Vancouver Courier April 1 2015 by Vancouver Courier

WEDNESDAY

April 1 2015 Vol. 106 No. 25

OPINION 10

Strathcona shows community ity CITY LIVING 14

Sword almighty! SPORTS 27

Eby rider

There’s more online at

vancourier.com MIDWEEK EDITION

THE VOICE of VANCOUVER NEIGHBOURHOODS since 1908

More drug injection services considered Health Canada yet to weigh in on current ‘illegal’ injection facility Mike Howell

mhowell@vancourier.com

STRANGE BREW Brewmaster Caleb Colten admires his handiwork outside city hall. The 10,000-square-foot City Hall Brewing Co. “demibrewery” will open its doors this summer in the basement of city hall with a line of environmental- and civic-minded craft beers. PHOTO DAN TOULGOET

City hall to convert cafeteria into craft brewery Civic-themed offerings on tap at ‘Upper Brewery Creek’ facility

Hal Incandenza

hincandenza@vancourier.com

With beehives on its roof and community gardens on its lawn, Vancouver city hall has taken what it says is the next logical step and is installing a craft brewery in its basement. In a few short months, City Hall Brewing Co. will open the doors of its 10,000-square-foot brewing facility and tasting room, occupying the former ground ﬂoor cafeteria of city hall. Larger than a nanobrewery and smaller than a microbrewery, the $1.3-million

“demibrewery” is the ﬁrst project of its kind to be launched in North America by a municipal government. “Craft beer has returned to Upper Brewery Creek” a press release from the city announced earlier this week, although no one from the city’s communication staff returned the Courier’s requests for an interview before print deadline. Utilizing state-of-the-art brewing technology that requires less water and produces less waste, the brewery, according to the press release, is in keeping with the city’s Greenest City 2020 Action Plan. Discarded mash and

runoff from the brewing process will be used to fertilize hops and barley grown on the back lawn of city hall, while growlers and other bottles sold at the brewery’s ﬁlling station will be made from biodegradable corn plastic. The brewery’s line of beers promises to be equally civic-minded. Rankin’s Lipwarmer is a described as a “robust” oatmeal stout that gets its name from long-serving city councillor Harry Rankin, while George Puil Bitter is a nod to the famously cantankerous NPA politician, with “a hoppy bite and lingering bitterness.” Continued on page 9

Vancouver Coastal Health will consider adding supervised drug injection services to existing health clinics if Health Canada grants an exemption to a downtown facility that has “illegally” operated an injection room for its registered clients since February 2002. Dr. Patricia Daly, the chief medical health ofﬁcer for Vancouver Coastal Health, said the health authority is still waiting for Health Canada’s decision on the Dr. Peter Centre before it looks to expand injection services in the city. The centre operates a three-booth injection room and allows for supervised injection in its residential care facility at Comox and Thurlow. It caters to people with AIDS and those dealing with mental health and addictions issues. “I’ve been disappointed at how long it’s taken,” Daly told the Courier. “We had hoped that if Health Canada approves that different type of model [at the centre], we could then expand that to other sites. We want that model elsewhere.” Daly wouldn’t speculate on how many sites but pointed to existing community health clinics, which already provide needle exchanges, as likely locations. The concern for staff at health clinics is that drug users continue to inject drugs outside a facility without supervision, she said. “They’re worried because they know some of these vulnerable residents might be injecting drugs and might overdose, and what are they going to do if that happens?” Daly said. Vancouver Coastal Health announced last week that Health Canada renewed an exemption for the Insite supervised drug injection site on East Hastings to operate for another year. But unlike Insite, the Dr. Peter Centre has never received an exemption in the 13 years it has operated its injection services and is considered “illegal” by Health Canada, although the Vancouver Police Department has consistently said it has no plans to shut it down. Staff at the centre consulted the College of Registered Nurses and a lawyer before offering the injection service in 2002. Continued on page 5

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News

The city’s homeless count and how it works

12TH&CAMBIE

The Development Permit Board and Advisory Panel will meet: Tuesday, April 7, 2015 at 3 pm Vancouver City Hall, 453 West 12th Avenue Ground Floor, Town Hall Meeting Room to consider the following development permit application:

Mike Howell

1099 Richards Street

mhowell@vancourier.com

Whatever the results reveal of the homeless count conducted over two days last week, don’t assume the final number is totally accurate. That’s not me being grumpy. It’s just a fact — that despite more than 400 volunteers taking to the streets and shelters, not every homeless person will be counted. “We’re pretty confident that we’re getting a good picture,” said Ethel Whitty, the city’s director of homelessness services, of the 24-hour snapshot. “Of course, it’s an under count. It’s got to be a bit of an under count. We’re not going to say we’ll find every single person.” But, as Whitty explained, the city spent a lot of time preparing for the count, working with experienced outreach teams across the city that resulted in 150 area maps to pinpoint homeless people. When volunteers do find people, the objective is not to just count a head and move on to find the next person. If possible, volunteers will speak to the person, record their gender, age, health issues, how long they’ve been homeless and any personal history that gives the city a better sense of the type of people on the street. Whitty acknowledged that her first thought years ago when she heard about the homeless count was that it would likely be invasive for the person being counted. She discovered otherwise. “In fact, it’s quite the opposite,” she said. “People want to tell you what’s happening with them. We have people who call our office every year after the count and say, ‘I was out there and no one approached me, and I want to be counted.’” Last year, volunteers who participated in a Metro Vancouver count, which included Vancouver, recorded 1,803 homeless people in the

Development Permit Board Meeting: April 7

To develop a 13-storey building containing 162 units of social/low cost housing and two and a half levels of underground parking with vehicle access from the rear lane. This development application (1099 Richards Street) is associated with the rezoning application at 508 Helmcken Street. As part of the public beneﬁts component to rezone the 508 Helmcken Street site, the applicant has proposed to provide social/low cost housing at 1099 Richard Street. Please contact City Hall Security (ground ﬂoor) if your vehicle may be parked at City Hall for more than two hours. TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM: 604-873-7469 or lorna.harvey@vancouver.ca Visit: vancouver.ca Phone: 3-1-1 TTY: 7-1-1 More than 400 volunteers participated in the city’s homeless count last week. Results are expected to go before city council sometime this summer. PHOTO DAN TOULGOET

city. More than 1,200 were in a shelter and 536 on the street. Some of the homeless included sex trade workers. Kate Gibson, the executive director of the WISH drop-in centre for women in the sex trade, said six women she spoke to at the facility last Monday identiﬁed as homeless. Of 33 other women she spoke to, 11 told her they didn’t feel safe in their current housing arrangement. “Which is telling in itself,” said Gibson, noting another question asked of the women is if they have to barter or trade for their room. Both Mayor Gregor Robertson and Vision Coun. Kerry Jang, who participated in this year’s count, said they noticed more young people on the street and in shelters than previous years. Last year’s count revealed the number of homeless people 25 years old or younger increased from 14 per cent, or 194, in 2012 to 21 per cent, or 255, in 2014. Young aboriginals were over represented in this category. The largest group of people counted last year was between 35 and 54 years old. They accounted for 46 per cent, or 551 people without a home.

The vast majority were men. Addiction issues, a medical condition and mental health concerns were prevalent in many of the homeless people who shared details of their lives. ••• As I reported last week, housing activists in the Downtown Eastside are worried more people are ending up on the street because landlords of single-room-occupancy hotels are renovating rooms and then jacking up rents. On Monday, several non-proﬁts issued a challenge to the provincial government to increase the $375 per month shelter rate for people on income assistance. The non-proﬁts, including the Atira Women’s Resources Society and the Aboriginal Front Door, noted that April 1 will mark eight years since the last increase to welfare rates. Single people on welfare in B.C. receive $610 a month, which includes the $375 for housing. As activists pointed out last week in their report that surveyed rents at private single-room hotels, more than 2,400 rooms were going for $425 per month or more. Another 445 rooms in nine hotels charged $700 and up. twitter.com/Howellings

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Update of heritage register in the works

Heritage Vancouver hosts talk asking ‘What is Vancouver’s Heritage?’ DEVELOPING STORY Naoibh O’Connor

noconnor@vancourier.com

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Annual General Meeting Results will be announced at the Annual General Meeting on Thursday, May 7, 2015 at The Anvil Centre, 777 Columbia Street, New Westminster. Registration at 5:30 pm, Conversation with Directors at 6 pm* and meeting at 7 pm. Live webcast at vancity.com/AGM A broadcast event* will be hosted at Mount Tolmie community branch, 100-1590 Cedar Hill Cross Road, Victoria. *To attend the Conversation with Directors at the AGM in New Westminster or for the broadcast event in Victoria, register in advance by calling 1.888.Vancity (826.2489) by 5 pm on Thursday, April 30.

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Back in the mid-1980s when the Vancouver Heritage Register — which identiﬁes about 2,200 of the city’s heritage sites and resources — was being completed, modern post-war buildings didn’t get any consideration, according to heritage expert Donald Luxton. “They weren’t on the list because 29 years ago they weren’t considered old enough,” he says. Among them is the Canada Customs Building, constructed in the 1950s and designed by CBK Van Norman. The building was knocked down in 1993. While there’s no guarantee it would have been saved had it been on the list, Luxton said at least its importance would have been noted. “There were landmark buildings that may not have been preserved just by being on the register, but it would have allowed, maybe, some consideration for them. So, again, the register doesn’t actually preserve things but it does set up a red ﬂag,” he said. “It also sends out a message that before you tear this building down, you are going to go through a process where we look at alternatives.” Luxton of Donald Luxton & Associates Ltd. is the lead consultant for the city’s Heritage Action Plan, a plan whose objectives include updating the Vancouver Heritage Register. Work on the updating project is in its preliminary stages, which includes background research that needs to be completed before launching into the update. “[There] are key processes of the work grinding away in the background before we go to the public. But what we are talking to people about as the process is unfolding is what people really value as heritage or what they feel may have been missed from the register and should have been included on the register, so we’re having general discussions about that right now,” he said. The Heritage Vancouver

Donald Luxton says modernist, post-war buildings were not considered when the register was completed in 1986. Many have since been knocked down, including the 1950s era Canada Customs Building designed by CBK Van Norman. The building was demolished in 1993. CVA 447-72 PHOTO WALTER E FROST

Society is getting in on the conversation. It’s hosting a talk entitled “What is Vancouver’s Heritage,” April 16 — the second of four events in a series called “Shaping Vancouver: Conversations on the Heritage Action Plan.” Discussion will centre on what Vancouver’s heritage is and what heritage values ought to be recognized — values which will be tied into a discussion of the heritage register update. Panelists will also discuss how the existing register can be improved to reﬂect and recognize a broad range of heritage values, beyond just the architectural. Panelists include Berdine Jonker, acting manager of Heritage Programs and Services with the B.C. Heritage Branch, Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations; Gerry McGeough, the UBC University architect and steward of the built environment and landscapes for UBC’s three campuses; and Dr. Henry Yu, an associate professor of history, and the principal of UBC’s St. John’s College. He was the project lead for the “Chinese Canadian Stories” public history and education project that ran from 2010 to 2012.

Luxton said the heritage register update will be publicly launched at the end of May and will include a public nomination process that runs into the fall. People will be able to nominate sites they think have value and which will be assessed as part of the update. Heritage Vancouver Society’s April 16 event runs from 7 to 9 p.m. at SFU Woodwards World Art Centre. Sessions are free, but require pre-registration. See heritagevancouver.org for more information. For more information on the update, search for the Heritage Action Plan on the city’s website.

Correction:

In last week’s Developing Story, “Helmcken heads back to public hearing,” I mistakenly wrote that Green Party Coun. Adriane Carr was one of two councillors who voted against sending the rezoning application for 508 Helmcken St. back to public hearing. In fact, it was the NPA’s Coun. Elizabeth Ball who voted against sending the application to public hearing, along with NPA Coun. George Afﬂeck. twitter.com/naoibh

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News

Act makes new sites difficult Continued from page 1 Vancouver Coastal Health, on behalf of the centre, applied to Health Canada in 2002 for the exemption and included it in the application for Insite, which opened in 2003. To this day, it still isn’t clear why the centre didn’t get an exemption. Health Canada declined to give a reason. The health authority’s latest request for an exemption came in February 2014. It was made before the Harper government, which has battled unsuccessfully in the courts to shut down Insite, passed new legislation to make it more difﬁcult, if not impossible, for an applicant to get a site open in Canada. Last week, the federal Conservatives passed the Respect for Communities Act, which sets out a detailed list of criteria an applicant must meet to open an injection site. Criteria includes providing information outlining the views of police, municipal leaders, public health ofﬁcials and provincial health ministers. The more onerous task of the applicant is to show

The Dr. Peter Centre has operated a three-booth drug injection room since 2002 and done so without an exemption from Health Canada. PHOTO DAN TOULGOET

the proposed injection site’s expected impact on crime rates and supply documentation on treatment options for drug users. The Act also requests the public health reasons for needing such a site and evidence there are resources to sustain the facility’s operations. “If there are businesses or people opposed to Insite and they submit a letter, that alone could be enough for the [federal] minister of health to deny the application,” Daly said.

Donald MacPherson, the city’s former drug policy coordinator, said he is aware of the health authority’s wish to expand drug injection services to health clinics. But MacPherson, who is now the director of the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition, said any new injection sites or services should be set up to handle high volumes of drug users. “If you put them in very low volume community clinics that actually can’t

handle a high volume of street-involved drug users, that’s a problem,” he said. But as Daly said, the health authority’s decision to expand injection services is dependent on what Health Canada decides regarding the Dr. Peter Centre’s application for an exemption. Health Canada has not told her when to expect a decision, although it requested more information on the application as recently as last week. twitter.com/Howellings

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News Donations raised for attack victim

More than $41,000 has been raised through an online donation site for the victim of a brutal sexual assault that happened in Strathcona March 26. A man armed with a weapon barged into a woman’s home on Hawks Avenue at Union Street shortly after noon, tied her up and sexually assaulted her. The victim was rescued by residents who heard her cries and intervened. Close to 800 people have donated to the gofundme.com site called “Strathcona Cares”as of the Courier’s press deadline. The money is to be used to support the victim in her recovery from the attack. Caleb Timothy Heaton, 25, faces seven charges in connection to the assault, including aggravated sexual assault, breaking and entering, robbery and unlawful conﬁnement. According to police, Heaton has a criminal record outside of B.C. The woman, who witnesses said was covered

Best Buy, which owns Future Shop, permanently closed 66 Future Shop locations and eliminated 500 full-time and 1,000 part-time jobs across Canada over the weekend. Future Shop gift cards will be accepted at Best Buy, while existing orders, warranties and service appointments will also reportedly be honoured by the parent company. Closures in the Lower Mainland include outlets in Vancouver, North Vancouver, Surrey, Coquitlam, Langley and two in Richmond.

in blood following the attack, is recovering in hospital from serious injuries, according to police. Around 250 people in the community walked in solidarity for the victim Friday night.

Courier wins national gold

The Vancouver Courier captured three awards in the 2015 Canadian Community Newspapers Awards competition. The Courier earned ﬁrst place for Best Coverage of the Arts, Best Editorial Page and Best Local Cartoon. Judged by industry experts, the awards, which were announced March 27, recognize the best in community publishing across Canada, in categories including writing, photography and multimedia. Winners in the 2015 Ma Murray community newspaper awards competition for B.C. and Yukon publications will be announced at a gala at the River Rock Casino Resort April 25. The Courier is a ﬁnal-

City, province given AAA rating

Cartoonist Geoff Olson won gold at this year’s Canadian Community Newspaper Awards.

ist in 10 categories in the provincial contest, including portrait/personality photo, business writing, feature writing series, investigative journalism, outdoor recreation, sports writing, cartoonist award, newspaper promotion, online innovation and the special publications category.

Future Shops close permanently Nine Future Shop outlets throughout B.C. will shutter permanently in the wake of cross-country closures announced March 28. However, 13 locations on the West Coast will be rebranded as Best Buy and re-open in the coming week.

The City of Vancouver’s AAA debt rating was affirmed March 27 by Moody’s Investors Service, upgrading our debt rating outlook to “stable.” The upgrade reflects the agency’s assessment the city will maintain a reduced debt burden and strengthened liquidity profile in the next few years following the repayment of the remaining Olympic-related debt in

2014. Last month, the credit rating was upgraded from AA to AA+ by Standard and Poor’s Ratings Services, with a stable outlook, indicating a low debt burden and very strong budgetary performance. British Columbia’s AAA credit rating has also been reaffirmed by Moody’s. The agency highlighted B.C.’s forecast of continued balanced budgets and says stabilizing the province’s debt burden is achievable. “The stable outlook on the province of British Columbia’s ratings reflects our opinion that the province has presented a credible plan of consistent balanced budgets with little risk that the debt burden will exceed current forecasts,” the report reads. Moody’s had given a negative outlook to B.C.’s rating in December 2012, due to a softening economic outlook, weaker commodity prices and increasing debt burden, but it reaffirmed the AAA credit rating in May 2014.

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News Municipal brewery first of its kind

Continued from page 1 Lil’ Sweet Capri is a blonde honey lager named after the ﬂaxen-haired former councillor Kim Capri, while Gregor’s Kilt is described “a beguiling Scotch ale as mysterious as what lies beneath the mayor’s tartan skirt.” Portland brewmaster Caleb Colten will oversee operations at City Hall Brewing Co., which will also offer in-house sausages, homemade marmalades and an assortment of “venison snacks.” Considered the bad boy of the Paciﬁc Northwest’s craft brewing and artisanal fermentation scene, the grizzled 43-yearold is credited with all but inventing Portland’s bespoke schnapps and mulled wine craze when he opened The Rusty Gullet in 2011. Colten recently took home Innovator of the Year nods at the 2014 International Craft

City Hall Brewing Co. hopes to open this summer.

Brewing Awards in Munich for his Shorn Beard YeastRoasted Mead, which judges described as “intriguingly off-putting.” The self-taught brewer and leathersmith says he’s looking forward to “brewing barley sandwiches and blowing people’s minds” while in Vancouver, which he only visited once before, when his former band, Hero Sandwich, opened for Wind Walker at the Hungry Eye in the mid-’90s.

