West Vancouver Beacon | July/August 2023 | Edition 57

No. 57 Shedding light on the communities from Lions Bay to Dundarave July/August 2023

Dinner on the Dock

Tranquil Horseshoe Bay, where pleasure boaters share the bay with ferries and emergency rescue boats, is transformed once a year for Dinner on the Dock. This is a fun-filled evening where the pier vibrates with the energy of revelers dancing to the Adam Woodall Band. The marine gear that usually fills the dock is replaced by dinner tables adorned with linens, china, and silverware. An auctioneer calls down the dock for bids on highly coveted fundraising items.

The annual Dinner on the Dock is a fundraiser for the Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue service, Station 1, a volunteer organization that operates 24/7 from the same dock. This year’s dinner on July 6, which is catered by Mangia E Bevi Ristorante, is sold out. See pg 6 for more information on RCMSAR.

We are grateful to live and work on the unceded traditional territories of the Coast Salish peoples.

The pier at Horseshoe Bay all lit up for the 2022 Dinner on the Dock.

Photo: Chris Stringer

Chris Stringer Publisher chrisstringer @westvanbeacon.ca

Lindy Pfeil Editor lindypfeil @westvanbeacon.ca

Penny Mitchell Advertising pennymitchell @westvanbeacon.ca

Melissa Baker

Creative

Director

melissabaker @westvanbeacon.ca

Please note that all contributing writers for The Beacon retain full rights and that the full or partial reproduction of feature articles is unauthorized without the consent of the author. Personal opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed are solely those of the respective contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Beacon, the publisher or the editorial and creative staff.

Submissions for The Beacon

The Beacon is delivered bi-monthly to 5000+ households between Lions Bay and Dundarave. For submission guidelines and queries, please e-mail the Editor: lindypfeil@ westvanbeacon.ca

Please note that all submissions are subject to space constraints and editing. For advertising queries, please e-mail the Director of Marketing: pennymitchell@westvanbeacon.ca

For all other queries, please e-mail the Publisher: chrisstringer@westvanbeacon.ca

All editions of The Beacon (beginning in September 2013), can also be read online at: www.westvanbeacon.ca.

In spite of everything, the fire still burns

or as long as I can remember, I have collected books. Piles of them. Scattered about the place. All higgledy piggledy. On shelves. Next to beds. On desks. Tables. The floor. In cupboards. In my car. Novels, biographies, memoirs, poetry. At any one time, three or four books compete for my attention. I make notes, take photos of memorable lines, fill the pages with stickies, and no sooner do I finish a book – close its cover and pack it away – than I forget both its title and its author. Because I am onto the next one. Once in a blue moon, though, I am faced with a story that creeps into my bones and will not let me forget it. Like Sam George’s recently released memoir.

The Fire Still Burns: Life In and After Residential School, is the first published memoir by a resident of St. Paul’s Indian Residential School in North Vancouver. It gives a candid account of Sam George’s life: from his idyllic childhood growing up on the Eslhá7an (Mission) reserve to St. Paul’s, where he endured emotional, physical, and sexual abuse. Published by Purich Books, an imprint of UBC Press, it documents the ways in which he navigated the

FPurich Books acquisitions editor Nadine Pederson accurately describes The Fire Still Burns as both an easy and a hard read. “Here was this tough working-class narrator telling his life story and he was so funny,” even though he was telling stories of abuse, violence, imprisonment, heartbreak, and loss. “All the trauma never extinguished who Sam is. Throughout the story there is remarkable strength and resilience. The fire of Sam’s spirit smolders on every page.” If

effects of this trauma – addictions, prison, challenging relationships – until he found the strength to face his past. I could not put Sam’s book down. My other partially-read books, strewn around the house, remained unopened. Between the first and last page of The Fire Still Burns, I did not eat, sleep or shower. I read it cover to cover in one day. And I will never forget its name. Or Sam’s.

Photo: courtesy of Jill Goldberg Members of Sam George’s family sing and drum him into Chief Joe Mathias Centre at the launch of The Fire Still Burns

I have spent a good part of the last twenty years gathering and witnessing stories – during writing workshops, in restorative justice conferences, sitting in community circles. Some of the most precious stories –of betrayal, hurt, injustice and loss – open the deepest of wounds in their tellers. It takes tremendous courage to share them. And I am in awe of the human beings who, despite everything that has gone before, are willing to take a chance and entrust their story to the world. Sam George does that with this book.

The Fire Still Burns launched on June 6 at Chief Joe Mathias Centre. It was an evening filled with gratitude, kindness, humour and – dare I say it – love.

During her welcome, Chief Janice George asked all residential school survivors present to stand. “I look out the window and I see what I have,” she said. “And I think back to those ancestors that made it through so we can be here today – carrying the language, carrying our culture, carrying our traditions. How grateful we are.” It was

a beautifully poignant moment in an evening filled with such moments.

The Fire Still Burns is in part a result of a class project from the Writing Lives class at Langara College, in which students collaborate with residential school survivors to write their memoirs. Students Liam Belson, Dylan MacPhee, and Tanis Wilson, who worked with Sam during the writing of his story, also attended the launch. Each of them shared their gratitude towards Sam. All spoke of being profoundly impacted by the experience.

