Vancouver Coastal Health plans to redevelop the long-term care site
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ABBY LUCIANO
aluciano@nsnews.com / Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Early observations from researchers suggest that new bull kelp are growing in Burrard Inlet waters after nearly being wiped out by industrialization.
The səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation)’s treaty, lands and resources department has worked with the Kelp Rescue Initiative to plant kelp off Whey-Ah-Wichen/Cates Park in North Vancouver and New Brighton Park in Vancouver over the last two years.
A scuba mission by Fisheries and Oceans Canada in July revealed transplanted bull kelp are growing healthy to a reproductive age.
“I think going into this, knowing how restoration has occurred in other areas of the Northeastern Pacific, I was skeptical that we’d find any re-recruitment at all,” said Olivia Rhoades, program co-lead for DFO’s coastal environmental baseline program. “So that’s really neat.”
In 2024, Rhoades and others from the program completed a survey of the types and sizes of kelp and fish in the restoration sites with kelp beds around Stanley Park to compare biodiversity. Preliminary data from July’s survey look promising.
“We’re excited to look at the results,” she said Bull kelp is a seaweed that is like “trees for the ocean,” said Michelle George, cultural and technical specialist for Tsleil-Waututh Nation, oxygenating the water and creating a
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ABBY LUCIANO aluciano@nsnews.com
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
A new high-tech camera at North Vancouver’s Lions Gate Hospital is helping survivors of human trafficking, sexual assault and domestic violence better document their injuries.
CortexFlo, the new $37,000-camera, is the latest equipment in the hospital’s forensic nursing services unit, funded by the Lions Gate Hospital Foundation
Jacquie Miller, co-ordinator of the unit, said the camera uses blue lighting to identify injuries and substances that might not otherwise be visible to the naked eye.
“It’s an incredibly helpful tool in forensics to have at our disposal, which is wonderful because then we’re just better able to help our survivors,” Miller said. “Having the camera will more accurately depict a survivor’s injuries and could potentially be beneficial for them in court.”
Images captured by the camera can be encrypted and transferred to a DVD, allowing the evidence to be securely shared with police, if the subject wishes, Miller said.
Vancouver Coastal Health launched the forensic nursing services unit last year to provide care to survivors of human trafficking, sexual assault and domestic violence after community advocates identified a need for local services.
Anyone age 13 and older can use the services in the program. The unit offers emotional support, treatment of injuries including sexually transmitted infections, emergency medical care and contraception, collection and storage of forensic evidence and safety planning. The program is patient centred, meaning the survivor can choose what services they need
depending on what they feel comfortable with, Miller said.
Before the program’s launch, patients on the North Shore had to travel across the bridges for sexual assault services and as far as Surrey for forensic photography, Miller said.
“That’s quite a drive for some people,” she said. “Reducing the barriers and having specialized services locally is so incredibly important.”
After Miller joined the unit last year, she began consulting with other institutions that use forensic documentation including
the Surrey Memorial and Abbotsford Regional hospitals and law enforcement detachments to see how it could be used effectively to benefit survivors.
Since the forensic nursing services unit’s launch, Miller said they have seen 80 cases, with roughly half being related to domestic violence and half for sexual assaults. Survivors have come from across the province and range between ages 13 and 80, but the most common demographic
is women between 30 and 39 years old. In most cases, the attacks came from someone they knew, according to a press release from Vancouver Coastal Health.
The forensic nursing program fills a vital gap for those survivors, said Kathy McLellan, director of clinical programs for Family Services of the North Shore, which provides support for gender-based violence, trauma and abuse, among other programs.
“How the community responds to a survivor is critical for the survivor’s healing,” McLellan said. “Having these services in the community highlights that we understand this is something that’s happening and it’s safe to reach out to services.”
Since the forensic nursing unit launched at Lions Gate Hospital, the non-profit has seen a 43-per cent increase in clients accessing their services with just under half being referred directly from the program. On average, the non-profit is seeing 25 new clients per month, said sexual assault support worker Anna Nelson.
As sexual assault is typically an under-reported crime, McLellan, Nelson and Miller said they are hoping to raise awareness on the programs offered on the North Shore to let people know there’s help available.
“After a traumatic event, I can see it being really hard for someone to go research, ‘What should I be doing?’ But if they have that knowledge beforehand and they know what services are available, it’s easier to go out and seek that support,” Nelson said.
Abby Luciano is the Indigenous and civic affairs reporter for the North Shore News. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative
NICK LABA nlaba@nsnews.com
West Vancouver police are seeking the public’s help to identify a pickup truck driver who hit several other vehicles and then fled the scene.
On Aug. 1 around 9:30 p.m., the West Vancouver Police Department received multiple reports that a pickup truck driver
hit three parked vehicles on the 1800 and 1900 blocks of Bellevue Avenue. The driver then continued westbound.
With some tips from the public, police said the vehicle was found unoccupied in the back alley behind West Vancouver Memorial Library, in the 2000 block of Marine Drive.
The pickup truck is a dark blue, 2007
Toyota Tacoma, which was significantly damaged on the front passenger side, above the wheel.
Police describe the driver as a white male with a heavier set who appears to be balding.
Anyone who witnessed the event, saw the driver abandon the vehicle or has relevant dashcam footage is asked to call West
Vancouver Police at 604-925-7300.
“We are particularly interested to hear from the public if they can provide a description or have any other relevant details regarding the driver of the vehicle,” said Sgt. Chris Bigland, WVPD spokesperson. “Either from when he hit the cars on Bellevue or when he exited his vehicle behind the library.”
BRENT RICHTER brichter@nsnews.com
A long-shuttered seniors’ care residence in West Vancouver could soon face redevelopment into a new long-term care home.
Vancouver Coastal Health issued a bulletin Aug. 5, announcing that the health authority is seeking qualified contractors “to help explore opportunities for increased long-term care capacity” at the Capilano Care Centre, which closed in 2022.
The notice from VCH specifies that the site at 525 Clyde Ave. is anticipated to have “a minimum” of 210 long-term care beds.
Previously, the Capilano Care Centre was run by the private firm Revera. In 2021, the company deemed the aging 205-bed facility – first built in 1973 – to be too old, outdated and expensive to bring up to modern standards.
“The building is aging and its outdated design, including ward-style rooms, does not meet evolving resident expectations nor the modern standards required to support increasingly complex care,” a statement from the company read at the time. “Capilano is simply too old to attempt to renovate.”
Because of its lack of infection control during the pandemic, the Capilano Care Centre was the site of some of the worst COVID-19 outbreaks on the North Shore, resulting in dozens of deaths of seniors.
Vancouver Coastal Health bought the property in 2023 for $34.5 million but has stayed largely silent on plans for the site.
The land is still zoned for a care home or hospital use. Exactly what might get built on the site isn’t known but District of West Vancouver planning staff have had preliminary meetings with VCH.
Under the Marine Drive local area plan, the site could be eligible for a floor area ratio (which measures the buildable square footage of a structure against the total size of the property) at 2.0. The guidelines restrict the height of buildings at the site from four to eight storeys.
In a statement, Mayor Mark Sager welcomed the update.
“I just want to say how very happy we are that there is a prospect of the Capilano Care Centre being rebuilt,” he said. “These
government-funded beds are very much needed in our community. We as the district will do everything we can to ensure that the process is moved along in a reasonable and expeditious manner.”
Seniors’ care crisis coming, advocate warns
Vancouver Coastal Health’s announcement comes just days after B.C. seniors advocate Dan Levitt released a report finding that the province is headed for a crisis in long-term care as the population ages and demand spikes for limited beds.
Between 2016 and 2025, the number of people waiting to be admitted to long-term care rose from 2,381 to 7,212, an increase of 200 per cent, the report noted. Today, the average wait time for a long-term care bed is 290 days, up from 98 per cent from 2018.
The report starkly warns that today’s 2,000-bed shortfall is expected to grow by more than 700 per cent by 2035-36.
“We’ve known since the 1950s that B.C.’s seniors population would grow significantly Now is the time to act with urgency to build the long-term care beds needed to meet government’s stated target by 2035/36,” said Levitt.
“A decade ago, we saw the warning signs of a critical shortage of family doctors and affordable housing and we failed to act. We now have a 10-year runway to avoid repeating that mistake and address the projected shortfall in long-term care. I want government to take decisive action today to get this right for seniors and their families,” he said.
The request for qualifications closes in late September, after which time VCH will narrow down a short list of six potential proponents to bid on the project.
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Owners of a British Properties home have been given 60 days to demolish an approximately 1,500-square foot structure on their land, built completely without permits and in violation of numerous bylaws.
According to a District of West Vancouver report, municipal staff first became aware of the unpermitted accessory building on Chartwell Crescent in May 2024 after a complaint from the public. A building inspector visited the site two days later
“No building permits issued, none whatsoever. It is in a creek area. It is also in the wildfire development permit area. No permits issued for that,” director of planning Jim Bailey told council at the July 21 meeting.
Because the building never had any inspections done throughout construction, as is required by district bylaws, it’s impossible to tell if there are any “latent safety risks” that have been covered over, the
staff report states, and therefore the building is “in a hazardous condition.”
