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TED talks come to Lynn Valley!

Well, you could live-stream next week’s TED conference from your home computer, but it will cost you $600. (Of course, that beats the $7,500 in-person ticket price.) Fortunately, there’s a third option for those of us who want to take part in the excitement of Vancouver’s first-ever TED talks, but also pay the mortgage – free front-row seats at the local library!

In honour of TED’s 30th anniversary year, organizers are allowing schools, libraries and universities to live-stream the short talks, given by leading-edge thinkers and creators on a wide range of topics. Many people have already viewed at least a few TED talks online, which are archived and freely available on their website, or on Netflix. Some of them, such as Sir Ken Robinson’s talk “How Schools Kill Creativity,” achieve a viral popularity – that presentation in particular has been viewed over 25 million times.

TED will be the “talk” of the town next week, so take advantage of the opportunity to pop into the library and join the buzz. Public sessions at the Lynn Valley library are as follows:

Monday, March 17

6 p.m. – 7:45 p.m., LV Community Room

Session 1: Lift Off

Nicholas Negroponte – Tech visionary
Chris Hadfield – Astronaut
Elizabeth Gilbert – Writer
The Education Reformer – Educator
Mark Ronson – Music Producer and DJ

Tuesday, March 18

9 a.m. – 10:15 a.m., Lynn Valley Program Room

Session 2: Retrospect

Bran Ferren – Technology designer
Marc Kushner – Architect
Yoruba Richen – Documentary filmmaker

Wednesday, March 19

Lynn Valley Program Room

9 – 10:10 a.m.
Session 5: Us

Nancy Kanwisher – Brain researcher
Rob Knight – Microbial ecologist
Stephen Friend – Open-science advocate
Jon Mooallem – Writer
Geena Rocero – Model and activist
David Chalmers – Philosopher

11 a.m. – 12:45pm
Session 6: Wired

Charlie Rose – Conversationalist
Margaret Gould Stewart – User experience master
Del Harvey – Security maven
Chris Kluwe – Punter and author
Jeremy Kasdin – Planet finder
Avi Reichental – 3D printer
Hugh Herr – Prostheticist

2 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
All-Stars Session 3: Where Are We Now?

Salman Khan – Educator
Tim Berners-Lee – Inventor
Amy Cuddy – Social Psychologist
Allan Savory – Grassland ecosystem pioneer
Bjorn Lomborg – Global prioritizer
Amanda Palmer – Musician, blogger
Clay Shirky – Social Media Theorist
Lawrence Lessig – Legal activist
Bryan Stevenson – Public-interest lawyer
3:45 – 5 p.m.
All-Stars Session 4: I Heart Design

John Maeda – Artist
Stefan Sagmeister – Graphic designer
Moshe Safdie – Architect
Sarah Kay – Poet
Pattie Maes – Researcher
Juan Enriquez – Futurist
Barry Schwartz – Psychologist
JR – Street artist
Aimee Mullins – Athlete and actor

Time: 6 – 7:45 p.m.
Session 7: Why?

Wendy Chung – Geneticist
Helder Guimarães – Magician
Allan Adams – Theoretical physicist
Jason Webley – Musician
Jim Holt – Writer and philosopher

Thursday, March 20

LOCATION: Lynn Valley Program Room

9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Session 8: Hacked

Marco Tempest – Techno-illusionist
Keren Elazari – Cybersecurity expert
David Epstein – Sports science reporter
Ed Yong – Science writer
Ray Kurzweil – Inventor, futurist
11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Session 9: Signals

Sara Lewis – Firefly specialist
Deborah Gordon – Ecologist
Randall Munroe – Cartoonist
Andrew Connolly – Astronomer
Will Marshall – Space scientist
Louie Schwartzberg – Filmmaker