When Sam took to the podium, his mischievous sense of humour and storytelling ability was quickly evident. As was his strength and resilience. He told of his time in prison, his battle with addiction, and what it took to change his life. “When we went to residential school, I had a punishing God. I was condemned to hell. Many times.” But Sam later found his Creator in the sweat lodge: “A Creator that I could talk to. Like somebody’s listening to me out there.”

Sam’s forthright writing style makes for unforgettable scenes, like his account of the day he and his siblings arrived at St. Paul’s. His father walked them to the school, went into the office, and signed some papers.

Sam writes: “He turned toward Mother Michaela. ‘Take good care of my kids.’ And then he left. He never said goodbye. He never hugged us. He just turned around and walked out.” Sam was seven years old.

While The Fire Still Burns looks unflinchingly at the horrors of the Indian Residential School system, it also illustrates the healing power of one’s culture and the resilience that allows an individual to rebuild a life. It brings a greater understanding to all readers – Indigenous and non-Indigenous

alike – of residential schools and the impact they had on those who were forced to attend them.

The book also provides a model for educators who want to work with Indigenous elders to tell their stories. It includes a study guide to help readers learn how Sam’s story connects to colonization.

Jill Goldberg teaches the Writing Lives course at Langara College. A writer, and creative writing instructor, she worked closely with Sam and his family during the publication process, and the respect and admiration they have for each other is evident.

Addressing the audience at the launch, Jill told of moving from Montreal to Vancouver and learning about her new home. She learned the names of the flowers, the trees, and the mountains. She learned about being a settler, about unceded lands,

and genocide. And in the learning, she asked herself, “How can I be a better guest? Can I build the relationships that permit me to move from guest to friend? And being a friend, what are my obligations?”

And sitting in Chief Joe Mathias Centre, surrounded by kindness, generosity, and yes, love, I found myself asking those same questions. And that is the power of Sam’s story. It demands that we examine ourselves a little more closely. It changes us in ways we did not know we could be changed. And it will not let us forget.

The Fire Still Burns is available at 32 Books, Iron Dog, Massy Books, and Indigo. It is the first book in UBC Press’ 50-year history to sell out its first print run before its publication date, so if you can’t find it in stores, order it directly from ubcpress.ca/the-fire-still-burns.

Photo: courtesy of William Atwell Langara College instructor, Jill Goldberg, being recognized by members of the Squamish Nation for her work with Sam George on his memoir.

Photo: courtesy of William Atwell

From L to R: Instructor, Jill Goldberg, with students and co-authors Liam Belson, Dylan McPhee, and Tania Wilson at the book launch at Chief Joe Mathias Centre.

ELSPETH BRADBURY BACKYARD ENTERTAINMENT

Oh deer!

Idon’t want to believe it, but the neat impressions in the soft earth at my feet are unmistakably the cloven hoofprints of a deer. After 30 years of carefree, deer-free gardening it seems our luck has finally run out.

I rush to check on the veggie patch. Surprisingly, the green beans, Swiss chard and peas are all present and correct. A tour of inspection deeper into the garden, however, reveals that the picky animal has searched out and destroyed every one of my beautiful plantain lilies. Hosta ‘June’? Devastated! ‘Halcyon’? Demolished! Even the huge slug-resistant leaves of Siebold’s hosta have been sampled.

I’m stumbling back to the house in shock when, smack in the middle of the path, I come face to face with the culprit herself. She’s smaller than I imagined. Huge soft ears. Long eyelashes. Utterly disarming. As we eye each other I begin to feel my outrage melt away. But a scrap of Hosta ‘Golden Fanfare’

– one of my best – is dangling from her mouth and after a long pause I manage a halfhearted Shoo! She gives me a look of gentle enquiry. I flap my hands. Go, go! She flicks her tail and chews thoughtfully. Feeling foolish I pick up a small stone and toss it at her feet. Her expres sion turns to pity. After all, what is the good of chasing her away? Where is away? I can’t patrol our patch day and night, and I really don’t want to own a large dog any more than I want to spend a fortune on two-meterhigh fencing. Eventually, with a sigh, I turn defeated, and immediately she also turns, picks her way daintily through the shrubbery and disappears.

Back indoors, I check online for deer deterrents and find a bewildering number of possibilities. I decide to use them all, except

for Murphy’s Oil Soap because I don’t know what it is, and ammonia because I don’t have any. I use window cleaner instead and whip it up with powdered garlic, disinfectant, scented liquid hand soap, baking powder, corn oil and beaten egg yolks. I pour some of this witches’ brew into a spray bottle and head out in a last-ditch effort to save some of my most susceptible deer fodder. After a few squirts the nozzle clogs up – no surprise there – and I end up splashing the stinky stuff with a spoon over the weeping Japanese maples.

It dawns on me that those telltale hoofprints mark the beginning of a whole new era for this garden. It wouldn’t be the first time, however, that we’ve learned to garden alongside grazing animals. When we lived in New Brunswick, porcupines enjoyed our

The Underused Housing Tax (UHT)

Do I need to file?

UHT used to refer to a particular type of milk (Ultra High Temperature processing), but today the buzz about UHT is a different matter. The new UHT or Underused Housing Tax was set up by the federal government to apply a 1% tax to the value of underused or vacant housing

owned by non-residents of Canada. However, many Canadian residents may not realize they also have to file. While they will not have to file a UHT return if they directly own and live in a property, they do have to file if the property is owned through a trust, corporation, or partnership. One may have to file if a property is held in trust by a fam-

ily member on behalf of a disabled Canadian resident family member who resides in the home.

