Between The Bridges – September 30

The ancient village site of Snauq or Sun'ahk (səna?qw to the Musqueam and Sen’ákw to the Squamish) was made an Indian Reserve at the southern mouth of False Creek by the colonial government in 1869. As Vancouver grew, the land became too desirable for settlers to leave it be and the people living there were pressured to sell to the government and move in 1913.

The transfer of the land, which includes the south side of Burrard Bridge and Vanier Park, was illegal under the provisions of the Indian Act. After decades of fighting to reclaim Snauq in the courts, the Squamish Nation was awarded 10.3 acres at the south end of Burrard Bridge in 2002.

Over the summer, RePlan representatives met with Provincial Ministers Ravi Kahlon (Housing) and Brenda Bailey (Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation, and MLA for Vancouver-False Creek). We expressed the community’s desire to expand affordable housing beginning with nearby vacant public land, and provided an update on leases.

We also outlined the vision for growth through an Intergenerational Hub – anchored by a Campus of Care, providing kindercare to eldercare – to create over 1,000 affordable new homes (co-ops, workforce housing, long-term care, and permanent homes for Margaret Mitchell Place residents).

Minister Bailey offered to brief Health Minister Dix on the Campus of Care, with Minister Kahlon’s assistance, following a subsequent meeting to be held between Minister Kahlon and the Broadway Group CEO, Kathrin McMath.

Highlights from Minister Kahlon include:

Mariam Habib moved into Alder Bay Co-op in 1979 on a rainy, muddy December day where the only signage was freshly painted graffiti chalked on a wall on Fountain Way that read: JIMMY HENDRIX!

“There were no other landmarks or street signage”, she said.
 
Mariam, her husband and their son, Karim, fled East Africa in the ‘70s. Subsequently, her husband returned to his homeland and Mariam, then a new single parent, completed her Social Work studies at UBC.

One of the “originals” in the 1970’s new False Creek South community, Mariam joined with  others in helping to  build - literally - the neighbourhood from the ground up, aiding the work of various levels of government to improve infrastructures, public transportation, street lights and signage as well as the Laurel land bridge.

Something that neighbours still appreciate: Mariam and others petitioned the City for a convenience store in the Wellington building. Dean’s Food Store exists to this day. 

Marian adds that “the original Dean” (by the way, her brother-in-law) “won everyone’s hearts, especially the kids. They all grew up knowing there was a safe welcoming store to hang out in after school.”

Marian’s son attended False Creek Elementary and was in its first graduating class in 1983. One neighbour still residing here remembers Karim as “a really sweet kid”.

Over the decades, Mariam worked in several federal government departments including Veterans Affairs, Health & Welfare, and Employment & Immigration.

She also found time to write a book of African short stories and contributed to many publications and collections, including How I Learned to Speak Dog and other Animal Stories” for the BC SPCA. She related her experience of Vancouver in the 70’s in the Oral Life History portion of Vancouver’s Bicentennial Arrivals and Encounters. 

All the above were possible, says Mariam, “only because I had a secure home where my son could grow up among neighbours who supported each other and provided a safe loving environment.

“Now”, she says, “the original members face a multitude of challenges. Mobility issues, caregiver respite and a host of other needs must be included in future planning. Multigenerational extended families, communal living catering to blended families, eco-friendly design and car sharing are just some of the factors to be considered.

“There are many unsung heroes in our co-op, some no longer with us. To all of them, all my deepest thanks for making my son and me better human beings.”

The Canadian rock band Sloan released its fifth album in 1999, titled Between the Bridges, about 20 years before we began publishing our own version of the same name. Christopher Waters wrote in Exclaim that the album “hangs together as a total experience.” 

Will the same be said of our efforts? (Umm..no reply necessary….)

About our September 9 issue, Val Embree (False Creek Co-op) writes: 

Wow BTB - you hit this out of the park. Amazing issue. Wonderful community.

And from Nancy Hannum (Alder Bay Co-op):

Thank you for the way you reported on Nathan. It keeps sinking in! But BTB was a wonderful picture of everything else going on around here – also an important reminder.

As we enter our 70s and 80s, we need to pay attention to the four top causes of death or disability over age 65:

Physical activity can have a significant impact on reducing the risk of heart disease and strokes. Exercising regularly to maintain normal weight and reduce obesity can also reduce the risk of diabetes.

Until a recent study that followed 50,000 UK participants, there had been no clear evidence that an active lifestyle might reduce the risk of dementia and cognitive problems, and that a sedentary lifestyle might increase the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia. 

But this University of Southern California study, where the UK participants wore a wrist accelerometer for seven years, showed that among people 60 years and older who were sedentary (e.g., watching TV with no physical activity), 10 hours per day of sedentary behavior increased the risk of developing dementia. This risk markedly increased when it reached 12 and 15 hours per day. There was no dementia risk for those sedentary for less than 10 hours per day.

Multiple studies have shown sedentary behavior to increase all-cause mortality and heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and depression, and are now examining the potential of multimodal interventions (such as physical, cognitive and social activity, diet and health status) to determine if risk can be reduced to potentially reverse the most serious causes of morbidity and mortality in our 70s and 80s and beyond.

Locally, we have excellent opportunities at minimal or no cost to provide options to a sedentary lifestyle. And you just might prevent – or at least postpone – the top four health problems that can cause significant morbidity and early death. I recommend asking your family physician for an exercise prescription, especially if you have health problems. Here are some options:

In upcoming ElderShare articles, I will share with you other ways to stay healthy, and perhaps live longer and happier!

Our summer of music is not quite over in the Square. Many thanks to our very own Jon Dron who showed up with mustard-yellow shoes and matching bow tie to entertain the small crowd that came out in the rain on September 23. Then, after diverging from the regular music schedule for Truth and Reconciliation Day (September 30), there will be two more Saturday concerts. 

October 7: Rising River - Three musicians playing a mix of covers and originals from R&B and indie folk to Latin roots. "Music that floats and plays with the current." 
October 14: The DuoTwangs - Two musicians with guitar, mandolin, harmonica and vocals, playing roots, folk and blues.
These intrepid musicians are committed to playing unless they get washed away by torrential rain or rising tides, so come out and enjoy the music!  

More plans afoot: Have you ever thought of decorating your bicycle (kids or adults)? Check for details on a two-plaza event ending and starting at Leg-In-Boot on October 7 and 21, respectively. And WinterFest was such a success last year that a repeat is likely. Watch for forthcoming announcements on these and other happenings.

Did you notice four new red chairs at Leg in Boot? Whether they are Adirondack chairs or Muskoka chairs, they are great for catching the last rays of sunshine or for sitting with a friend. Our message to the City: Thanks again for adding a bit of colour as the days get increasingly shorter and gray and helping to make the Square a vibrant public space. 

And a heartfelt message to our many volunteers: Thank you SO MUCH for your hard work in making the summer programs a success and continuing to keep the plaza a clean and welcoming place.

I’m thrilled to announce that we have registered four habitats with the David Suzuki Foundation. That’s a great start! They will be added to the Butterflyway map. It shows habitats across Canada. Twelve gardens constitute a Butterflyway; False Creek South has been amazing in the first year!

The focus now is seed collection and preparing for overwintering the gardens. Do not clean the beds too much. Leaves on the ground, logs, debris, plant stems, are all valuable nesting materials for bees, insects and other pollinators. Messy is good!

It doesn’t appear that we will get our two gardens with the Park Board started this fall; we are still waiting for approval for our chosen spots.

We are working on some simple planting guides for residents for next spring. They will have bloom times so it will be easier to have your gardens blooming all season for the much-needed pollinator food.

We’re also going to be working on holding some educational workshops over fall and winter for residents of the neighborhood on establishing habitats, native plant choices, supporting pollinator habitats, pollinators, bat habitats, etc.

If you would like to be involved, please contact *email is hidden, JavaScript is required*. Follow us on Facebook – Pollinator Butterflyway-False Creek South.

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: