Between The Bridges – March 26

The first issue of Between The Bridges was published two years ago this month. 

Drawing on the long tradition of The Creek - the local newspaper established by the late Beryl Wilson - the Neighbourhood Association’s new publication intended to act as “The Voice of False Creek South”. Its aim is “to help build connections among us, provide current news, and, in the words of the Association’s, constitution, ‘promote a friendly, positive, vibrant sense of community.’" Experimentation, learning and adjustments followed. 

Then, just one year later, the pandemic dramatically changed everything. 

Between The Bridges responded with a series of Covid 19 Bulletins and moved entirely away from print to online. (Print editions had proved expensive and awkward to distribute). These changes also confirmed the editors’ growing awareness that readers prefer relatively short items, usually accompanied by pictures, with links  to articles requiring longer treatment. As the past year moved along, the “bulletin” concept has become the format for Between The Bridges as a regular bi-weekly publication. 

The other shift in editorial thinking over the past year has been to increasingly conceive of the newsletter as the voices (plural) of False Creek South, and to welcome both regular and occasional contributors in the ongoing development of recurring features. This seems to appeal to both writers and readers in the neighbourhood and may help realize our founding purpose: to build community. 

Hopefully, these efforts will stimulate our neighbours’ interest and knowledge about where we live, encourage more participation in our community, and call attention to features of our neighbourhood that actually enrich our lived experience of it.

Ray Spaxman, Vancouver’s Director of Planning from 1973-89, often brought visiting city planners on a walk to the then-new Laurel Street Land Bridge to take in one of his favourite Vancouver sights. From his office at 12th and Cambie through Fairview Slopes and onto the pedestrian crossing over busy West 6th, he enjoyed their startled surprise at the awesome view of the city, the mountains and the new False Creek neighbourhood. Wow!

In fact, that vista of the Creek and beyond not only inspired the choice of 7th and Laurel as the site for a bridge connecting Fairview Slopes and False Creek, but also the building of a viewing platform at the crossing’s north end with a little waterfall tucked in beneath. New vegetation planted on the built-up soil, created from the dredging of False Creek, produced - wonder of wonders - the small forest we have today that adds so much to the charm of our neighbourhood.

Originally, the Land Bridge was intended to be just one of three pedestrian and bikes-only bridges to cross the otherwise intimidating 6th Avenue. Perhaps the same idea that created this practical gem with its landscaped garden surface and twisting pathway will be re-visited as False Creek South enters its next phase and the city continues to grow.

Co-op resident Daniela Elza sums it up succinctly when she says: “Vancouver should be focused on housing security for its low-income residents; instead, we got more consultation.” In her article for The Tyee, Daniela offers City Councillors a reciprocal survey to the one the City issued in February, and she bases it on David Hulchanski’s article, Canada’s Dual Housing Policy: Assisting Owners, Neglecting Renters.

That same David Hulchanski wrote an opinion piece this week in the Vancouver Sun, suggesting that the proposal to redevelop False Creek South in the name of higher-density “affordable housing” fails to define what “affordable” means.

As residents in this area, we certainly know that the depth of affordability here is irreplaceable—and it’s at risk. Decisions about public lands are set to be made behind closed doors, effectively putting aside nine years of public policy dedicated to renewing leases in False Creek South.

But, Councillors are taking note. Councillor Swanson has put forward a motion calling for City Councillors to make as many decisions as possible about False Creek South openly and in public. The motion is currently scheduled for March 30, pending legal review. You can sign up to speak to the motion here.

Meanwhile, RePlan has also been busy, meeting again with David Eby, Attorney General and Minister for Housing, and our MLA Brenda Bailey.

The star-shaped Spruce Harbour Marina, just west of Charleson Park, is home to the Greater Vancouver Floating Home Co-op (GVFHC). Like other co-ops in False Creek South, it’s a member of both the FCSNA and the Cooperative Housing Federation of BC.  

The big difference, of course, is that our homes are sea-going boats.

In the 1970's a group of farsighted boaters founded the GVFHC to acquire an affordable lifestyle through building a community of mariners. With 55 households ranging from young families to seniors, it remains the only member- owned live-aboard marina on the West Coast.   

