Vancouver Courier July 15 2015 by Vancouver Courier

WEDNESDAY

July 15 2015 Vol. 106 No. 55

CITY LIVING 8

Brock House of ages OPINION 10

Kettle concerns boil over STATE OF THE ARTS 20

Frazey Ford does Folk Fest There’s more online at

vancourier.com MIDWEEK EDITION

THE VOICE of VANCOUVER NEIGHBOURHOODS since 1908

Youth program provides more than shelter Cheryl Rossi

crossi@vancourier.com

AIR TIME James Clarke gets big air during Saturday’s finals of the Van Doren Invitational at Hastings Skatepark. Clarke, a Vancouverite, was one of the only skaters in the international skateboard competition who was a true indie, skating without the backing of big sponsorship. See story and photo gallery on page 21. PHOTO REBECCA BLISSETT

Mayor plans to renew call for papal visit to Downtown Eastside Mike Howell

mhowell@vancourier.com

If the opportunity presents itself when he visits the Vatican next week, Mayor Gregor Robertson says he will renew a request from a delegation of faith groups to personally invite Pope Francis to the Downtown Eastside in an effort to bring international attention to the city’s mental health, addictions and homelessness crises. Robertson will be in Vatican City July 21 as a participant in a two-day workshop with the Pope in which climate change and “modern slavery” will be discussed among city and state leaders, including the mayors of Seattle and Portland and California Gov. Jerry Brown. “If I have the opportunity, I’ll certainly be restating that invitation to come visit Van-

couver and see our challenges with poverty ﬁrsthand, which is surprising for such an afﬂuent city,” Robertson told the Courier by telephone Monday. “We have our set of problems that have been tough to solve and he’s demonstrated his commitment to tackling poverty in all its forms.” Robertson believes a visit from the Pope would draw “enormous attention” to poverty and its associated problems in the Downtown Eastside. Such a visit, he added, would signal the importance of the provincial and federal governments to commit to a second round of investments to continue the work of the now-defunct Vancouver Agreement, which saw all three levels of government spend money in an effort to improve life for residents. “There’s been slow change in the neighbourhood and lots more people

housed, but there’s a lot more work to do and it would be great to have that level of attention from the Pope to catalyze some change with the B.C. and Canadian government,” the mayor said. In February, a group representing a broad range of faiths, including Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish and Muslim, sent a letter to Pope Francis requesting he visit Vancouver to walk the Downtown Eastside and “break bread with the residents and others.” The group, which is led by the city’s former homeless advocate Judy Graves and lawyer Tom Beasley, also wants the Pope to visit an urban and remote reserve in Canada to better understand the plight of aboriginal people, many of whom move to the Downtown Eastside and end up on the streets. Continued on page 5

It wasn’t his bisexuality that estranged David from his family but his father’s drug and alcohol problems and David’s own abuse of these substances as a teenager. “I started living by my own at 16 years old,” the 23-year-old said. “I had some help and support from my grandma at the time, but she unfortunately died when I was 18.” He lost his job, his relationship ended and he found himself homeless, so David travelled from Montreal to Toronto and then Vancouver. He stayed at Covenant House and at RainCity HEAT shelters. He was homeless on and off for six years until RainCity gave him a room in January and then helped him secure a market apartment in April. That was made possible with the help of a rent subsidy from B.C. Housing, under RainCity’s LGBTQ2S youth housing project. RainCity Housing and Support Society is operating a housing and support program specifically for chronically and episodically homeless lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer and two-spirited youth — the first program of its kind in Canada. RainCity has helped 11 such youth, aged 18 to 24, secure housing. Research reveals that 25 to 40 per cent of homeless youth in Canada are LGBTQ2S, the identity of approximately 10 per cent of the general population. David chose to reside on his own while other youth live with more structure in a communal house. RainCity first helped David with a shelter bed, then with referrals to counselling and drug and alcohol abuse recovery services. He remained homeless until they gave him a room. “I could go for a date and after that I can go home instead of going into a shelter,” he said of his situation now. “I can go to work because if somebody calls me and wants to give me work tomorrow, I’m able to go to sleep early because I have a home to go back to.” David collected social assistance when he was living in shelters. Continued on page 9

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THE VANCOUVER COURIER W E DN E SDAY, J U LY 1 5 , 2 0 1 5

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B.C. Housing CEO Shayne Ramsay (right) led reporters on a tour last week of provincial governmentfunded buildings and programs in the Downtown Eastside. PHOTO JENNIFER GAUTHIER

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Mike Howell

mhowell@vancourier.com

Some of you may have read my story last week where I gave you a headsup that Vancouver’s homeless count conducted in March saw a slight drop in the number of people living on the street. I posted the story online last Monday, the day before city housing director Mukhtar Latif released the full report on the numbers. I know, right, what took them so long to tell us the numbers? Analysis, I’m told. Anyway, Latif conﬁrmed the accuracy of my story in his report, which revealed the overall homeless population counted over two days in March totalled 1,746, with 488 on the street and 1,258 in some form of shelter or temporary housing. That’s a drop from last year of 48 people on the street and nine in shelters. I was able to get the news out last Monday because I happened to be in the Downtown Eastside with a guy who was briefed on what was to come Tuesday. That guy was B.C. Housing CEO Shayne Ramsay, who led me and a few other reporters on a tour of buildings and programs funded by the provincial government. At the end of our walkabout, Ramsay — who lives in the Downtown

Eastside — told us Latif’s report would show a slight reduction in the number of people on the street and that the shelter population remained steady. But that’s not all Ramsay said as he took questions from me and colleagues Travis Lupick of the Georgia Straight and David P. Ball of the Tyee. So I thought I’d share some of what else he said. • On whether he gets tired of Mayor Gregor Robertson and city council dumping on B.C. Housing, saying they’re not building enough housing to accommodate the city’s homeless: “We just go about the work that we do.” • On the current relationship with the city in terms of addressing homelessness: “It’s very good. You know, the remand project [turning the former jail into housing] is nearing completion and the city contributed to that. I had a conversation with [Latif] before I came on the tour this morning around what the presentation [on the homeless count] is going to look like tomorrow and the kind of areas the city would like to target. So we discussed those opportunities. And last week, I was briefed on the housing numbers. So [there’s] a good degree of cooperation.” • On whether the government will fund a second phase of development of social housing on city property, as it did previously with 14 projects (so far, 13 are open): “I won’t rule it

out, but I really see us at a place where we’re looking more and more at arrangements like the remand centre, like 41 East Hastings [a 52-unit project], like Taylor Manor [for tenants with mental health issues] that become just a different way of delivering those kinds of housing units. No question, the 14 sites were a significant commitment, but a very costly one to bring on board, too.” • On whether he sees a day when no one will be living on the street in Vancouver: “That’s probably a question you should ask [Housing Minister Rich Coleman]. We’ve strayed into some policy areas, and I’m an operations guy.” • On the goal, then, of B.C. Housing to eradicate homelessness: “Just continuing to work in a positive direction, dealing with the housing issues like singleroom-occupancy hotels, like people on the street and creating opportunities for them.” • On selling off B.C. Housing property to nonprofits: “No other jurisdiction in Canada is engaged in the kind of transfer of provincial assets to the nonprofit sector. And this is really a belief in empowering the nonprofit sector. All of the value of those transfers, though, will be re-invested by the province back into housing. That will total about $650 million over the period 2014 to 2019.” @Howellings

