What Do We Have For You This Month?

Welcome to “The Talk of The Town” for July, 2024. Click on the following links to find:

West End News & Notes: West End street makeovers are afoot, while the Order of Canada added two worthy West Enders to their ranks.

Editor’s Note: Our Lead Story has been moved to its own section for the foreseeable future.

West End News & Notes

**BUTE-ROBSON PLAZA UPGRADES** (*IMAGE COURTESY CITY OF VANCOUVER*)

WEST END STREET MAKEOVERS

by John Streit
(click images to enlarge)

You’ll be seeing City of Vancouver construction crews in parts of the West End over the summer and into the fall. Several civic projects will be getting underway with major makeovers planned for some streets. Others are still in the planning stages with roll outs expected next year.

The West End Journal (TWEJ) reached out to the city (COV) for more details.

TWEJ: What projects, big or small, are coming our way?

COV: Construction on the permanent Bute-Robson Plaza is starting in July to create a welcoming and vibrant public space that can support community connections and activation for years to come. We are also extending the plaza feel onto Robson Street by widening the sidewalks for more space to stroll and raising the intersection to prioritize walking and rolling.

This summer, we launched an e-mobility education campaign for people who ride electric kick-scooters, e-bikes or other micro mobility devices. The campaign shares what regulations have changed, how to stay safe, how to be considerate of others, and encourages riders to enjoy getting around Vancouver sustainably. The campaign includes social media videos and posts, ground stickers in busy areas like West End commercial streets and posters at community centres, rental shops and libraries.

TWEJ: Any new lights, speed bumps, street design changes, new stop signs, or traffic calming coming to the West End?

**A COMMON SIGHT ON THE #23**, **which will hopefully be improved by larger buses servicing the route.** (*MILAN STREIT PHOTO)*

COV: We’re working with TransLink and Coast Mountain Bus Company to upgrade Route 23 from shuttle buses to standard buses. Upgrades at the bus stops and along several streets (Pacific, Beach, and Bidwell) to accommodate the longer buses will occur in 2024, to allow TransLink to change the standard (40 ft) buses in 2025.

Paint bulges and minor signage changes are happening at Jervis & Nelson this summer.

Flashing beacons & bulges are expected at Alberni & Broughton in 2025.

**COMOX STREET BIKE LANE CHANGES** (*CITY OF VANCOUVER IMAGE)*

TWEJ: When will construction start on a new protected two-way bike lane on Comox Street between Cardero and Bidwell near Lord Roberts Elementary?

COV: We anticipate implementation will start this summer and be complete before the start of the 2024/2025 school year.

**WHAT DAVIE STREET COULD LOOK LIKE** (*CITY OF VANCOUVER IMAGE*)

TWEJ: What's the latest in terms of the Davie Village – Space for People Project which proposes widening sidewalks on three blocks of Davie St between Jervis and Burrard Street.

COV: The Davie Village project aims to deliver more space to stroll, support local businesses and create a more welcoming and vibrant street. Staff are reviewing and integrating feedback from the February engagement into a refined final design for Davie Street between Thurlow and Jervis. Detailed design is beginning this summer and construction is anticipated to start in 2025.

TWEJ: Is public consultation launching for changes to Denman Street next?

COV: The West End Commercial Loop, including improvements to Davie, Denman, and Robson, has been identified as an opportunity in several plans, including the West End Community Plan and the Downtown Public Space Plan. We have a number of community projects underway in the West End, including Bute/Robson Plaza and Davie St. Sidewalk widening. Staff are reviewing timing for future projects, including Denman and Robson Street improvements, but these are not part of the current capital plan.

Staff anticipate connecting with the community as we advance detailed design for redesigning Beach Avenue between Stanley Park and Denman Street as Phase I of the West End Waterfront Master Plan. Construction is anticipated to begin in Fall 2026. (Note this project is subject to approvals in the Mid Term Capital Update and by the Park Board).

ORDER OF CANADA!
Two Worthy West End Recipients

This year’s Order of Canada recipients were announced last month, and to the delight of many West Enders two of our own community legends were among the honourees.

Janine Fuller was the long-time manager of Little Sisters Book Emporium and is celebrated for her role as an anti-censorship activist in the bookstore's battle with Canada Customs. In 1995, she coauthored with Stuart Blackley the book Restricted Entry: Censorship on Trial, a non-fiction account of the Little Sister's battle, and wrote an introduction to Forbidden Passages: Writings Banned in Canada, an anthology of excerpts from some of the impounded works. She has also written a number of plays, and has been a performance artist.

Joe Average needs little introduction to most West Enders. Born in Victoria in 1957, Joe began signing his artwork as Joe Average when he was 19 years old. His pop-art has captured the attention of international art critics, royalty, celebrities, and the public. His work is a visionary kaleidoscope of colour, creativity and compassion. Living with HIV, the self-taught Joe Average has earned international recognition as an advocate for AIDS, an artist, and a noted philanthropist. His art was featured on a 1996 Canadian Stamp, which was also the conference image for the 1996 XI International Conference on AIDS.

Congratulations Janine and Joe!

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Thank you!
Kevin Dale McKeown
Editor & Publisher
editor@thewestendjournal.ca