Vancouver Courier July 3 2015

NEWS 4

FRIDAY

July 3 2015

Anatomy of a No vote

Vol. 106 No. 52

OPINION 10

te Clark to blame for transit vote SPORTS 23

Hope on the slopes There’s more online at

vancourier.com WEEKEND EDITION

THE VOICE of VANCOUVER NEIGHBOURHOODS since 1908

From teacher to writer Top principal crafts mysteries

Cheryl Rossi

crossi@vancourier.com

WEIGHING THE OPTIONS Salesperson Michael Chung weighs medicinal products at Cheung Sing Herbal and Birds Nest Co. in Chinatown. He believes the community’s still-thriving traditional herbal shops will remain for at least a decade, even as the customer base expands to neighbourhoods throughout Metro Vancouver. PHOTO DAN TOULGOET

Chinatown changes not about decline Residents note change but reject suggestion of decay Deanna Cheng

dmwcheng7@gmail.com

(Three young writers, all recent graduates of the Langara Journalism Program, partnered with the Courier to explore how residents and businesses in Chinatown are responding to a community undergoing significant change. —Editor) The older parts of Chinatown are a mishmash of tall narrow wood-and-brick buildings squeezed in beside each other.

The newer parts represent a glimpse into the future: Shiny spacious towers.

Glass from waist-high to ceiling. Tiled floors, no linoleum. Off-white blinders

and handicapped access.

The rise of these new creations in this historic Vancouver neighbourhood has startled local residents. So have changing demographics and cultures.

Back in the day, wrinkly Chinese seniors in trucker caps would sit outside, drink McDonald’s coffee and spit onto the sidewalk after taking a drag on their cigarettes.

Now bearded white men vape in new, pristine cafes.

Chinatown is changing on many levels — residentially, commercially and culturally.

While the area struggles to retain or adjust its identity, the community continues to evolve.

Residents here resist the idea Chinatown is dying, even if the neighbourhood’s high point in the 1970s is gone. They live there.

They eat there. They grow there. They know Chinatown is alive because they are alive.

All it requires is investment, said blogger Melissa Fong at a May discussion panel at SFU Woodward’s about a documentary on Chinatown.

The film, Everything Will Be, missed the liveliness of the community, argued Fong. “The depiction of decay and dying is false.”

There are ways one chooses to depict a community, she said. “Parts of Chinatown are thriving and they’re not shown in the film.”

A PhD candidate in planning and geography, Fong said signs of decay are due to disinvestment.

Chinatown may be decaying in parts but it is not dead, she said. It is changing.

Continued on page 14

Thinking oƒ SELLING your Vancouver area home?

THINK OF PAUL.

When Iona Whishaw taught high school students the art of creative writing, she thought she’d be writing right alongside them.

“Teaching is probably one of the most creative jobs there is,” she said, noting it involves creating lesson plans, ideas and circumstances in which kids can learn. “I found all my creative juices were used up.”

That’s why when she retired from her job as a high school principal last year she fulfilled a decade-long dream and published her first novel in April .

Daily writing became easier after she became an administrator, first at Vancouver Technical secondary, then at Sir Charles Tupper and David Thompson.

The award-winning Vancouver principal launched a period detective mystery called Dead in the Water at David Thompson. She was encouraged to receive congratulations from internationally popular mystery writer Gail Bowen, who writes the Joanne Kibourn murder mysteries.

Whishaw, who graduated with a master’s degree in fine arts from UBC in creative writing in 1988, started writing Dead in the Water before she retired.

She’d rise at 5:30 a.m. and write 400 words while her brain was “fresh.”

Dead in the Water focuses on a 26-year-old British woman, Lane Winslow, recruited to be a spy in the Second World War from university at the age of 19 because she spoke multiple languages. She was dropped into France with weaponry, equipment and messages and suffered a tragic love affair. At the war’s end, she moves to a tiny community in B.C. to start a new life. And then a dead body appears in a creek near her home and she’s charged with murder.

“I absolutely love the [mystery] genre.

I love it, love it, love it,” Whishaw said.

“The late, great [crime writer] P.D. James said a good mystery has to be a good novel. I’ve never liked really gory mysteries, or penny dreadfuls.

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F R I DAY, J U LY 3 , 2 0 1 5 THE VANCOUVER COURIER

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News Mayor wants to ‘make ends meet’ in Vancouver 12TH&CAMBIE Mike Howell

mhowell@vancourier.com

So Mayor Gregor Robertson wants a so-called living wage in Vancouver.

He announced this via an email sent Monday to us media types.

It’s news, and it isn’t.

It’s news if you didn’t know he already committed to do this during the 2014 civic election campaign.

In fact, when he announced his support for a living wage at a candidates’ meeting in October at the Italian Cultural Centre, Robertson wasn’t the only one to commit to the policy.

Also on board were Green Party Coun. Adriane Carr and mayoral candidates Meena Wong of COPE and Kirk LaPointe of the NPA. All four agreed to work with the Metro Vancouver Alliance, an energetic organization of faith groups, labour unions and community advocates, to develop a living wage. None of the candidates went into great

detail on how they would do that; the format didn’t really allow for it.

But Robertson won the election and now we’re getting some details.

First, an explanation of what a living wage is.

It is the amount of money wage earners living in a household pay for basic expenses such as rent, food, transportation and child care. That’s once government taxes, credits, deductions and subsidies have been taken into account.

It does not include pension savings, debts or many other of what Robertson’s staff calls “routine expenses.” These would include saving for retirement, saving for emergencies, saving for education, anything beyond minimal recreation and the cost of caring for a disabled, ill or elderly family member.

In Metro Vancouver, which stretches from West Vancouver to Langley, it is estimated both wage earners in a four-person family must earn $20.68 each per hour to meet the definition of a living wage. That’s 58 cents more per hour than the

Mayor Gregor Robertson wants the City of Vancouver to become a “living wage” employer. He made that commitment during the 2014 civic election campaign. PHOTO DAN TOULGOET

2014 estimate.

Here’s a quote from Robertson of the Captain Obvious variety: “Vancouver has one of the strongest economies of any city in Canada, but too many families are struggling to make ends meet. Full-time work should provide families with a basic level of opportunity and economic security.”

So you might be wondering who the heck comes up with all these numbers.

That would be the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, which released a report in April that settled on the $20.68 per hour wage. Now the Living Wage for Families Campaign wants that wage implemented in Metro Vancouver.

Here’s a different take on Robertson’s quote from Deanna Ogle, the organizer for the campaign (note her description of the economy): “Thanks to

the combination of a lowwage economy and lack of government supports, many families are struggling to make ends meet.”

I spoke to Ogle Monday and she’s happy Robertson will introduce a motion at next week’s council meeting to ask city staff to report back on steps necessary to have the Living Wage for Families Campaign certify Vancouver as a living wage employer.

To be clear, Robertson isn’t asking for a city-wide implementation of a living wage, which would likely ignite a revolution — both from the business owners who wouldn’t want to pay it, and the activists who would say it’s about time.

No, as Ogle explained, Robertson wants a living wage for certain city employees and contractors.

But many, I argued, would be earning this already as union employees. Last time I checked, city workers make a decent living.

“But there are a number of folks who are employees who don’t make a living wage,” she said, but didn’t

have an exact head count.

“There’re folks who are working in the libraries who don’t make a living wage, there’re people who are events staff who don’t make a living wage. We know that there’re contracted cleaners, for example, who are cleaning firehalls. And they’re doing important work.”

So how much would this cost to implement?

That’s what a staff report will determine but Ogle noted the City of New Westminster, which became in 2011 the first city in Canada to implement a living wage, spends a quarter of one per cent of their annual budget to meet the wage scale. And that increase, she added, didn’t require a tax hike.

Sounds, though, like it will be complicated to get it off the ground.

“It’s not an overnight process because they have to talk to the unions that are involved and also talk to their contractors,” Ogle said. “So we’re looking at a multi-year process.”

In the meantime, good luck everybody. @Howellings

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News Mayor: ‘There is no plan B’

Robertson calls on province for funding solution Tyler Orton and Jen St. Denis

How Metro Vancouver voted (62% said no) Only three areas voted in favour of a new tax to support new transit initiatives

Business in Vancouver

Mayor Gregor Robertson was blunt in his assessment Thursday of what it will take to fund planned improvements to transportation in Vancouver and the region.

“On funding there is no plan B,” he told a press conference Thursday.

“The mayors have been unanimous in stating that property tax is not an option to fund the mayors’ plan.

Going forward, we need an alternate solution from the government.”

TransLink’s Mayors’ Council is stuck at a red light after its contentious plan to raise $250 million a year for Lower Mainland transportation infrastructure was voted down by Metro Vancouver residents.

The No side drew 62 per cent of votes compared with the Yes side’s 38 per cent, according to results released Thursday morning (July 2). Elections B.C. said 51 per cent of registered voters cast ballots in the non-binding plebiscite.

Metro Vancouver residents had been asked whether they would support a regional 0.5 per cent sales tax to pay for local government’s share of $7.5 billion to expand transit.

That money would have raised $250 million a year to go towards capital projects and operations. To proceed, the plan would still have needed funding commitments from the province and federal governments.

“Ultimately it’s up to the province to decide how the funding gap is met,” Robertson said. “They need to empower the region with the tools to raise the funding to improve our transportation network.”

Jon Garson, vice-presi-

65%

59%

LIONS BAY

62%

BOWEN ISLAND

55%

56%

WEST VANCOUVER

55%

CITY OF NORTH VANCOUVER

51%

VANCOUVER

Novotes Yesvotes

62%

DISTRICT OF NORTH VANCOUVER

52%

METRO VANCOUVER ELECTORAL AREA “A” INCLUDES UBC

ANMORE

57% 65% 67% 68% 55% BELCARRA

PORT MOODY

BURNABY

72%

PITT MEADOWS COQUITLAM PORT COQUITLAM

77%

MAPLE RIDGE

NEW WESTMINSTER

72%

RICHMOND

68%

66%

SURREY

DELTA

66%

TSAWWASSEN FIRST NATION

72%

CITY OF LANGLEY

59%

WHITE ROCK

75%

TOWNSHIP OF LANGLEY SOURCE: ELECTIONS BC

A map shows the breakdown of how each community voted in the transit plebiscite.

IMAGE RANDALL PEARSALL, BUSINESS IN VANCOUVER

dent of the B.C. Chamber of Commerce, said there are concerns within the business community that municipalities will begin competing with one another for funding if there is no regional plan.

“We’ll have to look at how we’ll move forward now. We don’t have a new funding mechanism, which means no new money going into the system,” he told Business in Vancouver.

Garson added business investment throughout the region would suffer without an immediate commitment to transportation funding.

“It’s not that we will stand still in that time. We will move backwards,” he said.

