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New affordable rental building opens in West Vancouver
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MERRY CHRISTMAS!
ABBY LUCIANO
aluciano@nsnews.com / Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
A new, long-awaited affordable housing building is now open in West Vancouver.
Kiwanis Village West, comprised of two six-story buildings at 950 and 970 22nd St., has begun welcoming its first residents. The project offers a combined 156 rental units at rents 75 per cent of the current market value. Developed by Kiwanis North Shore Housing Society, the complex offers 19 studio, 46 one-bedroom, 10 one-bedroom with a den, 58 two-bedroom and 23 three-bedroom homes. The rentals are reserved for people with connections to West Vancouver, such as those who work in the community or have children attending local schools. Eleanor Minish, chair of the board at Kiwanis North Shore Housing Society, said the project aims to keep residents in the community. “We’re hoping to get people off the highway and to live in the community, bring young people back because it’s not affordable to rent in West Van,” Minish said. The project initially came to council in 2018. In 2021, West Vancouver council provided the land to Kiwanis on a 60-year lease for $1 per year. Construction broke ground in 2023 and Continued on A16
IN THE MARKET Shoppers take in the scene at the Shipyards Christmas Market in North Vancouver. The second year of the market, which wraps up tonight, attracted huge crowds to the waterfront. PAUL MCGRATH / NSN
A2 | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2025
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A4 | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2025
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GET OUR DAILY EMAIL: NSNEWS.COM/NEWSLETTER HOT IDEA
Beachside sauna business brings warmth to Ambleside BRENT RICHTER
brichter@nsnews.com
Saunas. So hot right now.
For the next 12 weeks, West Vancouver’s Ambleside Beach will be home to a first-ofits-kind mobile sauna, allowing visitors to have a shvitz, a chat and a cold plunge in Burrard Inlet. Gatherwell opened its doors to public bookings on Saturday. The custom-built sauna on wheels features a 12-kilowatt electric stove that should get the facility up to about 29 C. It has a large window facing the water, but founder Jonathan Chawla said its 10 seats are oriented to face each other specifically because the space is intended to stimulate conversation between friends and strangers alike. “Saunas are very popular right now for places to socialize without alcohol and good places to catch up with friends or make new ones,” he said. “I think a lot of people are looking for more connection in their life, and so we have some thoughtful designs … to encourage that.” Public-facing saunas are all over Scandinavia’s waterfronts and their popularity is catching on now in North America, Chawla said. Regular sauna users report improvements in their moods and cardiovascular health and they sweat out toxins in their body. If they pair the sauna with a cold plunge, they also benefit from better
Public-facing saunas are all the rage in Europe, and are starting to catch on in parts of North America. PAUL MCGRATH / NSN
Gatherwell founder Jonathan Chawla and his cousin Anna Johnston test out the company’s new mobile beachside sauna at Ambleside Park in West Vancouver. PAUL MCGRATH / NSN circulation, Chawla said. Gatherwell already has a business in Vancouver’s Mount Pleasant area which has drawn more than 20,000 visitors. Ambleside was an ideal location to expand as it has more than two million visitors per year, many of whom already come specifically for a cold plunge in the winter
months, Chawla said. And West Vancouver council has been open to “activating” the waterfront with non-traditional activities, he added, noting the Batch lounge pop-up that opened this summer proved to be a smashing success. He expects the Gatherwell sauna will be popular as well. “They said no a few times but we kept
finding solutions and got it going,” he said. “To be on maybe the most beautiful beach in Greater Vancouver and to be able to swim in the winter and then hop in a sauna and watch the sunset in the water that you just swam in, that’s pretty special, I think.” Bookings can be made at gatherwell.ca and there will be a host on site to facilitate. Each session is intended to last for one hour and 50 minutes and costs around $40 per person. It will be open mainly on evenings and weekends. There are change rooms and showers located just steps away in Ambleside Park.
WRONG PATH
Drunk Porsche driver hits vehicles, drives on Seawalk, police allege HILARY ANGUS
Contributing writer
West Vancouver Police are seeking video footage and damage reports from an incident last week in which an impaired driver allegedly hit several vehicles and drove on the Centennial Seawalk before abandoning their vehicle.
Police responded to a call of a suspected impaired driver leaving an establishment and getting in their vehicle around 7:18 p.m. on Dec. 15. Attending officers soon
located a heavily damaged 2023 purple/brown Porsche Panamera, abandoned on 16th Street between Bellevue Avenue and Marine Drive. Officers located the driver nearby following detailed descriptions from witnesses, and the driver was arrested for impaired driving. The driver is suspected to have driven their car down the seawall for the length of a city block, according to a map of the incident provided by the WVPD. “Given that this occurred
early in the evening, and that it was mild and dry outside, we’re extremely grateful that no pedestrians or cyclists were injured,” said WVPD spokesperson Suzanne Birch in an email. “There is no excuse for impaired driving – we encourage everyone to take advantage of taxis, rideshares, and transit if they plan on drinking.” WVPD members have conducted an extensive canvas of the area for damages, but are asking anyone who was parked in the area on the evening of Dec.
15 and has unexplained damage to their car to call the non-emergency line at 604-925-7300 and quote file #25-12884. Witness accounts and evidence suggest the driver travelled on the following streets: 1400 block of Marine Drive; 200 block of 15th Street; 1300, 1400, and 1500 block of Bellevue Avenue; 1300 block West Vancouver seawall; 200 block of 16th Street. The WVPD is also seeking dashcam footage or security footage from the same area and timeframe.
Police in West Vancouver allege an impaired Porsche driver struck several vehicles and drove down a block-length stretch of the Centennial Seawalk Dec. 15. WVPD
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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2025 | A5
CLIMATE CHANGE
West Van considering $55.7M plan to combat sea level rise HILARY ANGUS
The District of West Vancouver is taking the next steps in implementing a $55.7-million proposal to safeguard the city’s beaches from sea level rise caused by climate change.
In 2018, the B.C. government released flood hazard area management guidelines that advised coastal municipalities in the province to plan for 1-1.4 metre sea level rise by the year 2100. In a presentation to council on Dec. 15, Heather Keith, the district’s senior manager for climate action and environment, showed modelling of how a one metre sea level rise would interact with West Vancouver’s beaches, from Dundarave to Ambleside, in their current state. It showed the areas at risk of flooding reach as far as Bellevue Avenue in all areas, and above Marine Drive in some areas. Keith said that the impacts of climate change are already being felt in the coastal community with flooding of piers and parks caused by more frequent storms and king tides. “We’re seeing pressure on our infrastructure … erosion of our beaches,” she said. Keith presented a proposed coastal marine management plan that would help protect West Vancouver’s parks, amenities, and built infrastructure from projected sea level rise using a combination of offshore breakwaters, raised pathways and raised piers, among other features. The offshore breakwaters would reduce wave energy as well as create or enhance intertidal habitat, Keith said. The Centennial Seawalk and Ambleside berm pathways would be raised 2.5 metres and two metres respectively, and material would be added to the city’s beaches and parks to create higher slopes. Ambleside pier would be raised, and the aging John Lawson pier, which is used less frequently, would be removed at the end of its useful life as a cost-saving measure, Keith said. The plan comes with a $55,740,500 price tag, with a 40 per cent contingency of $22,296,200. The largest line item is the elevated seawalk, which is projected to cost a little more than $21 million. Keith assured council that the plan could be funded in large part by grants from other levels of government, adding that adaptation work currently being undertaken at Whey-ah-Wichen/Cates Park in the District of North Vancouver is being
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A walker stops to watch waves crash on West Van’s Centennial Seawalk during a storm in 2021. PAUL MCGRATH / NSN FILES partially funded by grants. Coun. Nora Gambioli called the report “sobering” but important for the public to know. “I guess for me it sort of shows that pay parking in the end is going to come in handy,” Gambioli said. “That’s part of the reason why we need to start charging for paid parking, because we need to start putting money into our foreshore that we all use.” Coun. Linda Watt asked if naturalization, rather than significant adaptation work, has been considered. Keith said naturalization could be a consideration. “Another adaptation option is retreating, and moving all built infrastructure out of this area and understanding that it will flood,” Keith said. Coun. Christine Cassidy noted that retreating would still require mitigation of some description. “If we abandon ship, so to speak, we let the seawall go and don’t protect it, we also would be faced with just the concept of erosion because the sea is going to keep coming,” Cassidy said, adding that either way council will be faced with costs, and it’s more a question of how much they are willing to spend, and what timeframe they’re willing to do it in. Council voted unanimously to direct staff to move forward with the proposal. The next step is to undertake a consultation process with relevant stakeholders including the public, local First Nations and neighbouring municipalities. Following consultation, staff will produce a detailed implementation plan with a more specific budget and funding opportunities.
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A6 | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2025
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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2025 | A7
MATTER OF INTEGRITY
West Vancouver council rejects code of conduct, again JANE SEYD
jseyd@nsnews.com
West Vancouver council has once again decided it doesn’t need a code of conduct that would set out behaviour expected from council members.
On Monday, Dec. 15, council voted 5-2 to reject development of a code that would have addressed issues such as harassment, conflict of interest and preventing the outside activities of council members from undermining their integrity on council. Last week’s decision to reject that, and the discussion leading up to it, was largely a replay of several previous decisions. For the past four years, the province has required local councils to consider establishing a code of conduct at regular intervals. Most municipalities subsequently adopted codes for council conduct. But members of West Vancouver council have consistently rejected the idea, arguing it’s
West Van Mayor Mark Sager presides over a council meeting. Council has repeatedly rejected adoption of a code of conduct. NICK LABA / NSN unnecessary and could easily be used by political opponents to tie up the municipality in costly red tape. Coun. Sharon Thompson said she doesn’t feel a formal code is needed. “We take an oath when we’re elected to respect ourselves and our community,” she said. ”I don’t believe there’s a need.”
