Lynn Valley Masons welcome others to join Lodge

Most local drivers pass by the nearly windowless grey building on the corner of Lynn Valley Road and  Harold without a second glance, it has long ago disappeared into the invisibility that comes with familiarity.

Walkers, though, travel at a different pace and have time to notice, and wonder about, this unique building that has housed Lynn Valley’s Masonic brotherhood since 1930. If he happens to be on the premises, Mason Phil Perry, a member of the Lodge since 2009,  welcomes their questions.

At an interview with LynnValleyLife, Phil and fellow Mason Alphonse Quenneville explained that the talk about freemasonry being steeped in secrecy and intrigue is largely urban myth fuelled by Dan Brown-style novels.

There was certainly no hesitation shown in welcoming LynnValleyLife over the threshold, even to the point of allowing its female editor into the Lodge’s inner sanctum, camera in hand. While this windowless upper-floor room is obviously decked out for ceremonial use – complete with flags, ornately carved podiums, and throne-like chairs on a raised dais – the lower level consists of an ordinary kitchen and eating area that houses social gatherings and the Lodge garage sales.

The history of freemasonry is undeniably rife with intrigue and readers interested in its roots can find fascinating reading on the BC and Yukon Grand Lodge website.

According to Phillip and Alphonse, however, today’s modern Masonic Lodges simply seek “to make good men better men.” The Lodge does not recruit members – “we’re not Amway,” says Alphonse – but instead wants members to be attracted to Freemasonry for its values and fellowship. Masons must be men 21 and over, but beyond that, the Lodge says “to be one, just ask one!”

Alphonse says the Lynn Valley Lodge is “blessed with a great gang of high-energy guys,” and Phillip notes that a growing number of the members are in their 20s and 30s. Beyond age and sex, the only requirement for membership is that initiates believe in a Supreme Being – however they choose to define that. Lynn Valley Lodge’s members include people of all religions, and those who do not outwardly practice any religion.  Membership in this cross-cultural group “is a constant, regular reminder that Freemasonry offers brotherhood and friendship across all of mankind,” says Phil.

In fact, discussion of religion and politics are forbidden in the Lodge, due to being potentially divisive. Values are instead imparted through the telling of moral tales, which Alphonse describes as universal allegories – similar to Aesop’s Fables, or Jesus’s use of parables in the Bible. The stories are only conveyed within the Lodge however, not to those outside it – not because their content is inflammatory, says Phillip, but because it allows Masons practice in maintaining confidentiality, an important life value.

Masons are also close-lipped – or modest, as Alphonse terms it – about their charitable deeds. According to the Lynn Valley Lodge FAQ page, Freemasons throughout the world give over three million dollars per day to a wide variety of causes, just some of which include Shriners’ children’s hospitals, learning centres for children with special needs, and the Masonic Angel Foundation, which helps needy individuals who do not fit other social services criteria.

Along with supporting other local causes, Lynn Valley and other B.C. Masons run the Freemasons’ Cancer Car Program in partnership with the BC Cancer Agency, providing free round-trip rides for people without transportation to their treatments.

 

For more information about the Lynn Valley Masonic Lodge, please visit their website.

Get ready for LynnValleyLife 2.0

What could possibly be better than LynnValleyLife, your neighbourhood news source? That’s easy – LynnValleyLife 2.0, coming your way later this month.

We’re excited to be unveiling some major changes that will make the LVL experience even more user-friendly. We know that readers often visit our website when they’re on the go, whether it’s to check out the details of a community event listing or the address of an open house. So we asked the good folks at SplitMango (a web development agency headed by Lynn Valley’s David Miller) to build us a site that is “mobile responsive.” That means that regardless of what device you are using when you visit LynnValleyLife.com, the content will present itself in the most reader-friendly way. No more squinting and “zooming in” required!

We’re also introducing a bulletin board forum that will allow Lynn Valley residents to talk directly to each other. We know that if you’re selling household treasures, looking for a babysitter or hunting for a lost dog, it’s the people down the street you want to reach, not the citizens of Port Coquitlam or Richmond. We’ve really been looking forward to launching this “classified ads” section – because who doesn’t love a little buying, selling, and swapping, especially when you can shop local?

