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he Vancouver Canucks were in good spirits at their practice last Monday, their first under new head coach Bruce Boudreau. Those good feelings continued as they won four-straight games, making Boudreau the first Canucks head coach to kick off his tenure with four wins. The positive vibe has been a U-turn from how they started the season. It’s tough to remain optimistic when you start the season with an 8-15-2 record through 25 games. When Boudreau took over, the Canucks were dead last in the Pacific Division and ahead of only the tanking Arizona Coyotes in the Western Conference. This is a team that fully believed heading into the season that they were a playoff team. Even with four-straight wins under Boudreau, getting back into playoff contention now seems nigh-impossible. Still, the Canucks might have good reason to believe that Boudreau is the right coach to take the team from the league’s basement to the playoffs. After all, he’s done it before.
Boudreau has been tremendously successful wherever he’s gone in the NHL — well, everywhere except for the playoffs, but that’s another topic. In the regular season, his teams have a combined record of 567-301-115, which is remarkably good. He has coached his teams to eight divisional titles and won the Presidents’ Trophy with the Washington Capitals in 2010. Arguably his greatest feat, however, came in his very first season as a head coach in the NHL. The Capitals got off to an atrocious start to the 2007-08 season, with a dismal 6-14-1 record that got head coach Glen Hanlon fired. He was replaced by Boudreau, who was promoted from the Hershey Bears, the Capitals’ AHL affiliate, as interim head coach. When Boudreau joined the Capitals, they were dead last in the NHL, four points behind the next-worst team. They finished the season in first place in the Southeast Division. Sure, that was only good for 12th place in the NHL, as the Southeast was a weaker division, but it was still an astonishing turnaround.
The Capitals went 37-17-7 under Boudreau to storm up the standings and get to the playoffs for the first time in five years. The Capitals’ 6-14-1 record when Boudreau was hired as coach gave them a points percentage of .310. The Canucks’ 8-15-2 when Boudreau was hired gave them a points percentage of .360. In other words, the Canucks were arguably in a better position than the Capitals were when Boudreau took over. If the Canucks post a similar record under Boudreau as the Capitals did in the 2007-08 season, they’ll finish the season with a total of 94 points. The average bar for the playoffs in the Western Conference in the last five full seasons was 93 points. Hm. Most new coaches don’t make as significant a change as Boudreau made in Washington. In fact, when Boudreau joined the Anaheim Ducks in a similar situation in the 2011-12 season, he couldn’t repeat the feat. The Ducks had a winning record under Boudreau but he couldn’t get them even close to the playoffs. Still, it’s tempting to
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Can Bruce Boudreau get the Canucks to the playoffs?
wonder if Boudreau can do it for the Canucks.Boudreau’s goals are a little more modest. “You'd really like to make it a winning team from here on in and to get the guys happy, to get the fanbase happy again with them
winning,” said Boudreau. “We just don't want things to continue the way they were continuing. “And if it ends up getting into a playoff spot, fine and dandy.” By Daniel Wagner - Pass it to Bulis
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Unvaccinated Vancouver police will have to pay for their own COVID-19 tests
PUBLISHER AND EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Bob Kronbauer bobk@vancouverisawesome.com | 604-439-2688 DIRECTOR OF SALES Michelle Bhatti | mbhatti@glaciermedia.ca MANAGING EDITOR Lindsay William-Ross lindsay@vancouverisawesome.com REPORTERS Brendan Kergin | Cameron Thomson | Daniel Wagner Elana Shepert | Graeme Wood | Jeremy Hainsworth Megan Lalonde | Mike Howell | Thor Diakow EDITORIAL CARTOONIST Geoff Coates DESIGN + PRODUCTION Jodeen Hodgson SALES REPS Alison Clay | Brianne McKenzie | Daniela Becerril David Chiew | Gerald Regio Justin Chen | Maureen Laventure SALES + MARKETING COORDINATOR Karen Ngan FOR ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES PLEASE EMAIL advertising@vancouverisawesome.com FOR GENERAL EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES PLEASE EMAIL hello@vancouverisawesome.com FOR DISTRIBUTION INQUIRIES EMAIL viadelivery@van.net | delivery@vancourier.com or call 604-398-2901 SEND LETTERS TO THE EDITOR TO bobk@vancouverisawesome.com or 303 W 5th Ave, Vancouver B.C., V5Y 1J6
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ancouver police officers who've decided not to get a COVID-19 vaccine are going to have to pay for that choice. While the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) isn't requiring officers to get vaccinated against the coronavirus, those who aren't getting their shots or who refuse to declare their vaccination status will have to be tested using rapid testing kits. "Anyone who does not provide proof of vaccination will have to be tested regularly, depending on how often they work and they will have to pay for it themselves," writes VPD Sgt. Steve Addison in an email to Vancouver Is Awesome. They have until Dec. 30 to get fully vaccinated, he adds. Until then the VPD doesn't know how many in its force are unvaccinated. "We hope everyone will be fully vaccinated and will provide proof of their vaccination status by Dec. 30. We won't know until after the deadline whether we do, in fact, have 100 per cent compliance," writes Addison. Nationwide, there's a split in police forces mandating vaccination for their staff and officers. The federal government mandated all federal employees must be vaccinated, which includes the RCMP. Municipal forces in Victoria and Toronto have also mandated their police forces must be vaccinated, while Vancouver joins Calgary and Edmonton. Ottawa police initially were allowed to dodge vaccination if they got regularly tested, but that decision was revisited
and a mandatory vaccination policy comes into effectt Jan. Jan. 31, 2022. Halifax had a similar situation. In Vancouver, along with the federally and provinciaally mandated public employees (like health care workerss), the city has mandated all staff need to be fully vaccinaated (which includes firefighters and parks staff). The city ty's library board has the same policy as well. By Brendan Kergin
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Timbiebs merch being resold at staggering markup
Opinion: The mayor just dumped a new tax on every renter in Vancouver
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Landlords will certainly find ways to simply pass it on to their tenants, and the mayor knows that. Strangely, Greens councillor Adriane Carr wound up introducing Stewart's tax during the budget meeting held last week. It was part of the 6.3% increase that was approved in a 6-5 vote. Carr was absolutely correct when she spoke to council on the tax,
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BRENDAN KERGIN
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he City of Vancouver has approved its 2022 operating budgets, and within them lies the new "climate emergency action levy" that mayor Kennedy Stewart pulled out of thin air at the last minute, stunning a number of his colleagues on council. In an interview with Vancouver Is Awesome on Dec. 2, 2021 the mayor admitted that his surprise "levy" was, in fact, a tax. When pressed on the difference between a levy and a tax, the mayor confessed that "I mean, they're both very similar. So sure, you could call it a tax. I'm calling it a levy."