Coun. Linda Watt agreed. In the three years she’s been on council, “We’ve been respectful towards each other, the public and staff,” she said, adding “The potential for a code of conduct to be weaponized is very real. The potential to find ourselves in lengthy and costly investigations, that can also happen, and it has happened in other municipalities.”
Coun. Christine Cassidy added that most people learn respect at home and at school as children, “so at our age, it’s a bit late if you don’t have it.” Coun. Nora Gambioli was the one dissenting voice on the issue, as she has been repeatedly in the past. Every other municipality in the Lower Mainland has adopted a code of conduct, said Gambioli. “Why is it that we are special or unique in not needing a code of conduct?” she asked. “The purpose for a code of conduct is to set the bar at a reasonable level, and then to create the process if something goes wrong,” she said. Gambioli said during her 14 years on council, “there have been many times that a code of conduct would have been very useful and would have helped the district.” ”I wonder when we’re going to arrive in the 21st century on this,” she said. “I think it sends a terrible message.” Council voted 5-2 to reject a
code of conduct, with Gambioli and Coun. Peter Lambur as the dissenting votes. The discussion last week echoed previous debates on the topic in 2024 and 2023. Soon after the 2023 discussion, it was publicly revealed that Mayor Mark Sager was the subject of a workplace harassment investigation after a complaint was filed by district staff. The results of that investigation were shared with council but never made public. Sager also had his license to practice law suspended for two years by the Law Society of B.C. in 2024 after admitting to professional misconduct in his handling of a will. The previous West Van council also debated and ultimately rejected adopting a similar “respectful communication” bylaw in 2021. That followed a crude joke made by then-Coun. Craig Cameron on Twitter in 2020, aimed at Vancouver billionaire Chip Wilson, which some community members found offensive.
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A8 | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2025
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Goodwill abounds
A
cross the North Shore, families have gathered for Yalda or lit the candles of their menorah. The office parties have come and gone. The darkest days of winter are behind us, and Christmas and New Year’s are at our doorstep. You can argue, as Charlie Brown did 60 years ago, that somewhere in the excess and consumerism, we might be losing sight of what’s truly important at Christmastime. But don’t let that disaffection carry the day. No matter your background, this is the season of goodwill, togetherness and, yes, good clean fun. And these are all things that can be shared freely. It’s not just our religious texts that tell us it is better to give than to receive. Academic research also shows strong
links between our social connections and overall happiness and wellbeing. Loneliness, on the other hand, can be as deadly as smoking. This season, if you haven’t already, reach out to someone you know who hasn’t been blessed with the same abundance you have and offer them some comfort and joy. That is where the real magic of the Christmas season lies. You can set an extra place at your table. You can share in the mirth of Clark W. Griswold falling off his ladder, or the wisdom the three ghosts brought Scrooge in the night. Should old acquaintance be forgot, as the song goes, pick up the phone and be ready with a cup of kindness. No gesture of compassion is ever wasted, especially at this time of year. To you and all of us, truly, a Merry Christmas and happy holidays.
West Van newspaper route delivers unlikely friendship JACKIE BATEMAN
Contributing writer
If you’re in the mood for a heartwarming story about community, real life connection, and deep friendship, read on.
As we settle into over-cooked turkey, too much eggnog, and terrible cracker jokes, Debra and Judy’s journey is here to make our spirits bright. First, let’s meet West Vancouver resident Debra Dolan. She moved to the area two years ago from East Van. A letter writer, traveller, and bibliophile, Debra enjoys doorstep delivery of her newspapers. She loves local print culture, and the tactile experience of holding a
newspaper, flipping its pages while she relaxes in her comfy armchair with a glass of something delicious. I like Debra already. Out there in Debra’s neighbourhood, in the early hours of the morning, let’s meet Judy Bates. At 78 years old, she’s been an independent newspaper carrier for more than 40 years, working hard six days a week to make sure Debra’s neighbours get their newspapers. Judy is consistently reliable, carrying on through snowstorms, heavy rain, summer heatwaves and coastal winds. She’s been committed to delivering newspapers all the way through her life’s setbacks, including raising children to
adulthood and caring for aging parents. What an absolute star. Until a couple of years ago, Debra and Judy had never met. Living only blocks apart, they frequented the same drugstore, garden centre, and grocery shops, sometimes within minutes of each other. But they never crossed paths. During the holiday season of 2023, Judy tucked a greeting card into the newspapers on her route, including her contact information. Debra, having enjoyed the sound of the early morning thud of her newspapers since she moved in, decided to leave Judy a much-earned end-of-year tip with a thank you note. She was delighted
to have a name for the person responsible for her route so she could express her gratitude on a personal level. What happened next was the start of an extraordinary friendship. Judy replied to Debra, “I was fascinated by your ‘calling card’ … with the lovely old typewriter on the front and an intriguing library on the back.” Debra was thrilled with the response, and their correspondence began, innocently and with increased expansiveness, several times per week. In her notes, Judy told of other ‘night owls’ that she met, of the stories tucked into the streets and houses that she’d served for Continued on A9
CONTACT US 114-400 BROOKSBANK AVE. NORTH VANCOUVER B.C. V7J 2C2 nsnews.com North Shore News, founded in 1969 as an independent suburban newspaper and qualified under Schedule 111, Paragraph 111 of the Excise Tax Act, is published each Wednesday by North Shore News a division of Lodestar Media. Canada Post Canadian Publications Mail Sales Product Agreement No. 40010186. Mailing rates available on request. Entire contents © 2025 North Shore News a division of Lodestar Media. All rights reserved. Average circulation for the Wednesday edition is 51,000. The North Shore News, a division of Lodestar Media respects your privacy. We collect, use and disclose your personal information in accordance with our Privacy Statement which is available at www. nsnews.com. North Shore News is a member of the National Newsmedia Council, which is an independent organization established to deal with acceptable journalistic practices and ethical behaviour. If you have concerns about editorial content, please email editor@nsnews.com or call the newsroom at 604-985-2131. If you are not satisfied with the response and wish to file a formal complaint, visit the web site at mediacouncil.ca or call toll-free 1-844-877-1163 for additional information.
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MAILBOX RETAINING TREE CANOPY VITALLY IMPORTANT AS OUR CITY GROWS Dear Editor: RE: City Of North Vancouver Aiming To Increase Urban Tree Canopy, Dec. 14 news story It’s fantastic to see the City of North Vancouver connecting the dots between tree canopy and climate resilience. Extreme heat is the number one killer when it comes to climate change, and the coroner’s report after the 2021 heat dome made it clear that more tree canopy cover, especially in historically underserved neighborhoods, is essential to saving lives. I’m happy that in addition to increasing the overall tree canopy, the City of North Van is looking closely at tree equity for areas with low canopy cover. One concern is how they can achieve this with the new provincial housing mandates (Bills 44 and 47) that require municipalities across the province to densify, but provide no incentives or guidelines for maintaining or increasing tree canopy or green space. The B.C. government could start by convening a provincial task force to
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2025 | A9 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR must include your name, full address and telephone number. Send your letters via our website: nsnews.com/ opinion/send-us-a-letter. The North Shore News reserves the right to edit any and/or all letters based on length, clarity, legality and content. The News also reserves the right to publish any and/or all letters electronically.
bring together experts in urban forestry, planning, and public health to advise on integrating natural assets into densification policies, update Bills 44 and 47 to require cooling greenspace and tree canopy, and develop consistent provincial urban forest management guidelines. These measures would help cities like North Van achieve the life-saving tree cover targets they are setting.
Shelley Luce North Vancouver
CAN WE PLEASE GET A TRAFFIC COP WHEN MAJOR INTERSECTIONS GO DARK? Dear Editor: RE: Rain And Wind Wallop Region As Residents Brace For Flooding, Dec. 17 news story There was a major and prolonged power outage, including traffic lights at Taylor Way and along Marine Drive. These were dangerous driving conditions, and yet not a single police officer in sight to help calm the chaotic traffic. Good Lord!
Philip Till North Vancouver
Small acts make a big difference Continued from A8 years. For Debra, it was a natural extension of her lifelong devotion to letters. With pen pals around the globe, and journals being her constant companions, she records all of her daily joys and challenges. A member of Story Circle Network, promoting women’s stories, she has been interviewed by CBC and CNN Travel in relation to her love of postcards and letters. “Writing is how I make sense of the world,” she says. “Judy is now a part of my life. Our notes to one another have grown in intimacy; sharing the joys and challenges of the past and present. There is a deep trust, curiosity, and wonderfully playful, yet serious, continuous engagement as we mutually use words to build a deeper friendship.” The two pen friends met face-to-face around six months after their letters began. They were both nervous, wondering if they were meant to be pen pals and nothing more. But it turns out Debra
and Judy are as comfortable sitting together at the fire as they are writing notes. Neither of them imagined that a single holiday card would lead to such a profoundly meaningful connection. Debra and Judy have now written more than 200 letters to each other. Debra explains, “each note we write carries a small leap of faith; that our words will be received with care, that our honesty will be met with trust. And slowly, those risks have become the foundation of friendship.” As another year reaches its end, let’s think of how small acts can make a difference. Debra and Judy’s friendship is a gift. Sometimes the best gifts are the ones that arrive quietly, and that cost nothing. Merry Christmas, North Shore. Take risks. Connect with each other. And don’t forget to look carefully within the pages of your newspaper. North Vancouver’s Jackie Bateman is an award-winning author, screenwriter, copywriter, and extremely nosy if you get too close. jackie@jacbateman.com
A10 | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2025
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PAY TO PLAY
West Van brings in $20 parking pass for clubs, volunteers ABBY LUCIANO
aluciano@nsnews.com Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
West Vancouver council has approved a plan to reduce parking costs for non-profit organizations and sports teams whose members live outside the municipality.