Another upgrade will be a re-organized Merchant Profile section that will make it easier to search out the shops and services you need. So if you operate a business here in Lynn Valley and haven’t yet gotten on board, now’s the time. Just contact us at [email protected] and we’ll send you all the info you need to have your own page in our business section – for free!

It’s thanks to readers like you that LynnValleyLife is able to help local businesses, individuals and non-profits spread the word at no charge. We’re able to stay ad-free because our site is sponsored by Jim Lanctot and Kelly Gardiner, the top two RE/MAX realtors in Lynn Valley,* so your continued word-of-mouth referrals and real estate business will keep LynnValleyLife thriving well into the future. But don’t just sign on with Jim and Kelly because you love your neighbourhood news website – take a look at what previous clients have said about their work. You can be confident you’re making a great choice when you go with the LynnValleyLife team!

(*based on MLS sales in Lynn Valley, Braemar, Tempe, Westynn, Westlynn Terrace & Princess Park between 01/01/13 – 10/15/13).

LV Christmas wraps up with carol sing, prize announcements

A big tent kept merry-makers dry and bales of hay provided the seating at the wrap up of the Lynn Valley Christmas event in Lynn Valley Village.

Those who braved the evening weather were treated with holiday barbershop tunes from the Afterglow Quartet, kids’ activities in the community room, and even the chance to chat with Santa about last-minute wishes.

The big tent was full to overflowing by 7 p.m., when event organizer Dave Bruynesteyn took to the stage to announce the winner of the Best Decorated Christmas Tree, a people’s choice award tallied from votes taken from the big red mailbox in the village square.

This year’s winner, by a landslide, said Dave, was Team Finn, the ongoing Lynn Valley-based team that has raised over one million dollars for the B.C. Cancer Foundation since three-year-old Finn Sullivan succumbed to the illness in October 2008. (To learn more about their amazing efforts, have a look at this previous post.) A good number of Team Finn’ers were on hand to accept the engraved plaque, which had been removed for the occasion from its usual location on display in Delany’s.

Next it was LynnValleyLife’s turn to announce the winner of the Good Neighbour Award for 2013. It gave us a huge amount of pleasure to recognize Gord Trousdell of Burrill Road, and to read out this nomination sent in by an admiring neighbour. Gord had been invited to the event by his friend, so was on hand to accept the surprise honour. He received a plaque from LynnValleyLife’s Kelly Gardiner and Jim Lanctot, and a gift basket that included a Black Bear Pub gift certificate, a card, scarf and four tickets to Friday Night Live from Lynn Valley United Church, yoga passes to Laughing Chakra yoga, Christmas CDs from Rave On Studio, and a personalized tour of the RCMP detachment from press liaison officer Cpl. Richard De Jong.

Gord was touched by the recognition, as was his family – from his young kids all the way up to his mom – who were on hand to watch him receive the well-deserved honour. We hope you keep an eye out for other wonderful friends of the community in the days and weeks to come – we will be starting to ask you for nominations for the 2014 award in just a few months!

The neighbourly evening wrapped up with a carol sing with the BYOV (Bring Your Own Voice) choir out of Lynn Valley United Church, a community choir that anyone is welcome to join. Director Mary Yan invited people in the crowd to consider coming out to join the group – all you need is a love of singing.

Once again, our thanks to Dave Bruynesteyn, Gillian Konst and other hardworking helpers in the Lynn Valley Community Association and the Lynn Valley Lions who turned Lynn Valley Village into a Christmas wonderland for the holiday. If you’d like to give your neighbourhood the gift that keeps on giving, please consider joining your community associations so that there is enough people-power to keep these and other great events going strong into the future.

From all of us on the LynnValleyLife team, we wish each of our readers, clients and friends the blessings of joy and peace at Christmastime and in the year to come.

LVL publisher Jim Lanctot and editor Peggy Trendell-Jensen call up Gord Trousdell, winner of the Good Neighbour Award for 2013

Come celebrate neighbourly spirit this weekend

It was a pleasure to read your stories of the good folks of Lynn Valley who were nominated for this year’s Good Neighbour Award. You can read some of the top stories in the “Notable Neighbours” category of our Front Porch blog, here – they are happy reading for this time of year!

We are not going to announce the winner of this year’s Good Neighbour, drawn from among these entries. Not yet, anyway – that special presentation will take place down at Lynn Valley Village at about 7 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 22, just before community carolling with Lynn Valley United Church singers kicks in. (There’s super entertainment both Saturday and Sunday – check out the schedule here, but be sure to come down for the grand finale on Sunday night!)

In the meantime, though, we’d like to make brief mention of a few other great neighbourhood contributors, who have been recently recognized in other contexts than our annual Good Neighbour Award.

“Mortgage Dave” and Bob McCormack, just two of Lynn Valley’s very good neighbours.

We’d first like to say a big thank you to Dave Bruynesteyn, who is the hard-working mastermind behind the Christmas in Lynn Valley event, now in its third year. There are innumerable tasks to be done to make a decorated Christmas tree forest come alive in our village square, as well as the light-up and wrap-up events, and Dave is the organizing force behind it all. We know he has help from other fine folks in the Lynn Valley Community Association, but from searching out tree sponsors to carting off the heavy concrete tree stands once Christmas is over, Dave is in the thick of it all. Thanks so much, Dave, for lighting up Lynn Valley!

***

We’re also happy to pass on word that longtime community volunteer and Lynn Valley native Bob McCormack was awarded the Jeff Ehlert Award by the North Shore Disability Resource Centre (the award is named for the first executive director of the NSRDC).

Each year the Board requests submission from the members and employees as well as the community. The Board then selects the volunteer who best demonstrates the values of service, support and community. This year the award was presented to Bob, who works tirelessly to support NSDRC’s cause of “working for a community for all.”

Bob’s dedication to the community isn’t news to LynnValleyLife; we featured him in a ‘Notable Neighbour’ profile in our first year – have a look and learn more about this fine fellow!

Bob has volunteered for a huge number of local non-profits, including North Shore Neighbourhood House, North Shore Recreation Commission, North Shore Arts & Cultural Commission, Silver Harbour Senior Centre, Mollie Nye House, the Lynn Valley Seniors Association, and the Lynn Valley Community Association.

Highlights for Bob include being the co-chair of Valleyfest (the district-wide celebrations that took place in LV Village during the 2010 Winter Olympics) and being an Olympic torchbearer  at Lynn Canyon Park.

Congratulations Bob, and many thanks for the immense benefits you have brought to all of us in your community.

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Finally, in response to a community request, we would like to take a moment during our Good Neighbour campaign to honour Mike Cregan, a Lynn Valley Elementary School teacher who passed away suddenly two months into the school year.

“Every time I saw Mike he was always upbeat and friendly, and seemed to have lots of energy for all the kids. He always had something positive to say and was always encouraging them on,” said local resident Bill Newman.

We were so sorry to learn of Mr. Cregan’s death, and know his loss was felt tremendously  at the school.

***

We are fortunate to live and to work in a community filled with good neighbours such as these – and many, many more we have yet to hear about! Please come out and share some Christmas spirit with us on Sunday evening in Lynn Valley Village, and help cheer on the Good Neighbour Award recipient for 2013!

 

2013 Good Neighbour Award nominee: Megan McAloney

Do you know someone in Lynn Valley who would make a good candidate for this year’s Good Neighbour Award? Please send us your story about the person in our community who has made our world a better place, in ways large or small (whether they live next door to you or not!) Over the upcoming season of peace and goodwill, we will share our favourites on the website and draw from amongst them the recipient of the 2013 Good Neighbour Award and prize package. Details are here; deadline for entry is Wednesday, December 18. We look forward to hearing from you!

 

Neighbour is best friend to all – including dog

Megan is a very kind and caring person. Apart from looking after her husband and two daughters, she also cares for her grandparents who live in her basement suite, with a lot of patience and understanding.

She is always one of the first people in the street to welcome new residents. Every summer she organizes a block party for all the neighbours. The last couple of years she has successfully applied for a grant from North Shore Neighbourhood House to host the block party.

