Vancouver Is Awesome #150 - February 16, 2023

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNERS: Land Assessment Averaging

Cherryblossom festivaldates announced

*Impact is estimated only, subject to City Council decision on scope of development potential relief

Since 2015, the City of Vancouver has used targeted land assessment averaging to mitigate taxation impact arising from significant assessment volatility as recommended by the Property Tax Policy Review Commission While averaging does not increase or reduce the City’s tax revenue, it affects the amount of taxes paid by individual property owners

Under the targeted averaging approach, only those properties facing significant year-over-year increases in property values above a certain threshold (“hot” properties) would be considered for averaging For eligible “hot” properties, the program calculates property taxes for the City and other taxing authorities using an average of the assessed land value for the current and prior four years, plus their current assessed improvement value, provided that this averaged value does not go below the threshold value All other properties continue to pay property taxes based on their current year BC Assessment value

The Province introduced Bill 28 – Municipal Affairs Statutes (Property Taxation) Amendment Act, which came into effect in November 2022, to enable local governments to provide development potential relief to light industrial (Class 5) and business and other (Class 6) properties by reducing the municipal tax on a portion of the land value The legislation stipulates that properties eligible for development potential relief cannot also benefit from the averaging program

The table presented shows the estimated effect of the targeted five-year averaging program on the City’s general purpose tax levy for sample properties based on the thresholds proposed for 2023 (10% above class average change), subject to City Council approval The program requires an adjustment to the tax rates such that properties below the threshold would pay slightly higher taxes to provide tax relief for those “hot” properties above the threshold The estimated taxation impact from averaging is presented with and without implementation of Bill 28- Development Potential Relief Program

Amounts levied by other taxing authorities such as provincial schools, TransLink, BC Assessment, and Metro Vancouver are not included in the analysis

On March 8, 2023, Vancouver City Council will consider whether or not i) to use targeted five-year averaging for residential (Class 1), light industrial (Class 5) and business and other (Class 6) properties, and determine the appropriate thresholds for these property classes if targeted averaging is adopted; as well as ii) to implement Bill 28

Development Potential Relief Program Should Council decide to use targeted five-year averaging, a bylaw will be adopted on March 28, 2023

The report, which details the program and how it could impact property taxes, will be posted on our website at: vancouver ca/averaging

FOR MORE INFORMATION: 3-1-1 or vancouver.ca/averaging

COMMENTS?

Contact Council: vancouver ca/your-government/contact-council or write to: Mayor and Council 453 West 12th Avenue

Vancouver, BC

V5Y 1V4

SPEAK TO COUNCIL:

Prior to adoption of the bylaw, you may speak in person at the Council meeting on March 8, 2023

EMAIL: speaker.request@vancouver.ca or phone 604-829-4272 to register.

Whenpeakcherryblossomtimearrivesinthe spring,localsarequicktosharebeautifulsnaps ofrosycanopies,blossomingcityscapes,and pinkblizzards.

Thereareover2,500spotsinthecitytoseethesebeautiful, delicatetrees,includingafestival

TheVancouverCherryBlossomFestivaltakesplacefrom April1toApril23thisyear Thecelebrationholdsaseriesof outdooreventsunderthecherryblossoms,includingnature walks,groupbikerides,livemusic,agrouppicnic,andlocal food

Thisyear'sfestivalthemeis"CultivatingtheBlossomsof OurCultures,"whichisdescribedasa"celebrationofnature, creativity,andtheculturesthatmakeVancouversospecial," readsafestivalnewsrelease

ByMariaDiment

Multiple neighbourhoods wanttheEastVan Cross

IfKenLum'siconicEastVanCrosssculpture(formally knownasMonumentforEastVancouver)wasmoved, wherewoulditgo?

In2019,thecityapprovedanew10-storeybuildingtobe constructedonvacantpropertynearthecrossat2102Keith Dr Withthedevelopmentunderway,localsarewaitingforan officialdecisionregardingwhetherthecrosswillbemoved. Inanticipationofamove,theEastVillageBusiness ImprovementAssociation(EVBIA)startedapetitionto relocatetheartworktotheHastings-Sunriseneighbourhoodbutnoteveryoneagreesthat'stherightlocation "OveronHastingsandSunrise–noway,"saysNeil Wyles,executivedirectoroftheMountPleasantBusiness ImprovementAssociation(MPBIA) "That'spartofEastVan butit'sinthemiddleofEastVan.Itneedstobeattheedge."

