Renfrew-Collingwood Community News February 2023

Former CNH director Mike McLenaghen to be inducted in the Burnaby Sports Hall of Fame

by Julie Cheng

The first time I saw Michael McLenaghen in action, he was teaching soccer to a bunch of kids, including my daughter. As he showed them how to dribble, touching the ball with one side of the foot then the other, I remember thinking, “this guy has some skill.”

I knew Mike as the director of community services at Collingwood Neighbourhood House (CNH), where he retired after 21 years in October 2016 (RCC News, November 2016). He never liked to talk about himself, even when RCC News sent a student reporter to interview him. He used to spend time talking with me and my family about the importance of keeping children interested in sports well past their teen years. He promoted gymnastics classes as a way to encourage strength, spatial awareness, balance and flexibility in kids.

Skill indeed. Mike has played in the North American Soccer League and on the Canadian national soccer team in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. Now Mike’s skill – and heart – will be recognized when he’s inducted into the Burnaby Sports Hall of Fame on March 24, 2023.

What does this recognition mean to him? Read on for what Mike had to say.

Here is Mike with the 1982 Canadian National Team, back row; right of centre. Photos: www.nasljerseys.com

Mike McLenaghen retired from Collingwood Neighbourhood House after 21 years. Photo by Paul Reid (2016)

Noticed in Vancouver

MIke McLenaghen : Continued from page 1

On being inducted into the Burnaby Sports Hall of Fame

by Michael McLenaghen

Luckily for me, my childhood was full of opportunities to play pick-up games of tag, kick the can, baseball, road hockey, with my friends in South Burnaby. I can recall my mom, Mary, feeding us porridge and toast in the morning then saying, “out you go” and make sure your brothers come back alive.

I started out with a pair of Gola Speedsters (hardtoed soccer boots) and a pancake baseball glove so how I ended up in the Burnaby Sports Hall of Fame I’m not quite sure. However, I know it had a lot to do with people supporting me. Soccer was my first love and lacrosse was my second. I understand that I’ll be inducted for my soccer career; however, my early unstructured “play” experiences along with my participation in lacrosse, basketball and other sports were key elements in my development as a soccer player.

The lack of structure with minimal parental supervision along with having the freedom to mess around with skills in creative ways on grass fields, playgrounds and the lacrosse box helped me develop a wide range of abilities.

I am grateful to the municipality of Burnaby and, in particular, the Wesburn, Norburn and Willingdon sport organizations. Also, Burnaby Parks and Recreation, where I was a playground leader, which was my first real job and the best.

It was on the playgrounds where I learned to balance play and recreation with my competitive side. I owe a big thank you to Jack Crosby, Dan Mattinson, Dave Evans, Bill Hartle and Lloyd Johnson. Jack, Dan and Dave are in several halls of fame; I was very fortunate to have had these positive mentors in my teens.

Jack Crosby was the key builder in Norburn-Burnaby lacrosse. Hall of fame goalie Dave Evans gave me a stick, pads and gloves to start me playing lacrosse. Dan Mattinson was our trainer for Norburn Junior Soccer and an excellent coach and friend during my junior lacrosse days. Bill

Karen Vanon

Mike McLenaghen starred at Simon Fraser University and was a first-round draft choice of the NASL’s Minnesota Kicks in 1979. Photos: www. nasljerseys.com

Hartle was way ahead of his time as a soccer coach, and I learned so much from him about life and soccer. Bill was a throwback to a time when young players were discovered on parks, sandlots and at the Sun Soccer Tournament.

Playing softball and soccer with Wesburn started me on my multisport path. When my mom moved my brothers and I from South Burnaby to North Burnaby’s Confederation Park apartments, we had no idea of what a sports mecca we had stumbled into. Confederation Park was where I could often be found practising baseball, lacrosse and soccer on the same day; I would toss the soccer ball, lacrosse stick and ball and baseball glove over our second-floor balcony on to the park below and meet up with my friends. Confederation Park was the home for Norburn-Pegasus soccer and Norburn-Burnaby Junior lacrosse. These soccer and lacrosse clubs were the best teams I played for and would go on to become two of the best amateur sport organizations in Canada.

My mom raised three very rambunctious boys on her own and used her tip money as a waitress to buy soccer boots, basketball runners and lacrosse sticks for us.

Mom was always there to support my brothers and I. After serving people all day at the Cave Supper Club or Monty’s Seafoods, I can recall her preparing several dinners in the evenings for my brothers and I, depending on when our practices and games were scheduled.

Sport led me into my life’s vocations including teaching physical education and coaching at the First Nations school in Mount Currie, creating a diverse recreation program at CNH; coaching children, youth and adults at many levels, and creating Collaborative Community Coaching (C3), a values-based approach to leading and coaching in sport.

C3 was the most important way that I could give back to sport. This methodology of leading sport was created by my wife Ali, Steve Musson, Ian Curry and myself. Values such as respect, doing one’s best, support, fun and responsibility were integral to this approach. We believe in the potential power of sport to transform people, groups and communities in positive, healthy ways. Sport by design takes work and being intentional about creating and supporting good sport is the way to go. Our ef-

forts were instrumental in the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) creating True-sport – a Canadian national sport program.

Now I continue to play – fly-fishing, walking soccer, cycling up mountains, crosscountry skiing, hiking and golfing (I need many balls at the start of a round). It is a great privilege and honour to be inducted into Burnaby’s Sport Hall of Fame.

You can find the RCC News throughout the Renfrew-Collingwood community at these fine locations. Thank you to our distributors.

Distributors

21. Starbucks

22. Superstore

1. 2400 Motel

2. Adrian Dix’s MLA Office

3. Banana Grove

4. Boundary Business Center

5. Canadian Tire

6. Collingwood Library

7. Collingwood Neighbourhood House

8. Don Davies

9. Evergreen Community Health

10. Fresh Slice Pizza

11. Italian Cultural Center

13. Mosaic

14. Old Ramada Inn

15. Papa John’s Pizza

16. Renfrew Library

17. Renfrew Park Community Center

18. Renfrew-Collingwood Seniors Society

19. Save On Foods

20. Shoppers Drug Mart

23. Three Links Care Center

24. Tipper Restaurant

Congratulations Mike!

COMMUNITY NEWS

The mission of this non-profit publication is to provide the residents, businesses and organizations of Renfrew/Collingwood with a medium for community communication.

Paul Reid: staff writer and layout coordinator

Lisa Symons: sales and distribution coordinator

Julie Cheng: editorial coordinator

Contributors: All Genders Youth Group, Clea Moray, Julie Cheng, Loretta Houben, Karen Vanon, Michael McLenaghen, Paul Reid, Ry Forsythe, Sophia Han, Together

We Can, Varsha Gill

We want to hear from you!

Yes, You! Send comments, community events, press releases by regular post, fax or e-mail. Suggestions for improving the paper are welcome.

We welcome appropriate, unsolicited editorial submissions if accompanied by the author’s real name, address and telephone number. The author should retain the original as we cannot return submissions without prior agreement nor does submission guarantee publication. We reserve the right to make editorial changes.

The Renfrew/Collingwood Community News does not necessarily support the views of its contributors.

Next submission deadline: Feb 10

The Renfrew-Collingwood Community News is an initiative of the Collingwood Neighbourhood House (CNH).

You Can Find the RC Community News @

Libraries, Collingwood Neighbourhood House, Renfrew Park Community Centre, The Italian Cultural Centre, Collingwood Policing Office, other organizations, religious institutions, schools, laundromats, Starbucks, Rona, Superstore, Canadian Tire, Walmart, London Drugs and Safeway coffee shops, restaurants, markets, corner stores, other businesses, and coffee tables all over Renfrew-Collingwood.

Contact

Phone: 604-435-0323 extension 261 Fax: 604-451-1191

Editorial: rccnews-editorial@cnh.bc.ca

Advertising:

Phone Lisa Symons at 604.435.0323 email: rccnews-sales@cnh.bc.ca

Renfrew/Collingwood Community News

Collingwood Neighbourhood House

5288 Joyce Street Vancouver, BC V5R 6C9

February 2023

Should alcohol have warning labels on the packaging as cigarettes do?

Dry Feb challenges you to go alcohol-free in February

by David Penny

A news story released by CTV and other media highlights a report from the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) surrounding lower consumption and the suggestion of labelling alcoholic beverage packages with the number of servings per container as well as health warning labels like cigarettes.

In the early 2000s, Canada introduced graphic warning labels on cigarette packages. In various studies of more than 650 participants conducted when the labels came into effect, 23% of participants attempted to quit within the first three months and 40% of those who quit remained abstinent a year later. Results showed that smokers who read, thought about and discussed the warning labels in greater depth at the outlay of the studies were significantly more likely to quit, attempt to quit or reduce their smoking a year after the studies.

While alcohol consumption is linked to physical health issues, there are also numerous ways that alcohol affects mental health, including dependency issues and alcohol use disorders. The CCSA has released new alcohol consumption guidelines, recommending a lower number of alcoholic beverages per person per week if you want to avoid the adverse health effects of drinking.

One of the recommendations is that alcoholic beverage packaging has a label stating the number of recommended servings in the container and also health warnings.

The report from CCSA is quoted as saying, “Three-to-six drinks a week increases the risk of developing certain cancers, including colorectal and breast cancer, and more than seven drinks a week also increases your risk of heart disease and stroke. The danger goes up with every additional drink.”

Partly, those warning labels would advise people of the link between alcohol consumption and cancer, something the Canadian Cancer Society is trying to bring awareness to through their Dry Feb campaign (dryfeb.ca). Dry Feb is a fundraiser that challenges you to go alcohol-free in February. It helps you get healthy while raising funds to make an impact for people affected by cancer.

As substance use treatment industry leaders, we know full well that cutting back or stopping drinking can be a challenge for many people. We are hopeful that more information on the health impacts of drinking and knowing what supports are available for those who struggle with sobriety will provide people with the knowledge to make informed decisions surrounding their use of alcohol and other substances. For information on alcohol cessation programs like the ones available at Together We Can, please visit twcrecoverylife. org.

Together We Can Alcohol & Drug Recovery & Education Society offers information, education and treatment services in the lower mainland, based in Vancouver.

The following is a paid advertisement by Adrian Dix, MLA for Vancouver/Kingsway

Dear Neighbours,

Our office ushered in the Lunar New Year of the Rabbit with zest, thanks to the energetic lion dance organized by the Collingwood BIA. Thank you to the lion dancers for bringing so much festive energy along Kingsway and around the neighbourhood.

BC Excellence Scholarships

The BC Excellence scholarship is awarded to 55 well-rounded high school graduates who have demonstrated service and leadership, both at school and in their communities, and who show aptitude for and commitment to their chosen career or area of post-secondary study. Application deadline: February 15, 2:59pm PST

Family Day – Monday, February 20th

Our community office will be closed for Family Day on Monday, February 20th. We will re-open Tuesday, February 21st, and look forward to serving our constituents with matters surrounding provincial services. We wish you and your loved ones a great Valentine’s Day and Family Day!

Spring Legislative Session

The spring session of the BC Legislature will begin on February 6th, with the Speech from the Throne, followed by the introduction of the government’s 2023 Budget on February 28th. I am always happy to hear your thoughts and ideas for legislation and would welcome any suggestions you may have for the spring session.

As always, my community office, at 5022 Joyce St. Vancouver, is open to provide services for constituents in person with appointments and via phone and email. Please give us a call at 604-660-0314 or email us at adrian.dix.mla@leg. bc.ca, and we will get in touch with you as soon as we can. 聯絡本辦事處請電郵 adrian.dix. mla@leg.bc.ca 或致電 604-660-0314. 如欲 親臨敬請預約。

Here’s a list of some of the free services our office offers:

Advocacy – We will work hard to assist you with any issues you have that involve the provincial government departments, services, or ministries. Information & Referral – Our office can find the right government contact or program. We can help you understand how program changes will affect you, your family, and your community.

We also know the services available in our community and are happy to refer you to them. Getting Connected – Free fax for government and community-related matters.

Thank you very much for all that you’re doing and take care.

Sincerely,

Adrian Dix, MLA Vancouver-Kingsway

Read On! A news section for Renfrew-Collingwood learners

Celebrating Family Day

by Sophia Han

A new holiday tradition 

B.C. Family Day takes place on Monday, February 20. It is a provincial holiday that is also celebrated in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario and New Brunswick. Around the world, the holiday takes place in Australia, South Africa, Thailand and Vietnam but at different times of the year.

Family Day in Canada originated in Alberta in 1990. It became an official holiday in B.C. in 2019. Since it is a fairly new holiday, there are not many traditions. Many Canadians simply enjoy a day off from work and spend quality time with family and loved ones.

If you are looking for fun things to do on this day, bring your family to the Renfrew Park Community Centre at 2929 East 22nd Avenue for an afternoon of face painting, balloon animals, arts and crafts.

What is an average family, anyways? 

Family Day is a time to appreciate the close bonds we share with people we consider “family.”

In fact, families today look very different than they did in the past. According to a 2016 census, the number of non-traditional families has risen in Renfrew-Collingwood. There are far fewer nuclear families – families consisting of a father, a mother and two children. There are more adult children living at home and the number of single-parent families has increased to 30% of all families with children. Increasingly, households consist of multiple generations.

While there are many reasons for these trends, the definition of a family remains the same – any close-knit group of people who support one another through good times and bad. Happy Family Day!

VOCABULARY

provincial holiday – a holiday only celebrated in certain places, depending on the province originated – started fairly new – when something is new to some degree but not very new simply – to do things in an uncomplicated way appreciate – when you like and are grateful for something close bonds – strong feelings of friendship or love non-traditional – something that wasn’t typical in the past has risen – to go up consisting of – made up of increasingly – when something continues to grow larger or more common household – all the people living under one roof who are related to one another and share costs generations – the members of a group that are of a similar age trends – a change that is new remains the same – when something does not change close-knit – a group of people who have strong bonds

Read

Father and son, Giuseppe and Vinny, remind us that families come in all shapes and sizes. Photo by Sophia Han

All Genders Youth Group installs Pride flag and safe space sticker at Collingwood Neighbourhood House

by Ry Forsythe and the All Genders Youth Group

The All Genders Youth Group are excited to share the display of an inclusive pride flag and a safe space sticker to the front windows of the main building of the Collingwood Neighbourhood House (CNH) at 5288 Joyce Street.

WHAT IS THE ALL GENDERS YOUTH GROUP?

The All Genders Group initiative is designed to provide 2SLGBTQIA+ youth and their allies with a safe, social and supportive environment where they can deepen their understanding on relevant topics through conversations, workshops and activities while making a tangible impact in their community through group-led community justice projects.

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT TO YOUTH IN THE COMMUNITY?

To date, there are people in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community who are still being bullied and/or not accepted for showing who they truly are (such as parents of trans youth not supporting their children and their need for transition, youth not being able to share their feelings or their thoughts with friends/family who won’t understand, school not being a space where youth learn about the queer/nonbinary experience).

In recognition of these challenges, the All Genders youth group came up with a unique design for a new safe space sticker and a window decal with the most current inclusive pride flag.

This project is intended to be a visible and tangible show of solidarity to 2SLGBTQIA+ folks in the Renfrew-Collingwood area and will serve as a springboard towards further change and inclusivity within our organization and surrounding community.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF RAINBOW FLAGS

Similar to how crosses indicate a church building, rainbow flags have been used to signal a gathering place for 2SLGBTQ+ peoples, and now are regarded as a symbol for the community.

There are many versions of the flag (the first being by Gilbert Baker in 1978), and, like the many letters that will continue to be added to the acronym, the flag will likely be revised in the future.

The flag on the CNH window is called the Intersex-Inclusive Pride Flag brought forward by Valentino Vecchietti in 2021. This flag is spring boarded off the Inclusive Pride Flag designed in 2018 by Daniel Quasar (a non-binary artist) to include the intersex pride flag created back in 2013 by Morgan Carpenter. This design was chosen by the All Genders Youth as it covers not only sexual orientation, gender identities and BIPOC folks, but also recognizes more progress is needed.

THE FLAG’S COLOUR AND MEANING

The rainbow

• Red: life and passion

• Orange: healing

• Yellow: sunlight

• Green: nature

• Indigo: serenity

• Violet: spirit

The triangle

Daniel Quasar spoke publicly about how work is still needed in terms of BIPOC and trans rights. As such, the placement of the new colours in an arrow shape is meant to convey the progress still needed.

• Yellow background with the purple circle: the newest addition by Valentino Vecchietti. Added to the white part of the triangle, it now includes the symbol of the intersex flag, acknowledging intersex peoples within the community.

• White, light blue and light pink: the colours that are a part of the trans flag, encompassing anyone who identifies differently than the sex they were assigned at birth. Traditionally, the colours pink and baby blue were used to represent whether a baby is a boy or a girl. Here, the colours denote those genders and the use of white is to acknowledge folks who may be in the process of transitioning, do not identify with any specific gender or those who have a neutral gender.

• Black and brown: represents BIPOC peoples and taken from the Philadelphia Pride Flag designed in 2017. BIPOC people have often been left out of the queer narrative despite being the driving force behind the movement (look up Marsha P. Johnson).

SAFE(R) SPACE STICKERS

The sticker was designed by one of the All Genders youth, which all participants supported in finalizing and creating a digital copy and getting it in sticker form.

Safe space stickers indicate a building or organization is accepting and inclusive to 2SLGBTQ+ folks. It should be recognized that these stickers indicate a space is “SAFER,” as there can never be a guarantee that someone else accessing a space is a safe person or has harmful views towards 2SLGBTQIA+ folks. This sticker does, however, indicate staff at CNH are expected to support the victim should those situations come up.

Finally, there is still more progress to be made. Though laws change (slowly) and the larger public tend to lean more towards acceptance, there is still a long way to go, much more to learn and safer spaces needed, especially for youth who do not have a supportive household or friend group. Providing a safer space makes a world of difference.

All Genders is a weekly youth group for gender-diverse youth and their allies to come and learn about various topics in a safe and inclusive space. Throughout the year, the group will work on 2SLGBTQ+ projects in and around the Collingwood Neighbourhood House community. To learn more, contact Ry Forsythe at rforsythe@cnh.bc.ca.

Show the planet some love with Eco Refillery

by Julie Cheng

Do you wash dishes, do laundry and clean the bathroom? Are you looking to save money and do the right thing? At long last, there’s now an economical and eco-friendly store within walking distance where you can bring your own containers and fill up with dish soap, laundry detergent, bathroom cleaner and more for your home or business.

There’s also a nice selection of personal care products like natural bar soaps, body lotions and compostable bamboo toothbrushes.

Located at 4509 Rupert Street and East 29th Avenue, Eco Refillery first opened in Renfrew-Collingwood in April 2022. You may have recently received their postcard in the mail – if so, bring it in and receive a free sample of hand soap.

The Eco Refillery opened in Renfrew-Collingwood in 2022.

Photos by Julie Cheng

The Eco Refillery offers a selection of natural personal care products like bar soaps, body lotions and compostable bamboo toothbrushes, which can also be used to clean your shoes.

The Seniors Connection

Collingwood Corner: Joyce Road in September 1911

by Loretta Houben

There are only a few photographs taken of the Collingwood area in the early 1910s that include Joyce Road, so I have a profound fascination with finding larger copies and looking at them blown up in my photograph program.

The photo included with this article is from September 1911, and is from the Vancouver Library collection, which can be found online.

This photo is very small, due to being scanned in at low resolution years ago. I took a photocopy of it and visited the Central Branch library downtown Vancouver in January 2023. The librarian who assisted me on the 7th floor was very helpful. She located a print of the scanned photo, not the original as that was in a bad shape, and she allowed me to look at it closely with a magnifying glass and me to take a picture of it with my phone.

I tweaked the copy by making it black and white as the original print was sepia. Zooming in, I noticed a few details that I couldn’t see on the small online photo. I’ve labeled them so you can see them, too.

much I learned from this experience.

Do you remember Lorna Gibbs?

by Penny Lim

At the Champlain Heights Community Centre, I attended Wednesday monthly matinees for seniors and became acquainted with Lorna Gibbs.

Now I’m on assignment to create a tribute for Lorna Gibbs for the Killarney Seniors Centre.

For over 20 years, Lorna and a core group fought to build a seniors centre in southeast Vancouver. These dedicated and determined members of Southeast Vancouver Seniors’ Arts and Cultural Society succeeded in their vision, and today we continue to enjoy the benefits at the Killarney Seniors Centre.

Among the awards Lorna Gibbs received was the City of Vancou-

ver – Excellence Award presented at a ceremony by Mayor Gregor Robertson, a BC Achievement Award and a B.C. Medal of Good Citizenship.

