FRIDAY
January 16 2015
Vol. 106 No. 04
PACIFIC SPIRIT 12
Recognizing civil courage DINING 19
Dig into Dine Out SPORTS 22
Barre stars There’s more online at
vancourier.com WEEKEND EDITION
THE VOICE of VANCOUVER NEIGHBOURHOODS since 1908
Affleck seeks election review Mike Howell
mhowell@vancourier.com
NPA Coun. George Affleck wants city staff to review the November 2014 civic election so concerns that voters raised with him about insufficient ballots, inconsistent checking of voter identification, spoiled ballots and long waits at polling stations can be answered. Affleck, who finished second in the council race, will introduce a motion at the Jan. 20 meeting of city council. He said his request is based on citizens’ complaints to him and media reports that identified confusion and irregularities at polling stations, some of which stayed open 45 minutes later than the mandated closing time. “There are a lot of questions that need to be answered,” said Affleck, noting he drafted a similar motion in November but didn’t table it because of concerns raised by the city’s legal department. “It was too aggressive, I guess.” Affleck said he also wants some clarity
on what “over-voting” means, a term the city’s chief election officer Janice Mackenzie has used to explain when a person votes for more candidates than there are positions. According to the city’s communications department, there were 593 ballots where voters cast votes for more than the allotted positions. So, for example, if a person voted for 12 councillors instead of the allotted 10, that would be considered an “over-vote.” The voter would be alerted about the mistake by the electronic vote tabulator. The voter would have the choice to cast a new ballot — the old one would be spoiled — or leave it as is. The city said there were 5,930 “overvotes” in the race for the 10 spots on council. “This figure presents the number of votes that were not counted due to the voter making an excess number of votes for a given race,” said an emailed statement from the city to the Courier. “For the councillor race, an over-vote of 10 was recorded whenever a voter selected
more than the allowed number of votes for that race. Therefore, the 5,930 ‘over-votes’ recorded for the councillor race translates into 593 ballots.” Mackenzie, who is Vancouver’s city clerk and doubles as election officer, was not available for an interview before the Courier’s Thursday print deadline. The NPA’s Ian Robertson, who finished one spot out of a council seat by 513 votes, said he fully supports Affleck’s motion. Robertson acknowledged all 593 ballots may not have included votes for him but he said a review of the election would give candidates and the public clarity on outstanding issues that surfaced on voting day. “The election is over and I’ve moved on, but it doesn’t change how I feel that there were some irregularities,” Robertson said. “They should be looked at.” Added Robertson, whose party is represented by three NPA councillors: “Having an additional NPA council member certainly would change the conversation within the council chambers.” Mayor Gregor Robertson and six
Vision councillors were re-elected in November, giving the party a majority. Vision Coun. Geoff Meggs won the 10th and final council spot. When told Affleck wants a review of the election, Meggs said he didn’t have a problem with “people getting as informed as they wish to be about the democratic process, but I don’t know there’s a lot to be learned by it.” Added Meggs: “I think there was a lot of scrutiny at the time about some of the shortages of ballots and things like that. But if [Affleck] is simply asking staff to report on their own work, I don’t see any problem with it.” The city spent more than $2 million on the election, with some of that cost going to almost tripling the number of advanced voting days to eight. For the first time ever, voters were able to vote at any polling station in the city and cast ballots in the Oakridge and International Village malls, the Vancouver Art Gallery and some post-secondary institutions. twitter.com/Howellings
Teacher turns students on to trades
‘There’re so many kids that just love working with their hands’ Cheryl Rossi
crossi@vancourier.com
LIVING IN A FOG Walkers of all shapes, sizes and breeds take in the view from the Stanley Park seawall as fog lifts above the city Tuesday morning. For a photo gallery, go to vancourier.com. PHOTO DAN TOULGOET
Tupper Tech teacher Russ Evans had a student with a difficult home life. She lived with her single father who behaved more like a troubled child than a parent. “You do not want the details in your head because they will never leave,” Evans said. District apprenticeship teacher Wendy Gilmour found the student shelter with a caring family that supported her pursuing a trade, helped her obtain work clothes, boots and tools, and worked to build her social skills and self-esteem. Gilmour found her a safe worksite and helped the company owner and site supervisor focus on her potential rather than her challenges. Today, she’s a second-year apprenticeship carpenter and Evans said the company owner and CEO would tell you she’s the most talented carpenter he employs. Continued on page 7
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F R I DAY, JA N UA RY 1 6 , 2 0 1 5 THE VANCOUVER COURIER
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News
Council interested in city hall ombudsperson
12TH&CAMBIE Mike Howell
mhowell@vancourier.com
Since someone decided a long time ago that the world needed a 24/7 news cycle, I apologize up front to the scroll-and-click crowd for bringing you some old news from September and updating it with what happened in December. I know, what the heck is wrong with me, right? But I’m guessing some of you might be interested in the topic. Especially, if you’re the complaining type. Anyway, here we go… Back in September, NPA mayoral candidate Kirk LaPointe — remember him? — announced during the civic election campaign that he would create an independent “office of the ombudsperson” if his party won a majority in November. And I quote: “It will be a new independent mechanism to impartially ensure city government follows
procedures. It will investigate public complaints, it will report its findings and it’s going to influence change at city hall.” Interesting, right? Well, as city hall watchers know, LaPointe couldn’t knock off Gregor Robertson, and Vision retained its majority at city hall. One of Vision’s re-elected councillors was Andrea Reimer, whom I quoted in my story back in September. She pointed out that B.C.’s Office of the Ombudsman already exists and has jurisdiction over local governments. She said LaPointe hadn’t done his homework. And she deflected his accusations that Vision had the most secretive administration in the city’s history. So I was kind of surprised when I reviewed the minutes of a Dec. 16, 2014 council meeting at which NPA Coun. George Affleck moved a motion to establish an independent office of the ombudsperson. The surprise was in the fact that council unanimously approved an
One of NPA mayoral candidate Kirk LaPointe’s promises in the 2014 campaign was to create an independent office of the ombudsperson. The new council has at least agreed to check out the possibility. PHOTO DAN TOULGOET
amended motion to have city staff report back to council on setting up such an office — and a lobbyist registry “to resolve resident disputes with the city and continue to increase transparency respectively.” I should note, though, that Reimer made sure
staff’s work will include investigating whether opportunities exist to provide a municipal ombudsperson and lobbyist registry through “existing provincial institutions, so as to reduce costs to taxpayers and provide greater independence.”
That’s kind of what she was getting at back in September. Anyway, I wanted to hear more from Reimer, so I called her up and got her voicemail. I also emailed her and received an automatic reply that said she was with her fam-
ily until Jan. 14 and didn’t have access to email, texts, phone, social media or other forms of mobile or online communication. Sounds like she’s in heaven. Hope to hear from her soon. ••• For the scroll-and-click crowd, some breaking news (at least it was when I posted it online Wednesday): Longtime city engineer Peter Judd is retiring in April. City manager Penny Ballem sent out a memo to staff this week, saying “he has been a tremendous support to me and all his colleagues. I will miss his sage advice, his sense of humour, his creative thinking and his strong commitment to our city initiatives whether they be the Greenest City, addressing homelessness, getting the best value for our taxpayers, mentoring immigrants trying to become qualified to work in Canada, or helping council understand the landfill operation.” twitter.com/Howellings
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THE VANCOUVER COURIER F R I DAY, JA N UA RY 1 6 , 2 0 1 5
News
No charges to cop in dog biting
Police dog bites sent suspect to hospital after arrest Mike Howell
mhowell@vancourier.com
The criminal justice branch of the provincial government announced Wednesday that it will not approve charges against a Vancouver police dog handler after his dog bit a suspect badly enough to require surgery. The incident occurred Oct. 7, 2013 after the officer pulled over a suspect wanted for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend and threatening her and a friend with a meat cleaver and knife. The justice branch didn’t provide names in the report or indicate where in the city the assault and arrest occurred. The justice branch report said the suspect was set upon by the officer’s dog after he refused the officer’s command to get on the ground.
“The [dog] bit the suspect on the left thigh,” the report said. “The suspect lifted the dog and punched its head. The officer struck the suspect on the back of his head, sending him to the ground. The officer got on top of the suspect, who was fighting and resisting arrest. The [dog] bit the suspect’s right arm while the officer grabbed his left arm.” Other officers arrived, causing the suspect to stop resisting arrest. He was handcuffed and transported to hospital, where he underwent surgery to repair damage from the dog bites. He was discharged from hospital eight days after the arrest. The officer told investigators he was aware the suspect earlier told his girlfriend that he was not afraid to die. The officer also knew him as someone violent, an escape risk, prohibited from possessing weapons and recently charged with dangerous driving. The suspect, who is five-
The B.C. government’s criminal justice branch announced Wednesday that it will not approve charges against a VPD dog handler after his dog bit a suspect badly enough to require surgery. PHOTO DAN TOULGOET
foot-11 and 260 pounds, told investigators there had been “a little argument” with his girlfriend but no violence. When he was pulled over in his vehicle, he said, the officer’s only command was “don’t
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move” before releasing the dog to attack him. The suspect said the officer encouraged the dog by saying, “Blood. Get him. Good boy, blood.” (The VPD does not have any dogs named “Blood.”)
The Crown said the statements of witnesses and police officers, along with hospital records, were consistent with the officer in question’s statement and inconsistent with the suspect’s version of events. “A court could reasonably rely on the version of events provided by the officer, and in those circumstances would not convict the officer of any offence,” said the justice branch’s report. “Based on the available evidence, the officer was acting in the lawful execution of his duties and the force he used in deploying [the dog] was justified in the circumstances.” The suspect was subsequently convicted of two charges of assault with a weapon and one charge of driving while prohibited and sentenced to jail. The justice branch report doesn’t provide details of the sentence. The justice branch reviewed the file after the Independent Inves-
tigations Office believed the case could warrant a charge against the officer. Since the investigations office opened in September 2012, it has investigated 32 files where an officer was involved in an incident that resulted in death or serious harm. Twenty-two investigations are complete. Four cases were forwarded to Crown counsel to be reviewed for charges. So far, no charges have been laid. Pivot Legal Society released a report in June 2014 that indicated there were 14.75 police dog bites per 100,000 persons in Vancouver in 2011 compared to 12.73 in Abbotsford, 2.5 in Victoria and 2.34 in West Vancouver. In November 2014, the provincial government announced standards — said to be the first of their kind in Canada — designed to ensure police dog handlers and their dogs continue to further public safety while minimizing bites and injuries. twitter.com/Howellings
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F R I DAY, JA N UA RY 1 6 , 2 0 1 5 THE VANCOUVER COURIER
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News New YVR visa program likely to be brought in
A big announcement that could fuel a series of new direct flights out of Vancouver International Airport (YVR) is expected before April, according to Vancouver Airport Authority (VAA) CEO Craig Richmond. VAA executives have lobbied the federal government for years to approve a transitwithout-visa program that would allow Asian travellers, for example, to land at Vancouver International Airport (YVR), wait in a lounge area with shops and services and then board a separate flight to Central America or South America — all without having to get a Canadian visa or to go through Canadian customs.
Many Asian workers in the mining sector currently travel to South America via the Middle East because they are able to travel visafree through that region’s airports. That could change if Ottawa approves a transit-without-visa program for YVR. Vancouver is directly en route between Shanghai and Sao Paolo so YVR is an efficient stopover, Richmond said. “We have our point person heading to Ottawa next week,” said Richmond. “Nothing has happened for a month because of the holidays but we are really quite close. We have five federal ministers who are in favour of it. We have universal support among the airlines and airports and travel organizations in Canada. It’s just a
matter of getting the last bit done.” Getting federal approval for the transit-without-visa program would not only mean that more passengers would travel through YVR, it would also open the doors for more scheduled, nonstop flights to South American cities such as Sao Paolo or Lima, Peru. Those direct flights would be a convenience for Vancouver travellers and potentially bring tourists to B.C. The most recent hurdle in getting approval involved an international agreement that had to be rewritten, Richmond said. That agreement touched on how information about passengers may be sent inter-continentally. “You can appreciate that there are a lot of fingers on this and it touches a lot of
places,” he said. If Ottawa approves the program, VAA would build a “purpose-built” transfer area that would include the same west coast colour palette, art and architectural details found elsewhere at YVR.
Man is in custody following standoff with police
Around 11:30 a.m. Jan 13, police visited to an apartment building in the 800 block of East 6th Avenue after receiving reports that a man had been assaulted. A 47-year-old man with minor injuries to his face was found and taken to hospital by paramedics for treatment. A short time later, the suspect was located inside an apartment he shares with the man who was assaulted.
Police surrounded the suite, but the suspect refused to come outside as ordered. Following seven hours of negotiations, police obtained a warrant to enter the apartment and, upon entering the suite around 7:30 p.m., a 36-year-old man was taken into custody with the assistance of a police dog. He is now facing charges in relation to the alleged assault of his roommate.
Bird experts to flock together
Vancouver has been selected to host the 27th International Ornithological Congress after submitting a winning bid to the organizing society. The event will run from Aug. 19 to 28 in 2018 and is considered the most presti-
gious event for bird scientists around the world. It will bring together over 2,000 bird scientists from 100 countries and include public events and exhibitions. The congress is expected to have a significant economic boost and form an important legacy that will help position British Columbia as an international destination for birders. Bird watching is one of the fastest growing leisure activities in North America, estimated to generate billions of dollars in tourism and recreation industries. The congress has occurred every four years since its inception in 1884, when it was hosted in Vienna, Austria. Vancouver will be only the second Canadian city to host the conference. Ottawa held the gathering in 1986.
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UBC is upgrading the facilities at Thunderbird Park. The upcoming changes will include both new facilities and the relocation and improvement to existing facilities. Please join us at a public open house to learn more about the proposed changes and provide your feedback on the final draft plan.
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Date: Wednesday, January 28, 2015 Time: 4:30pm – 6:30pm Place: MBA House Commons Room, 3385 Wesbrook Mall Refreshments will be served. Can’t attend in person? A quick online questionnaire will be available from January 26 - February 4 at planning.ubc.ca. To learn more about Thunderbird Park go to: sportfacilities.ubc.ca/ thunderbird-park/
For additional information on the project, contact: Aviva Savelson, Senior Manager, Consultation, Campus + Community Planning at aviva.savelson@ubc.ca or 604-822-9984
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Student developing videogame for visually impaired CLASS NOTES
Cheryl Rossi
crossi@vancourier.com
Teacher Seema Ali jokes that she usually scowls when the Courier’s photographer asks her to pose as if student Matthew Alvernaz is asking her a question. “Luckily, I don’t notice,” quipped Alvernaz, who was born blind. The Courier visited Killarney secondary Monday morning to meet Alvernaz, who is programming an audio-led videogame. Other students in Programming 13, an independent study course, used a popular 3D videogame programming engine that includes predetermined settings to create their games. Alvernaz used a more accessible but more obscure program, which lacks helpful forums and tutorials, to create an audio, rather than visually led, shooting game. “I have to do everything from scratch,” Alvernaz said. He uses a free program he downloaded to read what’s on his screen, sometimes having to copy and paste code into a text editing program. “I would think it would be a bit annoying for him to do it that way, but he doesn’t complain about it,” Ali said. Ali, mathematics and information technology department head at Killarney, first taught Alvernaz Information Technology 10. Students in that class had to install RAM, a hard and a floppy drive. “He did better than some of the other students on the installation quiz,” Ali said. Alvernaz couldn’t complete the animation com-
Blind Killarney secondary Programming 13 student Matthew Alvernaz discusses artificial intelligence for the audio videogame he’s developing with the help of teacher Seema Ali. PHOTO DAN TOULGOET
ponent for the course so he created a battleship game, which Ali says is a difficult task for a beginner. “He’s awesome,” Ali said. “What makes him awesome isn’t that he’s blind and he can program, but what makes him awesome is that he’s got a really good work ethic. He’s focused, he’s passionate about learning, he’s humble, he’s a really good person and I know he has a good sense of humour because he laughs at my jokes.” Alvernaz has been interested in videogame design since he was a kid. He plans to post his game online when he completes it. Numerous audio videogames exist and describe the environment with sound instead of visuals. “Say if there’s an enemy behind you, a shooter, then you’ll hear the footsteps walking up to you and you might hear him saying something, and it’ll be maybe a little quieter so you can actually tell it’s behind you, rather than louder, it might be in front of you,” Alvernaz explained. He hopes to study computer science at BCIT next year.
“I’m really not doing anything special because my blindness is something that’s affected me my entire life,” Alvernaz said. “It’s like the colour of your hair; it doesn’t really affect you enough to matter.” Ali believes Killarney’s computer science IT offerings are the most diverse of any high school in the city. It’s the only one to offer Programming 13 and it offers a District IT program that helps students skip first-semester courses at BCIT, saving them $1,700. So why are the offerings at Killarney so diverse? “Because I’m a workaholic,” Ali said. “If there are students who are interested, then I honestly really want to give them that ability to try it out.” More than 900 Killarney students and administrators participated in the global Hour of Code event that’s meant to demystify code and teach the basics during Computer Science Week in December. Graduates from Killarney have secured jobs with Google, BlackBerry and Apple. twitter.com/Cheryl_Rossi
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F R I DAY, JA N UA RY 1 6 , 2 0 1 5 THE VANCOUVER COURIER
Trades demand high in Vancouver
Continued from page 1 “I know that this sounds amazingly dramatic,” Evans said, “but [Gilmour] changes people’s lives every single year.” Some of the students she’s supported will speak at a Journey into Trades event at Vancouver Technical secondary Friday morning. “Last year when we did this they were all students that I had worked with,” Gilmour said. “Honestly, I felt like a proud parent.” Karen Larsen, career education coordinator for the Vancouver School Board told the Courier about Gilmour to highlight her “amazing” colleague and the trades programs offered by the VSB. Larsen has also nominated Gilmour for a YWCA Woman of Distinction Award. Gilmour completed teacher training in 1978 and worked in two other districts before she became a home economics teacher with the VSB in 1991. She subsequently placed students in work experience and then in 2005 became district apprenticeship teacher. Tupper Tech provides
District apprenticeship teacher Wendy Gilmour supports secondary students seeking trades skills, like Tupper Tech student Alex Nguyen. PHOTO DAN TOULGOET
skills for Grade 12 students to enter trades. Gilmour organizes the apprenticeships. Evans says Gilmour helped a teen enter a oneyear metal fabrication program at BCIT that should guarantee him reasonably steady and well-paid work. He had no landline, no Internet at home and no cellphone, and could have ended up homeless without her assistance. “She is essentially responsible for every single apprentice I have coached and I strongly
suspect every other teacher in the district would tell you the same thing,” Evans wrote in his award reference letter. Gilmour has helped students with learning disabilities see success. A student with weak English language skills recently surprised her by completing an auto refinishing class at Vancouver Community College. He now works as an auto collision tech. “There’re so many kids that just love working with their hands and when they
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get into a woodwork shop, or get into the engine of a car, or get into a kitchen, or start working with somebody’s hair, they just shine,” Gilmour said. “And they’re not shining, sometimes, sitting in classrooms.” She sees a great demand in Vancouver for cooks, bakers, and any trade involved in construction. Trades aren’t for dummies or slackers. You need 70 per cent to pass any program, attendance requirements can be strict and some programs at BCIT start at 7 a.m. Gilmour says the biggest barrier to easing young people into trades is parents’ lack of consideration. It’s not that parents don’t see trades as a viable choice once they think about it, but they rarely think of this path as an option. Gilmour says making sure students have everything they need in place to succeed is simply her job. “I love seeing students, who have perhaps struggled and haven’t had some of the supports that they needed in schools, being successful,” she said.
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F R I DAY, JA N UA RY 1 6 , 2 0 1 5 THE VANCOUVER COURIER
A9
News
Moving and modernizing City planning department moves house, streamlines the way it works DEVELOPING STORY
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The city’s planning and development department not only moved to a new location and reorganized in the latter half of 2014, but is in the midst of a $25-million “business transformation” project designed to modernize its systems. Brian Jackson, the city’s manager of planning and development, sat down with the Courier last week to outline some of the changes his department has undergone in recent months, and to highlight what’s on the department’s agenda for 2015 — the subject of next week’s Developing Story. The meeting location in Jackson’s new office in the VanCity building at the corner of Cambie and West 10th represents a key change and signals others that are in store in coming months and years. Planning and development staff used to be located in the east wing of city hall, but that structurally unsafe building is being torn down. This year, Jackson said the facilities department will be working on a plan for the entire city hall campus, situated between Cambie and Yukon and West 12th and Broadway, which will include the costs associated with seismically upgrading the main city hall heritage building. Jackson’s staff made the move to their new office building at 515 West 10th between May and August of last year, a move that included revamping the way applications are handled
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to create a more efficient process. In the old office, there were different information counters in different locations for various types of applications. In the new office, those counters have been brought together and consolidated on the main floor of the building. “Concierge” staff determine what stream people should be in. Along with the physical move and various physical organizational changes, the department is also modernizing the way it functions through a $25-million permits and licenses project that started a year and a half ago. It’s designed to simplify application processes with the ultimate goal of creating an online service for all applications. “It’s the largest business transformation project in the city, where a year from now 80 per cent of the people who come here won’t have to come here anymore. They
can get their permits online. They can track their application online and get their approvals online. So we’re moving to an entirely paperless system,” Jackson said. “We’ve gone online for our trades permits, plumbing and electrical. They’re about 50 per cent online now and then we’ll be doing development permits, building permits and all the larger applications later on this year.” Among the reasons for reorganizing the department and modernizing its systems is due to the sheer number of applications it handles. “The total number of development applications is higher than ever and the complexity of our applications is increasing…. There are a whole bunch of [considerations] adding to the complexity, so we have to work smarter, we have to provide better service to our applicants and we have to provide clearer and more consistent answers to the
public. We can only do that with the kind of consolidation and physical set-up that we have now.” According to a press release Wednesday, the city issued building permits worth $2.83 billion in 2014 — a record for building permit values. Developments that accounted for that increase included the Teck Acute Care Centre at B.C. Children’s Hospital with a construction value of $287 million; Westbank’s Kensington Garden at Kingsway and Nanaimo with a construction value of $65 million; the 44-storey Charleson tower by Onni with a construction value of $46 million; the new student services and science building at Langara College with a construction value of $46 million; and a new 195-unit rental building by Bosa BlueSky Properties on Main at East Georgia with a construction value of $27 million. twitter.com/naoibh
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THE VANCOUVER COURIER F R I DAY, JA N UA RY 1 6 , 2 0 1 5
Opinion
Burnaby mayor the odd man out on vote
No-win situation after Charlie Hedbo attack
Allen Garr Columnist
Geoff Olson Columnist
agarr@vancourier.com
In every serious political debate, no matter how nasty it gets, a little humour is a welcome relief. Consider Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan and the TransLink vote. He is the most outspoken among the few elected officials (three out of 23 mayors) opposed to the regional proposal to increase sales tax by 0.5 per cent to fund future TransLink infrastructure. He will be voting “No.” And he is nothing if not cranky when he is criticized. (See his letter to the editor in the Courier Jan. 12.) Now consider his wife Kathy Corrigan, the NDP MLA for Burnaby-Deer Lake. She is one member of the NDP caucus committed to campaign in favour of the “Yes” side and to convince her constituents to do the same. When I asked her about the mayor of Burnaby earlier this week, I swear I could see her smiling over the phone when she said: “He is not my constituent.” Turns out Chateau Corrigan is two blocks beyond her boundary line. “He is Raj’s” to deal with. That would be Raj Chouhan, the NDP MLA for Burnaby-Edmonds. And “this is not the first time Derek and I have disagreed.” And it is certainly not the first time Corrigan has been disagreeable. But before I get to that, it is worth noting one thing about this vote. If it fails, according to the North Vancouver District Mayor Richard Walton who chairs the TransLink Mayor’s Committee, if TransLink is unable to fund the projects proposed under this plan, “It will be felt less in Burnaby than anywhere else.” Corrigan’s opposition to the vote is based primarily on his criticism, not of the planned improvements, but of the TransLink governance structure and questions about TransLink’s management capabilities. While few would disagree with the points he makes, that is not the issue as the overwhelming majority of regional leaders know. The issue is to find a way to reduce desperate deficiencies. But Corrigan can and will selfishly hold his position with little or no political risk. That’s because Burnaby is particularly well endowed, certainly when compared with municipalities like Surrey, when it comes to transit infrastruc-
ture. Nor does he have to share a front row seat with Vancouver watching the congestion down the Broadway corridor every week day. Two of the region’s three SkyTrain lines run through Burnaby. When the Evergreen Line is completed that will be a third. And they just got a new highway with the widening of the TransCanada. It is a credit to Corrigan and his council (where his party holds every single seat) that they brought in massive density around transit stations. That helped fill the city coffers with funds from development levies to say nothing of increased property tax revenues. But it also brought criticism from housing specialists like Alice Sundberg. She points out that while Burnaby has created more housing around transit hubs, it did so at the expense of affordable rental housing. Nothing, however, not even Corrigan’s rejection of the TransLink vote, quite compares with his dogged refusal to deal with issue of homelessness. While virtually every other municipality makes accommodation in the form of shelters or subsidized housing, Corrigan says it is not his problem. So it just gets pushed off to other jurisdictions. Remarkably, for a person who considers himself progressive, Corrigan holds the homeless in total contempt, as he explained to Chris Bryan, editor of the Burnaby NewsLeader, who reported a year ago: “As he told me, many are the type of folks who, if they found you dying on the sidewalk, would pull out your gold fillings.” There is nothing humorous in that. ••• I am reliably informed that Mayor Gregor Robertson intends to knock off Richard Walton as chair of the TransLink Mayors Committee at a meeting planned for this morning (Jan. 16). Now that much of the TransLink vote’s heavy lifting of dealing with the province over a revenue source and the ballot question, bringing a remarkable 20 of the 23 mayors on side and assembling an unprecedented coalition of supporters behind the plan, has been done by Walton and Port Coquitlam Mayor Greg Moore, Robertson apparently wants the profile that will come with bringing it across the finish line. twitter.com/allengarr
The week in num6ers...
593 0
The number of ballots Nov. 15 where voters cast votes for more than the alloted 10 positions for city council.