noting emergency n oting g “T ““The he climate emerg gency is oblivious to who you are, whether you own property or not. It affects us all. And I think all of you know more than anything, it affects future generations and affects our children and our grandchildren and their children.” However with an ever-rising cost of living for most, the tax misses the mark. It's no wonder the mayor tried to dress it up, then ultimately hand it over to somebody else to own. According to Stewart his climate tax will be "levied on properties, and that way it's progressive. So those folks who have properties of lower value would pay less than those that have properties of a
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higher gher value."" hig In the end it will be paid for largely by people who can afford it the least - the more than 50% of the population who rent. Landlords will certainly find ways to simply pass it on to their tenants, and the mayor knows that. Is it a progressive policy? Sure, in the fact that Kennedy Stewart is working to make things progressively worse for people who are looking to get a leg up in this city, while disingenuously trying to make it appear as though he's making the "rich" - people who own real estate - foot the bill for a climate-focused initiative.
he collaboration between Canadian pop-star Justin Bieber and Tim Hortons that graced Canada with “Timbiebs” has online sellers marking up the associated merch by ridiculous margins. The celebrity endorsement deal was two years in the making and resulted in the release of three new Timbit flavours in late November – which the V.I.A. Fast Food Panel tasted recently. The highly-anticipated doughnut drop was met with mixed feelings. No matter how they taste though, the associated merchandise has been selling like hot… donuts? A quick search on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist and eBay will result in many listings for the Timbiebs-branded beanie, tote bags, corduroy fanny packs and cardboard boxes the Timbiebs come in. A bidding war in Ontario for one of these boxes ended when a bid reached over $10,000. In Metro Vancouver though, a seller in Burnaby wants $20 for a Timbiebs box, minus the donuts. The retail price for a box of 10 Timbiebs is $3.17, meaning the listing presents a hefty 530 per cent markup. A seller in Vancouver is looking to get $200 for both a Timbiebs beanie and tote bag, each worth $29.99. This sweet deal makes for a slightly less outrageous 233 per cent increase. This isn’t the first time Metro Vancouver sellers have cashed in on the pop-star/fast-food aftermarket. Earlier this year the collaboration between Korean pop group BTS and McDonald’s gave way to listings for still-greasy paper bags and nugget boxes priced at nearly $1,000. By Cameron Thomson
By Bob Kronbauer
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anada’s immigration policies not only contribute to the financial growth of the economy but also open doors to world cuisine and food varieties for its residents. Like the city’s population, Vancouver’s food scene is diverse too. But it wasn't as diverse when Viviane Reis’s family moved to Vancouver in 2011, several years after her family immigrated to Toronto from Brazil when she was 10 years old. While Toronto had multiple Brazilian grocery stores and restaurants, Vancouver couldn’t offer the same. “Toronto had everything. Lots of Brazilian stores and products. I didn’t really miss the food from back home. When we moved to Vancouver 10 years ago, there was nothing here,” said the 43-year-old former aircraft mechanic. Born in Porto Alegre, Brazil, Reis learned a lot about her culture in her early childhood, especially the food. For someone who loves Brazilian food, living without their daily dose of happiness was not an option. When Reis found out she wasn’t the only one who missed Brazilian food, she took it into her own hands to explore solutions. Though Reis had been thinking about starting her business for a long time, she was skeptical about finding success. When she was laid off in 2015, she realized she couldn’t stay at home. From there, Reis started working on her dream project and finally launched Oba Oba Brasil, Vancouver’s first exclusively Brazilian market, in 2017. The phrase "oba-oba" in Portuguese is an expression of joy and happiness. “My husband and I spent seven years on researching and saving,” Reis added. Soon after graduation, Reis’s daughter joined the business and became the co-owner, working full-time on expansion and social media presence. For many homesick Brazilian newcomers, finding familiar food options could be a blessing, and OBA OBA was nothing less than that. What started as an initiative to
quench one’s thirst ended up spreading joy to many. Oba Oba has many items that are either hard to find in Vancouver or very expensive if exported in small quantities for personal use. “The cuisine in Brazil is very diverse. We bring a little bit from each corner of Brazil. We have everything from dry beans and rice to cookies and chocolates. We also sell palm oil that is used to cook certain dishes. Brazilian coffee is very different from Canadian coffee, and we recently started selling that too,” shared Reis. The family business was initially started as a physical store but later added an online shopping model. The decision proved to be fruitful as a month later, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and demand for online shopping grew. The hardest part of starting a business for Reis was to convince herself if investing all her savings would be worth it or not. “Will people come on board with my dream? Will I get customers?” were some of the questions she asked herself. Once the store was open, she started collecting data on what products Brazilians miss the most. Soon she opened the survey to other communities to understand what Brazilian products Vancouverites were looking for. The family business is still open to ideas and often collects feedback through social media and in-store surveys. Entrepreneurship has indeed changed Reis’s life for good, but it came with extra responsibilities for this full-time mother. “My day starts off as a mom. I send little ones to school before getting ready to head for the store. Even when I am managing daily operations of the business, I sometimes think of my family.” Reis and her daughter want to keep innovating with their offerings and store experience ideas. Keeping customers happy is their number one priority, said Reis. Oba Oba Brasil Market is located at 3565 Kingsway in Vancouver. By Tanmay Ahluwalia
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he meme-ability of Vancouver’s Barge on the Beach has struck again, this time for a local woodworker who has been flooded with orders after creating an especially unique holiday decoration. Inspired by a few friends, Cameron Maclean designed and fabricated a barge-themed tree ornament which also features a barge-themed rendition of the classic poem The Night Before Christmas. The ornaments are made from machined wood cutouts that Maclean sands smooth and to which he applies a
subtle beeswax finish. Despite having his own workshop Maclean remains a hobbyist woodworker and never intended to sell the ornaments “to the masses.” However, when he posted a photo of the ornament and the poem on social media it was more than wellreceived. "I just got flooded with messages there for people asking for them,” Maclean said in a recent interview with Vancouver Is Awesome. “I'm not planning on making a whole whack of them but I am making some more now."
