July 23, 2025

Meetthenewchief

Justin Sky George elected as TsleilWaututh Nation chief LIFESTYLE13

Cypresscycle

Family tackles tough climb to raise funds for cancer research FOOD&DRINK14 Bakedgoods

Dope Bakehouse goes solo with new North Vancouver shop

Current and former West Van mayors spar over spending

NICK LABA

nlaba@nsnews.com

West Vancouver Mayor Mark Sager is firing back after a critical letter penned by two former heads of the municipality criticized the current council’s decision to buy a waterfront building in Horseshoe Bay.

Earlier this month, former mayors Mary-Ann Booth and Mike Smith co-authored a letter to the editor for publication in the North Shore News.

The letter – which can be read in full at the end of this story – stated that they had spent considerable time in office trying to correct the district’s “abysmal” track record of acquiring costly, aging assets.

Those include Klee Wyck, Ambleside Youth Centre and the former police station

The former mayors likened the seemingly bargain $2.7 million price tag of the recently purchased Boathouse building to the tip of an iceberg Below the surface lie the long-term costs of operating and maintaining the building, which they say far surpass its value Booth and Smith said the former Boathouse owners had difficulty finding a new restaurant operator for the space, and that the 8,800-square-foot facility would require

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CHASING HISTORY Rebecca Lyon of North Shore Culture Quest tests out a new North Van Arts app that guides users on an interactive tour of historical and public arts sites across the North Shore See our Explore the Shore feature starting

home. PAUL MCGRATH / NSN

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‘HUGE HONOUR’

Tsleil-Waututh Nation elects Justin Sky George as chief

ABBY LUCIANO aluciano@nsnews.com Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A new chief has been elected for the səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation).

Justin Sky George began his term on July 1 after an election last month, succeeding Jen Thomas who held the position since 2021.

“It’s a huge honour,” George said. “Moving forward, it’s really about building on that success of the past, understanding what has worked and what hasn’t and engaging [with] our people.”

George was elected alongside six TsleilWaututh Nation councillors: Curtis Thomas, Deanna George and Dennis Thomas were re-elected, while Kalila George-Wilson, James Sandover and Nicholas Kofi were newly elected.

During the upcoming term, George said he hopes they can bring more diverse housing options for the community, including its Elders. He also said he will strive to enhance cultural programming, such as new possibilities around wellness and healing, and new business opportunities

“Through economic sovereignty, we can truly make decisions as a people,” he said. “When you have revenues coming in as a people, you can make those decisions on housing, on enhancing wellness, on enhancing all aspects of services that are provided by the nation and grow them.”

The new chief has been heavily involved in the community His first job

was interviewing Elders about the TsleilWaututh Nation’ history and stories and how the land was used. George then went on to Takaya Tours, a canoe and kayak tour business launched by his father and former chief Leonard George, sharing the nation’s culture and stories with the public. He also worked on economic development for the

nation for more than 18 years, and served as a councillor for 10.

The leadership role isn’t new for George, as he was chief from 2007 to 2011, a crucial time for the Tsleil-Waututh Nation during the 2010 Winter Olympics.

“It was the first time Indigenous peoples were recognized as head of state and that

was important to the four host nations,” George said “The four host nations were so heavily involved in what I deem as a very successful Olympics, we stood as equals We were full partners with all levels of government and the Olympic Committee and so on.”

The elected chief is excited for the opportunity again with the FIFA World Cup coming to Vancouver next year.

“I think the World Cup it’s another level because it’s so global,” he said “We’re definitely heavily involved and excited about the opportunity again, just to stand with our relatives and the host nations to welcome the World Cup here.”

George said he decided to run for chief again for the love, passion and support he has for the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, drawing back to personal memories he had as a boy

“We didn’t have a lot, but we had a lot of love, and we had a lot of culture, even within the hurt,” he said, adding that family members and Elders taught him songs, dances and teachings around the canoe growing up.

“Really, it’s the love and gratitude that I have for the people that gives me the strength to step forward into this role,” George said. “I’m extremely excited to be part of this new leadership team.”

Elected chief and council will hold their term until June 29, 2029.

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.

Investigation underway after ‘suspicious’ shopping plaza bench fire

ABBY LUCIANO

aluciano@nsnews.com

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

An investigation is underway after a bench was set ablaze outside a store at a North Vancouver plaza last week.

North Vancouver RCMP and the North Vancouver City Fire Department received reports of a fire outside Winners at the Park & Tilford Shops and Gardens around 4:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 15

“It appears that the fire started on the bench in front of the store, and then it kind of led to the front store,” said Cpl.

Mansoor Sahak, spokesperson for North Vancouver RCMP.

Fire Chief Greg Schalk said the fire was “small to medium” in size and caused smoke damage to the windows and interior near the front of the store. Crews were able to put out the fire quickly, but the business also has water damage near the area as the sprinkler system was activated during the blaze.

“It’s being deemed as suspicious at this point in time,” Schalk said.

A video from the scene shows flames from the bench reaching the store’s ceiling as the area fills with smoke.

The fire chief said there were no injuries noted and no one was on scene when crews arrived. The store was closed for several hours following the blaze but has now reopened.

Sahak said the investigation is still ongoing.

Police are asking anyone who saw anything in the area or with knowledge about the fire to call 604-985-1311 and quote file 25-14654.

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

A photo from the scene of a suspicious fire shows damage to a bench and windows outside the Winners at Park and Tilford Centre on July 15 ABBY LUCIANO / NSN

Justin Sky George stands outside the Tsleil-Waututh Nation admin building in North Vancouver after being elected as the new chief for the Nation. PAUL MCGRATH / NSN

SUMMER SAFETY

Firefighters respond to five rescue calls in one day

NICK LABA

nlaba@nsnews.com

People getting outdoors in North Vancouver this weekend kept firefighters busy, as one municipal crew responded to five consecutive calls for help in one day.

Phones started ringing for District of North Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services at 11:45 a.m on Sunday with a hiker in distress on the Baden Powell Trail, which joins the Grouse Grind.

Firefighters came across the 67-year-old man on the trail who was having trouble breathing. They were able to walk the man out and an ambulance met him in the parking lot, where he refused treatment and left, said Assistant Fire Chief Dennis Cappellini.

Then, at around 1:30 p.m., firefighters attended Quarry Rock near Marker 6 to help a 45-year-old man who slipped and fell on the trail and dislocated his hip. The crew packaged him up and carried him out of the trail, handing him off to paramedics who transported him to hospital, Cappellini said.

The biggest rescue of the day happened just after 5 p.m. after a cliff jumper in Lynn Canyon dislocated his shoulder when he jumped into 90 Foot Pool.

The man was able to get himself to shore and his friend alerted a park ranger. As district crews were already responding to an alarms ringing call at a high rise at the time, City of North Vancouver firefighters assisted on the canyon call.

Rescuers set up a high-angle rope system on the suspension bridge and sent a crew member down who assessed the injured jumper and packaged him up on a harness, Cappellini said.

The rest of the team pulled the two up and helped transfer the injured man to BC Ambulance.

During the Lynn Canyon rescue, DNV firefighters got another call of an injured mountain biker at the Grouse Mountain bike park The crew help the 21-year-old male –who had injured his back, ribs and abdomen – get to an ambulance.

While returning to the station from the cliff jumper rescue, that crew got yet another call back to Lynn Canyon. Firefighters went back over the suspension bridge and recovered a woman experiencing severe pain and who was going in and out of consciousness. She too was sent to hospital, Cappellini said.

Be prepared for heat and sunshine, assistant fire chief says

Those five rescues came in on top of their regular number of medical calls, he said.

“It’s a weekend. The weather’s getting better. It just goes like that sometimes,” Cappellini said.

Some people may have been out the evening before, and were sitting at home before they decided spontaneously to go out and do something on Sunday, he said.

Cappellini said to always be prepared for the environmental conditions, which at this time of year involve heat and sunshine.

“Wear hats and sunscreen, and stay hydrated,” Cappellini said.

He recommends doing strenuous activities when it’s cooler – during the morning and evening.

“When it’s not as hard on your body,” Cappellini said.

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District of North Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services pull an injured cliff jumper up to Lynn Canyon suspension bridge, Sunday evening. PAT BELL

North Vancouver condo owners asking city to upzone their land

NICK LABA nlaba@nsnews.com

Condo owners in an aging North Vancouver complex are asking the city to upzone their land in hopes of increasing its property value for future sale.

