Murdercharge
North Vancouver womanchargedin deathofIranianactivist
BUSINESS 10
Tariff Trouble
Lonsdale jewellerisclosing down becauseof U.S.tradetaxes
ARTS 18
Holy Days
DeepCovedirector’s debutfeature filmishittingthe big screen
DNV considers redevelopmentof Lynn Valleystripmall
ABBY LUCIANO
alucia no@nsnews.com Local Jo urnalismInitiativ e Reporter
A plantobuildnearly400 residentialunitsin Lynn Valleyisset togoto a publichearing soon.
PolygonDevelopment395 Ltd.is requesting approval to buildfoursix-storeybuildingsacross the streetfrom Lynn ValleyCentre in a space that now houses a stripmalland rental townhouse complex.
DistrictofNorth VancouvercouncilOK’d the development planforfurther publicinputonMarch 16.
The proposeddevelopment would includes397 residentialunitsacross fourbuildings with twolevels of undergroundparking,equalling toaround481spots for vehicles. Unitsrangefromstudiosto three-bedroom,with a mix of rentalandstrata.Oneof those buildingswill havetwo storeysdedicatedtocommercialspace.
Ifapproved, the developmentwouldspanacross 1246-1268 Lynn ValleyRd.,3050-3174Baird Rd.andalane between1202RossRd.and3050Baird Rd. replacing Lynn ValleyMall(nottobeconfusedwiththe muchlarger Lynn ValleyCentre across the street)and the rental townhouse complexDraycottGardens.
Of the 397units, 64wouldbe rentals, with32 replacing existing homes.
Mackenzie Stonehocker, developmentplannerforthedistrict,gave a presentationtocouncilsayingthe projectwould be builtintwo phases. The first phase would demolish Lynn
YOUNGANDBOARD
NORTH SHORE’S
STORE
OVERDOSECRISIS
Programdeliversopioid replacementdrugstolocaljails
HILARYANGUS
Contributingwriter
A North Vancouver doctorhas developed a simple,low-costmethodto address a growingneedinmedical care ontheNorthShore andbeyond.
FamilyphysicianDr MichelleBrousson hasbeenspearheading a recent initiative toofferopioid replacementtherapy(ORT) toindividualsinshort-termpolicecustody who strugglewithsubstanceuse disorder
Theinitiativeaimstohelpsmaller policedepartmentsfill a gapincare for peopleintheircustody, andafterfour yearshasledto a series of positiveoutcomes,including a 50 percent reductionin medicalcallsorhospitalvisitsbyparticipatingdepartments.
“Inthepast,if a detaineeisfeeling unwell,thenthepoliceaccompany them andtheygoandtheysitinemergefor severalhoursandwaittoseethe doctor and get a prescription,andthengo backto cells,”Broussonsaid.“[That]isnot a good useofpolice resources.It’s not a gooduse ofouremergency rooms.”
Brousson’s initiative,whichshe launchedwiththe West Vancouver Police Departmentin2022,connectspolice agenciestoLighthouse,a virtualsubstance useclinic,whoprovide the individual incustodywitha prescriptionoverthe phone,whichpolicethengopickupat a pharmacyandprovidetotheindividual.
Broussonsaidthe initiativeaddresses a gapinthe“circleofcare”forindividuals who livewithopioidusedisorder, enabling themtomore easilyaccessneededmedicaltreatmentwhileincustody.
Opioidwithdrawalis a “reallyawful
WEATHERSTATS
NorthVancouverphysicianDr.MichelleBroussonmeetswithWestVancouverpoliceSgt. ChrisBiglandinalocalholdingcell.Sheisworkingwithpoliceandpharmaciststodevelopa substance-usecareprotocolforpeopleincustody. PAULMCGRATH/NSN
experience,”Broussonsaid,andcan includevomiting,severe stomachissues, shaking,anxietyandagitation.
ORT isthemainstaytreatmentforindividualswithopioid usedisorders,andis
usedintreatmentand recover y programs. It removeswithdrawalsymptoms without producing a high.
“Theydover y wellifthey’re onone ofthesemedications,and that’s whywe
justdon’twantthemtofalloff ofitwhen they’re,youknow, heldincitycellsfor a longweekend,”Broussonsaid,addingthat peoplewithopioidusedisorder are atan elevatedrisk ofseriousoverdoseduring transitiontimes.
“Whenpeopleleavehospital,leavecustody, ifthey’re notonmedication,therisk ofoverdosegoes up,”shesaid,explaining thatthesevere impacts ofwithdrawal causepeopletoengageinmore high-risk behaviorwithstreet drugs once they leave aninstitution.
“We reallywantthemontheir medication.”
Broussonsaidanother, lessexpected outcomeoftheinitiativehas beenaccess tosomethingshecalled“justice equity,” where ORT enablespeopleincustodyto beclear-mindedwhilegoingthrough the criminaljusticesystem.
“Somebodycan payattentiontotheir bailhearingbecausethey’re notfeeling liketheyhave a terrible, terriblefluwhile they’re tryingtolisten,”shesaid.
Brousson,whohas beenworkingas a primar y care physician ontheNorthShore formore than 30years,saidtheinitiativewasdeveloped duringtheCOVID-19 pandemic.
Forthepastdecade,shehas been workingat a Vancouver Coastal Health-run clinicthatprovidesprimary care toNorth Shore residentswhoface complex medical, mentalhealth,addictionorsocioeconomic circumstances.
WhentheCOVIDpandemicexacerbated analreadyserioustoxicdrugcrisis, the medicalcommunitystruggledtokeep up
Continuedon A21
Atmosphericriverbringswetweekbutnorecordrainfalls
JANESEYD
j seyd@nsnews.com
There was a lotofrainflowing into some very swollen rivers during lastweek’s prolonged atmosphericriver, but not enough tobreak records, accordingtoEnvironment Canada.
BetweenMarch15andthe afternoonofMarch18,the West
Vancouverweatherstationon CypressBowlRoad recorded 103millimetersofrain.Then, between WednesdayandFriday, a further 86 mm ofrain fell. NearbyCoquitlamwashit harder, recordingover300mm
ofprecipitationduringthesame timeperiod.
Metro Vancouver’s weather stationatthenorthendof CapilanoLake recorded a sodden424mmofrainover sixdaysbetween March 16-21, about17percentofusual annualprecipitationinNorth
Vancouver Atits highestintensityonMarch18,the rainwas fallingatabout 9 mmperhour
Theatmosphericrivercame fromsub-tropicalmoisture that pushedupover a ridgeofhigh temperaturesintheU.S.,said BrianProctor, Environment Canadameteorologist.
Temperatureslastweekwere alsomuchwarmerthanusual withhighs upto14 C andlows onlydippingtoabout10C. Warmtemperaturesalso pushedthe freezinglevelupto over2,000metres,causingrain tofallontopofthesnowpack in the mountains.
RIGHTSANDTITLE
SquamishNation vows todefend titleafterMusqueamagreement
ABBY LUCIANO aluciano@nsnews.com
Local Jo urnalismInitiative Reporte r Sḵwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw(Squamish Nation)councilhas vowed to defend its rights and title following anagreement between the xʷməθkʷəyəm (Musqueam)IndianBand and the Government ofCanada that the Squamish Nation fears couldinfringeon its territor y.
Lastmonth,thefederal governmentannounced it signedthreeagreements with theMusqueam Indian Band regarding thefirst nation’s rights and roles in fisheries, landstewardship and marineemergency management.Thefederal government said in theFeb.20 releasethat the agreements represent a major step towards reconciliation.
SquamishNationchairperson Wilson Williamssaysthey prepare to defendtheirtitle rights aftertheMusqueam Indian BandandtheGovernment of Canadasigned three agreements. Council say publicmaterialsincluding mapsappear to show areaswithinthenation’s traditional territory. ABBY LUCIANO / NSN
However,a recentstatementbythe SquamishNation’s chairperson and council said they’re deeplyconcernedbypublic materials, including maps, thatappearto showareaswithin theNation’s traditional territor y.
“Letusbeclear:TheSquamishNation governmentwilldefendandupholdour inherent Aboriginalrights and title. Any implication thatanotherNation’s agreementcouldextend into Squamish territor y will bechallenged,”theMarch 6 statement read.
Council also said theSquamishNation was notconsulted ormeaningfully engaged by the federalgovernmentbefore the announcement.Thecouncil has requested an“urgent” meetingwith federal officials withfulltransparencyonthe agreements, including the intent, scopeandany implications forSquamish territory and interests, thestatementsaid.
Inthestatement,theysaid a comprehensive legal review oftheagreementsand its impacts is nowunderway
“While thefederalgovernment has stated that this agreement doesnotaffect the rights ofother First Nations, weare independently verifying that claim and will takeallnecessar y stepstoprotect SquamishNation’s rights and title,”the statement said.
“Finally, it remains ourhope that wewill continue to maintaina positive relationship
with our relatives attheMusqueam Indian Band,” the statement continues. “However, SquamishNation willchallengeanyprocess or agreementthatundermines or disregards our rights,title, or jurisdiction.”
Whatare the agreements?
The MusqueamIndian Bandand federal government signed the A Rights Recognition Agreement, Stewardship & Marine ManagementAgreementandthe Fisheries Agreement.
According to afederalpress release,the rights recognition agreement establishesa framework for incremental implementation of rights and relationswith Canada.The othertwoagreementsallowtheMusqueam and federal government toshare decision making in marine managementand fisheries
The recentagreementsare topical after a B.C.SupremeCourt ruling lastyearconfirmedAboriginaltitle onabout800acres in south Richmond, raising concernsonwhat happensto private property on Aboriginal title land
Earlier this month,theMusqueam Nationsaid in a statementthattheagreementsdon’t relatetolandownership and there areno impacts to fee simple landsor private property
“Musqueam is notcoming foranyone’s private property Ourapproach to traditional unceded territor y is one ofpartnership and relationshipwith
B.C.COURTS
Twopeoplechargedwith murderofIranianactivist
A 45-year -oldwomanfromNorth Vancouveris oneoftwopeople facing chargesoffirst-degreemurderinconnectionwiththedeathofanIranian activistfromBurnaby.
The remainsof 45-year-old Masood Masjoody,a formerSFUmathinstructor and memberofthe Iraniancommunity with a largesocialmediafootprint,were discoveredinMissiononMarch6.Police hadbeeninvestigatingthedisappearance of theself-describedpro-democracyactivist, frequentuserofsocialmediaandprolific filerofcivillawsuitsinthe courts.
ArezouSoltani, 45, ofNorth Vancouver andMehdi AhmadzadehRazavi,48,of MapleRidgewere bothchargedwithmurder March13.
Initialinvestigationbythe Burnaby RCMPdeterminedthatMasjoody’s disappearancewasoutofcharacterand “criminalitywasinvolved”accordingto anRCMPpress releaseatthe time. Soon after, the IntegratedHomicide Investigation Team(IHIT)tookovertheinvestigation andworked withtheIntegratedForensic IdentificationServicestoadvancethe case
Policeworkingtodeterminethe circumstancessurroundingMasjoody’s disappearancealsocalledonpeoplewho knewhimtocomeforward.
“We don’tbelieveMasood’s disappearancewasrandom,” said Sgt.FredaFong ofIHITatthetime,addingthere are “no indicationstosuggestthisincidentislinked togangsorextortions.”
Policesaidtheyhaduncoveredevidence thatledthemtobelieveMasjoodywas a victimofhomicide.
Investigatorssubsequentlysearched a numberofareas,usingpolicedogs andhelp fromtheIntegratedEmergencyResponse Teamaswell asMissionSearchand Rescue.
Policedidn’tsayexactlywhere Masjoody wasfound,howhediedor reveal a motiveforhiskilling.
“We understandthiscasehasimpacted the Iraniancommunityandhasgenerated widespreadconcernandpublicinterest. Whilethe motiveisstillunderinvestigation, wecan saythevictimandtwoaccusedwere knowntoeachother,”saidFong.
Court recordsshowMasjoody wasa frequentfilerofcivillawsuits,includingsuits thatnamedthetwopeoplenowaccused ofhismurder. In a numberofthelawsuits, Masjoodyallegedothermembersofthe Iraniandiaspora in the LowerMainlandhad defamedhim by posting commentsonX, formerly Twitter
MasoodMasjoody, 45, was founddeadin MissiononMarch 6. IHIT
Inonecourt rulinginJanuary 2025, B.C.SupremeCourt JusticeDavidCrossin describedhowMasjoodyandallofthepeoplenamedinthelawsuitare membersof the IraniancommunityintheLowerMainland whohadoncebeenongoodterms.Crossin noted thatMasjoodyhadlaunched“atleast threeotheractionsagainst a varietyof individualsinthesamesocialandpolitical orbit.”
“Itappearsfor reasonsnotclearto me, there has arisen a seriesofconflicts anddisputesthathasfracturedthose relationships,”hewrote “To statethere isbadblood resultingincrossallegations ofvariouswrongdoingswouldbe an understatement.”
WhileMasjoodydescribedhimself as a dissidentandopponentofthe regimein Iran,hewasalso criticalinsocial media postsofthemonarchistmovementwithin theIraniancommunitytohavethesonof thedeposedShahofIranplay a prominent roleinthecountry.
Inseveral postsheaccusedthosepeople of aidingtheIranian regime
Masjoodywasfiredfromhisjobasan SFU mathinstructorin2020 afteranother instructorinthedepartment complained that hehad harassed her Masjoodylater suedSFUandthewomanallegingthey had defamedhim.
HealsopostedonX,claimingthatthe university administrationwasproviding a “safehavenforIslamicRepublicthugs.”
Masjoodywasdeclared a “vexatious litigant”bytheCourt ofAppeallastyear, curtailinghisabilitytofilemore civilclaims.
SoltaniandAhmadzadehRazaviare scheduledtomake acourtappearance on Wednesday
WestviewElementarygets100 -seat expansion
HILARY ANGUS
Contr ibutingwriter
WestviewElementar y iscelebrating the recent opening of a new permanentadditionthat adds 100 seatsdistributed over four classrooms.
“Thesenewclassroomsat WestviewElementaryprovide students andeducatorswithbeautiful,modernspacesthatsupport learning,creativityandconnection,” said Antje Wilson,chairoftheNorth VancouverBoardofEducation in themedia release.“Theaddition respondstotheneedsofthe growingcommunity,whiledemonstrating innovativeapproachesto building schoolsmorequicklyand sustainably.”
The$6-millionadditionwasbuilt using aprefabricatedmass-timber system, whichenablesfasterconstructionthanconventionalbuilding practices. Constructionontheaddition beganinsummer2025,andwas completed inFebruary2026.
“I’msoproudtoserveNorth VancouverasitslocalMLAand know whymoreandmorepeopleare
Students from Westview Elementary participate in a welcome from TsleilWaututhNation councillorNicholas Kofion Friday, March13 FLICKR/PROVINCE
choosingtoraisetheirfamilieshere,” saidBowinnMa,ministerofinfrastructure,inapressrelease.“These 100newseatswillhelpmeetenrolmentgrowthintheareaandgivekids theeducationalexperiencetheyneed tothrive–nowandinthefuture.”
Inadditiontoacceleratedconstructiontimelines,mass-timber buildingsarealsoenergyefficient anddesignedto resisthighwindand earthquakes,accordingtoNatural ResourcesCanada.AUniversityof BritishColumbiastudyfoundthe
ESTATEPLANNING MADESIMPLE
Jointhelawyers of Lakes, WhyteLLP fora free Estate PlanningSeminar covering Wills, Powers of Attorney, Representation Agreements, Trusts,andAdvance HealthcareDirectives.
RegisterontheDistrict of North VancouverLibrary Eventspage oremail info@lakeswhyte.com Parkgate Library April 9|2:00–3:30PM
incorporationofnaturalmaterials likewoodintointeriorspacescan reducestressandcontributetopositivementalhealth.
Masaidtheprovinceismoving towardsmodularandprefabricated constructionforschoolexpansions asawaytodelivertheprojectsat halfthecostandtwicethespeed.
“We’reseeingthebenefitsofthat allovertheprovince,”shesaid.
Sheaddedthatmasstimber constructionisalsoaninvestmentin B.C.’sforestryindustry,andsupports theprovince’seffortstotransition thatindustryfromavolume-based onetoavalue-addedindustry.
InNorth Vancouver,there have beenother recentschoolupgrades. ArgyleSecondaryandHandsworth Secondary rebuildsopenedin2021 and2022, respectively,afterseismic replacements,andMountainside Elementary reopenedafterseismic upgradesin2022.
Anadditionto Lynn Valley Elementaryisunderway,andan entirelynewelementaryschool, CloverleyElementar y, isexpectedto openinautumnofthisyear.
Age55+ welcome toapply
BelowmarketrentalhousinginNorth &WestVancouverforadults55+. Rentsstartat$1200forstudios and$1400for1 bedroomunits.
Seekiwanisnorthshorehousing.org formoreinfoorcall604-926-0102
JenniferBednard
AnneMiller
OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
Righttoknow
Sometimesassaultsonpublic accountabilityare largeand unmissable.Likealmosteverything goingonsouthof the border.
Butmore often, they involve subtle andincremental changes, introduced in guiseofefficiency The NDP’s Bill9, which willweaken the province’s freedom of informationlegislation,exemplifiesthat kindofmove.
Essentially the billgivesbureaucrats more discretiontodelayandevenoutright refuseto respondto requests forinformation if they are deemedtoobroad, too time-consumingorwould“unreasonably interfere”withgovernmentoperations.
AsB.C.Green MLA Rob Botterell, a lawyer who draftedBC’s originalfreedomof information law has noted, that’sa licence to not respondto anything.
The trendtowardsweakeningB.C.’s FOI laws has beengoingonfor decades,under
both the BCLiberalsandNDP. Bill 9 isjust the latest Eby-lediteration.
It’s nosurprisethatgovernments don’t likeFOIlaws.Ifthey reveal anything of value,it’s likelytobeembarrassing.
That’salsowhy there’sa longand well-documented histor y of bureaucrats’ attemptstoevadeFOI.
Noneof that is the point though.
It’s notupto the government,in the traditionof the foxguarding thehenhouse, todecide what’s “reasonable”forcitizens toknowor when theymight getaroundto responding
Access to informationis abasicform ofpublicscrutinyand a cornerstoneof democracy. And democracyisn’tefficientor streamlined It’s messy It’s work
It’s sorting through a lotofdrosstoget to occasionalgold.
Legislationthatunderminesthat should be a concernforall.
Astronautchildfinds communityontheNorth Shore
JACKIE BATEMAN
Contr ibutingWriter
We’rea talentedlothere ontheNorth Shore.Thismonthseesthe publication of anintimateandthought-provoking memoir writtenbylocal resident Wiley Wei-ChiunHocalledThe Astronaut ChildrenofDunbarStreet.
She asks a bigquestion.Howdoyou reconcile havingparents who woulddo anything for youexceptstaywithyou?
Thiswas the situationHofacedfrom the age oftwelve whenher parentsreturnedto Taiwantowork,leaving her and her four siblings togrowupandbenefit from the opportunities that Canada gave them – on their own.
Unsupervised, theyhad onlytworules
tolive by:study hard andstayoutof trouble.
‘Astronaut children’comefrom a fractured household,growingupwithone parent andsometimesnoneatall, aswas the casewithHo. They were instructednot totell‘outsiders’ because they wouldn’t understand. Their family separationgrew from months toyears. They were never wholeagain.
In the midst of a deep recession, her parentsdid whattheythought wasright at the timebecause theyhad a ready-made communityandjobsbackin Taiwan.How elsecould they support fivekids?
When I interviewedHo, she told me thatshe felt“inwardly impoverished, and outwardlycomfortable.”
“We had a nice house in a nicepart of Vancouver, withourcollegetuitionpaid for. We were privileged, so why wasn’tI grateful?” she said.
Very little has beenwritten about this subject,partlybecause itposesan unresolvableconundrum. What’s more importantfor a child – opportunityor a unitedfamily?
“There’s anambiguousgrief and open-ended sense ofloss that is hard to pinpoint,”Hotoldme.“Astronaut children can’ttalkabout theirsituationbecauseit’s a betrayalto their families, to their hard work.Itfeelsexposing.”
Assomanystoriesofisolationand separation remainlargely absentfrom the literar y landscape,Hofinallydecided
towriteabout herownpoignantstor y of resilience.
She toldme, “Abandonmentistoughto talkaboutbecauseit’s about the absence ofsomething,rather thanthe presenceof something. There isanabsenceof parental connection,love,comfort, and warmth.”
She missedouton,“ordinar y moments, turkeydinners, Christmasbreak,” she said.
”I remember watching a familydriving byin theirstationwagon, and the self-pity rampedup.But Ididn’t have curfewsand I coulddo what I wanted. The unintended benefitofbeinganastronautkid isbeing independent.”
There’sa foreshadowingmoment in Ho’s memoirin whichher mother says,
MAILBOX
DAYLIGHTTIM E MEANS DARKER DAYS
Dear Editor:
I wrotetotheNorthShore Newsatthe time ofthe originalgovernment surveyto expressmyconcernsabouttheproposed change. Theactualsurveyleft no room to speak againstdaylight savings so I expressedmyconcerns in a letteratthat time.
