Between The Bridges – March 14

On Saturday, April 5, Vancouver residents can cast their votes for two City Council seats that were made vacant by the recent resignations of Christine Boyle and Adriane Carr.

The last City Council by-election in 2017 saw only 10% of eligible voters turnout. Low turnout and a large number of candidates resulted in a split between progressive candidates; in this election COPE, Greens, and OneCity have agreed to run only one candidate each. ABC and TEAM for a Livable Vancouver are each running two candidates.

How to Vote
Vote by mail: Request your ballot online from the City of Vancouver, or phone 311. The deadline to request your vote-by-mail ballot is March 24 at noon. Ballots cast by mail must be received by April 5; ballots received after the deadline will not be counted.

Vote in advance: Advance polls are open at City Hall on Wednesday, March 26 and Tuesday, April 1, from 8am to 8pm.

Vote on election day: Voters can cast their ballot at any voting location in Vancouver. The closest locations to False Creek South are False Creek Community Centre, City Hall, and Mount Pleasant Community Centre. You can find a full list of voting locations online.

Who’s Running?
There are thirteen candidates running for two seats: https://vancouver.ca/your-government/candidate-information.aspx

RePlan, the Neighbourhood Association’s planning committee, reached out to the parties running candidates, including ABC, COPE, Greens, OneCity, and TEAM, with four questions of community concern. Their responses can be found in RePlan Update elsewhere in this issue.

All Candidates Meeting
For an opportunity to hear from candidates in person, the Fairview/South Granville Action Committee is hosting an all-candidates meeting on Thursday, March 20 at 6pm at the Holy Trinity Anglican Church (1440 West 12th Avenue). RSVP here to attend: https://www.fsgac.org/so/62PLnIW3s?languageTag=en
 

Marie-Claude Collins, Harbour Terrace, writes:

Vancouver City Council recently approved a contract for a consultant team to do a new landowner’s plan for False Creek South. Will this plan include assessing soil erosion? 

On January 12, residents of Harbour Terrace and Twin Rainbows Co-op woke up to another external water main break for Harbour Terrace. The main water pipe structure leading from Lamey's Mill Road under the concrete sidewalk into Harbour Terrace had broken again and the sidewalk to the stairwell to  Fountain Way had collapsed. Lower portions of the garage flooded in Harbour Terrace and Twin Rainbows. Emergency crews were on site and the City provided temporary water to all, hours later. At the writing of this article, we are still on a temporary water source.  

A similar incident occurred four years ago at Harbour Terrace and other enclaves in False Creek  South over the years. It is rather unsettling to see little structural support under the concrete and, certainly, very little soil.

Meetings with City Staff
On Monday, March 3, RePlan representatives met with City staff, including the Deputy City Manager, to receive an update on the landowner’s plan currently underway for False Creek South.

Arup, the plan’s lead consultant, will complete Phase 1 - a work plan - in May or early June. In Phase 2, the work plan will outline scenarios and areas for further study.

There was discussion about City staff or Arup representatives providing an update to the community at an in-person meeting in False Creek South. More information will be shared if/when that is scheduled.
 
Town Hall report
On Tuesday, February 25, 200 people attended a RePlan-hosted community town hall that provided a summary of the landowner’s plan process, an update from the Community Planning Group, and an overview of shared co-op principles from the Co-op Authorized Working Group.

A recording of the Town Hall is available by request. Please email *email is hidden, JavaScript is required* to receive a link.

Strata resident engagement

RePlan staff have met with several Strata Councils to provide updates and discuss how best to re-engage strata residents with RePlan’s work. Strata Councils interested in a RePlan update can reach out to Robyn at *email is hidden, JavaScript is required*. Residents interested in participating in the new Strata Residents Subcommittee can email Sarah at
*email is hidden, JavaScript is required* to be added to the mailing list.

By-Election candidates outreach
RePlan asked each party running candidates in the upcoming municipal by-election to consider and respond to four questions. They are:

1. What, if anything, would you do to enable (or ensure) the use of public land for non-profit housing?

2. As you may know, this neighbourhood is home to a significant amount of non-profit housing. How would your government support the retention and maintenance of existing affordable housing?

3. False Creek South has a higher-than-average proportion of seniors. What measures would your government take to support or enable seniors aging in community?

