Mark your calendars for the Great Lynn Valley Neighbourhood Garage Sale. From mountain to mountain, valley wide homes will be selling their wares Saturday, May 25th, 9-noon.
Mark your calendars for the Great Lynn Valley Neighbourhood Garage Sale. From mountain to mountain, valley wide homes will be selling their wares Saturday, May 25th, 9-noon.
Returning to his roots Dave Bruynesteyn is back in Lynn Valley offering mortgage clients options to meet their financial and life goals. Slotting in the final piece of the puzzle in Lynn Valley’s one-stop shop, MortgageDave now shares offices with LynnValleyLife.com’s real estate services, David Fiteni’s insurance offerings and Kay Manabe of Senju Notary to cover all the bases for Lynn Valley residents.
MortgageDave
Walking the streets of Lynn Valley as a child and teen, Dave Bruynesteyn loved this place. Starting his early career in finance, it’s where he bought his first home. With a life that has taken him to different parts of BC, he is excited to be back where it all began.
“Lynn Valley is a part of me,” he said. “I love that I can go grab a coffee and I am seeing friends, past clients – current clients. I was walking by Safeway last week and ran into a client and we caught up on life and I did a mortgage review right there.”
MortgageDave’s foundational philosophy is that if you support a community, it will support you. He was a past co-chair of Lynn Valley Days, he was a founder of the Christmas Tree Parade, he has worked with the Lynn Valley Community Association and even lent his time to educate students at Argyle Secondary in financial literacy.
As an independent mortgage broker for more than 18 years, MortgageDave, is ready to be back in Lynn Valley.
“I am excited to be working here – around these people,” he said. “Everyone is so busy, if we have real estate working alongside mortgage, alongside insurance and a notary, we have just made it easier for people. It’s not just about convenience, it’s about working with good people, ready to collaborate and take care of each other’s clients. I love the energy.”
It has been a volatile time in the financial sector. Lending rates and inflation have climbed, and savings rates have remained stagnant. For those entering the real estate market or looking to renew in the coming months, it’s time to talk to a mortgage broker – not a bank, says Bruynesteyn.
photos by Myshsale
“A mortgage broker is an independent party that helps people arrange residential financing,” he said. “I love it because I don’t work for a bank – I work for the client. It is at no cost to the client. We are paid by the lender, so the only goal is to get the best deal for the client
“You get all of my expertise and at no cost – it’s a no-brainer.”
From his work in traditional Canadian banks – and as a past customer himself – MortgageDave says he has learned how not to treat clients. Appalled by bonus structures that encourage bank employees to offer higher rates, when he changed track in 2006 to be an independent mortgage broker he vowed to do things differently.
With two big factors working in his favour, convenience and access to more lenders, he is confident he is able to provide not only better service but also better products.
“A bank has its one product and I deal with 40 different lenders. I talk to the client and figure out what they want today, but also what they want in five years, in 10 years because we have to set them up properly to reach their goals,” MortgageDave said. “I also just make it easy. I work around the client’s schedule – if you want to talk at 8 am or you want to talk at 8 pm on a Tuesday night – we do that.
“I am always looking for what is easiest for the client. I can meet you in Lynn Valley or at my office in Lion’s Bay or Lower Lonsdale. I can also come to your home. If you are really busy we can do an application with [a digital docu sign] and a quick zoom meeting. A bank will want you in their office at 2:30 on a Tuesday afternoon – you don’t have time for that.”
In Canada, mortgage brokers are compensated by the lenders based on the mortgage amount, not the rate. The commission varies little and doesn’t link bonus structures to rates (as helped contribute to the subprime mortgage crisis in the United States in the late 2000s). For brokers like MortgageDave, a happy and informed client is what matters. And closing clients with the best deal leads to returning clients and referrals.
“I am proud of the five-star rating I have on Google – I earned that, and if I didn’t have five stars you bet I would be learning to make sure it didn’t happen again.”
The mortgage market of early 2023 has changed substantially from a year ago. For the first time, some homeowners are hearing terms like ‘trigger rate’ and seeing payments double.
“The mortgage market now is uncertain – and the market hates uncertainty,” said MortgageDave explaining that we used to be in a “North American market,” following about six months behind the US, but there has been a shift to a global market.
“While the conflict in Ukraine is devastating for its people, subtler impacts are far-reaching. If the war ends, it would settle the bond market and stabilize the fixed rate mortgage market.”
He credits the Bank of Canada with some aggressive action that has stabilized inflation, but the consequence has been high rates.
