June 1982: Festival ’82
Introduction to The Creek newspaper
by Beryl Wilson, Former Editor
The 223 issues of The Creek newspaper archived here were published over 20 years (June 1982 – July 2002) first with four pages bi-monthly, soon growing to eight pages monthly.
The paper actually originated soon after the first residents moved into False Creek South in 1976. Edited by Elizabeth Wright of False Creek Coop and published intermittently until 1979, its demise was greatly mourned by a loyal following of local residents,
Joining that loyal following after moving into False Creek in 1978 and after also mourning the paper’s demise for two years, in 1982 I decided to revive The Creek. Probably due to my complete lack of any previous journalism experience, the paper reflected my personality to such a degree that people often referred to The Creek simply as ‘Beryl’s paper.
Someone once wrote “Your quirky little paper manages to instil a friendliness into our neighbourhood and has almost created a small town atmosphere in the middle of this big, anonymous city.”
For longtime residents, dipping into these archived issues will be an entertaining trip down memory lane. For others who are curious, a good introduction to what The Creek paper was about can be found in the three-page 20 Year Retrospective in the penultimate issue, June 2002. A glance at the front pages will show it was always a very parochial little paper, devoted to covering the activities, celebrations, and periodic serious issues of the neighbourhood, including Granville Island.
Its pages were always open to anyone who wanted to contribute. Many residents wrote articles and columns on topics dear to their hearts, some of them for many years.
The False Creek South Neigbourhood Association contributed toward the printing costs for the 20 years and covered the cost of digitizing all The Creek issues.
It should be noted that The Creek did continue for about four years after 2002 under the editorship of Amita Daniels. Neither copies of Elizabeth Wright’s earlier issues nor of Amita Daniel’s later version were available for inclusion in this archive
1982
September 1982: New Principal Will Challenge You
October 1982: Hallowe’en Tidings
December 1982: What To Do – With Lot 82?
1983
February 1983: The Corner – The Congestion – The Controversy
April 1983: Family Fitnic
June 1983: July 1st Moves Down The Creek
August 1983: Street Smart Kid / Round the Square
October 1983: The Other Side
November 1983: We Are Celebrating
December 1983: Christmas Edition
1984
January 1984: We’re Not Up The Creek Without A Bus
February 1984: Hard Hat Conducts Symphony
March 1984: Not Quite Victory At Sea – Yet
April 1984: Do You Know This Man?
May 1984: Pendelakon ’84
June 1984: Join Us In False Creek
July 1984: False Creek 1st Annual Tennis Tourney
August 1984: No Littering, No Loitering
October 1984: Traffic Committee Disbands
November 1984: Festive Treasures
December 1984: Attention Singers and Sailors
1985
January 1985: Ethiopia
February 1985: Parking Plebiscite
March 1985: It’s All On Our Doorstep
April 1985: Don’t let the Creek go to the Dogs
May 1985: 2nd Annual False Creek Pendelakon
June 1985: It’s July 1st Again!
July 1985: Canada Day a Winner!
August 1985: McBarge Banished
September 1985: What a Summer!
October 1985: Pumpkin Carving Brings Out Pros!
November 1985: This Is NOT The Christmas Edition!
December 1985: Annual False Creek Caroling Cruise and Community Sing
1986
January 1986: A Sculpture Destined to Sink Like a Stone
February 1986: Be Sure to Dally in the Alley
March 1986: False Creek Follies for All Ages
April 1986: Royal Croquet Tourney
May 1986: 1st Annual Croquet Tourney
June 1986: Island Celebration a Great Hit
July 1986: July 1st Festival a Hit Despite Downpour
August 1986: The Caravan Comes to Town
September 1986: Be a Fan of Arts Umbrella
October 1986: Jack O’Lanterns Ward Off Evil Spirits
November 1986: Stop the clock, Christmas is round the corner
December 1986: Merry Christmas
1987
January 1987: Vancouver – The Second Century
February 1987: “Heart of a Dragon”
March 1987: A Stay of Execution? Don’t Bank on It
April 1987: More Spring Sports for All Sorts
May 1987: Second Croquet Tournament Chilly but Cheerful
June 1987: The Main Event – July 1st
July 1987: Sun Shines on Canada Day
August 1987: Herb Hangs ‘Em Up
September 1987: Homestay at the Creek
November 1987: Christmas Fayre
December 1987: The False Creek Carol Ships – In the Beginning
1988
January 1988: Creek People Turn Up Trumps Again
February 1988: Granville Island 10th Anniversary Celebration
March 1988: Granville Island Knows How to Celebrate
April 1988: Central Area Views Study
May 1988: Record Pendelakon Times and Turnout
June 1988: Canada Day Celebrations Promise Excitement for Kids of All Ages
July 1988: False Creek on Fast Track to the Cleaners
August 1988: Vancouver Symphony to Play Under Granville Island’s Newly Painted Crane
September 1988: Great Garbage Can Art Contest
October 1988: Three Firsts for Ruby Slipperjack
November 1988: School Board 2nd Choice Good News for False Creek
December 1988: False Creek Festival of Carols
1989
January 1989: Tainted Soils – False Creek South Shore
February 1989: We don’t trust you (City Engagement)
March 1989: Is it Too Late? Can Heather Neighbourhood be Saved?