Some sports organizations, however, say the proposed change doesn’t go far enough and parking should be free to avoid financial strain and losing members. Last week, West Vancouver council gave final approval to a monthly $20 Community Partner Parking Pass for members of qualifying non-profits who operate in Ambleside Park. The pass is intended to reduce out-of-pocket expenses for non-resident volunteers and staff who support community-based programs. Only a limited amount of passes will be given out. To determine eligibility, staff developed a matrix aligning with principles used for Permissive Tax Exemptions. The $20 monthly pass is the latest tweak to a parking program that began on Sept. 15 when the District of West Vancouver began charging $5.42 an hour for visitors to park at Ambleside Park. By mid-October, council voted to reduce
West Vancouver Field Hockey Club players Silvina Moscato, Shelley Tapp, Diane Montgomery and George Haughn are frustrated with the pay parking scheme in Ambleside Park that is forcing athletes, coaches and volunteers to pay to play. ABBY LUCIANO / NSN parking to $2.50 an hour after backlash from members of the Ambleside business community, who voiced concerns that the pay parking program had caused them to
lose thousands of dollars in revenue as park visitors flocked to commercial streets for free parking. During a Nov. 17 meeting, council
directed staff to start negotiations with Impark on the parking pass and report back with more information. On Dec. 1, several people from the sports community spoke against the paid parking, including North Vancouver resident Grace Yang, who asked for registered West Vancouver Field Hockey Club players to be exempted from the fees. Reading a letter from a field hockey coach, Yang said the club plays at Rutledge Field in Ambleside Park, where athletes from across the three North Shore municipalities participate as there is no field hockey club or dedicated turf in North Vancouver. “Introducing paid parking at this facility while offering a free annual parking pass only to West Vancouver residents places a disproportionate cost on North Vancouver athletes and their families,” Yang read to council Dec. 1. Diane Montgomery, a member of the West Van Field Hockey Club, also spoke out against the paid parking, asking council to look at the broader fee implications as people from all over the Lower Mainland travel to Rutledge Field to practice. Coun. Christine Cassidy suggested Continued on A11
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Clubs not pleased with pay parking Continued from A10 the club could carpool or take the bus to reduce costs. Montgomery said people already carpool to Ambleside and could ride the bus, but public transportation isn’t always an option due to practices being later in the evening. “Generally, people have super busy lives and with a big hockey [stick], you’re probably not going to take the bus,” Montgomery said. Members of the Hollyburn Sailing Club, West Vancouver Little League and the Ambleside & Dundarave Business Improvement Association also spoke about the problems they face around paid parking, asking council to pause the program to consult with organizations before resuming. “There’s a solution there somewhere. It’s just this piecemeal part is very confusing to the community and to all of the organizations, and it is impacting us,” said ADBIA executive director Maureen O’Brien. Staff estimate 130 non-resident volunteers and staff will use the pass, including the sports groups that spoke during the meeting. Some councillors were on the fence as to whether to go ahead with the $20 monthly parking pass or not.
Coun. Sharon Thompson said paid parking in Ambleside Park should be rescinded until consultation is done with affected user groups instead of making continual tweaks to the program. “I’m not going to support this and not because I don’t think it’s a step in the right direction. I keep supporting these little moves towards the right move, and I think it’s time to stop,” Thompson said. Coun. Nora Gambioli echoed Thompson’s comments and said it was a “very big mistake” to instruct staff to go ahead with paid parking without consultation. Coun. Scott Snider said the parking pass would be a step forward in the right direction. “The community pass does address some of the concerns that are being raised,” Snider said, adding that the cost breakdown equals to 66 cents per day. “I think that to not approve this would be a mistake because it would then leave everybody where we’re at right now.” The motion passed, with Coun. Thompson opposed. 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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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2025 | A13
ARTS | ENTERTAINMENT | FOOD | HOME |
| HEALTH | COMMUNITY
RIDE ON
Motorcycle riders smash around-the-world record HILARY ANGUS
Contributing writer
Some people’s dream vacation is a wine-tasting tour in the south of France, while for others, it may look like a relaxing week by the beach with some grilled fish and a good book.
For Ryan Kluftinger and Connor Bondlow, the dream was a little different: A gruelling 16-day motorcycle endurance ride around five continents, surviving on little more than gas station food and power naps in roadside ditches. “I always wanted to do a big trip while I could call it work, because we’re just a bunch of lucky little punks who get to ride around on bikes and call it a job,” said Kluftinger, who recently shared in the new overland world circumnavigation record of 16 days and 23 hours. Kluftinger and Bondlow work at FortNine, a Montreal-based motorcycle retailer that has developed a substantial online following over the past few years for their motorcycling videos. Kluftinger and Bondlow create the content from the company’s North Vancouver office. Last fall, the pair took “motorcycling video” to another level, circumnavigating the world on Ducatis with an award-winning filmmaker, Edwin El Bainou, riding on the back of Kluftinger’s bike and filming the whole time. The result is Yalla Habibi, a new feature-length documentary that traces the trio’s adventure, traversing five continents at a dizzying pace. They rode from Anchorage to Miami, Lisbon to Istanbul, Mumbai to Kolkata,
Documentary filmmaker Edwin El Bainou captures a moment with North Vancouver motorcycle enthusiasts Ryan Kluftinger and Connor Bondlow on their record-breaking trip around the world. FORTNINE Bangkok to Singapore and Perth to Sydney. Their record is inclusive of all flights, border delays, and sleep – the clock started when they left from Vancouver and didn’t stop until they returned. To avoid shipping delays, FortNine secured a deal with Ducati to have two Multistrada V4 Rally motorcycles waiting for the trio at each airport, which Kluftinger called a “massive logistical challenge,” but necessary to complete the feat. A record-setting motorcycle ride Kluftinger said part of the motivation
for the trip was to set a clean record, as the previous overland record was in dispute. There were two different attempts of around 19 days set in 2002 and 2005, but neither attempt accounted for rest days or travel, and neither record-holder recognized the other, leading, at one point, to a somewhat public spat. When Kluftinger saw one of the previous record-holders speak at an event, the idea to settle the debate was born. “I thought, well, that’s great,” Kluftinger laughed. “I can go on a big trip and still be able to tell my wife that I’d be back in about
two weeks.” Bondlow spent an entire year planning the expedition, with the flights booked and a down-to-the-minute itinerary mapped into a chart. At times, they were passing through multiple countries per day. Kluftinger recalled one ride day that began in Italy and eventually passed through Croatia and Serbia and several other eastern European countries in the dark, to arrive in Turkey just in time to make their flight. They slept on the flight and woke up in Mumbai at 6 a.m., ready to ride again. “I think we were fortunate enough to still experience a lot, but the pace of those experiences is jarring,” he said. Kluftinger recalled major highlights of the trip, like riding through the “storybook towns” of Slovenia on a moonlit night, or experiencing the “free-flowing school of fish method of traffic conveyance” that moves the 23-million population of Mumbai through the city streets with little regard for western-style road rules. Then there were the lows, like seriously underestimating how cold the Australian Nullarbor Plain gets in September, and having no choice but to push through 30-hour days on a desolate stretch of freezing highway with no opportunity to seek shelter from the wind.
Pushing the limit, or following the speed limits? While setting a world overland record might seem like it requires constant high speeds, Kluftinger said the trio spent the trip Continued on A14
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Continued from A13 riding with the pace of local traffic. “The trick to endurance riding is actually not to ride very fast,” he said. “The faster you’re going, the more your brain has to run at a higher processing speed… It’s very mentally fatiguing to ride like that.” Then there is the question of safety, both for themselves and for the other road users who North Vancouver’s Connor Bondlow gears up on a trip didn’t sign up to particiaround the globe. FORTNINE pate in a race, Kluftinger acknowledged. on when the gas ran out. Gas station stops “Motorcycles have a bit of a bad rap, were cut down to 5-6 minutes with one rider because people ride them stupid fast, and running in to buy food while the other filled shoot themselves off the corners on the Seathe tanks. to-Sky every weekend. And that is indeed Sleeping was relegated to planes and 4-5 very dumb and very dangerous,” he said. hour naps in the gravel at the side of the “[We] never want to be assholes, just runroad in their clothes and helmets, which ning some stupid, meaningless race at the Kluftinger said make surprisingly effective potential cost of endangering others.” pillows. So while they occasionally lost time sitting in traffic or riding a casual 50 kilometres Let’s go, my friend! per hour, they made up for it by cutting The result was not only an undisputed down on basically everything else. Ride days lasted 20-40 hours, depending Continued on A15
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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2025 | A15
The record-breaking crew crosses Australia on their trip around the world. FORTNINE
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Film documents trio’s wild ride
Continued from A14 record but the ultimate adventure documentary intended to inspire others who are looking for motivation to try something big. They decided to keep the movie light rather than focus on the grittier aspects of record-setting and personal-legacy-touting that has come to define extreme sport documentaries. “The reality is that this is a dumb thing. Like, no one cares if you go around the world at some number that’s shorter than anyone else has,” Kluftinger said. “That’s a completely arbitrary thing and it definitely doesn’t matter when you hold it up against the family that you have at home.” Filmmaker El Bainou said riding on the back of a bike while shooting all day was “brutal,” but it was the only way to capture
the myriad small moments that make up the reality of breaking a speed record. “We’ve got a great story to tell and I can’t wait for people to watch it,” El Bainou said. Yalla Habibi, which roughly translates from Arabic as “Let’s go, my friend,” is available to rent on Vimeo from anywhere in the world. “We wanted the movie to be fun,” Kluftinger said. “We want to put people in the rider’s seat and let them vicariously experience how much of a joy it is to go around the world and to ride an exciting, fast machine and to try something kind of silly and dumb with your friends.” Hilary Angus is a Vancouver-based journalist writing for the North Shore News. She can be reached at info@hilaryangus.com.
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Thank you to all our readers, advertisers, and carriers for supporting the North Shore News this past year. Your commitment to local businesses and community makes all the difference. As we celebrate this holiday season, we wish you happiness, health, and the warmth of family and friends. And, of course, we hope you enjoy reading your local newspaper, which thrives thanks to your support. Here’s to a brighter future together, supporting local every step of the way!
A16 | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2025
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Affordable units given to people with connections to West Van
Continued from A1 was completed ahead of schedule in April, months earlier than the original ready date of March 2026. Stefan Baune, CEO of Kiwanis North Shore Housing Society, said the affordable housing project cost roughly $74 million to build. While all the units are now occupied, monthly rents range from $1,259 for a studio to $3,382 for a three-bedroom. Eligibility was determined by maximum annual gross household incomes of $107,037 for studio/ one-bedroom units, and $166,524 for two
and three-bedroom units. Each unit is equipped with an in-suite washer and dryer, compact air conditioner, dishwasher, carpet flooring and a balcony or patio. In addition to the rental suites, Vancouver Coastal Health will soon operate an adult day centre Monday to Friday in building A (970 22nd St.), helping people with brain injuries, dementia and other cognitive impairments, Baune said. The new space can accommodate up to 24 members plus six staff. The building features a
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community-focused design, offering amenities like a common room for residents and private functions, a community garden with an integrated playground, a barbecue and outdoor picnic area. Kiwanis Village West also has 264 solar panels on the roof, increasing energy efficiency and reducing the amount of greenhouse gases produced, Baune said. Baune said more than 500 applications came in for suites in the building, showing the growing demand for affordable housing. “There is a demand that we cannot fulfill with this one project alone,” Baune said, adding that Kiwanis hopes to work on more similar projects in the future. West Vancouver Mayor Mark Sager said the project is filling a need in the community. “It’s really important that we provide housing for our first responders, teachers, nurses, for people,” Sager said. “West Vancouver, let’s face it, it is an expensive community to live in, so providing nice housing for people, it’s really important for a healthy community.” For new resident Sarah, moving into the Kiwanis building means she can stay in West
Vancouver. After Sarah’s lease was up at her previous place, she was looking for a larger space to live with her child, but nothing was in her price range. The only affordable places she could find were as far away as Abbotsford, and she didn’t want to move out of the community with her child in school. When she moved into the Kiwanis building last month, it brought relief, especially before the holidays. “I’m settled before the holidays have come in and [know] that I don’t have to worry for a long time … looking for another place to call home. It feels good,” she said. Living in the new building has also fostered a renewed sense of community, with more families residing in the complex. “There’s a high demand for people, whether you’re in West Vancouver or any other part of Vancouver, to be able to access affordable housing, [the] cost of living is going up,” she said. “Having a place where you can afford to live is important.” 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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West Vancouver Mayor Mark Sager gives a bouquet of flowers to Sarah, welcoming her as one of the first residents of Kiwanis Village West. ABBY LUCIANO / NSN
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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2025 | A17
SNOW BUSINESS
Ski season opens just in time for holidays on Grouse, Cypress HILARY ANGUS
Contributing writer
Ski and snowboard season has arrived on the North Shore at long last.
Grouse Mountain officially opened on Friday, Dec. 19, with Cypress Mountain firing up the lifts one day later. “There’s nothing like the energy of opening day, bringing the community of skiers and riders together and celebrating our shared love of the outdoors,”said Grouse Mountain’s assistant general manager Grant Wahl in a press release. “Thanks to the hard work of the team behind the scenes, the slopes are
ready, and we can’t wait to welcome guests back for another winter, made extra special as we gear up to celebrate Grouse Mountain’s centennial in 2026,” Wahl said. Warmer-than-average temperatures have resulted in abnormally late starts for the local mountains this year, but the snow forecast is looking optimistic. “Meteorologists [are] predicting a La Niña climate for the 2025/26 season, which typically means more snow on the mountains thanks to lower temperatures and increased precipitation,” Grouse’s communications manager Emily Leak said in the press release, adding that the resort is trialling a new snowmaking machine that can operate
even in high temperatures. The folks at Cypress Mountain Resort were also excited to open up their slopes. “We are so ready for this,” said Matt Davies, president of Cypress Mountain Resort in a press release. “Right now, the mountain is alive with activity as teams across every department prepare to welcome guests back.” Cypress said a combination of natural snowfall and snowmaking has enabled them to open limited terrain for now, but they will be adding more runs as quickly as conditions allow. Visitors to both mountains are encouraged to check real-time conditions before heading up the hills.
Skiers and boarders head up Grouse Mountain for the start of the ski season on Friday, Dec. 19. Grouse and Cypress both opened over the weekend, just in time for Christmas holidays. PAUL MCGRATH / NSN
HOPE • PEACE • JOY • LOVE
Sharing the Christmas story that started it all…
Celebrate this special time of year at your local United Church – ALL ARE WELCOME! ST. ANDREW’S UNITED
1044 St. George’s Ave, North Van 604-985-0408 www.st-andrews-united.ca Wednesday, December 17 6 pm Blue Christmas Service Gentle music, candle-lighting, and a message that gives hope for the year to come. Presented by St. Andrew’s United and St. John’s Anglican churches. Thursday, December 18 St. Andrew’s Free Community Christmas Dinner 11:30 am – 12:30 pm First Sitting 12:45 pm – 1:45 pm Second Sitting Come and enjoy a delicious turkey dinner with all the trimmings! Sunday, December 21 4 pm Taizé Contemplative Service (Longest Night of the Year) Christmas Eve 4 pm Jesus’ Birthday Party You and your little ones are invited to an hour-long birthday party for Jesus with music, sing-along carols, fun activities and, of course, a birthday cake! 7 pm Christmas Eve Candlelight Service Experience the joy of Christmas at a traditional service of lessons and carols in our candlelit Sanctuary. Christmas Day 10 am Christmas Day Service Join us for a joyous Christmas Day service. Everyone is welcome at St. Andrew’s!
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MOUNT SEYMOUR UNITED
1200 Parkgate Ave, North Van 604-929-1336 https://mtseymourunited.com Wednesday, December 17 7 pm Blue Christmas Candlelight Service with music by Marcus Mosely & Julian Pattison, for those who find this season difficult due to grief, loss or other struggles. Thursday, December 18 Whoever you are, wherever you’re 2 pm Christmas Carol Singing in at on your journey, there is a place the Café for you at LVUC. Sunday, December 21 4 – 6 pm Light the Night ST. DAVID’S UNITED Community Solstice Celebration 1525 Taylor Way, West Van for all ages to celebrate our new 604-922-3961 outdoor labyrinth and sacred www.stdavidsunited.com garden. Crafts and refreshments, Sunday, December 21 quiet space for reflection. All are 10:30 am An Advent service of welcome. love with musical gifts from harpist Christmas Eve Rebecca Blair. 4 pm Young Families Christmas Eve Christmas Eve 10 pm A service of Scripture, Carols Service with an interactive pick-up pageant and Candlelight with musical gifts from Monique, Michael and Michelle 7 pm Traditional Candlelight Service Recorded services available online Creber and the St. David’s voice at https://www.youtube.com/@ and bell choirs. MountSeymourUnitedChurch/videos Sunday, December 28 10:30 am A relaxed recap of the Christmas Season. 3201 Mountain Hwy. North Van 604-987-2114 www.lynnvalleychurch.com Saturday, December 20 3 pm Lynn Valley Voices Presents Wintersong & Requiem Christmas Eve 4:30 pm Family Christmas Service 8 pm Candlelight Communion
NORTH LONSDALE UNITED
3380 Lonsdale Ave, North Van 604-985-4911 www.nluc.org Christmas Eve 5:30 pm All Ages Celebration Service Join us for a Christmas Eve celebration service of carol-singing and all-ages fellowship. All children who attend are invited to join in our “pop-up Christmas pageant” (just show up on the night of!) as part of this service. Costumes will be provided, or you can bring your own! 11 pm Contemplative Communion Service. You’re invited to come and rest in a quieter, contemplative space late-night on Christmas Eve, as we gather to reflect and to celebrate Holy Communion together. This service will include simple songs, Scripture readings, and times of silence. All are welcome.
HIGHLANDS UNITED
3255 Edgemont Blvd, North Van 604-980-6071 www.highlandsunited.org Christmas Eve 4 pm Pageant with God’s Free Spirits Choir and Genesis II Choir 7 pm Carols with the Spirit Singers 10 pm A service of readings and choral music in a contemporary style to welcome the birth of Christ.
WEST VANCOUVER UNITED
2062 Esquimalt Ave, West Van 604-922-9171 • wvuc.bc.ca Christmas Eve 4 pm Christmas for Kids Come experience the joy of Christmas in this 30 minute familyfriendly service. 7:30 pm & 9:30 pm Carols and Candlelight* Both evening services will be filled with candlelight and beautiful music, including traditional Christmas hymns. *Also available online and throughout the evening at wvuc.bc.ca/live and on Facebook.
A18 | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2025
north shore news nsnews.com HOLIDAY SPIRIT
Squamish Nation delivers 1,500 holiday hampers to those in need ABBY LUCIANO
aluciano@nsnews.com Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The pouring rain and cold didn’t dampen the holiday spirit for dozens of volunteers outside the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation)’s So-Sah-Latch Shewaynewas Family Programs building last week as they packed holiday hampers for the community.
Like elves at Santa’s workshop, 60 volunteers worked in assembly line fashion putting together 1,500 food hampers for the Squamish Nation community to ensure everyone gets a festive meal for the holidays. The initiative is run by the Ayás Mén̓men (Child & Family Services) and Ts’its’ixwnítway (Member Services). “It’s great to see all the families we can help because we have family members that are struggling, living paycheque-to-paycheque,” said Tallia Reginald, who works events and funerals for the Squamish Nation. “When we can give them a boost … it’s always great to make sure we can do that.” This year’s hampers have Christmas
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dinner staples like turkey, potatoes, carrots, stuffing, gravy and cranberries, alongside breakfast items like pancake mix, syrup, coffee, tea and mandarin oranges. Food distribution company Sysco helped provide the groceries while North Vancouver-Lonsdale MLA Bowinn Ma and North Vancouver-Seymour MLA Susie Chant donated 1,250 candy cane packages to go in the hampers. Tanya Brown, organizer of this year’s holiday hamper initiative, said about 1,250 of them are delivered to members throughout the North Shore and 250 up in the Squamish Valley, while the remaining are picked up by members who live within the Lower Mainland. For those who live elsewhere like Vancouver Island or the U.S., Brown said members can get a $100 gift card, she said. “It’s a great opportunity to come together … It’s very fulfilling to be part of it,” Brown said. “It’s a joyful experience and it aligns a lot with Squamish values, just taking care of the people, supporting one another. It’s just very meaningful.” This hamper campaign is the largest Continued on A19
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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2025 | A19
Christmas hamper program started in ‘70s 2026 COUNCIL Continued from A18 undertaken by the Squamish Nation, largely due to the new housing that has opened up, like the 95-unit building on Xwemelch’stn (Capilano Reserve), but also because of the the rising cost of groceries. Last year, the Squamish Nation packed 1,250 hampers. Reginald said they had to cut back on some items they usually give out, such as peanut butter and jam. But she said extra funding came through within the Nation to contribute a majority of the items. The initiative has been an annual tradition since the 1970s, Reginald said. Reginald, who has been part of the hamper program for the last 15 years, said she feels grateful she gets to continue the tradition helping others. “It’s an honour because we help all the families in need and [bring] families together to share a meal. It’s really nice,” she said. Shelley Levis, one of volunteers, shares that sentiment and was happy to pack the boxes for a good cause. “It was a cold, wet, drizzly day, and it would take a little bit of convincing
MEETING SCHEDULE
The 2026 Council Meeting Schedule is now available on the City’s website at cnv.org/ CouncilMeetings. Agendas for upcoming meetings are available online at cnv.org/ CouncilMeetings or at the North Vancouver City Library, 120 West 14th Street. Regular Council Meetings are open to the public, held electronically and in person in the Council Chamber, and begin at 6:00 pm. Watch the meetings online at cnv.org/LiveStreaming. Tanya Brown and Shelley Levis hold two of the hundreds of boxes that were packed for Squamish Nation families this holiday season. ABBY LUCIANO / NSN for people to want to come out, but they did it with a good heart,” Levis said. “I’m proud of how we managed to pull this off.” After the hampers were packed together Tuesday, Dec. 16, the boxes were put on five U-Hauls to take them out to the communities the following day.
“When people come together as a community, you can do great things,” Levis added. “We got this done quick, efficiently, [with] lots of smiles. It’s just about coming together.” 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.
Council Workshops begin at 6:00 pm in Conference Room A/B and are not livestreamed, but are open to the public, unless otherwise indicated. 141 WEST 14TH STREET NORTH VANCOUVER / BC / V7M 1H9 T 604 985 7761 / F 604 985 9417 CNV.ORG
Your future starts here Global energy. Local opportunity. Join a first-of-its-kind LNG project rooted in partnership with Sḵwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation). At Woodfibre LNG, long-term, skilled careers are being built right here in the Sea-to-Sky — helping deliver lower-carbon energy to the world while creating opportunity at home. woodfibrelng.ca/careers
A20 | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2025
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TIME TRAVELLER
A weekly glimpse into North Shore’s past from MONOVA: Museum of North Vancouver
GARDEN TO TABLE
Kimchi-style pickled carrots make a great holiday gift LAURA MARIE NEUBERT
Contributing writer
Earlier this week, I had lunch with a friend downtown. The restaurant was packed largely with men and women who move and shake the business and politics of the city.
Christmas at North Star School
Photo: NVMA, 5272
Peak inside a Grade 3/4 classroom at North Star School in December 1938, decorated with a Christmas tree, garlands, wreaths and other greenery to get the students into the festive spirit. The class was taught by Aileen Lockhart-Smythe, the daughter of emigrants from Northern Ireland. Her father, Thomas Lockhart-Smythe, ran Kingsderry, a grocery store in North Lonsdale. Aileen taught at a number of schools in North Vancouver, including Crosby School for Girls and Ridgeway, before retiring in 1953. North Star School opened in 1912 and closed in the 1980s. It is now the site of Ecole Andre Piolat. Discover more of the North Shore’s rich history at MONOVA. Start planning your visit at monova.ca. Do you have a story to tell? Get in touch via archives@monova.ca.
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At the holiday season our thoughts turn gratefully to those who have made our success possible. It is in this spirit that we say:
Thank you for over 45 years of loyal support. Best wishes for the holidays and a happy & healthy new year!
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My friend is one of those people. She works in finance, is sharp as a tack, and influential enough that Jars of food such as these kimchi-style pickled carrots can a steady stream of visitors make a great holiday gift. LAURA MARIE NEUBERT dropped by our table to say hello (to her, not me). in the long run may not be so convenient As happy as I was to catch up on her for people or the planet. business, I was happier to hear about her I have gift tags designed from my first new organic vegetable garden and admire her iPhone photos, not just of produce she go-around, and the recipe is still in my head. For six garden-to-table gifts of what I had grown for the first time ever, but the call “kimchi-style carrot pickles + marinade beets she had pickled herself. + vinaigrette,” I will use 1.5 kilograms of We spent as much time talking about carrots or radish (daikon are lovely for sourcing, growing, cooking and eating this), 900 millilitres each of plain white clean food, as we did about business, and vinegar and water, 200 mls of liquid honey I couldn’t help but reflect on how main(or sugar), two tablespoons sea salt, a stream perceptions and participation in thumb-sized piece of fresh ginger peeled food gardening have changed, and for the and chopped, 12 whole star anise, one better. teaspoon red pepper flakes, three tsps Amidst a social media storm of each of yellow or brown mustard seeds, so-called expert advice and caution about peppercorns and coriander seeds, plus 12 eating anything anywhere, and hype about large cloves garlic peeled and sliced. grounding devices, cold plunges, red light While peeling and slicing the carrots therapy, microbiome dysbiosis, bio-hack(or radishes scrubbed clean) into thin ing and living forever, more and more coins (carefully using a mandolin), I will people are tuning out and digging in. bring the liquids, honey and salt to a There is so much joy to be found in a boil slowly in a pot on the stove. After garden, and ironically, so much longevity. layering the coins and spices in sterilized Numerous studies show that gardening, jars (divided equally but in no particular on average, increases both lifespan and order), I will add the hot pickling liquid, healthspan. pop on a lid and then hot water-process Similar benefits can be found in the the jars. kitchen as well, preparing clean and The good news is that these qualify as healthy whole foods grown and raised quick-pickles also, so processing is not locally, for ourselves and others. necessary. Just leave them in the fridge I was inspired by my friend’s enthusifor a week or so to self-marinate until asm to pickle vegetables myself for gifting delicious. The best news is the savoury this holiday season. Just a few years ago, “vinaigrette” can be used as a marinade or I did the math on homegrown pickled cardressing. The entire contents (minus the rots, watermelon radishes and beets. The star anise), after sitting a spell to soften cost, including glass jars, was not quite somewhat, can be Vitamixed into a truly two dollars per quart – less if the jars are scrumptious creamy dressing or spread. recycled. Happy pickling, gifting, and holidays! We have few carrots left in the garden, Laura Marie Neubert is a West Vancouverbut a weekend trip to the farmers’ market based urban permaculture designer. Follow for bulk organic vegetables will solve my her on Instagram @upfrontandbeautiful, problem and help support a local farmer. or email your questions to her at hello@ Will this take some time? Absolutely, but upfrontandbeautiful.com. so does shopping for convenience, which
north shore news nsnews.com
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2025 | A21
Considering downsizing? Have questions on how to prepare your home for an eventual sale...I can help. I have been navigating the North Shore real estate market for over 35 years. Happy to discuss your plans.
Life Member 35 Years
Al Sutton | 604-720-4889 | www.alsutton.org CROSSWORD
ACROSS 1. Certain vipers 5. Resort hotel 8. Inscribe 12. Bird-feeder treat 13. Heidi’s mountain 14. Song for one 15. Perceive sound 16. Youngster 17. Plug up 18. Modify copy 20. Finds a total 21. Acquire 24. Gab 26. First “M*A*S*H” colonel 27. Optimistic 31. Not home 32. Bind: hyph. 34. Alias initials 35. Blackboard wipers 37. Behaved
HOROSCOPE WEEK OF DEC 24, 2025 - DEC 30, 2025
39. Noah’s boat 40. Shiny 41. Hit a hole in one 44. Auction 45. Clothed 46. Maryland’s neighbor: abbr. 47. Line 51. Go on about 52. Salt Lake City athlete 53. Billiard sticks 54. One who watches 55. Exclamations of surprise 56. Sins DOWN 1. Fireplace residue 2. “Peggy ____ Got Married” 3. Garden vegetable 4. Band of color 5. Soft fabric 6. Secret plan
7. Liable 8. Evade 9. Informed 10. Dolt 11. Swine 19. Scale watcher 21. Clarinet’s relative 22. Smudge 23. So long, in London: 2 wds. 24. “____ Are So Beautiful” 25. Horrify 27. Stags and bucks 28. Domino or Waller 29. Hawaiian instruments 30. Lord’s wife 33. Exasperate 36. More melancholy 38. Put the squeeze on 40. High winds 41. Farm measure 42. Ali, once 43. Icicle’s spot 44. Rogen of “Superbad” 46. Penn and Teller, e.g. 48. “____ House” (song) 49. Part of rpm 50. Tee preceder Crossword puzzle answers use American spelling
ARIES March 21-April 19
LEO July 23-Aug. 22
You’ll be surprised by certain innovative ideas this week. Your contagious enthusiasm will inspire everyone to join in on your projects. You’ll manage to organize an unforgettable and authentic celebration.