It may be that you will not owe the tax, exemptions are available, but you will have to file the return anyway. If you are not sure, and many Canadians are not, check with your accountant or tax consultant. The

newly planted orchard then took to gnawing on the deck. Our cabbages were particularly splendid until the groundhogs chewed the top half off each one. When we lived in the Shetland Islands, sheep ate everything bar daffodils. In Europe, I hear, great flocks of wood pigeons peck at anything from cauliflowers to lilacs. Australians cope with far too many rabbits and a million camels. Africans deal with marauding chimpanzees and elephants. Indians… but you get the picture and I’m starting to sound like the Irish Rovers, so I’ll stop there.

The point is that gardeners everywhere have their challenges, so I suppose I shouldn’t complain about an amiable deer with a sweet face. If I have to exchange a few hostas for the entertainment value of more wildlife watching, then so be it. I tell myself.

Illustrations by Elspeth Bradbury

penalty for failure to file is $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for corporations. There is good news though: CRA has recently extended the filing deadline from April 30 to November 1.

Michael Berton is a retired senior financial planner living on the North Shore.

MICHAEL BERTON DOLLARS AND SENSE

Sentinel student named Miss Teenage BC

“When I heard my name, no clear thoughts popped into my head, but I just remember that I was filled with excitement and joy!” That’s what 15-year-old Sentinel student Queeny Gong said about the moment she heard her name an nounced as Miss Teen age BC 2023 in the Sheraton Wall Centre Hotel ballroom this April.

Excitement is an understandable response, given that the achievement is earned by having the highest cumulative score in four different judging categories, against thirteen other ambitious BC teens.

Miss Teenage BC (and its provincial coun terparts) is the highest honour a teen contestant can earn at the local preliminaries to Miss Teenage Canada. The Miss Teenage Canada pageant began in 2008 and is currently an affiliate of the Miss World Canada system. Teens who progress to nationals and win the national title of Miss Teenage Canada are given choices of international competitions in which they may represent

Canada, including Miss Teen Universe and Miss Teen World.

Now a provincial titleholder in the system, Queeny will travel to Toronto this July for the chance to become the national titleholder. In the meantime, and for the year of her reign with the provincial title, she aims to spread her message in her community.

“I hope to use it to further develop my platform which is advocating for the importance of physical and mental health in sports for youth,” she says.

The sentiment is extremely personal to her, as she is a multi-talented athlete in dance, figure skating, and golf, in addition to swimming.

Queeny has already started implementing her platform through community outreach. Her first endeavor was handing out medals at the Shoppers Drug Mart Run for Women event and she intends to participate in additional sports-focused engagements.

The new titleholder emphasizes her appreciation for the mentors and role models

in her journey. For nine months prior to the competition, she trained with pageant coach Ariel Cao, in walking, etiquette, public speaking, and platform development. (Ariel won the provincial title in her own “Miss” age group alongside Queeny on pageant night.)

Queeny also looks to her athletic role models in times of doubt. She feels especially connected to American freestyle skier Eileen Gu, through their shared identity as Chinese women. One of Queeny’s favourite quotes from Eileen is, “No matter how much time passes, I’ll always be a hopeless romantic when it comes to fear.”

And just as Eileen advises, Queeny intends to represent the province at nationals with bravery and dignity, with the help of her supportive family and trusted coach.

Best of luck at nationals, Queeny!

Rose Lepin is entering her second year in the Bachelor of Media Studies programme at UBC. She has been a contributor to The Beacon for six years, becoming a columnist when she was in grade 11. When not writing articles or studying, she can be found singing in the competitive UBC A Cappella group Eh? Capella or writing poetry on her blog, Map of Madness.

Queeny Gong alongside Miss BC 2023, Ariel Cao, on pageant crowning night. Photos: courtesy of Mike Wu

West Vancouver’s Queeny Gong is our new Miss Teenage BC 2023.

Exhibit your artwork this summer

Have you ever thought about being an artist? Harmony Arts Festival is a great opportunity for you and your children to showcase and sell your artwork.

My daughter, Ema, has always been intrigued by the beauty of art. She had her first opportunity to display her art at last year’s For the Love of Art exhibition, as part of the Harmony Arts Festival. Her creation was inspired by budding flowers, and she was thrilled to see it exhibited at the gallery. She could not believe it when the piece sold for $82 during the silent auction. Part of the proceeds was donated to children’s art programs within the festival. She used the rest to purchase a bunny stuffy, named ‘Harmony’ (after the festival). This experience will always be a highlight of Ema’s childhood.

West Vancouver’s Harmony Arts Festival celebrates the richness and diversity of our community, with art, food, and music. Presented by Odlum Brown, this year

it takes place from August 4 to 13 in various West Vancouver locations.

Emerging North Shore artists, under the age of nineteen, are invited to participate in For the Love of Art. The submission deadline is July 14, 2023. Artwork will be showcased in an outdoor gallery during the festival. For more information visit harmonyarts.ca

Please contact Jini at CommunityKidsTWVB@gmail.com if you know of any upcoming community events that kids can enjoy with their parents, grandparents, guardians, and friends.

RCM Search and Rescue

BY Chris Stringer

Volunteer marine search and rescue has been part of our community for more than 40 years, a reflection of the importance of boating to the area, both commercial and recreational.

The Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue (RCMSAR, formerly the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary) Station, based at the Horseshoe Bay pier, is the busiest of the 30 plus RCM-SAR stations around the BC coast. In 2022 alone it responded to over 20

marine emergencies and spent over 2000 person-hours on the water, both responding to emergencies and training crews.

The 45 members of Station 1, all living within 15 minutes of Horseshoe Bay, continuously train to hone emergency response skills. They are Transport Canada qualified including being certified in Electronic Navigation that allows them to navigate our waters in restricted visibility.

RCMSAR is dependent on fundraising for its operations. The team is grateful for the community’s strong support over the years. To donate, please visit rcmsar01.ca.

Photo: Jini Park Happy Blossom, created by Ema for the Harmony Arts Festival.

JINI

RCMSAR vessel.

Photo provided

West Vancouver Foundation funds food recovery program

BY Michelle Reining

Vancouver Food Runners (VFR) will kick start its food recovery program on the North Shore with a $10,000 grant from the West Vancouver Foundation.

VFR is a registered charity with a mission to respond to the disconnect between the fact that 58% of all the food in Canada is wasted or lost, while 1 in 9 households in British Columbia is food insecure. It aims to mitigate food insecurity and promote sustainability by preventing perfectly healthy food from entering the waste stream and directly distributing it to organizations working with community members experiencing food insecurity.

Since launching in March 2020, VFR volunteer drivers have delivered over 2 million pounds of food, which is equivalent to over 1.6 million meals going to local nonprofits to support their essential food programming. This is healthy, viable food that would have otherwise gone to the landfill. In addition, over 860,000 pounds of carbon dioxide has been mitigated from the environment in the last three years through the program.

VFR’s recovery program is unique in that it uses app technology and partners with a team of volunteer drivers to redirect the surplus food. This innovative model has allowed the program to scale quickly and at a low cost. VFR’s program is free, and they work with over 160 food businesses. A big part of their work is normalizing the donation of surplus food in the food industry.

A number of North Shore businesses have recently started participating in VFR’s program, and so far over 10,000 pounds of healthy surplus food has been redirected

to organizations such as Family Services of the North Shore, that are running food programs. These food donations are often a lifeline for nonprofits, given rising food costs and increasing food insecurity.

Chloe Leslie, VFR’s program manager who will oversee the expansion, says, “We are incredibly grateful for the generous donation from the West Vancouver Foundation through the Ian and Rosemary Motters head Fund. Our pro gram makes food recovery easy, accessible, and fast; and we already have over 100 volunteers living in North and West Vancouver registered on the Vancouver Food Runners app. This is very much a commu nity program, and it’s easy for volunteer drivers to get involved. People can download the free app and instantly see the food rescues that are available.”

Denise Howell, the West Vancouver Foundation’s grants and communications lead, says, “We are pleased to support Vancouver Food Runners in expanding their food recovery program in the North Shore. The West Vancouver Foundation supports charitable organizations working to create and sustain a healthy and vibrant North Shore, where everyone is valued, contributes, and feels they belong. We feel VFR’s program, with its focus on community-cen-

tred food access, is closely aligned with the work of the West Vancouver Foundation.”

Since its inception in 1979, the West Vancouver Foundation has granted almost $7 million to community projects in health, education, the arts, the environment, and social services, in addition to annual student scholarships and awards.

Around 2,500 volunteers are registered on the Vancouver Food Runners app (with 310 active volunteer drivers). The app, powered by Food Rescue Hero, is available for

both Apple and Android. Once the free app is downloaded, here’s how the food donation and delivery process works: Surplus food is donated by a food supplier (restaurant, bakery, grocery store, food prep company, food wholesaler) and VFR matches it to a nonprofit partner. Next, a volunteer driver claims the food rescue in the app and then collects the food. The volunteer immediately delivers the food to the assigned nonprofit working with clients experiencing food insecurity.Vancouver is the first city in Canada to join the Food Rescue Hero technology platform that coordinates the world’s largest network of on-demand volunteer food rescue drivers. For more information, and to get involved, visit vancouverfoodrunners.com

Vancouver Food Runners volunteers hard at work relocating food. Photos provided

Chloe Leslie, VFR’s Program Manager.

Safeway is proud to support local farmers and producers. See our wide range of local products throughout the store.

Ralph Sultan – a man for all seasons

Ralph Sultan was elected to the BC Legislature in 2001 and served 5 terms as an MLA, for West Vancouver Capilano, a period that spanned nearly 20 years. At the time he was 68 years old and had been an engineer, a mining executive, an economics professor at Harvard University and chief economist for the Royal Bank of Canada. He had been involved in other business pursuits in Canada and the United States as well. The son of Swedish immigrant parents,

Ralph grew up in a three-room house with eight siblings in the Mount Pleasant district of East Vancouver. His father had a house painting business where family members worked once school commitments were met. The Sultans belonged to the First Swedish Lutheran Church on Princess and Pender streets. The church was central to their lives.

Sultan was the name that Ralph’s paternal grandfather was assigned on enrolling in the Swedish army. This was a frequent practice due to the many common names like Hanson and Svenson.

Prior to attending university, Ralph worked as a tree faller, a lineman on the construction of the Kemano-Kitimat transmission line, a surveyor’s helper on the Lillooet and Bridge River hydroelectric projects, a soils technician for Ripley Klohn Leonoff of Vancouver, and an International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers permit member.

He graduated from the University of Brit-

ish Columbia in 1956 with a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering. Ralph jokes that, “Perhaps my most notable accomplishment at UBC was to serve as president of the EUS (Engineering Undergraduate Society) which was tasked to raid the Ubyssey student newspaper office frequently, and (in justifiable retaliation for their jibes against the engineers), throw such later-famous journalists as Allan Fotheringham in the lily pond.”

After graduation, Ralph joined Union Carbide Corporation of New York, where he specialized in new product applications marketing. His efforts contributed to the technology on the Avro Arrow and the Rolls Royce Dart engine.

In 1958, he enrolled in Harvard University’s Graduate School of Business Administration, Boston where he was named Baker Scholar and in 1960 graduated with an MBA with high distinction. During this study period he was employed as a “praktikant” by Atlas Copco in their compressed air drilling and mine equipment facility in Stockholm.

With a Ford Foundation Fellowship, Ralph enrolled in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University, receiving his MA and PhD degrees. His fields of study included money and banking, econometrics, and mathematical economics.

Prior to completing his final degree at GSAS he was offered a position at the Harvard Business School, where he rose to the rank of associate professor and co-authored Problems in Marketing. He also initiated the path-breaking Profit Impact of Market Share (“PIMS”) project and completed a two-volume study of price fixing in the electrical

machinery industry, published by Harvard University Press.

On leaving Harvard, Ralph joined The Royal Bank of Canada as chief economist. He was at the bank a few weeks short of ten years, rising to successive appoint ments as Senior Vice President, marketing; Chair of the Asset Li ability Policy Committee; member of the Chief General Manager’s operating committee; and latterly, Senior Vice President, Global Energy and Minerals, Calgary, with offices around the world.

After a brief stint as an executive with Hudson’s Bay Mining, Ralph became chairman of a trust company, president of a mutual fund company, and director of other businesses in the insurance, nuclear submarine vehicle, and fiberboard businesses (the latter a joint venture with Bechtel). “While all were fascinating in their own way, one might say some were more successful than others,” Ralph says.

Ralph also maintains registration as a professional engineer (P.Eng.) in both BC and Ontario. He has been a proud registrant with APEO for 53 years, and has also been registered in Quebec and Alberta.

He has served on the Harvard University Advisory Committee on Graduate Education; as chair of the Advisory Board to the Queen’s University Business School, and as an officer of the Eagle Harbour Yacht Club.

Ralph borrows a flying suit from three brothers in RCAF in WWII. Photos provided Ralph rowing at Kawkawa Lake.

Ralph and his wife Shirley

In his private time, he woodworked and rebuilt his 1968 Jaguar.

Ralph’s daughter, Christina, provides insight into Ralph, the devoted family man.

“Throughout his busy life of working in the variety of places that the family moved to, Dad was always home for dinner. The family enjoyed skiing together on weekends and on vacations in Vermont.

Warm vacations were typically in the Bahamas because we grew up in Massachusetts, Quebec and Ontario.” She continues, “Mom and Dad were devoted to one another and close. They had an open-door policy with us kids in that anything could be discussed, and issues resolved together. Dad’s advice was simple: Do your best.”

In 1999, Shirley, Ralph’s wife of 43 years, died suddenly. Like Ralph, she had grown up in less-than-royal circumstances in East Vancouver. Shirley was a devoted mother of four, earned two nursing degrees, taught surgical nursing at Massachusetts General Hospital, was part-owner and operator of a rehabilitation clinic, and financed Ralph’s education.

Shortly after his devastating loss of Shirley, Ralph launched himself into public service and served in the Legislature of British Columbia with special interests that encompassed the engineering profession, health care, and financial institutions, providing a high level of service to his North Shore constituents.

“When first elected in 2001 I thought I

knew just about everything that was worthwhile knowing in the world and I found out I didn’t know sh&t – about people, about humanity, about the human condition. And, once elected, I got my nose rubbed into it real quick,” he said. “The job was so fascinating I would pay to do it. I felt guilty sometimes.”

During his time in office Ralph worked on the Legislature’s Public Accounts Committee and was caucus liaison to the Ministry of Finance. Ralph served as Chair of the Select Standing Committee on Health, which completed a landmark study on childhood obesity, and headed the B.C. Mining Task Force.

When Ralph announced his retirement after 20 years of service, Brent Richter reported in the North Shore News that “King Ralph is abdicating his throne.”

Since retiring Ralph says that he pretends to garden, messes around with his 34-foot trawler – inaccurately named Carefree – and visits as often as he can with his four grandchildren. He is still visible at community events such as the Rotary Seniors Luncheon and Save Navvy Jack community meetings. He regards his formative years in mechanical

engineering at UBC, and the work and quantitative disciplines he learned there, despite time out to court Shirley, as keys to his academic success at Harvard and whatever else

he has tried to do in life.

Ralph, we thank you for your service to this community and wish you well in your deserved retirement.

Ralph with Jim Pattison and James Moore, Seaspan expansion.

With UBC President, David Strangway at the launch of Quest University. Photos provided In constituent listening mode.

wife of 43 years, Steele.