“I don’t see prime going up, barring any worldwide events,I think we have seen the plateau,” said Bruynesteyn. “We may see a reduction by the end of the year but I don’t really expect it until early 2024.”
Context is important. Rates today aren’t devastatingly high, they are just not as extreme as we have seen recently, he said.
“We went so historically low. Rates aren’t insane. We just went so low we were spoiled rotten. I have always suggested a variable rate because they have been better over time but when rates were sub-two percent, I put many clients into a fixed rate.”
The fluctuations have influenced how some clients are choosing their mortgages.
“Typically clients get a five-year term. Right now I am putting a lot of clients into two-year terms because we don’t know where we are going. Two years ties into the US election which typically sees a reduction in rates.”
The changes to variable rates have been difficult for some homeowners.
“It is tough on some of my clients on variable rates, some of my clients on variable rates saw payments almost double,” he said, adding he doesn’t like trigger rate products. Whenever possible, MortgageDave chooses to put clients with lenders that ensure payments rise with interest rates going up, rather than being hit with a significant trigger rate.
“If you don’t change your payment as the rates go up you are paying more and more interest. I don’t like those products as they are not best for my clients. Payments should go up with interest rates. People don’t want to manage their mortgage – that’s my job.
“When you get a mortgage with me, you are going to hear from me on the anniversary, and every time the Bank of Canada reviews their prime rate – eight times a year – you get my newsletter discussing what this means. As you get closer to maturity I will communicate with you nine months out, six months out and four months out – because you have a life and don’t need to be worrying about your mortgage – that is my job. Dump that stress on me – it’s my job to get it done.”
One of the biggest trends MortgageDave sees is families leveraging equity to help adult children get into real estate.
“The cost of living in Lynn Valley is high. I am seeing parents wanting to help their children stay in the city. There are more people looking at reverse mortgages to start the wealth transfer now rather than later.”
With the typical mortgage locked in for five years, mortgages coming up for renewal in the next year are maturing in a completely different atmosphere from when they were signed.
“A lot of people are feeling the pressure of variable rate mortgages as rates have climbed,” he said. “The beautiful thing about a variable rate is that you can get out of it at any time for three months’ interest. It’s not a big penalty – so recently I have been helping clients get into the stability of a two year so they know what their payments are and they added in some debt they have had to take on. Re-amortizing the mortgage is another option. Everyone’s situation is unique but there is a lot we can do.”
To ensure the best financial position, homeowners should begin the process earlier rather than later, said MortgageDave.
“One year out, bring the mortgage renewal up on your radar. Six months out, get in touch with a mortgage broker, we can hold rates for four months,” said MortgageDave. “So I can start watching the rates and hold one if a good rate comes up. If, in two weeks, a different bank offers a better deal, we grab that and hold – you don’t have to worry about rates.”
MortgageDave says it’s simple: it’s a conversation with a broker and it’s free.
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.
With one lease ending soon, the RNB Dance and Theatre Arts Society is planning on doubling its studio space in Lynn Valley. The community-based not-for-profit is hoping the community will lend a hand to help it grow.
A plan is afoot for RNB Dance to take over the former Blue Shore space at The Valley Centre.
Brianna Giles
“We have been looking for years,” said Brianna Giles, principal and artistic director of the RNB Dance and Theatre Arts Society. “We found lots of spaces in the industrial parts of North Vancouver but that wasn’t what we needed.”
RNB has noticed an interesting trend over the last few years. And it all began with a major provincial infrastructure project.
“We got a lot of intakes when the highway construction at the Iron Workers [Memorail] Bridge began,” she said. “Families could no longer get to studios in Deep Cove or Lonsdale easily. Families are so busy sitting in traffic for an hour and a half just wasn’t feasible.”
The studio’s strong reputation for quality family programs had already led to an expansion at Lynn Valley Village (a lease which wraps up this year) but despite the added space, its less-than-ideal layout made it imperfect for growing demand.
“There are two posts in those studios that limit our class sizes.”
The society never stopped looking and exploring other options.
“We have gotten feedback from our families that they love how central our studio spaces are. We know families are looking for dance. With all the condos being built in Lynn Valley we are seeing more inquiries than ever for three- to five-year-olds.”
For more than two years RNB has been working behind the scenes to develop its expansion plan around the new space.
“The size is a dream come true!” said Giles. “We will be able to add two additional larger studios, similar to our Mountain Hwy studios for classes of 20 kids. We got in first to see the space right away and knew it would work. [Now] with the bank removed, it is a blank slate. We have to put in a few walls for change rooms and the dance floors.”
With the hope to open in September of 2023 the RNB Dance and Theatre is kicking off a fundraising campaign.
Unlike most dance studios, RNB is a not-for-profit society.
“We are unique,” said Giles. “It means we can keep our fees lower and more accessible, it also means we can access some provincial funding, but all that money goes back into the studio. There is no owner taking a profit. Everyone who dances with us is a member. Everyone who is working or volunteering with us is doing it for the kids.”
It is a choice that has given more students access to dance than would otherwise be possible, but it does create some challenges.
“We can’t use dance fees to cover renovations,” she explained. “We are having our biggest-ever fundraising drive.”
The society is aiming to raise $450,000 – and provide charitable tax receipts – to cover the expansion.
“Every little bit helps. We are hoping with the expansion that we can probably double the number of dancers.”
The society plans to display all donor names on a plaque in the new studio lobby with a range of donation tiers: Bronze Donors – $25 – $5000, Silver Donors – $5001 – $10,000, Gold Donors – $10,001 – $25,000, and with Platinum Donors – any donation over $25,000 – also being given naming opportunities of the new spaces.
The society’s long-term plan aims to build on the successful partnerships it already has.
“We get asked all the time by people wanting to rent our space – there is a need for community studio spaces,” said Giles.
The society already shares its space with Lamondance a performance dance company which uses the RNB space mornings and early afternoons when most RNB dancers are in school.
“It’s an excellent partnership – they invite RNB dancers to participate in their performances.”
For the last 10 years, RNB has also been supporting the North Vancouver School District’s Peak Performance Program that allows high school students to balance elite-level dance training with their high school education, said Giles.
The little studio that could
RNB began more than three decades ago at the – then – Hendry Ave YMCA in 1989 – where Giles was one of the first students. In 1993 it was able to negotiate with the District of North Vancouver for a former church space on Mountain Highway which has become its main studio ever since.
“Mountain Hwy will remain our home base for as long as the District will have us. We are known best for being welcoming to families and we don’t want that to change,’ said Giles.
With recreational programming that starts dancers moving as young as two years old, RNB has helped guide dancers into international competitions and professional companies.
“For me, it’s amazing to see the growth and change,” said Giles who first came through the doors of RNB as a child and has gone on to dance all over the world, returning to teach in Lynn Valley. “I am now seeing my students from 10 – 15 years ago, bringing in their own kids. It’s cool to see that full circle – that RNB has been so important to them.”
But it’s also Lynn Valley’s growth that is motivating the society to plan for the future.
“There are so many new families moving to Lynn Valley – they want to dance and I want people to know that we are unique. Donations to the studio go back into the community offering more spaces for students.”
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.
On these long rainy days, there is no better time to tuck in and watch a movie and when it comes to choosing, finding something filmed in Lynn Valley has never been easier. With film production thriving on the North Shore, our parks and streets are filling the screen more than ever.
The District of North Vancouver has long been a chosen location for many film and television productions. Well situated between the larger studios and desirable locations 2023 is expected to be another banner year.
“The District of North Van sells itself,” said Jennifer Janetka, film and events coordinator for the DNV. “We have forests that feel like you are deep in the forest but you are very close to the city.
We have a studio in North Van and the productions that are working out of North Shore studios tend to like to stay in North Van.
“Picking up and moving is a big deal. So the more spots we can find them in once is also a big deal. It’s a very unique industry. It’s very out of the box – beyond the creative of the production – it takes a lot of out-of-the-box thinking on how to film them here. It’s full of very good people. So much creativity. It’s nice that we have some A-list celebrities that want to come and make movies here.”
Jennifer Janetka
From Nickelback shooting a music video just a few weeks ago to The Good Doctor, from The Adam Project to The X-Files. Lynn Valley has stood in for a variety of locations over the years and seldom itself. Janetka credits its wide variety of home looks and its forest parks for its high desirability. For DNV as a whole with a vista like Quarry Rock, Deep Cove’s beachfront and an ethereal forest road like Indian River there is no shortage of requests for productions to work in our neighbourhoods.
“It’s increased over the years but we can only hold so much,” said Janekta. “We only have so much parking and we only have so many places. Productions still want to come here so we get creative.”
The filming permits issued in 2022 saw a return to pre-pandemic levels close to the peak production year of 2019.
The process to come and film on neighbourhood streets and community parks is not a simple one – although it is efficient, said Janetka. Films productions consult with Creative BC and the DNV film and events office to discuss locations, timing and competing community needs to find a solution.
“My job is to facilitate the industry in our community – we do everything from major films to indie productions to student films.”
While the public may see parking impacts or a temporary increase in traffic, there is a lot going on behind the scenes to ensure disruptions are kept to a minimum.
“We never let a production leave somewhere like Lynn Canyon worse off than they found it,” said Janekta. “Often, the public will see something and because filming was done they blame that, but it actually has nothing to do with the film. We have an on-site liaison contractor that is in the parks the entire time. Sometimes restoration can’t happen right away due to environmental reasons – weather or the time of year. We will always leave the location the same or better – we take money from the production and work with parks to replant when the time is right.”
She also plays an on-the-ground role in ensuring productions are within their agreements.
“In residential communities, I visit a couple of times to check in on them to make sure they are meeting the guidelines of their permits. I come back later to make sure everything is cleaned up. If complaints come in, we are quick to rectify them – they don’t want to leave anyone with a bad taste regarding the industry,” said Janetka.
She thinks one of the biggest contributors to the success of local productions is that our residents are deeply invested in the industry.
“We have a lot of film industry professionals in the district – the highest number per capita of film industry workers in the province. People have a vested interest in taking care of our parks and communities.”
Sometimes those productions choose to leave a lasting impact, not only with their economic investment.
“They are often helping take care of locations,” said Janetka. “We have a production that just wrapped and is returning tomorrow on their own dime to repair storm damage to clear debris. That happens quite often. We had a production in Princess Park that did a significant restoration as a goodwill gesture.”
She acknowledges that there is the rare bad apple in the bunch, like in any sector but largely the industry relies on good communication with residents to ensure a smooth production.
“There are always ways to work around and find a solution. They are so used to being in people’s spaces and neighbourhoods. They know the impacts and disruption it brings and for the most part, crews are very respectful.”
This weekend as the remotes turn to the Superbowl, Janetka says they will see Lynn Valley on the screen. There were numerous advertising campaigns filmed during early winter in the district specifically for the Superbowl but it will be hard to tell which ones, with more filming taking place in private homes.
“We get a lot of things that come in internationally – like we get production companies from Europe that will come and film nature shows for teaching children,” she said.
That’s in addition to the film, TV and streaming production. Current ongoing productions include Fire Country and film productions. Ongoing series that come and go from the Lynn Valley area are some of the WB/Marvel productions and Virgin River. Other past productions include the blockbuster The Adam Project, The Descendants and The Art of Racing in the Rain. TV and streaming productions include Once Upon a Time, Nancy Drew, X-Files and the Twilight Zone.
“We are now busy all year round but we take breaks. We close down Lynn Canyon Park [to filming] in the summer, Deep Cove from May to September and Cates Park in July and August but it’s still busy in private residences and other parks,” said Janetka.
All that business has a real financial impact on the DNV. In 2019 more than $73M was paid to residents in salaries of film production employees. In 2020 – mid-pandemic – it was $58M. That is just salaries, not all the spin-off impacts of rentals, caterers, and service contractors that support the film industry, said Janetka.
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.
It is our favourite time of year: for a decade we have been shining a light on those that make Lynn Valley better! 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 our Good Neighbour for 2022.
Day-to-day we try to gather interesting and innovative stories about Lynn Valley but one thing that can be missed is the quietest of stories. The good that goes on in our neighborhood every day – often unnoticed beyond the person or the organization helped.
We have people step up in times of tragedy, we have those that day in and day out give of their time, money, and energy. We have those that invest in our schools, our community groups, our churches. We have those that are staples on our streets who step up and help neighbours and friends whenever it’s needed. From helping refugees to outstanding coaches to people who are practically community institutions.
The Good Neighbour Award has been going strong since 2012. We receive heartfelt nominations – some short, some long. Check out some previous winners and read their stories – we have an exceptional community! Last year we recognized the great Bob McCormack. We were able to celebrate Matina Spiropoulos in 2019. The year before, we had Linda Munro, a local who puts her hands in so many local groups. In the past, we have had Tim Green, a tireless supporter of the Lynn Valley Services Society and Molly Nye House. Dave and Wilna Parry are passionate advocates for refugees and immigrants. In 2015 we were proud to recognize Cath Bates Dimmock a volunteer with Argyle Secondary for more than 10 years! We have shared the astounding work of Lizz Lindsay and her charity Sharing Abundance that brings people together through food and programs that address food insecurity and social isolation. We love hearing about who makes a difference in your life and our community.