The number of councillors who opposed a motion by NPA Coun. George Affleck to have city staff look into establishing a new ombudsperson position at city hall.
mwiseguise@yahoo.com
Before last Wednesday, I had never heard of Charlie Hebdo, the left-wing French satirical publication. By the end of the day, multiple TV and radio outlets had contacted me for comment on the massacre of 12 people at the magazine’s Paris office. I turned down the media requests. As I told one persistent producer, what could I usefully say on the air as an editorial cartoonist beyond condemning the killing of colleagues? Newsprint was a better vehicle for sharing my thoughts publicly, I figured. We may not be talking about a teachable moment. I can’t see the Paris massacre and its aftermath as anything but a no-win situation for all but a few. I’ll get to them in a moment. This is a no-win for Muslim immigrants in France and beyond, who will likely experience greater fear and loathing from others, with finer distinctions between moderates and extremists left to academics and clerics. There is about as much difference between Wahhabism and Sufism as there is between the Westboro Baptist Church and Unitarianism. Yet most political figures and news consumers don’t even know the difference between Sunni and Shiite. So it’s also a no-win for all non-Muslims in Europe and beyond, who are now even less likely to interact with people a lot more scared than they are. A Gallic version of The Patriot Act — the idea has already been floated — would be a negative investment for all French citizens, regardless of ethnicity. This is a no-win for editorial cartoonists across the world, even with the recent bump in professional visibility from the attacks. Publications and artists that release satirical depictions of Muhammad in the wake of the attacks will be celebrated for bravery even while arguably contributing to the public’s reflexive rejection of all things Islamic. Conversely, media outlets that refuse to reproduce satirical work offensive to Muslims will be condemned for tacitly handing the terrorists a press gag. In a video essay, CBC correspondent Neil MacDonald said his employer and other news organizations should have responded with a mass reprint of the
original Charlie Hebdo cartoons that offended the assassins. “We may indeed wish we could all be Charlie; I wish thugs and bullies couldn’t bully my profession, but I know better,” he observed. Yet there is no shortage of editorial cartoons from south of the border that savage Islam in general, and Muslims in particular, in a manner that isn’t extended to any other religion or people. I don’t think MacDonald is being disingenuous, but he undoubtedly knows that in the North American press there is one faith in particular, and one nation, that are off-limits for all but the gentlest political satire. (I’ll give you a hint: the religion isn’t Bahá’í and the nation isn’t Liechtenstein.) Satire can be a very sharp tool, used as either a scalpel or a dagger. It can also be a blunt force object best left in a corner. Shortly before his death in the Paris massacre, CH editor and cartoonist Stéphane Charbonnier (known as Charb) published a cartoon with the heading “Still no attacks in France,” with a caricature of a Kalashnikov-packing terrorist saying, “Just wait, we have until the end of January to send you our best wishes.” I believe in free speech. I also believe mock solicitations of violence aren’t worth committing to print. “By this time, the symbiosis between the West’s military-industrial-security complex and the extremists it purports to fight is virtually complete,” observes American journalist Chris Floyd. “The MISC holds the commanding heights of society now, and it is utterly dependent on a steady supply of terrorist attacks (and the constant production of new terrorist entities to fight) in order to keep its power, privileges — and profits — going strong.” So these are the likely winners in this monstrous state of affairs: the perpetrators of religious violence and the perpetrators of state violence — along with right-wing politicians and their media echo chamber. They, too, will lose in the long run if the world’s nuclear-armed states and disenfranchised peoples slide into deeper dysfunction. In 1949, Albert Einstein was quoted as saying, “I do not know how the Third World War will be fought, but I can tell you what they will use in the Fourth — rocks!” geoffolson.com
40 276 80 7.5
In thousands of dollars, the amount of money raised at a recent benefit concert for the Saint James Music Academy, which provides free music lessons to inner city kids.
The number of restaurants participating in the 13th edition of the annual Dine Out Vancouver food and wine festival, which runs Jan. 16 to Feb. 1.
The number of stitches Ujjal Dosanjh needed to close head wounds after being atttacked by Sikh extremists. The former premier is being given a new award for courage Sunday..
The percentage by which the price of a typical detached bungalow in Vancouver has increased compared to the same time last year.
F R I DAY, JA N UA RY 1 6 , 2 0 1 5 THE VANCOUVER COURIER
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Mailbox Photo lifts reader’s spirits
To the editor: Re: “Go the distance with inaugural Vancouver Marathon relay,” Jan. 9. That was a superb front-page photo by magician photographer Dan Toulgoet! He should get a levitating award for the lift-off by the tall runner. It was a great way to promote more physical activity for the new year by writer Megan Stewart. What a sane way to do a marathon — in relays. This is the first time I’ve written a fan mail to a newspaper. I want to say how much I appreciate having a “real paper” in hand to read with interesting articles, research and opinion pieces. Wally Kiel, Vancouver
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Babes in the Woods discovered
Jan. 15, 1953: The skeletal remains of two children between six and 10 years old are discovered near Beaver Lake in Stanley Park by a city worker. The bodies were found roughly six years after the children were thought to have been killed with a hatchet also found in the area. The two, dubbed the “Babes in the Woods,” were covered by a woman’s fur coat and a woman’s shoe was found underneath them. The medical examiner at the time mistakenly concluded the victims were a boy and a girl, but a DNA test conducted in 1998 proved they were both male. Neither of the victims or any potential suspects have ever been identified.
Figure skating tourney hits the ice
Jan. 16, 2008: The Canadian Figure Skating Championships kick off at Pacific Coliseum to determine the country’s top skaters at the senior and junior levels in the disciplines of men’s singles, ladies’ singles, pair skating and ice dancing, as well as who would represent Canada at the world championships. Seventeenyear-old Patrick Chan landed a key triple Axel to win the men’s division and Joannie Rochette won her fourth consecutive women’s crown. Anabelle Langlois and Cody Hay held off a challenge from defending champs Jessica Dube and Bryce Davison to win by .15 of a point in the pair skating event, while Tessa Virtue and partner Scott Moir won gold for ice dancing. ADVERTISING
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To the editor: Re: “City hall doesn’t smell a rat,” Jan. 9. I was relieved to read that I am not the only one with a rat problem. I must confess that I never thought to call the city. I never knew they would do anything but I guess I should have given them the opportunity. I am well into my sixth decade of life and saw my very first rat in my East Vancouver back yard early last summer. Over the course of three to five months, I trapped/killed over 12 rats who seemed extremely attracted to the shed under my house in which I store
my only garden furnishings. There is no food or food-like substance in the shed with which to tempt them but they keep coming back. If city hall wants to smell a rat, they are welcome to come to my home and while they are here, perhaps they would like to smell the chafer beetle grubs which have been feeding the crows for the past two months. I also keep a stove pipe over one of my porch posts to prevent the raccoons from climbing onto my roof, creating havoc and holes so that the rain falls into my house. Ah, life in East Vancouver — alive with nature! Jennifer Fleming, Vancouver ••• Mike Howell neglects to inform residents of Vancouver what they should do regarding a rat sighting. Most of us tend to be repulsed and go in the opposite direction, which will do nothing to solve the problem. In fact, residents are advised to throw a container over the offender (an empty refuse container ideally) and phone 311 to request removal of the rodent. The city will send somebody out the same day to remove the culprit, and that way they become aware of the extent of the problem. They will also remove dead rats should you have one deposited on your doorstep by a hunting feline. My experience is that removal includes weekend pickups. This is a humane method of dealing with the issue, and gives city staff a reasonable indication of whether or not the problem is extensive. Betty Kosel, Vancouver
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COURIER STORY: “Non-profit files injunction to stop ship sinking,” Jan. 9. donjames911: I am an ex-Navy and civilian scuba diver with over 50 years experience. I specialized in wreck diving. As a chemical engineer, I have never heard of TBT being an environmental issue. Does Gary MacDonald also propose banning all vessels from the marine park? Their bottom paint contains TBT also. COURIER STORY: “Full school leaves Dickens annex kids in limbo,” Jan. 9. eastvanmama: So go to your catchment school, join the PAC, and turn it into Dickens. There’s nothing magical about Dickens that can’t be replicated. But why should a kindergarten student have to travel out of catchment so an out of catchment student can travel in? Our schools are strapped enough — we shouldn’t be using limited funding to accommodate out of catchment students so they can transfer to another out of catchment school, when their own schools could accommodate them. anothereastvanmama: I live in Cedar Cottage and personally know three Dickens Annex families with out-of-catchment children affected by this situation. These families chose to enroll their children in Dickens Annex because they felt their own neighbourhood school wasn’t a “good fit” for their children — code for schools that have a negative reputation (deservedly or not) as struggling, usually due to poverty/ high ESL rates. Most schools around here don’t have the “amazing” reputation that Dickens does — such as the catchment school my two children attend (Selkirk, a few blocks east), which has just an OK reputation but in reality is a fantastic school with a wonderful community that my children are thriving in! What I would love to hear (but never do) from the out-of-catchment parents is a solution. COURIER ARCHIVES: “Rock star takes on the CRTC, wins,” Jan. 14. iToronto: Without the CRTC, Bryan Adams probably wouldn’t have made it as far as he did. The requirement for Canadian radio stations to play a certain amount of CanCon meant that a lot of artists got playtime that they normally wouldn’t.
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THE VANCOUVER COURIER F R I DAY, JA N UA RY 1 6 , 2 0 1 5
Community
An act of courage saved lives Vancouverite owes her life to Japanese diplomat who helped Jews escape the Nazis PACIFIC SPIRIT Pat Johnson
pacificspiritpj@gmail.com
Vancouverite Deborah Ross-Grayman was born after the Second World War ended. But she credits her life to the wartime actions of a single remarkable man. Chiune Sugihara was vice-consul in Lithuania for the Imperial Japanese government. Defying his government, Sugihara issued transit visas to European Jews, allowing them to escape the advancing Nazis. His actions, which could have cost him his career, to say nothing of his life, are credited with saving 6,000 Jews. Ross-Grayman’s mother, Niuta Ramm (later Ross), was one of them. Living in Warsaw when the war began, Ramm and her husband, Yonia Fain, heard what Sugihara was doing and made their way to Kovno, Lithuania, hoping to escape Europe. By the time they arrived in Kovno, Sugihara had left. Yet members of the Jewish socialist movement, the Bund, were duplicating visas Sugihara had issued and the couple received two. They travelled on the Trans-Siberian Railway to Vladivostok and from there took a ship to Japan. They remained as refugees in Kobe for six months before the Japanese government transferred European refugees to Japanese-occupied Shanghai, on the Chinese mainland. There, the couple waited out the war, unaware of the magnitude of developments in Europe. When the war ended, the couple discovered the fate of both their families in Europe. “No one survived,” Ross-Grayman says. Abandoning thoughts of returning to the bloodsoaked continent of their origin, the couple made their way to Mexico, aided by the artist Diego Rivera. (Fain was a noted painter and Yiddish poet who died in 2013 at the age of 100.) The couple eventually split
Deborah Ross-Grayman credits Japanese diplomat Chiune Sugihara with rescuing thousands of Jews, including her late mother, while serving in wartime Lithuania.
PHOTO DAN TOULGOET
up and Niuta Ramm met the American John Ross, who would become RossGrayman’s father. Last year, Ross-Grayman travelled to Japan to meet Madoka Sugihara, the granddaughter of the man to whom, she says, she owes her life because he saved her mother. “It’s very personal for me,” she says. “I owe my life to Chiune Sugihara and his act of civil courage. For a Japanese diplomat to follow his own moral compass was an amazing thing to do.” Ross-Grayman and others were inspired by acts like Sugihara’s to found an organization to recognize civil courage. Two years ago, they formed the Wallenberg-Sugihara
Civil Courage Society (WSCCS). In addition to recognizing Sugihara, the society is inspired by Raoul Wallenberg. Wallenberg’s name is probably better known to North Americans than is Sugihara’s. Wallenberg was a Swedish architect and businessman who served as his country’s special envoy in Budapest for a few months in 1944. During that relatively brief period, he managed to shelter Jews and secure passage for tens of thousands fleeing Hungary’s fascist puppet regime and the German Nazis. He issued passes identifying holders as Swedish subjects awaiting relocation, even standing on the roof of a train car headed for
the death camps of Poland and placing passes into the grasping hands of desperate Jews as Hungarian fascists shot at him. When the Soviets entered Hungary exactly 70 years ago tomorrow (on Jan. 17, 1945), Wallenberg was picked up on suspicion of espionage. He was never conclusively seen alive again. An annual Wallenberg Day commemoration began in Vancouver 10 years ago, largely creditable to Anders Neumuller, a former honorary Swedish consul to Vancouver. While the WSCCS was founded two years ago, this is the first year of their civil courage award, which they will bestow this weekend on Ujjal Dosanjh, the
former B.C. premier, federal minister of justice and Member of Parliament. Before entering elective politics, Dosanjh was a vocal critic of violence and intimidation used by extremists in the Sikh community to advocate independence for Khalistan. In February 1985, Dosanjh was attacked with an iron bar as he left his law office. He suffered a broken hand and required 80 stitches to his head. Speaking out against violence and extremism is a form of civil courage that perpetuates the legacy of Sugihara and Wallenberg, and reflects the mission of the award that bears the two men’s names, Ross-Grayman says. At the event where Dosanjh is honored,
Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at the Jewish Community Centre, the film The Rescuers will be screened, telling the stories of 13 diplomats whose actions during the Second World War saved tens of thousands of Jews. Sugihara and Wallenberg came from opposite sides of the planet and lived dramatically different lives, but both responded to injustice with humanity and civil courage. The lessons of the two men are models for today, says Ross-Grayman. “Even in the darkest times in history and in the world, there are rays of light,” she says. An optimistic message well worth remembering in days like these. twitter.com/Pat604Johnson
F R I DAY, JA N UA RY 1 6 , 2 0 1 5 THE VANCOUVER COURIER
Anne Marrison
amarrison@shaw.ca
In January’s wet, gloomy days, plants visible near windows give more pleasure than anything else in the garden — and the ones close to the shelter and warmth of a house wall always flower earlier than they will elsewhere. These include rosemary, Californian tree poppy the Winter Iris (Iris unguicularis), Wintersweet and Camelia sasanqua. None find it easy to survive winter without the shelter of a wall. That’s why many gardeners are tempted to create a wall-side garden right up against the side of their home where they can watch nature’s dramas from the other side of the glass and the roots of tender plants make it through winter even when top-growth dies. But eventually, the wall needs maintenance and the plants below must handle trampling, smothering, cutting-down or ripping-apart. Branches make painting impossible and roofers need
firm, level places to stand ladders regardless of what’s imprisoned below. But many plants have enormous powers of regeneration. Bulbs do because each bulb is a food storage organ and some bulbs form “dropper” bulbs. I dug up some snowdrops once and discovered many had thrust down a root where a second bulb had formed. One plant had grown a long string of three bulbs one below the other. Most of the small bulbs including scilla, chionodoxa, puschkinia and snow crocus survive very nicely in wall-side gardens and also lawns where the hazards include drought, too-early grass-cutting and heavy lawnmowers. Once these bulbs go dormant, they shrug off these conditions and, having seeded around, return next spring in greater numbers. This includes the hardy Cyclamen coum, which flowers in January and goes dormant in May. Clay-soil gardeners often find Cyclamen coum grow
comfortably under cedars. The shallow roots of cedars absorb excess water so that cyclamen gain the drainage they need. Tap-rooted plants are also survivors. For wallside gardens in winter this includes the Hellebore orientalis hybrids most of which are remarkably drought-resistant. The Christmas roses (Hellebore niger) are fussier especially in their first few years after being planted. Other perennial, tap-rooted survivors include Lungwort (Pulmonaria cultivars), Astrantia and Papaver orientalis People who like to have a big hit of colour near their windows might enjoy Winter Heather (Erica carnea), which flowers in many shades of pink from pale to intense over a very long blooming period. Meanwhile, fragrance is the special gift from the white flowers of Sarcococca humilis an evergreen, winter-blooming, low-growing shrub. Another shrub which co-exists beautifully with house walls is the hardy
fuchsia (Fuchsia magellanica), which is accustomed to dying to the ground in most winters and seldom grows tall enough to seriously block house windows. Watching hummingbirds in a windowside fuchsia bush is a truly magical experience. Trees are best kept away from walls. Roots like exploring house drains and branches can destroy the soffits in roof overhangs. But many trees can live in a container within sight of a window. These can include the Contorted Hazel with its corkscrew branches and also contorted willows (varieties include Red Curls or Yellow Curls). Also Pieris shrubs which have a very long interest because they form their bud clusters early in winter and hold on to them until they flower months later. Anne Marrison is happy to answer garden questions. Send them to her via amarrison@shaw.ca. It helps me if you can mention the name of your city or region.
f
literacy we e
k
Flowers by the window
SAT JAN 24 - SUN JAN 25
ily am
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Family Literacy Weekend Bring the whole family down for a weekend of literacy, learning and laughs during Decoda’s Family Literacy Weekend with Science World at TELUS World of Science. Live performances, interactive displays, free take-home materials, and prizes. We have something for all ages.
Tickets available at www.scienceworld.ca In partnership with:
Media Sponsor:
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THE VANCOUVER COURIER F R I DAY, JA N UA RY 1 6 , 2 0 1 5
Community
PLAYING IT FORWARD: When cuts to public school funding meant Vancouver’s inner city children had limited or no access to music education, long-time Downtown Eastside area resident Kathryn Walker decided to do something about it. She rallied support in the community for a music academy that would not only teach music but use it as a means of transforming young lives. In 2007, the Saint James Music Academy was born with roughly 40 students participating in after-school music programs. Today nearly 200 students take part — for free — receiving music instruction and meals, with another 250 children involved in outreach programs. The academy was once again the beneficiary of the fourth Sing It Forward concert staged at the Vogue. Local musicians including KOS, Bear Mountain and Bend Sinister came together for the all-ages charity concert founded by Hey Ocean’s David Vertesi and his wife, Ambrosia. A reported $40,000 was generated from the music benefit. MOVIN’ ON UP: Led by Lorne Segal, the Courage to Come Back Awards is always a life-affirming heart-warmer. The annual awards dinner pays tribute to B.C. residents who have demonstrated extraordinary courage in their recovery from illness or adversity. Segal kicked off the campaign and call for nominations on the 34th floor of the Scotiabank Tower. The reception, attended by former recipients, dignitaries and scads of media, was a far cry from the awards inaugural launch where a modest group gathered in the basement of Coast Mental Health’s former Mount Pleasant offices 17 years ago, recalled Segal and Coast CEO Darrell Burnham. Since then, awareness and profile of the organization’s efforts have grown with nearly 4,300 recipients of its many programs and services. Nearly $10 million has been raised from the annual galado to promote recovery of persons with mental illness. The 2015 edition will be in May. AND THE BAND (LEADER) PLAYED ON: Legendary bandleader Dal Richards continues his swingin’ ways. Showing no signs of slowing down, the maestro recently played his 76th consecutive New Year’s gig at Richmond’s River Rock Resort and Casino, an impressive run that began at the Palomar Supper Club in 1938. The B.C. Entertainment Hall of Famer marked his 97th birthday with a party held at his Beatty Street home and orchestrated by his wife, Muriel Honey, who’s responsible for filling Richards’ busy social calendar. Friends and family filed into his Crosstown pad for the milestone celebrations. Attendees, including fellow Hall of Famers Red Robinson and Christopher Gaze, joined in a chorus of “Happy Birthday” led by the nonagenarian.
email yvrflee@hotmail.com twitter @FredAboutTown
Saint James Music Academy founder Kathryn Walker and board member Sharon Kravitz saw $40,000 raised at annual Sing It Forward concert.
Wanting to raise awareness of mental illness, Shirley Broadfoot and Anne Murnaghan helped conceive of the Courage to Come Back Awards 17 years ago in the basement offices of Coast Mental Health.
Local group Bear Mountain was among the musical acts that convened at the fourth Sing It Forward benefit. Proceeds from the charity help provide inner city kids with free music education after school.
Bandleader Dal Richards, along with his wife Muriel Honey, ushered in his 97th birthday with friends and family at his Crosstown pad.
Legendary broadcaster Red Robinson and Bard on the Beach artistic director Christopher Gaze helped Dal Richards blow out his birthday candles.
Coast Mental Health CEO Darrell Burnham, Scotiabank Senior VP Winnie Leong and Courage to Come Back chair Lorne Segal launched the 2015 awards program at Scotia Tower. The 17th annual gala-do will take place May 7.
Britannia students Bernadette Karl and Jade VanVelzen are among the 200 students who benefit from the after-school music programs held at Saint James Church in the Downtown Eastside.
St. Paul Hospital Foundation chair David Poole and his wife Mary Beth raised a glass to the success of the foundation’s 17th Lights of Hope Campaign. This year’s holiday display of lights raised $2.8 million to go towards the purchase of a new MRI machine.
F R I DAY, JA N UA RY 1 6 , 2 0 1 5 THE VANCOUVER COURIER
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THE VANCOUVER COURIER F R I DAY, JA N UA RY 1 6 , 2 0 1 5
Thank you!
for bringing us back home
Come and visit the new Kits House at West 7th & Vine Special thank you to our Naming Champions:
kitshouse.org â&#x20AC;˘ 604-736-3588
F R I DAY, JA N UA RY 1 6 , 2 0 1 5 THE VANCOUVER COURIER
Arts&Entertainment
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GOT ARTS? 604.738.1411 or events@vancourier.com
1 Jan. 16 to 20, 2015 1. It’s been scientifically proven that we’d all be better off with a little more David Bowie in our lives. Thankfully, the Rio Theatre is doing its part, Jan. 17, with a double bill of the Thin White Duke, starting with Hamish Hamilton’s documentary David Bowie is Happening Now, which takes viewers on a tour of Bowie’s costume exhibit on its final night of exhibition at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, followed by Nicolas Roeg’s 1976 sci-fi flick The Man Who Fell to Earth, starring Bowie as a humanoid alien who comes to Earth to get water for his dying planet — just like in real life. For details and show times, go to riotheatre.ca. 2. Funny people in unusual situations descend upon Granville Island’s Waterfront Theatre for the second annual Vancouver Sketch Comedy Festival, Jan. 16 to 18. Performers include Kids in the Hall alumnus Kevin McDonald and creatively named sketch groups Drop the Rootbeer and Run, Good Cop Great Cop, Gossamer Obsessions, Hip.Bang!, Kaboom Hooray! Peanutz, Real Babies and Sweater Zeppelins among others. For a full schedule, go to vancouversketchfest.com. 3. Comedian Tig Notaro has had a series of personal and health-related setbacks in recent years, the most recent of which led to the last minute cancellation of her Vancouver show in November. She’ll probably tell you all about it in her patented laid-back, deadpan delivery when she rocks the Rio Theatre Jan. 16 as part of her rescheduled Boyish Girl Interrupted tour. Tickets at Red Cat Records and Ticketmaster outlets. Details at riotheatre.ca. 4. Best known for her work in La La La Human Steps, Montreal dancer Louise Lecavalier goes it alone in So Blue, her first self-choreographed piece, Jan. 20 and 21 at SFU Woodward’s Fei and Milton Wong Experimental Theatre. The performance kicks off the PuSh International Performing Arts Festival. Details at pushfestival.ca. And look for festival reviews in upcoming issues of the Courier.
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THE VANCOUVER COURIER F R I DAY, JA N UA RY 1 6 , 2 0 1 5
Arts&Entertainment KUDOS & KVETCHES
Ready Set VOTE!
Cast your votes in our Stars of Vancouver Readers’ Choice Awards and be in to win a ‘Best of Vancouver’ prize pack valued at over $2,000! VOTING ENDS JANUARY 23, 2015
vancourier.com/STARS
Word pruning
According to an article in the Guardian newspaper this week, a group of authors, including Canada’s own gnomish literary icon Margaret Atwood, are voicing their concerns — sorry, crying out across the verdant loam, tickling the mossy horizon like a newborn’s mush-caked cheek — with Oxford Junior Dictionary’s new direction. Apparently the publisher of the 10,000-entry children’s dictionary, Oxford Press, has done some pruning in recent years and cut approximately 50 words associated with the natural world including “acorn,” “buttercup” and “minnow” in favour of more tech-savvy words such as “broadband,” “analogue” and “cut and paste.” “Childhood is undergoing profound change,” writes Atwood and her fellow word warriors in an open letter last Monday, we suspect using quill and ink. “Some of this is negative; and the rapid decline in children’s connections to
nature is a major problem.” Being sophisticated city slickers who not only carshare but keep craft beer in our hand-soap dispensers at home, K&K can’t really comment on the so-called importance of the natural world, but we can comment on other words we’d like to see removed from the Oxford Junior Dictionary or prevented from ever entering its hallowed pages altogether. Starting with: • Nosh Don’t like it as a noun, don’t like it as a verb, don’t like to see it written in Cooper Black font on a menu while we’re trying to decide if we really need to order the yam fries instead of a salad with our artisanal grain-fed elk burger. In fact, whenever we read the word “nosh” in a restaurant, we know that nine times out of 10 our drink is coming in a mason jar and there’ll be a beard hair in our meal. Not cool. • Nom nom Another food-related expression that really chaps our hide. Even more than using the phrase “chaps our hide.” Instead of uttering or writing the words “nom nom” how about saying “Yummy!”
or “That sounds like it tastes good” or “I own a Hello Kitty backpack, if you haven’t guessed already.” • Natch Using “natch” instead of “naturally” might save you a couple of syllables, but it makes you sound douchey. It’s the verbal equivalent of a high five, and not the good, ironic kind. • Derp If you’re still trucking out this worn-out catchphrase, chances are you’re also holding onto such dusty gems as “Not!” and “whoahhh!” In other words, celibacy has clouded your verbal judgement. • A’ight If we need to explain why you should never use this one, it’s already a lost cause. • Panties Few words make us squirm as much as “panties.” That and “racism.” There’s just no way to say “panties” in a sentence without sounding creepy or cloying. Plus there’s so many cooler, funnier words you can use, such as “ginch,” “gaunch” or “underpants.” Or in the case of nine out of 10 members of K&K, “commando.” twitter.com/KudosKvetches
Canadian Quintessence
The Conductors’ Concert
8 pm | Saturday, January 24, 2015 Ryerson United Church (Kerrisdale)
Vancouver Chamber Choir | Stephen Smith, piano | Five guest conductors Jon Washburn, conductor In this finale of the annual National Conductors’ Symposium, five talented conductors get a first chance to lead the outstanding professional Vancouver Chamber Choir. Master conductor and teacher Jon Washburn and pianist Stephen Smith also join in for this hit-parade of Canadian choral favourites!
www.vancouverchamberchoir.com
1-855-985-ARTS (2787)
F R I DAY, JA N UA RY 1 6 , 2 0 1 5 THE VANCOUVER COURIER
Arts&Entertainment
Delicious deals aplenty at Dine Out
“Officially the funniest show on the planet”
—The Daily Mail
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EVERY SHOW
Starts Jan 22! THE BLISSFULLY FUNNY CELEBRATION OF BRITISH MISCHIEF By Richard Bean
ARTSCLUB.COM 604.687.1644 playing at
276 restaurants taking part in annual event
GROUPS SAVE MORE!
