Live in Mount Pleasant

Bell Wireless slows customer internet speeds on purpose

2008-11-20T12:13:00.000-08:00

The CRTC has ruled that Bell Canada Inc. is not breaking the law by purposefully slowing internet speeds and will be allowed to continue to do so.

Bell, Canada's largest internet service provider, has two million high-speed customers in addition to smaller companies that rent portions of Bell's network and resells them. “Based on the evidence before us, we found that the measures employed by Bell Canada to manage its network were not discriminatory," said CRTC chair Konrad von Finckenstein in a release. "Bell Canada applied the same traffic-shaping practices to wholesale customers as it did to its own retail customers.”

The regulator's investigation, which began in May, was limited to Bell's wholesale practice and did not consider whether internet throttling should be allowed in general.

As such, the CRTC also announced it was opening a new probe into the larger issue of throttling, which is also done by other large internet service providers such as Rogers Communications Inc. and Shaw Inc. Interested parties will have until Feb. 16 to submit their thoughts and a public hearing will be held on July 6 in Gatineau, Que.

"The broader issue of internet traffic management raises a number of questions that affect both end-users and service providers,” von Finckenstein said. “We have decided to hold a separate proceeding to consider both wholesale and retail issues. Its main purpose will be to address the extent to which internet service providers can manage the traffic on their networks in accordance with the Telecommunications Act.”

Bell and the others say they need to throttle customers who use peer-to-peer applications such as BitTorrent because they are causing congestion on their networks.

For the full story, go to CBC article

Do-Not-Call scam circulating through email

2008-11-20T12:11:00.001-08:00

Cellphone providers are warning against a scam circulating via e-mail regarding the CRTC's recently implemented do-not-call telemarketing list.

The e-mail warns recipients that cellphone providers are releasing their customers' numbers to telemarketers, so they should expect calls that will inevitably waste their airtime. Recipients are urged to call one of two phone numbers purportedly attached to the national do-not-call list, which the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission launched on Sept. 30, in order to block such unwanted calls.

"All cellphone numbers are being released to telemarketing companies and you will start to receive sale calls," the e-mail says. "You will be charged for these calls."

The e-mail suggests the release of number databases has been confirmed by Telus Corp. and urges recipients to pass the message on to their friends.

Telus, however, issued an advisory on Tuesday evening warning that the e-mail was "fraudulent and dangerous" and urged customers not to respond to it or forward it.

Spokesman Shawn Hall said the company has no intention of releasing wireless numbers to telemarketers.

"We have no plans to do that ever," he said.

Telus is working on determining the source of the e-mail. Marc Choma, spokesman for the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association, said a similar scam was run a few years ago in the United States when the country rolled out its own do-not-call list.

One of the numbers in the e-mail is in fact the CRTC's do-not-call contact number, but the other has been linked to telemarketing scams going back a number of years, Hall said.

The do-not-call list allows Canadians to add their phone numbers — both landline and wireless — to a database that is circulated to telemarketers. A telemarketer that calls a number on the list is liable for a fine up to $15,000.

While the CRTC requires landline providers to list customers' numbers in the phone book, it is illegal for wireless companies to release cellphone numbers without their subscribers' express consent.

Telus has polled customers as to whether they would want their wireless numbers published in the phone book but found the majority believed their contact information to be private.

"It came back rather resoundingly that people did not want their cellphones listed in the phone book, and we respect that," Hall said.

Source: CBC

Book Launch: Real Utopia: Participatory Society for the 21st Century

2008-11-19T14:35:00.000-08:00

Sunday, November 23
5:30 PM

Come celebrate, explore and debate the newly published book, "Real Utopia: Participatory Society for the 21st Century," with editor Chris Spannos and members of the Vancouver Participatory Economics Collective.

With many co-authors, including Noam Chomsky, Michael Albert and Barbara Ehrenreich, Real Utopia envisions life after capitalism and how we can get there.

Music by DJ Lalu.

Free!

For more information:
(604) 872-3166
Rhizome Cafe
317 East Broadway

Chrysler Dealership to Leave Mount Pleasant

2008-11-14T13:06:00.000-08:00

A combination of Vancouver real estate prices and global economics will force a longtime Chrysler dealership on Main Street to close its doors for good next month.

About 50 employees of Vancouver Chrysler are looking for work after the 20-year-old dealership reluctantly announced it could not come to terms with Chrysler LLC over development of a new property in the downtown area.

Vancouver Chrysler has one year left on a five-year lease at its 1500-block Main Street venue, where a housing development is planned by the landlord, and was hoping to establish a new downtown site nearby.

Instead, it will close Dec. 6, leaving the city of Vancouver with one Chrysler dealership.

Source: The Vancouver Sun

Nice weather could pave way for two-way traffic on Main Street

2008-11-14T12:59:00.000-08:00

If you’re ready to drive southbound on Main Street in downtown Vancouver, pray for sun this weekend.

City operations workers must paint new traffic and parking lines before the street can be opened to two-way traffic.

And that means no rain.

City officials announced Thursday they would try to get the job done Saturday. The work started three weeks ago with removal of some curbs and planters.

“Right now, Saturday looks pretty good,” said Bill Whitcomb, Vancouver deputy transportation manager. “We’re hoping the weather holds on and we will be able to do the work.”

If the work occurs as scheduled, Main Street will be closed to all traffic from Sixth Street to 15th Street, except for emergency vehicles. Intersections and east-west streets, as well as sidewalks, will remain open. Parking will not be allowed after 5 a.m. Saturday.

Whitcomb said he suspects operations crews would try to work around any cars that remain, instead of immediately calling for a tow truck.

At the end of painting, one-way signs will be taken down. New signs will alert drivers and pedestrians to changes.

The project also includes installing new traffic signals. Recent hurricanes on the Gulf Coast have delayed equipment delivery, but the signal work will be completed when it arrives.

The project has been long sought by area businesses and residents. Some have noted that Main Street currently leads one way: out of town.

Broadway, one block east, was converted to two-way traffic more than a year ago. Both streets had been one-way for decades.

Source: The Columbian

Mount Pleasant Community Planning Workshop

2008-11-10T12:49:00.000-08:00

The Community Plan will address four residential sub-areas ( see Map ). North Mount Pleasant and Central Mount Pleasant are apartment zones; and South Mount Pleasant and West Mount Pleasant are duplex/infill zones. Residential Areas Workshops will be conducted in the fall of 2008 to discuss topics like character and heritage, greening opportunities, park and school ground designs, walking and biking routes, local traffic issues, safety and cleanliness, and housing issues including problem premises, affordability, and design.

Workshops are organized and hosted by City staff. They occur on weekends, and refreshments are provided. At each workshop participants will receive background information in an interesting way and then they work together in small groups to develop ideas and options.

If you are interested in attending a Residential Area Workshop, please download and fill out the RAW form (PDF, 45KB) or fill out the RAW form online.

Residential Areas Workshop
Sunday, November 16, 2008
12 noon - 5 pm
Native Education College
285 East 5th Avenue

For more information, call Rachel Harrison at 604.871.6608.

Call for proposals to save Mt Pleasant heritage homes

2008-11-10T12:10:00.000-08:00

BC Hydro has purchased land on West 6th and Alberta to construct a new substation that will provide extra power for the growing Mount Pleasant and False Creek areas as well as act as a backup for Downtown.

The two Heritage homes at 304 and 316 West 6th are on the assembled land and were purchased last year. They are designated as Heritage C and can be demolished, however BC Hydro would prefer not to do that. Instead, Hydro is asking for proposals for anyone interested in buying the homes and moving them.