We'reservingupBrowniest-shirtsandnostalgia

IfyoulivedinB.C.in the70sor80sit'slikely thatBrowniesChicken holdsaplaceinyour heart,andyoumightbe surprisedtolearnthat therearecurrentlytwo locationsopeninthe LowerMainland

TheAcuttfamilyoperated aBrowniesfranchiseback inthebrand'sheyday, whenitdominatedthe friedchickenmarket here Inthelate1970sthe parentcompanyhadmore restaurantsherethan KFCdid-66intotal,in citiesacrosstheprovince -butrisinginterest ratesandotherfactors contributedtothedemise ofthechainandallofits locations

Thefamily'spatriarch, Gary,sawanopportunity roughlysevenyearsago, securedtherightstothebrand, andopeneduponelocation Its successmeanttheyweresoon openingupanother Skipaheadafewyearstothe presentdayandthey'restill operatingsuccessfullyoutof theirMissionandMapleRidge locations,withmostofthefamily

pitchingin Garyheadsthingsup,hiswife doestheirbookkeeping,andtwo oftheirchildrenworkfulltime onthefrontlineoftheoperation, keepingitrunningsmoothly GarytellsVI A thattheysource theirpoultry"justoverthehill," fromtheirMissionlocation,froma farminAbbotsford

Hesaysmanycustomersare surprisedtolearnthatthechicken theyserveishalal,andthatthey've addedanumberofseafooditems tothetraditionalmenu Steppingintothekitchenof theirMissionoperation,the smokysmellofoilthatyoumight normallybehitwithataplace that'srunningmultiplefryersis

noticeablyabsent.Theyclean theiroiltwicedaily,runasmooth operationusinglocalingredients, andtheendresultisfresh, wonderful,frieddishes

We're currently selling a Brownies t-shirt with their classic (cheeky!) slogan "Thumb Lickin' Good!" on it, which you can find exclusively in our online store at

bcisawesome.com. Theirlocationsareat22899 DewdneyTrunkRdinMaple Ridgeandat32650LoganAvein Mission,andyou canviewtheir menuandlearn moreaboutthem ontheBrownies website

PUBLISHERANDEDITOR-IN-CHIEF

BobKronbauer

bobk@vancouverisawesomecom|604-439-2688

DIRECTOROFSALES

MichelleBhatti|michelle@vancouverisawesomecom

MANAGINGEDITOR

LindsayWilliam-Ross lindsay@vancouverisawesomecom

REPORTERS

AllieTurner|BrendanKergin|DanielWagner ElanaShepert|GraemeWood|JeremyHainsworth MariaDiment|MariaTallarico|MikeHowell

DESIGN+PRODUCTION

JodeenHodgson

SALESREPS

AdamSkaloud|AlisonClay|BryceWickstrom DanielaBecerril|DavidChiew|EliLaycock JustinChen|MaureenLaventure

SALES+MARKETINGCOORDINATOR

KarenNgan

FORADVERTISINGENQUIRIESPLEASEEMAIL advertising@vancouverisawesomecom

FORGENERALEDITORIALENQUIRIESPLEASEEMAIL hello@vancouverisawesomecom

FORDISTRIBUTIONINQUIRIESEMAIL viadelivery@vannet|delivery@vancouriercom orcall604-398-2901

SENDLETTERSTOTHEEDITORTO bobk@vancouverisawesomecomor 303W5thAve,VancouverBC,V5Y1J6

Thecrosscurrentlysitsoncity-ownedlandatClarkDriveand East6thAvenuebutitwasoriginallymeanttobelocatedon MainStreet

Lumoriginallyenvisionedhisartworktobeproppedupon MainwhereitmeetsKingsway Theoriginalblueprintsdated Dec.5,2008,showarenderingoftheEastVanCrosswhere theartisthadhopeditwouldbeplaced "Ifthere'sachancethat[thecross]isgoingtobemoved,let's putitwhereitwassupposedtogo,"saysWyles WylesagreesthatMainStreetwouldbethebestplacetoput theEastVanCross,explainingthattheartworkshouldserve asa"bigbeautifulwhitebeacontellingyouthatyou'vearrived inEastVan "

However,hedoeshaveseveralsuggestionsforalternative locations,includingtheclockatMainStreetand8thAvenue andtheoldbusshelteronthecornerofKingswayand Broadway.

Thebusshelterresemblesatrolleycartandiscoveredwith graffiti.