Even still, supplies are limited as Maclean has no online store and coordinating pick-up times is a challenge. "It's been fun to make it, I'm glad enough people are interested in a little bit of unique Vancouver Christmas spirit," Maclean said. No guarantees, but if you’re interested in getting one of Maclean’s barge ornaments they’re $20 apiece and orders can be arranged with Maclean by messaging him on Reddit or Instagram. To see more of Maclean's work, projects created by him and his wife can be found on the Instagram account @twocleverotters. On the back of each ornament is this poem written by Maclean and a friend: Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the bay Not a ripple on the water, the boats did not sway The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there; The hipsters were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of fixies danced in their heads; My roommate with their wine, and I an IPA, Invited to a friend’s, but at home, in bed I will stay,
When out on the beach there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what’s the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash, A strong wind in the bay had caused waves to crash The walls were wet from the new-fallen rain This leaky rental, may drive me insane, When my wondering eyes began to enlarge, I saw a drifting, approaching, a wayward barge, With a red and black hue, and so much room for gravel, I knew in a moment, to the shoreline I must travel. More rapid than crowds at a below-market house sale, People whispered and gathered and even
a whale. A voice called out from within the barge. "Carry, sulphur! now, gravel! now, woodchips or coal! On, tugboats! on winches! Get ready to pull! To the great open sea! To the docks I will charge! Now dash away! dash away! I am the barge!" And away the barge flew like seaplane with speed. But I heard the voice exclaim, as it drove out of sight— “Happy Christmas to all, and to all a barge night!” By Cameron Thomson
BRENDAN KERGIN
CAMERON MACLEAN
Woodworker makes English Bay barge tree ornament
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Christmas Worship Schedule: Friday, December 24, 2021: Candlelight Service at 7:00pm Saturday, December 25, 2021: CHRISTMAS DAY SERVICE AT 10:00am - German Service only Sunday, December 26, 2021: Regular Combined Service at 10:00am
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t’s official: B.C. First Nations, Vancouver and Whistler will make a push to host the Olympic Winter Games in 2030. The announcement came at a press conference hosted by the Lil’wat, Squamish, Musqueam and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations and the two potential host municipalities at the BC Sports Hall of Fame on Dec. 10. In the joint press conference, the parties said they plan to "explore the feasibility of an Indigenous-led Olympic Games." "In reflection, we have been at this place before, with the 2010 Olympics, where we showcased our presence and our cultures, respectively," said Lil'wat Chief Dean Nelson. "The difference between [now and] 2010 was we were an invitee at that time, and today we are a big part of the exploratory group to consider a bid for the 2030 Olympics." Politically, the respective Nations have a greater presence and voice on their lands than they did 10 years ago, Nelson said. "I also feel we are in a better place of inclusion in respect to political advancements since the previous Olympics," he said. "I am looking forward to being part of this. I'm looking forward to the future." Following short speeches from representatives of each First Nation and the two host communities, the parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) committing to the prospect of exploring the bid. The MOU is about "four nations inviting two municipalities to explore hosting the 2030 Games on their territories," said Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart, adding that the agreement is about reconciliation. "Today is not about 2010 and it's not even about 2030, it's about how we as settlers can reshape how we live on these unceded lands." Collaboration agreements and an official bid could follow in 2022. Being part of the announcement is one of the greatest privileges of his life, said Whistler Mayor Jack Crompton. "I have a very real sense that my role is to follow, and I am ready to put my shoulder behind this effort and follow these leaders," Crompton said. "And it is a deep, deep, deep privilege to be asked." If successful, the bid will bring the Games back to Canadian soil exactly two decades after the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver and Whistler. According to Whistler Sport Legacies CEO Roger Soane, the venues built for the 2010 Games—including the Whistler Sliding Centre and Whistler Olympic Park—are prepared to host the 2030 Games if the bid is successful. “With our facilities, it will be very easy for us to say, ‘Come on in,’” Soane said in an interview last month. “We've got the only sliding centre in Canada; we have the only ski jumps in Canada, and we have one of the best Nordic facilities in the country as well. We have all the pieces to still facilitate seven events on our venues—it's a perfect fit.”