Holding a family lottery could be a fun way to wrap up the holidays and plan a special trip. No matter what you choose to do, you’ll have a great time and show your loved ones how generous you are.
TAURUS April 20-May 20
VIRGO Aug. 23-Sept. 22
SAGITTARIUS Nov. 22-Dec. 21
You’ll be in the spotlight this week. You have a knack for making people laugh with your sarcastic and witty comments. You may even receive applause, boosting your confidence.
CAPRICORN Dec. 22-Jan. 19
You’ll spend part of the week A secret will be revealed at caring for your children or elThis is a good time a party. You’ll be sensitive derly parents. This will give you for reflection and to the situation and deliver the opportunity to recharge introspection. You’ll a poignant speech that your batteries. The calm and have the opportunity resonates with all the guests. solitude of your home will to recognize both your You’ll be asked to help with an spark your imagination. successes and failures unexpected work emergency; while opening your AQUARIUS Jan. 20-Feb. 18 it may even happen in the mind to a deeper form of middle of the night. spirituality. You’ll be very articulate and committed to ensuring LIBRA Sept. 23-Oct. 22 GEMINI May 21-June 20 everything runs smoothly this Avoid getting involved in week. Although you might Because of your ability to not always express yourself unite people who don’t often family squabbles, especially tactfully, you’ll be correct. The see eye to eye, you’ll be a key if they don’t involve you most important thing is to part of a big success that will directly. However, if you do achieve good results. leave a lasting impression. If choose to intervene, you’ll you’re single, a colleague will play referee and may be able PISCES Feb. 19-March 20 take this chance to try to get to ease tensions. closer to you. Even if you’re on a tight SCORPIO Oct. 23-Nov. 21 budget, your end-ofCANCER June 21-July 22 At a work party, you’ll be full year celebrations will be of energy and might even unforgettable, thanks to You still have lots to do help serve food and drinks. your creative ideas and to finish organizing a The enchanting atmosphere determination. You’ll also memorable event. Don’t let of the festive season will show your partner how your time slip away. Make much you love them, creating sure you’re well prepared to strengthen your romantic relationship, bringing you celebrate the arrival of the warmth and closeness within new year in style. even closer together. your relationship.
SUDOKU HOW TO PLAY: Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3 x 3 box contains the numbers 1 through 9 only once.
LAST WEEK’S ANSWERS:
Each 3 x 3 box is outlined with a darker line. You already have a few numbers to get you started. Remember: you must not repeat the numbers 1 through 9 in the same line, column or 3 x 3 box.
A22 | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2025
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REMEMBRANCES
CELEBRATE YOUR FAMILY OCCASIONS AND SHARE MEMORIES
IN MEMORIAM
In loving memory of a beautiful soul and spirit. Always missed by family and friends.
Beatrix (Trixie) Irmgard Maria Georgia Rueben, born in Hamburg, Germany, October 5, 1925, passed away peacefully and surrounded by family on Thursday, December 18, 2025. She was predeceased by her husband, Dr. Erich Rueben, in 2007, and is survived by her five children, Alexander (Natalka), Philip (Julia), Victoria (Walter), Patrick (Patricia) and Suzanne (Peter). She also leaves behind 14 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren as her extended family continues to grow. Her life was an inspiration to those who knew and loved her. She taught us not only how to grow old, but how to cherish friends and family, how to stay grounded, how to remain active, and how to live life fully. She weathered both storms and sunshine with quiet courage and gave more than she ever asked for in return. 604-653-7851 236-889-6595 604-653-7851 classifieds. assifieds. ahogan@ nmather nsnews.com
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OBITUARIES
OBITUARIES
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Larry Reda. Predeceased by his parents, Etta and John Reda; brother Normie Reda; sister Ann Marie Henderson; daughter Carol-Anne Campbell; and granddaughter Zoe Campbell. He is survived by his wife Margaret-Anne; daughter Rae-Anne Prinster; sons-in-law Mark Prinster and Justin Campbell; and grandchildren Iain (Lauren), Joshua, Lucas, and Rebecca. Larry’s true loves were family, friends, firefighting, and football. He passed away peacefully on December 11, 2025, at the age of 94, with his wife by his side, leaving behind a life well lived. Please visit mckenziefuneralservice.com to learn more about Larry’s life or send condolences to the family. A Funeral Mass will be held at Christ the Redeemer Church, 599 Keith Road, West Vancouver, on Saturday, December 27 at 11:00 a.m., with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations to your local Firefighters’ Burn Fund are gratefully appreciated. To write a condolence to the family, please visit www.mckenziefuneralservices.com.
Shirley passed away shortly after celebrating her 90th birthday, surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Devon, England, and travelled to Canada with her parents in 1940 in a convoy of ships, nine of which were sunk by submarines during World War II. Shirley graduated from North Vancouver Secondary School and the University of British Columbia, and attended Vancouver Normal School. She married James (“Jim”) Hemphill in 1963 in Hawaii, where she had taught for two years. Shirley loved Hawaii and took many memorable trips there with family and friends. She was a passionate teacher. Shirley’s teaching career took her to Gibsons, North Vancouver, Hawaii, and then to West Vancouver, where she lived and spent most of her teaching years. She loved her family, the ocean, and her apartment by the sea. Shirley is survived by her three children, Laurie Tsumura, James (Caroline), and Kenneth (Georgina), as well as grandchildren Matthew and Jonathan Hemphill, and Kelly and Connor Tsumura. Her parents, Laura Ruth Linton and Kenneth Byron Linton, predeceased her. Special thanks to Creekstone Care Centre for providing exceptional care to Shirley during the past two years. There will be a private family service. Donations to the Lions Gate Hospital Foundation in memory of Shirley would be appreciated to honour the care she received. Shirley will be forever loved, and always remembered for her passion of connecting with family and friends.
To place an Obituary, In Memoriam, or Memorial Service, please call Adam Nadia at
236-889-6595 604-653-7851
or email or email ahogan@glaciermedia.ca nmather@glaciermedia.ca
May there always be tradewinds behind you Rainbows above you And Aloha all around you.
Celebrate the lives of loved ones with your stories, photographs and tributes
north shore news nsnews.com
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2025 | A23
REMEMBRANCES OBITUARIES
It is with great sadness that the family announces the passing of Bill Smyth. Born in Montreal, Quebec, Bill spent his childhood getting into all kinds of adventures and cared for animals and people he met. He graduated with a B.Comm Honours, Accounting from the University of Dalhousie (1969). He was a certified senior diver, a member of the Privateers, and enjoyed teaching diving courses. He worked for the Bank of Montreal and was particularly fond of his time at the Lunenburg branch. After being set up on a blind date in Montreal, he met his soon-to-be wife. The couple moved out West, landing in North Vancouver, BC, to raise a family of three. They enjoyed boating, cross-country skiing, swimming and racehorses. Always an entrepreneur, beyond his accounting career, he discovered a niche for servicing the movie industry. TVD was founded, for which he was the Chairman for 16 years. He then realized the need for American-based companies with employees in Canada and was President of OnPayroll.ca for 27 years. During that time, he started yet another company, OnPayroll.ca Canada (OPC), an employer of record company, a complementary fit with the company's already strong aptitude in Canadian human resources. He retired 5 years ago from OPC after 20 years. In the younger years of the family, a love for horses led the family settle on a farm in South Langley, BC. Soon, his love for Black Angus cattle was realized, and it wasn't long before he grew Smyth Angus Farm to over 300 head of purebred Black Angus cattle, with a focus on premium breeding stock. One of his bulls was even shipped to Hawaii. His favourite thing to do after commuting to the city for work was to go out to the barn to scratch the girls' backs. He was adamant about the cattle being friendly and treated that way. Bill and Camilla spent many summers boating with friends. They enjoyed several once-in-a-lifetime trips, notably, Cuba, Africa, Thailand, Australia and a few cruises. Bill fell in love with elephants, but Camilla kept him in Canada. Wanting to retire on the ocean, Bill and Camilla fell in love with Liverpool and built their dream home on the ocean. Bill enjoyed woodworking as a hobby and being involved in the Queens Community. Throughout his life, he volunteered a lot. He gave blood over 100 times. He served on many boards in Canadian and American Payroll Organizations. Locally, he contributed to the: • Queens Community Health Board (2012-2014) • Queens Community Aquatic Society, Chairman (2015-2019) • South Queens Chamber of Commerce, Director and Chair (2018) • Queens County Transit Society, Founding Director and Chair (2018) • Recipient of a Provincial award in 2023 from the Nova Scotia Community Transportation Network. He was passionate about advocating for, securing funding and assisting in the creation of services to support the Queens community. He is survived by his sister, Kim; his wife of 54 years, Camila; daughters Natasha and Angela; son Geordie (Kyla) and their four children, Hunter, Lennox, Xander and his only granddaughter, Liv. Bill's love for his family, friends and animals, as well as his candid humour, will live on forever.
Online condolences can be made at:
Lower Sackville.
OBITUARIES
OBITUARIES
A summing up. He loved his family—his six children, seven grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. And of course, his wife/partner of 40-plus years, Patricia. He enjoyed the various holiday gatherings with his extended family, which included his many nephews and nieces, and for many years, his late sister, Laurenda, and often his brother, Ross. Getting together with his friends has always been very special. He hopes they realize that. He had a passion for music. There was always something interesting playing in his mind. He was always up for a discussion of mid-forties jazz, or Shostakovich symphonies, or Bach fugues. Going to the opera, the symphony, and hockey games was always a pleasure. He also loved books. He often thought there were too many books and too little time. His men’s book club added even more books. Dogs and his many cats over the years brought out the animal lover in him. A good run at the end of a day, especially the hills in West Vancouver, was always something to look forward to. He was an actuary by training. He held senior positions in large corporations in Connecticut and Vancouver. For unknown reasons, he memorized several numbers in the Fibonacci series and loved the elegance of its equations. He was proud of his country and the freedoms it allowed. He felt that living in his adopted province of BC, with its natural beauty, was like winning the lottery. If he could write lyrics to go with his piano playing, he might have started with “summertime on Gambier; nothing could be finer.” He was content, however, with an anagram for Gambier Island, “rambling ideas.”
Marjorie Ann Spani arrived safely into the arms of Jesus on December 11, 2025. Marjorie was born in Prosperity, Alberta, on August 12, 1933. A pioneer’s life of hard work, personal responsibility, while caring for community and creating something from little, are foundational values for Marjorie and her brothers Charles and Jack, instilled by loving parents Charles and Laverne Stricker. Marjorie met her husband, Stuart (on his birthday), while attending Athabasca High School. They were married in 1952. 73 years of marriage! An example for us all. Stuart and Marjorie moved to North Vancouver in 1960. While raising three children, Marjorie completed university and opened her kindergarten starting in the early 60s, caring for and teaching hundreds of local children, many of which she still kept in contact. Marjorie’s strong business ability was utilized as an importer of quality goods, and then she combined her business sense and compassion to create "The Senior's Garden" (A take off of Kinder Garten), where she cared for elderly clients. Marjorie's strong spirit and servitude were ever present within her communities of worship at St Clement’s, St Simon’s and at Kehilat Tsion. Marjorie is survived by her loving husband, Stuart Spani; children Charles (Joni) Spani, Illa (David) Jackson and ZoAnn (Pat) Morten; grandchildren Carl (Stephanie) Spani, Teresa (Kyle) Ritchie, Kyle (Melinda) Jackson, Trevor (Catherine) Jackson, Michael Morten, and Tim (Blanerva) Morten; and great-randchildren Madelaine and Emilia Spani, Ila, Zoe and Axel Ritchie, Rowan, Maeve and Lochlan Jackson, Chloe Jackson, Ethan and Averie Morten. Predeceased by her parents, Charles and Laverne Stricker, brothers Charles and Jack Stricker and grandson Christopher Morten. Marjorie held dear her sisters and brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Those who greeted her as she entered Glory, and those she will welcome home. Marjorie's values of family, church, compassion and humour are examples to us all of a life well lived.
A celebration of Don’s life will be held in the new year. To write a condolence to the family, please visit www.mckenziefuneralservices.com
As you share the stories and the memories of how they lived their lives and how very much they meant, may you find comfort...
A24 | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2025
north shore news nsnews.com
REMEMBRANCES OBITUARIES
OBITUARIES
OBITUARIES
Eileen was born and raised in North Vancouver, BC. Predeceased by her parents, Jack and Mabel Darney, and brother Mike. Lovingly remembered by her closest sister, Helen Whittle, dear soul sister Desi Ellefson, favourite grandson Jackson, several close nieces and two very special nephews, Josh and Shane. Eileen was known for her humour and her love of animals.
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved Dad, who will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him. Mer was born in Rutland, British Columbia (Thomas Barber House) on June 2, 1933. Predeceased by his wife of 58 years, Shirley (Norminton), and his brother Alvin Taylor. He is survived by his three devoted daughters and sonsin-law: Debbie and Gerry, Jayne and Harry, and Barb and Bett. He was a proud and loving Papa to his eight grandchildren: Michael (Kelsey), Brandon (Ange), Amy (Sean), Gillian (Matt), Bobby (Saralyn), Lynsey (Dan), Gabby (Andy), and Emily. He was also a cherished Great Papa to 14 great-grandchildren, each of whom brought him immense joy and pride. He is survived by his sister Margaret and Jim Tucker, his brother-in-law, Bob Norminton, and many nieces and nephews. Mer and Shirley lived in North Vancouver, where Mer worked for 31 years as a Transit Operator and retired in 1993. Previously, Mer worked for a number of years at the North Shore Mill and then as a Toll Collector on the Second Narrows Bridge. He was a Mason for 42 years and achieved the role of Worshipful Master of Lynn Valley Lodge in 19921993. Mer’s lifelong passion was cars and returning them to “mint” condition before selling them. With cash in his pocket, he would move on to the next car that caught his eye. Dad’s love for his family was unwavering, and his kindness, strength, and gentle presence will forever remain in our hearts. His legacy lives on through the generations he adored and the many lives he touched.
James Henry (Hank) Hanson was born on October 15, 1927, in Duncan, BC to Herman Johan and Anna Elizabet (Svensson) Hanson and died at home in West Vancouver on October 24, 2025 . Hank was predeceased by his parents, as well as by his brother Sven, (known as Bobbi,) his sister Mary and her granddaughter Brandi. He is survived by his children Kathy (Mike Moult) , Karl ( Bonnie Howstrawser) Jim ( Ruth ) grandsons Ian, Eric, Robert, Henry, Luke, granddaughter Elizabeth, great granddaughter, Simhi, and nephews, Darryl and Tony Brizan, as well as by his wife, Elaine Barkey. Hank grew up in Sooke, BC, attending Public School there, and completing High School in Victoria , BC. He graduated from UBC in 1951 with a degree in Forestry Engineering. He worked for Rayonier, (formerly Alaska Pine), Western Forest Products for 39 years, retiring as Vice President of Operations in 1990. Hank moved to North Vancouver in 1959 with his first wife Patricia and their daughter Kathy and son Karl. Jim was later born in Lions Gate Hospital. He continued his love of skiing on Seymour Mountain where he was involved with the ski club. He taught his children, and later his grandchildren to ski on Seymour. Hank was involved with the Whistler Mountain ski club (again with his children). He owned a condo at Whistler, and he continued to ski Whistler until his 85th birthday. Hank and Elaine were married in the Chapel at Whistler in February 1989. Biking, hiking, camping and travelling took the place of skiing after retirement. Some of the adventures included hiking on part of the West Coast Trail, as well as the trail to Cape Scott. Several biking trips were made on the Lockside Trail from Schwartz Bay to Victoria, travelling further to Sooke on the Galloping Goose Trail. Travelling included trips to Peru, the Baja, Maui, Europe, as well as to Scandinavia where his parents were born. He and Elaine attended the Passion Play in Oberammergau, Germany in 2010. Hank helped Elaine with her activities at West Vancouver United Church. This included picking up bread from COBS on Saturday evenings for the Caring Minister and setting the tables with the bread in the gym at WVUC. As well, he helped setting up the tables for the monthly Seniors’ lunch held in the gym. And then there was the multiple jobs to be done setting up for the biyearly Flea Markets. The beginning of Covid in 2020 slowed down Hank’s activities, further complicated by a fractured femur in 2023. He spent his time at home, in an easy chair by the fireplace, reading books, newspapers and watching the news and being visited by family on a regular basis. We were fortunate and appreciative of the help provided by Coastal Health.
Our much-loved Elaine died surrounded by loved ones, satisfied with a full life at age 89. She received great compassion and expert palliative care at Lion’s Gate Hospital and hospice. Elaine was able to live independently until the last month of her life with help in her later years from step-daughter Judy Wallace (John) and her long-time dear friend Judith Langner (Ron), whose family became her family in heart. Elaine’s lovely presence, kindness and loving support have been very much appreciated and will be missed by them, her birth family (the Harleys), her late husband Bill Allan’s family (April and Mark) and her Kiwanis West Vancouver neighbours. Born in Melfort, Saskatchewan, to parents of Scottish and Irish descent, Elaine was raised on the beautiful North Shore of Vancouver with siblings Nola and John, where she was lucky enough to remain for most of her life. She is remembered as a loving presence to nieces Allison and Meghan in their youth. A dedicated employee with a long career in the seafood industry, Elaine was still considered a valuable member of the Shafer-Haggart family even after retirement. Elaine enjoyed over 30 years of annual J.U.G.s (Just Us Girls) oceanside getaways with Judy (“It’s five o’clock somewhere”), loved her home life sharing beloved pet cats and travelling to Oregon and Vancouver Island with husband Bill, and especially delighted in being an adoptive family member to Judith and Ron and grandmother to their growing family (Anthony, Alisha and Alexander). Thank you, Elaine, for your modelling of quiet thoughtfulness toward others, and the way that you welcomed us all into your heart. As we go, this we know, God is nigh.
We give heartfelt thanks to all the staff and volunteers at North Shore Hospice for their gentle and compassionate care. A private family service will be held at a later date.
To place an Obituary, In Memoriam, or Memorial Service, please call Adam at 236-889-6595 or email ahogan@glaciermedia.ca
A Celebration of Life will be held at West Vancouver United Church on Sunday, March 8, 2026 at 2 PM. Reception to follow at the Church. In lieu of flowers, donations to Alzheimer’s society or to the SPCA would be appreciated.
May the Sunshine of Comfort Dispel the Clouds of Despair
north shore news nsnews.com
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2025 | A25
REMEMBRANCES FUNERAL SERVICES taking care of each other
is what community is all about.