On July 14, city council received a document from a committee of residents and owners living in the Cypress Gardens community

The committee said it’s asking council to direct planning staff to work with the committee to explore zoning and bylaw amendments that support redevelopment of Cypress Gardens, located immediately north of the Westview Shopping Centre

The committee said its goal is to increase land value for the more-than 100 individual owners and ensure meaningful tenant protections for renters on the property.

The complex has 177 total units (113 townhomes and 64 apartments) on 9.5 acres, under an unconventional common-law

strata agreement that was previously grandfathered in.

Over the past 15 years, there have been several attempts by some of the owners to sell the property Two have failed in court

One offer was made in 2011 for

$63 million and another was in January 2022 for $192 million.

In the more recent case, owners in favour of the sale argued that the complex – built in 1962 – is nearing end of life and will require millions of dollars in repairs in the near future.

Owners opposed to the sale said selling the property would mean losing their homes, and that they wouldn’t be able to find comparable housing on the North Shore.

At the time, the judge ruled that not enough of the owners voted in favour of the sale.

Request ‘completely beyond’ what city normally does, councillor says

In its current pitch to council, the committee of residents asked that the city consider a broader community plan for the area, which could potentially include the adjacent Westview shopping plaza. That would add another five acres to the total redevelopment area.

But David Brun, co-chair of the committee, said they had not yet been in contact with the shopping centre. Nor have they been in touch with a potential developer Adding density is critical to selling the property “to provide the hybrid owner-residents the

opportunity to stay on the North Shore.”

“It also means that there can be density bonusing that allows developers to provide opportunities for renters to relocate and to eventually return to their neighbourhood,” Brun said

Coun. Don Bell said the request is “completely beyond” what the city would normally do.

“You might discuss that response,” he said.

Mayor Linda Buchanan said this is typically something that is done through the process of creating a master plan, as opposed to staff planning with the residents of an individual complex

But there is potential for a special study to be done, depending on staff’s capacity, she said, and a developer would need to be involved.

“I encourage you and some residents who are part of this committee to have that conversation with our staff on what would be important next steps moving forward,” Buchanan said.

Owners at the 65-year-old Cypress Gardens near the Westview Shopping Centre say their buildings are reaching end of life. PAUL MCGRATH / NSN FILES

Charges laid against North Vancouver man for impersonating RCMP officer

NICK LABA nlaba@nsnews.com

A man has been charged for impersonating a North Vancouver RCMP officer in March.

In a statement on July 17, police said they were made aware of a man driving a Ford F-150 who had pulled over a Tesla driver on March 1.

During the interaction, the F-150 driver identified himself as a North Vancouver RCMP officer and it’s alleged that his vehicle had lights that resembled emergency vehicle’s, police said.

On March 4, the man was arrested by police and released with a pending court date. They also seized the man’s vehicle.

During their investigation, police determined there could be additional victims who were pulled over by the same man and issued a press release asking them to come forward. At least one other victim did, police said.

On June 24, prosecutors charged Wayne Peter Church, 58, of North

Vancouver with impersonating a peace officer and using equipment likely to cause the public to believe he was an officer. He has his first date in court July 23.

What to do if a fake police officer pulls you over Police are offering tips to anyone who thinks they’ve been pulled over by an impersonator

Police carry official badges with photo ID cards displaying their regimental number You can ask to see this identification.

If you’re unsure about the legitimacy of the stop, call 911 immediately. Provide your location and express your concerns. The dispatcher can verify if an officer is conducting a traffic stop in your area, RCMP said.

If something feels off, tell the person that you’re contacting police to verify their identity Real officers will understand and support your caution, according to the RCMP “Public safety is our top priority, and we want to ensure the community feels empowered to question suspicious behaviour,” said Cpl Mansoor Sahak, North Vancouver RCMP spokesperson. “If something doesn’t feel right during a traffic stop, trust your instincts and take steps to verify the officer’s identity. Your caution could help prevent further incidents and assist in ongoing investigations.”

North Vancouver RCMP arrested a man suspected of impersonating police and seized his vehicle. NORTH VANCOUVER RCMP

Stay and play

Last year, Canadians crossed the border into the United States roughly 39 million times – about three quarters of all our international travel. According to Statistics Canada, that number has fallen by about 40 per cent so far this year

Thanks to you-know-who, Canadians are evidently feeling a lot less welcome in the U.S.

And with utterly senseless U.S. tariffs intended to inflect pain on Canadian businesses, the buy-Canadian mentality goes beyond the grocery store. Staycations have never been hotter

How lucky are we then to be spoiled rotten with some of the most dazzling local attractions, jaw-dropping experiences and divine culinary dishes in the whole country?

Our wilderness parks and trails are the

envy of the nation. The bustling Shipyards has been a smashing success in creating a something-for-everyone public space. And for just a few bucks, you can catch a harbour cruise that departs every 15 minutes from the foot of Lonsdale

In the print edition this week and on nsnews.com, you’ll find a series of stories dedicated to exploring the North Shore. One of our favourites is about North Shore Culture Quest, a new smartphone app in which players can learn our local history through scavenger hunt challenges. While it might appear touristy by nature, we know even longtime locals will come away having learned new things about their hometown.

People who have done it know what a delightful guilty pleasure it is to be a tourist in your own town. This year, you can do it without any guilt whatsoever.

Huts, swamps, guns: Ambleside has an interesting history

EVE LAZARUS

Contributing writer

If you live on the North Shore, chances are that you spend at least some of your summer at West Vancouver’s Ambleside Beach.

Did you know that you are sitting on reclaimed land? Prior to 1965, much of this land was a swamp.

In 1914, Ambleside was subdivided into lots and filled with makeshift homes and a few businesses. Because much of the area was often under water, many of the structures, including Overington’s barber shop, were raised on stilts, and most comprised little more than a floor, some wooden sides and a canvas top.

In those days, a large slough cut through Ambleside and ran between Capilano River

and 14th Street, and boats moored on the north side of Marine Drive. In the winter, residents skated on the frozen slough In the summer they fished for cod, and shot pigeons and ducks on the surrounding marsh.

During the Second World War, 18 huts were built by the Department of National Defence. They were fitted out with four-gun emplacements and anti-aircraft guns to defend the harbour entrance below Lions Gate Bridge. After the war, the huts were converted into housing for war vets and their families. Officially, the housing development was named Ambleside Park Village; unofficially locals called it “Diaper Lane.” The huts were built on low land that flooded several times a year, and at those times, food and supplies were brought in by rowboat.

1961, only one hut was left. It was turned into a home for the West Vancouver Rod and Gun Club Later it became the Ambleside Youth Centre, and in 2019, it was demolished.

The playing fields and pitch-and-putt are built on sawdust, bark and wood waste from a North Vancouver sawmill. The duck lagoon was created by dredging part of the slough, while Ambleside beach is a product of 85,000 cubic metres of sand and gravel hauled from the sandbanks west of Navvy Jack Point.

The Ferry Building at the foot of 14th Street is now a quaint little art gallery, but between 1913 and 1947 it was the headquarters of West Vancouver’s ferries On a good day, the ferry trip to Vancouver took 25 minutes. Too bad we don’t still have that service.

The Silk Purse is one of the last examples

of the summer cottages that used to dot the area before Lions Gate Bridge opened in 1938. Built in 1925, former Vancouver Mayor Tom Campbell inherited the cottage from his father, and in 1969, sold it to John Rowland. Rowland’s son told him he was trying to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear The name stuck and he rented out the Silk Purse as a “honeymoon cottage” for $12 a night, including breakfast and champagne.

The District of West Vancouver has owned the Silk Purse since 1991. It’s operated by the West Vancouver Community Arts Council. When the north side of the Park Royal Shopping Centre opened in 1950 it was the first covered mall in Canada.

The Ambleside Swimming Pool opened on July 9, 1954. After several money-losing

By

MAILBOX

SMALL GESTURE MAKES HUGE IMPRESSION IN TIME OF NEED

Dear Editor:

In a world where headlines are so often filled with division, anger, and selfishness –especially the relentless noise surrounding Donald Trump and the MAGA movement – it’s easy to feel a little hopeless about humanity But something happened to me recently that reminded me that kindness is still alive and well, and sometimes shows up in the most unexpected places.

As a local Realtor, I was on my way to one of our property listings that unfortunately reeks of cigarette smoke. I stopped by City Market at 17th and Lonsdale to pick up a bundle of cleaning products and made my way to the checkout. The cashier, whose name tag said “Marie,” smiled and made a lighthearted comment about someone doing some serious cleaning. I explained my challenge with the smoke, and she nodded knowingly

“That’s a tough one,” she said.

But then something incredible happened. When I went to pay, my credit card was declined – not because of funds, but because the store doesn’t accept American Express. Frustrated, I asked why, as I didn’t have another card on me at the time.

Without missing a beat, Marie said, “Just a moment.” She reached into her purse, pulled out her credit card, tapped the machine, and paid for my order I was stunned. “What did you just do?” I asked.

“I paid for it,” she said, smiling. “I do that sometimes. I could see you’ve got a big job ahead of you.”

I was speechless. Tears welled in my eyes

Swimming

years, the heated pool was closed in 1976 and filled in the following year

The Welcome Figure that faces Stanley Park was a gift from Sḵwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (the Squamish Nation) to the people of West Vancouver in 2001. The figure was carved from an old growth cedar log from Hollyburn Mountain, and restoration work was finished in 2023, overseen by original master carver and elder Sequiliem (Stan Joseph).

In June 2023, the District of West Vancouver did a land trade with Jimmy Pattison for his former waterfront property

“Can I hug you?” I asked. As I did, I told her she was a very special person. Thankfully, I had cash in my car and ran back in to repay her, but the gesture has moved me deeply. Marie had no reason to help me. She didn’t know me. She just saw someone having a rough moment and chose kindness. That simple act, in a grocery store, reminds me that the world is still full of good people – people who care, who give without asking, and who quietly make the world a better place.

So to Marie at City Market: thank you. Your kindness meant more than you know. And to anyone reading, let this be a little reminder that in a world that often feels fractured, one act of goodness can still shine like a beacon.

Elaine Andrews North Vancouver

THANKS TO ALL WHO HELPED MY HUSBAND AFTER NASTY FALL

Dear Editor:

A huge thank you to everyone who helped my husband when he had a nasty fall at Argyle Avenue and 14th Street. From passersby who stopped to help, call me and 911, to the fire and ambulance first responders to the emergency department at LGH, especially his nurse, you were all wonderful. It was a bad fall and he’s still not sure what happened, but it could have been an awful lot worse as he didn’t break anything nor did he get a concussion. But the cuts and grazes will take a while to heal

Again, a heartfelt thank you from both of us.

Alison Leedham West Vancouver

July 23, 2025

Orangutans andthe quiet joys of my job

One of thequietjoys of serving asyour MemberofParliament is discovering theremarkable individuals who call theNorth Shore home.Time andagain, Iamhumbled by thestories of neighbours whose accomplishmentsare matched onlyby theirhumility

Among them is Dr.BirutéMary Galdikas, aresident of Deep Cove andtenuredprofessor at Simon Fraser University, whose life’sworkis nothing short of extraordinary. Birutéisone of three protegées –along withJaneGoodall and Dian Fossey -ofthe legendary Dr.Louis Leakey.Together,theytransformed our understanding of thegreat apes: chimpanzees, gorillas, andorangutans.

Birutéhas spent overfive decades in the rainforestsofBorneo, dedicating herself to thestudy andprotection of orangutans—the “Buddhists” of the primateworld, as she fondly calls them.

Gazing at thestars

at Ambleside Beach, assessed at $5.4 million, and announced it would turn the lot into a park and public walkway The owners of the 1963 house next door at 1444 Argyle – the last holdout from the 32 residential lots that once dotted the waterfront – sold to the District of West Vancouver in April for $7.3 million. It’s still standing for now, but the plan is to demolish the house later this year and add the lot to the existing Brissenden Waterfront Park

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

Her journey began in Toronto, where, as achild of Lithuanian immigrants, she would gaze at the starsand ponderhumanity’splace in theuniverse. At justtwelve, a photograph of ayoung orangutan captured her imagination and sether on apath that would lead to the heart ofthe Indonesian jungle. Supported by Dr.Leakey,she embarkedonher fieldworkin1971, establishing Camp Leakey andforging abond with the orangutansthat would lasta lifetime.

The patience required was immense; in one instance, it took herfifteen yearsto earn thetrust of asingle wild orangutan.

Herstoriesare as captivatingasthey are inspiring. Sherecalls the early days in Borneo. Supplieswerescarce, and tripshometoCanadameant returning laden with essentials.

Biruté was first featured on the cover of National GeographicMagazinein 1975 andthen again in 1981 –the iconicphoto of her son, Binti, in a bucket with an infant orangutan, one of the manyorphans that sheand her team rehabilitated over the 54 years she has been pursuingthisresearch. Primate“kin”

Herworkhas been celebrated worldwide yetshe speaks most warmly of the connections she’s made—both with her primate“kin” andher human communityhereon the North Shore. She delights in the natural world that surrounds her Deep Cove home, including the bears, skunks and racoons that periodically visit.

Looking into the eyes of an orangutan, Birutéreminds us,islike looking into an ancient mirror. “They are who we once were,”she says, urgingustoremember our place withinnature, not apart from it. Herwisdom is agentlecall to gratitude—for the beauty ofour community,for the privilege of coexistence, and for the shared journey ofall living things.

Forall shehas given—to science, to conservation, and to our community—I am deeplygrateful toDr. Galdikas. Herexampleisa reminder that greatnessoften lives quietly among us,inspiringusto cherish andprotect the world we share

Continued from A8

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It’s time for ‘buy local’ to extend into government advertising

PETER KVARNSTROM

Contributing Writer

In February 2024, after Bell Media announced 4,800 job cuts across Canada, Premier David Eby spoke passionately about the need for people to get “accurate, impartial, reliable information in an age of disinformation and social media craziness.”

As a longtime news publisher, I know that 81 per cent of Canadians turn to newspaper content each week for that accurate, impartial, and reliable information. So, we don’t have an audience problem. What we have is an advertising problem.

Since the founding of the Halifax Gazette in 1752, government advertising had always been an important source of revenue for news businesses. It allowed us to invest in journalists who produce fact-based, factchecked reporting that Canadians rely upon.

In more recent years, we’ve seen those government dollars disappear By way of example, the federal government reports that during fiscal year 2022 to 2023, it spent more than $86 million on advertising Of that, less than $1 million went to all print publications in the country combined.

So, where did those millions go? The answer is largely to American tech giants like Facebook, Instagram and Google, among others. Canadians are rightly concerned about protecting our economy and our sovereignty in the face of threats and misinformation coming from the U.S. One of the most effective ways to counter misinformation and to protect our Canadian culture and identity is to have commercially viable and fiercely independent Canadian journalism.

The question is: how do we pay for it? One of the most effective ways would be for governments – federal, provincial, and municipal – to set aside a minimum of 25 per cent of their advertising spend for trusted Canadian news brands. There are two examples that prove this is working. A year ago, Ontario’s Progressive Conservative premier, Doug Ford, directed that 25 per cent of his government’s advertising spending, including that of Ontario’s Crown corporations, be set aside for news publications. I can tell you from the publishers that I speak with in Ontario, this made an immediate and meaningful difference to many news titles.

Five years ago, former New York City mayor Bill de Blasio, a Democrat, mandated that city agencies allocate at least 50 per cent of their print and digital advertising to community and ethnic media. According to The Center for Community Media at CUNY, “The impact of this policy cannot be

overstated: In its first five years, it injected more than $72 million into the local community media sector. This helped critical information reach New Yorkers who rely on community media as their primary source of news, and added an important source of revenue for these outlets.”

The not-for-profit Rebuild Local News found that advertising set-asides, done right, have the following benefits:

First, they can provide substantial revenue to local news organizations and help community journalism thrive.

Second, it is money the government is already spending – not new money – so it does not require enlarging state or local budgets or raising taxes.

Third, government messages can reach a full range of residents, including those who may not be using larger media.

Fourth, as advertising, it is payment for a service rendered, not a subsidy per se.

Finally, advertising in community news helps government be more effective by reaching audiences through community and ethnic publications that are more trusted in their communities.

According to a recent study, advertising in trustworthy environments lead to a 25 per cent lift in brand rating News publishers in aggregate are seen as 35 per cent above the baseline level of trust across information environments. And local news publishers see an additional 16 per cent gain in perceived trustworthiness among local audiences, so newspapers are a highly effective way for the government to reach British Columbians.

