Vancouver Courier February 27 2015 by Vancouver Courier

FRIDAY

February 27 2015 Vol. 106 No. 16

NEWS 5

50 years of teaching SWEET SPOT 18

New digs for Elysian Coffee SPORTS 23

B-ball teams court provincials There’s more online at

vancourier.com WEEKEND EDITION

Winners Rev ealed vancourier.c om/STARS

THE VOICE of VANCOUVER NEIGHBOURHOODS since 1908

BIRDMAN Roy Mackintosh sits on his living room couch with Squirt, a finch he hand-raised from a baby. Squirt is one of many finches that live in Mackintosh’s small apartment in the Downtown Eastside. See photo gallery at vancourier.com. PHOTO REBECCA BLISSETT

Animals give lifeline of love and hope

Downtown Eastsiders gain commitment and company, part one of a two-part series looking at DTES pets and their owners Sandra Thomas

sthomas@vancourier.com

Heavily tattooed, with hair shaved close to his scalp, Roy Mackintosh does not look like a man you’d take home to mother. But when Mackintosh begins to blow kisses to the tiny bird, which is not much larger than the man’s neck tattoos, perched on his shoulder, each of the three women in the small room sighs an audible “Aww.” Relaxing on a loveseat in his single room apartment located in

the heart of the Downtown Eastside, Mackintosh says he hand-raised the teeny zebra ﬁnch nicknamed “Squirt” with a syringe after its mother stopped feeding him. “He follows me around and even sleeps on my neck sometimes,” says Mackintosh, who in 1999 moved from Cape Breton to B.C. for work. Sunlight streams through the windows of the apartment Mackintosh has lived in for more than three years. The unassuming room looks similar to others in the building, complete with a small TV,

single bed tucked into the corner and narrow galley kitchen. The exception is the row of small round baskets lined up along the top of a wire stand in one corner of the room, several more perched near the window and a bird’s nest built atop the door jamb made from straw and yarn Mackintosh buys for that very purpose. It’s this room Mackintosh and his birds call home. Mackintosh discovered his love for birds after his sister gave him a pair of ﬁnches, which eventually grew to a ﬂock of 19. And, as if Mackintosh’s love for

these birds wasn’t obvious, he lists each by name, including Trouble, Chaos, Anarchy, Alexis and Elizabeth. Mackintosh estimates it costs between $30 and $40 a month to feed and care for his tiny charges. He admits going without on occasion to ensure the birds are fed. “But if I wasn’t spending it on them, I might spend it on something that could get me in trouble,” Mackintosh says with a grin. It’s a familiar story for some lowincome pet owners in the Downtown Eastside. Continued on page 14

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F R I DAY, F E B RUA RY 2 7 , 2 0 1 5 THE VANCOUVER COURIER

News Proposed property tax hike is 2.4 per cent this year 12TH&CAMBIE Mike Howell

mhowell@vancourier.com

Some advice from Police Chief Jim Chu to would-be bank robbers: Don’t wear bright red shoes when robbing a bank in the Downtown Eastside. Ha, ha. Little jokey investigative insight there by the chief Tuesday as he showed city council a photograph of a bank robber who, in fact, wore red shoes to rob a bank. Police nabbed him a few hours after the heist. There was a time, he said, when Vancouver was considered the bank robbery capital of Canada. Yep, in 2007, police recorded 185 heists and that dropped to 27 in 2014. Why the drop? Good police work, I suppose. But good police work costs money — lots of it. And as council heard this week from Chu and other city department heads, including chief librarian

Sandra Singh and Malcolm Bromley, general manager of parks and recreation, the cost to run the police department and other city departments isn’t getting any cheaper — even though there’s been a six per cent decrease in property crime since 2010 and a 21 per cent reduction in violent crime. That means a tax hike. Which, I take it, never goes over well: A city survey related to the budget found respondents’ number one concern was the cost of living. Second was housing, followed by social issues. So far, city staff recommends council approve a 2.4 per cent tax increase to help pay for a $1.2 billion operating budget. Let me write that again: $1.2 billion! Almost a third of that budget is used to pay for police (22 per cent) and firefighters (nine per cent). And I quote from a city budget document that went before council: “Wages and benefits are the primary drivers of costs, particularly for public safety, which has seen arbitrated

City staff are proposing a 2.4 per cent tax hike this year, which roughly would mean an $88 increase in taxes and utility fees for a house worth $1 million. PHOTO DAN TOULGOET

increases above inﬂation and above the wage increases of other employee bargaining units,” the report said. “For 2015, the impact of public safety wage and beneﬁt increases above other employee bargaining units alone is the equivalent of an estimated one per cent tax increase.” So what does all this mean for the taxpayer? The city has provided a

handy example the affect a tax hike will have on a $1 million property, which is a crazy price to pay for a home but, hey, it’s Vancouver, right? And we all live in $1 million homes, right? Anyway, with a 2.4 per cent tax hike, the estimated tax bill would be $1,748 on a $1 million property, which is about a $41 hike over 2014. Then, of course, there are all those util-

ity fees. When you add up fees for solid waste, sewer and water, you get $1,146, which is about $47 more than 2014. Add the $1,146 to the $1,748 and total taxes and fees gives you a grand total of $2,894, which is an $88 overall increase. On the business side, the estimated increase when combining the tax bill with utility fees is $209 over last year.

So what exactly will taxpayers get for $1.2 billion? Go read the 389-page report on the city’s website to find out. Yes, it’s a whopper of a report, kind of dense and filled with numbers, numbers and more numbers and language like this: “The allocation of fiscal resources is aligned with council and city priorities and designed to drive results as measured through service performance metrics.” Ay, caramba! Prediction: Considering only 44 per cent of eligible voters cared to cast a ballot in the 2014 election, I’m guessing less than half of the city’s taxpayers will bother to read the document and accept the tax hike without a battle. And if that’s the case, don’t call me later and tell me I should write a story about how your taxes are going up, how you’re poor and blah, blah, blah... Tell that to council. Oh, and if you’re going to rob a bank, don’t wear red shoes. twitter.com/Howellings

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mhowell@vancourier.com

The head of a police watchdog agency under fire for concerns raised about high staff turnover at the Independent Investigations Office says the controversy is not affecting his mandate to investigate police officers involved in incidents causing death or serious injury. Chief Civilian Director Richard Rosenthal said the agency has produced 60 public reports since it began operating in September 2012 and made multiple submissions to Crown counsel that have led to some prosecutions against officers. “I’ve got a significant amount of pride in the fact that even with these conflicts and these challenges, we’re getting the work done,” Rosenthal told the Courier by telephone Tuesday. The Rosenthal-led investigations’ office, which is based in Surrey, was the subject of a recent review by an all-party special committee of the B.C. Legislature that “expressed concern about reports of operational dysfunction” at the watchdog agency. The committee released its report this week and recommended the Ministry of Justice “continue to closely review human resources practices” at the investigations office and report publicly within one year on actions taken to address the problems. The agency has seen at least 20 staff leave, with half or more being former police officers. The agency is down to 24 investigators, with eight vacancies, according to statistics provided to the Courier from the investigations office. Rosenthal defended the high staff turnover, saying attrition rates in new organizations are “notoriously high.”

Richard Rosenthal of the Independent Investigations Office says the agency will hire a chief administrative officer to oversee new strategic plan. PHOTO DAN TOULGOET

Reasons for leaving include a culture clash between a diverse mix of staff which, in the agency’s case, included former officers working with staff with no policing background, he said. “It’s the nature of a startup,” said Rosenthal, noting other reasons for people resigning included the agency not being the right fit for them or to seek a better opportunity elsewhere. “You have to be able to roll with the punches. You can’t panic because there’s some conflict in the organization. You’ve got to identify it, which is what we did.” The special committee report noted testimony by former agency employees about the “difficult working conditions and conflicts with the IIO’s leadership.” Problems identified included the need for better conflict resolution and communication and a lack of confidence in senior leadership. The report also noted a Justice Institute of B.C. review of the agency “raised concerns about practices by both management and staff,” which has since led to a separate review of the investigations office’s “personnel practices” by the B.C. Public Service Agency. When asked how much of the problems at the agency

can be attributed to his leadership, Rosenthal said there was “an utter and complete lack of consensus” in the committee’s report on who was ultimately responsible. “We’re going through a lot of the same things that Northern Ireland went through, that Ontario went through,” he said of the similar police watchdog agencies. “It’s just the nature of the beast.” To address concerns raised in the committee’s report, Rosenthal said the agency has created a two-year strategic plan and will implement an internal communications strategy to minimize conflict. Rosenthal also plans to hire a chief administrative officer to oversee the plan. The agency recently hired a new chief of investigations who Rosenthal said demonstrated leadership and management skills in his role with the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman’s Office and is an expert in investigating critical incidents. “If you were to ask any organizational development expert, they would tell you that in the first couple of years of a new organization, this is what happens,” he said. “You deal with it, you prepare for it, you move on.” twitter.com/Howellings

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Alan Charlton aims to walk 20 kilometres on his 80th birthday to raise money for a school bus for Notre Dame Catholic secondary school, where he’s taught for 50 years. PHOTO DAN TOULGOET

Marking a lifetime of teaching

Fundraising walk celebrates 50-year career Cheryl Rossi

crossi@vancourier.com

Some might consider 50 years of teaching teenagers enough of a contribution. But Alan Charlton wants to mark both his 80th birthday and a half century as a teacher at Notre Dame Regional Secondary School by walking 20 kilometres along the seawall March 3 to help raise money for a new school bus. “The school community has become my community. It’s become my family to a large extent,” Charlton said. “And I just felt that I wanted to show my appreciation of what that’s meant for me.” The native of Poole, England wanted to be a veterinarian at age 15. At 16, he wanted to leave school to become a drama critic for the local newspaper. But teachers told his parents at career night their son should stay in school, secure a scholarship, earn an English degree at Oxford, and then become a drama critic. The Charltons complied. At the end of his time at Oxford, Charlton told career counsellors he wanted to be a drama critic. “They said, ‘You’re not going to get a job on a newspaper. If you wanted to do that you should have left school at 16 and got

a job,’” Charlton said. “I always use that example of irony in my English class.” The newly converted Catholic decided to become a priest. “In England, they had a very sensible rule that you couldn’t enter the seminary until you’d been a Catholic for three years,” he said. So he set sail for Canada and entered a seminary. “And then I realized God didn’t know a good thing when he had it,” Charlton said with a laugh. “He didn’t want me to be a priest.” Charlton initially taught at a Catholic elementary school in West Vancouver. He didn’t require a teaching certificate because the provincial government didn’t fund independent schools at the time. It was 1960 and he earned $2,300 a year. When he moved to Notre Dame Catholic secondary school in Hastings-Sunrise, his salary doubled and his love of teaching multiplied. “I just like kids,” said Charlton who teaches English 11 and film studies. “I’ve got a passion for what I teach and I want to share that with them… Kids roll their eyes and say ‘whatever,’ but occasionally, the flame gets ignited.” It’s not just the kids who’ve kept Charlton at Notre Dame, but also his colleagues. “Who try to live their faith,” he said. “If you’re ever in any trouble, they’re lining up to help

you, and that’s been the case for 50 years.” Sixteen employees, or one-third of Notre Dame’s staff were once Charlton’s pupils. They include viceprincipal George Oswald — who’s retiring this year. Charlton has also taught generations of families, including at least one grandmother and granddaughter. “I go to a lot of weddings and, unfortunately, to a lot of funerals,” he said. “It’s all part of being in a family, and I don’t have a family over here, at all, nobody, so I would be a very lonely person were it not for that.” He teaches half time now, marking in the daytime so he can entertain and see films and plays at night. Charlton has written film and theatre reviews for the B.C. Catholic since 1962 and wrote for the Courier in the 1980s. He produced plays and musicals at Notre Dame for 25 years. The 79-year-old has no plans to retire but says he shares an agreement with Notre Dame’s principal that he’ll leave with no argument when he’s told it’s time. For now, Charlton is focused on training for his walkathon. As of Feb. 19, he’d worked up to 10 kilometres. Friends have volunteered to walk alongside Charlton, but he wants to go it alone. “I figured it would be a nice chance to reflect on 80

years of existence,” he said. For more information, click on the “Mr. Charlton’s Walkathon” tab at ndrs.ca. twitter.com/Cheryl_Rossi