The Horseshoe Bay Shopping Mall

In 1925 the Blue Dragon Inn opened on the site of what is now the Horseshoe Bay Shopping Mall. While the street address is 6612 Royal Avenue, it faces “Little Bay” on the north and Bruce Street on the south side. Back then, there was a drainage ditch which ran downhill from Chatham Street along the east side of Royal Avenue, so you had to cross it to get into the inn. It was also known over the years as The Chalet, The Horseshoe Bay Hotel and finally, The Cottage Inn, which I’m told was renowned for its pancakes.

After the building was demolished, the site was vacant for a while. In early 1984, Acton Enterprises put forward an interesting plan to build 17 retail spaces with 17 apartments above. It was to be a live/work complex, a

concept which was just coming into style. The design would have been an innovative and interesting addition to our area. The sales brochure stated an estimated price of $155,100 per unit. That would buy a retail space on the ground floor, with underground parking and storage, along with an apartment above. Unfortunately, a lack of funding halted the project.

In November of that year, Van Maren Construction held a public meeting to consider application for their development on the site. This vision was built and consists of a onestory building and a two-story building with residential above. It took a long time to finally lease out all the spaces, with the first tenants moving in around the time of Expo ‘86.

Among those first tenants was Erika’s Deli in the spot where C Lovers is now. Erika’s was a wonderful addition to the village with its great German food. When Erika sold up it became an Indian Restaurant where you could always get a delicious curry. Sadly, it did not last long before it became the Ivy Restaurant and Deli, then The Green House Restaurant.

Another one of the original mall tenants was a marvelous antique shop at the corner of Bruce and Royal. The owners had “guest welcomers” in the form of two friendly cats that lived in the shop.

In 1987, when Marshall Wells Hardware opened it was welcomed by all, but sales must have been slow and after its demise it became the Horseshoe Bay Christian Centre, later sitting vacant before becoming The Bay Pharmacy.

Other long-term tenants include Flour Bakery who have been serving delicious treats for many years, Pudgie’s Pizza (originally Captain’s Pizza) who have been offering tasty pizza since 1988, and the popular HSB Sushi

which has been serving sushi since 1997. HSB Hair Design has been keeping residents’ and ferry passengers’ hair smart and tidy for over 20 years.

Horseshoe Bay Chinese Restaurant opened many years ago in a space that had formerly been a bakery, whose owner would – to the annoyance of other businesses –throw bread crumbs onto Royal Avenue, which created a pest problem with growing flocks of pigeons.

Like other parts of Horseshoe Bay, the mall was a popular venue to film TV series and movies like Bates Motel (2013–2017) and Nancy Drew (2019–2023). The trailer for the movie Joe Finds Grace (2017), includes a clip of the Horseshoe Bay Motel’s now missing rotating sign top with its TV on one side and leaping salmon on the other. Let’s hope that when the motel site is redeveloped the remaining sign can be saved, perhaps reunited with its missing top piece, but I guess that’s a story for another time.

Under construction circa 1986.

Photo: Chris Adshead The Cottage Inn, post 1936.

Photo: courtesy of aw.avan Archives(0723.WVA)

ANNE BAIRD ANNE’S CORNER

Mouse in the house

Iwas walking home down a shady lane off the seawall when I spotted a scurry at the side of the path. A tail whipped into a bank of spring flowers and vanished in the direction of the nearby apartment block. It was undoubtedly the tail of a mouse. I know a mouse tail when I see one.

It took me back to my days in White Plains, New York, where my family lived in a spacious home next to a stream, and a wild park. Surrounded by trees, our home was a haven for squirrels, raccoons, and rodents: water rats, rats, and mice. My mum, Ruth, was fond of animals. But she drew the line at mice in the house.

“They belong outside,” she said.

At dinner one evening, she made a dreadful announcement.

“Chris,” she said to my father. “There’s a mouse in the house. The kitchen, to be exact. I have found droppings.”

As if to confirm this, we heard a scuf-

fling noise in the kitchen, behind the closed door. Uh oh.

Dad sprang into action.

“Stand back, everyone,” he ordered. “I’ll deal with this.”

He grabbed the evening newspaper and rolled it up into a club.

“Back, back!” he hissed. “Get behind me. When I say ‘now’ Ruth, you slap the door open, and snap on the light. I’ll get the little bugger.”

Right! When Dad ordered, my two brothers and I jumped.

“Now!”

Mum pushed the door open and snapped on the light. Dad raised his club and made ready to deal the killing blow. We children crowded around to witness the final battle.

There he sat. The tiniest mouse you’ve ever seen, licking his small paws with a delicate pink tongue. Startled by the sudden light, he turned to look up at Dad. His

enormous ears and large, liquid eyes overshadowed his baby face. But he didn’t run. He just stared up at us all, too young and innocent to make a run for it.

Dad raised his club higher, and waved it furiously, preparing to strike with all his strength. We held our breath. I closed my eyes, unable to witness the execution.

Suddenly, Dad lowered the club. He snapped off the kitchen light and closed the door. He turned to face us.

“He isn’t hurting anybody,” he said gruffly. He tossed his club onto the sofa, where

it unrolled and became a newspaper again. He suddenly seemed to notice that we were all crowded around him, our dinner sitting neglected upon the table.

“What are you all standing about for?” he demanded. “Get back to the table! Your mother fixed a good meal for us, and it’s getting cold!”

We hastened to obey.

“Yes, Dad.”

Dinner was great.

The mouse was never seen or mentioned again.

The sights and smells of summertime

Sometime around the middle of July summer really starts and your garden should be full of colour and fragrance. Here are some points to think about:

• Water plants wisely by watering deeply in the morning only and make sure those hanging baskets are watered daily.

• I really like composted bark mulch as a great cover around flowering shrubs to hold in moisture after watering. Don’t dig in though as it robs nitrogen.

• It’s best to keep your lawn longer now at about 2.5 inches to protect from the heat of the sun. I don’t recommend fertilizing in July or August. Start in September.

• Many fast-growing vegetables such as lettuce, radish and arugula can be replanted regularly to ensure continuous

harvest. Other vegetables that can be planted now for fall harvest are beets, Brussels sprouts, carrots, kale, Swiss chard and spinach.

• If you are composting, keep it moist and turn it over regularly.

• It is so important to keep your roses’ root base moist at this time. Water only to the base in the early morning.

• Pinch back those annuals almost daily and flowering shrubs especially roses which you prune back to the next leaf bud on the stem. Roses too love a layer of well rotted steer manure dug into the first inch or two of soil.

• Late in August it’s time to snip off the flowering stems of lavender, not the foliage though, as that should be done in February.

• If you’re growing raspberries, cut last year’s fruiting stems to the ground and tie the newest canes (next year’s fruit) to a support.

• Feed your flower containers with a half rate or fertilizer every two weeks for superb flowering.

• August is a good time to prune back wisteria to three buds on the main stems. They get pruned later in mid winter.

• My favourite plant at this time of year is Cistus (Rock Rose) which flowers continuously through July. It loves heat and is drought tolerant.

Will modernist features stand the test of time?

BY Laura Anderson West Vancouver Historical Society

West Coast Modern Week returns on July 4, 2023, with its annual celebration of this distinctive architectural style with its deep roots in our community.

The addition of a guided walking tour, Gems of Ambleside, expands the exploration of modernist elements to a curated group of buildings, from the iconic Villa Maris to others less well-known, along with a glimpse into their histories.

The walk culminates at West Vancouver Memorial Library’s Bricktacular exhibition, with the Villa Maris, aka “the Pink Palace,” rendered in LEGO® in all its Mediterranean glory.

The Coronation building, built in 1953, is among the less well-known buildings. According to its commemorative plaque, the name marks Queen Elizabeth II’s ascension to her 70-year reign. The building is unobtrusive, notwithstanding the modernist use of concrete and horizontal window strips. The location –

southwest corner of Marine Drive and 17th Street – is important. This is where West Vancouver began.

Picture that location 100 years ago.

From 1911 to 1953, the Hollyburn General Store, known as Ferguson’s, stood at this cor ner. The surrounding land was owned by John Lawson. The family home was at Navvy Jack House. The Lawson cow pasture and orchard is a grocery store and parking lot today. The BC Hydro sub-station stands where Lawson’s office stood.

Across from his office and next to his barn, Lawson built the first general store. The barn made way for the Masonic Hall, now a fitness club. The store made way for the Hollyburn Pa vilion. The CIBC building stands there today. Both the Pavilion and the Masonic Hall were community connectors, hosting meetings, concerts and dances.

Seventy years later, the Coronation building is getting a face lift. Will the modernist features be retained, or will they be modernized? The stories, memories, and history of this corner of West Vancouver will remain. Will they be re membered?

203-768 ARTHUR ERICKSON PLACE

Evelyn is close to it all! Shopping, restaurants, beaches, parks & trails. This very roomy, freshly updated 2 bedrooms & den condo has a wrap-around terrace, an open kitchen concept, oor-to-ceiling windows, elegant master bedroom with en-suite and Savant Home Tech System. Interior features include sub-zero fridge, Miele gas cooktop and convection wall oven, granite countertops and wide plank engineered oak hardwood ooring throughout. Evelyn also comes with a fully equipped Wellness Centre with a spa & sauna room for your pleasure throughout the year!

The Pink Palace LEGO® construction at West Vancouver Memorial library. Photo: Chris Stringer

Luxury Living Reimagined

It’s not everyday you come across the perfect place to live, where refined comfort, convenience and stunning natural surroundings elevate the everyday.

For a limited time, we have beautiful 1- and 2-bedroom suites available with air conditioning! These luxurious suites offer south-facing ocean views and thoughtfully selected interiors. All packaged with our exclusive PARC Active LivingTM program and upscale amenities including a state-of-the art seniors gym, fitness classes, art and cultural programs, chef-prepared cuisine, an onsite Wellness Nurse, complimentary transportation and more.

“ Franco’s network in our preferred area allowed him to identify our dream home before it was officially listed and our offer was accepted on listing day. At the same time during the process of selling our existing home it is an understatement to say Franco went way above and beyond to counsel and provide a balanced perspective when needed. We are truly grateful and it is a real pleasure to recommend Franco.”

Keith & Julia Hazell

In the 13 years that I’ve helped my clients buy and sell homes here, I’ve always felt that I’m not just selling a home, I’m selling a lifestyle. When I move someone into a new home, the process doesn’t end with me handing them the keys; I’m involved in connecting them with their new community - my community. I was fortunate to grow up in Eagle Harbour and my husband, in Horseshoe Bay. Our son and daughter learn in the same classrooms that we did at Gleneagles - it doesn’t get more local than that. Since childhood I’ve been familiar with the trails, parks and beaches that my family enjoys today. I feel very fortunate to have fashioned a successful career doing what I love to do in this beautiful area I call home and I would love to help your family buy or sell the West Coast dream... because I believe it is.

