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As a busy working mom, Vanessa Gladden knew exactly when and where she had to be to keep her business and family on track but somewhere in the heart of that she knew she was lost. Fast forward several years and Gladden is a life coach helping other women find a path that allows them to thrive.

Put on your own oxygen mask first

The expectations on women and mothers have never been greater. Pressures to put family first, career first and never themselves first, lead many women to lose vision of who they are, said Gladden. The life coach has launched a practice to support women as they face life’s transitions: career changes, kids growing up (ultimately a career change for stay-at-home moms) and divorce.

“I have been through this myself,” said Gladden. “I lost my confidence, I didn’t trust myself, I couldn’t hear my intuition.”

A social worker by training with a past career as an entrepreneur, Gladden started her coaching career to support her business. As she began to seek new directions in her own life she realized lots of women were facing the same challenges without much support.

“There is a lot of stigma around divorce and separation,” she said. “It feels very lonely. There is grief and sadness but it can also be transformational and an empowering experience.”

Those same feelings can be shared by women in other periods of transition such as when children head to school for the first time or when they become empty nesters. The same challenge faces them all: a loss of identity with an unknown future.

Vulnerability and resilence

It’s a situation Gladden faced herself. Her kids were getting older and she was struggling to even think about what her goals for herself were. She opted to take a year off work to explore what her future could be, and ultimately she chose to end her marriage. 

“Women face a lot of pressure to stay in unhealthy relationships,” she said. “I realized I was living on autopilot. I wanted to thrive. I needed to find the courage to put my mental health ahead of business and making money. Kids are resilient. You can prioritize your own happiness and keep your kids safe and secure. Your kids will be amazing.” 

Separation and career changes can feel overwhelming, she said. Fear can lead women to endure situations that aren’t healthy.

“You can feel grief and loss at the same time as excitement,” Gladden said, adding some of the influences that impede women from making changes. “Financial stress, worry about the kids, a loss of confidence and self-trust.” 

Support and vision

A life coach like herself can help women see a path forward to a new future, said Gladden.

“I am a big believer in therapy to understand how you got where you are. A life coach can help you figure out your future,” she explained. “The biggest consideration is personal fit. You need to connect with a coach and find someone who speaks to your soul.”

With Gladden, a typical coaching round lasts about 12 weeks and has six sessions. 

“It’s hard to envision the future. We work together to set challenging goals – with each session having its own flavour,” said Gladden. “We also have a celebration of what was accomplished.” 

The sessions are geared to the needs of each individual. For some, it could be helping navigate co-parenting or boundaries, for others, it could be dating and others exploring career options.

“It’s an intimidating process to start dating again. There are so many people to date, you will find someone. And if you don’t want to, then don’t. You can come back to that later – or not.”

To connect with Gladden she offers “discovery calls.” 

“It’s a 30-minute call where we can get to know each other. I hope everyone goes away with a useful nugget. I feel like if more people talk about these transitions then women can have more freedom of choice.”

To learn more about Gladden and her practice visit her website or follow her on Instagram. 

Images courtesy of Michele Mateus

Looking for more?

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.

Barrie Street believes big goals matter. It’s essential motivation to live a full life. He is already planning his second TedTalk – for his 90th birthday. Street plans to complete his 3000th Grouse Grind on his 95th birthday. After that, it’s to make his 200th blood donation on his 105th birthday. The fitness enthusiast and volunteer advocate is proving an old dog can most definitely learn new tricks. 

Ready for a challenge

Barrie Street is feisty at 87 years old. To hear him tell his story it sounds like he has always been resilient and determined. A traumatic childhood where he was abandoned at six years old gave him a tenaciousness that has served him well. He fell in love with team sports like cricket, field hockey and soccer, and with that started a lifelong passion for moving his body. 

“Fitness has incalculable benefits,” said Street. “It’s my passion. I can’t imagine a life with a passion.”

Street has an incredible life resume: math teacher, marathoner, blogger, Iron Man, TedTalker, volunteer . . . In recent months he has added pickleballer. Some of these pursuits came naturally and some he had to fight for.

Open to new ideas

The opportunity to take on a new challenge or learn something new will be far more rewarding than succeeding at something you are already good at, said Street.

“I was running marathons in my 40s, then around 45 I got an Iron Man [triatholon] craving,” said Street. “But at 50 I couldn’t swim a stroke. It took me three months to swim a length. Over the next three months, I learned to swim 64 lengths – a mile. But it took me an hour and a half. In the next three months, I learned to swim that mile in 30 minutes and thought I was ready for Iron Man.”

Street says it was work – some of the hardest of his life. 

“It was the most challenging thing I have ever done – much harder than a marathon or an Iron Man. It was humbling to the nth degree. To start from nowhere and succeed makes it the most rewarding.”

As he approaches 90 he is still living by the goal to learn something new. He and a pal picked up some pickleball paddles recently and are getting a feel for the sport – “It’s good fun.”

He also took to the stage last fall for a TedxTalk sharing his passion for volunteering – which also has a poignant theme of valuing people society has written off. 

Getting started and trying again

With accomplishments like more than 50,000 kilometres of running and 2400 Grouse Grinds, Street has set himself up for long-term health and fitness. He has also learned lessons that life doesn’t always play fair. He took a painful hit almost four years ago.

“February 6th. I wanted a change from my usual route so I decided to walk up Lonsdale. I parked midway up and started walking. Just after leaving the top, I was hit by a car coming down an incline from the side of a house. I broke 12 bones.”

Prior to that, at 83, he was walking 10km daily, worked out at the gym three times a week and did the Grind twice a week. After the accident, Street had to start again. He still is working to get back where he was. 

“We can all be fit. We can adapt to pain,” he said. “The main step is to try and to be positive.”

On his blog Street very practical advice for adding fitness into your life. Simple steps like exercises to support balance and mobility. It’s a wealth of information that makes fitness success approachable.

“My advice for anyone getting started is to consult your doctor and get guidance on your abilities,” he said. “Set individual goals, there is no point comparing yourself to someone else – they have a different set of circumstances. Long-term goals are essential to have something to look forward to and short-term goals are needed to accomplish the long-term goals.” 

While Street regards fitness as essential, he recognizes not everyone loves it as much as he does. 

“Have a passion – spend time doing something you can’t imagine your life without – that will give you enthusiasm for life.”

Looking for more?

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.

Lynn has a reputation for attracting creative types. Tucked away from the city the river was an early weekend getaway from Vancouver’s big city drawing artists to the forested oasis. Today’s artists and creators walk the same paths of The Group of Seven’s Frederick Varley. Both our feature profiles from this month – Vanessa Gladden and Barrie Street – have strong digital footprints. In that spirit, we have put together a list of five makers and creators worth checking out. 

Four to follow

We have put together a group of four people to follow. Some we have featured before and others are new. We are excited to nudge you in the direction of learning more about the interesting people that make Lynn Valley home.

Looking for more?

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.

At this time of year, through all the hustle and bustle there are holiday solutions right in our own backyards. From quality caterers to specialty artists to great small shops. Lynn Valley has a thriving scene of makers, crafters, creators and business people offering great options to make your holidays more meaningful and more relaxing. 

Handmade with love

A knife from Lynn Valley Forge

We put the call out on our Facebook page asking for local entrepreneurs to share their small local shops.  We got a bunch of solid suggestions that we have shared before like Folia and Lynn Valley Forge.  We also got plenty of new suggestions.

In an effort to keep the list up to date and have an opportunity for others to add thier businesses or recommendations, we are redirecting you to our FB posts. They have a great list of holiday solutions in the comments. Check out this one for local crafters and makers and this one for local small businesses and services.

Check out our seasonal picks from past years (not all small businesses may remain active). Here are our picks from 2021.

Looking for more?

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.

Just in time for the wet grey days of winter, the North Shore libraries have just released their annual list: the North Shore Writers Collection. With the help of the North Vancouver District Library, we have pulled out six Lynn Valley authors who are proudly on this year’s list.

A dark story for dark nights

With her first book on the list, Rhonda Mailey warns you might be left with more than a good story after reading her suspense horror novel Reginald. 

“Reginald seems to have a presence of his own. I hear from readers all the time and they tell me they sense him – like they are walking down the street and feel him hiding behind a bush. Even my writing coach: she was hearing noises in her bathroom and she thought that it could be Reginald in the walls,” laughs Mailey. “I thought: ‘For heaven’s sake it could be a mouse’.” 

The novel is set in a fictional BC coastal community called Einer’s Bay. When Leah, a busy career-driven Vancouverite, inherits a grand home she has experiences she can’t explain. With the help of local community protectors called the Guardians, they encounter Reginald – a demon born from despicable and tortured beginnings. 

“I’ve always had a little bit of a twisted mind. I am not a big fan of horror per se, I was more interested in mysteries. Reginald popped into my head one day and I thought I would see where it would go,” said Mailey. “I am not a writer who plans – it was really just the story that came to me. It’s about people. It’s about the characters and tension and the humanity of Reginald.” 

Mailey has some heavy hitters on her side. She worked with CKNW broadcaster John McComb to voice and produce the audiobook and artist Alejandro Colucci – known for The Witcher series –  for the cover and illustrations

Mailey has another book nearing publication and the sequel to Reginald is in the editing stage, plus she has two children’s books she hopes to make it to print in the near future. 

“I have always been a voracious reader. I remember being at Eastview Elementary and sitting under a tree to read Nancy Drew after Nancy Drew. I just loved to read,” she said. “I was quite touched to be a part [of the North Shore Writer’s List]. It was nice to have everyone together. It’s no surprise, there are a lot of talented and creative people on the North Shore.” 

More Lynn Valley authors on the list

My BIG Floofy Feet by Judy Bjornson

This is a sweet story told by a loveable cat whose extra toes and giant feet give him many abilities in life that he otherwise would not have had. Respecting both the similarities and the differences in each other, opens doors to making new friends, learning new things, and having more self-confidence. The storybook is intended to empower all children to accept and love each other unconditionally the way they are and to let their inner aspirations flourish.

Judy is a Master Trainer both for exercises in the water and on land. Due to her genuine compassion and extensive disease/disability knowledge as it relates to rehabilitation/movement, Judy was selected as a Program Co-ordinator by the Vancouver Brain Injury Association. In all aspects of her life Judy strives to positively affect the lives of those she encounters. She decided to write a book from a kitty’s point of view to communicate with young children because perhaps the most powerful path to healing for our children is through animals. A second book in the series of three introduces new characters with their own differences and teaches the value of how each of us contributes with our unique abilities to make the work a better place will soon be published. The illustrator, Sydney Kosnik was only 16 years old when she illustrated the book, winning an award for her illustrations and character design in New York.

On Foot in France by France Fehr

France and her husband Stephen had just turned 60 when they began their journey on the Camino de Santiago in France. On each of the 39 days, they knew they would always do three things: walk, eat, and sleep. The historic trail took them through breathtaking landscapes and picturesque villages, offering them magical moments and ample time to think. But, walking the 800 kilometres was also a challenge, especially when France injured her foot and quitting was not an option. On Foot in France is an inspiring story of courage, determination, and friendship on the path shared by countless pilgrims.

France Fehr was born in Quebec and has lived in North Vancouver for over three decades. She has travelled around North America, Europe, and Asia, taking many photographs to share on Flickr, Instagram, and her blogs. When she is not on a trail in Europe, she keeps fit while hiking or cycling in British Columbia. On Foot in France, a travel memoir of her adventure on the Camino de Santiago is her first book.

Nice Try, Jane Sinner by Lianne Oelke

Jane Sinner, a 17-year-old dropout, sets out to redefine herself through a series of schemes and stunts, including participating in a low-budget reality TV show at her local community college.

Lianne Oelke has a degree in philosophy and works in the film industry – which may explain a lot about her debut novel, Nice Try, Jane Sinner. Or not. She lives, camps, and thinks about cats in North Vancouver.

Child Sex Trafficking in Canada and How To Stop It by Catherine Peters

Child Sex Trafficking in Canada is a primer or textbook and immersive study into the dark world of trafficking for prostitution in Canada. Its reach is universal as trafficking is a global problem. Research, resources, and solutions are provided throughout the book with the goal for the reader to learn how to stop sexual exploitation locally and nationally.

Cathy Peters is a former inner-city high school teacher from British Columbia. She is a wife, a mother of three remarkable children, a business partner, a public speaker and an author. Cathy lives with her husband Allan in North Vancouver, BC.

Philosophy’s Role in Counseling and Psychotherapy by Peter Raabe

The book’s purpose is to show how philosophy is a useful addition to the knowledge counsellors and psychotherapists already have. Clients often need a way to look at what is troubling them that peels back the layering put there by the way they are used to thinking about their problems. Philosophy gives them important tools to aid them in the process of discovering how to get to the heart of what they are seeking help for.

Peter B. Raabe received his P.H.D. in 1999 from U.B.C. He began his teaching career at the University of the Fraser Valley in 2003 teaching philosophy. He published a book in 2014 titled, Philosophy’s Role in Counseling and Psychotherapy, which became the textbook for a unique course he developed called Philosophy for Counsellors. Peter retired in 2021 and was awarded Professor Emeritus status. He lives in North Vancouver with his wife.

Looking for more?

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.

North Vancouver and Lynn Valley would not be the community it is today without the tenacious advocacy of our Good Neighbour 2023 – Maureen Bragg. From protecting Lynn Canyon to opening up access to North Van’s foreshore, much of the land we routinely use to recreate is accessible because of Bragg. A touch shy of 90 years old Bragg has a passion for civic engagement that is fiery enough to burn for years to come.

From introvert to activist

Always keenly aware of news and politics, in the early 1980s Bragg was a mom and businesswoman who had a habit of enjoying her neighbourhood park. 

“I wasn’t a tree hugger – when I saved the canyon everyone put that title on me but I just loved it – loved the beauty of it. I felt that it was something that should be kept sacred and enjoyed by all people,” said Bragg. “It’s a magic spot. The beauty of the water rushing after the rain, the sun coming through and shining on the moss and the ferns.” 

One day a simple postal delivery changed everything.

“I hiked the canyon every morning before going to work,” said Bragg. “Then one day in the mail I received a colourful brochure from the district saying there would be 2000 houses built in the park including a highway going through the top of LV road going through to Hyannis. 

“I was appalled because it was at the third reading and I had never heard of it. Us locals always called it Lynn Canyon Park and the references to development were calling it Inter River. At that time Seymour wasn’t developed and we thought it was kind of out there.”

This put Bragg in a difficult position. As a realtor and director of the Real Estate Board, she was well aware she was about to fight against 2000 home sales.  

“I had never been involved in anything life,” said Bragg. “My husband thought I had gone stark steering mad because I was the type of person to sit in the back of a room so no one would ask me any questions and I would never put my hand up.”

Bragg was quick to leverage the community. Hand delivering hundreds of flyers sharing a news article and compelling residents to show up at the third reading of the development permit. 

“And to my surprise when I got to the district hall for the meeting there were crowds there. It was so big that the mayor moved it over to the school gymnasium down the street. Over a thousand people turned up. 

“We had no computer, no cell phone, no fax in those days. It had to be done by gumption, as they say, and word-of-mouth.” 

As Bragg distributed flyers she connected with another passionate family and together they spread the word. 

“At a public meeting, everyone has to be able to speak and over 300 signed up stopping the vote from being taken.”