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LOST GARDEN: Canadian Pacific’s effort to clear Arbutus Corridor continued Wednesday Feb. 25 as crews worked along the tracks near the Pine Street Community Garden at Sixth Avenue and Fir Street. CP resumed clearing the land Feb. 10 after the B.C. Supreme Court dismissed a City of Vancouver application for an injunction to halt clearing gardens and other obstructions along the corridor. See vancourier.com for a photo gallery. PHOTO DAN TOULGOET

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THE VANCOUVER COURIER F R I DAY, F E B RUA RY 2 7 , 2 0 1 5

News Sequel aims for housing mix on ‘tough block’ Mike Howell

mhowell@vancourier.com

A tough block, but a changing block. That’s how Anthony Kuschak of Sequel 138 Development Corp. describes the location of a new 97-unit housing project rising out of the ground across from the city’s supervised injection site on East Hastings. Situated between the Regent Hotel and the Brandiz Bar and Hotel, along a strip of East Hastings that has a well-documented history of drug use and violent crime, the Sequel 138 building was a tough sell for the developer. “It’s a challenge, it’s a conversation,” Kuschak said of

the company’s nine-month drive to ﬁnd buyers. “The purchasers that did buy, they knew about the area. A lot of people who bought were able to see beyond [the neighbourhood’s location] and see an opportunity to own, an opportunity to get into the market.” The six-storey building, which is expected to open by the end of the year, will be a mix of 79 private condos and 18 rental units. The condos have been sold and the FJL Housing Society, which secured an $814,000 loan through B.C. Housing, will own the rental units and likely offer them to Chinese seniors. The project is unique for

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three reasons: its mix of tenants, the agreement the developer worked out with B.C. Housing to secure a $21.8 million loan for construction and a down payment program reached with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. To qualify for the program, buyers could not be earning a household income of more than $85,000 a year. The 79 condos range in price from $250,000 for a small one-bedroom to a twobedroom at $394,000. The owners, Kuschak said, are mainly in their late 20s and early 30s, including a woman named Melanie featured on the developer’s website. Melanie, whose surname was not provided, is a 28-year-old graphic designer who earns $52,000 per year and lives with her parents. She purchased a one-bedroom unit for $250,000 (plus tax) and qualiﬁed for the developer’s 10 per cent “down payment assistance program,” which has to be repaid to the developer once the property is sold or the ﬁrst mortgage is renegotiated.

of the plots will be part of a Downtown Eastside program linked to area restaurants. Liberty Arts will also operate an arts and media centre in the building. Over the years, the developer’s proposals met with protest from community activists and the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users, who worried about gentriﬁcation in the low-income neighbourhood. Activist Wendy Pedersen has argued the property should have been used strictly for much-needed social housing. Pedersen told the Courier she was disappointed B.C. Housing chose to give the developer a loan to build mostly private condos. “That’s a gift to the developer,” she said. “The reason why everybody struggled so hard against the Sequel project, and struggled for 100 per cent social housing, is that it will have a displacement impact because the land around it becomes more valuable. It’s not going to help the people in the Regent and the Balmoral [hotels] live a better life.” twitter.com/Howellings

A new 97-unit housing project is under construction across from the city’s supervised injection site. PHOTO DAN TOULGOET

For Melanie, that assistance equalled $25,000, which translates to a monthly mortgage payment of $1,158. Monthly strata fees are estimated to be $90 and property taxes $75. “These are people who were not in the market, wanted to get in the market and the developer helped them attain a home through a zero down payment program,” Kuschak said. “So that is a stab at trying to create affordable home ownership in this city.” The building is on the site of the former Pantages Theatre, which the developer originally wanted to

preserve and build housing on the property, which occupies five city lots near Main and Hastings. But the project fell apart over delays, financing and the developer’s conclusion the theatre was in too much disrepair to renovate. It was demolished in 2011, much to the chagrin of heritage buffs and caused the developer to come up with a “sequel” to the original plan. Sequel 138, which will incorporate commercial businesses on its ground floor, will also feature a large vegetable garden on the second-floor podium that will be used by residents. Some

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F R I DAY, F E B RUA RY 2 7 , 2 0 1 5 THE VANCOUVER COURIER

News Atira proposes second shipping container building Housing project to provide 26 units

Naoibh O’Connor

noconnor@vancourier.com

Atira Women’s Resource Society’s proposal to build a seven-storey building constructed with shipping containers goes to an open house March 2. The project at 420 Hawks Ave. would create 26 social housing units — 20 studios and six two-bedroom suites — for women and children. Atira completed a 12unit complex made from shipping containers at 502 Alexander St. in 2013. Janice Abbott, the nonprofit organization’s CEO, said the Hawks Avenue site is ideal because it’s close to parks, a school and a community centre. It’s also next to the Rice Block, a 38-unit single-room occupancy hotel for women that Atira has run since 2007. The Rice Block has two staff who work 24-7. “So if there’s a crisis or issues in the building, there’s staff readily accessible,” she said. The previous owner of the Hawks Avenue property sold it to Atira at a significant discount in 2009. It’s zoned light industrial so it must be rezoned for the project to go ahead. Abbott anticipates the cost per unit will be between $76,000 and $80,000, about the same as Atira’s first shipping container building. “Keep in mind, we’re really at the preliminary stages. We don’t know if this design is going to be approved. There could be other costs associated with this process. We just don’t know yet. It’s really early,” she said. While it’s believed to be cheaper to build using shipping containers than with traditional materials, Abbott cautions the organization has only completed one project. “It was definitely cheaper, but it’s hard to base future projects of these kinds of buildings based on just one project,” she said. “What we hope to do with this second project, and we’re thinking about a third project now, is demonstrate that this kind of construction is less expensive and solid. But we need to do more than one project to be able to say that with any kind of authority.” Abbott said it’s too early

to talk about the details or exact location of the third project under consideration. She was meeting with city staff about it this week to see what was possible because it’s such a tiny parcel of land. It would be a partnership with a private owner who doesn’t live in Vancouver. He inherited a small lot in the Downtown Eastside from his grandfather. He approached Atira about the possibility of a container housing project on the site. As for the Hawks Avenue project, Abbott said Atira hasn’t detected any major opposition, but she has spoken to members of the Strathcona Residents’ Association, who indicated they want commercial space in the building to create a more vibrant, animated shopping district around Hastings Street. “Which we hadn’t considered, but we’re certainly open to looking at,” Abbott said. Atira held a preliminary open house about plans for the Hawks Avenue site last summer in the courtyard of the Alexander Street complex, which attracted about 40 people who were 100 per cent in favour of the proposal, according to Abbott. “People may have some feelings about the design, but we’ve had a lot of positive feedback. There are

folks who absolutely love [shipping container buildings]. I’ve heard a lot from those folks who are excited that we’re doing another project and supportive, but I’m sure the community will have some concerns. This is the first go at the open house and the first time they’ll see the design.” Atira earned a $200,000 development grant from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation in 2010, which is funding the preliminary design work. Atira still has to put together the remaining funding for the project if it’s approved. “We will definitely finance part of it. We have a fairly substantial grant from a European-based foundation and we’re looking at a couple of other grant opportunities from a couple of local foundations. I’m not going to mention them because they haven’t committed and I don’t want to put them on the spot,” Abbott explained. After the open house, the project will have to go before the Urban Design Panel as part of the rezoning process. Abbott expects the rezoning will take about 10 months, during which time Atira will have to secure grants and financing. The open house is at the Ukrainian Cultural Centre, 805 East Pender St., March 2, 5 to 8 p.m. twitter.com/naoibh

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THE VANCOUVER COURIER F R I DAY, F E B RUA RY 2 7 , 2 0 1 5

Opinion

Hard times loom for university lobbyists

Vital stories turn to dust in news cycle

Les Leyne Columnist lleyne@timescolonist.com

Geoff Olson Columnist

Two question periods is all it took for a lucrative field of endeavour to potentially dry up and blow away. Once all the retainers are allowed to lapse, the lobbying for post-secondary institutions industry could look like the oilpatch — bereft of profit and in a deep trough of despair. “Remember when we used to make $5,000 a month just introducing B.C. Liberal appointees to B.C. Liberal government members?” the academia lobbyists will recall, huddled around the bonfire. “Those were good days.” But the good days look to be going, if they’re not gone already. After two embarrassing days trying alternately to explain or ignore revelations from the Opposition, Advanced Education Minister Andrew Wilkinson reluctantly promised to have a word with the post-secondary institutions about their penchant for hiring expensive government-relations consultants, rather than picking up the phone and calling government themselves. After an entertaining foray into the topic Monday, when they explored Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s $177,000 outlay to Liberal lobbyist Mark Jiles, the NDP returned to the issue Tuesday. This time it was Royal Roads University’s contract with the Pace Group a few years ago. The company was retained to help make the Robert Bateman Environmental Education Centre happen. RRU said it paid $40,500 for advice on that job. The project came up short financially and the Bateman gallery eventually wound up downtown at the Steamship Terminal. But president Allan Cahoon said Tuesday smaller institutions often need help navigating through their many dealings with different branches of government. RRU has since hired a staff person responsible for government relations. Which is the trouble with the NDP’s whole argument: If consultant-lobbyists are curbed, the institutions hire their own executives to do it, and they cost a lot more than lobbyists are charging. Also on the charge sheet Tuesday was Vancouver Community College, which retained Fleishman-Hillard three years ago to “raise awareness with key government officials about the benefits and impact of VCC’s educational programs.”

The value of the contract came to $75,000. That’s almost $300,000 in lobbying expenses by just three institutions. The Opposition noted that some of the lobbyists then donate generously to the B.C. Liberals. NDP MLA Kathy Corrigan said the Liberal-appointed board at VCC paid a key player in Premier Christy Clark’s leadership campaign to explain VCC to the Liberals. For good measure, the NDP also cited Wilkinson’s own mention on the lobbyists’ registry. He ﬁled ﬁve disclosures nine years ago related to legal work he did for SFU. He was a former president of the B.C. Liberal Party and former deputy to the premier at that point. He said Tuesday, as a lawyer, he had to be careful to comply fully with the law so he registered as a consultant lobbyist. Wilkinson pointed out that NDP MLA David Eby did the same thing while practising law. Wilkinson’s asking KPU for documentation about the small fortune it spent on lobbying. As for the others: “I’ll be making it clear to them that we do not see the need for them to retain governmentrelations consultants.” Running concurrently with that argument was a set-to about how many students are in debt, with Wilkinson saying it’s a much smaller percentage than is commonly assumed. He said only 25 per cent of full-time students apply for government student loans, although the NDP and student groups insist it’s far higher. At one point he dismissed the “cackling” chicken coop on the Opposition side, and clucked like a chicken when an NDP MLA rose to speak. He had to withdraw “the last few syllables of my remarks,” which sounded like “bawkbawk-bawk.” Oddly enough, the NDP’s efforts this week make the case in a backhanded way for one of the previous B.C. Liberal budget initiatives. The government in 2012 demanded $50 million in cost savings from the institutions over three years, “which were not to be found through reductions in programming.” With the kind of money they were throwing at lobbyists now brought to light, it looks like there was lots of room for cost-cutting in the administration budgets. twitter.com/leyneles

mwiseguise@yahoo.com

In Percy Bysshe Shelley’s 1818 poem Ozymandias, a traveller from an “antique land” tells of “two vast and trunkless legs of stone” standing in the desert. The shattered visage of ruler Ozymandias lies half buried in the sand, bearing a “sneer of cold command.” The poem is a meditation on the power of time to reduce emperors to dust and empires to rubble. Time has been on my mind lately. It was just over a month ago the massacre at the Paris office of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo commanded global attention. The event and its aftermath burned hot and fast in the news for a two-week period, aided by the quickly released “Je Suis Charlie” app from Apple. The attack in Paris claimed 12 lives, versus 2,000 reportedly killed the same week by Boko Haram extremists in Nigeria. Boko who? The latter story has dropped into the cultural vaultzheimer that previously swallowed KONY 2012, two missing Malaysian airline flights and Israel’s “Operation Protective Edge” in the Gaza Strip. The above items are available for our inspection and recollection through a quick Google search. But who has time for the recent past when the focus for content providers and news consumers alike is now, now, now? It’s all about monetizing the moment. By the time one big event has occurred, with an attendant explosion of online discussion, flaming and sock puppetry, the news cycle spits out some new disaster, significant or trivial. Glenn Greenwald likely understood this. Some have accused the U.S. journalist and constitutional lawyer of hoarding Edward Snowden’s leaked documents for his own profit and glory. Instead of dumping all the NSA whistleblower’s material online, Greenwald decided to publish instalments over time by partnering with select newspapers and the investigative news website The Intercept (portions also appeared in his 2014 book Nowhere to Hide). Greenwald already had an object lesson in how not to work with classified documents. In 2010, WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange arranged with major newspapers around the world to release material from leaked U.S. State Department cables.

