Renfrew-Collingwood Community News November 2022

RCL Branch 179 update

by Paul Reid

I caught up with Branch 179’s 2022 Poppy Chairperson, Joy Leimanis, to see how things have been going so far. This is her first year as Poppy Chairperson. She explained that donations are significantly down since pre-COVID.

Does the Legion need money?

“The money donated doesn’t actually go to the Legion, that’s a common misconception. This money goes directly to the veterans, including Canadian Armed Forces and RCMP, and the veteran’s families.”

“This includes programs like the Veterans Transition Program— a groupbased program developed at the University of BC. The first of its kind in Canada, it helps men and women returning from military service transition to productive civilian life. The Poppy fund also funds K-9 Companions for veterans in need of assistance, and that can include those with PTSD; it helps veterans who can’t pay their rent or who find themselves or a close family member in a health crisis. So it’s there as a support network for veterans and their families.”

We understand that people are hurting, especially with inflation and uncertainty right now that we might be heading into a recession, so what we are asking is that if people can give at all, even a little bit, every dime helps and it goes to a great cause.

Continued on page 2

The 2022 Poppy Campaign runs from Friday, October 28th to Remembrance Day. Photo by Paul Reid

RCL Branch #179 Update - continued from page 1

“The poppy campaign runs from October 28 to November 11, and we have approximately 150 trays going out to local businesses that you’ll see at the cash registers. We also have members of the Legion that are personally volunteering; many of those are veterans as well, and you’ll see them on the streets. We also have the RCAC Squadron 59 helping us tag in front of the Vancouver Canucks home games on November 1st, 3rd and 5th. We will also be tagging outside BC Place before the BC Lions game on Sunday, November 6th.”

This is your first year doing this, so how are you finding it? Difficult? “So far I’m getting lots of support from members in the Legion; it’s like a big family here. Many of the members have had memberships here for multiple years, like yourself, and they are very supportive, so we have a healthy number of volunteers coming out to help so hopefully we’ll have a great year.

“One thing I would like to pass along is if there are any businesses who read this and would like to support a tray at their front till, we would be more than happy

for them to reach out to us via email and we will get a poppy tray out to them.”

Contact:poppygrandview179@gmail.com

A great place for members of all ages “We would love to get younger memberships. I think many people still think that you need to be a veteran or related to a veteran and that’s not true. We are open to everybody as long as they are respectful and remember to take off their hat when they enter the Legion.

For Joy’s father, who was in the Navy himself, and who recently lost his dear wife, membership at the branch has been a godsend.

”My parents were together for almost 50 years, they met when he was in the Navy, so her sudden passing really hit us hard. So now he’s apart of the community here. It gives me piece of mind that if something were to happen to me, that he has a support network here that will take care of him because I know these people love him like a family. For people who are lonely, it’s not so much a bar, it’s more of a family. People here really have your back.”

Use of Poppy Trust Funds

Through your donations to the Legion Poppy Fund, the Legion provides financial assistance and support to veterans, including Canadian Armed Forces and RCMP, and their families who are in need. Poppy Funds may be used for:

• Grants for food, heating costs, clothing, prescription medication, medical appliances and equipment, essential home repairs and emergency shelter or assistance for veterans and their families in need

• Housing accommodation and care facilities for veterans

• Funding for Veteran Transition Programs that are directly related to the training, education and support needs of veterans and their families

• Comforts for veterans and their surviving spouses who are hospitalized and in need

• Veterans visits, transportation and day trips

• Accessibility modifications to assist veterans with disabilities

• Educational bursaries for children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of veterans

• Support of cadet units

• Veteran drop-in centres and services in communities where veterans would benefit

• Community medical appliances, medical training and medical research which will assist in the care of veterans in the community

• Support the work of Legion Command and Branch Service Officers across Canada in assisting and representing veterans

• Donations for relief of disasters declared by federal or provincial governments which impact veterans in those communities

• Promotion and administering of Remembrance activities to ensure Canadians never forget the sacrifices of Canada’s veterans

Remembering dad on Remembrance Day

by Bryden Fergusson

Remembrance Day often brought mixed feelings in our family. My father had all the trappings of a successful World War II veteran Normandy veteran who landed on Juno Beach, medals, veteran’s pension, war memorabilia –along with respect and gratitude from family, friends and the community. We were able to buy our home with the help of a mortgage from the Veterans Land Administration, a federal board created in the 1940s to assist veterans in buying homes.

Growing up, I was the envy of my friends: wow, a dad who fought in the war, displaying and playing with war memorabilia such as bullets and shell casings. When I was older, I travelled in Europe, visiting Normandy, war museums, cemeteries and travelling through areas where he would have fought and eventually be wounded.

My dad would often watch Remembrance Day ceremonies on TV, but he rarely attended ceremonies in person. My mom had to persuade him after many years to get his medals that were stored in Ottawa and apply for his veteran’s pension resulting from his war wounds.

He rarely, if ever, talked about his war experiences. At most, he would describe the funny experiences, like always getting lost even though he was part of a reconnaissance unit whose job was to locate the enemy and report back their location. He only joined the Legion in his later years, even though he enjoyed a good pub.

What people did not see was what we saw at home. Physical signs such large burn scars, deaf in one ear, an eye that wept, shrapnel embedded and never removed. Emotional scars were less visible: nightmares, fear of large crowds and loud noises, excessive drinking.

Remembrance Day means different things to different people. I often attend Remembrance Day ceremonies and have brought my children so they can better understand the sacrifice that veterans like my father experienced.

My father was part of a large silent group that found the memories too painful to attend ceremonies or participate in the benefits and gratitude of be-ing a veteran.

Bryden Fergusson is a longtime resident of Renfrew-Collingwood.

D-Day letter sent to troops before their departure for Normandy in 1944.

Ian Fergusson’s army photo. Photos courtesy of Bryden Fergusson

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: Bryden Fergusson, Julie Cheng, Paul Reid, Shelby Miller, Sophia Han

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: Nov. 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 the RCCNews

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

What’s happening at your local library

Shelby Miller, Children’s Librarian

STORYTIMES (DROP-IN)

Babytime (0 – 18 months)

on

10:30 – 11:00

Family Storytime (all ages) Weekly on Fridays 10:30 – 11:00 am

SCHOOL-AGE PROGRAMS (DROP-IN)

LEGO Block Party

Weekly on Saturdays 2:30 – 3:30 pm

Drop in for some LEGO® building fun at this block party! Connect with other kids and break out the bricks for a building bonanza at the library. For Grades K-7.

KidsZone Thursdays, November 2 – 23 4:00 – 5:00 pm

Meet other kids and share books, crafts, and fun activities at the library. For Grades K-7.

The Seniors Connection

Seniors’ Morning at the Movies: Classic Film Based on Books

Calling all seniors! Do you love to watch classic films based on classic books? Come to the Montalbano Theatre at the Vancouver Public Library’s Central Branch to enjoy a movie with your morning coffee, mingle with other seniors and chat about classic films and the books that inspired them.

The beautiful Montalbano Family Theatre on level 8 seats 80 people (77 fixed seats and three wheelchair accessible spaces. It features a skylight that provides natural light for author readings, lectures and performances.Films, coffee and book recommendations provided. Free.

The Central Branch is located on West Georgia Street just a five-minute walk from the Granville SkyTrain station. Take the Seymour exit and walk east on Georgia Street.

NOVEMBER’S SCREENING: LITTLE WOMEN (1933)

Little Women is a coming-of-age drama based on Louisa May Alcott’s novel of the same name tracing the lives of four sisters: Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy. During the American Civil War, the girls’ father is away serving as a minister to the troops. The family, headed by their beloved Marmee, must struggle to make ends meet, with the help of their kind and wealthy neighbor, Mr. Laurence, and his high-spirited grandson Laurie. Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 75 minutes

Reserve your copy of Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women at https:// vpl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/ S38C2768028.

For more information, visit https://vpl.bibliocommons.com/ events/6320e78dd766c05aa8e4aaf4 or phone 604-331-3603.