April 1989: Heather Neighbourhood’s Last Chance
May 1989: Graduation in a Garage
June 1989: Pancakes & Parade Will Start Off Canada Day Celebrations in False Creek
July 1989: Palentine’s Day Walk and Ball
August 1989: Heather Community Plans for the Future
September 1989: False Creek Residents Fight Parking Lot
October 1989: Isadora’s 7th Annual Pumpkin Carving
November 1989: Christmas Preparations Officially Start With Caroling in the Square
December 1989: Season’s Greetings
1990
January 1990: Wake Up and Smell the Garbage
February 1990: Children’s Festival Commissions Art by Vancouver Artist
March 1990: Garbage Plant to go on “Hold”
April 1990: The Story of the False Creek Pendelakon
May 1990: Heather Neighbourhood Says No Plan, No Development
June 1990: Pendelakon Seven – The Hot One
July 1990: Third Time Lucky for Rick Taylor
August 1990: Third Annual SPCA Walkathon
September 1990: The Battle of the Bollards
October 1990: False Creek Residents Appeal Property Tax Assessments
November 1990: Turning the Ceremonial Sod for Community Centre Expansion
December 1990: A Night Like This Doesn’t Happen in a Day
1991
January 1991: Snowbound in the Creek
February 1991: Citizen’s Forum on Canada’s Future
March 1991: Easter Saturday Egg-Stravaganza in False Creek
April 1991: Vancouver Children’s Festival
May 1991: Leg-In-Boot Square Redesign Proposals
June 1991: Up the Creek Without a Beryl
July 1991: Praise and Presents – The Perfect Party
August 1991: “Fringe” Playwright Discovered in Community Centre
September 1991: Clam Chowder Queen Regains Title
October 1991: Judging Garbage Can Art is No Lark
November 1991: New Proposal to Tame Hazardous Lamey’s Mill Road/Anderson Street Traffic
December 1991: Annual Community Carol Sing
1992
January 1992: Party Time on the Old Book Bus’s Farewell Run
February 1992: Community Centre Expansion Finally Finished
March 1992: “Tying One On” at the Community Centre
April 1992: Ready or Not!
June 1992: It’s a Small World
July 1992: Take a Laugh Break
August 1992: False Creek Loses a Colourful Character
September 1992: A Fun Weekend of Fanciful Fundraisers
October 1992: Vancouver Writers Festival Celebrates Five Years
November 1992: Need a Reason for a Party? Refurbish the Office
December 1992: We Wish You’d Come A-Carolling
1993
January 1993: High School to High Fashion
March 1993: For the Life of Art
April 1993: Community Forum on Crime Prevention
May 1993: Big Rain, Big times in Pendelakon X
June 1993: A Tribute to Bill
July 1993: The Arts Umbrella Sandcastle Competition
August 1993: 6th Annual Wooden Boat Festival
September 1993: Community Based Policing Program Launches Local Advisory Groups
November 1993: Casino v. Disco
December 1993: Christmas Carolling in Leg-In-Boot Square
1994
January 1994: Tinkering With Time
February 1994: Water Walking – A New Fitness Craze?
March 1994: ArtQuake! Shakes Up Granville Island
April 1994: Billy’s Bench Finally Blessed
May 1994: Parking Lot Shuffle Continues
June 1994: The Dragons Are Coming!
July 1994: Sea Festival Weekend at Spanish Banks
August 1994: 7th Annual Wooden Boat Festival
September 1994: Great Garbage Can Art Contest
October 1994: Maritime Vagabonds Wear Out Their Welcome
November 1994: Creekview Co-op Has Champion Pumpkin Carvers
December 1994: A New Creek Celebration
1995
January 1995: Heather Pavilion – A Heritage Project
February 1995: Kitchen to Keyboard
March 1995: A Tribute to the Rites of Spring; Trolley cars down the middle of the road
April 1995: Quake Hits Island Again – ArtQuake That Is!
May 1995: May Brings The First of False Creek Festivals
June 1995: Local July 1st Festivities Replaced
July 1995: Laugh Day and Night at the Comedy Festival
August 1995: Cyclists by the Dozen Wheel on Water – Aboard the Cyquabus
September 1995: 4th Annual Arts Umbrella Sandcastle Competition
October 1995: Backstage to Onstage at the Writers (& Readers) Festival
November 1995: Granville Island Hotel Expansion
December 1995: Winter Solstice Lantern Procession
1996
January 1996: Lantern Procession Lightens Midwinter’s Night
February 1996: Mystery of the Tree House Solved
March 1996: Granville Island’s Well Worn Waterpark to Have a Facelift
April 1996: CP Rail Track Deal Done at Last
May 1996: 9th Annual Bluegrass Festival
June 1996: Waterpark Grand Opening (Canada Day Celebrations); Around town and Granville Island
July 1996: Don’t Leave Town This Canada Day – Sutcliffe Park is the Only Place to Be
August 1996: A Lively Turnout for First “Blue Ways” Session
September 1996: A New Map for Sitka Square – And About Time
October 1996: 14th Annual Pumpkin Carving Contest
November 1996: No. 1207 Finds a Home… Temporarily… Maybe
December 1996: Rain or Fine! Carol Sheets Provided
1997
January 1997: What’s in a Kiss…Dance, Music, Theatre and More at the Kiss Project; Public Meeting, Downtown Skyline Study
March 1997: Indy $millions a Powerful Persuader
April 1997: Granville Island Goes on the Road
May 1997: May is Bluegrass Month on Granville Island
June 1997: Handymen’s Plywood Cup Returns to False Creek
July 1997: Comedy Festival Will Lighten Up a Soggy Summer
August 1997: Kids’ Toy Boat Building Always a Favourite
September 1997: False Creek’s First Children’s Bike Race a Great Success
October 1997: 10th Anniversary Writers & Readers Festival
November 1997: Public Art With Joyful Faces
December 1997: 15th Annual Christmas Carolling
1998
January 1998: New Crime Prevention Office for Granville Island
March 1998: Granville Island Community Police Office Up and Running
April 1998: Trolley to Trundle Along False Creek Track This Summer
May 1998: Granville Island’s Festival Calendar Kicks Off With Bluegrass
June 1998: 1st Annual Summer Solstice Parade
July 1998: Surf’s Up Under the Bridge on Canada Day
August 1998: Locals Luck-In For Free Trolley Ride
September 1998: Second Annual Spirit of the Salmon Swing
October 1998: Alder Bay Coop explosion a wake up call
November 1998: School’s 20th Anniversary Celebration Stirs Memories
December 1998: Winter Solstice Lantern Procession
1999
January 1999: Winter Solstice Celebrants Blessed Again
March 1999: Granville Island… Fresh @ 20
April 1999: City Misleading Leaseholders
May 1999: City Can Expect Flak Over Ground Leases
June 1999: Jazz Around the Creek – And the Rest of Town
July 1999: Next Steps on Land Leases: New Appraisal and Conversion to Freehold
September 1999: Triumphant Families Launch Boats They Built During Wooden Boat Festival
October 1999: Granville Island Access and Local Roadway Changes Presented for Comment
November 1999: Survey on False Creek Land Leases
December 1999: An Election Memoir
2000
January 2000: Get Ready for a New Hot Kiss
March 2000: A Boat in the Rafters
April 2000: “Top Guns” Taught by Top Chefs
May 2000: Dog Owners Defend Fido’s Freedom to Roam Off-leash
June 2000: Tougher Rules for This Year’s Plywood Cup
July 2000: The Best Part of Canada Day is the Cake
August 2000: False Creek Leaseholders Over-pay City $2 Million
October 2000: A World of Words – Vancouver’s Writers (& Readers) Festival
November 2000: Civic Workers’ Strike Will Not Jeopardize Winter Solstice Celebration
December 2000: Annual Christmas Carolling
2001
January 2001: FLAC Starts Class Action Suit Against the City
March 2001: Spring Break Theatre Festival
April 2001: Granville Island’s Open House Weekend to Feature Housepost Raising
May 2001: Run Away to Join the Circus at the Children’s Festival
June 2001: City Continues to Stonewall Leaseholders
July 2001: Laughter from Lunchtime to Way Past Bedtime
August 2001: FLAC Finally Gets Date With City Council
September 2001: Art in our Park – The Prettiest Garage Entrance in Town
October 2001: City will vote on Lease Dispute in October
November 2001: Council Says NO to Negotiation With False Creek Leaseholders
December 2001: New Year’s Eve on Granville Island
2002
January 2002: Granville Island’s 1st Family First Night a huge success
March 2002: Spring Break Theatre Festival for Young Audiences
April 2002: Land Lease Lawsuit Begins
May 2002: Community Centre gets a Variety Club van – thanks to Pacific Road Runners
June 2002: Retiring Editor Relishes Life of Indolence
July 2002: Comedy Festival to be Last Gig for 30 Helens