Between The Bridges – January 21

If you were born in 2023 (or 2011, 1999, 1987, 1975, 1963, 1951, 1939, 1927, or 1915 ) you are a rabbit and this is your year! Rabbits tend to be quiet, elegant, skillful, patient and very responsible. A nice little animal to be.  

With Lunar New Year Celebrations 2023 on Granville Island, and thanks to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and the Asian Canadian Special Events Association, we can explore Lunar New Years right in our own neighbourhood.

Celebrated by numerous East and Southeast Asian Cultiures, Lunar New Year begins with the first full moon at the end of January and lasts multiple days. Called Spring Festival in some countries, it is traditionally an annual break from school and work to be with family, often requiring many to travel great distances.  

In preparation for Lunar New Year, that tradition requires you to thoroughly clean your home to sweep away the misfortunes of the previous year and make room for the good fortune you hope the new year will bring.  

Some may go a little crazy with this cleaning and sweeping idea, like a friend of mine who washed down all her apartment walls from top to bottom, cleaned out her desk drawers tossing away unwanted receipts and love letters, vacuumed up years of dust accumulated on her window screens and created a humungous bag of clothes she’ll never again fit into for Sally Ann.  

Happily, once the Lunar New Year starts you are not allowed to clean at all in case you sweep away the good fortune you’ve so diligently prepared for.

Between January 20 and February 20, and whether you are a rabbit or not, you can participate in these Lunar New Year celebrations. Note the giant stars near the public market and in Ron Basford Park that have been changed from pink to red, and new lights strung up in Railspur Alley.

At the Ocean Works outdoor space (1531 Johnston), you will find ‘The Lantern City’ with its six beautiful large-scale lanterns, three of which are the work of young Arts Umbrella artists. (https://thelanterncity.ca/2023-granville-island/) 

As well, on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from January 21, you can participate in a variety of scheduled events, including crafts workshops, cooking demonstrations, and tours.  But be sure to check out the schedule before heading down there so you won’t be disappointed.
(https://lunarfestvancouver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/2023-LunarFest-The-Lantern-City-Event-Schedule-v1.1.pdf)

Meeting the New City Council 
This remains a period of considerable change at City Hall. RePlan leaders have met with the returning Green and One City Councillors and, on the advice of the returning ABC Councillors, will be inviting the ABC caucus to an on-site workshop in the near future.

Aligning Proposals with Provincial Priorities
This is also a period of change for the provincial government which, under the leadership of Premier David Eby, is giving considerable priority to affordable housing for the homeless and working people and their families. RePlan leaders will be meeting with our local MLA Brenda Bailey, who was recently appointed as Minister of Jobs, Economic Development, and Innovation. This session will also include our neighbouring MLA George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy. 

City Council Policies for False Creek South
RePlan is completing a summary of policies adopted by previous City Councils over the last decade. We will share these with local residents and the new City Council to help ensure a better understanding of how RePlan Proposals are consistent with those unanimously adopted policies. 
 
Community Planning
RePlan leaders are continuing to work with City staff to develop a work plan for the City’s emerging False Creek South Community Plan. Our Community Planning Working Group held the first of what will be a series of meetings with residents to review these efforts. Please let us know if you are interested in joining one of the working groups. 

In False Creek South on December 14th a huge Christmas present was wrapped and readied for a very expensive delivery to a private individual somewhere in the Lower Mainland. It was a present many of you would most likely not care to receive.

The present? The old streetcar that sat idle for decades behind the parkade/rooftop tennis courts near 2nd Avenue and Ash Street. The City had auctioned it off for $310. 

Too cheap? Well, here are a few facts:

Here's the good news: the owner will be restoring the streetcar. Perhaps one day, with a little investigation, a photo of its new look will appear in Between The Bridges.

Have you ever seen a Santa Claus with an MBA?  

Well, if you visited Santa’s workshop at the Granville Island Kids Market, you couldn’t miss Bruce Marshall. He’s been Santa for almost three decades –since 1994 - and is still passionate about what he calls “the best job in the world”.

I met him this past December when I brought my autistic daughter, Alice, for her very first Santa visit. He exceeded all my expectations by engaging Alice during his wonderful story time and making her so comfortable she was even able to sit on his lap. He was real, so dedicated and so kind, I wanted to know more, so I asked him some questions. Here’s what I learned:

Bruce was introduced to the opportunity by a neighbour in Kitsilano whose husband was a Santa. They were having trouble filling all the shifts around the city that season. As he explained it, “she knew I was a children's entertainer from the fact that I twisted balloon animals for her son when they were out walking. 

“The rest, as they say, is history.”

I could see he was well-educated yet humble. Bruce has an MBA, a point duly noted by the CBC in an interview several years ago and, when he is not being Santa, works in a deli in Chilliwack. 

For the first few years as Santa he used a fake beard. When he grew a real beard, it would take several hours to bleach it out. Now it is real, a natural grey colour.

Regarding challenging parts of the job, Bruce said that “there is no downside to being Santa, except that by its nature, it is somewhat seasonal!

“The best part, though, is “getting a laugh out of the kids … or even the parents.” 

As we chatted, a young family approached with a small baby. 

"Wait a second," Santa said, “The baby will cry. Let’s take a family photo with you both and the baby on mama's lap.” It looked perfect and the baby smiled. 

“Now you can give the baby to me, but be prepared, he will cry.”

And indeed, as soon as he touched Santa's lap, the baby made the loudest shriek and the funniest face ever. The dad caught the moment on camera.
 
"This will be one of the favourite photos on his wedding day," Bruce said. And everyone laughed. 

False Creek Youth Leadership volunteers are partaking in a City Wide Youth Council initiative where they will be collecting donations (non-perishable goods and clothing) to donate to a few local organizations. 

We are collecting donations at False Creek Community Centre until February 3. 

Our Youth Leaders are looking for some of the following items. Anyone with items to give can drop them into the donation box across from the front desk at False Creek Community Centre.

We are proud of our youths for taking part in such a great inititative and hope the community can support in anyway they can!
 
Donated items may include:

We cannot accept:

Nancy Kirkpatrick (Pacific Cove) took this shot of last month’s king tide effect on the seawall, just north of Leg-In-Boot Square. 

A portent of things to come – or that already have?

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: