Streamkeepers report boom in Hastings Creek smolt

IMG_4918While many Lynn Valley residents may have been coming home to a welcome dinner or stretching out in front of the TV Friday night, a handful of enthusiastic citizens were on the banks of Hastings Creek carefully placing a number of bucket-shaped, black mesh traps. And the next morning, they donned their gum boots again to see what had transpired while they slept.

They were volunteers from the North Shore Streamkeepers, surveying the numbers of year-old smolt in the creek to survey whether the fish population was healthy. What they found swimming in the traps put smiles on everyone’s faces.

As the fish were carefully released out of the traps and into a bucket for measuring and counting, Jan Lander tallied the numbers. The result? The best smolt trapping since 2006, with 27 coho smolts being counted, a large increase over the five or so that have been typical in the past few years. These are a sampling of the fish that were born in the Hunter Park area of Hastings Creek last year and have survived since then. Four crayfish and 12 cutthroat trout – many measuring 16 or 17 cm – were also amongst the fish counted and released.

IMG_4926The relationship between human society and waterways has not always been a respectful one. In  earlier decades, the enthusiastic growth of industry, building booms and road construction commonly resulted in polluted streams, blocked spawning routes, and diminished fish populations. Even home gardeners had a negative impact, by introducing invasive plant species such as ivy, lamium, and periwinkle to stream-side environments.

Thanks, however, to greater awareness, tighter bylaws, and good working partnerships the health of urban streams has improved in many areas. Leading the charge in Lynn Valley have been an active group of North Shore Streamkeepers who safeguard and enhance the ability of local creeks to support healthy fish stocks.

People of all ages converge on the streams throughout the year to tackle a variety of tasks, from culling invasive plants, installing and maintaining fish ladders, testing water quality,  restoring habitat and performing surveys. One volunteer even takes it upon himself to find out about new construction projects taking place near creeks; he then visits each site to ensure waterway protection rules are being followed and that filters have been placed in the storm drains. He returns to the site again once construction is complete to ensure the filters have been appropriately removed.

The North Shore Streamkeepers were established in 1993, and is a member of the Pacific Streamkeepers Federation. The Streamkeepers are a program of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, which provides a multi-module training manual for those volunteers who wish to learn everything from performing a habitat survey to sampling water quality to trapping and identifying fish.

Mayor to take part April 25

The Streamkeepers’ work has been recognized in a number of ways – Morten Creek was named for longtime volunteer Zo Ann Morten, and Mayor Richard Walton will be at Hunter Park at Donovan’s Pond on Saturday, April 25 at 11 a.m. to dedicate a new fish ladder installed by North Vancouver District in response to lobbying from the Streamkeepers.

What they’d really like, however, is for more volunteers to swell their ranks and learn for themselves the satisfaction of keeping our waterways healthy. To learn more, visit the North Shore Streamkeepers website or email [email protected].

IMG_4919

TED talks live-streamed at LV library

The entire TED talks conference is being live-streamed, at various North Van libraries at various times. See below for the schedule; we’ve bold-faced those events taking place in the Lynn Valley branch. Learn more about the sessions and the speakers here.

Monday, March 16

Livestreaming Location: Lynn Valley

Sessions:
12:30 – 2:15pm – TED Fellows Talks Session 1
3:00 – 4:30pm – TED Fellows Talks Session 2
6:00 – 8:00pm – Session 1: Opening Gambit

Tuesday, March 17

Livestreaming Locations: Lynn Valley | Capilano

Sessions:
8:30 – 10:15am – Session 2: What Are We Thinking?
11:00 – 12:45pm – Session 3: Machines That Learn
2:15 – 4:00pm – Session 4: Out of This World
5:00 – 6:45pm – Session 5: Life Stories

TED Discussion Lounge:
Capilano Library, 7:00pm – 8:00pm

Wednesday, March 18

Livestreaming Locations: Lynn Valley | Parkgate

Sessions:
8:30 – 10:15am – Session 6: Radical Reframe
11:00 – 12:45pm – Session 7: Creative Ignition
2:15 – 4:00pm – TED University
5:00 – 6:45pm – Session 8: Pop-Up Magazine

TED Discussion Lounge:
Parkgate Library, 7:00pm – 8:00pm

Thursday, March 19

Livestreaming Location: Lynn Valley

Sessions:
10:30 – 12:30pm – Session 9: Just and Unjust
2:15 – 4:00pm – Session 10: Building From Scratch
5:00 – 6:45pm – Session 11: Passion and Consequence

TED Discussion Lounge
Lynn Valley Library, 7:00pm – 8:00pm 

Friday, March 20

Livestreaming Locations: Lynn Valley | Parkgate

Session: 9:30 – 12:00pm – Session 12: Endgame

 

 

Lynn Valley loses loved Legionnaire

 

Received on March 12 from the Lynn Valley Legion. 

Comrade Harold Finnegan, a beloved member of Branch #114 and Veteran of the Korean War, passed away this week.  A Celebration of  Harold’s remarkable life will be held at Branch #114 this Saturday [March 14].  Please join us for a Full Legion Ceremony and service for family, friends and Comrades beginning at 11:00 a.m. A reception will follow at the Branch.

(more…)

It takes a village to make LV Day happen!

A year or two ago, Lynn Valley Day was voted the North Shore’s best festival in the North Shore News’ Readers’ Choice Awards. That same year, Lynn Valley was voted the best neighbourhood in which to live. Coincidence? We think not.

The same things that make a great festival make a great hometown. That’s friendly people, an engaged citizenry, a commitment to our shared environment, and lots of volunteer help when it’s needed.

(more…)

Bosa contest winner announced!

We’re thrilled for Ginger Campbell, who ended this week $2,500 richer! (Sorry, we reported the wrong surname earlier!)

The Lynn Valley resident won the prize in a random draw, thanks to participating in Bosa’s recent contest soliciting potential names for the new development planned for the Zellers end of Lynn Valley Mall.

We don’t know what name Ginger suggested, but we can tell you that the new development will be called The Residences at Lynn Valley. For more information about the project, being described as a “mountain village” with a residential component above a  grocery store and other retail outlets, click here. The development will also include an extensive, staged renovation of the entire shopping mall.

Ginger Shaw

Ginger Campbell, left, accepts her $2,500 prizewinnings for participating in Bosa’s recent contest to name the new residential development at Lynn Valley Mall. Beside her is Lisa Murrell, Bosa Development Corp’s sales and marketing manager.

 

 

LVLife welcomes new sponsoring realtor

The LynnValleyLife team is growing, and we couldn’t be happier to introduce to you the newest sponsoring realtor of our community news website.

We know, though, that for many of you Suzanne, or “Suzie,” Callaghan needs no introduction! Like many of you (and our editor!) Suzanne is an Argyle Secondary grad who has spent the last two decades raising her family in her friendly hometown ‘hood!

(more…)

Bob Rasmus featured in LV naming contest (deadline soon!)

Bob Rasmus is one of our Lynn Valley neighbours featured on the Lynn Valley Legacy website that is collecting names from readers – not just of notable neighbours who deserve the spotlight, but of potential names for the new Bosa development being built at Lynn Valley Centre. Visit the Legacy website before January 31 to participate – there is a $2,500 prize to be won!

These profiles and photographs are being shared with LynnValleyLife readers with permission of the original author.

Bob RasmusBob stood on the board of directors of the BC Lions Society for Children with Disabilities, was a chair and provincial representative of the National Diabetes Association Liaison committee, and a Lynn Valley Lions member for 25 years.

WHAT DO YOU FEEL TRULY DEFINES LYNN VALLEY AS A UNIQUE NEIGHBOURHOOD?

I like how Lynn Valley has the feel of a small town, but without all the gossip. Its community is an inherent part of its identity. Many of our neighbours are community minded and do things in support of our community.

WHAT IS YOUR HAPPIEST MEMORY OF LYNN VALLEY?

About 15 years ago, when I owned my own construction business, a single mom approached the Lions Club, of which I was a member, asking for our assistance.

She had a seven-year-old son with severe cerebral palsy and needed to renovate her home to add a system of rails that would help transport him from the bedroom to the bathroom, which would cost her around $15,000. The mother’s approach impressed me so I put together a small team to do a free renovation. That’s one of my happiest memories. I still see the mother around the neighbourhood, one of the nice things of living in an intimate community.

WHAT DO YOU SEE FOR THE FUTURE OF LYNN VALLEY?

Well, more people and traffic congestion is inevitable, but more bodies will help keep the taxes down. We’ll have to do our best as a community to maintain some of the small-town feel.

Do you know someone who has, or is, making a lasting impact in our neighbourhood? Visit the Lynn Valley Legacy website to nominate a fellow resident of our community, or suggest a name for the new development being built at Lynn Valley Centre. Deadline for both is January 31, so throw your hat in the ring by then if you’d like to be eligible for prizes!

Michelle Andreychuk sees changes during 30 years in Lynn Valley

Michelle Andreychuk is one of our Lynn Valley neighbours featured on the Lynn Valley Legacy website that is collecting names from readers – not just of notable neighbours who deserve the spotlight, but of potential names for the new Bosa development being built at Lynn Valley Centre. Visit the Legacy website before January 31 to participate – there is a $2,500 prize to be won!

These profiles and photographs are being shared with LynnValleyLife readers with permission of the original author.

Michelle AndreychukMichelle has been involved in the community for over twenty years, having raised two kids in the neighbourhood and been in attendance at all of their school events and extracurricular activities over the years.

WHAT DO YOU FEEL TRULY DEFINES LYNN VALLEY AS A UNIQUE NEIGHBOURHOOD?

It offers so much on the nature side of things. There’s mountains, rivers, biking trails, swimming holes, and some of the most beautiful scenery in Canada. When it comes to the people, I like how I can go anywhere in Lynn Valley and see a familiar face.

WHAT IS YOUR HAPPIEST MEMORY OF LYNN VALLEY?

Lynn Valley holds many memories for me as I’ve been living here for 28 years. But my most cherished is of my first house on Appin Road, with a magnificent view of the Green Belt with the fire going in the winter, or going around the neighbourhood with my kids in the spring on an Easter egg hunt.

WHAT DO YOU SEE FOR THE FUTURE OF LYNN VALLEY?

I see a lot of high rises going up, which could lead to more congestion getting to Highway One. The mall may have to improve its parking lot as population increases, but all of this can be productively planned and proactively managed.

Do you know someone who has, or is, making a lasting impact in our neighbourhood? Visit the Lynn Valley Legacy website to nominate a fellow resident of our community, or suggest a name for the new development being built at Lynn Valley Centre. Deadline for both is January 31, so throw your hat in the ring by then if you’d like to be eligible for prizes!