Interested parties can view and inspect the homes from 10 AM to Noon on November 12 and the deadline for offers is by Noon on Friday, November 28th.

Vancouver Sun

Onni developer halts V6A construction but still pre-selling condos

2008-10-27T16:00:00.000-07:00

ctvbc.ca

A major developer in Metro Vancouver is being investigated by an arm of the provincial government after CTV found it was still selling condos even though construction has been halted at the project.

It's a big name developer, which has been building in Metro Vancouver for decades.

On Thursday, the Onni Group of Companies which is behind the V6A condo complex near Main and Union streets in Vancouver -- said the project has been postponed. But when CTV went to the sales center -- we discovered the units were still being offered for pre-sale -- and perspective buyers were not being told the project was on hold.

Now B.C.'s Superintendent of Real Estate is investigating.

"We have contacted the developer and asked for an update,'' said L. Jay Mitchell, B.C.'s Deputy Superintendent of Real Estate.

"We've indicated they have to make an amendment to their disclosure statement,'' she said. "We're making inquires about the deposits and the status of the project

The situation at Main and Union has not escaped the attention of NDP Housing critic Diane Thorne.

"I could hardly believe what I was seeing and hearing on television,'' she said. "It's the best example I have ever seen of the lack of consumer protection in British Columbia."

Meanwhile, any new protection for presale buyers would start with the B.C. Finance Minister Colin Hansen.

"If there's way we can strengthen the regulation and the procedures developers must follow, we are certainly willing to take a look at those and if we can do it in a way that makes sense, we will certainly be ready to do that,'' Hansen said.

Asked if he will looking into the situation at Onni, Hansen said he likely will. "I will certainly be looking into this particular example to see what lessons we can learn from it,'' he said.

As for the future of the V6A project, on Thursday, Onni's vice-president of development Beau Jarvis said he wasn't sure.

"I wouldn't say there is a timeline at this point,'' he said.

On Friday, Onni's executive vice president Chris Evans called CTV News and said that while he doesn't know when construction will resume, Onni plans on finishing the project sometime in 2010.

He declined an invitation to do an on camera interview.

With a report from CTV British Columbia's Shannon Paterson

CTV Broadcast & more.

Main Street corridor to have free wireles access by December

2008-10-24T16:54:00.000-07:00

Delta’s Novax Industries is proposing Wi-Fi networks along Main, Broadway and Hastings streets that could provide free Internet access to more than 23,000 residents and businesses

Roughly 8,000 businesses and residents along Vancouver’s Main Street corridor will have free access to wireless Internet by December, when the installation of the first of three mesh Wi-Fi networks in Vancouver is completed.

The deployment of the network, which runs north along Main Street from 57th Avenue to Cordova Street in downtown Vancouver, is the first phase in what could one day be a citywide wireless cloud.

Delta-based Novax Industries Corp. is laying the Wi-Fi mesh network over a transit signal priority (TSP) system it’s installing on Main Street as part of a contract it was awarded last February by TransLink, the Lower Mainland’s transit authority.

Transit buses equipped with wireless beacons can remotely access the TSP system to activate or prolong green lights to ensure consistent flow of the Main Street transit line.

Novax has been developing audible pedestrian signals, traffic light synchronizing systems and other traffic control systems – it’s the incumbent supplier of Vancouver’s roughly 700 traffic light controllers – since its founding in 1981.

Now, Novax’s traffic control systems are going wireless, and the company is pitching the systems as a platform for municipalities to build unified, multiple-use wireless networks.

Within a citywide cloud, citizens could access the Internet, and business and government could remotely operate a host of services, including buses, security systems and telephone networks.

“If you take a look at where this might go, you start off with transit vehicles, then you can decide to go into emergency vehicles, then you can track commercial vehicle operations through your network,” said David Atnikov, Novax’s president and CEO.

TransLink plans to also deploy TSP systems along Hastings Street and Broadway.

In its request for proposals for the Main Street TSP system, TransLink said that additional TSP systems in the city will be based on the technology used on Main Street – making Novax a front-runner for being awarded contracts for TransLink’s future TSP systems.

Novax said that its technology could produce wireless networks that cover 15,000 and 8,000 businesses and residences along Broadway and Hastings Street, respectively.

City councillor and mayoral candidate Peter Ladner confirmed that Vancouver’s community wireless broadband initiative has been derailed because the city couldn’t develop a business model that included a consistent revenue stream that would offset costs to taxpayers.

Novax’s contract with TransLink is achieving the initiative’s goal of offering free wireless access to the public.

“We are going to get Wi-Fi after all, and TransLink is going to pay for it,” said Ladner. “It’s not going cost the city and … the spinoff is that now there is broadband available along the route for other uses potentially.”

Some of those opposing a citywide municipal network have pointed out that there are already at least 200 free wireless “hotspots” in cafés, coffee shops, malls and other public-use spaces around Vancouver.

While municipal Wi-Fi networks still face many security and regulatory issues, as well as resistance from wireless service providers in the private sector who fear losing business, some Canadian cities such as Fredericton and Toronto have created low-cost or free wireless networks that encompass downtown districts or café hubs.

Steveston Harbour in Richmond deployed a wireless mesh network last month to operate a network of 22 surveillance cameras.

The wireless technology connects the security systems of the harbour’s two separate sites, which are located about two kilometres from each other.

Although the harbour has no immediate plans to use the network for other applications, the harbour’s operations supervisor Joel Baziuk recognizes the opportunities the network provides.

“We could provide wireless Internet access for all of our clients if we wanted to,” he said, noting that the company could also operate speakers, microphones and electronic gates via the network.

“The idea is to give yourself a whole bunch of doors that you may not open yet, but can open any time you want.”

He said that the harbour isn’t concerned about security breaches over the wireless network because the network is on a limited-access frequency.

As well, the company that installed the network, California’s Firetide Inc., develops secure wireless networks for the United States military.

Business In Vancouver article by Curt Cherewayko

Mount Pleasant Community Pool still a heated issue amongst residents

2008-10-21T15:47:00.000-07:00

This past Thursday, Oct. 16th, the Mount Pleasant Community Centre held its all-candidates meeting for the Parks board before the November 15 municipal election.

Mt Pleasant area residents are already deeply concerned about the loss of their community swimming pool and child-care space at the current centre which is being phased out. The new Centre at 1 Kingsway is not what the community asked for but the Parks board went ahead with plans to build this new space.

Speaker after speaker at the Mt Pleasant meeting stated they preferred child-care and the pool to remain exactly where they are now and this is a simple request. In fact, long-time Mount Pleasant resident, Gavin Ross expressed his desire to have discussions re-opened regarding the Mount Pleasant child-care and the children's pool. All parks board candidates in attendance when asked whether we would support this, stated yes.

There were no incumbent NPA Parks Commissioners in attendance at the meeting to address their decision making and residents concerns.

The three NPA candidates, Laura McDiarmid, Christopher Richardson and Sharon Urton tried their best to answer residents concerns but unfortunately, the audience was not supportive and it became very difficult for the NPA candidates to defend their colleagues who embarked on what turned out to be un-neighbourly decision making.

Community centre renewal is a hot-button issue this election. Initially the Trout Lake Community Centre renewal was left off the 2009-2011 draft capital plan, but after several meetings and much protest from community groups, it was put back on the list of approved major projects. Money earmarked for the Mount Pleasant Community Centre was also taken off the capital plan, but despite similar protests there's no sign the parks board or city will relent.

