Vancouver Courier December 12 2019 by Vancouver Courier

12TH & CAMBIE NPA’S NEW SECRETARY SAYS HE IS NOT ANTI-SOGI 4 NEWS PARK BOARD CLOSER TO CLEARING OPPENHEIMER ENCAMPMENT 7 VANCOUVER SHAKEDOWN BEST B.C. BOOKS OF THE YEAR 25 URBAN SENIOR SEASONAL SIPS NON-ALCOHOLIC GIN FOR THE WIN 20 December 12 2019 Established 1908

There’s more online at vancourier.com PHOTO DAN TOULGOET

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News 12TH & CAMBIE

New NPA secretary says he is not anti-SOGI, seeks Mike Howell

It’s a term often associated with school curriculum. Its main tenet is inclusion of LGBTQ students. Which is a word Bligh used several times when we talked Monday. “I stand for inclusion — no matter what, and there’s no debate around it,” she said in re-telling one of her main reasons for leaving the party. “It’s a matter of personal integrity for me and my family values. I’m a queer woman. My own lifestyle, my own identity feels called into question.” When Bligh announced her resignation on Facebook, she didn’t name names. But some of the media reporting about Bligh’s resignation tied Goldenchild to one of her reasons for leaving the party. The link was made after a media outlet incorrectly identiﬁed Goldenchild, who is black, with another black man at an anti-SOGI event. That outlet’s reporting was also cited in other media stories, including a Courier story. “I feel for him,” Bligh

mhowell@vancourier.com

Who is Ray Goldenchild? Some parents may know him from his work in Vancouver as a youth soccer coach and managing director of Orix Sports Management. After the media coverage Goldenchild received over the weekend, he is now more widely known as the guy who was mistakenly identiﬁed by a media outlet as attending an anti-SOGI event. To say the least, he’s not pleased. And for the record: “I’m not anti-SOGI,” he said by telephone Monday. Before I get to more of his comments, some background: Goldenchild is the newly elected secretary of the Non-Partisan Association, the same party that city councillor Rebecca Bligh resigned from last Friday over concerns the party had an afﬁliation with the antiSOGI movement. What is SOGI? It stands for sexual orientation and gender identity.

Ray Goldenchild is the Non-Partisan Association’s new secretary. PHOTO DAN TOULGOET

said. “In fact it’s happened to me, and it’s not a good experience. So I sympathize with him in this situation. However, that had nothing to do with me, nothing to do with my decision.” At the same time, Bligh noted that Goldenchild ran for park board in 2018 with Vancouver First, whose mayoral candidate Fred Harding posted a video on YouTube saying “with SOGI, they got it all wrong. Vancouver First is opposed to its high-handed rollout.” So why didn’t Goldenchild resign after those comments were made? “Very good question,” he

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said. “Fred was the head of the party, not me. I ran for park board. People weren’t happy. People in the group pushed back, but you do it in-house. I don’t know how much of it he retracted, but he deﬁnitely did go back on camera and retract some of the stuff that he said.” If Bligh and others thought those comments were a problem, he continued, then why did the NPA allow school trustee candidate Chris Qiu to run in the 2018 election when her name was tied to an anti-SOGI group. Qiu was endorsed by the Canadian Council for Faith

and Family, which has hosted anti-SOGI events. At the time, the NPA said it was unclear how Qiu ended up on the list of endorsed candidates. Goldenchild said he can’t believe he’s having to answer questions about whether he supports the inclusion of the LGBTQ community in schools. In fact, he called it an offensive question. When he decided to run in 2018 for a spot on the park board, he said his prime focus was supporting youth sports and sorting out ﬁeld allocation for soccer organizations. It still is, he said. As he tells it, he joined the NPA in the fall, made a speech at the party’s AGM and was elected secretary. There’s nothing more to it than that, he said of his motivation to leave Vancouver First, describing the party as “a thumbnail” with little chance of being elected. In reading Bligh’s Facebook statement and speaking to her Monday, her reasons for leaving the party centred on her belief the NPA was shifting to the far right of the

political spectrum. She pointed to “the newly elected executive” in her statement. Goldenchild’s response: “Complete nonsense. Did she actually talk to anybody? No. Labelling me far-right? That’s comedy.” In explaining that shift, Bligh pointed Monday to new board member Christopher Wilson, a former bureau chief of the far-right Rebel Media founded by Ezra Levant. He is the same guy who called former federal environment minister Catherine McKenna “Climate Barbie.” Misogynistic is the term Bligh used to describe Wilson’s comment. Wilson is now in charge of fundraising for the NPA. She then pointed to newly elected NPA board treasurer Phyllis Tang, who has or had an afﬁliation with the anti-SOGI movement. Tang ran unsuccessfully for city council in the 2018 election with Yes Vancouver, an NPA splinter party. Bligh said Tang was photographed at a post-election party with “others who have gone on

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apology from councillor the record as anti-SOGI.” In addition, Bligh said, an organization called the “Let’s Vote Association” endorsed Tang and Goldenchild. One of the purposes of the association is to voice Canadians’ concerns about “traditional family values,” according to its website. What “traditional family values” means, I don’t know. I tried unsuccessfully Monday to speak to Tang, calling her several times during the day. I was unable to leave a message because her inbox was full. Goldenchild said he had never met anyone from the “Let’s Vote Association,” and didn’t know why he received their support when he ran for park board in 2018 with Vancouver First. His new ﬁnding Monday about the association: “They’re not actually antiSOGI. It’s another group that endorsed them that’s anti-SOGI. I think they’re called ‘Let’s go’ or ‘Go get the vote’ or something like that. Can you believe that?” Goldenchild said he

would have expected Bligh to speak to him, if she had any concerns about the party’s board or executive; the executive includes Tang, Goldenchild and president David Mawhinney, who could also not be reached for comment Monday. Mawhinney, however, did release a statement last Friday stating, in part, “there is no evidence that either our secretary Ray Goldenchild, or our treasurer Phyllis Tang have ever made any anti-SOGI statements.” Bligh’s statement about her resignation infers the whole executive is anti-SOGI, Goldenchild said, adding that he deserves an apology from the councillor. “It’s really, really dangerous to put that stuff out there,” he said. “Nobody’s reached out to me, nobody’s apologized.” Some of the other new board members include Ryan Warawa, the president of the B.C. Conservative Party, and former ProVancouver mayoral candidate David Chen. Meanwhile, Bligh still has the support of her NPA caucus, which issued a

lengthy news release last Friday stating its support for SOGI and “longstanding support for inclusion and diversity in Vancouver.” Bligh said she has since spoken to “a handful” of NPA board members who support her decision. She didn’t name them. “I am certainly hearing their support loud and clear, but they are also in a tough spot right now,” she said of the 15-member board, which includes the three-member executive. Bligh now serves as an independent and leaves the NPA with four representatives on council. The rest of council is comprised of three Green councillors, one COPE and one OneCity. Mayor Kennedy Stewart, a former longtime NDP MP, is also an independent. No other party has reached out to Bligh about her joining them, she said, adding that she’s focused on the year ahead and hasn’t considered whether she’ll seek re-election in 2022. “I won’t be swift to make any decisions,” she said.

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News

CHRISTMAS

Park board seeks conditional injunction to clear encampment into underground electricity cables to power electric heaters and VFRS [Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services] staff are encountering active resistance to their efforts to address conditions that pose an extremely high risk of injury or death,” the city said Dec. 6 in a statement. The park board has resisted seeking a court injunction for several months. Bromley first ordered campers out of the park back in August. A notice was issued and campers were given two days to remove all tents and structures. Many did, with more than 100 accepting housing offers from the city. Many remained, however, and the encampment has grown since then. In September, the park board voted against seeking a court injunction and later in the month passed a motion asking the city and province to continue to look for housing for people experiencing homelessness. The motion also pushed for temporary housing and shelter options that are “accessible, safe and dignified” in order to bridge the gap until longer-term housing is available; commits to the goal of voluntarily “decampment” at Oppenheimer; and, encourages park board staff to meet with people camping in the park. —With files from Mike Howell and John Kurucz

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Vancouver Park Board has taken a step closer to seeking a court injunction to remove campers from Oppenheimer Park. During an in-camera meeting Monday, the board approved additional measures to support the “decampment plan” for the park, including a conditional injunction. According to a press release, commissioners directed staff to “work with partners to meet a number of conditions to further the voluntary decampment plan, supported by an injunction once conditions are met.” The conditions include: bringing in a third party to conduct an independent assessment of the current situation in Oppenheimer Park and provide recommendations to enhance safety, provide support and seek appropriate shelter for people camping in the park. “This work will be done with a commitment to the principles of reconciliation and in consultation with those in the park,” the press release states. Commissioners also directed staff to “deepen existing partnerships between the city, B.C. Housing, and the park board” and to revise the current bylaw, which precludes people from sheltering in parks, in order to

bring it up to current standards, in accordance with other municipalities, and to meet legal precedent. The board has authorized general manager Malcolm Bromley to seek an injunction once those conditions are met. “While we know this will take time, I am optimistic that we have developed a plan to improve conditions for people experiencing homelessness in Oppenheimer Park and to move to a safe resolution to the current encampment in the park,” said Stuart Mackinnon, board chair. “The board is committed to enacting a compassionate and holistic approach to this difﬁcult and complicated challenge that touches everyone in our community.” The park board said Tuesday that there is no timeline for meeting the conditions for an injunction. “The board is aware there is an increased sense of urgency to provide a solution that addresses the mounting safety concerns for those in and around the park,” the board said in an email to the Courier. The move comes in light of increasing concerns around conditions in the park with winter weather setting in. In late November, two ﬁres, believed to be started by propane heaters and barbecues, destroyed tents and other belongings. “People sleeping in the park have also tried to tap

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T H U R SDAY, D E C E M B E R 1 2 , 2 0 1 9 THE VANCOUVER COURIER

News

City postpones vote on 8.2 per cent property tax hike Mike Howell

mhowell@vancourier.com

Vancouver taxpayers will have to wait until next week to learn whether a suggested 8.2 per cent property tax hike will be imposed in 2020. City council agreed Tuesday to defer a decision on the draft $1.6-billion budget because it wants city staff to find ways to reduce the tax hit on property owners by up to three per cent. Staff was to return Wednesday, after the Courier’s print deadline, with a report that would provide options for targeted property tax increases of no less than five per cent, six per cent and seven per cent. Debate and decision is expected Dec. 17. NPA Coun. Lisa Dominato, who moved the initial motion to refer the vote on the budget, said council had “floods and floods of correspondence” in recent weeks related to the 2020 budget. “Largely, the concerns centred around the proposed tax increase and implications for affordability in this city,” Dominato said. “That is obviously top of mind for people…we feel that we need to take a second sober look at this budget.” Dominato wanted staff to provide a scenario of what a 4.5 per cent tax hike would mean for the budget, but a majority of council agreed

to Green Party Coun. Adriane Carr’s amendment of setting a tax hike at “no less than ﬁve per cent.” Carr also requested staff outline “the risks and impacts” to any cost-saving options outlined in staff’s three scenarios. Council’s move to refer the vote came after they spent more than two hours asking city staff to clarify costs of items outlined in the draft budget, including $23.8 million in new investments. Councillors asked about the cost of adding more workers to various departments, the budget for the introduction of a city-wide plan and the ongoing cost of addressing the homeless encampment in Oppenheimer Park. Several NPA councillors, including Dominato and Colleen Hardwick, have gone on record of not supporting an 8.2 per cent tax increase, with Rebecca Bligh calling it “outrageous.” Whereas Carr and OneCity Coun. Christine Boyle have said the hike is needed, noting that annual tax increases have been held to a minimum for years. An 8.2 per cent tax hike would be the biggest property tax hike in the past decade, if council were to approve all the items listed in the 2020 draft budget. Coupled with an increase

in utility fees, the overall increase to property owners would be 9.3 per cent. That would mean the total bill for a home assessed at $1.7 million would pay $354 more than this year. The total increase for a business assessed at $976,000 would be $406. Though council postponed the vote on the tax increase, it was unanimous

in approving fee increases for water and sewer, along with engineering fees and the False Creek Neighbourhood Energy Utility customer rates. The proposed 8.2 per cent tax hike is being driven by ﬁxed costs — 3.5 per cent of the overall increase — and 2.4 per cent to “ﬁll service gaps and address risk” such as hiring more

police officers and firefighters at a cost of $8.2 million. A city report says the remaining 2.3 per cent of the overall 8.2 per cent hike is tied to $23.8 million in new investments. That includes $6.8 million to “support and encourage more zero emission buildings in the city, address urban heat islands, plan for sea level rise challenge and

continue tree planting to improve the urban forest canopy.” At $1.6 billion, the 2020 budget is a $111-million increase over this year’s budget, which was passed after council raised taxes by 6.1 per cent. More than half of the budget is funded by property tax. @Howellings

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Opinion

Special needs students vulnerable in contract negotiations Tracy Sherlock

tracy.sherlock@gmail.com

Vulnerable kids, classroom supports and the long-running teacher contract negotiations all revolve around students with special needs. It’s a big deal, because one-third of B.C.’s children are not ready when they arrive for the ﬁrst day of kindergarten, the latest ﬁndings by the University of British Columbia’s Human Early Learning Partnership (HELP) show. HELP looks at vulnerability in communication, social readiness, physical ability and emotional wellbeing. In Vancouver, the numbers are slightly higher — 36 per cent of children arrive at school not ready to learn. Children in some neighbourhoods fare better than others. The rate of vulnerability among children is 52 per cent in Strathcona, but only 10 per cent in West Point Grey. More than 40 per cent of children are vulnerable across the entire south side of Vancouver,

from Kerrisdale to VictoriaFraserview. “The social and economic costs of not addressing vulnerability in the early years is immense in every sector from health, to education, to child welfare and employment, and later the criminal justice system,” HELP’s report says. HELP says recent provincial and federal initiatives, such as universal childcare, B.C.’s new poverty reduction plan and the federal Canada Child Beneﬁt, are encouraging, but they have not yet improved children’s readiness for kindergarten. Those initiatives are promising and show the good intention of both the provincial and federal government in giving children the best possible start in life. That’s why it’s surprising to hear of reluctance to provide the best of another type of support for kids — the support they get once they are in school, especially if they are a student with special needs. Two recent examples — a change to the way students with special needs are counted for class composi-

Rules concerning how classes are organized in regards to the number of students with special needs are pivotal to teacher contract negotiations. FILE PHOTO DAN TOULGOET

tion and the stalled teacher contract negotiations — show that all is not rosy. Jill Barclay, president of Vancouver Elementary School Teachers’ Association, said teachers were shocked to learn that about 80 per cent of Vancouver students with autism spectrum disorder and learning disabilities will no longer count for class composition, after an arbitrator’s ruling this summer and a subsequent audit of student ﬁles. “This will result in less support in the form of additional teacher time or prep

time for teachers in K-12 this year,” Barclay said. “In the future, if our class composition language remains the same, then classes will be built with more students requiring additional support in them and less support for the teachers in the form of additional stafﬁng.” The VSB said in an emailed statement that students will still receive the necessary services and support as determined by their special needs designation. The VSB said it could not get into speciﬁcs because the matter is the subject of a

grievance, instead referring questions to the B.C. Public Schools Employers’ Association, the bargaining agent for the employers’ side in the teachers’ contract. Students won’t lose their designations or any services; however, they will no longer count in terms of how classes are organized in Vancouver, where the rules say if a classroom has more than two students with special needs, the class size must be reduced. Those same rules are pivotal to teacher contract negotiations. Last month, teachers rejected mediator David Schaub’s recommendation of a two per cent wage increase in each of the next three years with a rollover of the rest of the contract, including class size, class composition and specialist teacher ratios, where they exist. Those rules were restored in 2016 by the Supreme Court of Canada, but they are not universal across B.C. Earlier this year, the two sides were far apart on negotiating those rules, with teachers wanting the entire

Renew Your Smile

province to level up and the employer wanting districts with strong language to concede so that others could gain. After 58 days of bargaining and 16 days of mediation, only three issues were resolved, Schaub wrote in his report, released last month. Simply rolling over the class size and composition rules isn’t a long-term solution and is inequitable across the province. However, finding a workable solution may be too big for this one round of negotiations. Looking forward, it’s in everyone’s interest for the teachers and their employer to find a way to reach a negotiated deal. If it takes them a bit longer — really, even if it takes a lot longer — the benefits of a more positive bargaining relationship would be worth the wait. We can only hope it will be a negotiated deal that makes life better for all vulnerable children, including those who aren’t ready when they start school and those who live with special needs.

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T H U R SDAY, D E C E M B E R 1 2 , 2 0 1 9 THE VA NCOUVER COURIER

Inbox letters@vancourier.com LETTERS

City should stop promoting growth Re: “City must rein in its big-spending 2020 budget,” Dec. 3. Council and the mayor identify “Address affordability and the housing crisis” and “Protect and build our economy” as 2020 council priorities. They are conﬂicting priorities as halting growth would resolve the housing affordability crisis by itself in a number of years. Case in point, “By early 2020, a new ofﬁce building being built at the southwest corner of Dunsmuir Street and Homer Street will be the workplace for 1,000 Amazon employees.” That translates into 1,000 or more people including their families needing housing, which we are told is not available to the average wage earner in Vancouver. The city should stop promoting growth. We should not be proclaiming to the world about how great Vancouver is. Stop chasing after Amazon and Google jobs with tax breaks, spot zoning changes. Wait until your house

is in order before trying to grow the economy. Stop promoting the city and the housing crisis will ease on its own over a number of years. Paul Kubik, Vancouver

It’s payback time at city hall Re: “Vancouver police chief makes pitch for 25 new cops,” Dec. 3. As part of the explanation for the whopping nine per cent increase in property taxes we are informed of the hiring of 25 new police officers and 30 new firefighters. And I wondered why? Crime is down and I have yet to see where a fire ran out of control because of lack of firefighters or slow response. And then it all came back… those ads paid for by the police and firefighters unions during the last municipal election… all promoting Kennedy Stewart… now it all makes sense… It’s payback time!! Ken Roesch, Vancouver ADVERTISING

Michelle Bhatti

Michael Kissinger

604.738.1411

mbhatti@vancourier.com

mkissinger@vancourier.com

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THE VAN CO U VE R C OU RI E R T H U R SDAY, D E C E M B E R 1 2 , 2 0 1 9

VANC OUR IER .CO M

Feature

Dreck the halls with burrito baby blankets, u

Our 15th annual gift guide to the unusual, strange and just plain wrong

Somewhere there’s a Celtic funk band from the ’90s wishing these bad boys had been invented back in the day so they could have named themselves Taco Booty instead of the career-killing Fun-orrhea. Alas, Taco Booties will forever be associated with that unfortunate era of the late 2010s, when whimsical adults forced babies to wear booties fashioned after Mexican food. What a time to be alive.

