THE TALK OF THE TOWN

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What Do We Have For You This Month?

Welcome to The Talk of The Town for December, 2021. Scroll through the following features (and click on images to enlarge) to find:

Our Lead Story

FLEURS DE VILLES NOËL
Floral Display Blooms In Winter

by Lucas Pilleri
Images from 2020 Event Courtesy of Fleurs de Villes

The display at the National Bank Private Banking’s 1859 Robson entrance, created by Niche Boutique Florals.
(Click images to enlarge)

From December 10 to 19, a floral trail will blossom down Robson and Alberni Streets. 

Passersby will enjoy the view of more than 40 floral installations created by 20 local florists. Find a map showing the location and identifying the creators of each display is here.

“Start at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver [on Georgia Street], pick up a map or scan the QR code on our signs to follow the trail, and see over 40 installations by Vancouver’s top florists,” explains Karen Marshall, cofounder of Fleurs de Villes.

The trail takes about 90 minutes to walk, “but plan for longer with stops at different restaurants,” she says. 

After all, this entire venture is funded by business improvement associations and sponsors such as the National Bank of Canada who want to energize the area – a welcome contribution considering that “the costs of flowers increased three-fold in the past year” due to the pandemic, Marshall explains.

“Wedding Bells” was the theme of this floral display last year, created by Four Seasons Floral.

As North American cities try to revitalize downtown cores deserted by the pandemic, Fleurs de Villes’ contribution seems to be particularly timely for local businesses. “We showcase local floral talent first and foremost in lovely places that encourage experiential engagement and have all the elements like food and beverage offerings through local sponsors and partners,” Marshall adds.

Since 2016, the team behind Fleurs de Villes has created more than 40 pop-up flower shows in 20 different cities in Canada, the US and England. And it all started in BC with two five-day shows at Mayfair Centre in Victoria and Oakridge Centre in Vancouver.

“We recognized that there was a universal love of flowers, an emotional connection that has, since the dawn of botanical time, attracted people to all things floral,” explains Marshall.

The local organization doesn’t plan to stop here. Looking to create “a global brand of floral experiences,” the team is now ready to make the jump to the Southern Hemisphere.

“The pandemic slowed us down a bit,” Marshall says, “however we  found a way to add Miami to our global mix last year and next year we will be in Australia and South Africa!”

This December’s event is Fleurs de Villes’ third show in downtown Vancouver. Themed ‘Noël’, the event aims to bring some holiday spirit downtown, in the language of Molière. 

“Our name says it all: Fleurs de Villes equals Flowers of Cities. Our name in French is globally recognized and understood in many languages,” Marshall ensures.

The cofounder gives a last piece of advice: “Bring your friends, wear comfortable shoes, dress for the weather and bring your cameras! And don’t forget to enter our Snap, Snare & Win contest with your best photo of the installations!”

West End News & Notes

Muneesh Sharma at the Robson Street Business Association.

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE …

Many community leadership changes in the recent past.

The Robson Street Business Association (RSBA) has named Muneesh Sharma as its new executive director. Formerly the director of government affairs and communications at BOMA BC, and prior to that public affairs manager for the Vancouver Aquarium, Sharma says "I am so excited to be joining the Robson Street Business Association and to listen closely to its members. I hope to bring everyone together around modern and innovative solutions that can help bring tourists and visitors back to our iconic shopping and dining district."

Martin Addison at West End Seniors’ Network.

In a related announcement, the West End Business Improvement Association has appointed Teri Smith, Sharma’s predecessor at RSBA, as its new executive director. Read more about that appointment in this month’s “Community Spotlight.”

The West End Seniors’ Network also has new leadership with the appointment of Martin Addison as that organzation’’s new executive director.

A 40-year West End resident, Addison has served in civic and not-for-profit organizations over the past several decades. His prior roles include executive director in the mental health sector, chief development officer and chief operating officer for St. John Ambulance (BC), and senior fund raiser at Villa Cathay Care Home Society.

Welcome to your new posts everyone!

The pop-up plaza at Bute and Robson may soon be a permanent feature.

BUTE PLAZA / GREENWAY
Survey Ends December 13

The City of Vancouver is exploring ideas to improve and prioritize Bute Street for walking, rolling, and cycling for people of all ages and abilities, while providing a variety of public spaces to play, sit, relax, socialize, enjoy food or drink, or host community events.

Beginning in the summer of 2017, they have been piloting a new public space on Bute and Robson Street, in partnership with the Robson BIA. This car-free space is for sitting, socializing, relaxing, and holding small events.

Staff have tested different layouts, measured traffic impacts, observed behaviour in the space, and engaged with the community on a potential permanent plaza in this location.

The results indicate that the plaza is well used by locals and visitors, with no adverse congestion impacts to the neighborhood. There is also strong community support, with over 75 percent of survey respondents supporting a permanent plaza in this location.

The space was identified as a potential street-to-plaza conversion in the city’s Transportation 2040 Plan and the West End Community Plan.

As part of this project, the City will also advance a conceptual design for a permanent Bute-Robson Plaza. Take part in the survey here before December 13.

Officially re-opening the St. Andrew’s-Wesley sanctuary. (click image to enlarge)

ST. ANDREW’S-WESLEY RE-OPENS

Last month, after a two-and-a-half-year “pilgrimage” while seismic upgrades were made to the historic church, the congregation of St. Andrew’s-Welsely United Church on Burrard returned to their sanctuary.

On-hand for the re-opening ceremony were, from left: OBC master carver Xwalacktun, Mayor Stewart Kennedy, Rev. Rhian Walker, and Rev. Dan Chambers.

Home for Christmas!

Word On The Street

Bonta Restaurant on Davie. (Lindsay William-Ross Photo Courtesy of Vancouver Is Awesome)

ITALIAN RULES
One Pasta Palace Closes, Another Opens

The doors closed in mid-October at the Italian Tomato on Davie but it wasn't long before the new restaurant taking its place was open for business.

Bonta Italian Restaurant is now up and running at 1047 Davie Street, specializing in multi-regional cuisine according to the restaurant's website.

Bonta's menu is largely focused on pasta dishes in a mix-and-match format, offering 16 kinds of pasta, including filled, whole wheat, or gluten-free options, and a whopping 37 sauce options, from something as simple as a pomodoro (tomato) to the hearty Marco Polo (diced chicken breast, baby shrimp, spicy Italian sausage, mushrooms in a spicy tomato sauce with touch of cream). Additionally, Bonta has mains like lasagna, lamb shank, or a choose-your-own-adventure "Italian Feast" featuring three selections of your choosing.

West End Moments

Out and about in the West End, you never know who or what you’ll see. Here are a few special moments you may have missed … click on any image to read the story. (Our apologies to everyone who gave permission to use these photos. A computer problem at the last moment caused us to lose the photo credit notes. Really sorry about that, and thank you for your generosity.)

Mark Your Calendar

ENJOY, WITH CAUTION! Public events and entertainments are slowly returning, and goodness knows we’ve missed these opportunities to enjoy some fun with friends and neighbors.
Don’t forget, most events and dining establishments will require proof of vaccination and your photo ID.

The Hot Mamas are among the popular entertainers returning to Sylvia’s Restaurant.

LIVE MUSIC RETURNS TO SYLVIA’S
Live music, with some of your favorite entertainers, returns to Sylvia’s Restaurant every Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday from 7 to 9 p.m. 

December’s entertainment lineup includes: Wed. Dec. 1 – The Lesley Branton Trio; Thurs. Dec. 2 – Rusty Creek – Roots Remastered; Sun. Dec. 5 – Hot Mammas; Wed. Dec. 8 – Bob Richard, Earth Music; Thurs. Dec. 9 – James Meger & Cole Schmidt; Sun. Dec. 12 – Jim Foster; Wed. Dec. 15 – Bobby Bacchus; Thurs. Dec. 16 – Allegro Duo; and Sun. Dec. 19 – The ShineOlas. And don’t forget that Sunday prime rib special! Check the website here for future bookings.

VICTORIAN GHOST STORIES AT ROEDDE HOUSE
Gather ‘Round The Hearth

Join the fun at the historic Roedde House parlor and indulge in a once-popular Victorian tradition of telling ghost stories at Christmas! Two actors, costumed and presenting as the characters Mr. and Mrs. Winchester, will read to the audience from ghost stories written in the late 1800s. To capture the authentic ghost story experience is to whisper it by candlelight, to feel the tendrils of the winter's chill reaching from the darkness outside the heath's glow.  

These stories were meant to be shared in a cozy room on a chilly winter's night, so the restored 1893 home of the Roedde family makes for the perfect setting. 

Tea and sweets will be served for a short intermission before audience members are invited back into the parlour for one last tale before Mr. and Mrs. Winchester send everyone off to their bleak, shadow-filled walk from the cozy parlour space to their cart, or home. 

Tickets here.

Quills Don’t Tweet … A celebration of the written word.

QUILLS DON’T TWEET 2
Dec. 18 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. & Dec. 19 at at 2 p.m.
PAL Studio Theatre at 538 Cardero
Information & Tickets

Bernard Cuffling and Anna Hagan are back with the latest installment of their ode to letter writing: a celebration of memories, nostalgia, and the art of the written word accompanied by music and song with a nod to Christmas.

Special guests Don Stewart and Alen Dominguez join them in a fun-filled evening of words, music, and song. Festive pastries are included, as is their silent auction fundraiser!

West End Street Names

Captain Charles Barkley.

BARCLAY STREET

Barclay, as in the street, the manor, and the square found in Vancouver, is a misspelling of the last name of Captain Charles Barkley (1759 - 1832), an English-born maritime fur trader who named Barkley Sound after himself in 1787 when exploring the region in the Imperial Eagle, a British ship sailing under the Austrian flag. 

The misspelling of "Barclay Sound" on Vancouver Island was due to an error on early Admiralty charts, which arose from a mistake from Land District records in 1859 by the government agent William Eddy Banfield who issued certificates identifying the "Barclay Land District." The name of the sound was corrected in 1904. Ironically, Banfield’s own name was misspelled in the name of the Vancouver Island town of Bamfield, an error that persists to this day.

Barkley’s 17-year-old wife Frances, who accompanied him on the voyage, was the first white woman to see British Columbia. Learn more about Captain Barkley here, and for more West End street name histories visit our “Developing Stories” section here.

West End / Coal Harbour In The News