Vancouver Courier March 12 2014

To Helen back

27

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014 Vol. 105 No.21 • Established 1908

MIDWEEK EDITION

THE VOICE OF VANCOUVER NEIGHBOURHOODS

NEWS: Cedar vs. awesomeness 5/SENIORS: Grey Matters 15

dness

CHRYSLER • DODGE • JEEP • RAM

*$

SAV E $$$$$

3,000 to $4,000

w w w. m a r i n e c h r y s l e r. c o m

Meet Test-Drive-Kelly!

HEMI QUAD CAB 4X4

FINANCE BONUS *ask if you qualify

Demo a Vehicle Get a $500

$25,543

ONLY

Stk# BS6948

Rewards Saving Card!

GET A

TABLET

$40,165

MADNESS

4,000 OFF

$

ALL WRANGLERS

$34,540

UNLIMITED

Rear A/C No Milage

FULL STOW N GO

$20,685

ONLY

ULTIMATE FAM I LY VA N!

ONLY

$38,590

$23,965

Stk# BS6974

DVD, Backup Camera, Mid Pwr Windows Alloy Wheels, Rear Heat - A/C Full Stow N Go

MADNESS

Stk# BS6964

ONLY! CHRYSLER • DODGE • JEEP • RAM

450 SE MARINE DRIVE CALL: 866-385-3078

2

at c Lo

s n io 1620 MAIN STREET CALL: 866-385-3078

W2

THE VANCOUVER COURIER W E DN E SDAY, M A R C H 1 2 , 2 0 1 4

GET A

&

TABLET Lo o k fo r th is

Vehicle (illustrations) may not be exactly as shown. Financing OAC. All rebates and incentives have been applied to payments and pricing. Price and payments plus fees (495) and taxes. See Dealer for details.

4.29% Journey & Gr Caravan $27,924. Wrangler $29,102, Dart 4.99% $23,060. 96Mo ammort.

TAG ‘14 JOURNEY

Stk# 43e8357

57

$

weekly payment

$19,999

‘13 AVENGER

‘14 GRAND CARAVAN $57 weekly payment

Stk# 42e5982

‘14 WRANGLER

Stk# 67E0654

$19,999

‘13 CHRYSLER 200

59

$

weekly payment

$20,888

$16,999

DODGE JOURNEY DVD NO

‘13 FIAT 500 POP

$22,760

Stk# BS6980

‘14 CHEROKEE

MILAGE

$21,790

Stk# BS6978

$17,690

Stk# BS6946

NO

MILAGE

$32,760

‘13 FIAT ABARTH

‘12 GRAND CARAVAN

NEW

0%

Stk# 60E6973

$25,986

$12,999

$15,599

DART AUTOMATIC

Stk# BS6957

$23,888

‘14 GR. CHEROKEE

PRICED

Stk# BS6932

$

ONLY

46

MORE FOR YOU R TRADE

Stk# BA6975

weekly pay me nt

S ONLY 14,000 KM

Stk# F3D0386

$5,000-60OMOFFS

$22,999

$15,998

Don’t be shy! We’re having this SUPER SALE and invite you to come in and test drive ANY vehicle on the Lot. You’ll be rewarded!

LEASE 12 LE AVAILAB

We’d b e so rr y to h e a r yo u pa id to o m u c h !

dness

4 DAYS ONLY!

ONLY!

CHRYSLER • DODGE • JEEP • RAM

450 SE MARINE DRIVE CALL: 866-385-3078

D IESE L

$26, 885

2

Lo

i t ca

s n o 1620 MAIN STREET CALL: 866-385-3078

To Helen back

27

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014 Vol. 105 No.21 • Established 1908

MIDWEEK EDITION

THE VOICE OF VANCOUVER NEIGHBOURHOODS

NEWS: Cedar vs. awesomeness 5/SENIORS: Grey Matters 15

Province won’t pony up money for DTES plan

HOUSING MINISTER SAYS VANCOUVER ‘HAS DONE VERY WELL BY US’ MIKE HOWELL Staff writer

H

photo Rebecca Blissett

PERSONAL GROWTH: Sam Philips holds a gardening book her father gave to her when she was 16 years

old. Philips is one of three women behind Victory Gardens, which held a Saturday workshop on how to start an early garden. See related story on page 13. To view a photo gallery, scan this page with your smartphone or tablet using the Layar app.

ousing Minister Rich Colemansaystheprovincial government will not contribute money to the city’s $1 billion plan to revitalize the Downtown Eastside over the next 30 years.

And his counterpart in Ottawa, Social Development Minister Candice Bergen, is leaving Coleman’s government to make any spending decisions on federal money set aside for affordable housing in B.C. “We’re not going to be involved,” Coleman told the Courier. “It doesn’t meet any of our priorities or match up to anything we are doing.”

He said his government already committed $300 million to build 14 social housing buildings on city property, purchased more than 25 single-room-occupancy hotels to be renovated and supplies rent subsidies to Vancouver residents. The provincial government also regularly funds the city’s shelter program.

“This city has done very well by us,” he said.

Coleman’s comments come as city council prepares to review Wednesday the $1 billion renewal plan for the Downtown Eastside. The plan calls for $525 million from senior levels of government and

nonprofits and an additional $245 million in fees from developers.

The most controversial piece of the plan calls for a condo-free zone in the Downtown Eastside Oppenheimer District, which is essentially a large chunk of the neighbourhood around Oppenheimer Park and runs west along the East Hastings corridor from Heatley to almost Carrall streets.

Developers have told the city’s director of planning, Brian Jackson, that only allowing social housing and rental units in the district will prevent revitalization and limit development.

Coleman said he favours a more integrated housing mix in the district, saying concentrating social housing in one area “stigmatizes the population.” He believes providing rent subsidies to people who live throughout the city is a better way to go.

“We find that we get way bettersocialoutcomesbecause people are integrated into the community and they’re not stigmatized by being put in to a single sort of location that says that’s where all the people on social assistance or whatever live,” he said. “You have to have integration.”

See PLAN on page 7

A2

THE VANCOUVER COURIER W E DN E SDAY, M A R C H 1 2 , 2 0 1 4

BIGGEST SALE

OF THE SEASON SAVE 10% to 40% *

PLUS!

Pay No Tax on all Genuine La-Z-Boy Storewide!

*

Special Financing Available!*

www.la-z-boy.com/vancouver 路 Locally Owned & Operated Coquitlam Langley Richmond North Vancouver

1338 United Blvd.

20670 Langley Bypass #110 - 3100 St. Edwards Dr. (at Bridgeport Rd) 734 W. 14th St. (1 Block N. of Marine Dr. off Bewicke)

(604) 521-0100 (604) 533-0060 (604) 248-0330 (604) 985-9351

*See store for details. No Tax applies to La-Z-Boy furniture purchases only. We pay the equivalent of the sales tax on all La-Z-Boy furniture purchases. Tax will be charged on delivery and fabric protection. Hot Buys & Kincaid Furniture excluded. Although every precaution is taken, errors in price or specification may occur in print. We reserve the right to correct such errors. Offer ends March 16th, 2014.

news

W E DN E SDAY, M A R C H 1 2 , 2 0 1 4 THE VANCOUVER COURIER

A3

Coleman’s praise for nonprofit sours with financial probe MIKE HOWELL Staff writer

T

here was a time when Housing Minister Rich Coleman praised the PHS Community Services Society for the work it does in managing hardto-house people in the Downtown Eastside.

The praise was not given privately but very publicly at press conferences to announce the official opening of renovated social housing buildings such as the Pennsylvania and Rainier.

“Governments can bring the money and actually get the buildings built with some partnerships, but somebody has got to make these things work for the people who need it the most and one of our great partners in Vancouver is the Portland Hotel Society,” said Coleman at a press conference at Woodward’s in 2010.

But what now? Coleman’s relationship with the PHS appears to have soured after B.C. Housing raised concerns last fall about irregularities it says it found in the society’s spending practices.

Over the years, the government has given the society millions of dollars to operate several hotels and other services in the Downtown Eastside.

Within the next two weeks, Coleman is expected to announce what action, if any, the provincial government will take against the PHS, whose books are being scrutinized by accounting firm Deloitte. Vancouver

photo Dan Toulgoet

Housing Minister Rich Coleman with Liz Evans of the PHS Community Services Society during a tour of the new the Station Street housing project in December 2010. Rik Mountain (far right) was one of the tenants of the building at the time.

Coastal Health, which also funds the PHS, conducted a separate review.

“They do do some work with tough clients, but at the same time, there is a responsibility when you’re spending millions of dollars to have it properly used and properly managed and properly spent,” Coleman told the Courier by telephone Thursday. “If it isn’t, then I have a concern and I have to defend the taxpayers’ interest and that’s what I’ll do.”

Asked whether the PHS is headed for receivership, Coleman said it hasn’t been deter-

mined and that he was waiting for senior staff in his ministry to give him recommendations.

Mark Townsend, co-executive director of the PHS, told the Courier earlier this week he was surprised by a media report’s suggestion that his society could soon be in receivership.

Townsend described the PHS’s recent meetings with Deloitte and B.C. Housing as “going well” and there was no indication the society could be taken over by a courtappointed receiver.

Townsend sent a letter to Coleman to ask

for clarification but the minister declined to discuss the concerns of the PHS, which has acknowledged it could do a better job of managing its operations.

“I’m not going to get into a he said, who said what,” Coleman said. “My job is to let my guys come back with the recommendations and then we’ll determine which direction we’re going to go.”

Added Coleman: “They haven’t brought me all the options, yet. But basically it is, can we sort it out? Can we structure it in such a way that we have confidence? If we don’t have confidence we can restructure in such a way, then we have to act in a way to protect the taxpayers’ money.”

B.C. Housing CEO Shayne Ramsay announced in November 2013 that it discovered irregularities in spending practices of the PHS, which also helps operate the Insite supervised drug injection site in conjunction with Vancouver Coastal Health.

At the time, Ramsay said the PHS had to improve financial reporting, corporate governance, compliance with agreements and expense management. Ramsay did not release any more specifics about the review or reveal how many millions of dollars were in question.

Townsend responded at the time that “we dealwithadifficultgroupandfacedifficulttasks and we do it in an economic way this is cost effective, with a focus on getting things done.” mhowell@vancourier.com

W YL

.

IE S T

CAMBIE STREET BRIDGE

AV E W 2 ND

P

news VSB Chair Bacchus says no to NDP run A4

THE VANCOUVER COURIER W E DN E SDAY, M A R C H 1 2 , 2 0 1 4

pre-kindergarten program, a special education assistant in each kindergarten class, a full-time literacy specialist, counselling services, other support workers and out-ofschool programming.

The school board anticipates no changes to meal programs and staffing in 20142015, except possible increases at Fleming and Roberts and decreases at General Brock. Full implementation of the program is slated for September 2015.

Mount Pleasant could lose three staff positions and a hot lunch program, according to parent advisory council member Lewis Villegas.

CLASS NOTES

with Cheryl Rossi

S

he’s been rumoured as a potential provincial NDP leadership candidate, but Vancouver School Board chairperson Patti Bacchus said Tuesday morning she’s chosen not to run.

“After the Griffin [B.C. Supreme Court] decision came out and some of the revelations about what was really happening with the government, particularly in relation to education, I agreed to give it a second thought because I really believe things need to be done differently,” she said. “I have since decided not to run.”

Bacchus tried to persuade political strategist and communications professional Mira Oreck to enter the race. Oreck assisted Vision Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson’s 2008 campaign, aided U.S. President Barack Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign and brims with ideas on alternative approaches politics, according to Bacchus.

“She finally told me as of yesterday that she’s not going to,” Bacchus said.

“I do get disillusioned when I watch question period and I see politicians just taking shots at each other. We need a more collaborative values-driven approach where

photo Dan Toulgoet

Vision Vancouver School Board chair Patti Bacchus won’t be running for the leadership of the NDP in the next election. we consider what kind of province we want this to be over the long term, and what do we need to invest in and how do we resolve some of these issues of resources versus environment in a really thoughtful way.”

But a provincial seat has never been a goal.

Bacchus plans to seek another Vision Vancouver nomination for school board.

“It’s important to have people working on school board who are really devoted to education issues,” she said, “and I am.”

INNER CITY PRESSURE The Vancouver School Board decided March 10 it’s going to change the way it serves schools with the highest concentra-

tions of poverty.

The board will swap its inner city designation for 14 schools for a tiered system with the six neediest elementary schools, Macdonald, Strathcona, Grandview, Seymour, Britannia and Thunderbird, in tier one, Queen Alexandra elementary at Broadway and Clark and Tillicum annex combined with Hastings elementary in tier two and Nightingale, Selkirk, Cook, Henderson, Fleming and Lord Roberts in the third.

Fleming and Lord Roberts weren’t previously designated inner city schools. Mount Pleasant and General Brock elementary were.

The six neediest schools are to receive universal breakfast and lunch programs, a

GLADSTONE ADULT ED Gladstone secondary will house the Main Street (adult) Education Centre this September. The Vancouver School Board approved the relocation from a leased space on Terminal Avenue, March 10. The board was paying more than $600,000 a year in lease costs.

JOB ACTION VOTE B.C. teachers voted in support of potential job action last week. Any action would depend on progress at the bargaining table said B.C. Teachers’ Federation president Jim Iker. Initial job action would be administrative, wouldn’t include school closures, a withdrawal of teachers’ volunteer activities or report card writing.

Action could escalate to rotating strikes. crossi@vancourier.com

news

W E DN E SDAY, M A R C H 1 2 , 2 0 1 4 THE VANCOUVER COURIER

A5

Cedar Party doesn’t think Vision Vancouver Is Awesome MAYORAL CANDIDATE LAUNCHES SECOND LEGAL ACTION BOB MACKIN Contributing writer

T

he Cedar Party is at it again. The upstart political party wants to sweep the eight Vision Vancouver council members out of city hall for being cozy with a consultant hired to promote the Oakridge Centre redevelopment.

Leader Glen Chernen and nine others filed a March 7 petition in B.C. Supreme Court asking for a judge to disqualify Mayor Gregor Robertson and his caucus for failing to disclose a direct or indirect pecuniary conflict of interest.

On Feb. 14, Chernen filed a similar conflict of interest petition to disqualify Robertson over HootSuite Media’s non-tendered lease of a city-owned building after it helped Vision Vancouver’s successful 2011 re-election. Robertson filed a defence statement March 10.

“This is not a political ploy, I’m doing this to help clean up the city,” said Chernen, who plans to vie for the mayoralty in the Nov. 15 election.

“Running for political office is the last thing I want to do, it’s something I feel I have to do.”

The new court action revolves around Brook Pooni Associates president Gary Pooni and a lifestyle and entertainment website friendly to Vision Vancouver. The petition calls Pooni “a real estate lobbyist, consul-

Bob Kronbauer with Vision Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson — an exhibit in a lawsuit filed by Glen Chernen. tant and negotiator” working for Oakridge owner Ivanhoe Cambridge and developer Westbank Development.

“Pooni and other employees of Brook Pooni actively fund, promote, electioneer and provide assistance to Robertson, Vision, and Vision Councillors through two front companies, the Awesome Media Network Inc. and Vancouver Is Awesome,” said

the court documents.

Pooni and editor-in-chief Bob Kronbauer are registered directors of the Awesome Media Network Inc., the website’s parent company, and they share a 535 Thurlow St. office. Kronbauer was paid almost $30,000

by Rennie Marketing Systems to live at the in-receivership Olympic Village and blog about his experiences for a year.

Chernen alleges that Vancouver Is Awesome “acts as a conduit” between developers, Brook Pooni and Vision elected officials and “in turn, VIA provides benefits to Robertson, Vision and Vision councillors.”

VIA co-sponsored an Oct. 17, 2013 Vision Vancouver fundraiser and has frequently published flattering profiles about Robertson and other members of his caucus and party. Robertson penned the introduction to VIA’s 2013 annual print magazine, which featured a Vision Vancouver display ad and a photograph of the party’s executive director Stepan Vdovine modelling cycling gear.