Our unusual star shape facilitates community. The central building provides a shared space with a full kitchen on the upper floor and laundry, showers, workshop and mailboxes below.

Co-op member boats make up about half of those moored at the marina (the remaining are recreational boats), and when we travel on the water our homes come with us. All live-aboards stay connected to the City’s sanitation via a VacuSan system, and we have holding tanks when away from home.

This year, we have doubled our storage area for small craft. Annual dock storage is available to our neighbours and also offers the convenience of  launching for kayaks, etc.

On one of your Covid walks along the seawall, take the grey walkway, “Caesar’s Bridge”, along Spruce Harbour. Community signage explains more about our co-op, the history of False Creek, and local flora and fauna. 

To learn more go to spruceharbour.com. 

Is there anything residents can do to minimize the chance of having mice?  

It’s an ongoing project. Around enclaves such as mine, a series of bait stations are re-baited monthly - mostly grain food containing anticoagulant poison designed specifically to be safe for non-target species. 

This stops most rats and mice, but when a mouse does get into suites, we set bait and traps inside or in the walls, find access points and, if possible, seal them up. For ventilation, use screened windows instead of open doors, and keep an eye out for access holes.

Keep the place clean and free of debris and clutter, especially on the floor.

Periodically pull out and clean under and behind the fridge and stove for food and debris. Mouse droppings can build up and indicate a safe harbour that can actually encourage other mice. 

Clean the area with soapy water and disinfectant. Mice leave urine, and it’s these invisible deposits that smell bad or harbour germs. 

Unfortunately, sometimes even in the cleanest of places, curious mice look for food and also a warm and dry place to sleep.  

A cat or dog in the house is no deterrent. Indeed, it might even attract mice. They love cat and dog food that’s either spilled, or left, on the floor. Clean up after the pet, and don’t leave pet food out; definitely not overnight. 

Both mice and rats are quite common outside, but it’s the much smaller mice that usually  invade a house. If you set your own traps, I recommend peanut butter or Nutella or strawberry jam for bait. Not cheese; that’s for the cartoons. Mice mostly like grains and seeds. (Rats, on the other hand, eat everything.)

I choose baits and traps that are quick or otherwise painless. “Humane” traps are intended to not cause suffering, but don’t let the animal die a long, lingering death from starvation. Much more labour intensive than regular kill traps, humane traps must be checked at least once every day, quickly releasing the animal outside -  far away so it doesn’t come back. Glue board traps are the most inhumane of all.  

It does take time to get rid of mice. The problem is a recurring one, since mice breed like, well, rabbits. Or worse, actually. 

Gary Towne calls himself “your friendly, neighbourhood pest control guy”.

Sign in front of the Spruce Harbour community garden. Note the addition.

Haida Name: Gah–ghin-skuss (Out of your own land)
Member of: Eagle Clan, Skidegate
Crests: Split Raven, Grizzly Bear

For the next several weeks you’ll find professional Haida artist Clarence Mills on Granville Island, “carving, not working” in the Longhouse next to Ocean Works where he incorporates traditional themes like the killer whale and raven into his pieces. He jokes about getting old - he’s 62 1/2 - and threatens to retire but, happily for us, is back on the island demonstrating his skills and sharing his story.

When Clarence was in his early thirties, Christian Faure, chief architect at the Louvre in Paris, commissioned him to carve a totem pole depicting the four elements: water, fire, air and earth - making him the first known Canadian artist whose work showed at the Louvre.

Clarence accompanied the completed pole to Paris where he was wined and dined by the French elite, including President of France Jacques Chirac, the Vice President, Mayor of Paris and a representative from the United Nations. While there, he celebrated Fete de la Musique, the week-long summer solstice party that turns Paris streets into a music extravaganza.  

“I had to pinch myself to see if I was just dreaming”, he said.

Under the guidance of his uncle, artist Doug Wilson, Clarence learned to draw ovoids and S and T and U forms. At the young age of 14, he started to carve in argillite -a tricky medium known to flake and crack. Hours of practise drawing and carving trained his muscles to draw a curve and stop, making the exact shape he envisioned, be it in wood, glass, gold or silver.