The data dump could have supplied these papers for months if not years of material, but the reporting fizzled out in fairly short order. Perhaps management at some of these organizations felt that readers’ attention spans could not sustain a long-term focus on recent history, as opposed to the present moment (the cables dated from 1966 to 2010). Or perhaps the material was simply too radioactive. In any case, the U.S. and U.K. press then turned on the messenger, making the character of Assange — and trumped-up claims of criminality — the focus of the story. Greenwald’s timed-released efforts also aren’t immune to information overload. The public is becoming inured to further revelations from Spookworld, it appears. Last week, a report in The Intercept claimed the NSA and its British counterpart GCHQ hacked into European SIM card manufacturer Gimalato, leaving cellphone users across the world wide open to surveillance. It seemed, to quote Roger Waters somewhat out of context, “just another brick in the wall.” On the plus side, filmmaker Laura Poitras’ film about Edward Snowden, Citizen Four, won the 2015 Academy Award for best documentary. Yet to date the Snowden leaks have not resulted in any significant policy changes on warrantless wiretapping or inspired challenges to the arbitrary authority of the alphabet agencies in the U.S., the U.K. or Canada. What the spy revelations have done is make for some great popcorn entertainment while the tentacles of national security tighten further around a distracted population. If Shelley lived today to pen Ozymandias, his contribution would just be a small piece of entertainment, a bare snippet of html, blown along in a dust storm of digital media. Yet his words remind us that the sands of time eventually claim all things; the powerful and powerless alike. That notso trivial truth feels both disconcerting and liberating at the same time. “And on the pedestal these words appear: ‘My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!’ Nothing beside remains. Round the decay of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare, the lone and level sands stretch far away.” geoffolson.com

The week in num6ers...

20 20 24 50 300 177

The number of staff members who have left the Independent Investigations Office since the police watchdog group began operating in 2012.

In kilometres, the distance a Notre Dame secondary school teacher plans to walk March 3 to mark his 80th birthday.

The number of hours in a row Vancity Theatre will be screening films starting at 10 a.m. Feb. 28 as part of their 24 Hour Movie Marathon.

According to a report from BMO, the percentage of median family income in Vancouver that goes towards mortgage payments.

In thousands of dollars, the approximate amount raised for Bard on the Beach coffers at the recent Vancouver International Wine Festival’s Gala fundraising dinner.

In thousands of dollars, the amount Kwantlen Polytechnic University handed over to B.C. Liberal lobbyist Mark Jiles with little to show for it.

F R I DAY, F E B RUA RY 2 7 , 2 0 1 5 THE VANCOUVER COURIER

A11

Inbox LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Unpersuaded by columnist’s arguments for voting Yes

CO U R I E R A R C H I V E S T H I S W E E K I N H I S T O R Y

Canada beats U.S. for hockey gold

Feb. 25, 2010: Goaltender Shannon Szabados made 28 saves to backstop Team Canada to a 2-0 shutout over the U.S. in front of a sold-out home crowd. Canada got on the board midway through the first period moments after killing off back-to-back penalties after a one-timer from Marie-Philip Poulin got past goaltender Jessie Vetter. Poulin struck again minutes later during a four-on-four play. The Canadians had to kill two lengthy five-on-three opportunities for the U.S. to get back in the game while defending their gold medal from the 2006 Turin Games.

Canada beats U.S. for hockey gold

Feb. 28, 2010: Sidney Crosby ended the 2010 Winter Olympic hockey finals after taking a pass from Jarome Iginla and shooting the puck fivehole on American goaltender Ryan Miller at the 7:40 mark of sudden death overtime for a dramatic 3-2 victory on home ice watched by an estimated 16.6 million Canadians. Team Canada was able to avenge a 5-3 loss to the U.S. in the preliminary round with Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo taking over from Martin Brodeur. The home squad was ahead 2-0 late in the second period after goals from Mike Richard and Corey Perry but Ryan Kesler, who also scored an empty-netter in their earlier matchup, deflected a wrister by Patrick Kane to tighten up the game. Zack Parise batted in a rebound to tie the game with 35 seconds left in the third period with Miller pulled for the extra attacker. ADVERTISING

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Re: “Confessions of a Vancouver transit plebiscite supporter,” Feb. 25. I am heartened by the recent poll showing the No campaign leading Lower Mainland respondents. There are four main reasons why I shall be saying a definite No in the upcoming Referendum. 1. The proposed sales tax increase is regressive, disproportionately impacting low-income families and is unfair to nonusers of transit. 2. Using the sales tax system establishes an undesirable precedent for future needed social and transit public expenditures. 3. Given the history of mismanagement of the transit system by TransLink (not to mention the most recent farcical waste of money on two CEOs, one of whom was replaced for incompetence), it is highly likely that the proposed plan will be over budget leading to further demands for tax increases. Finally, 4. The plan itself suffers from a poverty of imagination, which will not prevent present or future congestion. Do we really think a million people will arrive over the next few years without their cars? Bruce Levens, Vancouver ••• Who will benefit from the development of the transit system? One would think the obvious answer would be “the users of the system.” That is not totally correct. The greater benefit is obtained by business along the transit route, by earning money from transit riders. Most people are going to or from work, shopping, medical appointments or entertainment activities, which all supports businesses. Because business profit from this migration, they should pay their fair share of the upkeep. Currently, TransLink funding comes from parking tax, gas tax, BC Hydro levy, transit fares, advertising revenues, bridge tolls, property tax and B.C. government general revenue. The proposed 0.5 per cent is a regressive tax on poor and low middle-income earners. It is no wonder that the No vote is gaining the support of the general public. Ken B. Chamberlin, Vancouver

Allen isn’t the right key for fixing TransLink

Re: “ Fireﬁghter’ set to bail out TransLink,’” Feb. 18. Columnist Les Leyne praises Doug Allen for selling $450 million worth of ferries for $19 million. Perhaps either Leyne or Allen can enlighten us as to the actual net return on the FastCat ferries sale. I spent my working life in the shipping industry and saw many ships bought and sold. Never can I recall a case where a ship

Barry Link

ddhaliwal@vancourier.com

blink@vancourier.com

PUBLISHER

EDITOR

Tara Lalanne

DIRECTOR SALES & MARKETING

tlalanne@vancourier.com

TheVancouverCourierisadivisionofLMPPublicationLimitedPartnership. Canadian Publications Mail Sales Product Agreement No. 40025215. All material in the Vancouver Courier is copyrighted and cannot be reproduced without permission of the publisher. This newspaper reserves the right to reject any advertising which it considers to contain false or misleading information or involves unfair or unethical practices. The advertiser agrees the publisher shall not be liable for damages arising out of error in any advertisement beyond the amount paid for such advertisement. We collect, use and disclose your personal information in accordance with our Privacy Statement which is available at vancourier.com.

ONLINE COMMENTS Persuaded by columnist’s arguments for voting Yes

Re: “Confessions of a Vancouver transit plebiscite supporter,” Feb. 25. Good article. No side proponents claim to be wary of TransLink’s waste and inefﬁciency, and the folly of contributing to the bloated salaries of its executives. Yet by voting against public transit expansion, they are promoting the most wasteful and inefﬁcient mode of transportation there is: the single-passenger automobile commute. The average cost of car ownership is almost $10,000 dollars per year, while the local, provincial and federal governments combined spend roughly $25 billion dollars per year on road construction and maintenance. And every time people buy a car or purchase gas, they contribute to the bloated salaries of oil company and auto company CEOs. People need to come to their senses and vote Yes. burnabybob, via Comments section

Giving short shrift to field hockey skirt issue

Re: “Women’s ﬁeld hockey skirts shorts debate,” Feb. 25. Men’s soccer teams are required to tuck in their jerseys. Professional hockey players are required to show up to the arena wearing a suit. Most golf courses have a dress code. If you want to participate, toe the line. If you don’t want to toe the line, don’t participate. majormoron, via Reddit ••• First, the [female!] members of this league voted the motions down by a WIDE margin as noted in the editorial. It’s not like a bunch of men sitting in ofﬁces decided to not allow players to wear shorts. Second, these skirts have shorts underneath. Third, Kaity Cooper is a social justice lawyer making this seem like a publicity stunt. Anyone interested in what she has to say can visit her blog, Fisforfeminist.com. IMSOSICKOFTHISSH*T, via Reddit

have your say online...

FLYER SALES

Dee Dhaliwal

owner would pay a consulting company $750,000 to sell three boats — and then fail to do so. This is the way ships are sold: Specialized sale-and-purchase brokers are asked to market vessels for sale. If they make a sale, the brokers earn a commission. I’m not sure what the going commission rate is, but it used to be about three per cent. No sale, no commission. The scrapping of the FastCats was a nasty, purely political job. Many people had solid ideas as to how some modiﬁcations would enable these vessels to serve the taxpayers of B.C. for many years. No, they were NDP babies and now the B.C. Liberals are in charge, so out they go, and taxpayers be damned. Bill Gard, Nanaimo

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A12

THE VANCOUVER COURIER F R I DAY, F E B RUA RY 2 7 , 2 0 1 5

Community

Tom Crean, owner of Kearney Funeral Services, believes a “traditional” funeral — body in casket, mourners accompanying it — remains the healthiest way to mark a loved one’s passing. PHOTO DAN TOULGOET

Viewing death the traditional way

Part 2 of “Dead of Winter,” a series on death, mourning and rituals PACIFIC SPIRIT Pat Johnson

paciﬁcspiritpj@gmail.com

Can you grieve without seeing a dead body? Well, obviously. But does seeing your loved one after their death help the grieving process? Anyone who saw the 1957 ﬁlm The Three Faces of Eve probably cannot forget the scene in which forcing a young girl to give a goodbye kiss to her dead grandmother leads to a particularly Hollywoodesque version of what was known as split personalities (now called dissociative identity disorder). The ﬁlm came along at a particularly fortuitous time. There have always been superstitions and fears around dead bodies, some of them legit. The Three Faces of Eve introduced the idea that contact with the dead could actually make you crazy. The movie arrived when

North Americans were signiﬁcantly changing the way they treated death. Before the Second World War, especially in less urbanized areas, families tended to their dead themselves. Even when a professional “undertaker” was involved, there was almost always at least a viewing, if not an open-casket funeral. Soon enough, depending on one’s culture and geography, the process would be streamlined to the point where you see Grammy the day before she dies and the next thing you know she is safely and almost hermetically sealed in a pretty box, all signs of death limited to the symbolism of ﬂowers and solemnity. Tom Crean, owner of Kearney Funeral Services and a man with strong opinions on these things, contends that a “traditional” funeral — body in casket, mourners accompanying it — remains the healthiest way to mark a loved one’s passing. An open casket,

which forces (or invites) mourners to confront the reality of the loss of life, can be a healthy part of the grieving process, he says. Whatever advantages may accompany an open casket service, the fact is the decision is most likely to be determined by one’s religion or culture. “There are ethnic groups where the casket is always open unless there’s a level of disﬁgurement that it’s impossible,” Crean says. “Of the people who have church funerals, I would say half the casket services we have, the casket is open. All the Orthodox [Christian] services we have, the casket is open, again unless there is disﬁgurement. The Chinese Catholic funerals we have are all open. Pretty much all of the Buddhist services the caskets are open.” European Catholic traditions — Irish, Italian, Polish — tend to have an open casket. English funerals tend to have closed caskets. Crean’s statistics, though,

have to be considered in light of the fact that he is speaking only of funerals. At a memorial service, by deﬁnition, there is no casket and no body. The issue of open or closed is irrelevant. Since his family has owned Kearney for more than a century, Crean’s traditionalism is understandable — and it extends beyond the issue of viewing the deceased. The funeral industry has adopted a number of comparatively newfangled developments of which he is not a fan. One is the idea of a vault. Some cemeteries in the early half of the last century began insisting on “liners,” which are essentially ﬂoorless boxes, intended to avoid the earth sinking when a casket inevitably collapses. Because the liner is open on the bottom, decomposition proceeds comparatively normally. Vaults, on the other hand, may be the ultimate fruitless grasp for immortality. Usually made from concrete or

ﬁbreglass but sometimes expensively lined with copper or bronze, these are sealed vessels into which the casket is placed. The idea that the body is kept permanently from the elements undermines the ancient intention of burial: earth to earth and all that. But it also precludes reuse of plots. “What is the point of not allowing each generation to reuse the same plots? When I go to Ireland to visit the ancestors, I’m standing there looking at eight centuries worth of my relatives in the same family plot,” he says. Decomposition happens more quickly than most people might realize and 25 or 40 years is plenty of time to allow before reuse. Crean knows this from experience. He and his brother exhumed their uncle to move his remains to a different cemetery. “What we found of him was his rosary, his Knights of Columbus badge and a big femur bone,” Crean

says. “So we brought all of the earth that we could ﬁnd around there, but basically there was no casket left. And that’s been the way of burial around the world for millennia. You bury on the basis that the land is reusable. They don’t force you to buy some $10,000 sarcophagus to make sure you’ll never ever be back to the elements.” Yet Crean says he knows of only one cemetery west of Quebec where plots may be reused — Vancouver’s city-run Mountain View cemetery at 33rd and Fraser. The impact, he says, is that every generation must purchase new plots. That’s the micro impact. The macro impact is more macabre than intermingling femurs of successive generations. “If our great creator lets this country live long enough and we don’t change this law, eventually the whole continent will be a graveyard,” he says. “It’s ridiculous.” twitter.com/Pat604Johnson

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Travel

Old Sydney pubs offer drinks on the Rocks Peter Neville-Hadley Meridian Writers’ Group

SYDNEY—At the tip of the steep-sided sandstone peninsula called the Rocks, which juts north into Sydney’s harbour, the ﬁrst European settlers created in miniature the England they’d left behind. There’s a village green surrounded by beautiful, Georgian-style sandstone houses from the 1820s that might have been airlifted from the English Cotswolds. There’s a sandstone neo-Gothic church. And there are pubs. The Rocks was Sydney’s ﬁrst settled area, and retains to this day some of Australia’s oldest surviving houses. A pleasant way to explore its haphazard layout, with streets that writhe around the peninsula’s contour lines, and steep, stonestepped passages that climb to cross them, is to wander between historic drinking

establishments, soaking up the area’s charm along with something restorative at each stop. These four pubs, within a kilometre of each other, can easily be visited in an afternoon. The Fortune of War, opened in 1828, claims to be Sydney’s oldest pub, and displays a copy of the List of Certificates for Publican’s Licences granted July 1, 1830 with itself in first place. This warren of small rooms is actually Sydney’s “oldest continually licensed” pub, but was rebuilt on the same site in 1921, although the ancient tiling on the walls and the ornate central bar seem to have been there forever. It once had five neighbours, and at one point so many licences were issued in Sydney there was a pub for every 10 people in the colony. Publicans were required to provide lights outside their premises, so

the ubiquity of drinking places accidentally led to the down-at-heel Rocks becoming one of the ﬁrst parts of Sydney to have the luxury of proper street lighting. Some of the original gas street lamps are still in operation on the way to the second on that ﬁrst list of licensees, the wedgeshaped Australian Hotel. Newspaper clippings prove it opened earlier than the Fortune, in 1824, but was at a different address until 1900. Still, the frosted glass, ceiling mouldings and big mirrors behind the bar proclaim its antiquity. Convict labour built the Hero of Waterloo, which opened as it is in 1843, and has chisel marks still visible in the sandstone. Tradition has it a secret tunnel was once used to smuggle in illicit liquor from the docks and to carry the inebriated unwillingly off to life as sailors. The cellar still has shackles in the wall and tun-

nel entrance. But the Lord Nelson, licensed in 1841, claims to be “the oldest continually licensed hotel still trading within its original fabric.” It began as an imposing, three-storey private house with big windows and high

ceilings, and also operates Australia’s “oldest pub brewery.” Once the preserve of sailors and dockers, the Rocks is on the way to gentriﬁcation. A warehouse is now the elegant Harbour Rocks Hotel. A police station is

now a wine bar. Some pubs have dining rooms and serve excellent food. Try not to drink too much. To decide which is the oldest pub, you’ll have to focus on the small print. More stories at culturelocker.com.

Vote Yes in the Transportation and Transit Referendum Elections BC will soon be mailing out a voter information package, including the mail-in ballot. The voting period is March 16 – May 29, 2015.

Make sure you’re a registered voter or update your mailing address online at elections.bc.ca Learn more about how the Mayors’ Council Plan will beneﬁt Vancouver at vancouver.ca/transitreferendum

Grandview-Woodland Community Plan Events We want to hear from you. Help us to get the plan right! Citizens’ Assembly Public Roundtable Thursday, March 5, 2015, 7- 9 pm The Grandview-Woodland Citizens’ Assembly is hosting its second public roundtable meeting to share its draft neighbourhood-wide recommendations, and views on a selection of outstanding issues. Assembly members want your feedback on this important work. The draft recommendations will be shared in advance of the Roundtable. The event is free but please register to participate at grandview-woodland.ca or phone 1-800-858-0435. Dundas Street

East Hastings Street

Victoria Drive East 1st Avenue

East Broadway

Nanaimo Street

Commercial Drive

Clark Street

Venables Street

Sub-Area Workshop The City’s Planning Department has been holding a number of sub-area workshops as part of the community planning process. The next one focuses on Commercial Drive (between Grandview Cut and Hastings). Come and discuss community issues, review proposed neighbourhood policy options, and help plan the future of the Drive:

Commercial Drive workshop Saturday, March 7, 2015 10 am - 4 pm The workshop is free, but please register to attend. On Sunday, March 1, there will also be an optional walking tour of the sub-area. To sign up or for more details, visit vancouver.ca/gw.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Visit: vancouver.ca/gw Email: grandviewplan@vancouver.ca Phone: 3-1-1

These days, the publican at the Hero of Waterloo probably won’t help get you press-ganged, but there are still shackles in the cellar walls and a secret tunnel from the days when his predecessor would have. PHOTO PETER NEVILLE-HADLEY/MERIDIAN WRITERS GROUP

Visit: vancouver.ca Phone: 3-1-1 TTY: 7-1-1

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Feature

DTES owners sacrifice to feed and

Enter pet photos to win Bosley’s basket Is your kitten the cutest, your dog absolutely adorable or your parrot most popular? Then we want proof. Like TheVancouverCourierNewspaper on Facebook and follow the Courier on Instagram @vancouriernews. Post your favourite photos on Instagram using the hashtag #vancourierpets for an opportunity to win a gift basket from Bosley’s by Pet Valu valued at $300. We’ll share our favourite pet photos throughout the contest, with the winner announced March 13. Prizes must be picked up at the Courier’s office, 303 West Fifth Ave., by March 30.

Continued from page 1 While some lean on their pets to stay clean and sober, others say they would have little company if not for their cat, dog, ferret, rat or snake. B.C. SPCA spokesperson Lori Chortyk says it’s common to see pet owners forgo food to feed their pets. She adds the payoff is often good company and unconditional love. “Sometimes this is the ﬁrst time in their life that something else is depending on them” says Chortyk. “That responsibility helps them stay sober.” The SPCA runs an outreach program dubbed Charlie’s Food Bank, launched in 2000, named after a dog starved to death by its owner. Charlie arrived at the SPCA in critical condition and, despite the best efforts of animal hospital staff, passed away after three weeks of intensive care. The food bank was organized by those involved in Charlie’s case who were deeply af-

fected by the senseless act and the dog’s struggle and agonising death. Charlie’s Food Bank operates every Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon at Mission Possible, 543 Powell St. Another group helping cat and dog owners in the Downtown Eastside is Best Friends for Life, launched in 2013 by two moms, Holly E and Kathryn Richardson, who met over their love of rescue dogs. The pair decided they wanted to help street people from the Downtown Eastside and their pets by collecting and distributing food, litter, dog coats and sweaters, collars and leashes. Holly asked that her last name not be used. On a grey February afternoon, Best Friends for Life shows up to Tellier Tower on East Hastings Street with a van load of food and kitty litter. Because on this day there is no place to park in front of the building, the women set up down the block. The moment they

open the back of the van, a line begins to form made up of homeless and lowincome men and women, some apparently high on drugs or alcohol. Most have no idea they’ve lined up for pet food, but some begin taking what they can before wandering away. But, quickly, with the help of former park board commissioner and Tellier Tower building manager Sarah Blyth, the women determine who is in actual need and who plans to resell the food and litter. “We’re off to a woman’s shelter after this so we can’t run out,” says Holly. A disturbingly thin woman in line, sporting fuchsia streaks in her hair and a pink-striped hoodie, is accompanied by a 15-month old black Labrador retriever, a gorgeous, healthy-looking dog that appears to be purebred. And while the woman was happy to give the dog’s name, Bodakai, she was not willing to offer her own.

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Feature

care for animal companions

3 1. Robert Dumas holds his dog Chico in the lobby of his DTES building Feb. 17th, 2015. Dumas takes great care with Chico, who is blind, spending a good amount of time walking and grooming the dog. 2. Chico waits on the sidewalk for a command from owner Robert Dumas near home at Main and Hastings Street Feb. 17th, 2015. 3. Jim Bradley shows some love towards his young dog and companion, Buddy, in his DTES apartment Feb. 17th, 2015. 4. Roy Mackintosh’s finches are free to fly anywhere in his suite, including perching on livingroom lampshades. See photo gallery at vancourier.com. PHOTOS REBECCA BLISSETT

“He was trained for search and rescue but it didn’t work out,” she says. “Some guy was getting paid to watch him and that’s who I got him from. Now he means everything to me. I don’t know what I’d do if I lost him.” Stories of that same strong bond were told to the Courier by many pet owners living in the Downtown Eastside, including Jim Bradley who adopted a seven-week-old Shih Tzu puppy nicknamed Buddy from his sister while visiting family in Vernon nine months ago. “My sister’s dog is his grandmother,” says Bradley, who moved to Vancouver in 2007 seeking medical treatment after being injured in a logging accident. Bradley calls Buddy his best friend. The little brown dog not only keeps him company but also forces him to get out and exercise. “He stopped me from being lazy,” says Bradley. “And gets me up and going.” Bradley has Buddy

licensed with the City of Vancouver and up to date with all his shots, including rabies and distemper. Bradley knew going in how expensive it can be to own a dog, especially while living on a ﬁxed income, but he adds it’s worth every penny. “It’s not cheap,” says Bradley. “But I knew that before I got him so I’m committed to taking care of him.” Bradley says Buddy is a smart little dog who only has to be told once if he does something wrong. “One day he ate my glasses and I got mad at him because I was worried he ate some glass,” says Bradley. “But I had a long talk with him. If I don’t talk to him he’ll keep doing it.” Bradley says the only time he’s left Buddy alone was while attending church while away visiting family. Father Garry LaBoucane, who serves as pastor at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in the Downtown Eastside,

allows him to bring Buddy to Sunday services. LaBoucane told the Courier it’s not common to see animals at church services of any denomination, but adds a precedent had been set by the time he arrived in Vancouver from Alberta 18 months ago. “Another woman brings her dog, it’s a small ﬂuffy thing and very quiet,” says LaBoucane. “Most churches wouldn’t encourage it, but Jim is a good guy and I see the value and joy these animals bring to their owners.” Fellow Tellier Tower resident Rob Dumas accompanied the Courier to Bradley’s room alongside his multicoloured shih tzu named Chico. Dumas and Chico were featured last February as part of the Courier’s Vancouver Special series. Dumas says at 12-anda-half, the senior dog is starting to feel his age and the health problems that go with it, including diminishing eyesight and problems with his throat

and airway. He is worried for what the future holds for his best friend. “I have to take him to the SPCA Hospital to get checked out and that’s $200 for the x-rays,” says Dumas, the concern showing in his eyes. He bought the little dog off a fellow tenant in Tellier Tower two years ago following the death of Dumas’ girlfriend. Her death prompted him to give up drugs, but after losing his job, Dumas admits he became depressed. He says Chico came into his life just in time to save it. Chico had belonged to a man who gave the dog away to another tenant in their building because he was heading to jail. Dumas offered the new owner “a couple of bucks” for him and the pair have remained inseparable since. Dumas admits the struggle to stay clean is constant, but insists he’ll never betray the trust Chico has instilled in him. “He’s all I’ve got.” twitter.com/sthomas10

Pet: Buddy Owner: Jim Bradley Breed: Shih Tzu Age: 10 months Together: Eight months Attributes: Smart The Courier is launching a new feature today called Pet of the Week. Please send a clear photo of your pet — humans are welcome to be in photos as well — their breed, name, age, how long you’ve been together and any special attributes or idiosyncrasies they might have to sthomas@vancourier.com and we’ll publish as many as possible in print and online.