W E DN E SDAY, J U LY 1 5 , 2 0 1 5 THE VANCOUVER COURIER

News Groups have faith in Pope’s visit

Continued from page 1 Graves said a return letter from the Vatican stated the Pope had no immediate plans to come to Vancouver, though she said Robertson being singled out as the only Canadian politician to travel to Rome and meet with the Catholic leader is encouraging news. If the mayor doesn’t get an opportunity to renew the group’s invitation directly with the Pope, Graves said she is conﬁdent Robertson could speak to senior leaders in the Vatican’s administration. “I’m not giving up,” Graves told the Courier Tuesday morning before leading a tour of the Downtown Eastside. Like Robertson, Graves believes a visit from the Pope would bring international attention to the Downtown Eastside, much the way the Pope’s presence in a shantytown in Paraguay over the weekend has captured the media’s attention. While in Paraguay, the Pope characterized the excesses of capitalism as “the

The Downtown Eastside and its residents’ problems with addictions, mental illness and homelessness are topics Mayor Gregor Robertson hopes to address with Pope Francis at the Vatican next week. PHOTO DAN TOULGOET

dung of the devil” and how the greed for money creates a subtle dictatorship that “condemns and enslaves men and women.” Earlier this month, the Pope released a document called an encyclical devoted to environmentalism, in which he linked how the deterioration of the environment and society affects poor and vulnerable people more

than those above the poverty line. He has also said there is a moral imperative for addressing climate change. “He’s connecting the dots between climate change and the deplorable conditions of the world’s poor, and he’ll be looking for us to support his call for urgent action on climate change and global poverty,” said Robertson, whose

administration has committed to become the “greenest city” in the world by 2020. “His convening power is drawing a great team of mayors and governors together to talk shop and to then go out and advocate vigorously to our national leaders to set signiﬁcant and binding targets on reducing climate pollution.” @Howellings

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News

Grandview coalition battles tower proposal DEVELOPING STORY

Naoibh O’Connor

noconnor@vancourier.com

This week, a Grandview-Woodland petition opposing the construction of a tower at Commercial Drive and Venables Street surpassed 1,000 names. Barbara Cameron, one of the organizers behind the No Tower Coalition, said the names are being collected online and door-to-door. The petition aims to stop a proposal by developer Boffo Properties and the Kettle Society to redevelop land at that location. The proposal includes a 12- to 15-storey building. The Kettle Society, which provides housing and support to people with mental illness, needs to expand its services at 1725 Venables St. It couldn’t get government funding so it formed an arrangement with Boffo Properties. The developer owns buildings on either side of the Kettle, while the

city owns the parking lot to the north, which could be amalgamated into the proposed redevelopment that envisions 150 units of market housing, 30 supported housing units for the Kettle to own and operate, and a larger space for the society’s other services. The proposal is only in its preliminary stages — it hasn’t been formally ﬁled with the city because the Grandview-Woodland community plan isn’t ﬁnalized, so it’s unclear what will ultimately be permitted on the site. Even the GrandviewWoodland Citizens’ Assembly wasn’t able to reach consensus on what height should be allowed, although 16 members signed a “minority report” backing the project. Cameron said the coalition supports the Kettle Society, but it can’t support a tower. “This is not about the Kettle or its services. This is about changing the streetscape of the Drive,” she said.

Barbara Cameron of the No Tower Coalition is among GrandviewWoodland residents who opposed a tower at Venables and Commercial Drive. PHOTO JENNIFER GAUTHIER

Cameron, who’s lived in the neighbourhood for 30 years, said the No Tower Coalition came together over the past few months in an effort to block the highrise. Its informal steering committee includes long-time GrandviewWoodland residents Penny Street and Jak King.

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“[The site] is an inappropriate place for the massive building that they’re proposing. I know the Kettle has explored many options but I think the exploration is not complete yet. There are other ways to create supportive housing than to rely on private developers.

It sets a very dangerous precedent to rely on private developers for public health and mental health programs,” Cameron said. “I just think at this point we have to speak up as a neighbourhood about the actual structure [proposed] and that’s our key focus here — the structure, the imposition of that on to a four-storey streetscape that is very precious to us.” Cameron maintains the city and provincial government should work together to enable the Kettle expansion and the city-owned property could be a part of those discussions. Aside from collecting petition signatures, the coalition is also printing up lawn signs as part of its campaign. When asked if she would accept any buildings higher than four storeys on the site, Cameron said: “I would not want to get into a bargaining game with a developer on height to begin with. Secondly, we are a low-rise community here. That corner is really

not appropriate for a tower. It would very much impose on the streetscape, so I won’t want to say we could accept X or we could accept Y. What we say now is any kind of tower conﬁguration is not appropriate.” Jim Fraser, a member of the Grandview-Woodland Area Council, told the Courier it hasn’t developed a formal position on the subject yet, but he noted “that virtually everyone supports the Kettle Society per se.” “What is contentious is whether an expansion to the Kettle Society is a reasonable trade-off for a building at Commercial and Venables that could be much larger than many people in the community want. Affordability and diversity are important goals for the community and there are concerns that the project will negatively affect them. GWAC also agrees with the Citizens’ Assembly that the site should be used as a connector to extend the vibe of Commercial Drive North after Venables.” twitter.com/Naoibh

THE VANCOUVER COURIER W E DN E SDAY, J U LY 1 5 , 2 0 1 5

Community

1. The Brock House Jazz Band, under the direction of Doug Rogerson, entertained Summer Fair goers this past Saturday at Brock House. The Brock House Big Band and Orchestra also provided entertainment for the annual party and fundraiser for the seniors activity centre on Point Grey Road. 2. Sophie Djordjevic has been the administrator for Brock House Society for the past 10 years. “I enjoy it, I think it’s a great place.” 3. The Tiddley Cove Morris Dancers entertained the crowds during the festivities. Formed in 1986 after Expo 86, the group used to be called the Captain’s Ladies. Two years later, the Tiddley Cove Morris name was adopted in honour of the fictional North Shore location mentioned in Len Norris’s Vancouver Sun cartoons. 4. All sorts of treasures were available for purchase at the white elephant tent as part of the fair. 5. Katerina Von Berg enjoys ice cream while some of her peers enjoy a chess game. See photo gallery online at vancourier.com. PHOTOS REBECCA BLISSETT

Times change at Brock House but not its Summer Fair

CITY LIVING Rebecca Blissett

rvblissett@gmail.com

The black and white lines of the authentic Tudor replica home and blue expanse of the Burrard Inlet served as scenic bookends for tea parties held on the back lawn of the Brock House in the mid-1970s. The parties were part of the Brock House Society seniors activity centre that took up residence in the historic mansion in 1974, taking over after the last tenants, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, vacated. The gatherings were held, and attended, by women of mostly Brit-

ish heritage who likely felt cucumber sandwiches and societal graces were a comfort in a time marked by horrid fashion and an onslaught of crass behaviour that oozed from pop culture at the time. “When I go back and I look at the history of the society, it was tea parties in the afternoon,” said Sophie Djordjevic, Brock House Society administrator, on a break in the makeshift pub at Saturday’s annual Summer Fair fundraiser. “I saw pictures of white gloves and hats, and they played croquet.” Times change and so did the society. The focus of programs now range from the physical to the mental and include everything from hiking excur-

sions, ﬁtness classes and table tennis to lectures, book talks and writing groups. Music also makes up a considerable part of the centre’s repertoire, indicated by the fair’s musical lineup underneath the chandeliers of the garden tent that started with leader Bob Copeman’s accomplished Brock House Big Band and ended with director Doug Rogerson’s talented Brock House Jazz Band. Goods were also sold by the Brock House Woodworkers, who had beautifully-crafted bowls, tables and shelving up for grabs. Mittens, hats, gloves and an assortment of other expertly knit items were sold in the next tent over by

the Monday Ladies Crafts group. Around the corner, there were more tents with members selling jewelry, porcelain and a wide range of knick-knacks in the white elephant tent as well as at the silent auction. Inside the house, homemade baked goods were sold on tables covered in red and white gingham, and much of the art, some created by members, had disappeared by the fair’s 3 p.m. end. On the front lawn, a lush plant sale by gardeners was also wellattended. It was a treasure-hunter’s dream as the prices were reminiscent of years ago (for instance, one gorgeous wooden bowl was $15 and a hat and mitten set went for $25),

and the cooler weather and wildﬁre smoke-tinged air didn’t keep shoppers away. All proceeds went to the society. Started in the 1980s, the Summer Fair has become one of its largest fundraisers. Proceeds go toward maintenance of the building (leased from the Vancouver Park Board), programming and helps keep the annual membership fee a reasonable $40. Djordjevic noticed a shift in membership during the 10 years she’s worked for the society. She said “younger ones” between the ages of 55 and 65 are joining for the programming and for the companionship of a community. It’s the same reason some members,

who have since moved to Vancouver Island, Ontario or even to care homes keep their membership current. Djordjevic herself is considering joining when it’s time for her to retire, and she’s thankful that time isn’t during the society’s limited programing of the 1970s. “Now, me, if I wasn’t continuing to work I would probably join the Brock House. But to play croquet and have tea parties? That would not be my thing,” she said, laughing. “I would do exercise here, I would do zumba… They even have linedancing here and I would do that. I think it’s a great place.” @rebeccablissett

W E DN E SDAY, J U LY 1 5 , 2 0 1 5 THE VANCOUVER COURIER

News Program includes weekly social events Continued from page 1 “I swear to you I tried to ﬁnd work, but when your main address and phone number is a homeless shelter… it’s kind of difﬁcult,” he said. (Aaron Munro, community development manager for RainCity, requested the Courier not use David’s surname to prevent him from experiencing stigma at work. David didn’t want to share his last name because he didn’t want to hurt his father.) David has recently worked cutting metal and in warehouses. RainCity has now hired him to be a parttime front desk worker. While David’s family didn’t judge him for his sexual orientation, he struggled to accept himself, shared little of himself with others and missed opportunities for connection. “I don’t think it’s as simple as we’re all a cheque away from being homeless,” Munro said. “The more people we have around us, the safer we are in the world. My dream for this project is to build as many connec-

David relaxes in an apartment of his own, which RainCity helped him secure under its LGBTQ2S youth housing project. PHOTO JENNIFER GAUTHIER

tions for these young people — safe, good connections — where they can work through the trauma of having not had housing or not being accepted in their family of origin, so that they’ll never be homeless again.” The LGBTQ2S youth housing project includes weekly community dinners that are also attended by representatives from the Catherine White Holman Wellness Centre, which

specializes in providing low-barrier wellness services to trans and gender diverse people. The social events have convinced David that people aren’t always judging him. He’s learned to appreciate the struggles that others face with their gender identity. David is in touch with his family now. His mother visited him in Vancouver to see him and his new apart-

ment. She’s happily remarried and David’s father is in therapy and recovery. “It was a separation that lasted years but at the end, everybody worked through their own stuff and we all came back to be better with each of ourselves at the end,” he said. RainCity is seeking mentors for LGBTQ2S youth. For more information, see raincityhousing.org. @Cheryl_Rossi

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© 2015 Mercedes-Benz Canada Inc. Lease offer based on 2015 2500 144" Cargo Van (Stock #S1573605). National MSRP $41,300 *Total price of $44,960 includes freight/PDI of $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. 1 Lease example based on $575 per month (excluding taxes) for 60 months. Lease APR of 4.99% applies on approved credit. Down payment or equivalent trade of $5,000, plus first payment and applicable taxes are due at lease inception. Cost of borrowing is $6,730. Total obligation is $44,221. Lease offer only valid through Mercedes-Benz Financial Services. 2 Please note the $3,000 discount has been applied/included in the calculation of the monthly lease payment, it is only valid on 2015 Sprinter Cargo Vans delivered before July 31, 2015. † 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 2015 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. 3 Extended Limited Warranty covers up to 6 years or 160,000 km (whichever comes first) and has a value of $1,895. Only applicable on lease and finance offers. Offers are non-transferable, non-refundable and have no cash value. 4 Based on a comparison of the Automotive News classification of full-size commercial vans. 5 Based on Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standard Testing of 2014 model year Sprinter 2500 cargo van, 144" wheel base, standard roof, at 50% load capacity, and at highway/ city speeds according to the standards of the “CONTROL OF EMISSIONS FROM NEW HEAVY–DUTY MOTOR VEHICLES [Title 40 Code of Federal Regulations – Part 1037]” as conducted by Mercedes-Benz in September 2013. Stated fuel consumption based on highway driving cycle. Your actual fuel consumption may vary. Not for comparison purposes. Fuel efficiency test results determined using Government of Canada approved test methods are not available. Offers may change without notice and cannot be combined with any other offers. 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 Boundary Vans Centre for details or call the Mercedes-Benz Vans Sales Centre at 604-676-3778. Offer valid until July 31, 2015.

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THE VANCOUVER COURIER W E DN E SDAY, J U LY 1 5 , 2 0 1 5

Opinion Unplugging in the Internet age isn’t easy

Concerns over Kettle development warranted

Jessica Barrett Columnist

Michael Geller Columnist michaelarthurgeller@gmail.com

jessica.barrett@gmail.com

If you read this, hopefully I won’t know. Let me explain. With Wi-Fi now available even in national parks, one must take great pains to escape the hyperconnectivity of our Internet age. For me, this comes in the form of a strict and muchneeded diet I’ll have embarked on by the time this column is published. The plan is to cut my online activity down to the bare essentials. Why not unplug entirely? Well, I can’t. Not right now. The blessing of the online age is that it allows me to spirit away with my laptop to any Wi-Fi-enabled location, so I can enjoy a family vacation and still make good on my freelance contracts. The curse is, of course, never being free of the pings, beeps and chirps that irresistibly tease my ego every time somebody tweets, retweets or comments on my words. (You print readers, for the most part, remain enigmatic.) And then there are the endless hours I inevitably lose just by mindlessly following clickbait links into cat video vortexes, BuzzFeed quizzes and indulgently stalking random acquaintances. It’s a problem. I hesitate to use the word addiction, but it may not be far off. I was in my late teens when the Internet became a mainstream thing. I was in my early 20s when social media first appeared on my radar. So, although I’m almost a digital native, I can compare my brain before and after. I used to be able to concentrate on a task for more than 20 minutes at a time. I used to scoff at people with cellphones, declaring I’d be among the last of the holdouts. Here I am a decade later, fingers itching to get to my phone upon first waking, my attention span ever winnowing down to gnat-like capacity. I am so thankful I wasn’t even younger when Mark Zuckerberg inadvertently changed the world. Mercifully, I got to live out my teens in relative obscurity. I can remember a world where, faced with a gorgeous plate of food, you’d never think of any other option than to simply tuck in. I remember that world, but I can never go back to it. I’ve watched dubiously as friends have announced their departure from social media with much aplomb, only to sheepishly return a week or so later. I’ve envied those who’ve quietly slipped, and stayed, away. I fantasize about that option, but it isn’t available to me. Here’s the thing

