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Editorial Committee: Evan Alderson, Susan Wright, Sharon Yandle
Production Editor: Robyn Chan
Proofreader: Kathryn Woodward
Contributors this Issue: Kathleen MacKinnon (Regatta), Tracy Betel (False Creek Elementary), Wes Knapp (Regatta)
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Council unanimous
COMMUNITY COMES THROUGH!
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After marathon hearings over three days, with 171 on the speakers’ list, City Council unanimously voted yesterday not to endorse its Real Estate and Finance Departments’ vision of the future of False Creek South as evolving toward mainly unaffordable market housing.
Through several amendments, councillors gave their full support to residents’ almost unanimous view to ensure that False Creek South continues as the internationally acclaimed urban success story about how a mixed income, integrated neighbourhood can flourish within a large urban centre like Vancouver.
The Council motion endorsed the idea, expressed by speaker after speaker, that the best use of this public land is to retain and expand truly affordable housing within an already strong, supportive community.
Other important amendments directed staff to establish “an open and transparent community planning process that deeply involves the False Creek South Neighbourhood Association” along with other stakeholders, named two councillors (Pete Fry and Colleen Hardwick) to directly liaise with the FCSNA, and to create opportunities toward realizing ground-breaking responses to the climate crisis.
Taken as a whole, the motion as amended reflects the False Creek South Neighbourhood Association’s ARC principle: Affordability, Resilience and Community.
The main motion as amended reads (amended text in red):
Recommendation A:
THAT Council receive the GM, Real Estate and Facility Management’s (GM, REFM) False Creek South (FCS) recommended conceptual development plan outlined in this report for information.
Recommendation B:
THAT Council direct the GM, REFM to present the recommended conceptual development plan described in this report to the General Manager, Planning, Urban Design and Sustainability (GM, PDS), to inform but not constrain a community planning exercise that may propose an update to the existing False Creek Official and Area Development Plan (FCS ODP), and that will include robust engagement with the community and other key stakeholders, and with the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.
Recommendation C:
THAT Council direct the GM, PDS to undertake an open and transparent community planning process that deeply engages the False Creek South Neighbourhood Association and other interested community groups and stakeholders, Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations and other relevant levels of governments through a robust consultation process, giving priority consideration to:
- i. The significance of building, landscape, and environmental design in helping form a strong sense of community and situating housing for residents of different incomes, ages, cultural backgrounds and household types in ways that are integrated throughout the community to facilitate social and spatial equity.
- ii. Advancing a goal of ultimately achieving the original tenure types that support targets of 1/3 lower income, 1/3 middle income, and 1/3 upper income residents, based on median Vancouver renter household income, across all False Creek South residents on City lands.
- iii. Optimizing the contribution of the affordability of existing non-market and co-op housing for as long as possible, informed by the community planning process, while building additional affordable and co-op housing.
The full motion as amended can be read here. Comments made by Councillors can be found here. The full Council session with video can be found here.
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Get ready!
THE GREAT BC SHAKEOUT
Tracy Betel, PAC Secretary, False Creek Elementary
The Great BC ShakeOut earthquake drill took place in schools and workplaces across BC, officially on October 21st and False Creek Elementary held their earthquake drill on Wednesday October 20th.
The school is expected to hold 6 fire drills, 2 earthquake drills and two lockdown drills every school year. Classroom teachers review the procedures with students on a regular basis to ensure they keep themselves safe in case of real emergency.
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As explained by school principal, Ms. Maria Donovan, the purpose is “to make sure that everyone feels protected and prepared.
“Students, staff, and parents learn to remain calm and follow instructions. These practice drills improve the efficiency of our emergency procedures and build our confidence.”
Just like wearing a seatbelt, earthquake/evacuation/reunification drills reflect the ideal of safety and caution. The school encourages parents to discuss these drills with their children at home.
The earthquake drill involves practicing a “Drop, Cover & Hold”, then, like a fire drill, exiting the building and gathering at the designated meeting area. This year’s drill was a full release drill (reunification drill). Parents of children in the kindergarten class could participate by having their children officially “released” to them, with the checking of names and identification that would occur if there were a real earthquake. In other years, parents in all grades could participate in the release portion of the drill. This year, some of the older students also played the role of parents as part of a simulated pick-up.
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The children had to wait 30-40 mins. outside, and due to the rain, some got very wet and muddy (which made it a very realistic drill for Vancouver…and was yet another reminder for us to ensure our children are dressed for the weather every day).
The next earthquake drill will occur in the spring and will, hopefully, take place on a lovely sunny day.
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Leg-In-Boot Square
COMMUNITY RESPONSE “UNUSUALLY” STRONG, POSITIVE
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The Plaza that popped up in Leg-in-Boot Square this summer may soon stop popping up and instead become a fixture.
The results of this summer’s experiment have now gone through a careful evaluation process by the City. In a meeting with community partner representatives last week, the City’s Belinda Chan described the evaluation process that all these “pop-ups” go through and provided an overview of the results for this one.
She reported that community feedback has been both unusually strong and unusually positive. The formal survey and independent comments yielded an approval rating of over 90%, with very few respondents clearly negative. Most of the complaints came soon after launch and largely concerned noise or smoking. As the planters and more comfortable furniture have been added, however, the Plaza has more clearly become a community asset that draws out considerate behaviour.
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The next step is a set of formal approvals by City authorities to continue the initiative on a sustained basis, which Belinda hopes will come soon. It then will be available through the winter, although with some seasonal adjustments. Belinda and her team are already thinking about possible improvements next Spring (and still welcoming suggestions). With a little more organization around programming possibilities and more sustainable stewardship arrangements, this year’s “experiment” could well become a treasured feature of our wonderful neighbourhood next year and beyond.
In anticipation, Convivial Cafe’s Beth Dempster has begun a community brainstorming process about what might be added or improved and has already harvested some ideas: an online calendar and on-site message board? More fun furniture and play materials for kids? A storage bin for games? An actual working fountain? Some planters suitable for shared gardening?
Add your thoughts at *email is hidden, JavaScript is required*.
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MUSIC FOR MANHOLES - REALLY!
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This is Cody, and he’s the man responsible for some ear-catching and very pleasant chimes heard in Sitka Square this week.
What’s happening here is the use of sound waves from the unit shown at this manhole that connects to an identical unit at another site. The information received tells the work crew if and where there are subterranean blockages between the two manholes.
The former technology of research through digging and shovelling is just SO yesterday.
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THE COMMUNITY GARDEN - OUR COVID ECOTHERAPY
Kathleen MacKinnon, Regatta
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We waited three growing seasons until the spring of 2019 to finally score one of the 49 small beds in the John McBride Community Garden.
Neither of us had ever grown anything from seed so we had much to learn, including that we didn’t really need to start vegetables from seed. Our neighbour and fellow gardener gave us what looked to be a fully grown tomato plant with little green cherry tomatoes already visible, and the previous guardians of our Plot 25 left us chives and parsley.
Gulf Islands Seeds sent clear directions on planting the seeds we ordered. Some had to be soaked overnight, some started in little containers and others just planted with the right spacing and at the right time. We bought sturdy gardening gloves and a small hoe and got down to work.
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Our Year One harvest was a mixed success. We dug down deep to discover some little potatoes hidden beneath their leafy foliage. We got some of those now-ripened cherry tomatoes, two larger tomatoes from a plant we bought at Canadian Tire, and lots of beans, chard, and garlic. Our basil wilted, but the chives flowered early and spread like a weed, taking over a third of the plot.
Despite our meagre first year crop, we felt like the victory gardeners of World War Two, growing our own food on otherwise under-utilized land. We learned a lot and planned our next years’ sowings with new experiences under our belt.
The garden is an important community amenity. We meet each other throughout the season to plant our seeds, turn the compost, manicure the perimeter garden, weed and harvest -- and at this time of the year, tidy up the remaining plants and remediate the soil. The next months will be quieter, although the daffodil, tulip and garlic bulbs below the surface will be busy getting ready to emerge in the spring. And periodically we still happen upon a fellow gardener strolling along the garden paths, checking on early sprouts.
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During two Covid growing seasons the community garden has been perfect ecotherapy for us. We’ve met neighbours from different backgrounds and different generations, learned a lot about plants and the life cycle of a garden and eaten plenty of healthy organic produce throughout the season. The three year wait for our little productive plot was absolutely worth it!
You’ll find the John McBride Community Garden (named for a beloved False Creek resident who died much too young) under the Cambie Street Bridge, just north of the five finger sculpture of the Neighbourhood Energy Utility.
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The 10th annual Heading Up the Creek Regatta to select the City of Vancouver Rowing Champion and winners of various categories of entries has been cancelled this year.
When the organizing committee travelled the length of the Creek to set a safe course for the rowers, there were approximately 30 boats anchored within the accepted navigation channel -- a no anchoring zone -- creating insurmountable obstacles to a safe event.
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While we wouldn’t allow a vehicle to block a roadway, the conflicting or unclear jurisdictions or regulations that govern the use of the False Creek waterway prevent this from being easily resolved.
President Simon Litherland notes, “people from the Vancouver Police Department Marine Unit and the Kitsilano Coast Guard Station have been extremely helpful and understanding, but have identified that their resources do not properly cover this situation.”
Hopefully, by next year the regatta can be held safely.
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70 Years Ago
CAMPAIGN PROMISES: FILL IN THE CREEK
Wes Knapp, Regatta
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A powerful argument against False Creek emerged in the 1950 Vancouver civic election: “ False Creek is nothing more than a filthy ditch in the centre of the city.”
This key plank in mayoral candidate Jack Prices’s platform garnered much attention and the “dirty ditch” accusation had some validity and public support. Mud flats, dilapidated timber work, industrial deterioration and sewage problems characterized the area. Proposing to get rid of the creek, he argued, would eliminate the huge debt for the bridges crossing over it.
Somewhat on the defensive, sitting Mayor Fred Hume agreed: filling in False Creek would reduce downtown smoke pollution and provide new land for industry and parking.
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Jack Price was no “fly by night” politician. He spent four years as a member of the Legislature and six as a city alderman. Fred Hume served Vancouver as its mayor for four terms and, before that, was mayor of New Westminster.
Before Hume went on to his fourth term in 1950 he had originally intended to block the planned construction of the new Granville Street Bridge. But plans were too far advanced by the time he took office and the bridge opened in 1954.
Some had seen the reclamation project as providing space for new freeway construction in and out of Vancouver, but in the end, the proposed reclamation proposals were determined to be far too expensive and were scrapped. Many argued that it would bankrupt the city, and it also became clear that keeping industry on False Creek was no longer economical. Creating an attractive residential and park area made greater sense, especially when tax revenue was taken into account.
The False Creek waterway, with its mix of marinas, anchored vessels, ferries and self-propelled enthusiasts is now a wonderful site to behold. I feel so grateful to be able to live close to such a dynamic and beautiful part of our city. Indeed, it is spectacular.
(If you are interested in reading more about this intriguing history of False Creek I refer you to Robert K. Burkinshaw, FALSE CREEK: History, Images, Research Sources, City of Vancouver Archives, 1984. I have relied on Mr. Burkinshaw’s research in writing this article.)
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Zaide Schneider (Heather Marina) writes:
Well done. . . .I am impressed with the entire issue. I spent almost 40 years as a working journalist and appreciate the diligence and dedication that Between the Bridges evinces!
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CONTRIBUTOR GUIDELINES: ARTICLES AND PHOTOS
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:
http://www.falsecreeksouth.org/2021/01/between-the-bridges-contributor-guidelines/
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