“It’s an unacceptable safety risk,” Bailey said.
In August 2024, the owners hired a consultant to complete an environmental remediation plan that contemplates the removal of the building and restoration of the land with suitable riparian vegetation. Since then, however, the owners have “made no significant progress towards carrying out any of the steps recommended by the plan.”
The owners have also faced $14,800 in fines, the staff report notes, although only $500 has been paid.
According to the staff report, the owners are Omid Gerami, Kamran Gerami, Naib Gerami and Ayesheh Mansouri. The report states the owners have advised municipal staff that they are in litigation with the construction contractors who built the structure, alleging the company was responsible for the lack of permits,
The
although the report adds that the municipal bylaw puts the onus on a property’s owner to obtain permits.
Before council’s unanimous vote ordering the demolition and remediation, Mayor Mark Sager expressed surprise that no one representing the property’s owners was appearing at the meeting to address the “significant issue.”
“I’ve seen these things before. This one’s really quite something because this looks like quite a structure that somebody’s built,” he said.
Sager added that he’d rather see the building moved elsewhere than be demolished and its debris sent to the landfill “which just even aggravates the whole thing further.”
“I’m sure there’s somewhere in the province that they could put it that wouldn’t break every rule in the book,” he said.
Bailey said staff would be open to that, although he added he did not know the specifics on how the building would be removed.
Coun. Nora Gambioli questioned staff on how the district found itself in the situation.
“When this appears in the North Shore News, people are going to read it and go ‘What?’ Can staff say how can this happen in this day and age? The entire house gets built and nobody knows that there have been no permits issued?”
Bailey said the property is largely forested and the offending structure was built at the back near Brothers Creek, behind the main house. As soon as someone filed a complaint, staff started their investigation, he added
The owners have 30 days from the time they receive notice to “do all things necessary to apply for a demolition permit” and 60 days from the time of the resolution to demolish the structure, remove the debris and remediate the property in accordance with the plan already sent to the district. As of Aug. 7, the district had not yet received a demolition permit application, according to staff.
Under the law, if the property owner does not comply with a remedial action order, the municipality may do the work and add the costs to the owner’s municipal tax bill.
Beyond the order to remediate the property, council is also putting a notice on title so, if the property changes hands anytime soon, the future owner will know
ABBY LUCIANO aluciano@nsnews.com Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
An injured woman needed a rope rescue from firefighters after falling down a steep slope near Capilano River, Sunday morning.
District of North Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services received a call just before 8:30 a.m. after two women in their 30s had traversed down a 150-foot steep slope in the Capilano Crescent area near the river.
As they were both climbing down, one fell, injuring her head, rib and leg. The friend was able to call for help, said Assistant Chief Ryan Stewart.
When the rope rescue team arrived, members were lowered down with medical equipment and a blanket.
“At that point, we were looking for the safest route to get the person back up the cliff,” Stewart said. “That location had rocks that were coming down. The hill is quite unstable.”
Finding a better access point a little downstream, the team set up a
high-angle rope system to bring the two subjects up.
Once they got down, crews got the injured woman into a basket stretcher and lifted her back up to safe ground. They then repeated the same task for the friend.
The injured hiker was handed over to the BC Ambulance Service to be treated for minor injuries, Stewart said.
After Sunday’s rope rescue, the assistant chief cautions people to stay on marked trails as steep slopes, like the one the hikers went down, can be fatal.
“What many people don’t realize is when you’re scaling down, it can dislodge rocks which start to fall down,” Stewart said. “When you have two people going down it, the person above can actually trigger a bunch of rocks coming down to hit the person below, which can create a fall and at that height those have the potential for fatality.”
Stewart also advises people to wear proper footwear to prevent falls.
“What we’re seeing this year is a lot of injuries on the trail systems that could have been mitigated by having proper shoes and just being properly prepared for being out in nature,” he said.
Abby Luciano is the Indigenous and civic affairs reporter for the North Shore News. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.
Vancouver Coastal Health has taken another step toward redeveloping West Vancouver’s Capilano Care Centre – which has been closed since 2022 – into a new long-term care home.
We sincerely hope all parties involved are thinking big, and by that we mean really big.
The former facility had 205 beds. The request for qualifications specifies the proponents should be planning for “a minimum” of 210, which is woefully small, given unprecedented demand our aging demographic will be placing on the system. B.C.’s Seniors Advocate has said we will need 16,000 beds in the next 10 years to stave off a crisis in seniors’ care.
VCH has already paid the market price for the property The goal now should be to get the best bang for that buck, with the health authority, the province and the municipality
making the land habitable for as many people as practicable.
Getting such a facility staffed is going to be a significant challenge, particularly as it will have to compete for workers who almost certainly factor their commutes into their employment decisions. The inclusion of affordable workforce housing at the site would then do wonders for both the staff and residents alike.
The height and density limits prescribed by the District of West Vancouver’s official community plan should frankly be non-factors in whatever gets built at the end of Clyde Avenue.
The site will have physical constraints, yes. And we can only build what we’re willing to pay for. But if we are to offer our elders the safety, comfort and dignity they deserve, we cannot do this project – or any other one – by half measure.
The plan for a third North Shore bridge was killed in 1972
Contributing writer
If you’ve tried to drive on or off the North Shore, you’re likely no stranger to gridlock and road rage.
An online petition was posted on change.org last week hoping to tap into that frustration. The petition is asking for a third crossing to take pressure off our aging bridges in the face of massive future development
By Sunday night the petition had garnered more than 5,400 signatures, a couple of news stories and lots of discussion on social media posts.
A random sampling of comments suggests about as many people are opposed to a third traffic bridge as are for one.
For those who want a traffic bridge, some want a third crossing from Deep Cove to Port
Moody or Belcarra or Burnaby or downtown
Others would like to see West Van connected to Point Grey or the Sunshine Coast
Many would prefer a tunnel. Most want rapid transit
And, yes, we were having the exact same debate in 1971 According to news stories back then, 40 per cent of North Shore residents did not want a new automobile crossing. Residents argued that “it would be just another route by which the North Shore would be invaded.” Vancouver Alderman Harry Rankin suggested alternatives could be to stagger rush-hour traffic, provide ferries and use the railway bridge for commuter trains.
The loudest advocate for a third crossing was Warnett Kennedy, an architect, town planner and Alderman. He laid out his plan in a 1974 book, Vancouver Tomorrow: A search
for Greatness.
“One might think that the water which separates the North Shore from Vancouver’s downtown was the Grand Canyon. This mindlock has to be broken. It stultifies imagination in planning,” he wrote.
Kennedy’s plan was to build a tunnel under Thurlow Street whereby cars would cross to the North Shore by Brockton Point and continue over the world’s biggest cable bridge. They would exit at Pemberton Avenue. Rapid transit was an integral part of the plan.
The cost he said, would be eight percent less than a tunnel.
Kennedy also argued for a “Twin City.”
“The Twin City Concept combined with a Third Crossing would be enormously useful,” he wrote. “Hopefully a time will come when we talk of “Vancouver One” and “Vancouver
In his vision of two downtown Vancouvers, Burrard Inlet would be seen as a lake in the centre.
“If a rapid transit link were to exist today it would take only four minutes running time to travel from Vancouver’s Central Business District to a Central Business District on the North Shore,” he wrote. “It would be as though Vancouver had reached out and pulled the North Shore almost alongside its downtown. The water of the harbour, in imagination and for all practical purposes, is narrowed to a river’s width.”
The only impediment for getting his plan off the paper was that North Vancouver City, and the District of North Vancouver and West Vancouver would need to amalgamate with their “mother city” Vancouver.
Dear Editor:
Re: North Van Council Votes to Permanently Close Section of Grand Boulevard West, July 30 news story
With respect to the City of North Vancouver’s announcement of plans to close a section of Grand Boulevard West for additional park space, there has been no community consultation. At a recent town hall hosted by the city, park space has been requested elsewhere, where density has already been increased. The Green Necklace already provides safe and beautiful connection of a lot of park areas back to different sections of Lonsdale Avenue.
Most importantly, in dealing with the almost daily considerable backups from the Ironworkers Memorial Second Narrows Crossing into this area – often all the way to Lonsdale along Keith 13th, 15th, 17th and 19th – how is shutting off a major bypass to Lions Gate Hospital and our central police and fire responders at all acceptable? I can assure you I hear the sirens daily, see the backups daily and wonder about the challenges our first responders face. Do we as residents really want response times either to or from LGH increased?
Grand Boulevard and Ray Perrault parks are gems but other areas of the CNV need more park space first and we do not need to hamper our first responders more This plan needs significant reconsideration and public engagement.
Andrea Herz North Vancouver
Dear Editor:
I write in strong support of the recent decision to close the segment of Grand Boulevard West between 13th and 15th streets, and to transform that underutilized road into park space. The city is seizing an opportunity to create a seamless, safer connection between Grand Boulevard and Ray Perrault parks, with more amenities for our community.
During traffic gridlock, that segment of Grand Boulevard is used by vehicles that rat run through the neighbourhood at excessive speed.
Far from impeding emergency services, the closure simplifies the intersections at 13th and 15th. It will make it safer for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians alike.
Our city’s street network, like most in North America, was shaped during the heyday of the automobile. Streets were designed wide and straight to prioritize car throughput above all else.
Since 2020, the closed northbound lane of Grand Boulevard West has accommodated more than 100,000 pedestrian trips per year This highlights just how much the community values and uses pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly spaces.
I urge council and staff to move ahead with the plan.
Let’s stitch together our parks and our community instead of continuing to divide them.
James
Billngsley West Vancouver
Brunch
Continued from A8
Good luck with that.
The plan for a third crossing was officially killed in 1972. Five years later we had the SeaBus.
By the early 1990s, the Lions Gate Bridge was in serious need of an upgrade or replacement.
The options were narrowed down to three proposals. One was to build a tunnel; another to twin the bridge and double the number of lanes; and the third was to double-deck the existing three-lane bridge.
In 1994, Safdie partnered with engineering firm SNC Lavalin, and the Squamish Nation, which owned the land on the north end of the bridge.
They wanted to build an identical bridge
to the east of the original structure that would carry northbound traffic, while the original bridge would carry vehicles south into Stanley Park.
As we now know, the province chose the cheapest and least controversial option, electing to widen the existing bridge and the main bridge deck.
Over half a century later we still can’t agree on a third crossing, which in all likelihood will just be a replacement for the aging 1960 Ironworkers Memorial bridge.
Perhaps this time we’ll finally get rapid transit.
Eve Lazarus is a North Vancouver resident and author Her latest book is Beneath Dark Waters: The Legacy of the Empress of Ireland Shipwreck. eve@evelazarus.com
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Things are getting a bit hairy on the bear front, advocates are warning.
The North Shore Black Bear Society is urging residents act responsibly around bears, which have been highly active getting into garbage, homes and pic-a-nic baskets.
Kirstin Takashiba, program co-ordinator, said she has been spending a lot of time educating residents after a bear “followed their nose” into open homes.
“This is just that time of year where it’s hot and people leave things open They have been getting through windows. They have been getting into open garage doors,” she said. “That’s been happening across the North Shore.”
So far, this summer, two North Shore bears have been shot by the B.C. Conservation Officer Service, and one was killed after being struck by a driver on Queens Road.
On July 1, COs were called to deal with a “pushy” bear in Cates Park/Whey-ah-Wichen.
“That was in a high level of conflict,” said conservation officer Chris Doyle. “It was pushing people off food and taking food from people and food off picnic tables – obviously, very
comfortable and habituated around large numbers of people.”
COs shot the bear in the park. Doyle said he has been concerned about similar reports coming from visitors in Lynn Canyon Park recently.
About a week after the Cates Park incident, COs were called to
a home in the British Properties after a bear broke in through a closed door, charged at the resident inside and took a swipe at them, Doyle said.
“Breaking into homes, or getting in somehow and causing property damage, those bears aren’t relocatable and that type of behaviour tends to repeat itself, particularly if the bear gets a food reward,” he said. “Because of the obvious public safety risk that poses, those bears are usually dispatched.”
Those are exactly the kinds of incidents the Black Bear Society’s volunteers work hard to avoid, Takashiba said.
Being responsible with attractants helps save bears’ lives
While it’s normal for bears to pass through urban areas on the North Shore, they are more likely to get into trouble when they are drawn in by attractants like garbage, pet food and tree fruit.
“They stay longer in our neighbourhoods and that can always
be riskier,” she said.
During bear season, the society always urges people to bring down their bird feeders, keep their barbecues clean, freeze organics before disposal and give their garbage bins periodic scrubs with vinegar or pinescented cleaner
Residents should apply the same best practices when visiting local parks too, Takashiba said.
“Never, ever leave food unattended,” she said. “Ideally pack in, pack out, because parks are dealing with a pile of garbage.”
The North Shore Fruit Tree Project, which provides volunteers to pick fruit and donate it, is back in action for the summer, Takashiba said.
Ultimately, Takashiba said she doesn’t want people to have an inherently fearful reaction to bears, which can be easy to co-exist with if the rest of us make the effort.
“Bears are quiet, calm, tolerant, patient,” she said. “We can do better.”
ABBY LUCIANO aluciano@nsnews.com Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
A new townhouse complex will be coming to Mount Seymour Parkway, with the promise of more affordable housing in the future.
On July 21, District of North Vancouver council narrowly approved Trillium Projects’ application to build 46 units of strata townhomes on seven lots at 3374-3380 Mount Seymour Pkwy and 3382-3396 Gaspe Pl. Two of the lots are district-owned and will be sold as part of the project. Coun. Catherine Pope made an amendment to the motion to direct the $4.76 million from the sale of district land to deeply affordable or social housing in the area, working with a non-profit organization on projects that could include buying existing homes. The motion passed 4-3, with Couns. Betty Forbes, Lisa Muri and Jim Hanson opposed.
In May, council rejected the townhouse application and sent it back to staff, citing concerns about parking, tree loss, accessibility, the sale of the two district-owned lots.
The approved townhouse structure will stay the same, consisting of eight three-storey buildings with six two-bedroom and 40 three-bedroom units Each home would
include one parking spot.
The applicant offered a 100-per cent subsidy for a one-month, two-zone transit pass per unit if requested to reduce car dependency They also proposed replanting nearly 100 trees on site and along Mount Seymour Parkway, and will provide $50,000 towards future Spirit Trail improvements.
For accessibility, the plan includes: one unit having ramp access from the corner of Mount Seymour and Gaspe Place, four lock-off suites, 15 with stair-free travel from parkade through an elevator; and three accessible parking spaces close to the elevator
Council also raised concerns about the potential displacement of existing tenants on the current lots. They will have the right of first refusal to purchase one of the units with a five-per cent discount, four months of free rent and a moving expense allowance. Three tenants on the site qualify, staff said.
The project was deeply unpopular with neighbours who called on council to reject the rezoning to protect the nearby green space from redevelopment.
After hearing the changes and Pope’s amendment, some council members were in favour, while others were still against the proposal.
District of North Vancouver approved a 46-unit townhouse complex along Mount Seymour Parkway and Gaspe Place, selling two-district owned lots with the funds being earmarked for affordable housing in the area. DISTRICT OF NORTH VANCOUVER
Muri said the affordable housing idea sounds great, but argued the process to reach that goal doesn’t make sense.
“You’re basically selling land to turn around and buy land to create affordable housing,” Muri said. “I don’t understand why we would be selling land to buy land. That makes absolutely no sense in today’s market.”
She suggested an affordable housing project on the western side of the municipality
would be a better option as there is little in the area.
Forbes said she couldn’t support the amendment as she never supported the original proposal.
She also raised concerns with the long timeline to bring an affordable housing project to the North Shore.
“When you start going for social or supportive housing, it requires the funding, which is usually the provincial government, and it requires a non-profit operator to run it,” Forbes said. “To get those two other partners on side with us, we run into it taking four, five, maybe even six years before you get that housing.”
Mayor Mike Little said it’s rare for him to support dispensing public land, but if they able to leverage affordable housing, it is worth it.
“This particular amendment happens to work towards that objective, so I’ll be supportive of the amendment,” Little said Staff will come back to council in the fall with options on how to go about an affordable housing project
Abby Luciano is the Indigenous and civic affairs reporter for the North Shore News. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.
The 45th annualCohoFestivalwillcelebrate thereturn of Pacific salmon to theNorth Shorewithafreecommunity event hosted bythe Coho Society,happening Sept. 7at AmblesideBeach in West Vancouver
Pacific salmon aremaking acomeback in North Shorewaterways andthat’scause forcelebration CohoFestival 2025 will honour this return with afree, community-powered event thatraises awareness andfunds to help protect theseiconic fish —and theecosystems andcultures they support—for generations to come.
Thesignificance of salmon Formillennia, salmon thrived in thecountless creeksflowing through whatwenow call the North Shore. They’velong playedavital role in the coastal environment andinthe cultural practices ofthe Squamish Nation,who have cared forand relied on salmon since timeimmemorial.
Butcolonization,urbanization,pollution and habitat lossdrastically impacted their numbers, leading to theneardisappearanceofsalmon from theseurban waterways. Fortunately,thanks todecadesofhabitatrecoveryand stewardship efforts, those samecreekswelcomed thereturn of spawning salmon just last year
Nowalivewith developing Cohofry,the North Shore is proofthatenvironmental conservation works—ifweall do our part.
Coho Festival: Afestival withpurpose EntertheCohoFestival:afun,informativeanddeeply community-rootedcelebrationthat’sbeeneducating localsonourinterdependentrelationshipwith salmonsinceitsfoundingin1980.Eachyear,Coho Festivalbringsthousandsoflocalsandvisitorsto Swáwi(AmblesidePark),combiningfood,musicand environmentaleducationintoonepowerfulevent.
This year’s festival continuesthatlegacywith a robust lineup of activitiesfor all ages. Thebeloved CohoSalmon BBQreturns, serving up wild, local and sustainably harvested salmon with B.C. corn and greens, while theneighbouring CohoFood Garden will offerrefreshments including local craft beer,aslivemusic kicksoff in front of thepark’s sweepingocean views
Familieswill findplenty to do in theCohoKids Park, while theStewardship Zonewillfeaturemore than 20 exhibitorsshowcasing theongoing work of local organizations restoring andprotecting streams, forests andmarinehabitats.
Fundamental to our future
Theexhibitorsdemonstratethatsalmonare more than just alocal species;they’reafundamental partofour region’s ecological andcultural identity Their epic journey from oceantostreamand back again supports everything from orcas to bearsto the forests themselves,delivering crucial nutrients thatenrich entireecosystems. Our spectacular coniferousforests would nothaveexisted if they hadnot been fertilized over theeons by decaying salmon in theforests, rivers,streams andcreeks.
This year’s Coho Festivalwill welcomeback the Squamish Nation CanoeFamily,who will perform atraditional “Blessing of theSalmon” onthe Main Stage,a ceremony thatbeautifully honoursthe ancient relationship between IndigenousPeoples and the“salmonpeople”who sustain so much of thecoast’sbiodiversity
TheCohoFestival isn’t just aparty;it’sareminder thatweall have astakeinprotecting our waterwaysand supporting theorganizations that keep thesevital lifecyclesintact. Over theyears, theCohoSociety of theNorth Shorehas raised more than $750,000 to supportlocal salmon conservation efforts, thanksinlarge partto festival attendees.
Whetheryou’rethere forthe food, thefun or the fish themselves,this event is your chance to reconnect with theland, thewater andthe shared responsibility of stewardship
Salmon areafundamental partoflifeonthe West Coast andtheir return to North Shorecreekssignals anew chapter —one we must honour andprotect for thefuture, together.Tolearn more andplan your visit cohosalmonsociety.com/coho-festival.
CohoFestival is afreeevent supportedbymany community sponsors, volunteersand participants who helpraisesalmon conservation funds by registering for Coho Swimorenjoying theCohoFestival food garden andiconic salmon Barbecue.Sponsorsfor Coho Festival 2025 include theNorth Vancouver Recreation andCultureCommission,Pacific Salmon Foundation, District of West Vancouver,City of North Vancouver, Seaspan,British Pacific Properties, BC Hydro, Squamish Nation andFisheriesand Oceans Canada Tolearn more,visit cohosalmonsociety.com
ABBY LUCIANO aluciano@nsnews.com
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
We’ve all been there.
Whether it’s being caught in congestion at the Lions Gate Bridge or Ironworkers Memorial Second Narrows Crossing, or anywhere else on the North Shore during rush hour, a new exhibit at the Museum and Archives of North Vancouver (MONOVA) might grind your gears
Are We There Yet? The Sustainable Transportation Journey exhibit features the evolving landscape of mobility on the North Shore with archival photos and artifacts dating back to the early 20th century.
“It comes up literally every day. You can’t get through life on the North Shore without inevitably having a conversation about transportation traffic,” said Zoe Mackoff de Miranda, director of MONOVA. “It’s been a really long time that people have been complaining about it.”
The exhibit showcases the construction of Lions Gate Bridge, historical maps, old editorial cartoons making light of traffic issues of the day, and personal stories from local residents sharing their journey of getting around North Vancouver There is also transit-related objects from TransLink and the Transit Museum Society, including an interactive coin machine for counting change and an old “Lonsdale” streetcar sign.
The Lions Gate Bridge and Ironworkers see approximately 60,000 and 125,000 crossings per day, respectively – an indication of the demand for transporting
people and products to and from the North Shore.
“Part of it is locals trying to move around, commuters who live elsewhere and work on the North Shore, and then also North Van as a destination and a place that people want to visit,” said Mackoff de Miranda.
Exhibit goers have the opportunity to learn about the past and reflect on the present, but also suggest how to make future transportation better
Feedback will be sent to TransLink and transportation departments for North Van city and district municipalities, Mackoff de Miranda said.
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A third crossing, more frequent SeaBus trips or additional routes and a SkyTrain extension are some of ideas suggested so far, she said.
“It’s been really interesting to see how constructive and engaged people are in really thinking about infrastructure in our community,” Mackoff de Miranda said.
Earlier this year, the federal government announced $663 million for TransLink infrastructure projects over the next decade including a RapidBus heading to Metrotown SkyTrain station in 2027
Beyond the transit and roads we know today, the exhibit also features a collection of Coast Salish stories including the importance of the canoe.
“For Sḵwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation) communities, canoes remain important for those communities today but was a way of getting around since time immemorial,” she said. “So it was important to talk about the canoe [and] recognize that as one of the first boats of transportation on these lands.”
Mackoff de Miranda said she hopes the exhibit lets people reflect on how commuters can make conscious choices when travelling to and from the North Shore.
“At the end of the day, it’s really what will make a difference,” she said.
Are We There Yet? The Sustainable Transportation Journey will be at MONOVA until March 1, 2026.
Abby Luciano is the Indigenous and civic affairs reporter for the North Shore News This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative
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ABBY LUCIANO aluciano@nsnews.com Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
For Rudy Uhl, advocating for mental health awareness and support is personal.
When he was studying for his master’s degree in economics in Germany, he began to struggle with loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic, depression, anxiety and stress from the pressures of school.
“During that time too, I lost some former friends and teammates that had taken their own lives,” Uhl said.
These experiences shaped Uhl’s understanding of the importance of mental health awareness and support, pushing the 29-year-old North Vancouver resident to cycle and run across the country solo to raise $84,775 for the Canadian Mental Health Association – about $10 for every kilometre he moves.
Since May, Uhl has been pedalling 100 kilometres a day across Canada, while running a 50-kilometre ultramarathon in each province.
Currently in Nova Scotia, the athlete is days away from reaching his objective on the coast in St. John’s, Nfld.
“I think it’s going to be a bit of an adjustment to actually stop, but it’ll also be a huge sense of relief to know that I accomplished a goal that I’ve been thinking about for awhile,” he said.
In any given year, one in five people in Canada will experience a mental health problem or illness, according to the Canadian Mental Health Association. The high number is another reason why Uhl is completing this challenge to ensure people aren’t alone.
“I kind of thought mental health was more like a buzzword,” he said. “When I was struggling a lot, I didn’t really try to seek out that help. I tried to battle through it It wasn’t until I got to my lowest point, then I started seeking help.”
“An important part of it too is just to spark about mental health and try to destigmatize it, and for people to know that if they’re struggling, there’s resources available,” Uhl added. “You never know what anyone’s going through, so just try to check in and have open, vulnerable conversations.”
Taking on the cross-country trek has been no easy task for Uhl, who has been contending with both physical and mental struggles.
“I’ve definitely had a lot of internal battles wanting to just stop on the side of
Rudy Uhl, a 29-year-old North Vancouver resident, makes a stop at Rogers Pass in B.C. about six days in his gruelling journey across Canada raising funds for the Canadian Mental Health Association.
RUDY UHL
the road and hitchhike,” Uhl said. “It’s kind of daunting when you realize how big this country is and how much time it takes, but I just chunk it out, day-by-day.”
The biker and ultra runner has been documenting his three-month journey on social media, seeing encouragement along the way.
Friends and family have helped him out across the country too, where Uhl has stayed with them in their homes, including his parents in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. Other nights he, spends camping or in the occasional motel.
Alongside raising funds for mental health, the cross-country journey has shown Uhl the beauty in people
“I’ve been completely blessed by the kindness of strangers, I’ve had an instance of someone pulling over and just giving me water bottles because they saw it was hot out,” Uhl said. “I’ve had people randomly chat me up and then come back later and give me some food, offered me to stay in their house. It’s kind of restored my faith in humanity.”
As his journey soon comes to an end, Uhl said his family and girlfriend will be waiting for him at the finish line in Newfoundland.
The North Van resident has raised more than $39,000 so far for mental health. People can donate to Uhl’s journey on the Canadian Mental Health Association’s website.
Abby Luciano is the Indigenous and civic affairs reporter for the North Shore News. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.
ABBY LUCIANO aluciano@nsnews.com
Local Journalism Initiaitve Reporter
A trio of West Vancouver residents are joining the Order of B.C.
Olympian Charmaine Crooks, businesswoman Susannah Pierce and artist Martha Sturdy were among the 15 latest individuals being recognized by the provincial government for their outstanding contributions to B.C.
Crooks is being honoured for her trailblazing Olympic legacy, but also her advocacy for youth, equity and global sport, the province stated in a press release. The West Vancourite is Canada’s first female fivetime Olympian in athletics and won silver in the relay 4x400 metre in the Los Angeles 1984 Games.
She has served as a member of the International Olympic Committee on the Athletes’ Commission, the Ethics Commission and the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games Organizing Committee, while also taking on volunteer leadership roles on boards like the Canadian Olympic Committee, Right To Play and Canada Soccer.
As a volunteer, she has sat on other boards outside of athletics such as the Black
Opportunity Fund, the Canadian Olympic Foundation, Canucks Autism Network and Big Sisters BC.
“Recognized with the IOC Women and Sport Trophy and inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame, Charmaine continues to be a powerful voice for diversity, using her platform to uplift communities and inspire systemic change,” reads the press release.
Pierce is being recognized for her leadership in business and advocating for women and Indigenous communities.
Pierce held the president and country chair title at Shell Canada from 2021 until this year and has been at the company for 16 years. During her time at Shell, she helped create “a greener future through renewable energy, carbon capture and nature-based solutions,” the release states.
The West Vancouver resident has also played a vital role in LNG Canada by prioritizing reconciliation with First Nations.
On top of her 30-year career, Pierce mentors young female immigrants and supports Indigenous youth through national education charity Indspire.
She also founded the Human Trafficking Prevention Network of BC with the goal of bringing the corporate world in B.C. and organizations to fight against human
The West Van creative attended the Vancouver School of Art in 1978, now known as Emily Carr University of Art + Design. She quickly gained global recognition for her wearable sculptures, which were featured in Vogue magazine and other publications and on major fashion runways around the globe.
Sturdy decided to stay in B.C. to mentor artists and support her community Apart from her creative side, the West Van artist has served on boards like Whistler’s Audain Art Museum and committees such as the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation.
trafficking in the province while also working with the Native Women’s Association of Canada and BC Network of Child and Youth Advocacy Centres.
“A sought-after global speaker, Susannah uses her platform to inspire systemic change. Her work continues to shape a more inclusive, sustainable and socially responsible future,” her bio reads.
Sturdy is a Canadian artist who has seen international success over her six-decade career for her large-scale sculptures made from resin, steel, brass, aluminum and salvaged cedar.
Her work and dedication to the community has not gone unnoticed, as she’s received the honour of the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal, induction into the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts and an honorary doctorate from Emily Carr University
Sturdy continues to create work, taking inspiration from the West Coast.
Recipients joining the Order of B.C. will be honoured at the Government House in Victoria through a ceremony on Sept. 16. Abby Luciano is the Indigenous and civic affairs reporter for the North Shore News. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.
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ABBY LUCIANO aluciano@nsnews.com Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
A North Shore woman who spent five decades making life better for people with disabilities is being posthumously recognized with one of the province’s highest honours.
Pamela Horton from North Vancouver was one of 18 recipients awarded a Medal of Good Citizenship from the province, announced on Monday.
Horton passed away in May after a lifetime of advocacy in advancing the rights, dignity and inclusion of people with disabilities in B.C. and across Canada. She was the first executive director of Disability Alliance BC, where she helped launch vital programs like Tax AID, a free tax filing support for people with disabilities. She remained with the alliance’s board until her passing.
She also helped make accessibility changes in TransLink as a founding member of the Access Transit Users’ Advisory Committee. The committee helped with the introduction of accessible buses with lifts and the launch of the Access Transit Strategy in 2005, guiding the transit company’s work around accessibility, the press
release said.
Horton was the first person with a disability appointed to the BC Housing board in the late 1990s. And she contributed to legislation including the Accessible B.C. Act and Bill C-7, which allows for medical assistance in dying. She advocated for these changes while living with multiple sclerosis, an autoimmune condition that affects a person’s brain and central nervous system.
“Pam’s lifelong commitment has transformed lives, policies and public institutions,” Horton’s bio reads.
Since the honour’s inception in 2015, the province has bestowed 196 Medals of Good Citizenship.
NICK LABA nlaba@nsnews.com
A man has been sentenced to time served and two years’ probation for a pair of stranger assaults in 2023.
On July 22, a judge sentenced Jeremy Joseph Lariviere in North Vancouver Provincial Court.
In the early afternoon of Nov. 9, 2023, Lariviere was in the back alley of an apartment building in North Van, swearing, smashing windows and yelling for someone to “come out, come out.”
A resident went out to speak with Lariviere after noticing that his child’s bedroom window was smashed.
The apartment resident told Lariviere the person he was looking for wasn’t there, but Lariviere followed him to his door and demanded for it to be opened.
After refusing, Lariviere punched the man in his chin and entered the building. After continuing to yell, he eventually gave up and left, but returned later Police arrested Lariviere and found to be carrying a knife and other items he was prohibited from possessing. He was then released.
Nearly two weeks later, Lariviere went to a different North Van apartment building. He pressed multiple buzzers to try and get in, the court heard. Another resident went out, also a complainant, to speak with Lariviere.
Lariviere told the man there was a woman in the
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building who stole his family’s inheritance, and that the resident was related to her The man from the apartment said he was going to call police, and Lariviere punched him twice on the side of his neck, and stabbed him in the arm with a knife, which resulted in 40 stitches and significant nerve damage, judge Timothy Hinkson told the court.
Lariviere entered guilty pleas for one count of mischief, one count of assault, one count of assault with a weapon and one count of breaching a court order by failing to report to a clinic to receive medication
Lariviere has had string of similar incidents and convictions since 2023, Hinkson acknowledged. His sentences for those offences included a condition to report to an outpatient clinic to receive medication, which he failed to do After being arrested and released, he still refused to report to a clinic, stating that he wasn’t schizophrenic and was refusing medication because the medication “contained tracking devices,” the court heard.
Born in 1982, Lariviere lived without a criminal record until an impaired driving conviction in 2018. He later added convictions for theft and breaching probation.
Before moving to B.C. in 2017, Lariviere had a job and housing, but his situation deteriorated after the move. An injury prevents him from working, he doesn’t have stable housing and finds the shelter in North Van unsafe because he believes there are “stalkers” there, Hinkson said.
According to a recent doctor’s report, Lariviere has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and substance use, particularly involving crystal meth. Anti-psychotic medication had not eliminated his symptoms, the report stated. The doctor said he was concerned about Lariviere’s future risk of violence and said he should be reassessed after being released from custody to see if he required further hospitalization.
In his judgment, Hinkson noted that Lariviere had already served 567 days in pre-trial custody (credited to 851 days), which is longer than his proposed sentence.
The Crown and defence disagreed over how long the accused’s probation should be – either two years or just one.
Hinkson said there is “no doubt” that Lariviere’s mental illness caused or contributed to all of his offences.
“Furthermore, though he caused himself induced intoxication, I find his mental illness and his substance use at this point are inextricably linked together,” he said, adding that Lariviere’s moral culpability is therefore reduced.
Hinkson said the accused’s guilty pleas were also mitigating, and that his Indigenous background was taken into account.
“However, the circumstances are highly aggravated by the harm caused to the victims as well as the gravity of the offences, the risk of re-offending and the use of violence,” Hinkson said.
For his offences, Hinkson said he would have imposed a 1.5-year sentence, but Lariviere had spent much longer than that in pre-trial custody already
Lariviere was ordered to stay away from his victims and where they live, and to continue reporting related to his mental health treatment.
Lariviere has upcoming court dates later this year related to two more stranger assaults and an arson incident last December.
haven for essential species in the marine life ecosystem. The sea plant can reach up to 30 metres tall in their year-long lifespan.
The Kelp Rescue Initiative, a non-profit that helps restore kelp in B.C., and the Tsleil-Waututh Nation noticed the kelp disappearing from most parts of Burrard Inlet, prompting them to apply for project funding to see if restoration of the sea plant was possible. The City of Vancouver’s sustainability team pitched in $110,000 to bring the plan into fruition.
Planting trials started in 2023, in which baby kelp were placed on pebbles and scattered into the water using a boat, but the attempt saw little success.
“It was evident pretty quickly that those little pieces of gravel aren’t enough to keep those kelp in place once they reach a certain size and become too buoyant basically,” said Jasmin Schuster, program manager of the Kelp Rescue Initiative. “So it just all got washed around.”
After the trial, the initiative then grew baby kelp on bigger rocks and ceramic tiles in a nursery for up to nine weeks at the Pacific Science Enterprise Centre in West Vancouver. They then glued the kelp to natural rock and bolted others to cinder blocks so divers could deploy them on the sea floor over the spring and summer.
This method worked really well, seeing kelp grow and reach its reproductive stage, Schuster said, at which point, the seaweed releases spores into the area, opening the door for natural growth.
Angela Danyluk, manager of climate adaptation and equity at the City of Vancouver, said bull kelp has environmental benefits.
“Bull kelp help protects our shoreline through managing erosion. It attenuates waves, but it also provides habitat for juvenile fish and crab,” Danyluk said. “It also helps just to have a healthy ecosystem, which we all can enjoy.”
But growing the sea plant can be
challenging as it needs specific conditions to grow like the right amount of sun, water flow and space, George said.
With rising sea levels and changing water temperatures, it gets complicated.
“There’s more algae blooms within the inlet,” George said. “As much as we try to adapt to what we know, the environment around us is also changing.”
The plant was traditionally used by TsleilWaututh people for food preparation and preservation and it helped paddlers read water currents.
Before Europeans arrived, bull kelp was so thick that people had trouble paddling and wading through it, George said.
“There’s stories where you could walk across the backs of salmon and never touch water,” she said. “So all of these areas were heavily abundant in resources, and then [industrialization] and colonization happened.”
Dynamite fisheries, heavy clear cutting, logging booms and oil refineries all played a part in wiping out kelp, sea grass and marine life in general, George said.
As the project moves in a growing trajectory, Danyluk said it’s important for local governments to work with First Nations in restoration projects.
“This is part of reconciliation and action by supporting them in their interest,” Danyluk said. “But also, we benefit from learning more through soil issues, just because these near-shore ecosystems are very important to the health and well-being of our city.”
George said she hopes the projects will help others learn more about role kelp plays in the marine environment.
“They’re like trees of the water. They’re helping us out and unfortunately they’ve been devastated by industry and other pollution,” George said.
Abby Luciano is the Indigenous and civic affairs reporter for the North Shore News. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.
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TrafficinNorth Vancouver
Photo:NVMA,F106-S1-400
Forpeoplelivingonthe NorthShore,complaintsabout trafficrival theweather as thebestsmall-talk topic.
This photograph captured by District of NorthVancouver staffin1964 of trafficonCapilano Road echoes theexperiencethatmanystill have today.
Capilano Road originally appeared in theearly 1900s as atrail forinspectingthe waterpipethatcarried waterfromthe Capilano River.
Following construction of theLions Gate Bridge,the road became asignificant route forfolks getting to and from thecrossing,and today remainsone of themosttraversed streetsonthe NorthShore
Discover more of theNorth Shore’srichhistory at MONOVA.Start planning your visitat monova.ca. Do youhavea storytotell? Getintouch via archives@monova.ca.
LAURA MARIE NEUBERT Contributing writer
Five years ago, we manually de-thatched our chafer beetle-ridden front lawn, top-dressed it with soil and over-seeded it with an alternative lawn blend developed by Westcoast Seeds in partnership with the City of Richmond.
The so-called Bee Turf mixture of drought-tolerant grasses, herbs and flowers was designed to reduce maintenance costs and inputs significantly, and increase pollinator forage.
Admittedly, we didn’t do a proper job of it, primarily due to a pandemic-related shortage of seed and seed-starting soil, but also because we inadequately de-thatched the lawn, leaving more roots in-place than we knew
Fast forward to today when, after many physical changes to the space but no over-seeding, we have alternating patches of lovely soft Bee Turf along the margins of what can only be described as an unsightly, crispy, dead moonscape of predatory invasive grass.
Here and there throughout the woefully downtrodden, bright green spots of wild strawberry, self-heal, oregano, creeping thyme, lemon balm, lavender, yarrow, ranunculus, and other drought-tolerant plants originating from all corners of our property have taken hold voluntarily, illustrating with fragrant enthusiasm why traditional monoculture lawns are an indulgent idea best left in the past.
Permaculture teaches us to above all things “observe and interact,” which is something I have done in abundance with respect to the increasingly inhospitable ground that we walk on.
So, with a nod to extreme weather and the unsung cultivated and naturalized herb lawns of the past, we have decided to give a site-specific, drought-resistant, pollinator-friendly, mycorrhizal fungi-regulated, mini food forest, alternative lawn a go –starting from scratch with a fresh deep bed of compost-rich sandy soil.
We realize going in that, the new living mulch “lawn” will be in a beautiful, albeit constant, state of change, and like all gardens, will self-prescribe more or less of this-or-that varietal, as available and evolving ecosystem services dictate. For a very short time after monthly mowings, the carpet will be more-or-less uniformly green.
At all other times during the growing season, starting in February, various shades of frilly, broadleaf, serrated, blade-like and glossy green leaves with be punctuated
alternately and in symphony by pink, purple, orange, blue, mauve, yellow, peach, red and teal.
And so, into a bed of sandy nutrient-rich soil, we will rake a 80:20 blend of Bee Turf and Alternative Wildflower Blend, augmented with creeping wild thyme and wild beach strawberry. Some seed will germinate quickly, others not until spring, but we are confident that the ground beneath our feet next summer will be welcoming not only to us, but to the bees, butterflies, beetles, birds, biology and biota that connect all livings things above and below ground, and filter contaminated rainwater and runoff, holding it in-place within the landscape.
Based on observation, our new alternative lawn of natural fodder and food should thrive during the growing season, with minimal watering just once per week to keep vital biology alive within the soil matrix. The densely planted field of annual (self-seeding) and perennial herbs, grasses and flowers should, given such cramped quarters, grow to dwarf versions of themselves, as the volunteers do now – crowded as they are by the dormant lawn.
In adjacent berry, dwarf fruit tree and vegetable beds, where alternative lawn seed washes in, we will welcome (on an as-needed basis) beneficials like yarrow, English daisy, creeping thyme, self-heal and alyssum.
My clients who started from scratch with Bee Turf alternative lawns, are very happy with the results, and I am confident to advocate for wholesale adoption of lawn alternatives. I would even push for legislation, barring the installation of traditional residential lawn-scapes moving forward. I will report back.
Laura Marie Neubert is a West Vancouverbased urban permaculture designer Follow her on Instagram @upfrontandbeautiful, learn more about permaculture by visiting her Upfront & Beautiful website or email your questions to her at hello@upfrontandbeautiful.com
ARIES March21-April 19
Concertsolo 10.Dent 11. On _(tense)
19.Patch theroof,again 20.Squid squirt 21. Departed 22.Spindle 24.Designs 25.Assistance
28. Performer 29.Glassmaker’s tool
30.Delayed
31. Gazed upon 33. Life story, forshort 36.Brewery beverage 39.Sandal 41. Colorful 42.Biting
43.Brought up 44. Telescope glass
38. Mislaid 40.Was in thered 41.Hollywood’sClark 45.Plucked instrument 47.Realtyunit 48.Sailor’shail 50.Annoy 53.Debtor’s burden
Only
Coopproduct
46.Yes votes
48.100 percent
49.Gardening tool
51.Oil derrick
52.Small cask
Crosswordpuzzle answers use American spelling
LAST WEEK’S ANSWERS:
This week, you’ll openly express what others arethinking, grabbing everyone’sattention. You’ll also find effective ways to restorebalance if you’reina tricky financial situation.
TAURUS April 20-May20
Expect an enticing job offer from acompetitor that will be impossible to refuse. You’ll be busy going back and forth when arelative reaches out for support. When it comes to your love life, someone will surprise you with abold confession, leaving you feeling confused.
GEMINI May21-June 20
Anew chapter in your life is unfolding, bringing your dreams closer to reality.You’ll feel excited about the opportunities coming your way.Amemorable encounter with averyromantic person could turn your life upside down.
CANCER June 21-July 22
You’ll need astrong cup of coffee to startyour day and boost your energy.Ifyou’ve been feeling unwell, you might discover treatments to improve your well-being. Trytoturn your stress into motivation to power you through the day
LEO July 23-Aug. 22
Get ready to tackle your challenges head-on. Youmay feel stressed having to juggle multiple negotiations. However,this intense period may lead to new connectionsand provide achance to expand your social circle.
VIRGO Aug. 23-Sept.22
Youmay feel overwhelmed by urgent tasks at work or home this week. You’ll feel as though everything must get done at once. Fortunately,those close to you will help you find moreperspective. Focus on setting shared goals with your significant other to create a brighter futuretogether
LIBRA Sept.23-Oct. 22
You’ll plan an exciting nature getaway.You deserve a vacation, and organizing everything in advance will make this amemorable adventurefor you and your loved ones.
SCORPIO Oct. 23-Nov. 21
Youmay feel abit apprehensive when tackling major projects at work. However,your perseverance is your greatest strength. Embrace change as an opportunity for growth. If your emotions arestill heightened, take amoment to pause and find your inner peace.
SAGITTARIUS Nov. 22-Dec.21
Beforemaking adecision that affects others, it’simportant to ask their opinions. At work, lengthy negotiations will lead to an especially lucrative financial agreement.
CAPRICORN Dec. 22-Jan. 19
Prioritize self-carethis week. Adopt new,healthy habits to boost your energy and restoreyour zest for life. Your doctor may suggest making afew changes to your lifestyle to improve your health.
AQUARIUS Jan. 20-Feb.18
You’ll be in the spotlight this week as you lead a group or advocate for your community.Your charisma will shine through, and others will look to you for answers. This will boost your self-esteem.
PISCES Feb. 19-March 20
If you have young children, you’ll spend alot of time preparing for thenew school year.Amove may be on thehorizon, or you could be undertaking major renovations at home. If you’resingle, you could fall in love at firstsight.
HOWTOPLAY:
Fill in thegridsothat everyrow,every column andevery 3x3box contains the numbers 1through 9 only once Each 3x3box is outlined with a darker line. Youalready have a fewnumberstoget youstarted. Remember:you mustnot repeat the numbers 1through 9inthe same line, column or 3x3 box.
Falcon’s cousin
NICK LABA nlaba@nsnews.com
After an excellent post-season run, the North Shore Twins have become the top bantam team in the province.
The Twins took the BC Premier Baseball League provincial trophy after a double-header semi-final and final on July 26 at South Surrey Athletic Park.
The Twins entered the playoffs as the second seed in the tournament, after a strong regular season with records of 13-7 at home and 16-4 away.