4. Given the central location of False Creek South and the importance to the city of maintaining essential services, would you support an emphasis on using public land for non-profit workforce housing affordable to those providing essential services as defined by the province, that is, in police, firefighting, health care and education?

Responses were received from the Green Party of Vancouver, OneCity, COPE, and TEAM for a Livable Vancouver. ABC did not respond by publication time. You can find all responses here: https://www.falsecreeksouth.org/by-election-candidate-responses/ 

If you hadn’t known that a Translink survey proposing changes to the #50 bus route has been seeking public input, you are not alone. And you would not know that March 9 was the deadline for public comment on those changes.

A delegate brought news of the survey to the March 5th meeting of the False Creek South Neighbourhood Association after Cheryl Geisler (Marine Mews strata) alerted some of her neighbours that changes to the #50 were in the works.

She identified the most significant proposed changes in the following note:

Translink is conducting a survey about possible changes to our # 50 bus route that would
- divide #50 from the #15 at Heather Square.  
- at Heather Square, the #15 would turn around and go back up Cambie
- route the #50 going west on 4th to Burrard and then up to Broadway
- route the #50 going east along 6th through Olympic Village to Main, then downtown to Waterfront

Consequences:
a) there would be no direct route from Sitka Square to Cambie. (to get to Cambie from Sitka Square, you would need to change buses at Heather Square.)
b) there would be no direct route from Sitka Square to Granville Street downtown.
c) the only direct way to Waterfront station would be a long journey on Main through Chinatown.

The plan, insofar as it provides no transit access to Cambie, would least affect residents at or east of the Heather Square bus loop. But transit users near Lamey’s Mill from the school west to Anderson and beyond would certainly feel the loss of a direct route to and from shopping and services on Cambie from West 2nd to 10th Avenue, especially the key transit, shopping, medical, banking, café and restaurant operations circa Broadway and Cambie. 

In addition to the school and several co-ops and stratas near or on Lamey’s Mill, the changes as proposed may directly affect those travelling to and from two supportive care facilities, Broadway Lodge on Lamey’s Mill and the Residence for Independent Living (RILS) at Sitka Square.  

On the other hand, many residents might welcome extending the bus route to 4th and Burrard and up to Broadway and the new Skytrain station now under construction.
 
At this point, there are too many moving parts to identify all the potential problems and opportunities, and the survey introduction stressed that proposed changes are still a work in progress. 

Several times at the community party celebrating the tenth anniversary of Convivial Café earlier this month, proprietor Beth Dempster had to remind a large assembly of well-wishers that it was Convivial’s birthday, and not hers. She really is more than 10 years old.

No matter. There was cake and the usual goodies we’ve come to expect served by the always congenial staff, music from favourite musician Jon Dron, and a lot of conversation.

Those new to the community may not appreciate how different Leg-In-Boot Square was before Beth set up shop. It was, in short, empty. No tables, no umbrellas, and few activities except on the rare special occasion. 

Beth’s commitment to the very idea of community changed all that, as has her outreach to ensure that no one going into her café hungry is going to leave hungry. The sliding scale starting from zero for Christmas dinners reflects Beth’s longstanding encouragement to patrons to post a note on her board for a free coffee or pastry or whatever for anyone else to access.

Of course, the revitalization of the Square is not only Beth’s work.  Others volunteer to keep it going, perhaps none more consistently than Susan Dehnel, chair of the Association’s Community Engagement committee, and the earlier Leg-In-Boot Re-boot group that helped establish what became known as the Plaza In The Square.

Not content with everything she’s already done with and for False Creek South, Beth has a new project in the works intended to deepen the connection between our individual (and collective) selves and help us navigate our way in an increasingly uncertain world. For details see JOIN US IN COPING WITH A CRAZY WORLD elsewhere in this issue.

The Butterflyway Project is a citizen-led initiative of the David Suzuki Foundation. As a Butterfly Ranger, my goal is protecting and teaching about pollinators and all things related.

Seeing new plant growth regenerating everywhere brings a special excitement at this time of year. It’s hard to keep the gardener in me in check. I grew up learning to have neat, orderly manicured yards and gardens. Now I celebrate the lazy gardener in me and leave things as natural as possible.

