Community mobilization helps save green space in Chinatown

Good morning,

When I put together the arts listing on Wednesdays, I’m always surprised at just how many music, theatre and art shows there are. The city is really blessed with so many options. So if I leave you with one thing today, take a few minutes to check out the arts listing and discover something new in the city.  I’ve also added links to all the popular venues so you can easily find them.

Today’s main story is an example of when local government actually listens to residents in an area of town I’m very familiar with.

Let’s dive in!

— Geoff Sharpe, Lookout managing editor

Editor’s note: This was a funny one. I wrote on Monday that lower property tax prices pass on costs to people through higher poetry prices. I, of course, meant to say property prices. We regret implying poetry prices were rising!

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WEATHER

Wednesday: 10 🌡️ 7 | ⛅

Thursday: 13 🌡️ 9 | ⛅

Friday: 11 🌡️ 9 | 🌧️

PARKS

Community mobilization helps save green space in Chinatown

What happened: After a public campaign by local residents to save a green space area at Gore and Union Street from becoming a temporary fire hall, city council voted unanimously to look into designating the area an official park, according to Vancouver is Awesome.

Background: The city was originally planning to rezone 722 Gore St into a temporary fire hall, with two fire truck bays and an eight-metre tall hall. This was done to accommodate the large number of calls the area gets each month, around 1,900 a month, according to CBC.

Normally parks wouldn’t be used in this way, but the area is not a park, but a vacant right-of-way. The neighbourhood is already considered the most tree-deficit neighbourhood in the city, and this would’ve resulted in many trees being removed. 

One local resident noted that most people in the neighbourhood live in apartments and have no access to backyards, so the space is used as a community spot, with people using the tree cover, eating lunches and walking their dogs, amongst other activities. Another concern was that the fire hall could increase congestion in the already small area. 

• Community organizing was a key reason for the change. Spearheaded by local resident Dana Deschene, she collected signatures on a petition which was presented to council.

Good and bad: Vancouver is a city of contrasts. Earlier this summer, the city was named by a popular magazine as one of the best place for urban parks. Yet at the same time, a study done in 2022 showed that the city also has some of the least equitable access to urban green spaces, with better access to vegetation in the city correlated to higher incomes, according to the Vancouver Sun. 

Why it matters: There is always a balance between the not-in-my-backyard type of organizing, usually around housing, and demands to make places more livable, especially for those who live in apartments and don’t have ready access to amenities like yards. It’s an important reminder that locals can mobilize on livability issues and that local government will (sometimes!) listen. 

Speaking personally: As someone who used to live in Chinatown, the area is in desperate need of more green space. It’s always a startling difference, when walking through the area, between other higher-income areas of Vancouver full of parks and dense tree cover. It’s understandable why residents would oppose removing the green space. 

False Creek gets new park

In other park news, the park voted to approve the design of the new East Park neat Olympic Village, according to the Vancouver Sun.

What’s in it: The 1.2 hectare park will include lawn for events, recreation areas, a songbird tree area, walking and cycling paths.

Timeline: The first phase of the park, on the south side, will be completed in 2028. The second phase will begin after engineering studies. The name of the park has not yet been chosen.

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VANCOUVER NUMBERS

⚡ 49,917: The number of people in the Lower Mainland and Sunshine Coast who lost power on Monday. There were 65 outages in total. As of Tuesday morning, BC Hydro said they had reconnected 95 per cent of those affected. [CityNews]

❄️ 6,085: The number of cold weather shelter beds that BC Housing says they will provide throughout the province. Of those, 1,169 are temporary and opened on Nov. 1. [CityNews]

🏨 29: The number of storeys proposed for a hotel near Stanley Park, at 2030 Barclay Street. [Urbanized]

⛵️ 12+: The number of boats that ran aground during the windstorm on Monday. [CBC]

DREAM HOME

Is this one of the most affordable two-bedroom in Vancouver? Maybe!

With 690 square feet, you won’t have a huge amount of space, but with two bedrooms, you can still have friends stay over. The kitchen appears relatively modern, along with a nice-sized living room and a very cute patio. 

Honestly, the price doesn’t get much better than this in Vancouver. 

House of The Week is a home selected by the Lookout team and is not a paid advertisement. All ads are labeled as such. If you’re a realtor who wishes to feature your home in our newsletter, please contact our sales team.