At provincials, the team locked in a semi-final spot by finishing first in their pool, with wins over the Coquitlam Reds (4-2) and the Langley Blaze (8-2) and a close loss to the Abbotsford Cardinals (3-1).
In the semifinal, the Twins soared over the Victoria Eagles, with a decisive 6-2 victory. That set the stage for a championship final between the North Shore and the top-ranked
Delta Blue Jays.
But the Twins continued their consistent performance and secured a 5-1 victory to take the provincial bantam banner
A big part of their success was a deep and strong pitching staff, said GM and president Josh Hundal
“The pitchers were excellent and didn’t give up many runs this year,” he said, giving a special shoutout to the team’s starting pitchers.
“Those were the guys that really
gave us a chance to win every day,” Hundal said.
He added that the Twins’ overall roster was also deep, and all the players got a chance to contribute over the course of the tournament. That included some timely batting performances
“They were really, really tough outs,” he said. “They worked a lot of counts, and they got into the bullpen, and they made the other team work.”
In accordancewith section 26 of the CommunityCharter (BC), TheCorporation of theDistrict of West Vancouver (the “District”) hereby givesnoticeofits intention to grant to TELUSCommunications Inc. (“TELUS”) astatutory right of way(the “SRW”) under section 218 of the Land Title Act (BC)overthat parcel of land legally describedas PID 031-753-591, LOT ADISTRICTLOT 775 Group 1NWD PLAN EPP118543 (the “Parcel”), located approximately as shown below. The SRW will be grantedovera portion of the Parcel in order for TELUS to provide communication services to certain buildings located on the Parcel. The SRW will be grantedin perpetuity, provided that the District mayrequire TELUS to discharge the SRW from the Parcel when certain buildings on the Parcel are removedor decommissioned. TheDistrictwill not receiveany consideration forthe SRW,except forthe provision of communications services to the Parcel.
ENQUIRIES AND INFORMATION PACKAGES:
John Wong Senior Manager of Facilities & Assets
604-921-3420 | jtwong@westvancouver.ca
NICK LABA nlaba@nsnews.com
Back-to-back Stanley Cup champion Sam Reinhart is bringing the trophy back to his hometown of West Vancouver. And you could get a once-in-a-lifetime photo taking part in the special moment, with proceeds going to local first responders.
On Aug. 19, a special public event is being held on the municipality’s urban waterfront, to honour the Florida Panthers forward and show off the oldest professional sporting trophy in North America.
At 12:15 p.m., the public are invited to witness a boat tour starting at the Welcome Figure in Ambleside Park. From there, Reinhart and Lord Stanley will travel west along the water’s edge and arrive at Dundarave Pier around 12:30 p.m., according to a statement from the District of West Vancouver
Members of the public wanting to catch the boat tour can gather along the Centennial Seawalk.
After docking in Dundarave, West Van Mayor Mark Sager will give a welcome speech, followed by words from Reinhart, from the patio area of the Beach House Restaurant. This part of the event can be viewed from the public lawn in front of the business.
Fans who register ahead of time will get their photo taken with Reinhart and the Stanley Cup on the Dundarave Pier, starting at 1 p.m.
The cost is $25 and space is limited to just 100 spots. Organizers are encouraging people to register in groups, which can include up to five people.
All proceeds from the event will support Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue, and Cops for Cancer
To register, go to activewestvanrec.ca. Registration opened Tuesday (Aug. 12) at 8 a.m.
Organizers are warning that parking space is limited at Dundarave Park, and there may be road closures due to construction and event congestion.
It’s recommended to walk, cycle, carpool or take transit instead of driving.
People registered for a photo are encouraged to arrive early to check in and line up.
On June 17, Reinhart nearly made hockey history when he scored four goals in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final to win the series against the Edmonton Oilers.
Only five other NHL players have tied the four-goal record in a Stanley Cup Final game. The last was Maurice “Rocket” Richard in 1957 (68 years ago).
Reinhart was also a driving force behind Florida’s playoffs victory last year, when he scored the game-winning goal in Game 7 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final, also against Edmonton.
In July of last year, Reinhart brought the cup back to West Vancouver, making a stop at Hollyburn Country Club, where his hockey journey began.
He also visited his home course of Capilano Golf and Country Club. He played the 17th and 18th holes, using Lord Stanley as a ball marker.
Call or email to place your ad, Monday through Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm 236-889-6595 ahogan@glaciermedia.ca Book your ad online anytime at nsnews.adperfect.com
FelisaAnagaran, 87 yearsold,ofNorth Vancouver, BC,passedawayonAugust1,2025. Shewas a devotedwife, mother,auntie,grandmother and friend, known forher generosityand kindness. She wasbornonMay 31, 1938, in Rosales, Pangasinan, Philippines
Felisalivelifetothe fullest through simple pleasures: chatting with friends and family,spending time with nieces,and eatingout with friends.She loved eating icecream and prawntempura.
Sheissurvivedbyher twochildren, Pazand Marcy, daughter-in-law,Lidda and granddaughters, Jemimahand Jocelyn. Sheissurvivedbyher sister, Letty Fullerand brother,Rogelio Anagaran. Our sincerestgratitude to our cousinsand family (Cora, Ed,Donna, Ruby,Lalie,Karen and Leonard) present onher last day. Thankfultoall our family and friends whoprayed, supported, and visitedher in the hospital.
We thank allthe caregivers who took care of her and treated her not just as aclient butasa mother:Cleo, Imelda, Connie, Proxy, Sheila and Mercy. We also thank thestaff of Vancouver CoastalHealth clinicians,homesupportworkers and Lionsgate Hospital staff, most especiallyDr. Isabelle MacLane and Dr.RichardSztramko.
Mumwas borninNorth Vancouver and lived most of her lifeonthe NorthShore. Sheloved having everyone together at thefamilyplace in Crescent Beachand thecondo in West Vancouver.She believedinhelping othersand keeping busy.She wasactive on thecondo boardand, until she was87, spent many hoursgardening and helping out around the building. Shewas very braveasshe accepted therealityofa dementia diagnosis and thechanges it brought to her life. We wish to acknowledge the4 Weststaff at Lions Gate Hospital and allthe staffat SunriseLynnValleywho were so compassionatein theircareofour Mum. Predeceased by loving husband Peter, and son-in-law DanKane.Survived by sistersHelen and Sheila,daughtersLaura Bradley (Chris), Lisa Ireton (Tom), LenoreKane (Adam), grandchildrenAlison (Laurie), Angela (David), Julia,Gillian, Katie(Joey), Siobhan (Jordy), Peter, and great grandchildrenOtto, Flora, Callum, Arthur,a great grandsondue soon, and many nieces and nephews.A privatefamilyservice will be held. Donations in memory of Ruth to CLEAR Canadians for Leading Edge Alzheimer'sResearch at clearalzheimers.caare greatly appreciated. Much loved, and will be forevermissed.
We areheartbrokentoannouncethat Theresa passedawaypeacefully,withfamilybyher side,on July 18 from kidneyfailure.Justshy of her 93rd birthday, shelived along lifefilledwithloveand family
Theresawas borninBelle Cote,NovaScotia& was proud of her Cape Breton roots. Shemoved to the West Coastin1955, whereshe marriedJoe LeBlanc.She worked on thecleaning staffatLions Gate Hospitalbackinthe ’60s,then at Eastman Kodak and retiredinthe ’80s.She loved“going home” and visiting family and friends in Nova Scotia
Nothingwas more important to Theresathan family Sheadored and wassoproud of her grandchildren. Sheloved 10-pin bowlingand played until theage of 90. Shealsoplayedamean game of Cribbage, many quiet gamesofSolitaire and many Word Find puzzles right up until theweek beforeshe passed.
Theresawas predeceased by Joe(1988), granddaughter Mariah (1996) and nine siblings.She leaves behind her children, Anne Louise Hudson (Allan) and Gary LeBlanc (Carrie);grandchildren Kilee(John),Curtis, Alana (Steve)and Drew (Kelsie);aswellasher sister Rita LeBlanc and many nieces and nephews
Specialthankstoall thededicatednursesand doctors at LGH, as well as theteam of specialists & palliative care staffatSt. Paul’s Hospital
ACelebrationofLifewillbeheldon September21, 11:00amat theLynnValleyLegion.
Jamesled aremarkablelife. In hisfinal days,hewas committed to putting in hoursofsteps with hiswalker and neverlosthis charmorwry quips.Heis survivedbyhis wife of seventy-sixyearsMarion; two children, Dan(Diane) andPat (Gordon);seven grandchildren, Andrew (Erin),Katherine, Peter (Katie), Susan, Rose (Mick),Timothy (Zoe)and Isabel;and nine great-grandchildren, Charlotte, Owen, Oliver,Harrison, Angus,Violet, Saorise, Ivy, and Odessa with anew one any day.