DECEMBER SCREENING: IT’S A WONDERUL LIFE (1946)

Thursday, December 15, 2022 10:00 am – 12:00 pm Central Library, 350 West Georgia Street

Rating: PG

Runtime: 125 minutes

Thursday, November 17, 2022 10:00 am – 12:00 pm Central Library, 350 West Georgia Street

It’s a Wonderful Life is based on Philip Van Doren Stern’s short story “The Greatest Gift,” itself based on Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. The film is directed by Frank Capra. It stars Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey, a man who has given up his personal dreams, in order to help others in his community, and whose dark thoughts on Christmas Eve brings about the intervention of his guardian angel, Clarence Odbody (Henry Travers).

Reserve your copy of A Christmas Carol at https://vpl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/ S38C304225.

For more information, visit https://vpl.bibliocommons.com/ events/6320e78dd766c05aa8e4aaf5 or phone 604-331-3603.

Christmas Luncheon (55+) at Renfrew Park Community Centre

Celebrate this magical time of year with old and new friends. Enjoy and amazing lunch with fun entertainment and door prizes.

Menu: Roast turkey with cranberry sauce and stuffing, mash potatoes and gravy, mixed seasonal vegetables and dessert and cookies.

Entertainment: St. Mary's Elementary School Choir and Windermere Secondary Senior Choir

Renfrew Park Community Centre 2929 East 22nd Avenue

Wednesday, November 30, 2022, 12 to 2 pm $13.33

Register for activity #424461 https://ca.apm.activecommunities.com/vancouver/ Activity_Search/christmas-luncheon/421539

A-SLAM releases new music video, Blessed

Local music artist A-SLAM tells RCC News that his new release, Blessed, is about the pain that can accompany a love-at-first sight moment. It’s a Gen-Z alternative to a commercial pop song, with deep emotion and a beautiful arrangement.

The track was composed and performed by the talented Aariyani Sayani. A-SLAM produced Blessed with the supported of the City of Vancouver through Creative BC and the Vancouver Music Fund.

Watch Blessed and A-SLAM’s previous releases on these platforms:

YouTube: THIS IS A-SLAM Playlist https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WD WK3AfhUwk&list=PLALuFv6t_M3U6iprdQSFdpsMYiuTgjaaY

Spotify: This Is A-SLAM Playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2izfa4z TtM2zewSTwmS8OG?si=35a3f364cd0e4d 73&nd=1

Apple Music: This Is A-SLAM Playlist https://music.apple.com/ca/playlist/thisis-a-slam/pl.u-qxyl056CXWRRKM

TIDAL: This Is A-SLAM Playlist https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/ df50a7ad-372f-41f0-ba0b-8b153d34818ff

A-SLAM performs at the Surrey Fusion Festival in July 2022 Photo by Devin Olfrey

FALL ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP SERIES

Still Moon Arts has just received a new order of native plants – a huge thank you goes to the Vancouver Parks Board – and will be hosting work parties at current restoration sites this fall. You’re invited to join in to weed, clean up garbage and plant.

To top things off, Still Moon Arts will hold its annual salmon spawner surveys.

Feel free to register via the below links or send an email to adrian@stillmoonarts.ca.

Saturday, October 29 | 10 am – 1 pm

Fall Environmental Stewardship Series #3: Spawner Survey + Fall Planting

https://www.meetup.com/vancouver-environmentmeetup/events/288931746/?fromSeries=true

Saturday, November 5 | 10 am – 1 pm

Fall Environmental Stewardship Series #4: Spawner Survey + Fall Planting Session pt 2 https://www.meetup.com/vancouver-environmentmeetup/events/288931746/?fromSeries=true

Saturday, November 12 | 10 am – 1 pm

Fall Environmental Stewardship Series #5: Spawner Survey + Fall Planting Session pt 3 https://www.meetup.com/vancouver-environmentmeetup/events/288931746/?fromSeries=true

Noticed in Renfrew-Collingwood

by Karen Vanon

IL CENTRO HOSTS BEER TASTING EVENT

Wednesday, November 9, 2022

7 – 10 pm

Italian Cultural Centre 3075 Slocan Street, Vancouver Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/ilcentros-east-van-beer-tasting-event-tick ets-440521290037

Calling all craft beer lovers! The Il Centro’s East Van Beer Tasting event features four classic local breweries: Luppolo Brewing, Strathcona Beer Company, Main St Brewing and East Van Brew Company.

Each guest will try 16 different beers – all in one place. Each tasting batch will be paired with delicious appetizers to enhance all the flavour profiles. Enjoy an evening filled with good food, good company and the best craft beer. Must be 19 years or older.

VANCOUVER ITALIAN PIZZA MAKING CLASS AT IL CENTRO

Monday, November 14, 2022

6 – 9 pm

Italian Cultural Centre 3075 Slocan Street. Vancouver Tickets: https://www.eventbrite. ca/e/vancouver-italian-pizzamaking-class-at-il-centro-tickets-408915767067

Irene Mazzucato’s Authentic Italian Pizza Making Class is back by popular demand. Born and raised in Treviso, Italy, Irene Mazzucato has spent many years mastering the art of crafting authentic, homestyle Italian pizza.

Let her Italian heritage and remarkable cooking skills increase your pizza making skills. After this class, you’ll never order take-out again, and will be reaching for this simple, handmade recipe that will immediately blow away all your friends and family.

This three-hour workshop offers attendees the opportunity to craft homemade dough, prepare the pizza and cook a delicious meal to enjoy at the end of class. Attendees will be given extra dough to take home to recreate the pizza.

There are limited spots available so purchase your tickets quickly.

This is a paid advertisement by Adrian Dix, MLA for Vancouver/

Dear Neighbours,

Public health recommends that everyone gets a flu shot this year. It’s important to get both your fall COVID-19 booster and flu shot, to protect yourself from respiratory illness during the fall and winter.

You can now book a free flu shot at the same appointment where you get your COVID-19 booster. If you’ve recently had your COVID-19 booster, you’ll get another invitation to book your flu shot.

The Province has made it more convenient for people to get vaccinated against both influenza and COVID-19. New this year, people registered with the provincial Get Vaccinated system will automatically be sent an invitation to book their influenza immunization online, just like they can book their COVID-19 vaccines. Although booking through the Get Vaccinated system is the most efficient way to access an influenza vaccine, walk-ins continue to be available throughout the province. Alternatively, people can phone the provincial call centre (toll-free) to book their influenza vaccine: 1-833-838-2323

Remembrance Day: November 11th

November 11th is Remembrance Day, set aside for all of us to take time to recognize the sacrifice of those who fought and died for their country in battle, and to remember how important it is to work for peace so we may never again face the tragedies of wartime.

Please join me on Friday, November 11th at the Memorial Park Cenotaph, located at 41st Ave and Windsor St. to recognize the sacrifice that so many have made across the world. The service at the cenotaph will commence at 10:30am. If you are unable to attend a service, you may observe the traditional moment of silence at 11am.

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

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

Adrian Dix, MLA for Vancouver-Kingsway

Read On!

by Sophia Han

What are conversation skills?

The skills we use to talk and listen to other people are conversation skills. We use basic skills and simple sentences to greet people, to make small talk and to have short conversations at shops and restaurants. For longer conversations, we have to use skills like active listening.

Active listening is when we listen carefully to understand what a person wants to say. We pay attention to the words that are spoken and to the way it is spoken. We then answer in a way that shows:

● that we understand

● that we are interested

● that we want to continue the conversation

● if we need more information

● if we need a repeat.

Improving your conversation skills

Conversation skills can be improved through practice. This is because when we listen to someone, we are not only hearing words. We are also listening to tone – how a person’s voice rises or falls to express emotions like surprise or excitement.

Additionally, spoken or natural English is quite different from the English you might read in a textbook. There are many slang words that we use naturally in conversation. Through practice, we learn to pick up the difference between casual and “correct” language.

One of the best ways to practice conversation skills is to join a discussion group where people meet to talk about common interests.

MOSAIC hosts a group for women on the first Wednesday of each month. You can email mmak@mosaicbc.org for more information. World Cafe and English Conversation takes place on the second and third Mondays of each month. Contact Jenny Shen at 604-435-0323 to register. All events are free and take place online over Zoom.

VOCABULARY

conversation – a talk between at least two people small talk – polite talk about unimportant things pay attention – when we look, listen or think about something carefully continue – to keep doing something through practice – by doing something regularly express – to show what you think or feel additionally – use additionally before a new fact or extra information natural English – the language used by English native speakers quite – use quite to make a descriptive word stronger slang – very casual language that is sometimes specialized pick up – to learn casual – relaxed, not formal discussion group – a group of people who meet regularly to talk about a specific topic common interests – things that are shared by people in a group

https://thewordsearch.com/puzzle/4149913/conversation-starter/

The meaning of slang words like “awesome” can change depending on tone and usage. Photo by Sophia Han

Collingwood Neighbourhood House HIGHLIGHTS

Celebrating 25 years at CNH with Maliha Hassan

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.

This year, we recognize and celebrate Maliha Hassan for 25 years of service. Here’s what Diana Taykandy had to say about Maliha:

Maliha Hassan is celebrating her 25 years as a child care staff for CNH. She began her journey on March 19, 1997, when I hired her for a maternity leave position at Sarah House Early Learning and Care Centre. Not too long after she started working, a permanent position became available at Duke Street Early Learning and Care Centre, where she was hired. Maliha worked for four years at Duke Street and when a posting came out for a position at SH. She decided to apply for the position, and she was hired back at Sarah House and has been there ever since!

Maliha truly loves working for Collingwood. She enjoys her SH co-workers, families, and especially the children. She truly loves the children! She has always been a huge support to the program and has also worked there as a manager temporarily. Thank you for always thinking of the program needs and always willing to help in whatever way you can.

Collingwood means the world to Maliha. She always refers to her workplace as a second home. She couldn’t imagine working anywhere else. She has such a strong, unexplained connection to Collingwood, always letting us know that CNH is her heart.

Maliha’s favorite work-related memory is actually how she came to name her second child. When Maliha had to go on maternity leave, she promised the manager and staff that she would return, and as a sincere gesture and of course, love for the program, she named her daughter Sarah.

Maliha fills her days with her passion for shopping, hiking, biking, and travelling. She loves to entertain her co-workers in her home, including celebrations with food and music, and just making connections.

Staff that know her well and who have worked with her for many years will all tell you that Maliha is kind, generous, patient, and is always willing to support you. She is so wonderful with the children and their families and is always making them feel welcome. Maliha has a special way of making anyone who comes into contact with her feel special.

I know that I have always felt her warmth whenever I have visited her in the program. Thank you for always making me feel welcome.

Collingwood is very fortunate to have someone like her who cares so deeply about the organization. Thank you Maliha, and many congratulations on this milestone!

Maliha Hassan

NOVEMBER 2022

Collingwood BIA Beautification & Improvement

Micro Grants 3.0

We are excited to announce the Collingwood BIA will be offering another round of 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:53a bcd8b-0af1-4149-bdba-58c6d1d122da

Grant will cover projects completed between April 1, 2022 to March 3, 2023. For more information contact the office 604.639.4403.

New Street Banners and Street Lights

Collingwood will be freshening up Kingsway. New banners will line the streets for the Fall and Winter seasons. In addition, the Clock Tower/ Mel Tobias Plaza will be lit up with snowflakes.

Coming Events

November 6

Daylight Savings Time Ends

November 11

Remembrance Day

November 26

Winter Carnival & Community Tree Lighting 3:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Winter Carnival – Tree Lighting November 26th 3 – 7 PM

The Annual Community Tree Lighting and Winter Carnival has returned. Under the big tent at in the Safeway Parking Lot (corner of Kingsway & Tyne). Arts & Crafts, St. Mary’s Choir, balloon twister, carollers, hot chocolate, cookies and more. See ad in this newspaper issue. We invite you all to start the holiday season and help us light the community tree.

up to receive the monthly e- Newsletter. Email info@shopcollingwood.ca

Shop Collingwood! It’s good for Business!

Tree Lighting at 5:00 p.m.

How to Reach Us:

Office:

Vancouver,

Please remove the

business. To

the sidewalks

you!