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 Robin Thorneycroft. Our realtors Jim Lanctot, Kelly Gardiner & Melanie Butchart bring news from the world of Lynn Valley real estate, and we have a range of guest voices from your local 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 or on our Facebook site!
Romer’s Fresh Kitchen sneak peek – and contest
Opening its doors soon, the new Romer’s Fresh Kitchen & Bar is the next venture from Lynn Valley icon Ron Slinger (formerly of the Black Bear Neighbourhood Pub) and fellow BC Restaurant Hall of Famer Kelly Gordon. Together with chef-partner Jim Romer and business partners Nate Dick and Justin Thompson, ...
Community institution gets a new look
There are more changes than just a fresh new look coming to Lynn Valley’s beloved breakfast spot - Tommy’s Cafe. New owners have plans to keep what makes patrons come back week after week while adding a more diverse menu and evening hours. Longtime manager Sara McDonnell is excited about ...
Your One Stop for 2024
Our LynnValleyLife office has brought together experts to help you take care of your home and life. Whether you plan to downsize, renovate your home, make that will you have been putting off or want to see how you can maximise your home equity, our team and office mates are ...
A coach for life’s curve balls
As a busy working mom, Vanessa Gladden knew exactly when and where she had to be to keep her business and family on track but somewhere in the heart of that she knew she was lost. Fast forward several years and Gladden is a life coach helping other women find ...
Life goals at any age
Barrie Street believes big goals matter. It’s essential motivation to live a full life. He is already planning his second TedTalk - for his 90th birthday. Street plans to complete his 3000th Grouse Grind on his 95th birthday. After that, it's to make his 200th blood donation on his 105th ...
Thriving creative community
Lynn has a reputation for attracting creative types. Tucked away from the city the river was an early weekend getaway from Vancouver’s big city drawing artists to the forested oasis. Today’s artists and creators walk the same paths of The Group of Seven’s Frederick Varley. Both our feature profiles from ...
Take advantage of new savings tools
There is still time to squeak in some savings for your first home. In April of this year, the federal government introduced the First Home Savings Account. This new savings tool is a registered plan allowing you, as a prospective first-time home buyer, to save for your first home tax-free ...
Shop local this season
At this time of year, through all the hustle and bustle there are holiday solutions right in our own backyards. From quality caterers to specialty artists to great small shops. Lynn Valley has a thriving scene of makers, crafters, creators and business people offering great options to make your holidays ...
Local authors make must read list
Just in time for the wet grey days of winter, the North Shore libraries have just released their annual list: the North Shore Writers Collection. With the help of the North Vancouver District Library, we have pulled out six Lynn Valley authors who are proudly on this year’s list. A ...
New option for dogs at Lynn Valley Centre
Lynn Valley’s Save-On Foods has gone to the dogs. Well, perhaps, it's quite the opposite. The dogs are going to Save-On and everyone is a bit better off. The two new green dog houses at the outside entrance to the store are new PetParkers that make it easier and safer ...
Good Neighbour 2023: Maureen Bragg
North Vancouver and Lynn Valley would not be the community it is today without the tenacious advocacy of our Good Neighbour 2023 - Maureen Bragg. From protecting Lynn Canyon to opening up access to North Van’s foreshore, much of the land we routinely use to recreate is accessible because of ...
When Red Bull rings, hang on for the ride
When Kelsey Toevs was walking the halls of Argyle Secondary, snowboarding down Grouse or pointing her handycam up to Fromme she never imagined she would level up her passion to travel the world filming for action sports icons Red Bull. The big screen This summer in the late evening light ...
Fabricating fun
If you are walking by Argyle Secondary you might see a metal owl perched on the roof of a nearby home. At the same time, you might hear the screech of a metal grinder or the roar of an acetylene torch but maybe not because those could be drowned out ...
Saying good-bye to the Black Bear
With less than a month until the Black Bear Neighbourhood Pub closes its doors, owner Ron Slinger is grateful, proud and excited. The neighbourhood institution opened in 1997 with one dream - the same one that led him to open the Queens Cross almost 20 years earlier - to make ...
Who is our Good Neighbour 2023?
It's the most wonderful time of the year! It is Good Neighbour season! For more than a decade we have been shining a light on those that make Lynn Valley the best place to live! We want to celebrate the community members who share their time and skills to make ...