We recommend British Columbia adopt a minimum 25 per cent set-aside for government advertising, as well as for Crown corporations like BC Hydro, BC Transit, and British Columbia Lottery Corporation, to help preserve local journalism jobs and keep local and community newspapers open. It would also send an important signal to private sector advertisers about keeping ad dollars here in B.C., rather than sending them to Big Tech behemoths in California, whose algorithms amplify misinformation and disinformation.

Premier Eby should direct his officials to spend the province’s advertising dollars in towns like Merritt, British Columbia instead of Mountain View or Menlo Park, Calif. It’s time to support the home team by buying locally.

Peter Kvarnstrom is a director with the BC and Yukon Community News Media Association and is publisher of the Coast Reporter, in Sechelt, B.C.

Marine crew helps hiker injured in fall at Lighthouse Park

ABBY LUCIANO aluciano@nsnews.com Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Marine search and rescue volunteers were called into duty to help a man who found himself in a precarious position after fracturing his leg in a fall in Lighthouse Park in West Vancouver last week.

West Vancouver’s Royal Canadian Marine Search & Rescue Unit 1 were tasked around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 16 to assist West Vancouver Fire and Rescue with an injured hiker in Lighthouse Park.

The man was hiking with his family and dog when his foot slipped on the trail and he heard a “snap” from his left leg as he fell, said Jason King, coxswain of the rescue vessel.

“It’s fairly good terrain for walking around on, but it’s still a park,” King said. “It’s still the shoreline, loose gravel and rocks and that type of thing.”

After the man fell, he was stuck in a dangerous position on the rocks. But the hiker wasn’t there for long as rescue crews got to the area in seven minutes, where they and firefighters

began the challenging task of carrying the man down in a clamshell stretcher onto the rescue crews’ boat.

Once the hiker got on board, rescue volunteers covered him in blankets and transported him to the Government Pier in Caulfeild Cove where paramedics took the man to the hospital.

“He was in good spirits, considering what he was going through,” King said.

“He was quite grateful for everybody’s service.”

King said appropriate footwear,

water, layers of clothing and a small first aid kit are all “key ingredients” for people to bring when hiking, as accidents can happen at any time.

“But ultimately, I think this was just an accident where he slipped and had a bad fall,” he said. “And that’s unfortunate. It does happen we were just really grateful to be a part of the rescue.”

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

Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue crews carry a stretcher to save an injured hiker at Lighthouse Park in West Vancouver, Wednesday, July 16 COURTESY OF SHANE AUSTIN

An RCMSAR Zodiac lands by the rocks at Lighthouse Park to help bring an injured hiker back to safety last week COURTESY OF SHANE AUSTIN

West Vancouver council rolls over discussion on bus infrastructure

NICK LABA nlaba@nsnews.com

West Vancouver isn’t quite ready to get rolling with a series of potential infrastructure upgrades that could improve bus service in the area.

On July 7, council voted to postpone discussion on enhancing to bus speed and reliability to September Reasons for the delay include a lack of public input in the summer, and because the Ambleside local area plan hasn’t yet been approved.

But Couns. Christine Cassidy and Nora Gambioli dissented. Cassidy said TransLink was being too prescriptive in it suggestions, which included removing some bus stops in Ambleside. And Gambioli said council should be moving forward with at least some of the upgrades sooner.

TransLink has made $4 million available to the district for the upgrades in 2025, staff said, adding that 80 per cent of buses are running slower today than they were five years ago. Last year, staff partnered with the transit provider to identify bus service projects along Marine Drive between 13th and 25th streets.

Those projects include filling in previously carved out bus bays at 21st and 22nd streets. A bus bulge that would extend the sidewalk on the north side of Marine Drive near 17th Street was also suggested.

A report also recommended removing a total of six bus stops near 15th, 18th and 20th streets.

A detailed study of 15th and Marine proposed a number of changes, which include adding left-hand-turn bays off of Marine Drive.

Staff recommended that council approve all of the suggested changes.

Before its discussion on the matter, council heard from members of the public.

Referencing the in-the-works update to the Ambleside local area plan, Alexis Chicoine said expanding development goes hand-in-hand with how we move people through our community

“With the changes suggested in this project, we’ll lose new parking stalls, yes, but these will be relatively short-term growing pains,” she said. “As development occurs – let’s hope it does – along Marine Drive, new visitor parking will move into underground spots, for example in Dundarave at the IGA grocery store. And more than likely, as it has happened there, more stalls actually become

available on our streets.”

Talks should be delayed post-summer to allow more public input, mayor says Mayor Mark Sager said he was happy to vote on some of the items but wanted to delay the bulk of the discussion until after the summer months.

“Give it until the first meeting in September, so that we ensure that everybody in the community has an opportunity to provide input,” he said.

Sager added that he would have to abstain from discussions about the Marine and 15th changes because it’s in front of his own office building.

“And I shouldn’t tell you I don’t like it,” he said.

Gambioli reminded council that the district’s own policy is to support active transportation and transit over single-occupancy vehicles.

“We should be working with TransLink, especially if they have money they want to give us, to improve the transit system and to improve the life of pedestrians,” she said.

Coun. Peter Lambur said the district shouldn’t be considering land use and transportation issues in isolation.

“I see no point in doing the piecemeal exercise when we’re in the middle of trying to revitalize the Ambleside town centre,” he said.

Cassidy said council has been tasked with densifying the Ambleside and Dundarave area, which has a concentrated aging population.

“And yet, we’re going to take out bus stops, and we’re being encouraged to use the bus,” she said. “It’s absolutely ridiculous to me.”

A tentative date has been set for the first week of September for the matter to come back to council.

Among the suggested changes are removing six bus stops in Ambleside. MIKE WAKEFIELD NSN FILES

PANCREATIC CANCER

West Van family biking Cypress to raise funds for research

ABBY LUCIANO aluciano@nsnews.com Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A West Vancouver family will soon bike up a local mountain for pancreatic cancer research.

Anthony Thomas, his wife Carolyn Bliss and their daughter Emily Thomas will be pedalling 12 kilometres up the steep Cypress Bowl Road as part of the annual Capilano Volkswagen Cypress Challenge, raising funds for pancreatic cancer research at BC Cancer

“I felt like it was a good idea that we do this,” Thomas said, after hearing about the challenge through Maddi, his eldest daughter who will be cheering them on the sidelines. “Everybody in the family was all for it, so we decided to join on.”

The challenge is a personal one for the family When Anthony and Carolyn were driving back from the B.C. Interior over the Labour Day weekend, he started to feel intense pain in his lower back.

Carolyn urged him to get it checked out. They stopped at a hospital in Whistler, where doctors took a CT scan and found a kidney stone, but also two masses on Anthony’s pancreas and liver. After an MRI scan, doctors discovered Stage 4 pancreatic cancer.

“Things looked really, really bad,” Anthony said.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers due to few symptoms appearing in the first stages, making it more challenging to diagnose early.

The Canadian Cancer Society estimated in 2024 that 7,100 Canadians would

be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and 6,100 will die from the disease. For pancreatic cancer, the five-year survival rate is 10 per cent

However, hope turned around for Anthony after a biopsy Doctors found a neuroendocrine cell, which has a better prognosis.

“It was a big lift for me,” he said. “I

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“It was great to have friends and community and good doctors around to support us,” Carolyn said. “Especially in that first month when we thought it was terminal, it was quite overwhelming.”

I think it makes you just feel much more grateful for life, and the ability to spend time together.

MADDI THOMAS

Maddi and Emily echoed their mom’s thoughts, saying they admire their dad’s resilience.

“It’s really brought us all much closer together in a way,” Maddi said. “I think it makes you just feel much more grateful for life, and the ability to spend time together.”

As the days count down for the challenge, the family is practicing biking up and down the route, so they’ll be ready to go on July 27.

Since the challenge launched in 2008, cyclists have raised more than $5.2 million to support more pancreatic cancer research through the BC Cancer Foundation.

really started focusing on trying to get better because up until then, it just seemed like a doomsday scenario.”

Anthony then had surgery in November, removing most of the cancer

The family feels thankful for the positive trajectory, but also the amount of support they’ve received from the community

The Thomas family has raised more than $43,000 to go towards pancreatic cancer research. People interested in donating to the family can do so on the Cypress Challenge 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.

Anthony Thomas with wife Carolyn Bliss and daughter Emily Thomas will be taking part in the Cypress Challenge bike ride July 27th to raise money in the fight against pancreatic cancer Anthony is currently undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer PAUL MCGRATH / NSN

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Saturday,July19

Bakery attached to popular North Van café goes solo

LINDSAY

WILLIAM-ROSS lindsay@vancouverisawesome com The bakery brand that has earned a devoted following when paired with a North Vancouver coffee shop has ventured out on its own for a debut standalone location.

Dope Bakehouse, whose cruffins, cookies, and croissants have drawn raves (and line-ups) at Nemesis cafés, opened its first solo shop on Friday in a new build at 650 Mountain Highway North Van is a fitting community for the first Dope Bakehouse standalone, given the baked goods made their debut on the North Shore.

“We first named our in-house bakery program Dope Bakehouse at our Nemesis Polygon location, and it really took off beyond our imaginations. It was then we knew we had something really special,” said Jess Reno, founder and CEO of Nemesis, in a media release for the new project.

Dope Bakehouse is led by pastry chef Kevin Lucas, who hails from Brittany, France (home of the famous sugary, buttery, densely layered treat called the KouignAmann). For the solo shop, Lucas continues to work closely with Nemesis executive chef Mielye Mitchell and executive sous chef Lina Serrano, alongside a growing network of international collaborators.

There’s also an expanded focaccia program, including both slabs and “handhelds,” with playful, flavour-packed options like tomato sauce, garlic & basil; tomato, pineapple, capicolla, jalapeño & hot honey; and mortadella, pistachio, arugula, ricotta mascarpone & honey.

The treats will be available to enjoy for take-out or onsite, the latter thanks to Dope Bakehouse’s 15-seater café, part of the stylish interior designed by Reno in collaboration with local architecture up-and-comers Sml Studio. The look draws inspiration from the art of baking, including curved elements that echo pastry folds, warm golden tones, and a high-gloss bar that mirrors the sheen of melted butter

Saturday,July26

Also on the menu: Nemesis coffee, freshpressed OJ, and specialty drinks created by operations manager Josh Shelvin, including the Strawberry Matcha and The DB Choco.

Saturday,August2

Saturday,August9 Saturday,August16

The Dope Bakehouse menu includes a core selection of croissants, ranging from classic butter and pain au chocolat to eye-catching flavours like tiramisu, along with the croissant-muffin hybrid creations (cruffins), Brittany’s beloved Kouign-Amann (“The Queen”), and a line of delectable cookies, all offered alongside seasonal specials and creative standouts, like Raspberry Rhubarb Pain Suisse and collabs with folks like breakdancer Phil Wizard.

In the new North Van location, you can expect the Dope team to roll out even more fresh treats, all baked onsite in the new 3,000-square-foot space. Items you might find in the pastry case include Canelé with orange blossom, Mango Coconut Milk Danish, Spanikopita with Meyer lemon and nigella seeds, Marsala Tiramisu Cruffin, Bacon Smoked Cheese and Fermented Honey Croissant, and the Espresso Double Chocolate Smoked Sea Salt Cookie.

“We’re just having a lot of fun with this concept,” said Reno. “Our goal has always been to create spaces where people feel inspired by the whole experience – from the food, the drinks, to the music, the design, and the people. Dope Bakehouse is the embodiment of our tongue and cheek spirit – the playful, younger sibling to Nemesis. We can’t wait to share it with the North Shore community and beyond.”

Opening this shop in North Vancouver carries personal weight, too.

“This one’s truly close to the heart,” said Reno. “When I opened Nemesis Polygon, I wasn’t living on the North Shore just yet. But now, this is home. We’ve been dreaming about giving Dope its own space, and to finally do it here – we’re just getting started.”

North Vancouver is welcoming the first solo location of Dope Bakehouse, the popular and creative pastry program from Nemesis Coffee. DANNY ASTEFAN, COURTESY OF DOPE BAKEHOUSE

STELLA JO DEAN

North Vancouver City to refresh public plaza in Central Lonsdale

NICK LABA nlaba@nsnews.com

Residents and pets should be able to find more relief, after the refresh of a public plaza in the bustling urban core of Central Lonsdale.

On July 14, City of North Vancouver council received a report on the planned refresh of Stella Jo Dean Plaza on the 100 block of East 14th Street, next to the North Vancouver RCMP detachment.

The refresh will include new seating options, new plants and pet relief areas.

Built in 1997, the plaza is part of a critical public space network in the city, staff said.

But a lot has changed in the past 30 years Many new towers have gone up in the area, significantly increasing the population density, said Dave Hutch, the city’s deputy director of parks and public space.

The city has been working to add public spaces in the area, he said. A new park at 16th Street

and St. Andrews Avenue opened last week, and construction just started on another park on Eastern Avenue.

“Adding new parks and public spaces to our city is an effective way to support public space needs, but it can take time,” Hutch said. “We simultaneously need to ensure we’re also making the best use of existing spaces.”

North Van residents have high expectations for how these spaces serve them, he added.

One of the key changes to the plaza is changing the seating arrangement, which is currently benches fixed in place. Many of the existing benches will be replaced with movable chairs and tables.

“These chairs allow more flexibility to respond to changing seasonal needs,” Hutch said. “These also allow people to reshape the space to fit their social needs, whether that means reading a book alone in the shade, or meeting a few friends to catch up.”

expected to begin soon and continue into the fall.

Coun. Don Bell expressed concern that some of the movable furniture might be stolen.

Hutch said staff are aware of video surveillance in the area and have been in discussions with RCMP

“[Furniture theft] certainly hasn’t been something of note elsewhere, in places like The Shipyards,” he said.

Coun. Tony Valente said the plan makes a lot of sense.

“Supporting dog ownership has been on the rise in the city since the pandemic – and [we would be] getting better use out of this space,” he said.

The rising population has also driven up Lonsdale’s pet population.

To better accommodate furry friends, the refreshed plaza will include a pee patch with “target boulders” and a mulch poo patch.

The plaza is named after former longtime CNV councillor and Order of Canada recipient Stella Jo Dean, who died in 2018 at age 95.

With taller towers bringing more shade, staff also plan to add more shade-tolerant plants to the plaza.

Work on the refresh is

The site is also home to the Strength and Remembrance Pole, which was erected in 2019 to honour missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.

North Vancouver’s Stella Jo Dean Plaza is named after a former CNV councillor and Order of Canada recipient who died in 2018 at age 95.

Sager says Boathouse building will benefit the community

significant upgrades.

The former mayors added that the arts community loudly disagreed with the decision to buy the Boathouse to house the art museum, and past studies all pointed to a permanent location in Ambleside as the preferred option.

Booth and Smith lobbed further criticism at Sager for not taking responsibility for the decision and having Coun. Linda Watt take public accountability instead.

Given the content of the letter and its authors, the North Shore News decided to reach out to Sager for comment, and give him an opportunity to reply to the accusations directly

District already approached by prospective tenants, mayor says

In response, Sager said the appraised value of the property was more than twice what the district paid for it

The former mayors’ statement that “taxpayers should be outraged at the precious tax dollars that have been squandered” is ridiculous, he said.

“We could sell this building tomorrow – rezone for a commercial tenant and it would sell very quickly,” Sager said.

He also disagreed that the building is in disrepair “Westbank completely restored all of the exterior,” Sager said.

But he did acknowledge that the former owners had difficulty finding a tenant for the space.

“That’s true. It’s important to understand that the property, the Boathouse, was zoned for restaurant and restaurant only, and that put real limitations on prospective

tenants,” Sager said. “The municipality doesn’t have that same restriction. We can allocate the space to whomever we want to lease it to.”

And the interior is usable, he added Mercury Marine had been renting the space previously, and the district has been approached by three prospective tenants in the past week, Sager said.

Regarding the decision to house the museum in Horseshoe Bay, it’s important to emphasize that the art museum committee voted in favour of moving there, he continued.

“The problem was, their motion said they wanted the entire facility, and council just felt that was too much,” he said

Instead, Sager imagines the building can be used by a number of different groups in the community

“For example, we have one local business that needs to rent some space during the [proposed] hotel construction,” he said.