Michael Kissinger

mkissinger@vancourier.com

This is the 15th year the Courier has searched the dark, lonely recesses of the internet and the mean streets of Vancouver for Christmas gift ideas that are strange, unusual and just plain wrong. In that time we’ve learned a few things. Bacon has been temporarily defeated by fried chicken in the heated novelty merchandise wars. Pugs still have a lot of consumer pull despite their general creepiness and respiratory problems. And Aidan from Sex and the City and Maude-era Bea Arthur were stone cold foxes back in the day. Merry Christmas.

Sublimated Guitar T-shirt

$24.96 at whatonearthcatalog. com You know the lyrics to “Hotel California” better than the names of your nieces and nephews. If there’s a guitar left unattended in a room or at a campfire, you’ll be the first person to pick it up and play “Black Bird” or “Brown-Eyed Girl” whether anyone wants you to or not (they don’t, by the way). Cement your reputation as “worst party guest in the world” with this monstrosity of a T-shirt that turns your torso into a gigantic acoustic guitar. Sure, the sound hole and bridge are far bigger than an actual guitar, but you can add that to your fascinating observations about arpeggios and augmented fifths.

Fried Chicken Erasers

$14 at Front and Co. 3772 Main St., frontandcompany.com Every few years, the novelty gift landscape tends to tilt in one direction. A decade ago, it was bacon-themed ephemera. Then it was toast and moustaches. Pickles unsuccessfully tried capture the cultural zeitgeist for a while. Now it’s fried chicken’s turn. Why anyone would want erasers that look and smell like fried chicken is a fair question. But a better one is why wouldn’t they want erasers that look and smell like fried chicken?

Stress Turkey

$10.60 at offthewagonshop.com Holidays with the family gathered around a big dead bird don’t always make for the most relaxing of evenings — unless, of course, you’re highly medicated. But on the off chance your holiday helper has taken the week off or run low on supplies, this squeezable turkey toy could be the only thing keeping you from launching a gravy boat at your siblings for never truly appreciating all you’ve done for them.

$11.95 at whatonearthcatalog. com While your reputation for being an animal in the sack is a secret only shared between you and Siri, being an animal from the knees down might be a more achievable goal. Made of 100 per cent polyester, these one-size-ﬁts-all printed socks are designed to transform your feet into a set of hoofs, talons or paws. Cat, dog, alligator, goat, camel, leopard, pig — they’ve got them all — except badger. Which, in retrospect, makes me question this company’s dedication to its craft. For shame.

Shark Bath Bomb

Fried chicken candy

$7.95 at offthewagonshop.com When you visit a KFC more often than you bathe or hear the words “I love you,” it’s hard to consider fried chicken a treat. But when it comes in the form of a hard candy that can jingle around in your pocket collecting lint or slowly dissolve in your pudgy jowls for hours on end, then it’s more than a treat… it’s nature’s treat.

Animal Paw Socks

Pug Change Purse

$12 at Front and Co. In Nanaimo where I grew up, a Pug Change Purse means something entirely different, and not suitable for a family publication such as this. This Pug Change Purse, however, is exactly what it says it is: a tiny change purse that looks like a pug’s head. And it’s creepy as hell.

$9.67 at etsy.com Whether you want to transform your relaxing bath into bloody, shark-infested waters or give your ﬁlthy kids yet another reason to hate bath time, this Great White Shark Bath Bomb has you covered.

Pizza blanket

$44.99 at amazon.ca Instead of cloaking yourself in shame while binge watching Sex and the City and cursing Carrie for messing up such a good thing with Aidan — perhaps I’ve said too much — wrap yourself in this totally ﬂammable plush pleasure provider that looks like a giant pizza. But make no mistake: there’ll still be some level of shame involved, only this shame resembles pepperoni and melted cheese.

will attest, there are few household chores more enjoyable than the many, many, many arm-cramping hours of making your own butter rather than spending a few bucks and a couple minutes at the grocery store half a block away.

F-Bomb Paperweight

$59.72 at uncommongoods.com Is misquoting Maya Angelou and listing your preferred pronouns on your Twitter bio not woke enough for you? Then this mind-blowing paperweight is just the ticket. Crafted out of recycled steel and handmade in Utah (you’re damn right it is), this molten message to the masses lets co-workers know that you “get it.” And by “it,” I mean everything — the military industrial complex, cultural hegemony, generational diphtheria, institutionalized FOMO, toxic punctuation, palindromic crotch blindness, the fact that Rug Doctor rentals are a crock and just make your carpets dirtier… everything.

$33.18 at uncommongoods.com

$38.49 at uncommongoods.com Colton and Sasha beat you to the punch by dressing their baby Boo Radley in a cute-as-eff burrito shell, effectively usurping your claim as the hippest parents at Montessori. Time to bring out the big guns and turn your little one into a bottle of Sriracha hot sauce — you know, the kind you no longer eat because your spouse says it makes your breath stink and why you haven’t been kissed on the lips in 11 months… among other reasons you’ve yet to deduce.

Burrito Baby

$63.70 at uncommongoods.com Who hasn’t imagined swaddling a newborn baby in a cozy tortilla shell? The breathable cotton-polyester blend keeps your little dream killer and feces factory comfortable no matter the temperature, while the tiny matching tortilla hat tops the delicious ensemble off and will provide ample therapy fodder for them later in life. Surprise, it’s made in Brooklyn.

Mason Jar Butter Churner

Taco Booties

Sriracha Baby

$51.76 at uncommongoods.com Now that you’ve made your own toothpaste, deodorant, pickled okra marmalade and dungarees, what’s an ambitious urban homesteader to do? Churn your own butter, that’s what. As your ancestors who are long dead

Lucky Lager Soap

$7.95 at metchosinsoapworks. com For a crappy Edmontonbrewed beer that originated in San Francisco, Lucky Lager holds a strange place in Vancouver Islanders’ hearts. Made with olive, coconut and avocado oil, red clay, activated bamboo charcoal and the favourite beer of drunk uncles and millwrights from Port Hardy to Langford, this is probably one of the few ways to enjoy Lucky Lager that won’t end in a bar ﬁght, hangover or missed child support payment.

VANCOU RIER .COM

T H U R SDAY, D E C E M B E R 1 2 , 2 0 1 9 THE VANCOU VER COURIE R

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Feature

underpants wallets, Lucky Lager soap your own ukulele. It’s like putting a bowtie on a bowtie. Or if your handlebar moustache grew its own handlebar moustache. Adorable.

R2D2 Insta Pot Wrap

$15.22 at etsy.com “This is not the Insta Pot you’re looking for.” Or maybe it would be if it resembled everybody’s favourite closeted droid. Made from premium non-adhesive waterproof wrap, this culinary robot costume transforms the bulkiest of kitchen appliances into something just as bulky, but way nerdier. George Lucas might not approve, but your dinner guests will. Unless they’re more Star Trek fans — then in that case, screw them.

Why this technology hasn’t been applied to swimsuits, gym wear or work shirts remains one of life’s great mysteries, right up there with “How soon is now?” and “Who let the dogs out?”

XXL Hip Flask

Tea Cup Holster

Golfer Legs Side Table

$599.95 at hammacher.com On one hand, it’s a terrifying side table that appears to be propped up by the severed legs of an old-timey golfer. On the other, the protruding golf club looks like a cross between a futuristic metal detector and a robot penis. Either way, this decorative ode to celibacy tells the world your disposable income shows no bounds.

$113 at etsy.com Everyone in your birding group knows you’re a real killer with the chamomile and executioner of Earl Grey. So why not put your steeped bad-assery on full display with this leathery lethal weapon that ﬁts precisely one teacup and one saucer. While some might foolishly ask where one might put the cream and sugar, as you well know cream and sugar are for pussies.

Personalized well wishes from the Boston Bruins’ Brad Marchand

OG Kush Weed Pillow

$32 at smokebreak.live Duuuuuude. It’s a pillow that looks like a Ziploc bag full of the stickiest, ickiest, John Wickiest weed around. Which will come in super handy when you need something to rest your head on while waiting hours in a small windowless room for airport security to inspect your oriﬁces.

$200 at cameo.com Whether it’s reality TV stars, washed-up actors or money-grubbing professional athletes trying to suck the last drop of milk from the teat of celebrity, Cameo.com has it all. From as low as $25 (guitarist Steve Vai) to $2,500 (Caitlyn Jenner), just about everyone has their price when it comes to making a personalized video message for a complete stranger.

$288 at Front and Co. This 1.1-litre container of liquid happiness — or sadness, depending on your disposition — is more than a novelty gift. It’s a damn expensive novelty gift. Which almost makes it respectable — until, of course, you pull it out of your commemorative Loverboy bomber jacket at a Canucks game and get arrested in front of your kids. Again.

Briefcase BBQ

$106 at Front and Co. We’ve all been there: After a long day at the ofﬁce farming content and creating listicles for the “10 best places to catch your high school French teacher eating soup alone in public,” you need a little pick-meup. And what better way than cooking up a couple smokies or s’mores from the comfort of your desk for the entire ofﬁce to smell and envy. That’s where the Briefcase BBQ comes in. Made of high grade stainless steel and more portable than the job skills listed on your resume, this little gourmet gizmo will remind you what it’s like to be alive.