Long-time commissioner Allan De Genova, who sat on the board for almost 16 years and is not running in this election but his daughter Melissa De Genova is, stated, "If it gets approved, the capital budget for the next three years will be $70 million. At the end of the day you have to be fiscally responsible."

With the recent economic downturn, De Genova predicted more residents will turn to affordable community centres for their recreation, putting a strain on aging facilities. Fewer people will golf, which leads to less revenue for the board, and fewer people will eat out at parks board-operated concessions.

Demolished outdoor pools include Sunset, Hastings and Marpole and soon Mount Pleasant.

Scheduled upcoming all-candidate parks board meetings take place on Nov. 2 at Roundhouse, Nov. 3 at Killarney and Nov. 4 at Kerrisdale. Kitsilano, Marpole and Dunbar community centres are also taking part in the Kerrisdale meeting.

Taken from:
Vancouver Courier
and
Jamie Lee Hamilton

Bank of Canada Cuts Rate to 2.25%, Signals More Moves

2008-10-21T15:23:00.000-07:00

By Greg Quinn and Theophilos Argitis; Bloomberg

Oct. 21 (Bloomberg) -- The Bank of Canada reduced its main interest rate by a quarter of a point, less than economists predicted, saying it will probably need to act again to fend off the effects of a credit crisis and global recession.

Governor Mark Carney and his five deputies trimmed the target rate for overnight loans between commercial banks to 2.25 percent, the lowest since October 2004. Canada's dollar fell to the lowest in more than three years as traders bet more reductions are on the way.

``Surprisingly they didn't cut by more, but the statement itself is awfully gloomy, leading me to believe there is an awful lot more to come,'' said Eric Lascelles, chief economics and rates strategist at TD Securities Inc. in Toronto.

The credit squeeze spurred by the subprime mortgage meltdown is sapping demand for Canadian shipments of automobiles and lumber to the U.S., Canada's main export market. The global financial crisis also may crimp the domestic spending that's propped up Canada's economy, policy makers said. Today marked the first scheduled decision by a central bank within the Group of Seven major economies since a coordinated rate cut on Oct. 8.

Seven of 24 economists surveyed by Bloomberg predicted today's move, with 13 calling for a cut twice as deep and four expecting no change. The central bank may have been reluctant to ease by half a point after already doing so this month, Lascelles said.

`Timely' Support

``These actions provide timely and significant support to the Canadian economy,'' policy makers said in a statement from Ottawa, referring to their own rate cuts and the joint move. ``Some further monetary stimulus will likely be required.''

The Canadian dollar weakened by 2.3 percent to C$1.2190 per U.S. dollar, the lowest since August 2005, at 12:50 p.m. in Toronto from C$1.1909 yesterday. The currency's drop from a record 90.58 Canadian cents per U.S. dollar set last Nov. 7 will help exporters, the bank said.

Policy makers cut their forecast for economic growth this year to 0.6 percent from a July prediction of 1 percent. Next year's gross domestic product will also grow 0.6 percent, compared with a July forecast of 2.3 percent.

Canadian exporters will be hobbled by a U.S. recession, a world economy that ``appears to be heading into a mild recession,'' and lower prices for the country's exported commodities, the Bank of Canada said. Domestic spending will also be curbed by tougher lending conditions, the bank said.

`Not Done'

Policy makers didn't say Canada's economy is headed for a recession, unlike assessments by BMO Capital Markets, Bank of Nova Scotia, Credit Suisse Holdings Inc. and UBS AG.

``They firmly signaled they are not done,'' said Derek Holt, an economist at Scotia Capital in Toronto, adding the rate will be lowered to 1.75 percent at the next meeting. ``You could have taken that statement today and easily changed the headline to have a 50- or 75-basis point cut.''

Canada's key rate hasn't been below 2 percent since 1960, and its record low was 1.12 percent in 1958, a time when it was based on treasury yields rather than actions by policy makers.

Canadian banks, rated the soundest in the world this month by the World Economic Forum, are still reluctant to lend after the worst financial malaise since the Great Depression toppled institutions such as Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. in the U.S. and Fortis in Europe.

The biggest commercial banks in Canada failed to quickly match the central bank's Oct. 8 move, the first time that's happened since 1997. Some matched the full 50-basis point cut only after the government created a program to purchase up to C$25 billion of their mortgages.

Economic Meetings

Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who won re-election on Oct. 14 by arguing he was a better economic manager than his rivals, has said he'll meet with provincial leaders in the coming months to discuss the economy. Harper last week also backed French President Nicolas Sarkozy's call for international meetings on restoring confidence in financial markets.

``We're looking at a much longer downturn in the American economy than anyone was thinking a year ago,'' British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell said after a meeting of provincial leaders in Montreal yesterday on the economy. British Columbia is Canada's top lumber-exporting province.

Canfor Paper Corp., Canada's second-largest lumber producer by market value, said Oct. 8 it will close a plywood plant in Fort Nelson, British Columbia. The 290-worker factory was shut because of ``unprecedented and challenging market conditions,'' Chief Executive Officer Jim Shepard said in a statement.

Commodity Prices

Carney, 43, has room to cut rates further because the economic slowdown is pushing commodity prices down from record highs set earlier this year. Those higher prices drove inflation above the central bank's 2 percent target and boosted business profits and consumer incomes in provinces such as British Columbia and Alberta, which is home to the world's second-largest crude oil deposits.

Inflation peaked in the third quarter of this year and will fall below 1 percent in the middle of next year, the central bank said today. In July, policy makers said prices would accelerate to 4.1 percent between October and December.

The bank will provide a new detailed economic forecast paper in two days, and its next scheduled decision is Dec. 9.

To contact the reporter on this story: Greg Quinn in Ottawa at gquinn1@bloomberg.net; Theophilos Argitis in Ottawa at targitis@bloomberg.net.

Brittania Seniors Group (for 55+)

2008-10-17T17:57:00.000-07:00

Don't be a couch potato, join us!

LUNCHES @ NOON on THURSDAY’S
Al Mattison Lounge

Laurette's Homemade Hearty Soups With Bread/Dessert and Choice of Tea/Coffee: $3.50
Weekly except for Potluck luncheon & social evenings POTLUCK Lunches are
Oct 30th, Nov 27th

**************************
NOON on Mondays: Lunch & Nutrition Workshops
$3.50/ Lunch includes tea/coffee
Learn how to cook a healthy meal and know its nutritional value
Oct 20, 27 & Nov 3, 10, 17, 27

*************************
NOON on Tuesdays & Fridays @ The Lion's Den

Periodic theme lunches: $6.00

Fall Highlights & Special Events for October
Please contact us for more details & costs
Reserve early to avoid disappointment

*****Limited seats*****
Senior Spa Days
Al Mattison Lounge
Wed. 1-4p
Nov19 and Dec10

Manicure$10 & Pedicure$20
Very limited!!!!
Book Early
*************

go to http://britanniacentre.org/ for more details & bus trips

All about us:
Britannia Seniors’ Centre for 55+ adults
Al Mattison Lounge (AML)
Drop in Centre Open 7 days a week for drop-in: TV lounge/Computer lab/Card tables

Anne Jackson 604-718-5837
Lion's Den Recreation Centre (LD)
770 Commercial Drive (basement)
Drop in 5 days a week

Carolynn Innes Phone#: 604-718-5848

Eastside Cultural Crawl artists get two new live-work spaces, but not enough

2008-10-16T13:06:00.001-07:00

Vancouver city council voted Tuesday (October 14) to add two subsidized live-work spaces, for a total of four, to the city's artist studio award program. But many visual artists say the city is still not doing enough.