“From what I can tell Vancouver’s craft beer scene is still pretty young and innocent, so I’m kind of like the creepy uncle who’ll bootleg for it and give it a pack of smokes,” Colten told the Courier. “Brewing beer is not rocket surgery. People just need to relax and let nature do its thing. That’s why I prefer to call myself a ‘beer choreographer’ rather than a brewmaster.” According to the city’s calculations, the brewery will be “revenue neutral”

for its ﬁrst two years of operation, and turn a healthy proﬁt by year three, which will then be reinvested into alcohol addiction programs and social initiatives aimed at 20- to 50-year-old Mount Pleasant residents whose lifestyle, coupled with lack of exercise and poor footwear, make them susceptible to a litany of health problems. Calls to the city’s communications department for further comment were not returned by the Courier’s deadline.

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Opinion Foolish not to learn Samaritans’ actions show Strathcona’s spirit from other major cities Trish Kelly Columnist trishkellyc@gmail.com Last week, something terrible happened in Strathcona, but I have never felt so proud to live here. Last Thursday in the middle of the day, a young man broke into a Strathcona home. He beat and sexually assaulted the woman who lived there. She screamed and fought him, and a neighbour heard her cries and came to help her. Outside her home, the assailant tried to run, but other neighbours held the man down until the police arrived. Within hours of the attack, residents had opened a coffee tab at the Union Market for the good Samaritans who had intervened. Another neighbour launched a fundraising website to help the assaulted woman’s recovery. A psychotherapist specializing in trauma offered a year of pro-bono counselling. And neighbours began organizing a community walk for the following night. On the same day, a woman was sexually assaulted in Point Grey. In that case, too, the attacker was a stranger. He got away and the police have not made an arrest. But there were no reports of vigils or fundraisers for the victim of that attack, a 30-year-old woman who was out jogging in a neighbourhood that is affluent enough to be considered safe. In the Downtown Eastside and industrial lands that border Strathcona, extreme marginalization makes women targets of sexual violence on a daily basis. We’ve lost many women who also deserved protection and support. But for those of us generally used to feeling safe in our homes, these marginalized lives are harder to identify with than the dangerous stranger knocking on a Strathcona door. Some of the circumstances that prevented the Strathcona assault from becoming a murder can be chalked up to luck, like the fact that the woman’s screams were heard by a passing neighbour, but some of it is about active choices that any neighbour can make. A woman who was being assaulted called for help and a bystander made a choice to intervene. Then he asked

for assistance to stop a rapist, and others chose to help. The police responded in a reasonable amount of time, and what could have been a new terror in the neighbourhood is instead a testament to how we care about each other. A gofundme.com page was posted within hours, and as I write this, more than $41,000 has been raised for the woman who was hurt. Many donations are anonymous, but many include encouraging thoughts signed by neighbours and people from other parts of the city, too. If the total climbs another $7,000, the community will have raised the equivalent of this postal code’s median annual income for a year. It’s a very civil notion that a survivor of sexual assault could put aside financial concerns for a year and focus on healing. I wish all survivors could feel so cared for. The walk that occurred Friday night was attended by several hundred people who gathered in support of the woman who still lay in hospital, for each other and for all the other women who have been raped and assaulted. There were no speeches or photo ops. Since the 1960s when city hall declared the neighbourhood a “blight” slated for demolition and urban renewal, Strathcona has been known for its ability to organize and fight. In partnership with strong voices in Chinatown, Strathcona fought city hall and prevented the destruction of the neighbourhood, and forever killed government plans for a freeway through downtown Vancouver. Strathcona has 50 years of activist history that prepared it for this crisis, but other neighbourhoods in Vancouver need to take this to heart. We can start small. We can say hello at the local coffee shop. We can learn our neighbours’ names, and when we see a woman targeted for harassment or violence, we can choose to intervene however we can. A strong, safe neighbourhood isn’t one where nothing bad ever happens; it’s one where people respond appropriately to crisis, danger or injustice. Strathcona has that aplenty. Let’s hope it spreads. twitter.com/ trishkellyc

Michael Geller Columnist michaelarthurgeller@gmail.com I cannot let this day go by without sharing two April Fools’ Day stories involving the Vancouver Courier. In 1998, I completed the development of Elm Park Place at the corner of West 41st and Larch Street. I often advertised the project in the Courier and, when I realized there would be an April 1 edition, I decided to have some fun. It was shortly after Prince Charles had visited the city. Instead of a conventional advertisement, I wrote an “advertorial” reporting that “according to often reliable sources, during his recent visit to Vancouver, the Prince had purchased a residence in Kerrisdale. While the Palace would not comment, the purchase was rumoured to be one of the remaining penthouses at Elm Park Place.” What I had not anticipated was the response from some pre-sale buyers who called my office as soon as their paper was delivered. How dare I sell to the royal couple without consulting with them? Imagine the security costs they were are now going to have to pay! The following year I still had a few suites left. The RAV Rapid Transit along Cambie Street was very much in the news and this prompted another advertorial in the March 31 edition. It reported that the government was secretly planning a SkyTrain extension to UBC along West 41st Avenue and included an artist’s illustration of the SkyTrain running past Elm Park Place. The next day my youngest daughter came home from Crofton House School with a big smile on her face. “You’ll never guess what, Daddy,” she exclaimed. One of her new classmates, whose family had recently arrived from Hong Kong, brought a copy of the Courier to her classroom “show and tell” to let everyone know there would soon be SkyTrain to Crofton House School. My daughter tried to explain it was really her dad’s April Fools’ Day joke, but the girl had never heard of April Fools’ Day. This year there will be no pranks. However, I am presenting a talk at SFU Wednesday evening on the theme “12 Great Ideas for Vancouver from

The week in num6ers...

In thousands of dollars, the amount of money raised so far through a gofundme. com account to help a woman viciously attacked in Strathcona last week.

3 400 3

The number of private drug injection booths operated at the Dr. Peter Centre for the past 13 years without official Health Canada approval.

The approximate number of volunteers who participated in this year’s annual homeless count. The results are expected to go before city council in July.

The number of Canadian Community Newspaper Awards won by the Courier this year for best arts coverage, best cartoon and best editorial page.

Around the World.” Here is a preview: • Vancouver is surrounded by water. While we have SeaBus and the False Creek ferries, we could make better use of this water for transportation, like Sydney or Hong Kong, or for housing like some of the new Dutch ﬂoating home communities. • Other cities may offer lessons on how to make Vancouver a friendlier city. • While we hold festivals and events to bring people together, we could do more. For example, every April 1, Odessa, Ukraine holds Humorina, an entire day devoted to the celebration of humour. It is a tradition dating back to the 1970s. • Given our desire to be the greenest city in the world, perhaps Vancouver could hold an annual sustainability festival, or other similar events. • We also need more public spaces where people can gather and better neighbourhood and buildings designs to foster greater interaction. • Other cities around the world offer lessons on how we might also make Vancouver a safer and healthier place in which to live. Some of these ideas were incorporated in SFU’s UniverCity community development. Tonight’s presentation will look at how to make existing and new neighbourhoods healthier and safer. • Vancouver has many beautiful tree-lined streets and well-maintained gardens. However, compared to other cities, we could do a lot more to landscape the city and keep it clean and tidy. We will look at what Irish cities and towns have been doing, as well as other cities around the world. • Since transportation is very much top of mind these days, the presentation will include examples of rapid bus and tram systems that will hopefully come to Vancouver one day, as well as how we might make Vancouver a more pedestrian-friendly city. • When it comes to city planning, other cities have developed various approaches to create a more ordered and harmonious appearance. Is this something Vancouver should consider? Tonight’s talk is at SFU Harbour Centre 515 West Hastings St. from 7 until 9. You can register at sfu.ca or take a chance and just come by. Of course, it is free. No fooling. twitter.com/michaelgeller

The number of Future Shop outlets in Metro Vancouver that permanently closed their doors on Saturday.

The hour of the day today April Fools’ Day pranks are meant to stop. Something to keep in mind if you read one of the Courier’s two front page stories after the noon deadline.

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Inbox LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Kudos to mayor for helping to try and end homelessness

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

Grizzlies set new record for losses

March 29, 1996: The Vancouver Grizzlies lose 105-91 to the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center, breaking the NBA record for consecutive losses in a season with 21. The Grizz, playing their third game in four nights, looked ready to be blown out early when the Jazz closed out the first quarter on a 15-4 run for a 35-24 lead. Vancouver nonetheless managed to take the lead 51-50 lead before the Jazz closed out the half with a 6-0 run. The Grizz ended the game with 62 points from their guards, including from 26 from Blue Edwards, but only four free throws from the power forward spot. The team, who earlier in their debut season had also lost 19 in a row, added two more losses to the record before finally beating the Timberwolves April 3.

Russian Rocket hits century mark

April 1, 1993: Russian forward Pavel Bure scores a third period goal against goaltender Pat Jablonski in a 5-3 away win over the Tampa Bay Lighting, becoming the first Vancouver Canucks player in team history to reach the 100-point mark in a single season. Bure finished the regular season with a club record 110 points and racked up another 107 the following year. Only four other Canucks players have since reached the NHL milestone: Alexander Mogilny in 1995-96, Markus Naslund in 2002-03, Henrik Sedin in 2009-10 and Daniel Sedin in 2010-11.

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Re: Letter: “Helping the homeless is everyone’s responsibility,” March 27. Thank you, Frank Harris, for writing this letter. You complimented Mayor Robertson for his work on the issue of homelessness despite his “failure” and I think you are right on. We get tied up, it seems, with the workings of politics and government and the fact that we expect these entities to take care of everything in our lives. It’s just taken for granted that this be so. We get to be so complacent and so comfortable and so busy playing the blame game and pass-thebuck that often we fail to acknowledge our own responsibilities and power as citizens. I must admit that I smirked a little when I also read in this Letters to the Editor section the comments regarding all the empty homes around the city, concerning the same article. It is ironic. However, I’m not sure if available houses is the only solution to homelessness. The original article by Mike Howell was about “street homelessness,” not homelessness in general. The homeless person living in the street is dealing with different circumstances than the homeless person who loses a dwelling because of a ﬁre or weather-related causes. Affordable housing is not a cure-all for everything, despite its desperate need. I just feel that Mayor Greg Robertson deserves a huge kudos in trying to better the situation for many members of our municipal society. So what if he didn’t make his election-promise goal? At least he tried. Frances Dietz, Vancouver

ONLINE COMMENTS Voting No not ‘inane’ choice

Re: “A new life abroad a good option for some,” March 25. I agree there have been many inane posts saying No. However, while agreeing that transit is critical, I suggest there is a paucity of consideration to alternative funding. The proposed tax is regressive in nature affecting low incomes to a much greater degree than higher earners. The lions share of funding gets earmarked for a hugely expensive and short subway which will produce a wall of towers lining Broadway from end-toend. This will enrich the large developers who currently pull the strings at Vancouver City Hall. The root cause of this issue rests with

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.

Helmcken hearing a disgrace

Re: “Helmcken application heads back to public hearing,” March 27. This is absolutely disgraceful. The March 24 public hearing was a rushed effort to change the deﬁnition of social housing to allow market rentals to be considered as social housing units so the Development Permit Board can approve massive bonus density without having to let the public know. I am so disappointed in everyone: city staff who prepared this report, developers who make massive proﬁts off the backs of the most vulnerable and puppet politicians. Noy Ko, via Comments section

have your say online...

FLYER SALES

Dee Dhaliwal

the provincial government who have abandoned the previous 2007 Provincial Transit Plan. One of the mayors stated there was “no plan B”. Well perhaps there ought to be, and possibly another route to completion of the 2007 goals should be revisited by the province. This is not a “once in a lifetime opportunity” — although perhaps it is for Gregor Robertson and other sitting mayors. Provincial estimates are used to justify the statement that “a million more residents will move here by 2040.” This appears based in the migration patterns established from 1985 onward. However, statistics is not crystal ball reading, and future world events may well interrupt said migration patterns. What if we build it and they don’t come, or we build it and two million people try to come? What is the maximum population that can be reasonably supported in the region? Will the build out result in the unintended consequence that result in favelas in North Vancouver and Coquitlam? From where [Michael Geller] stands, the incremental cost to a high income earner, who gets to travel to France on a whim, the projected costs are literally inconsequential. Try doing that on $16.00/hour! There are many reasonable reasons to vote No. A blanket statement that the only way forward is Yes does not adequately consider alternatives that may be hiding in plain sight. This process has been politicized by Christy Clark as she does not want to make command decisions that a true leader must. This has left the process open to some well intentioned and others who may have another agenda. That is why I voted No. My consideration was not a knee-jerk reaction. I was taught to think critically when I did my economics degree at the University of Alberta, later on I took the Urban Land courses at UBC and have been a licensed mortgage broker in Vancouver since 1995. I believe my education and experience has led me to a conclusion, while not in agreement with the Mayor’s Council, is far from inane. Timothy Stark, via Comments section

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

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THE VANCOUVER COURIER W E DN E SDAY, A P R I L 1 , 2 0 1 5

Medical ethics aided by advance input Who would you choose to make life or death decisions on your behalf? Davidicus Wong

davidicuswong.wordpress.com.

Do you believe that medical ethics is an area of philosophy that doesn’t apply to you? Many share that misconception. The principles of bioethics — autonomy, confidentiality, beneficence and non-maleficence — certainly sound like high level philosophical concepts. No wonder people assume that they’re not relevant to their everyday lives. In reality, ethics is at the core of your relationship with doctors and other healthcare providers. Although we seek to help our patients (the principle of beneficence), this must be balanced with the risk of doing harm. Every treatment, medication and test carries potential risks, including side effects and complications. For this reason, the first rule of medicine is to do no harm (non-maleficence). Tests and treatments, including medications and procedures, are merely the tools of medicine: ethics guides us in their use. In the practice of medicine, we have evidence-based protocols and guidelines on the best treatment of specific medical conditions, such as an acute stroke or heart attack. They are continually being updated based on clinical research. However, the treatment that individual patients would choose for themselves may not be what the guidelines recommend. In healthcare, we do not treat medical conditions in isolation — we treat the whole person in the context of a unique life. Individual autonomy (the ability to make one’s own choices) is a fundamental guiding principle.

“I have difficulty managing in my home on my own.”

Ethics is at the core of patients’ relationships with their doctors and other healthcare providers.

For example, if a previously capable adult was unconscious after suffering life-threatening blood loss in an automobile accident, the emergency doctor may recommend a blood transfusion to save his life. However, if that patient when capable left clear written instructions that he would not accept a blood transfusion under any circumstances, his wishes would be respected by the physician even if family members want him to receive the blood. During the time that Burnaby Hospital had its own Ethical Resources Committee, I was the chair for 17 years. In my

last 10 years in that role, I led a team providing ethics consultations at the request of families, patients and healthcare providers when they couldn’t agree on the best course of action. Many of the patients we were asked to see were in the intensive care unit or in long-term care, where it wasn’t clear if life support such as machine-assisted breathing, feeding tubes and IV ﬂuids would provide beneﬁt to the patient. In all cases, the patients were unconscious or for other reasons no longer capable of understanding their situation, making medical decisions and

communicating their preferences to the care team. In none of the cases had the patients put anything in writing in the past when they were capable of giving consent. Family members would then have to make heartwrenching decisions on behalf of the patient based on what they thought their loved one would want. Dilemmas arose when family members disagreed with one another or with members of the hospital care team. Sometimes, it wasn’t clear which family member was the most appropriate decision maker on behalf of the unconscious

or otherwise incapable patient. If you were the patient, who would you choose to make decisions on your behalf? Would they respect your values and all that gives your life meaning? Who has the right to see your medical records? Under what circumstances may you lose the right to make your own decisions? How do you make your wishes known in advance? I will address these questions in upcoming columns and at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 7, at the Bonsor Recreation Complex. I’ll be speaking on a topic relevant to your

care both in and out of the hospital in a lecture called “What You Should Know About Medical Ethics.” This free public talk is part of the Burnaby Division of Family Practice’s Empowering Patients education series. For more information, call Leona Cullen at 604-259-4450 or register online at lcullen@divisionsbc.ca. Dr. Davidicus Wong is a family physician. For more information on the Burnaby Division of Family Practice’s public health education series, check our website at divisionsbc.ca/burnaby. For more on achieving your positive potential at every age: davidicuswong.wordpress.com.

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An April 16 event at the Roundhouse Community Centre hopes to help break stigma surrounding depression. PHOTO DAN TOULGOET

Depression Confessions organized to start conversation

Deanna Cheng

dmwcheng7@gmail.com

Two men are sharing their stories of depression at the Roundhouse Community Centre April 16, in an attempt to “pull this thing out of the closet” and have a relevant, open conversation. Barry Jonas Samson and Darren Hepple are not trained professionals in the ﬁeld of mental health, but have experienced their own battles with the illness. Their event, Depression Confessions, will explore why depression is powerful, to what degree depression is a choice, what interventions worked for them and other ideas related to depression. They will also share their histories. “Stigma and secrecy are not serving anyone,” said Samson. “Powerful stories are powerful things for both the teller and the listener.” He expects an engaged, curious audience and hopes courageous questions will be asked so everyone in the room will feel and learn something. This event is just one of many posted at various community centres across the city in support of groups dedicated to those living with depression or for relatives of depressed individuals. Emotion Anonymous is

just one group dedicated to helping. A 2013, B.C. Ministry of Health guide said four per cent of Canadians will experience depression in any given year and while the cause is not fully known, it can be treated. According to the report, depression is not caused by being weak or having a bad attitude. Samson has told his story many times, which makes listeners feel more comfortable in telling theirs. “It is like a green light for them to be fully known and be vulnerable.” What he’s hoping to learn from this experience is whether this format will encourage learning, empowerment and healing. If it does, Samson and Hepple would like to see more similar events. When it comes to negative or harmful feedback, Samson said, “It is my hope that some people in the audience will challenge us on our own experiences and our own perspectives... I have about 14 years of personal growth, leadership and facilitation training behind me and what I have come to know is that all feedback has a message and sometimes the toughest feedback is where the gold is.” It will be a safe place to express oneself, Samson said. “We fully expect there

to be emotion in the room — that is the whole idea. If people feel angry, sad or inspired, I will see that as a success.” According to the Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Centre of B.C., the province’s suicide rates have remained at roughly 500 per year. The report noted approximately 11 people will end their lives by suicide today in Canada and four out of ﬁve people who die by suicide will have made at least one previous attempt. The report added, suicide and mental health problems are deeply connected. “It is estimated that 90 per cent of people who die by suicide were experiencing a mental health problem or illness,” the report reads in part. Advice from the B.C. Health Guide recommends if at any point a person feels like ending their life, they should seek medical help immediately. To talk to someone today, call 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) anywhere in B.C. To register for the Yaletown event, email barryjsamson@gmail.com. Depression Confessions takes place April 16 from 6:45 to 9:55 p.m. The centre is located at 181 Roundhouse Mews. twitter.com/writerly_dee