NOTICEOFDISPOSITION

In accordancewith section 26 of the CommunityCharter (BC), TheCorporation of theDistrict of West Vancouver herebygives noticeofits intentiontolease to Evergreen Squash Club of West Vancouver (the “Squash Club”), foraterm of 10 yearscommencing August 1, 2025 and expiring July 31, 2035 (the“Term”), aportion of those landslocatedat315 Klahanie CourtPark, West Vancouver and legally describedasPID: 007-614-403, Plan15857 District Lot790 Block 1(the “Lands”),for the purpose of operating asquash club and squash courts. Theportion of the Lands to be leased to the Squash Club is hatched andlabelled “the Premises” on theadjacent plan

Theconsideration to be paidbythe Squash Club will be $8,000 forthe first year ofthe Term, increasing annuallybyanamount equal to the percentageincrease in CPI overthe preceding year (orifCPI decreases, the considerationwill remain unchanged).

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As for the former mayors’ suggestion that Coun. Watt was made to take a bullet, Sager said he’s not at all feeling defensive

“I give her full credit for saying we should buy that building, and I agree, and so did council,” he said. “I believe it was unanimous.”

Overall, Sager said he welcomes feedback on the Boathouse purchase.

“I’m grateful for their comments, but I will just ask the community be patient and watch what magic will happen in that beautiful building,” he said.

Making deals without RFPs is improper, Booth says

After learning that council backpedalled on using the Boathouse for the art museum, Booth said she and Smith wrote the letter because they believe Sager’s pattern of decision making is bad for the community

Making deals without consultation or putting out requests for proposal is improper practice for the municipality, Booth said.

“The improper part of it is that you don’t know if that’s the best deal,” she said.

“You may be benefiting someone that you know, but you’re potentially precluding the district, and by extension all the taxpayers, something that could be better,” Booth said.

Smith said council has a fiscal responsibility to residents.

“If you’re going to make a major capital purchase, if you have any business experience at all, you know you have to have a really sound business plan that justifies what you’re doing,” he said. “And in this case, they couldn’t have had one, because how could it change so quickly?”

Sager said it’s important to remember that he ran for re-election after serving as mayor from 1990 to 1996.

“I ran again and offered myself the public service to clean up what was clearly off the rails,” he said. “So some of their comments, I will just take with a grain of salt.”

The former Boathouse restaurant building in Horseshoe Bay, shown here in January of this year, has been without a restaurant tenant since 2016 PAUL MCGRATH / NSN

Former mayors warn of operating costs

The original letter

Below is the text of the original letter to the editor sent to the North Shore News.

Dear Editor:

During our years on council and as mayors, we spent considerable time trying to shed high-cost and under-performing assets because we recognized that these facilities are like icebergs: the purchase price of a building is like the portion of the iceberg you see above the water, but the long-term costs of operating and maintaining the building, which are below the water, far surpass that cost.

Before our councils created the asset levy to set aside enough funds to cover some of these future costs on our facilities, West Vancouver had an abysmal record of allocating even minimal resources towards maintenance.

Klee Wyck, Ambleside Youth Centre, and the former police station, are all examples of assets allowed to deteriorate beyond repair.

Since completion of the Horseshoe Bay residential development, the owners of the Boathouse had difficulty

finding a new restaurant operator for the space And costs would be substantial to bring the 8,800-square-foot building up to today’s standards. The $2.7 million purchase also eliminated the annual commercial property taxes that they were being paid to the district.

When the arts community became aware of this plan (art doesn’t like windows or water) to make this site the new home of the West Vancouver Art Museum, it was pointed out to council that years of study and engagement

had determined that any new arts facility should be purpose-built and centrally located in Ambleside.

Council has now decided that it will not put the art museum in the Boathouse after all, having just purchased the property for that purpose only a few months ago. While it was admirable of Coun. Linda Watt to take responsibility for the council decision, our mayor who had proudly trumpeted the original big announcement back in February, was silent on this disaster

All taxpayers should be outraged that precious tax dollars have been squandered, given the many other pressing needs we have in a community with limited ways to raise revenue beyond residential property tax. Council has decided to spend $50,000 just to clean up the interior and exterior while they try and decide what to do with the space.

Residents will soon find out the future costs of this reckless decision and how big this iceberg is below the surface.

Former mayors of West Vancouver, Mary-Ann Booth and Michael Smith

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The former Boathouse restaurant in Horseshoe Bay was purchased by the district earlier this year to become the new home of the West Vancouver Art Museum, but those plans have since been scrapped. PAUL MCGRATH / NSN

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North Shore Rescue brings in helicopter to assist injured teen

ABBY LUCIANO aluciano@nsnews.com Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

An injured hiker needed some help from above after hurting her leg on a steep trail in the West Vancouver backcountry Sunday afternoon.

North Shore Rescue received a call just before noon Sunday from B.C. Ambulance reporting a 15-year-old who sprained her left ankle after a slip on a large rock hiking up to St. Mark’s Summit along the Howe Sound Crest Trail in Cypress Provincial Park.

Volunteers used a Talon helicopter to find the teen on the trail, where she was stranded with her mother and relatives.

“It was sore enough that she wasn’t able to walk on it, so it’s best not to aggravate it,” said search manager Don Jardine. “If you’re feeling that much pain, it’s better to call for help.”

After rescue crews found the injured hiker, two volunteers hoisted down to place her into the aircraft. From there, crews flew

to the search and rescue team’s Capilano Gate station so an ambulance could take her to Lions Gate Hospital.

St. Mark’s Summit is one of the viewpoints along the Howe Sound Trail, a 26-kilometre hike spanning from Cypress Bowl to Porteau Cove above the Sea to Sky Highway.

“It’s easy to have a slip. It’s fairly steep,” Jardine said. “There’s still a little bit of snow in places, and because it’s melting, there’s a bit of mud. There’s lots of slippery roots and rocks.”

In a social media post, the search and rescue team said Sunday’s call highlights how quickly plans can change in the backcountry.

Jardine urged people to be careful with their footing while hiking, to go with a group and bring equipment like hiking poles.

“I find hiking poles are really advantageous because you’re getting four points of contact rather than just two, and if you do slip, they can stop you from twisting

your ankle,” he said.

“It’s a popular hike, there are a lot of people going there and it can get quite hot in the summer,” Jardine added. “So go early and

bring lots of water.”

North Shore Rescue also shared in the post other recent calls they have responded to, including a tourist stuck near

Eagle Bluffs after running out of water and trying to navigate steep terrain with a smartphone map, a solo hiker who slipped along the BCMC Trail on Grouse Mountain, a helicopter hoist operation for four teenagers on Mount Fromme who become stranded in steep terrain after leaving the trail trying to descend to Mountain Highway, and a fatal motor vehicle crash near Norrish Creek with an overnight helicopter search

After the recent calls, the search and rescue team offered a number of safety tips such as using backcountry-specific apps like Gaia or AllTrails and downloading the map ahead of time, as Google Maps is not always reliable in remote terrain.

If a hiker leaves the trail, they should not keep heading downhill, but return to known ground if safe, the team advises.

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

A Talon helicopter sits at North Shore Rescue’s Capilano Gate base as volunteer members help a teenager who sprained her ankle hiking along the Howe Sound Crest Trail Sunday. NORTH SHORE RESCUE

TRAVELLER

Photo:NVMA,Item1031

In 1907, Williamand ElizabethBaxteremigrated from Scotland to Canada andpurchased five lots onthe west side of GrandBoulevard,later taking outtwo permits: onefor theerectionofa tent,as principal dwelling, andone fora shackwhich wouldserve as Elizabeth'srealestateoffice

Williamoperateda nursery andsuppliedNorth Vancouvergardeners with flowers, especially dahlias. Elizabethran herrealestatebusinessuntil 1920.The nursery lasted until Elizabeth'sdeath in1952, butWilliamlived on in thetentuntil 1954.Photographs of thenursery andhomewere takenbytheir sonGeorge.

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GARDEN TO TABLE

Rutabaga or ‘neeps’ ranks among my favourite brassicas

LAURA MARIE NEUBERT Contributing writer

If you have ever been served haggis on Robbie Burns day or any other, you likely ate mashed “neeps and tatties” along with it. Neeps, also known as tumshies or swedes, are known to North Americans by the funky name of rutabaga. Tatties, of course, are potatoes.

Rutabagas are winter root vegetables. Typically planted after summer solstice, this wild cabbage and turnip cross, painted eggplant purple and jersey cream, ranks among my favourite brassicas. The living room of our old saltbox home was in fact painted rutabaga cream.

Thought to have originated in Sweden, rutabagas were introduced to Canada during the 1800s by way of England. They settled in nicely, being winter-sport-loving veg and all. Actual Swedes by the way, call rutabaga kålrots (sounds like “coolroots”), complicating things still further.

We are just now planting this year’s second crop of rutabaga, starting them in semi-shade located soil blocks to give them a bit of a head start, and to optimize available raised bed space. Typically and frustratingly, just over half of seeds germinate, which then leaves half of direct-sown bed space empty. By mid-October, we should have a second and much larger crop of rutabagas ready for storage, roasting and braising.

We direct-sowed our first crop of rutabaga mid-January, into small lidded containers nestled deep into a winter mulch of hemp and leaves. By March, wee neeps were reaching up to the sun, and shortly thereafter seedlings were transplanted directly into the soil with which they were already acquainted.

The fluctuating heat-rain-heat-cold-rain stretch that governed ecosystem services in our vegetable garden these past months immune-stressed our beautiful rutabaga substantially, apparently, inviting juicy green cabbage aphids in by the thousands. To cull the pests, we trimmed the tops and relegated the protein-rich off-cuts to various composting systems. Nothing goes to waste in an urban permaculture garden.

A few days later we harvested the roots, cutting through very close to the tips and twisting them out to minimize disturbance of soil biology The roots were unable to reach their full size potential sadly, but next year should we winter-sow once again, we will cover our

rutabaga with very lightweight fleece to keep aphids and cabbage moths at bay I cubed and froze most of the rutabaga, as I will many of our root vegetables. By November, when I have enough chopped and frozen garden vegetables and herbs in all colours of the rainbow, plus many shapes and sizes of dried home-grown beans, I will make a spectacularly huge pot of tomato and bison bone broth-based minestrone for pressure canning.

The shelf-stable quart jars of soup concentrate, with instructions for reconstituting each with water or broth and adding barley or buckwheat on re-heating, will be shared with our grown children who have left our nest.

Pressure canning, I have found, is excellent medicine for empty-nesters unable or unwilling to return to cooking for just one or two, and whose freezer space is limited.

Slowly, I am making progress. Last evening I baked a rustic rutabaga gratin for two, infused with finely grated pecorino, garlic, fresh thyme, veggie stock, sea salt, Aleppo pepper and some lovely Domenica Fiore olive oil from Umbria. An ad-hoc hot mess, but delicious.

Low in calories, rutabagas are loaded with beneficial flavonoids, fibre and protein. They provide an excellent source of vitamins C and E, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and selenium.

Interestingly, rutabaga ranks very high among Candida-fighting foods and is considered one of the most potent anti-fungal foods in the world. For highest phyto-nutrient potential, look for heritage varieties of seed.

Laura Marie Neubert is a West Vancouverbased urban permaculture designer Learn more about permaculture by visiting her website upfrontandbeautiful.com, or email hello@upfrontandbeautiful.com.

Rutabaga gratin is a hasty layered bake infused with pecorino, garlic, olive oil and fresh herbs. LAURA MARIE NEUBERT

Baxter Garden andNursery

Voicepart

Emerge

Heartache 10.Likely 11. Proposal reply 19.Sal, forexample

21. Laundrybrightener 23. Follower

25.Croaker

26.Run in neutral 27.Requirement

28. Curtsies

29.Change amanuscript

30.Impose, as atax

31.Partofrpm

35.TVanchors

38. Firstborn

40.Longtime

44. Deadly snakes

45.Pack animal

47.Atanother place

48.Stadium section

41. Method

42.“ Do YouLove”

units

one’s time

56.Point-scoring serves

request

Shark’sdomain

bill

Piercing tools

Verb’s partner 3. Roman garment 4. Understood 5. Pilot

Go ashore

49.Ship’s mast

50.Flawed

51.Frozendessert

52.Youngsocietywoman

54. Cheerless

Crosswordpuzzle answers use American spelling

LAST WEEK’S ANSWERS:

ARIES March21-April 19

You’ll be welcomed back from vacation with apromotion. This will help you settle your debts. Working overtime will be good for your finances. However, don’t forgettoprioritize your health and make time for your significant other

TAURUS April 20-May20

Your natural charisma will shine through this week as you bring people togetherfor enriching activities. Your outspokenness will garner admiration and you’ll be everyone’sfocus. An outstanding achievement will earn you praise and applause.

GEMINI May21-June 20

Family time is precious. You’ll play akey role in resolving disagreements among relatives. You’ll perform aheroic feat to get someone out of asticky situation, boosting your selfesteem.

CANCER June 21-July 22

If you’ve recently relocated, takethe time to exploreyour new surroundings. You’ll make some wonderful discoveries. Expect abusy week driving loved ones around. Be careful, as checking your phone and messages could become a distraction.

LEO July 23-Aug. 22

Summer is theperfect time to renegotiate your salaryand working conditions. If you start looking elsewherefor anew job,your employer will likely make an irresistible offer to encourage you to stay.Ifyou’re abusiness owner,expect your customer base to grow

VIRGO Aug. 23-Sept.22

Preparefor an exciting week filledwith surprises! You’ll participate in various thrilling activities. Let yourself be carried away by thefun and embrace these moments with your closest friends.

LIBRA Sept.23-Oct. 22

Be mindful of what you post on social media this week. A disagreement with afriend will reveal their true nature. This will help you strengthen your relationshipswith those who truly matter.You’ll havefun playing sports with those in your inner circle.

SCORPIO Oct. 23-Nov. 21

You’ll organize an event that will bring all your friends together.It will be agreat success! Despite some guests arriving late, the atmospherewill remain festive and lively.You’ll meet people from all walks of life.

SAGITTARIUS

Whether alone or with your other half, business associates or family,you’ll lay the groundwork foramajor project this week. While on vacation, you could receive an urgent call from your boss. They’ll need your help to resolve the issue.

CAPRICORN Dec. 22-Jan. 19

Even while on vacation, your mind is teeming with ideas for your next adventure. You may consider taking atraining course to open thedoor to new perspectives, possibly even a rewardingcareer change.

AQUARIUS Jan. 20-Feb.18

Don’t be afraidofchange, as it can lead to positive outcomes. Plan aromantic getaway or family adventuretofinish off your vacation and create lasting memories.

PISCES Feb. 19-March 20

This week, you’ll be focused on feeling comfortable in your own skin. Buying new clothes that flatter your frame will be essential for your new professional duties. Your presence and charm will captivate your clients.

HOWTOPLAY: Fill in the gridsothat everyrow,every column and every3 x3box contains the numbers 1through 9only 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.

SUDOKU

Your Community

MARKETPLACE

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 classifieds.nsnews.com

It is with heavy hearts that we announcethe peaceful passing of LorraineMurdochonJuly9th, while in palliative care at Lions Gate Hospital

Born on April8th,1936, in Winnipeg,Manitoba, Lorrainespent themajorityofher lifeinNorth Vancouver,a community shecherished and called home.

Lorrainetouched thelives of many with her calm, nurturingpresenceand unwavering love.A devoted and selfless mother,she dedicatedher lifeto supporting her childrenand family.She wasalsoa gifted dressdesigner and entrepreneur,known for her work under thenameSEW EZY, as well as a respectedteacher and seminar speaker in the SquareDancecommunity

Hercreativityextended into allareas of her life—she wasanaccomplished crafter, always sharingher handmade treasures,fromthoughtfulcards to beautifully madegoods.Lorrainewas alongtime, enthusiastic member of thesquare, round, and line dancingcommunity,whereher warmth and generositymade everyone feel welcome.

Sheissurvivedbyher loving husband Brian, to whom shewas marriedfor 66 years, her sonBrent (predeceased daughter-in-lawMargot), her daughter Laurie,and her cherished grandchildrenNicole, Conrad, and Michael.Lorraineisalsosurvivedby her sister LillianLong,sister-in-law Sheila Johnstone,and severalniecesand nephews.She waspredeceased by her brothers, Al and Don.

Aprivate CelebrationofLifewill be heldwith immediatefamily

Lorraine'skindness, creativity, impact, and unwavering love will be deeplymissedand fondly remembered by allwho knew her

MalcolmKerrofWestVancouver,BC, passedaway with hisfamilybyhis side on June 13,2025, at the age of 89. He is survived by hiswife, SandraKerr; hisson, MalcolmKerr(Carolyn);his daughter, Jennifervan Eijnsbergen (Randal); and hissix grandchildren: Alexa, Charlie,Kai,Malcolm,Mia,and Bella.Heisalsolovinglyremembered by hisbrother, John Kerr (Evelyn),and hissister, Maureen Kerr Amasswas attended by closefamilymemberson June 17,2025.