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THE VANCOUVER COURIER F R I DAY, F E B RUA RY 2 7 , 2 0 1 5

Give Hope Every year, hundreds of vendors like Stephen sell Hope in Shadows. They earn an income while showcasing their community. This year, buy a calendar and help create job opportunities for low-income people.

HHOPEINSHADOWS.COM OPEINSHADOWS.CCOM

Sup pported by: byy: Supported

F R I DAY, F E B RUA RY 2 7 , 2 0 1 5 THE VANCOUVER COURIER

Arts&Entertainment

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GOT ARTS? 604.738.1411 or events@vancourier.com

Feb. 27 to March 3, 2015 1. Giving new meaning to office warfare, ITSAZOO Productions’ latest play The Competition is Fierce is set in “a dystopian corporate future where ‘climbing the company ladder’ entails gladiatorial combat.” Sebastien Archibald’s violent satire, directed by Chelsea Haberlin runs March 3 to 22 at the Shop Theatre. In keeping with the corporate theme, audience members can enjoy a drink at the staffroom bar, served up in corporate mugs. Details at itsazoo.org. 2. Pack your blankets and jammies. The Cinematheque resurrects its 24 Hour Movie Marathon, Feb. 28, 10 a.m. to March 1, 10 a.m. The cinephile endurance test features 24 hours of (secret) finely curated cinema that spans genre, mode and time. Will the particularly apt Weekend at Bernie’s finally make the cut? See for yourself. The first 100 people receive an “audience survival kit.” Sadly, no alcohol or drugs are permitted. Tickets $40. Details at thecinematheque.ca. 3. Showcasing “kickass cross-genre short films by local and emerging filmmakers,” the inaugural Vancouver Badass Film Festival takes over Vancity Theatre Feb. 28 for an evening of horror, science fiction, noir, dark comedy, superheroes and wrestlers. Details at VBASFF.com. 4. Veteran Montreal choreographer Marie Chouinard interprets the work of French artists Erik Satie and Henri Michaux in Gymnopédies and Henri Michaux: Mouvements Feb. 27 and 28 at the Vancouver Playhouse. Details: dancehouse.ca. 5. Vancouver Opera waltzes with Johann Strauss II’s Die Fledermaus complete with costume swaps, mistaken identities, hypnosis and plenty of bubbly. Sounds like an average day at the Courier. The show runs Feb. 28 to March 8 at Queen Elizabeth Theatre. Details at vancouveropera.ca.

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Arts&Entertainment

The roast is near: Elysian brews closer Coffee-shop-turned-roaster raises a cup to new Mount Pleasant digs SWEET SPOT Eagranie Yuh

thewelltemperedchocolatier.com

The skinny wooden table is laid with clusters of glasses, each one numbered. After 30 minutes of mute tasting punctuated by slurping, the conversation starts. “I’m getting a syrupy, tea-like note to number two.” “Yeah, and it’s more expressive than number three, which seems more introverted in comparison.” “Cool, yeah. What did you think about number four? I thought it had good body but a slight chemical note.” I’ve crashed the staff tasting at Elysian Coffee. That’s right, coffee. For many, coffee is a useful drink that kick-starts mornings. But to the team at Elysian, coffee is about ﬂa-

vour, quality and pleasure. In a city ﬂush with frappuccinos, Elysian Coffee has quietly expanded to three locations. The original cafe opened in 2000. Tucked just off Burrard at Fifth Avenue, it’s still one of the city’s best-kept secrets for great coffee and baked-in-house goodies. In 2008, a second location opened at West Broadway and Ash, and is steadily busy with a stream of ofﬁce workers and Macbookclutching hipsters. On the surface, Elysian looked like any number of bespoke cafes in Vancouver. They bought excellent coffee, brewed it to perfection and sold it with a smile. But in the background, owner Alistair Durie had other plans. “All coffee comes from somewhere else,” he says. “It doesn’t grow anywhere near here, and so there’s

a disconnection between drinking coffee and how it gets to us.” In 2005, Durie started visiting coffee farms in Africa and South America with the idea that Elysian might start roasting their own coffee. That meant building relationships with producers and exporters, learning how to evaluate green (unroasted) coffee and ﬁnding a space in which to do it. In 2012, Elysian switched to using its own coffee, with Durie working in a space on Granville Island. But while Elysian had made closer connections to their coffee, there was still work to be done. “A coffee shop couldn’t be more removed from the production of coffee,” says Durie. And that’s where his newest location (2301 Ontario St.) comes in. Continued next page

Left to right: Timothy Helmuth, Christopher Rodgers and Nate Welland carefully slurp, discuss and take notes during a staff tasting session at Elysian Coffee. The local caffeine pusher recently opened its third location at 2301 Ontario St., which houses its coffee roasting facilities and tasting room. PHOTO DAN TOULGOET

February 27 to March 5

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this original coupon to the cashier. Valid Friday, February 27 to Thursday, March 5, 2015. To redeem, please surrender used in connection with any previous One coupon per customer; cannot be combined with any other offer or credit offer, or The Boss™ blender, Jura, Hudson’s purchases. Licensed departments,All-Clad, Smart Buys, Saeco, Dyson, Le Creuset, BrevilleHome Outﬁtters may dishonour and excluded. Bay Gift Cards, Point of Sale Activation Cards and Gift Registry online are through unauthorized sources. conﬁscate any coupon which in its sole opinion has been copied, altered, forged or obtained indicated on the sales receipt. Coupon This coupon has no cash value. Refunds will be reduced by the value of the coupon as Branch). Capital One® is a registered (Canada Bank One Capital by extended is Credit only. use in-store offer valid for mark are registered trademarks of trademark of Capital One Financial Corporation. MasterCard and the MasterCard brand MasterCard International Incorporated. All marks used under licence. All rights reserved.

IMPORTANT CUSTOMER INFORMATION: SELECTION & BRANDS WILL VARY BY STORE: All colours, patterns and styles may not be available in all stores. RAIN CHECKS AND SUBSTITUTIONS: If an advertised item is not yet available we will offer you your choice of a comparable substitution, (if available), or a rain check. In some instances (e.g. special purchases, clearance items, bonus with purchase or seasonal items) quantities may be limited, selection may vary by store and substitutes or rain checks cannot be given. Home Outfitters reserves the right to limit quantities. ■ 1.4H15 All references to regular price are to Home Outfitters’ regular price product and does not include already reduced, clearance, Smart Buys, Signature Deals and items with .95 & .98 price endings unless otherwise specified. All prices in effect Friday, February 27 to Thursday, March 5, 2015, unless otherwise specified. Valid only at Home Outfitters store locations. Product selection may vary online. Hudson’s Bay, Hudson’s Bay Credit, Home Outfitters, hbc.com and their associated designs are trademarks of the Hudson’s Bay Company. Credit is extended by Capital One Bank (Canada Branch). Capital One® is a registered trademark of Capital One Financial Corporation. MasterCard and the MasterCard brand mark are registered trademarks of MasterCard International Incorporated. All marks used under licence. All rights reserved.

F R I DAY, F E B RUA RY 2 7 , 2 0 1 5 THE VANCOUVER COURIER

FROM

Continued from page 18 At 1,000 square feet, the newest Elysian is bigger than my apartment. There’s your typical coffee bar and the aforementioned baked goods — the little oat is my favourite. Off to one side, there’s a rainbow of brightly labeled bags of coffee. Adan Silva, Kigeyo, Chelelektu, the labels say. Colombia, Rwanda, Ethiopia. And beyond that, there are the glass windows that show off Elysian’s roasting facility. Green coffee beans are stacked on a pallet and a 25-pound capacity black coffee roaster hunches in the middle of the room. The mere sight of the roaster prompts questions: What is green coffee? How much do you roast at a time? How long does it take? I ask Durie why he made the jump from cafe owner to coffee roaster. “The boring answer is that you want to be in control of your product from start to ﬁnish,” he says. “The more interesting answer is that it’s a hell of a lot more inspiring to be closer to what you love. [At Elysian] we all love coffee and roasting is about the closest we can get to it other than being on a coffee farm.” At the other end of the café, there are windows into a narrow room. This is where I joined the Elysian staff to taste coffee, a process called cupping. They gather weekly to train their palates, while the Elysian roasters use it almost daily to evaluate different roasting proﬁles. While it’s still early days, Durie hopes to offer public cuppings at some point — another step to bring people closer to their coffee. twitter.com/eagranieyuh

lili beaudoin, jenny wasko-paterson, and mike wasko. photo by david cooper

A STORY OF CHALLENGED FAITH, A FORGOTTEN PAST, AND EMERGING LOVE

coffee connection

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Registered Denturist, Registered Dental Technician ((1 2 blocks fromRichmond RichmondCentre) Centre ) www.bcdenturist.ca block from Elysian’s Alistair Durie (top) made the jump from cafe owner to coffee roaster. “It’s a hell of a lot more inspiring to be closer to what you love. [At Elysian] we all love coffee and roasting is about the closest we can get to it other than being on a coffee farm.” PHOTOS DAN TOULGOET

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THE VANCOUVER COURIER F R I DAY, F E B RUA RY 2 7 , 2 0 1 5

Arts&Entertainment KUDOS & KVETCHES

that trend. Starbucks is simply the frappuccino-scented canary in the coalmine. And clearing CDs off its cinnamon dusted shelves is just part of Starbucks’ long and cherished history of predicting the downfall, if not outright extinction of cultural signiﬁers. We’re talking to you, pumpkin spice lattes. Your days are numbered, and we couldn’t be happier.

The Bucks stops here

Highly profitable bastions of soulless coffee culture and harbingers of doom, Starbucks announced it will stop selling compact discs, or CDs as the kids of yesteryear once called them, next month. But where will I get my Norah Jones, Diana Krall or Tony Bennett duetting with everyone under the sun fix, you’re probably asking. Well, you could try your mom’s Friday night “love making” soundtrack, for starters. But don’t worry, “the Buck” still has you covered. We think. “Starbucks continually seeks to redefine the experience in our retail stores to meet the evolving needs of our customers,” a rep, or more likely an automated robot, from the Seattlebased coffee giant told Billboard magazine. “Music will remain a key component of our coffeehouse and retail experience, however we will continue to evolve the format of our music offerings to ensure we’re offering relevant options for our cus-

Cup runneth over

Possibly signalling the impending Apocalypse, Starbucks ditches CD sales , while KFC introduces edible coffee cups to its bewildering menu.

tomers. As a leader in music curation, we will continue to strive to select unique and compelling artists from a broad range of genres we think will resonate with our

customers.” And who isn’t a fan of music curation, compelling artists and retail experiences? The simple fact is sales of CDs, and all music formats

except for vinyl, have been spiralling for years, and a new Paul McCartney album or Brazilian coffee-infused bossa nova compilation won’t do anything to reverse

Speaking of terrible coffee-related ideas. KFC, or Kentucky Fried Chicken as the survivors of juvenile diabetes once called it, is testing the waters in jolly ol’ England with its new line of edible coffee cups. Sadly, the cups are not made of deep-fried chicken molded into the shape of a drinking vessel as we had hoped, but consist of “a wafer coated in sugar paper and lined with a heat-resistant white chocolate,” according to the New York Times. The new cup, or “soluble shame container,” will hit customers’ ill-informed tummies at the same time British KFC franchises introduce Seattle’s Best Coffee to its bewildering menu. Because what’s more quintessen-

tially British than coffee from Seattle sold in an American restaurant chain originally based in Kentucky. According to the company, the edible cups have nothing to do with feeding customers’ insatiable appetite to eat everything in sight, though we beg to differ, but everything to do with addressing “consumer concerns about the environmental impact of packaging, as well as their desire for simplicity.” And if the prospect of chowing down on the very same technology panhandlers use to collect change isn’t enticing enough, the new KFC cups, or “chewable Apocalypse goblets,” are also dosed with “ambient aromas” including “Coconut Sun Cream,” “Freshly Cut Grass,” “Wild Flowers,” “Blood Money,” “Cramped Poultry Feeding Pen,” “Satan’s Sugar Wafer” and “Oniony sweat stains on a brand manager’s cottonpolyester-blend dress shirt as he/she desperately spitballs ideas at a sales meeting to increase company proﬁts by any stupid means necessary.” We may have made a few of those up. k&k@vancourier.com twitter.com/KudosKvetches