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Community 1

Swordplay Symposium attracts international crowd CITY LIVING

Rebecca Blissett

rvblissett@gmail.com

If you peered into one of the rooms on the top ﬂoor of the Vancouver Masonic Centre Saturday morning, you would’ve seen Finland’s Guy Windsor lead a workshop on the medieval longsword. Next room over, Eric Myers and Puck Curtis, both from Sacramento, Calif., taught swordplay students a class called “From Theory, Victory.” Other workshops during the third biennial Vancouver International Swordplay Symposium held Thursday to Sunday included Christian Tobler’s study of footwork, guards, blows and cutting patterns; Mark Mikita’s disarmament workshop; and Tom Leoni’s Bolognese Two Sword study. This tiny sampling of the symposium’s lineup is a big indication of its reputation, which can be measured by the number of out-of-town attendees who came from all over North America to attend. Devon Boorman, director and co-founder of Vancouver’s Academie Duello, which hosts the symposium, estimated 40 per cent of the 120 students came from the far corners of Canada and the U.S. “The goal of it is to expand people’s practice

of swordplay and to also invite swordsmanship communities around the world,” Boorman said after teaching his morning master class on the Italian rapier. “When we ﬁrst started, we felt Academie Duello was a very special place, and we wanted people to see it.” Boorman knows a bit about starting something from nothing. Academie Duello, which is the largest European swordplay and Western martial arts school in the world, began in 2004 with just a few people who practised at the Robson Square skating rink during the warmer months when the ice wasn’t in. When a few more people joined, the school moved to Crown Square on Hastings Street. Six years ago, it moved a few doors down to the large brick-walled space previously occupied by music store Long & McQuade to accommodate its membership of 200. Even Boorman’s martial arts education had humble beginnings. As a boy, he was inspired by watching Zorro movies (he still has the hat his mother made him as part of a costume when he was 10 years old), and sought out fencing classes. There were none, especially for young teens, but he did discover a Society for Creative Anachronism group that practised historical fencing as part of its repertoire.

“They met not far from where I was living, in Guildford, and they met in an underground parking lot of a building of one of the people in the class that lived there — it was very Highlander,” Boorman said, referring to the cult fantasy film. “And, in fact, the swordmaster for Highlander was in the group, which made it even extra Highlander!” Being a part of that dedicated group those years ago, especially one that included F. Braun McAsh, was the spark that fired up Boorman’s interest in all aspects of swordplay. The physical nature of the martial art aside, he also is involved in the translation and interpretation of historical documents surrounding European sword culture, some of which is on display at his school. “It isn’t people running around, pretending they’re in history or pretending to fight dragons or something like that. In swordplay the context is historical, but that’s true of any martial art,” Boorman said. “Even though the context we’re training for is not one you’re typically going to encounter on the street — very few people end up in spontaneous sword fights — it doesn’t make it any less relevant. “This happens to have a beautiful connection to history and a one-on-one competitive element that’s exciting for people.” twitter.com/rebeccablissett

1. Swordplay student Marika Purisima, wearing her fencing mask hand-painted to represent a hedgehog, attended Eric Myers and Puck Curtis’s Saturday morning workshop at the Vancouver Masonic Centre. The Vancouver International Swordplay Symposium ran Thursday through Sunday and was hosted by local school Academie Duello. 2. A sword student practises with her medieval longsword during one of Saturday morning’s workshops. 3. Guy Windsor, a swordplay instructor from Helsinki, Finland, demonstrates the medieval longsword Saturday morning. 4. The event showcased European swordsmanship and martial arts. See photo gallery online at vancourier.com. PHOTOS REBECCA BLISSETT

W E DN E SDAY, A P R I L 1 , 2 0 1 5 THE VANCOUVER COURIER

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W E D N E SDAY, A P R I L 1 , 2 0 1 5 THE VANCOUVER COURIER

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W E DN E SDAY, A P R I L 1 , 2 0 1 5 THE VANCOUVER COURIER

Family Al, spirited tenor Cedar Springs PARC

Get on board as the Stanley Park Miniature Train celebrates Easter now until April 6 with an assortment of Easter-themed activities.

Easter Train on track at Stanley Park COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Sandra Thomas

sthomas@vancourier.com

Stanley Park

Ride the Easter Train, visit the Easter Bunny, go on an Easter egg hunt, join in Easterthemed games and craft workshops and get your face painted in Easter colours. If you’re sensing a theme, you’d be right. The Stanley Park Miniature Train is celebrating Easter now through April 6 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. On rainy days, the train is covered and the Easter egg hunt is inside. Bring your own basket for the egg hunt. This is a popular family event so be sure to buy your tickets as soon as possible to avoid sold out rides. Tickets are sold in halfhour time slots and are good for one train ride during the time shown

on the ticket and for one entry to the other activities. Tip: ride the train at the start of your time slot and do the egg hunt after — unless your time slot is 5 p.m.

Oakridge

VanDusen Botanical Garden is throwing an epic Easter celebration dubbed the Great A-Mazing Egg Hunt for children aged two to 10, April 4 and 5. Kids can search for eggs and visit with the Easter Bunny. Tickets are available to purchase online at vandusengarden.org. This events sells out every year, so it’s suggested you purchase tickets as soon as possible.

Grandview Woodland

The Britannia Branch of the Vancouver Public Library hosts a free writing workshop April 21 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The Word Whips Writing Series will provide writing prompts and an

opportunity to share. Participants will spend 10 to 15 minutes writing to each prompt to see what they can whip up. This workshop is open to writers of all levels and genres. The library is located at 1661 Napier St. For more information, call 604-665-2222.

Commercial Drive: various locations

Verses Festival of Words celebrates ﬁve years with a Hullabaloo, a youth series that brings together poetry and musical performances, critical talks, new venues, the Canadian Individual Poetry Slam Championships and special guests, including Ivan Coyote, Kinnie Starr, Robert Priest and Sister Outsider — a.k.a. Denice and Dominique. Experience the largest alternative literary festival in Canada from April 23 to May 3. For more information and tickets, visit versesfestival.ca. twitter.com/sthomas10

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You can read Al’s full story online at parcliving.ca/ilivehere

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THE VANCOUVER COURIER W E DN E SDAY, A P R I L 1 , 2 0 1 5

Easter Worship in Vancouver

You are invited to our Holy Week Services

WEST POINT GREY UNITED CHURCH

4595 W. 8th Avenue at Tolmie www.wpguc.com Good Friday Bilingual Service April 3, 10:30am

Easter Worship Celebrations Sunday, April 5 English 10am Cantonese 11:30am

Chown Memorial and Chinese United Church 3519 Cambie St (at W19 Ave) Vancouver Tel: 604.876.7104

MARTIN LUTHER EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH

505 East 46th Avenue, Vancouver (one block West of Fraser St) Phone 604-325-0550

WE WELCOME YOU

Good Friday, April 3rd

Holy Week and Easter Services

April 3rd 10:30 am ~ Good Friday April 5th 10:30 am ~ Easter Service a joyous celebration of the resurrection with a joyous celebration with special music including a brass ensemble

9:00 am German Service 11:00 am English Service

(Both Services with Holy Communion)

Easter Sunday, 10:00 am Combined Service followed by an Easter Breakfast April 5th

Rev. E. Lindstrom

HOLY WEEK AND EASTER AT DUNBAR HEIGHTS UNITED CHURCH Tel 604-733-8040

West Point Grey Presbyterian Church & U-Campus Baptist Church (Mandarin) Welcome You to Worship!!

4397 West 12th Ave. (Corner of 12th Ave. and Trimble St.)

Joint Good Friday service April 3rd @ 11a.m.

Led by music leaders, children, and youth in both West Point Grey Presbyterian and U-Campus Baptist Churches.

Easter Sunday April 5th morning services: UCBC Mandarin service @ 9:15am WPG Presbyterian Church Easter Communion with Rev. Joyce Davis @ 11a.m. Blessings to you all at Easter time!! 西點長老會和UBC區校園浸信會歡迎您來敬拜上帝! 我們的地址是溫哥華西12街4397號，在Trimble夾12街的拐角處。 4月3日，禮拜五，主耶穌受難日聯合敬拜：上午11點開始，由西點長老會和 UBC區校園浸信會聯合主辦，有詩歌、讀經和禱告。 4月5日，復活節，UBC區校園浸信會(國語)主日敬拜：上午9:15開始。願神祝福大家!!

Celebrating over 100 years of faithful ministry in West Point Grey 604.224.7744 or www.vcn.bc.ca/wpgpc

Maundy Thursday, April 2nd at 6pm Eat, drink and remember Good Friday, April 3rd at 10am A time of spiritual practice St. John Passion (J.S. Bach) at Dunbar Heights UC, April 3rd at 7pm or at St. Andrew’s Wesley UC, April 4th at 7pm Dunbar Heights United Voices & Postmodern Camerata - by donation Easter Sunday, April 5th at 10am Communion and more! All ages, all questioners welcome every Sunday

3525 West 24th Avenue 604-731-6420 • www.dunbarheightsuc.ca

You are invited

to join in the drama of Holy Week and celebrate the Joy and New Life of Easter To ﬁnd the details of the services happening near you please see our website www.westsideanglican.ca

With our love and blessing for a Happy Easter from the Anglican parishes on the West side of Vancouver

Diocese of New Westminster

Anglican Church of Canada

W E DN E SDAY, A P R I L 1 , 2 0 1 5 THE VANCOUVER COURIER

Easter Worship

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in Vancouver

St. James’ Anglican Church Holy Week Guest Preacher:

The Right Rev’d Melissa Skelton, Bishop, Anglican Diocese of New Westminster, will be preaching at all Masses Holy Wednesday through Holy Saturday.

Holy Week Mass, With Address

Spirit pirit of Life Lif utheran CChurch Lutheran The New Covenant

Sung Oﬃce of Tenebrae

Supper 6 PM • Worship 7 PM

7:30 pm • Wednesday, April 1

Maundy Thursday, April 2

7:00 pm • Solemn Mass of the Ins of the Blessed Sacrament

Good Friday, April 3

10:00 am • St ons of the Cross for Children 2:00 pm • St ons of the Cross 3:00 pm • Solemn Liturgy of Good Friday

Good Friday

The Passion According to St. John

Worship 10 AM

9:00 pm • The Great Vigil and First Mass of Easter, with Holy Bap sm

Easter Day, April 5

8:30 am • Low Mass of the Resurr on 10:30 am • High Mass of the Resurr on, with Procession 5:00 pm • Evensong & on Cordova at Gore • 604-685-2532 • www.stjames.bc.ca

ST. MATTHIAS & ST. LUKE ANGLICAN CHURCH

4405 West 8th Avenue (Corner of Trimble) Tel: 604-224-0212 • Website: http://pointgreyanglican.com

Rector: The Rev. Scott Gould

Maundy Thursday : April 2, 2015 6 pm 7 pm

Easter Sunday

Festive Service of Holy Communion

Pancake Breakfast 8 AM Worship 10 AM

Spirit of Life Lutheran Church is a welcoming and all-inclusive Lutheran congregation (ELCIC). Come and join us!

Maundy Thursday Potluck Supper Holy Eucharist, The Washing of the Feet And Stripping of the Altar

Good Friday : April 3, 2015 12 pm

Holy Saturday, April 4

(West Point Grey) Anglican Church of Canada

HOLY WEEK WORSHIP SERVICES

Maundy Thursday

12:10 pm • Wednesday April 1

St. Helen’s

The Celebration of the Lord’s Passion and The Stations of the Cross

Holy Saturday : April 4, 2015 7:30 pm

The Great Vigil of Easter – New Fire

Easter Sunday : April 5, 2015 8 am 10 am

Holy Eucharist Festival Eucharist of the Resurrection

375 W 10th Ave • Vancouver, BC 604-874-2212 www.spiritoflifelutheran.ca

“ALL ARE WELCOME”

An open-hearted community journeying with Christ…come join us!

The Pain, The Passion...The Promise.

HOLY WEEK & EASTER WORSHIP SERVICES

Holy Week at

Curious about Christianity? Want to get connected (again) with faith and religion?

Everyone is welcome at these family-friendly worship services.

Maundy Thursday: April 2nd, 7:30pm Foot-washing & Eucharist Good Friday:

Easter Sunday:

April 3rd, 12 noon Church available at 11am for private prayers Meditation on the Cross & Distribution of Communion April 5th, 10:30am Service of Light & Eucharist + Children’s Easter Egg Hunt

604-321-7101 Email: info@stmstl.org Facebook: 2 blocks west of the Langara-49 Ave StMatthiasStLukeAnglicanChurch

680 West 49 Ave Vancouver, BC V5Z 2S4 Canada Line SkyTrain Station

www.stmstl.org

DUNBAR EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH All are invited to join us as we journey through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Maundy Thursday:

April 2nd : Holy Communion, 10:30 am

Good Friday:

April 3rd : Tenebrae Service with Solemn Communion 10:30 am

Easter Sunday: April 5th

Easter Sunrise Fire in the Garden: 8:30 am Breakfast Service of Holy Communion, 10:30 am 3491 West 31st Ave,Vancouver tel: 604-266-6818 www.dunbarlutheran.ca Pastor:Thomas Keeley

THE VANCOUVER COURIER W E DN E SDAY, A P R I L 1 , 2 0 1 5

R E V U O C N

Y R R E C H SOM S O BL L

5 1 20

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A V I T S E F

APRIL 2 29 -

COME OUT & CELEBRATE! C April 11 & 12

Sunday, April 19

SAKURA DAYS JAPAN FAIR

SAKURA NIGHT GALA

Featuring Dragon Ball Z, Black Lagoon and Death Note stars!

Chefs sharing their passion for Japanese cuisine

10am to 5pm VanDusen Botanical Garden

FOR A LIST OF ALL THE OTHER FREE EVENTS VISIT:

6:30pm to 9:30pm Tojo's Restaurant

VCBF.CA

W E DN E SDAY, A P R I L 1 , 2 0 1 5 THE VANCOUVER COURIER

Arts&Entertainment

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GOT ARTS? 604.738.1411 or events@vancourier.com

April 1 to 3, 2015

1. Singer-songwriter Dustin Bentall shares the stage with the Odds and East Coast rockers Matt Mays and Adam Baldwin to pay tribute to Mays’ bandmate Jay Smith, who committed suicide in 2013 while on tour. The April 1 beneﬁt at the Imperial celebrates Smiths’ life with music and raises money for the Unison Benevolent Fund, which offers counselling services for people working in the music industry who are struggling with mental illness or dealing with the grief of losing someone. Tickets at Red Cat, Highlife, Zulu Records and ticketweb.ca. 2. Live variety show Paul Anthony’s Talent Time is back at the Rio Theatre for its monthly injection of wackiness. Performances include local glee club Perry Ehrlich’s Showstoppers, comedian Ivan Decker, the Langley Ukulele Ensemble, co-host Ryan Beil and a live house band. It all goes down April 2, 8 p.m. Details at riotheatre.ca.

3. In connection with Gilberto Gil’s upcoming performance at the Chan Centre, the Cinematheque screens Marcelo Machado’s ﬁlm Tropicália, which documents the sounds, images and history of one of Brazil’s most iconic cultural movements of the late 1960s. Featuring the music of Gil, Caetano Veloso, Os Mutantes, Tom Zé and Gal Costa, among others, Tropicália screens April 2, 7 p.m. Details at thecinematheque.ca. 4. The Con8 Collective teams up with Julianne Chapple, Ziyian Kwan and MAYCE in collaboration with Janelle Reid for 12 Minutes Max, billed as an “opportunity for artists to show eclectic and innovative new works that ran under 12 minutes.” The dance performances take place April 1, 6 p.m. at the Scotiabank Dance Centre. Admission is free. Information at thedancecentre.ca.

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THE VANCOUVER COURIER W E DN E SDAY, A P R I L 1 , 2 0 1 5

Arts&Entertainment

A matter of selfie stick expression If an event takes place and you can’t take a picture of yourself in front of said event, did it actually happen?

KUDOS & KVETCHES First they came for our bottled water and snack food purchased outside the concert venue and I did not speak out because I do not purchase bottled water or snack food, let alone bring bottled water or snack food into a concert venue. Then they came for our backpacks for security to search before we were able to enter the concert venue and I did not speak out because I do not wear a backpack. Then they came for our selﬁe sticks…. Yes, according to the Associated Press, both the Coachella and Lollapalooza music festivals have added selﬁe sticks to their long list of items concertgoers are not allowed to bring into the increasingly micromanaged world of hedonistic live music viewing rituals. In case you haven’t

walked along Vancouver’s seawall in the last two years, selfie sticks are those rod-like gizmos people affix their cameras or smartphones to and hold at arms-length in an attempt to take better photos or videos of themselves — at least better than if they simply held their phones in their hands and made duck faces. And it’s not just music festivals that are attempting to suppress the will of narcissists, amateur photographers and cataloguers of banal moments and inconsequential blips on the radar of life. In Europe, the Palace of Versailles, London’s National Gallery and the Colosseum in Rome have also banned selfie sticks, claiming a need “to protect exhibits on display and ensure the safety of visitors.” Closer to home, public events such as the Squamish Valley Music Festi-

val, Bard on the Beach and Theatre Under the Stars have yet to weigh in on the hot topic of selfie sticks. But similar to the riddle “If a tree falls in a forest, and no one hears it, does it make a sound?,” one has to ask, if the Funk Hunters are performing one of their signature high-energy DJ sets and groundbreaking audio-visual shows at the Blistex Lip Balm Chill-out tent and I don’t have a selfie stick to take a poorly lit, randomly composed photo of myself and my BFF @HottieBriannaX giving the devil horn sign with blurry figures that I can assure you are the Funk Brothers totally killing it in the background, was I even there? Did the concert even happen? And what am I going to post to my Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tumblr accounts? Bummmmmmer. twitter.com/KudosKvetches

Both the Coachella and Lollapalooza music festivals have added selfie sticks to their long lists of contraband items one cannot bring to their events.

A DV ERTISEMENT

NO ORDINARY PAPER BAG Since January 1st food scraps have been banned from Metro Vancouver waste facilities. We recently spoke with Carson O’Neill, CEO of Bag To Earth, an innovative Canadian company that makes it easy to get food waste to the collection bin without the mess. Collecting food scraps can be unappealing, even for the ‘greenest’ among us. What’s your secret, Carson? It’s the unique natural ﬁbre liner in our paper food waste bags which makes them leak-resistant. And when the top of our bag is closed, it is also odour-proof.

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It seems such a huge undertaking. How do we tackle it? It is a huge undertaking, which is why the community program is the platform. And here’s something Vancouver residents can be proud of: The Metro Vancouver Regional District has one of the most comprehensive food waste diversion programs in

A DV ERTISEMENT

Canada. The recent ban on food scraps from Metro Vancouver waste facilities is just one example of how committed the municipalities are to this program.

How do residents of apartment buildings and multi-family dwellings get involved? As of January 1st, all businesses and multi-family and multi-residential buildings in Metro Vancouver are being encouraged to introduce a food scrap recycling program. If yours isn’t one of them, you can contact your local municipality for details. You can also encourage your strata council, property manager or landlord to introduce such a program.

ORGANIC FOOD WASTE

How did Bag To Earth get into this industry? Our roots in the paper industry in Canada date back to 1946. We evolved our offering to now include products designed to help consumers get rid of their food waste cleanly — and in such a way that is fully compostable. Why should we care? Why is food waste diversion so important? For the environment: When our food waste goes to a landﬁll, or garbage dump, it increases greenhouse gas emissions which, in turn, contribute to global warming. But when we re-direct food waste to composting sites it fully decomposes and actually enriches the soil.

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What’s your company doing in other regions?

Our products are available in most major markets in Canada, particularly those with food waste diversion programs. We are also currently expanding into the United States in markets like San Francisco, so this is a very exciting time for Bag To Earth.

Anything else you’d like to share with our readers? We encourage all residents to participate in their local food waste diversion program and to check out www.bagtoearth.com for more information.

W E DN E SDAY, A P R I L 1 , 2 0 1 5 THE VANCOUVER COURIER

Arts&Entertainment Chekovian mash-up signals arrival of theatre’s silly season Jo Ledingham joled@telus.net

Spam, playing Scrabble and Monopoly (“Better than killing prostitutes in video games,” he says), Ozzie and Harriet and Old Yeller. “The ’50s were idiotic but I miss part of them,” wails Vanya. Our society, he says, is “disconnected.” This monologue echoes one by Gayev in The Cherry Orchard when he waxes silly over the family’s “dear, honoured bookcase.” It’s not the bookcase Gayev will miss when the house is sold; it’s the shared past with shared values. In our gadget-ridden, screenbesotted, 21st century world, we understand the disconnection that comes, ironically, from always being connected. But you do have to go digging in Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike to ﬁnd depth. Directed by Rachel Ditor, the play skims the surface and goes for laughs — which it gets. Salvador’s “reverse strip-tease” is wild; he just seems “crotch ﬁrst” all the time. Hoffman’s Nina is so bright-eyed and star struck you could weep for her. “You must always get your hopes up,” Nina says. Spoken like a child of the universe. And Aguirre’s hyperventilating howl repeatedly gets laughs. It all happens on Alison Green’s lovely set: the interior of a gracious old home. Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike is not a bad play — it’s just not

a great play. And I was entertained. But Spring has come early to Vancouver and the worry is that the theatre’s “silly season” has arrived early, too. For more reviews, go to joledingham.ca. Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike is at the Stanley until April 19. For tickets, call 604-687-1644 or go to artsclub.com.

K OO PR

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FINALISTS OF THE

S IZE

As you might guess from the title, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike is a mash-up of the major plays of Chekhov, scrambled together by American playwright Christopher Durang and set in the present. Some of the pleasure is derived from getting the allusions and patting yourself on the back when you ﬁnd them, although it’s probably fun even if you don’t know them. Vanya, Sonia and Masha are the grown-up offspring of now deceased “community theatre” thespian parents. Masha (Anna Galvin) is an actress but probably not a very good one and, in the role, Galvin is relentlessly, hilariously self-absorbed. Married ﬁve times, at 41 Masha is now hanging out with 20-something Spike (Robert Salvador), a superstudly would-be actor. Masha makes B-movies and pays the bills on the family home where her unmarried, 50-something siblings Vanya (Jay Brazeau) and Sonia (Susinn McFarlen) spend their time drinking coffee on the couch and sniping at each other. There are cherry trees out back but not quite enough to make an orchard. There’s a young neigh-

bour called Nina (Katey Hoffman) who’s dazzled by Masha’s celebrity, and there’s a kooky housekeeper called Cassandra (Carmen Aguirre) who sees the future. And, yes, it looks as if Masha is going to sell the house. There are some very funny lines in this play and they are delivered by two of Vancouver’s ﬁnest: McFarlen and Brazeau. But you have to doubt the discernment of American award committees that gave Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike the Tony Award for Best Play and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play in 2013. It’s funny and it’s entertaining and I did laugh, but if this play represents the best America has to offer, American theatre is in big trouble. It’s true that if you go digging, there’s meat in this mash. Chekhovian themes run through it: longing for a different life, unfulﬁlled dreams and paralyzing resistance to change. Indeed, Brazeau delivers a long harangue late in the play and it feels as if the whole play has been leading to the moment when Vanya (and/or the playwright) can lament the past — represented ludicrously by “postage stamps that required licking.” It’s really a boomer’s rant: memories of watching lame TV with the family, dial phones, writing letters with a pen, eating

BC B

THEATRE REVIEW

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The Arts Club’s production Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike mashes up the major plays of Chekhov and sets them in the present. Shirtless air guitaring ensues.

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*When you purchase a complete pair of eyeglasses you will receive 50% off the frames and lenses. Coatings are extra. Selection may vary by store. Excludes special orders. Does not apply to sunglasses. Offers cannot be combined with any store or other discount, sale or coupon offer. Valid at participating locations on indicated valid dates only. See optician in-store for details. ®/™ Trademarks of Loblaws Inc. and others. All rights reserved, used with permission. ©2015.

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W E DN E SDAY, A P R I L 1 , 2 0 1 5 THE VANCOUVER COURIER

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Sports&Recreation

GOT SPORTS? 604.630.3549 or mstewart@vancourier.com

By Megan Stewart

Haber’s header lifts Canada over Guatemala

Canada’s Marcus Haber (No. 11).

The men’s national soccer team got its first win of the year on a set-play that found Vancouver’s Marcus Haber for the go-ahead goal in a 1-0 win over Guatemala at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. March 28. Haber, 26, notched his second goal for Canada at the senior level by heading in the corner kick from Kyle Bekker in the 11th minute on a day, according to Soccer Canada, “when creativity was hampered with strongly gusting winds made things complicated for both teams.” Head coach Benito Floro has a knack for staging goals on direct plays off free kicks and from the corner. Canada remains unbeaten against CONCACAF opposition with two wins and a draw in three games. The World Cup qualifiers and CONCACAF Gold Cup are on the horizon for Canada, and Haber, who plays in England, said the national side is feeling encouraged. “We’re getting up to the real thing with the Gold Cup and World Cup qualifiers, so it’s important we get some results and everyone’s happy for sure,” he said in a Soccer Canada announcement. “This gives us confidence. We feel good as a team and we’ve got good depth and players that can contribute all over the park and the players that came off the bench gave us a lift in these conditions.”

T-Birds coach Jedrzejek hangs up his cleats Marek Jedrzejek, the head coach of the cross country and track and field teams at UBC, will retire at the end of this competitive season. Jedrzejek joined the Thunderbirds cross country program in 1987 and then expanded his leadership to the athletics squad in 2001. In 2000, he coached Canada at the Summer Olympic Games in Sydney. He is a two-time NAIA women’s cross-country coach of the year for 2012 and ’13. In those seasons, the T-Birds won two straight NAIA national championships. In 2014, at the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, UBC combined to win five gold, five silver and two bronze medals. The women finished third overall, their first podium finish ever, while the men finished in fifth place. UBC is hiring a new coach to begin in August.