2:30 – 4 p.m.
All-Stars Session 5: The Future is Ours

Stanley McChrystal – Military leader
Dan Dennett – Philosopher, cognitive scientist
Susan Cain – Quiet revolutionary
Rodney Brooks – Roboticist
Elizabeth Pisani – Epidemiologist
Michael Shermer – Skeptic
Jimmy Wales – Founder of Wikipedia
John Hunter – Educator
Helen Fisher – Anthropologist; expert on love
Martin Rees – Astrophysicist
Steven Johnson – Writer
Ken Robinson – Author/educator

March 15, 2014 in Blog, Community Events, Current News

World-class magic show amongst late-winter diversions

This wet shoulder season, existing between winter’s slush and springtime’s sun, can be a damp and forlorn time of year – in other words, one not always ideal for entertaining kids on a two-week break from school. Fortunately, there are a number of local diversions for Lynn Valley families to keep both children and adults busy this month.

Most novel is the appearance of Shawn Farquhar at Friday Night Live on Friday, March 7. This internationally acclaimed magician has appeared on the Ellen show and even managed to hoodwink magician/comedian duo Penn and Teller on their British television program Fool Us. This is perhaps not surprising, given that Farquhar has won numerous international awards, including the Grand Prix World Champion of Magic title in the Olympics of Magic in Beijing in 2009.

Farquhar has appeared once before at Friday Night Live, and FNL organizers say he was an incredible hit, staying behind for an added 90 minutes to engage with the audience. They say the Maple Ridge native is delighted to be returning to Lynn Valley this week – warmed, perhaps, by memories of the birthday cake they had waiting for him at his last FNL appearance. As always, the Friday Night Live guest performance will be bookended by hilarious musical theatre improv performed by Add Libretto, working off suggestions provided by the audience.

For more information about Farquhar’s appearance, and upcoming FNL guests, visit www.fnlnorthvan.com. Tickets are $10 each, or $25 per family (and people under 12 are free).

Kids break ground

There’s still time to register for the Real Farming series for six to 12 year olds. On the first Saturday morning of each month from March through to June, participants will roll up their sleeves and learn about urban farming at Loutet Farm, just off Grand Boulevard.

The ecology centre itself will be hosting by-donation “Wildlife Weeks Family Events” during the school break. From March 16 to 28, a wide range of events will be presented, from black light puppet shows to visits from birds of prey and reptiles, to learning about a day in the life of a wildlife rehabilitation worker. For information on the programs and other spring break opportunities, click here.

Library offers movies, books, crafts

Libraries offer more than just books these days (although the 200,000-plus books circulating in the local library system could keep anyone busy for several lifetimes).

Also on offer, however, are family movie nights (Dallas Buyers Club and Frozen are being screened at the Lynn Valley branch this month), craft workshops and Lego clubs. See our events calendar for a few events happening at the Lynn Valley library this month, or visit the library website for a full listing.

March 3, 2014 in Blog, Community Events, Current News

Crowd of 500+ hears Bosa proposal for Lynn Valley mall

Four hundred chairs had been set out, but they proved unequal to the task of seating the overflow crowd of residents who came out Wednesday night to learn more about the Bosa Developments proposal for the transformation of Lynn Valley Mall.

photo courtesy Maureen O’Brien

Some of them had previously attended an informal September presentation, during which Mark Sager outlined the new vision Bosa had developed based on months of dialogue with the community. (For an overview of the “mountain village” design, which includes a completely refurbished shopping mall and two 12-storey residential buildings, click here.)

“I don’t know if you realize how much your input has shaped this,” said Sager as he finished his slide presentation. “We have done our best to try as hard as we can to address the community’s wishes.”

Knowing that traffic is a big issue for those people concerned about increased densification in Lynn Valley, for example, Sager announced that Bosa Developments has offered to finance the addition of an extra lane at the entrance to the Trans-Canada Highway, at the highway overpass marking the end of Lynn Valley Road, a proposed improvement that has been met with enthusiasm by all levels of government involved.

The audience question-and-answer period that followed Sager’s presentation took place under the direction of Catherine Rockandel, an independent, third-party facilitator who described her role as ensuring that all voices were heard in an environment of “respect and civil conversation.” She noted that all comments coming from the floor would be recorded and included in her report to North Vancouver District Council – though at least two council members were spotted in the audience, taking in the evening for themselves.

Comments from the floor were very largely positive, with even those opposed to increased density in Lynn Valley tipping their hat to Bosa Developments for the compromises they have made in response to community feedback. Glenn MacKenzie, one of the founders of the “Stop Hirises” campaign in Lynn Valley, called Bosa “a great developer”, and focussed his criticism not on the plans themselves, but on the whole issue of densification in Lynn Valley.

Most, people, however, seemed to think that a redevelopment of the area is long overdue. Ron McLean and his wife moved to Lynn Valley almost 50 years ago, when a house cost three times his annual teacher’s salary. Now, he says, a house costs about 15 times the typical teacher’s salary, and the eight houses around him, which used to house 23 children between them, are now home to only four children. His own kids have had to move away, with the result that he and his wife don’t see their grandchildren more than three or four times a year. “I have to agree that high rises are appropriate,” he said. “We have to share the wealth of our community.”

Ian Jarvis was next to the microphone and waved across the crowd to Ron McLean. “I used to play soccer with your son, Cam,” he said. “We were often ‘those kids’ who hung out at the 7-11.” He, too, wishes he could live back in Lynn Valley, and expressed his appreciation of the efforts being made to achieve greater housing diversity. When he saw the signs protesting the addition of high rises to the community, he assumed that 30 or 40-storey towers were being planned. “But 12 storeys, are you kidding me?” he said, prompting laughter from the audience. “That’s a high rise?”

While it is not uncommon for older, well-established residents to resist change in their neighbourhoods, many of the people speaking in favour of the proposal have in fact lived in Lynn Valley for decades. They pointed to increased community amenities, options for downsizing their housing, and the walkability of the Bosa redevelopment as attractive features of the proposal.

A resident of Craftsman Estates, who lives across the street from the mall and would be directly affected by the construction plans, also spoke in favour of the development. “I’m thoroughly impressed with the Mountain Village look and the willingness of Bosa to work with the community,” said Hazel Boyd, noting that the mall should offer a more robust business environment and that the District of North Vancouver needs more of a tax base to ensure future economic health.

There is still much to be discussed as the project is negotiated, however, including the best use of the allocated community amenity space, and ongoing dialogue about traffic management plans, aspects of which are already under way. This latter issue, of course, is not solely specific to the Bosa proposal, but an overall part of the District’s implementation of the Official Community Plan for Lynn Valley Town Centre. (Click here and scroll down to #4, Additional Information, for a link to the Lynn Valley transportation study commissioned by North Vancouver District.)

photo courtesy Maureen O’Brien

Feedback from Wednesday’s public information meeting will go back to North Vancouver District staff, who will prepare a report for council either recommending that the application be denied, or that it proceed forward to public hearing. For a step-by-step look at the whole approval process, read this post; we have just completed Step #5.)

If you haven’t yet had a look at the plans and drawings for the proposal, visit the Bosa storefront in the mall in the former pet store space, or click here. Your feedback can be sent directly to Mark Sager by clicking the orange tab at the left of the screen on his Lynn Valley Connect site.

On February 13, the District of North Vancouver’s Advisory Design Panel unanimously passed a motion of recommendation to the District Council in support of the proposed re-zoning. Public input will be taken at the public hearing stage, should the application proceed.

February 21, 2014 in Blog, Current News, Development and Town Planning, Governance and Services, Merchant Mentions

Lynn Valley, LynnValleyLife top reader poll once again

Coming to you from the blowing-one’s-own-horn desk is the happy news that LynnValleyLife.com was once again voted the North Shore’s Best Website in the North Shore News Readers’ Choice Awards for 2014. As you can imagine, we are immensely grateful for this show of support from our website followers.