$3.95M 6239 WELLINGTON AVE

This beautifully renovated 7 bdrm / 5 bthrm / 5,528 SF Kelvin Grove home boasts incredible panoramic views on all 3 levels. Hidden below the street for maximum privacy, this home reveals its magnificence the moment you step inside. 3 bdrms up; an impressive main floor with a 1000+ SF sundeck; TWO spacious 2 bdrm suites. Lots of updates, a detached garage and a separate studio.

Nestled in absolute privacy, this extraordinary 5 bdrm + office / 5 bthrm / 5661 SF residence sits on over half an acre surrounded by lush gardens. Main level features an open plan with gourmet kitchen. 4 spacious bdrms up plus a large hobby room. Downstairs offers a games room, gym, sauna, hot tub & tons of storage. A greenhouse, double garage & gated flat driveway complete this remarkable home.

This one of a kind 3 bdrm / 3 bthrm / 3400 SF semi-waterfront architectural masterpiece boats a unique nautical theme. It features stunning vaulted ceilings, curved walls, stained glass details and incredible panoramic views from every room. Situated on a 18,783 sq ft lot at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac, surrounded by tranquil manicured gardens. Complete with a separate studio attached to the main house.

Experience luxury coastal living in this completely renovated 3 bdrm / 4 bthrm / 2467 SF home. This architectural masterpiece boasts br eathtaking ocean views from every room. Every detail has been well thought out, from the vaulted ceilings to the floor-to-ceiling oriel windows and skylights that flood the home w/ natural light. Walking distance to Garrow Bay, school, local shops, restaurants & transit.

Horseshoe Bay Sanctuary by Westbank is a vibrant waterfront community framed by nature. This brand new 2 bdrm / 1 bthrm / 941 SF suite boasts 500 SF of outdoor space & ocean views. Features include 10” ceilings, travertine stone fireplace, Miele appliances, granite slab countertops & wide plank floors. Steps to unique shops & restaurants. Complete with private boathouse & a 26ft Chris Craft boat for your leisure.

Move in ready 5 bdrm / 4 bthrm / 3071 SF family home sits at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac with marina and garden views. Ideal floor plan on 3 levels - main floor boasts beautiful vaulted ceilings, hardwood floors, updated kitchen off the cozy family room and two back decks. Upstairs offers 3 large bdrms and downstairs you’ll find 2 more bedrooms and a large rec room with garden access (easily suitable).

Inhabit the essence of majestic Lions Bay in this one-of-a-kind 4 bedroom home surrounded by unparalleled ocean and nature views. Imagine entertaining friends and family on your large viewing deck or flat, grassy yard. A warm community awaits you - just a short walk to three beautiful beaches, trails, community hall, general store, café and pre and primary school (in West Vancouver school catchment).

Tastefully updated and meticulously maintained 4 bdrm / 3 bthrm / 2739 SF family home sits on its own private oasis with stunning ocean and nature views. Incredible setting with beautiful perennial plantings, soothing creek and private old growth forest next door. The home offers an ideal open floor plan with 3 bedrooms up and a rec room and 4th bedroom down. Walk to beach, trails, store, café & school.

Experience luxury coastal living in this completely renovated 3 bdrm / 4 bthrm / 2467 SF home. This architectural masterpiece boasts breathtaking ocean views from every room. Every detail has been well thought out, from the vaulted ceilings to the floor-to-ceiling oriel windows and skylights that flood the home w/ natural light. Walking distance to Garrow Bay, school, local shops, restaurants & transit.

This impressive 6 bdrm / 4 bthrm / 3725 SF West Coast residence is perched on a spectacular 14,228 SF lot with sweeping SW views of Howe Sound. Upstairs features 3 spacious bdrms, main level boasts an open kitchen/dining/living room with incredible vaulted ceilings, large picture windows & sliders to an expansive entertaining deck and lower level offers great suite potential. Complete with garage & carport.

First time ever on the market, this home was lovingly built by its owners in 1969, who still reside in the house today. This 4 bdrm / 3 bthrm / 2833 SF residence is situated on a private treed lot set back far from the street at the end of a flat, quiet cul-de-sac. Well maintained and lots of updates in this beautiful home. Enjoy the peace and tranquillity of your very own slice of nature.

No expense was spared in this completely renovated 5 bdrm / 4 bthrm / 3100 SF family home at the end of a quiet cut-desac in Garibaldi Highlands. Home of a woodworker with custom solid wood cabinets, doors and finishing details throughout. Stunning kitchen opens onto an impressive covered deck and private fenced backyard with large shed and gate access to the trails. Complete with mortgage helper.

LIONS BAY

LIONS BAY

LIONS BAY

NORTH VANCOUVER

HORSESHOE BAY

HORSESHOE BAY

5704 WESTPORT ROAD $3,200,000 EAGLE HARBOUR

195 ISLEVIEW PLACE $2,189,000 LIONS BAY

8595 ANSELL PLACE $2,750,000 HOWE SOUND

6239 WELLINGTON AVENUE $2,950,000 HORSESHOE BAY

5707 BLUEBELL DRIVE $2,500,000 EAGLE HARBOUR

2024 BLUEBIRD PLACE $1,999,000 SQUAMISH