Full Count The cost of turf…

1.3

In millions of dollars, the cost of a new turf field at B.C. Place. Due for replacement in 2016, the artificial surface will be overhauled next month in time for the FIFA World Cup, which begins across Canada in June and sees action in Vancouver June 8. Canada Soccer and Rugby Canada contributed $500,000 to the improvement while stadium owner PavCo is chipping in the remaining $827,000. B.C. Place identified the official name of the news surface, which is supplied by a Burnaby company, as LigaTurf RS+CoolPlus World Cup Edition 260 W ACS 90 Bionic Fibre Infill. The special two-tone green “grass” promises to look sharp on HD television.

David Eby rides a custom bike built by Curious Cargo Bikes to meet constituents in his Point Grey riding. PHOTO DAN TOULGOET

Peddling Point Grey politics

NDP MLA David Eby takes his work on the road MY BIKE Chris Bruntlett

chris@modacitylife.com

David Eby Age: 38 Bike: KHS Flite 747 for day-to-day use; custom-built cargo bike for occasional use Time on these bikes: three years on KHS Flite; one year on cargo bike Favourite Vancouver bike-route: West Waterfront Road and NW Marine Drive Quote: “Bikes are community builders if you use them creatively.”

After defeating sitting premier and B.C. Liberal leader Christy Clark by just 1,063 votes in the 2013 provincial election, civil rights lawyer David Eby set about best representing the 55,000 constituents of his adopted Vancouver-Point Grey riding. “Our initial idea was to convert a small camper van into a mobile office,” Eby said. “But we learned provincial guidelines specifically prohibit using part of our rent budget on a motor vehicle.” With one full-time staff member and a limited office budget, he secured a small

storefront at West Broadway and MacDonald and took inspiration from the rise of car–go bike- businesses in the city that sell everything from coffee to ice cream. He was introduced to bike builder George Rahi, and an idea was hatched. Rahi, as it turns out, designed and fabricated a handful of purpose-built machines over the years and had just launched Curious Cargo Bikes, a business named after the reaction his creations received on the street. Eby’s mobile office was Rahi’s first commission. “I wanted to build something that provided a big presence but was still light and nimble to ride,” said Rahi. “There weren’t many examples to draw from, which was part of the challenge.” Summed up, the task he set for himself was “imagining new uses for cargo bikes and building on their unique ability to create gathering places wherever they go.” Eby said the mobile constituency office has delivered in spades, attracting crowds at farmers markets, festivals and community events throughout the spring, summer and autumn. Eby posts a calendar of events he and the cargo bike will attend and the MLA accepts suggestions via an online form. In addition to providing a means of getting out

into the community, the cargo bike doubles as an icebreaker, said Eby. “Approaching a politician is always an intimidating endeavor, but the bike is a great conversation starter, making me more approachable to my constituents,” he said. After a quick chat about the bike, Eby said he then offers assistance, usually by answering a question or addressing a concern. Eby has always been a bike commuter, first braving the hectic streets of Toronto during his university days, and later Vancouver’s more bikefriendly streets. He applauds the recent investment in safe, separated infrastructure, and the subsequent surge in ridership numbers. “Every year, I definitely notice more and more cyclists on my daily travels, and sometimes even find myself caught in traffic.” (This last one is a point he makes with glee.) Of course, his riding contains the city’s latest and most contentious piece of infrastructure — the Seaside Greenway, which runs along Point Grey Road from the Burrard Bridge to Jericho Beach. Twelve months after its installation, he suggests even the most vocal of critics is coming around, and the community has begun to embrace the calmer, more humane traffic flow. “And to their credit,” he

said, “city staff have done a remarkable job in responding to individual concerns around rerouted traffic.” On a provincial level, Eby is interested in cycling’s significant return on investment, calling it an excellent opportunity for the government to facilitate economic growth. In his role as the NDP’s critic on tourism, he sees the untapped potential for British Columbia as a bicycle travel destination. The potential is one hinted at by Transportation Minister Todd Stone in the 10-year transportation plan. However, cycling projects remain a paltry 0.7 per cent of that spending, a far cry from the money needed to establish it as a serious and reliable mode of transportation that matches the unprecedented levels of investment seen in other jurisdictions around the world. Eby’s mobile office has been a creative solution, one he hopes other politicians will consider replicating. In fact, he has already heard from other MLAs in the Lower Mainland and has had interest from as far away as New Zealand. Next up for Eby are plans to get his six-month-old son Ezra out for a spin to Jericho Beach. Chris Bruntlett is a cofounder of Modacity and is inspired to live a happy life of urban mobility.

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THE VANCOUVER COURIER W E DN E SDAY, A P R I L 1 , 2 0 1 5

Sports&Recreation 1

All-stars go the distance in annual showcase BASKETBALL

Megan Stewart

mstewart@vancourier.com

A come-from-behind surge by the Home team propelled the senior girls allstar game into overtime, but it wasn’t enough to clinch the win as the Away side prevailed 64-60. The city’s best graduating public school players separated into Home and

Away teams for an elite showcase at Langara College March 27. Churchill Bulldogs coaching staff Sabrina Chan and Jennifer Eng led the Home side while Van Tech’s Nikko Baybay and Prince of Wales’ Lori Clarke paired up to coach the Away team. Teams were drawn from Tier I and II teams and selected by the coaches for an evenstrength contest. After locking down at 28

points each at halftime, the Home team led 51-45 by the start of the fourth quarter. With four minutes to play, Home protected a 59-48 lead and had the win in their grasp. But thanks to uptempo play by Britannia duo Julian Duong and Jeanne d’Arc Le, the Away side went on an 11-point run to tie the game at 59 and force extra minutes. Quick buckets from Killarney’s six-foot-one centre Tearra McBride, John Oliver’s

Amarpreet Randhawa and Churchill’s Tova Rae gave the Home team the points they needed to win 64-60. Playing for Home, Killarney’s Jazzy Aure led all players with 14 points, including four baskets from the perimeter. Rae and Randhawa each added 12 more points in the win. For the Away side, Duong had 11 points and Gladstone’s Hauna Wong put up eight points. twitter.com/MHStewart

1. Prince of Wales’ Carol Xue (No. 6) and Away teammate Daisy Qi (No. 31) close in on Magee’s Melissa Ko (No.10) in the senior girls all-star basketball game at Langara College on March 27. 2. Britannia’s Jeanne d’Arc Le (No. 7) directs traffic for the Away side. 3. Hamber’s Daisy Qi (No. 31) holds back Churchill’s Tova Rae (No. 4). PHOTOS DAN TOULGOET

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■ 2.5 H15 Valid Wednesday, April 1 to Monday, April 6, 2015. 10%, 15% & 20% offers: Discounts are mutually exclusive. No price adjustments on purchases made prior to Wednesday, April 1, 2015. Offers cannot be combined with any other offer or new account discount. Refunds on purchase(s) made using this offer will be reduced by the value of the offer as indicated on the sales receipt. This offer cannot be redeemed at our Liquidation Stores at Yorktown Plaza, Newmarket, ON & Metrotown, Burnaby, BC. 15% & 20% offers: Excludes regular, sale and clearance kitchen electrics, household appliances, cookware, beverage consumables, beverage pods, furniture with .00 price endings, vacuums, mattresses, patio furniture & personal care, All-Clad, Dyson, Le Creuset, Licensed Departments, Gift Cards, POSA, Gift Registry online & Smart Buys. 10% offer: Applicable on regular, sale and clearance items including kitchen electrics, household appliances, cookware, beverage consumables, beverage pods, furniture with .00 price endings, vacuums, mattresses, patio furniture & personal care. Excludes Dyson, Saeco, Breville The Boss™ blender, Jura, Licensed Departments, Gift Cards, POSA, Gift Registry online and Smart Buys. Hudson’s Bay, Hudson’s Bay Credit, Home Outﬁtters, hbc.com and their associated designs are trademarks of Hudson’s Bay Company. Credit is extended by Capital One Bank (Canada Branch). Capital One® is a registered trademark of Capital One Financial Corporation. MasterCard and the MasterCard brand mark are registered trademarks of MasterCard International Incorporated. All marks used under licence. All rights reserved.

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A32

THE VANCOUVER COURIER W E DN E SDAY, A P R I L 1 , 2 0 1 5

Feed your inner Stay healthy this EASTER with KIN’S!

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Chicken ASPARAGUS Q uiche INGREDIENTS: 1 9” pie crust ¼ cup butter, cubed 1 bunch fresh asparagus, chopped 1 medium onion, chopped 1/2 cup sliced fresh mushrooms 1 cup cooked chicken breast, chopped 3 eggs, lightly beaten 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese 1/4 cup minced fresh parsley ¼ tsp oregano Salt and pepper DIRECTIONS: 1. In a large skillet, sauté the asparagus, onion and mushrooms in butter. In a large bowl, combine the eggs, cheese, parsley, and oregano. Season the egg mixture with salt and pepper and then stir in the asparagus mixture and cooked chicken breast. Mix together until everything is well combined. 2. Pour the mixture into crust and bake at 375° for 25-30 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean.

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