"We'regettingitremoved,"saysWyles."There'salreadya bigconcretepadthere It'sacity-ownedcorner It'saperfect location "

ByMariaDimentwithfilesfromBobKronbauer

BCSPCAoffering50% offadoptionfees

Ifyouhavethoughtaboutadoptingafour-leggedfriend, Februaryisthemonthtodoit

TheBCSPCAisoffering50percentoffalladoptionfees fromFeb 10to26atitslocationsthroughouttheprovince “Wehavesomanyamazinganimalsinourcarewhoarejust waitingforafamilytocalltheirown,”saidAdrienneMcBride, BCSPCA’sseniordirectorofcommunityanimalcentres

“Fromdogsandcats,tohorses,farmanimals,birds,rabbits andsmallanimals,wehaveloveinallshapesandsizesto adopt ”

McBridenotesthatprovidingalovinghomeforadeserving animalnotonlygivesthatpetawonderfulnewbeginning,but alsofreesupspaceinSPCAfacilitiesandfosterhomestohelp evenmoreanimalsinneed

“Thisissucha win-win’opportunity,andweareverygrateful toHill’sPetNutritionfortheirsupportoftheanimalsinour care, ”saysMcBride

Ifyouareinterestedinadoptinganewbestfriend,youcan viewanimalsforadoptionatspca bc caorvisityournearest BCSPCACommunityAnimalCentre

ByMadisonErhardt

AwesomeInstagramPhotooftheWeek

ThisphotooftheVancouverPublic Library'smainbranchwastakenand sharedbyMichelleMckayYoung whogoesbythehandle@vancity wandering foodie

Forachancetohaveyourphotofeatured

GINOODJICK REMEMBEREDATPRIVATE MEMORIALSERVICE

hereandonourInstagramaccount,tag yourInstagramphotoswiththehashtag #vancouverisawesome

Tokeepupwitheverythinghappeninginyour city(andformoregreatphotographs!)follow usat@viawesome

ThelateGinoOdjickwashonoured ataprivatememorialserviceheldby theMusqueamNationonSunday, Feb 4,2023

Friendsandfamilygatheredinthe Musqueamcommunitycentretoremember theformerVancouverCanucksenforcer,with manyspeakingabout"TheChief"andhis impactonthem,theircommunities,andthe country

FormerteammatesDaveBabychandGeoff Courtnallgotuptogetherandregaledtales oftheirtimespentwiththeman,andofhis humour,loyalty,andworkethic Babychtoldtheroughly400peoplein attendancethatOdjickwas“theperfect teammate,”who“alwayslovedcomingtothe rink "

Courtnallendedbysayingthat“Gino willalwaysbeourChief,”whichwashis nicknameamonghisteammates MayorKenSim'sspeechstartedwiththe admissionthathehadnevermettheman,but spokeofhisimpactfrom"theperspectiveof

afan"

ThecrowdalsoheardfrommanyofOdjick's familyandclosefriends,enjoyedasong playedbyAaronPritchett,aswellasone performedbymembersoftheneighbouring SquamishNation

ManyCanucksalumniwereinattendance andtowardtheendoftheceremonygifteda signedjerseytoOdjick'schildren

Asistheirtradition,theMusqueamthen heldafeast,andafterwardweregiventothe grievingfamilybynumerousindividuals, facilitatedbyChiefWayneSparrowand CouncillorHowardE.Grant,alongwith witnesses

Ginowasarolemodelforkidsandadultsall acrossthecountry,andwasrecentlyfeatured onthefrontpageofthisnewspaperwiththe headline"GINO!GINO!GINO!"

Itwasacommonchantheardduringhistime ontheiceforourteam,andwasutteredby thecrowdatonepointduringhismemorial afterhissister,Janique,encouragedit

ByBobKronbauer

BobKronbauer:Former mayorKennedyStewartisstill beggingvotersformoney

IfyouthoughtthelastannoyingV I A columnyou'deverreadaboutformer VancouvermayorKennedyStewart wastheoneIrecentlywroteabout himblockingpeopleonTwitter,you're notalone

Ihadhopedthatafterhelostthe2022 election,wentbacktoworkforSimon FraserUniversityaftera12-year"leaveof absence,"thenblockedabunchoffolks onsocialmedia(meincluded),thatI wouldn'teveragainhaveareasontolet ourreadersknowwhathe'supto

Then,lastweek,Ihadmyfeetkickedup onmydeskandwaspuffingonacigarwhile sippinga30-year-oldscotch,wonderinghowI mightfinallyobtainaphotoofSpider-Manto runonthefrontpageofournewspaper,and anemailfromKennedyhitmyinbox

Thesubject"Happy2023!"hadmeinstantly intrigued Isetmyvicesdownandopenedit up,assumingitwassimplyalatenewyear's greetingsentouttothemayor'semaillist. Itwasnot.

Containedintheletterwasasomewhat confusingaskformoney,couchedinavague teaseaboutsomeelectoralreformthinghe's workingon,abidforpeopletopre-order copiesofhisupcomingbook,Decrim(which hesomehowhadtimetowritewhileworking fulltimeasourmayor,)andapostscript

containingregardsfromhisdog,Fergus And,ofcourse,therewasabuttonthatsaid DONATEinallcaps,whichledtoawebsite whereyoucangivemoneytoKennedy'steam sohecan...well...sohecandowhateverthe heckhe'sworkingonrightnow

Oldhabitsarehardtobreak,andI'm anentrepreneurmyself,soIfindit understandablethatnowthattheformerMP andformermayorisnolongerofficiallyatany troughhe'sfindingcreativewaystoobtain moneyfromtaxpayerstofundhispursuits,as vagueastheymaybe

He'sfinallybeenabletocutoutthemiddle man,whichmightbecharitablydescribedasa shrewdbusinessmove

ByBobKronbauer

Likeanybigcity,Vancouver's roleintheworldisfullof randomthingsthathelpmake upthefabricofpopculture. Sometimesthatpopcultureis recognizabletolocals,sometimes it'shiddenawayininspiration orreferencesonlyafewknow, andsometimesit'snotthelocal dominantpopcultureofthearea, likehowVancouveristhesetting foroneofthebiggestPunjabilanguagefilmsofalltime

Soherearefivefactsthatallrelate topopculture,andVancouver

1.Blink182'sFirstDate(and aniconicgif)wasshotat

BigSplashWaterParkin

Tsawwassen

Oneofthemostfamousreaction

gifsintheworldwasshotatawater parkinMetroVancouver

Ifyou'vereacted"WTF?"using thisgif,you'reusingapieceof Vancouver'spopculturehistory

Shotin2001,Blink182wasone ofthemostpopularbandsinthe worldatthetimeandbasedin California,soitmightbeeasyto assumetheyshotitathome,but nope,that'sBigSplashWaterPark andTsawassen

2.OneofItaly'smost famouscomicbook charactersvisits

Vancouver...inthe1800s

TexWillerisoneofthemost popularcomicbookcharacters intheItalianlanguage,having beencreatedin1948 Itstillgets publishedregularly SetintheUSduringthe1800s,

WillerisaTexanwithapenchant foradventure,andwhilemostof histimeisspentdowninTexasor theneighbouringstates,in2022 heheadednorthoftheborder,to Vancouver Overseveralissues hespendstimeinthecity,even stickingaroundfortheGreat VancouverFire,itappears

Thecoverofoneissue(justcalled 'Vancouver')showsanartists renderingofthecitythatdoesn't appeartobewhollyaccurate(what cliffarethecowboysstandingon?)

3 TheChillhopRadio raccoonisbasedona Vancouvercritter

Formany,usingchill,relaxedmusic

isagreatwaytostudyandwork

ChillhopRadiorealizedthisand hascreatedahuge,globalbrand outofstreaminglofihiphop, instrumentalbeatsanddowntempo tracks

Theirbrandambassador,acute raccoonsportingayellowhoodie and(often)headphones,isquite recognizable,andartistsaround theworldhavecreatedstaticand animatedpiecesofitinrecord stores,athome,camping,orjust walkingalongthestreet. Thatcritterisbasedona Vancouverraccoon ThefounderoftheChillhop brandwaslookingforamascotto

representthebrandwhenonatrip toVancouverhespottedaraccoon outthewindow(yes,there'saphoto ofit) Itjustgavehimtherightvibe, andtheywentwithit

4.Neuromancerwas partiallyinspiredby Vancouver Lotsofthingsinspireanovel,and fortheiconiccyberpunkbook Neuromancer,Vancouverwasone ofthosepieces

AuthorWilliamGibsonhadbeen livinginVancouverforawhile andmadeanameforhimselfwith shortstorieswhenhewastasked withwritinganovel Inoneyearhe wroteNeuromancer,whichwent

ontoinfluencecountlesspiecesof sciencefiction

It'sconsideredoneofthefounding piecesofworkincyberpunk(along withBladeRunner),helpingmove itfromtheclean-cutworldsofStar WarsandStarTrektothegritty, grimeysci-fiinthingslikeThe Matrix,ReadyPlayerOne,and Inception Someofthatgritand grimecomesfromthestreetsof Vancouver.

5 'Waitforme,Daddy'was shotinNewWestminster Oneofthemosticonicshotsof WorldWar2,forCanadiansat least,wasshotonEighthStreetin NewWestminster In1940theBritishColumbia Regimentwaspreparingtoleave Canada'swestcoastfortheother sideoftheworldaswarragedin Europe.Asthesoldiersmarched toashipthatwouldtakethemto asecretdestination,five-year-old WarrenBernardracedawayfrom hismothertoreachouttohis father,Jack,whoreachesback. PhotographerClaudeP.Dettloff caughtthemoment,andthephoto wentontobecomearallying imageduringtheyearsthewar wasfought InCanadaitwasused tosellwarbonds;Lifemagazine pickeduptheimageaswell,andit wasseenworldwide Whileitfadedsomewhatfrom memoryintheintervening80+ years,NewWestminstercreateda permanentbronzemonumentofit in2014

ByBrendanKergin

TocommemorateBlackHistory

Month,we'veputtogetherthisguide tosomeVancouver-basedBlackownedbusinessestocheckoutnot justinFebruary,butallyearlong

Fashion

Hogan'sAlleyClothing

HogansAlleywasaprominentAfroCanadianneighbourhoodinVancouver This vibrantpartofthecitybuzzedwithdifferent culturesandthemusic,art,andfashionthat camewiththem ThisVancouverclothing brandisanodetotheneighbourhoodslegacy andisafusionofAfricancultureandWestern style.