We asked Megan once to feed our dog, as we were only getting home late. There was a thunderstorm and Megan was concerned that our dog would be frightened. She took the dog to her house where they cuddled her until the thunderstorm had passed. She left a lovely note to let us know that they loved having our dog over and love caring for her.

Megan always has a friendly greeting for all the neighbours. We are so lucky to have her as our neighbour!

– submitted by Lise Pitt

2013 Good Neighbour Award nominee: Lynn Valley Lions

Do you know someone in Lynn Valley who would make a good candidate for this year’s Good Neighbour Award? Please send us your story about the person in our community who has made our world a better place, in ways large or small (whether they live next door to you or not!) Over the upcoming season of peace and goodwill, we will share our favourites on the website and draw from amongst them the recipient of the 2013 Good Neighbour Award and prize package. Details are here; deadline for entry is Wednesday, December 18. We look forward to hearing from you!

Principal says Lions deserve recognition for support

I would like to nominate the Lynn Valley Lions for their considerable donations of time and support to our school….  they really go the extra mile to support community events and fundraising for our students.

Thank you to each and every Lynn Valley Lion!

– submitted by Deborah Wanner, Lynn Valley Elementary School principal

How Rapid Notify system was deployed in search for senior

 

Although the recent search for senior Joan Warren ended tragically, the event served to galvanize first responders and local citizens in an unprecedented manner thanks to the use of communication tools such as the Rapid Notify system, an automated system that broadcasts critical messages to listed telephone numbers as well as self-registered private numbers, cell phones and email addresses.

This week we contacted Dorit Mason of the North Shore Emergency Management Office (NSEMO) and Cpl. Richard De Jong of the North Vancouver RCMP to learn more about some of the behind-the-scene practicalities of the Rapid Notify system and other factors that played a role in the search for Mrs. Warren. Their responses have been edited for publication.

To learn more about the North Shore’s plans for emergency response in a variety of situations, and the tools every citizen should employ to self-prepare for urgent eventualities, we encourage you to visit the NSEMO website.

LVL: How long has the North Shore had the Rapid Notify network in place?

Mason: The system has been in place for approximately 18 years, for use by the municipalities on the North Shore. It is funded by Canexus [the chemical manufacturing and handling company that has a terminal on the North Vancouver waterfront] as part of their Responsible Care program.

LVL: How many individuals were contacted in the Warren search?

Mason: On December 6, 2013, we identified  approximately 32,000 contacts within the initial area and roughly 39,000 calls were completed – this includes those individuals who self-registered and had multiple contact methods. On December 7, 30,000 calls were completed.

LVL: It took a few hours for that many telephone numbers to be contacted. Do you think people should avoid registering multiple telephone numbers for one household, so as not to unnecessarily slow things down?

Mason: The length of time for a callout is dependent on a number of factors. This includes the length of the message, how many times the number is redialed (up to three times in an attempt to reach the person), how many rings occur before it is picked up, as well as the number of calls being made.

The message that was delivered in this instance attempted to balance the length of the call with the need to provide enough information to the public to help them act (i.e., search their back yards).

We recommend that individuals self-register and include multiple phone numbers as they may be away from their home when an emergency occurs. The only access the system has to personal emails and cell phones is through the self-registration feature.

The public should also continue to obtain information from the media, social media (i.e., twitter/Facebook sites from the municipalities, police, NSEMO, etc.), agency websites, and so on.

LVL: How precise can you be in terms of what specific neighbourhoods are contacted when the Rapid Notify system is deployed? What was the scope of the Joan Warren call-out, and what factors played into that decision?

Mason: The decision by the RCMP was to encompass a radius of approximately 5 km from the care home on Friday night, and on Saturday to expand the callout to other parts of the North Shore.

LVL: The Rapid Notify telephone alert wasn’t as specific as to Mrs. Warren’s point of origin as was the original press release (the phone call alerted people to a senior missing in North Vancouver, while the press release was Lynn Valley-specific). Why was the phone message not as specific?

Mason: The decision was made to not include the location because we needed the community’s help to look for her throughout the North Shore. If a location had been given, our citizens may not have made the effort to search their properties because they felt it was not within their neighbourhood.

LVL: 

There were so many citizens who wanted to help. Were any lessons learned for the future as to the potential for efficiently harnessing this people-power? Did you have concerns about citizens out bushwacking in the woods?

Mason: During any emergency, members of a community come together to help each other. This is a fact that has been seen all over the world during disasters and is the first step for community recovery.

We were so grateful to the citizen action – our community banded together to search for a vulnerable individual and although the outcome was tragic, it is truly an example of how our community responded to the call for help.

The message instruction was specific to searching their properties/backyards because we did not want citizens to go into any areas that could put them into danger. Other efforts were being coordinated by the RCMP to search these areas.

Cpl. De Jong: There was a lot of public interest.  North Shore Search and Rescue also re-twitted our press releases and Tweets, which gave more exposure as well.

Most people kept to their residential area for searching; word got out amongst neighbors and friends.  There were no reports of large-scale confusion or disruption to the search efforts.

A safety message is always paramount in these situations.  Safety of all involved is key. There were no reports of ‘searchers’ getting in the way in the woods or getting lost.

LVL: What other means of communicating urgent messages might be employed? I’m thinking of portable digital roadside signs, for example, for people who aren’t tuned in to the media. Or are you confident that the Rapid Notify system achieves a good saturation of the populace?

Mason: Rapid Notify is only one tool within our toolbox to reach out to the populace. Other methods can include ‘door-to-door’ campaigns by responders, using loud hailers on response vehicles, using media/social media. Utilizing roadside signs is also an option that has been used during emergencies in other places.

We encourage people who live or work on the North Shore to self-register with Rapid Notify as it is one tool that may be used to communicate with them during emergencies. Individuals can sign up for Rapid Notify at www.nsemo.org and include cell phones and emails.

LVL: Any observations or comments about how the weekend search went; what worked really well or what tweaks might be considered for the future?

Mason: As with any response, we always review and tweak response actions after the fact so that it goes more smoothly in the future.

The feedback that we have had with regards to using this system to try and locate Mrs. Warren has overall been extremely positive. I have heard of examples where teenagers informed their parents that after they answered the call they searched their backyards, people were searching the bushes as they were out walking, and individuals took detours around the neighbourhood while out on errands.

Once again we thank the public for their assistance in trying to locate Ms. Warren. Although the situation ended in tragedy, the concerns of the citizens and their actions in trying to locate her were greatly appreciated.

Cpl. De Jong: Over all a tremendous show of community support and sympathy was shown for the Warren family.  We can always learn from past experiences and will debrief our successes and challenges.

 

 

2013 Good Neighbour Award nominee: LV United Church

Do you know someone in Lynn Valley who would make a good candidate for this year’s Good Neighbour Award? Please send us your story about the person in our community who has made our world a better place, in ways large or small (whether they live next door to you or not!) Over the upcoming season of peace and goodwill, we will share our favourites on the website and draw from amongst them the recipient of the 2013 Good Neighbour Award and prize package. Details are here; deadline for entry is Wednesday, December 18. We look forward to hearing from you!

Church welcomed neighbourhood newcomer

When I was new in the community, Lynn Valley United Church welcomed me with open hearts and friendly smiles.  The church also opened up the choir to the community (which I heartily joined, as Mary the director is fun and I loved the music) as well as a monthly drum circle facilitated by the talented and fearless leader, Lyle Povah (which I also participated in).  It is indeed a musical environment extraordinaire with the likes of soaring singers such as Reverend Blair Odney, and a finger-twinkling accompanist/pianist named Matt who will blow you away!

In fact, there are numerous wondrous activities year-round for neighbourhood folks of all kinds, including (and not limited to):  the fabulous funny and talented Friday Night Live shows (a different version of laughter therapy); the famous, frolicking Fall Fair (truly!); Lynn Valley Days where we were literally “Singing in the Rain!”; the lovely Lynn Valley Festival of Trees – I’m a tree lover and hugger!; and the annual, cozy Christmas neighbourhood party with secular and spiritual music, carols, cookies, and crafts.  A taste of community…there’s something for everyone!

