Between The Bridges – June 27

Work has finally resumed on the little broken bridge between our Co-op and the False Creek Community Centre. CMHC eventually took responsibility for fixing it after someone attempted to run a heavy machine over it in late December 2023. Some initial work began this past January, then stopped.

Thousands of Creek residents and anybody else walking to Granville Island or the Community Centre from the south or eastern ends of the Creek were forced to walk through Sutcliffe Park, cutting wide paths through the park grass. During this hiatus, they also had to walk around the park to get to the Community Centre to vote at a municipal by-election, then a federal election, while the Park Board laid sheets of new grass to cover the worn paths. And within a month, once the park barricades to let the new sod grow came down, a new path was worn in the new sod—all because of CMHC’s delays.

CMHC pledged it “would be rebuilt in the Spring of 2025”. With 10 days remaining before the start of Summer, workers added additional footings and brought in a couple of new large pieces of wood for the beams. 

Did they finish it before their self-imposed deadline?

ED NOTE: In a word, No.

Kelly Ip asks: 
On Canada Day, should the colours be just white and red? Why orange?  
And do the trishaws take seniors to Granville Island?

ED NOTE: Thanks for the questions. Red and white are the national colours of Canada and are therefore worn during Canada Day celebrations. These colours are seen on the Canadian flag and are often used in decorations, clothing, and food to show Canadian pride. 

Extending the colours to include orange, the colour of Truth and Reconciliation, adds the spirit of reconciliation and the understanding that Canada is on the ancestral and traditional lands of First Nations, Inuit, and Metis people. Orange Shirt Day is another name for the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, a statutory holiday celebrated each year on September 30.

And yes, the trishaws take seniors (and anyone else!) to Granville Island.

Gurl 23 - Scoops 60s
Fingerprint Gallery at 663A Market Hill 
July 18 - 27
 
Indigenous artist Gurl 23 opens her exhibit at Fingerprint Gallery with a grass dance performance in Leg-in-Boot Square, Wednesday, July 18. The opening ceremony is from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
 
Gurl 23 drew from personal experience to create her multi-media work Scoops 60s. The exhibit sheds light on the infamous Sixties Scoop. Visitors are welcome July 19 to 27 from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Karen Vanon - Noticed in Vancouver...
Circles in the Square at 665A Market Hill
July 12 - August 23
        
Vancouver artist Karen Vanon focuses on capturing subjects spontaneously as they go about their daily lives. Noticed in Vancouver . . . features a giant map of Vancouver and selected smaller drawings from Vanon’s Noticed . . . series that depict events and personalities of the ordinary world. 
 
Drop-ins are welcome during the weeks of the exhibit. Visitors may meet the artist from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Saturday, July 12, or Sundays, July 20 and 27 and August 3, 10, and 17. 

All summer on the walls at Convivial:

• Light among the rubble: Photos from Gaza - Demonstrating the strength of human spirit, Tasneem - a photographer who lives in Gaza - captures moments of hope that exist, even in the most challenging circumstances.  
• Situating False Creek South: Host Nations Territories - Decolonizing maps and archival photos that illuminate a different understanding of 'the creek'. 

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June 28 - July 5: Thinking about being Canadian is a project that emerged from a recent discussion group at the Convivial Cafe. The intent is to provide an opportunity for anyone to express themselves by drawing or writing responses to thoughtful and amusing questions about Canada and being Canadian.

July 1 - Canada Day Walk and Roll - 2-4 pm and more at Granville Island (Details elsewhere in this issue). Bring and even decorate your bikes! Cycling Without Age is also joining the fun. There will be several seats available on their tri-shaws to take a ride in style. Rides are by donation to CWA. Sign up at the Convivial Cafe.

July 1, 8, 15, 22 - 10:30-11 Yoga  in a chair in the square - no bookings required

July 3 - The False Creek Farmers’ Market opens and continues every Thursday through October 3. You can walk or bike on the seawall, catch a ferry or paddle on the watery part of the Creek, or just hop on the 84 bus to West 2nd and Columbia.

July 4 - Broadway Lodge/RILS Bake Sale, 11:30 am to 2:30 pm on the Seawall at Forge Walk. See Bake Sale For A Great Cause elsewhere in this issue.

July 12 - August 23, Gurl 23 at Circles in the Square; and from July 18-27, Karen Vanon at the Fingerprint Gallery. See Galleries Hosting Two Summer Shows elsewhere in this issue

July 21-25 Register teens aged 13-18 for Climate Justice Camp August 11-15. See poster in this issue.

August 31, 11:30 am to 3:30 pm - Annual FCSNA picnic and barbecue, Grill ‘n’ Chill on Nine Tree Hill. See poster in this issue.

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SATURDAY AFTERNOON MUSIC IN THE SQUARE - 2 to 4 pm every Saturday until mid-September. Check the calendar at leginboot.ca. All events are free.

June 28 - Brock House Big Band - An eighteen-piece ensemble playing classic swing plus Latin and jazz standards
July 5 - Two Trains - Upbeat Irish folk with infectious grooves from fiddle and guitar
July 12 - David Rabinovich - Classically trained violin soloist "bringing beauty to the people of Vancouver"
July 19 - Josh Minsky - Specializing in French chanson, blues, jazz, and more.
July 26 - Irish Day - the 4th year of Irish folk music and dance with a small, licensed pub!
August 2 - Delo Daryaa and Digger Dan - A mix of covers and originals drawing from blues, rock, jazz, funk and more. 
August 9 - TBA - watch the calendar at leginboot.ca
August 16 -TBA
August 23 - LuiFox Gutierrez - Singer-songwriter drawing on Latin traditions
August 30 - TBA
Sept 6 - TBA
Sept. 7 - Grandparents Day - 2-4 pm - Brock House Big Band returns to entertain us through Afternoon Tea and Tri-shaw rides from Cycling Without Age.

False Creek Friends is pleased to announce that our podcast, Waterbodies, will be launched this coming September. 

This podcast is all about restoring our relationship with the water, the land, and the living planet. Waterbodies will feature practical panel discussions between rotating co-hosts and activist guests involved in Blue/Green environmental restoration, especially in an urban context.

Please look at our trailer. And signing up for our newsletter will connect you with all our activities toward making False Creek's marine environment a place of pride and civic nourishment.

ED NOTE:  If you have evidence of a participant at the June 8th World Ocean Day in Leg-In-Boot Square who was more delighted than Ramona, please send it in.

False Creek South residents may find the detour from the seawall to Granville Island somewhat inconvenient (see Little Bridge in this issue) - but that’s nothing compared to the problems faced by Granville Island itself.

These problems arise from Granville Island’s very design, structure, and even its mission as a multi-layered home for arts, crafts, education, retail, restaurants, office space, and more. Publicly owned and administered through the federal government, it has never had to adhere to such civic requirements as sidewalks and could place industrial enterprises side by side with chi chi dining while also hosting key sports and cultural festivals. It is, next to Stanley Park, Vancouver’s most visited tourist destination.

However (there’s always a “however”), while Granville Island’s old buildings may charm visitors, they also constitute a major liability. They need maintenance. Big-time.

Who or what should manage, or shoulder, the costs of needed repairs and renovations? Should Granville Island embrace fundamental change or strive to stay the same? This YouTube video explains a lot, and also includes a survey for your input. Go to:
https://youtu.be/STsu3NA1W_k?feature=shared