about being under 35 and in any kind of creative, technology or media-related field: employers expect you to be plugged in all the time, whether it’s integral to the job or not. I can’t tell you how many job postings include some trendy variation of “social media wizard” among their listed requirements. And by that definition, I am unqualified. Because although I Facebook like the best of them (which I understand makes me quite old-fashioned) and can hold up my end of a Twitter debate, I’m not on Pinterest, Vine, Instagram or Ello. I limit my social media reach and attempt to curb the amount of time I spend cultivating my “personal brand.” I do this partly to maintain some semblance of a life as an actual person, and partly to maintain some hope of getting any actual work done. I know for a fact this choice has affected my career — it’s come up in job interviews. It’s not that I don’t like social media, I’m just not entirely comfortable with the role it plays in my life. I never could have imagined upon creating my first Facebook account how this thing would come to shape my daily existence. At the time, I regarded it like the cigarettes I used to casually smoke at parties or out at the bar (sorry parents). It was a youthful indulgence I’d one day grow out of. In actuality, it’s something I’ve grown up with. Facebook, in particular, has come to form the bedrock of my life. It’s my news aggregator, my social calendar, a professional tool, a toy and an eerie document of my personal history laced with the ghosts of ex-partners and even dead friends. It derailed my 10-year high school reunion because by the time the landmark rolled around those of us who cared to had already satisfied our curiosity online. It weaves strange tendrils through my social life that occasionally dredge up some very odd surprises. Is it better to know that the person you had a nice chat with at a cocktail party is a misogynistic conspiracy theorist? Or would you rather be left in blissful ignorance with a pleasant memory like days of yore? These are the questions that are now a regular part of my life. Barring an apocalypse, I’ve been slow to realize, they will be for the rest of it. I figure I’d better learn to make peace with it now — and learn to summon every scrap of willpower I have and step away from the screen and into the sunshine whenever I can. Wish me luck. @jm_barrett

The week in num6ers...

The number of Canadian politicians attending a two-day meeting with Pope Francis later this month to discuss climate change.

650 15

In millions of dollars, the approximate value of provincial land being handed over to non-profit housing societies between 2014-2019.

In storeys, the proposed maximum height for a controversial new condo tower at the corner of Commercial Drive and Venables Street.

Last Sunday I went for a drive along the Drive. My destination was a triangular property at Commercial Drive and Venables Street where a controversial development is attracting considerable debate within the Grandview-Woodland community. The proposal is a joint initiative by the Kettle Friendship Society, a highly-regarded non-profit organization, and Boffo Properties, a respected company within the Vancouver development community. Building lots along Venables are owned by the Kettle and Boffo, while the city owns a lane and parking lot to the north. Current zoning would allow a four-storey development up to 45 feet in height and a 3.0 floor space ratio (FSR). FSR is the ratio of building size to land area. Preliminary plans illustrate a 12-storey condominium and five-storey building providing expanded society offices and 30 supportive housing units. The FSR is 6.8, which from a community planning perspective is very high for this neighbourhood. However, in the absence of any senior government funding, the non-profit society and developer claim this height and density is required to make the project financially viable. Boffo and Kettle have been working on this proposal since 2012, but it was put on hold pending the outcome of the Grandview-Woodland Community Plan and final report from the GrandviewWoodland Citizens’ Assembly. The proposal has garnered recent media attention since the society and developer would now like to move forward. However, many in the community oppose the building height and density and have gone so far as to suggest the project would destroy Commercial Drive. This past May, the city organized a community workshop to discuss the proposal, and from the planning department’s online presentation materials, it seems to me that city planners support the design concept. However, I believe this proposal raises some important planning and development issues: • Should the city approve a development at a greater height and density than might otherwise be acceptable from a community planning perspective because it provides much-needed supportive housing and community space? • In the absence of senior government funding, should the community plan

Canada’s per capita world ranking in the number of daily active Facebook users, according to the latest data released by the social media giant.

encourage other non-profit societies and developers to partner on affordable housing projects along the Drive, albeit at greater heights and densities? • Should a decision on this or any other project be made prior to final approval of the overall community plan? • Given that the project involves the sale of city-owned lands, does the city have any special obligations to the community? Newspaper stories and social media accounts of this proposal have generated considerable online commentary and much criticism of those opposing the development as NIMBYs. Fellow Courier columnist Mike Klassen wrote on Facebook that “a noble non-profit society has a good plan that is very sensitive to the neighbourhood, yet activists oppose it on the principle that no mid-rise buildings must get near them. These folks love street improvements, commercial activity, services and jobs, as long as they don’t have to see the building which allows it to happen.” Formal B.C. Liberal candidate for Powell River-Sunshine Coast Patrick Muncaster agrees. “Thoughtless nimbyism is rife — a major contributor to high housing costs, slow economic growth, social inequity and shabby neighbourhoods. Resistance to change is perhaps even more prevalent on the left of the political spectrum than it is on the right.” However, former city alderman and UBC professor emeritus Dr. Setty Pendakur writes: “If we classify any disagreement with development and densification as NIMBY, then we might as well forget about civilized conversation and serious and positive citizen participation. I remember similar outcries in the mid-sixties and early seventies when we marched against city centre freeways!” Over the years I have been involved with many controversial development projects. In many cases I did not think the criticism was warranted. However, in this instance, I think we should listen to the opponents since the fact is a development of this size would never be approved if it contained just market condominiums. Once again, like Brenhill’s Helmcken Street and Atira’s East 41 Hastings St. proposals, we have an example of “form following finance” rather than appropriate community planning and design guidelines. I therefore add my voice to those demanding senior government funding so that the final height and density will result in a better fit with the scale of Commercial Drive. @michaelgeller

The number of Tony Awards won by the original Broadway production of Les Misérables. The Arts Club Theatre’s own version of the hit musical runs until Aug. 16.

The anniversary of this year’s Vancouver Folk Festival, which will see roughly 60 acts from 14 different countries perform next weekend at Jericho Beach Park.

W E DN E SDAY, J U LY 1 5 , 2 0 1 5 THE VANCOUVER COURIER

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Inbox LETTERS TO THE EDITOR FIFA forgot former footballers

Re: “Women languish in a league by themselves,” July 8. I just read your article and wanted to tell you I really enjoyed it and thought your points were spot on. Thank you for recognizing the lack of inclusion of former World Cup players in this event (I was a member of the ’95 World Cup team and have also been honored in the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame). It was disappointing, to say the least, to have experienced this. It’s nice to see how people recognize the importance and validity of women’s soccer and women’s sport in general. Thank you for being a voice for us. Helen Stoumbos, Vancouver

No love for new zipline

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

Queen opens Deas Island Tunnel

July 15, 1959: While on a royal visit to Vancouver, Queen Elizabeth II officially opens the 657-metre-long Deas Island Tunnel, which had actually been in operation since May 23. The $21-million, four-lane tunnel under the south arm of the Fraser River estruary was built in a dry dock in six sections, which were then floated downstream and lowered by ballast to the riverbed. It is the only road tunnel below sea level in the country. In 1967, the tunnel was renamed the Aerial view of the tunnel under construction. George Massey Tunnel in honour of the Social Credit MLA who had fought PHOTO VANCOUVER PUBLIC LIBRARY, VPL#41355B to get it built. In 2013, the B.C. Liberal government announced plans for a 10-lane bridge to replace it.