Who might our Good Neighbour be for 2022? Please send us a note telling us why you think your nominee makes Lynn Valley a better place to be. It doesn’t have to be long and fancy – just from the heart! Please send your suggestions to [email protected] before November 25, 2021. Lynn Valley’s Good Neighbour will receive a plaque, a restaurant gift certificate, and some well-deserved recognition!
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.
Kirkstone Park will be buzzing with free family fun this weekend. The Lynn Valley Community Association is launching their Family Fun Fair Saturday, September 10 from 10 am – 2 pm.
The Lynn Valley Community Association is bringing together local businesses
and community groups for what it hopes in a new annual event this Saturday.
“We wanted to do something that would be fun for the whole family and not cost a lot,” said Shannon Epp, LVCA treasurer. “Things are getting expensive.”
On the agenda for Saturday is face painting, games and relays, a dunk take and more – all free to families. There will also be a DNV Firefighters Charitable Society BBQ with food donated by Save-On-Foods supporting their causes.
The event was born out of the goal of bringing the community out to participate in some old-fashioned fun.
“We have gone through two-and-a-half years of covid,” said Epp. “We [the LVCA] do our Christmas Tree [Parade] and wanted to do something else. We started thinking: ‘What was fun when we were growing up?’”
Discussions came to the conclusion that the joy of the classic sports day was the way to launch what the association hopes is an annual event.
“We want people to have fun,” she said. “This is the first year. We have had a positive response – we hope it grows and more people get involved in future years.”
With the event a few days away, there is still hope a few more volunteers will offer their time. Volunteers can contact the LVCA at [email protected]. The events kick off at 10 am on September 10 and wraps up at 2 pm at Kirkstone Park. Walking or rolling is encouraged.
“I want to see people smiling, laughing and having fun,” said Epp.
Come out and see Jim & Kelly as they host the family games. Lots of fun with potato sack, 3-legged and egg and spoon races. Plus the always entertaining balloon toss! We can’t wait!
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.
A new counselling group in Lynn Valley hopes to support women and combat isolation.
Registered clinical counsellor Marion Gargiulo is hoping to launch a new group Thursday evenings at Mollie Nye House. Group therapy can be both more affordable than one-on-one therapy and can be less intimidating for people new to the process, said Gargiulo.
“One of the worst things for mental health is feeling alone,” she said. “When people are struggling, what is holding them back is the idea that they are in this alone – they aren’t. Depending on what resources they have, they may never reach out for support.”
The program is inspired by a client who requested Gargiulo start a women’s group after seeing their spouse succeed with a local men’s group.
“For some people, it is a more affordable way of having some support. A group replicates relationships that play out in larger life. The idea is that people come together and share – at their own pace.”
Group sessions sometimes have a greater impact than an individual session, said Gargiulo.
“Feedback from other participants might be paid more attention to because they are experiencing the person as another person, not as a therapist,” adding a group’s diversity can support that goal. “I would like a variety of ages, so there are people in different stages of life with their own wisdom to offer support. For instance, if there is a person in their early 30s struggling with their mom, there might be a person in the group who is a mom and can offer insight as to what the mom might be experiencing in the relationship with their daughter.”
For those that are new to group therapy, it works based on the trust of the other members.
“There will be some rules to help everyone feel safe,” she said. “The group will be confidential. I think we will have the rule, don’t meet outside of the group because that leads to one relationship evolving at a faster pace then the rest of the group and that can have an impact. You don’t disclose names to other people. What is said in group, stays in group. People need to come with the mindset that they will disclose and offer feedback with guidance.”
A therapy group can be a salve for people who don’t have well-rounded support in their day-to-day life.
“It reduces that feeling that people are alone. People realize the problems they are carrying are not unique to them alone. Information can be shared by other group members – different ideas,” said Gargiulo. “It also feels good to be in a group – not feeling alone – having a community. The purpose is to open up and share things you might not be able to so readily in day-to-day life.”
The whole idea is to support each other through connection.
“My own tendency is to withdraw, when what I need to do is connect with someone – not everyone but the right person.”
The details
If there is enough interest in the group, Gargiulo will run it every second Thursday from Sept. 17 – Nov. 24 from 6:30-8:15pm at Mollie Nye House. There will be six sessions with each session costing $110. Many extended benefits cover group therapy, Gargiulo suggests checking your coverage. For more information or to register contact Gargiulo at 604-283-5755.
