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!
Living on the edge
We live in a special place. Nestled between two mountains on the edge of one of the world’s best cities, it is a unique situation shared by few other places. Where else in the world can you live a 20 minute drive from downtown but also be a 20 minute ...
Hitting local trails with kids
With Dr. Bonnie Henry’s call to stay close to home, to stay active and get outdoors, a new book is aiming to support local outdoor adventures with your kids. Local teen Harrison Crerar’s second book, was published by Rocky Mountain Books just last month. Foster a love of the outdoors ...
Isolation adventures in Upper Lynn
In the weeks prior to the covid-19 pandemic call to stay home and stay safe, Lynn Valley’s Paul Dixon was putting many kilometres on his car, traversing the Lower Mainland photographing whatever piqued his interest. That all stopped March 20. Stay close to home Retired almost two decades from his ...
Kindness rocks
There are bright spots popping up all over Lynn Valley - and we aren’t talking flowers. Never have there ever been so many painted rocks brightening gardens. Sparking joy and taking care of Mother Earth The painted rocks are bringing smiles to many people. There are local painted rock Facebook ...
Giving back to community builders
Supporting our community's local businesses throughout the COVID-19 outbreak is very important, how can you help? Time to think and act local Many small businesses in Lynn Valley are suffering during these difficult times, and it is time to look out and support the members of our community. You may ...
Pollinator power
Garden centres are buzzing with homeowners with free time, excellent weather and nowhere to go. Now is the time to think about what kind of garden you'd like and who you want visiting this summer. Creating pollinator habitats is a creative way the community can do something together while we ...
Finding HOPE in Lynn Valley
Walking down the street you might find some hope on Wellington Drive. Family tradition There is a house mid-way down the block that is always decked out for holidays. For decades the Tindales have been celebrating Christmas and Halloween with home and yard displays, but in the last few years, ...
Special Delivery for Lynn Valley Care Centre
We have launched Project Special Delivery, a community-wide effort to share heartfelt good wishes for everyone in the LVCC.We have heard from many of our readers who are searching for a way to show their support for the residents of Lynn Valley Care Centre and all who are working so ...
Celebrating Easter in New Ways
With Easter coming up on April 12th, we've had to put some thought into how to honor this annual celebration in new ways. Here are a few creative community building and celebratory ideas we've come up with to keep the Easter spirit going (since the Easter Bunny is a good ...
Facebook fun boosts RCMP profile
Have you been wondering about the face behind the North Vancouver RCMP’s Facebook page? We have! The force’s Facebook and Twitter posts have become ever more winsome and chuckle-worthy over the past months, and we finally decided we had to meet the clever keyboard copper behind them. RCMP social ...
Lynn Valley electrified
If you are still driving in Lynn Valley and managing to avoid road closures, construction delays and the chaos of the Lynn Valley Centre parking lot, you may have noticed a smaller project underway at the corner of Lynn Valley Road and Mountain Highway. Petro Canada has selected Lynn Valley ...
Year two of the speculation tax
For the second year in a row the province has sent out its Speculation and Vacancy Tax declaration forms. All homeowners must declare by their status by March 31. If you have declared before, you still have to declare again this year, even if there is no change to your ...
Loving Lynn Valley this Valentine’s
There is so much love in Lynn Valley! We love the environment, the neighbours, the small unique businesses, the rain (sometimes)! We have our picks for celebrating love this Valentine’s Day! Nothing but the best Flowers: Picking up flowers for your love for Valentine’s Day or just because – we ...
Lynn Valley on two wheels
Lynn Valley is heading out of some significant road construction as the 29th St. bike lane nears completion and another bike lane project scheduled to come up for summer 2020 on Lynn Valley Road. Without a doubt, cycling is part of the culture of North Vancouver. The District OCP goals ...
Feeling philosophical?
Sometimes there is nothing like a good discussion – peeling away the layers of ideas and learning something new. The Philosophers’ Cafe series does just that about once a month at the Lynn Valley branch of the North Vancouver District Library. Next up Feb. 10. A new discourse tradition The ...
Ready for Spring Break?