That pause in the process led a small group of advocates to form the Save Lynn Canyon Association and fight a two-year battle. 

“We used to stand in the park and sell memberships  – a lifetime membership was about $1. We raised funds to get the word out and managed to put out four newsletters regarding saving the canyon,” said Bragg.

“We eventually made it a political thing and two and half years later we pushed it to a referendum,” she said. “Then we crossed our fingers that people would turn out and pleaded with people to vote – whichever way they wanted. We were successful. Six thousand people voted to keep it a park and 500 against.”

When the dust settled North Vancouver had the Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve and Lynn Canyon Park as we know them today. Bragg credits many others who joined her in the fight for Lynn Canyon Park for the campaign’s success, including many passionate youth from Argyle.  

“There is a cairn in Lynn Canyon Park that shows the district council at the time that officially formed the park – including all members who first voted against it,” said Bragg. “None of us who actually fought to save the park are mentioned – we weren’t exactly popular.”

Tenacious advocate

From the outside, it looks like the fight for Lynn Canyon lit a spark in Bragg that brought her fiery advocacy to so many areas of Lynn Valley and North Vancouver. There is a common thread about all the causes she fights for: To make North Vancouver as livable as possible for all its community members. 

“Maureen has always struck me as the epitome of constructive activism,” said Dan Ellis. “While she’s not slow to gripe about politicians when they don’t measure up, her activism has always been about accomplishing something positive. And she’s been tenacious in her efforts, whether they be: to help citizens be heard in municipal politics, to create a community space at Mollie Nye House, to support community diversity through the District’s Official Community Plan, or to preserve public waterfront access through Save Our Shores.”   

As part of Save Our Shores Bragg helped fight waterfront homeowners who block access to beaches (all oceanfrontage below the high tide line is public in Canada). Their work removed more than 20 blockages to provide almost complete access from Whay-Ah-Wichen/Cates Park to Deep Cove – although a couple of, according to Bragg, politically well-connected homeowners remain in violation. The group hosted an annual beach clean up that on the first year filled four dumpsters and on their last (just prior to Covid) partially filled a single garbage bag. 

“We have made a difference. There used to be tires, and old mattresses. The beaches were a dumping ground. Today we have beautiful beaches,” said Bragg. 

If you spend any time in Lynn Valley Bragg has impacted your life. As a member of the Lynn Valley Community Association for more than 20 years, with five as president, she has helped with Lynn Valley Days, the Lynn Valley Link and the Lynn Valley Services Society at Mollie Nye. Her legacies extend far beyond the list. 

What now

Bragg has a healthy sense of skepticism for all forms of government and she urges residents to be engaged.  

“People live in a bubble and they are not concerned until it pricks their bubble,” she said. “People are not concerned until they are affected. There is not enough human contact. There is too much living online. We need human connection.

“We need people to pay attention to what is going on or we will lose. I live in beautiful Lynn Valley – I still walk the trails. It’s lovely and we must keep it so. We must pay attention. Although I saved Lynn Canyon Park, they can take a slice off for a road or something the district ‘needs.’ It will be a death of a thousand cuts.”

As Bragg talks about her community work, it is clear her mind is on the future and she is deeply concerned about making Lynn Valley more inclusive and livable for all people.  

“I have been a strong advocate for a number of years – and it has fallen on deaf ears. We are now in crisis: We have not supplied housing for the people of the community – only for one section.

“The average family and low-income people that the community depends on to clean the hospitals, serve our early morning coffees, pick up our garbage – the people that make a community work – and they have to do a brutal commute to wherever they were banished. As far out as Abbotsford and they have to commute hours to come here to make this community function. How long will they keep it up? Why would they? We are losing the community engine.”

Businesses are suffering and the quality of our neighbourhoods is declining. 

“They can’t pay staff enough. When you think of young people, the 20 odds, the young couples just meeting each other. Where are they going to rent? There is nothing. There is a housing cruising in every community – Coquitlam, Maple Ridge. We have done nothing for the average bunny. It’s ridiculous. It’s unacceptable.”