The plan, which was created by TransLink’s Mayors’ Council, included a subway along part of the Broadway corridor to UBC, a new light rail system for Surrey, and a new Pattullo bridge. Also part of the plan were more buses and road, pedestrian and cycling improvements.

Keith Sashaw, president of the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies, said it appears the plebiscite turned out to be

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more of an indictment over TransLink’s governance rather than transportation investment.

“Certainly, we’re disappointed,” he said. “Even as employers, what we’re hearing from our members is that their employees are asking for better transit.

We’re seeing some of our firms deliberately move to transportation nodes so that their employees can get to work quicker and easier and less [stressed] than fighting traffic.”

Those campaigning for the Yes side included most of the region’s mayors and a coalition of business groups, unions, environmental organizations, social service agencies and student groups.

The Yes side argued the funds were sorely needed to prevent traffic congestion and reduce pollution as the region adds an expected one million more residents over the next 30 years.

The No side, headed by Jordan Bateman of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, said the money needed for more transit could be found by cutting municipal spending.

With files from Elizabeth Lu

F R I DAY, J U LY 3 , 2 0 1 5 THE VANCOUVER COURIER

News Free parking saved for school staff CLASS NOTES Cheryl Rossi

crossi@vancourier.com

A plan to charge teachers and other school staff for parking was ditched when the Vancouver School Board passed its 20152016 budget June 29.

Trustees unanimously passed Vision Vancouver trustee Mike Lombardi’s motion to scrap paid parking.

Teachers were to pay $15 a month plus tax for unreserved spots and $35 for reserved.

The school board approved a plan for paid parking last September to offset the costs of maintaining district parking lots.

Vision Vancouver trustee Patti Bacchus, chair of the board when the plan was approved, said paid parking was well intended.

“Based on looking at should we be using education funding to maintain parking lots. Is it environmentally progressive to provide free parking,” she said.

But Bacchus said trustees heard “loud and clear,” particularly from teachers, who “have had a particularly rough time from government” that paying for parking felt like a “final kick in the teeth.”

“I think all trustees felt that for the savings that we would find in, really, downloading the maintenance costs to the users,

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Students attend an adult literacy class at Florence Nightingale elementary school this past spring.

The school board will save two of seven such programs from budget cuts in the next school year.

PHOTO DAN TOULGOET

we would lose far more than that in morale and goodwill,” she said.

The board was able to remove projected minimum revenue of $225,000 from paid parking from its operating budget because savings were found elsewhere. The VSB won’t offer classes at Maquinna Annex in Hastings-Sunrise in September for a savings of $154,000 and the board received more money from the provincial government for senior teachers’ salaries than expected.

With the little bit of savings left, Vision Vancou-

ver trustee Allan Wong’s motion to preserve the literacy outreach program at two of seven elementary schools passed with support from Vision trustees and NPA trustee Penny Noble. The program, which serves adults, had been eliminated in budget deliberations in April.

Bacchus again tried to convince trustees to maintain the adult education centre in the Downtown Eastside and the South Hill learning centre for youth, but her motion was defeated 5-4, with the lone Green trustee voting with

the four NPA trustees against the four Vision supporters.

The board had to balance its budget in the face of a more than $8-million budget shortfall.

Continued on page 6

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Continued from page 5

Special adviser

Trustees approved a report on the Minister of Education’s special adviser report June 29.

Of 49 recommendations applicable to the Vancouver School Board made by special adviser EY, formerly Ernst and Young, senior board staff report seven are considered completed, 19 are in progress and 23 will be considered this fall.

Recommendations to be explored for their costs and benefits include: • Rationalizing capacity at each school based on long-term enrolment expectations.

• Tracking the extent to which students move from schools that haven’t been seismically upgraded to those that have.

• Implementing a mobile maintenance workforce.

• Establishing an audit

days, on-demand requests for staff workshops, school consultations and teacher mentoring.

• Books with positive representation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer people have been purchased for school libraries.

• A video is being developed for education purposes within the district to support awareness and understanding.

A working group on change rooms is to be established in the fall to: • Review current practices for providing safe, private changing facilities.

• Review practices and solutions in other school districts and organizations.

• Share information gathered with the board’s PRIDE committee and seek input.

• Develop options for planning designated spaces or solutions in current buildings and to inform future designs. @Cheryl_Rossi

committee with external members to improve financial oversight.

Gender policy

Trustees received an update June 26 on the implementation of the revised Sexual Orientation and Gender Identities policy the Vancouver School Board adopted last June.

Each school was asked to identify a single-user washroom that was accessible without going through a staff space last fall. Signs that identify a washroom for use by any student, staff person or adult and is genderneutral are to be installed in secondary schools by Sept. 4 and in elementary schools by Oct. 30.

Additionally: • Staff training on supporting trans and gender nonconforming students is being provided on an ongoing basis through professional development

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News

Education taught her to craft characters

Continued from page 1 But there are a lot of really wonderful writers who write excellent novels [where] the whole ethical and moral core is the mystery.”

Meeting James in Vancouver a decade ago motivated Whishaw to pursue her mystery novel-writing dreams.

“Almost from that moment, I thought dammit, I can do this,” said Whishaw, who was in her mid-50s at the time. “She started late.”

Aspects of Whishaw’s real life inspired facets of Dead in the Water.

Winslow’s strong, independent spirit was inspired by Whishaw’s mother, who spoke seven languages, completed four master’s degrees after Whishaw went to university and hitchhiked to Alaska when Whishaw was a child because she was sick of waiting for her husband to return from geology field trips. Lorna Addison Whishaw also told her daughter she’d

Iona Whishaw traded teaching and administration for writing mystery novels.

briefly served as a spy during the war in South Africa where Whishaw’s father was a pilot for the RAF. Her mother’s father was a spy who died in 1943 in a German prison.

Whishaw started her career in education as a youth worker. She became an English teacher and then an administrator and says each role helped her craft well-rounded characters.

“Education is all about people,” she said. “When you’re in education, every single day you’re dealing with real people in every kind of situation, in joy, in tragedy, in fear.”

Whishaw published a children’s book Henry and the Cow Problem nearly 20 years ago, along with poetry, short stories and poetry translations. She spent much of her child-

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hood in Mexico and speaks Spanish. Her education articles appeared in American publications before she self-published Dead in the Water with FriesenPress, which also publishes yearbooks. She was recognized as one of the top 40 principals in Canada in 2012 and won a YWCA Woman of Distinction award in 2010.

Whishaw advises writers to compose without hesitation.

“Regardless of what you think is going to come out of your pen or your computer, pick a number [of words] and write to that number every day, and never, ever stop and go, well that sounds dumb, I won’t write that,” she said.

“Just keep writing because some of the most brilliant ideas come out as you are writing.”

Dead in the Water is available at Hager Books in Kerrisdale and for order online. For more information, see ionawhishaw.com. @Cheryl_Rossi

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THE VANCOUVER COURIER F R I DAY, J U LY 3 , 2 0 1 5

Community

Why we rally against attacks on faith PACIFIC SPIRIT Pat Johnson

PacificSpiritPJ@gmail.com

For anyone with a sense of history, it was impossible to watch U.S. President Barack Obama at the funeral of the slain Pastor Clementa Pickney last week and not be reminded of the Rev. Martin Luther King, particularly at a moment of uncanny and tragic parallel 52 years ago.

Obama came to Charleston, S.C., to mourn Pinckney who, along with eight of his parishioners, were murdered by a gunman in their Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church June 17.

Cynics might say Obama’s cadences were deliberately calibrated to echo King’s, but the parallels went beyond mere elocution. The president was leading his nation in grief over an act of mass murder that was shocking for, among other things, its targeted location and the evident racist motivation.

On Sept. 15, 1963, in

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Birmingham, Ala., four African-American girls were killed and 22 other people were injured when the Ku Klux Klan planted 15 sticks of dynamite under the 16th Street Baptist Church. The incident stunned the nation for the age of its victims and the brazen, racist assault on a place of worship.

There can hardly be silver linings where children — or anyone — lie slain. Yet these two acts, half a century apart, speak to not only the depravity of evil people, but to the catalyzing effect of terror and tragedy.

The 16th Street Baptist bombing was a turning point in the American civil rights movement. The barbarity of the perpetrators alienated those who might have harboured sympathies for their bigotry and mobilized those who rejected it into significant achievements, including equal rights legislation.

The young man accused of the Emanuel AME murders is said to have been attempting to initiate a race war. Instead, the country has

EN V E E

Rev. Martin Luther King’s crusade in the American civil rights movement a half century ago was catalyzed by the brazen bombing of a church in Alabama.

come together even at a time of deep racial conflict around police brutality against African-Americans and the ever-present background noise of race relations and unhealed sins of the past.

The cold-bloodedness of the attack on people because of their skin colour shook the nation. But so did the location.

There is something that strikes us — religious and secular almost equally, I think — as particularly intensified when perpetrators

strike in a place of worship.

People should feel safe and should be free from mass murder wherever they are.

We should be outraged and mobilized to action whenever any innocent is killed. But there is something especially egregious about defiling the sanctity of a church or other place of worship. And this seems to be part of the attraction for people filled with hatred.

In the same week, at least 27 people were killed when a mosque was blown

up in Kuwait. This is an increasingly familiar form of carnage wherever the terror group ISIS acts out.

But worldwide, on a much smaller scale, places of worship are frequently singled out for attack. It is a strategy that sometimes is motivated by explicit intrareligious sectarian hatred. In other cases, the locations are targeted precisely because they represent the closely held values of an identifiable group. An attack on a church, synagogue, mosque or temple is intended to inflict a deep psychological wound to the survivors.

Yet in most cases, as horrible as the crimes are, they also provide an opening for cross-cultural connection.

In 1985, two Vancouver synagogues were attacked by arsonists, one of them destroyed. Neighbouring Christian churches rallied around to commiserate with their Jewish neighbours.

A similar reaction took place just last year after a mosque in Cold Lake, Alta., was defaced with the spraypainted words “Go home.”

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The people of Cold Lake responded by showering the mosque and its congregants with support, including cleaning up the graffiti and carrying signs asserting “You are home.”

Last month, a church in northern Israel was attacked, presumably by Jewish religious extremists. This week a group of top rabbis and the speaker of the Israeli parliament came together in a campaign to both raise money for the congregation and to declare religious violence unacceptable.

The oddly jubilant funeral for Rev. Pickney, with its animated, vocal audience and stridently uplifting message of hope and unity may have been the perfect antidote to the barbarous act. Nine lives will never be revived. But the determination of a country to oppose racism and seek understanding and compassion among people has been fortified. In this, the act of the perpetrator had the exact opposite of its intent. @Pat604Johnson

F R I DAY, J U LY 3 , 2 0 1 5 THE VANCOUVER COURIER

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Opinion

Moose-riding and other stupid guy stuff OPINION

Geoff Olson

mwiseguise@yahoo.com

“Two things are infinite, as far as we know — the universe and human stupidity. And I’m not so sure about first one.” This apocryphal quote from standup physicist Albert Einstein contains a grain of truth bigger than Ayers Rock. Hence the four recent news items below about stupid guy stuff.

