The Lynn Valley Community Association annual general meeting is coming up on Thursday, May 18, at 7 p.m. Please consider getting involved as a member – or even a board member! – to help keep Lynn Valley a community that is vibrant, welcoming and supportive of citizens of all ages and stages. Here is the press release from the LVCA:
It’s weed pull time again! Celebrate the first week of spring by getting your hands dirty with North Shore Streamkeepers.
The group is looking for volunteers to help remove invasive plant species and replant native species in Lynn Canyon Park on Saturday, March 25 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Some trees in the area are being “girdled” by ivy vines that will ultimately choke off the vessels that supply oxygen throughout the tree, so cutting off those vines is just one of the priorities on the list.
All ages are welcome, and attendees are invited to meet at the bottom of the hill from the trailhead of the Baden Powell, across from End of the Line (4193 Lynn Valley Rd). Bring along your garden gloves, drinking water, a reusable mug and weather-appropriate clothing; snacks, tools and good company are provided!
North Shore Streamkeepers undertake all sorts of studies and activities that protect our local waterways and enhance fish populations. Learn more about their work, and how to get involved, right here.
‘Twas the week before Christmas (or maybe a bit more)
When we asked you to keep your eyes peeled at the store
For gloves and hats, and protection from sleet
To help Cpl. Wong bring some warmth to the street.
You opened your hearts, and pulled out your purse
And here’s where we switch to narrative from verse…
It’s hard to switch into prose, however, because there was much that was poetic about our visit with Cpl. Randy Wong and his wife, Sahar Manochehri. The couple visited the LynnValleyLife editor’s home to pick up several large bags of items donated by readers to help stock the ziplocked care kits that Randy and Sahar assemble and distribute for the homeless in our local communities.
For those of us at LVLife HQ, a favourite holiday highlight is letting one of our local citizens know that they have been singled out for LynnValleyLife’s Good Neighbour Award. This year, we got double the pleasure, as this 2016’s Good Neighbours are a husband and wife. Wilna and Dave Parry were both surprised and delighted to receive the news, which was delivered along with a fresh Christmas wreath, donated Black Bear Pub gift certificate, and the promise of their engraved plaque in the new year.
Dave and Wilna have called Kirkstone Road their home for 26 years now, but these amazing Lynn Valley citizens took the scenic route to get here. Wilna was born in South Africa, and met Dave there as a young adult. Dave was an English speaker; at that time, Wilna only spoke Afrikaans. But a romance developed, and married life brought them to Canada.
Looking for some good news to warm a cold day? LynnValleyLife recently received this lovely press release from the North Vancouver RCMP, about a neighbourly initiative launched by Cst. Randy Wong and his wife, Sahar. Using money donated by Randy’s RCMP colleagues, the couple have been creating care packages for the men and women the constable encounters over the course of his days and nights on the streets of North Vancouver. The ziplock bags contain warm mitts, toques, socks, disposable rain ponchos, energy bars and other essential supplies for those whose lives are spent largely without shelter.
The Sixth Annual Lynn Valley Village Christmas Parade of trees is approaching, and we are already looking forward to seeing Lynn Valley Village transformed into a magical forest of decorated Christmas trees.
If you want to get in on the fun, now is the time to sponsor a tree and start thinking about your decorating approaching! Says the Lynn Valley Community Association: “Sponsoring a tree is a great opportunity to promote your business or organization, while at the same time supporting families in need and helping build a strong community here in Lynn Valley.”
$50 from each $200 sponsorship supports local families with needed food and gifts and any other net proceeds support the work of LVCA in the community, including the speaker series, trail improvement projects and community events. Dry goods and canned products for the North Shore Harvest Project are also collected at the grand lighting ceremony, which takes place this year on Sunday, December 4.
The LVCA encourages sponsors to decorate their trees as creatively as they like: the public votes for their favourite and there are awards for the best trees! Trees will be decorated on Saturday, December 3.
For more information or to sponsor a tree please email [email protected]. Cheques for sponsorship should be made payable to Lynn Valley Community Association and mailed to PO Box 16080, 1199 Lynn Valley Road, North Vancouver, V7J 3S9.
Discover a new hobby, explore a new interest, or just have some out-of-the-ordinary fun at this year’s Culture Days that run from Friday, Sept. 30 to Sunday, Oct. 2.
Culture Days kicked off in 2009 with the goal of making a broad variety of free pastimes available to the masses. People can sample all sorts of activities, and perhaps discover a pursuit they would like to explore further.
There are many events planned on the North Shore, as listed on the North Shore Arts Office website, and the following are being offered right in our own neighbourhood:
FAMILY RECORDS WORKSHOP – Get tips from the NVMA Archivist on how to organize family records, photos and treasures. Preregister: 604 990-3700 x.8016
WHERE: NVMA Community History Centre, 3203 Institute Rd
WHEN: Friday, 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
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FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE – A magical blend of improvised music and comedy with special guest, singer, songwriter and storyteller Ross Douglas.
WHERE: Lynn Valley Library Community Room, 1277 Lynn Valley Rd.
WHEN: Friday, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM
SHAKETOWN WALK – A guided walk with NVMA Curator Karen Dearlove with history and anecdotes about Lynn Valley formerly called Shaketown. Pre-Register 604 990-3700 x.8016
WHERE: NVMA Community History Centre, 3203 Institute Rd
WHEN: Saturday, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
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BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE ARCHIVES – A close-up look at how the NVMA archives cares for, and stores photographs, documents and precious items in the community’s collection.
WHERE: NVMA Community History Centre, 3203 Institute Rd.
WHEN: Saturday, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
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READING: DISTRICT OF NORTH VANCOUVER: A COMMUNITY OF COMMUNITIES – Noted author and historian Daniel Francis tells stories about North Van’s growth, unique neighbourhoods and the transformation from milltown to metropolis. Pre-Register 604 990-3700 x.8016
WHERE: NVMA Community History Centre, 3203 Institute Rd.
WHEN: Saturday, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
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FAIRFIELD MUSIC DEMOS & LESSONS AT THE LIBRARY– Fairfield Music offers instruments demos, mini lessons and a fun instrument making workshop for all ages.
WHERE: Culture Cram, Lynn Valley Library, 1277 Lynn Valley Rd.
WHEN: Sunday, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
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PERSIAN CULTURE ZOROASTRIAN EXHIBIT – A display of Zoroastrian manuscripts, costumes, books, magazines, ritual items and more.
WHERE: Culture Cram, Lynn Valley Library, 1277 Lynn Valley Rd.
WHEN: Sunday, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
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RNB DANCE PERFORMANCE – come out to a high energy performance in Lynn Valley Village presented by the talented troupe of RNB dancers.
WHERE: Culture Cram, Lynn Valley Library, 1277 Lynn Valley Rd.
WHEN: Sunday, 1:30 PM – 2:00 PM
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SPIRIT OF THE SOUTH SEAS DANCE – E komo mai… experience Hawaiian, Tahitian, Maori dance & music at this interactive performance & workshop. All ages welcome.
WHERE: Culture Cram, Lynn Valley Library, 1277 Lynn Valley Rd.
WHEN: Sunday, 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
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MULTI-LINGUAL STORYTIME – North Vancouver Librarians offer bi-lingual storytimes in English, Farsi, French and Cantonese for the whole family!
WHERE: Culture Cram, Lynn Valley Library, 1277 Lynn Valley Rd.
WHEN: Sunday, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
So, when’s the last time you wore that Aztek-style necklace hanging in your jewellery box? Or the green earrings that turned out to clash with everything in your wardrobe? Or the kindly meant birthday bracelet that just isn’t “you”? Hayley Kelly is hoping you’ll realize it might be time to let some of those pieces go.
Hayley Kelly and Robin Delany display some of the jewellery donated for an upcoming autism fundraiser.
Hayley has put together the first-ever North Vancouver Jewelry Drive in support of Autism BC. All you have to do is box and drop your offerings at the Lynn Valley Delany’s (or the Delany’s on Denman, if you’ve got friends overtown who would like to participate).
The collected jewellery will be displayed and sold on Saturday, August 27 in Lynn Valley Village from noon to 4 p.m., with all proceeds going to the Autism Society of B.C. Livening up the day even further will be live music, a BBQ, raffle prizes, and auctioned jewellery pieces donated from local designers.
Keep up to date with the project on Facebook or Instagram:
Facebook.com/northvancouverjewelrydrive
Instagram.com/northvancouverjewelrydrive
Start September in style with a few new additions to brighten up your wardrobe! Hayley writes: “With your community support, we can make the North Vancouver Jewelry Drive an amazing event!”
It wasn’t easy, but LynnValleyLife finally caught up with Lynn Valley Day organizer Eric Miura on Friday – a rare chance to spend some time with this uber-busy volunteer who juggles his day job with executive roles in the Lynn Valley Lions and Lynn Valley Community Association.
At this time of year, that means Eric and the rest of the Lynn Valley Day team are living and breathing plans for the huge community event, which in 2016 has grown from two days into three.
Looking for a summer job in accounting and marketing research? A close-to-home opportunity is available that might be just right for you.
The Lynn Valley United Church office is operating out of temporary lodgings while they await completion of their new church building a block north of the Mountain Hwy and Lynn Valley Rd intersection. For now, staff are bunking in with the North Shore Disability Resource Centre across the street, and Sunday morning services are held in the Lynn Valley recreation centre at the corner of Frederick and Mountain Highway.
Through a 2016 Summer Job Grant, the team is looking for a student (age 15 to 30) who can provide research and support to the church’s community programs, which include the weekly Friday Night Live musical improv and arts presentation, a community choir and drum circle, and participation in local events such as Lynn Valley Day.
If you, or someone you know, might enjoy being part of this high-energy neighbourhood network, have a look at the job posting here. Deadline for application is May 2, so don’t delay! For further information, please contact Shari Gardiner at [email protected].