She hopes for more affordable duplexes and fourplexes designed to fit with the community streetscape much like parts of England where Bragg spent her youth. 

“I support gentle densification,” she said. “There is a lot to do. We need rentals, we need co-ops, we need diversified housing. Unless the government offers incentives they won’t. Developers aren’t building for charity. They are businessmen building for profit. We haven’t had proper rental developments for 30 years. I feel sick every time a building goes up showing what it offers below market. Ten percent is nothing.” 

Bragg hopes more members of the public simply care a little bit and get involved in what they are passionate about. Perhaps you too will end up with a legacy that has shaped a community as much as Bragg. Her efforts have made Lynn Valley what it is today and will be in the future. But like Maureen Bragg, you can start small. 

“I am a political junky and tend to get carried away. I wasn’t talented or famous. I paid attention.”

Looking for more?

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.

When Kelsey Toevs was walking the halls of Argyle Secondary, snowboarding down Grouse or pointing her handycam up to Fromme she never imagined she would level up her passion to travel the world filming for action sports icons Red Bull.

The big screen

This summer in the late evening light Toevs watched in awe as her short film “Ready or Not” hit the big screen at Whistler’s epic mountain bike festival Crankworx. A short time later family and friends were screaming and a dumbstruck Toevs was making her way to the stage as the evening’s big winner. 

“It’s surreal,” she said from her Lynn Valley home. “I have never won anything. I was not even thinking it was possible. The goal was to watch something I made on the big screen – so I could say I got to show something at Crankworx.”

The festival knew Toevs was ready for the big stage even if she did not. Originally asked to participate in its photography competition, Toevs couldn’t make it work with her schedule so she took a chance and asked if there was a spot in the video competition. Not only was there space, but the festival had already planned on asking her. 

“It’s a huge platform for videographers. In just a few months it has brought so many opportunities,” she said.

During the festival she was asked to be a second shooter for the women’s Red Bull Joyride – she said yes. After her big win, she got a text message from action filmmakers Anthill Films and asked to join them earlier this fall in Switzerland working on a Red Bull production – Toevs screamed. “It’s insane.”

Finding a passion

The first camera that mattered to Toevs came into her hands for a high school photography class. A family connection helped her get a decent camera to start off on the right foot and Toevs did what most teenagers do: give it a go but she didn’t think about it too much. 

“When I think back, I definitely thought it would have been cool to film snowboard videos,” she said. “But I also thought that wasn’t a job.”

The camera became a bit of a constant companion as she explored jobs, possible careers and tried to figure out how to pay some bills. 

“I ended up going to Cap U for tourism and recreation,” said Toevs. “I did everything from lifeguarding to day camps to construction.”

In 2014 she was bringing the camera along on adventures she and, her now husband, Steve Vanderhoek were tackling in their free time. Often, that was Toevs tagging along as Vanderhoek hit local mountain bike trails. 

“I wasn’t into dirt jumping but I would tag along with my camera,” she said. “It was a lot of fun.”

Toevs began to think there might be a future in photography. That passion had remained steady but not focused until she connected it to her interest in architecture and real estate. 

“Once I realized that architectural photography could be a career, I knew I wanted that to be my business,” she said. 

Her skills grew and, more importantly, her gear list grew. At the same time, Vanderhoek was hitting the trails, building connections and making a name for himself in mountain biking. 

“When the pandemic hit there was a lot of demand in real estate for video so I got quite a bit of equipment,” she said. 

Vanderhoek and Toevs were still spending their free time in the forests of the North Shore.

“I started playing around with Steve on Instagram and it began to be noticed because it was such high quality. I didn’t know anyone in mountain biking but people began to ask Steve who was shooting his stuff and asking for his recommendations.”

It’s a partnership that has allowed both Toevs and Vanderhoek to excel – he now has professional riding contracts and she is an award-winning filmmaker. 

Riding high

Looking for more?

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.