– submitted by Elly Stornebrink

2013 Good Neighbour Award nominee: Gord Trousdell

Do you know someone in Lynn Valley who would make a good candidate for this year’s Good Neighbour Award? Please send us your story about the person in our community who has made our world a better place, in ways large or small (whether they live next door to you or not!) Over the upcoming season of peace and goodwill, we will share our favourites on the website and draw from amongst them the recipient of the 2013 Good Neighbour Award and prize package. Details are here; deadline for entry is Wednesday, December 18. We look forward to hearing from you!

From tapping syrup to shovelling snow, Gord is there to help

I’d like to nominate our neighbour, Gord Trousdell, for the good neighbour award. Besides always being a cheerful encounter with interesting conversation, Gord is always willing to help out.

One of our first experiences of Gord’s kindness was during the snow of 2006 when our car got stuck; hearing the whirling tires Gord came running up the street with shovel in hand reading to dig and push until the car was free. To this day, I imagine him wearing a cape while running to rescue us.

Little did we know that this was one of many times Gord would be there to lend a helping hand. Throughout the years, Gord delivered kettle corn to our children’s birthday party (made by his equally fabulous wife, Lil), helped make our deck, helped shovel snow off our roof, babysit our kids; the list is endless.

Not only is he generous with his time, but he is also generous with his stuff. Gord likes to share. We trade tools, lawn mowers, etc. Gord truly has a community spirit which includes sharing goods within our community so that we may all benefit and have access to things that we may not own.

Gord also has an incredible wealth of knowledge that he is always willing to humbly share. He’s given us guidance on household maintenance, bee keeping, food harvesting…again the list goes on.

To top it off, we really enjoy the Trousdell family; they are lovely and interesting people with which to spend time. Simply walking down our street can be an enjoyable social outing. I truly believe that the Trousdell family help make our street an inviting community in which I have developed many true friendships.

Just yesterday, Gord was over to tap our maple trees with my children so that we can share the syrup. We feel truly blessed to have a neighbour like Gord. He makes our street a better place to live and significantly contributes to the genuine community feel of our street and the sense that Lynn Valley is our home.

2013 Good Neighbour nominee: Kathrin Wallace

Do you know someone in Lynn Valley who would make a good candidate for this year’s Good Neighbour Award? Please send us your story about the person in our community who has made our world a better place, in ways large or small (whether they live next door to you or not!) Over the upcoming season of peace and goodwill, we will share our favourites on the website and draw from amongst them the recipient of the 2013 Good Neighbour Award and prize package. Details are here; deadline for entry is Wednesday, December 18. We look forward to hearing from you!

Longtime neighbour is a friend and inspiration

Kathrin (and her husband, Bruce and her two kids) lived opposite my family in the mid-eighties in a townhouse complex on Cedar Village Crescent. We spent many fun-filled years watching the kids grow up and celebrating events ranging from family birthdays to block parties to Christmas dinners.

Kathrin is a very community-oriented person who as a strata council member implemented positive changes within the townhouse complex. Later, as PAC president at Eastview Elementary School, she was instrumental in bringing about the creation of a forest walk near the school, the installation of new playground equipment, and the building of a walk-way from the adjacent care facility, Cedarview Lodge, to the school. This enabled seniors to easily walk over to the school and participate in such functions as the Remembrance Day ceremony.

About 10 years ago, Kathrin and her family moved to a house on Greylynn Crescent and my family moved to Viewlynn Drive a few years later. We have enjoyed being neighbours and friends for well over 20 years.

We look after each other’s pets when on vacation, have shared a tent trailer and various home and garden implements, exchanged flower and vegetable cuttings and borrowed an egg or a cup of milk when needed. Kathrin and her family always include my family for Christmas dinners, Easter egg hunts or other social functions. As a neighbour and friend Kathrin is an inspiration, always willing to lend a hand or an ear and I feel truly blessed that we are so near.

Thank you for entering Kathrin’s name in the draw for your Good Neighbour Award 2013.

– submitted by Andrea Winterbottom

(Editor’s note: and thank you to Andrea for contributing five complimentary Joyful Chakra Yoga sessions to our Good Neighbour prize pack! If you have a local treat you’d like to contribute, please let us know at [email protected].)