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.
Mark your calendars for the Great Lynn Valley Neighbourhood Garage Sale. From mountain to mountain, valley wide homes will be selling their wares Saturday, May 25th, 9-noon.
Two organizations have teamed up to make Lynn Valley a little bit stronger. The North Vancouver District Public Library and St. Clement’s Anglican Church have launched Caring Community Kits to help build community.
The congregation at St. Clement’s has spent much of the last decade reflecting on its place within the community. Governments have picked up many social services that were once the church’s role in the community and this has led the congregation to look for gaps it can fill to support and build the community, explained Rev. Peggy Trendell-Jensen, deacon.
“We can’t take a great neighbourhood for granted,” she said. “We saw after last March’s [2021] tragedy the empathy, service and compassion present in Lynn Valley. We don’t want that to erode, we want to nurture the need for a ‘common good’.”
With a church fund already in place to support efforts in the larger Lynn Valley community, Trendell-Jensen turned to the library for partnership.
“This is one of the most impactful and exciting collections we have ever developed at NVDPL,” said Krista Scanlon, manager of collection services at NVDPL.
The donation from St. Clement’s has led to a new fund at the library, with the goal to foster a vibrant and thriving community.
“We thought these funds that became the Caring Communities Fund would allow the librarians to purchase materials that support in any way the building of healthy families, healthy homes, and healthy neighbourhoods,” said Trendell-Jensen.
The backpack-sized kits are to promote learning, sharing and building understanding in the community. From books to puppets to games and more, each Caring Community Kit is filled with resources on topics that promote community building, strengthen resilience, and increase interpersonal understanding.
“The kits are designed to support individual learning and understanding for all ages, while developing a sense of shared connectedness,” said Scanlon. “The hope is that they will broaden perspectives and create deeper appreciation for one another.”
Trendell-Jensen is especially proud of the diversity of the kits – both in theme and in the variety of resources.
“A family may love books, so those are in there, but not all children engage with written and visual information, so having something like a puppet is a great way to have an impact.”
The library echoes that idea. These Caring Community Kits exemplify how the library supports learning and information sharing in a variety of ways—and in the ways that our community needs in this day and age, said Meghan Crowe communications and events coordinator for NVDPL.
“Libraries have always been about sharing resources and equitable access, but we’re also about people, spaces, and connection. We offer books, films, digital resources—and we also offer puzzles, Dungeons and Dragons Starter Kits, Radon Detector Kits, and more.”
With guidance from St. Clement’s initial idea, the library staff dove into thoughtful discussions about what understanding is needed to foster the foundational values of North Vancouver.
“Our staff are experts at curating relevant and meaningful collections. So in addition to the original proposal from St. Clement’s, our staff really tapped into the topics that we know our community wants to learn about and what is relevant to community members,” said Crowe. “For example, our community cares deeply about topics like anti-racism and reconciliation. We’re seeing requests for information on these topics in other collection areas, and as we all continue our own personal growth journeys, topics like this were natural choices for some of the kits.”
For Trendell-Jensen, the inclusion of a further resources card is an important piece.
“The resources guide helps families explore organizations and books on these topics beyond just the kit,” she said. “The kits are fabulous – and not just geared to families or children. There are some for adults to cultivate community building – like conversation starters. This is an evolving project. I would love to see something like a kit on how to have difficult conversations to help people negotiate topics where there is disagreement but we need to all hear each other.”
Other topics geared toward adults are mindfulness, anti-racism and truth and reconciliation.
Check it out
There are 15 Caring Communities Kits in circulation based out of the Lynn Valley branch. They can also be borrowed by any NVDPL patron, at any branch, said Crowe. They are also in the process of adding more kits with plans to display them at Parkgate and Capilano libraries as well.
“All you have to do is search “Caring Community Kit” in the catalogue to see all of the different kit titles. Patrons can place holds on their kit of choice for convenient pick-up at any NVDPL location.”
With the Caring Communities Fund now established Trendell-Jensen hopes residents will think of it as a place to donate.
“It is a way to have a very direct impact on the health and wellbeing of the neighbourhood. If you are looking to help out the community or remember someone, my hope is people will think of it and make a donation.”
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.
Mark your calendars for the Great Lynn Valley Neighbourhood Garage Sale. From mountain to mountain, valley wide homes will be selling their wares Saturday, May 25th, 9-noon.