THE AGENDA

🏘️ Home sales throughout Greater Vancouver surged in October as interest rates were cut. There were 2,632 sales, an increase of 31.9 per cent compared to last October. That’s still 5.5 per cent below the 10-year sale average. [Western Investor]

🚢 Over 700 foremen were locked out on Monday by their employer at BC ports after the union issued a strike notice. The union says it’s an attempt by the employer to get the federal government involved, since the lockout will impact all shipping container, except grain or cruise operations. [CityNews]

🪧 After an investigation, the British Columbia Labour Relations Board (LRB) found Radisson Blu Vancouver Airport Hotel used illegal replacement workers for a few days during October to December of last year. This isn’t the first time — the LRB has issued a labour violation against the hotel five times. [HR Reporter]

🔒️ The popular Lynn Headwaters Regional Park in North Vancouver is officially closed for the season as of Oct. 29 due to winter and will re-open again in 2025. [CTV]

💰️ Those working in TV and film are awaiting a decision by Premier David Eby on whether his government will raise the Production Services Tax Credit from 28 per cent to 36 per cent. The tax credit will help counter the increase in the tax credit in California, with the hope that the increase will retain jobs and investment in the province and Vancouver. [Vanacouver Sun]

🎧️ Speaking of Vancouver film production, here’s a great podcast episode about the surprising story of how the city became Hollywood North. [Canadian Geographic]

🛫 You thought popular Harbour Air was just float planes? Think again. The company just announced that they’re flying wheeled planes with a $99 one-way flight between YVR’s South Terminal and YYJ Victoria Airport. [Skies Mag]

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Ocean Legacy Foundation: The group is seeking a social media content creation volunteer to help run their social media strategy and create content. 

Vancouver Neighbourhood House: The group is seeking a snow removal buddy who can help remove snow at seniors’ homes and check in on them during wintery conditions. 

Vancouver Visual Art Foundation: The nonprofit is looking for a writer who can develop content, assist with editing. 

ONE to One Literacy Society: Volunteers are needed to help children improve their reading skills. Contact [email protected]. 

ARTS GUIDE

Theatre

Transform Festival features electrifying performances from local community artists focusing on Indigenous artists with music, theatre, comedy and more. It’s on now until Nov. 9 and tickets only cost $19.  

The Chutzpah Festival is on now until Nov. 10, featuring numerous musical acts, plays and more focused on Jewish performing arts and artists. 

JRR Tolkien fans will want to attend The Hobbit. Told by two actors, it’s an entertaining and different way to experience the classic at Pacific Theatre from Nov. 13 to Dec. 21. 

It’s almost time to get into the Christmas spirit, and what better way than Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol, reimagining the classic story but set in a mining company town. It’s on at the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage from Nov. 14 to Dec. 24.

Music

Love Bach? How about Bach performed by 500 singers? The Bach Choir Concert is on at the Orpheum on Dec. 1 and 2, it’s the perfect family fun event. 

There are quite a few big acts coming to Vancouver this month, including Rise Against, Zach Bryan, and the boss himself, Bruce Springsteen. 

Oscar and Grammy Award-winning composer Tan Dun is at the Orpheum on Nov. 8 and 9, showcasing his epic choral work. 

Movies 

VIFF continues to honour their newly upgraded theatre with Total Cinema: a celebration of sound, colour and spectacle. Coming up: The Manchurian Candidate, The Fall, Fight Club and more. [Sponsored]

Rio is showcasing A Different Man, featuring a spectacular performance by Sebastian Stan. Also not to be missed is the Seven Samurai 4k restoration. 

Cinematheque features Canadian director’s acclaimed movie Matt and Mara, and Jean Luc Goddard’s inscrutable and political La Chinoise, which I was lucky enough to see in New York one hot summer evening. 

Art

The Polygon exhibit Tales From the Crypt is a selection of art from the exhibit’s vault of photographs. 

The Equinox Gallery is featuring a series of photos from acclaimed photographer David Hockey and Fred Herzog, as well as works by Heiltsuk artist Shawn Hunt. 

Show Listings

• Vancouver Civic Theatres - see events

• Firehall Arts Centre - see events

• Roundhouse Community Centre - see events

• Arts Club Theatre Company - see events

• Vancouver Symphony Orchestra - see events

• Rickshaw Theatre - see events

• Vogue Theatre - see events

• The Roxy - see events

Did I miss any venues? Reply to this email to let me know!

PHOTO OF THE DAY

There were many photos of that sunset floating around. Here’s one of my personal favourites.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• Congrats to Gary’s in South Granville, which was the only Vancouver restaurant to make Air Canada’s Best New Restaurant awards. [Vancouver is Awesome]

• Shop and dine in downtown Vancouver for your chance to win tickets to the most anticipated concert of the year this December! Learn more. [Sponsored]

• Speaking of Gary’s, I wrote a review about them back in January. My verdict? The French-inspired spot is a winner. 

• The Stanley Park Christmas train is back and you can purchase tickets on Nov. 8 at 12 pm.  

• The crows really struggled to get to Burnaby this week… [Reddit]

• Vancouver musician Jon Siddall shared his experience working with music producer Quincy Jones, who recently passed away. [CBC]

• Here’s a little history of what could’ve been with the short-lived Olympic Line streetcar. [Urbanized]

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