Cleaning up leaves and twigs and removing dead stems are all detrimental to pollinators and other beneficial insects. Most native bees are solitary. They don’t live in colonies in hives. They live and nest in holes in the ground, in the stems of pithy plants, under leaves, etc. If you remove all this material too soon, you throw away hibernating pollinators. 

Leave the leaves. If you trim, pile the stems or hollow branches loosely near the garden. When daytime temperatures are consistently above 10 degrees Celsius you can finish your garden cleanup.

I was invited to set up a table at the False Creek Community Centre Family Day Celebration on February 15. It’s always such a great time connecting with the community over pollinators, native plants, and building healthy ecosystems. I’m always encouraged by the enthusiasm of the kids and teenagers. As well as being a Butterflyway Ranger, I’m a member of the Native Bee Society of BC. I have resources at events relating to both projects.

Watch out for more events, and follow us on social media:
Facebook: facebook.com/groups/butterflywayfcs
Instagram: Instagram.com/butterflyway.fcs
Email: *email is hidden, JavaScript is required*

Mark your calendars, or print - or both!

Thursday, March 20, 6:30 - 8:00 pm:  No registration required for Convivial Café’s Crazy World Discussion Group. Topic: Pursuit of the Great American Dream has been part of the problem. Is there a Canadian equivalent or alternative that is part of our solution? (To learn more about this series, see JOIN US IN COPING WITH A CRAZY WORLD elsewhere in this issue).

Thursday, March 20, 6 pm: All-Candidates Meeting, Holy Trinity Anglican Church (1440 West 12th Avenue). RSVP here to attend: https://www.fsgac.org/so/62PLnIW3s?languageTag=en

Monday, March 24, Noon: City by-election: Deadline to request your vote by mail. (See all relevant election dates in BY-ELECTION: APRIL 5 elsewhere in this issue)

Wednesday, March 26, 8 am to 8 pm - First by-election advance poll, City Hall.

Thursday, March 27, 6:30 - 8:00 pm: Convivial Café Discussion. We (collectively and separately) have been 'on the brink of disaster' more than once.  What have we (collectively and separately) learned that might help in the current circumstance? 

Sunday, March 30, 2:00 - 4:00 pm: Nathan’s Book Club. Location: Creekview Co-op
The book chosen is Feminist City: Claiming Space in a Man-Made World by Leslie Kern; copies available to borrow at *email is hidden, JavaScript is required*.

Tuesday, April 1, 8:00 am - 8:00 pm - Second (and last) by-election advance poll, City Hall

Thursday, April 3, 6:30 - 8:00 pm - Convivial Café Discussion. We all know that stress and anxiety are strongly detrimental to good health. How do we care for ourselves and each other in these Trumpling times? 

ONGOING - GET INVOLVED!

Strata Residents: Leasehold and Freehold: Email *email is hidden, JavaScript is required* to get updates on the new strata residents group. If you'd like to join the organizing committee, please let us know.

Zero Waste Club: This club is up and running and brimming with good ideas. Email committee chair Yael Stav at *email is hidden, JavaScript is required* to join.

The Plaza in the Square needs volunteers to keep things running smoothly, whether contributing to the everyday ambience by volunteering as a Steward, or as a “special event volunteer” for a musical or other performance or, if just gathering is more your style, we welcome you.  Contact: Susan Dehnel at *email is hidden, JavaScript is required*.

False Creek South Community Housing Trust: Want to know more?  
Email Robyn Chan at *email is hidden, JavaScript is required* to get updates.

Convivial Café is launching a new support group for shell-shocked liberals - and all others. 
 
That word “liberals” is definitely spelled with a small "l". And you don't need to be centre-left politically to be worried about what is going on in the world. Convivial Café invites you to discuss how to cope – individually or collectively – with the increasingly crazy world we live in. All are welcome, and there are only two rules: 
1) No ranting. 
2) Focus on the positive. 

We will start with six sessions. Come for one or all. No registration is required.

Thursdays 6:30-8 pm at the Convivial Café, starting March 20.  
While we said no ranting, who among us doesn’t need to sometimes? If that’s how you feel, come early. Enjoy the free coffee and goodies Convivial will offer out front to feed the ranting, starting shortly after 6:00 p.m. Then let go of the upset, angst and anger. Step through the door and engage in thoughtful discussion. 
 
Sessions will focus on the following: 
 
March 20: Pursuit of the Great American Dream has been part of the problem. Is there a Canadian equivalent or alternative that is part of our solution?

March 27: We (collectively and separately) have been 'on the brink of disaster' more than once. What have we (collectively and separately) learned that might help in the current circumstance? 

April 3: We all know that stress and anxiety are strongly detrimental to good health. How do we care for ourselves and each other in these Trumpling times? 

April 10: How do we balance competing values? Buying pears from South Africa hardly seems like a great alternative. (See Feeding ourselves in a trade war in Between The Bridges #87, February 21/25). 

April 17 and 24: Topics will be selected during the April 10 session.
 
More sessions will be at the discretion of the host and participants. If you are interested in similar sessions elsewhere in the Creek, please let me know: *email is hidden, JavaScript is required*.
 
To close, here are a few words, stirring in their composition and hopeful in their authorship: "Tyranny requires your fear and your silence and your compliance. Democracy requires your courage. So, gather your justice and humanity, Illinois, and do not let the tragic spirit of despair overcome us when our country needs us the most.” - Gov. J. B. Pritzker (Democrat - IL) 

On Monday evening, February 10, we kicked off the FCSNA's Zero Waste Club, with a meeting at Twin Rainbows Co-op's shared space. It felt like a big crowd with nine people on Zoom and 20 in the room.  One of them was Daniel Rotman, a Waste Management and Behaviour Change expert. 

We had a lively discussion on the definition of waste, our hopes for the club and the values that lead it. We shared stories about fixing bikes, master recycling at Alder Bay Co-op, the Thingery tool library, waste-free potlucks, and clothing swaps at False Creek Co-op. Daniel answered questions about textile recycling, "wish-cycling" and much more. We came out full of ideas that will help all people do more repairing, reusing and recycling. 

Following the meeting, we started a mailing list and we are working on communicating and organizing for our next club meeting. Rumour has it that Creekview Co-op has already started a bulk food-buying group inspired by the meeting!

The club is open to any resident of our neighbourhood and it's never too late to join. Just answer the club's latest survey and you'll be added to the list. For any questions feel free to email me at *email is hidden, JavaScript is required*.

Yael Stav is Chair of the FCS Neighbourhood Association’s Sustainability and Resilience Committee.

I sat down to write about how to make choices when shopping in these troubled times, when and where to shop nearby, what to buy, and so on.  But I immediately hit writer’s block because I am probably the world’s worst shopper.

This was brought home to me while walking on a downtown street on a warm day last summer. A young woman passed me and said “I really like your dress!”, adding, “I just love vintage clothes”.

Just because I pull out my favourite dress summer after summer and, according to 2007 vacation photos, was wearing it in Mexico when I believe it was already old - does that make it vintage?

If it does, so are all the other things that surround me. And not only clothes. My car is 18 years old and does the three things I want from a car. On command, it starts, runs, and stops. My decades-old dishwasher and washing machine clean what I put in them. The dryer dries the clothes; in good weather, it’s the clothesline.

I get that the current push to buy BC or Canadian is not only to reduce our reliance on a nation out to hurt us but also to help support our own economy. I understand the BC and Canadian part. It’s the Buy part that rattles me.

I didn’t start out as the world’s worst shopper. In my youth, I often planted my face against shop windows pining for whatever was on display that I couldn’t afford because I never could. But somewhere between then and now, life and learning intervened. My role model was someone who chucked a good-paying job and career to work in the arts. To do that meant also chucking old buying habits. Her catchphrase: It’s not a bargain if you don’t need it. She never looked back. 

If you think about it, you know what you need in your life, be it music, art, sports, theatre, friends, reading, travel, solitude, being involved, helping others, growing or making things. If the lack of Stuff creates a void, fill it with experiences. When you must, Buy BC, Buy Canadian. But if you don’t need it, don’t buy it. That’s not deprivation. It’s liberation.

I wish you enough.

On some days it’s easy to forget the tidal nature of False Creek, but this March day isn’t one of them.

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”. Signed articles reflect the views of their authors. For details go to: