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Editorial Committee: Evan Alderson, Susan Wright, Sharon Yandle
Production Editor: Robyn Chan
Proofreader: Kathryn Woodward
Contributors this Issue: Marc White (False Creek Co-op), Robyn Chan (Strathearn Court), Ciara Breslin (False Creek Community Association), Zaida Schneider (Heather Quay), Evan Kligman and Louise Kligman (Marine Mews), Nancy Kirkpatrick (Pacific Cove), Kathleen MacKinnon (Regatta)
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BUILDING BIRD HOUSES BUILDS COMMUNITY
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Last month our neighbours up the hill made use of the Neighbourhood Small Grant Program to build, paint or decorate, and hang almost 80 birdhouses from boulevard trees.
Most were located on the south side of West 7th, while 15 hung in front of the Heritage Co-op on West 8th.
The stated purpose of the ambitious project, involving 40 kids and 20 adults and completed by Family Day weekend, was to bring people together, create a form of garden art using birdhouses as our canvases, inspire happiness, and draw people’s eyes up to the artwork in order to also see the beauty of our trees and surrounding nature in our neighbourhood.
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Rachael inspects a completed birdhouse while Mary and Ella work on theirs.
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To Nancy Strider (Alder Bay Co-op), walking along those streets “felt like an Easter Egg hunt because almost every boulevard tree had one or more unique and colourful birdhouses, most of them painted by children, hanging from the branches.”
Nancy notes that Birdhouse Row, the brainchild of condo resident Melanie, formed “a temporary extension of the ongoing Street Garden on 7th Avenue between Willow & Heather, also co-created by Melanie & her neighbours.
“Along with small-scale scenes of Fairies & Gnomes celebrating the seasons, there are two Little Free Libraries - one for children & one for dogs (‘Take a stick. Leave a stick’).
“I first met Melanie there as she was gardening one evening, and our conversation about being active in our neighbourhoods has led to coffees together at the Convivial Cafe.”
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While the response of neighbours and passers-by was overwhelmingly positive, there were three complaints. Melanie believes that some “fear that features such as this will be permanent and they don’t want them”.
But, she added, “It’s important to try to be respectful of everyone’s wishes in order to avoid inflaming situations, so the birdhouses were put up for only a short period.”
However, at least two of them are still hanging on a tree at 744 West 7th - and the 15 at Heritage Co-op may still be there at 717 West 8th.
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Neighbourhood Cleanup Is Back
KEEP HOLDING THAT DATE: APRIL 15
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Five year old Mairi got down and dusty in an earlier cleanup
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At the last Neighbourhood Association meeting delegates continued work on plans for the upcoming Neighbourhood Clean-Up on April 15 from 10 am to 12 noon.
There will be two meeting points:
- False Creek Community Centre, outside near the tennis courts, for the west section of False Creek South. Further information from Karen: *email is hidden, JavaScript is required*.
- Leg-In-Boot Square for cleanup in the east section. Contact Kathleen: *email is hidden, JavaScript is required*.
Details on what to expect will be in the next issue of Between The Bridges.
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Neighbours dressed for success in a past Creek cleanup
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What are the main issues in the False Creek South co-op’s lease renewal process?
What are the positions of RePlan and the City of Vancouver on lease renewal?
What has happened so far? What are the next steps?
These are some of the core questions addressed during the Orientation to False Creek South Co-op Lease Renewal Issues workshop held online last week and attended by more than 70 FCS co-ops members.
Hosted by the AWG (Co-op Authorized Working Group, a subcommittee of the False Creek South Neighbourhood Association’s RePlan Committee) and facilitated by AWG co-chair Nancy Hannum (Alder Bay Co-op), participants saw a mapping of key players and key moments in our community’s attempts to secure lease renewals with the City of Vancouver.
As many participants were well aware, a pivotal moment came on October 28, 2021 when a unanimous City Council effectively rejected its Real Estate Department’s plan in which many co-ops would be torn down and the FCS tenure mix changed to a majority of stratas and market-rate rentals.
With Council’s clear support for co-ops in FCS, coupled with its agreement that existing affordable housing should not be demolished for redevelopment before the end of its usable lifetime, RePlan continues to advocate for timely lease renewals and for future neighbourhood plans that ensure co-op integrity for the future.
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AWG inaugural meeting. Seven years later, still going strong.
Photo credit: Peter Morgan
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The Orientation allowed participants to compare key differences in priorities between the City's proposals for lease terms and future planning in FCS and the more co-op-centred alternatives of RePlan’s AWG.
The ensuing discussion was lively, providing an important opportunity to collectively clarify and strategize where to go from here, particularly as Creekview, Marina and Heritage housing co-operatives are currently in talks with the City. The pace of these talks has been slow.
Participants voiced concerns, asked important questions and generated crucial food for thought about moving forward as a community. Among the many issues raised were: concerns about governance and democracy at City Hall, questions about what the immediate future holds for co-ops with expired/expiring leases, and suggestions of potential strategies for keeping co-op communities intact and thriving in the face of change.
There are many dimensions to this issue – community planning and design, negotiations with the city for co-ops individually or as a collective, and the question of political will.
RePlan is ramping up its community involvement around these issues. Stay tuned for updates coming soon.
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CITY TO FUND NEW SENIORS’ PLANNER
Marc White, False Creek Co-op
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After several years of work and recent build up to the City budget, the Seniors’ Advisory Committee, working with ABC Councillors and Christine Boyle, successfully convinced the City to approve funding for a Seniors' Planner with interdepartmental leads.
The advisory group, now called Older Persons and Elders Advisory Committee, will continue but the Seniors’ Planner, according to Councillor Mike Klassen in a March 1 CBC interview, “will do a complete line of sight across departments to make sure we are a more age-friendly city”.
This funding is in addition to the current work with dedicated FTEs who are working on a Seniors' Housing Strategy.
Marc White is the Immediate Past Co-Chair of the City’s Seniors’ Advisory Committee
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Celebrated FCS author
CO-OP HOME KEEPS WRITER WRITING
Robyn Chan, Strathearn Court
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Local fans of CBC’s Canada Reads competition will see a familiar name when this year’s competition launches on March 27. Silvia Moreno-Garcia (False Creek Co-op) has made the short list with her horror novel Mexican Gothic.
Canada Reads is an annual competition that sees five celebrities face off in a vigorous debate about their chosen book. Each day one book is eliminated until the final book is chosen as that year’s champion. This is Silvia’s second time on Canada Reads; her novel Velvet Was The Night made the longlist in 2022.
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Silvia has lived in False Creek South with her family for many years and moved into False Creek Co-op several years ago. Living in a co-op has provided her stability.
“When I don't have to worry about being renovicted, or housing charges going up outrageously, I can obviously sleep a little easier and keep writing.”
In addition to writing and raising her family, Silvia has also been involved in RePlan.
“I think it's important to help False Creek continue to evolve, while maintaining the principles of community and understanding that make it such a nice place to live in,” she says. “We desperately need more affordable, stable housing in the city and I think co-ops and non-profit housing are an important way to achieve that.”
While Silvia says making the finals and seeing her books in so many bookstores is a benefit to her, “I hope my champion, TikTok creator and nursing student Tasnim Geedi, has a good time during the competition; that's probably the most important part. And I hope people enjoy reading all the books.”
Silvia’s books, in addition to Mexican Gothic, includes The Daughter of Doctor Moreau, named one of the “100 Notable Books of 2022” by the New York Times, and Velvet Was The Night, chosen by Barack Obama as one of his favourite reads in 2022.
You can cheer for Silvia and Mexican Gothic from March 27-30 CBC Radio One, CBC TV, CBC Gem and on CBC Books. |
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At The Community Centre
LOOKING FOR YOUR INPUT
Ciara Breslin, False Creek Community Association
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The False Creek Community Association (FCCA) wants to hear what you would like regarding communications and volunteering.
To help gather your thoughts and ideas, we have launched an online survey. The feedback we hear will help us develop a plan to ensure we continue to effectively engage the community.
The survey:
- Will take approximately ten (10) minutes
- Is available online until March 16, 2023, at 5:00 PM
- Includes an open text box in the final question, for any additional feedback
Please follow the link to the survey:
https://www.surveymonkey.ca/r/FCCA-Communications-Plan
Rest assured; your privacy will be protected. This survey is anonymous and is being conducted by a third party that will provide results as grouped data. Individuals cannot be identified. |
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The Watery Part Of The Creek
WHOSE CREEK IS IT?
Zaida Schneider, Heather Quay
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MEMO TO: Mayor Ken Sim
SUBJECT: The False Creek Management Mess
Hello Your Worship,
Seven years ago, the General Manager of the Vancouver Park Board wrote to City Council to deliver some bad news: False Creek -- the watery part -- is ungovernable.
After Dragon Boat races and regattas were cancelled, the GM wrote a blunt note to City Council: the clutter of illegally anchored boats was a safety hazard to the racers. New legislation was urgently needed.
“There is a process to change the legislation; however, it will require extensive public consultation and a considerable amount of time.”
The General Manager might as well have plagiarized a 1999 similar staff report that described “disturbances to the upland residents and some water users because of congestion, noise, garbage and pollution.”
There have now been 24 years of these warnings along with recommendations never implemented. The problem? Fifteen government agencies are responsible for keeping False Creek nice.
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Underneath this administrative tangle is a legal one – and a mind-blowing Catch-22. On April 11, 2017, then City Manager Sadhu Johnston sent a memo citing Anchoring Permit rules (you can still see them here) that “currently do not permit restricting temporary anchoring and/or access for events on False Creek, as it is an open waterway under the Canada Shipping Act and must be available to all waterway users.”
But the same Act contains this:
14 (1) No person shall, unless the person holds a permit issued by the Minister, anchor a vessel within the waters of False Creek in the City of Vancouver that are east of a line drawn 45° true from Kitsilano Point to the north shore of False Creek.
So: The laws to regulate anchoring cannot regulate anchoring???
Canny boat owners could ignore these legally dodgy anchoring rules, as they have been doing for years. Only those skippers who don’t know the score are applying for permits.
The fifteen government agencies responsible for False Creek are all eager for better coordination. Many frontline workers - from the Vancouver Police Marine Unit to the Coast Guard to Transport Canada -- express frustration that their administrative silos are counterproductive.
How about starting that “extensive public consultation” now, as urged by the Park Board in 2017? And possibly looking for a totally new administrative solution?
Perhaps a new kind of jurisdiction is required. Something like a City Marine Park for False Creek might work, similar to the network of over 200 marine parks that the BC Government administers. Possibly co-managed by Indigenous governments?
Lots of opportunities here, Your Worship!
Zaida Schneider,
False Creek Sea Steward
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Kelly Ip (Pacific Cove), in response to Seawall Safety Update, January 19:
Thanks for the Newsletter! Always interesting!
You mentioned "Seawall Safety". I wonder – what about our buildings!
The woodpeckers are back now and our building is under attack once again! You will see all those patches, big and small, on the outside walls of Pacific Cove - 456 Moberly Road. I wonder if other buildings on False Creek South have similar problems with the woodpeckers?
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ElderShare
HOME EXERCISE FOR SENIORS – WITH YOUTUBE
Evan Kligman and Louise Kligman, Marine Mews
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YouTube is an excellent resource for exploring guided exercise that can help you age well. We have been using several apps (a couple of them daily) to improve our balance and strength as we age. We find professional guidance through a workout to be very helpful in maintaining an exercise regimen.
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YouTube apps can be found on smartphones, tablets, and computers. Costs are modest: access is usually free, and a $12 monthly subscription for “YouTube Premium” is available to eliminate ads. Some of our recommended apps may suggest or require a stretch band or weights, but these are readily available through Amazon or Canadian Tire.
The website for these exercises is: www.youtube.com. You can search for them by title or go directly to the websites included below to explore more options. Here are our “top five”:
1. Senior Fitness with Meredith - Resistance Band Exercises for Seniors; 14:51 min
More at "seniorfitnesswithmeredith.com".
2. 10-minute Balance Workout for Seniors - More Life Health; 10 min
More at "morelifehealth.com"
3. BeFit Jane Fonda: Total Body Workout - Fit & Strong - Level 2; 27:26 min
4. Full Chair Workout - No Equipment, Seated - More Life Health; 40 miin
5. Tai Chi Qigong Shibashi Set 1 - by Master Wing Cheung; 23:40 min
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Seawall Safety
OUR RECOMMENDATIONS EN ROUTE TO THE CITY
Nancy Kirkpatrick, Pacific Cove; Kathleen MacKinnon, Regatta
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The False Creek South Neighbourhood Association (FCSNA) Seawall Safety Workgroup presented its final report and recommendations to delegates at the FCSNA meeting on March 1, 2023. Delegates approved both unanimously.
Your responses to our survey, which appeared in the November 19, 2022 issue of Between the Bridges, helped us immensely to develop these recommendations. Thank you all for sending us your honest opinions, personal experiences and thoughtful suggestions.
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Anderson Street crossing
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We appreciate the seawall improvements made by the City as a result of the 2015 consultation, including lengths of painted orange lines dividing the walkers from the riders and new commuter bypass routes on Commodore. Since then, however, many of the painted lines have faded and some posted signs directing commuters to the Seawall Bypass have been largely obscured by foliage.
In your comments, you identified speed as the primary safety concern on the seawall, with congestion and path maintenance as other important issues. With the introduction of e-scooters, e-unicycles and other micro mobility devices, the seawall has never been busier.
In our report, we have recommended measures such as the intermittent presence of police or park wardens to communicate and enforce seawall etiquette. However, we acknowledge that short of more permanent measures our recommendations are unlikely to deter serious speeding and other inconsiderate behaviour.
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Cyclist's view of Seaside Bypass sign
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We understand from the City’s report of April 25, 2016, Seaside Greenway – South False Creek – Burrard Bridge to Cambie Bridge that major changes to the seawall will not be considered until the risk of sea level rise has been mitigated. We believe, however, that the recommendations in our report fall within the categories of routine maintenance and accident prevention.
In addition to recommendations for the City, we have developed several suggestions for the staff and students at our neighbourhood school. We hope that through educating our youngest residents on seawall safety and etiquette that they, in turn, will help to educate others in our community.
The Seawall Safety Workgroup and the President of the FCSNA, Wendy Herdin, will meet with the Transportation Department at the City of Vancouver on Tuesday March 21 to discuss our report and recommendations. Following that, a link to the full report and recommendations will be posted in Between the Bridges.
We sincerely hope our recommendations can be implemented before the busy spring and summer seasons.
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BETH DEMPSTER!
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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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