Now, several decades on, he carves masks, bowls, poles, boxes, paddles and doors, and engraves jewelry in silver and gold. His designs are recognizable on shawls, dresses, blankets - even snowboards.

After ‘running on fumes’ (as most artists have in the past year), things are picking up and, with this demonstration on Granville Island, Clarence has regained his inspiration, carving two poles in the Longhouse; one an eagle and the other a watchman.  Under some tarps is a door he’s promised to carve for one client and a mask in progress for another.

Used to thousands of questions every day when he carved at the Folk Live Pavilion at Expo 86, Clarence Mills is a patient teacher and an expert carver we are privileged to watch and admire.   If you get a chance, pop by the Longhouse and chat.  He’s a great storyteller and so personable you’ll feel comfortable right away asking questions about his art.  

Just don’t call it work! 

Buy Nothing Fairview has now officially “sprouted” into two groups, divided by Broadway. Buy Nothing Fairview North includes all of False Creek South within boundaries stretching from the Creek south to Broadway and east-west from Cambie to Burrard.

Some call Buy Nothing - an international Facebook group -  the “free Craigslist”. Anyone looking for something or with something to give can join one of many local groups (it’s free), understanding that nothing can be bought, sold or traded.
 
Previously, the Fairview group extended as far south as West 16th but became too large to realize a key Buy Nothing principle: that people interacting together in mutual support builds community. Keeping a group small enough allows neighbours to meet and perhaps get to know each other, and “Welcome Wednesday” - the weekly online introduction of new members - encourages those new to the group to post a few words about themselves.

There are few rules. “Gifters” can post an item and give it to the first person responding, or can let it “simmer” for a day or two to allow others to see and respond. Usually, simmering is the chosen option and, if there’s a lot of interest, the “gifter” often does a draw. The “in search of” posts usually have a shorter turnaround time: someone is looking for something and someone else has it; the free transaction is done and pickup arranged through private messaging. 

Occasionally, humour intervenes and even takes over, as in this post: 

“Hello, lovely neighbours. Yesterday I was gifted a TV tray from IKEA and now my partner is jealous. LOL! Does anyone have another sitting around collecting dust?”

Which resulted in this reply (and a lot of laughs):

“Another partner?”
 

Spring is here, it’s getting warmer, and the Convivial Cafe will expand its hours starting next week.

The two days per week open during the dark days of winter are now expanding to four: Wednesdays through Saturdays, - and a fifth on Sundays if it’s not raining.

Or so the sign says.

Whether bird fountain or bird bath, our avian friends don’t seem to care. Both uses, even simultaneously, are usually just fine for water-seeking birds on The Castings - the short hilly street between Lamey’s Mill Road and Alder Bay.

Wedged into a tree, this ingenious use of a china plate is equalled only by the effort involved in putting it there.  First, cut a chunk out of the plate so it can fit around and be cemented to the tree, then support it with a twiggy branch below (“growing” from the tree) that owes less to  Mother Nature than to hidden nails.. 

Hopefully, the birds will reward their anonymous benefactor with morning to evening birdsong.

Meanwhile, across Castings, a home looking for Mason Bees - those essential pollinators of spring -  is perched above a mini garden growing on (where else?) City land.

Here’s to the birds and the bees. Welcome back!

Last month’s City-as-landlord outreach, purported to help City Council decide the future of False Creek South, unearthed significant underlying community distrust. The online “consultation” that limited participants to watching two City spokespersons provide skillful answers to questioners heard but not seen, further fueled the absence of trust that almost every question revealed.

More than anything, closely-held information and knowledge reflect the disconnect between the City-as-landlord, those who represent the primacy of its real estate and finance interests, and the City-as-government, councillors elected to decide what kind of city this will be.

False Creek South may or may not be a litmus test for the resolution of this disconnect, but the question is much larger than that of our own neighbourhood, and also much simpler: Who's in charge? 

Read more here.

Between The Bridges welcomes readers’ contributions of story ideas, events of interest, original photographs, and completed articles relevant to the False Creek South Neighbourhood Association’s goal to “promote an economically, social and culturally diverse neighbourhood with a friendly, positive and vibrant sense of community”. For details go to: