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 August, 2021. Scroll through the following features (and click on images to enlarge) to find:

West End News & Notes

It’s only 1,000 pieces — you can do it!

THE JOE AVERAGE PUZZLE GIVEAWAY

in support of the Performing Arts Lodge (PAL) Vancouver, located in Coal Harbour, artist Joe Average has launched sales of a 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle of his “One World, One Hope” painting, originally created for the 1996 XI International Conference on AIDS and featured on a Canadian stamp.

Purchase of the puzzle for $39.99 (plus taxes) includes automatic entry in a draw for more than 100 prizes, including $20,000 cash, two signed Canadian Mint Equality Coins featured another design by Joe Average, two signed limited edition framed Bee Safe face masks, and 100 limited edition One World One Hope face masks.

The One World One Hope Puzzle is made from high-quality, snug-fitting 1.9mm blue-chip board. It includes a bottle of sealing glue to bond the puzzle after assembly, and four strips of Velcro to easily hang the puzzle without nails or tools.

Partial proceeds of $2 for each puzzle sold will go directly to PAL Vancouver.

Details on how to purchase the puzzle or enter the contest for free (no purchase necessary to participate) here.

Anthony Kupferschmidt.

ANTHONY LEAVING WEST END SENIORS’ NETWORK

Sea changes are underway at the West End Seniors’ Network, with longtime president Joel Oger coming to the end of his term at the next AGM in the fall and executive director Anthony Kupferschmidt recently announcing his resignation to pursue another great opportunity in the senior care sector, as executive director of the Langley Seniors’ Resource Centre, an 18,000 square foot facility where he will oversee a staff of 40.

In making the announcement in their August newsletter WESN said “Over the course of his six years of leadership, WESN has greatly expanded its support for seniors and provided increasingly diverse programming. The staff at Clothes and Collectibles, Kay’s Place and Barclay Manor, and WESN volunteers, and the Board of Directors will have many fond memories of their time with Anthony.”

“While I am very excited about this new opportunity and next step in my career, I will miss WESN and this neighborhood deeply,” Anthony said in announcing his move.

Originally from Edmonton, where he first became interested in senior care as a teenager, working at a campus of care facility. He moved to Vancouver in 2005 to earn his MA in Gerontology, and worked with Alzheimers BC.

“When I first moved to Vancouver, I chose to live in the West End”, Anthony shared. “I had no idea what a fortuitous decision I was making at the time! I learned about this wonderful local agency serving older adults, and soon after I became a WESN member to show my support and stay informed. When the executive director position became available, the opportunity to contribute to an organization supporting my preferred demographic group in the neighborhood I called home seemed too good to be true! Needless to say, I was thrilled when I was offered the job. I am extremely proud of what we have accomplished together over the last six years.”

Anthony’s last day will be Friday, August 6, and will be marked by a farewell and thank-you party at Barclay Heritage Square, where cake and refreshments will be served. RSVPs will be appreciated at 604.669.5051 or info@wesn.ca.

Breen Ouelette.

THEY’RE OFF AND RUNNING!

Well, maybe not quite yet, but they are definitely getting ready.

Adding fuel to speculation about a possible late-summer or early-fall federal election, former NDP candidate in Vancouver Centre Breen Ouelette has announced that he will be seeking that party’s nomination for the next round. Ouelette is a Métis man, lawyer, and a grassroots community organizer who has roots in the labour movement and served as one of the Commission Counsel lawyers for the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Breen lives in Olympic Village.

The Vancouver Centre NDP nomination meeting will be held virtually on August 4, with two days of limited paper balloting and the results announced on August 6.

A spokesperson for the Campaign to Re-Elect Hedy Fry has confirmed that she will be the Liberal candidate for the next election. Fry has been the Vancouver Centre MP since the 1993 election, winning nine consecutive elections and now going for a tenth. She lived in the riding until the boundaries were changed and Vancouver Centre lost some territory to the new riding of Vancouver Granville, where Fry still resides. She is the longest-serving female Member of Parliament.

Conservative, Green, and People’s Party of Canada organizers have not yet responded to our inquiries.

WE CAN ALL HELP OUR THIRSTY TREES
During This Hot Summer, It’s All Hands On Deck

Lack of sufficient water can cause damage such as this split tree on Nelson. (Photo Courtesy of Heritage Vancouver)

by Glenda Bartosh
(see list of related links below)
After June's brutal heat dome that killed hundreds of British Columbians along with billions of sea creatures in nearby coastal waters, the Lower Mainland and southern BC are now experiencing one of the longest droughts in history — and more heat is on the way. That spells trouble for trees, especially in neighbourhoods like the West End.

Local media have been tracking heat and drought impacts on our urban forest: A huge catalpa tree toppled on Nelson near Gilford June 20; 10 days later another giant next to King George Secondary School split in two, and a big branch fell near the Firehall on Nelson. July 7 city workers reported five trees down on a single day including a giant one on Nelson near a 1931 heritage apartment. Another massive catalpa later went down near Pendrell and Bute.

When trees sense drought, they store as much water as they can. But if they don't transpire enough moisture through their leaves, the excess weight can make them fail structurally.

Vancouver city arborist and supervisor of urban forestry, Joe McLeod, told City News 1130 that he witnessed these kinds of tree failures more often when he worked as an arborist in Nashville, Tennessee, with the kind of extreme heat usually connected to southern climates, not Vancouver.

Heat Map Courtesy of Simon Fraser University and the City of Vancouver. Click all images on this page to enlarge.

WHEN IT COMES TO HEAT, TREES ARE COOL … Not including parks, Vancouver has 150,000 to 160,000 trees on its city streets. According to Metro Vancouver's tree canopy report, that means the city's tree canopy cover is only about 18 percent, which it plans to increase to 22 percent by 2050. The most effective tree canopy coverage, however, is 40+ percent, and some cities worldwide have goals up to 60 percent.

Still, a quick glance at this heat map shows how lucky we are in the West End to enjoy lower temperatures. Note that many of the city's cooler areas correspond to neighbourhoods with more tree canopy. (Social justice awareness has been growing around issues of lower-income neighbourhoods, higher urban temperatures and lack of trees.)

A study called "Trees are crucial to the future of our cities" by the University of Wisconsin-Madison documents how effective trees are at mitigating heatwaves like the one we've just experienced, and will only see more of with the worsening climate crisis.

In cities, especially densely populated areas like the West End, impervious surfaces like roads, sidewalks and buildings absorb heat during the day and slowly release it at night. Trees cool two ways — by shading surfaces and transpiring, or releasing water into the air through their leaves. These cooling effects increase when trees work together, so one dead tree can have a knock-on negative impact.

WHAT CAN WE DO? … The climate emergency means a watering emergency and on July 23 the city started emergency watering measures. It's using water cannons in naturalized areas, added a 225-gallon water tank and pump for young trees, and contracted two 350-gallon water trucks to support the existing water fleet. Boulevard and urban trees will also begin receiving additional nutrient additives to improve their resilience during the drought and heatwave.

But it's all hands on deck so the city is asking for our help. Here's what businesses and residents can do:

Graphic Courtesy of Vancouver Park Board.

  • Yellowing, light-coloured, droopy or wilted, and dropped leaves are all signs of stressed trees. Report them by calling the city services line at 311, or by downloading the city's VanConnect app (see links below) to get them watered, or do it yourself if you can.

  • Water restrictions are in effect across Vancouver but trees are exempt from water restrictions if you water by hand. For maximum absorption, twice a week trickle hose water or slowly pour one to two buckets of water from the stem to the outer drip line of the tree. More if it's a big tree.

  • Follow Vancouver Park Board's Twitter account #ThirstyTrees. Join the Facebook group, Vancouver West Enders where founder Rory Richards is helping organize volunteers to water trees. Also, continue to follow The West End Journal for more information on keeping your friendly neighbourhood trees — and your neighbours — happy and healthy.

Also, keep watering, watching, and reporting — even beyond the "usual" summer months. Vancouver weather ain't what it used to be so we have to change our responses, too.

RELATED LINKS:

Cherie Payne is the new executive director with the West End Community Centre Association.

Cherie Payne is the new executive director with the West End Community Centre Association.

NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR WECCA

The West End Community Centre Association (WECCA) has announced the appointment of Cherie Payne as executive diretor, effective August 1. She will be responsible for operations at the Denman Street West End Community Centre, Coal Harbour Community Centre, and Barclay Manor.

Payne is an advisor to public interest, education, and health organisations. She is a former Vancouver School Trustee, staffer to a federal health minister, and sits on the Boards of Food for the Poor Canada and Girls Club, an activity club for girls with neuro/developmental differences.