I did not think thenthatI wouldbe composinganotherlettertoyoutoexpress my distress with the current government’s decision forcontinuous daylighttime.
Forme, this is not a matterof “daylight savings,” but “morning darkness.”
Whenwechangedourclocks forward in March to daylighttime, weactuallyadded an hourof morning darknesstoour lives, notmore daylight. Asktheearlymorning runnerswhohavetogobacktowearing headlamps toensure their safetywhile running.
Aswe continuethrough this year, we will continue toadddarkness toourmorningsthroughfalland winter until weonly seethesun rise at9:00a.m. in mid-winter
Adding darkness is a seriousproblem for people with seasonalaffectivedisorderand this change will exacerbatethat condition. We are alsojeoparizing the healthandsafetyof childrenkept awakeby bright sunshine in the middle ofsummer and forcedtowakeup in darknessandgo
the right to edit any and/oralllettersbasedonlength,clarity, legality and content The News also reserves theright to publishany and/orallletterselectronically
toschool in darknessandnotseethesun until 9 a.m. in mid-winter
Lois Keen North Vancouver
RU LE S AREFLOUTED
Re:JudgerejectsIndianArm propertyowner’s requesttocancelrestrictivecovenant,March 11 newsstor y
DearEditor:
“…many buildings hadbeen builtwithout permits…”
This flouting ofthe lawandattitudeof entitlement needstobedealt with.
Those buildings erected without permits shouldbeforcedtocomply, paythe outstanding fees,meetthecurrent building codes,orbetorndown.
RonBaker
North Vancouver
We can helpastronautkiddos
Continued fromA8
“you were suchaneasy birth, I knewyou wouldbetroublelater.”
Later, wefindoutthere is a template for ‘good Taiwanese women’ in which they mustget married welland be obedient. Ho deviated from this,being the youngest siblingwith themost time tobecome immersed in Canadian culture.
The AstronautChildrenofDunbarStreet is a beautiful examination of resilience and vulnerability Growing up feeling untetheredhasmade it hard forHoto find a true senseofhome.Butnowthat shehas found community in North Vancouver, shesays she is “abarnacle.”
“I’mnot moving,” she said.
TheNorthShore Writers’Association, our local writingcommunity, feels like family toher Andshe loves tosoakupthe air and nourishment forthe soulthatour forestsprovide.
“Ihopethatotherastronaut children
find partsofthemselves in this book,”she says “Talktoyourparentsandbemore honestaboutyour feelings.”
Shealsohopesthebook reachesthe community thatbrushesup against astronaut children– neighbours, friends,and teachers – andstrikesa chord.
We shouldn’tbur y trauma. We allneed human connection, andtheNorthShore haswhat it takestobe insightful and reach outtothosewho might feel isolated.
You canhearHospeakattwofree events coming soon.She’s speaking on a panelattheNorthShore Writers’ Festival on April 11.She is alsopart ofthelocal speaker series at North Vancouver City Librar y onMay25. Find hercontactandfuture eventsat wileyweichiunho.com North Vancouver’s JackieBatemanisan award-winningauthor, screenwriter, copywriter, andextremelynosy ifyou gettoo close.jackie@jacbateman.com
Southpark Elementary school students dance afterPremier David Eby’s announcementthatB.C. will stay on daylighttime. ADRIANLAM/ TIMES COLONIST
Jewellersays tariffs forcing closureof Lower Lonsdaleshop
HILARY ANGUS
Contributingwriter KeithJackhasbeen designingandselling hisCeltic-inspiredwares inLowerLonsdalefor nearly20years.
TheScottish-Canadian jewellersaidhisbusiness was abletosurviveCOVID19andmanyotherdifficult years forsmall retail operations,butthe recentU.S. tariffsonCanadianjewelr y havepushedthebusiness “offa cliff.”
While theirLower Lonsdalestorefrontisthe heart andsouloftheir business,70-75percentoftheir salescomefromwholesale exportstotheU.S.
In2025,policiesimposedbyU.S. PresidentDonald Trump resultedintariffs as high as35percentonCanadianjewelr y, alongwithmanyotherexport goods.
Three-quartersofsmallbusinesses surveyedbytheCanadianFederationof IndependentBusinesses (CFIB)earlierthis monthsaythetariff fight hasstrainedtheir relationshipswithU.S.partnersorclients, upsharplyfrom49percentthis timelast year
Jacksaidaccompanyingincreasesin the priceofsilverand gold havemade operationsuntenable forhissmallbusiness,forcinghimtomakethedifficult decisiontoclosedowntheir storefront.
“I’mquitesadaboutit,”Jacksaid. “We’vebeenpart ofsomanystories,so manypeople’s moments,whetherit’s been engagements or weddings oranniversaries or, insomecases,evendeaths,babies beingborn…It’s hard toletthat go.”
Jacksaidhe’s beenscrambling in recent monthstomakethebusinesswork,and unfortunatelytheir sizable retail location onthecornerofLonsdale andEsplanade offers themost significantopportunityfor savings.
They’llbeclosingtheir retail location for good attheendofMayinhopesofpreservingwhat’s leftoftheonline business.
“It’sa hard time,”Jacksaid,notingthat four long-time staff members willbelaidoff intheprocess.“My staff are likefamily andit’s reallyhard tobelettingpeople go when they reallydon’twanttobelet go.”
TheCFIB report notedthatoneyear aftertheoutsetofthetariff war, more thanhalfofCanadiansmall businessesno
longerfeelthattheU.S.is a reliabletrading partner.
“Smallbusinesseshavefacedmassive uncertaintysincethetradebattle began lastyear,”wroteDanKelly, CFIBpresident, inthe report.“Smallbusinessownershave beendealingwiththewhiplashoftryingto keepupwithsudden changes andthreats, includingmanythatdon’thappenorare revisedwithinhours.”
“Ithinktheuncertaintyintheworld that’s emanatingfromtheU.S isaffecting everybody,” Jacksaid,addingthathe’s noticedanincrease inemptystorefronts inLowerLonsdale,aswellas a significant downturn intourismfromtheU.S.
“To kindof get screwedbyjustthe tariffsandtheadministrationandtheway thattheyhave reallybulliedpeopleand destroyedbusinessesisquitesad,”he said.
Jacksaidhe’llspendthenextfew monthswindingdownthe retail operation,includinghostingVIP nights overthe nextfewweekswith long-time customers, beforea closing-down saleinMay
Then,with a pared-downstaff in a back office intheirwarehouse,they’llbeginthe workoftryingto rebuildthebusiness.
Though heisuncertainaboutwhatthe future holdsinthisunsteady economy, Jackiscertainly gratefulforbeingpart of theNorthShore communityforthepast20 years.
“It’s been a wonderfulride.I’ve really enjoyedit,”Jacksaid.
Hilar y Angusis a Vancouver-basedjournalist writingfortheNorthShoreNews.Shecanbe reached atinfo@hilaryangus.com.
North Vancouverjeweller KeithJackisclosing his Lower Lonsdale store inMay. HisCelticjewelry business hasbeen hithard by Donald Trump’s tariffs, hesaid. PAULMCGRATH/ NSN
Drivers offer RCMPcreative attempt sto avoidbigfines
ABBY LUCIANO
alucia no@nsnews.com
Local Jo urnalismInitiativ e Re p orter
Close butnocigar. Two separatedriversfailedintheircreativeattemptsto avoidfinesfromtheNor th Vancouver RCMP.
Investigatorssay a driver wasarrested March20following“aseries of recklessdriving behaviours”observedonMarine Drive.
Around1:20a.m., a North Vancouver RCMPofficerwason routine patrol near Marine andGarden Avenuewhenthey witnessed a greyHondaCivicincorrectly travelling eastboundinthewestbound lanes. Thedriverwas reachingupto 120 kilometresperhourwhilerunning red lights and swervingacrosslanes, policesaid
Theofficereventuallycaughtupto the Hondaafterthedriversloweddown for a red lightatBewicke Avenue.When the driverwashanded a breathalyzer, he refusedtoprovide a sample.
“Thedriver’s allegedexcusefor drinking and drivingwasthatheis a bartenderand had totestthedrinks,whichisnot only irresponsiblebutincrediblydangerous,”
saidCpl.MansoorSahak,spokesperson for North VancouverRCMPin a news release.
Policesaidthe driverwas arrestedfor refusing to complywith a lawfuldemand and issueda 90-day immediate roadsideprohibition.Hewasalsoticketedforexcessive speed anddrivingwithoutconsideration, resulting inmore than$1,000infinesandan extrafeeforthecarbeingimpounded.
Another driver recentlystoppedbythe RCMPoffered anequallylameattemptat evadingthelaw
In anX postMonday,North Vancouver RCMPsaidanofficerstopped a driverwho wasusing a ratchetstrapas a seatbeltas theactualonewasn’t working.Thedriver wasticketedforoperating a vehiclewithan inoperativeseatbelt,whilethepassenger was ticketed for notwearingone
“Creative?Sure Safe?Notevenclose,” police saidinthe X post.“We’llgivetheman A for creativity, butan F forfollowingbasic safetyrules.”
AbbyLucianoistheIndigenousandcivic affairs reporterfortheNorthShoreNews.This reportingbeat is madepossible by theLocal JournalismInitiative
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Youthdart sprodigyaiming forhigher competition
HILARY ANGUS
Contr ibutingwriter
Katie McKenziedescribes her son Nolanas“busy.”
“Busybody, busymind,”shesaid,notingthe North VancouverGrade 4 student is oftenrunningaroundfromoneactivity to theother, kicking a soccerballone minute thenjumpingonthetrampolinethe next.
But whenheplaysdarts, hezonesin.
“Hedoesn’tevennoticethat anyone elseisaroundhim,”shesaid.
Nolan,10, recentlywon firstplacefor juniorboysattheprovincialdartschampionshipsandwillbe representing Team B.C.atnationals,forthesecondtime, in Quebecthisspring.He’llbecompeting against playersuptoage16.
NowKatieandherhusband,Brock Miller, are championingthebenefitsof youthdartstootherparents in hopes of expandingthecommunity.
“TeamB.C.has a motto,and it’s the three F’s:Friendship, focusandfun,” McKenziesaid.
McKenzie saidNolanhasfound an incrediblecommunityinthe dartsworld, andhasbeenwelcome andsupportedby other playersofall ages.
Butinaddition tothe friendship and fun,McKenzie saidplayingdarts provides myriadbenefitstoyoungpeople,including hand-eyeco-ordination, focusand improvedmath.
MillerandMcKenzie initially introduced Nolan todartsas a waytokeep himbusy and keephismindsharpduringCOVID lockdowns.
“Iplay – notver y well – but I playdarts, and hejustwascomingdownto thegarage
withme. Hewasaboutfour, so I setup a boardlower,”Millersaid.
“Atfirst, itwasjust etiquette andsafety andmath, andthenashegot bigger,I realizedthathewasgoingtosurpassmein a couple years because he was a natural.”
McKenziesaidwhileshewaspullingout her phonetocalculatescores,youngNolan
wouldbe runningcalculationsfortriple17 plusfourandtwoinhishead.
“We were like,holymoly, thisisjust a goodwaytohangtogether,”McKenzie said.
Butasthelockdownhobbyhas progressedintosomething Nolanistruly excellingat,McKenzieandMillersay Nolan
isstrugglingtofindopportunitiestoplay athisage.
“We dohaveyouthleagues,butit’s mostlyoutof Victoria,”McKenziesaid, explainingthatthefamilytravelledto VancouverIslandfor provincials.
“InNorth Vancouver, even Vancouver, there’s nothing,andwe’re kindofat a standstill,”shesaid.
Millersaidthedartsworldischanging, andisnolongerdrivenbyalcoholasthe stereotypeswouldhaveyoubelieve.But unfortunately, mostoftheeventsstilltake placeinlegions.
Mostlegionsdon’tservefoodand therefore don’tacceptminors,soNolan isn’tabletoaccompanyhisdadtomanyof thedrop-ineventsaroundtown.
Nolancompetesintheoccasionaladult tournament,where McKenziesaidhe “turnsheads”andmakesitsurprisingly farinthecompetitions.Inthedartsworld, virtuallyallplayershavenicknames,and Nolanhas a customshirt with hismoniker, “TheLittleGuy,”emblazonedacrossthe back.
Butinthosetournamentshe’s playing againstprovincial-leveladults,andeven a prodigycanonlygoso farwhen he’s up against peoplewho’vebeen playing for three tofourtimesaslongashe’s been alive.
MillerandMcKenziesaidthey’dbe happytospearheadyoutheventsaround the NorthShore,ifonlytheycoulddrum upsomeinterest.
“We’re justtryingtogetitoutthere that thisissomethingthatkidscando, have fun,besafe,andlearn a skillthatisnot typical,”McKenziesaid.
Ten-year-oldNolanMilleris theJuniorProvincial dart champion,defeating competitors up to 16 yearsold. PAULMCGRATH / NSN
COASTALESCAPES
ONNOWUNTIL -APR. 5AT4:00PM
SilkPurseArtsCentre,1570ArgyleAvenue, West Vancouver PaintersLisaArthur,S hwetaPatil &P hoebe Ts uiexploret he emotional re sonance &s enseofbelongingfoundinour coastallandscapeswithworksranginginstylefrom re presentationaltoabstract. https://westvanartscouncil.ca/event-6512345?utm_ source=nsnews.com&utm_medium=referral
LENNON &MCCARTNEY -INTHEIROWNWORDS ANDMUSIC
APR 9AT7:30PM -9:30PM CentennialTheatre,2300Lonsdale Avenue,North Vancouver StepinsidethestoryofJohnLennonandPaulMcCartneylikenever before.Thisisn’tjust atributeshow https://www.showpass.com/lennon-mccartney-in-theirown-words-and-music/?utm_source=nsnews.com&utm_ medium=referral
CHERRYBLOSSOMS: ATEXTILETRANSLATION2026
APR 8AT12:00PM -MAY 3AT4:00PM
SilkPurseArtsCentre,1570Argyle Avenue, West Vancouver Celebratespringwiththe returnoftheeverpopular‘Cherry Blossoms: ATextile Translation’,the17thannualexhibitionof textileartinspiredbythecherryblossom,featuring27artists. https://westvanartscouncil.ca/event-6512354? utm_source=nsnews.com&utm_medium=referral
NORTHSHORERESCUE
Mandiesafter100-metre fallfrom BrunswickMountain, coronersays
ABBY LUCIANO
aluciano@nsnews.com
Local Jo urnalismInitiativ e Reporter
TheBCCoronorsServicehasconfirmed a manwhowastransported tohospitalafterfalling a significant distancedownBrunswick Mountainin LionsBaySaturdayhasdied.
MeetMeat
TheGallery
ArtExperiences ForSeniors Wednesday, April1 at10am
Lions BaySearchandRescue received a call1:40p.m.Saturdayabouttwo injured hikers nearthesummit ofBrunswick. Giventheterrain, LionsBaySARcalled NorthShoreRescueforhelp.
While a groupof14hikers were descending downthemountain,one woman in thegroupslippedandfell20 metresdownsteepterrain before she wasstoppedby a tree,said Maria Masiar, searchmanagerforLionsBaySAR.
Another hiker tried to climb downto her, buthelost his footingand slid over 100 metres, landing in a snowmoatabove a waterfall.
Two helicopters were called in to hoist downNorthShoreRescueand Lions Bay volunteers tothem.
NorthShore Rescuemembersset up a ropesystemtosecure themanand provide advanced medical care with an ERdoctorbefore hoistinghim backupto the helicopter Lions BaySAR assisted the injuredwoman.
TheCoronorsServicesaid theman died onMarch22, adayafterthehikingtrip.His nextof kin havebeennotified Masiarsaid the hiking grouphadmicrospikes andpoles,butthey’re notsufficient for icy, spring conditions.
“Without having mountaineering cramponsandan ice axe,even minor slips and fallscanhave high consequences in that terrain becauseyoujustcan’tstop,”she said.
Spring is a dangerous time in themountains,Masiar added.
“Oftenpeopleget excitedaboutthe nice weather, thelongerdaylight,the warm conditions in the city and they don’t realize that it’s still full winter conditions up higher in the Alpine,”shesaid. “So this time oftheyear, wesee what wecallthese ‘slip and slide’ incidentsvery frequently.”
Masiarsaidit’s vital to bring the right equipment whenout hiking, especially duringspring asweather conditions can change quickly
“Bring more thanyou think youneed, becausetheconditions are variable. You might be hitting slush,you might be hittingsolid ice,and you’llgeteverything in-between in these transitionperiods,” she said.
SponsoredBy
The remaininghikers in thegrouphad split up, requiring volunteers to round themupandsafelyescort thembackdown the mountain, Masiarsaid.
Thetwo injuredhikers were sentto hospital. OnSaturday, themanwas in criticalcondition andthewoman was stable, according toFacebookpostsfromboth searchand rescuecrews.
BothNorthShore Rescueand Lions Bay SARgavethanks to Talon Helicopters, BC EmergencyHealth Services,Lions BayFire RescueandSquamish RCMP in assisting with Saturday’s call.
“Calls likethis are always complex, multi-agencyevents,”Masiar said. AbbyLucianoistheIndigenousandcivic affairsreporterfortheNorthShoreNews. Thisreportingbeatismadepossiblebythe LocalJournalismInitiative.
Photo:AlisonBoulier
Five North Shore Rescueand 17 Lions Bay SAR crew wentout to BrunswickMountain Saturday afternoon to help two hikers who had felldown duringa hike. NORTHSHORERESCUE/ FACEBOOK
Report casts doubtonviabilityofaffordablemultiplexhomes
HILARY ANGUS Contr ibutingwriter
Multiplexes maynot bethemagicbulletforaffordablehomes, atleastnot in the DistrictofNorth Vancouver.
InFebruary, North Vancouver District council instructedstaff toexamine the economics ofmultiplexconstructioninthearea.
Specifically, theywantedtoknowiftwo things wouldbefeasible:Requiringmultiplexestobelong-term rentals,and requiring one unitineachsix-unitdevelopmenttobe an affordablehousingunit.
Thedirectivewasin response to Bill25, a 2025amendmenttotheLocalGovernment Act thatwill require manymunicipalities acrosstheprovincetopermittheconstructionofthree,four, orsixunitsofhousingon mostsingle-familylots.Impactedmunicipalities haveuntilJune30,2026toupdate theirzoningbylaws topermit small-scale multi-unithousing(SSMUH)withintheir boundaries.
While rentalandaffordablehousing provisionsare not requiredunderBill25, districtstaff presented themasanoption worthexploring at a workshop inFebruary.
At theMarch16councilmeeting, consultantsfromUrbanSystemsand Waters Development Managementtested five sites
A report presented to District ofNorth Van council indicates rentalandaffordable housingoptions wouldallbeunrealistic for multiplexes. SANDOR GYARMATIPHOTO
across thedistrict,including threesites where four-unitSSMUHwouldapply, and twowherea six-unitdevelopmentwould apply
Theconsultantsfoundthatnotonly would required-rentalprovisionsonmultiplexesbe economicallyunfeasible,but constructionofmultiplexesasstrata was also found to beunaffordableundercurrent market conditions.
Requiringoneunitin a six-unitdevelopmentto be affordablehousingwouldmake analreadyunprofitablecircumstanceeven
more challenging.
“Inthelastyear, yearand a half,we’ve seenpricescomeoff,we’veseenpricesflat line.Costescalationhascontinued,”said JustinBarerfromUrbanSystems.“Looking ataveragecostsofland,averagecostof development,averagepricesthatare achievablerightnow … takingthebalanceof probabilities,thingsare notgoingtowork.”
Theconsultantssaidthecostofconstructionintoday’s economycanbeas highas$1millionperunitformultiplexes, sodevelopersare more likelytoinvest in muchlargerprojectswhere theycantake advantageofeconomies-of-scaletobringthe per-unitcostdown.
JessicaO’Sullivanof WatersDevelopment saidanothermajorcomponentoftheanalysisisthevalueofthesingle-familyhomelot.
“There’s aneconomicscenariowhere somebodycaneitherpurchase a singlefamilyhomeandthen resellitwith improvementsandmake$1.6millionversus purchasethatsamesite,sinkfourto$6 milliondollarsintoitandthen resellfor maybe$500,000ofprofit. You’re notgoing toseethathappenvery regularlyinthe real world,”shesaid.
However, O’Sullivanclarified inanemail thattheanalysisdoesn’tmeanmultiplex
housingisnot a goodoptionforthe district.
“Thisanalysis reflects a typicalfor-profit redevelopmentscenario.Itdoesn’tmean thatnoprojectswillwork,”she said “There willstillbesomesitesthatare profitable, andthere willalsobesituationswhere profit isn’tthemain reasonsomeonechoosesto redevelop.”
Examplesofprojectsthatcouldwork wouldbe a scenarioinwhichthedeveloper orpropertyownerhasownedthelandfor a longperiodoftime,andsoisnotsubject tocurrent realestatevalueswhenthey’re considering a project.
She saidthenewzoningwillalsogive propertyownersmore flexibilityfordownsizing,housingextendedfamily, orcreating rentalincome.
O’Sullivansaidshe expects a lowto moderatenumberofapplicationswhenthe newzoninglawsgointoeffect,mostlyfrom owner-developersratherthanlarge-scale developers.
“Istillthinkthisis a positivechange,” O’Sullivansaid “Evenifmultiplexprojects don’tworkwellfrom a profit perspective today, theystillexpandhousingoptions.” Hilar y Angusis a Vancouver-basedjournalist writingfortheNorthShoreNews.Shecanbe reachedatinfo@hilaryangus.com.
Alive CO METHIS EA ST ER
UnitedChurchesencourageyou to attend,anytime,anywhere— youare alwayswelcome!
NORTHLONSDALEUNITED
3380Lonsdale Ave,North Van 604-985-4911• www.nluc.org
March29,10:00am +PalmSunday Comeonout,singboldly,andgetyour palm-wavingon!Any kidswhoattendareinvitedtojoininontheprocessionatthe beginningoftheservice.We’llalsobecelebratingCommunion asweenterintoHoly Week.
April2,7:00pm +MaundyThursday
Joinusfor aquieter,contemplativeserviceaswe gatherto reflectontheeventsofthenightbeforeJesus’crucifixion.Allare welcome
April3,10:00am +GoodFriday Allagesarewelcometoattend thissolemnserviceaswe journeythroughthestoryofJesus’finaldaysand reflecton the significanceofthecross.
April 5, 10:00am +EasterSunday Christisrisen!Heisrisen,indeed! You’reinvitedtothis ResurrectionSundaypartyofjoyfulmusicandall-ages fellowship.Seeyouthere!
ST.DAVID’SUNITED
1525Taylor Way, West Van 604-922-3961• www.stdavidsunited.com
March29,10:30am PalmSundayService
April2,7:00pm at West VancouverPresbyterianChurch: Evening TenebraeServicewithHolyCommunion
April3,10:30am “AttheFootof theCross” -Good FridayServiceatSt.David’swithWestVancouver PresbyterianChurch.
April 5, 10:30am EasterSundayCelebrationwithHandel’s HallelujahChorus(singalong)
WEST VANCOUVERUNITED
2062Esquimalt Ave, West Van 604-922-9171 •www.wvuc.bc.ca
March29,10:00am PalmSunday
April2,7:00pm Sharingcommunionbycandlelight. April3,10:00am GoodFridayService.Retellingthestoryof Christ’scrucifixion.
April 5, 10:00am CelebratingChrist’sResurrection!(andan Easteregghuntforthekids).
MOUNTSEYMOURUNITED
1200Parkgate Ave,North Van 604-929-1336 •https://mtseymourunited.com Thursdays,Fridays,Saturdays -10amto2pm Joinusforlunchinourcafewhereloveisbrewedandshared withneighboursandfriends.(CafeclosedGoodFriday)
March29,10:00am PalmSundayService
We worshipinthespacebetweencelebrationandsorrow April3,10:00am GoodFridayService
Loveabidesinlossandgrief. We gatherto reflectinword, actionandcontemplationonthisholyday
April 5, 10:00am EasterSundayService
TheWayofGrieftoHopetoNewLife,with CommunityGospel ChoirledbyMarcusMosely,DominiqueHoganandJulian Pattison.
HostedLabyrinthWalks:SundayMar293pm, TuesdayMarch 3110:30am Finduson YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/mountseymourunitedchurch
LYNN VALLEYUNITED
3201MountainHwy.,North Van 604-987-2114 •www.lynnvalleychurch.com
March29, 10:30am PalmSundayService
April3,10:30am GoodFridayService
April 5, 10:30am EasterSunday WorshipandChildren’sEggHunt
ST.ANDREW’SUNITED 1044St.George’sAve,North Van 604-985-0408 •www.st-andrews-united.ca
March29,10:00am PalmSundayService CommemoratesJesus’triumphalentryintoJerusalem April3,11:00am GoodFridayService Music,prayerandthePassionNarrativefromSt.John’sGospel April 5, 10:00am EasterSundayService Ahappycelebrationfilledwithhallelujahsandlivelymusic Pleasejoinusinpersonorbylivestream. https//www.youtube.com/@st.andrewsunitedchurchnort6346
HIGHLANDSUNITED
3255 EdgemontBlvd,North Van 604-980-6071 •www.highlandsunited.org
April2,MaundyThursday
Contactthechurchforbothyouthandadult eveningprogramming onthis reflectiveandspiritualnight.
April3,10:00am GoodFridayservice Aserviceimmersed inscripture, reflectionandtheSpirit. April 5, 10:00am Easterservice Comeandsing,pray,worshipand rejoiceaswecelebratethe promiseofnewlifethroughthe resurrection. Livestream:www.youtube.com/highlandsunitedchurch
HOLYDAYS
DeepCove director’shilariousdebut featurehittingscreens
BRENTRICHTER br ichter@nsnews.com
If youwantsomething doneright, famously, you’vegottodoityourself. That’s the spiritDeep Coveactorand filmmakerNatBoltt has carriedinto Holy Days, her debutfeature lengthfilmin the director’s chair, now hitting theatres.
Makingthe film has beena dreamof Boltt’s formore than a decade,wellbefore she and her husbandmoved toCanada fromNewZealand while he wasworkingon the Vancouver-shot Planetofthe Apes franchise. She laterfound a regular rolein the hit show Riverdale, andfurther immersed herselfin the local scenedirecting short films,TVepisodesandmusicvideos.
“We cameoverfora few months, and I instantlyfellinlove,”Boltt said.“Ijust thought, ‘Well,let’s move here becauseI love the people,I love the environment and I love the fact that it’s got a reallybusy industr y. ”
Afterdirecting a short filmbasedon a bookbyfamed NewZealandauthorJoy Cowley, Cowley herselfasked Bolttto consideradapting her novel HolyDays
The filmfollowsBrian, aMāoriyouth unabletomovepastthe deathof his mom in early-1970s New Zealand. To escape his
griefandanxietyabout his father’spending remarriage, he finds solaceand chosen familyamong threeaged(butwisecracking)nunsplayedbyMiriamMargolyes, Jacki WeaverandJudyDavis.
“Allof these ladiesare GoldenGlobe andBAFTA andAcademy Award andEmmy nomineesandwinners.It’sa stellarcast,”
Whenthe nuns’unscrupulous bishop planstosell their rundownconventto a developerandforce the sistersinto retirement, they setoff on a high-stakes road tripto retrieve the propertydeeds that will allow them tostayin theirhome andstay inservice.
“Itookiton thinking, ‘Well, what I willdowithitismakeitmore of a Blues Brothers adventure stor y because that’s what I love,’”Bolttsaid.
The feel-goodmovieispunctuated by itsbittersweetness.Bolttsaid she was drawnto HolyDays because she never quitegotover a conversation shehad with herthree-year-oldsonabout the inevitabilityofdeathand shesought to channel Westernsociety’s hang-upsaboutmortality into something accessible. Māoriproducersadvised Boltton how tointegrate their Indigenousnotionsofdeathand anafterlife into the film
“Part ofweavingcomedyinto this stor y is that itmakes the more difficulttopics easiertodigest,” she said.
Althoughthethemesofgrief,perseveranceand redemptiondrive the road movie’s plot,Boltt has peppered the script with humour, allowingsome of thechoicestindelicatelinestobedelivered through themouths of the elderly, dodderingnuns.
The filmalsoanswers the question that many a Catholic kid has wondered while sittinginSunday school: Do theholy sistersfart?
Whetherthey appreciated itornot,
ByGrade9,SomeStudentsAreReadytoLead
Notevery schoolisbuilttoseeit.
AtIsland Pacific School —auniquemiddleschoolforGrades6–9 onBowenIsland —studentsare expectedtothinkindependently, speakpublicly,defendtheirideas,andtakemeaningful responsibilityforlong-term work.
Through experiencesliketheirgrade 9Masterworksproject,students buildconfidenceby doingserious workandstandingbehindit. Middleschoolshapes identitymorethanmost familiesrealize. Ifyouthinkyourchildmightbecapableofmore, registertoday for ourupcominglive onlineparentforumto explorewhattheseyears trulydetermine.
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Monday,April 13th at 12 Noon
Bolttsaid.
Two-time Oscar nominee Jackie Weaver(right) starsin Holy Days,a filmcreated by North Vancouver ’s Nat Boltt. PHOTON FILMS
FilmchannelsBlues Brothers
audiences willbeseeing a rare commodity on screen –a filmdirectedby a woman, written by women, andled on screenby veteran womenactors. Only about 12per cent of thoseworking intheindustry are female, Boltt said.
“BecauseI’m a woman – andthere justaren’t enoughwomen on screen –I madesure thatitwasvery female-forward because I wantedto show on the bigscreen that women are brilliantandfunny atany age,” Boltt said.
And,muchliketheBluesBrothers in their Bluesmobilepolicecarand thenuns in an old stationwagon, Bolttis on her own mission from above in HolyDays
It’s nosecretthatweare introubled, divisive,evenbleaktimes.Herdebut film aimstobe a salve for the wounds of the modernday Ifelderlynunsanda troubled boy can formbonds, thenthere’s no reason the rest of uscan’t, Boltt reasoned.
“Peopleare sostressed out andwe really needtofind a way of connecting witheach other andfinding community,” shesaid. “And honestly, mybeliefis the onlyway you can dothatisthroughlove andfriendship and findingwhatwehaveincommon rather thanwhatsetsusapart.”
HolyDays hasalreadyhadits debut
inNewZealandwhere itgarneredsmash reviews.Its Vancouver premierisset for Friday, March27atthePark Theatre andat Cineplex theatresaround Metro Vancouver.
For alimitedtime,wehave aselectionofnewlyrenovatedoneandtwo-bedroomsuitesavailableonvariousfloorswith stunningviews!
Haveyoueverexperienced aplacewhereeverythingjustfelt rightandinstantlyfeltathome?That’s theimpressionyou’llget atSummerhill PARC.Fromthepurposefullydesignedsuites,to thefriendlycommunity,you’llknowit’s therightplacetobe.
SituatedattheheartofCentralLonsdale,Summerhill PARC’s locationissimplya cutabove.Itoffers aculturedhub –the besteateries,shoppingandamenities –settothebackdrop ofnature’s mostspectacularscenery– mountains,oceanand waterfrontwithineasyreach.