Even better, though, we are delighted to note that Lynn Valley was voted the North Shore’s Best Neighbourhood! We know how many local people work to make this community the friendly, neighbourly place it is, so this recognition is a big tip of the hat to all of them! And a big shout-out, too, to the Black Bear Neighbourhood Pub, which has won top place in its category every year since it opened its doors in 1997!

Other Lynn Valley businesses and landmarks showed strongly in this year’s Reader’s Choice Award, which consisted of votes from a record-breaking 5,000 North Shore residents. Many congratulations to them all. We have listed them below, along with the links to their Merchant Profile on LynnValleyLife. This is a good chance to remind our readers that our profiles are a fun way for local residents to get to know our retailers better, so if you know one who isn’t represented on our site, do encourage them to contact us to take advantage of this free opportunity!

Winners

Neighbourhood – Lynn Valley!
North Shore website – LynnValleyLife.com
Tanning Studio – Beach Tanning Studio
Alternative Health/Therapy Facility – Lynn Valley Orthopedic Sports Physiotherapy
Yoga Studio – North Shore Elements YYoga
Dance Studio – RNB Dance and Theatre Arts
Business Lunch – Browns Socialhouse, Lynn Valley
Neighbourhood Pub – Black Bear Neighbourhood Pub
Hiking Trail – Baden Powell (we’ll take credit for the Lynn Valley Portion of it!)
Produce Store – Kin’s Farm Market, Lynn Valley
North Shore Tourist Attraction – Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge and Ecology Centre
Biking Trail – Seymour Demonstration Forest

Finalists

Seniors Service – Hear at Home
North Shore Annual Festival – Lynn Valley Day
Community Fitness Facility – Karen Magnussen Rec Centre
Gift Store – Red Tulip Gift Gallery
Caterer – Tommy’s Catering
Breakfast Restaurant – Tommy’s Cafe
Bakery – Westlynn Bakery
Place for Cocktails – Browns Socialhouse
Private Liquor Store – North Shore Liquor Shop
Hiking Trail – Lynn Loop
Health Food Store – Country Health
Dog Walker – Off Leash Adventures
Veterinarian – Lynn Valley Veterinary Clinic
Place to Walk the Dog – Lynn Canyon
Garden Centre – Maple Leaf Garden Centre
Florist – Posy
Best-Dressed Window – Posy
Drug Store – Shoppers Drug Mart, Lynn Valley
Optical Store – Lynn Valley Optometry
Travel Agency – Expedia Cruiseshipcentres
Bike Store – Lynn Valley Bikes
Seafood – Westlynn Meat and Seafood
Butcher – Westlynn Meat and Seafood
Hair Salon – Zazou

February 20, 2014 in Blog, Contests, Current News, Merchant Mentions

Hope, sweat and breathe to fund a cure

Hope, sweat and breathe. When times are tough, sometimes that’s all you can do. And when times are good? “Hope, sweat, breathe” can be the best plan of action then, too.

Lynn Valley’s Ryan and Deb Purcell have experienced both good times and bad over the past few years, since their eldest son Trey was diagnosed with MPS II Hunter Syndrome just as he was turning two years old. Deb describes that doctor’s appointment as a moment their “world came crashing down.” They learned that Trey’s rare disease – or “difference,” as they like to call it now – would likely curl his hands, compromise his bones and organ function, and shorten his life. (You can learn more about Trey’s story here.)

But along with the valleys have come many peaks – most noticeably, Trey’s acceptance into a North Carolina-based drug trial that has helped him immensely. Trey travels to North Carolina on a monthly basis in order to receive an IV enzyme infusion into the intrathecal space in his spine, which allows the critical replacement enzyme to cross the blood-brain barrier and get where it is needed.

Ryan and Deb know other families who have not been so fortunate. They help other parents advocate for similar therapy – while the enzyme is approved for use in Canada, not all provinces will fund its use – and they raise money to fund research into a cure for Hunter Syndrome.