Hollyburn Funeral Home
After a brief illness, Lenore chose to die peacefully and painlessly in the comfort of her own home, lovingly surrounded by her children, son Chris (Linda Golding) and daughters, Cynthia (David McNicol), Andrea (Basil Webber), and Alison (Bruce Hanks). Lenore was predeceased in 2020 by her husband of 70 years, Roy, and by her parents, Konnie and Freda Johannesson, brother Ken Johannesson, and sister Connie Appleby. She is survived by her brother Brian Johannesson (Carole) of Waterloo, Ontario. Lenore grew up in Winnipeg and at Loni Beach in Gimli. She attended the University of Manitoba, where she obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Home Economics. She went to work at Manitoba Hydro but was let go when she became engaged to Roy. Thank goodness times have changed! In line with the times, she began her career as an exceptional mother, amma, and great-amma to a large family. She will be greatly missed by her nine grandchildren, Jeremy, Sasha, Kimberly, Alanna, Meghan, Kaitlin, Kyla, Konrad, and Koli, as well as their partners and 19 great-grandchildren. Lenore’s Icelandic heritage was front and centre in the family. Every summer, the Icelandic cousins would head to Gimli for Islendingadagurinn and to have tea with the Icelandic aunties. From her mother, a gifted musician and piano teacher, Lenore inherited a deep appreciation for music, singing with her sister Connie in the Home Ec Echoes, a vocal quartet, and playing the piano well into her 90s. It was not unusual to find her sitting at the piano alongside a grandchild or greatgrandchild learning a few classic duets. Like her mother, she also had a penchant for cryptic crosswords and made it her morning ritual to do The Globe and Mail’s. And watch out if you sat kitty-corner to her at the bridge table. She was an absolute maven at this game and brought home many trophies to prove it. As far as Scrabble went, a favourite game in the family, she was the reigning Queen. From her father, a member of the Winnipeg Falcons Olympic Hockey Team, Lenore developed a great love of sports, playing badminton and tennis until her “retirement” at the age of 88! She also fondly remembered her dad, a First World War pilot who went on to run an air business north of Winnipeg, doing airplane loop-de-loops with her and her siblings, which led to her lifelong love of roller coasters. Lenore and Roy lived and worked in Winnipeg, Chicago, Calgary, Edmonton, and finally, Vancouver. It was in these settings that they welcomed family to come and stay a while! And stay they did: all 45 of them. Over the years, the family bonds grew strong. Lenore was a master entertainer with amazing cooking skills and a passion for sing-alongs. Their hospitality was second to none. Lenore was an exceptional knitter, making countless sweaters over the years for family and friends. Her Fair Isle baby sweaters, in particular, were remarkable and produced at a very fast rate! Perhaps the most exceptional thing about Lenore was her demeanour. When you phoned and asked how she was, her answer was inevitably, “Wonderful!” She was known to move fast, walk with purpose, and smile along the way, so much so that if you Google “Miss Typical Canadian Girl 1945,” A.I. will tell you it was Lenore Johannesson.Time Magazine referred to her as “Miss Canada.” Lenore was brave, and faced life with all its challenges with fortitude and strength. At the same time, she was full of joy much of the time, giggling her way around the house while a grandchild tickled her knees. She was open to changing her once conservative views, and after many years of round table discussions with her offspring, she proudly announced one day that she had voted for the NDP! We are grateful to the people in our beautiful country who worked hard to make sure Medical Assistance in Dying became a legal right for Canadians. We all got to shower our mother with love and gratitude before she died. We all got to say goodbye, and our mom got to die with dignity, singing her heart out one last time, surrounded by her loved ones. We want to especially thank Leanne, Kim, and Lana, who medically assisted our mother. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Breast Cancer Society of Canada (bcsc.ca).
Elizabeth Anne “Betty” Kirkwood passed away with courage and enduring grace on December 16, 2025, supported lovingly by her three children. Born May 2, 1931, in Nelson, BC, Betty was the eldest child of May and Layton Miles. She attended the VGH School of Nursing, graduating in 1953 at the age of 22. Betty nursed for many years at the VGH Heather Pavilion. She later became a founding member of the Heather Heritage Society, advocating to preserve, restore, and protect the Heather Pavilion. She also had the opportunity to return to nursing at Lions Gate Hospital in 1975, retiring as a nursing supervisor in 1995. In October 1954, Betty married her love and partner, David John Kirkwood, who predeceased her in August 2005. She missed him deeply. Betty was an active member of her community, contributing her time and talents to numerous clubs and boards, including the Truce Club, La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, the Heather Heritage Society, and the RNABC. She loved to play Bridge and knit and had a vast knowledge and deep appreciation for art, music, and wine. She also enjoyed an occasional Jameson’s Irish Whiskey. An avid reader, lifelong learner, and enthusiastic traveler, Betty found joy in many places, especially during treasured times spent in Whistler and at Napili Kai. Above all, Betty held a fierce and unwavering love for her family and friends. She especially treasured time with her six grandchildren - building memories with them, and sharing her values of integrity, compassion, grace, and courage. Betty was a gem of a person who appreciated all that life offered. How fortunate we are to have loved someone who makes saying goodbye so profoundly difficult. Celebrate the gifts she shared, love fiercely, and remember Betty whenever “it’s a jewel of a day.” She is lovingly remembered by her children: Miles (Marie) Kirkwood Barbara (Brian) Stickle Karen (Darren) Freeman And by her grandchildren: Dalton (Kelli) Stickle Sarah (Nick) Kirkwood Jackson (Devon) Kirkwood Jameson (Jackie) Stickle Jordan (Jordan) Freeman Connor (Kenedi) Freeman The family extends heartfelt gratitude to everyone at Venvi Hollyburn House for their care and kindness. A private celebration of life will be held in May 2026. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Heather Heritage Society.
1807 Marine Drive, West Vancouver Thank you for continuing to place your trust in us now and always. Proudly serving the north Shore for over 80 years
604-922-1221 HollyburnFunerals.com Dignity Memorial is a division of Service Corporation International (Canada) ULC.
I’m Glad I Touched Shoulders With You
From Bob White’s Scrapbook There’s a comforting thought at the close of the day When I’m weary and lonely and sad That sort of grips hold of this crusty old heart And bids it be merry and glad. It gets in my soul, and it drives out the blues, And finally thrills through and through. It’s just a sweet memory that chants the refrain, “I’m glad I touched shoulders with you.” Did you know you were brave, Did you know you were strong, Did you know there was one leaning hard, Did you know that I listened and waited and prayed And was cheered by your simplest word? Did you know that I longed for that smile on your face, For the sound of your voice ringing true, Did you know I grew stronger and better because I had merely touched shoulders with you? I am glad that I live; that I battle and strive For a place that I know I must fill; I’m thankful for sorrows I’ll meet with a grin What fortune may send good or ill; I may not have wealth, I may not be great but I know I shall always be true, For I have in my life that courage you gave, When once I touched shoulders with you.
A26 | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2025
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Happy Holidays
THE BUY T SELL T FIND T INCLASSIFIEDS I I I
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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2025 | A27
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1. Light cavalry 5. Coconut palms 10. Rounded knob 14. Central Japan city 15. Sandwiches 16. Shape produced by a curve 17. Ancient region in modern-day Syria 18. French modernist painter 19. Grandmother 20. Mammary gland of cattle
22. Rocky peak 23. Secret plan 24. Songs to one’s lover 27. More (Spanish) 30. Father 31. Chinese principle underlying the universe 32. Ballplayer’s accessory 35. Together 37. A person’s brother or sister 38. Evil spirit 39. Monetary units
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50. Pinkish-red color 51. Vaccine developer 52. Mottled citrus fruit 53. A place to store garden tools 54. Rare goose native to Hawaii 57. Popular Hollywood pig 58. Musician Clapton 59. A move exposing one to danger 61. Historic Spanish soldier 62. CNN’s founder
A28 | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2025
north shore news nsnews.com
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2026 Volvo XC90 T8 AWD plug-in hybrid Core/Plus/Ultra starts from $92,548/$95,498/$100,098 including freight & PDI ($2,770), documentation fee ($695), air conditioning levy ($100), and environmental levies (up to $32.50). Finance/lease placement fee ($695) and bank lease fee ($350), if applicable, and taxes are extra. *Limited time 3.74% (includes 0.75% reduction for Conquest) lease/finance rate up to a 48/84-month term is applicable on new 2026 XC90 T8 plug-in hybrid Ultra models, provided through Volvo Car Canada Limited on approved credit. Limited time 3.99% (includes 0.50% reduction for Conquest) lease/finance rate up to a 48/84-month term is applicable on new 2026 XC90 T8 plug-in hybrid Plus models, provided through Volvo Car Canada Limited on approved credit. Limited time 4.49% lease/finance rate up to a 48/84-month term is applicable on new 2026 XC90 T8 plug-in hybrid Core models, provided through Volvo Car Canada Limited on approved credit. †$3,000 lease or finance purchase savings applicable on new 2026 XC90 T8 plug-in hybrid models. ‡$6,000 cash purchase savings applicable on new 2026 XC90 T8 plug-in hybrid models. ¹Complimentary 3-Service Prepaid Maintenance is applicable to customers purchasing or leasing a 2026 XC90 Plus or Ultra model. Customers with 24-month lease terms are ineligible for this offer. */†/‡/¹Some conditions and restrictions may apply. Errors and omissions excepted. Offers end January 2, 2026. Offers are subject to change or cancellation without notice. Certain vehicles may be factory ordered via Volvo Car Canada Limited. Vehicles shown solely for purposes of illustration, and may not be equipped exactly as shown. Please see Jim Pattison Volvo Cars North Vancouver for complete details. Dealer #10969.