Thesesuiteswon’tlastlong.Comefor
North Vancouver’s Nat Bolttis excited for the release of ‘Holy Days,’her first feature filmas writer anddirector. PAULMCGRATH / NORTH SHORENEWS
TeensgetstoriespublishedwithNorth Vancouverlibrarywriting contest
ABBY LUCIANO aluciano @nsnews.com Local Jo urnalismInitiativ e Reporter
Lucille Friesenwantedtowritesomethingdifferent.
Shelovesteenbooks,but foundmany carr y similarstor y structures,titlesand even covers.
Sothe17-year-oldAnvil Island resident began spinningthreeyarnsthatpopped intoherhead – thestoriesof a cat who liveswith a wealthyfamily; a teenageboy named Oliverwhoisinlovewiththepopular girl;andClaudette, anelderlywoman who hasbeenclosed off tothe worldsince her husbanddied25yearsago.Those threetalesthen startedtoconnecttocreate something“ExtraOrdinar y. ” “Iwantedtocreatesomethingdifferent thatpeoplecouldconnectand relate to, andcouldmaybehelppeople,”said Friesen.
Friesen’s ExtraOrdinar y isone offive winnersfromthe2025teenwritingcontest in collaborationwiththeNorth Vancouver cityanddistrictlibraries.
ThecontestwasopentoGrade 7to12 students wholiveorgotoschool onthe North Shore. Writerswere askedtosubmit originalstoriesupto5,000 words relating
tothe“butterflyeffect”theme.
Friesenwasselectedastheoverallwinner forthisyear’s contest.MiraErozluwas crownedfirst in theGrades7-9categor y for A QuietDream,whileMallory Klausmayer’s AttheStrikeoftheHour receivedhonourablemention.IntheGrades10-12categor y, KeiraJaffer’s The WeightofWhat Was placedfirst,whileand A Coin, a Touch, a ChangebyRienaaGanesangotanhonourablemention.
Allfivewinningworksare nowonthe shelvesinprofessionallybound,glossy
booksattheNorth VancouverDistrict PublicLibrar y andNorth VancouverCity Librar y.
Thewinners were celebratedat a gala eventatthe Lynn Valleydistrictlibrar y branchNovember2025.That’s when Friesenfoundoutshewon.
“Iwas notexpectingtowin atall.When theysaidmyname, I wasflabbergasted,” shesaid.“Iwas superexcitedandpretty proudthatmylittle stor y hadwon.”
Friesenspends a lotofhertimeonthe North Shore,whetherit’s takingmusic lessons,skiingandsnowboardingonthe mountains, readingattheCapilanolibrar y branchorinhome schoolgroupactivities. ShestudiesatRegentChristianOnline Academy.
Friesensaidwritingwasn’talwaysher favouritepart ofschool.Butwhenshe startedhighschool,shebeganwriting morereflectionsandotherassignments, andthat’s whenteachers tooknoteofher skill.
“Icameto realize I likedwritingin a certainway and I likedwritingaboutcertain things,” shesaid.
NVDPLlaunchedthewritingcontest in2018,butthe recentcontestmarksthe secondyearthedistrictandcitylibraries
collaborating.Contestwinnerswere decided by a committee oflibrar y staff, membersofteenadvisor y groupsfrom bothlibrariesandlocalauthors.
SaraOremland,teenengagement librarianatNVDPL,saidengagement in theyouthwritingcontesthasgoneslightly up,seeing29entriescomparedto27the previousyear.
“There’s justsomuchtalentoutthere,” saidOremland.“Soas a librar y, itmakes senseforustoprovidetheseopportunities becausewewanttoencourageyoung peoplenotjustto read … [but]tounderstand howstoriesworkfrom reading.Then,they becomeinspiredtowrite.”
Oremlandsaidshehopes allofthewritersfeelproudaboutcrafting a stor y.
“Ingeneral,theaccomplishmentofwritingsomethingfrombeginningtoend and finishingit issatisfying,”shesaid.“And that’s whatwewanttotr y tocommunicate toallteensontheNorthShore.”
NVDPLandtheNorth Vancouver City Librar y willsoonbepostingdetailsabout thisyear’s writingcontest.
AbbyLucianoistheIndigenousandcivic affairsreporterfortheNorthShoreNews. Thisreportingbeatismadepossiblebythe LocalJournalismInitiative.
Lucille Friesenwithherbook“Extra
Ordinary” which was the overallwinnerin the2025 North VancouverDistrict Public Library andNorth VancouverCity Library teenwriting contest. PAULMCGRATH / NSN
Programishelping,police say
with thedemands ofboth, Brousson said.
“We becameextremelybusytr ying to prepare andunderstandthechallengeof COVID,”Brousson recalled.“And while working onthat,we realizedthere was this wholeotherepidemic goingonandwe weren’taddressing itin any way.”
In response,Broussonandsome of hercolleaguesstartedtheNorthShore Community Committeeon Substance Use, bringing together“asmany diverse stakeholders from within the NorthShore thatwecould” toaddress thecommunity’s drug crisis.
Inoneofthoseconversations, Brousson mentioned a programshe’d heard about in Timmins, Ont.,where people in police custodywere offered opioid replacement therapy Shementioned the idea tothe WVPD,and it tookoff fromthere.
In2024,theyexpanded it totheNorth VancouverRCMP, andBrousson is now in the processofonboarding twomore Lower Mainland policeforcesfor2026.
VancouverandSurrey’s police forces are largeenough topayfor private services forthe sameneed,Brousson said, buther initiative connectssmaller police departments to existing, freeser vices. WVPDSgt. ChrisBigland said the
program “genuinely helps.Ithelps prisoners and it helps police.”
He said theprogram reducespressures on police resourcesandmedical resources by specificallyfocusing onassessing the needfor a prescriptionandtaking advantageoftheexisting infrastructure–Lighthouse and pharmacies – toaddress thatneed.
“We don’tneednurses,doctors, hospitalvisits oranyofthat,” Biglandsaid, adding that a person going throughwithdrawalcanpresent a highersafety risk to themselves, police, andmedicalstaff.
Healso said theprogramhas positive downstreameffects,as individuals who have accesstoORT are less likely tocommit crimes whenthey’re releasedfromjail in ordertofindstreetdrugs.
“Programs likethis area responsible part of any in-custodypracticethat a police departmentmighthave,”Bigland said. “Even if weapply it onetime, it justifiesit. There’s effectively nocosttothe police departmentforparticipating in this program.”
Theproject is fundedbytheShared Care Committee, which is a partnership betweenDoctorsofBCandprovince. Hilary Angusis a Vancouver-based journalist writing for theNorthShoreNews.
SAVETHE DATE
where guestscanconnectwith awide rangeofexhibitors anddiscoverhelpfulproducts,services,and resources designedtosupportcaregiversandfamilies.
Throughouttheday,enjoy aseriesofshort,engaging presentationscovering avarietyoftimelytopics relatedto wellbeing,caregiving,communitysupports,andpractical toolsforeverydaylife.
NetproceedsfromtheeventaresharedwithNorthShore CommunityResourcestohelpfundtheircaregiversupport programsthroughouttheyear.
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Legal expert weighsinondispute
our neighbours, not trying totakeaway our neighbours’privateproperty,”said Musqueam Chief Wayne Sparrowinthe statement.
Dwight Newman, alawprofessorat theUniversityofSaskatchewan, saidthe agreement doesn’t involvepropertyorland transfers.
rightsorsimplydevelopedin a waythat violatedtheirrighttobe consulted,” he said.
Darwin Hanna, a UBC adjunct lawprofessor and a lawyerwho focusesontreaty negotiationsand specificclaims,said the current agreementdoesn’t impact neighbouring First Nations’interests.However, future resulting agreements might.
“Thatcouldn’t bedone viathisagreement,”saidNewman.
He saidthere mightbefederal recognition ofMusqueamtitle toprivately owned lands downthe road,but thatdoesn’t mean peopleare losing private land.
“Itwould meanthatthefederalgovernmentis negotiating onthatbasis, and thatthefederalgovernment mighthaveto consult withtheMusqueamon things that arisefromusesofprivate lands,”hesaid.
Newmansaid until theprovince produces a similaragreement,there are fewer directeffectsonprivatelands
PotentialissueswithneighbouringFirst Nations,expertssay
Newmansaid there couldbelegalissues withotherFirst Nations.
“We mightsee alegalchallengetothese agreements, if theSquamishputanargument thatithas infringed uponSquamish
“Those nations dohave concernsand thoseare real concerns,” said Hanna. “They’llhavethe processovertimeto addressthe overlappinginterests.Just becausetheGovernment of Canada recognizes thetitleofMusqueam,it does not precludethe recognition ofother nations to theirrights and titletothesamearea.”
Overall, Hanna saidtheagreements can be a win-win forboththepublic and First Nations.
“Itprovides a means for nations to finallyhavetheirrights and title recognized through negotiated agreements,and itprovidesfor realopportunities for nations to bemore involved astheyshouldbewithin theirterritor y, ” hesaid.
AbbyLucianoistheIndigenousand civic affairsreporterfortheNorthShore News. Thisreportingbeatismadepossiblebythe LocalJournalismInitiative. aluciano@nsnews.com
Residents facingdemovictionmay move inand keepold rents
ValleyMall–currentlyhometobusinessessuchasDairy Queen,Mr.Sushiandafurnitureliquidationstore–tobe replacedbythefirsttwobuildings.
Whenthenewunitsare ready,currenttenantsfrom DraycottGardenscouldmoveintothenewbuildingsat their current rents,iftheysochoose.Thetownhouse complex wouldthenbedemolishedandtheothertwo buildingswouldbeconstructed,saidStonehocker.
Forthosewantingto relocateelsewhere,tenantscould receivefinancialassistanceandcompensationfollowing the Residential TenantRelocationAssistancePolicy.
BeforecouncildiscussionMonday,five residentsfrom theneighbourhoodspokeout,manyexpressingconcerns withmovingfromtownhousestoapartmentunits.
“Currentplanshavetenantsbeingmovedtosmaller squarefootage,losinggreenspace,yards,playgroundand beingmovedoutoftheirquietenvironmenttobeperched overoneofthebusiest roadsinthearea,”saidNadine Frankowski.“My requesttocouncilisnottooppose growth,buttoencouragebalancedgrowth.”
BairdRoad residentBarbaraMarshallraisedconcerns about thesix-storeybuildingstakingawaytheskyline andcastingshadowsontoHaroldRoad.Shesuggested the heightscouldbeloweredtothreeorfourstoreys.She also expressedconcernsaboutincreasedtrafficaccessing the complexthroughthe Lynn ValleyRoadandRossRoad intersection.
“Thatisawickedcrossing,”shesaid.“Itisnotgoodfor carsorpedestrians.”
Mostofcouncil,however,spokeinfavourofthe proposal.
Coun.JordanBackaddressedsomeoftheconcerns raised by residentswhilealsonotingmanypositiveelementsintheproposal.
Hetooknoteofthetrafficandpedestrianconcerns and saidtheapplicantisproposingnewsidewalk improvementsthatcouldhelpimprovesafety, which would bediscussedinmoredetailinthepublichearing.
Backsaidhe’sheardfrom Lynn Valley residents wantingtoseemore restaurants,cafes,andsmall retailin the area.Thisproposalwouldbringthatenergyandfoot traffictothetowncentre withtheproposedcommercial space,hesaid.
“Ithinkit representsanimportantopportunityfor Lynn Valley.Atthesametime,anydevelopmentatthis scale needstobecarefullyexamined,particularlywhen it comestoissuesliketrafficandneighbourhoodimpact.
Andthat’sexactlywhatthenextstageofthisprocessis for,”saidBack.
Coun.CatherinePopealsospokeinfavouroftheproposal,sayingthattownhousetenantsbeingabletomove intothenewbuildingatthesame rentssetsastandardfor otherdevelopers.
Popesaidfuturetransitintheareawillbeagamechanger.Accordingtoastaff report,thatportionof Lynn ValleyRoadisincludedin TransLink’sAccessfor Everyoneplanasoneof11futureRapidBuslinestobetter serveridersaheadoffutureBusRapid Transit.
Coun.JimHansonwastheonlynayvote.Heraised concernswiththeproposal,particularlywiththelackof basicinfrastructurethatwouldsupportthepopulation
growthintheareaandthelackofaffordablehousing units.
“Byputting397unitsinthislocationatthistime, we’dbeputtingthecartbefore thehorse,”saidHanson. “Wewanttohavetheinfrastructurefirst,clearingthe wayforpopulationincreases,nottheselargepopulation increaseswithoutanycorrespondingplanforinfrastructuretopreserveourwayoflifeontheNorthShore.”
Staffsaidthepublichearingistentativelyplannedfor Tuesday,April14.
AbbyLucianoistheIndigenousandcivicaffairsreporterfor theNorthShoreNews.Thisreportingbeatismadepossible bytheLocalJournalismInitiative.
aluciano@nsnews.com
NOTICEOFDISPOSITION
PURSUANT to Sections24,26and 94oftheCommunityCharter and PartneringAgreementdatedJuly7, 2015,theCityofNorthVancouver herebygivesnoticeofitsintentionto dispose,bywayoflease,a portionof landlocatedat720West2nd Street, NorthVancouver,BC,andlegally describedasLot1,DistrictLot265, Group1,NewWestminsterDistrict PlanEPP26536,PID028-993-926,as shownoutlinedinredonthemap atright,tobeusedas asewerheat recoveryplant.
Therentableareaoftheleased premisesforthenewsewerheatrecoveryplantwillbeapproximately 6,400sq.ft.andwillprovidehydronicheatinga ndcoolingservicestothe tenant'scommunityenergysystem.T hedispositionisbyw ayof aleaseto LonsdaleEnergyCorp., autilitycompanythatprovidesheatinga ndcooling servicestoresidentsandbusinessesintheCityofNorthVancouver. Theleasetermisfor25yearswithoneoptiontoextendthetermfora further25years.Therentis$10 perannumfortheinitialtermof25years whichisbelowmarketvalue,thereforerepresentingfinancialassistanceto LonsdaleEnergyCorp.Ift hetermisextended,therentfortheextension term(25-50years)willbeatfairmarketvalue.
QUESTIONS? ContactArranMofrad,PropertyServicesCoordinatorat amofrad@cnv.org or T604.982.3967.
District of North Vancouver councilwillsoon hearfrom the publicbefore voting on four- andsix-storeybuildings around Lynn Valley Road, Ross Roadand Baird Road.This shows a view of one building from thenorth sideacross Baird Road. DISTRICT OFNORTH VANCOUVER
The valueofalocaltheatre goes farbeyondits walls
KELTIE FORSYTH
Contr ibutingwriter
A recentopinion column inthe NorthShor e News suggested thatitmaybetimeto replacetheaging buildingat Chester fieldand West Thir d thathas been thePr esentationHouse Ar ts Centr efor nearly50 years. Inthat time,it hashousednot onlyPresentation House Theatr e but has been a hometothemajorityofNorth Vancouver’sarts or ganizations.
Thebuildingisindeedaging. Andit’s truethatits heritagevalueliesmore initslonghistor y thaninits currentstructure.
Butfocusingonlyontheconditionofthe building risksmissing a more important question: What roledoesthisplace play inthelife ofthecommunityaroundit?
Becausewhathappens onthissiteisnot simply aboutonetheatre companyoccupyinganoldbuilding. It isabout a sharedcultural spacethattouches thousands oflivesontheNorth Shore ever y year PresentationHouseTheatre hasoperatedhere since1976. Today, itistheonlyprofessional theatre companyontheNorth Shore,employingmore than100 artistsannuallytocreateand present work for local audiences.
Inthecomingweeks,our stage willhost FatJoke,a sharpandhilariousmixoftheatre andstand-upcomedy from Vancouver’s NeworldTheatre thatexplores
fatphobiathroughhumourand personal storytelling. Shortlyafter, wewillstageouroriginalproductionof The Old WomanWhoLivedin a Shoe, aninteractive showforchildrenandtheircaregiversaboutour relationshiptonature.
Formanyyoung audience members, this willbe theirfirstexperienceoflive theatre.Thoseearly encountersmatterand haveextraordinar y meaning. Theyare often wherea lifelong relationshipwiththe
artsbegins.
Ever y year, NorthShore preschoolsand elementar y schoolsfillourtheatre for daytime performancesspecificallycateredtowards youngaudiences.Forsomestudents,itis theirfirsttimeexperiencingliveperformance. Formanyteachers,itisanopportunityto connectartslearningwiththeclassroom.The buildingisalsoalivewithyoungpeoplefor artseducationcamps,aswellasseniorswho participateinourgoldenfirefly artsenrichmentprogram.
ButtheworkwedoatPresentationHouse extendsfarbeyondourownproductions. Itextendsbeyondwhatour“adequatelittle blackboxtheatre”hastooffer.
Nearly200groups rentspacesinthe facilityeachyear, including30organizations presentingperformancesinthetheatre itself.Nextdoor, theAnneMacDonaldHallis activealmostever y dayoftheyear, hosting danceclasses,yogagroups,churchgatherings,seniors programsandcommunityeventsrunbymore than150 different renters.
Spaceslikethisare becomingincreasinglyrare. Productioncostsintheperformingartshavedoubled overthepastdecade,andearlierthisyear Vancouver’s PacificTheatre,oneofthe region’s longstandingblack boxvenues,announceditwouldcloseitsdoors.Across the region,small,affordablevenueswhere artists developworkandcommunitiesgatherare quietly disappearing.Thatiswhytheconversationaboutthe future ofthesiteatChesterfieldand WestThird isvital, and whoisinthatconversationisequallyimportant. Decisionsaboutpubliclandare neversimple.They involvebalancinghousing,heritage,culturalspaceand manyotherprioritiesthatshapethelifeof a city
TheCorporationoftheDistrictof West Vancouver (the‘District’)gives noticeofits intention to transfer to SymphonyHomesLimited(and/ornominee) the feesimpleinterestinproperty locatedat 4430 Woodcrest Road, West Vancouverlegally describedasPID009-545-620,Lot 7, Except par tshown outlined redon HighwayPlan 92 District Lot887 Plan10004asshownonthemap inblue(the‘Subject Property’) forthepurposeof consolidation withthreeadjacent parcelsalsoas shownontheattachedsketch plan. Thepurchase pricetobepaid bySymphonyHomesLimited fortheSubject Property istheappraised market valueof$650,000.
Thesaleissubjecttosuccessful rezoning forthe proposed redevelopmentoftheSubjectProperty andthethreeadjacentparcels.
If youhaveany questions pleasecontactJohn Wong,SeniorManager, FacilitiesandAssetsat604-921-3420orjtwong@westvancouver.ca.
But whateverthefuture ofthissitemaybe,it should beginwith a clearunderstandingofwhatalreadyexists here:a placewhere artistscreate,childrendiscover theatre,neighboursgatherandhundredsofcommunity groupsfindspacetomeet.Thosewhosustainthatculturallifeshouldbepar t oftheconversationaboutwhat comesnext.Andsoshouldthecommunity
IfyouliveontheNorthShore andhaveneverbeen toPresentationHouseTheatre,thisseasonis a perfect timetovisit.Comesee a show, attend a camp, join a communityevent,orsimplywalkthroughthesiteand seetheactivityforyourself.
Because a theatre isnotdefinedonlybyitswalls. Itisdefinedbytheartistswhocreatethere,the audienceswhogatherthere,thechildrenwhodiscover theatre forthefirsttimeandthehundredsofcommunitygroupswhousethespaceeachyear Buildingschange.Citiesgrow
Theculturallifethatgrowsinsideplaceslikethisis somethingcommunitiesbuildovergenerations.
Aswethinkaboutthefuture ofthissite,thatshared culturallifeissomethingworthconsideringcarefully Andshapingtogether.
KeltieForsythistheartisticandmanaging directorof PresentationHouseTheatre.
Youngspectators are introduced to the world oflive theatre during a performance of ‘Where The WildThingsAre’ at North Vancouver’s PresentationHouseTheatre. LAUREN GARBUTT
PUBLICHEARIN GN OT IC E
ProposedAmendments to theOfficial Community Plan Bylawandthe Zoning Bylaw toprovide various corrections,clarifications,andimprovements
WHEN: 5p.m.,March30,2 026
WHERE: MunicipalHal lCouncilChambe r, 75 01 7t hS treetandvi ae lectronic co mmunication fa cilities
SUBJECT BYLAWS: Ap ublichearingwillbeheld re ga rd ingproposed: Official Co mmunity Plan By lawN o. 4985,2018,Amendment By law N o. 5428,2026 ;a nd Zo ning By lawN o. 4662,2010,A mendment By lawN o. 5425,2026
SUBJECT LANDS: Th ep ro posed Offi ci al Co mmunity Plan (O CP)bylawa mendmentsapply to landswithintheDistrictof We st Va ncouver s ubject to the“Whit by E states”and“Cl yd eAve nueAreaEastof Taylor Way”Deve lopment Pe rmitAreaswithinOC PBylawN o. 4985, 2 01 8( asamended) .Theproposed Zo ning By lawa mendmentsapply to alllandswithintheDistrictof We st Va ncouversubject to Zo ning BylawN o. 4662,2010(asamended).