1. B.C. conservation officials are investigating a video posted in June to YouTube by the B.C.based group Wolftracker TV. A unidentified boater’s backside — black swim shorts displaying a pastywhite, come-hither muffin top — is seen as he and his offscreen buddies pursue a moose across shallow water. The man then leaps off the motorboat’s deck onto the creature’s back and rides it for 15 seconds.

“I’ve never seen anything so awesome,” one of his buddies exclaims to laughter. Muffin man pumps his fist in the air before falling off the terrified moose.

Wildlife harassment has a long and distinguished history, from the elephantstraddling Hannibal to the crocodile-wrestling Steve Irwin. In some parts it’s considered as manly as SpikeTV and truck nuts.

But unfortunately for the Darwin Award seeker in the YouTube video, it’s an offence in B.C. If he’s identified and charged, I’d like see his community service include a reenacted rodeo act with rutting male moose. On dry land. With ticket sales.

2. The June 17 mass killing of African American churchgoers in Charleston, North Carolina elicited a jaw-dropping tweet the next day from NRA board member Charles L. Cotton. He blamed state senator and pastor Clemental Pinckney for smiting

himself and others.

“Eight of his church members who might be alive if he had expressly allowed members to carry handguns in church are dead. Innocent people died because of his position on a political issue,” wrote Cotton.

There is nowhere to take this, comically speaking.

I am dumbstruck by the absurdity/douchebaggery of the National Rifle Association, and aghast that Mr. Cotton walks freely, never to be wrapped in an ether-soaked Confederate flag coated with bacon grease, and dragged from a trawler off Cape Cod for an episode of Discovery Channel’s Shark Week.

3. More than 500 aircraft in Canada were reportedly struck by laser pointers last year, occasionally blinding

even if the NRA insists that “if laser pointers are banned, only cat-fancying PowerPoint users will have laser pointers.”

4. “Being sodomized is acceptable in Islam if the goal is to carry out jihad, according to a cleric on a new video,” reports The Toronto Sun. Abu al-Dema al-Qasab informs terrorists-to-be how to carry out a successful suicide bombing mission by anally concealing explosives. “However, to undertake this jihadi approach you must agree to be sodomized for a while to widen your anus so it can hold the explosives,” the “cleric” says in the video.

This video was allegedly first aired on a Shia-based satellite television station, but its provenance is shaky. The background

I’d like to see his community service include a reenacted rodeo act with a rutting male moose. pilots. Eighty of the attacks were in B.C.; fifty-two at YVR. Air Canada Pilot Russ Bellman has testified how a laser pointer hit him the left eye on May 12, 2014, and then temporarily blinded his first officer.

Swords, shanks, rifles, bayonets, intercontinental ballistic missiles, laser pointers; what is it with guys and pointy things?

(I think we can safely say males of varying age and cranial capacity are responsible for most of these incidents.) I knew a guy who liked to train a laser pointer on apartment walls across from his West End high-rise, just to see the occasional cat leap into view.

And as a guy, I thought that was pretty cool.

Sales of these devices should be tightly controlled,

of al-Dema al-Qasab is “also unknown,” notes the newspaper report. No word on radicalized young males from Brixton to Brisbane going gaga for Mission Implantable, or if the mystery mullah has anything else to sell us — say, info on illegal centrifuge tubes or Flubber bound for Iran.

But my wandering mind returns to the motorboat muffin man. I envision him as angry and vengeful after Western justice metes out a one-sided romantic encounter with a male moose. Would the sentence expand his horizons enough for radicalized membership in al-Qasab’s butt-blasting battalion? It’s the start of a fractured fairy tale that turns my frown upside-down. geoffolson.com

An identified man recently jumped on top of a moose and posted the video evidence of it on YouTube.

Corner of Georgia and Cambie Street The City of Vancouver and FIFA invite you to the FREE Fan Zone for the Women’s World Cup. Enjoy soccer matches on the big screen, live music acts, exhibition soccer, interactive games, delicious food and more!

FAN ZONE SCHEDULE SAT JUL 4 SUN JUL 5

FREE FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

12-8 PM 12-8 PM

PLAYER APPEARANCES INTERACTIVE GAMES LIVE MUSIC STREET SOCCER FOOD TRUCKS

For detailed schedule visit vancouver.ca/fanzone | #VanFanZone

DON’T MISS TODAY’S scotiabank

bright future ’nooner NEXT HOMESTAND STARTS THIS THURSDAY, JULY 9 vs. San Francisco Giants affiliate Salem-Keizer Volcanoes Gates open at 6pm. First Pitch 7:05

FOR TICKETS CALL 604.872.5232 OR VISIT CANADIANSBASEBALL.COM

gates open at noon. first pitch 1:05

A10

THE VANCOUVER COURIER F R I DAY, J U LY 3 , 2 0 1 5

Opinion

City needs more Premier to blame drinking fountains for plebiscite failure

Mike Klassen Columnist mike@mikeklassen.net

Water is permanently etched in Vancouver’s identity. Ocean waves lap the shores of the south coast, a rainforest provides our city’s breathtaking backdrop, and radiant lakes and reservoirs dot the surrounding region providing places to hike, swim and fish.

Why then are we so miserly when it comes to making water freely available on our streets? Vancouver has far too few publicly available drinking water fountains, and those that we have are often poorly maintained.

If you have taken a sip from a Vancouver water fountain over the last few years, it has been a less than satisfying experience.

When the fountains are actually functioning, water often dribbles out with a decidedly metallic taste due to mineral build-up in the plumbing. Adding to the disappointment is the fact that those drinking fountains are shut off for most of the year.

It is time for us to champion more year-round public access to drinking water in Vancouver.

Compared to the rest of the planet, we are blessed with so much fine, clean drinkable water here that most of us take it for granted. As far as 2015 goes, however, Mother Nature is testing our assumptions about our water supply.

The snowpack customarily melting off of local peaks this time of year is practically non-existent. Stage 2 restrictions of water use — whereby homeowners can only water their lawns once per week — are a certainty this summer.

Public awareness campaigns since the early 1990s asking the public to reduce water consumption have been fantastically successful. And now during this dry patch, city officials are smartly asking citizens’ help in reporting water abusers.

Even with the extraordinary lack of rainfall our region has faced (precipitation is at record lows since February), the Capilano and Seymour watersheds are at 83 per cent capacity. Contingencies are in place for accessing more supply from the Coquitlam watershed if our dry weather continues.

All the hot weather should motivate us to expand the availability of drinkable water, not retreat from it.

To its credit, the City of Vancouver has added a total of seven temporary drinking fountains during the summer.

Seven additional fountains — which are connected to fire hydrants — added to the total of 250 seem paltry when compared to Rome’s 2,500 drinking fountains. There are 400 alone in the ancient capital’s town centre.

These fountains are known as the nasoni (“big noses” because of their shape).

They provide fresh clean drinking water for free, and that which drains off is recycled for other non-potable purposes such as street cleaning and gardens.

Surprisingly, Rome provides this fresh water with approximately half our annual rainfall. Locals and tourists alike covet the water source.

According to the last Vital Signs report conducted by the Vancouver Foundation, our region is the most physically active urban centre in Canada. As a runner I join thousands of people jogging, cycling and walking our streets, sidewalks and seawalls daily.

Finding a rest stop for tasty water in Vancouver on a typical 10K run I can attest is a huge challenge. Our active local population would be quick to embrace these new water sources.

So, too, would tourists parading past our various attractions. I have walked up and down Gastown countless times and wondered why there is not a single drinking fountain there.

To achieve this expansion easily, we could utilize some of the city’s 6,200 fire hydrants.

Indeed, if you search the Internet you will find images of drinking fountains that connect to the hydrants that are sturdy, attractive and accessible for adults, children and people in wheelchairs, without obstructing their use during fire responses.

Drinking fountains should be placed on the seawall and at least a few installed in every commercial district in the city — including the Drive, South Hill, Marpole, the East Village, Kingsway and Joyce, West 10th, and South Granville — to name a few. In the Main Street shopping district, there is an underwhelming total of two drinking fountains over dozens of blocks.

Politicians may question the need for this among their other priorities and pet projects. Certainly, the beverage companies are content to keep selling water in plastic bottles. However, our clean drinking water provides us with an important sense of place here in Vancouver, which is why we should do more to showcase it. @MikeKlassen

Allen Garr Columnist agarr@vancourier.com

Well, it is over to you, Christy Clark.

It should come as no surprise that the transit plebiscite failed so overwhelmingly.

The regional mayors had their arms twisted by the province not to just hold a referendum or a plebiscite, but to base the revenue needed for infrastructure improvements on an increase in sales tax.

The idea sprang from the whimsical mind of our premier during the last election campaign. It was clearly a way for her to distance herself from any kind of tax increase.

It proved to be a multimillion dollar failure.

Following the rejection of the last sales tax referendum on keeping the HST, the mayors far preferred getting their revenue from a carbon tax.

But that is a small quibble now.

The province also fiddled with the question the mayors submitted by watering it down, making it less clear. And then the province turned it from a binding “referendum” into a non-binding “plebiscite.”

To its credit, the Yes side formed a remarkably broad coalition with more than 100 groups, including unions, businesses, students, environmentalists, health care professionals and anti-poverty organizations. Who the leader of that gang was however, was never really clear. And that was a problem.

Besides the No side, the anti-tax side was out the gate well ahead of them and defined the issue.

There were a number of reasons to vote no, including the sense that regardless of the outcome, someone would have to do something about transit. In fact, Clark has confirmed that very point.

But the campaign very quickly became, at least in part, a vote on TransLink and not on the carefully crafted transportation plan put together by the mayors. As result, the very future of that dysfunctional institution — which had several serious breakdowns in service during the course of the voting period — is in question.

And that, too, is all on the provincial Liberals. They are the ones who, when Kevin Falcon was transportation minister, stripped the regions’ mayors of much of their power and turned it over to an appointed board, which chose to hold its meetings behind closed doors.

This is not the first provincially inspired referendum/plebiscite that has failed in recent times. I mentioned the government’s failed attempt to keep the HST. But there was

The week in num6ers...

62 257 52 58

Percentage of votes against the proposed 0.5 per cent Metro Vancouver Congestion Improvement Tax dedicated to the Mayors’ Council transportation and transit plan.

The number of public drinking water fountains operated by the City of Vancouver.

The number of times pilots flying near YVR airport have reported being struck in the eyes by laser pointers last year.

In cents, the amount by which the so-called “living wage” for Metro Vancouver has increased since 2014. The amount is now estimated at $20.68 per hour.

former premier Gordon Campbell’s 2002 “experiment in direct democracy” with the referendum on B.C. Treaties. Pollster Angus Reid called it “one of the most amateurish, one-sided attempts to gauge the public will that I have seen in my professional career.”

Then there were the two referenda on electoral reform. The first in 2005 passed by 57 per cent but required 60 per cent.

The second, four years later, failed outright.

But on the transit plebiscite, mayors had their doubts from the outset. Surrey mayor Linda Hepner had a “Plan B.” She was promising she would have light rail service in her city regardless of the plebiscite outcome and before her first term was over.

Her ace in the hole was her predecessor Dianne Watts. Watts accepted a Conservative nomination for the next federal election on the condition the feds would grant money for Surrey’s light rail system.

It was not a bad deal to make. Earlier this week, the Globe and Mail presented an analysis of Stephen Harper’s Conservative party largess under the headline “Federal infrastructure fund spending favoured Conservative ridings.”

The failure of this plebiscite will mean a very messy future for the region when it comes to new infrastructure.

So the failure of this plebiscite will mean a very messy future for the region when it comes to new infrastructure. Vancouver is still intent on its $2 billion plus subway along Broadway and claims it can make the business case for it. But we will once again see a tug of war among the municipalities over who gets what first, much like the fight that elbowed the Evergreen Line out of the way so the Canada Line could get built first.

Instead of a master plan, we will be debating each project in an endless squabble that will last for decades. And that will inevitably mean a slower response and poorer services including delays in much needed new buses to serve the whole region.

While we can blame the mayors for a lack of leadership and a poorly run campaign to bring this one home, ultimately it is Clark who should carry the can. @allengarr

5

The number of Tony Awards won by the original Broadway production of The Lion King.

A touring version runs at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre until July 12.

1.7

The percentage by which Vancouver’s population has increased on a yearly basis, according to a recent BMO report.

F R I DAY, J U LY 3 , 2 0 1 5 THE VANCOUVER COURIER

A11

Inbox LETTERS TO THE EDITOR High school inconsequential

Re: “West Side teens chose East Side public school,” June 26.

Sifti and Sid Bhullar are to be commended for their community service and accomplishments. However, this feel-good story rings a little hollow as they both eschewed a private secondary education only to pursue a rather privileged, and I am guessing, expensive university education overseas.

Mom and Dad must be relieved as this mitigates the stigma of their kids having attended John Oliver Secondary — a school that is ranked 193rd out 289 by the Fraser Institute for the years 2013/14.

Daniel Twa, Vancouver

•••

Courier readers expressed a variety of opinions on a story about West Side teens Sid Bhullar (right) and his sister Sifti choosing to attend the East Side’s John Oliver secondary. PHOTO DAN TOULGOET

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

The Steamer hangs up his skates

July 3, 1991: Stan Smyl, the man nicknamed The Steamer for his punishing playing style, announces his retirement after 13 seasons with the Canucks, 262 career goals and several team records.

At 5-foot-8 and 185 pounds, Smyl wasn’t supposed to be big enough or fast enough to make it in the NHL. Despite two championships with the New Westminster Bruins, he was only selected in the third round, 40th overall, in 1978. It turned out to be one of the best draft picks the Canucks ever made. In just his second season, Smyl led the team in goals (31), assists (47) and points (78), a feat the feisty winger managed while also leading the team in penalty minutes (204). He was also a big part of the Canucks’ unlikely run to the Stanley Cup final in 1982, notching nine goals and 18 points in 17 playoff games. It was the same season he was named interim captain after Kevin McCarthy broke his ankle in practice and was finished for the season. Smyl kept the “C” until 1990, when management decided to shift the position to three other players on a rotating basis, ending the NHL’s longest captaincy.

Although only 33, the physical role he played took its toll and, in his final season, he was a healthy scratch 34 times, many of those down the stretch run when the team was fighting for a playoff spot. He also wasn’t called upon during the Canucks’ first-round exit against the Los Angeles Kings.

Smyl spent the next 13 years either as an assistant coach with the Canucks or a head coach for one of their farm teams. He currently serves as an advisor to GM Jim Benning.

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I enjoyed Cheryl Rossi’s article about the brother and sister from the West Side of the city who chose to finish their education at an East Side school, namely John Oliver.

I myself attended J.O. in the ’60s from 1962-1967. I enjoyed my years there and had some good teachers. I made friends with people that I still am friends with to this day.

A lot of people might not know, but J.O. was known for its music department and its athletics.

Vancouver Technical is also another East Side school that is known for its excellent programs.

All it takes is good teachers and a balanced environment for children to learn no matter which city school they attend.

Jeanette Edwards, Vancouver

Proposed Commercial Drive tower should be driven out

Re: “Grandview-Woodland report a ‘good starting point,’” June 26.

While we salute the hard work of the Citizens Assembly, we note they were deeply conflicted about a proposed 15-storey tower at Commercial and Venables and were unable to make a specific recommendation about the idea.

The tower, proposal by Boffo Developments, is completely out of context with the neighbourhood and would destroy the current low impact, lowrise and people-friendly nature of our muchloved Drive. It should be blocked.

It would consist of 180 market condos and would be massive, casting shadows over homes and gardens. Nor would it provide affordable housing.

The development would require the addition of a piece of city land at the rear of the site... a sizeable footprint with mature trees much better suited to a park or other public amenity.

Any social programs currently on the site could be very easily accommodated within a four storey height restriction and with financial contributions from the city and higher levels of government.

Barbara Cameron, Vancouver

ONLINE COMMENTS Troubled over water levels

Re: “Worry over water levels,” July 1.

Low snow pack is an understatement. I hike the mountains regularly, and this year is very unusual. Levels are where they would usually be in August.

Restrictions should be much stricter already, in my opinion. weezul, via Comments section

•••

Cool it with the water wasting Vancouver! Take a dip in the bay or Lynn Creek. @411Regan, via Twitter

Fired up over controversial health ministry firings

Re: “RCMP not investigating Health Ministry firings,” online only.

Simply mind-boggling that these crooks are allowed to go on with this charade. Christy Clark admitted to misleading and lying to the public saying there was a police investigation in progress for over two years. This needs to be taken out of their hands 100 per cent and taken to an independent public inquiry, and not to the Ombudsman.

The RCMP has determined the health researchers did nothing wrong. Common sense would dictate the government is at fault. They don’t have any moral authority over what the process should be, as they LIED! There is nothing this government won’t do to survive.

Gerald1, via Comments section

Ballantyne boosters big on appointment as board chair

Re: “New chair pledges constructive approach,” June 26.

Wow, great news! You couldn’t ask for a better leader as well as person in his own right. He’s absolutely terrific.

Adrian George, via Facebook

•••

Nice to have a chairman who really cares. Right man for the job!

Stephanie Oscarsson, via Facebook

East Side school knocked

Re: “West Side teens chose East Side public school,” June 26.

Awwww, the little rich West Side kids want to slum it up a bit before they start their med/law/whatever studies. How sweet. albinocastro, via Reddit

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A12

THE VANCOUVER COURIER F R I DAY, J U LY 3 , 2 0 1 5

Community

Paint with Nordstrom, explore YVR CALENDAR Sandra Thomas

sthomas@vancourier.com

Downtown

MORE MONE Y FOR E VERY FAMILY WITH CHILDREN

• $720 every year for each child 6 through 17—a new $60 per month!

It doesn’t matter how much you make. Every family with children under 18 qualifies. Payments start July 20 and are retroactive to January 1, 2015.

Find out if you need to apply at Canada.ca/TaxSavings

Travellers and staycationers will want to check out the Vancouver International Airport on Fridays to enjoy delicious treats, rockin’ beats and spectacular entertainment July 3 through Aug. 28 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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Tiles painted by children in support of the Vancouver Aquarium will eventually adorn the kids wear department of the new Nordstrom Pacific Centre store.

In an effort to establish Nordstrom Pacific Centre as part of this city’s community, developers and owners of the project have organized several charitable fundraising events, months ahead of the store’s scheduled September opening.

The first event, which takes place July 18, is a tile painting party during which kids can decorate fish-shaped tiles while enjoying refreshments and entertainment.

Children will create miniature works of art and can personalize the tile with their name and age. Artist Charlie Bigger will be on hand to give lessons in painting the tiles with glaze. Those tiles will then be permanently on display in the kids wear department of the new store.

More than 200 children will participate, and the event is expected to raise thousands of dollars in support of the Vancouver Aquarium’s conservation, research and education programs. The hourly sessions take place July 18 from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Vancouver Aquarium in Stanley Park. The cost is

$35 a child. To register or for more information, call 604659-3781 or email special. events@vanaqua.org.

As well, Nordstrom will kick off the opening of its new Pacific Centre store with a gala to benefit B.C. Children’s Hospital, B.C. Women’s Hospital and Health Centre, Covenant House Vancouver and the Vancouver Art Gallery. Nordstrom is covering the cost of the gala so 100 per cent of proceeds benefit the four organizations. More than 2,200 guests will get a sneak peek at the new store while enjoying cocktails, dinner, desserts and shopping.

(Warning: drinking while shopping may encourage unusual purchases, a fact I am reminded of every time I look at the giant sunglasses I bought at a past Holt Renfrew event.) For more information visit nordstromvangala. com, call 604-800-9085 or email nordstromvangala@ bcchf.ca.

F R I DAY, J U LY 3 , 2 0 1 5 THE VANCOUVER COURIER

A13

Community Proposed Changes to Development Cost Levies City-Wide Registration for Metro Vancouver Watershed Tours is now open.

Where your water comes from Continued from page 12 Whether you’re looking for an entertaining activity for the family or another reason to arrive early for your next flight, YVR TakeOff Fridays has something for everyone. Stop by the customer information counters and enter to win weekly prize draws or the YVR Ultimate Package, which includes a behind-the-scenes tour of the international airport for a family of four, one night accommodation at the Fairmont Vancouver Airport Hotel and a $500 Uniglobe Travel gift card.

Check out live DJs, local musicians and artists, caricaturists, balloon artists and more. Kids will have a blast meeting mascots, dancing to music, folding paper airplanes and getting their faces painted.

Festivities continue at YVR’s Public Observation Area, where families can explore interactive displays and videos for a behind-thescenes look at Canada’s second busiest airport. Check out the airfield action up close with telescopes, discover Sea Island through an

interactive model and learn interesting facts about YVR. If you’ve got an hour to spare, join YVR’s Explorer Tour for a free walking tour to learn about its legendary art and architecture. Park in YVR’s parkade for up to four hours for $5 during YVR’s Take-Off Fridays 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Parking vouchers are available at the customer information counter, International Terminal, level three.

Metro Vancouver

Ever wondered where your water comes from?

Registration for Metro Vancouver Watershed Tours is now open. Every summer, Metro Vancouver opens its protected watersheds to let the public discover these pristine valleys first hand.

Join Metro Vancouver staff for an engaging and scenic guided tour. Tours run Thursday to Sunday from July to September. Visit metrovancouver.org and search “watershed tours” to learn more. Registration is limited. Call 604-432-6430 or register online. @sthomas10

In July 2015, Vancouver City Council will be reviewing proposed changes to Development Cost Levies (DCLs).

DCLs are fees collected by the City of Vancouver from all new development. These fees help pay for amenities such as parks, affordable housing, childcare centres, transportation and other infrastructure to meet the needs of our growing city.

New Inflation-Adjusted Rates for 2015 On July 8, 2015, Council is scheduled to review a report which recommends new inflation-adjusted annual rates for City-Wide and Area-Specific DCLs. If approved, new DCL rates would come into effect on September 30, 2015.

These areas are: Area-Specific DCL Districts: • Arbutus • Burrard Slopes • Cedar Cottage/Welwyn • Dundas/Wall • Triangle West

Other Areas: • Coal Harbour • Fraser Lands (three areas) • Station LaFarge • Collingwood Village • Bayshore • Arbutus Neighbourhood

These areas, currently excluded from paying DCLs, are now either fully developed or have been superseded by newer area plans.

This proposed change will simplify the City's DCL system by providing one set of DCL rates that apply to most of the city. This will also improve the City's ability to plan for and deliver public benefits within these areas.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Nicola Sharp, 604-873-7756 vancouver.ca/financegrowth

Simplifying DCLs City-Wide Council will also be considering recommendations for the replacement of five Area-Specific DCLs and eight other areas currently exempt from DCLs, with the City-Wide DCL Bylaw.

Public Hearing: July 13 Monday, July 13, 2015, at 6 pm City Hall, 453 West 12th Avenue Third Floor, Council Chamber Vancouver City Council will hold a Public Hearing to consider zoning amendments for these locations:

1. 162 West 1st Avenue (Theatre Centre)

To amend the Sign By-law to allow signage consisting of one canopy sign containing third party advertising and two facia signs containing third party advertising at 162 West 1st Avenue, and to approve the Naming Rights Proposal for the theatre centre.

2. Miscellaneous Text Amendments to the Zoning and

Development By-law, RM-5, RM-5A, RM-5B, RM-5C and RM-5D Districts Schedule, Downtown Official Development Plan, and various CD-1 By-laws.

To amend the Zoning and Development By-law for miscellaneous text amendments to: the RM-5, RM-5A, RM-5B, RM-5C and RM-5D Districts Schedule; Downtown Official Development Plan By-law; CD-1 (569) By-law No. 10934 for 516 West 50th Avenue and 6629-6709 Cambie Street; CD-1 (577) By-law No. 11020 for 8175 Cambie Street, 519 Southwest Marine Drive and 8180-8192 Lord Street; CD-1 (589) By-law No. 11108 for 563-571 West King Edward Avenue; and CD-1 (600) By-law No. 11194 for 508 West 28th Avenue and 4439-4461 Cambie Street.

3. 1001-1015 Denman Street To amend CD-1 (Comprehensive Development) District (427) By-law No. 8978 for 1001-1015 Denman Street to add non-residential uses that are consistent with the surrounding C-5 (Commercial) District along Denman Street and to remove residential uses in order to be consistent with the recently adopted West End Community Plan.

4. 1754-1772 Pendrell Street

To rezone 1754-1772 Pendrell Street from RM-5A (Multiple Dwelling) District to CD-1 (Comprehensive Development) District, to permit the development of a 21-storey, multiple-dwelling building containing 178 secured market rental housing units, 26 of which are secured for 30 years with rents at 20 per cent below the average West End area market rents.

A height of 58 metres (190 feet) and a floor space ratio (FSR) of 6.96 are proposed.

6. 467-495 West King Edward Avenue

To rezone 467-495 West King Edward Avenue from RS-1 (One-Family Dwelling) District to CD-1 (Comprehensive Development) District, to permit the development of a six-storey residential building with lane-fronting twostorey townhouses, containing a total of 61 dwelling units. A height of 22 metres (72 feet) and a floor space ratio (FSR) of 2.31 are proposed.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THESE APPLICATIONS: vancouver.ca/rezapps or 604-873-7038 Anyone who considers themselves affected by the proposed by-law amendments may speak at the Public Hearing. Please register individually beginning at 8:30 am on July 3 until 5 pm on the day of the Public Hearing by emailing publichearing@vancouver.ca or by phoning 604-829-4238. You may also register in person at the door between 5:30 and 6 pm on the day of the Public Hearing. You may submit your comments by email to mayorandcouncil@vancouver.ca, or by mail to: City of Vancouver, City Clerk’s Office, 453 West 12th Avenue, Third Floor, Vancouver, BC, V5Y 1V4.

All submitted comments will be distributed to Council and posted on the City’s website. Please visit vancouver.ca/publichearings for important details.

Copies of the draft by-laws are available for viewing at the City Clerk’s Office in City Hall, 453 West 12th Avenue, Third Floor, Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. All meetings of Council are webcast live at vancouver.ca/councilvideo, and minutes of Public Hearings are available at vancouver.ca/councilmeetings (posted approximately two business days after a meeting). For real time information on the progress of City Council meetings, visit vancouver.ca/speaker-wait-times or @VanCityClerk on Twitter.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON PUBLIC HEARINGS, INCLUDING REGISTERING TO SPEAK: vancouver.ca/publichearings

5. 3090 East 54th Avenue (Fire Hall No. 5 and YWCA Housing) To rezone 3090 East 54th Avenue from CD-1 (Comprehensive Development) District (19) to a new CD-1 (Comprehensive Development) District, to permit the development of a six-storey, mixed-use building with a fire hall at grade and on the second floor (replacing Fire Hall No. 5), and with 31 social housing units to be operated by the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) on the third to sixth floors, inclusive. A height of 24.1 metres (79 feet) and a floor space ratio (FSR) of 2.74 are proposed.

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

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THE VANCOUVER COURIER F R I DAY, J U LY 3 , 2 0 1 5

Feature

More housing in the neighbourhood, more concern for security

Continued from page 1

Walk of change

Sau Jan Yeung lived in Chinatown from age four to 21, attending Strathcona elementary and Britannia secondary school.

While walking through the residential area, the 41-year-old mother of two noted the changes in the neighbourhood she once knew. Corner stores have become cafes. The Italian store Benny’s Market remains, however, sitting at Union Street and Princess Avenue. The “Benny burger” was a treat for Yeung and her little brother when they could get it.

Homes in the neighbourhood now have more trees and plants. “We didn’t think about ‘curb appeal’ back then,” Yeung said.

The homes were more grey or brown. Chinese like monochromatic, she said.

“It’s all colourful now.

Yeung said, “[Before] they would renovate inside to rent out to tenants.”

That was how people wanted to spend their money, she said. More tenants meant more money.

“Now there’s plaques everywhere,” she said, about the black and blue City of Vancouver heritage plaques adorning old homes. “They weren’t there before.”

Yeung also saw an increase in housing supply.

The corner building on Heatley, across from a park, used to be a warehouse.

Now it’s housing.

St. Francis Xavier Catholic school on Georgia Street and Princess Avenue?

That’s more housing, too.

There’s also an increase in security consciousness.

Townhouses and Strathcona elementary are gated

Fannie Kung operated a general store in Chinatown for 40 years. She says change has come to Chinatown and the community must adapt: “It’s not Chinatown. It’s international town.”

PHOTO DAN TOULGOET

up. “Before, you could just walk through or bike through,” Yeung said.

“You didn’t have to go around the whole block.”

On the weekends, Yeung remembered kids playing basketball at the school at any time of the day. Now there are locked gates barring the way and the courts are empty.

In one section of the fence, it appeared some kids pulled a corner back to crawl through into the basketball court, but the school repaired the hole.

Youth wanted

Retired businesswoman Fannie Kung moved her general store three to four times in the 40 or so years she owned it. Now she spends her time volunteering at the Chinese Community Library Services Association across the street from Strathcona elementary.

“I will see how the train

goes and follow it,” she said.

“I won’t stick to old things.”

In the past, Kung said, residents wouldn’t go out to eat because they were saving money to buy a home. “[Today’s] generation likes to enjoy now.

Live in the moment.”

When asked if there’s anything she wanted to hang on to, Kung said she hopes Pender Street will remain the same.

“It’s not Chinatown. It’s international town.”

One of Fong’s biggest fear is “guys like [real estate marketer] Bob Rennie, the benevolent white guy type.”

She doesn’t like the idea of a “white guy” swooping in to save a community by becoming a collector who preserved its cultural artifacts.

In the documentary, Rennie laments that no one is saving Chinatown.

UBC School of Community and Regional Planning adjunct professor Nathan

Edelson, speaking on the May discussion panel with Fong, said the Chinese community needs to take on part of the responsibility for saving its character.

Historically, the Chinese had a monopoly within Chinatown, he said, acknowledging their hegemony was mostly due to racism and segregation.

As the population moved out, the Chinese left a gap behind, Edelson said.

He called for an analysis of how much and what kind of retail is needed for the “Chinatown” feel.

“What is the urban design of Chinatown?” he asked.

Hua Foundation program assistant Nicole So wants “authenticity.” During a recent interview, she used the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden as an example.

The Chinese garden is a tourism icon but those types of “zen” gardens, in

history, were intended for scholars and wealthy individuals. Everyday Chinese citizens would never gain access to them.

In contrast, the gardens that Chinatown’s residents know and live with are their backyard vegetable gardens with leafy choi and vines twisting around homemade trellis of bamboo sticks and string.

When it comes to businesses, So said, “The problem is who do these [new] businesses serve?”

“Everyone” hates the Starbucks, she said. “The businesses that work in Chinatown are the cha chaan teng like New Town and Gold Stone.”

Cha chaan teng is a Chinese tea restaurant with an affordable menu, usually Hong Kong-style cuisine.

Phnom Penh, a Vietnamese-Cambodian restaurant, is also an example of good change, said So. “The flavour suits the area.”

The 22-year-old UBC graduate wants to be part of a future that is respectful to the heritage, culture, environment sustainability and character of the actual community. “Not make Chinatown a museum but a living, breathing community with a heartbeat and a soul.”

To achieve this vision, So believes new energy is required. She wants youth to learn about social responsibility and join the discussion.

“Seniors are important, but what about us?” There needs to be space for youth, she said.

While she wasn’t sure of how that would happen, she was sure of one thing: Chinatown won’t be the same as it always has been. But it will remain resilient. @writerly_dee

Will that be herbal soup or a latte?

Chinatown’s last cultural icons remain strong Jenny Peng

jennypeng08@gmail.com

“The flavour is changing,” said Michael Chung as he looked out across Main Street at the first Starbucks in Chinatown tucked underneath a new nine-storey, 81-unit condo.

But instead of fearing

the changes it represents for the neighbourhood, Chung says herbal medicine shops like the one he has worked in for six years, Cheung Sing Herbal and Birds Nest Co., will live on for at least another decade.

The roughly dozen ornate herbal medicine shops lining the arteries of Chinatown are one of the last remaining cultural gateways linking present day to the century-old settlement by Canada’s

early Chinese immigrants starting in 1890. Some like Kiu Shun Trading Company established in 1977, which claims to be Western Canada’s first store to carry a full line of traditional Chinese herbal products, are nearly replicas of a faraway history. They’re examples of a durable bond between Canadians sharing a common heritage.

That enduring trust accumulated over decades brought 92-year-old Tu Wan Fung, a resident on

Victoria Drive, to the Kiu Shung store located on Keefer Street. Arriving at the store for a recent visit, he strode assertively past the rows of jarred sea cucumbers and ginseng to the back of the shop to see a licensed herbalist. With no lineup, Fung was quickly escorted into a private room where he explained difficulties with his digestion. Two prescriptions later, employees behind the counter had carefully assembled Fung’s remedy — a concoction of 14 varieties

of herbs and beans — while they chatted in Cantonese.

Fung’s never been to anywhere else in Vancouver to locate these ingredients, he explained in Mandarin, and he believes Kiu Shung provides him with the finest herbs in the city.

The two assemblers acknowledged his confidence by swiftly wrapping the heaps of red dates, moss, barks and dried leaves, tallying his $25 order on an abacus, to keep him from waiting.

Continued on next page

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A15

Feature

BIA backs development to build business Continued from page 14 Competition between Chinatown’s herbal stores is strong but not fierce, says Chung, who adds that each shop has its clients and different ways of doing business.

His shop maintains business through word-of-mouth. Cultivating long-term relationships is more important than short term gains as the heyday of competition when there were more Chinese people flooding the streets in the ‘90s is gone, said Chung. Now business has quieted down to a stream of steady clients from all over Metro Vancouver.

How Chinatown’s architecture and culture are preserved will determine the future of the community’s herbal shops beyond the next decade. As Chung sees it, development won’t guarantee support for herbal medicine shops because the clientele will be different.

Newcomers moving into Chinatown seem to prefer lattes over herbal soup.

“I really doubt like most of the residents that are coming

to the neighbourhood… are going to shop at those herbal stores,” said King-Mong Chan, organizer of Chinatown Concern Group, which advocates for a moratorium on all market development in the neighbourhood.

“It’s a different demographic. Even for me, first generation immigrant, there’s a lot of stuff I don’t even know. Eventually, I would think it’s going to disappear.”

The closely knit stretch of shops are a kind of golden territory for seniors needing affordable assisted living. After studying potential future demand for assisted housing among ethnic seniors in 2011, a group of urban researchers from the Sauder School of Business concluded that over the next 15 years “up to 3,300 seniors lacking wealth whose primary language of communication in the home is Chinese and meet our criteria might be expected to benefit from affordable assisted living facilities that provide the

Michael Chung negotiates a sale with a customer at Cheung Sing Herbal and Birds Nest Co.

PHOTO DAN TOULGOET

appropriate linguistic and cultural environ for these seniors.”

Albert Fok, president of the Chinatown Business Improvement Area Society, also happens to own and operate Kiu Shun Trading Company. Three years ago, the Chinatown BIA was part of group considering relaxing the building

height and building density of historical communities known as the Historical Area Height Review.

“We welcome that very much because we believe, not just Chinatown, any community that has a good residential population will be able to sustain itself.

Once it reaches a certain critical mass, then any

community will be able to self-sustain itself, and to self-perpetuate the business,” said Fok, sitting in his office hidden at the back of Kiu Shun.

“So we are for the development and we look for more development within the community. Having said that, we respect and are cognisant of the historical value

and the historical virtues and the architectural virtues of historical Chinatown.”

The BIA has been arming businesses with the tools to draw a greater variety of clients by holding workshops on how to communicate in basic English. They’ve also launched a bilingual campaign about signs.

“While Chinatown has its own characteristics, this is Canada after all. So we encourage English and Chinese, and to a certain degree French,” said Fok. Back in the Cheung Sing herbal shop, Chung, wearing gloves and sporting an apron, stocked up the displays spilling onto the street. They include dried sea creatures, mushrooms and ginseng — ingredients imported from places like China, South East Asia, the U.S. and some made locally in Canada.

For Chung, the next decade is a long way off. He’s got customers to help today. @Jennypengnow

Chinese cafes adapt to changing clientele

‘I hope for the best’ Vivian Chui

vivianchuiwy@gmail.com

Vincent Chin could still recall the time when he could enjoy braised pork hock, a typical Chinese dish, at Hon’s Wun-Tun House in Chinatown late at night.

Despite its liveliness during his first visit, long-time Vancouver resident Chin was surprised by the area’s notable changes in its latenight scene at his next visit a few years later.

“It was dead by 6 p.m.,” he said.

Now, Chinese food outlets in Chinatown compete for the community’s changing demographic along with new Western restaurants and trendy cafes emerging in the area — food is another cultural element affected by the recent gentrification of one of Vancouver’s most historic communities.

Chinatown resident Wilson Liang has noticed that some businesses which serve local residents are closing down, despite the growth of the neighbouring residential areas in recent years.

“There are new condos in the block, but there was no increase of foot traffic in Chinatown,” said Liang.

The population brought

in by the new market-price housing do not necessarily frequent Chinatown businesses, he said.

“The new demographic still contribute to [the population of] Chinatown,” he said. “[The new residents] and chain restaurants attract a similar demographic and they survived, pushing out independent stores that cater to the lower-income residents.”

As if to drive the point home, the neighbourhood’s first Starbucks opened shop on Keefer Street at Main, a few stores down from Hon’s, earlier this spring.

But despite its presence, some traditional Chinatown food businesses seem philosophically optimistic about their future.

Located one street north of Keefer on Pender Street is the bustling Chinese pastry provider New Town Bakery, which has been operated by co-owners Susan Ng and her husband for the last 35 years.

“Touch wood, every year there’s increase [in sales],” Ng said. “In 30 years, one year or two there’s a drop.”

Her clientele has included more non-Chinese as the number of Chinese residents and businesses around New Town decreased over the last decade.

“I hope for the best,”

Susan Ng has operated New Town Bakery with her husband in Chinatown for 35 years. “In this day and age, we can’t keep thinking about before,” she says about the changes to the community. “[We] need to accept and just cope.” PHOTO DAN TOULGOET

said Ng. “In this day and age, we can’t keep thinking about before, need to accept and just cope.”

By the end of the year, Ng hopes to establish a new branch at the Joyce-Collingwood SkyTrain station. The new outlet would be independently run by her son.

It’s the bakery’s third expansion store. It established a Richmond location in 1994 and another in Surrey in 1997, due to requests

from old-time customers who had started to move out of Chinatown in the 1990s, she said.

“Once upon a time, Chinatown had expensive rent,” Ng said. “It’s hard for people to stay.”

Ng bought the bakery’s current address on 148 East Pender St. four years ago when the property was a Chinese seafood restaurant that needed upgrades.

“I saw the opportunity,

for the long run, instead of leasing from others,” she said. “Developers come regularly, but we already put in a lot of money.”

A block northwest of New Town, the building of the Kong Chow Benevolent Association of Canada may soon be the home of a new Chinese sandwich cafe.

Retired builder Bob Leung, a member of the association, is looking to get city approval for a

building permit that would allow restaurant operations on the property.

With the building’s location in the Downtown Eastside, Leung said it has been difficult to secure tenancy because of nearby drug addicts.

In order for the new restaurant to begin operations as soon as possible, he’s discussing with the owner to open a sandwich cafe — applying for a permit that allows a small food preparation area would be quicker than for one that allows a full commercial kitchen.

At Crackle Crème two blocks south from New Town on Union Street, one of the area’s newest culinary players has a mixed clientele ranging from tourists to visitors from Langley.

“It’s more a destination place for my clients, coming here just for the creme brulées,” said owner Daniel Wong of his dessert cafe.

Crackle Crème celebrated its one-year anniversary in June.

“I thought Chinatown would be good because there’s quite a few Caucasian-owned restaurants, just because my visitors are more Western-theme,” said Wong. “That’s why I chose to stay close to downtown but not in downtown.” @vivchui

A16

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Arts&Entertainment

A17

GOT ARTS? 604.738.1411 or events@vancourier.com

1

July 3 to 7, 2015 1. Karen Flamenco’s latest foot-stomping production is a spicy take on the classic Alice in Wonderland. Go down the rabbit hole July 4 and 5 at the Vancouver Playhouse. For tickets and more information, go to karenflamenco.com.

2. Apollo Ghosts and Cool TV frontman Adrian Teacher goes it alone, more or less, hitting the road with his backup band the Subs in support of his new instantly catchy solo EP, Sorta Hafta, recorded at Olympia, Wash.’s Dub Narcotic Studios by indie rock godfather Calvin Johnson. Catch Teacher’s tour kickoff July 4 at the Toast Collective. Toronto’s Kappa Chow and locals Supermoon open.

3. Hip hop artist Ab Soul heads a packed lineup of performers bringing the good vibes to the East Van Summer Jam at Strathcona Park, July 4 beginning at noon.

Other artists include Mayer Hawthorne, the Boom Booms, R&B vocalist Kelela, and Kinnie Starr, among others. Details and tickets at eastvansummerjam.com.

4. Co.ERASGA’s Alvin Erasga Tolentino performs Tracing Malong, a new solo work that “traces the reflective symbols and use of the indigenous Filipino fabric Malong in everyday life,” July 7 and 8 at the Firehall Arts Centre as part of the Dancing on the Edge Festival. For more details, go dancingontheedge.org.

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A18

THE VANCOUVER COURIER F R I DAY, J U LY 3 , 2 0 1 5

Arts&Entertainment

Arts Club resurrects Godspell

Despite catchy songs, musical’s message too naive for modern audiences THEATRE REVIEW

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“Pre-ee-ee-pare ye/The way of the Lord.” If you’re not singing that as you exit the Arts Club Granville Island, you have no music in your soul. Christian or cynic, you’ll have a hard time getting this ear-worm from Godspell, the rock opera that rocked off-Broadway back in 1971, out of your head.

Director/choreographer Sara-Jeanne Hosie remarks in her director’s notes that everyone in this cast of 12 — including an adolescent — has to be able to sing, dance and act; most also have to play a musical instrument.

They all more than meet Hosie’s requirements, especially Jennifer Copping who, in what has to be one of the most gender-bending performances experienced

by Vancouver audiences, plays Jesus Christ.

The voices — solo and ensemble — are terrific; the choreography is energetic and smart; Alan Brodie’s set and light design are great; and the story, of course, is timeless.

John the Baptist, played by 12-year-old Aubrey Joy Maddock — her blonde curls bobbing — introduces a motley crew of transients to Jesus.

Over the course of a couple of hours, this group of young men and women become Jesus’s disciples as she instructs them by way of parables: “Let he who is without fault cast the first stone,” “Love thy neighbour as thyself,” “Don’t be overcome by evil but

Jennifer Copping plays Jesus in the Arts Club production of Godspell.

overcome evil with love.”

Hosie boldly puts her own stamp on Godspell by setting the action in a train station, namely Jerusalem Station.

Arrivals and departures flashing up on the electronic board include Jericho, Capernaum and Galilee.

While creator John-Michael Tebelak (with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz) conceived the original cast as clowns, Hosie simply puts them in contemporary dress and different coloured shoes. I believe the idea of staging the parables as a sequence of TV game shows — colour-matched with the footgear of the performers — is also Hosie’s.

It’s definitely a fresh new approach.

The music and songs are wonderful: “Prepare Ye” by the whole ensemble, “Day

By Day” (solo by Janet Gigliotti), “On the Willows” (solo/piano by Kale Penny), “Save the People” with lead

vocalists Andrew Cohen and Jennifer Copping, “Bless The Lord” (solo by Katrina Reynolds) and a dozen others.

Copping, in grey sweats and a white cotton shirt, is an appealing, engaging Jesus. Lauren Bowler, as The Vamp, in a pink and grey bustier and short shorts, performs a death scene like no other: it goes on and hilariously on as the gates of Hell stand waiting.

Little Aubrey Maddock grins her way through the whole show — a real trooper. It’s a treat just watching her watching the others perform. It looks like she’s thinking, “That will be me in a few more years.”

But a lot of water is under a lot of bridges since 1971 and, God forgive me, the message feels naïve. Love thy neighbour as thyself — even if your neighbour is an ISIS terrorist, a drug dealer, child pornographer, wife-beater or drunk driver?

And so Godspell is now just a ’70s novelty with terrific songs, which might be enough for many people.

Should you want to take children, I wouldn’t recommend it. We all know how it ends and although, thank the Lord, they don’t do a traditional crucifixion on stage, Jesus does die a violent end after having been betrayed by Judas (Cohen).

As one of the vehement critics of this musical pointed out, Godspell does not include the resurrection which, if you’re a Christian, is really vital.

Still, the music and dancing are grand. Hosie takes a lot of risks — most of which pay off. And you will leave the Arts Club whistling or singing.

For more reviews, go to joledingham.ca.

Godspell is at the Arts Club Granville Island Stage until Aug. 1. For tickets, call 604687-1644 or go to artsclub.com.

F R I DAY, J U LY 3 , 2 0 1 5 THE VANCOUVER COURIER

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Arts&Entertainment

The Broadway touring production of The Lion King rules Queen Elizabeth Theatre until July 12.

A feast for the senses THEATRE REVIEW

Andrew Fleming

afleming@vancourier.com

It’s hard not to describe the production of The Lion King without mentioning the elephant in the room.

Two elephants, actually, who lumber down the aisles of the Queen Elizabeth Theatre at the beginning of the show with the help of puppeteers hidden inside.

The procession of pachyderms is but one example of the ingeniously engineered wildlife costumes that have helped the musical, created in 1997 and based on the animated Disney classic, become the first Broadway show in history to earn more than a billion dollars at the box office. And it lives up to the hype right from the opening number, with impressionistic gazelles and jungle cats leaping through the air, birds flying overhead and giraffes serenely strolling the savannah to the Oscarnominated “Circle of Life,” sung beautifully by wise old baboon Rafiki (Tshidi Manye).

It’s a veritable feast for the senses, which is fitting given “Circle of Life” concerns, in a roundabout way, animals feasting on each other.

The Lion King looks great

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US L P

Can

and it sounds great. The idea for avant-garde director Julie Taymor’s famous lion masks perched above the actors’ heads came out of Africa itself, while Japanese Bunraku theatre inspired the wondrous puppetry fusing performers with wildlife.

Many of Elton John and Time Rice’s cheesier tunes from the cartoon come off much better with a live orchestra, African chanting and ululations, while the sets, special effects and choreography are all stunning.

Audience members are, in particular, unlikely to ever forget the moment when the face of the murdered Mufasa forms itself into a giant mask to communicate with Simba from beyond the grave.

But there’s no getting around the fact the plot, essentially the coming-ofage tale of a cub with daddy issues, is a bit on the dumb side, and the Disneyfication of the Dark Continent might seem spread a bit thick for anyone who caught the recent production of The Book of Mormon in the same theatre.

You probably know the Hamlet-lite story. The villainous Scar (Patrick R. Brown channeling Jeremy Irons, unexplained British accent and all) plots the murder of his noble brother King Mufasa (L. Steven

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Taylor) and his nephew Simba, the heir apparent (portrayed by accomplished newcomer Tre Jones).

Lions fall in love: grown up Simba (an energetic Jelani Remy) falls for Nala (a suitably feline Nia Holloway). The duo of meercat Timon (Nick Cordileone) and warthog Pumbaa (Ben Lipitz) provides comic relief, while Zazu the officious hornbill (Drew Hirshfield) flutters and wisecracks his way throughout the show. It is often quite funny — the song “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” pops up to good effect, although using it ended up costing Disney dearly in a subsequent copyright lawsuit — but there are a few too many fart jokes for my taste and some of the dialogue is truly groanworthy. Name-dropping Value Village, for example, just seems like pandering to the crowd rather than make any sense in a story about talking animals embroiled in an African civil war.

But it’s obvious why this family-friendly musical is the biggest earner in history and, like the problem-free philosophy of Hakuna Matata itself, ain’t no passing craze. In terms of pure spectacle, there’s simply nothing else like it.

The Lion King runs at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre until July 12.

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PREAMBLE: If you want to invest over the months ahead, try food commodities – “locally,” those which represent the western U.S./Canada, not the eastern side. (Although this trade has probably already been gutted by early traders.)

Pensioners living in western North America: beware, food prices might rise dramatically. This isn’t astrology, it’s just a probable result of the extensive drought, especially in California. In the most general ways, the year ahead for Canada will be filled with opportunities and a “partnership” (or enemy) – deep but productive changes. A smooth intuition will aid this country in dealing with other nations outside North America. Advances in optics. The year ahead for the U.S.A. will contain many opportunities, better communications, smoothly running transportation hubs, some great opportunities, and generally the “happiness” of the populace goes up a notch or two.

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The accent remains on your domestic scene (includes real estate, gardening/farming, mines, forestry, food and shelter, cafes, food stores, security, giving birth, parenting, nutrition, and retirement – or planning for it). Be diplomatic, gentle – you might be a little heavy-handed all month, or for some other reason friction can arise at home.

The general accent remains on career, worldly standing, reputation, ambition, facing authority. Keep plugging away at this, but realize that early week (Monday?) influences are trying to nudge you into a change – of career, of approach, of method, perhaps of goals. (But all these changes relate to money, and to security – e.g., how secure is my job? how does my job relate to the structure or territory of this company? or to my family?)

The general accent lies on daily activities, daily business – expect many errands, short trips, calls and emails and details, much paperwork. Be curious, explore new neighbourhoods. A place/locale you “discover” now, might become your new home late this summer to autumn 2016. The present few weeks is not a vital or significant time – you’ll be very busy, but the stakes are not high.

The main emphasis remains on intellectual pursuits, expansion of your understanding of society, the world, God – and on advertising, publishing, the media, far travel, religion, philosophy, higher education, import-export, law – and gentle love. Strictly avoid lawsuits, through August 8 – even if you won, you’d lose. In all these, far travel, higher education, etc., try to rein in any aggressive urges: being sweet and silent will get you everywhere!

The monthly emphasis remains on sensuality, possessions, memory (good time to memorize things, or gather evidence) buying/selling, increased clients, a pay raise, or earning and spending money in some way. As I already mentioned, money will pour your way until August 8, but big spending demands will arise also. Cut spending wherever you can.

The accent continues on mystery, secrets, research and investigation; on lifestyle choices, health diagnoses, large finances, subconscious promptings, and sexual yearning.

And, generally, on commitment and its consequence.

This is a very unusual area for you, as your nature is to be open, enthusiastic, and honest. (A Sagittarian who commits a crime in their career, will soon abandon that career – their own conscience will drive them out of it.)

This is your month, Cancer! Charge ahead, get out, see and be seen, start important projects, tackle chores that have intimidated you in the past, chase that goodlooking person. Your magnetism, clout, effectiveness, energy and sexual appeal are all at yearly heights. As usual (until 2018) your career situation is unpredictable, affected strongly by computers, and could include power plays and/or equity, investment, entrepreneurship, etc.

Relationships dominate this week and the next. Be diplomatic, eager to join, co-operative. You could meet opposition, challenge, even enmity. But you can also meet love, great friendship or partnership, general opportunities. Relocation themes, negotiations, agreements, litigation, dealings with the public, even fame – all are possible. Life s filled with fresh air and a certain quiet excitement, the excitement of possibility.

Continue to rest, lie low, until July 22. This is a good period to recuperate, undergo a hospital stay, deal with civil servants and institutions, charities and spiritual groups. (Best month for meditation – but meditation is bad for some people, so I usually don’t recommend it.) Look at your past and present – how you got here, and where you want to go in future.

Make plans. Avoid competitive situations.

The general accent continues on work, machinery, dependents and daily health – all the boring things if you’re a pleasure seeker. In general, the auspices are good to chase these things, as long as you avoid being too aggressive or impatient. (E.g., don’t back up your excavator over your neighbour’s car.) However, don’t buy a computer or computing services – wait until after July 12 for these.

Your social times continue, Virgo. July brings you popularity and social joys, optimism, entertainment, general good luck – and friendly romance (though it can grow deeply intimate, sexual, fairly quickly. Take care, we humans tend to “pay” in various ways when lust outweighs affection.) The past year has not been terribly lucky, but August will start 13 months of great good luck for you, so you can be happy now.

The atmosphere remains romantic. Nature’s beauty, pleasure, creative surges and risk-taking fill this week and next. You’re on a bit of a winning streak! However, watch these: don’t be too assertive or “crude” and don’t try to possess someone. Some single Pisceans will lean toward an easy sensual attraction, because it’s easier and safer than the cliffs and valleys of romance.

That would be a mistake. Your work load is still pretty massive, so save some time for all your “to do’s.”

Monday: Dalai Lama (80). Tuesday: Ringo Starr (75). Wednesday: Angelica Huston (64). Thursday: Jack White (40). Friday: Sofia Vergara (43). Saturday: Giorgio Armani (81). Sunday: Malala Yousafzai (18).

F R I DAY, J U LY 3 , 2 0 1 5 THE VANCOUVER COURIER

A21

Community

FRENCH KISS: Vancouver’s vibrant theatre community gathered for the 33rd annual Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards honouring the best of the theatrical season.

Staged at the Commodore Ballroom and produced by Vancouver Theatre Sports, the event recognized more than 40 companies and more than 70 stage productions. Théâtre la Seizième’s À toi, pour toujours, ta MarieLou swept the large theatre category. The Michel Tremblay work garnered six awards, including Craig Holzschuh for outstanding direction as well as actors Joey Lespérance and France Perras for their lead performances. Julie Trépanier won for her supporting role, Drew Facey for set design, and the play, about two sisters looking back at their relationship with their parents, also snapped up outstanding production. B.C.’s only professional French language theatre company was also recognized in the theatre for young audiences category for its production of Selfie: Rachel Peake for her outstanding artistic creation and Julie Trépanier, Siona GareauBrennan and Vincent Leblanc-Beaudoin for their outstanding performances.

WISE DINNER: Vancouver Aquarium’s sustainable seafood program Ocean Wise celebrated its 10th birthday. Created to educate and empower consumers on sustainable seafood, Ocean Wise has been a driving force in promoting well-managed coastal fisheries and educating consumers about over-fished and endangered species. Today more than 4,000 restaurants and retailers across Canada now participate in the conservation led by local Vancouver chef Rob Clark and program director Mike McDermid. As founding members, Toptable Group’s West Restaurant hosted a showcase of British Columbia’s finest sustainable seafood products with a six-course dinner curated by executive chef Quang Dang and Clark, Ocean Wise founding chef and owner of Vancouver’s sustainable seafood store and eatery, The Fish Counter.

SUCCESSFUL WOMEN: Founded

by UBC grad Christina Anthony in 2002, Forum for Women Entrepreneurs (FWE) has been encouraging, educating, and mentoring women entrepreneurs for over a decade. From start-up advice to specific tips and tricks, programs are designed to support and mentor women who are venturing into new business opportunities or ready to ramp up and grow their existing business.

The not-for-profit recently held their annual summer garden party at the Roundhouse.

The community centre was transformed into a party palace, where members kibitzed and networked, while taking in the silent auction and products and services of local female entrepreneurs. Proceeds from the friend-raiser will support the plethora of FWE initiatives.

email yvrflee@hotmail.com twitter @FredAboutTown

Rumble Theatre’s Hiro Kanagawa took home outstanding original script for Indian Arm at the Jessie Awards.

Forum for Women Entrepreneurs founder Christina Anthony and executive director Lisa Niemetscheck greeted 250 guests at their annual garden party. The friend-raiser featured live jazz, delicious treats and serious networking.

Executive directors Camilla Tibbs (Gateway Theatre), centre, and Peter Cathie White (Arts Club Theatre) presented the outstanding lead actress (large theatre) to À toi, pour toujours, ta Marie-Lou’s France Perras.

Chefs Ned Bell and Angus An, Ocean Wise ambassadors, were among luminaries that attended the Toptable Group’s celebration dinner in recognition of the seafood conservation program.

Sweet Petite Confectioner founder Cindy Tran is one of many local entrepreneurs who have benefitted from Forum for Women Entrepreneurs mentoring programs.

Vancouver Aquarium CEO John Nightingale sang the praises of Ocean Wise program founder Rob Clark and West executive chef Quang Dang.

A Loving Spoonful’s Lisa Martella and Adria Karchut saw $100,000 generated from their recent Project Empty Bowl bash, to support feeding those housebound by HIV/AIDS.

Veteran actor Bob Frazer congratulated Joey Lespérance on his lead performance win.

Théâtre la Seizième À toi, pour toujours, ta MarieLou would win the lion’s share of the live theatre awards.

A22

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Sports&Recreation G-Men hire 600-win coach Lorne Molleken is club’s sixth bench boss GIANTS Megan Stewart

mstewart@vancourier.com

For the third time in less than a year, on Tuesday the Vancouver Giants announced a new head coach.

This time, their choice has landed an experienced junior coach — and former WHL coach of the year — in Lorne Molleken.

“We hope this doesn’t continue to be an annual event,” said Ron Toigo, the club’s majority owner, to a room full of laughter at a morning press conference at the downtown White Spot on Georgia Street.

“We’ve heard from a lot of players who’ve played for him, a lot of them in the NHL, and I don’t think we talked to anybody who didn’t enjoy playing for him — and that’s hard to find,” said Toigo, who used Molleken’s nickname.

“A lot of guys appreciate what they go through along the way but they aren’t really fond of some of the coaches they’ve dealt with, but for Mooner, there wasn’t anybody.”

“We had players phone us,” continued Toigo, “saying, if he wants the job, you guys can’t go wrong.”

Molleken, 59, is one of only four men to count more than 600 wins as a WHL coach. In 14 WHL seasons as head coach, he finished below .500 in only two when the team didn’t make the playoffs. He most recently coached the Saskatoon Blades for nine seasons from 2004 to 2013 and was also there in the mid ’90s, leading the prairie hockey club to the WHL finals in 1992 and 1994, when

Named the Vancouver Giants coach earlier this week, Lorne Molleken met the Vancouver press Tuesday. PHOTO JENNIFER GAUTHIER

he was also named the league’s coach of the year.

He was the head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks in 1998-1999 and 1999-2000 and also assisted at San Jose and Pittsburgh.

Matt Erhart will remain as the Giants assistant coach. An additional assistant or associate coach will also come on board.

After a decade with the Giants, veteran bench boss Don Hay returned to the Kamloops Rockets following the 2013-14 season. In July last year, Troy Ward was announced as his replacement, only to be let go after 25 games. Erhart was briefly at the helm until Claude Noel was named the new head coach in November and saw his tenure through to the end of the regular season, which the Giants ended with a 27-41-2 record.

The Giants have been in touch with Molleken since November, after he was released as the Blades GM the previous season, but the timing didn’t align. When

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Noel didn’t renew his contract with the Vancouver club, the Giants were back in touch with Molleken as well as others on their short-list.

“After being way for a year, there were many nights in the winter that I wish I was standing back on the bench,” said the coach who, like Toigo, wore a shamrock pin in honour of late executive Pat Quinn. “To get this opportunity, I’m real, real excited about joining this organization. The biggest thing is that our goal will be to get better every day. As a coaching staff, that will be our intent because I feel if we can get better every day, help these young men grow as players and as people, winning and success will look after itself.”

The Giants start their season with two home games against Seattle on Sept. 25 and Kelowna on Sept. 27 before hitting the road for a six-game stint through B.C. and Saskatchewan, including the Blades on Oct. 4. @MHStewart

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A23

The Courier presents Vancouver’s Elite Graduating Athletes of 2015

Sam Mulligan PAST

KITSILANO BLUE DEMONS AND TYEE SKI CLUB

PRESENT

GROUSE MOUNTAIN

FUTURE

TEAM B.C.

building on his training as a slalom skier to include Super G and downhill to become what his coach calls a “four-event skier” and eventually qualify for the World Cup. “Sam, he’s a beast of a human,” said Johnny Crichton, the athletic director of Alpine B.C. and Mulligan’s coach on the provincial team.

“His body composition and his overall athletic ability is insane.”

Mulligan plays ultimate for the Kitsilano Blue Demons and last summer won the U18 GranFondo Whistler despite minimal time on a road bike. (He came 72nd overall in the men’s division.) Crichton believes he’d turn the heads of B.C. Lions scouts. “If they saw him in a work out, they would be thinking let’s give this kid a football and see what he can do with it,” said the coach.

What will put the skier in the highest tier of his sport, however, is his attitude. In addition to the gifts of natural ability, Mulligan has the desire and work ethic to aim for Team Canada and race for his country.

“He’s got the talent and the drive,” said Crichton. “It’s nice to see. As in just about any sport these days, you’re not making it anymore just on talent alone. There are a lot of factors. You’ve got to have all the components to make it.

“He’s an animal — but a big lovable animal with long hair who plays a guitar.”

— Megan Stewart

PHOTO JENNIFER GAUTHIER

G

rouse Mountain is so crowded in the summer, downhill skier Sam Mulligan wondered aloud if the mountain resort gets more visitors when there’s no snow. But this winter because there was no snow, neither the racer nor anyone else skied the slopes with the panoramic view of the Lower Mainland.

Mulligan, a six-foot-two, longlocked racer for Team B.C. who got his start on Grouse’s short runs, now chases snow all over the world 12 months a year. He rode the Grouse gondola for the first time this year on the second last day of June.

The one-time Tyee Ski Club racer started at Grouse nearly a decade ago one winter when massive snowfalls blanketed the region. “It was sweet,” remembered the wellliked skier knows as Smully. “The best thing is to go after school and ski a few hours without crowds. It’s small but has enough.”

Since he was selected to the provincial ski team in 2014, Mulligan has travelled the world to train and race at places such as the Stelvio Pass in the Italian Alps, glaciers in Austria, peaks in Chile, and slopes across Canada and the U.S. This week he’s at Mount Hood in Oregon.

Mulligan, 18, is being scouted by the national team and aspires to race for Canada. So far, his NorAm Cup results are promising and he’s

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Housing costs not slowing inflow of young families Jen St. Denis

jstdenis@biv.com

Despite concerns about Vancouver’s high cost of housing pushing young people out of the city, the region has seen a significant increase in the 30 to 40 age group over the past three years, according to a recent report from the Bank of Montreal (BMO).

Since 2012, 16,000 people in that age group have moved to the city, numbers not seen since the end of the 1990s.

That’s reversed a period of stagnation that occurred from the early to mid-2000s, and it’s one factor behind the city’s dizzying real estate market, said BMO economist Robert Kavcic.

Growth in the number of young families in Vancouver has been “choppier and flatter” than in the region as a whole, Kavcic said, based on data from the Vancouver

school district, meaning that young families are likely being pushed to the suburbs to find affordable housing.

International immigrants are also continuing to choose to make Vancouver home. And Alberta’s pain has been B.C.’s gain: the drop in oil prices has largely halted the eastward flow of workers to Alberta’s oilfields.

That combination of factors is making for a positive demographic trend: overall, Vancouver’s population has grown at a “sturdy” 1.7 per cent, year-over-year.

Those demographics, the Bank of Canada’s interest rate cut in January and “an assist from foreign buyers” are supporting the demand for housing, BMO says, which this spring overshot supply and fuelled price increases and bidding wars.

On the controversial

subject of foreign buyers, BMO notes that a lack of data means the effect on the real estate market can’t be quantified, but “this group is probably adding another layer on top of already-solid underlying demographic and interest-rate-driven conditions.”

Economists have predicted that the economies of British Columbia and Vancouver will be particularly strong in 2015, and BMO is sticking with that forecast.

British Columbia is still expected to lead the country in economic growth. BMO is now predicting GDP will increase 2.4 per cent in 2015, down slightly from a previous prediction of 2.5 per cent.

Vancouver’s labour force, demographics and strong housing markets are all positives for the city’s economy, said Kavcic. @jenstden

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