“Gone from our sight,but neverfromour hearts.”

In lieuofflowers,pleaseconsider making adonation tothe AlzheimerSociety of BC

Ourhearts arebrokenwiththe passing of Sonia Gadtke on July 1, at theage of 44, aftera two-year battlewithararebone marrow blood cancer.Sonia waspre-deceasedbyher dad, Jens,in2013, and is survived by her “ma,”Annelis and brother,Stefan, her “honey,”Jason, and theirtwo children, Troy and Emmi

Sonialived in NorthVancouver allher life. She attended Canyon HeightsElementaryand graduated from Handsworth. Sheadored allanimals,but really loveddogs!She wasathleticand excelledinsoftball and volleyballthrough much of her life. Soniaproudly graduated from UBCin2008 with aBachelor of Educationand has been ateacher on theNorth Shoreeversince

Soniamet “her man,”Jason, when shewas 27,and five yearslater,theybought her childhood home from her parents, with plans to raise afamilythere. Troy and Emmi soon came along,and sincethen, being agreat mother has been Sonia’s#1priority. Sheloved to take thekidsontrips,orcamping, or localadventures,cookouts, just anything they could enjoy.Theywereher world!

Herfavouritepastime waswatchingTroyand Emmi competeintheirvarious sports.She always wanted to get involved, be it as acoach/manager, scorekeeper,oreven DJ!Soniaalsoenjoyed being partofthe School community and thePAC,and just generally lovedbeing down at Canyon Heights, watching her kids play afterschool,and visiting with other parents.

Soniawas very social and alwayswanted to get peopletogether.Someofher most cherished activities were her visits with her cousin Heidiand family on Vancouver Island, Oktoberfest at theAlpen Club,the FuntasticSlo-Pitch Tournament in Vernon everysummer, and more recently,trips to Parksville, whereshe hoped to one dayretire. Sonia’sCelebrationofLifewillbeheldin September,dateTBD.Soniawillbemissed immensely, andour lives willneverbeas richwithout her.Weloveyou, Sonia!

REMEMBRANCES

With loving remembrance, we announcethe passing ofKaren McClure, wholeftuspeacefully at theage of82onJune 18,2025, surrounded by theloveof her family

Karenisnow reunitedwithher husband, Neil, partner Vic, sonTodd and nephewJustin, who passedbeforeher and whom shecarried in her heartalways.

Karenleavesbehind her sonand daughter-in-law, Greg and Kyla,daughter-in-lawSilke, grandchildren Brandon, Tanner,Katarinaand Sophie, sister Wendy, nephews Corbinand Morgan and nieceAlanna.

Shealsoleavesbehind many cherished friends, including her high school classmates,reunion companions,travelfriends,the Norgate group and fellowBCLions fans,all of whom brought joyand laughter to her life.

Acelebrationofher lifewilltake placeonJuly26,2025,at 2:00pm at the Holiday InninNorthVancouver.Familyand friendsareinvitedtojoininremembering Karen, whosespiritremains inour hearts

It is with greatsadnessweannouncethe passing of James Kondrosky.Predeceased by hisfather Vic, Jamesissurvivedbyhis loving partner Tracy-Lea; motherJudy;sisters Lesley(Andrew), Leanne,and Karley (Jack);niecesDanielle and Chloe; nephew Jake; grand-nieceBrooklyn; lifetimefriends Kurt, Corbyand Shane; and extended family

From ayoung age,James exhibitedakeen interest in animalbiology,particularly birdsand amphibians It wasnot uncommontovisit himand find anew cayman or snake—sometimesevenamissing one— at hishome. James'spassion formusic ledhim to learnthe drums, oftenhavingspiritedsessions in his parent's basement,leaving alegacyoffinger tapping on anyavailablesurface.His mechanicalbrilliance extendedtorefurbishingvintage autos,including a 1950sarmyambulanceand over 20 different muscle cars.Mostnotably,his cherished 1967 Cougar and 1949 green Ford truck. Recently,James acquireda HarleyDavidson, he wastoldifhecouldfix it,he couldhaveit, and in usual Jamesfashion, he was soon riding it away.James pursued acareer as an airplane mechanic workingatHarbour Air. He later becameapilot. In 1995, he returned to academia to earnaBachelor of BusinessfromSimon Fraser University.Shortly after, he also completedhis CFA, Certified FinancialAnalyst, LevelII. Later in life, Jamesdiscoveredaloveand talent forphotography, founding 'DanceHog Photography' to capturethe graceofhis partner Tracy'sdancestudentsand models.

Jameswill be fondlyremembered forhis quiet honesty,modestnature, sincerityand wrysenseof humour.Hewill be deeply missedbyall whoknew him.May he be in peaceand ride on.

Vincent GabrielBeckiediedpeacefully on June 16, 2025, at age 90.

Vinceispredeceased by hisparentsand brothers, Kenand Sam, and sister Dorothy. He is survived by hiswife, Hilde, andchildrenBernadette,Roger (Jean),Vernon (Gerry), Noreen (Mike),Jeanette (Jeff),and Nicole (Marc-Andre),his siblings, Lawrence, Gerald,and Mary.Heisalsosurvivedby twelve grandchildrenand twogreat-grandchildren.

Afuneral mass washeldonJuly5th at St.PiusinNorth Vancouver

Hollyburn Funeral Home

Celebrate the lives of loved ones with your stories, photographs and tributes

•Loading and unloading ordersofconstruction mate‐rials

•Deliveringtoour customersconstruction sitesin Vancouver and theLower Mainland in aprofessional and timely manner

• Pickingproductupfromour vendorsthroughout Vancouver and theLower Mainland.

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Hoursare 9:00am to 3:00pm to start. Renumeration $17.85 during 3-monthtrial periodWarehousein NorthVancouver

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No phone calls,please

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As you share the stories and the memories of howtheylived their lives and howvery much theymeant, may you find comfort...

Avariety of itemsfor sale, including baby"stuff".Don't miss it!Corner of 15th St &Mahon Ave. at 1434 Mahon Ave.

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CASH foryour CLUTTER Iwill payCASHfor your UNWANTEDITEMS! Ispecializein RECORDS,English Bone China& Figurines, Collectibles, Tools, Anti ues,ETC. .Also: Photos Postcards, Letters, Paintings.Notextbooksor encyclopedias

Rainbow CargoTrailer5x10

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Asking Priceinthe region of $350,000

Thisopportunity

•Yearsinbusiness10yrs/7yrs incorporated.

KeyPoints

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in theheartofWest Vancouver.Designed with family needs in mind, opening Decem‐ber 2025. Pleasesee our websitefor more in‐formation& application

DRYWALL

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SUDOKU

Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a Sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes.

PUZZLE ANSWERS ON SEPARATE PAGE

1. Pacific Standard Time

4. Extracts through heating and melting 10. Express delight 11. More curvy 12. Expression of uncertainty

14. Indicates before 15. Daughter of Hera and Zeus

16. Southwestern CA city

18. Unified

1. Plain-woven fabric

2. Classed

3. Suppositions

4. Midway between south and west

5.Tropical American trees

6. Leveled

7. Published false statement

8.Adolescent

22. Less attractive 23. Base of jellies

24.A large and noisy party

26. He was traded for Luka

27.Wolverine genus

28.“Happy Days” actress Moran

30. Root of taro plant

31. Student environmental group (abbr.)

34. Silk garments

9. Junior’s father 12.Aurochs 13. Not low 17. Boxing’s GOAT 19. Short musical composition

20. Small immature herrings 21. Eavesdropper 25. Parcels of land

29.Anger

36. Unique power

37. Ray Liotta cop film

39. Leak slowly through 40. Notion

41.Atomic #55

42. Fixed in one place

48.About heat

50.Type of baseball pitch

51. Seedless raisin

31. Irritations

32. Hindu holy man

33.Wicker basket for fish

35. Natural object

38.Transporting in a vehicle

41.A dog is one

43. Smaller portion

44. Sew

52. Large wading birds

53. Similar

54.Time zone

55.Atomic #34

56. Program

58. Old world, new 59. Contrary belief

60.“To the degree”

45. Belonging to a thing

46. Horsley and Greenwood are two

47. Scottish language

49. Producer

56. Exclamation of surprise

57. Russian river