THE HIRED BELLY
celine stubel, andrew mcnee, and martin happer. photo by emily cooper
Tim Pawsey
info@hiredbelly.com
A few years back, the post-holiday dining scene was a veritable wasteland. Call it the doldrums of dining, when credit card realities kicked in, shortly followed by the spectre of the inevitable pre-tax season. In plain terms, post New Year’s many servers and other restaurant workers were laid off until late spring, when tourists re-appeared. With the advent of dealdriven Dine Out Vancouver — way back in 2002 — all that started to change. And 13 years later we now have one of the busiest times on Vancouver’s hospitality calendar. Dine Out (Jan. 16 to Feb. 1) has grown to include 276 restaurants this year. Now the largest event of its kind in the country, it’s a key ingredient in the evolution of our food and wine culture, which now draws people year-round. What used to be purely a discount dinner fest has blossomed into a metrowide celebration that reflects a level of diversity and sophistication we now take for granted. That becomes clear with a glance at the Dine Out events program, which is fast selling out and ranges from secret supper destinations, food talks and wine debates to menus paired with savvy cocktails or smartly honed beer bites to go with Vancouver’s wicked craft scene. Of course, there is no shortage of deals. Spend time on the Dine Out website and you’ll find them. But gauging how the festival has helped hone our food and B.C. wine culture is not so simple. Look at Vancouver’s “chain” restaurants — previously dismissed as just that but now standardbearers of what constitutes the best “casual fine dining” in Canada. Interestingly, despite its burgeoning size, the festival is still about discovering new neighbourhood haunts — and in doing so, luring people out of their regular habits to try new things. A whirlwind tour this
Re-calculating by Lucas Foss and Liesl Lafferty We acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia
January 22 - 24 8PM CBC Studio 700 700 Hamilton Street, Vancouver
Tickets: $15 Pay-what-you-can on Opening Night, January 22nd! To Purchase: www.re-calculating.brownpapertickets.com
Call Us 604.322.7325 www.realwheels.ca
At this year’s Dine Out Vancouver, Railtown’s Belgard Kitchen is offering a four-couse dinner paired with beers from adjoining Postmark brewery, while the Abbey’s three-course meal, with the option of ravioli, is a deal at$28. PHOTOS TIM PAWSEY
week yielded no shortage of pleasant surprises, from crunchy beet salad or perfectly tender beef short rib with parsnip purée and mushroom jus at Yaletown’s cozy West Oak ($28 for three courses) to the Abbey gastropub’s equally seductive beer-braised beef or Toulouse cassoulet (also $28 for three courses). Book in to Railtown’s buzzing Belgard Kitchen’s Jan. 20 four-course dinner to enjoy brewmaster Craig Noble’s exceptional ales paired with smart plates from chef Reuben Major, including a foraged mushroom risotto. Major’s dessert alone is inspirational — a chocolate espresso “budino” with sponge toffee (think Crunchie chocolate bar sweetness and texture) and crème fraiche that’s a shoo-in for Noble’s smooth chocolate porter. (The $65 tab includes four 10 oz beers matched with four dishes, and a brewery tour, plus tax
and gratuity.) For most places, Dine Out menus are straightahead “what you see is what you get” kind of affairs, although it pays to ask up front about optional add-ons and wine by the glass prices, which can vary greatly. Overall, Dine Out Vancouver remains one heck of a deal — making January into February a season to celebrate, not suffer. Find details on all menus, B.C. wine pairings and special events at dineoutvancouver.com.
Belly’s Best
• Quails Gate Chenin Blanc 2013 A perennial alternative to Chardonnay that shows up on a few Dine Out menus. Packed with zesty lemonlime citrus, it’s generous without being clumsy, plus crisp and clean in the finish. Chill it down (not too much though) and get shucking those oysters. $18.99, 91 pts.
Upcoming ARTHRITIS EVENTS
1. ARTHRITIS 101: Thursday, January 29
Get a clear picture of what is really happening in your body when we talk about Arthritis. This will aid you in understanding the importance of self management (pain management, medications, exercise and complementary therapies, etc.) and learn about the many tools and aids you can use to make life easier. We will also discuss the various programs and services available to you in the community.
2. TIPS, TRICKS & TOOLS TO MANAGE ARTHRITIS: Thursday, February 12 Have arthritis? Learn about the many tools and gadgets available to help make daily tasks easier. Find out how you can better manage your arthritis symptoms and take the pressure off your joints.
3. CHRONIC PAIN MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP: Monday, February 16
The main objective of this workshop is to improve your understanding of the principles of pain management and its treatments, introduce different methods to cope with chronic pain and show how to take an active role in your own pain management. Remember:“No Pain, No Gain”doesn’t apply when you have arthritis!
CALL 1.866.414.7766 TOFREEREGISTER EVENTS ARE AND TAKE PLACETODAY! FROM 1:00 - 3:00 PM AT: Hillcrest Community Centre, 4575 Clancy Loranger Way, Vancouver We acknowledge the financial assistance of the Province of British Columbia
www.arthritis.ca
TO REGISTER CALL 604-257-8680
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THE VANCOUVER COURIER F R I DAY, JA N UA RY 1 6 , 2 0 1 5
Arts&Entertainment
American sniper loses focus on home front
Beefed up Bradley Cooper plays trigger man in Eastwood war drama MOVIE REVIEW Julie Crawford
jcrawfordfilm@gmail.com
“I have a very strict guncontrol policy: If there’s a gun around, I want to be in control of it.” —Clint Eastwood. In American Sniper, the 84-year-old director tells the story of the deadliest sniper in U.S. history, but wisely avoids politicizing the history of real-life Navy SEAL Chris Kyle. Kyle logged more than 160 kills during his four tours of Iraq, a record. In case the viewer has any difficulty rooting for such an expert killing machine, and in a conflict where it’s not always easy to distinguish the good guys from the bad, Eastwood makes it simple: the opening scene shows an armed woman, then an armed child, threatening a U.S. convoy. And when a seemingly kind family invites
Chris and his fellow soldiers to sit down for a meal, it turns out there is a cache of weapons hidden in the floorboards. No moral complexity here; this is about the man, not the conflict. Bradley Cooper plays Chris, a cowboy who finds his life’s purpose when he enlists. He meets Taya (Sienna Miller) at a bar and she says what some of the audience is secretly thinking: “You’re a SEAL? You’re a bunch of arrogant, egotistical pricks.” Chris’s earnestness about serving his country and Cooper’s inherent charm effectively shoots us all down and makes us feel sorry for ever doubting him. Plus, he does that trademark good-guy thing of holding Taya’s hair back when she throws up all those shots of Jameson. But one tour of duty turns into two. Then three and four. Chris becomes the angel of entire platoons on the ground, shooting enemies from nearby rooftops above, and before long he is
Bradley Cooper packed on 40 pounds to play real-life Navy SEAL Chris Kyle in American Sniper.
simply known as The Legend. He spends more than a thousand days in enemy territory, forsaking his wife and two kids stateside. “Do you want to die? You don’t know how to quit,” Taya observes. Chris is homesick for the dust and the killing, for the sense of purpose. He just can’t reconcile that with fatherhood and mowing the lawn back home. Chris has an ongoing ri-
valry with a Syrian national named Mustafa (Sammy Sheik), the enemy version of himself. The film excels in these tense battle scenes, the climactic battle in a sandstorm, in particular. The rest of the film deals with Chris’s debilitating PTSD. “What haunts me is all the men I couldn’t save,” he eventually tells a doctor, who points to a hospital hallway full of injured vets
who need saving. Chris Kyle’s story is less sensational here than in his autobiography — one tale of which resulted in a defamation suit from wrestler/ governor Jesse Ventura (now under appeal). It’s difficult enough to nominate a prolific sniper for sainthood without all those bad-boy bragging stories, so Eastwood keeps the story trim. Domestic scenes, however,
are too brief and provide too little detail about Kyle’s journey from professional killer to rehabilitated family man. In fact, other than a brief hunting outing with his son, there’s only one scene meant to suggest that Kyle is back to normal: he walks into the kitchen, leading with his gun, pointing it at his wife in a kind of sexy game while the kids play nearby. “I’m so happy I’ve got my husband back,” she says before the film ends abruptly less than a minute later. Some of us could have used a little more convincing. A beefed-up Cooper, who packed on a reported 40 pounds for the role, nails the Texas drawl, makes a compelling patriot, and elevates the film beyond ordinary. Had Eastwood drawn Chris Kyle’s home life with the same focus as he did his expert marksmanship, American Sniper would have been a sure-fire hit. American Sniper opens Friday at Scotiabank and Dunbar.
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JANUARY 21 25 BC PLACE & GRANVILLE ISLAND MEET DAVE CARRARO FROM THOUSANDS OF BOATS AND ACCESSORIES OVER 250 EXHIBITORS AND 100 SEMINARS
WESTERN CANADA’S LARGEST BOAT SHOW
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F R I DAY, JA N UA RY 1 6 , 2 0 1 5 THE VANCOUVER COURIER
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Sports&Recreation
GOT SPORTS? 604.630.3549 or mstewart@vancourier.com
By Megan Stewart
Basketball provincial rankings
In AAAA senior boys basketball rankings released Jan. 14, Churchill and Kitsilano stayed steady at No. 6 and 8, respectively, while Vancouver College dropped two to No. 4. The Terry Fox Raves in Port Coquitlam jumped from No. 4 to the top of the ranks and are followed by Burnaby South Rebels at No. 2 and the Oak Bay Bays at No. 3. St. George’s earned an honourable mention. In AAA, the Tupper Tigers continue their upward climb from No. 5 last week to No. 3. The Abbotsford Panthers and Fleetwood Park Dragons are first and second. There were no AAA senior girls basketball rankings this week. In AA, the Notre Dame Jugglers jumped from eighth to fourth, pushing the Little Flower Academy Angels down a spot to No. 5. Prince George’s Duchess Park Condors are No. 1, followed by St. Thomas More and Kelowna’s Immaculata. The Britannia Bruins and York House Tigers each brought home an honourable mention.
St. John’s Eagles head coach Jonathan Kinman and the team’s two seniors Sahib Sharma, left, and Brydon Joe play in a hotly contested, competitive single-A division. PHOTO DAN TOULGOET
Eagles learn to soar together
Talented St. John’s squad aims for Provincials after last year’s disappointment BASKETBALL Megan Stewart
mstewart@vancourier.com
Lacrosse for girls and boys
The Vancouver Killarney Minor Lacrosse Association is making room for new players and for the first time, will have a Bantam girls team for player born in 2001 and 2002. Vancouver girls of all ages are invited to a free introduction on Feb. 1 from 2:15 to 4 p.m. at the Hastings community centre gym. Equipment and snacks are provided for the free session. The girls game differs slightly in that 12 instead of 10 players suit up for two halves, not four quarters. Also, a player is not allowed to check the stick of an opponent. The lacrosse association will host two additional gym sessions at the same time and place on Jan. 18 for boys aged 8 to 11 and Jan. 25 for boys aged 12 to 16. For questions, contact president@vancouverlacrosse.com.
Giants lock up Jones
The Vancouver Giants announced Tuesday they signed 16-year-old defenceman Ryan Jones to a Western Hockey League player agreement. The Delta skater has played in 27 games with the Richmond Sockeyes of the PJHL this season, in which he netted two goals and 18 assists to go along with 12 penalty minutes. “Ryan is having a really great year,” said Giants GM Scott Bonner. “He’s been practising with our team and doing really well in a great Richmond program that has also produced players like Carter Popoff. He’s a solid defenseman, and with some of our veteran guys moving on in the next couple of years, we’re excited about Ryan’s future.” The Giants host the Tri-City Americans at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 16.
In front of a frenzied St. Patrick’s crowd, the St. John’s Eagles let a 12-point, fourth-quarter lead slip away to the host Celtics during the final game of the St. Patrick’s Senior Shamrock Tournament earlier this month. Tied at 70, the Eagles took an inbound pass with 1.6 seconds on the clock. Shooting guard Will Hu caught the ball near halfcourt, pivoted and fired a shot under pressure as the buzzer sounded. St. John’s won 73-70. The talent of each starting Eagle — and their sixth man — is undeniable. If five can learn to play as one, the coach believes St. John’s will be unbeatable. “Any one of these guys would start for any of the AAA or AAAA teams in the city,” said the head coach and St. John’s athletic director Jonathan Kinman. “It’s really easy with these guys in the sense that they know exactly what needs to happen. It’s a matter of making it hap-
pen. They’re good enough that if they play like individuals, they could advance far. But they won’t win a championship. If they play like a unit, nobody can beat them.” The teams, then ranked as the top two single-A senior boys basketball teams in B.C., fight it out among a handful of elite, competitive but small school teams every season, including West Point Grey Academy and Christian schools in Abbotsford, Langley and Richmond. Only two advance from the Lower Mainland regional tournament to the provincial championship in March. This is the tournament that matters, said Kinman. “It’s a real battle just to get to the show. If you come out of the Lower Mainland zone, you’re going to do very well,” he said. “For us it all boils down to one game.” Despite sitting at the top of the rankings all last season, St. John’s didn’t qualify for Provincials last year. They lost to St. Pat’s in the regional semi-final, their momentum suddenly halted with the loss, the clutch game their last of the season. St. Patrick’s lost to the WPGA Wolves in the re-
gional championship and the two went on to play in the B.C. final, with the Wolves winning again. The latest rankings put St. John’s at No. 3. a drop from their perch at No. 1. Kelowna’s Immaculata Mustangs now top the table and St. Pat’s is at No. 2. West Point Grey moved from ninth to eighth. Week-to-week movement up or down the charts can pull a person’s ego in the same direction, and Kinman has learned how to decode the rankings without getting too swept up in the numbers. “If someone is going to tell me I’m No. 1, I’m happy about that,” he said. “I’m happy but at the end of the day, it means nothing. What matters is comes in March.” St. John’s does not play league games in the Lower Mainland Independent Secondary School Athletic Association but enters a series of tournaments and plays exhibition games through the season. Next week they host the 13th annual St. John’s Jam, a tournament that was held at the Kitsilano community centre until four years ago when St. John’s expanded to build its own gym at the school
on West 10th Avenue. Senior starter Brydon Joe, 17, has developed in the St. John’s system and is one of two Grade 12 students on the team at the academically rigorous International Baccalaureate school. The five-footeleven point guard started at St. John’s in Grade 1, playing basketball in the courtyard. Last year’s elimination left a feeling he doesn’t want to repeat, especially after seeing the seniors end their high school career with such a loss. “We could see their pain last year and we definitely don’t want to feel that this year,” he said. It was pretty heartbreaking but I knew we had one more year.” Joe said the team of individual talents is focused on communicating better as a team. “We’re a work in process. Once we gel, we’re bound to do great things,” he said. Sahib Sharma, 17, is the second senior on the team. The six-foot-three “pure scoring machine,” according to the coach, feels the urgency to come together as a team. “It seems so immediate and we’ll just have to give full throttle until then,” he said.” twitter.com/MHStewart
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Sports&Recreation
Vancouverites hit the barre The Dailey Method opens a second studio today in Kitsilano FITNESS Megan Stewart
mstewart@vancourier.com
When classically trained ballerina Suzy Kaitman opened the doors for her first Ballet Fit class at the ScotiaBank Dance Centre in 2012, only four students showed up. For four months, she taught one class each week. Since then, five community centres have put her on heavy rotation, she’s stopped teaching other aerobic classes, and aspires to open her own studio within the year. She now teaches 15 classes each week of Ballet Fit, Kaitman’s original, posturecentric, muscle-toning workout that blasts electropop during an evolving choreographed routine that advances from plies at the barre to unaided leaps and turns — like ballerinas. “I started this in Calgary just before the barre fad
There is high demand for Ballet Fit, an exercise dance class created by Suzy Kaitman. PHOTO DAN TOULGOET
took off,” she said. “The barre is huge. The ballet trend is huge.” After half a decade of growing popularity, is this more than a trend? “I really do think so,” said Kaitman. “It just keeps going.” Ballet and barre-inspired exercise have a legion of
devotees who fill classes at numerous Vancouver studios like the Bar Method, which, inspired by a German ballet dancer, was branded in the U.S. 15 years ago. Barre Fitness was the first Canadian company to embrace the then-emerg-
ing dance conditioning exercise routine when it opened a studio in Yaletown in August 2010. It has since expanded to the North Shore. Also in August 2010, sisters Jey and Karen Wyder opened the country’s first Dailey Method, which
was created 10 years earlier by a Californian mother raising three kids. “Our classes are always full,” said Jey. “We’ve been open five years and we just saw the demand increasing over time and, especially at peak times, our classes are always full.” When they opened a small studio in Dunbar, the Wyder sisters offered 17 classes a week and had seven instructors, including Jey. They now employ 15 instructors who teach a combined 52 classes each week. On Friday, the sisters will open a second Dailey Method and increase the weekly class count to 85. Their expansion to Kitsilano in a West Fourth Avenue studio near Burrard Street is replete with skylights, two workout rooms over 30,000 square feet and bright, south-facing light. “When we first opened in Dunbar, there was such a big demand, our biggest challenge was that there were so many people
loving the classes,” said Karen. “The demand has always been there from the beginning. Our No. 1 thing is that it works.” With the second studio, the Dailey Method will offer a wider range of classes, including options for a gentler workout and more intense cardio. Jey, like her younger sister, dropped several dress sizes once she committed to the barre. “My shape changed,” she said. (Karen added, “People often think we’re the same age, and I’m 15 years younger.”) “People love that long, lean musculature that you get from the class. It’s effective and it’s safe because it’s non-impact,” said Jey. “It’s designed for a broad spectrum of people. My teenage daughter comes to class, I come and so does my mother in her 70s. People are calling every day to see if we’re open yet.” twitter.com/MHStewart
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Book your tickets now for the 2015 Scotiabank Feast of Fortune fundraising dinner, presented by Tapestry Foundation Enjoy a special reception featuring six acclaimed Vancouver chefs, winners of Chinese Restaurant Awards. Evening includes exquisite dinner, live and silent auctions and entertainment.
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Sports&Recreation
Tommy Nixon (No. 7) led the UBC Thunderbirds in back-to-back wins to return their record to .500. PHOTO RICH LAM/UBC THUNDERBIRDS
Nixon takes charge THUNDERBIRDS
Tommy Nixon, a fifthyear guard for the UBC Tbirds, earned accolades as the best male player of the week in Western Canada and across the country for his career-high output on the road, which could stamp the end of UBC’s frustrating, underperforming first half of the season. On Jan. 9, Nixon scored 36 points to lead the Thunderbirds to a 92-77 win over the Lethbridge
Pronghorns. The Kitsilano secondary graduate went 11 for 13, secured a team-best 11 rebounds and added five assists. He led the team with 33 minutes, and from the foul line, sunk 11 of 14 shots. For the rematch the next night in Lethbridge, the sixfoot-six kinesiology student took the reins again. This time Nixon led the T-birds with 21 points and nine rebounds in a 91-69 victory. He missed only one shot and one free throw, going five for six and nine for 10, respectively. He also made
three steals. With the weekend performance, Nixon was named the CIS male athlete of the week for the period ending Jan. 11. Canada West also named him the week’s first star. He moves to fifth in Canada West scoring with an average 19 points a game. UBC (9-9) has won four straight Canada West regular season games and will host Brandon University at 8 p.m. Jan. 16 and 7 p.m. Jan. 17. — Megan Stewart
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START NOTHING: Before 4:04 a.m. Sunday, 2:51 a.m. Monday to 4:59 a.m. Tuesday, 5:45 p.m. Wednesday to 4:48 a.m. Thursday, and 3:13 a.m. Friday to 5:31 a.m. Saturday. PREAMBLE: ALL SIGNS: Mercury retrogrades Jan. 21 to Feb. 11, so avoid starting/joining projects, ventures and relationships until mid-February. You know how in speed boat racing often the bow rises right up in the air and the boat crashes and flies apart? Why don’t they just move the motor to amidships? Maybe too much drag. January/February could see some of the most violent clashes between the rebels and the hierarchy. (We’ve already seen the Charlie Hebdo massacre in Paris, and the public response.) This could be decisive. We’ll come close to this peak again in Dec./15 and Jan./Feb. 2016, but looking back, I think people will say, “No, Jan./Feb. 2015 was the turning point.”
At last, the pressure eases – Tuesday starts a month of popularity, optimism, social delights, light romance and entertainment. But first, be ambitious and dutiful Sunday/ Monday. (But DON’T start an ambitious or business or any important project, as this week begins a slowdown and false starts – starts that will fail.) You could fall for someone these two days – but it’s a fantasy, or an affair that will flare hot, then die quickly, leaving you confused and bereft.
An easy week, Libra. Sunday/Monday continue the domestic theme of recent weeks, even intensify it. And a major chore might be dumped on you (e.g., “Paint the front porch before you leave for work, Honey”) – if you don’t want it, “send it back.” Aries (or your spouse) might be involved. Realize these two days are the end, not a beginning. Don’t start anything, projects nor relationships, before February 11.
Sunday/Monday bring a mellow wisdom, intellectual activities, and a subtle but allpervading new hope for the future. It’s hard to put your finger on it, but somehow, joy and optimism are quietly swelling within you. OK, but be realistic! Tuesday starts a month of ambition and interfacing with higher-ups, VIPs and authorities. Your status and your reputation are in focus.
You remain busy Sunday/Monday, with errands, communications and visits. Gather information, facts – be skeptical of a surge in your romantic feelings, as fantasy could be fanning false flames. (How’s that for alliteration?) (In fact, be slightly skeptical of your romantic courage/impulses through Feb. 19.) Tuesday starts a month of domestic interests, and Wednesday starts 3 weeks of delay, confusion and misdirection.
Mystery yields to enlightenment this week. Sunday/ Monday emphasize the mystery, urges from your subconscious, heightened intuition – and flaring fantasy or romantic illusion. Don’t bite. Go see an action movie instead, or Ice Capades. Tuesday starts a month of intellectual progress, learning, far travel, culture, religion, publishing, advertising, profound thinking, law, and gentle love.
This entire week is easy and smooth, Sage. A practical, money-oriented month reaches a climax, and ends, Sunday/Monday. Chase money or shop Sunday. Stick to routine Monday. Both days, avoid buying a scam. If you want to stock up on unicorns, okay; otherwise, be skeptical. Midweek begins a new theme, a new month, of errands, casual acquaintances, trips, visits, communications, paperwork and details.
The last few weeks of open, honest relationships continues – and in some senses climaxes – Sunday/ Monday. But don’t be fooled – this climax might be written in fantasyland. Better to stay sober and alert. Tuesday begins a month of lust – for power, assets, money and intimacy, especially Tuesday/Wednesday. And Wednesday begins three weeks of false starts, slowdowns, missed schedules and misunderstandings.
Your energy, charisma and effectiveness soar Sunday/Monday – use this to “clean up,” to complete projects – with flair! Beware being too rushed, too chatty: your words could be blown up the wrong way. Errands Monday might lead you to the wrong person, perhaps a deceptive person. Tuesday begins a month of money, earnings, buying/selling, rote learning, and sensual attractions.
Sunday/Monday continue the drudgery, Leo – tackle chores, protect health (especially digestive, from drugs, alcohol, spicy foods, accident-prone daydreaming, or STDs). Tuesday starts a month of relationships, opportunities, fresh breezes. But let life start things; for your part, start nothing new, projects nor relationships, before February 11. You’ll have plenty to do!
Take one last, deep rest Sunday/Monday, Aquarius. Meditate, contemplate – and plan long-range (e.g., 5 – 10 years) but not for the month ahead. Be careful, skeptical about money, earnings, costs – much money flows to you January/February, but you can also waste it, which a “beautiful fantasy” might tempt you to do. Many circumstances will change soon. Tuesday begins a month of heightened, fresh energy, charisma and clout for you.
Sunday/Monday bathe you in the sweet light of romantic notions. A break-through might come, suddenly shunting you and another into intimacy – or the rosy bubble pops. Don’t get hooked on a fantasy love these days. Tuesday begins a month of work and health concerns. Protect your health; eat and dress sensibly. Until Feb. 11, tackle only ongoing, routine, or past-and-neglected chores. DON’T start new projects nor relationships – they will go nowhere.
Kick up your heels Sunday/Monday, Pisces – your popularity rises, you feel optimistic, flirtatious and happy. A volatile romance could start – it’s not the best for you. Tuesday begins two days – and a whole month – of rest, solitude, contemplation and wool-gathering. Be charitable, deal with government, head office, and institutions. However, DON’T start new projects nor relationships before Feb. 11.
Monday: Dolly Parton (69). Tuesday: Paul Stanley (63). Wednesday: Geena Davis (59). Thursday: Diane Lane (50). Friday: Brendan Shanahan (46). Saturday: Neil Diamond (74). Sunday: Anita Pallenberg (71).
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Today’shomes Detached homes lead price growth in final quarter Condo prices remain steady
Emma Crawford Hampel ecrawford@biv.com
The benchmark price for all home types rose year-over-year across Vancouver, with detached bungalows leading the way with growth of 7.5 per cent. The average price for a detached bungalow in Q4 2014 was $1,124,642, up from about $1,046,200 in the same period last year, according to the Royal LePage House Price Survey and Market Survey Forecast released Jan. 14. The average price of two-storey homes was also up, with a 7.1 per cent rise to $1,233,182. Condos saw a price increase of 3.8 per cent to $511,150. Bill Binnie, broker and owner of Royal LePage North Shore and Royal LePage City Centre, said the price increases for two-storey homes and
bungalows were related to continuing supply shortages. Condo prices, however, have remained relatively steady over the past five years. “The condominium category showed more measured year-over-year growth as this segment is able to continually supply
“We expect single family homes to continue demanding premium prices while condominiums will see minor gains,” said Royal LePage Westside broker and owner Chris Simmons. Across the country, home prices increased between 4.5-6.7 per cent year-over-year to Q4.
A nationwide increase of 2.9 per cent is forecast for the year. more units to keep up with changing demands and market dynamics,” Binnie said. The average price increase in 2015 should be less pronounced but will continue to grow, the report said. Royal LePage forecasts an across-theboard increase of 2.8 per cent for the year.
Detached bungalows had an average price increase of 6.7 per cent to $406,218. Two-storey homes increased six per cent to $443,379 and the price of condos rose 4.5 per cent to $257,624. A nationwide increase of 2.9 per cent is forecast for the year. twitter.com/EmmaHampelBIV
The average price of two-storey homes was up with a 7.1 per cent increase in 2014. PHOTO DAN TOULGOET
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today’sdrive 20 BMW 15 X4 Your journey starts here.
SUV versatility with the look of a Coupe
BY DAVID CHAO
BMW continues to introduce a new vehicle for every possible market segment, no matter how small the niche may be. Despite having numerous SUVs in its fleet already, BMW has decided it will attempt to take even a bigger slice of the growing pie by introducing the coupe-style X4. The X4 speaks to the customers who like the look of the X6 but want something a little smaller and more affordable. Also, these customers feel the X3 is a tad too traditional and mainstream. The new X4 fulfills both of those requirements. The X4 is an allnew vehicle for 2015. For those not familiar, BMW’s with an odd number in its name — the 3, 5 and 7 Series — are the more practical models. The even numbered vehicles, 2, 4 and 6 Series are the more sporty models.
Design
The new X4 is derived from the X3 but it sacrifices some practicality in the interest of style. BMW calls the X4 a “sports activity coupe” and it attempts to bridge a coupe and compact SUV. The most obvious difference between the X4 and the X3 is its sloping roofline, accented by sharp creases. This gives the X4 its own distinctive character. Also, while the X4 uses the X3’s architecture, it is longer and lower. This follows the recipe that BMW is using with the new 4 Series, which is carved out of the 3 Series. The styling of the X4 is the most controversial aspect of this new vehicle. Those not on
board should know it follows a very successful formula BMW has used with the larger X6, and no one can deny the fact that the X4 stands out in the crowd. The cabin of the X4 is remarkably similar to the X3, which means it has a stylish, somewhat conservative design. It would have been nice if this new car received an all-new interior.
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CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED PROGRAM (CPO) Features: • 7 years/140,000 km Powertrain Warranty • 7 years/140,000 km Roadside Assistance • Up to 160 Multi-Point Inspection Check-list • CarProof Vehicle History Reports
Performance
Much less controversial are the X4’s line-up of engines because the X4 shares its engine lineup with others in the BMW range, including the 3 Series sedan, 4 Series and X3. The base model X4, the xDrive28i, comes with a 2.0-litre turbocharged inline four-cylinder. It produces 240 hp and 258 ft-lbs of torque. This engine is superb, with plenty of pulling power and surprising amount of get-up-and-go. Stepping up to the xDrive35i increases both horsepower and torque to an even 300 each. This comes from a 3.0-litre turbocharged straight-six that is second to none in the industry. Smooth and gutsy, the 3.0-litre is one of the best engines in the world in terms of overall feel and balance of power vs. economy. BMW’s xDrive AWD system comes standard, obviously, along with an eight-speed automatic transmission. There are no other drivetrain or transmission options available at this time. BMW has made its name by building driver’s cars. Its SUVs, while sportier than many of its rivals, are understandably never as spirited as their cars. Continued on page 35
2011 MAZDA CX-7 GT Dark blue, back-up camera
3-YEAR
3-YEAR
NEW VEHICLE
Unlimited Mileage Warranty
ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE Unlimited Mileage
5-YEAR
Stk#MP1396
$19,983
7-YEAR
POWERTRAIN
ANTI-PERFORATION
Unlimited Mileage Warranty
Unlimited Mileage Warranty
Available on all 2015 and later models, Mazda Unlimited is a first-of-its-kind
Unlimited Mileage Warranty
▲
that lets you drive e as much as y you want, as far as you want. 2010 MAZDA 5 GS
Grey, warranty, 86,821km Stk# F81194A
$13,283
GT models shown
GT model shown
2015 CX-5 BI-WEEKLY LEASE OFFER FROM
$
151
**
with
$
0
down
at 0.99% APR for 48 months. Taxes extra.
$
2015 M{zd{3 OR GET
1,500
CASH PURCHASE DISCOUNT*
BI-WEEKLY LEASE OFFER FROM
$
97
**
with
$
0
down
at 1.49% APR for 48 months. Taxes extra.
$
OR GET
1,000
CASH PURCHASE DISCOUNT*
Visit NEWMAZDA.CA today to browse our NEW & USED inventory.
2014 MAZDA 5 GS
2015 M{zd{6
$
BI-WEEKLY LEASE OFFER FROM
146
**
with
$
0
down
at 0.49% APR for 48 months. Taxes extra.
$
Dark grey, only 21,000km
OR GET
STK# MP1414
1,500
CASH PURCHASE DISCOUNT*
Sale Price $19,883
ZOO}-ZOO}
▲MAZDA UNLIMITED refers only to an unlimited mileage warranty program under the terms of which there are no mileage limitations on the following specific Mazda warranties: (i) 3-year new vehicle; (ii) 3-year roadside assistance; (iii) 5-year powertrain; and (iv) 7-year anti-perforation. MAZDA UNLIMITED is applicable only to 2015 models. All Mazda warranties remain subject to the terms, limitations and restrictions available at mazdaunlimited.ca. †0% APR purchase financing is available on all new 2014/2015 Mazda vehicles. Other terms available and vary by model. Based on a representative agreement using offered pricing of $24,990 for the 2015 CX-5 GX (NVXK65AA00) with a financed amount of $25,000, the cost of borrowing for a 48-month term is $0, monthly payment is $521, total finance obligation is $25,000. **Lease offers available on approved credit for new 2015 Mazda3 GX (D4XK65AA00)/2015 CX-5 GX (NVXK65AA00)/2015 Mazda6 GX (G4XL65AA00) with a lease APR of 1.49%/0.99%/0.49% and bi-weekly payments of $97/$151/$146 for 48 months, the total lease obligation is $10,089/$15,718/$15,147 including down payment of $0. PPSA and first monthly payment due at lease inception. 20,000 km lease allowance per year, if exceeded, additional 8¢/km applies. 24,000 km leases available. Offered leasing available to retail customers only. Taxes extra. *The starting from price of $16,690/$23,490/$24,790 for 2015 Mazda3 GX (D4XK65AA00)/ 2015 CX-5 GX (NVXK65AA00)/2015 Mazda6 GX (G4XL65AA00) includes a cash discount of $1,000/$1,500/$1,500. The selling price adjustment applies to the purchase and is deducted from the negotiated pre-tax price and cannot be combined with subsidized purchase financing or leasing rates. As shown, price for 2015 Mazda3 GT (D4TL65AA00)/2015 CX-5 GT (NXTL85AA00)/2015 Mazda6 GT (G4TL65AA00) is $27,790/$35,490/$34,090. All prices include freight & PDI of $1,695/$1,895 for Mazda3, Mazda6/CX-5. PPSA, licence, insurance, taxes, down payment and other dealer charges are extra and may be required at the time of purchase. Dealer may sell/lease for less. Dealer order/trade may be necessary on certain vehicles. Lease and Finance on approved credit for qualified customers only. Offers valid Jan 3-Feb 2, 2015, while supplies last. Prices and rates subject to change without notice. Visit mazda.ca or see your dealer for complete details.
2013 MAZDA CX-9 GS
Graphite, only 19,200km, heated seats, A/C STK# F51904A
Sale Price $29,988
Vancouver's Only Mazda Dealer
Boundary BCVancouver V5K 5C4 15951595 Boundary RoadRoad, (NorthVancouver, of 1st Ave.), Sales: 1 (888) 513-3057 Service: 1 (866) 942-0009
newmazda.ca your journey begins here. #31160
THE CRITICS HAVE SPOKEN. AND SO HAVE BC’s DRIVERS.
It’s been another great year for Honda vehicles. The critics keep recognizing our value and quality with automotive awards. As do BC’s drivers, by making our CR-V, Civic, and Fit the #1 selling vehicles in their categories.† Just more reasons to test drive one today.
CIVIC, BC's #1 SELLING COMPACT CAR†
LEASE FROM
%
Dealer #D8508
$
0.99 APR $0 down #
42
LEASE FROM
%
*
$
CR-V, BC's #1 SELLING COMPACT SUV †
1.99 APR 0 down
70
# ‡
Weekly on a 60 month term with 260 payments. MSRP $17,245** includes freight and PDI. Model shown: FB2E2FEX
£
Ω
*
$
Weekly on a 60 month term with 260 payments. MSRP $27,685** includes freight and PDI Model shown: RM3H3FES
‡
2015 FIT BEST NEW SMALL CAR (UNDER $21,000)
2015 CR CR-V V
FIT, BC's #1 SELLING SUBCOMPACT CAR†
LEASE FROM
%
$
Weekly on a 60 month term with 260 payments. MSRP $16,070** includes freight and PDI. Model shown: GK5G3FE
2.99 APR 0 down
40
*
#
$
‡
12th and Kingsway, Vancouver KingswayHonda.ca
†Based on IHS Automotive: Polk Canadian New Retail Vehicle Registrations as of CYTD November 2014 for the Compact SUV/Compact Car/Subcompact Car segments as defined by Honda Canada Inc. *Limited time weekly lease offer and all other offers are from Honda Canada Finance Inc., on approved credit. #The weekly lease offer applies to a new 2015 CR-V LX 2WD model RM3H3FES/Civic DX model FB2E2FEX/Fit DX model GK5G3FE (“Specified Models”) for a 60-month period, for a total of 260 payments of $69.89/$41.91/$39.97 leased at 1.99%/0.99%/2.99% APR based on applying $400.00/$350.00/$1050.00 “lease dollars” (which are deducted from the negotiated selling price before taxes). ‡In order to achieve $0 down payment, dealer will cover the cost of tire/battery tax, air conditioning tax (where applicable), environmental fees and levies on the 2015 CR-V LX 2WD, Civic DX and Fit DX only on customer’s behalf. Down payment of $0.00, first weekly payment and $0 security deposit due at lease inception. Total lease obligation is $18,171.40/$10,896.60/$10,392.20. Taxes, license, insurance and registration are extra. 120,000 kilometre allowance; charge of $0.12/km for excess kilometres. **MSRP is $27,685/$17,245/$16,070 including freight and PDI of $1,695/$1,495/$1,495 based on new 2015 Specified Models described above. License, insurance, registration and taxes are extra and may be required at the time of purchase. £For more information about the 2015 Motor Trend Sport/Utility of the Year® award, visit http://www.motortrend.com/oftheyear/suv/2015_honda_cr_v_is_the_motor_trend_suv_of_the_year/ ΩFor more information about the AJAC’s Best Small Car (Under $21,000) award, please visit: http://www.ajac.ca/web/ccoty/2015/comparison_category.asp?cat=176 */#/**Prices and/or payments shown do not include a PPSA lien registration fee of $30.31 and lien registering agent's fee of $5.25, which are both due at time of delivery and covered by the dealer on behalf of the customer on Specified Models only. Offers valid from January 3rd through February 2nd 2015 at participating Honda retailers. Dealer may sell/lease for less. Dealer trade may be necessary on certain vehicles. Offers valid only for British Columbia residents at BC Honda Dealers locations. Offers subject to change or cancellation without notice. Terms and conditions apply. Visit www.bchonda.com or see your Honda retailer for full details.
A34 THE VANCOUVER COURIER F R I DAY, JA N UA RY 1 6 , 2 0 1 5
Attn: Honda Owners
Winter
Special Visit KingswayHonda.ca for more Specials
Includes a Multi-Point Inspection with a genuine Honda Oil & Filter change! Our Factory-trained technicians will inspect your Honda from top to bottom and give you a full report on it's condition! This is a great way to get your Honda ready for the winter.
• Engine Oil & Filter Change • Tire Inspection With A Tire Rotation And Adjust Pressure • Comprehensive Multi-Point Vehicle Inspection • Battery Performance Test • Brake Inspection • A/C Performance Test • Cooling System Check • Complete Suspension Inspection
$8888
Specials are plus tax and recycling charge. Expires Feb. 15, 2015
- Oil & Filter Change and Multi-Point Inspection! (5W20 regular Motor oil) - Regular price $109.88! $108.88 with 0W20 Synthetic Motor Oil. $47.88 without Oil & Filter change.
FREE SERVICE SHUTTLE (DOWNTOWN CORE) COURTESY CAR WASH FOR ALL SERVICE CUSTOMERS
* All offers are effective until Feb. 15, 2015. Not applicable to tire sales. Taxes not included. Environmental levies extra. °Not to be combined with other offers. Please consult Kingsway Honda for more details. Valid at Kingsway Honda only. Limit one per person. Coupon does not apply to prior purchases.
Sales: 604.873.3676 Service: 604.874.6632
F R I DAY, JA N UA RY 1 6 , 2 0 1 5 THE VANCOUVER COURIER
A35
today’sdrive which opens the tailgate by waving your foot under the rear bumper. The X4 comes with a good amount of standard technology features, including BMW’s iDrive with a 6.5-inch control display. This system can be upgraded to access the internet and have one of the best navigation systems on the market with advanced real time traffic information. It is also available with many comforting safety options. These include active blind spot detection and a lane departure and collision warning system that gives a gentle vibration of the steering wheel to get your attention.
Features
The 2015 X4 has a starting price of $46,300. Standard equipment includes heated front seats, electric seats with driver memory, leather multi-function steering wheel, heated steering
The all-new BMW X4 is not an ordinary SUV and will please customers who want something unique and stylish. Environment
While the cabin of the X4 mostly resembles the X3, BMW has given it a few unique features to make it feel exclusive. The front passengers sit 20mm lower and the rear bench has a more pronounced two-seat appearance to accentuate the look of the exterior. The X4 can seat five passengers, however only four will be truly comfortable. The rear centre seat is really just a perch. The two outer seats don’t have a lot of headroom because of the sloping roof, but anyone under six-feet-tall should be fine. The most concerning aspect for rear passengers would be the floor height. Knee-room is quite good, but because the seats were lowered to provide adequate headroom, passengers may feel like their knees are a bit high. As can be expected, the X4 has less cargo space than an X3. However, the rear seats are split 40/20/40 to make the space as versatile as possible. Accessing that space has been made easier thanks to the Smart Opener system
wheel, automatic climate control, dynamic cruise control, run flat tires, and a sunroof. Additional features include heated rear seats, surround view, rearview camera, parking sensors, adaptive headlights, head-up display, dynamic damper control, and an M Sport Package. Fuel efficiency numbers (L/100km) for the xDrive28i are 11.8 city, 8.4 highway and 10.3 combined. The xDrive35i returns 12.5 city, 8.7 highway for 10.8 combined.
Thumbs Up
The X4 provides a nice combination of sports coupe design with the versatility of a crossover. The X4 has one of the best steering feel in its class.
Thumbs Down
The X4’s styling is polarizing and its coupelike proportions limits practicality. Rear visibility is quite poor.
The Bottom Line
The all-new BMW X4 is not an ordinary SUV and will please customers who want something unique and stylish.
The X4 has one of the best steering feel in its class.
PLEASE READ THE FINE PRINT: Offers valid until February 2, 2015. See toyota.ca for complete details on all cash back offers. In the event of any discrepancy or inconsistency between Toyota prices, rates and/or other information contained on toyotabc.ca and that contained on toyota.ca, the latter shall prevail. Errors and omissions excepted. ¥Don’t Pay for 90 Days on Toyota Financial Service Finance Contracts (OAC) on all new 2014 and 2015 Toyota models. Offer valid from January 3 - February 2, 2015. Interest deferment on all finance contracts at no cost for at least 60 days. Interest will commence on the 61st day after the contract date. The first payment will be due 90 days from the contract date. Available with monthly or bi weekly payment frequency. Not available on lease. ¥¥“The Freedom 40 Lease delivers a lower monthly payment by extending standard terms by four months”. As an example, standard term of 36 months can be stretched to 40 months. Freedom 40 Lease offer is valid until February 2, 2015. 2015 Corolla CE 6M Manual BURCEM-A MSRP is $17,540 and includes $1,545 freight and pre-delivery inspection and tire levy. *Lease example: 2015 Corolla CE 6M with a vehicle price of $17,540, includes $1,545 freight/PDI leased at 0.99% over 40 months with $1,599 down payment equals 80 semi-monthly payments of $88 with a total lease obligation of $8,677. Lease 40 mos. based on 60,000 km, excess km charge is $.07. **Finance example: 0.99% finance for 48 months, upon credit approval, available on 2015 Corolla CE 6M Manual BURCEM-A. Applicable taxes are extra. 2015 Camry Sedan LE Automatic BF1FLT-A MSRP is $25,595 and includes $1,745 freight and pre-delivery inspection, tire levy and air conditioning charge. †Lease example: 2015 Camry Sedan LE Automatic BF1FLT-A MSRP is $25,595, includes $1,745 freight/PDI leased at 1.99% over 40 months with $2,695 down payment equals 80 semi-monthly payments of $128 with a total lease obligation of $12,974. Lease 40 mos. based on 60,000 km, excess km charge is $.10. ††Finance example: 1.99% finance for 36 months, upon credit approval, available on 2015 Camry Sedan LE Automatic BF1FLT-A. Applicable taxes are extra. 2015 Tundra 4X4 Dbl Cab SR 4.6L UM5F1T-6A MSRP is $37,420 and includes $1,815 freight and pre-delivery inspection, tire levy, battery levy and air conditioning charge. ‡Lease example: 2015 Tundra 4X4 Dbl Cab SR 4.6L UM5F1T-6A with a vehicle price of $37,420 includes $1,815 freight/PDI leased at 0.99% over 40 months with $4,325 down payment equals 80 semi-monthly payments of $188 with a total lease obligation of $19,402. Lease 40 mos. based on 60,000 km, excess km charge is $.15. ‡‡Finance example: 0.99% finance for 48 months, upon credit approval, available on 2015 Tundra 4X4 Dbl Cab SR 4.6L UM5F1T-6A. Applicable taxes are extra. Applicable taxes are extra. Down payment, first semi-monthly payment and security deposit plus GST and PST on first payment and full down payment are due at lease inception. A security deposit is not required on approval of credit. Non-stackable Cash Back offers may not be combined with Toyota Financial Services (TFS) lease or finance rates. If you would like to lease or finance at standard TFS rates (not the above special rates), then you may be February 2, 2015. Cash incentives include taxes and are applied after taxes have been charged on the full amount of the negotiated price. See toyota.ca for complete details on all cash back offers. ‡‡‡Semi-monthly lease offer available through Toyota Financial Services on approved credit to qualified retail customers on most 24, 28, 36, 40, 48, 52, 60 and 64 month leases of new and demonstrator Toyota vehicles. First semi-monthly payment due at lease inception and next monthly payment due approximately 15 days later and semi-monthly thereafter throughout the term. Toyota Financial Services will waive the final payment. Semi-monthly lease offer can be combined with most other offers excluding the First Payment Free and Encore offers. First Payment Free offer is valid for eligible TFS Lease Renewal customers only. Toyota semi-monthly lease program based on 24 payments per year, on a 40-month lease, equals 80 payments, with the final 80th payment waived by Toyota Financial Services. Not open to employees of Toyota Canada, Toyota Financial Services or TMMC/TMMC Vehicle Purchase Plan. Some conditions apply. See your Toyota dealer for complete details. Visit your Toyota BC Dealer or www.toyotabc.ca for more details. Some conditions apply; offers are time limited and may change without notice. Dealer may lease/sell for less.
Continued from page 33 But the 2015 X4, still using X3 underpinnings, drives much more like a BMW car. It has the best electric power steering unit BMW has made yet. The lower ride height and retuned suspension give the X4 a different personality than the X3, though not as much as you think. It is a joy to drive on a twisty road and has four selectable driving modes — Sport+, Sport, Comfort and Eco Pro — allowing you to customize your driving experience. To make the X4 as fuel efficient as possible, it comes with BMW EfficientDynamics, which includes auto start/stop, low rolling-resistance tires, brake-energy regeneration and a coasting function. This works in conjunction with the Eco Pro driving mode which changes the X4’s throttle response and gear shifts to further economy.
XSE V6 MODEL SHOWN
2015 CAMRY
2015 SEDAN LE Auto $25,595 MSRP includes F+PDI
2015 TUNDRA
2015 4X4 DBL CAB SR 4.6L $37,420 MSRP includes F+PDI
OR FINANCE FROM ‡‡
semi-monthly/40 mos.
48 mos.
OR FINANCE FROM ††
semi-monthly/40 mos.
36 mos.
128 1.99%
$
DBL CAB SR MODEL SHOWN
LEASE FROM ‡
LEASE FROM †
188 0.99%
$
Don't pay for 90 days HURRY! ENDS FEB 2, 2015
COROLLA S UPGRADE PACKAGE MODEL SHOWN
2015 COROLLA
Do not pay for 90 days, on ALL ¥ new Toyota finance plans (OAC). Learn more at: ToyotaBC.ca
2015 CE 6M $17,540 MSRP includes F+PDI
OR FINANCE FROM **
semi-monthly/40 mos.
48 mos.
88
$
FREEDOM
THE EVOLUTION OF LEASING
L E A S E
With our new Freedom 40 Lease you can ease into a brand new vehicle after just over 3 years, and enjoy lower monthly payments while doing it! Learn more at: ToyotaBC.ca
40
LEASE FROM *
0.99%
¥¥
FINAL MONTH JIM PATTISON TOYOTA DOWNTOWN 1395 West Broadway (604) 682-8881 30692
JIM PATTISON TOYOTA NORTH SHORE 849 Auto Mall Drive (604) 985-0591
GRANVILLE TOYOTA VANCOUVER 8265 Fraser Street (604) 263-2711 6978
Toyot aBC .c a
18732
LANGLEY TOYOTATOWN LANGLEY 20622 Langley Bypass (604) 530-3156
JIM PATTISON TOYOTA SURREY 15389 Guildford Drive (604) 495-4100 6701
9497
OPENROAD TOYOTA RICHMOND Richmond Auto Mall (604) 273-3766
OPENROAD TOYOTA PORT MOODY 3166 St. John’s Street (604) 461-3656 7826
7825
DESTINATION TOYOTA BURNABY 4278 Lougheed Highway (604) 571-4350 9374
PEACE ARCH TOYOTA SOUTH SURREY 3174 King George Highway (604) 531-2916 30377
SUNRISE TOYOTA ABBOTSFORD Fraser Valley Auto Mall (604) 857-2657 5736
REGENCY TOYOTA VANCOUVER 401 Kingsway (604) 879-8411 8507
WEST COAST TOYOTA PITT MEADOWS 19950 Lougheed Highway (866) 910-9543 7662
VALLEY TOYOTA CHILLIWACK 8750 Young Road (604) 792-1167 8176
SQUAMISH TOYOTA SQUAMISH 39150 Queens Way (604) 567-8888 31003
WESTMINSTER TOYOTA NEW WESTMINSTER 210 - 12th Street (604) 520-3333 8531
A36
THE VANCOUVER COURIER F R I DAY, JA N UA RY 1 6 , 2 0 1 5
WEEKLY SPECIALS Prices Effective January 15 to January 21, 2015.
While quantities last. Not all items available at all stores. We reserve the right to correct printing errors.
100% BC Owned and Operated PRODUCE
MEAT
Organic Red Delicious Apples from Harkers Organics, BC
Organic
3.98
2.98
6.99lb/ 15.41kg
( Imported )
Baby Potatoes Red Blushing Belle, Yellow Boomer or Terrific Trio
Organic
Strawberries
5.98
3/6.00
454g/1lb
product of Mexico
680g/1.5lb product of Canada
GROCERY
30%
Fresh Boneless Pork Rib End Roast
9.99lb/ 22.02kg
3.99lb/ 8.80kg
Nature’s Path Organic Qi’a Cereal assorted varieties
4.99
7.99 300g
SAVE
Aspen Ridge Outside Round Baron of Beef
assorted varieties
assorted varieties
SAVE
2L product of Canada
product of Columbia/Tanzania
12.99lb/ 28.64kg
HEALTHCARE
Dairyland Organic Milk
Level Ground Organic Fair Trade Whole Bean Coffee
pin bone removed previously frozen, value pack
value pack
package of 3
1.37kg/3lb bag product of Canada
Ocean Wise Aspen Ridge Wild Coho Stewing Meat Salmon Fillets
Rodear Grass Fed Forage Finished Lean Ground Beef
Romaine Lettuce Hearts
39%
Botanica Greens Superfood Powder assorted varieties
5.99
39.99
225g product of Canada
240 or 270g
Megafood Whole Food Supplement
Olympic Krema Organic Greek Yogurt assorted varieties
Woolwich Cream Goat Cheese assorted varieties
3.99 SAVE 500g
27%
Plum-M-Good Organic Thin Rice Cakes assorted varieties
SAVE
28%
SAVE
37%
2/6.00 113g
product of BC
assorted varieties and sizes
25% off
2/3.50
regular
95g product of Canada
retail price
Santevia Water System or Pitchers
product of Canada
Imagine Organic Broth
SAVE
36%
Cascades Bathroom Tissue
Happy Planet Fruit Smoothies
assorted varieties
2/7.00
SAVE
946ml/ 1L product of USA
FROM
26%
49.99 pitcher 149.99 water system
2 varieties
assorted varieties
2/4.00
SAVE
22%
325ml +deposit +eco fee
6.99
12 pack
product of Canada
product of BC
Yu Organic Basmati Rice Beverages
Hardbite Potato Chips Gluten Free assorted varieties
assorted varieties
SAVE
30%
Nuts To You Organic Peanut Butter
2.79
SAVE
946ml product of Canada
25%
smooth or crunchy
4/9.00
SAVE
150g product of BC
38%
500g product of Canada
Happy Planet Canadian Inspired Soups
1.89/100g
20% off regular retail price
GLUTEN FREE
xxx • product of xxx
Choices' Own Organic Roasted Scallion and Black Pepper or Sesame Ginger Tofu
Nuts
assorted varieties
4.99
xxx BAKERY
DELI
BULK
Sourdough Multiseed Bread
4.49
600g
Zorbas Gluten Free Spanakopitas
6.99
Apple or Date Oat Squares or Muesli Bars
2 pack
assorted varieties
or Zorbas Tzatziki with Goat Yogurt
5.99 500ml
3.99 each
www.choicesmarkets.com
Gluten Free Cookies assorted varieties
3.99-4.99
4.99 12 pack
package of 3
/ChoicesMarkets
@ChoicesMarkets
Kitsilano
Cambie
Kerrisdale
Yaletown
Gluten Free Bakery
South Surrey
Burnaby Crest
Kelowna
Floral Shop
2627 W. 16th Ave. Vancouver
3493 Cambie St. Vancouver
1888 W. 57th Ave. Vancouver
1202 Richards St. Vancouver
2595 W. 16th Ave. Vancouver
3248 King George Blvd. South Surrey
8683 10th Ave. Burnaby
1937 Harvey Ave. Kelowna
2615 W. 16th Vancouver
Best Organic Produce