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In terms of timing, hosting a second Olympics two decades after the first would be “just about right,” Soane said. Even by 2030, WSL’s venues will be in “relatively good shape,” he claimed. “But if you pushed it any longer, they may need a little bit more work.” Though the International Olympic Committee hasn’t indicated when a decision will be made, it’s believed that the Japanese city of Sapporo is the current front-runner to host the 2030 Games. Salt Lake City, Utah (host of the 2002 Games) and Barcelona, Spain are also in the running. The 2022 Olympic Winter Games begin Feb. 4 in Beijing, China. The 2026 Winter Games will take place in Milan-Cortina, Italy. By Braden Dupuis with files from Megan Lalonde
WHISTLER MUSEUM AND ARCHIVES / JOERN ROHDE
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Homeless population ‘remains same, or may have increased’ despite moving 737 people inside
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ancouver’s rate of homelessness remains the same or may have increased since the city last conducted a homeless count in March 2020, according to a recent memo to council from the city’s general manager of community services. Sandra Singh’s assessment of the
homeless population being in the 2,000 range was based on the city’s alternative approach to gathering data normally collected in its annual homeless count in March, which didn’t occur this year and will be cancelled again in 2022. This year, the city relied on data from its own homeless outreach team, shelter operators, no
fixed address income assistance information, calls to the city’s 311 line related to homelessness, statistics provided by outreach providers and a survey conducted by the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre. At the same time, the city tracked the number of supportive housing units and shelter beds that opened
in Vancouver since the homeless count in March 2020. That number totalled 737, with the 145-unit Patricia Hotel on East Hastings Street accommodating the most people, followed by the 98-unit Alewem temporary modular housing complex on Vernon Drive. “This is an impressive number of activations in a relatively short
amount of time and the funding support and partnership of the province through BC Housing and funding support from the federal government were both critical to these implementations,” Singh wrote in a Nov. 29 memo now posted on the city’s website. CONTINUED ON PAGE 11
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HOMELESS POPULATION CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10
“One would reasonably expect this to have decreased the number of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness in Vancouver.” Singh cautioned while the alternative data sources help provide context and some insight into the current state of homelessness in Vancouver, they do not provide “a reliable proxy” to the data collected during the annual point-in-time homeless count. Further, comparisons within each data source to previous years is difficult because it is unclear if the changes are due to the actual number of people experiencing homelessness or connected to the COVID-19 pandemic, she said. “For example, an increase in 311 calls may be due to an actual increase in homelessness, or because people are working from home and are more alert to their surroundings and are more likely to report something that they see,” Singh said. “So, in short, while one can look at the overall trends based on the alternative data sources, one cannot know how they directly relate to the current number of people experiencing homelessness in Vancouver.” However, Singh pointed out the city’s outreach team served 3,474 people in the first quarter of this year, which represented a 26 per cent increase compared to the previous three-year average. That data alone suggests to Singh that the rate of homelessness “remains the same or perhaps may have even increased” since March 2020, when volunteers counted 1,548 people living in some form of shelter and 547 on the street. The uncertainty about the data will remain again next year, with Singh announcing in her memo that the 2022 homeless count will be cancelled because of challenges arising from the pandemic. Pandemic affecting homeless population, count. The most significant barrier to conducting the count is the training and deployment of more than 500 volunteers, whose work includes conducting surveys of homeless people they meet. “As we are not currently seeing the return to
full volunteerism across the sector and the rates of volunteerism pre-COVID, staff do not believe we would recruit the necessary number of volunteers to complete the count,” Singh said. The pandemic has had a dramatic effect on people living without a home, with shelters forced to reduce capacity to ensure physical distancing, single-room-occupancy building owners implementing no-guest policies and meal service providers reducing distribution or closing down. Public spaces such as libraries and community centres, which provide warmth and refuge for people, were also closed for a period of time to adhere to public health orders. “Over the course of the pandemic, the demand for services, housing and shelter have continued to grow and residents, businesses, and non-profit service providers in communities across the city are expressing concern about increased unsheltered homelessness and associated impacts, including increased garbage, feces, and needles, as well as concern for people struggling with mental health and substance use issues,” Singh said. “While many restrictions related to COVID have either been lifted or lowered, all levels of government, private and non-profit housing and service providers must continue working together address the unmet need of people living in poverty and disproportionately impacted by COVID.” Meanwhile, in a separate memo to council, Singh confirmed what Vancouver Is Awesome reported Nov. 25 that a “tiny shelter” pilot program will launch in the new year. Ten tiny homes, which will not have washrooms or a kitchen, will be placed on the same property as an existing shelter, which already has those facilities. Meals, laundry and staff support will also be provided. Singh did not provide the location but said a report will go before council in February 2022, which will include a detailed budget and implementation plan for the pilot. By Mike Howell
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8 books you should read if you wore an orange t-shirt this year
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s we come up on the giving season and the end of the year, we're reflecting on the year that was. Looking at it through my lens as a news media publisher who happens to be white, the most important thing that happened in Canada in 2021 was that the "truth" in "truth and reconciliation" really came to the forefront. The remains of 215 children at the site of a former residential school in Kamloops, B.C. sparked a national conversation and a reckoning. The majority of people finally began to learn about our nation's history in regards to relations with Indigenous peoples here and started to think about how to move forward. If you wore an orange t-shirt in support this year, there are eight books I read in 2021 which I would recommend for you or for someone on your holiday list. 21 Things very matter-of-factly shows how the government put in place rules which worked (and still works) to constrain opportunities for Indigenous peoples, but it also offers hope for a way forward. It's available everywhere books are sold in Vancouver - I recently even saw it on the shelf at London Drugs, who have limited space for books and only carry a handful of titles at a time.
21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act by Bob Joseph This revealing must-read book is where you should start. Written by Bob Joseph who heads up an organization called Indigenous Corporate Training Inc (ICT), it's aimed at nonIndigenous Canadians who may be completely clueless as to what the Indian Act even is. The mission of Joseph's ICT is to "provide training to get everyone working effectively with Indigenous peoples in their day-to-day jobs and lives." They do this by "providing a safe training environment for learners to acquire the knowledge, skills, and attitude required to be effective," and this book nails it in that regard. In a quick 172 pages, it offers more than a glimpse at the Act, which many feel should be abolished, if not majorly overhauled. Some of those 21 things are reserves being established, potlatches being banned, and Indigenous peoples being denied the right to vote, and once having to get permission to leave their own lands, from an Indian Agent.
FOR YOUTH LIVING ON THE STREETS, THERE IS NO HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS Vancouver’s problem with homelessness is at an all time high, with many of those with no home of their own being under the age of 24. At the Courier, we decided to provide an opport rtunity t tyy to our readers to give a littttle t cheer and kindness to the youth on our streets this holiday season.
Seven Fallen Feathers by Tanya Talaga
Indian in the Cabinet by Jody Wilson-Raybould Released during the federal election of this year, the former Minister of Justice and Attorney General's tell-all book reveals as much about the Liberal Party of Canada as it does about Indigenous sovereignty, and how we might find a better way forward. Billed as a "compelling political memoir" it rips open the curtain behind Justin Trudeau's Liberal Party of Canada, and everything that is wrong with it. Through detailed accounts of how she came to run for the party which wrongly presents itself as a champion of reconciliation and all of the reasons why she was unceremoniously dumped from it, this book not only gives political watchers a good look at "how it happened" but it also makes the case for a new style of governing. It lays out a pretty good case for sovereignty for Indigenous peoples, offers hope, and leaves the reader wondering what Wilson-Raybould will be working on next.
Certainly the heaviest read on this list, there's a reason that journalist Tanya Talaga's book Seven Fallen Feathers is a multiple-award-winning bestseller - it's partly for how well it's pieced together, but perhaps mostly because of how it offers on unveiled look at how seven Indigenous kids in Thunder Bay were killed on different occasions while away from their communities in order to go to school. In a gripping narrative, it lays out how racism played a part in allowing these injustices to happen, and it goes deep into their individual lives to give the reader an idea of what it was like to be them. Released in 2017, it's not an easy read - in fact, it can be gutting at times - but it is perhaps one of the most important books published in Canada in the last decade. See the other 5 on our essential reading list by scanning the QR code here. By Bob Kronbauer
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Vintage photos of Christmas in Vancouver
CITY OF VANCOUVER ARCHIVES
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s many know, Christmas has been celebrated for a few years. Ok, maybe more than a few. And while many have a set view of what Christmas looks like in the 21st century, that doesn't mean there were always Christmas lights and special edition coffees from Starbucks for Vancouverites to enjoy during December
days and nights. These photos show how Christmas was celebrated over the years, with some snaps dating back over 100 years ago, like the tugboats with Christmas trees on top. They offer an idea of what Christmas looked like in the past, from before World War 1 to the 1950s. By Brendan Kergin
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Come and join us at Chelsea Park - You’ll feel safe and welcome ACTIVE SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR SENIORS • Healthy home-cooked lunch & dinner served daily • Morning coffee club • Weekly housekeeping • Activities and recreation programs • Bus trips • On-site hair salon • Community centre one block away Michael and I had both grown up in small towns and were uncomfortable about moving to a city but we moved into our comfortable suite with great staff. During the week we are quite busy with events - afternoon tea, banana splits and coffee meetings. We are very happy here and could not imagine living anywhere else - we feel very spoiled. I would advise anyone looking for a place to live to come to Chelsea Park, you will be very happy. - Pat & Michael Cleary
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City pays out $7.8 million to citizens for sidewalk falls, police interactions, cycling accidents
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he City of Vancouver paid out $7.8 million over the past five years to people who sued the city for a variety of incidents that resulted in personal injury and property damage, including interactions with police, slips and falls on sidewalks and cycling accidents.
The payouts and type of incidents covering the period between January 2016 and December 2020 were released to Glacier Media in response to a request under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPPA). The most expensive payout year for
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departments saying in an email that litigation typically takes several years to complete and payout amounts are not reflective of increased or decreased litigation activity in a particular year. “In addition, the total amount paid per year can be subject to significant variation based on a few large settlements,” the city said. “In these circumstances, the city is unable to break down amounts paid based on categories of claims, or explain variations between years without creating a real risk that someone could identify the amount paid in a specific settlement.” Read more by scanning the QR code here.
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the city was in 2019 when it spent $2.9 million. In 2016, the payout was $1.6 million, in 2017 it was $1 million and in 2018 it was $1.6 million. The payouts dropped to $546,432 in 2020. Incidents included: • Trip and fall because of sidewalk defect
• Slip and fall on slippery sidewalk • Police arrest, detainment, bite from a police dog • Cycling accident • Park or boulevard tree falling on citizen or house • Sinkholes, depressions in the road • Injured while in a civic building • Motor vehicle accident because of traffic signs, controls • Injury during sidewalk construction • Community centre maintenance issues • Parks maintenance — slip and fall on pathways, playground • Negligent inspection related to building construction The FOIPPA document did not break down each case or say when or where it happened, or the extent of injury suffered by the person. All settlements were reached out of court after the person filed a civil claim against the city. The settlements didn’t necessarily occur in the same year as the court action, with the city’s legal and risk
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URBAN SENIORS Beloved Granville Island vendors return for holiday pop-up
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f you've missed some of the vendors you used to see with their stands set up around Granville Island, you will be thrilled to learn many are back to participate in a month-long holiday season pop-up. The "Day Vendors" have been absent for nearly two years due to pandemic constraints; in order for the market to enforce social distancing as much as possible they have not been able to welcome the artisans and food vendors and their tables to their usual locations. The temporary pop-up style vendor showcase launched Dec. 6 and will run through Jan. 3, with merchants stationed in designated areas of the Public Market and the Net Loft building. Tables are open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Public Market and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Net Loft. Here is the full guide to which vendors are taking part: In the Public Market (By JJ Bean, and in the food court) The Preservatory
LINDSAY WILLIAM-ROSS
Maples Sugar Shack Bon Mano Bon Bubble Bombs The Lemon Square Luv The Grub Maison Côté Preserved by Janet Sun Valley Treats Organic Apple Chips
In the Net Loft Line of Love Pottery and Jewellery Lucas J. Diack Photography Knits by Maria Girod Woodweaver JJ Stonecraft Chi’s Creations Cascadia Skincare (aka Cascadia Soap Company)
Ravenwood Soap Katie & Paul Rosehip Hats Artisan Janelle Tyler Joan Tayler Design Plunger Cove Todd Woffinden – Carver Art by Darla Zary Shoppers, take note that the Public
Market is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, and is closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year's Day. The Net Loft will also reduce its hours Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and will also be closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year's Day. By Lindsay William-Ross
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R/STLSC4/JASON
City lovingly recreated in 17-year-old video game
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his is the story of how, over the course of a decade, one person recreated the bustling metropolis of Vancouver and an entire airport in a
computer game released in 2003. While video games have a tendency to slowly fade into relative obscurity after a few years, there always remain some truly dedicated fans.
Unfazed by the growing niche-ness of their interest, these are the fans who continually push the game and the systems they run on to their absolute limits and SimCity4 is no
exception. Take Jason for example. Jason recently posted photos to social media of what he has been working on since Vancouver’s 2010 Olympic
games: An in-game rendering of Stanley Park, Vancouver’s downtown core, much of East Vancouver and YVR airport. In a recent Q&A with Vancouver Is Awesome, Jason spoke about the many challenges he has encountered over the past 12 years making the map. “Most of them related to technical challenges playing a game that was released for Windows in 2003 on a 2018 MacBook Pro,” Jason explains. “There have been many times over the years I've simply given up due to technical issues only to figure out a fix and dive back in.” Over the past few years though he managed to get a fully patched version of SimCity4 on the platform
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Steam which eliminated many technical problems. Since then he has been building more when he has the time but it’s still a slow process. “Diagonal/non-grid building is very difficult in SimCity 4,” Jason continues. “Not only because of the game's engine but also because of the lack of content. Because of this I had to take some extreme liberties with my Vancouver, especially in the downtown area.” With this in mind, Jason stresses the map is not a recreation, more a map of Vancouver built in a similar urban form. No highways, dense, walkable, decent mass transit, livable, etc. In the place of a SkyTrain, Jason has created an extensive network of streetcars, subways, and commuter rail. Despite his Vancouver map sharing striking similarities to Google Maps’ satellite images, Jason has never actually been to the city, although he says he’s working on a visit eventually. By Cameron Thomson
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Commercial Drive eatery wants 242 bottles of seized whisky back
T Awesome Instagram Photo of the Week
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his shot of the city photographed from Grouse Mountain was taken and shared by an artist named Ramtin who goes by the handle @o.n.e.t.i.n. For a chance to have your photo featured
here, tag your Instagram photos with the hashtag #vancouverisawesome. To keep up with everything happening in your city (and for more great photographs!) follow us at @viawesome.
City Centre Motel to become 'artisttic, crazy, super fun hub' ahead of redevelopment
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efore the aging City Centre Motel is gone it's going to become a hive of artists' studios. The Main Street motel was sold to Nicola Wealth Management earlier this year with plans to eventually redevelop the property. When David Duprey, a local restaurateur and property manager, heard about the sale he decided to straight-up cold-call them. GOOGLE STREET VIEW "I've been really active in creating fun cultural places," Duprey tells the timeline for redevelopment is. Vancouver Is Awesome. "I've been taking "It's a long lease, but there's a demo olition over empty buildings all over Vancouver clause after two years," he explains. and turning them into artist spaces." py with He hopes it'll go longer, but is happ He's been involved in a few different two years. projects, from big warehouses to both the At the near-end of that timeline, he's hoping Fox and Rickshaw theatres. to have the first artists getting set up p in the In this case, the property is going to new year. spend a few years in limbo as the city's on this Broadway Plan is fleshed out. With the new "We're going to be taking possessio month and cleaning the place out, so we're subway line, the city is looking at changes hoping to be getting people in Janu uary r ," he happening along the major street, meaning says. the City Centre Motel will eventually be He's working with the mural festivaal to redeveloped, but it's too early to get started consider artist applications for the space. on that. He's expecting monthly rent for thee private Duprey says he was able to convince Nicola workspaces (which are essentially motel Wealth Management to get on board, and rooms without the furniture), to run n about then the Vancouver Mural Festival. $575 to $675 per month. While other spaces "I sucked the mural festival into it, I called he's run have been occupied by grou ups and them up and asked if they'd be interested in performers he expects these spaces to be helping me out with this," he says. more likely used by individual visuaal art r ists. And by "this" he means an "artistic, crazy, Once it's up and running he says thee mural super fun hub"; each of the motel's rooms festival has some big ideas for the sp pace as will be turned into a studio, providing well. workspace for more than 75 artists while uilding "They're going to come into this bu the property is in limbo. Duprey says he's and do some crazy stuff there," he sa ays. signed a lease for a minimum of two years, and it could go longer depending on what By Brendan Kergin
wo Vancouver restaurateurs want B.C. Supreme Court to overturn a government seizure of 242 bottles of whisky, saying inspectors raided their business without a warrant. Fets Whisky Kitchen owners Eric and Allura Fergie say the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch prejudged their situation and refused to hand over documentation so the couple could fight the seizure of $40,000 worth of single malt whisky, a petition to the court said. “We want our whisky back and we want justice,” Allura said outside of court, alongside Eric and their two sons. The inspectors, accompanied by police, raided the Commercial Drive eatery on Jan. 8, 2018. They brought with them a U-Haul van and spent five hours going through bottles of whisky before carting them off in front of customers. The operation was code-named Operation Malt Barley. The following June, the branch fined the business $3,000. The Fergies asked for a reconsideration but were denied documentation to fight the situation. Told to use the freedom-of-information system to obtain documents, they received heavily redacted papers. “We want this over-reaching and overbroad government to show some respect,” Eric said, noting they’d passed 12 years of inspections before Canada’s largest liquor raid in a century. The couple asserts the branch’s conduct has been abusive from the start. That conduct began with an investigation in 2017. Fets’ submissions to the judge said the whisky was purchased from Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) rather than the British Columbia Liquor Distribution Branch, which sells such products to the public but not to restaurants. The submissions said between 2013 and January 2018, Fets openly promoted its affiliation with SMWS and sold its whisky without incident or comment from the branch.
FETS WHISKY KITCHEN/FACEBOOK
The society is a membership-based service that specializes in rare and exceptional single cask whiskies. In B.C., licensed bars, restaurants and pubs are required to purchase any liquor through the branch. Although SMWS products are lawfully imported into the province and are available for sale to the public at some private liquor stores, under the government’s regulations, licensees cannot purchase alcohol from private purveyors. SMWS products are not available through the branch. Eric told Glacier Media it's the government that sends out the purchase orders, brings the alcohol into the province and then sells to licensees. Allura said the whole thing could have been settled with a conversation rather than through government spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on the seizures and legal wrangling. She said licensees should be allowed to sell to other licensees. The raid was a result of an anonymous tip the branch received in December 2017 that certain licensees were selling SMWS products. The branch also investigated The Grand Hotel in Nanaimo, and Little Jumbo and The Union Club in Victoria the same day. By Jeremy Hainsworth
Metallica-inspired whiskey now available in Vancouver
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hat do this whiskey and 40-year-old metalheads have in common? They’ve both been pummelled by hours of music created by one of the most influential metal bands in history. The whiskey in question, Blackened American Whiskey, was created in a collaborative effort between Metallica and American master distillers over the course of a decade. The whiskey itself features a blend of North American bourbons and ryes individually aged for an average of over eight years. The whiskey was then finished in black brandy casks imparting flavours of apricot, honey and caramel.
While metal bands creating their own whiskeys isn’t unheard of, Metallica created a whole new process to amp up their whiskey’s flavour profile. The late Dave Pickerell was a legendary master distiller and blender who had long been fascinated with the effects of sound, its ability to shake an entire building for instance. So it was only fitting that Pickerell would be part of the process when Metallica and Meyer Sound created a subwoofer to sonically-enhance the band’s whiskey. The method uses frequencies in the band’s songs to disrupt the whiskey inside the CONTINUED ON PAGE 21
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METALLICA-INSPIRED WHISKEY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 20
By Cameron Thomson
JAMES BOYLE
EXPERIENCE IS SHOWING
REALTOR REMAX HALL OF FAME
METALLICA/DANNY CLINCHEXPAND
barrel as it ages, ki k cki k ng up the wood-flavour characteristics in the whiskey. The proprietary r sonicenhancement process was later dubbed Black Noise. In fact, each barrel has listened to a specific playlist curated by the band’s members. The brand recently launched in B.C. and will follow with other provinces in 2022. The whiskey is already available in many BC Liquor stores in Vancouver for $79.99.
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SAVOUR THE SEASON
Vancouver’s biggest holiday market is back! Savour the season with traditional German delicacies: Succulent Bratwurst, sugary Poffertjes (mini Dutch pancakes), delicious Goulasch, and more. (Vegan options available). And ride the free HolidayLife Carousel presented by Interac®. See you at the Market!
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Free Est. Call 604.710.3581 Gutter Cleaning, Power Washing, Window Cleaning, Roof Cleaning
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YOUR ELECTRICIAN Lic#89402. Insured. Guar’d. Fast same day service. We love BIG & small jobs! 604-568-1899 goldenleafelectrical.com A LIC’D. Electrician #30582 Rewiring & reno, appliance/ plumbing, rotor rooter 778998-9026, 604-255-9026
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REAL ESTATE HOUSES FOR SALE
DIFFICULTY SELLING? Difficulty Making Payments? WE BUY HOMES Any Situation, Any Condition
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GVCPS INC. / gvcps.ca
#1 Backhoes & Excavators Trenchless Waterlines Bobcats & Dump Truck & All Material Deliveries Drainage; Video Inspection, Landscaping, Concrete, Stump/Rock/Cement/Oil Tank & Demos, Paving, Pool/Dirt Removal, Paver Stones, Jackhammer, Water/Sewer, Line/Sumps, Slinger Avail, Concrete Cutting, Hand Excavating. Basements Made Dry Claudio’s Backhoe Service
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Thinking of Renovating? Be sure to check the classifieds It’s full of local listings that can save you money
a ating
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All advertising published in this newspaper is accepted on the premise that the merchandise and services offered are accurately described and willingly sold to buyers at the advertised prices. Advertisers are aware of these conditions. Advertising that does not conform to these standards or that is deceptive or misleading, is never knowingly accepted. If any reader encounters non-compliance with these standards we ask that you inform the Publisher of this newspaper and The Advertising Standards Council of B.C. OMISSION AND ERROR: The publishers do not guarantee the insertion of a particular advertisement on a specified date, or at all, although every effort will be made to meet the wishes of the advertisers. Further, the publishers do not accept liability for any loss of damage caused by an error or inaccuracy in the printing of an advertisement beyond the amount paid for the space actually occupied by the portion of the advertisement in which the error occurred. Any corrections of changes will be made in the next available issue. Vancouver Is Awesome will be responsible for only one incorrect insertion with liability limited to that portion of the advertisement affected by the error. Request for adjustments or corrections on charges must be made within 30 days of the ad’s expiration. For best results please check your ad for accuracy the first day it appears. Refunds made only after 7 business days notice!
604-724-3832
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a1kahlonconstruction.ca
PAINTSPECIAL.COM
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MASTER CARPENTER
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Emil: 778-773-1407 primerenovation.ca Since 1989
Terry 604-376-7383
EXCAVATING
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MOVING
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□RENOS □BATHROOMS □REPAIRS □PAINTING □TILING □DOORS
□KITCHENS □WINDOWS □DECKS □FENCES □ROOFING □GUTTERS
Need anything done or repaired?
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mrbuild@mrbuild.com
Kenn’ss poWEr waShIng pluS
ROOFING
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ROOFING
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a1kahlonconstruction.ca
Bros. Roofing Ltd. Over 40 Years in Business SPECIALIZING IN CEDAR, FIBERGLASS LAMINATES AND TORCH ON.
Liability Insurance, WCB, BBB, Free Estimates
604-946-4333
RUBBISH REMOVAL
BRADS JUNK REMOVAL.com
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MCNABB ROOFING
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Looking to do some
Home Improvement? Refer to the Service Directory for all of your home improvement, decorating and gardening needs.
TREE SERVICES TREE SERVICES
Pruning, Hedge Trimming Tree & Stump Removal 75 ft Bucket Trucks .
604 - 787-5915
www.treeworksonline.ca
$50 OFF
* on jobs over $1000
vancouverisawesome.com
TODAY'S PUZZLE ANSWERS
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2021 VA NCOUVE R IS AW ES OM E
VANCOUVE RISAWESOME.COM
A23
SUDOKU
Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a Sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes.
PUZZLE ANSWERS ON SEPARATE PAGE
Looking to do some
Home Improvement?
Refer to the Home Services section for all your needs. Warm up with a rich, chocolate beverage Nothing beats sipping a hot, soothing beverage after a day of choosing the perfect Christmas tree or lobbing snowballs in the backyard. Teas, hot toddies, coffees, and mulled ciders certainly can fit the bill, but a mug of rich hot chocolate is a holiday season staple. Hot chocolate can be whipped up quickly from premade packets, but many such packets are loaded with sugar. Chocolate lovers should have a reliable hot chocolate recipe to lean on when the moment is right. This recipe for “Real Hot Chocolate” from “Chocolate” (Parragon) by the editors of Love Food is sure to please.
Real Hot Chocolate Serves 1 to 2
• 1½ ounces semisweet chocolate, broken into pieces • 1¼ cups milk • Chocolate curls to decorate Place the chocolate in a large, heatproof pitcher. Place the milk in a heavy-bottom saucepan and bring to a boil. Pour about one-quarter of the milk onto the chocolate and leave until the chocolate has softened. Whisk the milk and chocolate mixture until smooth. Return the remaining milk to the heat and return to a boil, then pour onto the chocolate, whisking constantly. Pour into warmed mugs or cups and top with the chocolate curls. Serve immediately.
ACROSS 1. You fry food in it 4. Pesky insect 8. Gets older 10. __ Dern, actress 11. Uncouth man 12. One who sulks 13. Napoleon’s king of Naples 15. One who swims underwater 16. Make amends 17. Expressions
18. Document format 21. What a beaver makes 22. Limb 23. Photograph 24. Golf score 25. Moroccan mountain range 26. Wrinkled dog breed: Shar __ 27. 20th century sex symbol 34. Remedy for all diseases
35. Bluish greens 36. Moved swiftly 37. Type of units 38. Madames 39. Indian religious god 40. Potentially hazardous asteroids 41. Leak slowly through 42. An association of criminals 43. A way to push content (abbr.)
17. Inches per minute (abbr.) 19. Buildings 20. Pouch 23. They steal on the high seas 24. It’s mightier than the sword 25. Going off on a tangent 26. Monetary unit 27. Young woman 28. Type of bulb
29. Type of drug (abbr.) 30. City opposite Dusseldorf 31. Animal disease 32. Martini necessities 33. Elude 34. La __: Buenos Aires capital 36. An oft-enduring symbol
DOWN 1. Town in central Brazil 2. Large burrowing rodent 3. Nerve cell 4. Estimating 5. Bakers use it 6. Regions 7. Small lake 9. Environmentalist nun 10. More kookie 12. Announce officially 14. Israeli city __ Aviv 15. Title given to friar
A24 VANCOUVER
IS AWESOME THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2021
VANCOUVERISAWESOME.COM
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