CRAB Park residents worried about future clean-up plan

Good morning,

I realized I’m officially writing a newsletter five times a week. It’s a little scary, but I’ve grown to really like writing since I started writing this newsletter last year. 

Speaking of writing, I’ve got a review dropping tomorrow in Vancity Lookout Eats covering a new Middle Eastern restaurant in Vancouver. This one’s not to be missed. Click here to instantly subscribe to the newsletter and get the story tomorrow. I’ll also be including a list of all the Vancouver Cocktail Week events for those interested. 

Today we’ve got a story on a planned cleanup at CRAB Park, some troubling news about fires in the province and a big list of events this week.

Let’s get to it.

— Geoff Sharpe, Vancity Lookout editor

PS - It’s supposed to be bad weather this morning so keep an eye out for road conditions that may be impacted by snow.

PPS - Was this email forwarded to you? Subscriber here for free so you don’t miss a single edition.

WEATHER

Monday: 2 🌡️ -6 | ❄️

Tuesday: 2 🌡️ -3 | 🌤️

Wednesday: 2 🌡️ -3 | 🌤️

HOUSING

CRAB Park residents worried about future clean-up plan

What happened: The city said last week that they plan to shut down the CRAB Park encampment for a temporary amount of time in order to clean up the area, because they say it’s becoming unsafe for residents. But those residents are concerned about the future of the encampment, according to CityNews.

Background: The CRAB Park encampment is, unlike the previously dismantled Downtown Eastside encampment, operating legally due to a BC Supreme Court ruling last year that prevented the city from removing residents, saying that the city did not have enough shelter space for the campers, according to Global News. 

• The plan was originally to clean up the area in December or January, but the bad weather delayed it. Cleaning up the park will shut down the encampment for a week, and residents will need to seek out areas nearby, or shelter space, according to CTV. 

To be clear: The Park Board, in a very declarative statement, noted that this was not a decampment, which is something that would go against the court ruling. 

Yes, but: The area that the CRAB Park people will be moved to does not fall within the court ruling, and therefore the residents worry they cannot camp there 24 hours a day. Residents say they are worried that the city is acting in bad faith and a bylaw crackdown could be happening in the future. 

• The park board said to CTV they will not be enforcing camping rules outside the designated area.

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VANCOUVER NUMBERS

🏒 $92.8 million: The amount Canucks forward Elias Pettersson will get over the next eight years in his new contract with the Canucks, around $11.6 million per year. [CTV]

👁️ 20,000: The number of seniors that could be affected by fee disputes between the society of eye doctors and eye specialists. It would mean no treatment for these patients next month. [Vancouver Sun]

⚽ 16: The number of seasons that Whitecaps player Russell Teibert has played for the team. The 31-year-old is retiring, but may return in a front-office role. [Sportsnet] 

ENVIRONMENT

Forest fire data problems

Miscalculating what you owe a friend for a meal out? Not a big deal. Miscalculating potential forest fire fuel data? That’s a bigger deal.

What happened: The province says they are working with the author of a new study that outlines how inaccurate government data on forest fuel loads may result in worse forest fire conditions throughout the province, according to the Vancouver Sun. 

Background: The mix of different forest fuels in areas, including dead branches and trees, has a huge impact on the scale of fires each summer. The data from these studies is used to determine fuel treatments that would reduce fires, according to Vancouver is Awesome. Focusing on the wrong areas would lead to worse fires in more at-risk spots. 

Breaking it down: The study highlighted miscommunication between different levels of government and a 58 percent mismatch rate between national data tracking and field observations. One of the big problems comes from aerial imaging which can be inaccurate. 

• Looking ahead: The province is working with the study authors. They say they are planning to adopt LiDAR, which uses lasers to map topography and is more accurate. 

What it means: Given that 2023 was the worst fire season on record, and the province is dealing with a record drought, having accurate data like this is critical. For Vancouver, better provincial data tracking and management would mean less intense forest fire smoke in the city.

NEW JOBS

Discover your Vancouver dream job:

• Manager, bus priority programs at TransLink

• Manager, communications at Douglas College

• Community relations specialist at Hays

• Executive director at Provincial Health Services Authority

• Vice president, brand management at Arc’teryx

• Manager, key account at Red Bull

Local jobs are selected by the Lookout team and are not paid ads, unless specifically noted.

THE AGENDA

👎️ It looks like some cities in Metro Vancouver aren’t interested in adopting certain policies that would encourage more housing, in order to receive funds from the federal housing accelerator. The townships and city of Langley, Maple Ridge, Port Coquitlam, White Rock and Delta did not satisfy the requirements and will miss out on millions. [Urbanized]

🍷 Calls are growing for BC to change its liquor laws after a spate of instances where Vancouver restaurants were fined thousands of dollars for people dancing in the restaurants. [Global News]

🛑 Granville Bridge was closed on Saturday temporarily as protestors rallied and called for an end to the conflict in the Gaza Strip. [CityNews]

🏫 Questions are being raised about why Vancouver is essentially subsidizing the lease of a private dyslexia school for children that charges $38,000 to $44,000 per student. The $1 lease means the private school is essentially getting $27.5 million in funding from the city. It’s the only school that gets this type of funding. [The Tyee]

🗳️ A controversial referendum on whether to terminate the lease on Hillel House, a Jewish group, on the UBC campus, will not go ahead. The student union said that the vote did not conform to their bylaws. The referendum was in response to a private contractor who worked for Hillel plastering stickers that said “I heart Hamas” across campus. [Global News]

🏢 Tenants using temporary supportive housing at Travelodge in North Vancouver will have to vacate by the end of May, with many not having an alternative place to live. [North Shore News]

EVENTS GUIDE

Vancouver Cocktail Week | Multiple spots around town | Until March 10 | Celebrate the art of the cocktail with talented bartenders and other events around town | Various ticket prices

Campari Sugar Shack Party | Homer St. Cafe and Bar | March 4, 3 pm | A sugar shack inspired party, come by and have some cocktails | Tickets $17

Level's Facing Resistance Speaker Series  | 128 West Hastings St., Suite 210 | March 7, 7 pm | Connect with the community of people building an equitable justice system | Tickets $15

Vegan night Market | Waldorf Hotel Park Lot | March 7, 6 pm | Come discover plant-based food, fashion and culture with people from around Vancouver at Canada’s only vegan night market | Free 

Lucrezia - presented by Vancouver Opera | Vancouver Opera | March 8-10, | Re-imagining of an opera favourite, a tale of love | Free

International Women’s Day Art Fair | 1448 W Broadway St. | March 9, 1 pm | Celebrate women and art with local women artists | Tickets $12

Festival du Bois 2024 | Mackin Park, Coquitlam | March 9, 11 am | Celebrate all things French, with food, art and music at the wildly popular festival | Tickets $34

International Women's Day Art Fair | Pacific Arts Market | March 9, 1 pm | Showcasing women artists from around BC, including painting, jewelry, sculpture and more | Free

Green Garden Gala | Sutton Place Hotel | March 9, 7 pm | The glitziest and most glamorous event of Vancouver Cocktail Week, with drinks and food… and more drinks! | Tickets $187

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• Bad news — the recently Michelin-recommended restaurant Regal Mansion near city hall is shutting down. [Vancouver is Awesome]

• The popular Stanley Park train will return over the Easter Long Weekend, along with an easter egg hunt. [CityNews]

• Brrrr, congrats to everyone who participated in the Polar Plunge on Saturday at Kitsilano Beach to support Special Olympics BC. [CityNews]

• The long-running Hamburger Mary’s in Davie Village is shutting down after four decades. [CityNews]

GAME TIME

Congrats to everyone who correctly guessed Friday’s Vancouver Wordle. The answer was KIDS.

Today’s quiz question — how many years is Canucks forward Elias Pettersson’s new contract? Reply with the correct answer and your name to be featured in the newsletter.