THE TALK OF THE TOWN
/WHAT DO WE HAVE HERE?
Here’s what you’ll find below as you scroll through this month’s Talk Of The Tow:. Meet the new exec team at the community policing centre, try not to roll your eyes as our editor scolds you (again) about following the COVID-19 guidelines, discover two new works of art on public, open-air display in the neighbourhood, and see some dizzying views of the West End from a window-watchers perspective. You will also find out where the new restaurant patios are popping up near you, meet the King George Secondary grads who have scored some great education grants, maybe sign a petition to rename Lost Lagoon Fountain in honour of Dr. Bonnie Henry, read the update on the unused fountains in our neighbourhood, and see our roundup of links to West End stories that made the news in July. Scroll on!
NEW COMMUNITY POLICING CENTRE EXECUTIVE TEAM
Since the pandemic is making everyone do things a little differently, the West End-Coal Harbour Community Policing Centre took a novel approach to announce the appointment of their new team of executive directors. The new president, Ross Strachan, pulled out his mobile phone, found an app, and created this delightful caricature of himself and his colleagues.
From L-R are Ross Strachan (president), Charmaine Perkins (vice-president), Olwyn Steenson (treasurer), and Timur Amirov (secretary).
Every bus has this decal on the side, right to the left of the front door. Ask yourself if that’s too much to ask.
WHO WAS THAT MASKED BUS DRIVER?
An Editorial Comment (Scold)
by Kevin Dale McKeown
Are we following the guidelines?
Folks, it’s really simple. if we want to beat this thing we have to follow the guidelines.. At the moment these are being phrased as gentle suggestions and polite requests. But if we don’t take the hint, Dr. Henry may be forced to get a little sterner. We don’t want that.
The recent drum circle crowd at Third Beach, and even the throngs on Denman Street any pleasant Saturday evening, clearly show that we aren’t following the guidelines. Or at least not enough of us are. We’ve moved passed the early need, partially panic-driven, to wait in long lineups to shop at Safeway or Shoppers Drug Mart. But as you cruise down the aisles, you have no idea who might zip around the corner, ignore the arrows and footprints, and come face-to-face with you. Thus popping your bubble, if you have one. Wear a mask.
Ditto on the bus. The signage is pretty clear, most of the drivers are leading by example, and yet recent trips up Davie or Robson have shown that often half or more of the travellers are maskless.
Sigh. Let’s do better.
PUBLIC ART / ART IN PUBLIC
Two New Installations To Enjoy
Strolling about the neighbourhood you’ll find two new works of contemporary art on display, out of doors where you can enjoy them without a mask — but social distancing, please!
The Vancouver Biennale continues its tradition of placing eye-catching and often provocative artworks in public venues, and the Vancouver Art Gallery launches a new exhibition at its Offsite locale.
(click images to enlarge)
NEED, the new Biennale installation near Coal Harbour.
Biennale’s Open Air Museum
In July the Bienalle unveiled NEED, the first public artwork in Canada by Iranian Canadian artist KambizSharif. This 17-foot, shining bronze scult]pture is at the intersection of Pender, Melville and Jervis.
Take a stroll down that way some sunny afternoon, and enjoy!
All That Melts, notes from the future-past.
Artist Sanaz Mazinani .
Vancouver Art Gallery’s Off-Site
Toronto artist Sanaz Mazinani has created a speculative garden comprised of native plants, sculptural water catchments and a series of glacier-like formations in All that Melts: notes from the future-past, the latest site-specific installation at the Vancouver Art Gallery’s public art space, Offsite.
In this new work, Mazinani imagines the city of Vancouver in the year 2080, a time in which the rise of global temperatures will have melted glaciers around the world, causing ocean levels to increase dramatically and forcing coastal cities to adapt. In this dystopic future, Vancouver would be subject to significantly longer, drier and hotter summers―a climatic shift that will require fundamental changes in water consumption, conservation and urban infrastructure.
These conditions establish the conceptual framework for All that Melts, a work that reflects on the past, present and future consequences of climate change in Vancouver. The artist transforms the architecture of this public art space, amidst a commercial and residential landscape, into a crucial piece of environmental infrastructure.
Mazinani has wrapped the perimeter walls of the Offsite space with digitally manipulated images of glacier forms that are in contrast to the native flora of the region. Several small garden plots have been planted around water catchments in collaboration with Hives for Humanity, a local non-profit organization committed to education and skill training towards a greater understanding of nature and bee culture. The various plant species were selected based on their inability to survive in the fragile conditions of Vancouver’s forecast climate in 2080, thereby recognizing a sense of loss. Over the duration of the exhibition, the water catchments will gather rainfall to sustain the plant life.
Spaced throughout the reflective pond are five sculptures that appear as glaciers, preserved cultural artifacts drifting in their own meltwater. These morphed versions of icebergs are integral figures in a geomythology of the future.
Another walk-about destination to enjoy on a sunny afternoon!
Ladurée on Robson is one of thirteen West End food and beverage outlets now permitted to build outdoor patios. (Robson Business Association Photo)
THIRTEEN NEW SUMMER PATIOS IN YOUR WEST END
The City recently announced that it had issued permits to 160 Vancouver restaurants and bars to build out temporary patios as a way to help them survive. Among those listed in the initial announcement were 13 in the West End, including: Banana Leaf on Davie; Boulevard Kitchen and Oyster Bar on Burrard; Incognito Coffee on Seymour; Junction Public House on Davie; Ladurée on Robson; Nightingale on West Hastings; Papi’s Seafood and Oyster Bar on Denman; Pink Elephant Thai Restaurant on Alberni; The Pumpjack on Davie; Starbucks Coffee on Bute and Davie; The Italians on Bute, and the recently opened fried chicken spot on Denman, The Roost.
All open now, or soon, for your patio-hopping pleasure!
The feature fountain at Haro and Bute remains a bone-dry collection of rocks.
WASTED FOUNTAINS STORY FOLLOW-UP
By Milan Streit
In the last issue of The West End Journal, I reported on dry water features around the West End. Ornamental fountains at places like the Bute Street mini-park, Barclay Heritage Square and near Sunset Beach all shut off.
Since my article, I understand people have been emailing and calling the city for action. Progress has been made on getting drinking fountains (closed early in the pandemic) flowing again. However, water features remain dry.
I caught up with Charlotte, a resident at the Haro Park Centre for seniors. The 154-resident campus care home was hit hard by COVID-19 with dozens of cases and was under lock-down for months. She loves to read books near the stacked slabs of the Bute Street mini-park fountain. With it being turned off, she stated that her experience in the park has “greatly deteriorated.”
“I want the city to listen to me and other people in the building and turn the water fountain back on, as it was.” Charlotte said it added to her park experience, making her even happier. She recently filed a complaint to the city but at the time of this publication, has not yet heard back.
The West End Journal emailed both Vancouver Mayor Kenedy Stewart and Green Party city councillor Pete Fry. However, only Councillor Fry got back to me.
“I am not exactly sure why water fountains around your community have been turned off.” He also mentioned that water fountains on what is labelled “park land” are maintained by the Vancouver Park Board.
Some are taking matters into their hands. I recently spotted a group of kids at Barclay Heritage Square attaching a garden hose to the top of the fountain.
For a short time, the water flowed again.
FROM A DIFFERENT POINT OF VIEW
How often have you looked up at a window-washer dangling from the top of a high-rise building and thought to yourself “Wow, that must be quite a view up there? Glad it’s not me, though!”
West Ender Tristan Daniel L'Esperance has a unique point of view of our neighbourhood. Tristan is a window-washer by profession and a photographer by avocation. Spending his days high above the crowds Tristan seizes the opportunity to take his photographic skills to new heights (sorry, bad pun!) and we thought you’d enjoy his perspective. Thanks for sharing Tristan!
(click on each image to enlarge)
AWARDS FOR KING GEORGE GRADS
(click images to enlarge)
Each year the West End Community Centre Association (WECCA) provides a number of bursary awards to graduating students from King George Secondary School.
Regan Li was this year’s recipient of the $1,000 Carrie Samoil Award for Excellence in Community Leadership and Volunteerism, which will help him as he goes on to pursue a Bachelor in Applied Science degree at Simon Fraser University. Alejandro Rios Murguia received the $500 WECCA Personal Achievement & Community Involvement Award and will go on to Langara College to study for a Diploma in Arts & Science Commerce, with future plans to attend the Sauder School of Business at UBC for his second year. Gareth Wintjes, who has been accepted into the Bachelor of Business Administration program at SFU’s Beedie School of Business, received WECCA’s $1,000 Arnie Zucker Community Leadership Award. And Marco Bjeljac received the $500 Athletic and Academic Award, which will aid him as he moves on to study engineering at Langara College and SFU.
Congratulations to all four of these sterling young students, and best wishes for successful studies and careers ahead!
Lost Lagoon’s Jubilee Fountain in its glory days. (click image to enlarge)
A PETITION TO RENAME THE FOUNTAIN
Dr. Henry Fountain?
There is a movement afoot to have the Jubilee Fountain (bet you didn’t know that was its name) in Lost Lagoon renamed in honour of Dr. Bonnie Henry. Though there’s no doubt she’s earned something like.
It seems a long time ago, and it was, but Jubilee Fountain was once a splendid sight at Lost Lagoon, something we always had to show off to visitors.
The fountain was built in 1936 for the city's 50th anniversary (Golden Jubilee), and was restored in 1986 for Expo ‘86, and again in 2010, but has not been functioning for the last several years. In its working days, the fountain also lit up and was a cheerful sight. Further, the fountain has a Heritage Monument designation.
However, the fountain has been sitting dormant for some time. Due to its age and condition, it has been non-operational, as the city explores options for what to do with the landmark water feature. Given the current situation, and inevitable budget constraints in the future, it will be some time before any restoration project is completed.
Now an online petition is calling for the City of Vancouver to restore the fountain and rename it The Dr. Bonnie Henry Fountain in honour of our provincial health officer.
"Dr. Bonnie Henry has helped guide and protect our communities with one of the best COVID-19 response strategies in the world." states the petition, which you can read and sign here.
WEST END-COAL HARBOUR IN THE NEWS
Each issue of The West End Journal we will bring you a summary of the previous month’s stories in local media about West End and Coal Harbour issues, with links to the articles — just in case you missed them.
Cardero Grocery Site proposal gets Heritage Commission approval.
Pot company seeking Coal Habour permit apologies for “irregular” documents.
Third Beach drum circle defies social distancing guidelines.
Stanley Park traffic changes aren’t pleasing everyone.
COVID-19 alert for Sandman Inn on Davie — if you were there between July 7 to 16, take note!
Homophobic street preachers confronted by West End residents.
Ambulance calls to Stanley Park spiked when road closed for bikes only.
See you in September!