Despite all the snow - Spring break is creeping up on us. There are a number of activities to keep kids and tweens busy over the school holiday. Lynn Valley will be bustling with everything from film making to Lego to pollinators. The Ecology Centre is also back with its ...
Two more for One World
A new speaker series at the Lynn Canyon Ecology Centre is running and continues through February. One Earth. Learning at the Ecology Centre The One Earth series celebrates this special planet we call home. Explore its incredible diversity! See it through the eyes of scientists, naturalists, and photographers as they share their inspirational stories and knowledge ...
The best of 2019
When we reflect on the year that’s gone by, we are so glad we make our life where we do. What a year from Pigeon-gate to water main bursts, from local authors and businesses to annual celebrations. Here are some favourites from 2019. Biggest heart We loved sharing the Project ...
Project read for Project Samuel
Last year, the Pearmain family from Lynn Valley travelled for the second time to Zambia - suitcases stuffed with donated local soccer jerseys and reading supplies. It proved to be a powerful catalyst for Argyle student Hope Pearmain, who will embark on a four-month internship to teach literacy after graduating ...
Holiday roundup 2019
There are plenty of activities happening throughout Lynn Valley and the North Shore during the holiday season. Check out some of our picks. Ecology Centre The Lynn Canyon Ecology Centre is open during the construction in the park's parking lot and the upgrades to the suspension bridge. The centre has ...
Good Neighbour 2019 – Matina Spiropoulos
We say it over and over. We love Lynn Valley. Sure, the trees are great and the trails fantastic but what makes Lynn Valley our home is the community of people. We are so proud to shine the light on the good work that happens throughout the year. This year ...
(from the archives) The End of the Line: From family dream to neighbourhood gem
It began as a mom’s big idea. Connie Fay saw a chance to create a business that would matter - and with her son Jamie graduating high school she had the perfect business partner to do it with. In 2005 they bought the rundown corner store at Lynn Valley Road ...
A local solution for mountain safety
A Lynn Valley dad has launched a new business to keep adventurers safer in the mountains - across Canada. National issue, local solution The recently launched All Adventure aims to make essential safety equipment for backcountry adventures just a click away. “Living in Lynn Valley, when you hear the ...
Building youth business
Students at Lynn Valley Elementary have been exploring entrepreneurship and building businesses with an eye out to supporting BC Children's Hospital. Young Entrepreneur Fair After months of research, planning and creating Grade 7 students at Lynn Valley Elementary will be holding a Young Entrepreneur Fair Monday, Nov. 18 from ...
Think Red for the Holidays
With the busyness and frantic obligations of Christmas and the holidays, we are featuring some of Lynn Valley’s best options for holiday solutions. From finding that perfect something for that hard to buy relative to finding something small and sweet for someone small and sweet: we want you thinking red ...
Growing a social conscience
Argyle students harvested a bumper crop of Remembrance Day poppies from the most unlikely place - their metal work shop. Selling out in under two hours they have raised more than $100 for the Lynn Valley Legion. When an idea blooms “It started last year, when a student Ava Johnson ...
Who is your good neighbour this year?
It's one of our favorite times of year here at Lynn Valley Life: The Good Neighbor Award season. Year after year this is a highlight for all of us. Our quiet contributors Day-to-day we try to gather interesting and Innovative stories about Lynn Valley but one thing that is often ...
A chat with the mayor – and you can too!
Once a month you can head down to the Lynn Valley Library and have a face-to-face chat with the mayor. The open invitation is a longstanding and unique North Vancouver tradition. Meet your mayor Following in the tradition of past elected officials North Vancouver District Mayor Mike Little visits the ...
Election candidates
It’s election time! You can’t escape the political rhetoric and discussions dominating this month’s media. While you are getting a sense of the central issues crucial to each party’s campaign we wanted to make sure you have faces and a bit of background to put to the names we are ...
Make Local Pumpkin Patches a Fall Tradition
Head to central Lynn Valley for pumpkin fun for all ages Oct. 19! Lynn Valley Elementary School and Lynn Valley Parent Participation Preschool will be hosting their pumpkin patches to kick off the fall season. Lynn Valley Elementary Pumpkin Patch The Lynn Valley Elementary Pumpkin Patch is back! Opening its ...
Q