The two new live-work studios on West 8th Avenue will be sub-leased at a subsidized rate. The program also includes a subsidized live-work space at 1202 East Pender Street, and another at 272 East 4th Avenue, which is awarded rent-free. Following an artist selection in December, the studios will be awarded February 1, 2009, for a term of three years minus two weeks.

Valerie Arntzen, organizer of the Eastside Culture Crawl, welcomed the new units but said they do little to address a critical shortage of studios in Vancouver, despite intensive public consultations undertaken last year by the city's office of cultural affairs in preparation for its 10-year culture plan, unveiled in June. "After having been for over a year in focus groups and all that, I mean, their message is clear. They move like snails. They said it: 'Nothing's going to happen overnight, you know.' "

The issue of artist studios will also be raised at City Hall today (October 16), when Jeffrey Mok of IBI Group, on behalf of developer Amacon, requests approval for a heritage designation and density variance for the old brewery site at 255 East 7th Avenue. Amacon plans to build artist studios on the site, and has offered them as replacements for studios that will be lost at 190 Prior Street (formerly 901 Main Street), where the developer is planning to build high-end apartments.

Although negotiations with Amacon were initially cordial, artists at 190 Prior, who two weeks ago signed papers to become the 901 Artists Co-op, now say the developer has offered them a lease that far exceeds their ability to pay.

"They're asking, total, including operational costs-that's, like, property tax and utilities and all that stuff-$2.35 a square foot," Eri Ishii, one of the artists at 190 Prior, said. "Right now we're paying $1 a square foot." Ishii said her group will be counter-offering $1.25 a square foot but did not hold out much hope for a deal. If Amacon does not offer anything below $2 a square foot, she said: "We're just going to have to walk away. There's no way we can afford it."

Richard Wittstock, Amacon's vice president of development, disputed Ishii's figure of $2.35. He said the company had offered the artists less than that, but would not name the figure. "I'm pretty reluctant to talk about a negotiation that's in process.…But they are enjoying a rent that's considerably below market now," he said.

Dennis Brown, one of the 901 Prior artists, said he will appear before council today. "We went 13 months organizing this campaign; we put in a lot of work. This is a major increase in rent for us, and the problem is, where are visual artists supposed to go?"

Georgia Straight

Vancouver moves closer to banning plastic bags

2008-10-16T12:25:00.000-07:00

The City of Vancouver is one step closer to banning plastic disposable shopping bags after city council passed a motion Tuesday asking city staff to investigate the feasibility of a ban.

The motion also committed the city to approach the B.C. government for permission to ban plastic shopping bags and to ask the province to consider passing a provincial ban on the bags.

Coun. Tim Stevenson, who led the motion, said he believes Vancouverites are behind the idea of banning plastic bags because of the environmental damage they cause.

Phasing in a ban would be a better alternative than charging consumers for plastic bags because charging fees would only penalize the poor, he said.

CBC news

Tanya Tagaq with cellist Cris Derkson & DJ Michael Red

2008-10-16T11:11:00.000-07:00

Tanya Tagaq with cellist Cris Derkson & DJ Michael Red

Thursday October 23, 2008

"Tanya Tagaq...is an Inuit throat singer, although whole-body singer is more like it. And soul singer, in any sense you might care to think of that term." (LA Times)

Primal, erotic, experimental, Tanya Tagaq is hailed as the "Jimi Hendrix of Inuit throat singing" (David Harrington, Kronos Quartet) and "like Edith Piaf or something, totally emotional" (Bjork). Her innovative, solo style of throat singing pushes the boundaries of emotion and expresses the primitive instincts that still reside deep within our flesh. To open Music on Main's Main Series, Tanya joins forces with cellist Cris Derkson and DJ Michael Red for a concert that will leave you breathless.

Heritage Hall
3102 Main Street, Vancouver

See Google Maps for directions.

Bar opens at 7:00 pm
Concert at 8:00 pm

Bar stays open afterward
All ages welcome

Tickets $25 ($15 Students). Call Tickets Tonight at 604.684.2787 or purchase online at www.ticketstonight.ca

12th Annual Eastside Cultural Crawl 2008

2008-10-14T14:45:00.000-07:00

EASTSIDE CULTURE CRAWL 2008

Welcome to the 12th annual Eastside Culture Crawl! In this annual celebration, artists open their studio doors to the public. Each year, people get out their walking shoes, head to the heart of the Eastside, and choose which of the 50 studio buildings they will visit. (This year, we have 300 artists with many new to the Crawl!) Use our detailed map, website, and artist binders to help guide you through the neighborhood. You’re sure to find artists working in any possible medium including: dancers, glassblowers, jewelers, musicians, painters, print makers, mixed media artists, furniture makers, photographers, potters, sculptors, spoken word artists, weavers and writers. Whether you’re browsing, buying or just curious about an artists’ process, everyone gets the chance to meet the creators, ask questions, and learn something new. With 8,000 -10,000 visitors, this popular event celebrates multi-disciplinary art, education and fun!

Show Dates: November 21, 22 & 23, 2008
Opening Reception: Friday, November 21, 2008, 5pm – 10pm
Hours for Saturday & Sunday (November 22 & 23): 11am – 6pm

Chapel Arts Visual Art Exhibit: November 21 to December 14
Echo Chamber After Hours Party @ Chapel Arts:
November 21, 9pm to 1am & November 22, 8pm to 1am
www.chapelarts.com

We are sad to announce that this will be the last year for 901 Main Street after being an artist studio for 25 years. Their building has been sold and of the thirty two artists who work there, many may not be able to find studios within the Crawl boundaries. The loss of this building has struck a chord and we realize that we, as a community, have to step up to the plate and bring the issue of studio space to the forefront.

The Crawl Society has become increasingly active on a civic level; gathering signatures for presentation at City Council; attending committee meetings; attending forums and focus group with the City of Vancouver as well as with other community groups. These efforts represent our commitment to promoting the protection and growth of artists’ studios in the city. Because we can’t do without artists and neither should you!

Save the Mt Pleasant Pool

2008-10-14T12:07:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, Oct 16th at 7PM, the friends of Mt. Pleasant Pool are hosting a parks board candidate debate at the Mt. Pleasant Community center (3161 Ontario Street).

If you live in the area and feel like making your voice heard (for and against), come on out. The more the better, and it’s a great chance to stick up for something that’s not glitzy, but still very important to the Mt. Pleasant area.

Vancouver Is Awesome

4th Annual Drift Art on Main Street | Oct 4 & 5, 2008

2008-09-26T17:01:00.000-07:00

The Drift is an annual weekend local arts & culture festival taking place along Vancouver's trendy Main Street in artists' open studios and in participating local shops, cafes and restaurants.

Drift along Main Street and see an eclectic variety of fine art and original handcrafts from established and emerging local artists including ceramics, painting, sculpture, photography, woodcarvings, collage, mixed media, glass works, jewelry, film, clothing design, textiles & multi-media compositions.

Visit The Drift website for artist profiles, find participating retailers in SOMA/Mt Pleasant, get a Drift 2008 festival map, find upcoming art shows and workshops, and more.

Trout Lake Community Center renovation approved!

2008-09-22T15:06:00.000-07:00

City council has set aside $23 million to renovate the Trout Lake Community Center. Unfortunately, Brittania Community Center, also in dire need of upgrades, was excluded from the $495 million capital plan despite hard lobbying efforts on its part.

If voters approve the plan in the upcoming November civic election, the funding plan will guide spending over 2009 - 2011.

For more details, see the CBC News article, or the Christina Montgomery article in the Vancouver Province.

Mount Pleasant Cheese Specialty Store

2008-09-19T10:26:00.000-07:00

I just discovered that Mount Pleasant has a new Cheese store that is already cornering the market after just a few short months of being open. Sporting Canadian flags, this cheese shop is offering the best of the best and is now home to 150 high quality Canadian cheeses. See what Martini Boys have to say about the Mount Pleasant Cheese specialty store at 3432 Cambie St.

EcoDensity | Newly formatted Charter and Initial Actions

2008-09-15T16:41:00.000-07:00

Newly formatted versions of the EcoDensity Charter and Initial Actions, which Council approved on June 10, 2008, are now available for download on the EcoDensity website: vancouver.ca/ecodensity

While the content has remained the same as approved by Council, the documents now contain graphics and have been formatted for easier reading.

Once again, to view the EcoDensity Charter and Initial Actions and for more information visit: vancouver.ca/ecodensity

Council Approves EcoDensity Charter

2008-06-12T20:40:00.000-07:00

Vancouver City Council unanimously voted on June 10 to adopt the EcoDensity Charter.

The EcoDensity Charter commits the City to make environmental sustainability a primary goal in all city planning decisions - in ways that also support housing affordability and livability.

The first two actions to be implemented by the City immediately are:
1. Rezoning policy for greener buildings: Applications for new rezoning will need to meet a minimum LEED™ (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver rating, or similar equivalency in green design. The City will also be expecting that energy performance, water efficiency and storm water use be considered.

2. Rezoning policy for greener larger sites: Changes to rezonings for land that is two acres or more. A number of sustainability measures will be required for these rezonings, and for sites with housing, a range of types and tenures must be considered to increase affordable housing opportunities.

Longer-term actions that will receive priority include: an interim EcoDensity rezoning policy; options for backyard/laneway housing; more options for secondary suites; and removal of barriers to green building approaches.

Council initiated the EcoDensity program in July 2006. The final Charter and Actions incorporated public input from a Special Council Meeting that lasted seven sessions, amongst numerous other public consultation opportunities.

To view the EcoDensity Charter and Initial Actions and for more information: vancouver.ca/ecodensity

Who Needs Insight on Insite?

2008-06-02T10:13:00.001-07:00

Eastside
Originally uploaded by Daquella manera

Federal Government Health Minister Tony Clements prefers overdoses leading to death, than safe injection interventions that could lead to health. Appallingly, the Federal Government has made a decision to take the province to court after the BC Supreme Court's decision to support Insite.

Living in Vancouver, it is clear that drastic measures, services, and programs are needed to solve the issues. What is seen on the surface, is rarely ever the cause. While Insite may not be perfect, and it may leave a lot to be desired, it is the first positive step taken in Canadian society to move further forward with progressive and proactive measures that could lead to recovery.

Saving lives from this affliction is far more complex than a safe injection site. That safe injection site, however, becomes a valuable gateway to intervention; coaxing jaded and cynical people off the street who have been abused repeatedly. They might consider surrendering their negative lifestyle to the possibility and hope that our society's limited programs and services can help them get their lives back together.

Change is work, and it is hard work. Every healthy person recognizes this, and when we have bad days, we know how much more difficult - sometimes impossible - it is to succeed with change. If society wishes for the addict, street person, prostitute, and other at-risk individuals to "do the work," then society and government at all levels had better be prepared to do-the-work that creates the systems and structure that ensure success.

Insite, with an average of 600 daily visits, intervened to resuscitate 900 overdoses since opening. Liz Evans, who runs Insite in partnership with Vancouver Coastal Health says, "If those injections were taking place in back alleys, those people would go under. There would be no nurse there to help save their lives."

"I don't think anyone has ever said that Insite is a magic pill that will resolve all the issues around mental health and addictions," says B.C. Health Minister George Abbott.

"No one has ever said that. I see, and the government sees, the provincial government at least, sees Insite as part of a continuum of services aimed at assisting addicts through their life issues."

Regarding Ottawa's drug policies, Abbott said: "I don't think they yet appreciate that it is useful to have the opportunity to bring some stability into the lives of people who have tragically very little stability in their lives."

Local enforcement professionals also expressed varied opinions on the subject, both for and against what Insite offers. The against position rightly expresses the overwhelming level of 'tolerance' that allows inappropriate behaviour to continue unchecked and without adequate consequences (if any). A significant reason our social issues have spun out of control is the lack of accountability, along with actionable and achievable goals that empower change.

Our own complacency had most of Vancouver turn a blind eye to the issues, and the escalation we're experiencing has resulted in more discontentment. As people become discontent, therefore less tolerant, the voices are likely to start clamoring for change. Even so, as expressed by some residents, some professionals, and some government offices, 'we don't want to encourage that here!'

A walk through a local green-space on the edge of Strathcona and Chinatown often reveals many reasons for this attitude's survival. Mere steps into the park space, right along the sidewalk, a mound of hypodermic needles still fresh in their packaging, is found. On the way to work in the morning, homeless are now found sleeping and bundled in filthy blankets on common property on residential streets. Walking across town, men and women alike are accosted on almost every block by those wanting, needing, and even demanding a handout. Could this why Insite is not recognized as working?

On one hand, the Federal Health Minister Tony Clement wants it shut down. This is looking like a political battle, not a battle for lives nor solutions. With the majority of the Conservatives backed by tough-on-crime critics, supporting Insite may have offended their reelection. Here in Vancouver, the Mayor, Chief of Police, and others are in support; likely also seeking the popular vote of Vancouver residents and business.

What are your views, your expertise, or opinions about these people, this issue, and how it can be solved? Are politicians and our systems capable? If not, why and what can we do?

Mt. Pleasant Community Projects Ongoing

2008-05-08T15:26:00.000-07:00

Dear SCG Members and Working Group Leaders;

1) Social Coordinating Group

It time again for our monthly Social Coordinating Group meeting - Native Education College (285 5th East Ave).

Tuesday, May 13, 2008
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Regular SCG Meeting #4

The Agenda: basically we will be hearing back from the four working groups on what they have been doing since April 8th. As SCG members you will be asked to comment on possible ways that you can help the working groups overcome any outstanding issues and concerns so that they can continue to move forward to develop and implement the local action plans. We have some new community faces coming out this time!

Pizza and refreshments will be served again, so if you have any allergies please let me know that when you RSVP back so that I can better meet your needs. Thank you. (please include your phone number).

2. Neighbourhood Clean Up

May 10, Saturday, 9:00 am to 12:00 Noon

A small, but very dedicated, group (Carolina Group) is hosting their annual neighbourhood clean up (10 years plus), and we are all welcome. Please let me know if you need more information. Hope to see some of you out this Saturday. Dana's cell 318-7460 (604). We are meeting up at Carolina and 11th Ave E.

3. Community announcements - of the Social kind

If you have an announcement(s) about an event or program that relates to the work that the SCG is doing and you want to share it with others please let me know. I am posting events to the Mount Pleasant community site to better keep us all in touch (an earlier suggestion made at a SCG meeting). http://www.vancouver.ca/commsvcs/planning/cpp/mountpleasant/social/index.htm and look under "Spotlight"

That's it for now

====================

Dear Mount Pleasant CLG members,

Hi, everyone. We have scheduled our fifth meeting of the Mount Pleasant CLG for:

Tuesday, May 20th, 2008
7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Native Education College
285 East 5th Ave. (at Scotia St.)

Since our last meeting, we have completed Shopping Area Workshop (SAW) #1, with over 50 people in attendance. Participants divided themselves into groups according to the existing shopping area in Mount Pleasant they wished to discuss:

1. Uptown (Main: 7th to 16th; Broadway: Ontario to Guelph; Kingsway: 7th to 12th )
2. Broadway West (Ontario to Yukon)
3. Broadway/Fraser (Guelph to Prince Albert)

Following a site visit to the shopping areas, ‘creative sessions’ were held, facilitated by urban designers, to find out key concerns and aspirations held by workshop participants. Posters with potential options/directions and maps were used to encourage discussion and record people’s ideas. We are mailing you a draft transcript of the workshop (i.e., posters with comments, along with photographs of the maps produced by the groups).

Our CLG meeting will review SAW #1 results, and introduce the tasks for SAW #2 (taking place on May 25th; attached is a poster advertising the event). These tasks involve using criteria suggested by workshop participants, along with criteria contained in City policy, to begin evaluating the options which emerged from SAW #1. The CLG meeting will also touch on our preparation for the residential workshops beginning in the fall, the consultancy for a land use and urban design study of Main St. (2nd to 7th), and the work being done by the Social Coordinating Group.

If you are unable to attend this meeting, please call Angela Ko at 604.871.6598 and let her know. Thank you in advance for coming to the meeting.

Yours truly,

Peter Burch
Planner
Mount Pleasant Community Planning Program (MPCPP)

Social Coordinating Group Update

2008-05-02T16:42:00.000-07:00

Hello SCG Members and Working Group Leaders

General Updates

1. Neighbourhood Clean Up in Mount Pleasant
May 10, Saturday, from 9 to noon
The Carolina Group (local residents) is hosting its annual clean up around the Carolina Street and 11th Avenue area. They welcome us to join in. I'll will be attending, call me if you need more information.

I know that this is a great opportunity for some of the Working Groups that are already talking about doing their own clean ups; and so this event would be a great way to see how one is actually implemented and to talk to some of the local organizers on "how best to" set up for one your own group in the future - just a thought.

2. MAY 13 SCG meeting #4
I will send out an agenda for next SCG meeting on May 6 (as a reminder please let me know if you have any agenda items, etc).

3. Mount Pleasant Social Issues Website
Please check out the website to see the latest Action Work Plans (under 4 Top Social Issues) that the four working groups have created so far. Also in the 'SCG Spotlight Box' there are other local community events and presentations that might be of interest to you. http://vancouver.ca/commsvcs/planning/cpp/mountpleasant/social/index.htm

That's it for now.

Dana Walker, Social Planner
City of Vancouver

Cirkids School of Circus Arts

2008-04-19T11:55:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone!

Don't forget to book your tickets for Full Circle Circus, coming up May 1-4th at the PNE Garden Auditorium. You can buy your tickets online through www.cirkids.org, or by contacting the office at 604.737.7408.

Attached you will find the show poster and most recent press release - please feel free to forward it along to your friends, family and schools! We do still have space available for school groups the Thursday, May 1st performance at 12:45pm. School group rates are $8 per person for the matinee showing only. Please contact the office for more details.

Best regards,

--
Kim Violato
CirKids Assistant
ph: 604-737-7408
cirkids@telus.net
www.cirkids.org

Cirkids Poster
Full Circle Press Release 2 April 2008

Community: One Passionate Cry

2008-03-23T10:17:00.000-07:00

Community
Originally uploaded by Jeff Kubina

Mount Pleasant community members continue to participate with the City of Vancouver community planning initiatives. The most recent Social Coordinating Group meeting hosted a large turnout to address social issues within the community. With the large turnout, even splitting out into groups to address key areas of neighbourhood (and Vancouver) social issues, there were good numbers present and participating to offer a strong voice representative of a diverse community.

In attendance and participating brought a blend of history upon the neighbourhood's issues, growth, politics, and more. Equally, the items tabled added more fodder for the trough. The task? To have each participant place 3 x's alongside a proposed line-item - proposed, as in explored further - that was a practical, actionable priority that could be sustainable once the City is no longer directly involved.

As diverse a community as we are, we are still one community. The traditional strategy to address social issues appears to target special groups. Whether it is for youth, seniors, immigrants, panhandler, or low-income, our problems still resonate, have commonalities. Rather than continue to segregate, re-integrate. Allow the community to discover one another, be exposed and finding opportunities to work and volunteer alongside one another, and our issues can become the shared burden they have always meant to be in any civilized society.

People live, work, and play, and business provides goods, services, and earnings. Taxes are collected, programs are implemented, and the more demanding the public gets, the more strained the public-coffers, the more adept the politically savvy, and the more unwisely spent go our public dollars. A real cohesive community with a solid infrastructure of systems in place, a residents association with appropriate sub-committee's for special interest, and the more benefits a community can enjoy.

Prior experience, other municipal examples, all demonstrate the power of the everyday common citizen and business that contributes to community. LiveInMountPleasant.com places this platform, this website and community portal at the disposal of the Mount Pleasant Vancouver East community. We also like to acknowledge Rick Stonehouse, Real Estate Advisor, whose generous sponsorship has made this possible.

The Community Discussion Forum can be a profound vehicle of impact, enabling participants to Register a User Account and to begin engaging in conversations, connecting people to opportunity, and creating it where there is none. Contact the Community Relations Director for the LiveInMountPleasant.com project here.

Divide and conquer is actually what is happening and will continue if left as is: One Voice, One Community, One People. All multicultural arguments belong in the same solution outlined here. Wherever we see these good things exist, despite the odds, these are people building community. Embrace each other.

Mount Pleasant and City of Vancouver Work Together

2008-02-20T23:17:00.000-08:00

Tuesday evening the Native Education Centre hosted the City of Vancouver Mount Pleasant Planning Group Open House. The Centre offers a nice cozy atmosphere, a fireplace to gather around, and the individuals involved in moving the project forward - city employees, consultants, and volunteers - put on a tremendous display covering all areas of concern for our neighbours.

Civic Planning determines construction and real estate development, transportation infrastructure, and so much more. Heritage is a strong and visible presence in the architecture - not only of the physical houses, but also of some neighbourhood aesthetics as well. The redefinition, exploration, and updating of the register, along with creating new forward-thinking policy that encompasses other areas of historical, cultural, arts, and possibly other areas of significance.

Social Programs are also key to a city such as Vancouver. With a diverse history, a rough history, being a port city and a city that has long been considered a transient population - it's always moving. This has left much decay, and brought to bear influences that have corrupted many spirits as they struggle with their demons. Correcting the cause and effect that leads to these tragedies is challenging to city resources, and a detriment to our communities and neighbourhoods. To ignore it would be our peril. The Social Action group requires involvement and support to bring about empowering change.

Donald Luxton & Associates have worked long and strenuous hours with reams of paper, research, interviews, and writing. The Mount Pleasant Heritage Working Group is benefiting from the wealth of history compiled, and the expertise and dedication to preserving, enhancing, and planning for Heritage Strategies.

Mount Pleasant | The City of Vancouver | Planning Our Future

2008-02-08T04:08:00.000-08:00

The City of Vancouver has launched a number of initiatives aimed toward creating a better future for everyone in Vancouver. Most likely it is the presence of City Hall in Mount Pleasant that has Mount Pleasant as the Vancouver guinea pig with these collaborative steps with the Mount Pleasant community.

The City of Vancouver Mount Pleasant Community Planning Group has established the Mount Pleasant Community Liaison Group which meets regularly to share information about the various working groups and the progress being made, as well as issues and concerns of the local community.

Other Working Groups include the Mount Pleasant Heritage Working Group, and the Social Coordinating Group. The Heritage Working Group is in active discussion with the City of Vancouver over what constitutes Heritage, and the Mount Pleasant community is the framework from which tangible conversation stems. Rather than focusing solely upon physical structures and architecture, the conversations expand to include history of culture, the evolution and heritage of the working class neighbourhood, and the gathering places both current and of old, to name a few.

Angelo Ko from the City of Vancouver's Mount Pleasant Community Planning Program informs us that Local Historian and Author, Bruce Macdonald is leading a Walking Tour of Mount Pleasant organized by Proximity Arts on Sunday, February 10 and Saturday, February 16 at 2 p.m. For details of the tour and registration, please visit www.proximityarts.com. If you have any questions, please send email to info(at)proximityarts.com.

The Social Coordinating Group is focusing their efforts on Social Action to address the issues of homelessness, drug addiction, the four pillars program, harm reduction, and involving community members and organizations in creating, developing, and implementing successful strategies.

While no system is perfect, and this effort may seem fraught with errors or seem in vain at times, it is the slow wheels of change that drive progress and always have. Our voices matter now more than ever as we reach forward to an uncertain future, in particular according to many experts, including Vancouver's own Dr. David Suzuki. These warning signals are the catalyst for the City of Vancouver's launch of EcoDensity: A strategy of significant proportion that a municipality can implement to reduce the municipal ecological footprint.

More can be found in the discussion forums related to these various topics, and a variety of links to various participating sources. Lend your voice here online, or at the meetings. It's time we got involved.

Mount Pleasant Active Citizens

2008-02-05T11:12:00.000-08:00

Mount Pleasant Vancouver continues to show itself to be a hot-bed of actively involved citizens. From seniors living at the Cavell Gardens, to other residents renting, owning, living and working in and around the Mount Pleasant community, many are involved in various ways to promote, educate, and create a better future for all who live, work, and enjoy Mount Pleasant.

Cavell Gardens General Manager, Marjorie Bungay, hosts and administrates one very active senior living centre. Cavell Gardens is committed to providing today's seniors with a lifestyle choice that gives them the freedom and independence they seek through a variety of amenities and services in a secure, affordable residential setting. Cavell Gardens not only delivers this committment, they have also encouraged active and involved lifestyles.

The Cavell Voices is a residential newsletter contributed to by both staff and residents. With a wealth of historical and personal knowledge and experience, a number of the more vocal and creative residents contribute fantastic stories, informative stories, and other useful general information. The LivingInMountPleasant.com team is grateful for their active participation in sharing the history of Mount Pleasant, and for the active involvement of a few members in the Mount Pleasant Heritage WorkGroup and City of Vancouver Planning.

If you are interested in Cavell Gardens for your aging lifestyle, visit Cavell Gardens website (best viewed via Internet Explorer) for more information. If you are interested in volunteering with the seniors, contact Cavell Gardens directly to determine fit and opportunity.

Valerie Arntzen, Assemblage Artist, Vancouver

2008-01-20T11:55:00.000-08:00

Not many people in mainstream society would be familiar with the term Assemblage Art. A visit with Assemblage Artist, Valerie Arntzen, in Vancouver's Eastside Strathcona neighbourhood would astonish, astound, and amaze as found objects, odds and ends collected over the years, are assembled with a themed three-dimensional artistic composition. Arntzen's journey to this point in her career as an artist, and Executive Director of Vancouver's Eastside Culture Crawl for more than a decade, demonstrates how naturally this form of artistic expression is to her.

Arntzen's natural talents for pieces, objects, and creating found her pursuing an education and career behind the scenes in film and theatre productions. Attending school in Los Angeles in 1985 to study theatre, Valerie Arntzen was hired by the school upon completion. Working on everything from wigs, make-up, costumes, sets, and props, she also worked for other production companies as well. Growing tired of the LA life, and missing family and friends in (read more...)

We Wish You a Merry Christmas!

2007-12-24T15:12:00.000-08:00

Christmas Eve and all through the city, the shoppers they bustle and hustle from mall to mall, with motorists tooting and hooting with fumes of ire.

It is a great season for fun, family, friends, and celebration. Preparation has been fun, catching up, sharing good cheer, buying gifts for those we love, and the rare moments in between when we get to sit down and relax, reflecting on the wonderful moments of the season. Time passes quickly, and the team here at StrataXL and LiveIn wish you a happy, safe, and joyous festive season.

Make the moments and memories count. Give and love easily, quickly, and freely. Soak up the Joy!

Happy Holidays Mount Pleasant Vancouver, Strathcona Vancouver, and Commercial Drive!

On a sad note, I know there are some adults and children alike who are fighting this nasty flu bug that is making its' rounds. Eat well, keep hydrated, and rest. We will celebrate together and wish everyone speedy recoveries and happy moments with loved ones.

Who are you going to call that may be spending Christmas alone?

Fighting For Transit, Highways, and Transportation Planning

2007-12-03T15:06:00.000-08:00

Visiting our dear neighbourhood Benny's this afternoon to buy some lunch, I saw on the counter the flyer "Keep Translink Public" at the cash. Sometimes, life buries me and I don't hear all of the issues, and this is one I've missed.

Transportation Minister, Kevin Falcon, introduced Bill 43 October 23, 2007, and spoke about it the next day stating, "the amendments that are contained in Bill 43 will restore public confidence and accountability in TransLink."

NDP transportation critic, Maurine Karagianis, on the other hand says this is "the most insidious piece of legislation." She goes on to elaborate: "With the creation of this new TransLink board, they are giving a group of business appointees powers equal to a municipality: the power to increase property taxes, the power to reclassify business tax for the purpose of taxation, and they are giving them the power to land-bank. Certainly, privatization will be a huge component of this. You mark my words: if this board has no impediments to being put in place, they are going to look at privatizing SkyTrain and everything else that is built in future in the Lower Mainland."

These are some pretty heady statements and concerns. Balanced perspective often seems to be missing as we encounter these viewpoints that are being shared. On the one hand, any local transit rider acknowledges that there exist a large number of short-comings with the transportation systems, networks, and services available in the Lower Mainland. Whether you live in the depths of the city and want to see less impact from outlying commuters, or you're a commuter wishing for better and consistent levels of service and costs.

Any individual with a private and personal agenda wishes for their side to win. Looking at all the different groups supporting different initiatives below give a clear example of how we create our own divisions. However, we are a city, a society, a community, and the problems we face today were not dealt with historically with a view to the future needs of Vancouver. Here we are today trying to resolve many of them; let's not create more.

A real distrust exists toward business, and I'd be a first to suggest controls and monitoring be in place for accountabilities sake. Any businessman and entrepreneur acknowledges and recognizes the benefits they have experienced through creating relationships of accountability that helped them grow, manage, and navigate business successfully. So why not the transit system?

Where we are so concerned about the people losing their say, I wondered suddenly as I was about to jump on the bandwagon, how much say have we had so far with elected officials? Politicians make promises every six ways to Sunday in order to get elected. Can I trust them any more than a businessman?

As I pondered this I realized that the businessman has a lot more at stake. Planning transit decisions effectively must take into consideration a great deal of factors. Sometimes hard decisions have to be made that are less than popular. Lets face it, change and progress won't happen without some fallout that will displease some. The overall aim is to minimize that fallout and bring about the most positive impact and long-lasting change possible for the largest number of people - today's and tomorrow's.

Can business do it better than a politician? When I consider who stands to gain more through promises, versus who has more to gain through better management, I'm thinking I would go with business on this one. How I want to cover my collective butt, however, is to adamantly ensure that this support must come with accountability and customer service to the community it's core value and mandate.

Unfortunately, the worst example of this truth is the way Bill 43 got pushed through. Due to a self-imposed deadline by the Ministry of Public Transportation, the Minister, Kevin Falcon successfully pushed the Bill through at the end of November without any public debate. This does not mean that the fight is over, nor that the public voice will go unheard. This is the time to ensure that this new body acquiesces, becomes, and is an accountable body the public they serve.

Make a Difference - Get Involved:
Keep Translink Public
Rail for the Valley
Revive the Interurban
500 Buses by 2010
Car-Free Neighbourhoods

References:
TransLink Out of Service But Democracy Rides On, The Livable Blog, November 30, 2007
Critics line up against neo-Translink Bill 43, Georgia Straight, November 15, 2007
New TransLink board seen as 'erosion of democracy', The Province, November 1, 2007
TransLink Legislation: Falcon power grab to end local control, CUPE BC, October 25, 2007

Artists Crawl into Vancouver's Hearts

2007-11-29T18:45:00.000-08:00

This has been a busy fall season in the lives of many. We've watched Thanksgiving come and go, heard the howling laughter of Halloween fade into the night, saw record numbers Crawl the streets of Strathcona for a lot of Culture at this years Culture Crawl, and enjoyed the Downtown Eastsides Heart of the City Festival thanks to the folks at Vancouver Moving Theatre. And Christmas is just around the corner!!

Live In had the opportunity to speak with Valerie Arntzen, the Culture Crawl's event coordinator for the past nine years, about this years Crawl. Record crowds exceeding 10,000 strong crawled the Strathcona, East Vancouver area to visit 48 venues and almost 300 local resident artists of Strathcona. This is a vibrantly enriched arts community living and working in Strathcona which has elevated the attractiveness of the neighbourhood through the beauty of the art, crafts, and skills. We are truly blessed.

There is much more to say about this subject. Live In wishes to share more about the experiences of the Crawl from an insiders perspective. As well, the Strathcona community is changing, gentrification is spoken of in mixed ways, and the impact on the arts community seems an anomoly needing exploring. Such an incredible gift that enriches our lives and community is to be cherished and protected. At the same time, I suspect some residents might find reason to complain about having 10,000 outsiders roaming their neighbourhood for a local event. Ironically, the success of such events can be a major contributor to increasing popularity of a community as a place to live.

Whatever side of the fence you choose to stand on, remember that choosing sides means someone loses. Live In suggests examining more than one's own view, and seek balance and opportunity that will allow the fence to come down. The answers are in us and right here in our neighbourhood. For Mount Pleasant, this holds equally true as we seek ways to secure a diverse, vibrant, and rich community of mixed influences.

We'll chat more soon!

CirKids present Cirque de Spa

2007-11-09T23:07:00.001-08:00

CirKids is about the circus of storytelling, imagination, and performance. We blend traditional circus arts with athletics, dance and theatre in a safe, collaborative, and very fun program.

This year, CirKids is pleased to present Cirque de Spa, the major fundraiser for the CirKids Annual Spring 2008 performance in Vancouver May 1, 2, 3, & 4.

Invited guests of Cirque de Spa will enjoy an afternoon treating themselves to a variety of spa treatments. Services available will include:

Manicures
Chair Massage
Reflexology
Indian Head Massage
Make-up Lessons / Makeovers
and much more!

Date: November 18th, 2007
Times: 12:00 noon - 6:00 pm (doors open 11:45am)
Location:Garden Auditorium, PNE grounds (home of CirKids - 2901 East Hastings St.)

The CirKids Annual Spring 2008 Performance will be possible through your participation in Cirque de Spa. The annual performance provide a place for our elite performance troupe to showcase their skills as circus artists. As a non-profit organization, we rely on the generosity of the people of the Lower Mainland to help grow performing arts culture.

Thank-you for supporting CirKids!

While attending Cirque de Spa, guests can enjoy refreshments between treatments while enjoying performances by our kids.

Stanley Park Seawall Opening Soon

2007-10-26T09:27:00.000-07:00

Reading the local papers today, a little tidbit of news in Vancouver's 24 Hours reveals that Vancouver Parks Board chair, Ian Robertson, has indicated the Seawall could be open to the public in two to three weeks.

The extent of the damage is not widely known by the public, having had the section cordoned off from the public. What is known is that huge chunks of the cliff-face, trees, etc., collapsed and buried a large part of the Seawall. With the clean-up and repairs almost completed, we will have the opportunity to experience the combined effects of Mother Nature's landscaping during the wind-storms and the subsequent landscaping clean-up. What will it look like?

Apparently, it won't be fully complete until the spring when the Vancouver Parks Board will close the Seawall again for a few days to give the path a proper paving.

Mount Pleasant Salutes Commercial Drive

2007-10-25T20:32:00.000-07:00

Mount Pleasant has Main Street, coining the pet acronym SoMa. Our residents enjoy many of the local offerings, and being so close to the centre of everything we enjoy many of the other Vancouver amenities. In celebration of our neighbours launch of Live on The Drive, we salute Commercial Drive and the wonderful commerce, trade, arts, and community that we so love to experience.

Commercial Drive | Live on The Drive | Community | Web Portal

Commercial Drive, affectionately referred to as The Drive, was originally referred to locally as “Little Italy.” Now it's home to a diverse multicultural collection of people, businesses, art galleries, performance venues, coffee shops, and more.

A favorite destination for both tourists and Vancouver-wide locals, Commercial Drive consists of close to 300 businesses that are most often single location, owner-operated, offering a product mix of dining experiences, produce, entertainment and services completely unique to the Drive. Commercial Drive has consistently bucked the trend towards homogeneous franchised malls and big box warehouses.

With a multicultural diversity and vibrant arts community, The Drive is the perfect fusion of community, art, and commerce. Continue reading...

Getting Information to You

2007-10-16T14:41:00.000-07:00

Rick Stonehouse is a Vancouver Real Estate Agent that seems to have been born to the business. Myself, I'm a local writer dabbling in various ways that allow me to contribute to my communities.

Getting behind a vision is an easy thing when values line up.

Rick, a prominent Vancouver Realtor, has enjoyed serving thousands of Vancouver residents over the years. His success, in part due to his service excellence, has been made possible by all of these wonderful customers and friends trusting him with fulfilling their home purchase or sale. Seeing proud homeowners experiencing the joy of buying their dream home, and enthusiastic sellers grinning over the equity gained, makes his job very exciting and very rewarding. His values line up, and yes, he enjoys the fruits of his labours.

With an eye to the future and the trends of the public, Rick has taken a pioneer's leap through the development of community portal websites for the neighbourhoods he serves. While it serves a unique business purpose, helping potential home-buyers with their online research, it goes beyond and serves the entire community. The benefits are extraordinary!

Keep watch as the Live In Mount Pleasant site evolves.