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ONLINE COMMENTS Lamenting lack of Little Mountain progress

Re: “QE zipline says yes to the dress,” July 8. Putting a zip line in Queen Elizabeth Park is one of the dumbest things elected ofﬁcials have ever done in this city. It is totally out of character with this quiet garden park setting. It is alienating a lot of Vancouverites who have enjoyed relaxing in this peaceful setting for decades. It needs to go. Bob Loveless, Vancouver

Re: “Little Mountain project mired in politics,” July 10. I ﬁnd it quite pathetic that city of Vancouver ALWAYS points ﬁnger at others for its own failures. Another point someone brought on Twitter is that Holborn Group gave over a $100K to Vision Vancouver and almost as much to the B.C. Liberals No wonder nothing is happening. AlexB, via Comments section

Too cruel for school

Don’t you just love a conversation where a lot of words were used but nothing was said? Polito-speak. Al Newman, via Comments section

Re: “West Side teens choose East Side school,” June 26. Having read what others have said about this article, I felt compelled to express my views. I was hoping the article would focus on the positive experiences the teens had in public school. Instead, the article had an air of qualiﬁcation about it. I wonder if this is because the Bhullars are still “worried about others’ perceptions” of where their children went to high school? Disappointingly, the article also reinforces the concept that money buys favours and success. Although some would commend Sifti for her generosity, it is easy to give away other peoples’ (or your parents’) money, especially for your own cause, as our municipal government reminds us. Here’s to John Oliver secondary school and all the hard-working students that do not have safety nets of wealthy parents. James Wishart, Vancouver

Bicycle beef

Re: “Different rules of the road apply to bikes,” July 10. In response to the opinion piece by Chris Bruntlett that different rules of the road apply to bikes, most of us would have seen that already because most

•••

Shooting back over ‘hired guns’ label for Yes volunteers

Re: “Why the Yes side lost,” July 8. An interesting piece, however the “hired guns” label certainly does not describe the leaders of the Better Transit and Transportation Coalition. The genuine passion and commitment to the cause was undeniable among BTTC leaders like Bahareh Jokar, Iain Black, Peter Robinson and Peter Ladner. I would also argue that commitment to the cause ran much deeper and much more widely among Yes side volunteers, who vastly outnumbered any on the No side (obviously not quite enough to win, however). On another note, as much as I’ve enjoyed reading [Mike Klassen’s] ongoing commentary on the vote, I must express my disappointment that he could never muster the courage to actually take a position on one side or the other (in spite of the fact that he obviously had one), opting instead to write about everything the Yes side was doing wrong. His is a respected voice in Metro Vancouver’s civic discourse, and would have been a welcome one in this debate as well. John Kendler, via Comments section

have your say online...

FLYER SALES

ddhaliwal@vancourier.com

Vancouver bikers ignore all of those regulations already. Both motorists and pedestrians have had many close calls caused by the me-ﬁrst attitude of Gregor’s pet people. I think that because of the poor judgement and coordination displayed by many bikers, the laws of the road should be enforced more vigorously for bikers than motorists. I also think that cyclists should be held accountable for the results of their poor safety observance by having to have their bicycles registered, licensed and insured in order to make it more difﬁcult to hit and run from accidents they have caused. Neil Benner, Vancouver

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Letters may be edited by the Courier for reasons of legality, taste, brevity and clarity. Send to: 303 West Fifth Ave., Vancouver V5Y-1J6 or email letters@vancourier.com

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THE VANCOUVER COURIER W E DN E SDAY, J U LY 1 5 , 2 0 1 5

YVR

INSIDER

W E DN E SDAY, J U LY 1 5 , 2 0 1 5 THE VANCOUVER COURIER

A MONTHLY LOOK AT WHAT’S NEW AND NEWSWORTHY AT YVR.

ISSUE # 33 J U LY 2 01 5

MCARTHURGLEN DESIGNER OUTLET VANCOUVER AIRPORT OPENS FOR BUSINESS! McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Vancouver Airport is now ofﬁcially open for business!

PICTURED IN FRONT OF “SEI,” Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas’ spectacular new art piece, are (left to right) Councillor Bill McNulty, Art Designer Barry Gilson, Councillor Chak Kwong Au, MLA John Yap, Mayor Malcom Brodie, MLA Teresa Wat, President & CEO, Vancouver Airport Authority, Craig Richmond, Artist Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas, MP Alice Wong and Councillor Linda McPhail.

SHOPPING HOURS: Monday to Saturday, 10am–9pm Sunday, 10am–7pm PLAN YOUR VISIT By Train: Skip the trafﬁc and take

This long-awaited centre on Sea Island features the best luxury, premium and lifestyle brands, at year-round savings of 30 to 70 per cent. With more than 22,300 square metres of beautiful stores, open-air piazzas, play areas, dining options and art installations, locals and passengers have plenty to explore at the centre. McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Vancouver Airport offers travellers and Metro Vancouver shoppers another great reason to visit Richmond and helps keep dollars in our local economy. Plus, the centre has created hundreds of local jobs – more than 1,000 when the second phase of the centre is complete.

Canada Line to Templeton Station. The centre is just a three-minute walk away.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE CENTRE, PLEASE VISIT MCARTHURGLENVANCOUVER.COM

By Car: Please allow extra time if you drive, and follow posted road signs and trafﬁc hosts, who will direct you to one of several designated parking areas.

QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? Email us at insider@yvr.ca or ﬁnd us on Twitter

@yvrairport

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THE VANCOUVER COURIER W E DN E SDAY, J U LY 1 5 , 2 0 1 5

Family

Castles in the sand CALENDAR

Sandra Thomas

sthomas@vancourier.com

West Point Grey

Bucket? Check. Shovel? Check. SPF 60? Check. Those items, plus a $4 registration fee, are all that’s required for kids to take part in the 24th annual sandcastle event at Spanish Banks July 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. organized by the West Point Grey Community Centre in partnership with Science World, Port Metro Vancouver and more. Families and day camps are invited to take part. Apparently this event sells out quickly, so it’s best to register sooner rather than later. Visit westpointgrey.org.

West End/ Mount Pleasant

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A writing workshop for teens takes place at the Joe Fortes and Mount Pleasant branches of the Vancouver Public Library,

July 27 from 4 to 5 p.m. Meet other writers, discuss writing projects and exchange ideas in this monthly Teen Creative Writing Lab. Prompts and exercises will be supplied to help get the creative juices ﬂowing. The Joe Fortes branch is located at 870 Denman St. and Mount Pleasant is at 1 Kingsway. The event is free, but registration is required by calling 604331-3690.

Downtown

The Teen Video Lab taking place at the central branch of the VPL July 25, from 2 to 4 p.m., will offer instruction on editing and publishing an unﬁnished video using the lab’s creation stations. Teens can take along a video they’ve already ﬁlmed or make one using cameras, sound booths and mixers at VPL’s Inspiration Lab. The session takes place in the Morris J. Wosk Board Room on level seven. The workshop is free, but registration is

Celebrate the Opening of Empire Fields & Plateau Sports Park @

#HastingsSportsDay vancouver.ca/HastingsSportsDay | Phone 3-1-1 Thank you to our media sponsors and event partners:

required by calling 604331-3663.

Fraser Lands

Fraser Lands Church is holding its third swap meet for kids July 25, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. As a way to reach out to their neighbours, the Fraser Lands community has donated new and gently used kid’s items, such as clothing, books, toys and sports gear. But unlike most swap meets, everything at this event is free. That ensures every child attending gets one free item to take home on a ﬁrst-come, ﬁrst-served basis. The free celebration also includes food and drink, carnival games, bouncy castle, balloon animals, face painting, crafts, a car wash, specialty food tasting, live music, international cooking, terrarium demonstrations, prize draws, a photo booth and community service displays. The church is located at 3330 Southeast Marine Dr. @sthomas10

W E DN E SDAY, J U LY 1 5 , 2 0 1 5 THE VANCOUVER COURIER

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

Is your healthcare reactive or proactive?

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

“Quality work you can count on”

Davidicus Wong

QUESTIONS ABOUT DENTAL IMPLANTS?

davidicuswong.wordpress.com

We do many things out of habit (because that’s the way we’ve always done it), or convention (because that’s what everyone else does) — how we relate to family and friends, our routines at school or work, where we shop, what we eat, what we do for exercise and how we travel from place to place. We get into a groove and it becomes our norm. Without question, we perform these activities in our habitual manner even if there are better ways of doing them. Our habits resist change. It takes conscious practice to create a new groove, but with effort over time, we can settle into new and positive routines. But it all starts with a moment of reﬂection and a fresh perspective. Is this the best way to act? Does it reﬂect my values and bring me closer to my goals? Or is it wasteful or harmful to myself or others? When we see our routines in a new light and recognize a better way to live our lives, we can be energized to practice new habits. How do you approach your own health? How do you use the healthcare system? Who is responsible for most of your care? Although most of us would endorse the concepts of preventive and proactive care, both patients and providers tend to act reactively. Reactive care includes going to a clinic or the emergency department for an acute problem, such as an infection, heart attack or stroke. It includes seeking care when chronic conditions have deteriorated to

Ken Wong, Denturist

Missing teeth? Loose Dentures? Come see us for a free consultation.

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604-874-1221 • www.dryoshida.com You need to know your risks for health conditions based on your age, gender and family history.

the point that you can no longer manage at home. We certainly need urgent and emergency care for acute and unexpected crises, but this shouldn’t be all of your healthcare. Just as health is not deﬁned as the absence of illness, healthcare is not simply the treatment of disease. If your personal approach to health is episodic and reactive, you won’t be able to maintain wellness. You’re more likely to suffer from the complications of chronic health conditions and require hospital care sooner rather than later. While acute care is episodic and reactive, the alternative is planned and proactive care. You are in the driver’s seat and you are responsible for the daily activities that maintain good health. These include the four foundations of self-care: healthy eating, physical activity, emotional wellbeing and healthy relationships. You need to know your

risks for health conditions based on your age, gender and family history, what you can do to prevent them and what tests you need for early detection. If you are diagnosed with a chronic condition, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, chronic lung or heart disease, you need to know how to self-monitor your condition, take medication appropriately and how to work with your healthcare providers. One essential key to proactive healthcare is a family doctor who works with you over time, knows your family and health history, understands where you are and what’s important to you, and partners with you in treating disease in the context of your whole life. If you don’t already know the answers, the next time you see your family doctor ask, “Considering my age and family history, what should I be doing to maintain the best health? Am I due for any screening tests? What ac-

tivities will prevent illness and promote health?” Dr. Davidicus Wong is a family physician. You can read more about achieving your positive potential in health at davidicuswong. wordpress.com.

Sunday Aug 16th

MISSING A TOOTH? Dr. Marianna Klimek

MK Pontic The ‘MK Pontic’ is a unique treatment option used to replace a single missing tooth that does not require reduction of the adjacent teeth. While not available for all individuals it can offer tooth replacement that is both cost effective and minimally invasive. It lasts for years at a cost of only

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Cantilever Bridge with Splint This is formed by a pontic (artificial tooth) attached to the crown on one side and supported by a metal loop embedded in the adjacent tooth by the use of composite bonding. Only one of the teeth adjacent to the gap needs to be prepared for the crown. This patient had one congenitally missing tooth and the tooth next to the space needed a crown. The Cantilever Bridge with composite splint was conservative and successful restoration.

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THE VANCOUVER COURIER W E DN E SDAY, J U LY 1 5 , 2 0 1 5

Performance

Location

Time

The Fiveuvus Band Emily Carr University: chARTmarpole Public Art Marpole Literacy Village Circle The Sand Northrup One Woman Circus & Juggling Workshop The Cocktail Pilots Band Marpole Familly Place Dancers Midnight Cheer Performance Drum Syndicate World Music Group BC Golf Association Tent Metro Theatre Performers

63rd Ave. & Granville St. 66th Ave. and Granville St. 66th Ave. and Granville St. Entertainment Stage - 67th Ave. and Granville St. Entertainment Stage - 67th Ave. and Granville St. Entertainment Stage - 67th Ave. and Granville St. Entertainment Stage - 67th Ave. and Granville St. Entertainment Stage - 67th Ave. and Granville St. Kids Fun Zone - 67th Ave. at Granville St. Roving 63rd to 71st Ave.

12 PM – 3 PM 11 AM – 3 PM 11 AM – 3 PM 1 PM, 2:30 PM 11 AM, 1:45 PM 11:45 AM 12 PM 12:10 PM 11 AM – 3 PM 12 - 1 PM

Marpole Soccer Booth 10th Annual Classic Car Show & Shine Noah Nine Duo Iconic Tributes: Elvis & Marilyn Coast Mountain NOVA Bus Display Giggle Booth Photos Sylvia the Balloon Lady Kid’s Zone Climbing Wall Marpole Community Policing Centre Display & Child-Find Booth Henna Art Booth The Doe Bender Jazz Trio Rainbow Facepainters

Kids Fun Zone - 67th Ave. at Granville St. Petro Canada parking lot – 8072 Granville St. & West 65th Ave. Petro Canada parking lot – 8072 Granville St. Petro Canada parking lot – 8072 Granville St. 8118 Granville St. 8347 Granville St. Roving 63rd to 71st Ave. Kids Fun Zone - 67th Ave. at Granville St. Kids Fun Zone - 67th Ave. at Granville St. 66th and Granville St. 8457 Granville St. 65th Ave. and Granville St. • 68th Ave. and Granville St.

11 AM – 3 PM 10 AM - 2 PM 12 PM – 3 PM 10 AM – 3 PM 11 AM – 3 PM 11 AM – 2 PM 11 AM – 3 PM 11 AM – 3 PM 11 AM – 3 PM 11 AM – 3 PM 11 AM – 2 PM 11 AM - 3 PM

Rachel Chatoor: Songstress YVR Airport Community Outreach Whistles the Clown The Riverboat Ramblers Dixieland Band Virgin Radio 94.5 Community Crew Angie Faith: Songstress Fabulous Food | Carts & Restaurants Artisan Tables

8482 Granville St. 67th Ave. and Granville St. Roving 63rd to 71st Ave. Vancity Credit Union – 70th & Granville Marpole Safeway on Granville St. 66th Ave. and Granville St. Everywhere - Along Granville St. between 63rd & 71st Ave. Along Granville St. between 63rd and 71st Ave.

11 AM - 3 PM 11 AM – 3 PM 11 AM – 3 PM 12 PM – 3 PM 12 PM – 2 PM 11 AM – 3 PM 11 AM – 3 PM 11 AM – 3 PM

W E DN E SDAY, J U LY 1 5 , 2 0 1 5 THE VANCOUVER COURIER

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THE VANCOUVER COURIER W E DN E SDAY, J U LY 1 5 , 2 0 1 5

Arts&Entertainment

GOT ARTS? 604.738.1411 or events@vancourier.com

July 15 to 17, 2015 1. Things get industrial over at the Cinematheque with a music-themed double bill featuring two documentaries that explore the scope, origins, and influence of industrial music. Amélie Ravalec and Travis Collins’ Industrial Soundtrack for the Urban Decay is billed as a fan-friendly exploration of the roots of the industrial-music artistic movement of the 1970s, which included such acts as Throbbing Gristle, Cabaret Voltaire and Test Department. Marie Losier’s 2011 film The Ballad of Genesis and Lady Jaye is a fascinating portrait of Throbbing Gristle’s Genesis P-Orridge and his controversial body-modification project with wife Jacqueline “Lady Jaye” Beyer, where the couple underwent plastic surgery to more closely resemble one another. Both films screen July 16 to 17. Details: thecinematheque.ca.

2. Amjad Ali Khan, master of the sarod, a lute-like instrument, performs alongside his sons in concert with Vancouver Symphony Orchestra violinist Jeanette Bernal-Singh. It all goes down July 15, 8 p.m. at the Orpheum Theatre as part of the Indian Summer festival. Details at indiansummerfest.ca. 3. It doesn’t get more punk rock than Wednesday night’s bill at Fortune Sound Club. Local whippersnappers Nervous Talk and the Vicious Cycles open up for legendary, underground Seattle-by-way-ofMichigan spazzes the Spits for an evening of snotty, old school punk rock noise and mayhem, July 15, 8 p.m. The band’s latest album is called, appropriately enough, Kill the Kool. Tickets at Zulu, Red Cat Records and bplive.ca. 4. Opera Week continues at Vancity Theatre with the colourful production of The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny, performed live at London’s Royal Opera House, July 15, 7 p.m. Details at viff.org.

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Arts&Entertainment

Melodramatic musical not to be ‘Mis’-ed THEATRE REVIEW

Jo Ledingham

joled@telus.net

Epic, historically interesting — it’s not the French Revolution but the fallout of that earlier, guillotineridden confrontation — and director Bill Millerd does novelist Victor Hugo and Alain Boublil, Claude-Michel Schönberg and Herbert Kretzmer, the creators of the musical Les Misérables — proud. Production values are epic, too, with set designer Ted Roberts’ faux stone arches dramatically lit by Marsha Sibthorpe. Spectacular on the shallow Stanley stage are the Act 2 battlements: bedsteads, wheels and assorted found objects form a huge pile from behind which the student revolutionaries fire their muskets amidst explosions of cannon fire. Costumes by Alison Green for this cast of two dozen range from shabby rags to satin finery, but Green outdoes herself

Nicola Lipman and Andrew Wheeler bring the house down as the conniving M. and Mme. Thénardier in the Arts Club production of Les Misérables, at the Stanley until Aug. 16.

with the Act 2 costumes for Nicola Lipman and Andrew Wheeler, the conniving, bloodsucking M. and Mme. Thénardier: layers upon layers of absurd combinations of gaudy, tasteless glad rags. Lipman and Wheeler are entertainingly welcome relief from all of Hugo’s melodrama. Thénardier is the proprietor of a tavern

and whilst pouring drinks he picks pockets while his nasty little wife waters down the drinks forcing the patrons to drink even more. In the rousing, rowdy “Master of the House” featuring Thénardier and the entire ensemble choreographed by Valerie Easton, Wheeler reminds us that as well as being a ﬁne dramatic

actor, he can also sing. As for Lipman, you can’t take your eyes off her because she is so completely “in the moment” — every gesture, every word and every line. Watch her watching Wheeler, for example. And that scratchy voice of hers is just so compelling. Between them, Wheeler and Lipman bring the house down. But of course the story is not about the Thénardiers — it’s about Jean Valjean (Kieran Martin Murphy), a giant of a man imprisoned for 19 years for stealing a loaf of bread for his sister’s child. Murphy is larger than life — with a voice to match — in the role. For all his impressive size and powerful stage presence he still delivers the hauntingly beautiful “Bring Him Home” and “Who Am I?” with gentle passion. Matching him in terms of a large presence and solid, note-perfect voice is Warren Kimmel as Valjean’s dogged pursuer, the archconservative Javert. Although Cosette (Kaylee Harwood) is the main love

interest and the plot point around which Les Mis turns, our hearts truly go out to Éponine (Jennie Neumann) who adores Marius (Sayer Roberts) who, in turn, loves Cosette. Rebecca Talbot is a winsome Fantine who gets killed off in Act 1. Young Cosette is played by Lindberg Academy student Jaime Olivia MacLean, a tiny, sweet-voiced youngster who appears to be about six but is, in fact, a few years older. Making his Arts Club debut as Gavroche, the street-smart boy who sees, hears and tells everything, is Cameron Andres. With a six-piece orchestra under the direction of Bruce Kellett and a company of 24, this is a blockbuster

of a show and a remount of the hugely successful 2009 production. It’s a big heart-wrenching novel made accessible — but not frivolous — with the addition of song. It’s melodrama at its most forgivable. The opening night audience loved it and, in addition to taking your visitors to Bard on the Beach, taking them to Les Mis will impress them. Even better, it’s not from New York although it looks and sounds like it. Hundred mile theatre — it’s homegrown. For more reviews, go to joledingham.ca. Les Misérables is at the Stanley until Aug. 16. For tickets, call 604-687-1644 or go to artsclub.com.

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THE VANCOUVER COURIER W E DN E SDAY, J U LY 1 5 , 2 0 1 5

Arts&Entertainment Folk Fest-bound Frazey Ford finds solace in song STATE OF THE ARTS Cheryl Rossi

crossi@vancourier.com

Be Good Tanyas co-founder Frazey Ford performs at the Vancouver Folk Music Festival for the first time as a solo artist. The festival runs July 17 to 19 at Jericho Beach Park.

22 ! y e l Ju dlin a de

Get soccer balls into the hands of children in Syrian refugee camps!

Michel Ibrahim has until July 22 to raise enough money to pay the custom fees on a shipment of donated soccer equipment destined for Syrian children living in refugee camps in Lebanan. He’s offering several perks to donors including a free haircut at his West Vancouver Barber Shop, registration in an August 9 soccer workshop and an extensive soccer camp for an entire team of young players. To contribute, go to