Hope, Sweat and Breathe takes place on Saturday, March 1 – Trey’s 10th birthday, a milestone they didn’t always expect to celebrate. It will take place at Lynn Valley Elementary and feature a variety of yoga classes with different teachers. Doors open at noon, and 45-minute classes, suitable for everyone, will be held every hour from 12:30 through to 4:30 p.m. Attendance is by donation, and participants are asked to bring their own mat – and to stay for birthday cupcakes at 4:30! Other features will be a healthy-living trade show and a diamond necklace raffle.

Deb says it was important to her to host the event within Lynn Valley: “I believe community is so, so important. Life and parenting can be hard and I want us to be able to ask each other for help – watching kids, borrowing eggs if you run out while baking, lending tools and helping each other hang Christmas lights, that sort of thing.”

And as far as her son goes, she says “I want our community to know him. Especially when you have a child who has a lot of differences, it helps when people know who he is and what he’s about. That he may have hearing aids and may act silly or not talk the same as other kids his age, but that he LOVES life …..That all he wants is to be liked and included, just like the rest of us. I want us as a community to know and support our neighbours.”

As you can see by her unflagging support and advocacy for other families grappling with Hunter Syndrome, Deb is all about community. And while the number of children with Hunter Syndrome may be a relatively small group, their circle is wide – at the moment, Deb is actively advocating for a boy in Chicago whose condition will likely be terminal if funding for treatment is not approved.

Closer to home, Deb appreciates every bit of support they receive for the cause: “When Trey was diagnosed, Ryan and I were told Trey might not be alive at the age of 10. Everyone who supports our event in any way, shape or form, in my heart and mind, is joining our family…. No matter what the level of support, every bit has HUGE meaning in my heart.”

For more information about the event, Hunter Syndrome, or Trey himself, visit www.treypurcell.com.

February 19, 2014 in Blog, Community Events, Current News, Notable Neighbours

Lynn Valley home to Pookies, Pinkys and Snookums

After LVL-sponsoring realtor Jim Lanctôt mentioned that his wife Cindy was his “Cinderelly,” he and Kelly Gardiner decided that other Lynn Valleyites should have to confess their beloveds’ nicknames if they wanted an entry into our draw for a Valentine’s evening out. We put out the call, and we weren’t disappointed!

We now know our neighbours even better than we did before (and have learned to be careful what you wish for!) We are aware that Lynn Valley is heaving with Punkins, Snookums, Snuggle Bugs, Boo Boos, Dolls, Cuties, Pinkys and Puddin’s. There is a Sneep, a Winner, a Buddy Burger and a Big Ben. There is a good smattering of names that have their origins in different countries, such as a Filipino “Pre” (“my buddy”) and our winners in the draw, “Pippe” (doll) and “Pecas” (freckles).

And along with the endearments came some pretty endearing stories. Here are some of our favourites, anonymized as originally promised!

“Thank you for sponsoring this interesting contest. It made me sit down and think. T. and I have been married for four decades and I used to have a special name for him. But I forgot. Actually, familiarity doesn’t breed contempt. It breeds forgetfulness. Luckily, we are still deliriously happy because we forget what it was that used to bother us about each other!”
“My husband of 16 years and partner for 22 years (as of February 5th) have called each other “tokfeh”. It always seamed so sweet, cute kind of. Until we went to visit his family three years ago in Slovakia……they giggled for days, perhaps still today as we have been calling each other “turkey” for all this time. We have not let it go but do giggle about it once in a while….”
“So normally the nicknames we use for each other (this is so weird) is “dude”. So like the everyday stuff like “Dude, what do you want for dinner?” or “Dude, did you take the garbage out?” It’s not very romantic but we could never get on board with words like baby, hun or honey. But when we really want something from the other, like a late-night food run, ice cream, etc., we pull out the “Sweeeeetie punkin” or “Sugar muffin” and it works every time!”
“I call her “the red headed banshee that must be obeyed.” Or just “yes dear.”