Kate&Frances

ThisVancouver-basedsustainablefashion brandcreatescomfortable,functionalpieces usingzero-wastepatterndraftingtechniques Kate&Francesalsoprioritizesfeaturing BIPOCmodelsincollectioncampaigns

MiscellanyThriftandVintage

Thisthriftandvintageboutiqueoffersboth vintagepiecesandstreetandhighendbrands suchasAritziaandOakandFort Thestore

alsocarriesjewellery,householditems,and homedecor,andworkswithlocalcharitiesto givebacktothecommunity

MawoganFashion

ThisVancouverfashionbrandisinspiredby thebrightfabricsworninAfricanculture

ItwasfoundedbyYaoZeusMohammedin 2016andisproducedbyartistsinTogo.

Beauty

GodsGiftCoiffure

Fromhairextensionstobraidingtohair straightening,thisVancouverbusiness specialisesinworkingwithvarioushairtypes, includingAsian,Black,Caribbean,African, andCaucasianhair

EthosMyth

Thosesearchingforethicalfinejewellerycan findavarietyofaccessoriesatthiswomanownedVancouverstore Eachpieceis individuallyhandcrafted

NhyiraGems

Thenamemeans"blessing"inTwi,adialect oftheAkanlanguagespokeninsouthernand centralGhana Thelocalbusinesscreates

clutchesandearringswithauniquetakeon Ankaraprints

Abantu

Whatbeganasamotherseffortstomeether Ugandan-borndaughters specialhairneeds

ledtoanestablishedfamily-ownedbusiness settledonKingsway.Thestoreoffersavariety ofhairproducts,fromweavesandbraidsto extensionsandwigs

Whathappenswhenbackyardhensgoa-fowl?

ThereareanimalsyouexpecttofindinaVancouver park,squirrels,crows,maybearaccoonifyou'relucky andaskunk(ifyou'renot) Butlocalsarereporting semi-frequentsightingsofananimalmoresuitedtoa barnyardthananurbangreenspace chickens PostsonRedditthatread:"chickenontheloose,""whose chickenisthis?"and"comegetyourchicken,"documenta historyofthebirdsrunningamokinthecitywitheachpost amassingcountlesscommentsofotherssharingtheirchicken sightingstories

Arecentstoryreports"afairlyplumpchicken"nearOak ParkatShaughnessyStreetandParkDrive.V.I.A.reached outtotheposterbutdidn'treceiveareply,however,another Redditorconfirmedinamessagetheyhaveseenthesame birdforthelasttwoyears

Similarly,JacksonBelecsayshesawachicken"hangingout onthesidewalk"nearMcSpaddenPark Hewasworried soheknockedonthenearestdoor."Awomanansweredthe doorandthankedmeforcheckingin,butsaidthatitisher neighbour'schickenanditroamsfreelyallthetime,"hetells VI A

TheBackyardHensProgramwasapprovedbytheCityof VancouverCouncilin2010andallowsresidentstohaveupto fourhens(noroosters)providedtheyareregisteredandthe ownersobtainapermit,accordingtoJohnGray,Managerof AnimalServices

AsofJan 1,2022,thepermitmustberenewedannually"to helptheCitysAnimalServicesbettertrackwherehens arelocatedthroughoutVancouversothatresidentscanbe reachedandnotifiedinthecaseofadiseaseoutbreak,"he says.

Thepermitsandrenewalsarefreeandmustbecompletedby Jan 15ofeachyear Whathappenswhenchickensescape?

In2022,AnimalServicesreceived22enquiriesregarding chickens Despitetheapparentfrequencyoftheseloose chickensightings,Graysaysthatonlytwoofthesecalls pertainedtoat-largechickens

Overallthecallsaredownalittlebitfromtheyearbefore (2021),whenAnimalsServicesreceived24chickenenquiries, threeofwhichpertainedtoloosechickens

BLACK-OWNEDBUSINESSESTOSUPPORT

CONTINUEDFROMPAGE8

OkokoCosmetics

Thisskincarebrandcombinesplant-derivedingredientswith science-backedingredientstocreatemulti-purposeskincarefor allskintypesandconcerns

Sih'leSkincare

Thisorganicskincarebrandusesnatural,sustainablysourced ingredientstocreatesoaps,creams,facialoils,andbodyoils

Productsarelocallymadeinsmallbatches

Otherbusinesses

RiseUpMarketplace

Thisneighbourhoodgrocerandcafeisapopulargathering spotforlocals Theco-ownersalsoownCalabashBistroand CartemsDonuts.