Newsletter sign up
We would love to send our news directly to your inbox. Please sign up below. Sign up Looking for more? There's always something fun and exciting happening in Lynn Valley. Check out our Community Events Calendar or learn more about Local Activities, Mountain Biking or Hiking and Walking Trails ...
New company tackling jobs you don’t want to do
There is no shying away from hard work for these industrious Argyle Secondary students. Leveling up their resume, Rohaan Drar and Morgan Garstin, have started their own company. Now offering yard and labour services, the pair is employing 10 other students. Argyle Students Services is aiming to help Lynn Valley ...
Maximize your Output
Building on work in professional sports, Olympic games and academic circles, Lynn Valley’s Ben Sporer is launching a book this month to take lessons he has learned as an elite sports physiologist to help others maximize their Output. Embracing opportunity With more than 25 years working in the field of ...
Historic help
In the heart of Lynn Valley, there are three generations of Lynn Valley Elementary. Many are familiar with the bustling modern school, some may know the red wooden schoolhouse now home to Lynn Valley Preschool, but nestled between the two is stately second Lynn Valley Elementary. Today, it is home ...
Pre-hibernation bear awareness
With the summer gardens we love coming to an end, there is no doubt it will be attracting wildlife prior to hibernation. In this season of harvest in Lynn Valley’s forests and yards becoming more bear aware will help you and our furry neighbours. Preventing backyard bears The North Shore ...
Community invited to Creekside Commons
Lynn Valley is blessed with hiking trails, canyon walks, and mountain adventures - but not everyone has the time, the energy, or the physical ability to take part in rugged recreational opportunities. So St. Clement’s Anglican Church set out to offer the community an inclusive natural retreat for rest and ...
Kicking open its doors soon
Kids and adults alike will soon be kicking up a storm in Lynn Valley. Debuting this September there is a new martial arts gym at Lynn Valley Village. Putting a twist on the typical gym, co-founder Denise Dehestani is excited to offer something she, as a parent, knows is desperately ...
Whimsy and wonder planned for new toy & book store
Tucked into the east side of Lynn Valley Centre an oasis is forming for local kids and parents. Forest Fairy Books and Toys will be opening its doors later this month aiming to foster whimsy, wonder and joy. The store of mother-daughter team Avril and Hannah Whitney’s dreams wants to ...
Performer profile: ReeVay Music
Live and Local is bringing some fantastic talent to Lynn Valley Village throughout the summer. Showcasing a range of styles, the plaza will be pumping mid-day on Tuesdays and some Thursdays and Fridays. Hitting the stage on July at 11 am is ReeVay Music. Award-winning song writer From his beginnings ...
Live and Local returns
Lynn Valley Village will be bustling this summer with a full slate of free Live and Local performances and activities for this summer. From games to bands to airbrush tattoos, all the local favourites are coming back. Family-friendly big games The Lynn Valley Village plaza will be filled with Big ...
The ultimate 2023 summer bucket list for Lynn Valley
You don't need to look far for summer fun, adventure and a few ideas to fill up all those summer hours. We have some pretty fantastic options to beat the heat, spray up some fun and just try something new in the neighbourhood. Some family bucket list ideas 1‘Late night’ ...
Foodie Fridays at the Legion
The Lynn Valley Legion is bringing back an entire summer of Food Truck Fridays. The summertime tradition has been a favourite for the last two summers. July Food Truck Fridays FRIDAY, JULY 7TH MAHSHIKO KOREAN FUSION – The best Bibimpap! FRIDAY, JULY 14TH TBA FRIDAY, JULY 21ST TOP ROPE ...
How to make your home unattractive (to criminals)
With increasing notifications from social media, it can feel like our neighbourhoods aren’t the idyllic places they were “back in my day.” The reality is: North Vancouver experiences 39% less crime than the national average and you can participate in one key pillar of that safety: Blockwatch. BC's second biggest ...
Pancakes, performances and a parade
The grand tent will be coming back to Lynn Valley Park and the parade will hit the streets as Lynn Valley Days return June 23 & 24. With the community stage booked to capacity and volunteers stepping up, the Lynn Valley Lions are excited to be drawing the community together. ...
Pineapples growing on our North Shore
There is a sunny window on the North Shore that is brimming with pineapples, plumeria and bougainvillea. Perhaps more typically found in Hawaii, the mini garden is finally bearing fruit in Lynn Valley. Mini-farm LynnValleyLife.com’s own Robin Thorneycroft has been growing pineapple plants in Lynn Valley for nine years. “It ...
Q