And our sentimental favourite…

“I lovingly call my partner R. ” My Blunt Instrument of Love.” Her warm, kindness and ease of loving smack me across the side of the head ( i.e. Like a blunt instrument). Everyday I wake up to her wonderful presence.”

Thank you to everyone for giving us a peek inside your love life! We hope each and every one of you enjoy a happy day.

February 14, 2014 in Blog, Contests, Current News

“Pippe” and “Pecas” win “Love in Lynn Valley” Valentine’s contest!

We’ve been feeling warm fuzzies all week here at LVL headquarters, as our neighbours’ nicknames and endearments have been fluttering into our inbox on little Cupid wings.

We’re pretty sure that only a top-class enticement – like a Valentine’s evening out – could motivate the sharing of some of these private monikers. We’ve heard about Stinky, Snookum, and Sneep. And Punkin’ Butt, Pinky, and Pookie Bear.

Fortunately, we didn’t have to choose our very favourite, because there were far too many of those (look forward to a special Valentine’s Day post featuring some silly and sweet neighbourhood endearments!) By random draw, however, we chose from amongst the pool of lovebirds to pick “Pecas” and “Pippe” (a.k.a. Kirkstone Road’s Ingrid Gossler and her husband Mauricio Trigos) as winners of the “Love in Lynn Valley” contest.

Ingrid tells us that Pippe is German for “doll,” while Pecas means “freckles.” (Actually, thanks to a typo in Ingrid’s first email, we were originally under the impression that her nickname meant “freakles,” which we kind of like, too!)

The happy couple will have a $50 gift certificate to spend on dinner at the Black Bear Pub; management has promised to have their most romantic table ready and waiting. Following that, two tickets will be waiting at the door of Friday Night Live, which is putting on a special evening o’ love in honour of the occasion. Joining the usual troupe of amazing improv performers will be jazz musicians The Sharp Five, and dancing is on the menu following the performance for those interested in tripping the light fantastic. Also featured are some special refreshments – a chocolate fountain was mentioned – and wine, along with the usual complimentary treats and coffee, the latter of which is provided by Waves Coffee House.

Fortunately for the rest of us, Pippe and Pecas don’t get to corner the market on V-Day fun. (Though we WILL let them have their romantic table to themselves.) The Bear has a special Valentine’s Menu on for all to enjoy, and the love-themed Friday Night Live, hosted at Lynn Valley United Church, is definitely singles- and family-friendly; no significant other required to make this a fun evening! So even if you didn’t win the contest this time, we hope you still enjoy some “Love in Lynn Valley!”

February 12, 2014 in Blog, Contests, Current News

Cedar V theatre memories recalled

Just over two years ago, we wrote this post about the now-legendary Cedar V theatre, located next door to what is now the PetroCan station on Lynn Valley Road.

This week, we were happy to receive some more reflections, sent our way by Dave Whitmore, who lived at 2826 Crestlynn Place from 1958 till 1973. Thanks for the memories and the photos, Dave!

The Cedar V Theatre Years

I was born in 1950, and our family moved to Lynn Valley in 1959. At that time there was a small shopping centre with a Safeway, one elementary school, Eastview Elementary, and soon one high school, Argyle (finished in 1965, in time for me) and one theatre – the Cedar V Theatre.

The theatre was Quonset Hut-style building with a covered wrap-around area for the line-ups that also posted the marquee of shows playing. They always showed double features, and on Saturdays a half-price matinee for kids. The price was 35¢, later 50¢, and snacks were cheap, too. Also, they had hot dogs, a snack that has since disappeared from theatres.

When one of the two features were considered ‘adult only’, us matinee goers would be given a raft of cartoons and a ‘Three Stooges’ movie in place of it. Because of this, I have seen every ‘Three Stooges’ movie at least twice, and know the names of all five ‘Stooges’ characters: Moe, Larry, Curly (bald), Shemp, and Curly Joe (also bald).

Between features, there was a ‘Birthday Break’ where birthday kids came on stage and were given applause, a ‘Happy Birthday’ sing-along, and a free ticket and a treat. In all those years, my birthday never happened on a Saturday. Damn!

In the rear of the theatre were two soundproof ‘Crying Rooms’ with their own speakers and big glass windows. They were used in the evening where adults that had crying kids could go and watch the movie without disturbing others. On matinee days, they were occupied by all the local “tough kids” as a sort of clubhouse. Most of them were members of a loose Lynn Valley gang that called themselves ‘The Lynn Valley Smiling Crab Society’ (or LVSCS for short). In there they would smoke up a storm and drink smuggled booze; but that left everyone else in peace – so it worked out well for everyone. I’ve never seen ‘Crying Rooms’ in any other theatre, though some other theatres must have had them, too.

– graphic by Dave Whitmore

The family that ran it was the Chisolm family who lived upstairs in the theatre, and one of their kids (John , I think) was often in one of my high school classes. I always envied a kid who lived in the theatre. He was a small, mild-mannered guy, but unlike other small, mild-mannered guys like me, he never had to worry about the many bullies from the LVSCS and others, lest they be banished from the Saturday gang get-togethers in the ‘Crying Rooms’. A sort of ‘Diplomatic Immunity’.

Despite the fact that because I was always the smallest kid in my grade and got bullied a lot, the years in Lynn Valley were the best in my life. The schools and houses were surrounded by woods and trails, and Lynn Canyon Park had the free suspension bridge. Most people lived in the new suburban ‘Westlynn’ and ‘Westlynn Terrace’ developments and were generally pretty well off. And watching all the ‘Sinbad’ and ‘Beard and Sandals’ epic shows (eg: Ben-Hur, Barabas, etc) in technicolor at the Cedar V Theatre was a big part of it. Notwithstanding the shadow of the Cold War, these were happy innocent times.

– Dave Whitmore, former Lynn Valley resident

Dave Whitmore still visits his old haunting grounds in Lynn Valley.

Dave Whitmore still visits his old haunts in Lynn Valley.

February 12, 2014 in Blog, Current News, Guest Voices, Looking Back

Rice Lake rink a rare treat!

Rice Lake Feb 2014

Even those of us who have lived in Lynn Valley most of our lives don’t have many “back in the good ol’ days” stories about skating on local waterholes. The small ‘swamp’ off of McNair Drive in Mountain View Park would very occasionally freeze over enough to provide a destination for a few skaters, but there wasn’t room for many, and ‘skating’ was probably an over-generous verb to use to describe the experience of shakily navigating between the branches and logs frozen into the muddy ice.

(more…)

February 9, 2014 in Blog, Current News, Eco-Awareness & The Great Outdoors, O'Malley's Musings

Lynn Valleyites are sure cleaning up!

There's lots of streets getting some love in Lynn Valley!

There are lots of streets getting some love in Lynn Valley!

We recently received an email from NVD Community Beautification Coordinator Courtenay Fraizl (our lovely Adopt-a-Street boss!) It was an inspiring email for two reasons. First, as you can see from the map above (click on image for a closer look), the Lynn Valley neighbourhood is way out in the lead when it comes to the number of “adopted” streets – yay, LV!

But there’s lots of room for more participants, so call Courtenay at 604-990-3841 if you’d like to get in on the action. You’ll get some vests and picker-uppers, and a good excuse for a walk every month! We always learn something new about our neighbourhood when we’re out for a stroll.

Our second source of inspiration was this great quote she sent our way – it’s so true!

Volunteering is the ultimate exercise in democracy. You vote in elections once a year, but when you volunteer, you vote every day what kind of community you want to live in. – Marjorie Moore

February 6, 2014 in Blog, Current News, Getting Involved, Governance and Services