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F R I DAY, F E B RUA RY 2 7 , 2 0 1 5 THE VANCOUVER COURIER

A21

Community

FESTIVAL UNCORKED: The historic Hotel Vancouver once again played host to the much-anticipated Bacchanalia Gala, a black-tie affair and jewel of the 37th Vancouver International Wine Festival that kicked off the 10-day tipple fest in supreme style. Fronted by festival director Harry Hertscheg, wine chair Mark Hicken and society darling Jana Maclagan, the food and wine pairing dinner, which yours truly emceed, benefitted Christopher Gaze’s Bard on the Beach. While exquisite reds and white wines ruled the room, the dominant hue was green as galagoers, along with the help of auctioneer Howard Blank, produced a reported $300,000 for the city’s venerable arts organization. More than 1,750 wines from 14 countries will be uncorked at 53 events. This year’s festival, which runs until March 1, shines the spotlight on Syrah and Australian wines. OPEN HEARTS: British Columbians once again opened their hearts and wallets for the 49th annual Variety Show of Hearts Telethon. Global Television’s Burnaby studio was headquarters for the fundraising drive for Variety’s biggest event of the year, which was held over the Valentine’s Day weekend. Heartwarming stories of love and little victories — like little Audrey who fought cancer and survived, Joseph who has a food aversion but is now eating and growing, and Maria who is beginning to communicate thanks to speech and language therapy — won over viewers and inspired giving throughout the province. By evening’s end Sunday night, an impressive $5.9 million was raised to provide life-saving, life-changing and lifeenriching support to children in B.C. who have special needs and organizations that provide services to these kids. GIFTS OF LAUGH: Ryan Stiles, Colin Mochrie and Ellie Harvie are among the illustrious alumni that have come from the Vancouver Theatre Sports League, the city’s premiere improv comedy troupe. Boasting an impressive six International Improv Comedy Awards, the 35-year old organization performs five-nights a week to more than 60,000 patrons annually. Led by artistic director Jay Ono and VTSL president and event chair Doug McCann, the company hosted its 10th Grapes of Laugh Gala at the Improv Centre on Granville Island. The pair welcomed a capacity crowd to the celebrations that included a performance showcasing the troupe’s top improvisers, a tasting of toastworthy wines and fiery auction. Yours truly, along with Howard Blank, served as masters of ceremonies at the laugh-outloud luau. More than $25,000 was generated in support of VTSL’s community outreach and youth programs.

email yvrflee@hotmail.com twitter @FredAboutTown

Jana Maclagan’s Bacchanalia Gala kicked off Harry Hertscheg’s Vancouver International Wine Festival. The 37th running features some 1,750 wines and 53 events spanning 10 days.

Bard on the Beach managing director Claire Sakaki and board chair Dr. Jim Bovard raised a glass to toast-worthy wines and the generosity of gala-goers. Proceeds from the Bacchanalia Gala support the Shakespeare festival at Vanier Park.

From left, Vancouver Theatre Sports League stage manager Su Scarfe, artistic director Denise Jones and improviser Michael Teigen aimed to raise $20,000 from their Grapes of Laugh benefit to support the company’s community outreach and youth initiatives.

Barbara Stewart, with her husband, Bob Stewart, a Board of Governor with Variety, was recognized on the Show of Hearts Telethon for her 25 years of spearheading the Gold Heart Pin program, which has raised $5 million.

Bernice Scholten, executive director of Variety, the Children’s Charity, greeted actor/musician Jim Byrnes. The 49th telethon marked the actor/musician’ 37th year participating at the annual Show of Hearts Telethon.

Striking a pose were fashion model finalists, from left, Jaqueline Liu, Beca Yin and Eva Shen. Fifteen contestants vied for the coveted New Cover title and an exclusive modeling contract at the event organized by China’s CNTV, CNTVNA.com and Orient Star Media.

Modeling coach and founder of J Li Models, Jesse Li congratulated Michelle Gieschen, winner of the 2015 New Silk Road North America modelling competition, staged at River Rock Casino Resort. Gieshen will compete at the world finals in China.

Yukking it up at the 10th Grapes of Laugh Vancouver Theatre Sports League fundraiser was executive director Jay Ono and VTSL president and gala chair Doug McCann.

A22

THE VANCOUVER COURIER F R I DAY, F E B RUA RY 2 7 , 2 0 1 5

Canada’s Online Lifestyle Magazine

SHEEP-ISH GIFTS FOR CHINESE NEW YEAR By Adrienne Matei & Noa Nichol

It’s time to say “Kung Hei Fat Choi” in welcome of the Year of the Sheep—or, as it’s come to be known, Year of the Sheep/Goat/Ram (some kind of bovidae is the gist here). Read more on www.vitamindaily.com

START NOTHING: Before 3:34 p.m. Sunday, 0:47 a.m. Tuesday to 3:58 a.m. Wednesday, and 10:36 a.m. Thursday to 4:52 p.m. Friday. PREAMBLE: An emailer sent me a great quotation: “Be yourself — everyone else is already taken.” Remember around November or December last year when I forecasted we’d hear about “something dark” (corruption, crime, whatever) occurring in the Vancouver police? It was reported Feb. 19 that 17 police in Abbotsford — a bedroom satellite of Vancouver — were involved in producing phoney search warrants and were working for drug gangs. The 17 ofﬁcers — half the 34 (I think) cops on the force — were charged with three counts each, one being “corrupt practices.” Now, Abbotsfordians might argue with my calling them a bedroom satellite of Vancouver (though many commute to Vancouver jobs), but two things: 1) my arrow was a little off the mark, BUT the original prediction might still come true; and 2) the police chief of Abbotsford, who oversaw this crooked force, was hired from the Vancouver Police Department.

FASHION & SHOPPING

CRAVING THE CAYMAN ISLANDS By Karen Kwan

From pristine sand on Seven Mile Beach to dazzling sunsets, everything in the Cayman Islands is eerily perfect—even the food. Read more on www.vitamindaily.com

TRAVEL & LEISURE

WIN! REFRESH KIDS PRIZE PACK ($700 VALUE) By Kate LeGresley

Refresh Market, Squamish’s largest handmade, vintage pop-up indie marketplace, is back, this time for the kiddies. To help you get there, we’re giving away a $700 prize! Subscribe to our Moms and Kids edition now on www.vitamindaily.com/subscribe

MOMS & KIDS

VANCOUVER BRIDE GUIDE By Noa Nichol

What’s hot when it comes to tying the knot in 2015? From colours to venues to rings and ﬂowers crowns, ﬁnd your wedding inspiration in our Bride Guide.

Aries, you’ve handled a lot of opposition in the last while. From 1972 to 1984, relationships were a wrestling match. Great sex, lots of mystery, but others seemed to frequently challenge you. Marriage was like an accordion, in, out, in — or alienation, closeness, alienation, etc. 1984 to 1995 was similar except that you wrestled in a more covert, hidden way. And you either gained or lost net worth — signiﬁcantly.

Tackle chores and protect your health for three more weeks. Eat and dress sensibly. You might notice, more and more but subtly, that your tasks are becoming less and less deﬁned, more dependent on empathy with others and less on “written instructions.” Though this prospect might discomﬁt you, it is actually bringing you closer to your “proper work,” the tasks and chores you really want to do.

Your popularity, optimism and love of life remain high. Everyone wants to talk to you. A romantic temptation builds all month (less so in the second half) but it seems to come from a clandestine or unethical place. Be careful. This week starts with a restful Sunday unless you charge out the door on useless errands. Sunday eve to Tuesday night emphasizes real estate, home, construction, especially during a lucky Monday.

The main accent lies on romance, creativity, risktaking urges (many of which will succeed) on beauty and pleasure pursuits and on kids and their talents for three weeks. A secondary thread runs through March, drawing you to work and making chores pleasant and attractive, perhaps due to a co-worker. Take care with this trend: if single, you’ll be eventually disappointed; if married, you’ll be in danger.

Be ambitious, Gemini. You’ll have more dealings with higher-ups, parents and/or authorities. In general, 2011 to 2025, you are not so much destined to climb higher in your career (although it’s very likely) but to grow closer to your “perfect career” — one that suits you and your talents. This reaches a peak in 2021-23, so you have a long way to go, up. Work hard, keep your nose clean and smile at the boss.

The general emphasis lies on home, security, garden, nutrition, Mother Nature, retirement planning and your soul for the next three weeks. This area of your life will grow larger (or perhaps just more intense) now to 2025. During this same period, watch for early signs of plumbing or water table problems. If you become worried or anxious, head for the beach or lake. Large bodies of water will relax you.

The general emphasis lies on understanding, a mellow mood, gentle love, possible far travel, legal or educational involvements. Cultivate foreign-born people now (they will return the favour). Seek intellectual activities. This area of your life will grow until 2025, yet it/you will become not more logical, analytical but more intuitive. A secondary thread promotes investments, ﬁnances and physical intimacy.

The weeks ahead emphasize errands, casual acquaintances, short trips, communications, paperwork and details. Be curious, ask questions, explore, seek variety. This is a busy but not an important time. Often, travels during this time might take you to a future neighborhood but not to a good one. Your income stays at a good level and can be enhanced by the things you do now — errands, mail, calls, paperwork, etc.

March is always a month of mystery for you. That’s why you’re sometimes attracted to, and marry, Pisces (whose birthday is March) — you ﬁnd them mysteriously sexy. But these marriages often leave the Leo a bit hysterical. and nervous. Anyway, the weeks ahead highlight your subconscious and its promptings (hunches, usually) and bring sexual and ﬁnancial urges without the accompanying ethics, so you need to be consciously honest and open.

Money, possessions and to a lesser degree rote learning and sensual attractions ﬁll the three weeks ahead. Seek new clients, ask for a pay raise or overtime, sell unwanted items, shop. This area of life will grow increasingly unsolid, intuitive, and “big” now to 2025. If you’re now navigating your stream of income in a row boat, in a decade you might be sitting on your barge, contemplating the sunrise over your river of dough.

Signiﬁcant relationships ﬁll the weeks ahead. A secondary thread emphasizes intimacy in emotional links and funding in practical business associations. Virgo, if something in this area falls into your lap without invitation — e.g., that sexy guy/girl sidles up and says let’s get close or phones out of the blue and says “we’ll give you a billion for your company” then proceed, this is a gift (actually, a repayment) from your karmic bank account.

Your energy, charisma, effectiveness and clout remain at a yearly high, so get things done, start important projects, get out, impress people, ask for favours. This week, excepting Monday, might not be the best time to start ventures, but next week will be so prepare. A secondary theme, running all of March, is an attraction to a) spending money like water or 2) indulging a sensual attraction to someone who, though stunningly attractive, you know will eventually bore you.

Get more on www.vitamindaily.com

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Monday: Daniel Craig (47). Tuesday: Miranda Richardson (57). Wednesday: Catherine O’Hara (61). Thursday: Dean Stockwell (79). Friday: Rob Reiner (68). Saturday: Rachel Weisz (45). Sunday: Micky Dolenz (70).

F R I DAY, F E B RUA RY 2 7 , 2 0 1 5 THE VANCOUVER COURIER

A23

Sports&Recreation

GOT SPORTS? 604.630.3549 or mstewart@vancourier.com

By Megan Stewart

Churchill season ends

The season ended for the Churchill Bulldogs when they were eliminated from the senior girls AAA Lower Mainland tournament in a Feb. 24 loss to Charles Best secondary. After the Bulldogs bounced back from a semi-final loss, they qualified for the wildcard game for a final shot to keep their season alive but lost 78- Churchill Bulldog Trisha Pajayon (No. 13) 48 to the Blue Devils.

T-Birds in the playoffs

The men’s and women’s UBC basketball teams begin Canada West quarterfinals at home this week. The women host the University of Regina in a best-of-three series that began Thursday night at War Memorial Gym. Game 2 starts 6 p.m. Friday and Game 3, if needed, is slated for Saturday night. Fifth-year guard Kris Young, who’s from North Vancouver, was named the Canada West Outstanding Player of the Year for finishing fourth in scoring with18 points per game and leading the T-Birds to a 17-3 record and the No. 1 seed in conference playoffs. She is the first Thunderbird to ever win this award twice, after having bagged the award in 2012/13. The men’s playoff campaign begins this weekend at home against the University of Northern B.C. in a bestof-three Canada West quarterfinal. UBC hosts at War Memorial Gym. Game 1 was 7 p.m. Thursday; Game 2 is 8 p.m. Friday; and, Game 3, if needed, is Saturday.

Nixon is ‘the man’

Fifth-year UBC Thunderbirds forward Tommy Nixon was named a Canada West first team all-star this week. The sixfoot-six Kitsilano graduate won the league scoring title with an average 20.8 points per game. He was also first in three-point shooting (he shot 50 per cent) and foul shots (he sunk 144, which is six shy of the UBC Tommy Nixon regular-season record). He was fourth in field goal percentage with 57.7, seventh in rebounds with an average 7.9 and eighth in steals with 38. Nixon, who is in his final year with the T-Birds, was instrumental in helping UBC come on strong in the second half of the season and finish with a 14-6 record after starting slowly with one win in the first six games. Nixon was the only player to start every game this season. His output grew from the previous season, when he averaged 14 points over the season and recorded 2.6 fouls each game, a stat that dropped to less than two this year. His break-out season has turned UBC basketball into must-watch sport. “Tommy is one of those guys who had the skills and the tools all along,” said assistant coach Spencer McKay. “He’s a fabulous athlete, strong as hell and he’s got all you need to be a good basketball player. But I think it really took him a while to understand the game and understand everything we were trying to get him to understand. “He’s just been a real man this year. He’s really stepped up and been a good court leader. Tommy has always been a tough buy but he’s been really tough this year, physically tough. When you’re 19 or 20, you don’t know anything. Even when you’re 25 you don’t know anything, but the difference between being a freshman and being a fifth-year — he’s actually a sixth-year guy because he red-shirted his first year — but the difference is massive. We’re really proud of him and the way he’s come along this year.” When he graduates this year, Nixon will leave an absence McKay isn’t prepared to contemplate just yet. “He’s leaving a massive hole.”

Tommy Nixon by the numbers…

20.8 .557 .814 points per game

ﬁeld goal percentage

free throw percentage

2 1. St. George’s head coach Bill Disbrow asks for more from the sidelines in an 81-80 do-or-die victory over Kitsilano. 2. Thompson Trojan Harry Brar (No. 14) goes for two points in a 91-48 semi-final loss to Burnaby South. 3. Churchill’s Harry Liu (No. 31) had 42 points in a 103-90 semi-final win over Vancouver College in the senior boys AAAA Lower Mainland tournament Feb. 25 at the Richmond Olympic Oval. PHOTOS DAN TOULGOET

Bulldogs steal one back

Senior boys Lower Mainland results VANCOUVER COLLEGE CHURCHILL

90 103

Megan Stewart

mstewart@vancourier.com

Churchill has put all contenders on notice. The Bulldogs are going for the Lower Mainland basketball title tonight at the Richmond Oval and they intend to follow that with a repeat senior boys AAAA B.C. championship next month in Langley. With a convincing 103-90 semi-ﬁnal win over Vancouver College Wednesday night, the Bulldogs upended a team ranked higher almost all season and one that beat them by a slim margin earlier in the season as well as in the Lower Mainland ﬁnal a year ago. “Before we played these guys, they had one on us,”

said Churchill six-foot-five forward Harry Lui. “We lost to them. One of their guys was talking trash and I was like — it’s on. The win feels good because all those losses have been eating me up during the season. We had to get them back.” Lui downed 27 of his game-high 42 points in the first half and added 10 rebounds for the doubledouble. He also shot nearly 60 per cent from the field. With the win, Churchill secured a seat at provincials, but head coach Rick Lopez said back-to-back titles are far from a sure thing. “We still have a long way to go and we might run into [Vancouver College] again and they’ll be even more determined. It’s one step,” said Lopez. The first half of the semi-final was like a track meet, with both teams sprinting to the finish

line under the hoop. But Churchill built a 22-point lead before the close of the ﬁrst half on the ceaseless thieving of Lambert Pajayon and Jerwin Ibit. The pair had 10 steals between them, converting most for second-quarter fast-break buckets to build a 52-33 lead at the break. Lopez rotated his starters through the rest of the game and Churchill hung on to its sizeable lead until the ﬁnal two minutes of play when Vancouver College shrunk the gap by half on a late burst of energy and marksmanship.

Trojans fall, Warriors prevail

In the second AAAA semi-ﬁnal meeting Wednesday, the results didn’t favour the unranked Trojans. David Thompson lost 91-48 to Burnaby South, but the season

wasn’t over for the underdogs. They played again Thursday in an elimination game for a chance to play in the third-place game, which awards the ﬁnal berth to the B.C. championship. They met Windermere (results weren’t known before the Courier’s print deadline) after the Warriors narrowly eliminated the New Westminster Hyacks 68-63. Ravi Basra had 39 points in the win and a clutch defensive play to defend a threepoint lead with only seconds to go in the game.

Saints bring on the Kits blues

Also on Wednesday night, Kitsilano and St. George’s were making a charge to play for third place and a shot at the ﬁnal Lower Mainland berth to provincials. Continued on page 24

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THE VANCOUVER COURIER F R I DAY, F E B RUA RY 2 7 , 2 0 1 5

Sports&Recreation

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Kitsilano guard McCoy Lum (No. 13) and forward Anthony Hokanson (No. 23) sandwich St. George’s Saint Derek Safnuk (No. 15). PHOTO DAN TOULGOET

Bruins still in the hunt

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Continued from page 23 Winning the elimination game also meant winning two more games to keep the season alive, like with Windermere and Thompson. Against Kits, the Saints got the slimmest of margins with a come-from-behind three-point jack from Jaden Dewar. His trey lifted St. George’s one point over Kitsilano and left 5.3 seconds on the clock After a timeout, Kits inbounded the ball to Charles Song who skipped a nifty pass through the key into the hands of a Blue Demon under the hoop. The shot got off in time but the rim got in the way of the ball. St. George’s advanced with the 81-80 win.

St. George’s pressed all game, but Kitsilano built several 10-point leads through the second half until the final three minutes when the Saints came on strong and finished with the clutch jumper. Head coach Bill Disbrow said his team started a little sleepy but eventually pulled it together. “I was a little disappointed with the way we came out but I also was proud of the way they — not just the absolute finish — but the way they fought back. They wouldn’t quit,” said Disbrow. On Thursday, rivals Vancouver College and St. George’s met in another knock-out game after the Fighting Irish lost to

Churchill in their semi-ﬁnal. (Results weren’t know before the Courier’s print deadline.)

Tupper in the clear

The Tupper Tigers reached the Lower Mainland ﬁnal with a 92-61 win over Richmond’s McNair and secured one of four berths to B.C.’s. They play McMath, also from Richmond, in the AAA ﬁnal 6:15 p.m. Friday.

Britannia keeps up the fight

The Britannia Bruins put themselves in good position by advancing undefeated to the AA ﬁnal Thursday against Richmond’s Cambie Crusaders. Continued on page 25

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F R I DAY, F E B RUA RY 2 7 , 2 0 1 5 THE VANCOUVER COURIER

A25

Sports&Recreation Basra brings it

The West Point Grey Academy Wolves celebrate a 65-63 win over St. Patrick’s in the senior boys Lower Mainland single-A semi-final Feb. 24 at the Richmond Olympic Oval. PHOTO DAN TOULGOET

No. 1 Tigers hunt for top finish, high seed at B.C.’s Must-win heroics

Continued from page 24 The Bruins beat Palmer 78-63 on Wednesday to stay in the hunt for one of only two Lower Mainland berths to provincials. If they lose to Cambie, their season may not be over and they could face a last-ditch wildcard game depending on the outcome of the third-place game between Palmer and MacNeill.

On Thursday, St. John’s and St. Patrick’s clashed in a knock-out game for the third and ﬁnal single-A seat at provincials. The two teams have been in the top three B.C. teams almost all season and both hoped to advance from the competitive division. On Tuesday, West Point Grey

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Academy set back the Celtics with a 65-63 win, and St. John’s lost 79-63 to Richmond Christian. The WPGA Wolves played Richmond in the ﬁnal Thursday for the top Lower Mainland seed. (The results of these games, you now know, came after the Courier’s print deadline.) twitter.com/MHStewart

In a must-win meeting against New Westminster on Wednesday at the Richmond Oval, Ravi Basra took the game into his own hands. The Grade 12 guard scored 38 points, had 10 rebounds and added three steals — one of which sealed the 68-63 win. Defending a threepoint lead with 31 seconds on the clock, Basra reached in on an outside Hyack shooter and ripped the ball from his hands. He’d played the majority of the first half with four fouls but still stayed in the game. He’s done that all year,” said Windermere coach Cole Birnie. “He makes stops, late in the fourth quarter.” The Warriors placed third at the AAAA city championship tournament after Basra stole the ball with eight seconds left and converted a fast-break into a three-point play. They beat Kitsilano. “It’s been an exciting playoff run so far,” said Birnie. Basra, listed at six-foot, has averaged close to 30 points each game this season and in one loss to David Thompson put up 60 points. To round out his triple-double, he added 16 rebounds and 10 steals. “He’s an exceptional talent,” said his coach, “and he’s a great student with high marks.” Basra, who also competes for Drive club basketball under Pasha Bains, is keen to play at the post-secondary level and has been compared to some of B.C.’s most remarkable talents. On Wednesday, university recruiters were sizing him up. “He’s an exceptional ball handler, he’s got a good pull-up jump shot, he plays really hard,” said UBC Thunderbirds assistant coach Spencer McKay. “The only concern we would have right now is his size. Coming in and making an impact right away, I don’t know if he’s that guy. Two years of playing college and he would be someone we’d definitely look at. We’re interested, let’s put it that way.

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“It comes down to what our needs are and how our recruiting goes this year. He’s certainly a kid I wouldn’t forget about after this year if he doesn’t come to UBC.” Basra got his feel for the ball in his family’s backyard, playing as young as three with this older brother Harry. “He taught me everything, ever since then, I fell in love with the game. I learned everything from him,” said Basra. Before the season ends, Basra could blow up against Thompson a second time. The teams met Thursday in a must-win elimination game. “East Side rising,” he said. “We’re not ready to go home yet.” — Megan Stewart

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THE VANCOUVER COURIER F R I DAY, F E B RUA RY 2 7 , 2 0 1 5

Today’shomes Contestants vie for homes on new reality TV show

Joannah Connolly jconnolly@rew.ca

A major new Vancouver-based reality TV series airing from March will see four teams of amateur home renovators competing to win the prize of their dreams — a house and land in the city. In Game of Homes, viewers will see four Vancouver teardowns uprooted and transported by truck and barge to the vacant Concord Pacific site on False Creek. The homes are then renovated by the four couples, each aiming to transform them into their dream homes. The winning team will get to keep their renovated house and also win a plot of land to put it on, up to an unspeciﬁed budget. Filming of the show was completed last year but the teams do not yet know who is the winner, as it will be announced live on the final episode in May. During the ﬁnal stages

In Game of Homes, viewers will see four Vancouver teardowns uprooted and transported by truck and barge to the vacant Concord Pacific site on False Creek. PHOTO DAN TOULGOET

of ﬁlming, members of the public were invited to help vote on the winning house. The renovated homes have been removed from the False Creek site and

are being stored until the winner’s announcement. Viewers of the show will see the teams renovate the homes under the public eye and live in

them as the renovations are taking place. Their progress is assessed each week by expert judges Cheryl Torrenueva (Home to Go, Restaurant

Makeover) and Jeremy MacPherson (The ReInventors). The regular judges will be joined by guest judges including Property Broth-

ers Drew and Jonathan Scott, Colin and Justin of Colin and Justin’s Home Heist and Jillian Harris and Todd Talbot of Love It or List It: Vancouver. The show is hosted by All My Children actor and reality TV star Cameron Mathison, who guides the contestants through their renovations. Game of Homes is probably the most ambitious reality home TV show ever seen on the W Network, according to the producers. “Securing a 60,000 square foot waterfront site in the heart of Vancouver and moving four houses at 88,000 pounds each was a monstrous undertaking,” said Blair Reekie, series producer at Great Pacific Media. “The results are a mesmerizing new setting for home renovation competition, with the highest stakes of all: a new home.” Game of Homes will air on the W Network for eight weeks starting March 17 at 10 p.m..

F R I DAY, F E B RUA RY 2 7 , 2 0 1 5 THE VANCOUVER COURIER

VANCOUVER’S

LAST WATERFRONT COMMUNITY

IT STARTS WITH VISION. REMEMBER YALETOWN’S TRANSFORMATION? When Yaletown began it was just a few residential towers. Imagine if Urban Fare and Starbucks were there from the start. River District Town Centre will launch as a complete community, with retail, restaurant, residences, parks and playgrounds. Now is your chance to become part of this new community—built from the ground up on the last section of Vancouver’s waterfront.

THEN

NOW

YVR

RICHMOND

MARINE AND CAMBIE

FRASER RIVER

TOWN CENTRE HOMES COMING SPRING 2015 INCLUDING GROCERY, BANK, CAFE AND RESTAURANT

BOUNDARY AND MARINE

This is not an offering for sale. One can only be made by way of a disclosure statement. E.&O.E.

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THE VANCOUVER COURIER F R I DAY, F E B RUA RY 2 7 , 2 0 1 5

RIVER GREEN COMMUNITY PRESENTS THEIR LATEST COLLECTION OF LUXURY RESIDENCES

Canada’s most significant

WATERFRONT COMMUNITY Coming soon. A rare and exclusive opportunity to be a part of Richmond’s most sought after private residences in the renowned River Green Community. Presenting 2 River Green, an unparalleled luxury living experience along Richmond’s signature waterfront.

PRIORITY REGISTRATION www.rivergreen.com Illustration reﬂects the artist’s interpretation of the project and may be noticeably different than what is depicted. This advertisement is not an offering for sale. Such an offering can only be made with a disclosure statement. E. & O. E.

F R I DAY, F E B RUA RY 2 7 , 2 0 1 5 THE VANCOUVER COURIER

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Today’shomes Mortgage payments now half of median family income BMO report calls condos in Vancouver “barely” affordable

Joannah Connolly jconnolly@rew.ca

While affordability is “healthy” in most Canadian cities, condos in Vancouver are affordable but only “barely” and detached homes are “out of reach of most ﬁrst-time buyers,” according to a

report issued by BMO Capital Markets earlier this month. Home prices in Canada excluding Toronto and Vancouver were 4.1 times the median family income in Q4 of 2014, said the report. In Vancouver, they were 8.1 times the median family income. That’s an increase from

6.5 in Q1 2005 and 5.3 in 2001 Q4. The report also says that while mortgage payments in most of Canada consume less than onequarter of median family income based on posted mortgage rates, that number in Vancouver is 50 per cent. For a single family home in Vancou-

ver, it’s 80 per cent. The report does not cite the median family income used for Vancouver, only that 2014 income is based on growth since 2012 based on the previous 10 years’ average annual growth. Statistics Canada’s most recent report says that median household

income in Vancouver was $71,140 a year in 2012. BMO is also making its calculations based on a full mortgage on the cost of a typical property (assuming the homeowners have no equity but their down payment), and at a mortgage rate of four per cent. Most mortgage bro-

kers, such as The Mortgage Group, cite the amount of the average mortgage application in Vancouver as around $300,000. At today’s mortgage interest rate of 2.79 per cent, this amounts 31 per cent of the average Vancouver household post-tax income.

Sales pouring into New Westminster’s Brewery District

Area was ﬁrst built out with 560,000 square feet of ofﬁce space and 68,000 square feet of retail space Glen Korstrom

gkorstrom@biv.com

The tower has 59 onebedroom units. It also has townhomes, which is rare for New Westminster. Those units are start at 1,350 square feet on two levels. Otherwise the building has two- and three-bedroom units, which also start at 1,350 square feet. “There’s a real resurgence happening in this part of New West, fuelled by all the ofﬁces and shops,” said Wesgroup

senior vice-president Beau Jarvis. “Buyers will be moving into a vibrant and super safe transit hub in a suburb that is seeing an inﬂux of young people and cool new restaurants and stores.” Wesgroup’s activity in the area started when it attracted a Thrifty Foods to the area. It then developed ofﬁce space and built out the retail — all before a single condominium broke ground. The Thrifty Foods

has since converted to a Save-On-Foods whereas other retail tenants include TD Bank, Shoppers Drug Mart, Starbucks and Browns Social House. A yoga studio is opening soon. The net retail lease rate is $35 per square foot, similar to Vancouver’s Gastown or West Fourth Avenue. Virtually all of the ofﬁce space has been snapped up. TransLink signed a 20-year lease on 261,000

square feet for its eightstorey headquarters, and a number of doctors and other medical professionals, drawn by the close proximity to Royal Columbia Hospital, bought ofﬁce space for $468 to $685 per square foot. This compares to a Metro Vancouver average of $393 per square foot. A third ofﬁce building was sold to the 17,000-member Health Science Association. twitter.com/GlenKorstrom

O N LY

RE M AI N

Wesgroup plans to hold a “grand opening” for the ﬁrst public sales for residential units in New Westminster’s Brewery District — an area that already has 560,000 square feet of ofﬁce space and 68,000 square feet of retail space. VIP sales have already been conducted and it is unclear how many of the 115 homes in the yet-to-

be-built, 15-storey Sapperton tower remain. The site is steps from the Sapperton SkyTrain station and is in an area that was previously home to a Labatt brewery. Amenities at the Sapperton tower are set to include party rooms, a roof deck and a 10,000 square foot premium ﬁtness facility. Well-lit green space is expected to surround the building.

WRITE YOUR OFFERS IT IS TIME TO SELL-OUT THE VILLAGE!

HOMES STARTING FROM $482,500 (ALL REMAINING HOMES NOW RELEASED!)

VISIT OUR POP-UP SALES CENTRE AND 8 DISPLAY SUITES · 197 WALTER HARDWICK AVE · OPEN DAILY12–5PM, CLOSED FRIDAYS OR BY APPOINTMENT

THEVILLAGEONFALSECREEK.COM · 604.733.2010

Pricing and availability subject to change. The developer reserves the right to make changes and modifications to the information contained herein without prior notice. E.&.O.E.

THE VANCOUVER COURIER F R I DAY, F E B RUA RY 2 7 , 2 0 1 5

ONLY 7 HOMES REMAIN!

THE NEXT LEVEL OF LUXURY

2 BED + DEN $899,000 *Pricing

inclusive of GST, 2 underground parking spaces & 1 storage locker

UNTOUCHED PHOTOGRAPH

Emily Carr University Granville Island

Olympic Village Station

Charleson Park 6TH AVE

W BROADWAY

Whole Foods B'way-City Hall Station

CAMBIE ST

False Creek

WILLOW ST

A30

SUITE

TYPE

778 W 6th

2B+D

1,436 $899,900

776 W 6th

2 B + D + F 1,424 $949,900

772 W 6th

2 B + D + F 1,424 $949,900

2232 Willow 4 B

PRICE*

1,728 $1,389,900

760 W 6th

2 B + D + F 1,454 $949,900

762 W 6th

2 B + D + F 1,424 $949,900

758 W 6th

2 B + D + F 1,514 $999,900

MOVE IN TODAY

sixthandsteel.com 604 336 2800 Open 12 - 5PM daily, closed Fridays or by appointment

*Pricing and availability subject to change. The developer reserves the right to make changes to the information contained herein without notice. E.&.O.E.

F R I DAY, F E B RUA RY 2 7 , 2 0 1 5 THE VANCOUVER COURIER

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T H E VA N C O U V E R C O U R I E R F R I DAY, F E B RUA RY 2 7 , 2 0 1 5

7 20,000

NO W

YEARS OF PLANNING

SF PRIVATE BACKYARD AMENITY

STOREYS OF VIEWS

WAYS TO COMMUTE: SKYTRAIN, BIKE, BUS OR WALK

25,000

33 $

HIPSTER NEIGHBOURS

DIFFERENT FLOORPLANS

299K

PRICED FROM

OPPORTUNITY TO OWN

THE FIRST BUILDING OF ITS KIND IN THE HOTTEST NEIGHBOURHOOD IN VANCOUVER

PRESENTATION CENTRE LOCATED AT THE CORNER OF MAIN & BROADWAY OPEN DAILY 12-5PM, CLOSED FRIDAYS OR BY APPOINTMENT | 604 879 8850

INDEPENDENTatMAIN.COM The Developer reserves the right to make changes and modifications to the information contained herein without prior notice. This is not an offering for sale, any such offering may only be made by way of a Disclosure Statement. E&OE.

SE LLI NG

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THE VANCOUVER COURIER F R I DAY, F E B RUA RY 2 7 , 2 0 1 5

WEEKLY SPECIALS Prices Effective February 26 to March 4, 2015.

100% BC Owned and Operated PRODUCE

MEAT Organic Large Jonagold Apples

Russet Potatoes 4.54kg/10lb bag

Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts

product of PEI

5.99lb/ 13.21kg

.98lb/ 2.16kg

Aspen Ridge Beef Stewing Meat

Organic Table Carrots from Fountainview Farms, Lillooet, BC

product of California

3.98lb/ 8.77kg

10.99lb/ 24.23kg Primrose Farms Pork Tenderloin

value pack

8.99lb/ 19.82kg

7.99lb/ 17.61kg

5.98

GROCERY

DELI Liberté Méditerranée, Greek Yogurt and Kefir

Four O’clock Organic Tea assorted varieties

Choices’ Own Fresh Hot Soup or Chili

Vitala Multi Muesli

assorted varieties

15-16 bags • product of Canada

SAVE FROM

27%

3.994.29

Choices’ Own Organic Milk 1, 2, 3.8% or skim

SAVE

4L • product of Canada

FROM

30%

7.998.99

2.99-5.99 Nuts To You Organic Fair Trade Sesame Tahini

Neal Brothers Potato Chips, Organic Cheese Puffs, Twists or Pops

250-500g • product of Canada

assorted varieties 113-180g • product of USA

SAVE

2.693.29

SAVE

35%

FROM

27%

3.59-6.49

Emile Noel Oil

Caboo Bathroom Tissue

400g • product of Macedonia

3.99

SAVE

33%

2.99-9.99 Choices’ Own 8” Quiche

Level Ground Organic Direct Fair Trade Coffee

assorted varieties

assorted varieties 300g • product of Columbia/Tanzania

SAVE

30%

Green & Black’s Organic Chocolate Bars assorted varieties 100g • product of E.U.

SAVE 2/5.98

Mama Mary’s Pizza Crusts

product of Asia

500ml • product of Spain, Mali, Tunisia

198g – 3 pack • product of USA

30%

FROM

32%

5.295.79

WELLNESS Genuine Health Greens + Extra Energy

Martin & Pleasance Homeopathic Remedies

assorted varieties and sizes

select varieties and sizes

20% off

regular retail price

Umcka ColdCare Products assorted varieties and sizes

regular retail price

assorted varieties package of 12

BAKERY xxx

20% off

regular retail price

www.choicesmarkets.com

xxx • product of xxx

9” Fruit Pies assorted varieties

SAVE FROM

20%

3.99-6.49

1.29-7.99

20% off

4.99

assorted varieties

SAVE

GLUTEN FREE

32%

assorted varieties

FROM

12.99

7.99

single, 4 or 12 pack

SAVE

assorted varieties and sizes

assorted varieties

500g – 1L • product of Canada

While quantities last. Not all items available at all stores. We reserve the right to correct printing errors.

value pack, previously frozen

value pack

4.98 Organic Brussels Sprouts

Ocean Wise Sockeye Salmon Fillet

9.99

Choices Seminars & Events Sunday, March 1, 2:00-3:30pm. Choices South Surrey, 3248 King George Blvd.

Grow Food in Small Spaces: Container Gardening with Victory Gardens In this workshop, container gardening will be the focus: types of containers, as well as what and when to plant and how to care for your container garden. Cost $30 plus tax. Price includes a veggie starter pack and container, a $55 value. Prepayment and pre-registration is required. For full details visit choicesmarkets.com or call 604-541-3902.

/ChoicesMarkets

@ChoicesMarkets