Local News – Front Porch Blog
Our Neighbourhood News: From the Front Porch of LynnValleyLife
Hi there neighbours, and a very warm welcome to our blog, From the Front Porch of LynnValleyLife.
Why do we call it ‘From the Front Porch’? Because that’s where the real news of a community is shared – on front porches and sidewalks, and in coffee shops and playgrounds. So sit down and stay awhile…. and check back regularly, so we can keep you in the Lynn Valley loop.
Visit here for musings on local life from our neighbourhood observer, Lynn O’Malley, and stories from our editor Peggy Trendell-Jensen. Publisher Jim Lanctot weighs in with news from the world of Lynn Valley real estate, and we look forward to bringing you a range of guest voices from your valley neighbours.
If you have any tidbits of interest, please send them along to our neighbourhood news-gatherer, Robin, at [email protected]. We can’t guarantee we’ll be able to post them all, but we’ll do our best to spread the word on this blog page or on our Facebook site!
Healthy goodness Valley to Shore
Inspired by her own adventures in growing food led an Upper Lynn mom to take on the mission of providing local, quality produce to North Vancouver homes. All it took was meeting the right farmer to help launch Valley to Shore Harvest Boxes. Planting seeds Healthy living and eating has ...
( ...Read More )
( ...Read More )
Trail closure approaches second anniversary
As February approaches, a local resident is asking the district of North Vancouver why an important local trail has been closed. Lynn Valley’s Emily Graydon questions the two-year closure of Hastings Creek Trail and why it's hard to get answers from the DNV. Unstable Significant erosion along the eastern bank ...
( ...Read More )
( ...Read More )
Kids community choir launching this spring
There will be a bit more music gracing the hills of Lynn Valley this spring. The Lynn Valley Voices Choir is expanding to include a children and youth choir this April. Banding together The established community choir at the Lynn Valley United Church, Lynn Valley Voices, is growing with the ...
( ...Read More )
( ...Read More )
The triumphs and tragedy of 2021: a year in review
With another year around the sun and the ongoing pandemic, the year in Lynn Valley was marked by tragedy and triumph. Small and mighty Our top-performing website post was also our second-best performing social post. The honour goes out to Beatrix Reilly and her campaign to support BC Children’s Hospital ...
( ...Read More )
( ...Read More )
Parade of Trees
The lights will shine again in Lynn Valley Dec. 5. The Lynn Valley Community Association is returning with its Parade of Trees at Lynn Valley Village and Lynn Valley Centre Plaza. Bright lights The Parade of Trees will be ongoing until Jan. 1. The 11th annual community event brings together ...
( ...Read More )
( ...Read More )
Good Neighbour 2021: Bob McCormack
It is our greatest pleasure each year to recognize a person in our community for the work they quietly do to make Lynn Valley and the North Shore the best place to live. While the world saw him take the Olympic torch over the Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge in 2010, ...
( ...Read More )
( ...Read More )
Lighting up Lynn Valley
For eight years the lights have been twinkling behind Ruth Crescent. The almost hidden path behind Froggy Pad Daycare has been bringing neighbourhood smiles, raising money and shedding much-needed attention on underserved community issues. You are invited to visit the magical walk this December. Community built In the cold and ...
( ...Read More )
( ...Read More )
Local love this holiday season
There has never been a better time to support a local business. With flood tragedies, international shipping delays and fuel shortages, it's the perfect time to stay close to home and find unique gifts from service providers and entrepreneurs in our own neighbourhood this holiday season. Art and Fashion Glass ...
( ...Read More )
( ...Read More )
Celebrating the growing season
As the grey and the rain threaten to wash us away, we are so pleased to shine some light on the summer and fall we had by announcing the winners of our Fall Fair contest. It was a challenging year with the heat dome raging on in late June. While ...
( ...Read More )
( ...Read More )
Rocking in a covid world
Artists often say art isn’t what they do, it’s who they are. When the Covid-19 pandemic began in March 2020 there were no more gigs for musicians like Paul Gemino. A passion to play began on a rainy front porch one night at 7pm, soon a neighbourhood was coming together ...
( ...Read More )
( ...Read More )
Local student’s art to help LGHF
When he couldn’t quite put his thoughts into words, turning to art helped Bjorn Thor be heard. The Lynn Valley Elementary Grade 7 student is the winner of the Lions Gate Hospital Foundation’s annual greeting card contest. Colourful creation A piece from a young local artist is doing double the ...
( ...Read More )
( ...Read More )
Looking for our Good Neighbour 2021
Some would say 2021 was another year of crisis. Lynn Valley has seen some horror, some change, some upheaval, and most definitely some hope. We want to celebrate the community members that share their time and skills to make our neighbourhood better. We are once again looking for nominations for ...
( ...Read More )
( ...Read More )
Managing North Shore emergencies
The North Shore Emergency Management office has just released a plan to get residents thinking about how they will take care of their families if disaster strikes. This is part three in our series about environmental risks, wildfires, and the impacts on the North Shore. Regional approach A new director ...
( ...Read More )
( ...Read More )
Stepping up for sick kids
Just weeks after leaving BC Children’s Hospital Beatrix Reilly spent her summer summiting 10 mountains. The nine-year-old is bagging peaks to bring IV medical treatments to sick kids. A day's play turned life upside down Much of Reilly’s free time is spent outdoors. A typical North Shore tween she spends ...
( ...Read More )
( ...Read More )
Virtual Fall Fair
With torrential rain in September and heat domes in June, Lynn Valley's gardeners needed to adapt and innovate to make a garden worth celebrating! So many of you have. Short walks around the neighbourhood have discovered 10ft tall sunflowers - favourites of ours! - dazzling dahlias and whimsical wildflowers. The ...
( ...Read More )
( ...Read More )
Pick-A-Pumpkin
Without the community pumpkin patches turning up in local schoolyards, we are opening our office doors for you to come Pick-A-Pumpkin for FREE! Happy Halloween With so many closures and loss of community gatherings, we are missing the annual pumpkin patches that take place across the street from our offices ...
( ...Read More )
( ...Read More )
Local writer tackles youth mental health
Suddenly managing schooling and health care during a pandemic, on top of working and parenting, Lynn Valley’s Lisa Bournelis turned to writing for respite. Her first novella hit the shelves at the local library and online stores in July, and she hopes it will help kids with their mental health ...
( ...Read More )
( ...Read More )
Ecology anniversary
Five decades ago a very special flower blossomed above Lynn Canyon. Next month the Lynn Canyon Ecology Centre will be celebrating its 50th anniversary of education and outreach for local kids, families, and visitors to our community. Join the festivities starting October 2. Early vision As British Columbia looked to ...
( ...Read More )
( ...Read More )
Living in a looper landscape
Mid-July if you took a walk through the forest, you likely ran into hundreds of tiny hanging caterpillars. The larvae were lunching on hemlocks and other conifers, in the matter of weeks turning the hillsides from green to brown. Unfortunate timing also brought a heat dome to Lynn Valley and ...
( ...Read More )
( ...Read More )
Election 2021
Last month, LynnValleyLife reached out to all of the candidates with a list of questions about the election and how Lynn Valley factors into their vision of the future. Unfortunately, only one candidate took the time to respond. Election 2021 The early election called by the Trudeau government will take ...
( ...Read More )
( ...Read More )
From local bike shop to Olympic elite
With years of international experience, Adam Trotter landed in Japan last month as part of Canada’s Olympic delegation. It was his second Olympics as head mechanic of the mountain bike team. Climbing to the top Following his bike from Ontario to Lynn Valley, Trotter has been on the road with ...
( ...Read More )
( ...Read More )
Stop thrifting, start swapping
Eco-fashion is booming and the clothing resale market is the fastest-growing segment. As Lynn Valley’s Geraldine Durant noticed the climbing prices at local thrift shops, she created a more community-oriented swap. Think globally, act locally Inspired by the eco-focus of her former employer, Lynn Valley’s Cousteau School, Durant has been ...
( ...Read More )
( ...Read More )
Bears at risk in Lynn Valley
This past weekend, the plan was to kill Lynn Valley bears. Two traps were set up Friday night. It’s becoming an all too common problem. The last weekend in July a Lynn Valley bear spent its day as high as it could go in a tree, trying to evade the ...
( ...Read More )
( ...Read More )
Fire ready North Van
As fire destroyed Lytton just days ago, it might be a good idea to refresh what Lynn Valley residents can do to make themselves FireSmart and take preventative measures to help support the District of North Vancouver Fire and Rescue Service’s efforts to protect the community. Well resourced As a ...
( ...Read More )
( ...Read More )
Stitched with love
A local artist experienced in healing is leading the Lynn Valley Love sewing project. Quilter, artist, and instructor Berene Campbell is hoping the works will help reclaim the Lynn Valley Library and Village after the March 27th attack. Lots of love As an artist and creator Campbell has felt a ...
( ...Read More )
( ...Read More )
Creative clubs for summer fun
As the community opens up there are a number of ‘clubs,’ some sprouting for the first time to keep people of all ages busy this summer. Lynn Valley Ecology Centre The Ecology Centre usually offers some cool respite from the summer heat. Nestled in the forest it typically a ...
( ...Read More )
( ...Read More )
Graduating in a year of Covid
The grads of 2021 have had a roller coaster of a year. There were times it looked like there might not be a school year at all and by the end, the chance to celebrate was so close - but not quite there. We chatted with Argyle Secondary School graduates ...
( ...Read More )
( ...Read More )
Forging in the forest, not foraging
It took three years and countless hours to go from clicking an intriguing YouTube link to becoming a master bladesmith in his own right. Lynn Valley Forge’s Casey Vilensky now ships his creatively crafted knives all over the world. Forging patience With a background as a luxury car mechanic and ...
( ...Read More )
( ...Read More )
Celebrating June with Mountain Market
For more than 15 years Mary and Steve Choi have been doing business on Mountain Hwy - Mountain Market is an institution in Lynn Valley. Looking to brighten up your spring Mary is joining us with a flower giveaway. A community needs corner stores Whether it is spending your ...
( ...Read More )
( ...Read More )
Camping meal solutions
As travel and leisure activities shut down last year it sparked an idea for Kim Saunders. The local mom is leveraging her work experience to create a side hustle that gets her family and others outside for easy camping adventures. Camper Hampers was launched earlier this spring and she has ...
( ...Read More )
( ...Read More )
Q