Atruegentleman, aman of keen intellect and a formidable character, Jameswas always game for an adventureora challenge.Hewas bornin Haddington, Scotland, immigratingtoCanada as a young child.RaisedinVictoria, BC,he attended SaintLouisCollege,whereheexcelledasa student and natural athlete. Jamesvolunteered inthe Canadian Army at age 18 duringWWIIand soon found himselfdriving aShermantank.Thankstothe Veterans Charter, Jamesbecamethe firstCairnie to attend university- Victoria College and then UBC.He metthe lovely Marion Griffininamathclass at ‘the castle,' soon to becomehis wife, lifelong partner, and bestfriend. Thechildrenfollowedalong with a distinguished career in education.
Starting at LakeCowichan SecondarySchool,later SJ Willis and OakBay in Victoria,then Argyle in North Vancouver,James built hisreputationasa teacher,basketballcoachand administrator.Deeply dedicatedtothe idealsofpublic education, James becamepresident of theLakeCowichan Teachers’ Association, theGreater Victoria Teachers’ Associationand, in 1962/63, president of theBC Teachers’ Federation. Famous forhis waywith words, hiswit,and can-do attitude,James spent the last twentyyearsofhis career with theFederation. In retirement,hewas enlistedtoestablishthe BC College of Teachers, theTeachers’ Qualification Service, to chairthe BC Teachers’ PensionBoard, andmore.
Jamesmade it to 99, oftenitseemed, on sheer determinationalone.A lifelong athlete, theonce-star point guardatVic College competed allhis life. An accomplished squashplayer, skier,and cyclist, he bikedalong theDanube in hislatesixties,took up snowboarding in hisseventiesand practicedtai chi intohis eighties. To no one’s surprise and everyone’s consternation, he bought amanual VW GTIto celebratehis 90thbirthday. He wasfiercely independent to theend and lovedthat carwitha passion.
Dadwas awriter throughout hiscareer,and in retirement,his emails to family and friends were long and colourfuland plentiful.Hewouldhaverelished in editing this obituary– very likelyrewriting it entirely. He wasmuchloved and will be long remembered.
Agatheringoffamilywillbeheldata laterdate. Toshareamemory,pleasevisit: mckenziefuneralservices.com
Harald passed away on August3,2025. He was97. Survivedbyhis son, Kenneth. Harald wasa longtime resident of NorthVancouver.Hewas employed by GVRDuntil hisretirement.Hewas alongtime member of NorthShoreFishand Game Club.Harald ledafulland generous life. As youcan seefrom the picture,his bigsmile wasinfectious.Wewill miss his freshlycut holly at Christmasand hisbountiful summer garden.
It is with heavy hearts that we announcethe passing of our beloved wife and mother,Joan, whodied peacefully on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, surrounded by family. Shewas 75.
Born in Winnipeg,Joan wasa joyful personand had an amazinglife. ShegrewupinVictoria, then went on to VGHtobecomeaRegistered Nurse. Thereshe mether husband, Jeff.Together they lived in Port Hardy, SanFrancisco and settled in North Vancouver
Joan is lovinglyremembered by husband Jeff;sons Ross(Ashleigh),Ryan(Tia),daughter,Holly (Derek); sistersJudy (Glenn),Sally (Scott), Susan; and adored grandchildrenBenjamin,Zoe,Daniel, Greyson, Jayne, Josephine,Mela, as well as her many nieces,nephews and cousins. Sheis predeceased by her sister,Kathy
Joan lovedbeing anurse and enjoyed quilting, reading,gardening and baking, and allofher friends fromthosepursuits. Acelebrationoflifefor friends and family will be heldinthe near future.Inlieuof flowers, donations maybemade in Joan'snameto the Alzheimer’sSociety of B.C.,Paul’s Club (www.paulsclub.ca),ortothe Capilano Community Services Society– Senior’s Hub.
Otto "Opi"Larisch,85, passedawaypeacefully in NorthVancouver on June 16th,2025, in the companyofloved ones
Otto wasbornonNovember 3rd, 1939, in Bruckan der Mur, Austria, to Elisabeth(née Draxler) and Otto Larisch.Ottospent hisearly yearsinBruck excelling in many sports,mostnotably winning the1957 Austrian National European HandballChampionship with histeam.After graduating, Otto completed his Austrian militaryservice as apilotbeforehedecided to followinhis father's footsteps in 1960 and moved toMontreal,Canada. There, he found ajob with RingballBearings,startinginthe warehouseand workinghis wayupthe company. In 1964, he marriedhis wife,Johanna, and in thesameyear,he wastransferred to Vancouver to expand the companyinBC, wherehedid so successfully that he becamemanager of bothRingballBearings and VanguardSteel until hisretirement.Ottotravelled extensivelywithhis company, making connections and forgingfriendshipsglobally Otto wasa cofounder of theAustrian-Canadian Business Associationaswellasco-founder of theFCAustriaVancouver Soccerclub. He wasactiveinthe Lynn ValleySoccerAssociationstartingin1974, coaching and managing fordecades,instillinginmanyyoung players, including hisown sons,the love of the game
Otto and Johanna raised threechildren- Doreen, Michael and Thomas -and thefamilyenjoyed travellingand family traditionssuchasBBQsand get-togetherswithfriends.Ottowas passionate about sports,fishing,cards,music,horse and dog racing,and agood amount of beer.Heliked alltypes of fishing, butheparticularly enjoyed time fishingoff Port Hardywithhis sonTom and hisfriends.Otto wasanexcellent storyteller, keeping listeners enthralledeveniftheymay have heardastory before. He wasalwaysquick with asmile and ajoke, and he wasgenerouswitheveryone.Ottobelievedin hardwork, fairness, direct and honestfeedback, and above all, putting family and friends first.
Hislegacywill liveoninhis wife of 61 yearsand in hischildrenand grandchildren, whom he supported with great joy. AcelebrationofOtto'slifewill be held at adatetobedetermined.
Manuel Rodrigues,98, of NorthVancouver,B.C., passedawaypeacefully,surrounded by family,on August3,2025.
He waspredeceased by hislovingwifeof55years, RosarioRodrigues,and five siblings;and is survived by hisdaughters, Grace(Richard) Sikich and Lissa (Kent)Calderwood; grandchildrenCristina, Julia, Sean, and James; one survivingbrother and sister; and many nieces,nephews,and friends
Manuel wasborninPortugal, wherehespent much of hischildhood fishingand rowing formiles alongsidehis fishermanfather.Heoften shared fond memories of thetimespent with hisparents, siblings,and extended family—fromswimming in the ocean in front of hishometopicnickingonthe beach and cookingtheirfreshly caught seafood.
At theyoung age of 17,after hisfather’s passing, Manuel left home to join themerchant marine to supporthis mother and siblings.Heservedinthe RedCross duringWorld WarIIonships crossing the AtlanticfromEurope to theUnitedStatesand then returningtoEurope,deliveringhumanitarian aid, essentialsupplies, and food parcels to those affected by theconflictaswellastoAlliedprisoners of warinGermancamps.Manuel latertravelledthe worldonvarious merchant and passenger ships, eventually becomingachief steward.
ImmigratingtoOntario,Canada, in theearly 1960s, Manuel worked at Canada Wire and Cableasa machineoperator.Loving farm life, he wouldoften take on weekend work to earnextra moneysohe couldcontinue supporting hismother and family in Portugal,while also saving to purchaseahomeof hisown.In1967,hemarried hisbeloved wife, Rosario, and they soon took thetrain across Canada toVancouver, B.C.,wherehefulfilledhis dream of buying ahome. He returned to workingon passenger ships—theSSPrinceGeorge (Vancouver to Alaska route) and laterthe SS Princess Margaret (Victoria to Seattlerun)
Manuel wasa devotedhusband, father,grandfather, brother,uncle,and friend. He lovedhis garden and, together with hiswife, shared their many fruits, vegetables, and herbs with family and friends
Manuel cherished time spent with lovedones, opening hishomeoften, especiallyfor family meals and holiday celebrations.Later in life, he found immensejoy in spending time with hisfour grandchildren. Manuel also lovedmusic and had a beautiful singing voice—oneheshared right up to hisfinal days
Manuel’s lifewas defined by hisgentle kindnessand compassion towardsothers; hisresilience, strength, and determinationtomakehis wayinlife; and his very easy-going and calm nature, valuingpeaceand laughter in hisdaily life. We’ll also neverforget how, from ayoung age,hedevoted himselftocaringfor thoseheloved.
Funeral mass will be heldatChristthe Redeemer Catholic Church,WestVancouver,onTuesday, August19, at 11am OBITUARIES
Thankyou forcontinuingto placeyour trustinusnow and always. Proudlyserving thenorth Shore forover80years
at AllSaints' Church in Staplehurst, Kent on August16th, 1975
Youare so lovedbyyour family -Lizzie, Marc, Rowan, David, Pinar, Owen, Ayla and bump. xx
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manufacturer
23rd letter of the Greek alphabet
sheep
Member of indigenous people in Asia
(abbr.)
de Armas
Plants of the arum
Perceptible by
41.A way through
Britannia” composer
Leader
Flowing
Common greetings in Arabic countries
Solution for all difficulties
Soft clothing fabric
59.A way to cause
Moved on foot
Passenger’s spot on
Building material
Sea bream
