Events, public education No comments yet

Rally today 10 a.m. – Parents rally for teachers & education system, Christy Clark’s MLA office

By on March 5th, 2012


For immediate release

March 5 2012

Parents rally for teachers, education system at Christy Clark’s constituency office.

10 a.m today — Monday March 5

3615 W 4th Ave, Vancouver — the constituency office of Premier Christy Clark.

Parents of students in the riding of Vancouver Point Grey will deliver collected letters of support for education system funding and a fair, negotiated settlement for teachers to the constituency office of their MLA, Premier Christy Clark, at 10 a.m. today.

Parents and students from other schools are expected to join the rally in support of teachers at the constituency office at 10 a.m. Students will be invited to read their letters to the Premier and Education Minister George Abbott.

–30–

For further details: Kevin Washbrook, 778.848.8278

housing, planning No comments yet

Public open house, on 1860 Barclay St, March 8, 5 pm, Best Western Sands Hotel

By on February 27th, 2012

Meeting Detaials:

Date: 8 March 2012

Time: Drop-in 5 pm to 7 pm

Place: Best Western Hotel 1755 Davie St.

Project proponent want to hear feed back from residents. Proposed Heritage Dedication and restoration of the Historic Mason residence at 1860 Barclay St. There will be information on the follow items at the open house:

-proposed development permit application

-Heritage dedication and restoration of the historic house

-New infill building behind-with in height and conditional parameters of RM5-B Zoning bylaw

-Neighbourhood character development

For further information please contact:

George Abboud, owner: host@grapevineguesthouse.com

public health No comments yet

Vancouver Police Warn Local Drug Users

By on January 30th, 2012

This warning was issued to the public almost 2 weeks ago, it is still in effect.  Please share this information widely, remembering that most people who use heroin do not live in the DTES. Most hold jobs, pay mortgages, and no one knows… .

Judy Graves, Homeless Advocate for the City of Vancouver

January 17, 2011

The Vancouver Police Department is issuing a public warning to local drug users.

Two people have already died from what police fear is potentially fatal heroin in circulation. Two women, one 19 years old and one 26 years old, both died of possible heroin overdoses. In a third case, a man had injected heroin, but it was cut with an unknown substance and caused very serious side-effects.

The Vancouver Police are warning drug users to be extremely cautious and utilize the services of INSITE. INSITE has medical personnel on hand that can help if there are problems.

In response to these recent incidents, the VPD has advised a number of local agencies, including INSITE, Vancouver Coastal Health, local police agencies, the B.C. Ambulance Service, and other community partners.

Anyone seeing someone appearing to be in medical distress is urged to immediately call 9-1-1 and if you are a drug user who has used and don’t feel well, seek medical attention or help immediately.

Events, planning No comments yet

Community open house for proposed rezoning of 1401 Comox St., Thursday, Feb. 9, 5 pm, Coast Plaza Hotel

By on January 25th, 2012



Notice of rezoning/development Permit application
(DE413347) and community open house for 1401 Comox Street
More info about the project at City’s Rezoning Centre

Henriquez Partners Architects has submitted a revised cuoncurrent rezoning and development permit application to rezone 1401 Comox Street From RM-5 (Multiple Dwelling) District to CD-1 (Comprehensive Development) District. The proposal is for a 22-storey market rental residential tower, wtih townhouses at grade. The proposal includes a floor space ratio (FSR) of 7.14 and a height of 61m 9200 Ft.). Changes from the previous revised submission (March 2010) include:
-sculping of the tower to reduce shadow impacts
-reduced height
-larger setbacks and more green space
-removal of the community facility

The proposed increase in density is to secure the provision of the rental housing.

The Open House will be a “drop-in” event where you can view the proposal. City staff and the applicant team will be available to answer your questions and receive your comments.

Community Open House
Date: Thrusday, February 9, 2012
Time: 5-8 pm
Place: Coast Plaza Hotel, nelson Room,
1763 Comox Street

For more information regarding this proposal and/or to send a written comment, please visit our website or contact the Rezoning Planner.

Website: vancouver.ca/rezapps

Contact: Karen Hoese Rezoning Planner

e-mail: karen.hoese@vancouver.ca

tel: 604.871.6403 fax: 604.873.7060

Events No comments yet

Free event, author Charlotte Gill talking about her book Eating Dirt, Monday Jan. 30

By on January 10th, 2012


Author Charlotte Gill will be talking about her new book ‘Eating Dirt: Deep Forests, Big Timber, and Life with the Tree-Planting Tribe’

A treeplanter’s vivid story of a unique subculture and the magical life of the forest.

Monday, January 30, 2012
7 pm – 9 pm
World Art Centre, Goldcorp Centre for the Arts,
149 W. Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC

Facebook event invite
Carlotte Gill’s website
Charlotte Gill spent twenty years working as a tree planter in the forests of Canada. During her million-tree career, she encountered hundreds of clearcuts, each one a collision site between human civilization and the natural world, a complicated landscape presenting geographic evidence of our appetites. Charged with sowing the new forest in these clear-cuts, tree planters are a tribe caught between the stumps and the virgin timber, between environmentalists and loggers. Continue reading Free event, author Charlotte Gill talking about her book Eating Dirt, Monday Jan. 30 →

Art: brent granby's visual art, Events No comments yet

Arts Salon: Occupy Environmental Art, Wed. Jan 25 at the Roundhouse Community Centre

By on January 3rd, 2012

moss graffiti
Photo courtesy finiculi, finicula (flickr)
Facebook event

Another event for Wednesday Jan. 25, 2012. This one looks interesting too. I am torn as which one to go to. The following is the description of the event from the Facebook event page:

“Occupy Environmental Art is not so much a statement as an invitation for discussion.

The Occupy movement has begun a critique of contemporary Western society. Although the concerns are rooted in issues of economic justice, Occupy also inherently deals with related matters such as social inequality, democratic processes, and environmental degradation. Occupy is engaging citizens in a collective, creative process of imagining alternatives to the status quo.

Environmental arts may also provide a variety of critiques on modern life: questioning the relationship between people and the environments that support them; the methods and materials of artistic expression; and how we value art. Environmental arts explore new ways of understanding and expressing the human condition.

Where do Occupy and environmental arts intersect and where do they diverge? What, if anything, does the Occupy movement have to offer to eco-arts and what can eco-arts bring to the Occupy movement?

Please join us for a facilitated discussion at the Roundhouse, followed by an informal social gathering in Yaletown.”

Events, Transportation No comments yet

Re:Generation – Move Our City Jan 25, 2012, SFU Woodwards

By on January 3rd, 2012

This sounds like it could be a fun event.

… Ever wonder about Vancouver rail transit in the 1950s? or the future of automobile ownership? Or wondered what “Active Transportation” was? …. well ….

Elders, Boomers, Xer’s and Young Folk Tell Their Active Transportation Stories

DETAILS
Wed, Jan 25th, 2012
149 W Hastings, SFU Woodwards
Doors: 630PM,
Show: 7-10PM
Tickets: $5-10 Sliding Scale – No one turned away.
Proceeds: Partial proceeds will be donated to Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition (VACC).

RSVP TO RESERVE eventbrite


FEATURING AWESOME STORIES FROM:
SHIFT, MODO and the TRANSIT MUSEUM SOCIETY

Be regaled about rail transit in Vancouver in the 1950’s + bus transit in the 1960’s. Be Inspired about a local Pedal Powered Urban Cargo Company. Be empowered by the cooperative ownership of Auto’s.

Finally Andrea Reimer will recap the evening of sharing our city’s past innovations and project forward to paint the Greenest City Vision for how we move our city forward!

TWITTER
Hashtags: #regeneration #greenestcity #activetransport

PARTNERS
City of Vancouver
Greenest City Team
Simon Fraser University
BC Transit Museum
The Tyee
Gen Why Media

Uncategorized No comments yet

Season Greetings, Happy Holidays and Peace out.

By on December 22nd, 2011

housing No comments yet

The Fall 2011 Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation Rental Report.

By on December 13th, 2011


The CMHC 2011 Rental Report was release today December 13, 2011. The trend of lower vacancy rate is continuing while prices are remaining near the rate of inflation.

Highlights of the report for Vancouver

-Vacancy rates edge down form 1.9 in October 2010 to 1.4% in October 2011 for purpose-built rental apartments.

-The average rate of rent increase between October 2010 and October 2011 was 2.3%, near the rate of inflation of 2%.

-Most of the increase in the stock of rental units was from secondary market rental condominiums.

-Vacancy rates edged down from 2.2 % to 0.9 % in October 2011 for rental condominium apartments.

-Population growth, employment opportunities, and the relative affordability of rental accommodation compared to ownership housing are expected to support demand for rental housing.

Rental Affordability Indicator Lower

The CMHC has developed and tool to measure affordability for renters. The tool is called the “Rental Affordability Indicator”. The tool is predicated on the notion that households should only spend 30% of their income on housing to be in a prudent financial state. To spend more than 30% of a households income on housing is a known risk factor for homelessness.

The indicator uses a three-year moving average of the median income of renter household and compare it the median rent for a two-bedroom apartment. The CMHC market rental report states that:

“An indicator value of 100 indicates that 30 per cent of the median income of renter households is necessary to rent a two-bedroom apartment going at the median rent. As the rental affordability indicator increases, the market becomes more affordable: as the indicator declines, the market becomes less affordable.”

In Vancouver from 2010 to 2011 the affordability indicator fell to 83 from 86.

Now that Vancouver has this tool to measure “affordability” residents will be able to track and benchmark progress on this is issue. Given that the median household income in Vancouver is $47, 000 and over 50% of residents are renters the Rental Affordability Indicator will be a important tool in measuring the progress that the City is making as a whole on developing affordable housing options.

Full report is available here:CMHC Rental Market Report

Vanpoli No comments yet

Congrats, thanks and disappointment

By on November 20th, 2011

Congratulations to all the candidates who were elected in Vancouver’s civic election yesterday. Thanks to all of the candidates who put their name forward.

This has been an exciting two months. It was humbling and an honour to be a COPE candidate in this election for the Vancouver Park Board. The experience was exciting and I am so proud of what we accomplished during this campaign. Everyone on our COPE team worked hard to bring our ideas forward in a positive, creative and authentic way.

This campaign has been personally rewarding and I’ve learned an incredible amount about leadership, group dynamics, campaigning, policy and politics. I have talked with so many wonderful people throughout this city and had many rewarding experiences. I will always be grateful to my family, supporters and friends who have unfailingly encouraged me. I even think my public speaking is getting almost passable.

I am so happy that Allan Wong was re-elected on the School Board. Allan is such an intelligent, thoughtful and committed person. Vancouver is the better for electing Allan. However, I am disappointed that Alan Blakey and Jane Bouey were not re-elected yesterday.

My heart goes out to Ellen Woodsworth. I had so much fun with Ellen and learned a great deal from her. Ellen has effectively represented important issues and constituencies for the past three years as a city counselor . I feel so disappointed for her. She has been one of the hardest working people I know. I am proud to be a member of the same party as her.

There are no guarantees in elector politics. You have to work your hardest, try your best and put your ideas forward as effectively as one can. I am disappointed that I did not earn the support of Vancouver residents, but the voters have spoken. I would like to extend my gratitude to all those who did cast and entrust their vote to me.