PROPOSEDOFFICIAL COMMUNITYPLAN BYLAWNO. 4985, 2018,AMENDMENT BYLAWNO. 5428,2026: wo uldamendtheOCP to correctinadver te ntpolicy n umberingerrorsinG uidelinesBF- B3 .2 “WhitbyE states”an d GuidelinesBF-B3. 3“ Cl yd eAve nu eA re aE astof Tay lor Way”.
PROPOSED ZONING BYLAWNO. 4662,2010,AMENDMENT BYLAWNO. 5425, 2026: wo uldprov ideimprove mentsandgreater f lexibilityfornon-habitabl ea ttics,powe rp oleinstallation,heatpumps,acce ss orybuilding sa ndstructures ,and ferry te rmina lo pera tions a cce ss oryinf ra structure.Inaddition,theamendments wo uld ge nerallyprov idegreaterclaritytom iscellaneous re gulations, co rrectina dver te nterrors,andaddressi nconsistenc i es.
Thepublichearingis youropportunitytospeak to Councilif youfeelyourinterestswillbeaffected by theproposed bylaws.
ATTENDTHEPUBLICHEARINGASANOBSERVE R
1. Watchonline
Visit youtube.com/@WestVanDistrict atthe scheduledstarttimeofthepublichearing.
2.Inperson
VisitMunicipalHall CouncilChamberatthescheduledstart timeofthepublichearing. Advanceregistrationisnot required to attend apublichearing.
QUESTIONS ?
Morei nformationonthepro posed by la ws ,i ncludingstaf f re portsandothersupportin gd ocuments,ma ybev ie we d at westvancouver.ca/news/notices andatMunicipalHallfrom March13 to 30,2026during regularbusiness hours,8:30a.m to 4:30 p.m.,MondaytoFriday,excludingstatutoryholidays
J oh nC arbon, AssistantPlanner jcarbon@westva ncouver.c a|6 04-921-3449
westvancouver.ca/news/notices
HO WTOPARTICIPAT EINT HEPUBLICHEARING
1.Speakinperson
MunicipalHall CouncilChamber,75017thStreet, West Vancouver. Personsmayaddress Councilduringthepublichearing foruptofive minutesat atime.
2.OnlineviaZoom (electronic communication facilities)Pleasecall 604-925-7004onMarch30,2026tobeadded to thespeakerslist. Instructionsonhowtoparticipateare availableat westvancouver.ca/ph.
3.Provide awrittensubmission
•Byemail, to correspondence@westvancouver.ca.
•Bymail,addressed to LegislativeServices, 75017thStreet, West VancouverBCV7V 3T3.
•Inperson,addressed to LegislativeServicesandplacedinthe drop-boxlocatedatthenorthand westtheentrances to MunicipalHall.
Writtensubmissionsmustbe received by noononMarch30,2026to ensuret heirinclusioninthepublicinformationpackagefor Co uncil’s co nsideration. To ensureafairprocess, Co unci lc a nnot co nsider a ny submissions receivedafterthepublichearinghasended.
Pioneer Bakery
Photo:NVMA,37
In1907,SamuelandJanet WalkeropenedPioneer Bakery.Whenthey firststarted, they wereproducing 300loavesof bread perday
Theyquicklyexpanded productionto more than3,000loavesperday,which required twohorsedrawn wagonstodeliver around town.In1912, VancouverFlourMillsboughtthebread business,butPioneer continuedtosellcakesandcandies.
Withinsixmonthsthecakebusinesswasalsosold.Sam Walkerlaterbecame chairman ofthe parks committee.In1929,Sam Walker Park onSt. AndrewsAvenue wasdedicated.The Walkers livednextdoor DiscovermoreoftheNorthShore’srichhistoryatMONOVA.Startplanningyourvisitat monova.ca.Doyouhave astorytotell?Getintouchviaarchives@monova.ca.
AVAILABLENOW!
PACWESTBASKETBALL
leadingscorer for CapilanoBlues
HILARY ANGUS
Contributingwriter
A North Vancouverbasketballplayer justcompletedanunlikelyjourney fromanunheraldedpracticeplayerto the all-time leadingscoreratCapilano University.
started.ShecametoCap U fromSeycove Secondar y fiveyearsagoas a redshirt–a playerwhoissignedonwiththe teamand practiseswiththeteam,butisn’t necessarilygoingtogetanytimeonthecourt.
In a gameagainstLangara inlate Februar y, MaddyCoffinneeded just 10 pointstobecomeCapilano’s all-timeleadingscorerinwomen’s basketball.Sheput up22.
TheBlueslostthegame,butthe22 additionalpointsbroughtCoffin’s Blues careertotalupto1,196points,33overthe previous record of1,163setbyCarmelle M’Bikata.
Theteam’s seasoncametoanend earlierthismonthwhentheBlueslostto DouglasCollegeinthePacWestsemifinal.
“Maddiewasprobablythebiggesthighlightthispastseason,”saidChris Weimer, headcoachfortheBlues.“She’s just workedsohard.Shenevercomplains.”
Coffinenteredthispastseason, herfifth andlastwiththeuniversity, needing 344 pointstoclimb tothetop.Shefinishedthe seasonwith a careerbest – 376pointsover 22games.
Coffin’s risetothetopisparticularly notable, Weimersaid,becauseofwhere she
Inherfirstyear, Weimersaidshe’d get maybeseventoeightminutesofgame time atmost.
Thisyear, sheplayed30-plusminutes pergame,gottopscorerintheleague,was awardedPlayerofthe YearinthePacWest andwasnamed a CCAAAll-Canadian.
“Just a lotofhard work,dedication, commitment,” Weimer said.“Shewas a captainforusthisyear. Shedid a great job atthat,andbecame a reallygoodleader.”
Coffinsaidfinishingherlastseason withtheuniversityonthisnotehasbeen “incredible.”
Whileshe’s takingsometimetoplan hernextsteps,Coffinislookingbackwith gratitudeonhertimeatCap U andthe relationshipssheforgedwithherteammates, whichshe’s lookingforward tocontinuing todevelop.
Shealsohadfondwordsforthe coaches,trainers,andthebehind-thescenesteamwhomadeherexperienceso successful.
“I’m goingtomissthemdearlywhenI’m doneatCap,” shesaid.
Maddy Coffintakes chargeduring a PacWest gamewiththe Capilano Blues. Inherfinal seasonwiththe Blues, the Seycove Secondary gradbecamethe leading scorerin team history. CAPILANOUNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Positive answers
Finn’s boat
40. Sweettuber
Wagers
Robertand Meg
to pieces
legal action
penny
Release
Don’tleave!
Pay
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Foretell
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cooked 49.Constant 50.Accomplishment
51.BalticorNorth
52.Large coffeepot
54.____Jersey
Crosswordpuzzleanswers useAmerican spelling
ARIES March21-April 19
Atwork,demanding clients could testyourpatience.The mostimportantthingisto doyourbestwithouttaking everythingtoheart.In love, daretoexpressyouremotions openly toavoidtensionand misunderstandings.
TAURUS April 20-May20
Ifyou’resingle, yourrising popularity couldlead to love at firstsight. Takethetimetoget toknowthispersonbetter.At work,newmethods will boost yourefficiencyandimprove your results.
GEMINI May21-June20
You’reapproachingan important milestone,like selling yourhomeorfinding yourideal place to live. Despite your nostalgia, thischange could openthedoorto afresh start. Atwork,youmaysoonbe offered amanagerialposition.
CANCER June 21-July 22
You’ll becomeincreasingly influentialthankstoyour ideas andopinions,whichwill rally others aroundcommon projects. Peoplewilllisten toyou attentively.You’llalso be able toenjoymomentsof laughter and light-hearted connection.
LEO July23-Aug.22
Financialpressures could strain your relationship, but small gesturesofaffection remain essential. Makespacefor affection,asyour close bond willhelp affirmyouremotional stability andeaseyourworries.
VIRGO Aug.23-Sept.22
Anynewbeginningmayface resistanceorcriticism;but stayfocusedonyour goals. Yourperseverance will be recognizedandappreciated. Yourcreativity will flourishas youdrawinspirationfromthis challenging yet rewardingtime.
LIBRA Sept.23-Oct. 22
Aperiodofintrospectionis onthehorizon,urgingyouto clarify yourdeepestdesires. By slowing downandcaring for yourself,you’ll restore balance andserenitytoyour life,allowing for abrighternew chapterahead.
SCORPIO Oct. 23-Nov. 21
Yoursocial lifewill bebuzzing thisweek.Expectexciting encountersand lively activities. Yourpositiveattitudeand infectious laughterwill strengthenyour relationships, allowing youto fully embrace joy-filled momentswith loved ones.
SAGITTARIUS Nov. 22-Dec.21
Inspiration will guideyou towardameaningfulproject and abeautifulvisionforthe future.Bymakinginformed decisions, you’llgradually be able to build apeaceful, fulfilling retirement.Everystep youtaketoday will shapeyour future.
CAPRICORN Dec. 22-Jan.19
Animpromptuoutingwith friends could brightenyour week.However,travelor conversationsmaybringsome unexpectedtwists.Bepatient and learn to let go;it’ll help you enjoythisenrichingexperience tothe fullest.
AQUARIUS Jan.20-Feb.18
Yourdetermination will fuel yourfinancial goals. Ameeting atthebank could moveyour projectsintherightdirection. In love, someone’sromantic charm could awakenyour feelings, ignitinginnerpassion andperhaps ahintof jealousy
PISCES Feb. 19-March20
Ademandingwork environment could testyour patiencethisweek, especially with delays or slow response times.Preservingharmony will requirecompromise,tactand diplomacy
HOWTOPLAY: Fillinthegridsothat everyrow,every columnand every3 x3box contains the numbers 1through 9onlyonce Each 3x3box isoutlined with a darker line. Youalready have a fewnumbers to get youstarted. Remember:youmustnot repeat the numbers 1through 9inthesame line, columnor 3x3 box.
CROS SWORD
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Bookyouradonlineanytimeat glc.navigahub.com/portal/classified/glc/nsn/entry
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As yousharethestoriesandthememories ofhowtheylivedtheirlivesandhowvery much theymeant,mayyoufindcomfort...
Asyousharethestories andthememoriesofhow theylivedtheirlivesand howverymuchtheymeant, mayyoufindcomfort...
As yousharethestoriesandthe memoriesofhowtheylivedtheir livesandhowmuch theymeant, may youfindcomfort...
As you share the stories and the memories of how they lived their lives and how much they meant,
Call236-889-6595oremail ahogan@glaciermedia.ca toplace yourRemembrance.
Call 236-889-6595 oremail ahogan@lodestarmedia.ca to place your Remembrance.