I’ve found mention of Lorna in The Revue (Spring 2016) a front page article and photograph “Shovels in the ground (finally) for Seniors Centre.” Over the years, I recall stories and photographs of Lorna in The Vancouver Courier, like its July 11, 2019 issue, page 16, highlighting the Killarney Seniors Centre’s first anniversary.

Any memories or photos you may have of Lorna Gibbs are warmly welcomed. Please me at mrpintail@hotmail.com by February 28, 2023.

Photo taken by R. Broadbridge, September 1911, showing Joyce Road from Kingsway, looking north. Notes added by L. H. Houben

Lorna Gibbs received the B.C. Medal of Good Citizenship in February 2017.

Photo source: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2017IGRS0003-000372

Isn’t this a fascinating view of Joyce looking north down the hill? I was surprised at how

The Vancouver Public Library is a helpful place to hunt for clues.

Community open houses to reimagine the Rupert-Renfrew SkyTrain Station Area

Share your vision and make ecological art with Still Moon Arts and the City of Vancouver

by Clea Moray

Still Moon Arts Society will be leading a collaborative art project at the City of Vancouver’s open houses this month to reimagine the area surrounding the Rupert and Renfrew SkyTrain stations.

Community members are invited to join in and help to develop the Rupert and Renfrew area plan by sharing in conversation and creation, contributing your ideas and imagination to co-create a vision of the neighbourhood’s future.

You’ll join artists Carmen Rosen and Varsha Gill from Still Moon Arts Society to create a participatory Community Vision Quilt. The colourful quilt will be felted from locally raised wool and will depict our collective vision for what the Rupert-Renfrew area could be. The artists will guide community members in needle-felting elements of their choosing, which will be incorporated into the overall design.

Once your imagination has been sparked at the quilting table and at six other activity stations, you’ll have the opportunity to talk with planners from the City of Vancouver to let them know how you’d like the community to evolve. This could include ideas about community spaces, arts and culture, heritage, natural areas, housing options, spiritual spaces, educational spaces, transportation, shops and services, and the stories and places that are important to you.

These open houses build on a previous phase of engagement during spring 2022 where the community identified opportunities and challenges.

Open house schedule

• 5:30–8:30 pm, Wednesday, February 1 | Renfrew Park Community Centre

• 1:00–4:00 pm, Saturday, February 4 | Vancouver Technical School

• 5:30–8:30 pm, Monday, February 6 | Thunderbird Community Centre

• 6:00–8:00 pm, Thursday, February 9 | Renfrew Public Library

For other ways to give input into the area plan, visit www.ShapeYourCity.ca/ Rupert-Renfrew-Station-Area-Plan.

Read more about the presentation to city council about the early stage of the plan presented on January 18, 2023 at www.Council.Vancouver.ca/20230118/ Documents/PSPC3Presentation.pdf.

CAFÉ

FREE ESL CLASSES FREE

Every Saturday: 11:30am- 1pm Joyce & Monmouth

FOR MORE INFORMATION: htesl@collingwoodbaptist.org

Sponsored by Collingwood Baptist Church

Collingwood

Baptist Church

Carmen Rosen, browsing local wool for the Community Quilt project.

Photo by Varsha Gill

Collingwood Neighbourhood House HIGHLIGHTS

An ‘asset’ to CNH operations: Qasim Ahmadi celebrates 25-year milestone

By Collingwood Neighbourhood House

Collingwood Neighbourhood House (CNH) proudly recognizes its long-serving staff members. At this year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), CNH staff and contractors who have reached the milestones of 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 years of service to the neighbourhood house were thanked by the Board of Directors.

In 2022, we recognized and celebrated Qasim Ahmadi for 25 years of service. Here’s what Kulwant Kaur, Director of Operations, had to say about Qasim:

“Qasim started working at CNH as a Building Services Worker in 1997. After only a couple of months, he was promoted to the position of Facility Coordinator. His electrical engineering education, previous work experience and extensive experience in facility management has helped him in overseeing CNH’s buildings—five standalone sites and six child care programs at local schools. Qasim has many skills! His attention to detail, meeting all deadlines and ensuring all work requests are completed in a timely manner, are much appreciated.

“Qasim has also always tried his best to save CNH money by doing a lot of the minor repairs and maintenance work himself. He only calls an external contractor for major repairs. Qasim oversees 11 custodians and he is a very generous and compassionate supervisor.

Further, every year without fail, he handwrites Christmas cards for the CNH staff. And when we were able to hold potlucks before COVID, he brought the most delicious rice, Kabuli pulao, to staff meetings. He also enjoys running around Central Park and having BBQs with family and friends. He also loves to go sightseeing with Lilah, his wife of 30 years.

“Qasim is a dedicated and hardworking staff member, and is truly an asset to the Operations team and CNH. It’s been a pleasure to work with him!

Qasim Ahmadi

February 2023

Lunar New Year Celebrations – Year of the Rabbit

Thank you to all the businesses and organizations who participated in the Lunar New Year Lion Dance festivities on January 28th. This is the 12th year the Hon Sing Athletic Club has provided the two lion dance teams. We are very fortunate to have their members bless and shower Kingsway with good fortune. Thank you to our Jr. BIA members, (Windermere Secondary School students) for handing out the red envelopes filled with candy while following the lions along Kingsway and Joyce Street.

Collingwood BIA Beautification & Improvement

Micro Grants 3.0 DEADLINE is March 3, 2023. One Month to go.

Reminder: Micro Grants to our members. The grant can be used for sprucing up your interior or exterior, security and safety equipment, upgrading your equipment used for your business, awning signs, lighting improvements and more. The maximum funding is $1,000.00 and is open to all Collingwood BIA businesses along Kingsway between Boundary Road and Rupert Street. Link to application:

https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:53abc d8b-0af1-4149-bdba-58c6d1d122da

Contact the office for more information.

Street Pole Lighting

The Collingwood BIA is in the final planning stages for the installation of the decorative pole lighting mounts. After several years of saving up for this large project can come to fruition. Thank you to Ron Unger from Star Illuminations for helping with the design and installation. The street pole lights will provide that sparkle along Kingsway to highlight our little gems in the City.

Story Behind the New Street Banners

In December, the new street banners were installed. The BIA commissioned a local graphic designer, Andrew McGuire @amcguiredesigns. The images were inspired by the local wildlife and their relationship with the area. Salmon travel to Still Creek. Referencing an earlier time, there once were three beaver build lakes near Grandview Highway. Every dawn, the crows gather at Still Creek to roost.

The land was here first, and our wildlife has kept our area vibrant and viable. Take a minute to view the banners and the actual wildlife in our community.

Coming Events

February 2

Groundhog Day

February 14

Valentine’s Day

February 20

Family Day

Shop Collingwood to find great ideas for a gift for your Valentine’s or treat yourself. xoxo

How to Reach Us: @shopcollingwoodvancouver @shopcollingwood @shopcollingwood

Office:

#300 – 3665 Kingsway, Vancouver, BC V5R 5W2

T: 604.639.4403

E: info@shopcollingwood.ca

W: shopcollingwood.ca

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Email info@shopcollingwood.ca

Eating Out in RC — Special Valentine’s Day review

by Paul Reid

Yes folks, it was approximately 14 years ago to the month that I proposed to my sweety, right here in this booth at Bon’s Off Broadway. Not only are we still hitched and still holding hands, the breakfast special at Bon’s is still just $2.95!

It really was nice to get back to Bon’s after so many years. The place is pretty much exactly the same — a time capsule of sorts. The only real difference that I could detect was the barriers between the booths that were obviously put up during COVID. Even these though were covered in graffitti — you would think they had been there forever.

Yes, one of the cool things about Bon’s is all that graffitti. Patrons are certainly not discouraged from making their marks with markers, stickers, posters, whatever — just stick it or write in on the wall — no problem. It’s just another one of Bon’s features that makes it one of the coolest, relaxed places in this city to hang out and have a good breakfast or propose.

Bon still comes in every afternoon, I hear, to greet the customers. It’s a party everyday here he once told me, with all my friends, and there is nowhere else I’d rather be. I think Bon is a saint and his staff, angels, for giving East Van such a cool, affordable breakfast place all these years. Three cheers for Bon(s)!

Here is my accomplice and I in the very same booth at Bon’s Off Broadway where I proposed 14 years ago. Happy Valentine’s Day and bon appetit. Photo courtesy of one of Bon’s angels. Thank you.