Mumgry

ThisVancouver-basedsnackbrandmakesnatural,nutritious nutbutter Thetreatsweredesignedwithmothersinmind, incorporatingthedietaryneedsofmothersthroughoutevery stageofmotherhood,frompre-pregnancyandpregnancyto postpartumandbeyond Thenutbuttersareplant-based,low insugar,andhighinprotein,iron,andcalcium.

Farafena

FoundedinVancouver,Farafenaworkswithwomenfarmers ofMaliandMalawitobringsuperfoodsmoringa,baobab,and foniototheglobalmarket

ByMariaDiment

IfresidentsspotachickenwanderingaroundVancouver,they areaskedtocall311

AccordingtotheAnimalControlBylaw,backyardhensmust becontainedinacoopandiftheyarefoundtohaveescaped ownersmaybesubjecttoa$250fineforanat-largehenanda $17impoundingfee

Therearealsoaseriesofrulesinplaceforbackyard hencoopstokeepthemfrom"beinganuisanceforyour neighbours,"accordingtothecity'swebsite Therulesalsoprevent"backyardslaughtering"aswellas otherformsofhusbandry(raisinganimalsformeat,fibre, milk,eggs,andotherby-products)whicharenotallowedin Vancouver

ByAllieTurner

SUITCASEMAKINGITSWAYTHROUGHEASTVAN

Muchlikemany "BuyNothing" groupsaround Vancouverthat sharesuitcasesofclothing withinthecommunity,East Vancouverhasatravelling suitcasefilledwithart supplies

Thecommunityprojectwas startedbyRachaelAnthony, alocalchefandartistwho craftsjewellery,candles,and otherartworkasseenonher pageTheInspiredGypsee Asanartist,Anthonycomes acrossnumerousartsupplies, manyofwhicharedestined

forthelandfill Insteadof tossingthem,shegathersthe suppliesandputstogether smallkitswithinthesuitcase "Halfaskeinofyarnand oneembroideryhoopwon't meanmuchtothethriftstore Butpairedtogetherwith someknittingneedles,and

someembroiderythreadand we'vegotadayplannedwith grandma!"Anthonytells V I A AlotofAnthony'sown workismadefromsalvaged materials,suchasherrecently madecandlescraftedfrom upcycledwax.

"Iseesomuchpotential insomanythings,"she explains,notinghergypsy lineage "Myancestorswould travel,gather,store,and salvageusablematerialsfor sustainingtheirlives Iam doingmyownversionof thatbysustainingmylove andlifethroughartmade frommainlydiscardedand unwantedmaterials " Thesuitcasewassentonits wayaroundthesametime thatAnthonystartedThe VancouverFreeMarket;a marketwherelocalscanshop ordonateitemsfreeofcharge. Ittakesplaceeverysecond SundayatGrandviewPark Howcanyouusethe travellingartsuitcase?

Thesuitcaseisavailableto anyonewhowishestouseit. Onceapersonisfinished withthesuitcasetheymust makeapostonanyEast Vancouverneighbourhood Facebookpagewithaphoto, asmalldescriptionabout what'scurrentlyinside, andthesuitcase'slocation Whoeverwishestouseitnext mustcommentonthatpost beforepickingitup Folkscankeepitforamonth andareencouragedtoaddto thesuitcaseaswell,aslongas itemsareinusablecondition i e nodeadmarkers,soiled fabric,ordangerousitems likebrokenglass.

ByMariaDiment

Local travellergets AirPodsback afterthey leftairport withouthim

AVancouverite whowatchedhis AirPodstravel outsideofthe

SeattleInternationalAirport (SEA)withouthimviahis

iPhonesayshe'sgoingtobe gettingthemback

MauroFrancisflewfrom theVancouverInternational Airport(YVR)toSEA

forthecreationofaNorth Americancoalitionon

homelessnessandaddiction

Whilethetravellerisn'tsure exactlywhenhemisplaced hisAirPods,hetoldV I A thathethoughthemay havedroppedthemwhile boardingtheplane After misplacingthem,hewas ableto"watch"themtravel

outsideoftheSeattleairport toanotherlocationandthen backagain

AirPodsusesimilar technologyasApple

AirTags,allowingusersto keeptrackoftheirbelongings throughits"FindMyapp" feature.

