand,” Sondhi wrote.
“However,” the bank economist continued, “a supportive macro backdrop, alongside stress tests that offer ample room for rates to rise before buyers are crowded out, should keep activity holding above pre-pandemic levels next year.”
Sondhi explained what a “demand supportive” economic backdrop means.
“Indeed, we expect strong economic, employment and income growth to take place in 2022,” he wrote.
Moreover, “population growth is likely to improve”.
In addition, Sondhi noted that Canadian households are “holding significant excess savings…some of which could be funneled into down payments”.
Particularly, the economist referenced a November 3, 2021, paper by his colleague, Sri Thanabalasingam, which cited estimates of the record amount of household savings during the pandemic totalling as much as $300 billion.
Also, “a large chunk of the Canadian population has aged into what has historically been prime homebuying years”, which are between 25 to 39, and thus “offering demographic support to demand”.
“Finally, expectations of future price gains may continue to stoke demand, by causing potential buyers to act now rather than later,” Sondhi wrote.
As for the mortgage stress test for borrowers, the TD economist noted that its current level is “affording ample room for rates to rise before they start crowding out potential buyers”.
Starting on June 1, 2021, the new mortgage qualifying rate for mortgage applications is based on the higher of either the benchmark rate of 5.25 percent or the rate offered by a lender plus two percent.
Sondhi recalled that rates for variable-rate mortgages were about 1.5 percent in September and around 2.2 percent to 2.3 percent for fixed-rate five-year housing loans.
“This would imply that interest rates on variable and 5-year fixed rate mortgages would have to rise by about 175 bps [basis points, equivalent to 1.75 percent] and 100 bps [one percent], respectively, from their September levels before they replaced the 5.25% stress test rate in the qualification process,” Sondhi explained.
He noted that TD expects that increases in mortgage rates will “still fall below the current stress test qualification threshold”. Overall, these factors are expected to “help keep sales elevated, offsetting the impact of higher rates”.
“And this healthy demand environment, coupled with the fact that markets are extremely tight, should help sustain positive Canadian average home price growth next year”, Sondhi wrote.
So the bottom line is that “another strong year for price growth is in the cards for 2022”. g
FOOD / BEER
Local sugar shack reveals its new year’s maple menu
St. Lawrence restaurant has hosted a west coast version of Quebec’s famous and traditional sugar shack meals for three years now
by Martin Dunphy
Railtown’s St. Lawrence restaurant has released the menu for its annual tribute to Quebec’s “maplesyrup season”.
Every winter and spring, cabanes à sucre (sugar shacks) showcase the fruits of Quebec’s forests with “sugaring off” activities and other fun related to the making of maple syrup.
Some families travel to actual working sugar shacks to watch the syrup-making process, enjoy sleigh rides and petting zoos, listen to toe-tapping music, and taste maple taffy on snow, among other traditional treats. Other cabanes are more like pop-up restaurants for the special season.
St. Lawrence, with chef-owner JeanChristophe Poirier’s blend of Québécois and classical French cuisine at 269 Powell Street, has hosted its own table d’hote cabane à sucre menu since 2020.
After the restaurant’s winter closure (from December 31 to January 24), the menu until the end of February will feature dishes inspired by Quebec’s sugar-bush bounty (available by online reservation, Tuesday to Sunday, until February 27, for $75 per person).
This year’s menu sees lots of options in starters, mains, and desserts. To begin, there is a choice between very traditional split-pea soup with smoked bacon, maplesmoked trout with scrambled eggs, pâté with maple syrup and Grand Marnier, and crêpes with mushroom ragout, herbs, and cheddar.
A traditional main, tourtière (this one with venison and red-wine sauce), shares the bill with maple-glazed pork short rib, scallops-and-beef-cheeks croquette, and aged duck breast with sausage braised in apple cider.
Finally, desserts don’t stray far from traditional fare here, with classic sugar pie and vanilla ice cream to choose alongside maple mille-feuille, a maple crème caramel with apple and Chantilly cream, and Quebec cheeses with brioche and jam. g
St. Lawrence’s table d’hote sugar-shack menu features four choices per course.
N
elly’s UP FOR SALE
Kitsilano diner Nelly’s, a family-owned grill, is going on the block for $349,000. d VANCOUVER CITY
COUNCILLOR Colleen Hardwick has praised Nelly’s Grill as a “local institution, and for good reason”.
“The food is consistently great. The service is exemplary, especially for a diner,” Hardwick wrote more than two years ago on the 2061 West 4th Avenue establishment’s Facebook page.
“And,” the first-term councillor noted, “the ambiance is Kitsilano to the core.”
“Love Nelly’s!” Hardwick declared to the delight of the breakfast and brunch spot. “Always great to see you!” Nelly’s Grill posted in reply.
The restaurant prides itself as a small, family-owned business that has been serving Kitsilano for many years. Located east of Arbutus Street, the place is famous for combining two breakfast favourites for its legendary fried-chicken eggs Benedict.
However, the owners are ready to move on. The Restaurant Business Broker Agency of realtor Jean Seguin has listed the business of Nelly’s Grill for $349,000.
The listing notes that the 48-seat restaurant has a liquor licence. Lease is $7,800 per month. g
Helping Hands Pilsner puts charity first in a major way
by Mike Usinger
All too often, special beer releases that are billed as raising money for charity don’t exactly go all in. You know the drill, and it goes something like “One dollar from every two-four sold will go toward _________ [insert charity here].”
That makes the new Helping Hands Community Pilsner something of a very welcome game-changer.
The beer is a collaboration spearheaded by Coquitlam’s Mariner Brewing. When it hits Metro Vancouver liquor stores in four-packs after being canned on December 16 and 17, Helping Hands will carry a suggested retail price of $10.99. Of that $10 will go the Abbotsford Disaster Relief Fund. And, yes, you read that right: $10. The remaining $0.99 will presumably be split by the large team of good-spirited folks who did everything from the brewing to the packaging and distribution.
Abbotsford is, of course, one of the many British Columbia communities hit hard by the record-breaking rains of this past November.
More than 70 stores are expected to carry Helping Hands Community Pilsner across the region, meaning you’ll be able to show your fellow B.C.ers you care whether you live in Champlain Heights or Chilliwack.
While Mariner Brewing might have played the role of team captain, there were plenty of other folks who stepped up for the collaboration. Main Street Brewing provided the yeast and brew days and Hops Connect ponied up the hops, with Field House donating the malt. Blue/Meta designed the label, with Summit Labels labelling the cans. Mile 37 handled the canning, and Parkside Freemont took on distribution. g
Helping Hands Community Pilsner featured help from multiple brewery employees.
ARTS Film takes viewers behind scenes of Nutcracker
by Charlie Smith
Nathaniel Craig knows what it’s like to dance through pain. In an interview with the Straight, the 22-year-old recalls what it felt like doing repetitive jumps in the Russian dance scene in the Goh Ballet’s 2018 version of The Nutcracker.
“I had quite bad shin splints the entire time,” Craig says. “And I just had to take myself up and push through it.”
This year, Craig endured a minor musclestrain injury in his right ankle, but he again bravely soldiered on through rehearsals of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s famous twoact ballet. He’s one of five young dancers whose moves are featured in The Reality of a Dream: A Nutcracker Documentary, a new film by Vancouver director Ryan Mah showing what goes on behind the scenes of the annual Goh Ballet production.
“It was really fun to be filmed in rehearsal and get to sort of showcase that part of the process,” Craig says, “because so often, all that the audience gets to see is the polished, perfect, finished product.”
The director of Goh Ballet Academy, Chan Hon Goh, is no stranger to the sacrifices that Craig and the other dancers made in preparing for The Nutcracker. As a principal dancer with the National Ballet of Canada for many years, she also had to push herself to the limit.
“When it’s not obvious to people that you’re going to do particularly well—or that you’re the right fit for a certain role or a certain character—it takes all the more determination and strong will, day in and day out,” Goh tells the Straight by phone. “You know, it’s really up to them. And that’s something I have to say for Nathaniel: he’s really kept at it despite the challenges.”
The dancers in the film come from a wide range of backgrounds. Douglas Oliveira de Souza is a Black refugee from Brazil who’s found solace and developed his identity through dance. He says in the film that his friends in his home country used to tease him and his father thought he would become gay if he danced.
Another dancer in the film, Yinuo (Shino) Liu, bluntly states “my sport is ballet”, which again speaks to the gruelling nature of this art form. Two other young dancers, Theepika Sivanarithan and Natalie May Dixon, are also shown in the film, pushing themselves to be exceptional.
“I realize how important it is for them to have role models—to have this courage to go for something that maybe they haven’t seen before,” Goh says. “I really love encouraging that. So that’s something very special.”
She’s impressed that Craig has been so bold as to do pointework and try to master classical Chinese dance. Craig says that he’s done parts for boys, but mainly in the Chinese classical dance he has danced solos in a full female costume.
“That would have been true to the tradition of classical Chinese dance in the early 20th century,” Craig says. “They didn’t allow women to perform. So it would be men doing all of the roles. It’s been very interesting.” g
In director Ryan Mah’s The Reality of a Dream: A Nutcracker Documentary, Nathaniel Craig (above) and other dancers reveal how strong and precise they must be during rehearsals.
Supported by RBC, The Reality of a Dream: A Nutcracker Documentary is available for free online until January 10 at GohNutcracker.com.
CHRISTMAS
CHOR LEONI
ON VIEW NOW | VANARTGALLERY.BC.CA
Major Sponsor: Generously supported by:
Naudia and Mark Maché
Organized by: Media Partners:
