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By Robin Thorneycroft, contributing writer

Lynn Valley residents will have a chance to wrestle with nature and leave one of our most beloved parks a little healthier on the weekend.

The District of North Vancouver is hosting a Free The Tree ivy-pulling event in Lynn Canyon on October 28th from 10am-1pm. The event is open to all members of the public and all tools will provided. Two additional events will happen throughout the District in November.

“The district has an invasive plant management strategy for all invasive species. You more frequently hear about species like knotweed or giant hogweed,” said Stephanie Smiley, communications coordinator for the district of North Vancouver. “It is not possible to eliminate these species entirely but we do try to control them in areas where are causing either social, ecological or economic problems or harm.”

Next Saturday, volunteers will join parks staff to hear short talk about ivy and its effects on the forest.

“There will be a little tutorial on how to cut back ivy and safely remove if from the tree and the forest floor,” said Smiley. “Then the staff and the volunteers will get to work pulling ivy. And then they will go in and plant native species like ferns.”

While it is an ambitious schedule, past events — like last month’s Hunter Park volunteer invasive species pull and last week’s Hasting’s Creek Riparian Restoration — are seeing plenty of hands showing up to work. At Hastings Creek neighbours of all ages — from toddlers to seniors and everyone in between — got their hands (or gloves) dirty to tackle the projects.

Besides being outside in our beautiful forests, one of the biggest draws for volunteers is the chance to make a difference on the health of our parks and forests.

“One the things that pulling this kind of invasive species from the forest does is that it improves the general health of the trees and the general health of the forest,” said Smiley. “What they do is cut away the ivy from chest height down, so in terms of the tree, about four or five feet up and what that does is separate the ivy from its root system and that lets the ivy passively die off.

“In the case of ivy, it wraps itself around the around the tree, it traps moisture, it reduces air and light penetration to the trees. It also adds weight and wind resistance to the trees. So by removing it improves the overall health of the trees.”

Lynn Valley residents volunteering at Oct. 28’s event or those out just enjoying a walk in Lynn Canyon may also notice some ongoing upgrades and restoration to the picnic area. Over the past few months the gravel paths have been upgraded, some logs and mulch have been added and this week native species have been planted.

“The planting is funded by money that was actually donated by a film crew that was working in the area,” said Smiley. “It was one of those instances where film production often like to make an offer of good faith or thank you to the community for allowing them to come in and use the space. They worked quite closely with parks to have a conversation on what to do.”

“It’s one of those wonderful things we don’t often talk about. In this instance, we wouldn’t necessarily get to do it without the contribution of the film industry.The impacts of the community are coming full circle,” said Smiley.

Smiley acknowledged that our local parks are facing challenges of seeing more people than ever before.

“It is one of things we grapple with,” she said. “We are seeing a tremendous increase to the visitors to our parks. A lot of that stuff [maintenance and restoration] is becoming more necessary simply because we are getting more visitors.”

To join the Free The Tree Ivy Pull and habitat restoration on Oct. 28, meet in the Lynn Canyon parking lot at 10 a.m. Tools and light refreshments are provided, but please dress for the weather. Similar events will take place Nov. 4 at Wickenden Park in Deep Cove and Nov. 18 at North Bridgeman Park.

For more information please email District Community and Parkland Coordinator Megan Cooper at [email protected] or check out the volunteer Meet-Up online group.

At this time of the year, there are a multitude of traditional and non-traditional ways to explore the Great Beyond. From candelit ceremonies in municipal cemeteries to zombie apocalypse Hallowe’en parties, a wide variety of perspectives and celebrations are on offer.

As evidenced by popular Death Cafes, regularly held in cafes and other meet-up spots around the world, it has become more acceptable to speak openly about our mortality. But remembering the dead has taken place since time immemorial, of course, both in personal and communal rituals.

Hallowe’en, shortened from “All Hallow’s Eve,” refers to the night before All Hallows Day. Hallow was an old term for saints; for centuries November 1 has been celebrated as All Saints Day in the Christian Church, remembering those who spent their lives in extraordinary ways, such as by helping the sick or working on behalf of the marginalized. The following day, November 2, is All Souls’ Day; a time set aside to honour all those people from our own lives whose loss we remember.

In Lynn Valley, St. Stephen’s Roman Catholic Church marks All Souls by inviting parishioners to record the names of loved ones who have died this past year in their Book of Remembrance.

St. Clement’s Anglican Church is inviting the community to a simple All Souls’ service of remembrance to take place on Sunday, Oct. 29 at 4 p.m. You are invited to attend to light a candle for someone who has died; you may also email Elizabeth Mathers if you have questions or would like the name of your loved one read aloud with others during the service. The church bell will toll in remembrance during the reading of the names; one parishioner who is an Argyle alumnus makes a point of reading names from the Argyle School community.

For an interesting read on creating everyday rituals to remember the people we have lost, click on this TED Ideas article. A bereavement support group is offered in Lynn Valley by North Shore Family Services; while their current program comes to an end this week, information regarding upcoming sessions may be available at the email contact link provided.

However we remember those loved ones who have gone before us, these dark days of the year have long been considered a natural time to do so. Happy Hallow’een, and All Souls!

By Robin Thorneycroft, Contributing Writer

Mid-October sees Lynn Valley come alive. The maple trees near Argyle Secondary flame and delight. Locals take over the trails once again, and the Lynn Canyon suspension bridge isn’t packed quite as tightly with nervous tourists. And the community shows up to support our local schools and create annual family traditions.

Two of Lynn Valley’s flagship events took place this past weekend. Our Lynn Valley Parent Participation Preschool once again turned its historic schoolhouse into the perfect event for local little kids, while Lynn Valley Elementary School turned its halls into a family harvest fair.

These events are excellent reminders that Lynn Valley is really just a village in the city.

At the pumpkin patch and haunted houses, we see high school students returning to their old stomping grounds to guide children through games, bring smiles with simple face paint and do some essential heavy lifting, lugging hundreds of pumpkins. We see seniors choosing to to forego discount store pumpkins and instead do their Halloween shopping here to keep their dollars in their neighbourhood schools. We see toddlers shyly exploring their future playgrounds, finding the courage to walk through spider alley and joyfully finding the perfect pumpkin.

Once again the Lynn Valley Lions and community merchants have given of their time and resources to carry the burden of community fundraising and invested in locals kids. If you were there you saw the laughter and smiles. If you were there you most certainly bumped into dozens of people you know; I know our pumpkin-sponsoring LynnValleyLife realtors always look forward to socializing with friends and neighbours – it always takes the bite out of what can be a chilly autumn day!

Each of these events is essential to the Lynn Valley Elementary School PAC and the foundation of Lynn Valley Parent Participation Preschool’s annual fundraising, much like Christmas Carnivals and Spring Fairs are important to other neighbourhood schools. As the community chooses to invest in these schools, the Parent Advisory Committees are creating family traditions for the entire community.

A big shout out to the parents and volunteers for doing the work, to the local business that give each and every year to make it possible, and to the community who come, laugh and build up our schools.