$26 at Front and Co. Designed to look like y-front gaunch of old, this casual cash carrier will definitely be a red flag for any prospective Tinder dates. But then again, your ex once described you as the United Nations of red flags. Which is good, right?

Autographed Photo of Bea Arthur

Avocado Plush Doll

$22 to $28 at Front and Co. Imprint society’s recent fetishization of avocados on your teething toddler before they’re old enough to form their own opinions and realize that your inability to reject the allure of rampant consumerism masks a profound inability to connect with others, including yourself, on a deeper, more spiritual level. Woah, shit just got real. But they are pretty cute avocados.

Gentlemen’s Hardware Red Brick Soap

$22 at Front and Co. Harkening back to the good ol’ days when you could buy opiumbased children’s medicine at the local apothecary and hard-working folks washed their soot-covered bodies with actual bricks, this sandalwood scented bar of authenticity gives new meaning to the word rugged, as in “$22 is a rugged amount of money to spend on a bar of soap that looks like a brick.”

Sudski Shower Beer Holder

Bloody Bath Mat

$14 at fancy.com What better way to cap off a relaxing shower or bath than leaving what appears to be a trail of bloody footprints. This scientiﬁc marvel bleeds red when wet and turns white again when dry.

Underpants Wallet

Make Your Own Uke

$30 at Front and Co. If playing ukulele wasn’t quaint enough, just wait until you make

$22 at Front and Co. If there is anything more lifeafﬁrming than drinking in the shower, I’ve yet to experience or remember it. Still, it can be a dangerous and lonely pursuit. Unless, of course, you get your soapy paws on this personal hygiene-minded drinking companion. Sadly, it does not come in growler sizes.

another person asking them to love you and not realize you’re quoting Julia Roberts in Notting Hill by accepting this poorly thought out Christmas gift that you left to the last minute because you were re-watching all six seasons of Sex and the City and coming around to the idea that maybe Big and Carrie were meant for each other.

Plush Glands and Organs $28 at Front and Co. Who cares if you can’t tell the difference between a plush thyroid gland, gallbladder or testicle — you’re not a rocket surgeon. You’re just a person standing in front of

$86.44 at hollywoodmemorabilia.com Who wouldn’t want an autographed photo of pre-Golden Girls Bea Arthur for Christmas? Someone you’re hoping to sleep with, that’s who. But there’s little chance of that, isn’t there.

Loverboy Windbreaker celebrating five million albums sold

$77.89 at hollywoodmemorabilia.com Pity the poor sap who didn’t have the foresight to keep this sweet, collectors’ item bomber jacket commemorating Vancouver rock band Loverboy “moving ﬁve-million units” for Columbia Records. Pardon the industry talk — I dreamt of being a roadie for Bootsauce for most of the ’90s, so it just comes naturally to me. Check check.

Vancouver-opoly

$29.93 at Walmart It’s probably the only chance many of us will have to own real estate in this city, Vancouver-opoly is exactly how it sounds: a localized version of the classic board game that takes a reductionist view of Vancouver, by cobbling together a bunch of well-known tourists spots such as the Grouse Grind, University of B.C., the aquarium, Stanley Park and Trevor Linden’s Treasure Trail. I may have made that last one up. Even the Go to Jail square has been replaced with Trafﬁc Jam, which, granted, is a prison in itself, but lacks the danger of being locked up at a real Vancouver police station. Or so my co-workers tell me. @Midlifeman1

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THE VAN COU VER CO URIER T H U R SDAY, D E C E M B E R 1 2 , 2 0 1 9

VAN CO U RI E R. C OM

News Drug overdose deaths decrease across B.C.

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Drug overdose deaths continue to decrease across the province, and the Vancouver numbers in particular are striking. A B.C. Coroners Service report released Dec. 5 shows a 42 per cent drop in overdose deaths in October 2019: 69 deaths were recorded province-wide, compared to 118 during the same month last year. It’s the third month in a row where yearly comparisons show a steady decrease in overdose deaths: September saw a 58 per cent drop, while the August numbers fell by 31 per cent. Men are dying overwhelmingly more so than women, with coroners statistics suggesting men account for nine out of every 10 overdose deaths. Those between the ages of 19 and 59 account for 89 per cent of overdose deaths. Vancouver (210), Surrey (105), Victoria (48) and Abbotsford (39) experienced the highest number of overdose deaths in 2019 and account for almost half the overdose deaths in B.C. Province-wide data suggests fentanyl was found in 85 per cent of overdose

deaths this year, down two per cent from 2018. Vancouver saw a recordsetting 395 overdose deaths last year, outpacing the previous record in 2017 (375). Through 10 months this year, that number sits at 210. “While Coroners Service data shows that the number of fatalities related to illicit drug toxicity has decreased this year, we know from our partners in health care that the number of non-fatal drug toxicity events remains high,” chief coroner Lisa Lapointe said in a news release. From January to October 2019, B.C. Emergency Health Services paramedics responded to more than 20,000 overdose calls around the province, an average of 64 potential overdose/poisoning calls per day in B.C. In the Vancouver Coastal Health area, “other residences” (48 per cent) were the most common place of overdose deaths, followed by private residences (37 per cent) between 2017 and 2019. Other residences are deﬁned as hotels, motels, rooming houses, single room occupancy hotels, shelters and social/supportive housing. —John Kurucz

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THE VAN COU VER CO URIER T H U R SDAY, D E C E M B E R 1 2 , 2 0 1 9

VAN CO U RI E R. C OM

News

Fines for ﬁghting in Vancouver jump from $500 to $1,000 John Kurucz

jkurucz@vancourier.com

Fighting on Vancouver streets will soon cost illadvised combatants $1,000 a pop. The new penalties were approved unanimously and without discussion by council Dec. 10. The bylaw is worded in a way that seeks to deter ﬁghting speciﬁcally in the

Granville Entertainment District (GED), though the change applies to all corners of the city. “It’s what we’ve been asking for,” said Charles Gauthier, president of the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association. The previous ﬁne amount was $500 but did little to deter the problem, at least according to statistics from the Van-

Charles Gauthier. PHOTO DAN TOULGOET

couver Police Department. There have been roughly

1,600 reports of assault annually over the last

five years in the Central Business District, far and away the highest number anywhere in the city. Those numbers include reports from 2014 to 2018, while stats from 2019 go up until the end of October. So far, there have been 1,478 assaults this year in the area bound by Burrard and Main streets, stretching north to Coal Harbour and including the Granville Entertainment District. The Courier asked the VPD for stats specific to incidents of fighting, but did not receive those numbers before print deadlines. The VPD did, however, back council’s move to increase the fines, which are the most that can be charged under the Vancouver Charter. Fines paid within 30 days will remain at $500. “The graduated fine payment approach has proven effective for the collection of city parking tickets with 63 per cent of tickets paid within the discount period,” notes a staff report prepared by chief licence officer Kathryn Holm. “Providing additional incentive to pay a reduced rate is likely to increase fine collection rates.” Those who don’t pay could face punitive penalties with respect to credit ratings. In August, the city’s revenue services department began sending tickets to the Credit Bureau of Canada Collections when tickets weren’t paid within 60 days. After a 90-day lapse, the debt is then reported to the two main credit rating agencies, Equifax and TransUnion. Past efforts going back 25 years and numerous provincial governments have continually failed to make inroads on even more severe penalties. Whether via the city, other municipalities or UBCM resolutions, seven attempts have been made to tie outstanding fines to the renewal of a driver’s license or vehicle insurance. They’ve been refused, largely on account of the potential for a Charter of Rights and Freedoms challenge. Barwatch founder and

ex-VPD officer Curtis Robinson considers those failed attempts a huge miss. And while he lauds the fine increase, Robinson said the issue of violence in the area could be curtailed significantly by extended late night transit service. “Having worked on Granville Street for years as a police officer, the secret to handling this problem is allowing people a method to get home safely, which is late-night transit including SkyTrain, Canada Line service, Uber and Lyft,” Robinson said. Robinson and Gauthier said they’ve been told by TransLink officials that late night SkyTrain isn’t an option, due to the need for overnight servicing of the system. Night bus service, however, was added near Granville and Georgia last year. Having been with the downtown BIA since 1992, Gauthier says the GED needs a bit of a facelift to help curb the drunken chicanery. He wants more taxi access and a better mix of businesses, some of which would offer food and others that serve no alcohol at all. “Frankly, I think the day of the nightclub is coming to an end,” Gauthier said. “It will always be [part] of the nighttime economy… but it doesn’t need to be drink your face off and get into a fight.” Robinson helped introduce a code of conduct last spring across the 30-plus Bar Watch bars, which are located in the GED, Gastown and Yaletown, along with a smattering of Donnelly Group bars in other parts of the city. That code includes year-long or lifetime bans for offences ranging from verbal abuse to weapons possession, sexual assault, violent behaviour and drink spiking. Robinson estimates about 10 lifetime bans have been issued since the code was introduced in May 2018. “Making sure [patrons and staff] get home safely is a very big deal for us,” he said. @JohnKurucz

VANCOURIER.COM

Christmas Worship

T H U R SDAY, D E C E M B E R 1 2 , 2 0 1 9 THE VA NCOUVER COURIER

Christmas Eve • 4 PM:

MARTIN LUTHER CHURCH

- Service of Candlelight and Carols

505 East 46th Avenue, Vancouver (one block West of Fraser St)

Christmas Day • 10 AM:

- Service of Holy Communion

375 West 10th Avenue Vancouver, BC • V5Y 3V1 • 604-874-2212

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604-325-0550

Come and celebrate with us!

Pastor P tor Manfred Schmidt

SUNDAYS FOR SONLIGHT Dec. 15

German Service at 9:00 am Eng. Service at 10:30 am

Dec. 16

Ladies Circle at 1:00 pm Christmas Program

Dec. 21

Sing Along at 5:00 pm

Dec. 22

Combined Service at 10:30 am

Dec. 24

5:00 pm German Christmas Service

Dec. 24

7:00 pm Candlelight Service

Dec. 25

Combined Christmas Service at 10:30

Dec. 29

Combined year end service at 10:30 with Holy Communion

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PEACE

Without sharing there will be no justice Without justice there will be no peace Without peace there will be no future

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News

In Vancouver, where even an alley goes for almost $3.8 million Naoibh O’Connor

noconnor@vancourier.com

How do we achieve real peace, nott just the absence of war? War today can destroy all life on planet earth. Maitreya, the World Teacher, and His group, the Masters of Wisdom, suggest the only way to create justice and peace is to accept the principle of sharing on an international scale. Maitreya says: “My heart tells me your answer, your choice and is glad.” Come and hear this message of hope!

VANCOUVER MAIN PUBLIC LIBRARY 350 West Georgia (Alma VanDusen Room) Free presentation

1 pm Sunday, December 15 1.888.278.8272

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In a city where even some homes are priced in the multi-million-dollar range, perhaps it’s not surprising the City of Vancouver expects to collect almost $3.8 million for a portion of a lane. The lane, measuring approximately 213.7 square metres, sits between two buildings on Broadway near Granville Street. PCI Developments is proposing to redevelop the site, which includes 1489 and 1465 West Broadway, into a mixed-use ofﬁce building. The project will also include

When out shopping for those stocking stuff ffers f this holiday season, see what’s on special and grab an ext xtra t something on top of your usual purchase. Please note that we ask that all items be NEW! Simply drop your items at the Vancouver Courier offi ffice fi at 303 West 5th Avenue on Albert rta t betw tween w November 12th and December 20th. Hours are Mon-Fri, 7:00 am to 2:30 pm. For furt rther t information contact June Staff fford f at 604-630-3501

one of the stops on the Broadway subway extension. PCI needs the lane between the two buildings to create a consolidated site for the development. The lane sale goes before council for approval Dec. 10, with staff recommending the proceeds — $3,795,000 — be credited to the Property Endowment Fund. Council’s policy is that property declared surplus to city needs are transferred to the Property Endowment Fund (PEF) or are sold with proceeds credited to the PEF, according the Dec. 10 staff report. “The closure and sale of the lane is essential to the development application and to the multiparty arrangement to ensure the Granville Station head house will be located at the corner of Granville and West Broadway,” the staff report states. “The closure and sale of the Lane, the dedication of a small portion of the 1465 Lands for Lane purposes, and the consolidation of the remainder of the 1465 Lands, the 1489 Lands and the Lane into a single parcel have been established as prior-to conditions of the development permit.” The report notes that the engineering department determined the lane is

The lane, measuring approximately 213.7 square metres, sits between two buildings on Broadway near Granville Street on a site where development is planned. PHOTO GOOGLE STREETVIEW

surplus to city needs, while the director of real estate concluded $3,795,000 is “fair market value” for the property. The city told the Courier that determining land value for the lane is based on fair market value using an “at the fence” valuation approach that assumes the lane will be consolidated with the adjacent zoned lands that have development rights. A road closure fee of $10,460 will also be charged. The sale will close following council’s approval, if granted. PCI’s development application, meanwhile, was on the Development Permit Board’s Dec. 9 agenda. The company’s application is for a ﬁve-storey

mixed-use building with a subway entrance, and six storeys of below-grade parking. Details of the plan, including the time it takes to complete the project, may change. A higher form of development may be considered for the site once the Broadway Plan is completed, which is why PCI’s current development permit application includes so much parking. The application requires decisions by both the Development Permit Board and the Director of Planning. Once the Broadway Plan is completed, PCI will amend its development plans to suit the plan’s outcome. @naoibh

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Seasonally-savvy entertaining tips and gift ideas from BC Liquor Stores Tis the season for spreading the spirit of good holiday cheer. Tis also the season for pouring festive cocktails at friendly gatherings, pairing the perfect wines with your holiday feasts and choosing an exceptional single malt for the scotch lover on your Christmas gift list. If you’ve already got a lot on your plate, don’t worry. BC Liquor Stores can help make your holiday entertaining and shopping seem effortless. Just visit your local BC Liquor Stores location and get some seasonally-savvy tips from one of the friendly in-store experts to help everyone get into the holiday spirit(s). For instance, if you – and your guests – are getting tired of the traditional-yet-predictable rum eggnog cocktails you serve every year during your Christmas open house, maybe it’s time to shake things up with a Tequila Manhattan.

Johnnie Walker – A Song of Fire +148534, $59.99 The red and orange bottle represents dragon’s fire and the whisky features some rich and smoky malt from the Caol Ila Distillery on Islay. Want to surprise a whisky connoisseur with a new flavour profile? Japanese distilleries are the talk of the whisky world this season. On December 12, 2019, BC Liquor Stores is hosting an exclusive Japanese whisky collectible launch at its 39th & Cambie and Richmond Brighouse locations. Here’s one gift idea to get you started:

Cazadores Anejo Tequila +772376, $44.99 wines for every holiday commitment and also has suggested some food pairings, like, for instance:

Tequila Manhattan cocktail recipe: 2 oz (60ml) Cazadores Anejo Tequila 1 oz (30ml) sweet vermouth 2 dashes orange bitters Orange twist, for garnish

Nk’Mip Dreamcatcher is the perfect pairing with turkey dinner +752006, $17.99 This beautiful off-dry white blend complements many meal choices with sweet apple, ripe peach, hints of spice and bright acidity that all cumulate in a refreshing finish.

In a cocktail shaker with ice, combine tequila, sweet vermouth and orange bitters. Strain into a martini glass and garnish with an orange twist.

Gunsight Rock Cabernet Sauvignon pairs nicely with chocolate dessert +648006, $19.99

Or maybe you’d prefer to pay homage to that dreamy, picture-perfect white Christmas with an Amarula White Russian cocktail.

Expect ripe tannin, dark cherry, vanilla and blueberry along with some licorice spice in this full-bodied wine that is ready to rock your next social gathering,

Amarula Cream Liquor +342246, $25.99 ($22.99 in December) Amarula White Russian cocktail recipe: 1 oz (30ml) Amarula Cream Liquor 1 oz (30ml) vodka 1 oz (30ml heavy cream

Looking for the perfect gift? BC Liquor Stores is well stocked with a variety of products specially selected by expert category managers with the 2019 holiday season in mind. From extra-premium spirits for that someone special to Champagne to toast in the New Year, there is something for everyone on your list, including that scotch-loving Game of Thrones fan who will savour this pair of special edition Johnnie Walker offerings:

In a cocktail shaker with ice, combine Amarula and vodka. Stir and strain into a rocks glass over ice. Top with heavy cream. Which wines pair well with turkey? What about Christmas brunch and New Year’s Eve? There are wines for all holiday times. So, to prepare you for this season of good cheer, BC Liquor Stores has put together a cheat sheet of

Johnnie Walker – A Song of Ice +148525, $59.99 Representing the frozen north, this blue and white bottle features some malt from Clynelish, one of Scotland’s most northern distilleries.

Fuyu Blended Japanese Whisky +215734, $74 Initially, this whisky has caramel and vanilla notes quickly followed by cereal grain and dark soy sauce with a little smoke element appearing near the finish. If you have a wine lover on your Christmas list, who has a cellar, here’s a great gift idea that will only get better with time. If they don’t have a cellar, don’t worry: It’s already deliciously drinkable. Osoyoos Larose Le Grand Vin 2015 +129999, $47 This well-structured Bordeaux blend from BC has lots of earthy dark fruit, leather, spice and tobacco flavours. It will age very well. For that hard-to-shop for name on your list, BC Liquor Stores also has gift cards. Visit your local BC Liquor Store and get friendly advice from one of the in-store experts or visit bcliquorstores.com for information on products, events and more. Also, be sure to pick up a free copy of the special holiday edition of TASTE Magazine, which is bursting with more gift-giving and holiday entertaining ideas. TASTE is available at any BC Liquor Stores location and online at bcliquorstores.com. *Sale ends December 28th. While supplies last, inventory by store will vary. Prices are subject to change without notice. In the event of a change, the product description and display price in the liquor store will prevail. Prices do not include taxes. Please enjoy responsibly.

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‘Tis the season to entertain

From non-alcoholic gin to Wayne Gretzky whisky, these cocktails are sure to impress SANDRA THOMAS sthomas@vancourier.com Here’s an idea. Instead of over-indulging on cheap boxed wine this holiday season, how about savouring a perfect cocktail made with really great ingredients. And if you’re entertaining, your guests are sure to be impressed if you offer them one or two signature

cocktails before they start on the rum and eggnog. New this year is Lumette! Bright Light Alt-Gin, a non-alcoholic gin crafted in Sooke, B.C., which can be used to replicate classic cocktails or serve that one uncle or aunt who likes to knock back a few before talking politics at your dinner

Zero Proof Gimlet INGREDIENTS 60 ml Lumette!

15 ml Roses Lime Cordial 7.5 ml lime juice METHOD Shake, strain, serve in a coupe glass and top with 15 ml soda. (A coupe is a low, wide-mouthed bowl-shaped glass originally intended for Champagne.)

party. Distilled with juniper, grand fir, grapefruit, orange, cucumber, mint and rose, the gin tastes as botanical and floral as any legacy gin, but gives a modern twist to the classics. Lumette! is for cocktail lovers who decide to skip the alcohol, but don’t want to miss out on the experience or the taste. You can find Lumette! at select private liquor stores, specialty food markets or online at enjoylumette.com. Select bars and restaurants across B.C. are also serving this Bright Light Alt-Gin.

Zero Proof Clover Club INGREDIENTS 60 ml Lumette! 22.5 ml lemon juice 1 tbs blackberry jam 30 ml egg white METHOD Dry shake (no ice), followed by a wet shake (with ice), strain and serve in a coupe glass. CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 20

Winter Tea INGREDIENTS 30 ml Wayne Gretzky Ice Cask Whisky 120 ml Earl Grey Tea 15 ml wildﬂower honey 1 lemon twist 2 shakes of Dillon’s Ginger Bitters 3 sprigs of lavender

METHOD Bring a kettle to a boil and add 120 ml of hot water to a small mug with an Earl Grey tea bag (or loose leaf tea in a steeping vessel). Add a tablespoon of honey, bitters, the Ice Cask Whisky and one sprig of lavender to the mug and stir. Twist the lemon rind over the cocktail and drop in with the other ingredients. Garnish with two sprigs of lavender bridged over mug.

Ruby Spri ritzer i INGREDIENTS 1.5 parts Patrón Silver 2 parts sparkling apple cider 1 part pomegranate juice .5 parts fresh lemon juice 1 dash Angostura bitters Lemon twist for garnish

METHOD Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker and shake with ice to chill. Strain into a Champagne ﬂute. Garnish with a lemon twist.

n n n n n

Grey Goose Holiday Mule INGREDIENTS 1.5 parts Grey Goose vodka 4 parts ginger beer Freshly grated nutmeg Juice of half of a lime

GARNISH Cranberries, lime wedge and sprig of fresh mint

METHOD Fill mug with ice to chill it before mixing. Add freshly squeezed juice from half a lime and add vodka, top with ginger beer.

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Arts & Entertainment VANCOUVER SHAKEDOWN

These are the best B.C. books of 2019

Paciﬁc Northwest recipes, history of Vancouver nightclubs, West End stories crack this year’s best books list Grant Lawrence

grantlawrence12@gmail.com

Here’s my yearly roundup of the best books released by local authors and publishers this year, just in time for your last-minute literary gift shopping. Let us rejoice in the glory of our regionally written words!

Cascadia Cookbook

(Said The Whale Music) Vancouver band Said the Whale has been filling our ears with their West Coastflavoured indie rock for over a decade. Now, as a tasty compliment to their 2019 album Cascadia, the band fills our stomachs with the release of Casadia Cookbook. In this beautifully designed, 80-page feast, you’ll find Pacific Northwestinspired recipes paired to each song on the album, for dishes such as salal berry pie or “Buckaroo Spuds.” The book was designed by Said the Whale keyboardist/band

chef/skilled baker Jaceyln Brown, with mouth-watering photography by Lindsey Blane. A perfect addition to any West Coast kitchen.

stories set in Vancouver’s most densely populated neighbourhood, penned by the great humourist, author, broadcaster and longtime West End resident Bill Richardson. All eight of the ﬁnely tuned stories within are linked by West End characters from various walks of life, set amongst the garishly decorated apartment lobbies of Christmastime west of Burrard.

Cougar Companions by Judith Williams

(Harbour Publishing) Sink your claws into this incredible and untold true story from B.C.’s coast. This is the wild tale of the Schnarr family: single father August, a trapper, logger, and skilled amateur photographer, and his three young daughters, all trying to make a go of it in remote Bute Inlet. The Schnarr family was infamous in the 1930s for their collection of fully grown pet cougars. Cortes Island author Judith Williams passionately unfolds this adventure with the help of August Schnarr’s lifetime of incredible photographs.

Finding Callidora by Stella Leventoyannis Harvey (Signature Editions)

It was another stellar year for B.C. books, and these were Grant Lawrence’s favourites.

If you enjoy exciting historical ﬁction, you must escape into this epic novel by Whistler author Stella Leventoyannis Harvey. Inside, you’ll enter into a bloody family saga that spans generations, continents and two world wars. Driven by actual headlines of the eras, this is a fast read convincingly set on remote Greek

islands, Egyptian streets, rugged Turkish landscapes and, ﬁnally, Canada, as a scattered family tries to piece together a tragic past.

I Saw Three Ships: West End Stories by Bill Richardson

(Talonbooks) A smart and hilarious collection of ﬁctional short

Major Misconduct: the Human Cost of Fighting In Hockey by Jeremy Allingham

(Arsenal Pulp Press) In his debut book, author and CBC Vancouver journalist Jeremy Allingham has provided a potential knockout blow to hockey ﬁghts, as well as the toxic culture that surrounds it. And timing is everything. As if predicting the sea change that may ﬁnally be cracking up our frozen game, less than a month after this

Moonlight Madness We’re open from 10am -10pm December 19 to 23. So you can shop on your schedule.

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book came out, several notable figures in hockey’s leadership circles have been fired or put on leave. A very revealing read for any fan, especially those who think fighting should still be part of hockey on any level.

Vancouver After Dark by Aaron Chapman

(Arsenal Pulp Press) Whether it’s saucy stories of Oil Can Harry’s, the Cave, Retinal Circus or (my personal favourite) the Starﬁsh Room, Aaron Chapman’s latest outing nattily steps into a century of Vancouver’s nightlife with crisp detail and refreshing research. Like a cold Kokanee upon entrance at the Town Pump, consider this book essential consumption for any Vancouverite (from any era) who has ever experienced our city’s notorious and colourful nightclubs. *** Happy holidays, and happy reading!

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Arts & Entertainment THE SHOWBIZ

Booted from major Chinese ﬁlm fest, In God I Trust comes home Sabrina Furminger

sabrina@yvrscreenscene.com

Maja Jacob was understandably giddy when her feature film directorial debut In God I Trust was invited to screen at the venerable Beijing International Film Festival earlier this year. In God I Trust was filmed on weekends over the course of a year and fuelled by volunteers and passion and chutzpah. For a Vancouver indie film to be invited to screen in Beijing — where the festival treats visiting filmmakers like rock stars, and the movies screen to sold-out crowds — was a big deal. It’s arguably an even bigger deal to be disinvited because of political strife between two global superpowers — which is precisely what happened to Jacob and In God I Trust in March. China has been irritated with Canada ever since Canadian authorities arrested Meng Wanzhou, the CFO of Huawei, at YVR in December 2018. According to Jacob, In God I Trust was invited and disinvited by the Beijing International Film Festival in a span of 48 hours, and the festival told her that it was because she was from Canada.

In God I Trust follows a handful of characters from different walks of life whose fates are intertwined, for better or for worse.

“I was really devastated because this film isn’t political,” says Jacob, who has since moved to Toronto to further her directing career. “Even the festival said that they loved the film and they were sad that they couldn’t show it and it had nothing to do with what was in the film. It was strictly because of political reasons. I was really sad because we had the opportunity to screen the film to such a huge audience over there. It was a big blow.” In God I Trust didn’t make it to China, but it has travelled far and wide nonetheless since premiering at the Whistler Film Festival in December 2018. It’s screened in Omaha and New York, and will finally screen for the hometown crowd next week at the Rio. While the film isn’t overtly political, it is very much representative of the divides that exist in (but are

How changes came and will come about: Mondays for Prayer

Every Monday between 1982 to 1989 people came together for prayer in the Nicolai Church of Leipzig, Germany. It resulted in a peaceful demonstration and the “Fall of the Berlin Wall.”

Fridays for Future

Every Friday people are on the go for “Climate Change” spearheaded by Greta Thunberg, from Sweden. The effects are felt already throughout many countries.

Sundays for SONLIGHT

Every Sunday we ought to meet to receive Sonlight

We have to admit that we are like people of “olden times”, namely walking in “darkness.” There was confusion, rebellion, frustration political unrest, family division, and certainly discontentment. That situation, 2000 years later, has not changed. But during that time of “darkness” SOMEONE had a bright idea. God send His only Son Jesus Christ, He was the light that shines in the darkness...! Any change in our given situation will certainly start, when we get connected with that LIGHT. Therefore, may we invite you to join us for our Advent-, and Christmas season celebration... First Advent Second Advent Third Advent Fourth Advent

Sunday for SONLIGHT – Hope Sunday for SONLIGHT – Love Sunday for SONLIGHT – Joy Sunday for SONLIGHT – Peace

Martin Luther Evangelical Lutheran Church 505 East 46th Ave., Vancouver, B.C. 9:00 am German Service | 10:30 am English Service

not exclusive to) the United States. In God I Trust follows a handful of characters from different walks of life whose fates are intertwined, for better or for worse: Ben (Marc Senior), an African American man whose life is imploding; white supremacist Tyler (Steven Roberts, who won a UBCP/ACTRA Award for his work in this ﬁlm last month); atheist academic Michael (John Cassini); Barbara (Jenn MacLeanAngus), a well-to-do mother with an unshakeable faith in God; and her daughter, Mya (Melissa Roxburgh), whose beliefs and actions prove to be a great disappointment to her parents. “I love how after every screening we’ve done at ﬁlm festivals, people come up to me to tell me how they relate to someone in the story,” says Jacob. “I had someone at the Omaha

Film Festival tell me that they really appreciated how we tackled that concept of going to a dinner and respecting everybody’s point of view.” Jacob developed the script for In God I Trust with Paul St-Amand in the lead-up to the 2016 American election. The ﬁlm touches on religion, gun violence, immigration, populism and white supremacy: topics that have only grown more relevant during the Trump presidency. That said, Jacob wants people to know that In God I Trust isn’t political. It’s not liberal propaganda. It’s not even a strictly American story. “This kind of stuff is happening all around the world and we just happened to place it in Idaho,” says Jacob. It’s about the inner lives of people who exist at different points along the political spectrum, and it seeks to humanize them — yes, even a character like Tyler, the white supremacist. “Tyler is absolutely a dick in the ﬁlm, but you also see how and why he grew up that way,” says Jacob. “Yes, we’re shaped by our environment and the people we grow up with, but we also have the capacity to learn and grow.” In God I Trust screens at the Rio Theatre Dec. 19. Tickets at RioTheatre.ca.

This rye and ginger beer brings to mind a dark ‘n’ stormy.

Drink this: Run Free by Yellow Dog Brewing Rob Mangelsdorf editor@thegrowler.ca

Cocktail inspired beers are so hot right now, and for good reason. The familiar flavours of an old fashioned or a whisky sour have remained relevant for more than 100 years because they work. They are delicious and balanced — with elements of bitter, sweet, sour and alcohol all working in perfect harmony. For craft breweries, tapping into those flavour profiles allows their beer to at once taste familiar and completely revolutionary. Recent examples include Field House’s Whisky Sour and Twin City’s Vanishing

Act, which tastes exactly like a piña colada. Central City even won Beer of the Year at the 2019 Canadian Brewing Awards for its After Dark Old Fashioned Pale Ale. Yellow Dog’s Run Free is another beer that arguably falls into the cocktailinspired category. This rye and ginger beer instantly brings to mind a dark ‘n’ stormy or a Moscow mule with its refreshing, zesty kick. The spiciness of the rye wonderfully complements the earthy, woody tang of the ginger, while the citrusy hop bitterness stands in for the lime juice. You don’t need to drink this beer from a copper cup, but it couldn’t hurt!

5.7 per cent ABV • 40 IBU • 473 mL tall cans Appearance: Brilliant light amber with a fleeting fine white head. Aroma: Ginger and spice and everything nice! Flavour: Ginger, spice, citrus, earthy, woody, cereal, very refreshing, moderate hop bitterness. Body/Finish: Medium bodied with a dry finish and a touch of lingering ginger and hop bitterness. Pairs with: Spicy paella, jerk chicken, dickhead beef and passive aggressive duck.

How changes came and will come about:

Mondays for PRAYER. Fridays for FUTURE. Sundays for SONLIGHT. We invite you to join us for the: 3rd Advent, Dec. 15 - Sunday for SONLIGHT - Love There are so many different kind of flashlights: an ordinary ryy battery ryy utility, solar powered, HID, or the high efficient LED flashlight. It doesn’t matter what kind of flashlight we prefer, one thing that they all have in common: they need to be recharged. Aren’t we similar? We would cert rtainly t like to shine hope, love, joy and peace into our families, communities, into the world. But we too, like a flashlight, run “empty” and need to be recharged. Here is the Advent opport rtunity. t Isaac Watts writes: “Joy to the world the Lord has come! Let earth receive her king” Please join us, “be recharged” and experience in a fresh way the joy that only Christ can bring. 3rd of Advent Celebration at Mart rtin t Luther Evangelical Lutheran Church 505 East 46th Ave., Vancouver 9:00 am - German Serv rvice v 10:30 am - English Serv rvice v

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Limited time lease and finance offers available from Toyota Financial Services (TFS) on approved credit. 1. Lease example: 2020 Corolla L CVT (BPRBEC AM) MSRP is $22,560 and includes $1,770 freight & PDI and fees leased at 3.49% over 64 months with $5,800 down payment, equals 277 weekly payments of $39.80 with a total lease obligation of $16,824.60. Applicable taxes are extra. Lease 64 mos. based on 120,000 km, excess km charge is $0.07. Down payment and first weekly payment due at lease inception and next weekly payment due approximately 7 days later and weekly thereafter throughout the term. Vehicle may be factory ordered via Toyota Canada. 2. Lease example: 2019 RAV4 LE FWD (Z1RFVT AM) MSRP is $29,930 and includes $1,940 freight & PDI and fees leased at 4.39% over 64 months with $6,700 down payment, equals 277 weekly payments of $59.49 with a total lease obligation of $23,178.73. Applicable taxes are extra. Lease 64 mos. based on 120,000 km, excess km charge is $0.10. Down payment and first weekly payment due at lease inception and next weekly payment due approximately 7 days later and weekly thereafter throughout the term. Stock #: 19651. 3. Lease example: 2020 Prius Prime (KARK1C AM) MSRP is $34,860 and includes $1,870 freight & PDI and fees leased at 4.49% over 64 months with $2,000 down payment and $4,000 BC Government & Government of Canada iZEV Program Rebate, equals 277 weekly payments of $79.29 with a total lease obligation of $23,963.33. Applicable taxes are extra. Lease 64 mos. based on 120,000 km, excess km charge is $0.10. Down payment and first weekly payment due at lease inception and next weekly payment due approximately 7 days later and weekly thereafter throughout the term. Vehicle may be factory ordered via Toyota Canada. Documentation fee ($495) is extra on all examples. Some restrictions may apply. Offers are subject to change or cancellation without notice. Offers end January 2, 2020. Please see Jim Pattison Toyota Surrey (Dealer #6701), Jim Pattison Toyota Downtown (Dealer #30692), or Jim Pattison Toyota Northshore (Dealer #18732) for complete details.

A28

THE VAN COU VER CO URIER T H U R SDAY, D E C E M B E R 1 2 , 2 0 1 9

Pass It to Bulis

VAN CO U RI E R. C OM

The hockey blog that knows who needs the puck

Canucks are mediocre, but mediocre teams make the playoffs Backhand Sauce Daniel Wagner

This looks like the best Canucks team in five years. The only problem is that doesn’t mean much. Over the past four seasons, the Canucks were the lowest-scoring team in the NHL and had the second-worst record in the league, just one point ahead of their expansion cousins, the Buffalo Sabres. This year, the Canucks look significantly better: they’re averaging nearly a goal more per game than over the past four seasons, have a power play that’s scoring on 27.2 per cent of their opportunities as opposed to 17.2 per cent, and boast one of the best lines in the NHL in J.T. Miller, Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser. And yet, 30 games into the season, the Canucks sit right in the middle of the pack, about as average as can be. They’re currently ninth in the Western Conference in points and 16th in the NHL. Heading into Tuesday’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Canucks sit just outside the playoffs, with 15 wins and 15 losses, albeit with four of those losses coming in overtime or the shootout. That’s about as average as average gets. For a synonym, we might call them middling or mediocre. In the NHL, however, another synonym is “playoff team.” In a 31-team league with 16 teams making the playoffs, average teams will, by definition, get into the playoffs. Last season, the average number of points earned by an NHL team was 90.7

Adam Gaudette might have reason to celebrate being on an average team like the Canucks. PHOTO JONATHAN HAYWARD/CANADIAN PRESS

points. The Colorado Avalanche, who earned the final wild card spot in the Western Conference, finished the season with 90 points. In fact, the Avalanche actually lost more games than they won last season: their 38-30-14 record means they lost 44 games, six more than they won. It just so happens that they managed to get 14 of their games into overtime before losing, thereby earning a single point. According to their record, the Avalanche were a thoroughly average team, but they didn’t look average in the playoffs, polishing off the Western Conference champion Calgary Flames in just five games in the first round before pushing the San Jose Sharks to seven games in the second round. A mediocre team in the NHL can compete with the best teams in the league. In other words, the Canucks being average or mediocre isn’t a damning statement. They can still make the playoffs as an average team and potentially do some damage in the postseason.

The first step is to make the playoffs in the first place. In order to do that, they’ll need to avoid becoming a below-average team, like they were in November. Getting injured players back, such as Antoine Roussel, Micheal Ferland and Jay Beagle, will certainly help, but the most important adjustment the Canucks will have to make is how they defend the lead. The Canucks have given up several leads this season, including some big ones. They gave up a 5-1 lead to the Washington Capitals in October, eventually losing in the shootout. They were up 6-3 on the Pittsburgh Penguins in November, but gave up five-straight third period goals to lose in regulation. Even on Saturday against the Buffalo Sabres, the Canucks twice held a twogoal lead, only to see those leads evaporate in a hurry, forcing some overtime heroics from J.T. Miller. The best way the Canucks can avoid becoming below-average and instead push themselves into a playoff spot is to learn how to close out games. They can’t just depend on their defensively-focused veterans such as Beagle and Brandon Sutter either, as collapsing into a defensive shell with the lead is a trap. The Canucks’ best young players need to show that they can defend a lead with puck possession and controlled aggressiveness, forcing the opposing team to spend more time defending in their own zone than they do creating chances for a comeback. If the Canucks can figure that out, then they have a chance at being better than mediocre.

Stick-taps & Glove-drops • A tap of the stick to Canucks prospects

Vasili Podkolzin, Nils Höglander, Karel Plášek and Toni Utunen for being invited to their respective country’s world junior selection camps and/or preliminary rosters. Jett Woo is a surprising absence from Team Canada’s camp.

• The NHL appears to be dropping the

gloves with abusive coaches, instituting an anonymous whistleblower hotline for players and an annual training program on diversity and inclusion. We’ll see if these steps lead to any significant change in hockey culture.

Big Numbers • 52.2 The Canucks are the third-best

faceoff team in the league, winning 52.2 per cent of their draws. J.T. Miller and Jay Beagle lead the way with 58.8 per cent and 58.7 per cent faceoff percentages, respectively.

• 20 Canucks prospect Brogan Rafferty is

having an impressive rookie season in the AHL. He’s currently second among AHL defencemen with 20 points in 25 games and is tied for third among all AHL rookies in scoring.

For daily Canucks news and views, go to Pass It to Bulis at vancourier.com.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2019 THE VANCOUVER COURIER

A29

Your Community

MARKETPLACE Book your ad ONLINE:

Or call to place your ad at

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or 604-444-3000 Email: classiﬁeds@van.net

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classiﬁeds.vancourier.com REMEMBRANCES

EMPLOYMENT

OBITUARIES

OFFICE / CLERICAL

McCULLOCH, Veronica July 4, 1925 - November 11, 2019 Veronica passed away quietly in her sleep on November 11th at the age of 94. Veronica was born the only child of Lawrence and Olive Findlay. She grew up in the Dunbar area of Vancouver and attended Kitsilano High School. She married Allen McCulloch in 1948 and they settled and celebrated 63 years of marriage together in their Kitsilano home before Allen passed. Veronica and Allen raised two children, Craig (Lissa) and Lynn Elizabeth who predeceased them, leaving their grandson Mathew (Katie) and cousin James Findlay Robinson. Veronica loved her Kitsilano neighbourhood, Kits showboat, fireworks and the fun walkers group. She and Allen participated in square dancing at Ceperley Park and were season subscribers to the VSO for many years. In her later life her pleasure was found in reading. She will be remembered fondly by her family, friends and many nieces and nephews. There will be no service at Veronica’s request. Her ashes will be interred with Allen’s in the family plot at Mountain View Cemetery in the spring. We wish to thank the nursing staff and care givers at Evergreen House Care Facility and especially Mila, her caregiver over the past many years for the love and affection that you all provided to her. Flowers are gratefully declined. Donations to the BCSPCA would be appreciated. First Memorial Funeral Services, 1505 Lillooet Rd, North Vancouver, BC, (604) 980-3451.

Online Classifieds Administrator − Part−Time Glacier Media Digital Glacier Media Digital is looking for a part−time Online Classifieds Administrator to be responsible for the day−to− day management of the self−serve classified ad placing system, used by a number of Glacier’s publications. The ideal candidate has strong English skills and attention to detail, as well as experience with various online platforms. Key Duties and Responsibilities: − Review and edit ads for publication in print and online − Provide customer support to users of the self−serve system − Ensure that approved ads are sent to each publication’s production team in a timely manner − Troubleshoot and resolve issues identified by frontline staff Skills and Experience: − Strong English skills, including editing and writing − Proficiency in Microsoft Excel − Digital product management experience is an asset − Knowledge of media publishing tools and content management systems an asset To Apply: Please send your cover letter and resume to Ian Smith at ismith@glaciermediadigital.ca before December 16th, 2019. Local applicants only. If applicable, include any online projects you’ve worked on, a personal website or public social media profiles.

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A30

THE VANCOUVER COURIER THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2019

VANCOURIER.COM

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PUZZLE ANSWERS ON SEPARATE PAGE

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RENOVATIONS.

Need anything done or repaired?

LAWNS • GARDENS • TREES • SHRUBS EST. 1994

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$3.95

PRANA ORGANIC CHOCOLATE BARK Assorted Sizes Select Varieties

GLUTINO GLUTEN-FREE CRACKER Assorted Sizes Select Varieties $4.75

$4.65 EACH

$1.35 FALESCA MOLISANA PITTED & SLICED OLIVES 398ML / Select Varieties

NATURE'S BAKERY WHOLE WHEAT FIG BARS 340G / Select Varieties

OFF

ECO-MAX E LAUNDRY L WASH W 3L 3 Select Varieties S

CUISINE SOLEIL ORGANIC BAKING FLOURS Assorted Sizes Select Varieties

PRAIRIE NATURALS SHAMPOOS & CONDITIONERS Assorted Sizes Select Varieties FROM

2 FOR

/100 G

$2. 95 EACH EACH

/1LB

CHICKEN DRUMSTICKS ORGANIC CHINESE Product of Canada MANDARIN ORANGES 1.82 KG

LU LUNDBERG ORGANIC TH THIN STACKER RIC RICE & GRAIN CAKES Ass Assorted Sizes Sel Select Varieties

20%

$11.95

$5. 99 /1BOX

KIND HEALTHY GRAINS CLUSTERS GR 312G / Select Varieties 312

$2. 45 EACH

LOVE GOOD FATS KETO DRINK MIX 400G / Select Varieties

EACH

$1.79

NATURE'S PATH ORGANIC INSTANT OATMEALS Assorted Sizes Select Varieties

FROM

NUTS TO YOU CASHEW BUTTER SMOOTH

500G

$5 .25 EACH

EACH

325G

$4.45

EACH H

ORGANIC

$4.75

NATURE'S PATH ENVIROKIDZ BOX CEREALS Assorted Sizes Select Varieties 250G

$3.25 NONORGANIC

EACH

SIMPLY NATURAL ORGANIC PASTA SAUCE 739ML / Select Varieties

$4.99

$7.95

FROM

$3.00

$9.95 EACH

STRATHCONA ROASTING CO. COFFEE BEANS 300G Assorted Varieties

OASIS ASSORTED JUICE 960ML Select Varieties

$5. 50 EACH

A31

THE VAN CO U VER CO URIER T H U R SDAY, D E C E M B E R 1 2 , 2 0 1 9

VAN CO U RI E R. C OM

DECEMBER FREE DELIVERY &

Super Sale

HOOK-UP STORE-WIDE!

Some conditions apply for free delivery and install. Restricted to certain products. Please see in store for more details.

SALE ENDS DECEMBER 15TH AT 4PM SHARP NO RAINCHECKS

MSRP $1149

:- 1*< $< Top Freezer Refrigerator with Glass 66 Shelves

Self-Clean

Sale $549

ART318FFDS

Sale $949

30 Freestanding Self-clean Range

MSRP $749

Front Control Dishwasher Triple Filter Wash System

White or Stainless

Sale $699

Sale $399

MSRP $1029

ADB1400AGS

Top Load Laundry Pair +05 4$0 )0 Washer , 10* 4$0 )0 Dryer YACR4503SFW

NTW4519FW/YNED4655EW

MSRP $599

MSRP 1698 $

20 or 87 1*< $< French Door 70 Refrigerator with Beverage Chiller

White, Black, or Stainless

Sale $1499 MSRP 2049 $

Sale $1999 MSRP 2549 $

Most Powerful Wash Motor

MDB4949SHW

Sale $1248

2#*3 +)>'31,)>

YOUR CHOICE

30 Slide-in Electric Range .%$& 6-29&4/-2 & Power Pre-heat

MFC2062FEZ or MFI2570FEZ

Top Load Laundry Pair +0' 4$0 )0 #8"!&% , (05 4$0 )0 3%7&%

YMES8800FZ

MVWC565FW/YMEDC465HW

Stainless Steel Tall Tub Dishwasher White, Black, or Stainless

Sale $749 MSRP $999

30 30 Slide-In Electric Range

Sale $1799

Sale $1699

KRFF300ESS

MSRP $2549

MSRP $2299

YKMLS311HSS

MSRP 2899 $

Sale $999 MSRP $1399

Sale $2399 MSRP 3548 $

Maytag Power Pair 30 Freestanding Electric Range 30 Over the Range Microwave

YMER8800FZ

Sale $1899

KitchenAid Power Pair 30 Slide-In Electric Range 30 Over the Range Microwave

YKSEG700ESS

Whirlpool Power Pair 30 Slide-In Electric Range 30 Over the Range Microwave

YOUR CHOICE

YMMV4206FZ

MSRP $2099

YKSEG700ESS

Sale $1399

YWML55011HS

YKFEG500ESS

5 Cycle Dishwasher with Hidden Controls

:4<5 1*<$< .)0)@ Freezer Refrigerator

KDTE234GPS or KDPE234GPS

30 Freestanding Smooth-top Electric Range

YWEE750H0HZ

A32

Sale $1699 MSRP $2848

Sales, Service, Parts, & Installation All Under One Roof. PARTS

REPAIR

INSTALLS

93 );3# &6#(" ?)# major name brands

93 );3# =>%!)@3 appliance repair

93 );3# =>"(6//6,)> services

1398 E 49th Ave, Vancouver

www.handyappliances.ca

604.879.1555

Some conditions apply. See in-store for details. Cannot be combined with other promotions. Some installs may incur additional charges. Product is subject to availability. Promotion details are subject to change without notice. Free delivery & install only apply to lower mainland and some areas of the Fraser Valley. Free delivery, installation & haul away does not apply to products under $800.00 or fridge water line collection. Does not apply to Amana products.