Vision Vancouver’s 2011 campaign disclosures show a $1,425 donation from Brook and Associates Inc. and $5,000 from Brook Pooni Associates Inc. Chernen’s petition said Vision council members voted unanimously on Feb. 18 to refer the Oakridge rezoning to a public hearing, knowing that Pooni is working on the project and is the “operating mind” of VIA.

“There is a reasonable probability that Robertson and the Vision councillors were likely to be influenced or biased in casting their vote or the apprehension of bias in relation to the matter voted upon,” said Chernen’s petition.

Pooni and Kronbauer are not named as defendants. A letter to the Courier from their lawyer, Brent Loewen, said: “Neither Vancouver Is Awesome, Mr. Pooni nor Mr. Kronbauer are lobbyists.”

“Unfortunately, the petition and its supporting affidavits contain several malicious and untrue facts and it makes quasi-criminal allegations against Vancouver Is Awesome and its principals,” Loewen wrote.

“While Vancouver Is Awesome is not yet a party to the petition, it intends to address the allegations in court.”

Loewen wrote that VIA “will profile any individual or organization, including Mr. Chernen, if he/she/it brings ‘awesomeness’ to the city.”

The website profiled ex-NPA mayor Sam Sullivan (now a B.C. Liberal MLA) and unsuccessful 2008 NPA mayoral candidate Peter Ladner, but a keyword search on VIA found no profiles of the current council’s NPA members George Affleck and Elizabeth Ball or Adriane Carr of the Green Party. bob@bobmackin.ca twitter.com/bobmackin

Vancouver’s Newest Marina NOW OPEN Full Service Facility In-Water Moorage  Dry Stack Storage Marine Store  Repair Shop  Brokerage Full Service Restaurant

Looking for Convenient and Hassle-free Boating?

Consider our 200 berth Dry Stack Storage Facility  Free unlimited launches and re-stacking  Safe, secure and protected from the weather  Convenient leases for boats up to 28’

9191 Bentley Street, Richmond, BC (street access from Marine Drive, South Vancouver)

Tel: (604) 697-9191  info@MilltownMarina.com

MilltownMarina.com

Along Cambie St. from West 5th to West 25th.

news Oakridge hearing draws diverse crowd THE VANCOUVER COURIER W E DN E SDAY, M A R C H 1 2 , 2 0 1 4

EMOTIONS RUN HIGH AT REDEVELOPMENT MEETING KRISTEN MORAN Contributing writer

E

motions ran high Monday afternoon at city hall as the long-awaited public hearing for the Oakridge Centre rezoning and redevelopment ran from early afternoon late into the evening.

With a list of 111 people signed up by the 2 p.m. start time, council chambers was overflowing with speakers and spectators looking either to voice their concerns or show their support.

After being moved up to the first item on the agenda, city planner Dwayne Drobot presented a slideshow outlining the proposed redevelopment and tried to ease concern over questions such as increased congestion on the Canada Line.

According to Drobot, TransLink could increase capacity by adding more trains and running them more often.

The topic that held the most weight with city councillors was the development’s proposed rooftop park. Green Party Coun. Adriane Carr even asked for a legal definition of a park according to the Vancouver Charter.

After questions from council, the lengthy list of speakers took their turn at the podium, with many of the first speakers in favour of the massive redevelopment.

“I strongly feel these developments will revitalize the mall,” said Oakridge retailer Liza Goguen.

Developer Victor Setton of Porte Development Corp. said the rezoning was the most practical way to redevelop a neighbourhood.

But while the first half of the speakers lined up agreed the plan would benefit business, the first break in redevelopment support came from speaker number 40. Linda Leong, a resident of the Terraces residential complex attached to Oakridge, told a tale of the grim future heavy construction would bring to the area.

“A lot more can be done in order to engage us,” said Leong, who felt that residents have not been heard by the city and asked council to make a reasonable compromise.

The opposition to the redevelopment gained momentum when resident Bellie Wood took the podium and argued local residents would be affected by the noise and dust from the construction.

“Have you ever considered the health of the residents?” Wood asked. She challenged city staff and developers to swap homes with her during the 10 to 15 years of construction expected for the project.

After a dinner recess, the evening continued with a mix of speakers both in favour and opposed to the development, but the general theme was that residents wanted more consultation while business and industry professionals touted their support.

Hillcrest Community Centre association president Jesse Johl said that developers have no restrictions and that they were “trying to drop concrete jungles on communities.”

Rick Soo, the president of the Oakridge seniors centre, explained that their services were already being stretched to their limits and the redevelopment didn’t add any additional space.

Others in opposition said public amenity shortcomings had not been properly addressed by the plan, including daycare services, healthcare and parking availability.

The public hearing capped off at 10 p.m.

Monday evening and the remaining speakers were scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, after the Courier’s print deadline. kristenmoran86@hotmail.com

photo Dan Toulgoet

A group of concerned seniors watch the proceedings at March 10 city council meeting from the balcony.

CELEBRATION EIRE BORN IRISH DANCERS SATURDAY, MARCH 15th

12:00 – 12:30pm CENTRE COURT

Cor ner of East 30 Shops

Br oadway

& Ser vices

@ Kingsway

• www .kingsgatemall.com

DENTURES

Guaranteed Comfortable Fit!

Kerrisdale Denture Clinic

Our team of Denturists are BPS Denture certified to provide you with the latest technology available. Our clinic’s associates have experience ranging from new graduates to 30 years, so you will benefit from our knowledge and our fresh outlook.

We look forward to achieving the best possible results, while providing the highest professional standards.

Giao Le B.Sc., R.D.

Are your dentures...

BPS dentures are precision dentures that use high Over 5 years old? standard materials to restore form and function while Loose, cracked or stained? providing exceptional fit and a beautiful, natural smile.

Making your mouth sore?

Our BPS dentures also come with a 5 year warranty.

Keeping you from enjoying food?

If you’ve answered YES to any of these Please ask us about our Geneva 2000 dentures. questions... WE CAN HELP!!!

Payment Plans + All Insurance Coverage Call now for your Complimentary Consultation Now accepting new patients

604.263.7478

11077330

A6

Care home visits available

Emergency Number 778-868-6776 201-2152 West 41st Avenue, Vancouver www.kerrisdaledentureclinic.com

news

W E DN E SDAY, M A R C H 1 2 , 2 0 1 4 THE VANCOUVER COURIER

A7

Plan calls for 4,400 new housing units Continued from page 1 Last week, Coleman and Bergen agreed to extend both governments’ ongoing affordable housing fund, meaning another $300 million can be used for housing and rent subsidy programs in B.C. over the next five years.

The Courier contacted Bergen’s office to ask whether the federal minister thought some of the money should be used to fund the Downtown Eastside plan. Bergen responded in an email saying B.C. has the “flexibility to use the funding to design and deliver programs that meet local needs and priorities.”

When told of Coleman’s lack of commitment to the plan, Mayor Gregor Robertson said the provincial government “needs to pay attention to the people who live in the Downtown Eastside.”

Robertson noted the success the city has had previously with the provincial government, having received money for the 14 social housing sites, the renovation of single-roomoccupancy hotels and money for shelters.

“We need to continue making that progress,” the mayor told the Courier. “The community is making it clear that we need to go farther.”

A memo from city manager Penny Ballem to senior staff March 7 outlined the need for governments, developers and nonprofits to work together in order to achieve the plan’s outcomes.

“Based on the extensive work done, staff have confidence that the housing goals in the DTES community plan goals are achievable on the understanding that projects will require a sophisticated approach, in some cases additional form of financial support,

Skills, habits and attitudes for lifelong success! photo Dan Toulgoet

A memo from city manager Penny Ballem indicates the city is confident that the goals of the DTES plan are achievable.

and the involvement of multiple partners,” the memo said.

The plan calls for 4,400 new housing units in the Downtown Eastside and 1,650 rent subsidies. The city also wants another 3,350 social housing units to be built outside the Downtown Eastside.

Coleman estimated 4,400 units would cost $1.3 billion and operating costs of about $70 million per year. He said rental assistance for 10,000 families in B.C. costs about $50 million per year.

TheDowntownEastsidehas18,500residents, with up to 67 per cent considered low income, with a median household income of $13,691.

Unemployment is at 12 per cent and more than 6,300 people receive social assistance. mhowell@vancourier.com twitter.com/Howellings

Sylvan will develop a learning plan created for the way your child learns best. Our highly personalized approach builds the skills, habits and attitudes your child needs to succeed in school and in life.

• Develops independent work habits • Improves attitudes • Motivates learning • Provides feedback for parents and teachers

FREE ASSESSMENT

Calltoday todayfor foraaFREE FREESylvan SylvanAssessment Assessment(a (a$200 $99 value) Call value) Offer 30,2013.

2014 Offerexpires expiresApril Dec 31,

Arbutus Village

Cambie

205-4255 Arbutus

5790 Cambie

604-738-7325 604-321-9596 cambie@sylvanvancouver.ca Champlain Mall

arbutus@sylvanvancouver.ca

7116 Kerr Street 604-434-7323

champlain@sylvanvancouver.ca

STUDY SKILLS, WRITING, READING, MATH, AND MORE!

BANANA GROVE 2705 E. 22nd Ave. (at Slocan)

604.435.0646

Market & Deli

www.bananagrovemarket.com

MEATS

MANY MORE IN STORE SPECIALS Prices Valid March 12 - 16, 2014

DELI

* Schneider’s

*

*

*Some Exclusions Apply*

*

*

1

*

*

1

$ 49

*

MARCH 17TH

%*

OFF REG. PRICE

*Exclusive to Fabricland Sewing Club Members*

MEMBERSHIP CARD MUST BE PRESENTED TO RECEIVE DISCOUNTS First in Fabric Selection, Quality & Value

VANCOUVER 1678 S.E. Marine Dr. at Argyle (604)321-1848 Hours: Mon.-Wed. 10am-6pm Thurs.-Fri. 10am-9pm / Sat. 10am-6pm Sun. 11am-5pm / Holidays 12pm-5pm

*

DAY ONLY

FABRIC WITH ANY GREEN

Plus 6 more locations in the Lower Mainland to serve you!

Join us on the Internet! webs www.fabriclandwest.com

Schneider’s

1890 BROWNEDTURKEY MONTREAL SMOKED MEAT BREAST /100g

Casa Italia

*

FAMILY PACK

MILD LEAN CAPOCOLLO

99

¢

/10g

1

$ 19

/100g

Santa Lucia

SWISS CHEESE

1

$ 49 /100g

ENGLISH CUCUMBER

99

¢

each

B. C. Grown

D’ANJOU PEARS

79

¢

/lb

5

$ 99

FAMILY PACK

BONELES

Fresh

/lb

U.S. Grown

ASPARAGUS

$ 99 /lb

4

$ 49

/lb - $13.21/kg S

/lb - $9.90/kg

Fresh Extra Lean

4

$ 49

2 PER CK VACUUM PA

/lb - $9.90/kg

PRODUCT OF ITALY

2

$ 99

/lb - $6.59/kg

Fresh

VEGETABLE FED CHICKEN WINGS (IN BAG)

Fresh

PORK TENDERLOIN

U. S. Grown

99

Canada Gr “AA” or Higher Beef

LAMB SHOULDER PORK LOIN ROAST CHOPS Rib End Or Centre Cut

3

¢

S

CHUCK EYE OR CROSS RIB ROAST

TOP SIRLOIN STEAKS

ROMA TOMATOES

1

BONELES

$ 99

PRODUCE B. C. Grown Long

Canada Gr “AAA” or Higher Beef

/lb - $8.80/kg

2

$ 69

/lb - $5.93/kg

GROCERY

Rio

Divella

MARE TUNA IN OLIVE OIL

ASSORTED PASTA

99¢

2

$ 99

500g

Emma

PLUM TOMATOES (Product of Canada)

99¢

28 oz

ea 160g

THE VANCOUVER COURIER W E DN E SDAY, M A R C H 1 2 , 2 0 1 4

®

®

This Week Only!

SPEND $75, EARN

75 BONUS

SPEND $75 AND EARN

AIR MILES® reward miles*

*With coupon and a minimum $75 Safeway grocery purchase made in single transaction.

Valid in BC stores only.

70974 90058

2

75 BONUS AIR MILES reward miles ®

*

Coupon Valid From March 14 to March 20, 2014 Limit one Bonus Offer per transaction.

Purchase must be made in a single transaction.

Coupon must be presented at time of purchase. AIR MILES® coupons cannot be combined with any other discount offer or AIR MILES® coupon offer including Customer Appreciation Day & Senior’s Day. Not valid at Safeway Liquor Stores. Coupon excludes prescriptions, diabetes merchandise, insulin pumps, insulin pump supplies, blood pressure monitors, tobacco, transit passes, gift cards, enviro levies, bottle deposits and sales tax. Other exclusions apply. Please see Customer Service for complete list of exclusions. Cashiers: Scan the coupon only once to activate the Bonus Offer. Do not scan more than once.

7

A8

®

®TM Trademarks of AIR MILES International Trading B.V. Used under license by LoyaltyOne, Co. and Safeway.

Hot Buys prices effective March 14 - March 20, 2014

Big Size!

Size!

Jumbo

6

99

Edwards Coffee EXTREME LIMIT OF 4

Assorted varieties.

910 g to 930 g.

While supplies last!

ea.

Lucerne Butter Salted. 454 g.

While supplies last!!

5

$

EXTREME LIMIT OF 4

2 for

Delissio Pizza

3 for

10

$ or

4

$

EXTREME LIMIT OF 6

Rising Crust or Pizzeria. Assorted varieties.

519 to 888 g.

While supplies last!

4

79

Kellogg’s Jumbo Cereal EXTREME LIMIT OF 5

Select varieties.

700 g to 1.35 kg.

While supplies last!

ea.

DALYE

3

SA

.-SUN. FRI.-SAT FRIDAY

14

MARCH

SUNDAY

SATURDAY

15 16

MARCH

MARCH

$

Top Sirloin Steak

Boneless. Cut from 100% Canadian beef.

Sold in a package of 4 only for $12.00. LIMIT SIX.

3

eachk stea

LY!!

ONLY YS ON DAYS 3 DA 3

Lucerne Milk

Assorted varieties. 2 Litre. Plus deposit and/or enviro levy where applicable. HOUSEHOLD LIMIT FOUR - Combined varieties.

2f

99

2

Raspberries

Product of Mexico.

170 g.

HOUSEHOLD LIMIT FOUR.

NLY! 3 DAYS EO

ea.

ME EXTRE PRICE

!

YS ONLY 3 DAPR ICE

IC CLUB PR

CLUB

e Deli!

From th

Tide Laundry Detergent Assorted varieties.

19 to 24 Load.

99

4

NLY! 3 DAYSICEO CLUB PR

Fresh Whole Frying Chicken

$

9

ea.

NLY! 3 DAYS O

Coast to Coast Italian Style White Bread Or Whole Wheat.

675 g.

$

2for

4

NLY! 3 DAYSICEO

Deli Counter Black Forest Ham

Sliced or shaved fresh.

Available at the service counter only.

CLUB PR

Every Swipe Counts!

129 /100 g

NLY! 3 DAYSICEO CLUB PR

Webber Vitamins

Or Sunkist or Treehouse.

Select varieties and sizes.

LIMIT TWO FREE Combined varieties.

E BUY 1 G

T

1FREE EQUAL OR

LESSER

VALUE

NLY! 3 DAYSICEO CLUB PR

Collect 1 AIR MILES® reward mile for every $20* you spend cumulatively during the week (Sunday to Saturday). Every swipe of your Collector card with an eligible purchase adds up!

Plus, hundreds of Bonus reward miles each week in store! ®TM Trademarks of AIR MILES International Trading B.V. Used under license by LoyaltyOne, Co. and Safeway. *$20 spend on groceries. Some exclusions apply. See Customer Service for a complete list of exclusions.

Prices effective at all British Columbia Safeway stores Friday, March 14 through Thursday, March 20, 2014 only. We reserve the right to limit sales to retail quantities. Some items may not be available at all stores. All items while stocks last. Actual items may vary slightly from illustrations. Some illustrations are serving suggestions only. Advertised prices do not include GST. ®™ Trademarks of AIR MILES International Trading B.V. Used under license by LoyaltyOne, Co. and Safeway. Extreme Specials are prices that are so low they are limited to a one time purchase to Safeway Club Card Members within a household. Each household can purchase the limited items one time during the effective dates. A household is defined by all Safeway Club Cards that are linked by the same address and phone number. Each household can purchase the EXTREME SPECIALS during the specified advertisement dates. For purchases over the household limits, regular pricing applies to overlimit purchases. On BUY ONE GET ONE FREE items, both items must be purchased. Lowest priced item is then free. Online and in-store prices, discounts, and offers may differ.

MARCH 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 FRI

SAT

SUN

MON

TUE

WED

THU

Prices in this ad good through March 20th

A9

news

W E DN E SDAY, M A R C H 1 2 , 2 0 1 4 THE VANCOUVER COURIER

Business coalition wants province to trash recycling system changes ANDREW FLEMING Staff writer

A

n ad hoc alliance of industry groups from across B.C. wants the provincial government to toss out a controversial new recycling system they say will drive up the cost of everything from food and beverage packaging to magazines and newspapers by forcing new fees on businesses.

The various business associations — including representatives from the newspaper, recycling, agriculture, printing and waste management sector — have launched a public awareness campaign with ads in more than 130 newspapers as well as on social media. The hope is that B.C. residents will write Premier Christy Clark asking her to rethink the plan of handing over the province’s recycling systems to a consortium of multinational corporations.

“This is the largest public awareness campaign launched in B.C. in memory,” said Mike Klassen, B.C. director of provincial affairs for the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, at a news conference Monday. “The premier all along made it very clear in speeches, you know, ‘cut red tape, we need to get to yes on economic development as soon as possible.’ She wants to get B.C.’s economy kicked into gear, [but] this is the way to do just the opposite, by killing jobs and forcing businesses to close.”

Three years ago, the B.C. Liberal government changed environmental regulation laws to make manufacturers of packaging and printed paper (PPP) products responsible for the lifespan of their goods instead of municipal governments, starting in May 2014. It put control of the program, which is seeking to reuse at least 75 per cent of materials, in the hands of Ontariobased Multi Material B.C. (MMBC), a not-for-profit agency created in 2011 whose board of directors includes executives from large corporations such as Unilever, Wal-Mart and Coca Cola.

pation and in Manitoba the provincial government subsidizes their participation,” Langdon told the Courier. “I’m sympathetic for the newspapers but I’m not sure I have a solution for them because the solution they’ve proposed is that the other members of MMBC subsidize it. They basically said they want to join the program but not to have to pay any fees, but if they don’t pay any fees, the cost is shifted on to our others members to pay them, which we don’t think is an equitable solution.”

Vancouver is one of 67 municipalities that have agreed to contract in-house recycling services to MMBC and receive a portion of $60 million in financial incentives for signing up. The current curbside Blue Box collection service will be

expanded to allow for recycling paper containers such as milk cartons, Tetra Paks, paper cups, ice cream tubs, and paper/metal containers such as frozen juice cans.

Corinne Atwood, the executive director of the B.C. Bottle and Recycling Depot Association, said changes would hit independent recycling contractors in the pocket.

“These recyclers were in business long before it was trendy or sexy,” said Atwood. “The industry has been built on the backs of independent businesses and now the government, we feel, is using regulation to knock competition out.” afleming@vancourier.com twitter.com/flematic

rechargeable Hearing Aids

! e l b a l i a v a NOW $500 OFF your pair of rechargeable hearing aids!

• NO more battery changes* • DRY and RECHARGE your hearing aids overnight • charges in ONLY 6 hours**

“

This is the largest public awareness campaign launched in B.C. in recent memory.

— Mike Klassen

”

Critics argue the move will result in companies charging consumers more for goods to offset costs that were previously subsidized by the government. Producers that sign up with MMBC will pay a volume-based fee to cover the cost of collecting and recycling goods, which for newspapers works out to 20 cents per kilogram compared to less than two cents in Manitoba and half a penny in Ontario.

“Our concern here is that this particular regulation doesn’t address anything to do with the environment and is simply a tax shift,” said Canadian Newspaper Association chairman Peter Kvarnstrom, whose industry is already facing tough times. “Don’t think for a minute that the price of your Tim Hortons coffee or the products that you buy at Wal-Mart or for any of those packaged products, that those companies are going to suck it up. That money will be coming out of your pockets one way or another.”

B.C. is the only province in Canada to require producers to pay for the full cost of recycling, and Kvarnstrom estimates the cost for the newspaper industry alone could be as high as $14 million a year.

Kvarnstrom is president of B.C. Operations for Glacier Media Group, the parent company of the Vancouver Courier.

MMBC managing director Allen Langdon said his hands are tied.

“In Ontario, they have municipalities subsidize their partici-

CHARGE YOUR HEARING AIDS WHILE YOU SLEEP! College of Speech and Hearing Professionals of BC

BOOK YOUR FREE HEARING SCREENING! *uses roughly 1 pair of batteries per year. Indicator light tells when battery is charged and ready. Only certain models are rechargeable, please ask for details. $500 OFF per pair of new hearing aids purchased. +If you find a lower advertised price on an in-stock new identical item from an Authorized Canadian dealer, now or within 14 days of your purchase, just show us the price and we will match it.

Visit us in Vancouver

#103-777 West Broadway, Vancouver 604-428-4327 The Wiens Family

www.cvoh.ca

A10

THE VANCOUVER COURIER W E DN E SDAY, M A RC H 1 2 , 2 0 1 4

THE VANCOUVER COURIER

1574 West Sixth Ave., Vancouver, BC V6J 1R2 604-738-1411 Twitter: @vancouriernews vancourier.com

MLAs will treat Speaker gently

S

peaker Linda Reid survived a volley over her spending habits with ease last week and will likely make it comfortably through a meeting this one on the same topic.

It’s partly because she has answers to some of the questions raised, and partly because she’s the Speaker of the B.C. legislature.

Any politician who takes on a Speaker does so knowing the office holder can make their life hell in more ways than it’s possible to count.

Vancouver Sun colleague Rob Shaw celebrated the new spirit of openness on legislative spending since the auditor general eviscerated the management of the place by asking a number of impertinent questions about several of Reid’s projects.

The answers were splashed around last week and, in a time of austerity, they give some pause.

• She dropped $48,411 on a new console for a laptop by the chair from which she presides over the house.

• Another $13,448 went into a new MLAs lounge in the Legislature Library, including a $733 display case for some muffins.

• New drapes and reupholstering in her office cost $6,377, drapes in the dining room ate up another $13,965 and $6,278 was spent on a new media-scrum area.

• She also hired her campaign manager, Susan Wells, as an executive assistant, who has been travelling routinely to Victoria and racking up a still-undisclosed travel bill.

Any cabinet minister who racked up those costs at a time when ministry budgets for services are flatlining would be toasted by the Opposition.

But New Democrat house leader John Horgan’s equanimity in the face of the bills was striking.

“Linda needs to be given some slack here because she’s the first Speaker in 125 years to say: ‘This is what I’m doing.’”

His point was that Speakers for generations have had carte blanche to spend as they chose without having to publicly account for a nickel when it comes to itemized accounting. That came to a crashing end when former auditor general John Doyle took a look at the management of the legislature and condemned the bookkeeping.

Over the last two years, the casual, secretive operational structure has been blown up and replaced by open meetings and a new transparency.

Faced with condemning the Speaker’s spending or celebrating the fact that the spending is out in the open, Horgan chose the latter path.

And he defended most of the renovation list on its own merits.

The electronic console gives her the same Internet access that laptoptoting MLAs have. And it had to fit in with the heritage look, he said.

“It required more than a couple of sheets of plywood.”

The new lounge was created with wheelchairs in mind, since there are three disabled MLAs who could only reach the old lounge by an inconvenient elevator.

The idea that MLAs need a lounge is still a debatable proposition. But if you buy the idea one is needed, it had to be wheelchair-accessible. Horgan said he wasn’t aware of three flat screens, but noted there can be three committee rooms broadcasting at times.

The media-scrum area was moved to make way for the wheelchair ramp.

Horgan said the spending will rankle some, and it will be discussed at the next open meeting of the management committee. But he noted at one time “there was a steel door over the Speaker’s office and expenditures far greater than the ones now being exposed were never touched, because of the secrecy.”

“IgiveMs.Reidfullcreditforblowingthedoorsoffthatsecretivecommitteeand allowing you and the public to have an understanding of these expenditures.”

Government house leader Mike de Jong was circumspect on the topic, saying only that politicians need to be careful spending money, and the committee expects to hear a rationale for the projects.

“The signal we send as legislators is important.”

So is self-preservation, which is why this week’s questions will be gentle ones. Even the patronage appointment of a new employee on top of the various ones she already has isn’t likely to prompt anything too blunt. lleyne@timescolonist.com

LES LEYNE

ADVERTISING

604.738.1412 CLASSIFIED

604.630.3300 DELIVERY

604.942.3081 EDITORIAL NEWSROOM

604.738.1411 FLYER SALES

604.738.1412

Dee Dhaliwal

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.

letters

W E DN E SDAY, M A R C H 1 2 , 2 0 1 4 THE VANCOUVER COURIER

WE WANT YOUR OPINION

Hate it or love it? We want to know... really, we do!

Reach us by email: letters@vancourier.com

Recycling program threatens B.C. jobs

B

ritish Columbians have every right to be proud of our world-leading recycling program, built right here in this province. The achievement of the mighty Blue Box is the product of an efficient partnership between municipal governments, the private sector, and the people of British Columbia. It gets the job done and, at an average cost of $35 per household each year, it gets the job done at a good price.

So, if the system for recycling waste packaging is working so well, why is the province so keen to “fix it” and hand it over to the very multi-national corporations who shipped us all that packaging in the first place?

Sounds remarkable, but that is exactly what the provincial government is doing. On May 19th, the government’s new multi-material recycling regulation will formally end the days of local decision-making over our Blue Box programs and hand it to some of the largest producers of plastic and paper packaging the world has ever known. Critical decisions about the province’s recycling program will no longer be made by elected representatives who live in the communities those programs serve, but instead by a group made up almost entirely of Toronto-based executives of multinational companies who will decide who will pay how much for the privilege of collecting and processing your recyclables. What is going on here?

The consequence will be a dramatic increase in costs for British Columbia’s businesses, particularly the province’s newspapers. In fact, we estimate that the newspaper industry is threatened with a bill that could come to $14 million. That is a dramatic increase when you consider that newspapers aren’t required to pay product stewardship fees today, directly. Newspapers, like all businesses, pay for these services the same way all British Columbians do: through their property taxes.

That doesn’t mean newspapers haven’t been participating in recycling and the environment, far from it. In fact, newspapers are the original recycled product and publishers have taken steps, such as moving to vegetable-based inks, to minimize the environmental impact of our product. Diversion rates for newsprint are a remarkable 85 per cent, already well above the government’s own target. The government’s new recycling regulation wouldn’t do a thing to improve newspapers’ already impressive recycling record. What it will do, however, is dump a massive new cost onto the back of a fragile industry still challenged to stay standing. While our readership is stronger than ever, British Columbia’s newspapers are struggling financially. Having Victoria force a $14-million tax on newspapers in the current environment looks an awful lot like someone throwing an anchor to a drowning person.

Sadly, every single newspaper, from large regional dailies to the smallest community weekly, in every part of the province, will be impacted.

Indeed, there is no greater threat to the vibrancy of British Columbia’s newspaper industry today than the government’s new recycling policy.

But the new recycling regime will not only cause a wave of damage and job losses across newsrooms everywhere, it will also have an impact on many other businesses, as well as thousands of municipal jobs that that will be put at risk with the loss of local decision making for our recycling programs.

And, don’t believe for a minute that this will somehow help B.C. families. The reality is that these costs will be passed on to consumers, who will now pay for the cost of recycling every time they have a box of pizza delivered, pick up a carton of milk, or buy a roll of toilet paper.

The government still hasn’t said what was so wrong with the current Blue Box program that they could only fix it by hurting local businesses and costing hard-working people their jobs. Yet, in spite of having no clear rationale, the province seems intent on gambling away the success of the Blue Box with an experiment in something they like to call “extended producer responsibility.”

The ironic truth is that the government’s new hands-off approach actually represents an abdication of responsibility, not its extension. As a result, decisions about nearly every aspect of our recycling system will be handed over to a small group of big businesses based thousands of kilometres east of the Rockies. B.C.’s environment minister may think that’s just fine, but I suspect the people of British Columbia might have a different opinion.

••• Peter Kvarnstrom is chair of the Canadian Newspaper Association and president of B.C. Operations for Glacier Media Group, the parent company of the Vancouver Courier.

PETER KVARNSTROM

A11

A VIEW WITH A WASHROOM

To the editor: Re: “Potty talk a win for West End’s Nelson Park,” March 5.

While I’m sure Nelson Park needed a toilet, it is unfortunate where it has been located.

Now when you walk down heavily walked Bute Street, you have to look at a toilet as you pass the park. With a pond around the corner on Comox, they could have hooked it up to a sewer line there. That would have made it more accessible to users of the farmers market as well.

Now the residents that live across the street have a view of a beautiful park... and a toilet.

Bradley Homick, Vancouver

ALL IS QUIET ON THE WEST SIDE ROAD

To the editor: Re: “Green space paved for parking on Point Grey bike route,” March 5.

Three days ago, on a glorious pale-blue noon-hour, I was

photo Dan Toulgoet

A woman walks her dog past the new Nelson Park toilet facility. walking west on Point Grey Road. The North Shore was absolutely breathtaking with clouds against the mountains and some fog in the harbor.

This was my first time on Point Grey Road since the big traffic change. I counted: one mail van, five cars, five joggers, zero cyclists and two pedestrians.

I was on the street for half an hour. The place felt dead, lifeless.

I stopped the second walker.

“Do you walk this street often?”

“I do. I live there,” she pointed.

“What do you think of the changes?”

“It feels like The Morning After,” she said.

We both agreed the City took an idea too far. It was decidedly eerie.

“Maybe after they redo the sewers on Point Grey Road they can reconsider,” she said.

Check it out.

Daphne Harwood, Vancouver

ON YOUR MIND ONLINE COURIER STORY: “Angry residents prepare for Oakridge Centre fight,” March 5.

Craig: It’s great to see people taking an interest and getting involved in the city planning process regardless of what side of the fence they are on. It is very important though that assumptions aren’t made and that we come to decisions based on facts and not emotions. I am referring to one comment in particular from this article.

ACMEsalesrep: “The participants agreed that the proposed rooftop green space shouldn’t be considered a park, as it’s surrounded by tall towers. [Tracey] Moir also said the plan didn’t include the additional public amenities, especially schools, needed to support a local population increase.” 1: I do not see what being “surrounded” by towers has to do with a space being a park. If that were the case, there would be no parks downtown — and there most certainly are. 2: I do not believe developers are allowed to provide schools, in particular, under provincial law.

COURIER STORY: “Bike lanes on Commercial Drive spark debate,” March 5.

Anguelle: It would be good to know which businesses are in favour of bike-friendly and pedestrianfriendly initiatives, so that they can be supported by those concerned.

Richard Johns: Makes sense to have safe and convenient bicycle access to businesses in an area where so many people cycle.

D. Zaster: I’m curious to know if at any time in the planning or lobbying phase for bike lanes, there is any discussion of enforcing the existing laws that require helmets, lights and reflectors for cyclists, and adherence to the rules of the road. I very much doubt it. As far as cycling advocates and City Hall are concerned, cycling safety is a matter of building bike lanes and displacing cars. Better enforcement of laws and educating cyclists about their responsibilities on the road seem not to be part of the equation at all.

COURIER COLUMN: “Vancouver’s future depends on balanced planning,” March 5.

Linda D: Ken McFarlane’s article fits well into the burgeoning thinking permeating discussions among formal and informal groups. Unfortunately, the informal groups see clearly the direction municipal and provincial governments need to put effort towards. One could argue that the informal groups have little to no financial investment in the process. However, that is the issue. We are living in a world of “for profit” and that has led our leaders to be swayed by the dollars given for continued move in this direction. But there is a time it may be nearer than we realize where the issues raised in this article must be addressed.

We live in a community and as such have to recognize there must be a balance in order to meet the human and environmental needs of the majority and not padding the pocketbook of the few rich.

Follow us on Facebook: The VancouverCourierNewspaper and Twitter: @VanCourierNews

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Letters may be edited by the Courier for reasons of legality, taste, brevity and clarity. To be considered for publication, they must be less than 300 words, signed and include the writer’s full name (no

initials), home address, and telephone number (neither of which will be published), so authorship may be verified.

Send to: 1574 West Sixth Ave., Vancouver BC V6J 1R2 or email letters@vancourier.com

A12

THE VANCOUVER COURIER W E D N E SDAY, M A R C H 1 2 , 2 0 1 4

W E D N E SDAY, M A R C H 1 2 , 2 0 1 4 THE VANCOUVER COURIER

2013 FORD FIESTA SE SEDAN

2013 FORD C-MAX HYBRID SE

MOONROOF

2013 FORD FUSION TITANIUM AWD NAVIGATION, LEATHER, MOONROOF

Stk# 133827A

15,500

$

2013 FORD FOCUS TITANIUM SEDAN

Stk# 1309316X

Stk# 1302141X

23,900

$

LEATHER, MOONROOF

27,900

$

2013 FORD MUSTANG GT CONVERTIBLE

2006 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA SLE

Stk# 2699274

$

9,900

2007 FORD ESCAPE XLT

19,800

$

STK# 2719189

$

30,800

2013 FORD EDGE LIMITED AWD

SYNC, HEATED SEATS

NAVIGATION, LEATHER, MOONROOF Stk# 1319391

28,800

$

2008 JEEP WRANGLER SPORT 4X4

$

2010 VOLKSWAGEN CC LUXURY SEDAN

LEATHER, MOONROOF

11,900

19,800

$

2013 FORD EDGE SEL AWD

TECHNOLOGY PACKAGE STK# 1092210

STK# 2899215

Stk# 2696603

NAVIGATION, LEATHER, MOONROOF

13,900

$

2011 GMC TERRAIN SLE-1T

25,800

$

Stk# 1093552A

2009 HONDA ODYSSEY EX-LT

BACKUP CAMERA STK# 1179273

2011 CHEVROLET EQUINOX LS AWD

LEATHER, MOONROOF STK# 2999253

BACKUP SENSORS

2013 FORD ESCAPE SE

$

21,900

29,600

$

$

2004 FORD F150 XLT 4X4 SUPERCAB

SYNC, BACKUP SENSORS

MOONROOF

23,488

$

Stk# 1312218

27,500

11,900

SHOP 24/7 @ KEYWESTFORD.COM Appointments & Directions

CALL TOLL-FREE

1.888.491.4651 301 Stewardson Way, New Westminster

Any vehicles pictured may not be exactly as show. Vehicle prices do not include dealer doc fee of $499 + tax. Ad expires March 24th, 2014

13,900

$

$

2012 GMC SIERRA 1500 SLE

$

Stk# 1319450

STK# 2412101

31,800

2013 FORD EXPLORER XLT 4WD

$

35,888

WE ALSO DO: Window Tint Decals Detail Wraps

19,600

STK# 1134442

Stk# 1279304

$

19,800

Kirk McLean’s Preferred Car Dealer

19,800

$

2513071

2007 CHEVROLET PT CRUISER

2763636

2006 CHEVROLET COBALT LS SEDAN

2639601

2003 FORD MUSTANG CONVERTIBLE PONY PKG

2303562

2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE

2484674

2004 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX SEDAN GT2

2449250

2008 PONTIAC MONTANA SV6 7 PASSENGER

2841693

2009 HYUNDAI ACCENT

2999704

2005 CHRYSLER PACIFICA TOURING LEATHER

2564469

2008 SATURN ASTRA XR HB LEATHER

2892065

2005 MAZDA 6 GRAND TOURING WGN LEATHER, MOONROOF 2594611 2006 CHEVROLET UPLANDER LT EXTENDED LEATHER

2632106

2009 TOYOTA YARIS LE HB

2999944

2009 DODGE CALIBER SXT MOONROOF

2959295

2009 CHEVROLET UPLANDER LS 7 PASSENGER

2939356

2002 GMC ENVOY SLT XL LEATHER, MOONROOF

2272079

2009 FORD F150 XL

2919166

2008 FORD FUSION SEL MOONROOF

2809820

2009 PONTIAC MONTANA SV6 7 PASSENGER

292910XX

2005 FORD F150 XLT 4X4 CREW CAB

2516639

2009 CHEVROLET UPLANDER LT DVD ENTERTAINMENT

2939085

2013 CHEVROLET SPARK LS HB

1339206

2008 FORD TAURUS LIMITED AWD

2803622

2009 FORD FOCUS SES COUPE LEATHER, MOONROOF

2909459X

2008 FORD RANGER SPORT

2819331

2005 GMC ENVOY XL SLT 4WD

2574464

2006 INFINITI G35 X SEDAN LEATHER, MOONROOF

2696600

2011 KIA FORTE EX SEDAN HEATED SEATS

1122194

2011 FORD RANGER XL

1112081

2011 FORD FOCUS SEL SEDAN LEATHER, MOONROOF

113013X

2009 FORD MUSTANG V6 COUPE PONY PKG

2909952

2008 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE LEATHER

2892153

$

2011 INFINITI FX35 AWD

2013 LINCOLN MKX AWD

LEATHER, MOONROOF STK# 1192130

$5,800 $5,988 $6,800 $6,888 $7,800 $8,600 $8,800 $8,888 $8,988 $9,500 $9,800 $8,900 $9,552 $10,600 $10,600 $10,800 $11,500 $10,900 $11,500 $11,600 $11,600 $11,800 $12,500 $11,800 $11,500 $12,800 $14,500 $13,800 $13,900 $13,500 $14,900 $14,500

NAVIGATION, LEATHER, MOONROOF STK# 1312126

34,800

39,900

$

2011 GMC CANYON SLE1T STK# 1174498

$

2009 DODGE DAKOTA SLT LARAMIE QUADCAB LEATHER STK# 2952169

13,900

19,900

$

$

2011 FORD F150 XLT 4X4 CREW CAB XTR PACKAGE

Stk# 1116400

BUY WITH CONFIDENCE

• • • •

19,888

$

UNDER $15000 2005 FORD FREESTAR SE SPORT LEATHER, MOONROOF

2007 FORD RANGER SPORT SUPERCAB

Stk# 1312222A

12,800

2010 ACURA ZDX AWD

STK# 2712228

DL#7485

2006 AUDI A3 4DR WAGON 2.0T

$

STK# 2899321

12,500

Stk# 1309119

2013 FORD FUSION SE

Stk# 1314490

Stk# 1193626

2008 MAZDA TRIBUTE SPORT

$

NAVIGATION, LEATHER, MOONROOF

Stk# 1309409

2011 MAZDA MAZDA2 TOURING HB

LEATHER, 19” RIMS

2013 FORD FLEX LIMITED AWD Stk# 1309205

30 DAY/2000KM EXCHANGE* • NO CHARGE 6 MONTH WARRANTY** LEATHER, MOONROOF

BACKUP SENSORS

A21

30 DAY/2000 KM EXCHANGE NO CHARGE 6 MONTH WARRANTY 129 PT INSPECTION REPORT CARPROOF

Any vehicles pictured may not be exactly as show. Vehicle prices do not include dealer doc fee of $499 + tax. Ad expires March 24th, 2014 *one time vehicle exchange only **Powertrain warranty only

27,800

$

W E DN E SDAY, M A R C H 1 2 , 2 0 1 4 THE VANCOUVER COURIER

CITY LIVING

A13

GOT AN EVENT WE CAN SHOOT? LET US KNOW! 604-738-1411 | events@vancourier.com

photo Rebecca Blissett

LED UP THE GARDEN PATH: Those interested in learning how to start an early garden braved Saturday’s torrential rain to watch Victory Gardens’ Sam Philips construct a sample row cover during the workshop held at Chalk in Strathcona. Scan this page using the Layar app or visit vancourier.com to see more photos.

Art school grad gardens for Victory

LOVE OF GARDENING IMPLANTED BY HER PARENTS

I

f you ever had to care for an egg in school as a lesson in parental responsibility, you might have found you’d have learned more looking after tomatoes.

The seedlings start indoors right around now. When the plants reach toddler stage, between eight to 12 inches tall, or when the nighttime temperature doesn’t drop lower than 16 Celsius, they can go outside, but only for an hour a day for the first week.

For the next two weeks, they can be carted outside for half a day before being moved into a greenhouse or under a cold frame for another handful of weeks, like a teenager moving into the basement.

After that time, called hardening off in gardening language, they’re allowed to grow on their own and have the keys to dad’s car.

“Tomatoes are the real babies of the vegetable world,” said gardener Sam Philips of Victory Gardens. “They need a lot of care and love.”

Victory Gardens is three women who love urban gardening and want to show people that starting and maintaining a vegetable garden is not a complicated chore, tomatoes notwithstanding. Philips, along with Lisa Giroday and Sandra Lopuch, had the idea of starting the company that also works on transforming underused city spaces into gardens while working in Giroday’s East Vancouver garden collective three years ago.

“I feel that gardening is a lost skill. I mean, it’s hard to pinpoint why people don’t inherently know how to do it but I think it’s a generational thing. I think the convenience of food in the last few decades has something to do with it,” said Philips. “It makes me sad.”

Victory Gardens held its first workshop of

the season at Chalk this past Saturday which, coincidentally given the company name, also happened to be International Women’s Day. Philips’ mother had told her that there was a campaign during the world wars for women to grow their own food in their front yards to show their sense of community and patriotism, so the company name was planted.

“While it was a different time and for different reasons, we still saw a lot of similarities to growing your food back then and growing your food today in the sense of community and empowerment,” said Philips. “It was definitely a large women’s movement back in the day. The women that stayed at home were the ones that had to garden.”

It was Philips’ father, however, who introduced his daughter to vegetable gardening.

As a young girl, she often helped her dad in his garden plot at their Langley home, watching him grow his seeds indoors and keep to a planting schedule. Even when she hit her teens, she was still drawn to spending time with her father in the garden, and at the hint of a surly mood from her, she remembers him threatening to send her off to work on a broccoli farm. But she remained in the garden with her dad.

When she turned 16, he gave her Steve Solomon’s gardening bible Growing Vegetables West of the Cascades. After fruitless attempts to get her to read Tolkien’s The Hobbit, it seems he hit pay dirt with garden lit. Yet, still, it wasn’t until after graduating from Emily Carr University of Art and Design and running her own art gallery collective (Lopuch is also an Emily Carr graduate while Giroday ran the L.E.S. art gallery) that gardening overtook her life.

“When I went off to art school I found myself always wanting to garden and when I fin-

ished school it became an obsession,” Philips said. Aside from the love of growing a garden there is also the savings for those whose dinner plates are filled with vegetables.

Succession planting, which is following one crop with another, is a necessary part of a well-run garden, said Philips, who estimates her own garden saves her about $2,000 a year on grocery bills.

“Once you have your infrastructure and a little know-how, for years to come it will

save you money. I don’t buy produce for a large portion of the year,” she said. “I figure that if I went to the farmers market to buy produce, I would probably spend 50 dollars a week… When people tell me, ‘I don’t have time to garden,’ I ask them, how many hours do you spend at the grocery store’?”

Check out Victory Gardens website victorygardensvancouver.ca for more information on upcoming gardening workshops. rblissett@telus.net

N O T E G THE

COVER

OF YOUR REGIONAL ANGL

CONTEST

INFO

ER’S ATLAS

ENTER OUR

PHOTO

2014

REBECCA BLISSETT Contributing writer

CONTEST

Send us your amazing fishing photos with the story behind the shot, and you could be featured in your regions Angler’s Atlas fishing guide, and a chance to win

GREAT PRIZES!

For full contest details visit our website

www.anglersatlas.com Brought to you by

Title Sponsor

Nine photos will be selected for the covers of our BC fishing magazines.

Each region of the province is covered.

The contest is open to everyone, and contestants can enter as often as they like.

CONTEST

CLOSES

MARCH 31, 2014

CATEGORIES Action shots Fish photos Kids and fishing Scenery General

A14

THE VANCOUVER COURIER W E DN E SDAY, M A R C H 1 2 , 2 0 1 4

WEST END COLOURS page 15

SENIORS CALENDAR page 20

photo Dan Toulgoet

W E DN E SDAY, M A R C H 1 2 , 2 0 1 4 THE VANCOUVER COURIER

A15

SENIOR PROFILE: West End activist Sharyle Lyndon [The cover photo shows Lyndon posing with her guardian angel, and roommate, “Hugo,” which represents the many friend she’s lost.]

What kind of volunteer work do you do?

A lot — and it’s not limited to the gay and lesbian communities. I volunteer for A Loving Spoonful and McLaren Housing because I want to give back, but I’m also involved with organizations from around the world. It’s not just about gays and lesbians, it’s about human rights.

What are some of the biggest issues facing residents of the West End? A lot of people moved here over the years because it’s close to St. Paul’s Hospital and because it’s easy to get around without a car, but the cost of rent is getting so high it’s made it very difficult for some people to stay.This is their home, but they can’t afford it anymore.

Is the West End still considered a safe neighbourhood for members of the LGBT communities?

Yes and no. There are so many events and the people who come from the suburbs treat our hood like a garbage can. That’s when it’s not safe. They don’t seem to understand or respect the diversity of this community. It’s especially hard for seniors who aren’t as outspoken, but it’s going to be up to the younger generation to fight our fight for us.

Any suggestions to make the city more LGBT friendly?

Change seems to happen through dialogue, not violence. I don’t want to lose our Pride flags, but there also needs to be more education about the past. Educational forums are a good way to go.

(This interview was edited and condensed following the Courier interview.)

Sandra Thomas

sthomas@vancourier.com

Twitter.com/sthomas10

Longtime West End senior and community activist Sharyle Lyndon plans to attend a forum at the Fountainhead Pub on Davie Street Wednesday night dubbed Gay and Grey.

The event is part of a series by CBC Radio One’s On The Coast exploring issues facing an entire generation of the LGBT communities facing old age. The Courier chatted with Lyndon about some of the issues she faces as an older adult living in the West End. Lyndon turned 64 on Tuesday, the day of the Courier interview.

How long have you lived in the West End? I’ve been back in Vancouver [from Hawaii] for 19 years and have lived in the West End for 15.

Do you see much loneliness amongst the older LGBT communities?

Loneliness is a huge issue. I go out and I’m a talkative person, but at the bus stop it took a while for all the little old ladies to warm up to me because of the way that I dress. [Lyndon’s trademark wardrobe includes a lot of leather clothing and studded accessories.] Some have come right out and said, “I was afraid of you, but you’re so nice.” So now I usually miss a bus or two so I can stay and talk to them.

A lot more people my age grew up at a time when it wasn’t an easy time to come out, so they’re not out to everyone. Also, for most of my adult life I’ve watched my friends die [from HIV or AIDS], but now they’re dying from other illnesses or old age. There are a lot of people out there who are losing friends.

Sharyle Lyndon chats with friend, Dave Boyack on the street. PHOTO DAN TOULGOET

Peter MacDonald

View my video with

INSURANCE AGENCIES LTD. Your South Vancouver Insurance Centre Celebrating Over 35 Years in Business • • •

Mature Discount for Over 50 Home • Business • Travel • Medical A family owned business putting you first

25yrs 26yrs exp “You’ll love your BPS Dentures that feature the latest tech-nology available today — a product of highest quality, superior fit and a most natural appearance.”

NOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS

“Being of service to denture wearers over the last 26 years, I have learned to bring care and compassion to my work in order to make a difference in the quality of their lives.”

Friedrich H.G. Brumm, B.A., Denturist

NO REFERRAL NEEDED.

All our Dentures and Services are TAX FREE!

• • •

5606 Victoria Dr. at 40th Avenue

GLORY EWEN Notary Public

www.mydentures.ca

v a n c o u r i e r. c o m

get caught in our web…

IS NOW LOCATED IN

The Peter MacDonald Insurance Building

5606 Victoria Drive at 40th

604-327-3399

A16

THE VANCOUVER COURIER W E DN E SDAY, M A R C H 1 2 , 2 0 1 4

Cedar Springs PARC Great value on the North Shore The kind of independent retirement living you’ve dreamed of is well within your reach. At Cedar Springs PARC, our 1-bedroom and dens start at just $3,600 a month.

2-bedrooms start at $3,995. That includes all your utilities, nutritious chef-prepared meals, personalized transportation, wellness and social programs, plus a whole community right outside your door.

Live at one of the most enviable locales on the North Shore.

Simply make your deposit by May 31st to secure your rate.

1 BDR & DEN FROM $3,600 PER MONTH

Book your free personalized tour.

Call 604.986.3633

FITTING IN: Maureen Thomson (in stripes) takes part in a, Gentle Fit class offered four times a week at the Kerrisdale Senior’s Centre. PHOTO DAN TOULGOET

TIME LIMITED OFFER!

Acting as an Executor is a BIG job! parcliving.ca/cedarsprings 3633 Mt. Seymour Parkway, North Vancouver, BC *Offer available on select suites when a deposit is provided before May 31, 2014. Move-in must occur by July 1, 2014.

Administering an estate sometimes causes tension among family members

We can help.

KUDOS & KVETCHES DAILY: the blog

Because you shouldn’t have to wait twice a week to be

offended

vancourier.com

Bell Alliance Lawyers & Notaries Public Suite 201 - 1367 West Broadway Vancouver, B.C. V6H 4A7 E info@bellalliance.ca T 604-873-8723

www.bellalliance.ca

W E DN E SDAY, M A R C H 1 2 , 2 0 1 4 THE VANCOUVER COURIER

A17

Residential care is a caring decision Consider the needs of your loved one and your own best interests Tom Carney tomcarney@telus.net

My inspiration for this column comes from, of all places, Annie’s Mailbox, the advice column in the Honolulu Star Advertiser newspaper. Our subject — a caregiver at the end of his rope with Grandma — will resonate with many of my readers.

Here’s the scenario. Frustrated Charles is a live-in caretaker for his grandmother who is in failing health. Grandma is more naughty than nice and her five adult children want nothing more to do with her.

Grandma is not very nice to Charles either and she has brought him to tears on many occasions. Charles has threatened to move out numerous times but worries that if he does, Grandma’s children would put her in an assisted living facility and sell the house out from under her. Charles is desperate and wants to know what he should do.

He could suffer on in silence but that’s really not a viable option.

Researchers have discovered that caregivers have a higher mortality rate than non-caregivers.

Does Grandma have money to pay a caregiver? Would her children be willing to help foot the bill? Charles could also check out seniors housing, including assisted living options.

The columnists tell Charles that he

PUZZLING PREDICAMENT: Putting a loved one in a care facility is a lot easier said than done. STOCK PHOTO

deserves a life. If the adult children won’t get more involved and Grandma chooses not to hire someone to live in the home, Charles should explore assisted living options for Grandma.

Charles can visit often and while

FOUNDER CLUB OFFER! SAVE UP TO $10,000!

In 1st Year Residency Fees

Grandma will complain about the change, she will get used to it and may even come to like it.

That advice is helpful but putting a loved one in a care facility is a lot easier said than done.

My take? Grandma needs to make some friends. If you alienate everyone around you, you’ll wind up alone and that will greatly reduce your chance of being able to live independently. The lesson for Charles here is that we need to take care of ourselves before we can take care of others.

Charles could join a caregiver’s support group and a few sessions with a mental health professional would also help.

I’ve spoken to numerous people over the years who promised they would never put a family member or a loved one in care and then found that changing circumstances forced them to do just that.

Years later many of them continue to be haunted by that decision.

Life happens. Many families end up putting relatives in care because it is the best place for them to be. What you were saying to your family member when you made that promise was that you would never abandon them.

Your commitment to them now should be that you will always be there for them and only do what you believe to be in their best interest.

That’s a promise you can keep.

••• Tom Carney is the former executive director of the Lionsview Seniors’ Planning Society.

Ideas for future columns are welcome.

Live Your Own Legacy Experience gracious living spaces, exceptional dining, lasting friendships and assisted living options, all in the heart of Vancouver’s Oakridge neighbourhood.

*Founder Club Special Offer Valid until April 30th!

Visit Our Presentation Centre 2827 Arbutus Street, Vancouver

PRESENTATION CENTRE

Hours: Mon–Sat: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm

41ST AVE

CAMBIE

OAK

GRANVILLE

ARBUTUS

12TH AVE

Sunday: 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm

OPENING JULY 2014 For your convenience, we offer complimentary transportation upon request.

604.240.8550

www.legacyseniorliving.com

The Leo Wertman Residence Legacy Senior Living | Opening July 2014 | 611 West 41st Avenue, Vancouver BC, V5Z 2M8

THE VANCOUVER COURIER W E DN E SDAY, M A R C H 1 2 , 2 0 1 4

Discover Plenty of Room for Living at Amica at Arbutus Manor Bright scenic views, spacious surroundings and on-site services that are just steps from your private suite are just a few of the many pleasures of living at our all-inclusive rental retirement community. We offer suite sizes and floor plans to suit a variety of tastes. Just add your personal possessions and special touch. Then invite friends in to enjoy your fabulous new and active independent lifestyle. This is retirement living where everything we do is all about you. So why not turn that empty nest into a fuller life, at Amica at Arbutus Manor.

5-Star Retirement Living ~ more affordable than you’d think Open House Wednesday, March 12th to Tuesday, March 18th, 2014 - 10:00 am to 4:00 pm daily Devote a few hours exploring how you can retire in style at Amica at Arbutus Manor. Ask about our popular 1-bedroom suites when you tour and stay for lunch compliments of our Chef de Cuisine, Robert.

14-0176

A18

Amica at Arbutus Manor A Wellness & Vitality™ Residence 2125 Eddington Drive Vancouver, BC V6L 3A9 604.736.8936 • www.amica.ca

W E DN E SDAY, M A R C H 1 2 , 2 0 1 4 THE VANCOUVER COURIER

A19

DENTURISTS ARE DENTURE SPECIALISTS Need Dentures? Denture Problems? We can help you!

Top 10 activities for seniors this spring

Certified BPS Denture Centre OPEN MON-FRI 10-5 SAT: By appointment ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS EMERGENCY REPAIRS AVAILABLE

Free Consultation

CALL TODAY! (604)255-9433

Hastings Denture Clinic

2609 E. Hastings St. Vancouver (at Penticton St.)

“Quality work you can count on”

Ken Wong, Denturist

Dr. Y. Vincent Yoshida Family Dentistry

Kristen Moran

kristenmoran86@hotmail.com

twitter.com/EastVanKristen

Accepting New Patients

This season is filled with senior-friendly events and activities at community centres all around Vancouver. Here is a list of the top activities and events happening in the city, which offer everything from dancing to day-long adventures.

~ Highly trained dental hygienists to clean teeth and prevent gingivitis.

Zumba Gold for older adults

~ Have your old Mercury-Silver fillings replaced with white composite.

Offered at various locations, this group fitness class combines a mix of dance from salsa to belly dancing and caters to adults 45 and older. Drop-in prices vary by location.

Creekside Community Centre: March 10 to April 28, Mondays 9:45 - 10:45 a.m. Mount Pleasant Community Centre: March 10 to April 28, Mondays 12-1 p.m. Coal Harbour Community Centre: March 3 to 31, Mondays 5:45-7 p.m. Britannia Community Centre: March 3 -31, Mondays 6-7:15 p.m. False Creek Community Centre: March 19 to April 30, Wednesdays 2-3 p.m.

More information and full schedule at: zumbavancouver.ca.

Ballroom Social Dance

Get a chance to mingle and dance with other active seniors in your area. This drop-in social happens every Thursday at the Renfrew Park Community Centre from 11:15-12:45 p.m. for people ages 55 and up.

Dragon Boat for Seniors

Sponsored by the False Creek Racing Canoe Club, this program is a chance to get active and compete as a team. False Creek Community Centre: March 26-May 28, Wednesdays 10 - 11:30 a.m., $79 for 10 sessions.

Karaoke Opera

Hastings Community Centre is offering a chance to sing your favourite opera songs and learn the words to new ones with other opera enthusiasts age 55 and older. Dropin $5 every Friday from 12-3:30 p.m.

50+ Social

Enjoy light refreshments, meet new people in your neighbourhood and listen to educational presentations that relate to senior’s issues at Marpole Oakridge Community Centre April 2 to June 26,Wednesdays from 10-12 p.m.

Line Dancing

Community centres are offering locals age 55 and over the chance to dance, promote a healthy lifestyle and have some fun.

Renfrew Park Community Centre: April 26 to June 21, Saturdays 9:30-11:30 p.m. Fitness Line Dance April 10 to June 19, Thursdays 1-3 p.m. Mount Pleasant Community Centre: March 5 to April 30, Wednesdays 2:30-4:30 p.m., $3.50 for drop-in beginner class for ages 55 and up.

Are you overdue for a dental check-up? ~ Wisdom teeth extractions with oral conscious sedation.

Kerrisdale Senior’s Centre, a group of seniors share a laugh and a coffee at the centre. In photo Pat Johnson (glasses) and Mavis Blair (shorter hair). PHOTO DAN TOULGOET

Exploring the Arts

Come see us for a free consultation 207-1750 East 10th Avenue, Vancouver Phone: 604-874-1221 or www.dryoshida.com

Meet at the Lion’s Den Adult Day Centre every Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. on Adanac and Commercial and take part in weekly trips to various art venues around the city.

SVSACS Afternoon Movies

The Southeast Vancouver Seniors’ Arts and Cultural Society shows a movie on the first Wednesday of every month at Champlain Heights Community Centre. Come for the Talk and Tea at 12:45 p.m. or sign up early and join the luncheon at noon, which accommodates the first 30 people to sign up. Movie starts at 1:15 p.m.

Drop-inGames

What better way to pass the afternoon then to socialize and play a friendly game or two of cards? Check out a variety of games being offered at local community centres.

Lion’s Den Adult Day Centre Mah Jong – Thursdays at 1 - 4 p.m.

Bingo – Thursdays at 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Kerrisdale Community Centre Cribbage – Wednesdays 10 - 11:30 a.m.

Mah Jong – Wednesdays 10 - 12 p.m.

Renfrew Heights Community Centre Game Area reserved for seniors to play pool, foosball and air hockey April 27 to June 27, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:15 - 11:45 a.m.

Day Trips

Sign up for an all-day adventure to explore the sights of our city and make some new friends along the way at one of these day trips Britannia Mine Museum Tour: April 29, 8:15-5 p.m. for $79. Sea to Sky Gondola Tour: May 30, 9:15-5 p.m. for $99. Cultus Lake All-you-can-eat Crab Fest: June 9, 8:45 a.m. for $99.

Also don’t forget about Senior’sWeek, which is from June 1 to 7 and features events and activities at various locations.

This Springtime take root at Cavell Gardens, and find yourself in full bloom by Summer.

Full Service Retirement Community in the Heart of Vancouver

Visit our new website www.cavellgardens.com 604.637.1207 info@cavellgardens.com 2835 Sophia Street at 12th Ave Vancouver V5T 4V2

@VanCourierNews all you need to know in 140 characters!

A20

THE VANCOUVER COURIER W E DN E SDAY, M A R C H 1 2 , 2 0 1 4

calendar

Learn e-books and party for St. Patrick’s Day Sandra Thomas Staff writer

Downtown

Learn how to find, checkout and download e-books from the Vancouver Public Library’s To Go collection at three sessions in April.

The e-book Basics for Sony will also teach participants how to use a computer to transfer titles and download directly to their own e-book reader or mobile device. The sessions take place April 1, 24 and 30 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the central branch, 350 West Georgia. The sessions are free, but registration is required by calling 604331-3603.

Killarney/Sunset

Seniors from the Killarney Community Centre are invited to a St. Patrick’s Day celebration, March 17, at the Sunset Community Centre, 6810 Main St. In honour of St. Paddy’s Day, students from Langara College have organized a special luncheon. Bus transportation from Killarney to Sunset is included in the $10 cost. The party runs from 10:15 a.m. to 2 p.m. Contact the Killarney Community Centre to register and for tickets by calling 604-718-8208.

Fairview

The South Granville Seniors Friendship Centre is also holding a St. Patrick’s Day celebration, but this free event is combined with a birthday tea and takes place Friday, March 14, from 1 to 3 p.m.

Your changing needs Earl Bergen, General Manager Cedar Springs PARC For seniors seeking new housing options, there is plenty of choice. Yet sometimes it can be challenging to decipher the senior housing jargon and determine the best option for you. Perhaps you can’t keep up your house, perhaps you feel somewhat socially isolated or you worry about your children carrying too much of your load. Then an independent retirement living community may be the best choice.

But what if your health needs change over time? That’s where Independent Living+ comes in. It’s a new option we’ve introduced along with our new company name: PARC Retirement Living (formerly Pacific Arbour Retirement Communities).

Independent Living+ takes all the great things about living independently in a

retirement community, and adds another level of service at no extra cost, to help guide and monitor your health needs as they change.

An on-staff Wellness Nurse can provide you with consultation and guidance, while you also have the privacy of your own suite, optimal nutrition, social and recreational activities galore, driving service to appointments and outings, 24hour security and emergency support. For today’s aging adults, Independent Living+ is a great new option well worth considering.

Need a question answered about independent living?

Contact Earl Bergen, GM, Cedar Springs PARC, a PARC Retirement Living Community at 604.986.3633 ebergen@ cedarspringsparc.ca parcliving.ca/cedarsprings

The centre has numerous events taking place in March, including Healthy Eating for Seniors, March 21, from 1 to 3 p.m.

For seniors, eating well can lead to increased mental acuteness, resistance to illness and disease, higher energy levels, faster recuperation times and better management of chronic health problems. Tea service is included. The centre is located at 1420 West 12th Ave.

Strathcona

Seniors living on a low income or persons with disabilities can have their standard income tax return completed free at the 411 Seniors Centre, 704-333 Terminal Ave., Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. until April 30.

The service is offered to low-income seniors aged 55 and older, who have an interest income of less than $1,000 and an annual income of $30,000 or less as an individual or $40,000 or less for couples.

Anyone with multiple years of income tax to be completed must call to make an appointment at 604-684-8171.

Downtown

The B.C. Boomers Travel (Meetup) Club is holding its Spring Fever Social, March 28 at 7 p.m. at the Lions Pub, 888 West Cordova St. Share your past and future travel adventures with new like-minded friends. RSVPs accepted until noon March 27. For more information about the club visit meetup. com/BC-Boomers-Travel-Club.

Kerrisdale

The Vancouver-Kerrisdale branch of the Canadian Osteoporosis Society is hosting the lecture New Information on Old/Existing Osteoporosis Therapies, presented by Dr. David Kendler, associate professor of medicine at UBC and director of the Prohealth Clinical Research Centre.

This free event takes place Tuesday, March 25, at 7 p.m. at the Kerrisdale Seniors Centre, 5851 West Blvd.

No registration is required. For more information call 604-731-4755 or 604-224-5063.

Downtown

TheVancouver Symphony Orchestra is pleased to launch its first ever VSO Spring Festival, March 29 and 31, and April 5 and 7, at 8 p.m. at the Orpheum Theatre.

This inaugural annual festival celebrates the works of Sergei Rachmaninoff with pianist Alexander Gavrylyuk and Maestro Bramwell Tovey. Gavrylyuk will perform all five of Rachmaninoff’s works for piano and orchestra, the four piano concertos and the Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, in the four performances that make up the event.

For more information, visit vancouversymphony.ca.

Dentures, Comfortably Fit - Guaranteed Svetlana Lopareva R.D.BPS

(Biofunctional Prosthetic System) Certified Denturist

• Home visits available • Precision Cosmetic Dentures, Standard Dentures , Partials, Relines and Emergencies • Financing Available - OAC 116 West Broadway

604.677.0061

3983 Kingsway

604.336.4155 Emergencies 778.389.5072

w w w. l o p a r e v a d e n t u r e c l i n i c . c o m

Dentures That Fit Your Lifestyle Kingsway Denture Clinic Suite 103 - 1435 Kingsway @ Knight Mon. to Fri. 9:00am - 5:00pm & Saturday by appointment www.kingswaydentures.com Gerry Lee-Kwen, RD

Call us for a FREE Consultation

604.874.6671

• Now Accepting New Patients • No Referral Necessary • Emergency care available Advertising feature

A BPS Certified Center • We accept most dental plans

photo Dan Toulgoet

The Vancouver Public Library hosts workshops on how to find, checkout and download e-books.

Coal Harbour

Vancouver’s Olympic Cauldron will be lit again this week in support of athletes competing in Sochi.

The cauldron will be lit March 16, from 4 to 6 p.m., the evening of the closing ceremonies of the 2014 Paralympic Games in Sochi. The cauldron was previously lit March 7 to commemorate the 2010 Paralympic Games in Vancouver.The cauldron will also be lit from 6 to 8 p.m. each evening Team Canada wins a gold medal. Private sector companies make the cauldron lightings possible through anonymous donations. sthomas@vancourier.com twitter.com/sthomas10

Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House 800 E. Broadway | Ph : 604-879-8208

www.mpnh.org

MPNH Better at Home presents:

ST. PATRICK’S DAY

CELEBRATION & THE EIRE BORN IRISH DANCERS ay Tuesd 18th h c r Ma pm at 12

COST: $5.00 The Better at Home program offers non-medical support services enabling seniors to maintain their independence.

Please contact Claudine

604-879-8208 for more information.

A22

THE VANCOUVER COURIER W E DN E SDAY, M A R C H 1 2 , 2 0 1 4

home&garden

Summer bulbs offer choice of brilliant colours

P

eople who have containers especially for summer flowers can find an overwhelming number of brilliant choices among the summer bulb offerings this year — including the purpleleaved, pink-flowered Oxalis triangularis that becomes a houseplant (and keeps on

ANNE MARRISON

櫻花牌

flowering) when you bring it indoors for winter.

Unlike most summer listings, this oxalis handles deep shade or semi-shade.

It grows only 20cm tall but covers its space thickly in a clump, which slowly increases. There’s also a green-leaved, white-flowered version.

Deep shade isn’t usually suitable for plants that emit bright bursts of colour.

But deep shade is the place where tuberous begonias are right at home because strong sunshine can burn their leaves. Begonia tubers are best sprouted inside and planted outside in mid May. Flowers can be huge with multiple petals in red, orange, yellow, white or pink and shapes varying from picotees, to fringes and ruffles. Some gardeners keep begonias for years, taking them in every winter and putting them out after frost season. The tubers keep enlarging and the number of flowers increasing.

Also happy in shaded cornersaremartagonlilies,which

免拆洗 抽油煙機

+8F),8 FG*4HMD ,8DJM H002 /;L%9$3N

-3!%5

4N%?<

6&"#6?$$N% K!N5%9

have several reflexed petals dangling along each stem.

Flowers of the old fashioned ones were mainly non-fragrant and strictly purple-pink or white. They’re now being hybridized. One of these is the fragrant 150cm martagon lily Arabian Night with deep red and golden blooms.

Other groups of lilies need sun and rich soil. The shorter, fragrance-free Asiatic lilies now have many double forms as do the taller, richly scented Oriental lilies. Double-flowered tiger lilies are also obtainable.

It’s worth mentioning that beautiful though double flowers can be, they’re often inaccessible to pollinators.

Most can’t find their way through the maze of petals.

People who love vases of flowers inside their homes will find gladiolus give lots of pleasure for little work — and little money if you choose the inexpensive mixes. Unfortunately, gladiolus are high maintenance in ornamental beds: needing first staking, then removing once the flower stem is cut.

But out of the way in the vegetable garden or in random, sunny corners, a few corms planted every week from April to mid-July give a whole summer of beauti-

photo Wikimedia Commons

Martagon lilies are happy in shaded containers. ful gladiolus flowers. Stray cormlets, dropped off the old corms, easily germinate and grow through a mild winter but usually die later.

In slug-ridden gardens, dahlias are often more fun and less work if they’re grown in containers. These don’t suit large-growing dahlias, but there are more patio dahlias available now ranging from about 35cm to 50cm.

Containers can be ringed with various copper protectors (copper slug tape, or the woven wire “Slug Shield”). That’s why container dahlias are a good choice for busy people who don’t have time or rugged enough stomachs to try any of the multiple slug-murder-

ing opportunities.

Eucomis species and hybrids aren’t usually standouts though they flower for months once they start and the seedheads are decorative. But the cultivar Leia is quite spectacular with a fat spike of bright pink flowers and wavy leaf edges.

These Pineapple Lilies are very close to being hardy but it’s still safer to bring them inside for winter. For coastal gardeners, a south or west house wall and mulching is usually enough protection.

Columnist Anne Marrison is happy to answer garden questions. Send them to her via amarrison@shaw.ca. It helps if you can add the name of your city or region.

Spring is coming to your garden!!!

Add colour and fragrance with Carnations

Sp ec

$

3 99

6?$$N% K!N5%9 +I75%= 6<<5$5>&70' ;>(#2>9 :;>/9> /&" 8>/7>" 2/!#;9 <;#( 78> /5; +598)/98>;*9/<> <507>;9 /;> >/950' ;>(#2>" <#; =45$1 $0>/&5&:

tree e same it on th u fr f o ties 4 varie each th th to 16 ch 10 st. lid Mar la Offer vahile quantities W

Spec ial nic S e a Soi l $ 99 Orga

32 litr e

5

2%?N%97 O

*9?!N 8::N!?<'%7 #'%*%&%*!")) #'%*("!*#)&& #'%*$+'*&&"" #'%*%#)*)$+! #'%*$&%*"%#)

bag

each Offer va lid While q March 10 thto th 16 uantities last.

07"?L? G<5%9<?5!;<?N M<5@ G<'@ LLL@;7"?L?A>'@';=

4;?75 (";N%7?N% #'%*&()*##%%

ation s

iarlee c e p S uit Salad T Fr 99 $

-$752/7> 8>/7 ;/"5/7> $0>/&9>; 7# /00#) ;>95"4> #< :;>/9> ;>(#2>" #& $8/(.>;9 /&" </&9 "#)& 7# 78> #50 $#00>$7#;9 ,0>/&5&: !;#$>99 59 =45>7 /&" 78#;#4:80' )578#47 3>#!/;"5%> 78> 05<> 9!/& #< 78> 8##"

H?91%I.7 +5;9% #'%*%&%*&)$) ,;<? +5;9% #'%*($&*(!((

pot

39

835; 7"35A;$$ H%?5 4N%?<!<# 6355;<

E!&N?<& 8::N!?<'%7 #'%*#'!*'#'' #'%*("!*#)&)

4 inch

each Offer va lid While qMarch 10 th to th uantities 16 last.

%"$$ # !'H+ CHB H%?5 4N%?<!<#

63&#%5 8::N!?<'%7 #'%*(")*'### #'%*$!$*'###

ial

Peren nial C a rn

David Hunter Garden Centers 2560 West Broadway – 604-733-1534 www.davidhuntergardencenters.com

www.facebook.com/DavidHuntersBroadway

Open 7 Days a Week Monday to Sunday 9am - 5:30pm

W E DN E SDAY, M A R C H 1 2 , 2 0 1 4 THE VANCOUVER COURIER

A23

home&garden

Spy in the living room: can you trust the Xbox Kinect?

BRITISH SPIES TAPPED INTO MILLIONS OF YAHOO WEBCAM CHATS

PRACTICAL GEEK with Barry Link

A

friend of mine whose family has an Xbox One recently told me her son detached the Kinect camera almost as soon as they got the new console for Christmas. The Kinect’s camera and microphone, which are central to controlling the Xbox One by voice and gesture commands, creeped him out.

That paranoia might not be so farfetched, at least in general terms. There’s no absolutely no evidence that the Kinect on your Xbox is taking pictures of you and sending them to the NSA, but its location in living rooms, rec rooms and even bedrooms make it a fine surveillance device. And the spooks have noticed.

News surfaced last week that a British intelligence agency had tapped into Yahoo’s webcam chat service and retrieved still images and information from millions of chats around the globe between 2008 and 2010.

Whether the effort caught any terrorists was not revealed, according to The Guard-

ian which broke the story, but it did catch an awful lot of pictures of naked people in front of their PCs, which tells you more about webcam chats than you want to know.

Yahoo told The Guardian it knew nothing about the intelligence operation and condemned it as a violation of its service.

Yahoo’s track record on opposing government surveillance apparently suggests its reaction is sincere, even if it has been slower than competitors like Google in protecting its services against spying.

The Yahoo revelation had me thinking about my friend’s family and their wariness about the Kinect. According to The Guardian, that same British snooping program considered the original version of the Kinect, then available for the Xbox 360, as another device to snoop with. Nothing in the story suggests that notion was followed up on or succeeded.

I contacted Microsoft Canada for comment and its PR folks replied with much the same answer: they were unaware of such a spying program and strongly opposed any such action by government. Microsoft has joined other tech companies in the U.S. in calling for strict controls on government surveillance through the Internet.

I’m prepared to call Microsoft equally sincere in its reply, if only because allowing a

consumer device to be part of a widespread spying program would be a public relations nightmare that would destroy the Xbox as a product. Microsoft also takes pains to point out privacy restrictions with Xbox, telling The Verge last year that it does not collect personal information about users, including images, and send it to corporate servers via Kinect. The Verge did point out, however, that Skype, owned by Microsoft, long claimed its video and audio chat communications were protected against prying eyes, especially from the government. It turns out Skype might have been tapped by spies after all, and according to The Verge Microsoft doesn’t deny it would allow government access to Skype based on individual requests.

But as the Yahoo intercepts reveal, spies don’t need Kinect to spy on you. The laptop you already own will do nicely thanks to their built-in cameras and microphones.

Ars Technica’s Nate Anderson wrote a disturbing piece last year revealing how hackers, including unsophisticated teenage boys who purchase the right software, routinely infect and take over the laptops of thousands of innocent victims so they can watch them through their laptop cameras.

Referring to their unknowing targets as “slaves,” they take pictures and record videos of their victims and post them and boast

about them in online forums. As you can guess, young women are a key target demographic.

I’m not a young woman, but after reading Anderson’s story I put a piece of duct tape over my laptop camera. I confess it’s still there.

The surveillance capabilities for both government spies and private hackers of the gadgets we invite into our lives again shows the dilemma that technology presents us.

The Kinect is an excellent device: the ability to control the Xbox One through voice commands, including turning on your TV and sound system, is very cool. The same goes for Skype, Yahoo chats and the cameras on our laptops. They allow us unprecedented, instant communication with colleagues, friends and loved ones.

These are liberating tools that allow for surprisingly human contact (as the Yahoo story shows), and we are better off for them.

But be aware. Communications technology is like a window in your house. It lets the sun in. It also lets people passing by look inside your home.

Go surf the Net. Play with Kinect. Chat on Yahoo. No one is watching you. Yet. blink@vancourier.com twitter.com/trueblinkit

SCAN TO BUY WITH LAYAR

P U

$523

TO

%

$199

62

$12

TO

$25

P U % 52

TO

$295

P U % 50

$593

Two-Night Getaway for 2 People in a One-Bedroom Lodge Suite, Plus $50 Dining Credit & Bottle of Wine at Black Rock Oceanfront Resort

$25 Worth of Organic Food and Drinks with Raw, Vegan or Vegetarian Options for Two People at Golden Aura Eatery

Two-Night Whale Watching Getaway Package for 2 People, Plus Dining Credit

Location: Ucluelet, BC

Location: Vancouver

Location: Tofino

Get access to exclusive offers and more by scanning with the free Layar App.

Download the free Layar App

Scan this page

Discover interactive content

A24

THE VANCOUVER COURIER W E DN E SDAY, M A R C H 1 2 , 2 0 1 4

RENOVATEMySpace A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Vancouver Franchise Owner Wins 2014 Houzz Design Award If you are considering any kind of home renovation then you’ve no doubt heard of Houzz.com, the uber popular and leading online platform for home remodeling and design.

With the largest residential design database in the world and a vibrant community powered by social tools, Houzz is a turn-key solution for design inspiration, project advice, product information and professional reviews to help turn ideas into reality.

And with over 16 million monthly users, it’s a platform that local service providers like STOR-X® really value.

So, of course, we were thrilled to learn that Alex Voogd, STOR-X® owner for the Vancouver-RichmondDelta locations, has been awarded “Best of Houzz” in Customer Satisfaction. Customer Satisfaction honors are awarded based on the number and quality of client reviews we received on Houzz.com in 2013.

“

quality of our work. professionals Receiving this such as An integral piece of award affirms that STOR-X®, the brand promise this commitment is but also those being recognized whose work at STOR-X® is by the most matches their our commitment to important people aspirations for excellence in the in the business their own homes. quality of our work – our customers.

Homeowners We are truly can also evaluate grateful for your professionals by contacting them directly on the Houzz positive reviews,” said Alex Voogd, platform, asking questions about their STOR-X® owner. work and reviewing the responses to Follow STOR-X® on Houzz questions from others in the Houzz Richmond - http://www.houzz.com/ community. pro/alexvoogd/storx-richmond-delta For more information, please call “An integral piece of the brand Alex Voogd at 604-999-3479. promise at STOR-X® is our commitment to excellence in the

“

STOR-X® Wins Prestigious ‘Best of Houzz’ Award

Custom Closet, Garage, Pantry, Office, Laundry, Mudroom, Media Centres and More!

604-999-3479

STOR-X.COM

CALL US TODAY FOR A FREE IN-HOME CONSULTATION

Buy one Get one

FREE*

On any gallon of Dulux Paint With over 230 Dulux Paints locations, visit dulux.ca for a store near you.

Scan with Layar and download the Dulux Mouse Painter App

Bring this ad Bring ad to to any anyDulux Duluxlocation locationtotoredeem. redeem.

Offer expires December April 30th,1st, 2014.

Offer expires 2013. *Cannot be combined with any other offer or promotion. Buy any gallon (3.0L-3.78L) of Dulux or Glidden paint at a regular retail price and get the second gallon (of equal or lesser value) free. All products may not be available at all locations. See instore for offer details.

All participating locations only.

dulux.ca

TANKTECH

“We’re delighted to recognize STOR-X® among our “Best Of” professionals for customer satisfaction as judged by our community of homeowners and design enthusiasts who are actively remodeling and decorating their homes,” said Liza Hausman, vice president of community for Houzz.

ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES

• TANK REMOVAL • METAL DETECTIONS • TANK LOCATING • VAC TRUCK SERVICES • SOIL TESTING • SOIL REMEDIATION

CERTIFIED OIL TANK REMOVAL & REMEDIATION SPECIALISTS

With Houzz, homeowners can identify not only the top-rated

Seniors Discount • Free Estimates

604-328-1234 Waterlines / Sewerlines Perimeter Drainage Sumps / Catch Basins Compact Excavator Foundation Crack Repairs Hydro Flushing Video Inspections Preventative Maintenance

The Rain Water LEADERS

24 HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE since

604-879-1415 604-596-1077 212 EAST 17TH AVENUE,

VANCOUVER

SURREY

FREE QUOTES VIEW MORE WITH LAYAR

www.hillcrestplumbing.com

1979

• Sales • Installations • Repairs • Maintenance

Specializing in Heavy Gauge 5” x .032” Continuous Colonial Aluminum

604.876-4604

http://www.krguttersystems.ca

Scan with

W E DN E SDAY, M A RC H 1 2 , 2 0 1 4 THE VANCOUVER COURIER

A25

GOT ARTS? 604-738-1411 | events@vancourier.com

1

2

OUR

MARCH 12-14, 2014 For video and web content, scan page using the Layar app.

PICKS 3

1

Fans of bad movies and audience members talking throughout said movies can get their fill when comedians Eric Fell, Patrick Maliha and Shaun Stewart return to the Rio Theatre for another edition of the GENTLEMAN HECKLERS. The cinematic crime in question? The 1967 Japanese B-movie KING KONG ESCAPES, about an evil scientist who plans to kidnap Kong to use him to dig for gems in the Arctic. In the process, Kong — sensitively portrayed by a man in a gorilla suit — must do battle with the robotic Mechani-Kong. All this and the GENTLEMAN HECKLERS’ live snide commentary?

It’s a win-win. Celebrate the moments of your life March 12, 9 p.m. Details at riotheatre.ca.

2 3

Rootsy East Coast singer-songwriter OLD MAN LUEDECKE drops by the St. James Hall in support of his new Joel Plaskett-produced e.p. I NEVER SANG BEFORE I MET YOU March 13, 8 p.m. Australia’s Jordie Lane opens. Tickets at Highlife Records and Rufus’ Guitar Shop or by calling 604-736-3022. Details at roguefolk.bc.ca.

With the songs “Gay Bar” and “Dance Commander,” and albums named I Shall Exterminate Everything Around Me That Restricts Me from Being the Master, Detroit rockers ELECTRIC SIX are often dismissed as a novelty act. But years of touring and recording, not to mention its devoted fanbase, indicate otherwise. The band drops by Venue, March 12, for its yearly West Coast pilgrimage, this time in support of its 10th album, MUSTANG. Vancouver’s Pigeon Park and the Mohrs round out the bill. Tickets at Zulu, Red Cat and Scrape or online at ticketweb.ca. Details at venuelive.ca.

A26

THE VANCOUVER COURIER W E DN E SDAY, M A R C H 1 2 , 2 0 1 4

arts&entertainment

Keep Growing at Shannon Oaks

KUDOS& KVETCHES THE WALKING DREAD The members of K&K have done a surprising amount of walking in our chubby lives.

We walk to and from work. We walk downtown. We walk to brunch. We walk to the supermarket. We walk to the liquor store far too often. We walk and walk and walk.

And because the majority of our journeys tend to be on foot, we often find ourselves walking behind people while trying to avoid staring at their behinds — male or female — and making a quick and completely superficial mental assessment of whether or not we would sleep with that person in some sort of situation disconnected from the limitations of reality. And as is sometimes the case, said person — whom we are not staring at from behind and not calculating our interest in a hypothetically sleeping with — is smoking a stinky cigarette or eating a horrible smelling Egg McMuffin.

And because we are humble walkers, quietly shuffling our way through life, we do not say: “Excuse me, but would you mind not smoking while we’re behind you inhaling your secondhand smoke,” or “Hey, who eats an Egg McMuffin while they’re walking, anyway? Why don’t you eat that abomination at McDonalds where you bought it or in your own private room of shame so we don’t have to smell the stink of eggs, processed cheese and low standards…

And no, we weren’t staring at your behind trying to imagine ourselves in a conjugal embrace.

Why would you say such a thing?”

Call now for a complimentary lunch and tour 604-324-6257

All-inclusive senior living community where growing doesn’t get old.

Experience the endless possibilities of social, educational, recreational and entertainment opportunities. Come spend a day with us, you’ll love life at Shannon Oaks.

n l iv i g a ss

ci

se

al

of a ppr

al

ation

bc seni

rs

o

o

Vancouver 2526 Waverley Avenue | 604-324-6257

ov

www.shannonoaks.com

Baptist Housing | Enhanced Seniors Living | Since 1964

But we remain silent. Instead we keep on walking, thankful we have two legs and the ability to walk. Thankful we feel safe when we walk and are at a relatively low risk of getting shot or attacked by rebel forces or bad people. Thankful we don’t eat Egg McMuffins or smoke cigarettes, because deep down we would probably really love them both if given the chance. And thankful the person in front of us wasn’t eating Zesty Cheese Doritos. Those things are gross.

NO MORE ROOM We got word the other day that Main Street’s restaurant of cozy nostalgia the Rumpus Room is closing at the end of the month. Did they run out of deep-fried pickles? Is a customer suing the owners for a Jenga or Hungry Hungry Hippos-related injury? Sadly, it’s for reasons more mundane and predictable than that... condos.

“So I’m writing this with the most heaviest f$%&ing heart in my life,” co-owner Rachel Zottenberg announced on the Rumpus Room’s Facebook page Monday. “After the most brutal battle, we are being kicked out of the Rumpus Room at the end of the month.

Condos.. right.. you’ve heard this all before.

Yay for the new Main Street. Good for you.”

As is often the case in Vancouver, the quirky, rough-around-the-edges places that often make a neighbourhood desirable in the first place inevitably attract condo developers, which then proceed to eradicate or sanitize those very things and out-price the residents who enjoyed them. With any luck however, the new condos will pay homage to what they’re replacing by branding the new Mount Pleasant development something like Rumpus Estates, Plaid Gardens or The Shorn Beard. World class city!

An offer that means business on a van that means business.

vancouversprinter.ca

The All-New 2014 Sprinter Cargo Van

$

3,000

1

DISCOUNT

LEASE AND FINANCE APR

5.49% 4.49%

THESE OFFERS ONLY AVAILABLE AT: Sprinter Sales and Service Centre 1502 Boundary Rd., Burnaby, BC

1

1

3 YEARS

2

NO-CHARGE SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE

ONLY UNTIL MARCH 31, 2014

604-676-3778 vancouversprinter.ca

© 2014 Mercedes-Benz Canada Inc. 2014 Sprinter 2500 Cargo 144” High Roof Cargo Van as shown. National MSRP $42,400, Total Price $46,060. Lease offer based on 2014 2500 Cargo 144” Cargo Van (Stock #S1470262). National MSRP $39,900. Total price of $43,560 includes freight/PDI of 1 $2,895, dealer admin fee of $595, air-conditioning levy of $100, PPSA up to $45.48 and a $25 fee covering EHF tires. Additional Options, fees and taxes are extra. Lease example based on $523 per month (excluding taxes) for 60 months. Lease price includes $3,000 March discount offer. Promotional 2 Lease APR of 4.49% applies on approved credit. Down payment or equivalent trade of $5,000, plus first payment and applicable taxes due at lease inception. Cost of borrowing is $5,642. Total obligation is $40,762. Three years of scheduled maintenance covers the first 3 factory scheduled maintenance services or 3 years, whichever comes first; and is available only through finance and lease through Mercedes-Benz Financial Services. Scheduled maintenance interval for model year 2014 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is the earlier of 1 year or 25,000 km. The specific maintenance services included are described in the applicable Owner’s/Operator’s Manual and Service/Maintenance Booklet. Offer is non-transferable, non-refundable and has no cash value. Certain limitations apply. Vehicle license, insurance, and registration are extra. Dealer may lease or finance for less. Offers may change without notice and cannot be combined with any other offers. See your authorized Mercedes-Benz Sprinter dealer for details or call the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Customer Care Centre at 604-676-3778. Offer valid until March 31, 2014.

W E DN E SDAY, M A R C H 1 2 , 2 0 1 4 THE VANCOUVER COURIER

A27

arts&entertainment

Helen Lawrence recreatesVancouver’s gritty past STATE OF THE ARTS

I

with Cheryl Rossi

t’s the production Arts Club Theatre’s artistic managing director Bill Millerd was particularly looking forward to last fall.

Helen Lawrence, the theatrical debut for both internationally acclaimed visual artist Stan Douglas and award-winning screenwriter Chris Haddock, makes its world premiere at the Arts Club Theatre’s Stanley stage March 13 to April 13 before performances in Montreal, Toronto, Munich and Edinburgh.

Set in old worlds of the Hotel Vancouver and Hogan’s Alley, the city’s former locus for gambling and vice, Helen Lawrence is a hard-boiled tale of loyalty and money that highlights the city’s politics in a time of upheaval, circa 1948.

The fictional story draws on the real-life inquiry into police corruption in Vancouver at this time. Douglas wanted to explore the transition from wartime, with all its shady transactions, to the supposedly wholesome 1950s.

“I do work to learn things, to research and understand more about certain eras or places and to have an experience I can’t have any another way,” he said.

Audiences for Helen Lawrence will also experience theatre in a new way.

Helen Lawrence’s hard-boiled tale of loyalty, money and politics premieres at the Stanley theatre March 13.

All of the action will happen behind a scrim and within the enclosure of a bluescreen stage. A projector will cast virtual sets while cameras on stage capture live action for projections so the story unfolds simultaneously as a film and a play.

“As the camera tracks, the background tracks, too. So you actually see them as if they’re moving in space,” said Douglas, who’s renowned for his photography and projection-based work that often examines modernism, historical and social narratives and political incidents, such as his photo recreation of the 1971 Gastown Riot. “It’s like visual polyphony where we’re having

two ideas at the same time. We’re having a direct view of the actors on stage from the audiences perspective, however the cameras are often off to the side so you’re seeing it from two angles simultaneously.”

Writer, director and producer Haddock, whose TV credits include Da Vinci’s Inquest, Intelligence and Boardwalk Empire, couldn’t resist the challenge when Douglas asked him to co-create a story to be told via a mixed-media production.

“You don’t often get the opportunity to take the risks of actually breaking the established forms,” said Haddock, who also loves that while audience members will see

the characters in the flesh, the projections of them are in black and white.

“Black and white’s intimate,” he said.

“Hopefully it gives you some kind of distance to reflect upon some things and hopefully it also pulls you in.”

Douglas is excited to see his vision realized. “The technical, when it works, feels like these people on stage are making this world themselves,” he said.

Helen Lawrence boasts a cast of 12 that includes Crystal Balint, Sterling Jarvis and Nicholas Lea, a bevy of 3D artists and visuals that Haddock describes as “riveting and sumptuous.” Yet it’s not the 70-millimetre visuals Haddock wants to linger with visitors when they leave.

“I want them to wonder what the characters are doing now,” he said.

Haddock, who was fatigued with the flu last week, expects to be clutching an airsickness bag, his stomach aflutter with nerves, during the opening shows.

Still, he wouldn’t have denied himself the opportunity to stretch his skills.

“That’s probably what Stan and I have in common… the actual willingness to risk,” he said. “A lot of people aren’t interested in getting better, they’re just interested in getting a better paycheque. I don’t think you’ll achieve either without being willing to go forward into the unknown just armed with your little bag of craft.”

For more information, see artsclub.com. crossi@vancourier.com twitter.com/Cheryl_Rossi

Easter Bunny arrives early at the Stanley Park Train!

Avoid the Easter crowds! Join us during Spring Break – March 15-30!

Enjoy a train ride, visit with the Easter Bunny, bring your basket for our egg hunt and more! vancouver.ca | 604-257-8531

A28

THE VANCOUVER COURIER W E DN E SDAY, M A R C H 1 2 , 2 0 1 4

arts&entertainment Vancouver actor goes bad for latest role JULIE CRAWFORD Contributing writer

D

an Payne is having trouble getting one child down for a nap and another planted in front of the TV so he can talk. “I’m just on the phone with the nice lady, OK buddy?” he patiently tells his five-year-old. It’s quite a switch from the tough, imposing characters the actor frequently plays onscreen, including his latest bad-guy turn in Brent Butt’s No Clue, which opened this weekend.

Payne plays Church, a dirty cop turned gun-for-hire in the film written and starring Butt (Corner Gas), directed by Carl Bessai, and co-starring Amy Smart and Anchorman’s David Koechner. It’s a classic case of mistaken identity: Butt plays Leo, an ordinary man who sells novelty products but happens to be in a vacationing private detective’s office when a beautiful woman wanders in, needing help. It isn’t long before Leo gets in way over his head.

Vancouver gets to play itself for a change

Dan Payne (r) stars opposite Brent Butt in the new Vancouver-shot film No Clue. in this tale of murder, sex and video gameindustry intrigue.

“Brent doesn’t hide that it takes place in Canada,” says Payne. “Comedy is universal and I think he has captured that.” There’s even a line in the film ripped straight from the headlines: “Whoa, whoa, where’s everyone getting guns? This is Canada!”

“I knew Brent was funny, it’s obvious to the

entire universe, but when there’s a personal aspect level of intelligence that’s off the charts, good luck catching your breath,” says Payne, also has high praise for director Bessai.

“His style is very much his own and it’s a great thing for any actor to experience. He’s very good at nurturing what the actor needs and still getting the shot he needs.”

During filming, Payne spent a great deal of time chasing Smart and Butt through the streets of Vancouver, Langley and Squamish for the noir-ish thriller/comedy, and doing many of his own stunts. It was a tight shoot but a nice commute for the actor, who has called Vancouver home for the past six years.

Payne was born in Victoria but was a “borderline nomad” growing up. With the advantage of his height — he’s 6’4” — he emerged as a star volleyball player and was recruited to play professionally in Holland.

After that he joined his brother in Australia, where the two made their own short films and talked of starting their own production house. Instead Payne headed for London, doing theatre and the audition circuit.

After moving back to Canada, Payne found himself with roles on Stargate, Supernatural, Divine: The Series, Tower Prep and in such films as Watchmen (he played Dollar Bill), Cabin in the Woods, and a lead role in the drama Mulligans, from which he says he still gets “very gratifying feedback” from fans online.

But writing is his other passion. Payne has written a “by me, for me” comedy pilot about a broken down hockey player that he calls “Californication in a toque.” While it’s fun to play bad guys, the actor finds himself constantly drawn back to comedy.

Payne is nursing a smashed thumb from stunt work on last week’s job and is shooting a lead in a movie of the week this week. “I’m extremely grateful to be busy,” says the actor, who appreciates being able to kick back with the family and be a stay-at-home dad in his downtime. “I am just a huge supporter of living your life the best way you know how, and trusting your heart… because if you ride the roller coaster of the external, you’re bound to be disappointed.”

No Clue screens at International Village.

Porno Death Cult finds transcendence in performance PORNO DEATH CULT

At the Firehall Arts Centre No more performances love Tara Cheyenne Friedenberg’s mind; it goes into such dark and funny corners.

I

Like her supple dancer’s body, it turns on itself, wickedly undercutting what she has just created.

Example: Maureen, Friedenberg’s 41-year-old fearful, deeply Christian character

says, “I want to be filled up.”

Don’t we all relate to that longing to be “filled up” with ecstasy or joy or something?

But Maureen goes on: “Filled like a bowl. A bowl of fruit.

With some tropical fruit in it.” And poof! The spell is broken; the image is suddenly ordinary and sort of silly.

Inspired by her 2010 walk through Southern France and Spain along the Camino

20 YEARS 100 + RESTAURANTS ONE DAY 25 MARCH 2014

de Santiago de Compostela, Friedenberg’s solo theatredance performance explored some of our desperate efforts to achieve transcendence; along the way she implied religiosity and eroticism are two sides of the same coin.

Maureen’s usual religious fervor, for example, can — and does — become sexual while she waits in vain for guests to arrive.

TU

ES

DA

Y 25 M A R C H

20

14

Fill your plate so we can fill theirs.

VANCOUVER

Dine out for breakfast, lunch or dinner at a participating restaurant and 25% of your food bill supports people living with HIV / AIDS

On Now at The Brick!

For more details go instore or online @thebrick.com.

D

DiningOutForLife.ca Twitter /Facebook /Instagram VanDOFL BENEFITING

PRINT

SPECIAL THANKS TO

GOLD FORK

MEDIA

E S T. 19 94

IN

IN

GOUT FORLIF

E .C

A

In this solo piece — part dance, part drama — Friedenberg focuses on three characters. As well as Maureen, there is the ever-smiling yoga instructor beaming and issuing a saccharine “Welcome. Welcome.” From the lotus position she spouts the platitudinous: “Rise above all your mistakes. Rise above this material body.

Rise up above all the bad decisions that” (slyly accusing) “you’re making right now.”

There’s that wicked little undercut again. “I’m filled with oneness. Namaste.”

And then there’s the evangelical preacher pouring out fire and brimstone and nonsensical admonitions. Phrases like “slapping itself on the bottom of what is not.” Or “And, I say. And. And. And. And.” Friedenberg’s dancing ranged from awkward, jittery, twitchy, out-of-body jerking to glorious long-armed, longlegged reaching and gravity defying held positions. It was, at times, so joyful it was almost unbearably beautiful. There was a little hand movement that Maureen repeatedly made that broke my heart every time. Not only is Friedenberg’s body expressive — right down to her bare toes — but she also has a very expressive face that, like her body, can slide from cocky confidence to quivering inse-

curity under your gaze.

Marc Stewart provided the music that went back and forth from big and “churchy” to hot and sexy.

James Proudfoot’s lighting picked out various photographs or spotlighted Friedenberg. On occasion, Proudfoot turned a beam of light on us: it was as if the eye of God was peering down on us, judging us and judging Friedenberg’s audacity that included Maureen’s momentary defiance, “Kneel. Kneel. Turn. Turn.

Pray. Pray. Drink your pee.”

Under Marcus Youssef’s direction, Porno Death Cult was intense, mysterious and funny; above all, it was brave.

At the end, Friedenberg took a seat in the theatre: “Is this seat taken?” she asked the audience member in the next seat. And then she sat with her gaze fixed expectantly on the stage until the lights very slowly went down. The implication was that theatre is yet another avenue to transcendence, that theatre offers a sense of communion. Friedenberg, nothing short of brilliant, continues to seek and to find transcendence in performance. Praise the Lord.

—reviewed by Jo Ledingham *Note: A longer version of this review appears at vancourier.com.

W E DN E SDAY, M A R C H 1 2 , 2 0 1 4 THE VANCOUVER COURIER

A29

GOT SPORTS? 604-738-1411 | sportsandrec@vancourier.com

York House Tigers display heart in close win GIRLS AA SQUAD OVERCOMES SHAKY START TO BEAT RIVAL VERNON JENNIFER THUNCHER Contributing writer

T

he York House Tigers earned fifth spot Saturday at the B.C. Secondary School Girls AA Basketball Championships with a nail-biting 49-47 redemption win over the Vernon Panthers.

The Panthers knocked off the Tigers in the quarterfinals of the B.C.s last year (51 to 40) en route to a second place finish while the Tigers settled for sixth.

The No. 9-ranked Tigers got off to a shaky start in the game at the Langley Events Centre. The No. 6 ranked Panthers scored first and seemed to intimidate the Tigers players who spent the first on the defensive and couldn’t seem to find the net.

Vernon was up 10 to 5 at the end of the first quarter.

Head coach Brandon Chan said the girls were nervous in the first 10 minutes.

“A little bit jittery,” said Chan.

But the Tigers players found confidence — and the net — in the second quarter.

Grade 12, 5’ 6” guard Maddy Baker, who was a team top scorer with 12 points total, opened the second quarter with a two-pointer, which seemed to help the team find its legs.

York House clawed its way into the lead.

Excellent defence from 5’5” Tigers’ guard Emma Swaffield kept the Panthers from ef-

photo Vision Quest

York House player Manpreet Deol protects the ball from her Rick Hansen competitor in the first round of the girls AA provincial championship. Final score 62 - 53 York House. fectively answering back. In total York House had 18 steals on the game while Vernon had seven. A two-pointer at the buzzer by Tigers’ 5’8” forward Laura Worsley made the score 27 to 22 for York House at the half.

Experience and a deeper bench kicked in for the Tigers on the hardwood in the second half.

Though this was Chan’s first year as head coach, assistant coach Jesseca Eng is a former member of the Tigers (2007-2010) who racked up eight points for York House in the final quarter of the 2010 final game

when York House won gold at the B.C.s.

Seven of York House’s 15 girls were also at the Big Dance last year. Tigers’ 5’7” Grade 11 forward Manpreet Deol said this year she took on more of a leadership role in the finals.

“Our entire team has grown since last year,” she said.

Though Vernon had the bigger players, York House had 15 players on its roster to Vernon’s 11. The most any player was on the court for York House was 35 minutes (Swaffield). Most Tigers players were out for closer to 20 min-

utes. The Panthers had one player out on the court the whole game (Anna Rice) and five players out over 20.

Thanks to the team’s deeper bench, York House started to wear Vernon down in the third.

The Tigers’ passing also picked up in the third, putting the team ahead by 13 points midway through the quarter, but Vernon’s gutsy team refused to roll over and play dead.

Thanks to the fierce play of players like Vernon’s Grade 10 5’6” guard Rice, who counted five points in the third, Vernon was within seven points of the Tigers at the end of the third quarter (40 to 33).

The entire last quarter was an intense back and forth volley of scoring and foul shots by both teams.

With two minutes to go, the score was tied 44 to 44.

But the Tigers took the lead in the final minute with the help of a foul shot point by Deol to make it 48 to 47 and then Swaffield closed the deal with a foul shot point just seconds from the final buzzer.

After the game Swaffield reflected on her team’s accomplishment.

“In the end it really just came down to heart, she said.

The win was a perfect grad present for the four seniors on the team including Baker, who earned second team All Star.

“It feels great,” she said. “because it is the last chance we will get to do it.”

York House has finished in the top six of the provincials for the last 16 consecutive years.

For more AA scores go to langleyeventscentre.com/AAGirlsBBall thuncher@shaw.ca

Rowers watch hopes sink in False Creek JENNIFER THUNCHER Contributing writer

T

he False Creek Rowing Club is up the creek without a home. And now members of the club and their supporters are disappointed a proposed paddling and rowing facility on False Creek may not include them.

Rowers on the waterway do not have access to proper launch docks, nearby washrooms or a place to store boats, safety equipment and gear. They change in their cars and transport their gear back and forth.

False Creek Rowing Club president Simon Litherland said he has been working with the city and the paddling community since 2006 to have a boathouse built on False Creek.

Since that time, he said the rowers who used the waters have dispersed, thanks in part to a UBC boathouse being built in Richmond, but the interest is still there among

the rowers in his club — about 50 rowers and volunteers — and among urban recreational rowers.

The club held its forth-annual “Head up the Creek” regatta Sunday, which launched from Vanier Park, that attracted 160 rowers in 50 boats including specially modified boats for several wheelchair rowers. Litherland said the event attracted thousands of spectators.

A combined paddling and rowing facility looked possible last year when the city set aside $125,000 for a report to define the requirements for such a facility to be located at the east end of False Creek. But earlier this month Litherland was told senior city staff were not interested in including facilities for rowing because the waterway has no permanent rowing program.

Peter Jackson, president of Rowing B.C. said it is a chicken and egg situation. The city doesn’t seem to want to create a False Creek facility for rowers because it lacks a huge row-

ing presence, but rowers need a facility to row there in significant numbers, he said.

“The creek has had Vancouver College and St. George’s and UBC men and UBC women and the Thunderbirds rowing club and Go Rowing so all those programs have been operating with a number of participants and they have [almost] all moved away because of the lack of facilities,” said Jackson.

While some have gone to the UBC Boathouse in Richmond, that facility doesn’t service Vancouver well, he said.

As it stands, a paddling facility, without the rowers, will likely go ahead.

That’s good news for the approximately 4,000 dragon boaters who use False Creek, according to Ann Phelps, manager of the Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival Society.

“There seems to be a lot of push now to put the paddling centre into False Creek and we are working with the city,” Phelps said.

She hopes that rowing will be included again in later planning stages.

“There is a big demand for rowing, especially recreational,” she said.

At a meeting last week with the park board director of recreation Thomas Soulliere, Litherland proposed a second facility location option at Vanier Park, but has yet to hear back.

He said while a Vanier location would be better than nothing, it is not ideal for people dependent on transit. He argued the east end of False Creek by Science World is still the far better option for rowing.

“It has stunning potential as the most accessible urban water way in Canada,” Litherland told the Courier by email.

Soulliere said he could not yet comment because options were still being explored.

The next False Creek boat house meeting with the city will be March 13. thuncher@shaw.ca twitter.com/thuncher

A30

THE VANCOUVER COURIER W E DN E SDAY, M A R C H 1 2 , 2 0 1 4

sports&recreation

Australian trip seeks to reverse rugby’s decline SPORT LOSING OUT IN POPULARITY AMONG VANCOUVER STUDENTS JENNIFER THUNCHER Contributing Writer

L

ord Byng secondary student Kosta Pappas was so excited about travelling to Australia to play rugby that he packed his bag a week in advance.

“I can’t wait,” he told the Courier just days before the trip.

Pappas, a 17-year-old Grey Ghost hooker, is in Sydney, Australia this week with 30 fellow senior Byng ruggers for a 17-day preseason tour that will include six matches against Aussie high school teams.

This is Lord Byng’s ninth overseas rugby tour in the past 27 years and while in the past the tour was both a bonding experience prior to the senior season and a way to expose the boys to different styles of play, it has increasingly become promotion for a sport that’s seen a decline in interest among Vancouver students in recent years.

“I know in some communities rugby programs are struggling because of the way neighbourhoods are changing,” said Byng co-coach and tour manager Ian MacPhee “These little tours are a bit of a carrot for our guys.”

While rugby has a long tradition at Lord Byng — it was the only public school to make the provincials last year (they placed 12th) — MacPhee said as someone who grew up and now teaches in Vancouver, he has noticed many team sports such as rugby are not as popular citywide as they once were.

Other longtime rugby enthusiasts agree, but some differ on possible reasons for the decline.

Jim Dixon, CEO of the British Columbia Rugby Union, said B.C. still has a thriving rugby culture.

“What you’ve typically found in the past is traditionally there was a very high number of clubs in the Lower Mainland, especially

Recreatio

ed nt dog ob

See p

age 2

4

Picnic in the Park. See page 2

K 4K9 r, B.C. V6 Vancouve tscc.com h Street, ki rc • ciation La 76 90 69 ity Centre Asso 26 4.257. lano Commun Phone: 60 d of Parks and Recreation and Kitsi Jointly Ope

gymnastics

rated by Vanc

ouver Boar

preschool pro

grams senior

g atre singin dancing the s’programs

guage

developme

mps!

lan ns learn a

ay Ca

for Kitsilano Community Centre?

lesso ips music rams out-tr

ience cre

ki ts cc .c om

education

rdening oking ga kitchens co

ummer Spring/S 2014 n Guide

er D Summ

Spring/Summer Recreation Guide

uth prog reation yo

ity ts commun

o Kitsilan ity Commun Centre

martial ar ative arts

Looking for the

sauna

cial rec rkshops so training wo

pilates arts yoga

l e whirlpoo

in Vancouver, and now what you will find is clubs are tending to grow within centralized regions of the city,” he said.

There are now major clubs with many teams at each level instead of small clubs spread out throughout the city, which has affected high school rugby.

“You’ve gone from having sort of a local connection … to a club for a school, to now where it is sort of hubbed,” he said.

The British Columbia Rugby Union wants to reinvigorate rugby within more schools, Dixon said.

He attributed the decline of rugby in schools to the many competing activities for kids.

Harp Sohi, the Vancouver School Board’s athletic director, said for the last few decades rugby has been primarily a West Side sport.

This fits with Pappas’ perception of his

computer

performing

fitness centr ice skating

Lord Byng rugby player Kosta Pappas is off to Sydney Australia with his team for a two-week tournament.

You can find our guide and all of our Spring/Summer program offerings at the community centre or at www.kitscc.com Registration begins Mon March 10 online, or Thurs March 13 in person/phone The Guide is also available at: IGA 2286 West Broadway

2733 West Broadway

sport as popular in his neighbourhood.

“Lots of my friends come out and watch, and then they want to join too,” he said.

Paul Hughes, East Vancouver’s Sir Charles Tupper secondary athletic director, said Tupper has Grade 8, 10 and senior rugby teams this year, but did not run a Grade 9 team due to lack of students.

Doug Sturrock coached rugby at Magee secondary school, in South Vancouver, for 33 years until he retired in 2004. He said the sport used to be popular across the city.

Prior to 1989 principals were allowed to hire teachers with the school’s coaching needs in mind. Since that time it has been more of a struggle to find coaches for most high school sports, including rugby, he said.

“It doesn’t matter what sport it is, if you have a teacher in the school who’ll coach

photo Dan Toulgoet

that sport, you are still going to attract a number of students to that sport,” he said.

Sturrock said in his time at Magee there were four rugby teams for grades 8 through 12 — Magee now runs a Grade 9 team and a senior team.

There used to be four teams at both Killarney and Vancouver Technical secondary as well, both no longer run rugby programs.

For Pappas, the decline of his sport in parts of the city isn’t on his radar. He is just happy to play.

Now in his fifth season playing at Byng, Pappas said rugby is his favourite because it is different than any other sport he has ever played.

“It is a brotherhood,” he said.

Follow MacPhee’s blog of the Byng tour at lordbyngrugbyaussietour2014.blogspot.ca. thuncher@shaw.ca

A34

THE VANCOUVER COURIER W E DN E SDAY, M A R C H 1 2 , 2 0 1 4

Your our Original

Food Store

Non-Medicated

Boneless & Skinle

Certified Organic

Frozen

Mexican Grown

ss

Pollock Fillets

Tomatoes

t s a e r B n e k c Chi

3

$ 5 $ 89 $ 2

2

7

/lb $15.98/kg

Olivia

Caribbean White

Shrimp

Organic

/lb $6.37/kg

Organic

T-Bone Steaks

Bone-In Rib Steaks

Non-Medicated

Pork Side Ribs

63 /lb $7.99/kg

Non-Medicated

Lean Ground Beef

$699 $1133 $1133 $399 $453 Each Frozen 400g

/lb $24.98/kg

From The Deli

U.S. Grown

Italian Prosciutto

Pink Lady Apples

$229 /100g

Imported

Asparagus

$199 /lb $4.39/kg

$139 /lb $3.06/kg

Amazing Grass

Organic Wheat Grass

Gluten Free & R aw

$

/lb $24.98/kg

/lb $8.80/kg

/lb $9.98/kg

Mexican Grown

Certified Organic

Certified Organic

Ataulfo Mangoes

U.S. Grown Leeks

Argentina Grown Butternut Squash

¢ 99

$299

Rice Dream

Potato Chips

Each

Hain Celestial

Non-Dairy Beverage

/lb $6.59/kg

Boulder Canyon Assorted

$199 /lb $4.39/kg

Natural

Sweet Cane Turbinado Sugar

99 $ 49 $ 59 $ 29 24 2 3 99 240g

12X946ml

142g

1kg

Non-Organic

Organic

Green Lentils

$799 2.5kg

Corn Flour

$799

CHECK US OUT WITH

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 8 am-9 pm

Sale Dates: Wednesday, March 12, 2014 – Tuesday, March 18, 2014

www.famousfoods.ca

2.5kg