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 May, 2023. Scroll through the following features to find:

  • Our Lead Story: The Tourism Challenge puts the West End on the map.

  • West End Moments: Tree down on Barclay, Little Sisters’ 40th anniversary, and more!

  • West End Street Names: Many West End lanes are now named for notable persons who made contributions to the political, social, and business life of our community. This month we look at the story behind Kay Stovold Lane .

  • The West End - Coal Harbour In The News: In case you missed it, West End and Coal Harbour news as reported in local media in March.

Our Lead Story

VANCOUVER TOURISM CHALLENGE
Putting The West End On The Map

by Lucas Pilleri

A local tourism industry tradition, the Vancouver Tourism Challenge returns this year from April 22 to May 31.

Do you know the name of the sculpture made by Brooklyn-based artist John Clement located at Robson Street and Jervis Street?

The idea is to get the staff and volunteers working in the tourism industry to explore various attractions in the city’s neighbourhoods – with the goal of turning them into advocates.

“The goal is to re-educate the industry people so that when they’re dealing with tourists, they have a better idea of how to direct people,” says Teri Smith, executive director of the West End Business Improvement Association.

In practice, the participants go around with a stamp passport and collect stamps by completing small challenges then visiting various local businesses.

To earn stamps in the West End, they will have to perform two of the following:

  • How many palm trees are there on the Divine Love mural made by Ceeboots behind Numbers Cabaret on Davie Street?

  • What is the name of the sculpture made by Brooklyn-based artist John Clement located at Robson Street and Jervis Street?

  • Take a photo with the Thank you Miss Rosemary mural made by Sade Alexis at Denman Street and Rosemary Brown Lane, and post it to Instagram with the hashtag #WeAmaze

As for the stamps, they can be collected at Peaked Pies on Denman Street, The Quick Nickel on Davie Street, Lucifer’s House of Heat on Denman Street, and Ofra’s Kitchen on Denman Street.

“The participating businesses get to connect with the folks working in the tourism industry and leave a good impression,” notes Teri Smith.

As the Tourism Challenge expanded over the years, more neighbourhoods have joined. For the past couple of years, the focus has been placed on public art.

“As a neighbourhood, we have to think about what would make us stand out,” says Teri Smith. “With the murals and the sculpture, we tried to cover every major street – Davie, Denman and Robson.”

Now that the ferry season has returned, West End Business Improvement Association executive director wants the neighbourhood to grab a piece of the cake.

“It will be another record year this year,” Smith says. “But the West End is the furthest part on the peninsula from the port. Before us, there’s Gastown, Downtown, Yaletown, Chinatown… Any help we can get to encourage tourists to come is welcome. We want to make sure we’re on the map.”

As the Tourism Challenge goes on, Teri Smith hopes visitors will perceive the West End as she does: “Vancouver’s real crown jewel.”

West End Street Moments

Click on any image to enlarge and read the text.

West End Street Names

In 2017 the City started naming eight of the lane ways that run east and west through the West End. Here is the story behind ted northe Lane. The West End Journal series “Name That Lane” first ran in 2020/2021.

STOVOLD LANE

by Lucas Pilleri

Kathleen (Kay) Stovold was a longtime West End resident and community advocate for seniors and people with disabilities.

Born in England in 1911, she immigrated to Canada during World War II after she lost her first husband. She then married Len Stovold for what would become a 54-year-long marriage.

Kay Stovold (Vancouver City Archives)

In 1979 Kay co-founded and became president of the West End Seniors Network, which operates out of a beautiful Edwardian house on Barclay Street known as the Barclay Manor.

At that time Kay was part of a small group of dedicated volunteers who wanted to offer a better life for the thousands of seniors living in the West End. Today, the WESN provides them with a broad range of programs and services, and more than 200 volunteers are contributing to the network.

Part of the organization is Kay’s Place, a drop-in space for seniors, during more normal times, to enjoy a cup of coffee, a daily newspaper or rest on their way home with their groceries. The centre is located in Denman Place Mall. Access and services are restricted during the current pandemic. Find out more about their current operations here.

Stovold was engaged in many boards, work groups, and conferences, among which were the St. Paul’s Hospital Advisory Committee, the City Council Special Seniors Advisory Committee, New Horizons, and the BC Seniors Medication Awareness Project.

In 1999, Vancouver’s mayor and its council honoured the social activist at city hall with ‘Kay Stovold Day’. In 2000, she received the Community Service Award from Volunteer Vancouver. A Memorial Fund was established on Stovold’s death in 2001 to honour her lifelong commitment. The fund is managed by VanCity Community Foundation and helps support Kay’s Place. You can make donations here.

The West End - Coal Harbour In The News