As well as her role with WECCA she will also serve as Director of Government Relations with WECCA's partner organisation, Vantage Point. Payne has served as a vocal advocate for urban planning that meets the needs of children and families, support for childcare and anti-poverty initiatives, and nurturing youth leadership. A graduate of McGill University and Osgoode Hall Law School, she has marched in Pride parades in Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver - and wiled away many a Saturday afternoon in a public library.

 

Word On The Street

A spacious new look welcomes shoppers to the renovated London Drugs on Robson.

A spacious new look welcomes shoppers to the renovated London Drugs on Robson.

A NEW LOOK FOR LONDON DRUGS

The renovations were completed and on July 16 West Enders were welcomed back to the Robson Street London Drugs.

A modern new look and spacious and open-feeling layout were on display as shoppers and just curious neighbors enjoyed music (with entertainment continuing throughout July) at the front door and applauded as store manager Sean Kim presented a $5,000 cheque to A Loving Spoonful.

According to store manager Kim, returning customers will find a new, refreshing open concept design including an updated cosmetics department and tech experience department.

Pharmacy consultations are available, and customers are able to receive vaccines from a London Drugs Certified Injection Pharmacist.

The former location of RYU clothing store, now the West End’s newest snack source. (Lee Rivett / Retail Insider Photo)

GUILTY SNACKING JUST GOT EASIER!

Dank Mart, the self-proclaimed “dankest bodega in the world”, has just opened its second Vancouver convenience store off Robson Street on Thurlow Street. Like the original location on South Main Street, Dank Mart offers a selection of “rare snacks and exotic drinks” in-store and online.

By “rare snacks” we’re talking about a wide variety of unique and hard-to-find sweets including Red Velvet Chips Ahoy cookies, Mike & Ike Cotton Candy, Fudge Brownie M&M’s, Creamsicle Twizzlers, KitKat Chunky Cookie Dough, Tiramisu Oreos, and Supreme-branded Oreos.

The Main Street store even has an entire wall dedicated to rare cereal brands and flavours such as Sour Patch Kids cereal, Timbits cereal, Twinkies cereal and even a cereal based on everyone’s favourite ice cream—Drumsticks. They also carry classic cereals with a twist, like Apple Jacks with marshmallows, Cinnamon Toast Crunch Churros, Cotton Candy Captain Crunch, Coconut Cheerios and much, much more.

As for drinks, they have Pepsi Blue and some typically Fanta flavors, including pineapple and grape.

Take a trip down memory lane with nostalgic treats like Cap'n Crunch's Oops! All Berries cereal or try something new like fudge brownie M&M's, birthday cake-flavoured Hershey's, or blue Pepsi.

The Burrard Street Station is the fourth busiest in the system.

BURRARD STATION CLOSING
Two Years To Make Major Upgrades

Burrard SkyTrain Station will be closed for two years starting in early 2022 for a major upgrade, according to a recent announcement by TransLink.

As part of the upgrade to the system’s fourth busiest station, the number of escalators will be doubled from three to six, and the number of elevators from one to two. The upgrades will also include relocating the Burrard Street entrance to align with the pedestrian crossing, redesigning the station’s outdoor plaza for pedestrians and upgrading the station’s power supply and mechanical systems.

TransLink said the downtown Vancouver station hasn’t undergone a significant upgrade since it was built in 1986. The well-used station had more than 7.6 million annual boardings in 2019.

“These significant upgrades are necessary to keep our transit system operating effectively and efficiently for our customers,” said TransLink interim CEO Gigi Chen-Kuo, adding the upgrades will improve the transit experience for customers and positions TransLink to meet future demand.

TransLink said closing the station during construction, rather than leaving it partially open, will improve safety for commuters and workers, reduce overall construction time by two-and-a-half years and save approximately $35 million.

Based on pre-COVID ridership, the additional passenger flow from Burrard station’s closure can be handled by Waterfront and Granville stations, the most nearby stations. Additional service will also be added.

Maximus on Davie.

ON THE BLOCK
Longtime West End Salon For Sale

Maximus Hair Salon on Davie near Bute has been at 1221 Davie for so long (more than 20 years, according to the listing) that it’s almost achieved landmark status.

The 1,190 square-foot business is now for sale, and can be yours for only $129,900, which seems like quite a deal for a business listed as having a “strong client base, high-volume traffic, and a great lease rate”.

Interested parties should take a closer look at the listing here.

Wu.

FAMILIAR FACES RETURN
New To Magic Dollar, But Not To The West End

The family-operated Magic Dollar outlet, with West End locations at 1252 Davie and 923 Denman, recently changed hands and the welcoming smile of the woman many just referred to as “that friendly lady at the dollar store”, Wu and her husband Li, have sold the two stores they had owned for ten years to Tina Pu and husband Young Si and have moved on to enjoy a well-deserved retirement.

Tina Pu at Magic Dollar on Davie.

Folks in the Denman and Barclay neighbourhood will remember Young and Tina as the previous owners of the Blenz coffee shop, right next door to the Magic Dollar Denman location. The couple ran the Blenz outlet from 2007 to 2017 and then sold it and purchased the Mighty Fraser Motel and Restaurant in Boston Bar, which they still run.

When Wu and Li decided to sell the Blenz location they turned to Tina, who is also a real estate agent (busy, much?) to help find a buyer.

“We thought about it,” said Tina, “and decided to buy it ourselves rather than put it on the market. We love the West End, the community, and the many friends we made here when we had Blenz. It was the right move for us.”

Given Tina and Young’s history of involvement in and contributing to community centres, school PACs, and local events, we can only think that it was the right move for the rest of us as well!

We bid a fond farewell to Wu and Li, and welcome Tina and Young back to the ‘hood. Drop in and say hello!

Milestones

THE DEARLY DEPARTED

Joyce Cordes.

JOYCE CORDES, a long-time West Ender who will be remembered by many as co-owner with her husband of the popular Robson Street restaurant La Cote D’azur, passed away peacefully at the age of 84 on January 18, 2021 at St. Paul’s hospital.

Born September 12, 1936 in Breda, The Netherlands Joyce, born Johanna, was one of twelve children in her family and the last surviving sibling of the Vermeiren family.

Joyce and her boyfriend Edward journeyed from The Netherlands to Canada in 1965, were married in the West End, and began their new life together building their careers in the hospitality industry.  In 1967, they gave birth to Mo(nique) and in 1969, to Lawrence.

Both Joyce and Eddie were dedicated to providing the best quality service of French haute cuisine when they took over La Cote D’azur in 1975. The family lived above the restaurant in the old Edwardian house, torn down in 1994, and ran the well-known establishment for 20 years. The ‘dynamic duo’ then moved the restaurant to Harrison Hot Springs for another ten year run until Eddie died suddenly of a heart attack. Joyce then retired and moved back to the West End.

“Joyce was known for her tireless work ethic and was the backbone to the success of the restaurant.,” her son Lawrence said in informing The West End Journal of her passing. “‘Behind every successful man is a strong woman”’ couldn’t be truer! Joyce could be engaging, kind, gracious, and even naïve.  She also marched to her own beat and was not a saint. As an immigrant she struggled to learn English and the Canadian culture. With that said, if you got on her dark side, you knew it!”

Joyce will be remembered for her love of her two grandchildren, Celicia and Luc, all dogs, and her flower gardens. Her family sends her off into the next realm with love and joy.

______________________

The West End Journal will be pleased to publish your “Milestones” news — births, weddings, and obituaries. Send a brief write-up and photo to editor@thewestendjournal.ca.

West End Moments

𝗔 𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗦𝗘 𝗢𝗡 𝗖𝗢𝗦𝗬 𝗖𝗢𝗥𝗡𝗘𝗥
A Home For A West End Gnome

Bentley Manor (zoom in to see the sign) is a lovely tree-trunk style home at the corner of Gilford and Pendrell. No indication of who to contact for sale or rental information, so we assume it is occupied and not on the market. The little red structure to the right is a phone booth, so residents will be okay when their WiFi fails.

You’ll note the tiny orange shirts hanging on the clothesline in the first photo, commemorating the victims of Canada’s residential schools, and in the second photo a rainbow pinwheel to celebrate Pride.

The homeowner, or someone who knows them, is welcome to contact us at editor@thewestendjournal.ca if they'd like to tell us more about this beautiful addition to the neighborhood. If we hear from them, there will be a story in the September issue of TWEJ. Stay tuned!

A topical commemoration on the clothesline. (Kevin Dale McKeown Photo)

A topical commemoration on the clothesline. (Kevin Dale McKeown Photo)

Ready for Pride. (Lynda Brennan Photo)

 

West End / Coal Harbour In The News