"When[they]wentbackto theairportwhileIwas[in] downtownSeattle,itgot interesting,"heexplained

"Thewholedayitwentback andforthbetweentheAir Canadabaggagecheck-in area,totheAirCanadasouth terminal "

AirCanadalocatesAirPods weeksafterVancouverflights

FrancisreachedouttoAir

CanadabeforeheleftSeattle andfiledareport OnJan 21-overtwoweeksafter hisinitialflight-theairline informedhimthattheyhad foundhisAirPods Acouple ofdaysafterthathereceived confirmationthattheywere beingshippedtohishomein Vancouver

"Theydidnttellmewhathad happenedorhowtheyfound them,though,"henoted

InaTwitterpost,Francis describedtheordealas"quite thesaga"butalsogavea "shoutouttoAirCanada" forrecoveringhislost belongings

AirCanadadidnotcomment ontheinitialincidentand hasnotprovidedastatement onwhathappenedtothe AirPods.

ByElanaShepert

VancouverNow&Then: ThecornerofMainand 10thhasn'tchanged muchin60years

ThecornerofMainStreetand10thAvenuehas remainedvirtuallyunchanged(exceptforthe tenantsandapaintjob)sincethelate1950sand possiblylonger

Buildingslikethese,asplainastheyare,giveMount Pleasantanauthenticcharm,whichisrapidlydisappearing fromtheVancouverlandscape

JohnBentleyisanarchitecturalphotographer whohasphotographedtheinsideandoutsideof thousandsofbuildingsaroundVancouver Using imagesfromtheVancouverArchivesheoffersa glimpseofthepastandpresentonhissiteVancouver Now&Then

WithB.C real-estatepricescontinuallychanging,it’sagoodtimetogetaheadofthecurveand sell.Infact,rentingmaybethebestchoiceforyourstageoflife.Herearesixsignsit’stimeto thinkaboutrentinginanindependentseniors’community

1 Yourhomemaintenanceistougherthanit usedtobe

2 Youwishyouhadmoretimetospendwith familyandfriends

3 It’shardertogetaroundthanitusedtobe

Learn

4 You’respendingmoreandmoretime alone

5 Youdon’tfeelassafeonyourown

6 Youwishyouhadmorecashonhand

Why

RevampofGranvilleBridgetraffic,cycling,andpedestrianlanessettobegin

TheGranvilleBridgeconnector project,aimedatcreatingabetter experienceforpeoplewalkingand bikingacrosstheFalseCreekbridge, isstartingthismonth

InatechnicalbriefingwithmediaFeb 8,the city'sdirectoroftransportationPaulStorer sharedplansandthescheduleforthebridge's realignment,whichhavebeendiscussedsince 1999

Whenitwasconstructed,planswerefora freewaysysteminthecity,whichledtothe gianttrafficloopsonthenorthend The GranvilleBridgewasalsobuiltwithahuge capacityfortraffic;thefourlanesineach directioncurrentlyinplaceareunnecessary Storersaid,withtrafficstudiesshowingtwo lanesineachdirectionwouldbeenoughand threelanesmorethansufficient Inphaseonetherealignedbridgelaneswill seeaprotectedpedestrianandcyclingsection createdonthewestsideofthebridge,with spaceforbicyclestogobothdirections Atthe sametime,vehicletrafficwillbereducedto threelanesineachdirection Onthenorthendofthebridge,thetwoloops willbeturnedintoagridsystemlaidoutlike thesurroundingstreets

Onthesouthend,somenewtrafficlightswill beinstalled

Constructiontimeline:February2023tolate 2024

Theproject'sschedulestartsimmediately, withcrewsexpectedtobeon-sitelater thisweek They'llfirstbeworkingon

deconstructingtheeasternloop,whichmoves trafficfromthebridgedowntoPacificStreet That'llbefollowedlaterthisspringwith thedeconstructionofthewesternloop.The trafficnetworkonthenorthendofthebridge willthenbebuiltalongwiththeworkonthe actualbridge

Theprojectisexpectedtowrapupsometime inthelastquarterof2024 Duringparts ofconstruction,therewillbeincreased congestiononthebridgeastrafficwillbe reducedtotwolanesineachdirectionat

CITY OF VANCOUVER

times

Storernotedthebridgeconnectstwo significantpartsofthecity

"Thisreallyconnectsthetwobiggest employmentcentresintheprovince,between thedowntownandcentralBroadway,"he said,notingthat18,000peoplelivewithina five-minutewalkofthebridge,andanother 90,000withinafive-minutebikeride,with evenmorejobs

Asthebridgeisalignednow,pedestrian infrastructureispoor,whilecyclinglanes

INFORMATION SESSIONS:

Non-market Housing in False Creek North

Join us at an information session to learn about proposed amendments to the False Creek North Official Development Plan (FCN ODP) and associated by-laws which would help deliver 661 units or more of non-market homes in the neighbourhood

Under a new housing delivery opportunity between the City, Concord Pacific, and the Province (BC Housing), the proposed amendments would enable an increase in non-market housing density across three sites within the False Creek North area, and provide public amenities including a new fire hall and childcare facility

To learn more, drop by an information session on:

Wednesday, February 22, 2023, 5 - 8 pm

Saturday, February 25, 2023, 11 am – 2 pm

Roundhouse Community Centre, 181 Roundhouse Mews

For details and to share your comments, visit: shapeyourcity.ca/false-creek-north-non-market-housing

The proposed amendments are expected to be presented to Council for consideration in July 2023

arenon-existent,headded,withtheloops addingabarrierintothecity Therealigned infrastructurewillalsomakethebridge accessibletopeoplewithmobilityissues Theprojectasitstandsnowisexpectedto costaround$50million,with$30million fortheloopsbeingreplacedbythestreet network,and$19millionfortheinitial bridgerealignment Fundingfortheproject iscomingfromfeespaidbydevelopersand TransLink.

ByBrendanKergin

Itdoesn'tjustaddGotham-City-likeambienceorthe opportunityforaMarilynMonroemoment;steamgrates servearealpurposeinurbanlife

AccordingtoaspokespersonwiththeCityofVancouver, thesteamyouseeemanatingfromthemaintenanceholecovers onDowntownstreetsiscausedbywaterbeingdischarged intothepipesandcomingintocontactwithoutsideair Wetypicallyseethesteammoreoftenduringcooler temperatures

Thereareanumberofdifferenttypesofgratesandaccess coversacrosscitystreetsthatindicatethebelowutilities includingwater,sewer,power,andelectrical,etc

"Roundorrectangularmaintenanceholesaretypicallylinked toundergroundutilities(e g water,sewer,electrical,etc )," explainsthecity,"whereasgratesaretypicallyrelatedtovented undergroundtransportationinfrastructure " Forinstance,thelargerectangulargratesonstreetslike Granville youknow,theonesthatwilltrapastiletto(unless you'reRihanna) areapartoftheSkyTraininfrastructure, providingventilationinandoutoftheCanadaLinetunnel

ByAllieTurner

FewinVancouverhaveheardof BeriahBotfield That'sfairgivenhe wasawealthyBritishpoliticianand researcherwhodiedyearsbefore Canadawasfounded Butthenwhyisoneof hisornatedisheshere?

ChristianLaub,whosometimesspendstime thriftingaroundMetroVancouverstores whenhe'snotdiggingforantiquesinthe wild,discoveredalargesilver-platedheattray whenataNorthVancouvershoplastyear Thedesignappearstobeinabaroqueor rococostyle

"WhenIspottedtheornatestyleofthat heatingtrayIknewrightawaythatithad goodvintagetoit,"hetellsVancouver

IsAwesome "WhenIinitiallyfounditI didn'tseethecrestatfirstbecauseitwasso tarnished."

However,whileinthestore,hewasable tomakeoutthereindeerandamotto:"Jai

BonneCause "Usingthathewasabletofind Botfield,whosepersonalcrestandmotto match

Uponbringingthepiecehomehedid somemoreresearch Botfieldcamefroma wealthyfamilywhohadcoalminingandiron businesses Bornin1807,heinheritedthe familybusinesswhileexploringinterestsin literature,geology,andbotany,goingsofaras tobecomeaFellowoftheRoyalSociety He marriedin1858,buttheyneverhadanykids, andhediedin1863

Giventhedateofhisdeath,Laubbelievesthe traywasproducedatleast160yearsago "Iwasn'tabletomakeaconnectionto Vancouver,"hesays "Mypresumptionisat somepointoneoftheirrelativesmovedto Vancouver,andthat'swhythepieceishere."

Asithasapersonalcrestonit,it'sunlikelyto havebeensoldtothegeneralpublicwhenit wasfirstproduced,headds

"Itseemsthatthatwastheirownpersonal dishware,"hesays

Whilehe'sbeenabletopiecesomeofits likelyhistorytogether,helikesthatit'sabit incomplete

"Inasense,Ilovethatthepiecenotonlyhas thehistorytoit,butithasamysterytoit," Laubsays

Thatsaid,he'sinterestedtolearnmoreabout theitemandhowitcametobeinVancouveracitythatdidn'texistwhenitwasmade

Rightnowit'ssittinginachinacabinet;the antiquedishhasn'tbeenusedyetbutheand hiswifemaybreakitoutforaspecialdinner Thetrayworkslikeamodernsteamtray system,withboilinghotwaterkeptjustbelow thepartholdingthefood

ByBrendanKergin

ACROSS

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