/fc4syria

Frazey Ford struts down the back lanes of East Vancouver in sequins and dances on the street in lamé in her video for “Done,” which immediately went viral this spring. “I’m sorry that you don’t like your life,” she croons languidly, adding, “My joy takes nothing from you.” The co-founder of the Be Good Tanyas-turnedsolo artist plans to bring stories of pain and strength to the Vancouver Folk Music Festival, which runs July 17 to 19. She’s sewn herself a gold lamé dress for her first solo appearance at the festival. While the Be Good Tanyas are often filed under alt-country, Ford’s most recent album, Indian Ocean, combines a more soulful feel with the singer’s silky voice and horns from the Deep South. Obadiah, Ford’s 2010 album, focused on her family history and recent breakups, while her new album was influenced by her collaboration with the Hi Rhythm Section in Memphis. Music historian, author and documentarian Robert Gordon heard Ford’s Obadiah song “If You Gonna Go” on the radio and it reminded him of Al Green. He phoned the station to learn the name of the song’s artist, looked Ford up on Wikipedia and then contacted her, matchmaking Ford with the Hi Rhythm Section, which worked on Green’s 1974 hit “Take Me To the River.” Her connection with the music veterans who experienced highs in the 1970s and personal struggles in the 1980s and have sojourned on was powerful. “I’m bringing forward some songs about abuse

or it’s about death… No matter what you play, they bring this level of joy to it,” she said. “That’s just kind of a bottom line of everything that they do. Music is here to uplift. It’s not there to take you down even if it’s very sad and you’re talking about really difﬁcult things. It’s going to be uplifting and healing. Part of me knew that, but it was really kind of driven home in my experience with them.” Indian Ocean’s “Season After Season” deals with abuse Ford experienced as a child. “Maybe there’s no one to blame, but I would like to give you back your shame,” she sings in the slow number. Ford felt anxiety about

quality that came through to me,” she said. “That overall message of the ocean and the time it takes for things to wash over you and change and the things that you can let go of that you never could imagine that you could let go of.” Ford has engaged in art therapy for years and considers becoming a therapist as a potential career option. Being a musician wasn’t what a teenaged Ford dreamt of. At 16, she wanted to be a doctor. “I was a bit of a Type A character and I accidentally got put into [a music] class,” she said. “I kept going back and doing sciences and then I’d take a year and just write songs. It was just always a strong force.”

“Music is here to uplift. It’s not there to take you down even if it’s very sad.” — Frazey Ford including the ballad on the album, but she did so to spark an honest conversation about something that’s all too common to girls and women. She’s not interested wallowing in pain or broadcasting anger, but in learning how to let go. “It’s about reclaiming these aspects of yourself so that you don’t carry forward with the confusion and the haze and the fog that allows you to be a victim or vulnerable,” Ford said. “Until you own that rage, you never have your body back.” She came up with the album’s title while looking out to the Indian Ocean from a porch in Indonesia and feeling a longing ache. Making the album, released by Nettwerk, gave her solace. “When the album was done there was just this warmth and soothing

“I feel lucky that I didn’t need it as an ego thing,” she continued. “It was just a part of my almost spiritual life.” The Hi Rhythm Section won’t join Ford in Vancouver — one of the three Hodges brothers in the group has died since they recorded with her — but she’ll be backed by other musician buddies, replete with horns and lamé. The 38th annual Folk Fest features roughly 60 acts from more than 14 countries performing on multiple day and evening stages at Jericho Beach Park. Other performers include Angélique Kidjo, Richard Thompson and Hawksley Workman. Admission for children 12 and younger is free when accompanied by an adult. For more information, see thefestival.bc.ca. @Cheryl_Rossi

8 game homestand starts this saturday, july 18 SATURDAY JULY 18th

Fireworks Extravaganza Gates at 6pm. First Pitch 7:05

SUNDAY JULY 19th

A&W Family Fun Sunday & Lunch Box Giveaway First 1,000 kids 12 & under Gates at 12pm. First Pitch 1:05

MONDAY JULY 20th

The Famous Chicken & Poncho Giveaway First 1,000 Fans Gates at 6pm. First Pitch 7:05

FOR TICKETS CALL 604.872.5232 OR VISIT CANADIANSBASEBALL.COM

TUESDAY JULY 21st

Recycling Bin Piggy Bank Giveaway First 1,000 kids 12 & under Gates at 12pm. First Pitch 1:05

WEDNESDAY JULY 22nd Scotiabank Bright Future ’Nooner Gates at 12pm. First Pitch 1:05

THURSDAY JULY 23rd

Aaron Sanchez BobbleHead Giveaway First 1,000 Fans Gates at 6pm. First Pitch 7:05

FRIDAY JULY 24th

Scotiabank Bright Future ’Nooner Gates at 12pm. First Pitch 1:05

SATURDAY JULY 25th

Fireworks Extravaganza Gates at 6pm. First Pitch 7:05

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Sports&Recreation

GOT GAME? Contact sports editor Megan Stewart at mstewart@vancourier.com or 604-630-3549

1. Vancouver’s Adam Hopkins plants on the side of the Hastings bowl on his way to finishing fifth and pocketing a $5,000 cash prize in the Van Doren Invitational at Hastings Skatepark July 11. 2. Vancouver skater James Clarke landed his big air stalefish multiple times during the finals. 3. Roaming about the bowl’s edge during the second annual Vans-sponsored summer jam was this friendly bulldog. 4. Californian Tristan Rennie, the winner of the 2014 Vans Pool Party, placed sixth and won $4,000 in the Van Doren Invitational. PHOTOS REBECCA BLISSETT

Hastings bowl pumps up the jam

Van Doren Invitational returned for second summer SKATEBOARDING Megan Stewart

mstewart@vancourier.com

The Vancouver crowd was loud and proud for hometown skaters James Clarke and Adam Hopkins during the second-annual Van Doren Invitational skateboard competition at Hastings Skatepark July 10 and 11. Clarke, an indie skater

The number of points — four grabs, five assists — scored by Furious George ultimate player Gagan Chatha through the first two games in the open division at the World U23 Ultimate Championships in London July 13. The open, women’s and mixed teams, were all 2-0 after the first day.

sans sponsors, whipped up the energy on fast highflying tours around the bowls, and Hopkins, who is part of the Vans team and grew up in Thunder Bay, Ont., wore a fluorescent orange hat throughout the finals on Saturday. Hopkins, the oldest skater in the competition at 25, finished fifth overall and pocketed $5,000 for his efforts. Clarke didn’t crack the top six out of 21 skaters. The purse for the

free skate jam was $75,000. Held over two days, the mops and blow torches came out before Saturday’s ﬁnals to dry the rain off Mother Hastings, as the 14-year-old park is affectionately called. Grafﬁti artists, under the direction of designers Virus and Ben Tour, transformed the bowls with a black, oil-slick bottom and pool-blue walls. A feature of the park known as the hip was painted black with a hammer and sickle

in memory of Josh Evin, a pro skater and owner of the Black Russian Skate Shop in Castlegar who died in 2010. Dalton Dern, a 22-yearold from Orlando, Fla. pocketed $1,500 when he conquered the notorious Hastings transfer, a trick that has never been landed before at the skatepark. Alex Sorgente, 17, also from Florida, won the invite-only session and took home $15,000. @MHStewart

: Furiously out in front

The number of undefeated teams — Little Mountain (2-0) and White Rock (3-0) — remaining at the U10 Little League Provincial Championships after two days of competition at Carnarvon Park. Hosts Jericho Little League are 1-2. Games continue all week with the championship set for 12 p.m. July 19.

#BCEG7s The short form of B.C. Elite Girls 7s, the newest provincial team launched by B.C. Rugby. The new U16-U18 female rugby program is sponsored by Onni Group and will be modelled after the youth boys side that was established in 2011. Former UBC T-Bird and provincial player Darcy Patterson is the head coach.

“I’m beyond disappointed to not be able to play this tie.” — Vancouver tennis player Vasek Pospisil said last week when announcing a wrist injury will prevent him from playing for Canada in the Davis Cup against Belgium July 17 to 19. He will be out for three weeks and added, “I believe in this team and I will be watching and cheering them on as they compete next weekend.”

The number of cities, ending with Vancouver July 18, that will be visited by Five Hole For Food, an 18-day cross-Canada street hockey tournament and food bank fundraiser. The charity games begin downtown on Granville Street on Saturday, 12 to 6 p.m. Bring a donation.

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